The Bible App is completely free, with no advertising and no in-app purchases. Get the app

The City Worship Experience

Metamorphosis - Grace on the Inside

Welcome to The City! We are a people, a place, and a movement helping each other to live like Jesus and impact the city of Columbia. Our vision is to form community, uncover purpose, and create heaven on earth.

Locations & Times

204 S 9th St, Columbia, MO 65201, USA

Sunday 10:45 AM

Welcome to The City!!!!
Where the spirit of the lord is there is freedom. You are welcome to worship freely in this space however you feel led. Stand up, sit down, kneel - whatever is meaningful to you - you’re free to do it. You’re also welcome to try something new you’ve never done before.

We’re honored and grateful that you are here to worship God and to worship God with us today.

Echo, Elevation Worship

When night has fallen When fear is common Still You're calling me When faith is lost And my hope exhausted You will be my strength When my mind says I'm not good enough God, You're enough for me I've decided I'm not giving up 'Cause You won't give up on me You won't give up on me Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out like an echo Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out like an echo Echo in my so-o-o-o-oul So-o-o-o-oul In every season You keep repeating promises to me Now there's no stopping What You have started Until it is complete When my mind says I'm not good enough God, You're enough for me I've decided I'm not giving up You won't give up on me You won't give up on me Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out like an echo Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out like an echo Echo in my so-o-o-o-oul So-o-o-o-oul So-o-o-o-oul So-o-o-o-oul When my mind says I'm not good enough God, You're enough for me I've decided I'm not giving up You won't give up on me You won't give up on me Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out like an echo Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out, breaking out (hey!) Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out like an echo Your love is holding on And it won't let go I feel it breaking out like an echo Echo in my so-o-o-o-oul So-o-o-o-oul In my so-o-o-o-oul So-o-o-o-oul

Children at The City
Children are welcome in worship. We value their presence. For all children (big and small) we have metal baskets on the tables with fun stuff in them.

Children can also attend Children’s Worship. If you’re interested in that, a First Impressions Team member will meet you in the back and escort you and your child to the Children’s Worship area.

Stay Connected!
We've established a handful of ways for you to stay connected with The City Worship Movement throughout the week.

First: Head over to www.ComoCreatesHeaven.com and join our email list! You'll receive updates on all news and events happening within The City.

Second: Like us on Facebook to stay plugged into the ongoing conversation. https://www.facebook.com/TheCityMVMT/

Third: Check in, share posts, or tag us (#TheCityMVMT) on Facebook.

Fourth: Add @TheCityMVMT on Instagram for active updates on all City happenings! https://www.instagram.com/thecitymvmt/

Fifth: Complete the connect card on the clipboards. It’s a great way to indicate your next step, your desire to serve, and more

YouVersion

The YouVersion Bible App is one resource The City utilizes to help you engage with the Sunday morning message. Here, you’ll have access to the worship music, scripture, main message points, and more. Follow the link below or go to your App store to download YouVersion - it’s a little brown Bible. Once downloaded, open the app and go to More > Events > Search 'Missouri United Methodist Church' to find us. Make sure to save the event to be able to reference it in the future.

https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/

Changed, Jordan Feliz

Let me tell you all my friends About this joy I'm living in Let me take the mic, I wanna testify How I was dead and then I came to life No more living in the dark of night Now everything's alright I've been changed I've been saved Brand new day I've been changed Tell me why would I turn back now There's no end to the love I found Future's bright and there ain't no doubt I've been changed, I've been changed All my heartbreak fades away Like a book when you turn the page Let me take the mic, I wanna testify How I was dead and then I came to life No more living in the dark of night Now everything's alright I've been changed I've been saved Brand new day I've been changed Tell me why would I turn back now There's no end to the love I found Future's bright and there ain't no doubt I've been changed, I've been changed I've been changed I put my hand in the air 'Cause I know you're there (Your love did something magical) I put my hand in the air 'Cause you heard my prayer (A transformation, radical) I put my hand in the air 'Cause I know you're there (I know it's supernatural) I put my hand in the air 'Cause you heard my prayer I've been changed I've been saved (I can feel it now) Brand new day (I believe it) I've been changed (Oh I believe it) Tell me why would I turn back now (I can feel it now) There's no end to the love I found Future's bright and there ain't no doubt I've been changed, I've been changed Let me tell you now I've been changed

New Stories, London Gatch

New stories of wonders New stories of signs New visions of breakthrough Let dreams come to life New stories of healing New stories of peace Oh, come Holy Spirit You're setting us free In the presence of our God, anything can happen Let Your spirit fall, with the power of heaven When Your kingdom comes, anything can happen So let it happen here New stories of courage New stories of faith We're ready for breakthrough We claim it today New stories of power Releasing Your strength We'll walk on the waters We'll dance in the flames In the presence of our God, anything can happen Let Your spirit fall, with the power of heaven When Your kingdom comes, anything can happen So let it happen here Oh, let it happen here Let it happen here (Oh, let it happen) Miracles rising, this is revival now Heaven is coming, Spirit of God break out Miracles rising, this is revival now Heaven is coming, Spirit of God break out Can you feel it? Miracles rising, this is revival now Heaven is coming, Spirit of God break out Come, Jesus Miracles rising, this is revival now Heaven is coming, Spirit of God break out We'll walk on the waters, we will dance in the flames We'll praise the name of Jesus, we will never be ashamed To shout Hallelujah, let Your holy fire rain Yeah, yeah We'll walk on the waters, we will dance in the flames We'll praise the name of Jesus, we will never be ashamed To shout Hallelujah, let Your holy fire rain Yeah, ohh In the presence of our God, anything can happen Let Your spirit fall, with the power of heaven When Your kingdom comes, anything can happen So let it happen here In the presence of our God, anything can happen Let Your spirit fall, with the power of heaven When Your kingdom comes, anything can happen So let it happen here Oh, let it happen here Oh, let it happen here

Whole Heart (Hold Me Now), Hillsong United

Hold me now In the hands that created the heavens Find me now Where the grace runs as deep as Your scars You pulled me from the clay Set me on a rock Called me by Your Name And made my heart whole again Lifted up And my knees know if s all for Your glory That I might stand With more reasons to sing than to fear You pulled me from the clay Set me on a rock Called me by Your Name And made my heart whole again So here I stand High in surrender I need You now Hold my heart Now and forever My soul cries out Once I was broken But You loved my whole heart through Sin has no hold on me 'Cause Your grace holds me now And that grace Owns the ground where the grave did Where all my shame remains Left for dead in Your wake You crashed those age-old gates You left no stone unturned You stepped out ofthat grave And shouldered me all the way So here I stand High in surrender I need You now Hold my heart Now and forever My soul cries out Once I was broken But You loved my whole heart through Sin has no hold on me 'Cause Your grace holds me now Healed and forgiven Look where my chains are now Death has no hold on me 'Cause Your grace holds that ground And Your grace holds me now Your grace holds me now Your grace holds me now Your grace holds me now So here I stand High in surrender I need You now Hold my heart Now and forever My soul cries out So here I stand High in surrender I need You now Hold my heart Now and forever My soul cries out So here I stand High in surrender I need You now Hold my heart Now and forever My soul cries out So here I stand High in surrender I need You now Hold my heart Now and forever My soul cries out Once I was broken But You loved my whole heart through Sin has no hold on me 'Cause Your grace holds me now Healed and forgiven Look where my chains are now Death has no hold on me 'Cause Your grace holds that ground And Your grace holds me now Your grace holds me now Your grace holds me now Your grace holds me now Healed and forgiven Look where my chains are now Death has no hold on me 'Cause Your grace holds that ground And Your grace holds me now Your grace holds me now

Welcome to The City. If you’re new to TC, welcome We’re glad you’re here. Our vision is to Form Community. Uncover Purpose and create a li’l bit of heaven of earth.

The City is more than church as you might understand it. We started because God said I want you to turn church on its head. Get back to the days when the people who had faith were unstoppable in living lives of faith that permeate everything they did and because of it, others begin to see and ask to join the movement. The movement is empowered by the gospel, the Good News and at the center of the Movement is Jesus. In Jesus’ life on earth he turned the world upside down and gave permission to live differently than the custom of the day. Living he showed us how to love. Dying he made it known that love had no limits. Rising in the resurrection he gifted us power and purpose to be like him.

So, we believe that as The City Worship Movement we are here as a people. A place and a movement.

First we are people who meet in a place and live empowered by the Holy Spirit in our daily life to impact change and transformation in our relationships, friendships and every door we walk through.

So we're not here to teach you how to do church (don’t get me wrong we want to see you here but not for our sake). We're here to love you, to share good news with you and equip you to BE the church. To BE the people who help each other live and love like Jesus from the inside out.

And this, in case you didn’t know is the message time. I invite everyone to make two agreements doing the message. The first there are no rhetorical questions and second you matter. If you agree to agreement say amen.

Metamorphosis: The Way of Grace
Purpose of this series is two-fold:
1. Set a foundation of Wesleyan grace, which is rooted in scripture and based on the leader of Methodist movement John Wesley
2. Help you identify transformation in your life so that you can answer the question what difference has Jesus, made in your life?

Today’s message is “Grace for all

2 Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 2:8-9

The Way of Grace:
Over the next weeks we will hear about three types of graces. There are so many directions we could go in, yet I’m trying to narrow a bit so as to note difference and distinction of Wesleyan views compared to other views. We will build each week.

Since we can’t get to everything, if you want to question something or add your input:
Take this # down 573-321-9213
You can text or email with questions or statements that arise for you.
You may really want to see the YouVersion of the message for specific wording.

This work we’re doing is theology. It’s God Talk. And God talk is situated for Methodists in scripture, tradition, reason and experience.

Scripture is primary. We wrestle with texts and seek to understand their meanings.

Tradition speaks to the long line of people before us who have lived the faith and their ways of being faithful.
Reason says we don’t have to check our heads at the door.
Experience: I speak of experience as context.

Every theologian has context: family life, time in history, values. These threads are woven into the ways they see and understand who God is and what God does.

This is true for every theologian, including you, We have ideas or concepts that we seek to protect as we engage scripture and faith. It’s not bad or wrong, but we must know what is important to us. And what’s important is often formed by our experiences.

So, let’s agree that while you will hear about views counter to Methodism, in no way am I saying the view is wrong. To be honest, I’ve held some of these views as well and have made changes. And you might hold those views today and that’s okay. You matter and we value you. Here in The City we value relationship. Today’s scripture reminds to place a high value of being in unity and reconciled with God and each other.

Deep breath in and out.

Grace, no matter which theologian or denomination, the definition of unmerited, undeserved or the unconditional love of God is shared.
Wesley speaks of three graces: Prevenient or pre-grace, justifying grace and sanctifying grace. Today we’re looking at prevenient grace.
For Wesley: prevenient grace is an offered relationship to each one of us that is free a gift that is for all people and in all people.

God works for us and in us. For us on our behalf through forgiveness and pardon and IN us (to empower our actions to align with the Holy Spirit.
Prevenient Grace. A grace that is always and already there. God initiates an unconditional love relationship with us. Always and already inviting us into relationship. This understanding of grace, challenges language we use about being far from God. God’s heart is for us, even when we feel far from God or even doubt, don’t recognize, or dismiss God’s presence. God in prevenient grace I always and already there for you.

What does this kind of grace say about who God is? (take a moment to write a note on this)

Now, another view of grace is that God’s grace is selective and elect. God chooses those who will be with God. Not because some people are bad or others are good. This view honors and acknowledges the sovereignty, the authority and all knowing, all present, all powerful nature of God.

It's like the teacher choosing favorite students ahead of time (before first day of school.) The students do nothing to earn this designation. It is given to them freely, without merit.

Keeping with this line of thought, which represents a Calvinistic view (from the theologian John Calvin who has impacted a great deal of today’s theology) -- humanity does not choose God because it is believed that humanity cannot make such a holy, grace-filled choice and this based on the beginning with Adam and Eve. In this view of humanity, our nature is corrupted.

The last part of about humanity’s corrupt nature was also held by Wesley. However he expresses that Grace was needed for humanity to be in right relationship with God, as we read today reconciliation in the relationship between God and Humanity. Even so, Calvin and Wesley saw those relationships differently.

And yet, there a multiple ways to garner wisdom from Adam and Eve:Instead of the Adam and Eve story being consequential in that because of their actions all of humanity experienced a fall...some even say a fall from grace… What if Humanity breaks a promise made to God and thus the relationship is broken, fractured. I mean do we keep our promises to God?

What if the story explains what is true of humanity? Meaning it is not the cause rather an explanation: That humanity will seek knowledge of good and evil. Some have offered that the story of Adam and Eve is humanity’s coming of age story.

And part of humanity’s story is sin. That is to say that humanity, while created in God’s image, misses the mark, doesn’t keep its promises, makes decisions that do not adhere to the Great commandment of Loving God. Love Self. Love Neighbor. Which we discussed the last three weeks.

Today’s Ephesians scripture is one that denominational founders debated throughout history and continue to debate. I listened to numerous podcasts and read blogs preparing for this message to hear how are people speaking about Ephesians 2:8-9 and the distinctions remain.

One thing, however, that I appreciate, even of the people with whom I disagree, is that it appears most believe that a relationship with Jesus Christ changes us!.. Period. That being reconciled to God through Jesus results in transformation.

That the presence of Grace in your life will change you.
—oh what change has come over me If you got that old time religion show sign I know I’ve been changed, angels in Heaven done sign my name.
The power of God’s Grace is transformation.

How that CHANGE happens we argue about. That it happens? On this, we agree.

For a Calvinist, HOW THAT HAPPENS: God initiates and chooses peoples to be gifted with grace, God changes those people and then God is glorified by humanity for the gift of salvation.In this view God alone saves. The big word is monergistic - one works regardless of humanity cooperation.

In the Wesleyan view, change is synergistic. Humanity works with God in the life-long process of salvation also known as sanctification.
Wesley sought to bring together holiness of heart and social holiness. That is piety and acts of mercy. In the City we talk about this as inside out. Wesley saw the importance of holistic holiness.

Instead of choosing one way or the other Wesley called the Methodist movement to the via media (middle way). This healthy tension of both/and. For this reason you hear Methodists speak of head, heart, and hands. (this is one of the tensions or better said, perhaps are points of integration and transformation).

What does this change look like? Approaching salvation as part mystery and part practice, Part God and part Us - we look for insight into one of nature’s most dynamic creatures the butterfly; and its metamorphosis.

The butterfly is a change agent if ever there was one. It Starts from an egg on a leaf. Butterfly eggs are normally 1-3 mm in diameter and are attached to a plant--usually a leaf--with a special fluid.This glue holds the eggs to the leaf in such a way that they cannot be separated without destroying the eggs.

Within the egg all that it can become, is part of it. While the shape or form is not yet there, already present in it are the makings of a caterpillar and in the caterpillar the makings of a butterfly and In that butterfly more eggs.

From your beginning God’s grace is with you, around you, inviting you to an unconditional loving relationship. God is always and already with you. And God is actively seeking you whether or not you recognize this presence.
This is the grace that comes before. The grace that you don’t ask for or earn. Grace, that is a free gift, which leads to forgiveness and change. The way of grace begins here.

Offering & Faith in Action

If you’re new to The City and feel like we might be a good fit, use the connect card on the clipboards to say hi and we will follow up for coffee.

Maybe today God has moved on your heart and you desire to take a next step. We’ve listed next steps on the connect card or you can write a message. Place that in the bowls coming around.

We give financially to support the city. Our offering no matter how small or large or ways in which we acknowledge that God is at work in us and in the world and even in The City. We have many ways we give: comocreatesheaven.com, by text, or in person when the bowls come around

Crews starts this week

Conference registration coming this week.

Loaves and Fishes Saturday

Take pics

Eye Of The Storm, Ryan Stevenson

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control And in the middle of the war, You guard my soul You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm When the solid ground is falling out from underneath my feet Between the black skies, and my red eyes, I can barely see When I realize I've been sold out by my friends and my family I can feel the rain reminding me In the eye of the storm, You remain in control In the middle of the war, You guard my soul You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm Mmm, when my hopes and dreams are far from me, and I'm runnin' out of faith I see the future I picture slowly fade away And when the tears of pain and heartache are pouring down my face I find my peace in Jesus' name In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah) You remain in control (yes you do, Lord) In the middle of the war, You guard my soul You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn Your love surrounds me (Your love surrounds me) In the eye of the storm (in the eye of the storm) When the test comes in and the doctor says I've only got a few months left It's like a bitter pill I'm swallowing; I can barely take a breath And when addiction steals my baby girl, and there's nothing I can do My only hope is to trust You I trust You, Lord In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah) You remain in control In the middle of the war (middle of the war), You guard my soul (yeah!) You alone are the anchor (ooh), when my sails are torn Your love surrounds me (yeah!) In the eye of the storm, You remain in control (yes you do, Lord) In the middle of the war (in the middle of the war), You guard my soul You alone are the anchor (ooh), when my sails are torn Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm, oooh Oh, in the eye of, oh, in the eye of the storm I know You're watching me, yea, ay When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging) And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone, Lord) When my flesh is failing, You're still holding on, oh whoa When the storm is raging (the storm is raging) And my hope is gone (and all my hope is gone) When my flesh is failing (my flesh is failing) You're still holding on, oooh When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging) And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone) Even when my flesh is failing (flesh is failing) You're still holding on, holding on The Lord is my Shepherd I have all that I need He lets me rest in green meadows He leads me beside peaceful streams He renews my strength He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His Name Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid For You are close beside me

Group Benediction

God bless you and keep you,
God smile on you and be gracious to you,
May God look into your face
and give you peace.
Amen.

Additional Resources

More info on the 3 graces: http://www.umc.org/resources/teaching-grace-in-christian-education

The City Spotify Playlist

Want to hear more music from The City? Here is the link for the Spotify playlist. It’s collaborative – so feel free to go in on any account and add songs!

https://tinyurl.com/MusicAtTheCity