Our hearts go out to the people of Israel, as well as, the refugees in Gaza that are caught in the middle of this war. We thought we would be remiss if we didn't take this opportunity to discuss the tension between Israel and Palestine that has existed for a millennium. Join Matt, Lauren and Jonathan as they discuss the history of this conflict, and give ideas on how to best pray for the situation as it unfolds.
Mental health is one of the most pressing issues of our time. In a world, full of virtual reality and a "create your truth" mentality, it can be incredibly difficult to search for any kind of purpose in life. Join Matt and Jonathan as they discuss the rivalry between mental health and spiritual health, and why you should value both of these in your life.
We are living in the Digital Age. Not only do you have access to more information than ever before because of a device in your hand, but also other people have more information about YOU than ever before because of a device in your hand. With the sharing of information and even the rapid development of AI, technology is a beast that will continue to grow whether we like it or not. However, how do we as dual citizens navigate the challenge of knowing when to utilize technology and when to unplug?...
We may be dorks for discussing science, but it is a fascinating topic. Most people would probably say that Science and Faith don’t mix, but we hear at CitizenATX are here to explain how they actually work together. Join Matt, Nathan, and Jonathan as they discuss Science vs Faith.
Sports have never been more popular than they are now. Nobody knows that better than parents of kids who play sports. However, of late, it seems that coaches, schools, and other organizations have begun to value church a lot less. Games and practices on Sundays have become a cultural norm, and the pressure of attending these events can mean the difference between a hobby and a career (or so they tell you...) Join Matt, Lauren, and Jonathan as they discuss how to navigate the sports world as a pl...
Ahhh....the leaves are falling, pumpkin spice is brewing, AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!!! With the new season underway, we know that there will be many days of cheering for your team and against the others. We figured what better time than now to start our new series: Rivalries. Join Matt, Jonathan, and Lauren as they discuss how to handle the rivalry between Politics and The People We Love.
It's been a long summer, but with a few days of temperatures not in the 100's it is officially the start of fall! With the cooler weather and pumpkin spice lates, we also welcome back the regularly scheduled programming of Citizen ATX!! In an effort to refresh from our long hiatus, we wanted to open up the new school year with a reminder of why we started this podcast. Join Lauren, Matt, and Jonathan as they discuss the vision and mission of Citizen ATX.
Austin Baptist Church and Citizen ATX have the privilege of getting to partner with an incredible ministry called The Community Egypt. TC Egypt is reaching thousands of lives in Egypt and they plan to reach millions more as they spread the good news across the middle east. In this episode, Jonathan talks with the founders of TC Egypt Tony and Vanda George. Join us as Tony and Vanda share the story of how they met, and how God has led them to create a ministry that is touching countless lives for...
"April showers bring May flowers"...or if you're from Central Texas..."May showers followed by the overwhelming sensation of 100 degrees and 100% humidity!" Nevertheless, all of the rain and heat is a good indicator that we are entering the wonderful time of Summer. Book lovers will be nestled under an umbrella on the beach with their favorite read, and others will be tanning by the pool while listening to a "banger" from their favorite band. In case ya'll need some inspiration on reading materi...
Cartoons... Snack time... Art class... Recess... We all remember these great moments of life, but these kids are living it. The generation we know the least about so far, might also be one of the most important ones of the future. With all that is going on in the world, it is important for us to pay attention to how our youngest church goers are learning to navigate life's challenges. Join Matt, Kate, and Miles as they discuss the chaotic...but fun...world of Gen Alpha.
If you are old enough to remember the creation of the iPad but too young to remember the creation of smartphones, then you my friend are a part of Gen Z. From the tide pod challenge to the lip glue challenge, this generation has been under a lot of scrutiny. Despite the negative assessment, members of Gen Z are starting to think actively about what it means to become a leader in society. Join Matt G, Sam, and Matt K as they discuss how the church can be a light to Gen Z, and vice versa.
If you have an old iPod full of songs that are downloaded off of Napster or Limewire, then you probably belong to the generation in today's episode. For those that remember the emergence, the fall, and the re-emergence of Britney Spears; it is easy to say that the millennials have been a generation to see some of the best of times and some of the worst of times. Sit back and hold on to your participation trophies as Mitchell, Julia, and Jonathan discuss life as millennials.
If you are like me...you may have watched a particular Rick Astley Music video, and immediately imagined yourself in a '82 corvette blaring this song in the high school parking lot. Many would say that the '80s was the greatest decade in history, but only a true Gen Xer really knows what it was like to be in high school and college during that decade! Join Matt, Bill, and Lynette as we approach the midpoint of our series Multi-Gen.
According to Obrien Pharmacy, The Baby Boomer generation is living longer than previous generations. Perhaps that is because there are more people in that generation than in previous generations, or perhaps it is because they have found the fountain of youth! Whatever the case, we do know that the boomers grew up on fire for the Lord, and that they greatly value having fellowship with each other. Join Jonathan, Vicki, and Steve as we continue our series Multi-Gen.
"Sunday Monday happy days, Tuesday Wednesday happy days, Thursday Friday happy days, Saturday what a day, Rockin' all week for you." I can still visualize the intro for the old classic TV Show Happy Days. Many of us younger folks have wonder what it would have been like to grow up in the '50s, but todays guests actually lived it! Join Terry, Billie, and Matt as we kick off our new series Multi-Gen.
In this episode of CitizenATX, we recap a mission trip our church was able to be a part of. Jonathan Spencer and Dr. Jimmy Myers give us an update on how the trip went and what they were doing down there in Fayoum. We also discuss how the you can be involved in the next trip!
I can hear it now, "Call J.G Wentworth 877-CASH-NOW!" Sung in an opera style commercial... (We are not sponsored by J.G Wentworth...or anyone else...) We all remember those catchy jingles or one liners from a commercial that stick with us forever. Perhaps, the most recognizable of these commercials are the lawyer ads. Lawyers existed in the biblical times as well, and in todays parable we get a glimpse at one of Jesus' interactions with a lawyer. Join Matt, Jonathan, and Lauren as they discuss T...
We have all been in the situation as a kid where we complain to our parents that something "isn't fair!" Inevitably, we always end up getting the same response "Life isn't fair." The characters of todays story definitely had their opinions on fairness in The Parable of the Talents . Join Matt, Lauren, and Jonathan as they take a deeper look at Matthew 25:14-30.
We all have been a part of, or at least heard of, a bad business deal... Money is seen by many as the object that "makes the world go 'round", but what did Jesus think about money? In todays parable, found in Luke 16:1-13, we get just a glimpse at Jesus' perspective on money. Join Matt, Stephen, and Lauren as they unpack this often skipped over parable, and discuss how it might help us use money to make a positive difference today.
Humility can be one of the most difficult character traits for us to work on. Join Matt, Lauren, and Stephen as they discuss a parable that pushes our perspective on what it means to live with humility. In this episode, we discuss the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector found in Luke 18:9-14.
It' a new year, and with that comes new conversations! Join Matt, Lauren, and Jonathan as they start our new series "Parables Reimagined". In this episode, we take a look at the parable of the Lost Son, seen in Luke 15:11-32. What was the audience's reaction to this story when Jesus told it? How does this story apply to us in a modern context?
So...it's the week of Thanksgiving and the beginning of a holiday season and we get it...family dynamics around the dinner table are rough. Whether its talking about politics, hot button social topics, or receiving that same piece of unsolicited advice again this year - Matt, Lauren, and Jonathan are here to help. In this episode, we take a look at how to navigate being home for the holidays through the lens of God's Word and our experiences in order to communicate well, have peaceful conversati...
Now that Halloween is behind us and we are moving into the rest of the holiday season...we know that you can find yourself around the dinner table with family or friends who might think differently than you. Maybe they don't even have a faith and identify as an Atheist or Agnostic. What does that mean? Why do they not believe in God? How do we respond to questions about and arguments against the faith? Join Matt, Nathan, and Lauren as we talk about some practical tools to have meaningful discuss...
It's Halloween and we're here to talk about all things witches, witchcraft, and Wiccans...? We know that these are probably words you don't hear very often but people today do practice and dabble in witchcraft. Not the "you're a wizard, Harry" type of thing - but more so the spells drawn from nature, gods, and goddesses. What do they believe? What does God's Word say about this? Thankfully Lauren, Nathan, and Matt are here to help as we continue in our series: Coexist.
In last week's episode, we continued our series by examining Buddhism. This week we are covering the Mormon faith. We talk about the founder, beliefs about the afterlife, Jesus, the prophets, the Bible, and much more. What is the Book of Mormon? Are Mormons Christian? Come along with Matt, Lauren, and Jonathan as we unpack these topics and more through the lens of God's Word.
Last week we took a look at Islam, this week we tackle Buddhism. Where did Buddhism originate? What do Buddhists believe? Who was Buddha? What are common practices of Buddhists? What does God's Word say about it? If you have these questions, you're not alone. Jonathan, Lauren, and Matt discuss all of this and more in today's episode.
We've all seen that bumper sticker, but what does it truly mean to "Coexist" with different faiths and versions of truth? Today Matt, Jonathan, and Lauren take a deep dive into the first of many religions that we will discuss: Islam. We cover the overview, basic beliefs, and pillars of faith through the lens of God's Word.
In the last episode of the series, we continue a conversation on spiritual gifts. Jonathan, Matt, and Lauren discuss the "controversial" gifts such as prophecy and healing and answer questions around these gifts. Why are they so controversial? Do they still exist today? What are the biblical definitions of these gifts?
Spiritual gifts are real and biblical, but often unclear and confusing to us. In today's episode, Jonathan, Matt, and Lauren walk us through a practical definition of what spiritual gifts are. How and when do we get them? How do we discover what spiritual gifts we were given? Additionally, we walk you through a list of several spiritual gifts that a Christian may have that are purposeful for glorifying God and edifying the Church.
In last week's episode, we uncovered and discussed who the enemy of this world is and how he affects and influences the world around us. As we continue in our series, now we discuss how we protect ourselves as Christians from evil and the influence of sin. What does it mean to make a battle plan against the enemy? What does it mean to put on the full armor of God? And what significance does it have to know Jesus Christ has already won the war amongst the battles we face of this world?
