There are times when we try hard not to know how something ends—the new Batman movie, for instance. But overall, humanity tries hard to figure out how things are going to play out—crystal balls, palm reading, weather forecasting, stock market predictions. When it comes to the story of humanity, God has already slipped us the ending. And by seeing the end guaranteed in Jesus, we get to know that God’s purpose is to restore everything—even us.

The Bible is not a tragedy. Sin and brokenness are barely established before God promises rescue from them. David lived out the consequences of sin, but he also experienced a foretaste of the redemption that we get to experience in full.

Grace is one of the hardest things to relate to, accept or believe. It doesn’t feel right to us. It operates according to a logic that runs counter to what we want or expect. However, it’s important that we understand it more deeply, because God has inextricably bound his plans for individuals, communities and cities to grace.

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Cities are important parts of human life—they are centers of arts, culture, academics, science, industry and government, as well as the best places to see a country’s gods and idols. What does it mean to care for a city? How do we know a city and feel for it well enough that we can pray over it in our lives and serve it in our work?

You can download the bulletin that goes along with this sermon’s worship service.