city of god

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Tim Harmon at NSA - https://nsa.edu/authors/timothy-harmon

Ezra Institute - https://www.ezrainstitute.com/training-programs/worldview-leadership-academy/

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Timothy Harmon discusses Augustine's City of God and its relevance for Christians today. He provides background information on Augustine's life and the context in which City of God was written. Dr. Harmon explains Augustine's vision of history and the distinction between the City of God and the City of Man. He emphasizes the importance of ordered loves and how they lead to true happiness. Dr. Harmon also addresses the challenges of living as Christians in a pagan culture and the tension between pietism and obedience. He concludes by discussing Augustine's eschatology and the kingdom of God.

Takeaways

Augustine's City of God provides a framework for understanding history and the Christian's role in the world.

Ordered loves, rooted in the love of God, lead to true happiness and fulfillment.

Living as Christians in a pagan culture requires discernment and a commitment to the values of the City of God.

Augustine's eschatology offers hope and confidence in God's sovereign plan for the world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:04 Who is Augustine?

06:44 Writing City of God

10:49 Augustine's Vision of History

12:44 The City of God and the City of Man

15:52 Ordered Loves and Happiness

18:26 Plato's Conception of the Real

20:20 Living Differently as Christians

22:22 The Vision of Love in a Pagan Culture

28:47 Augustine's Eschatology and the Kingdom of God

33:21 Addressing Modern Pagan Philosophies

36:26 The Tension Between Pietism and Obedience

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In this episode, Nate and Ben discuss the onset of their respective PhD programs and the value of reading tough texts in community. They discuss how this led to developing a Commissioned Community around reading Christopher Watkin's Biblical Critical Theory. They discuss how Watkin's book isn't about spoon-feeding answers; instead, it's about equipping us all to have insightful dialogues on cultural issues using the Bible. They also touch on the concept of secularism as a Christian idea, tracing it back to Augustine's City of God and City of Man. While culture changes over time, some antithesis remain the same, and Watkin is able to utilize the the story of Scripture to do what the tools of critical theory and modern French philosophy try to do in vain. The end result is a constructive engagement of culture, rather than a deconstructive or destructive one.

If you're interested in joining this Commissioned Community, which starts on Sept 10th, you can find more information in our app on Church Center.

In the Bible, cities have a bad reputation as centers of immorality and unrighteous living. First-century followers of Jesus continued to live in cities, but they lived by an other-worldly ethic set by Jesus. Their way of living was so different that Jesus’ followers began to talk about their citizenship being primarily in a coming heavenly city, rather than the physical city in which they lived. In this episode, join Jon and Tim as they wrap up our theme study of the city.  

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Part one (00:00-21:17)
• Part two (21:17-27:20)
• Part three (27:20-47:11)
• Part four (47:11-1:05:17)

Referenced Resources

• New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, Willem A. VanGemeren
• The Garden City, John Mark Comer
• Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music 

• “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
• “Lost Love” by Toonorth
• “Acquired In Heaven” by Beautiful Eulogy

Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

As the story of the Bible unfolds, the expectation for a city of God—a new Jerusalem where Heaven and Earth will be fully united—continues to grow. Yet the gospel authors seem to think this new Jerusalem is most fully realized in Jesus himself. So if Jesus is the new Jerusalem, what’s his relationship with the physical city of Jerusalem? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss how Jesus and his followers become the new Jerusalem. 

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Part one (00:00-19:01)
• Part two (19:01-21:23)
• Part three (21:23-45:24)
• Part four (45:24-54:56)
• Part five (54:56-1:03:42)

Referenced Resources

• Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music 

• “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
• “Backyard Puddles” by Sleepy Fish
• “According to God” by Beautiful Eulogy
• “Passing the Time” by Tyler Bailey & Matthew Halbert-Howen

Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Cities appear to be inherently bad in the story of the Bible. So when Jesus calls his followers a city on a hill, what does he mean? And why is the vision of the new creation a city instead of a garden? In this episode, Tim and Jon review some of the major motifs in the theme of the city so far and explore the concept of a city of God.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Part one (00:00-22:02)
• Part three (22:02-33:57)
• Part three (33:57-44:17)
• Part four (44:17-54:52)

Referenced Resources

• New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, Willem A. VanGemeren
• The Garden City, John Mark Comer
• Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music 

• “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
• “Goofy Nights in Tokyo” by Sam Stewart
• “Vivid” by Chromonicci
• “Can I Get a Cab?” by Tyler Bailey & Matthew Halbert-Howen

Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Transcript edited by Grace Vang. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Do you think often about heaven? Does the desire to be there ever overcome you? For most of us heaven is a long-off dream that has very little substance to us. When we think about heaven, we may picture dreams of ethereal clouds and harps and angels’ wings. Or perhaps more modern versions of heaven are earthy, wide-open spaces and lush green pastures, tranquility and rest. But if we’re honest, heaven probably doesn’t come across our minds very often. And with our limited imagination, we may not even be that excited for it compared to our favorite things here on earth. Can you relate? In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. In today's scripture, we’re not given a “they lived happily ever after” fairytale description. We are introduced to a glorious picture that will create a deep longing within us for our forever and eternal home. Listen to our newest message of the series, The True Eternal City, and long for and live to enter the city of God! 

Do you think often about heaven? Does the desire to be there ever overcome you? For most of us heaven is a long-off dream that has very little substance to us. When we think about heaven, we may picture dreams of ethereal clouds and harps and angels’ wings. Or perhaps more modern versions of heaven are earthy, wide-open spaces and lush green pastures, tranquility and rest. But if we’re honest, heaven probably doesn’t come across our minds very often. And with our limited imagination, we may not even be that excited for it compared to our favorite things here on earth. Can you relate? In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. In today's scripture, we’re not given a “they lived happily ever after” fairytale description. We are introduced to a glorious picture that will create a deep longing within us for our forever and eternal home. Listen to our newest message of the series, The True Eternal City, and long for and live to enter the city of God! 

The city of Jerusalem, established by David to be the home of God, is a glimpse of what a divine city could look like, but even Jerusalem becomes corrupt. Is there any kind of city we can actually put our hope in? Jesus seemed to think so. He said he was the place where Heaven and Earth are fully united, allowing God and humanity to dwell together. Then he took it a step further to say his followers are a city on a hill, the city of God. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the new Jerusalem.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Part one (00:00-11:08)
• Part two (11:08-25:46)
• Part three (25:46-33:32)
• Part four (33:32-47:31)
• Part five (47:31-1:02:52)

Referenced Resources

• The City We Became: A Novel, N.K. Jemisin
• Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music 

• “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
• “Traveling” by Anbuu
• “Sailing on a Flying Boat” by Enzalla (both middle breaks)
• “Mt. Elsewhere” by Mama Aiuto

Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Israel was meant to be a picture of the heavenly city of God, but over time, it began to look more like Babylon, Nineveh, and Sodom and Gomorrah. In the scroll of Isaiah, the prophet announces Yahweh’s coming judgment on Israel because of their oppression of other humans. Join Tim and Jon as they discuss the city of God in the scroll of Isaiah.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Part one (00:00-13:05)
• Part two (13:05-28:38)
• Part three (28:38-36:29)
• Part four (36:29-51:00)
• Part five (51:00-57:33)

Referenced Resources

• Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music 

• “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
• “Thunderbird” by McKinley Wilson

Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

When we first read about Jerusalem in the Bible, it appears to be a golden city—founded by David, a center of victory, prosperity, and unity. But it doesn’t take long for the cracks to begin to show, and Jerusalem becomes a home for idolatry and oppression. What happened to the city David founded to cause the prophet Micah to accuse it of being a city founded on human bloodshed? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about how even the so-called city of God can resemble the city of Cain.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps 

• Part one (00:00-9:29)
• Part two (9:29-21:26)
• Part three (21:26-40:08)
• Part four (40:08-53:21)
• Part five (53:21-1:03:12)

Referenced Resources

• Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music 

• “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
• “Ah” by a contributor
• “Wonderful” by Beautiful Eulogy
• “New Babylon” by McKinley Wilson
• Original sound design by Dan Gummel

Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder, Lead Editor Dan Gummel, and Editors Tyler Bailey and Frank Garza. Mixed by Tyler Bailey. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

On this episode of Afterthoughts, Ryan brings his good friend Werner to the podcast to dig into one of Werner's favorite crime drama epics. While Ryan and Werner have seen this film before, John is new to the favelas, friends, and enemies residing in its frames. Join us as we use fresh and seasoned perspectives to peel back the layers of tragedy, power, and life in the City of God (2003).

Saint Athanasius Church

Contra Mundum Swagger

Video Version

Feller of Trees Blog (Transcript)

Sermon Series: Joy and Pain: Finding God’s Goodness in Difficult Times (1/22/23)
 
Pastor Susie Gamez

Sacramento Campus
 01/22/2022
 
 Sermon Notes Guide

 Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here
Need Prayer? Submit a Prayer here
Learn more about us: www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Susie is a pastor, speaker and reconciler. She is Canadian by birth, Korean by heritage, Mexican by marriage, and American by immigration, but above all she is a Kingdom citizen. Susie is passionate about matters surrounding justice, equity, reconciliation, and the Gospel which encompasses it all.

Born in Toronto, raised in Vancouver, Susie moved to Los Angeles after college. Thinking she might pursue a career in journalism, she got a degree in Communications and Sociology. In her last year of college, she attended a college missions conference called Urbana, and sensed God calling her into full-time ministry instead. Susie and her husband Marcos started dating while they were students at Fuller Theological Seminary, where they both got their M.A. in Intercultural Studies. They decided to fully commit to the “intercultural life” by getting married and having 4 beautiful children together. After serving as a youth/young adult pastor and church planter in South Central L.A. for 14 years, Susie continues to preach around the country and now serves as Teaching/Preaching pastor at Midtown Church.

Sermon Series: Joy and Pain: Finding God’s Goodness in Difficult Times (1/15/23)
 
Pastor Efrem Smith

Sacramento Campus
 01/15/2022
 
 Sermon Notes Guide

 Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here
Need Prayer? Submit a Prayer here
Learn more about us: www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.

Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.

Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries,a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.

He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Pastor Efrem Smith

Online Service
01/01/2023
 
 Sermon Notes Guide

 Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here
Need Prayer? Submit a Prayer here
Learn more about us: www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.

Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.

Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries,a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.

He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Sermon Series: God’s Way: Prioritizing Rest
 
Pastor Efrem Smith

Sacramento Campus
12/18/2022
 
 Sermon Notes Guide

 Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here
Need Prayer? Submit a Prayer here
Learn more about us: www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Pastor Efrem Smith is a pastor, and internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development.

Prior to joining Midtown Church, Efrem served as President and CEO of World Impact: an urban mission, church planting and leadership-development organization; founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN; former Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and as President of World Impact, an urban missions organization.

Most recently, Efrem and his wife Donecia launched Influential, LLC:a speaking, consulting, and coaching organization, and Influential Global Ministries,a non-profit for African American and Multiethnic Church Planting, Revitalization, Disciple Making, and Metropolitan Missional Movements.

He’s the author of several books, including his latest, “Killing Us Softly.” Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary.

Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters. He’s excited to be a part of all that God is doing in and through the Church.

Sermon Series: God’s Way: Prioritizing Rest
 
Pastor Bob Balian
Sacramento Campus
12/11/2022
 
Sermon Notes Guide

 Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here
Need Prayer? Submit a Prayer here
Learn more about us: www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Bob Balian is the Founding Pastor of Midtown Church, and currently shares the Lead Pastor role with his partner in ministry, Efrem Smith. Bob also serves as the Chaplain for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. He’s a UCLA graduate with a degree in Economics, and earned a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Bob grew up in Sacramento, and returned to Sacramento from Los Angeles to take over a family construction and engineering business. After becoming a bi-vocational Youth Pastor he sold his business, and became a full-time, Executive Pastor at BOSS (Bayside of South Sacramento) with the late, great Reverend Sherwood Carthen.

He then planted Bayside Midtown in 2011 with his beautiful wife, Letty Balian. They intentionally planted in the heart of Sacramento — one of the most diverse cities in the country– and have been intentional about fostering and nurturing diversity and racial reconciliation in the church since the very first day of its existence.

In May of 2021, Bob led his church in a change to become Midtown Covenant Church. Midtown Church has campuses in Sacramento, CA and Elk Grove, CA with a mission to bring hope, health, and healing to its cities, and looks forward to expansion in the near future.

Bob and Letty have one daughter, Taylor.

Sermon Series: God’s Way: Prioritizing Rest
 
Pastor Susie Gamez
Sacramento Campus
12/04/2022
 
Sermon Notes Guide

 Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here
Need Prayer? Submit a Prayer here
Learn more about us: www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Susie is a pastor, speaker and reconciler. She is Canadian by birth, Korean by heritage, Mexican by marriage, and American by immigration, but above all she is a Kingdom citizen. Susie is passionate about matters surrounding justice, equity, reconciliation, and the Gospel which encompasses it all.

Born in Toronto, raised in Vancouver, Susie moved to Los Angeles after college. Thinking she might pursue a career in journalism, she got a degree in Communications and Sociology. In her last year of college, she attended a college missions conference called Urbana, and sensed God calling her into full-time ministry instead. Susie and her husband Marcos started dating while they were students at Fuller Theological Seminary, where they both got their M.A. in Intercultural Studies. They decided to fully commit to the “intercultural life” by getting married and having 4 beautiful children together. After serving as a youth/young adult pastor and church planter in South Central L.A. for 14 years, Susie continues to preach around the country and now serves as Teaching/Preaching pastor at Midtown Church.

Sermon Series: God’s Way: Prioritizing Rest
 
Pastor Bob Balian
Sacramento Campus
11/27/2022
 
Sermon Notes Guide

 Quick Links:

New to Midtown? Click here
Need Prayer? Submit a Prayer here
Learn more about us: www.midtownchurch.org

More about the Pastor:

Susie is a pastor, speaker and reconciler. She is Canadian by birth, Korean by heritage, Mexican by marriage, and American by immigration, but above all she is a Kingdom citizen. Susie is passionate about matters surrounding justice, equity, reconciliation, and the Gospel which encompasses it all.

Bob Balian is the Founding Pastor of Midtown Church, and currently shares the Lead Pastor role with his partner in ministry, Efrem Smith. Bob also serves as the Chaplain for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. He’s a UCLA graduate with a degree in Economics, and earned a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Bob grew up in Sacramento, and returned to Sacramento from Los Angeles to take over a family construction and engineering business. After becoming a bi-vocational Youth Pastor he sold his business, and became a full-time, Executive Pastor at BOSS (Bayside of South Sacramento) with the late, great Reverend Sherwood Carthen.

He then planted Bayside Midtown in 2011 with his beautiful wife, Letty Balian. They intentionally planted in the heart of Sacramento — one of the most diverse cities in the country– and have been intentional about fostering and nurturing diversity and racial reconciliation in the church since the very first day of its existence.

In May of 2021, Bob led his church in a change to become Midtown Covenant Church. Midtown Church has campuses in Sacramento, CA and Elk Grove, CA with a mission to bring hope, health, and healing to its cities, and looks forward to expansion in the near future.

Bob and Letty have one daughter, Taylor.