Hope City Church

Honouring our parents reflects the character of Christ, who honoured God (our heavenly father) as we are called to honour our parents. Regardless of how our parents treat us - God gives us the grace to care for and forgive them.

The 4th Commandment | The Sabbath - Exodus 20:8-11 // Vijay Kaul by Hope City Church

It's so easy to take the Lord's name in vain - often without even realising it. But we must remember that His name is to be used with reverence and worship, not in anger or frustration.

True worship honours God alone, shaped by His word and not personal preference. Reflecting His truth with sincere obedience in Christ.

The 1st Commandment | No Other Gods - Exodus 20 // Graham Phillips by Hope City Church

When we come to know God, we see His holiness and righteousness, which highlights the fact that we are nothing like Him. As we look at the Ten Commandments, we recognise our need for change. Therefore, the desire to change is a sign of our longing to please God. He helps us change through obedience to His laws and by leaning on Him — not on our own strength!

Have we changed ever since giving ourselves to Christ? Is it just an inner change?

This Holy week, starting from Palm Sunday, we remember what Christ has done and reflect on His wonderful love and grace. Praise Him: "Hosanna in the highest!". For He emptied Himself; He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Baptism is a seal upon a believers and infants life; it is a powerful sign of God's covenant, and a powerful seal of God's promises. Reminding us of the vows the Lord has made unto us and we unto him. The case for an infant to be baptised is simply for them to never remember a time they didn't know God - we are all united as one in baptism which is through Christ (see Gal 3:26-28; col 2:8-14).

Giving our all, working from the heart and for the Lord. Not wanting anything for ourselves but for the Lord - using our everything.

Taking responsibility; are we sitting on the side lines waiting for someone to tell us what to do, getting distracted by ourselves rather than stepping in to help one another. Or are we going to take ownership like the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37? Even if we feel inadequate, God equips us to doing the best we can.

The whole modern culture is revolved around making themselves big - wanting all the power and interest for themselves. Rather Paul says something different which replicates Christ, "do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:1-11). We are to give up everything for Christ since he has given up everything for us, walking in humility and not self gain.

In this passage of 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a we see how valuable love is. Looking at Christ this is how he is defined, as a church we are to represent the body of Christ. So are we choosing to love and how is it shown as one of our values?

Our values aren't the same as our beliefs. Values are what we want to be doing consistently like, prayer, showing up for each other, and reading the gospel etc. These determine our culture. What are we doing to show up?

Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church // Rev 3:14-22 - Graham Phillips 23.02.25 by Hope City Church

The church of Philadelphia wasn't particularly large or influential, they didn't have a reputation like Sardis or Ephesus. However, Jesus has only praise for them. We learn what kind of church Jesus loves and we see that the strength of the church is always in her head and not her body.

Graham talks about the dead spirit in the church of Sardis, Revelation 3:1-6. Are we keeping a watch or are we complacent like the church in Sardis?

Talking about true gospel ministry in the church.

The church of Thyatira was a church that was making progress, however they had a problem with a false prophet named Jezebel. We see that the church of Thyatira didn't just have a Jezebel problem, they had an Ahab problem.

Gareth talks about the greasy grace in the church of Pergamum in Revelation 2:12-17. God's presence is always with us through the Holy Spirit which is what the golden lamp stands represent.

Graham talks about the suffering church of Smyrna in Revelation 1:8-11. God brings something positive out of pain.

Graham talks about the Ephesian church in Revelation.

David talks about Mary and Joseph in Matthew 1:8-end being faithful in the midst of uncertainty. Which is also relates to how we act as followers of Christ, in the midst of trials. God is testing our faith.

Looking at the story of the Nativity we consider the glory of God coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

In this passage the wise men from the east are contrasted with the chief priests and the scribes. Both groups were well educated, both groups were very knowledgeable, but what made the wise men wise?

God's first words after the fall were "where are you?" He is a God who seeks His people - no matter how much of a mess they have gotten into. God is still asking that question of humanity today - where are you? 1 Cor 15:21-22 gives us a very clear answer to that question - you are either in Adam or in Christ.

We look at Paul's plea to the Corinthians to return to the gospel. We consider the Bible's answer to spiritual stagnation; returning to the message of the gospel.

David Smyrell shares on Christ's eternal victory in the resurrection and what that ought to mean for the Church.

THE EMPTY TOMB // Mark 16:1-8 - Graham Phillips by Hope City Church

In this passage of scripture we see a courageous faith exhibited by people who we might least expect to poses it. Looking at the example of Jesus's women followers and Joseph of Arimathea we ask; what does courageous faith really look like?

Mark chapter 15 and 16 cover the greatest event in all of history, but why was it that so many who were there to witness these events first-hand missed their significance?

As we re-join our sermon series through Mark's gospel at the fifteenth chapter, Darren Banks asks whether Barabbas is in fact a picture of us and what Christ has done for us.

As we close out our preaching series on our church vision statement we consider what it is to be custodians of God's work at Hope City Church. Looking at Proverbs 3:9-10 Revd Graham unpacks the subject of giving and explores God's promises to those who partner financially with His work.

In week 5 of unpacking our 24/25 church vision statement we look at 1 Peter 4:10-11 and the subject of using our spiritual gifts.

Perpetual youth sounds an attractive proposition! But what would happen if no one ever grew up? We examine the impacts of immaturity on the church.

Focussing on the first point of our vision statement we look at what it means for new believers to be added to the church, and what kind of culture we ought to find in the church of Christ.

Focussing on the first point of our new 24/25 church vision; that we would see a growing number of people saved, Graham preaches from Luke 5:1-10 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 - how do we become more effective fishermen for Christ?

We explore what kind of Church Jesus is building and how that ought to impact the local church.

Darren Banks preaches from Psalm 8 - on the glory of God in creation and of His great love and concern for mankind.

David's prayer in Psalm 6 includes three prayers that every Christian needs in their arsenal; we pray with David at one of his lowest moments.

Focussing on Psalm 5 we consider 7 principles of David's prayer life.

David prays passionately for deliverance from his enemies in Psalm 4. What might we learn about the principles of prayer from his example?