This Sunday, our Lead Pastor Dean Inserra continues with week two of our series called "Why Not Tallahassee?" as we look at the importance of the vision of the local church in reaching Tallahassee with the Gospel.  

City Church is celebrating our 5 year anniversary as a church this Sunday, and we will be celebrating baptisms during the service. You will not want to miss this very special anniversary service! 

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to every single one of you who has ever called City Church your home. We planted a church and five years later are looking back in celebration of all that God has done.

We should not be prideful of this, but we should certainly be proud. There is a big difference. This coming Sunday we will have our regular 10AM service, but it will be a celebration of what we have seen take place in Tallahassee since the summer of 2007. I am looking forward to preaching that a day and also gathering with our Church family for our anniversary party Sunday evening at Hotel Duval.

Five years ago I was secretly terrified about what I thought was the most foolish decision I had ever made in my life. Starting a Church from scratch when I only had 8 months of guaranteed income from my previous job scared me to death. I give all the glory to God and many thanks to others, as 5 years later I can be proud of these 3 things:

1. Speaking an everlasting truth in an ever-changing culture.

City Church has shown Tallahassee that you can preach, teach, and value, an unashamed Biblical message without compromise, and still have a modern style and culturally engaging mission. Oh yea, it works too.

Modern style does not equal a modern theology. We have never shied away from talking about sin and proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man.

2. You can prioritize an outsider without neglecting the insider.

I believe that Jesus modeled that those who were lost were his top priority. My prayer is that the lost will continue to be our top priority as well. Many in Christian circles believe that to prioritize the lost is to neglect the believer. I believe that belief is 100% false. To prioritize unbelievers is to lead the Church in the way of Jesus.

The believer and unbeliever need the same thing: God's Word. We had people leave our Church in the early days because they just couldn't wrap their mind around it. I am proud of our Church for staying the course and continuing to care about their friends who do not know Christ.

3. You really can be "in the World," without being "of the World."

I am proud that the owners of City Church are normal Tallahassee folks. They tailgate, go out at night, meet friends for Pilates, associate with people from all different viewpoints, join clubs, rush sororities, meet other moms at the playground, play in local bands, pitch on the baseball team, and teach in public schools.

City Churchers step into the World without fear that the religious safety patrols are peeking around the corner. To follow Jesus is to follow him into the world.

It's easy to look back and celebrate. It is also important. I do believe, however, that we are just getting started in Tallahassee and that we are only seeing a glimpse of what it looks like to be For the Gospel, and For the City.

Please be there at 10AM this Sunday.