Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Luke 1:46-49; ‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬-‭22

Joy is something we all long for—but it often feels fragile, fleeting, or just out of reach. In this third week of Advent, we explore how true joy isn’t found in getting the gifts we want, but in recognizing the grace God has already given. Drawing from Scripture, C.S. Lewis, and the Christmas story itself, this teaching reframes joy as our soul’s response to God’s kindness—and shows why Jesus is the only gift who never disappoints.

Whether you’re celebrating this season or carrying grief into the holidays, this message invites you to rediscover resilient joy: a joy that holds up in sorrow, grows through worship and community, celebrates new life, and is rooted in the unshakable truth that God delights in you. When you have Jesus, you have a joy no circumstance can take away.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Jeremiah 6:13-14; Matthew 2:1-3, 16; Luke 2:8-14; John 14:25-27; Isaiah 9:6–7a

Peace is one of the deepest longings of the human heart—and one of the hardest things to hold onto in a world marked by chaos, fear, and fractured lives. In week two of our Advent series, we discover that true peace is not the absence of trouble or the illusion of control. True peace is a Person. Peace is Jesus.

In this teaching, we explore the contrast between false peace—the kind we manufacture through comfort or control—and the true peace Jesus brings: True peace arrives not through strength, but through surrender. The angels announce peace not to kings or elites, but to exhausted shepherds—those most familiar with fear, lack, and vulnerability. This is who Jesus comes to first. His peace meets us where life feels the most fractured.

Jesus doesn’t simply bring peace—He is our peace. His presence heals what fear has broken, restores what sin has disordered, and makes us whole in the midst of everything we cannot fix. His peace is honest, reconciling, costly, and deeply personal. Advent invites us to stop gluing the pieces back together on our own and place them in the hands of the One who can actually restore wholeness. Peace comes when Jesus is at the center—reordering our lives where chaos once ruled.

If you feel afraid, overwhelmed, or undone, this teaching is for you. Peace is not out of reach. Peace has come. Give the pieces to Jesus, and let Him make you whole again. This is Advent. And Jesus is our Peace.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Romans 8:18-25, Isaiah 40:28-31, Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 39:7, Isaiah 9:1,6

Advent begins in the dark—right where the hope of Jesus shines the brightest.

In this opening week of our Advent series, we explore the deep, soul-steadying truth that hope is not optimism or pessimism. Hope is Jesus Himself. Biblical hope invites us to wait honestly, even painfully, in the places where we can’t see a way out.

This teaching walks through three truths that reshape how we wait in the dark:

1.    Hope means we don’t see a way out yet—but we wait with expectation. We name our discouragement and groaning while trusting that God is already on the way.

2.    When we don’t have enough, God has more than enough. Isaiah 40 reminds us that while we grow weary, the everlasting God never does.

3.    Hope is a Person named Jesus. The light that breaks into our darkness isn’t an idea—it’s the Savior who came as a child and will come again as King.

Whether you’re overwhelmed, weary, or longing for something to change, Advent calls you not to ignore the darkness but to meet Jesus in it. He is the hope who doesn’t disappoint. He is the One already on His way.

Light a candle. Slow down. Let yourself hope again.

This is Advent. And Jesus is our Hope.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

In the final week of Nothing More Nothing Less, we look at what it takes to follow Jesus faithfully for a lifetime. In 2 Timothy 4, Paul writes his final words to Timothy—passing the baton and calling him to a long obedience in the same direction. Paul gives three essentials for a lasting legacy of faith: (1) Anchor yourself in God’s Word. The Bible is our steady truth “in season and out of season.” We don’t just read it—we let it form us, guide us, and ground us in every part of life. (2) Learn to discern what's right. We are naturally impressionable, and Paul warns that people will drift toward teachings that simply affirm their desires. Disciples must grow in discernment—testing motives, agendas, and fruit to stay rooted in what is actually true. (3) Endure pressure and help others experience life in Jesus. Following Jesus includes hardship, pressure, and sacrifice. Yet Paul tells Timothy to keep his head, endure suffering, and keep doing the work of an evangelist. Faithfulness means living on mission and helping others experience the Gospel. Paul ends by saying, “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.” One day, our own lives will be measured by faithfulness. This is what matters most—nothing more, nothing less.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Mark 8:34-37

In Week 3 of Nothing More Nothing Less, we look at Jesus’ bold call in Mark 8:34–37 to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. We explore what Jesus actually meant by “follow me”—not merely believing in Him, but apprenticing under Him. Jesus calls anyone to become His disciple, but surrender sits at the center of true discipleship. Losing our life for Jesus’ sake is the very path to finding it. So many people identify as Christian yet so few actually apprentice Jesus. Following Jesus requires nothing more—and nothing less—than a fully surrendered life. If you’re longing for a deeper, truer experience of life with Jesus, this teaching will help you take your next step of surrender.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: John 6:25-69; Hebrews 11:1

In this message of our "Nothing More Nothing Less" series, we dive into what it really means to have faith in Jesus. Faith isn’t just belief in theory—it’s trust in action. It’s not blind, naïve, or wishful thinking; it’s confidence rooted in the proven faithfulness of Jesus.

Through John 6, we watch a moment when Jesus’ popularity explodes after feeding 5,000 people—but then quickly fades when His message gets hard to accept. He challenges His followers to move beyond wanting more signs or proof and to put their full trust in Him—the Bread of Life who gives eternal life.

Pastor Josh Taylor unpacks what faith actually looks like, why we can’t eliminate the need for it, and how Jesus’ past faithfulness empowers us to live by faith today. Whether you’re exploring who Jesus is or deepening your walk with Him, this message invites you to take a confident step of trust—because the One who calls you has already proven Himself faithful.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Galatians 1:1-10

In week one of "Nothing More, Nothing Less," we dive into Paul’s warning in Galatians 1 about “a different gospel.” The pure and complete Gospel is just Jesus—nothing more, nothing less. Pastor Josh Taylor challenges us to strip away what culture, politics, and personal preference have added to the message of Jesus and return to the simplicity and power of the real Gospel.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Matthew 7:1-5; 1 John 1:5-9; Galatians 6:1-2

We all want to belong—but belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through intentional practices that form us into a spiritual family. In this final week of the Belong series, we talk about accountability—a word that can feel intimidating but is actually essential to real community.

Accountability cultivates belonging when we remove the planks from our own eyes so we can see clearly, stay invested in each other even when it’s difficult, and gently help one another grow in the way of Jesus.

In this message, we explore what healthy, grace-filled accountability looks like—where people listen instead of judge, stay instead of walk away, and grow together instead of apart. Because following Jesus isn’t easy, and existing isn’t easy. We need each other.

Text “BELONG” to (740) 936-5040 for this week’s conversation guide.

Thanks for following our Belong series! Access conversation guides each week here: https://bright-city.cls.co/dFhw

Speaker: Joel Trainer

Passage: Ruth 1

What if one of the most spiritual things you could do was to be sad—and to let others be sad with you? In this teaching, we explore Belong Practice #5: Empathy. Pastor Joel Trainer invites us to wrestle with three honest questions:

- How good are you at being sad?

- How good are you at being sad with other people?

- How good are you at letting other people be sad with you?

Empathy isn’t the same as sympathy. Sympathy says, “I’m sorry for you.” Empathy says, “I’m sorry with you.” And most of us aren’t great at it. Through the story of Naomi in Ruth 1, Joel shows how lament can lead us toward healing instead of silence—and how God often cares for us through good friends who stay with us in the murky middle between hope and reality.

As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” In a world quick to move on, maybe it’s time we learn to sit with sadness—together.

Thanks for following our Belong series! Access conversation guides each week here: https://bright-city.cls.co/dFhw

Speaker: Sarah Taylor

Passage: Matthew 18

Forgiveness is one of the hardest — and holiest — journeys we can take. In this week’s message from our Belong series, we explore how Jesus calls us to walk the long road of forgiveness in Matthew 18 — not to minimize our pain, but to lead us into freedom. We all want people to own their mistakes and acknowledge the hurt they’ve caused. But what do we do when that doesn’t happen? When someone keeps wounding us, or refuses to admit their wrong?

In Practice #4: Forgiveness, we unpack four phases that help us move from pain to peace — Hurt, Hate, Heal, and Restore. You’ll learn how to acknowledge your wounds, let God transform your anger into compassion, and rediscover freedom on the other side of forgiveness. Whether you’re struggling to forgive someone close to you, or wrestling with the weight of your own mistakes, this message will help you experience the healing power of God’s forgiveness — and learn how freed people can help free people.

🎧 Listen and be reminded that the path of forgiveness always leads to freedom.

Thanks for following our Belong series! Access conversation guides each week here: https://bright-city.cls.co/dFhw

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:5-10; Philippians 2:5-8

In this week’s conversation, we explore Practice #3: Vulnerability—the risky but life-giving openness that makes real belonging possible. Drawing from Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians and the humility of Jesus in Philippians 2, we discover that true strength doesn’t come from perfection, but from grace made visible in our weakness. Vulnerability begins with honest humility, becomes possible through God’s grace, and grows through relational courage. When we open our hearts to God and others, we create the space for grace to flow and for love to become real. Join us as we talk about why vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the way to healing, connection, and the kind of belonging our souls were made for.

Thanks for following our Belong series! Access conversation guides each week here: https://bright-city.cls.co/dFhw

Speaker: Jon Couser

Passage: Luke 8:40-50

We live in a world that chases belonging through money, influence, entertainment, and stuff—yet even with more connections and more content than ever, we’re still left empty. In this teaching, we explore Belonging Practice #2: Engagement and what it really means to be present with people in a way that reflects the love of Jesus.Through Luke 8:40–50, we see that belonging isn’t found in crowds, status, or success, but in intentional presence, purposeful generosity, and real relationships. Jesus models a better way—slowing down, noticing people, and calling them by name.If you’ve ever felt unseen in the crowd, too busy to connect, or unsure how to build deeper relationships, this conversation will help you discover how engaging with others the way Jesus did leads to true belonging.

Thanks for following our Belong series! Access conversation guides each week here: https://bright-city.cls.co/dFhw

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Hebrews 13:1-2, Mark 2:16-17, Matthew 5:44-47, 1 John 4:19, 1 Peter 4:9

We all long to belong, yet many of us live with the ache of loneliness—feeling unseen, unknown, and left out. In this series, we’ve been exploring how true belonging begins with God’s perfect love and is lived out in community.

This week, we turn to the first of six practices that cultivate belonging: Hospitality.

Hospitality is a gift rooted in God’s love—an invitation to strangers and friends alike to feel seen, cared for, and welcomed as family. Through the gospel, God made the first move toward us when we were outsiders. Now, as followers of Jesus, we are called to do the same: to notice the unknown, the unconnected, and the unfamiliar, and to create space where they can belong.

In this message, you’ll discover why hospitality is essential to the Christian life, how it makes God’s love visible, and practical ways you can embody it in your everyday relationships. Because when we invite strangers to become family, people don’t just hear the gospel—they feel it.

Hospitality gives everyone the opportunity to belong and become family.

Thanks for following our Belong series! Access conversation guides each week here: https://bright-city.cls.co/dFhw

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 2:42-47

We all carry the ache to belong—but our family patterns, broken relationships, and personal habits often sabotage the very connection we long for. In this episode, we explore how sin has shaped generations of human families (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12–19), and how Jesus breaks the cycle to create a new kind of household. Belonging in God’s family isn’t just about “me and God”—it’s about belonging in a new community where healing, love, and transformation are possible because of what Jesus is doing in us (Ephesians 2:19–22; Acts 2:42–47). Join us as we unpack why we can’t heal in isolation and how God reshapes our story through His people.

At Bright City, missional communities are the place this happens most at Bright City—they’re spiritual families where true belonging takes root. To learn more and become part of one, visit our website at brightcitysunbury.com/mcs.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Genesis 1:27; 2:18; John 15; Ephesians 2; Romans 8

We all feel it—that ache to belong. Whether it’s middle school awkwardness, stepping into a new job, or even walking into a new church, we know what it’s like to wonder if we’ll be seen, accepted, and loved for who we really are.

In the kickoff of our new series "Belong," we’re looking at why that ache runs so deep. From the very beginning, God created us for relationship—first with Him and then with one another. But barriers like past hurt, busyness, false connections, and fear of rejection often keep us from the community we were made for.

This teaching explores:

- The Ache to Belong — why loneliness touches us all

- The Barriers to Belong — how isolation and false connections get in the way

- The Answer to Belong — how God’s perfect love invites us home

The good news? Jesus has already broken down the walls, adopted us into His family, and promised that nothing can separate us from His love. Belonging doesn’t start with fitting in—it starts by coming home to God’s perfect love.

Speaker: Mark Artrip

Passage: Matthew 25:14-30; 2 Corinthians 9:7-11

In this conclusion to our series The Generous Heart of God, guest speaker Mark Artrip, Lead Pastor of Movement Church and an elder of Bright City, brings a timely and convicting message: Faithful servants invest what God gives them, but fearful servants waste it. Rooted in Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), this message invites us to take inventory of how we view our time, talents, and treasure. Are we managing God’s resources with a stewardship mindset—or clinging to them out of fear? Mark unpacks three life-shaping truths: God entrusts us with everything we have. Faithfulness with God’s money requires action. Faithfulness leads to joy and reward; fear leads to loss and regret. Whether you’re just starting your generosity journey or ready to take the next bold step, this episode will help you answer the question: Am I being faithful or fearful with what God has entrusted to me?

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: Acts 20:35; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Hebrews 13:5; Luke 12:13-21

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Money can’t buy happiness.” But maybe we believe it can just a little bit? In this teaching, we look at what Scripture says about money, contentment, and freedom. We discover that it is “more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). Paul warns that the love of money leads to temptation, restlessness, and grief (1 Timothy 6). Jesus warns us to “watch out for greed,” because life doesn’t consist in an abundance of possessions (Luke 12).

We explore how comparison and the belief that we don't have enough keep us from living content and free. The answer isn’t getting more—it’s learning the power of gratitude and simplicity. Generosity is God’s way of breaking greed’s grip. When we create margin and live in limits, it allows us to live joyfully and generously in God’s kingdom. The more we give, the more we reject the lie that money is life—and the more we discover the blessing Jesus promised.

Listen in and discover why the more we give, the more content and more free we become.

Speaker: Josh Taylor

Passage: John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 6:19-24

We all have feelings about money—security, freedom, anxiety, fear, even pride. But what if money isn’t really about money at all? In this message, we begin a series on The Generous Heart of God by looking at what Scripture says about God’s generosity and our relationship with money. Through five key truths—God owns everything, God is generous, money affects our hearts, money is a tool, and following Jesus leads to generosity—we discover that our generosity is a response to God’s generosity toward us. Money can be dangerous when it controls us, but in God’s hands, it becomes a tool for worship, blessing, and eternal impact. As we follow Jesus, His generous heart becomes our heart, and we learn that we can’t take our resources with us—but we can send them ahead.

Speaker: Sarah Knepper

Passage: Matthew 5:9-12; Ephesians 2:14-18

Peacemaking is not about avoiding conflict—it’s about stepping into it to bring harmony. In the final week of our “Blessed” series, Sarah Knepper unpacks Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:9-12, showing how He modeled a different way than the political, religious, and cultural strategies of His time. Drawing from the Sermon on the Mount, Ephesians 2, and vivid real-life examples, Sarah challenges us to listen well, embrace differences, and bear the costly but beautiful work of reconciliation. Discover why peacemakers reflect the very heart of God—and why they will be called His children.

Speaker: Jon Couser

Passage: Matthew 5:7-8, Matthew 5:23-24

Jesus says in Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” This statement is a relationship-oriented statement. You can’t be merciful in isolation. The act of being merciful implies interactions. The good life belongs to those who love others with a deep actionable love that stands the test of time and goes beyond the minimum standard. Mercy is living in that way. Saint Catherine of Siena once asked, “How can I be God’s friend if He needs nothing from me?” Her answer? “By giving His mercy away.” When you show mercy, you’re not just doing a good deed—you’re choosing to love Jesus by loving like Jesus. Jesus doesn’t call us to behave normally—He calls us to live radically. Living mercifully will make you an exceptional person in the eyes of those who are accustomed to the rules of this world and will earn you the right to talk about Jesus. Being pure in heart is about why you do what you do. Pure of heart is only possible when you make your actions not about you. It is living motivated, strictly by a desire to know God, to live according to his will, purely because you love God and are grateful for what he has already done for you. When you live with mercy and pursue a pure heart You are showing the world a new kind of treatment (mercy), with a new kind of motive (purity), toward a new kind of reward (God Himself).