There's just something about Citylights. They're more than just a picturesque landscape. They're a city full of life, full of young adults, working, socializing, celebrating, studying, eating. And when I see these lights, I'm drawn in. I want to be part of it all. I want to be in the centre of the action.
Jesus once told his people, "you're the light of the world." Perhaps he was on top of a hill looking at the citylights too. "You see those lights? Full of hope and life. Be like that." I'm convinced that when Jesus spoke these words he had in mind an ancient Hebrew poem. It went like this: "Arise, shine, for you light has come...Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
What a cool picture. People who've received light, and who now become the kind of light that people are drawn to, the kind of light that Kings and Nations want a piece of. The word "Nations" is important here. It refers to those who oppose God and his people. Nations want in on it too. You are the light of the world, you are the citylights.
This is the vision for Citylights. It's you and I learning to be Citylights wherever young adults gather. On campuses and in offices, in coffee shops, restaurants, and clubs. It's learning to think and act like Jesus wherever young adults gather.
Citylights is about Being Young, Being Adults - We're a bit of both. We want to live out our young adult years to the fullest as we follow Jesus.
This means we're not afraid to take risks, to be spontaneous or to do things different. We want to find our own authentic expression of faith as we follow Jesus.
Citylights is about Encounter - We expect to encounter God whenever and wherever young adults gather. After all, there are many ways to experience God's personal presence if we learn to listen.
Citylights is about being Real - We believe that Jesus is relevant to everything we do. So the everyday things that young adults run into in life are what we talk about. We're about keepin' it real.
Citylights is Inviting - We want to invite everyone to be part of what Jesus is doing in our midst, even if they don't believe the same things we do. We believe that in the process God will shape both us and our non-Christian friends.
See you next Sunday...