Citylights Church Podcast

Oliver Wong || Matthew 12

Are you in a season of struggling to see or hear God? In a confrontation with the Pharisees, Jesus highlights an important verse that can cause spiritual blindness. In this message, we discuss how to see God in every moment. 

Intentional Question: For you, is following Jesus compelled by sacrifice or mercy?

Oliver Wong || Matthew 11

Do you ever feel like you can’t hear or see God anywhere? In Matthew 11, John the Baptist is let down in his expectations of Jesus and starts to doubt Jesus identity. He sends his disciples to asks of Jesus if he is the messiah or if they should wait for someone else. Listen in as we consider what keeps us from recognizing Jesus even if he’s near us.

Intentional Question: How is the disappointment of what God’s yet to do keeping you from seeing what God is doing in your life?

Oliver Wong || Matthew 10

Do you wrestle with purpose? In Matthew 10, Jesus enlists his disciples into Kingdom mission with one simple statement. Join us for the final message of our second segment of "Covered in Dust" as we look at the practical practice of aligning our lives with the call of the Kingdom.

Intentional Prayer Questions: Is there anyone around me anxious? Is there anyone around me discouraged? Is there anyone around me that needs healing?

Timothy Bayne || Matthew 9

Psychologists have found within our society that when threatened, human beings will respond in a form of either fight, flight, or freeze. This wasn't just found when faced with physical stress, but in emotional stress as well. These responses to the environment around us is simply a fruit of deeply-rooted brokenness. In Matthew 9, the Pharisees "fight" back when Jesus walks in His divine authority to forgive sin, exposing a root of pride and control. Could we, like the Pharisees be walking around with unknown brokenness? How does Jesus handle our brokenness compared to the way we might handle it ourselves?

Intentional Question: What might be keeping you from trusting Jesus for the healing that you need?

Oliver Wong || Matthew 8

Anxiety and depression is a prevalent reality for people both in and outside of the church. Jesus led his disciples into storms and a demonic encounter early in their following where they learned how Jesus delivers people from affliction. If you struggle with worry or panic, listen in as we ask the question: how does Jesus offer peace within the affliction?

Oliver Wong || Matthew 8

How do you deal with guilt or shame? Leprocy, in Jesus' day, was a horribly contagious and excruciating disease that meant a person was unclean, unlovable, untouchable, and un-healable - all identified by guilt and shame. When a leper approaches Jesus, he has been cast aside by his community and the law, but the touch of Jesus does for him what no one else could. Listen in as we talk about guilt, shame, and how Jesus cleanses us in ways no one else can.

Intentional Question: How do you speak and act towards people who feel unclean before God?

Oliver Wong || Matthew 5 and 8

Have you noticed that it's easier to argue with someone when they're not there? Often it's easy to judge, label, and assume when we are far from someone but love comes more easily when we move in close. In the final blessing of the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches us that peacemaking comes at the price of persecution. Listen in as we look at how to continue loving those that come against us.

Intentional Question: How might you pray for those that have attacked you?

Oliver Wong || Matthew 5

Where can we find mercy in a time of need? Jesus teaches that mercy is what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like for broken people in broken places. In this message, we process what wholehearted mercy looks like and how secret moments of generosity can lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven more than ever before. 

Intentional Question: Where has God shown you mercy and where might God supply mercy through you?

|| Oliver Wong || Matthew 6-7 ||

Who inherits the earth? In Jesus' day it seemed evident that the strong and powerful Romans were the owners of the earth but Jesus challenges this paradigm. How can we live with a perspective of Heavenly inheritance? In this message we continue the conversation on inside-out change through following Jesus. 

Intentional Question: What is something you can't control that you need to release to God, and what is something you can control that you need to take responsibility for?

 

Oliver Wong || Matthew 5-6

Poverty comes in all different forms. We experience it in health, finance, emotions and even knowledge, all while experiencing our own definitions of wealth. Jesus' first sermon teaches us that His blessing comes to those who are spiritually impoverished. Listen in as we discuss how Jesus makes us rich through spiritual poverty.

Intentional Question: What part of the Father's character, provision, and protection are you thankful for?