City on a Hill: Melbourne East

Opposition and evil escalate in a plot to kill Jesus. Signs are demanded by those who have failed to recognise who Jesus is. The end of evil for eternity is foreshadowed. Who will see Jesus as hope for humanity in darkness?

John the Baptist expresses doubt that Jesus is the Saviour that he had prophesied would come. The mystery of Jesus' revelation begins as He invites all troubled souls to come and find rest in Him. Who will see and behold the glory of Jesus?

Jesus sends the twelve disciples to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, and gives them authority to heal and cast out demons in his name. The mission is bold and costly - will the disciples prove faithful to the call?

The mission of Jesus is revealed as he continues to heal and bring life, teach the crowds, and call the twelve disciples to follow him for the ministry ahead. Could there be more to Jesus than just a prophet, good teacher or healer?

Jesus' teaching astonishes the crowds, demonstrating His authority. He performs miraculous wonders - healing the sick and calming the raging seas. The crowds begin to ask “who is this man and by what authority has he come?”

Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb in grief, seeking Jesus—but a dead Jesus. As she weeps, He stands before her, asking the same question heard at His arrest: “Whom do you seek?” She seeks a body, but finds the risen Lord. In an instant, sorrow turns to joy as Jesus calls her by name. The one who drank the cup of suffering now stands victorious over death. He is not just alive—He is sending His followers into the world. “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” Whom do you seek? A memory? A historical figure? Or the living Jesus, who brings peace, power, and purpose? The empty tomb calls us to see, believe, and go tell the world.

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus steps forward from the shadows to meet those sent to arrest Him. Soldiers come expecting a criminal, armed with weapons and torches. Yet, it is Jesus who takes control, asking, “Whom do you seek?” His declaration—“I am”—briefly reveals His power, causing them to fall to the ground in awe. Judas and the soldiers seek a revolutionary, Peter fights to defend a king, but Jesus stands as the willing sacrifice. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” He asks, making it clear: this is no accident. Jesus is on a mission to the cross, to take the cup of wrath for the sake of others. Even in the chaos, He protects His disciples and heals the wounded, revealing His heart of grace. This Good Friday, whom do you seek? The answer stands before us: Jesus, the crucified one, who came to save.

Jesus warns against hypocritical judgment, teaching that we should examine our own faults before criticising others as we grow in humility and self-awareness. God is the only worthy judge of good and evil and so we seek his forgiveness and thank Him for redeeming us.

True or false? Wise or foolish? Jesus ends his “sermon on the mount” by inviting us to walk the narrow path, following His way that leads to life. As followers of Jesus we put our firm foundation in Him, withstanding trials and temptations and finding everlasting joy in Him.

Jesus invites us to look beyond this world and what it can offer us, and look to His kingdom where eternal treasures lie. God is our provider - we do not need to be anxious about tomorrow for He gives us all we need for life and righteousness in Jesus.

Jesus calls His followers to seek a deep, genuine relationship with God rather than outward religious performance. Practice humility in prayer, devotion and generosity as you serve the Lord as your King in secret and in public.

Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. He came to redirect our fixation from rules and laws, to loving and knowing Him. Jesus is serious about sin - He wants us to walk the path of righteousness that leads away from darkness, towards His marvellous light.

Jesus calls us to be ‘salt' and ‘light' - to be people who seek Him and show the world His beauty and grace. As followers of Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit, we are to shine in a way that invites the world to want to find out who Jesus is.

Jesus promises blessing, fulfilment, and the kingdom of heaven to those who are poor in spirit, mourn, and are persecuted for His sake. Jesus invites us to walk in His light, to truly see God and to rejoice that our reward is great in heaven.

Jesus begins his ministry, revealing His kingdom of light to the world. Jesus endures forty days of temptation in the wilderness before He begins to preach the good news, calls His first disciples and performs healings and miracles.

John the baptist prepares the way for Jesus. As Jesus is baptised in the river Jordan, the heaven's open up and the Spirit of God descends like a dove and God declares “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus is born, the promise fulfilled and the Saviour is here. King Herod hears of the news and, seeking to kill Jesus, wipes out all the newborn sons in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary flee to Egypt following an angel of the Lord's warning, before returning to Nazareth.

God's promise to send a Saviour to redeem Israel is made clear in the genealogy of Jesus and the generations before His birth, from Abraham to Joseph. God is faithful to save His people by sending His Son - Immanuel, God with us.

What are we proclaiming as followers of Christ? Will you be a weak person for God this year? Pastor Patrick Donohoe shares a message about the vision of a missional church.

What are the hallmarks of a follower of Christ? Dr Michael Theophilos shares a message on Psalm 1 about the ways God calls us to follow Him.

Lead pastor Nick Coombs shares about the point, promise and power of the Church from Ephesians 2:11-3:13 as part of our January series Citizens. Note: due to some technical issues there were some problems with the audio quality for this week's sermon.

Pastor Nick Coombs gives us a Christmas message in our penultimate service of 2024!

Practice love, hospitality, and compassion, as you trust in God's provision. Fix your eyes on the kingdom of God, as we continue to praise Him, abide in His word, act mercifully and share the good news with others, for these sacrifices are pleasing to Him.

Through Jesus, our mediator, we are invited into His kingdom of joy and celebration. Jesus invites us to listen to God's voice, reminding us that one day everything temporary will be shaken, leaving only God's unshakeable kingdom.

A good father will discipline his children. Likewise, God disciplines us as his children to produce holiness within us, and to form us into the likeness of Jesus. The way we live is an example to the world of Jesus' ways, and the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

Many have gone before us in trusting God, and in His promises, without seeing the end reward. We endure the difficulties of this life by looking to Jesus, who perfected faith by enduring the cross, and strengthens us to stay steadfast in the face of opposition.

Through Jesus, we can draw near to God with assurance that we are forgiven of our sins. Despite struggle, in Jesus there is great eternal reward. Stand firm, resist sin, encourage one another and remember God is faithful to forgive and save you.

The old covenant's earthly tabernacle and repeated sacrifices were abolished with Christ's once-for-all sacrifice. We do not have to earn our faith or perform sacrifices to God. Jesus has paid the price for our sin and sanctifies us by his blood, giving us a new identity in Him.

Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary, offering His own blood as a sacrifice to secure eternal redemption for us, to cleanse us of sin and to gift us the presence of God, the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus we are invited into the throne room of God, to enjoy a relationship with Him.

Unlike earthly priests, Jesus' priesthood is permanent because He lives forever. His perfect sacrifice brings complete salvation, making Him the ultimate mediator between God and humanity. Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant between God and us, his people.

Join us from Camp Sunday 2024 as Pastor Patrick Donohoe gives us a message on the final two chapters of 2 Timothy.

Join us for session 2 from Camp 2024 as Pastor Nick Coombs continues the series preaching through 2 Timothy chapter 2.

Join us for session 1 from Camp 2024 as Pastor Neil Castle delivers a powerful message on 2 Timothy chapter 1.

Our hope in God's promises serves as an anchor for the soul, with Jesus as our eternal High Priest. Hebrews 5-6 encourages believers to keep trusting Jesus, warns against spiritual stagnation and reminds us to trust in God's promises and persevere in the faith.

Jesus is the great High Priest who sympathises with our weakness and temptation to sin, yet remains sinless. He offers mercy and grace, providing eternal salvation through his obedience to the Father and suffering at the cross and fulfilling his role as great High Priest.

Hebrews 4:1-13 reveals the glory of God through the promise of rest found in Jesus. This rest represents not only physical respite but spiritual fulfillment and peace. The invitation to enter God's rest through Christ showcases His glorious provision and the divine purpose of offering eternal rest and tranquility.

In Hebrews 3:1-19, the glory of God is embodied in Jesus as the Wonderful Counsellor. Compared to Moses, Jesus' glory surpasses that of the greatest Old Testament leaders. His faithful leadership and guidance reflect the divine wisdom and glory, offering us a deeper understanding of God's plan and purpose for His people.

Hebrews 2:1-18 highlights the glory of God as seen in the sacrificial role of Jesus, our Saviour. Through His incarnation and suffering, His willingness to become human and endure suffering for our salvation reveals God's magnificent grace and redemptive power.

Jesus is the perfect, ultimate, final revelation of God. He is the ultimate expression of God's glory, surpassing all previous revelations and angels. In Jesus, we're invited to witness and experience the majestic glory of God's presence.

Worshipping “in spirit” involves a heartfelt devotion, love for Jesus and full surrender to God. The Holy Spirit reveals and illuminates truths about God's character, His will, and His redemptive plan through Jesus Christ to our heart, leading us to praise and worship him with our whole lives.

Those in Christ stand secure in the kingdom of God, yet we know the prince of darkness rules the city of man. The Holy Spirit allows us to fight sin, darkness and evil, as we put on the armour of God and take out the Sword of the Spirit.

God gives signs, wonders and gifts by the Holy Spirit to point us to his power, grace and love. He wants us to walk in the newness of life given to us in Jesus, seeking and using our spiritual gifts to help us to know Jesus deeper and to make Him known.

God's Spirit and His Word are intimately connected and mutually reinforcing in the life of a believer - both are needed to flourish in Christ. The Holy Spirit illuminates the message of the Bible, enabling us to understand its truths and apply them, and to see and know the person of Jesus.

Disciples of Jesus are not only called to follow him, but also become like him. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Jesus - leading us to a deeper sense of dependency on God as we navigate seasons of trial and temptation, and seek His guidance and strength.

Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit, reminding us that our redemption is not based on our own work or efforts but is a gift of God's amazing grace. By the Holy Spirit and through faith in Jesus, we get to walk in our new and transformed lives.

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a gift received by faith, allowing us to encounter God, enabling our transformation and empowering us for life and ministry. As a living member of the Trinity who is with us today, The Holy Spirit desires ongoing fellowship with us.

City on a Hill Conference 2024 continues with Pastor Jon Tyson from Church of the City New York, delivering a sermon on the themes of joy and celebration

In an age of social media, comparison and jealousy can easily creep into our hearts. God desires us to not be jealous and to be content in his gift of salvation in Jesus.

Is it ever okay to tell a lie? Deception and mistruth is evident throughout our world, but Jesus himself claims to be the truth and the light. Will we follow him in our actions?

In a confused generation, where is the line on adultery, cheating and affairs? We are all searching for the “right” way to do relationships. Will we follow God's way?