CityChurch Talks

Jesus says that not everyone who calls him Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What does that mean for us and how can we make sure we can lay hold of the promises of the Kingdom of Heaven if calling Jesus Lord isn't enough? Text: Matt 7:21-23 & Luke 6:46-49

This week we start our Lenten journey in pursuit of the Kingdom of God by looking at one of the key things Jesus said we must have if we are to even enter the Kingdom. What are those things? How can we be sure we have them? & what are the implications for our lives? Text: John 3:1-16

This Lent we are pursing things of the kingdom. We kicked off Lent with our Ash Wednesday service where we explore the deeper meaning of Ash Wednesday. We looked at 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." The main goal of repentance is dealing with our sin SO THAT we can step into revival. We hope that you tune in for this and journey with us this Lent season.

In this talk, we look at Ezekiel's vision of the River of Life. We explore not just the incredible hope that this brings us but also the call that it carries to go deeper and deeper in our faith as a response. We ask: How do we do that? and what will happen as we do? Text: Ezekiel 47:1-12

Let's face it, without Jesus standing in the gap for our sin, none of us would be able to experience the abundant life. And that is why we worship him. This week we will focus on what it means for us to stand in the gap by being a living sacrifice for God! Ezekiel 22:23-31 The Message (MSG)

If we want to see God move powerfully in our lives then, sooner or later we have to get real about idolatry. In this talk, we look at Ezekiel's extraordinary prophecy on this topic, we consider how idolatry impacts our lives today and we grasp the hope and power available for us in Jesus. Text: Ezekiel 16:1-22, 35-42 & 59-63

Worship lies at the very heart of all Jesus is doing in our church right now. In this talk, as we start a series from the book of Ezekiel, we shall therefore explore some key questions...what does lie at the heart of worship? and what does that mean for us as we seek to experience more of Jesus? Text: Ezekiel 1:1-9, 15-18, 22-28 & 3:4-15

Exciting things are happening at CityChurch! On this, our Church birthday, Al shares a vision for the months ahead that encompasses both the exciting things that the Lord is doing and the implications that has for us as we step into it!

The goal and norm for every believer, is to be consumed with the Spirit and that the Kingdom of God becomes our ultimate reality. As a church this is where we are headed so get ready! In this talk Josh shares with us about how the Spirit being our daily communion. Matthew 13:44-45, Romans 8:11 & Acts 12

Last week we explored God's call for us to make Him a priority in our lives this year. In this talk, we see this is not just about activities FOR Jesus but about relationship WITH Jesus. Looking at Psalm 23, we see the powerful shift that happens when we move from being 'wanderers' to becoming a 'dwellers'. Text: Psalm 23

As we start a new year, new decade and exciting new season in the life of our chuuch Al casts a powerful vision for the months ahead. In particular, how 'the Kingdom of heaven has come near' to us (Matt 4:17) and what we are now being called to do to lay hold of it and see it become ever more real in our midst.

John's gospel starts by saying that 'In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind' (John 1:4). As we celebrate the birth of Jesus we examine the life that He brings and more importantly, how we can lay hold of it for ourselves this Christmas. Text: Isaiah 9:2-7 and John 1:1-13

On this Sunday we had our annual carol service that told the story of Luke 1:26-38 and Matt 1:18-21 in music, reflection on these scriptures and powerful video clips from the BBC show called 'The Nativity'. This all leads up to the talk you will hear her. We hope the story of Mary & Joseph mean something different this Christmas Season! Christmas reminds us that God often does unexpected things. But how should we respond when He does? and what does it really mean to trust in God in good times as well as hard? In this talk, we reflect on what it means to respond and trust in the God of the unexpected this Christmas.

*Disclaimer: We unfortunately had some technical issues during this recording and there is a bit in there that was lost and with an abrupt ending but we didn't want to not share those parts of the talk that were very powerful. We apologize in advance.* This Sunday we had our amazing All Age Christmas service where we take the Christmas story and make a play out of it, usually including many Disney characters. This Christmas, how should we respond to the promise of a King? In this talk, we see how Jesus was an unexpected King when He was born and is still the unexpected King today. We are invited to see the kind of King He really is and respond to Him accordingly!

Life so often steals our joy. Frequently, Christmas does the same. In this talk, we start our Christmas series looking at the biblical promise that true joy is found through the 'Great Rejoicing Reversal'. What is it? How do we engage in it? and what will the result be? Text: Zephaniah 3:14-17

Currency always enables us to do things. In the world, that currency is money BUT in the Kingdom that currency is Faith. In this talk, we look at what that means, how we are called to use that currency and how God will move in power as a result. Text: Luke 8:22-25 & 40-56

We have authority in the Kingdom of Heaven! The "key" that unlocks this authority is our position in Christ. The talk this week will explain how the kingdom of God gives us full authority individually and corporately to "bind and loose" the world around us. Matthew 16:13-19

As we continue to explore the Kingdom of God we look at the reality and power of the gift of prophecy for today. In this talk we explain what the gift is, why we should be really interested in it and how to step into it in such a way that we too, like Ezekiel, will see dry bones come to life! Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14

In this talk, we challenge you to explore the true nature of worship and invite you, along with the rest of the church, to 'ascend' through worship into the very presence of Jesus himself. Text: Psalm 121:1-2, Psalm 126:1-3 and Psalm 131:1-3

Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field. But what is that treasure? and why is it so valuable? In this talk, we answer both questions & start our own journey to find that treasure for ourselves. Text: Matthew 13:44

Although the Kingdom of God is a place of abundance, most of us face the reality of scarcity in our lives. In this talk, we detail how Jesus invites us to journey into His place of Kingdom abundance & especially so, when it comes to our concern for the poor.

In this talk Josh shares his passion of Isaiah 58 and a brand new way to allow the scripture to change our lives. He teaches us that sometimes the healing and breakthroughs that we have been looking for are directly tied to the people we chase after.

In this last talk in our Stress[Less] series, Al shares what the bible calls the secret of being content. This secret embraces all the previous talks in the series and presents us with an invitation to pursue Stress[Less] as a lifestyle. It's God's plan for you...do you want it? Phil 4:10-13

Guest speaker Bobby Gupta continues our sermon series Stress[Less] by asking the question "How shall we live in God's Shalom Kingdom?" By knowing God, seeking His kingdom and living Kingdom values intentionally.

While Al was away speaking at River City Church in Jacksonville, FL this weekend we got the pleasure of hearing from Mark Landon. This week Mark tackles the topic of sabbath and the importance of resting.

As we start our new series'Stress [Less]', we look at God's solution for our anxiety. In this talk, we look at what that solution is, how to put it into practice in our lives and the impact it will have on us as we do!

Four months ago Pastor Al found a hawk in his study. That unlikely event prompted over 80 hours of prayer this summer for the church. In this talk, Al shares what God has been saying, the vision for this next season and an invitation to each of us that it is time to soar!!

In this talk, we look at how God calls us, as Christian's, to relate to one another - not just when things are going well but also when they are not. We then apply that truth to the key relationships in our lives today.

We invited John Peters, from across the pond to come share a word he believed the Lord sent him to share with us. John Peters comes from St. Marys London, City Church's parent church. Have you ever experienced guilt and/or shame?? John brings us a powerful word about how we can combat guilt and shame through the work of the Holy Spirit. Listen to this talk to hear more about what that looks like in our lives. John shares many stories of his own life to give life to the words he shares. 2 Corinthians 5:19, Romans 3:22-25, James 2:13, John 3:16, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 3:1

In Colossians 3, Paul assumes that the gospel will radically impact how we live our lives. In this talk, we look at exactly why that is and explore specifically, how we should live to make the gospel a reality in our lives.

Jesus said He came to give us abundant life but so often the lives we’re actually living are far from full and abundant and more like the storms He said we’d face. How can both verses be true and what are we meant to do when life is messy, painful and hard?

So many of us get caught up in the lie that says we are what we do. The Bible tells us there is a much better option that will bring us freedom and life. In this talk we will explore that option and the life that is to be found both in and through work if we are willing to reach for it.

Have you ever felt like you don't measure up; that you no matter what you do, you are just not good enough? Well the fact is that we can do all things through Christ, so let's expose the lie that tells us we're not good enough, the lie which tries to steal our identity in Christ, and let's remind ourselves who of we are in Christ.

One of the biggest lies that impacts our identity is believing that 'this is just the way I am'. In this talk, we look at how, by 'taking captive every thought & making it obedient to Christ', we can move past that and step into the fullness of life that God has for us.

Today most of us believe we absolutely must be strong. The Bible, however, tells us that it is not until we are weak that we are strong. In this talk, Tamara explodes the myth of the importance of strength and unfolds the power to be found in weakness.

Al speaks to us from James 5:1-6 this week. As a nation we are wealthier than ever before. At the same time we are also less happy and more stressed out! In this talk, we look at the challenge that money presents in our lives and see how God would have us use it to find joy in our lives.

We cling to God when times are hard but what happens when things get easier and life’s okay? The Israelites are now in a time of peace thanks to Gideon and his army but what will happen now? Will they repeat the cycle of sliding away from God as soon as life gets easier or will they stand firm? And if they slide, what can we learn from them about standing firm when life gets easier?

Josh brings a message from Judges 7:1-25 as we continue in our series on Gideon. Josh shares how we constantly feel as if we need more, but that’s the worlds economy, not Gods. With God, less is can be more, if we look to him.

God's is always calling us on in our faith. But how do we know what He wants us to do next? As we continue our series on Gideon, we find that the answer will always be either breaking idols, blowing trumpets or laying fleeces!

So often low self-esteem stops us doing things for the Kingdom. In this, the first of four talks looking at the story of Gideon, we see how understanding God's heart will enable us to overcome that and win the "Who me?" game!

In this final talk in our series 'The God Who Acts' we explore the biblical claim that God is at work in ALL things. How do we see what he is doing in our lives? and when we do, how should we respond to it?

Few things are as encouraging as hearing the true story of somebody who has experienced God, first hand, bring about a true miracle such as this. Mark Hood, a partner here at CityChurch was on the plane, lived through the incident and played an active role in the rescue attempt.

It is so easy today to feel overwhelmed by the storms of life. The bible tells us however, that Jesus calms the storm. In this talk, we look at exactly what that means and how we can find this calm in the midst of all we are going through.

We know that we are invited to live by faith, and we know that our God responds to faith, but how does it all work? We'll look at the great faith pictured in Luke 7 as our stepping off point into the adventure of faith.

We know God is both present and working in our lives. But it is often hard to see exactly how He is doing that. In John 9, Jesus teaches us about the things that render us spiritually 'blind' and one thing that will open our eyes to see fully and discern the way forward.

The bible tells is that because of Jesus resurrection a 'new creation' has come. On this Easter morning we look at what that means and how we can lay hold of it in our lives this year.

The bible tells is that because of Jesus resurrection a 'new creation' has come. On this Easter morning we look at what that means and how we can lay hold of it in our lives this year.

In John 15, Jesus tells us our job is to bear much fruit. In this talk, we look at what that fruit is and how we must be sure we are bearing that and not just some pale imitation.

As we continue to explore how to Imitate Christ, we consider what it means to '...not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good' (Romans 9:21). The importance of finding 'good' in this evil world will both surprise and challenge you this week!

The son of God, wasn’t interested in titles, or name dropping, or recognition, he simply wanted to serve others and put their needs above his. If we follow him, shouldn’t we follow his example?

It's time to call the world back to worship the name of Jesus!