Weekly messages from CityLight South Church
If you're a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit with you at all times. That means He's not just interested in what goes on at church on a Sunday, He's interested in your every day life. But what does that mean? What does life according to the Spirit even look like? This week we'll unpack one of the most celebrated chapters in the Bible--Romans 8-- to explore what it means to life your life "in step" with God the Holy Spirit.
This Sunday Pastor Nathan Ewers continues our series on God the Holy Spirit. The creed tells us that He proceeds from the Father and the Son. The life of Jesus tells us that He was inseparably involved with every aspect of the Saviour's life on earth--from Mary's womb to the empty tomb.The good news for Christians is that the same Spirit who anointed Jesus at His baptism, led Him through seasons of testing, and empowered Him to finish His mission also lives in us. Still anointing. Still leading. Still empowering. Does that change the way you think about everyday life? This week we take another look at the life of Jesus to trace the fingerprints of the Holy Spirit, so we might get a glimpse of what His work in our lives could look like too.
This week we kick off a new series called God the Holy Spirit. Many of us have heard of Him, but how well do we really know Him? Is He a ghost? Or is He more like a supernatural force we can activate whenever we need a bit of extra help? Jesus told us that it is better for us to be alive now, long after His departure from the earth, because now every believer has the Holy Spirit with them at all times. But what does difference does He really make? And how do we know if He's really there? These are just some of the questions we'll be unpacking for the next six weeks. We hope you can join us!
What does a mother's love teach us about God our Father? That's not a trick question-- the Bible makes this connection dozens of times for a good reason. That's because even in our broken world, even if we haven't experienced it ourselves, we know that a mother's love for her child is a strong and kind. Just like He is. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate mums and all the amazing caregivers in our church family. We'll open the Word together, sing, and share communion. LOOK DOWNLOOK INLOOK UPPsalm 1311 Peter 5:6-7
John wrote his gospel so that anyone who comes across it would believe that Jesus really is the Savior of the world and that He really is God. And that whoever believes in Him would have eternal life in His name. We know that eternal life isn't just about going to heaven when we die. So what does it look like to have that life while we're still here on earth? The last chapter of John gives us a glimpse into eternal life now. It's supernatural and wild, but it also looks rather ordinary. What does it mean for you and me to walk the walk with Jesus every day right where we are? Join us this Sunday as we wrap up an epic journey through the Gospel of John--we'll finish up with the good news of eternal life now.
Every Christian is called to be a missionary. That doesn't mean you have to move to another country, although it might mean that for some people. It does mean that you are sent as an ambassador for Jesus wherever you happen to be. Where do we get the courage to push back against the darkness by making much of Jesus among the people and in the places we travel? It comes from Jesus of course, but how is it that he makes us ready? He answered that question for the disciples just hours after he rose from the grave. This week we'll share his answer, and his encouragement with you.
Easter Sunday morning we gathered to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the new era that has dawned the moment the stone was rolled away. The night is over, the new day is coming--so let's celebrate together!
You might know why Jesus died on the cross. But what does the cross mean to you? How has Jesus been the hero of your life story? That's the question we'll spend some time with on Good Friday. We'll hear from a few people who will share what goes through their mind when they think about the wondrous cross of Christ. We'll close our gathering with a time of communion and enjoying community together.
Who did Jesus die for? For guilty sinners like you and me--that's the right answer. But it does make you wonder--why did he die the most agonising, the most humiliating, the most shameful death known to man? Could it be because the people he died for have also known what it's like to be in agony, ashamed, abandoned? We know the facts of the cross. But we don't talk as much about the feelings of the cross. We might not--but God does. Psalm 22 is the one that Jesus quoted while he was in agony. It's a song for anyone who has suffered. A song for anyone who longs not just for their feelings to be validated, but their life to be vindicated. That's what the cross is all about.Join us this week as we worship the Lord who took our sin and our sorrow and made it His very own. We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
Last week we got a look at King Jesus's weapons. No swords. No armour. Just straight up words of truth. This week we'll get a glimpse of his wardrobe. It's the kind of gear that never goes out of style. In the moments before Jesus was sentenced to die, he stood before the watching world wearing a crown, and a robe. He was surrounded by a noisy crowd. And nobody could anticipate what He was about to do. Everything he wore in that moment proclaimed to the world what he was about to do. He was about to stare down the curse of death and abolish it once and for all. Join us this week as we worship the Lord who came to earth dressed for battle with our greatest enemy. We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
Jesus is King. We know it's true, but what kind of King is He really? And how are we meant to relate to Him as King? How are we meant to represent Him in the world?Over the next two weeks we'll be unpacking the exchange in John's Gospel between King Jesus and Governor Pilate. We'll see what it tells us about the glory of King Jesus and the glory of His subjects. This week we'll look at the King's weapons, next week, the King's wardrobe. We'd love you to join us!We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School for worship and the Word. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
It's that time of year where the nights are getting longer than the days. One of the longest nights in the history of the world is the night before Jesus died. The night he was betrayed. The night that takes up nearly a third of John's Gospel. That dark night set events in motion that would change the world. The King of Life was prepared to drink the cup of death. The Conspirators swarmed. The cowards tried to save themselves. Only the Christ stood tall that night. Which is how any of us can stand at all. Let's come ready this week to see what real courage looks like, and how we can have it.We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School for worship and the Word. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
This week we're wrapping up the other Lord's Prayer in John 17. Jesus wants the whole world to know God and that His is the one God sent to make God known. But first, He wants His church to known Him. He wants you and me to press on to taste and see His goodness in everyday life. It's knowing God that unites us with other believers. It's knowing God and experiencing His glory that helps us make Jesus big in the world we live in. It's knowing God that we aim for every time we gather on Sundays for worship. So why don't you join us this week for another glimpse of His glory!We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School for worship and the Word. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
When you think of the Lord's Prayer, you probably think of the one recorded in Matthew 6 that starts "Our father in heaven...." You might not know that there's another prayer recorded in John's gospel that could also claim the title "the Lord's Prayer." In fact, John 17 is the longest prayer of Jesus recorded in the Bible.We'll be unpacking this beautiful prayer over the next two weeks. This week we'll take a closer look at what it means to belong to Christ, and how that shapes the people we are becoming. As Christians, do you think God sees us like fine China, or more like paper plates? The answer to that question is found in the other Lord's Prayer. We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School for worship and the Word. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
Life is a mixture of pleasure and pain. Joy and sorrow. Sometimes as Christians we think that we ought to be in some way immune to pain. If we admit we're struggling, somehow that feels like we're letting the team down. In Jesus's last teaching session with his disciples, he tells it like it is. Christians, just like everyone else, will experience pain. We will weep. We will mourn. But we do not have to despair because of what God has done, what he is doing, and what he promises to do. We'll unpack this together on Sunday. In this life, we all need more hope and more help--and in Jesus, we get both and more. We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
In a dangerous situation, listening carefully to the people whose job it is to protect you sometimes makes all the difference. Likewise, listening carefully to God in times of crisis and in times of peace can be the difference between life and death. In John 16, Jesus is teaching his disciples to listen to the God who speaks. He's teaching us too to slow down and listen. Let's tune in together to hear His voice this Sunday. We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
When is the last time you time were insulted, ignored, or even injured because of your faith in Jesus? Did it surprise you? Who did you turn to for help? These questions aren't just hypothetical for millions of Christians around the world. So how is the Gospel really Good News if it can lead to so much heartache in real life?This week we'll unpack Jesus words of comfort about an uncomfortable reality--everyone who follows Him will be persecuted. And yet in the kingdom of God, those who are persecuted are blessed. We'll find out what that means, what it doesn't, and how we can keep believing under pressure.
You may not be a farmer or the child of a farmer, but you were put on earth to produce fruit. Your life is not about you--it's about seeing Jesus and becoming like Him, knowing Him, and making Him known. That's what it means to produce fruit that brings glory to God and joy to the world.But how do we produce fruit? Jesus tells us we can if we remain located in Him. But what does that even mean? And where do we turn for help? Join us this Sunday as we get our hands dirty thinking about how we can be fruit-bearing Jesus worshippers for His glory and our joy.We gather every Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School. Come early for a coffee and a chance to meet someone new. See you there!
We are back in the Gospel of John this Sunday! Three times in chapter 14, Jesus tells his disciples that if they love him, they will obey his commands. But what does that mean for us? We know that obedience is hard, so what happens when we fail? Jesus isn't just laying down the law--he's got good news for us. Obedience is necessary, but it's also possible. Join us this Sunday as we open the word together, share communion, and spend time worshipping the One who is our Peace.
We've come a long way since January 2020. God has been so gracious to us, helping us get a glimpse of being a fruitful and multiplying family of Jesus worshippers here in Christies Beach and beyond. This Sunday is an opportunity to look back and thank God for what He's done, but also keep our eyes locked on Jesus to see where He's taking us from here on out.Join us this Sunday as we celebrate together in worship at 10:00. Come early to grab a coffee and meet someone new. Don Reddin, the founding pastor of CityLight Church will bring us the Word. And then stick around afterwards--we'll have a meal together and games for the kids. It's going to be a great morning. See you there!
Long before Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, long before He died on the cross to save us from our sins and the eternal wrath of God, there lived a man called Hosea and his wife Gomer. They were an unlikely couple--together only because God commanded it. Their marriage endured through adultery, unfaithfulness, and separation. But rather than being a tragic tale, theirs is a story of costly redemption and the power of God's faithful love. Their story is a picture of the ridiculous love of God for unworthy, unfaithful people like us. Join us this Sunday at 10:00 to worship together with our church family. Come early, grab a coffee, and meet someone new. We'll see you there!
Have you ever noticed that when Jesus sent his 12 disciples out to do ministry, he sent them out in pairs? Two isn't a magic number, but it does raise the question-- why is Gospel ministry so much better when we do it together with others?This Sunday we'll look at the lives of a husband and wife who helped plant churches in two different continents. And we'll see the ways in which Gospel ministry is always better together.Join us this Sunday at 10:00 to worship together with our church family. Come early, grab a coffee, and meet someone new. We'll see you there!
The Shepherds and the Angels 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017
Join us this Sunday at 10:00 to worship together with our church family. Come early, grab a coffee, and meet someone new. This week we will celebrate with the kids as they share the Story of Christmas and we'll hear from Tyson as he opens God's word to us. See you there!
Special guest: Daniel from CityLight Church Plympton
Christmas time is here! You might know the story of Jesus's birth all those years ago in Bethlehem. You might have sung about the angels who were there singing over the manger. But do you know where they came from or why they were there? And why was everyone afraid when they showed up?There's more to Christmas than meets the eye. That's because there's more to everything in this world than what we can see. This Christmas we want to peel back the curtain to see what really went on back in Bethlehem and what's really going on around us right now. Because the things you can't see with your physical eyes just might give you a whole new outlook on life.
We'll be taking a look at one of Jesus's most famous claims in all of the Bible--that He is the one and only way to God. That He is the one truth. And that the life He offers is the only life worth living. Jesus said this not to throw down the gauntlet, but rather, to comfort us and encourage us while we wait to go with Him on the most epic holiday ever. See you at 9:00 this Sunday. Come early for a coffee and meet someone new.
As the story of John's Gospel gets closer to the cross, this week we will take a closer look at two of Jesus's closest friends who sinned big against his in time of need. Only one of them lived to tell about it. Understanding the difference between them just might save your life.
For centuries, Christians have celebrated the night when Jesus stooped down to wash the feet of his disciples. Less than 24 hours before he died on the cross, Jesus gave us this beautiful picture of what it looks like to love and serve another person.But there's more going on in this scene than what we see at first glance. What Jesus does for his disciples--and for us--in that moment--shows us not only what Jesus is like, but who He says we are. So let's be ready to get down low with Jesus--the King who washes feet.Join us Sunday at 10:00 for worship and the Word. Come early, grab a coffee and be ready to sing, pray, open the Word, and gather around the table for the communion meal. See you there!
Despite all the miracles Jesus performed, despite all the signs pointing to who He really is-- most of the people who crossed paths Jesus didn't believe in Him. You might wonder how that's possible. But then, we struggle to believe His words too sometimes, don't we?This week we're taking a deep dive into belief--what leads some people to believe in Jesus and others not to? The answers to these questions might surprise you and challenge you. Join us Sunday at 10:00 for worship and the Word. Come early, grab a coffee and be ready to sing, pray, open the Word, and gather around the table for the communion meal.
Jesus has the power to raise the dead. Everybody knew that, but not everybody was happy about it. If anyone had a reason to be riding on a high horse, it was Jesus. And yet when he makes his grand entrance to Jerusalem, he's riding on a young donkey. What gives? That image we celebrate every Palm Sunday--the humble king riding on a humble beast--captures a truth that is beautiful. The King has come down to us. He meets us at eye level and invites us to go low with him. How low will we go? Well you'll have to join us Sunday at 10:00 to find out. Come early, grab a coffee and be ready to sing, pray, open the Word, and gather around the table for the communion meal. See you there!
Do you ever wonder why the Christian life can be hard at times? Or why are hearts are so prone to wander even though we know all about the grace that we've received? If you can relate, then you're not alone. Shortly after Jesus did his greatest sign--the raising of his friend Lazarus from the dead-- that's when the knives really came out. The powers of darkness, working through ordinary people, wanted Jesus out of the picture. Why? And how do we resist the powers of darkness when we find ourselves under attack? Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we look at the state of the battle we're in. There's more hope and joy in the battle that you might realise. Come early, grab a coffee and be ready to sing, pray, open the Word, and gather around the table for the communion meal. See you there!
Why do bad things happen? It's a question that's not just for philosophers. It's personal. Even for followers of Jesus. We know He is all loving, but does He care about my suffering? We know He is all powerful, but will He do anything about my suffering? Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we conclude the story of Jesus and Lazarus. It's more than just a miracle--it's a window into the heart of God's love for us.
You're invited to join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John. This week it's all about death and life. It's about falling down and being raised up. Grief then glory. With Jesus right at the centre of it all.
We are back in John's gospel this week with another look at Jesus. How can we know for sure that Jesus the one man God chose to rescue us from the mess of our sin and the world? And if we already believe Jesus is who He claimed to be, what use is it to consider those claims again? Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as take a good look at Jesus and the people who follow him (along with those who don't). It just might change your whole outlook.
Who are the people that Jesus uses in His mission to spread the knowledge of His glory to every corner of the earth? They are ordinary saints for sure. But if God's plan A for the mission is the planting of churches, wouldn't it make sense that the people He uses to grow His church need to be faithful church members?Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we wrap up mission month with a challenge to faithful church membership from Matthew 24:45-51.
This Sunday, along with over 600 other churches partnered with the Acts 29 network globally, we get to celebrate the ongoing advance of God's kingdom through the planting of Gospel-centered, Jesus-exalting churches worldwide. We are thankful to be connected to such a dynamic movement. We're going back to where we began as CityLight Church to Matthew 5:14-16--what does it mean that people like you and me are the light of the world? And what does that mean for what we do next with our lives? We can't wait to open the Scriptures together to see what God has to say to our church family.Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we sing, pray, open the Word, and gather around the table together. See you there!
Jake Swadling, lead pastor at Anchor Church Port Adelaide, joins us with a message from 2 Kings 7. It's a stunning historical account of the privilege that ordinary people like us have to announce the best news that anyone has ever heard.
Work is exhausting. A necessary evil. Heaven will be like one never ending long weekend. If you've ever said or felt any of the above, this week's message might challenge your thinking just a little bit. If you've ever wondered what it means to "work for God," you need to listen in to what Jesus had to say about it. The answer might surprise you. If Jesus is King, then He has a vested interest in what you do with your life. To live well is to get to work for Him. Those who do will be rewarded; those who don't will be punished. Matthew 25
Mission Month Starts This Week! Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we welcome our good friend to share with us how God is calling Him to make His salvation known in one of the least reached, least Christian places on earth. ---------------------------------------- CMS SANT is a fellowship of Christian people and churches committed to global mission. We work with churches to set apart long-term workers who cross cultures to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Join us in our vision by praying, caring, giving, and going so that the world may know Jesus. https://cms.org.au/sant/
The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. Those famous words were written by a shepherd in real life. Young David knew what it was like to care for helpless, vulnerable sheep. He knew what it was like to put his life on the line when predators and thieves lurked in the shadows. A thousand years after the last of the Psalms was composed, another shepherd emerged who would outshine David in every way. Not in how brightly his crown shone, but in how in humility, he laid his life down to save the sheep that he loved. Join us this Sunday at 10:00 as we celebrate Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Jesus is the light of the world. That means everyone who follows Him will, over time, develop a new way of seeing. A new way of seeing the world. A new way of seeing ourselves. Why are you the way that you are? Why do you have your personality, your weaknesses, your loves, you fears? What if the the light of Jesus is the very thing that helps us see ourselves the way He sees us? This week we're exploring the story of a man born blind, isolated, and weak. Jesus not only healed his physical sight, he changed the way this man saw everything forever. Including himself. If you want to know how Jesus makes blind people (like us) see again-- then join us this Sunday at 10:00 at Christies Beach Primary School. See you there!
What is the truth? And how will it set us free? I mean, we're not prisoners. We're not slaves. Or are we? What does real freedom look like? Doesn't following Jesus mean saying 'no' to a bunch of stuff? How can that be called freedom? We're not the first people with those kinds of questions. Join us this Sunday as we explore the truth that takes us from darkness to joy.
Jesus came into the te world--light that broke into the darkness. So that anyone who believes in Him will never be disconnected. Never die. Never walk in darkness. Jesus is the light of the world-- He's on a mission to recuse completely those whose default status is darkness, distance, and death.
Picture this: you're out in public watching as a bunch of important men carrying a young woman. She's not well, possibly not even breathing. They place her awkwardly at the feet of this guy called Jesus. As you listen in, you realise they're not asking him to heal her. They're asking him to give them the green light to publicly humiliate her and then to execute her for her sin. You close your eyes and walk away, not wanting to see the scene unfold any further. A few minutes go by, and by then you can't resist--you turn around and see her still there at his feet. The men who brought her have gone. It's just Jesus left standing there. He reaches out and grabs for her hand.
Who is it that's in charge of the world today? Who's pulling the strings? Is it the elite establishment in Canberra or in the board rooms of big corporations? Or is the real power in the hands of the silent majority--ordinary people who work hard to build their families and communities? No matter how you answer that question--one thing is true. No one was ready--not the elites, not the 'normies'--to meet a Saviour like Jesus. No one was ready to admit that their time was short. That they had a deep thirst for something more that nothing on earth could satisfy. Jesus was ready with an invitation like none other.
Last week Jesus made it clear that no one comes to believe the Gospel unless God the Father does a work to draw a person in. But that doesn't mean that refusing to believe always looks the same. It doesn't mean that a person who doesn't believe today won't believe in Jesus tomorrow.How do we understand the sin of unbelief--the sin that lies at the root of all other sin? How do we spot evidence of unbelief in our own hearts and minds? This week we'll be taking a look at least three types of unbelievers and unbelief on display during one encounter with Jesus. The goal is that we recognise unbelief not just in others, but in ourselves.Join us at 10:00 as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John.
Who could refuse free bread? It's pretty common these days to leave bread uneaten on the table. Not so much in Bible times. So when Jesus compared Himself to free bread, you'd think people would be super keen. But instead, many walked away. What is it about Jesus, the Bread of Life, that attracts some and repels others? And what did Jesus mean when He told his followers to eat....his flesh?!? Come this Sunday to find out. Join us at 10:00 as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John. Come early for coffee and be ready to worship with us at 10:00. See you there!