How do you deal with disappointment? The story of what happened when Joseph was blind-sided by the news of Mary's pregnancy offers helpful insights on how to respond when the unexpected hits. Leo Schuster | Lead PastorPar City Church Houston

Apocalyptic literature can fire up the praying imagination when the beasts of life come at us and when we see the beasts in our own heart. There is a God who is in control. In destabilizing times, where are your eyes fixed? Jesus takes the fire and faces the beast for us.Par Leo Schuster

It may come as a surprise that the first page of the New Testament--the way Christianity introduces itself to the world--is through a genealogy. But this family tree is anything but boring. Bursting with significance, suspense, even scandal, it sets the stage for the kind of Messiah Jesus would be. Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor…

Kai ChenPar City Church Houston

The benefits to being a person of faith are many, but it isn't an easy life. When our faith seems fragile, feel like we're faking it, that we failed in some way spiritually, how do we pick up the pieces and persevere? The beautiful benediction found at the end of the book of Jude gives us all we need. Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor…

In this special conversation with Mike Cosper, producer of the influential podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and director of podcasts for Christianity Today, we will discuss how to face seasons that feel like a spiritual or relational desert. In his latest book, Land of My Sojourn, Cosper uses the literal landscape of the Bible to narrate his …

Life is tough. If it doesn't feel that way, just give it time! How do we deal with discouragement, even lurking despair, and discover true hope that fills us with lasting joy and peace? This benediction holds the key. Leo Schuster | Lead PastorPar City Church Houston

A benediction is God getting the last word. In this benediction--from the last book of the Bible--God speaks a final word of grace to us that's especially helpful when we're under pressure, feeling stuck, struggling with a sense of purpose, and even facing the uncertainties of an election. Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor…

True blessings in the Bible are not vain hopes for fortunate outcomes, but confident reminders of God's promised goodness to each of us. Clint Wilson | Community & Care PastorPar City Church Houston

What's most important in life and in faith? When religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus in his words, he answered their question in way that silenced his critics and has informed and inspired people ever since. Leo Schuster | Lead PastorPar City Church Houston

Maintaining perspective is so difficult. Just getting through the day can seem like a major accomplishment. But a healthy perspective gives us a vantage point that's essential to living a life that prioritizes what's truly important. Leo Schuster | Lead PastorPar City Church Houston

The writer Simone Weil defines humility as "attentive patience." How do we become people who practice what we preach, so attuned to others' needs that we discover lives of uncommon purpose?Par City Church Houston

Why is it so hard to forgive? How do I forgive while protecting my mental health? Leo Schuster moderates a panel discussion with City Church leadership and a mental health expert on these questions and more. Panel: Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor Melissa Ramsey | Licensed Professional Counselor Chelsey Omoregie | City Kids Director Clint Wilson | Commun…

Jesus teaches not only that the gospel is for everyone, but also that it is for every moment of our lives. We are never so late, or so lost, that the hope of Christ cannot find us and fill us with a life-changing gratitude.Par City Church Houston

Healthy relationships are key to building a great life. So how do we deal with the pain often experienced there? What role is forgiveness supposed to play? How do we do that authentically when it's especially difficult for us?Par City Church Houston

How do we avoid burnout and find true rest amidst the exhaustion and stress of modern life?Par City Church Houston

What makes for a truly great life? In the intriguing figure of John the Baptist we have a compelling portrait of someone Jesus himself held up as a singularly great human being.Par City Church Houston

What leads Jesus to be amazed at one man's faith in the face of suffering? Discover a different definition of faith than you may have heard before.Par City Church Houston

Jesus cast a vision for the flourishing life by emphasizing inner character and interpersonal compassion. While this life is attractive, it can feel elusive. How do we realize it?

How do we build a truly great life? What makes for an enjoyable and meaningful life, and one that withstands the storms encountered along the way? Jesus answered that by comparing life to building a home, highlighting the importance of a strong foundation. Leo Schuster | Lead PastorPar City Church Houston

Our “character,” meaning our integrity and personhood, exists because we are created in the image of God; through His redeeming work on our behalf, our characters can be transformed to reflect His.Par City Church Houston

One of the truest challenges of faith is trying to comprehend the timeless God from within our time-bound existence. What can help us glimpse the eternity he promises? Join us this Sunday for a message on "Faith & Time."Par City Church Houston

The treasure of your heart will determine the trajectory of your life.Par City Church Houston

When we seek the deep answers of science, and use our God-given intellects to discern the laws of the universe, we are exploring the very nature and fingerprints of God, the supreme, creative force of all life. Faith and science are not opposed; they are engaged in an involved and intricate dance.Par Clint Wilson

Par Ruth Reitmeier

All of us struggle at times mustering the courage we need in life. God's instructions to Joshua when he was called to succeed Moses give us timeless truths to help us deal with debilitating fear and discouragement.Par Leo Schuster

Trust God in your pain while waiting for him to deliver you from your pain.Par Ayo Omopariola

What's the role of the Bible for Christians or people curious about faith? Can we rely on it? How do we make sense of it? And how can it help us improve our lives?Par Leo Schuster

Paul's only strictly personal letter, Philemon, tells us about not only his heart for justice, but also the gospel's heart for justice. Our faith must arc, like the Bible itself, ever toward a more radical ethic of freedom and love for the other.Par Clint Wilson

Faith is found at an intersection where we learn to set aside our sometimes hypocritical performances of self and embrace our true selves—more broken than we like to admit but more loved than we could ever imagine.Par Clint Wilson

In our fast-paced, hyper-online world, loneliness poses a growing challenge to human flourishing. Whatever new form this ancient problem takes, this psalm reminds us that we are ever held in God's hands.Par Anna Russell Thornton

In our fast-paced, hyper-online world, loneliness poses a growing challenge to human flourishing. Whatever new form this ancient problem takes, this psalm reminds us that we are ever held in God's hands.Par Anna Russell Thornton

Are art and faith compatible or in conflict? Why do artists often feel disenfranchised by the church? How can art help us understand ourselves? How might art actually be an alternative window into the world of faith? In this message we'll consider these and other questions as we explore a biblical theology of art.…

Many today are disillusioned with the church or just disinterested in it. This message will take modern concerns seriously and reflect on a passage that offers a refreshing vision for the church.Par Leo Schuster

Not only does having a sense of purpose infuse meaning in our life, research suggests it is linked to a number of positive health outcomes. So why is it so elusive? What spiritual steps can we take to discover it and build our life around it?Par Leo Schuster

The shortest verse in the Bible is by no means short on significance. When Jesus weeps over the loss of his friend, he reminds us that emotions are a vital part of our human lives, deserving of both our attention and our understanding.Par Clint Wilson

What can shape us into people who are open-handed and big-hearted? The answer is found in this stirring and stretching ancient prayer.Par Leo Schuster

Can you imagine sacrificial generosity in the midst of extreme suffering giving rise to overwhelming joy? While this may surprise us, it's exactly what we find in a moving story about an ancient community of faith. This beautiful example has the power to renew our modern sensibilities about the meaning of life.…