Restoration Community Church

GCL - Lifestyle Repentance

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church continues our sermon series through the Gospel-Centered Life. In this episode, Chris invites us to examine the power of repentance to bring transformation. Repentance is not just something that should be done for "really bad" sins. Instead, this is a daily recognition of places we fall short, and invite God to continue his work of transformation in us.

Passages: Psalm 51:1-12; 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

GCL - The Law and Gospel

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church continues our sermon series through the Gospel-Centered Life. In this episode, Chris looks at our relationship to the law in light of Christ's atoning work. How should Christians view the law? Do we need to obey or not?

Passages: Ephesians 2:8-10

GCL - Believing the Gospel

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church continues our sermon series through the Gospel-Centered Life. In this episode, Chris shares the antidote to our tendency to pretend and perform, believe the gospel. We apply the gospel in our lives when we remember the passive righteousness of Jesus, and the fact that we have been lovingly adopted into God's family.

Passages: Philippians 3:1-11; Galatians 4:4-7

GCL - Pretending and Performing

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church continues our sermon series through the Gospel-Centered Life. In this episode, Chris shares ways that we "shrink the cross" by pretending and performing. We make ourselves out to be something we are not and we minimize God's holiness by thinking it is a level we can attain by our own effort.

Passages: Colossians 1:21-23

GCL - The Cross Chart

Pastor Chris Ansell of Restoration Community Church begins our sermon series through the Gospel-Centered Life. In this episode, Chris seeks to help us increase our awareness of God's holiness and the sinfulness of our lives. By being honest with our brokenness, the cross which connects the gulf, will loom larger in our lives.

Passages: Colossians 1:3-6; 2 Peter 1:3-8

The New Creation

Dave Bindewald, director of the Center for Play and Exploration gave the message this week. He shared from Revelation chapter 21 which describes the new creation. He encouraged us to expand our vision of what heaven will be like in that age to come. 

Passage: Revelation 21

Four Different Views on the Millennium

Pastor Chris Ansell of CityReach Church Swissvale looks at a difficult portion of Scripture in the book of Revelation, Christ's millennial reign. He breaks down four different ways that Christians have interpreted this passage over the years. Regardless of which position we land on, this doctrine is not an essential to the faith, and therefore we should show grace and generosity to those who might hold a different position than our own.

Passage: Revelation 20:1-15

NCC 20 - Who is the Redeemer?

Pastor Chris Ansell of CityReach Church Swissvale returns to the New City Catechism. This week he investigates the identity of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Through the precious blood of Jesus, he redeemed us, setting our worth, and displaying his love for us.

Catechism: Who is the Redeemer?

A: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself.

Amazing Grace

Mike Pierson, Chaplain at the Washington County Jail, fills the pulpit of CityReach Swissvale. Mike looks at God's amazing grace through the experience of one of the thieves crucified next to Jesus. He reminds us that there is no distance we could travel away from God, that he wouldn't welcome us back in an instant.

Passage: Luke 23:32-43

Being Known By God

Bobbi Perkins, University Minister at Bellefield Presbyterian Church, fills the pulpit of CityReach Swissvale. Bobbi examines what it means to be known by God. God sees all of our flaws and has accepted us through Jesus Christ. She encourages us to name our shortcomings before God and to create safe spaces so that others can find that freedom as well.

Passage: Hebrews 4:14-16