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CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

By: CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS
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 At Christ Community Church (C3 Memphis) we are seeking to form followers in the way of Jesus so the fame and deeds of God are repeated in our time. We meet on Sunday mornings at 10:15AM. For more information you can go to c3memphis.orgCopyright 2017 . All rights reserved. Spirituality
Episodes
  • He is Good | Become Like a Child | Mark 10:13-16 | Coleton Segars

    He is Good | Become Like a Child | Mark 10:13-16 | Coleton Segars
    Jun 30 2025
    In this message, Coleton explores what it means to receive the kingdom of God like a child. Using the moment when Jesus welcomes little children while His disciples try to turn them away, Coleton highlights Jesus’ radical teaching: only childlike people can experience the life of the kingdom. Coleton frames the teaching around three key qualities children naturally possess, which Jesus wants His followers to imitate—not childish immaturity, but childlike virtues: ⸻ 1. Be Dependent Like a Child Children depend on their parents for everything—food, comfort, direction, and provision. Coleton humorously illustrates this with a barrage of questions his son Teddy asks in just a few minutes, revealing how constant and uninhibited children are in their need. In contrast to earthly parents who eventually encourage independence, God never asks us to grow out of needing Him. Jesus invites us to stay needy, to come to Him when weary, and to cast all our cares on Him (Matt 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7). The quality of life we experience is directly connected to who or what we depend on—Jesus or ourselves. “Whoever or whatever we depend on determines the kingdom or kind of life we experience.” ⸻ 2. Trust Like a Child Children are quick to believe. Coleton recalls how children after seeing Peter Pan jumped off beds thinking they could fly. While not endorsing naivety, he urges us to trust Jesus like that—not because the logic always checks out, but because He is trustworthy. The Bible is full of people who experienced the kingdom of God because they took God at His word: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Mary, and more. They didn’t understand everything, but they obeyed—and saw God move. Many of Jesus’ commands—love your enemies, forgive freely, give sacrificially—don’t make sense to the adult mind. But childlike trust leads to experiencing divine results. The more we rely on our understanding, the less we see of God’s kingdom. ⸻ 3. Submit to His Authority Like a Child Children live under authority. Their lives are shaped by rules and boundaries from parents. Coleton points out that while kids grow up and grow out of their parents’ authority, we are never meant to grow out of God’s authority. In Scripture, the people who experience miracles are those who do what Jesus says. Submission isn’t loss—it’s gain. Life under Jesus’ authority leads to peace, joy, and blessing. “If you will let me lead you, submit to my authority—you will experience my rule and reign over your life. My rule and reign is peace and joy and love and hope.” ⸻ Final Contrast: The Childlike vs. The Adultlike Mark’s story ends with a rich young man who walks away from Jesus sad because he can’t be childlike. He can’t depend, trust, or submit. He clings to his wealth and control. In contrast, the children in the story are scooped up into Jesus’ arms. They receive more than they came for—His love, His blessing, and His presence. The message is clear: you can walk away sad or walk away scooped into the arms of Jesus. It depends on whether you’re willing to be childlike. ⸻ Discussion Questions 1. Dependence: • What’s one area of your life where you’re trying to be independent when Jesus is asking you to depend on Him? • What would it look like to cast your cares on Him this week? 2. Trust: • Is there a command from Jesus that doesn’t make sense to you right now—but you feel called to obey it anyway? • What keeps you from trusting Jesus fully? 3. Authority: • Where in your life are you resisting Jesus’ authority? • How might your life be different if you submitted that area to Him? 4. Childlikeness vs. Adultlikeness: • In what ways have you grown out of childlike faith? • What would it look like to return to a posture of humility, dependence, and obedience? 5. Jesus on the Cross: • How does seeing Jesus on the cross give you confidence to depend on, trust in, and submit to Him? ⸻ Author Quotes Used in the Sermon “After the first production of the play, Peter Pan, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up (1904), I had to add something to the play at the request of parents. It was that no one would be able to fly until they received fairy dust. This was because many children had gone home and tried flying from their beds and needed surgical attention.” – J. M. Barrie ⸻ Scriptures Referenced • Mark 10:13–16 – Let the children come; receive the kingdom like a child. • Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me… I will give you rest.” • 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast your cares on Him…” • Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry, pray about everything.” • Luke 18:1 – “Pray and never give up.”...
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    44 mins
  • Choose The Fruit Of The Spirit | Galatians 5:22-23 | Shari Ray

    Choose The Fruit Of The Spirit | Galatians 5:22-23 | Shari Ray
    Jun 23 2025

    In her sermon, Shari uses the metaphor of the Camino de Santiago—a long spiritual pilgrimage—to illustrate the Christian journey of moving continually toward peace and away from chaos. She reflects on her own experience walking the Camino, emphasizing that the daily, intentional choices made on the trail mirror the spiritual decisions we make in life. Life, like the Camino, is not static. Everything is always in motion—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

    Shari ties this constant movement to the second law of thermodynamics, highlighting humanity’s natural tendency toward disorder unless we intentionally choose otherwise. Spiritually, we’re always moving toward either peace (shalom: wholeness, well-being, safety) or chaos (slavery, disorder, retaliation). Shari contrasts biblical peace with today’s culture of “my truth” and ethical relativism, which echo the times of the Judges when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes."

    She argues that freedom in Christ means intentionally choosing the path that leads to peace, even when it is counterintuitive or difficult. The lie from the Garden of Eden—that we are the exception to the rule—still misleads us today. We often believe we can harbor resentment, avoid forgiveness, or justify sin without consequences. Shari emphasizes that choosing chaos—like revenge, bitterness, and pride—leads us back into spiritual slavery.

    Through examples from both Scripture (Gideon, the Exodus, Judges) and literature (Nietzsche’s philosophy, Crime and Punishment, Macbeth, Hamlet, East of Eden), she shows how refusing to forgive, holding onto bitterness, or believing ourselves exempt from consequences always results in suffering. Forgiveness, though often seen as illogical or undeserved, is the path to freedom.

    She tells real-life stories—like her friend Bob who justifies meanness because “they started it”—to show how childish and harmful these justifications are. True peace begins with us, not with others. We often claim we want peace but refuse to let go of pride, pain, or perceived justice to get it.

    Shari closes by urging the congregation to choose the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as the “good fruit” in contrast to Adam and Eve’s wrong choice. Like the biblical figures and literary characters she referenced, we too stand at a crossroads daily: toward peace and freedom in Christ, or chaos and slavery in sin. The Gospel gives us the power through the Holy Spirit to undo our wrong choices and walk “The Way” that leads to true peace.

    Discussion Questions

    1. Shari says we often believe “we are the exception to the rule.” How have you seen that idea play out in your own life or culture?

    2. What does the word “shalom” (biblical peace) mean to you? How is it different from simply not fighting or being calm?

    3. Are there any areas in your life where you are choosing chaos (bitterness, revenge, pride) instead of peace? What would it look like to choose differently?

    4. Who is someone in your life that you feel “started it”? What would it take for you to forgive them anyway?

    5. Which of the fruits of the Spirit do you most need to grow in right now to walk in peace? What’s one practical way you could pursue it this week?
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    49 mins
  • He is Good | Marriage & Divorce | Mark 10:1-12 | Coleton Segars

    He is Good | Marriage & Divorce | Mark 10:1-12 | Coleton Segars
    Jun 15 2025
    This week Coleton guided the congregation through Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce, helping listeners understand not just the law, but God’s heart. 1. The Context Behind the Question (vv. 1–4) The Pharisees weren’t genuinely interested in truth—they were trying to trap Jesus, either in conflict with Moses' law or in political danger (like John the Baptist, who spoke against Herod’s divorce).
 Their question: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Jesus’ counter: “What did Moses command you?” They referenced Deuteronomy 24, where Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce due to “uncleanness.” But that term was debated. Rabbi Shammai: interpreted it as sexual immorality. Rabbi Hillel: made it overly broad—even burning dinner qualified. Rabbi Akiba: said divorce was valid if a man simply found someone more attractive. The takeaway: People were more focused on when they could exit a marriage than how they could honor it. 2. Jesus’ First Hard Truth: There Is No Godly Reason for Divorce (vv. 5–9) Jesus said divorce was never God’s idea—it was permitted due to the hardness of people’s hearts. God doesn’t celebrate divorce; He allows it in certain circumstances (sexual immorality – Matt. 19; abandonment – 1 Cor. 7). But no one is being godly by divorcing. God remains faithful even when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13). Jesus is calling us to a higher view of marriage: “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” 3. Jesus’ Second Hard Truth: Marriage Was Designed to Be Permanent (vv. 6–9) Jesus brings it back to Genesis: marriage is one man and one woman, united by God to become one flesh. Not just a legal contract or emotional connection—it’s a covenant. Jesus says: If you’re not ready for that kind of permanence, don’t get married. Coleton used a powerful analogy: If you could only live in one house forever, you’d be incredibly picky. You’d inspect it. You’d ask questions. You’d think about the future.
That’s how we should approach marriage—slowly, wisely, and with deep respect for the lifelong nature of the covenant. Key Insight for Singles:
Go slow. Be picky. Don’t marry because of pressure, fear, or impatience. Culture says marriage is everything—Jesus says it’s weighty and sacred. 4. How the Disciples Responded (Matthew 19 parallel) The disciples said, “If this is how serious marriage is, maybe it’s better not to marry.”
Jesus agreed: singleness can be a gift. Some are called to it. Others choose it for the sake of the Kingdom. Either way: marriage isn’t the only path to purpose and joy. 5. What This Means for Married People (vv. 10–12) Jesus challenges the popular belief that divorce was fine as long as you remarried “legally.”
But He says plainly: Divorcing and remarrying without biblical cause is adultery. Jesus was confronting a culture of easy outs. Instead of working on marriages, people were walking away. Instead of staying faithful, they found loopholes. Coleton gave a stinging but important critique: People say they don’t have money or time for counseling—but they find the money and time for lawyers and mediation in their divorce.
If the same effort and energy put into divorce was invested in the marriage, many could thrive. Just like we care for our own permanent bodies—seeking healing, not amputation—we should treat marriage the same. You don’t discard your body when it’s weak. You work on it. That’s how we treat our “one flesh” partner. Final Word: Hope for the Broken (Romans 3:22–25) Coleton closed by acknowledging the reality: many in the room have been through divorce, some in ways Scripture would call sin.
But he declared the good news of the gospel: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.”
Jesus calls sin what it is, but He also took our punishment on the cross for our sin.
For those who believe, we are judged not by our brokenness, but by Christ’s faithfulness.
He will never divorce His bride. He is always faithful. Discussion Questions for Personal or Group Reflection Understanding the Message Why do you think Jesus pointed the Pharisees back to the creation account rather than simply debating Mosaic law? What are some common ways our culture treats marriage more like a contract than a covenant? Reflecting Personally If you are single, how does Jesus’ teaching on the permanence of marriage shape the way you view dating or engagement? If you’re married, what is one way you can invest in your marriage this week—time, money, energy, or attention? Living It Out Are you currently placing more effort into avoiding marital difficulty or addressing it? What step can you take—counseling, prayer, a conversation—to move toward healing and strength in your marriage? Quoted Authors and Sources Søren Kierkegaard:
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    39 mins
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