The Bible is a redemption story. People entering a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the necessary first step in this, but it goes further, to the restoration of the entire cosmos. Colossians 1 tells us that “all things were created” by, through, and for Jesus (v. 16, ESV), and that God’s plan is for Jesus “to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (v. 20, ESV).

 

This beautiful future, where humanity as well as all of the created world is renewed, is hinted at throughout Scripture. At the outset of his public ministry, Jesus announced that the Scriptures proclaiming liberty for captives and the year of God’s favor were fulfilled today (Luke 4:16-21). His presence on earth set in motion what will inevitably be completed—suffering, anxiety, and fear will be consumed by joy, love, and peace. God’s people on earth get to participate in this unfolding redemption, first by being redeemed by Jesus ourselves, then as ambassadors announcing his salvation to others and as stewards who pray and strive that “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, ESV).

 

In various ways, we all groan in yearning for this redemption to be made complete. Injustice, corruption, decay, death—we know that all of this, and more, is not how things ought to be. https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/leadership-training/sending-your-team/a-theology-of cities.

 

Tim Keller biblical insights God designed the city with, and thus to build civilisation. God future redeemed world and, depicted as a city. Nowhere do we face the world’s evil and brokenness more than in our cities. Yet within our cities we can see the best of humanity too.

 

There is good work being done, by Christians and non-Christians, to counter destruction and create flourishing life. The work of all who seek the good of the city, from social service workers to urban gardeners to addiction recovery counselors, whether they are aware of it or not, springs from the recognition that we were made by a just and loving God for a better world, and from a longing for God’s perfect kingdom.

 

Life in the City was created to connect people to these longings, and to the God who alone can fulfill them. This short questionnaire gauges people’s “spiritual temperature,” creates opportunities for spiritual conversations, and connects them to opportunities to serve their city. 

 

The idea emerged from a Bible study on Isaiah 65, where God describes what the new heavens and earth will look like, offering a clear answer to the question “What does God desire for people and cities?” Verses 17 through 25, in particular, show that God desires for cities to be places of:

 

God’s heart is for the city, and God’s people need to understand what cities need and respond in ways that reflect what is most on the heart of Jesus. Life in the City aids in these connections and can help mobilize others to lift the burdens of the city and its residents while sharing the gospel.

 

Life in the City is best used if your church or non-profit is involved in partnerships or initiatives that advance the well-being of the city: after-school mentoring programs, foster care, anti-trafficking programs, poverty relief, food pantries, litter clean-up, and on and on. It can be used in other contexts, but this is the survey’s sweet spot. The pathways to invite partnership and involvement in work to care for the city, and to begin meaningful spiritual conversations, are so natural.

 

Life in the City was pioneered in 2013 by Cru City leaders in Kansas City, and has been used in dozens of cities across the US and world.