Two Cities Church

Two Cities Church
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Weekly Messages from Two Cities Church in Winston Salem NC. Hear from Pastor Kyle Mercer and others as they walk through books of the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse. You can find out all about Two Cities Church at TwoCitiesChurch.net

  1. 6d ago

    What it Actually Takes to Plant a Church - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E34

    What does it actually take to move your family and start a church from scratch? In this episode of Open Bible. Open Life., Pastor Kyle sits down with Preston Gammons, Spencer Martin, and Seth Dennis to pull back the curtain on the "pre-launch" phase of church planting. They discuss the transition from serving on staff at Two Cities Church to preparing to plant churches in Charlotte, Greenville, and Winston-Salem. The guests share the strategic and spiritual hurdles they are currently navigating, from building a launch team to the high-stakes task of raising financial support. They offer a candid look at the "Three M's" of church planting preparation: Money, Men (team-building), and the Mission. From the excitement of the initial calling to the practical realities of "vision trips" and finding an Executive Pastor, this conversation provides a roadmap for how a local church mobilizes disciples to be sent out. They also share the personal weight of this season—the "unknowns" of finding buildings and the endurance required to balance current ministry with future planting.

    What it Actually Takes to Plant a Church - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E34

  2. Aug 23

    The Hidden Danger of Self-Righteousness // Romans 9:25-10:4 - Sovereign

    Some sins are easy to recognize. Self-righteousness usually isn't. Romans 9 shows how people who were passionately pursuing righteousness actually missed it because they were relying on what they could do rather than what God had done for them. Pastor Kyle explains how self-righteousness shows up inside and outside the church, why it leads us to comparison instead of worship, and why the gospel calls us to stop defending our goodness and depend completely on Christ.

  3. Aug 17

    From Mexico City to Sending Missionaries: Luke's Story - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E33

    Have you ever wondered if God might be calling you to missions, but had no idea how you're supposed to know? In this episode of Open Bible. Open Life., Pastor Kyle sits down with Luke Tatum, Two Cities Church's first Journeyman missionary, to talk about what it actually looks like to discern a call to global missions and take the next step. Luke's path wasn't always obvious. He went from studying at Washington State and Wake Forest to spending two years as a missionary in Mexico City, arriving in one of the world's largest cities without speaking Spanish and eventually becoming fluent in the language. Now on staff at Two Cities, Luke is helping others discern whether God is leading them toward midterm or long-term missions and preparing them to faithfully take their next step. In this episode, you'll hear about: - How to begin discerning whether God may be calling you to global missions - Why living on mission starts before you ever move overseas - Luke's journey from Washington State and Wake Forest to Mexico City - How Luke went from zero Spanish to functional fluency in about five months - The real sacrifices and challenges that come with missionary life - Why the local church is essential for developing, sending, and shepherding missionaries Whether you've seriously considered becoming a missionary or simply want to understand how God guides His people toward the nations, this conversation offers a practical look at discernment, preparation, and taking your next step. Subscribe to this channel for more conversations about bringing God's Word and work into everyday life.

    From Mexico City to Sending Missionaries: Luke's Story - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E33

  4. Aug 16

    Why Doesn't God Save Everyone? // Romans 9:14-24 - Sovereign

    Does God choose who is saved? Is that fair? And if God is sovereign over salvation, are people still responsible for how they respond to Him? In Romans 9:14-24, Pastor Kyle walks through one of the most debated passages in the Bible, exploring election, God’s justice, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, and the mystery of God’s sovereignty. At the center of the passage is a truth that changes the way we think about salvation: "no one is owed God’s mercy." If God gave us only what we deserved, none of us would be saved. The surprising thing is not that God doesn’t show mercy to everyone, but that He shows mercy to anyone. In this message, you’ll discover: - Why God’s sovereignty in salvation does not make Him unjust - What the Bible means when it says God hardened Pharaoh’s heart - How human responsibility and God’s sovereignty fit together - Why mercy cannot be demanded or deserved - What the potter and clay illustration teaches us about God - Why the doctrine of election should produce humility, worship, assurance, and evangelism rather than pride or passivity - How to respond when Scripture leaves us with mystery we cannot completely explain Romans 9 does not answer every question we may have about predestination and election. Instead, it confronts our tendency to put God on trial and invites us to trust that He is both completely sovereign and completely just.

  5. Aug 10

    They Moved Overseas for Missions. Then Everything Changed. - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E32

    What happens when the life you spent years preparing for suddenly comes to an end? In this episode of *Open Bible. Open Life.*, Pastor Kyle sits down with Matt Hartford to hear his journey from a college student at NC State with a "holy ambition" for missions to moving his family to Central Asia to plant churches among unreached people groups. Matt shares what it took to discern that calling, prepare for the mission field, and eventually move his young family across the world. But two and a half years later, everything changed when his infant son was diagnosed with a serious heart condition that forced their family to come home. From the excitement of being sent overseas to what Matt describes as the "death of a dream," he offers a candid look at the realities of missionary life and the heartbreak of leaving a place and people his family had grown to love. He also shares what it looks like to trust God's providence when your plans are completely upended and continue living out the Great Commission in a very different season of life. In this episode, you'll hear about: - How Matt went from an NC State student to a missionary in Central Asia - How to discern a calling to cross-cultural missions - The role short-term mission trips played in confirming his calling - What it was like to grieve the loss of a dream they had spent years pursuing - How every Christian can take a next step toward God's global mission Subscribe for more conversations like this!

    They Moved Overseas for Missions. Then Everything Changed. - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E32

  6. Aug 9

    How Should Christians Respond to Unbelief? // Romans 9:1-13 - Sovereign

    We cannot just have the Paul’s theology, we need to have his tears and his burden for the lost. In Romans 9, unbelief isn't approached as a theological problem to solve. Rather, Paul is heartbroken over people he loves who are far from Christ. But their unbelief also raises some difficult questions. Israel had every spiritual advantage, yet many still rejected Jesus. Had God’s promises failed? And what does that reveal about how salvation actually works? In Romans 9:1-13, Pastor Kyle explores God’s faithfulness, human unbelief, and the sovereignty of God in salvation. In this message, you’ll discover: - Why Christians should be brokenhearted over people who don’t know Jesus - Why you can be surrounded by spiritual privileges and still not have spiritual life - What it means to be “religiously lost” - Why human unbelief does not mean God’s promises have failed - How Romans 9 begins to challenge the way we think about God’s sovereignty and salvation - Why difficult truths about God should lead us to humility, worship, and a willingness to let Scripture change us Romans 9 may raise questions we can’t answer easily, but Paul shows us how to enter those questions with both conviction and compassion: trusting God’s Word while asking him to give us a heart for those who don’t yet know Christ.

  7. Aug 3

    The Missing Step Before You Can Lead Others - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E31

    What does it take to grow as a disciple of Jesus and lead others in doing the same? In this episode of Open Bible. Open Life., Pastor Spencer sits down with Pastor Kyle Mercer to explore why learning to follow well is the foundation for becoming the kind of leader others want to follow. Drawing from years of ministry experience, Pastor Kyle introduces a simple framework for spiritual growth: Follow. Lead. Multiply. Whether you're leading in your home, your workplace, your church, or simply wondering what your next step with Jesus should be, this conversation offers a biblical vision for growing in influence without skipping the process. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Why following always comes before leading - The difference between obedience, sacrifice, and surrender - How to develop the character needed for lasting influence - Why leadership always involves pain, and how to handle it well - What separates a leader from a multiplier - How to build people instead of simply building a platform If you're looking to grow as a follower of Jesus and become someone who faithfully influences others, this conversation is for you. Be sure to subscribe for more conversations that help you bring God's Word into everyday life.

    The Missing Step Before You Can Lead Others - Open Bible, Open Life. S5E31

  8. Aug 2

    Can Anything Make God Stop Loving You? // Romans 8:31-39 - Future Glory

    Every relationship you've ever had has had conditions. People leave. Friendships end. Marriages fail. Families disappoint. We learn from experience that love always has a limit. So, what about God's love? In this message, Pastor Kyle walks through the five questions the Apostle Paul asks in Romans 8:31-39 to show why followers of Jesus can have unshakable confidence in God's love. This message answers these questions: - If God is for us, who can really be against us? - Will God really give us everything we need? - Who can accuse those God has justified? - Who can condemn those Christ has saved? - Can anything separate us from the love of God? Whether you're carrying shame, walking through suffering, or wondering if you've gone too far, this message will remind you that if you belong to Christ, nothing can separate you from the love of God.

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About

Weekly Messages from Two Cities Church in Winston Salem NC. Hear from Pastor Kyle Mercer and others as they walk through books of the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse. You can find out all about Two Cities Church at TwoCitiesChurch.net

Information

  • Creator
    Two Cities Church
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    346
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Two Cities Church 2026
  • Show Website
    Two Cities Church

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