CITYLIGHTS Church Podcast

The Fallout - Oliver Wong || God and Man

We continue our study of Genesis 3 as Adam and Eve experienced the pain of their decision to redefine good and evil. They are not cursed like the serpent but their decision exiles them from the presence of God. How can the humans ever get back to their garden home with Yahweh? Listen in as we unpack how sin in the Bible is more relational than legal and how it affects us every day more than we think.

IQ: Where have you redefined good and evil in your world and what are the consequences?

The Snake and the Tree - Oliver Wong || God and Man

Many secular intellectuals today have come to see that evil is not just a systemic problem of humanity but part of its nature. Genesis 3 unveils how evil entered our world. Adam and Eve encounter a mysterious serpent who strategically undermines the relationship between God and man.

IQ: Where is there wisdom without intimacy with Jesus in your life?

Work and Rest - Oliver Wong || God and Man

The same way God separated the light from dark in creation, He separated rest from work, and God rested. This tells us that rest and work are not just for survival but something divine in us to image Him. As we conclude the Creation segment of Genesis, we consider how work and rest are more than compensation and vacation.

IQ: What is robbing you of the joy-filled rhythm of work and rest?

Adam and Eve - Oliver Wong || God and Man

When Jesus was asked about divorce, He immediately responded with a reflection on Genesis 1 and 2. For Jesus, the meaning of marriage, divorce, sexuality, and gender were directly tied to what it means to be human. As we continue in our study of Genesis we are reminded of what it means to be human and therefore what it means to be married, divorced, or single.

IQ: Where has intimacy come before imaging Jesus for you?

Images of God - Oliver Wong || God and Man

In Genesis 2 the writer gives a second creation account that portrays God being even more intimately involved in His creation than in Genesis 1. Here, we see a picture of God, creating the Garden of Eden, a place where He could dwell with Adam and Eve. In this part of the creation story, we learn what it truly means to be human and how Jesus is a new answer to human hope in a broken world. (Genesis 2:1-17)

IQ: How are you called to ‘work and keep’ the Garden of Eden around you?

Shalom into Chaos - Oliver Wong || God and Man

As we kick off our series in Genesis we meditate on the Creation Story in Genesis 1. Though there are valid debates of science, history, and physics within the accounts of Genesis we are reminded that Genesis 1 is written in the language of worship. Listen in to this first message as we reflect on the wonder of creation and how we might live in God’s Genesis 1 blessing in the midst of the Genesis 3 curse. (Genesis 1:1-28)

IQ: Who is God, and what is he up to in the world?

Discipleship at CITYLIGHTS || Defining Discipleship

Oliver Wong

This week we conclude our series Defining Discipleship by discussing our plan to make disciples at CITYLIGHTS. Through the book of Acts, a pattern emerged that strengthened the early church for centuries.

IQ: How is God using your home for discipleship?

What is Discipleship? || Defining Discipleship

Oliver Wong

If someone asked you how to follow Jesus what would you tell them? This Sunday we continued our defining discipleship series by intentionally reflecting on the kinds of relationships that help people us follow Jesus to look like Him.

IQ: How could relationships around you grow more in invitation and challenge in Jesus?

What is a Disciple? || Defining Discipleship

Oliver Wong

At CITYLIGHTS we see a disciple as someone following Jesus to look like Him. From the beginning, God created man in His image: to agree in perfect intimacy, identity and authority with their Creator. Tragically, this creation became utterly shattered by man's sin. Jesus primary message: the Kingdom of Heaven is near was not just an invitation to go to Heaven when we die but to return to shared intimacy, identity, and authority of the garden. ‘Follow me’ was not just an invitation to be close to Jesus but to restored to look like God. In this message we answer and important question: what does it mean to follow Jesus to look like Him? Through study and reflection of the Scriptures, our prayer and plan at CITYLIGHTS is not just to know Jesus but look like Him in every part of our life.

IQ: Which pattern of Jesus’ life is most challenging for you to follow: UP, IN, or OUT?

VISION SUNDAY || Building Family

Oliver Wong

At CITYLIGHTS we are devoted to building Family. Family plays a vital role in making disciples; while communities can assimilate people, but only Family can multiply disciples. In this family message we looked at Ephesians 4 and how the HS builds Family to follow Jesus and look like Him.

IQ: How will you build a church Family with the Holy Spirit that multiplies disciples this year?