Two Cities Church

Does our sin cancel God’s faithfulness? If God is gracious, does sin even matter? In Romans 3:1–8, Paul tackles the hardest questions about God’s justice, human failure, and the logic we use to justify ourselves. If everyone is guilty, is God unfair? If people don’t believe, has God failed? And if our sin highlights his grace, why not keep sinning? This message exposes the subtle ways we argue with God and twist grace into permission. It reminds us that spiritual privilege doesn’t remove accountability, human unbelief doesn’t nullify God’s faithfulness, and grace is never a license to sin. In this message you’ll learn:     •    Why having the Bible increases responsibility     •    Why human failure never cancels God’s faithfulness     •    How bad theology leads to bad living     •    Why God’s justice and mercy are not in conflict

In Romans 2, the Apostle Paul asks a confronting question: based on what does God judge a person? In this message, we explore God’s objective moral standard and why both religious and irreligious people are accountable before Him. Paul shows that while some have the written law, others have the law written on their hearts through conscience, and yet no one lives up to the standard they know. This passage exposes the danger of moral hypocrisy and false confidence in religious symbols, and it dismantles the idea that outward performance can save us. Romans 2 leads us to a clear verdict and points us to our only real hope: not moral effort, but redemption through Jesus Christ. In this message, you’ll learn: - What standard God actually uses to judge every person - Why conscience means no one is without moral knowledge - How religious effort can create false confidence and hypocrisy - Why outward signs and performance can’t save - Where real hope and redemption are found

Why does sexuality feel so confusing, painful, and loaded for so many people today? In Romans 1:24-27, Scripture confronts one of the most difficult and misunderstood topics of our time, not to shame us, but to tell us the truth about what’s gone wrong and where real hope is found. In this message, Pastor Kyle walks through this passage, showing that sexual brokenness is not selective, it’s universal. The Bible doesn’t single out certain people. It exposes a deeper human problem, disordered desires that flow from exchanging the truth about God for a lie. Romans 1 helps us understand how desire, idolatry, and identity are connected, and how the Bible speaks to questions of sexuality, including same-sex attraction, with clarity and hope. Rather than fueling self-righteousness or condemnation, this passage calls us to humility and compassion. It reminds us that every person needs grace, and no one is beyond the reach of the gospel. This message is part of our ongoing series through the book of Romans at Two Cities Church. If you’re wrestling with questions about sex, desire, identity, or faith, or walking with someone who is, this teaching is for you.

Why is our world in chaos? The breakdown we see in society is a direct result of a deeper spiritual problem: the depravity of the human mind. In this message from Romans 1:28–2:11, Pastor Kyle shows how total depravity explains the breakdown of a society, and why the problem is not just “out there” in the obviously rebellious, but also “in here” among the religious and moral. Paul says God “gave them up to a debased mind” (Romans 1:28), and from there sin spreads outward, breaking down the self, the family, the economy, and society. Then, in Romans 2, he turns the spotlight on those who judge others while practicing the same things, exposing our self-righteousness and reminding us that God “shows no partiality.” This sermon will help you: - Understand what a debased / depraved mind really is - See how sin infects and affects every part of life - Recognize four forms of self-righteousness (moralism, legalism, elitism, victimism) - Marvel at God’s kindness and patience that lead us to repentance - Run not to your own goodness, but to Christ as your only righteousness

Why does the idea of God’s wrath feel so offensive, and why does the Bible insist we can’t understand grace without it? In Romans 1:18-25, Paul confronts one of the most avoided truths of the Christian faith: the wrath of God. Rather than contradicting God’s love, His wrath reveals His righteous and jealous commitment to what is good, true, and life-giving. As Paul moves from the righteousness of God to humanity’s need for salvation, he shows that God’s wrath is not merely future—it is already being revealed. When people suppress the truth, exchange God’s glory for idols, and refuse to honor Him, God’s judgment is seen most clearly in what He allows: being given over to our desires and the slow unraveling that follows. This passage exposes the root beneath our cultural confusion and personal brokenness. The problem is not ignorance, but rebellion. We know God, yet refuse to worship Him. We exchange the Creator for created things—and that exchange never leads to freedom, only futility, darkness, and dehumanization. In this sermon from Romans 1:18–25, we see four sobering realities: - God’s wrath is revealed and deserved—not arbitrary or unjust - Humanity’s problem is moral, not intellectual—we suppress truth we already know - Idolatry is the root of all sin, replacing the Creator with lesser loves - Sin always dishonors God and destroys the sinner, even at the level of our bodies Romans 1 presses us to stop making excuses, tell the truth about ourselves, and see why grace becomes glorious only when we understand the depth of our need.

In Romans 1:7-16, Paul reveals God’s vision for a church centered in Christ and strengthened by a gospel-shaped faith. This message calls us to move beyond surface-level Christianity by grounding our identity in grace, cultivating meaningful Christian community, and recovering bold confidence in the power of the gospel. As that faith takes root, it fuels spiritual maturity, love for the church, and a clear commitment to reaching our city and the lost with unashamed faith. In this sermon, we learn four ways to go deeper and be deeper: - A deeper understanding of God’s love (grace that leads to peace) - A deeper love for Christians and the church (gratitude, prayer, and community) - A deeper love for the lost (living like gospel debtors with spiritual urgency) - A deeper conviction in the power of the gospel (unashamed, because it’s God’s power to save) As we begin Romans together, this message invites you to respond through prayer, worship, and renewed faith, asking God to make you the kind of person whose life is shaped by the gospel from faith for faith.

Pastor Kyle introduces the 2026 vision for Two Cities Church: Centered on God’s Word, Sent into God’s world. Grounded in Romans 1:1–6, this message shows how vision begins with God and His Word, centers on the gospel of Jesus Christ, and leads to faith that becomes obedience. Pastor Kyle also unpacks why Romans is a uniquely formative book for the church, and why being “sent” starts with everyday faithfulness—living with purpose in your relationships, your neighborhood, and the nations. This sermon calls the church to be formed before being sent—anchored in Scripture, empowered by grace, and moved to respond through worship, prayer, and mission for the sake of Jesus’ name.

Pastor Kyle walks through Luke 2:1-20, showing how God announces the birth of Jesus in an unexpected way to ordinary, overlooked shepherds in the middle of the night. Set against the power of Caesar and the noise of a busy world, this passage reveals that God’s good news doesn’t arrive through strength, status, or spectacle, but through humility, grace, and divine initiative. This message invites us to slow down and reconsider what we are beholding this Christmas. In a world marked by fear, distraction, and broken peace, we are reminded that true joy flows from good news, real peace comes from giving God glory, and salvation is found not in what we do but in what Christ has done. The Savior has come not to impress the powerful, but to rescue the lost. Jesus enters our darkness with light, our fear with joy, and our striving with grace, inviting us to behold Him, believe the good news, and live transformed lives marked by worship, peace, and praise. In this message, we see: - How God uses ordinary people and unexpected moments to reveal His greatest work - Why the announcement of Jesus’ birth is good news—not good advice - The difference between temporary happiness and lasting joy rooted in the gospel - How beholding Christ shapes who we are becoming - Why Jesus enters the mess of our world rather than avoiding it - How God’s upside-down kingdom welcomes outsiders and the forgotten - Why glory to God and peace for humanity are inseparably connected

Pastor Spencer walks through Matthew 2:1-15, tracing the very different responses to the birth of Jesus, from worship to hostility, from joy to indifference. As the wise men search for the newborn King, King Herod responds with fear and resistance, revealing that while there are many ways to reject Jesus, there is only one way to truly receive Him. This message invites us to examine our own hearts and consider how we respond to Jesus as King. In a world marked by grief, power struggles, and uncertainty, we are reminded that God is near, His purposes are unfolding, and darkness does not get the final word. In this message, we see: - How God draws all kinds of people to Himself using all kinds of circumstances - Why many reject Jesus—not only through open hostility, like Herod, but through quiet indifference - The tension we feel when Jesus’ kingship confronts our desire for control - Why Scripture is essential for truly knowing where God is leading us - What it looks like to receive Jesus by faith through joy, worshipful submission, and generosity - How the gifts of the wise men point not only to a King, but to a Savior who would suffer and die in our place - This sermon reminds us that although grief, opposition, and suffering are real, death and darkness do not have the final word. Jesus, the true and better King, entered our broken world not to take power—but to give His life, inviting us to receive Him by faith.

Pastor Kyle walks through Matthew 1:18-25, looking at the moment the angel appears to Joseph in a dream. In the middle of fear, confusion, and what felt like betrayal, God meets Joseph with reassurance, direction, and a deeper purpose than he could see. This message invites us to consider how God often works through unexpected circumstances—not just for us, but in us and with us—forming our character, shaping our faith, and reminding us that He is near. In this message, we see: - Why suffering and confusion often tempt us to isolate—and why God designed us to walk through them in community - How Joseph chose character over reputation, trusting God even when the cost was personal and public - The angel’s words, “Do not fear,” and what they reveal about trusting God with an uncertain future - The meaning behind the two names given to Jesus: Jesus — “The Lord saves,” reminding us we cannot rescue ourselves. Immanuel — “God with us,” pointing to the miracle of the Incarnation - How Joseph’s simple, obedient response shows us what surrender looks like when life doesn’t go as planned - This sermon reminds us that God is not distant from our pain or confusion. He steps into it—present, purposeful, and faithful to keep His promises.

Pastor Kyle preaches from Luke 1:26–49, examining the first messengers of Christmas and the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. This message highlights her fear, doubt, faith, and surrender—and the profound reality that Christmas begins with God coming to us. In this sermon, you’ll learn: God is a sending God. Christmas starts with God—He initiates creation, revelation, and salvation. The gospel is about God coming to us because we cannot go to Him. God comes to unexpected places. Jesus enters the world through Nazareth, a small, overlooked town, reminding us that God identifies with the poor, the least, and the last. God speaks to ordinary people. The first recipients of the Christmas message were two teenagers, Mary and Joseph—showing that Christianity is for every generation. Mary becomes the first Christian and a godly model for women. Mary’s unique role in redemptive history. As the mother of God, she displays God’s humility in becoming a helpless baby. Her virginity underscores the miraculous and divine nature of Christ’s birth. God’s favor confronts our fear. Mary was “greatly troubled,” but Gabriel’s words—“Do not be afraid… you have found favor with God”—reveal that God’s grace is the antidote to fear. Faith grows through community and surrender. Mary brings her doubts (“How will this be?”) to God, finds encouragement with Elizabeth, and ultimately responds with surrender: “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Have you ever experienced the pain of longing, praying, and hoping for something, only to have it slip through your fingers? In this message, Pastor Caleb unpacks Luke 1:5-25, exploring the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a couple who were righteous and faithful, yet suffered decades of silent longing and unanswered prayers. Discover the powerful truth that God hears your prayers even when He seems silent, and how His loving discipline is an invitation back to belief. In this sermon, you'll learn: - The Nature of True Faith: Zechariah and Elizabeth were described as blameless and righteous before God. This meant they had inward integrity and were the same person in private as they were in public. - The Tension of the Christian Life: You can be Godly and disappointed, righteous and barren, or blameless and brokenhearted. Faithfulness does not exempt you from heartache. - Two Temptations in the Waiting Room: When you're trying to live faithfully but suffering silently, be careful not to fall into feeling defeated (thinking your pain is payback for sin) or entitled (treating God like a transactional rewards program). - God's Silence is Not His Absence: Even when we feel like He doesn't, God hears our prayers. God broke the personal silence for Zechariah and Elizabeth and the prophetical silence for His people. - The Danger of Unbelief and Discipline as Grace: Zechariah's doubt (unbelief) prompted a loving discipline: nine months of silence. For a genuine follower of Jesus, discipline is not punishment (which was finished on the cross) but a form of grace—an invitation to step back into love and obedience. - The Ultimate Joy of Christmas: The greatest joy Zechariah and Elizabeth found was not in having a child, but in God remembering His people and finally sending His Savior, Jesus Christ. Key Topics Covered: - The Messengers Series: Kicking off the Christmas series by looking at the first messengers of Christmas, specifically the angel Gabriel. - A Personal Story of Loss and Hope: Pastor Caleb's story of naming his stillborn son Gabriel, "God's Messenger of Hope," after the angel. - The Spiritually Dry Season: Zechariah and Elizabeth lived during a 400-year gap where God did not send a prophet or a fresh word. - The Parallel with Elijah: Gabriel's message announced that Zechariah's son, John, would come in the spirit and power of Elijah, paving the way for the long-awaited Savior. - The Consequences of Doubt: Zechariah's questioning, "HOW shall I know this?", revealed a heart full of cynicism, in contrast to Mary's heart of faith. - Discipline and Discipleship: God uses discipline (like a job loss or a hard marriage season) to form us into the image of His Son, teaching us humility and perseverance. - If you are currently feeling stuck in a "waiting room" of life, struggling with doubt, or experiencing a season of discipline, this message will encourage you to trust God's loving heart and respond to the message of hope in Jesus. - Would you like me to share one of the specific application points from the sermon on how to respond to God's voice in a season of discipline or unbelief?

Have you ever felt the tension between what God has promised and what you currently experience in life? Do you struggle to obey God after receiving a blessing, or wonder how to trust Him when life is painful or hard? In this message, Pastor Kyle unpacks Genesis 21:1-8 and 22:1-14, exploring the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and the radical test of his faith. Discover the lessons on true faith that continues to trust, obey, and celebrate, even when faced with the most challenging sacrifices. In this sermon, you'll learn: - How God's delays are not denials, and that He fulfills His promises at the time He has spoken. - Why true faith requires continued obedience and celebration, even after receiving what you want. - That God tests us so that we may know what is inside us, helping us grow and develop. - The difference between God's testing (which aims for us to pass) and the devil's temptation (which aims for us to fail). - The importance of immediate obedience, responding to God's call with "Here I am". - The necessity of sacrificing what we love and trusting God with our future, as He ultimately provides the sacrifice. - How the story of Isaac's near-sacrifice foreshadows Jesus Christ's ultimate substitutionary sacrifice. Key Topics Covered: - The 25-year wait between God's promise to Abraham and the birth of Isaac. - Living in the tension between what is seen in God's Word and what is experienced in the world. - The connection between Abraham's sacrifice of his past, present, and future, and the sacrifices God asks of us. - God's motivation methods: the love of God, the rewards of God, and the fear of God. - The significance of the phrase "The Lord will provide" (Jehovah Jireh). - The parallels between Isaac (the son of promise) and Jesus (the ultimate Son of promise). If you're seeking to understand the faithfulness of God in your seasons of waiting, or if you need encouragement to embrace sacrifice and obedience, this message will inspire and challenge you.

Have you ever felt stuck waiting for God's promises, wrestling with doubt, or wanting answers in a season of silence? In this message, Pastor Kyle unpacks Genesis 17, exploring the covenant God establishes with Abraham, including the unexpected command of circumcision. The message highlights the theme of faith that is tested, marked, and leads to worship and change. In this sermon, you'll learn: - How faith starts with God revealing Himself ("I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless") before calling us to action. - The difference between "walking with God" (fellowship) and being called to "walk before me" (knowing God is watching). - That God desires progress, not perfection, which is captured in the word "blameless" meaning "single-hearted" and wholly devoted to the Lord. - The importance of thinking generationally, as God promises Abraham lineage and a legacy of nations, contrasting with modern short-term, instant thinking. - That faith changes you, as seen in the name change from Abram to Abraham ("father of a multitude of nations") and Sarai to Sarah ("Princess"), showing God redefines identity based on His promise, not their past. Key Topics Covered: - The Three "Greats" in the Bible: Great Commandment, Great Commission, and Great Compassion. - The Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision, and its significance as a personal, painful, and permanent sign of loyalty and sacrifice, which in the New Testament is replaced by Baptism. - Worship and Response: Abraham's emotional response of falling on his face, which is a sign of surrender and is related to the idea of an emotional and volitional response to God's Word. - Immediate Obedience and Leading by Example: Abraham's immediate action to circumcise all the males in his house that very day. - Laughter in Faith: Abraham's initial laughter in response to the promise of a son through a 90-year-old Sarah, and the son's name, Isaac, which means "Laughter".

What do you do when God seems silent, when His promises feel distant, or when waiting turns into wanting? In this message from Genesis 15-16, discover how Abraham’s story shows us what it means to wrestle with God in seasons of fear, doubt, and delay, and how faith grows deepest in the tension between what we hope for and what we see. In this sermon, you’ll learn: How to fight fear by focusing on God’s character instead of your circumstances Why honest doubt can lead to deeper faith when brought to God What it really means to believe God’s promises when they seem impossible How to trust God in the tension between His power and His timing

This message from Genesis 13-14 explores how Abraham models faith through wise choices, generosity, and dependence on God rather than what he can see in front of him, while Lot’s self-centered decisions lead to spiritual compromise and captivity. Through Abraham’s example, we learn that faith involves trusting God’s promises, pursuing peace, taking the “lesser land,” and living with integrity in every circumstance.

This message launches a new series on the life of Abraham, where Pastor Kyle highlights Abraham as an example of faith and multiplication. In Genesis 12, we see a contrast between God’s promises and human failure, showing that faith is an active response to God’s Word, a willingness to go without knowing. Even in Abraham’s moments of foolishness and doubt, God’s faithfulness and grace shine through, and we see how God uses imperfect people to fulfill His global plan of blessing through one man, Jesus.

What if God's blessing was never meant to stop with you? Psalm 67 reminds us that every good gift from God comes with a purpose: that His way would be known on earth and His saving power among all nations. In this message, Pastor Spencer shows how worship and mission go hand in hand. God blesses us so we can bless others, and as we live sent, the nations are glad and sing for joy.

Pastor Kyles teaches from Psalm 16, encouraging believers to respond in faith and seek refuge in God amidst life's difficulties, including physical, financial, relational, emotional, and spiritual trials. He emphasizes the importance of a "high commitment culture" within the church, loving fellow believers, having compassion for non-Christians, learning contentment, and living with an eternal perspective rooted in the resurrection of Jesus.

Pastor Kyle teaches from Psalm 51, showing that repentance is a hopeful word, not about behavior modification but about heart transformation initiated by the Holy Spirit. He reminds us that all sin is ultimately against God and that true cleansing and restoration are found in Christ alone.