Sermons | City Church Wolverhampton: Recent Episodes
City Church Wolverhampton
Jehovah-Qadesh: In Exodus 19, having redeemed Israel out of Egypt, provided for and protected them in the wilderness, the Lord now tells Israel they are his treasured possession among the peoples - a holy nation. He is Jehovah Qadesh - the Lord who sanctifies - Israel, and us. He sets us apart for relationship with himself and for priestly ministry towards the world.
Jehovah-Nissi: In Exodus 17 Israel was being hounded by an enemy, and the odds didn't look good. At God's instruction Moses stood on a hill with the 'staff of God' - the symbol of God's power and presence - held high. There was a great victory. Moses declared 'Jehovah-Nissi' - the Lord is my banner. The Lord fought for Israel - and us. Jehovah-Nissi is the banner of victory. The banner under which we stand.
In John 18-19v16, Jesus is condemned to death in a sham trial concocted by the religious and political authorities who collude against him. Knowing all that was to come, Jesus confidently and willingly walks into the situation for the glory of the Father and for the sake of all those the Father had given him out of the world. Join us this Sunday as we look at what it means to follow Jesus as he is sent into the world that it might believe that Jesus came from the Father.
We often call the outline for prayer Jesus gives his disciples in Matthew 6 ‘the Lord’s Prayer’, but it would be more accurate to call John 17 ‘the Lord’s Prayer’. Here Jesus intercedes for his disciples on the eve of his death. It’s a wonderfully intimate moment where we get the opportunity to listen in as Jesus talks to his Father about the glorious master plan and our part in it - both present and future.
In John 16, Jesus concludes his teaching to the disciples on the eve of the cross. They are confused and fearful, but Jesus encourages them that the Holy Spirit will be at work in the World, that their joy will far outpace their sorrow because they will see him again, and that ultimately they will have everything they need because they will be able to ask the Father directly in Jesus’ name.
On the night before Jesus died, he teaches his disciple what they will need to know as He leaves them and sends His Spirit for the next part of God's plan for the world to hear about Jesus. We’ve looked at how we as his followers are to forgive as we have been forgiven, how the Spirit of Jesus will work in his disciples. Now in chapter 15, using the picture of a vine, we will see how we need to live in relation with Jesus, and how the Holy Spirit will enable us to be countercultural now in the world and how he will himself work in the world.
There are times when you need to share bad news. Jesus knew he had little time left before his betrayal, trial and crucifixion. So, although he was letting his disciples know some bad / sad news, he also wanted them to know the good news that would result from this. John 14 contains not just some good news, but some GREAT NEWS.
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord is perfectly righteous. None compares to him in his wisdom and holiness. But Jehovah-Tsidkenu means “the Lord is MY righteousness”. Yes, he’s my shepherd. Yes, he’s my provider and my healer, but how does he provide me with righteousness? How do I take hold of it? Join us as we look at what it means to follow our Good Shepherd as he leads us along paths of righteousness.
Jehovah-Rapha means the Lord, my Healer. He deals with the curse and cancer of sin. He binds up the wounds of the broken hearted and tends to the hurts of his people. Similarly, Jesus is the wounded healer by whose stripes we are healed and the Great Physician who skillfully and deftly removes sin from our hearts and makes us whole.
Jehovah-Shalom: Headlines this week about the potential for full-on war with Russia made Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord, My Peace) seem highly relevant and appropriate. In a world full of chaos, confusion, and conflict, those around us need to know the God of Peace who has called us and given us the ministry of reconciliation.
The Rolling Stones famously sang: “you can’t always get what you want…but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get why you need.” We serve the God who not only cares about needs, but also our desires. He’s the one who not only takes care of our greatest need in death with sin, but is able to satisfy every need and desire we have. Join us this Sunday as we looked to Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord my Provider.
At the start of the New year we want to see how God progressively reveals Himself though His names in the OT. His names represent His character and of course ultimately all of Himself is revealed in Jesus who as the ‘The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature…’ (Heb 1:3) and ‘is the image of the invisible God…’ (Col 1:15). The first name is simply the Hebrew word for ‘God’ – Elohim, El and Eloah, (and in Greek is the word ‘Theos’, ) which is used of the one who is the Creator God in Genesis 1:1. God is known as the Creator, The Almighty and the Only one.
Jesus’ Genealogy is fascinating because it encompasses all the History of the Old Testament. That in itself is a Master Class in God's ability as the ‘Master Weaver’. Then, as we saw last week we see God using all kinds of people to bring his planned redemption into being. This week we want to look at 3 characters who are ‘types’ in terms of Jesus ministry, he is the fulfilment of Covenants which are named after Abraham, David and Moses: faith, kingship and Temple.
Genealogies are funny and interesting things. To some a boring list of of names, but scratch the surface and you find a treasure trove of fascinating insights. From this perspective, we dive into Jesus’ own genealogy in Matthew 1 over the next four weeks as we meditate on Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham and the God who does, and doesn’t, have a birthday.
When far from home, in exile and surrounded by the enemy, David works out how to keep faithful to his calling. Maybe there are lessons about how we, too, can keep close to God when in ‘hostile territory’, at work or home?
As we look at 1 Samuel 26, we see a David who has learned the lessons of authority and responsibility before the Lord. He confronts Saul again and shows us what a godly authority looks like, even in submission to king Saul.
1 Samuel 25 - David has learnt an important lesson concerning the Lord’s anointed and now faces a test that will reveal what kind of king he will be. Will he go the way of the fool or heed the voice of wisdom?
This Sunday, we look at the story of David and Goliath. Like David, we need to understand the true nature of the battles that lie before us so that we can fight them properly with the courage that comes from knowing the battle is the Lord's!
This week we begin a new series of messages entitled, “The Making of the King”.Following the period of the Judges in the leading of the Israelites there’s a transition taking place, from Judges to Kings.Within this transition there are three characters, and in 1 Samuel 16 we see some insights into how they do, or do not, finish or start well.God shows clearly how his approach to selecting a suitable leader is so different to our usual criteria. It goes right to the heart of the matter.
A psalm that outlines the psalmist’s personal relationship with God. A relationship that recognises the wonder of God’s detailed knowledge of us, and his intimate involvement in our lives, that produces spontaneous worship; that causes us to run to him, not from him.
Do you have a goal, an ambition in your Christian life? In Psalm 84 the writer clearly identifies the best they want to be, and the best place they want to be in.The psalmist's testimony here gives us an example that past failure doesn't prohibit future opportunities and blessings in our walk with Jesus, and in our lives of service. Let's aim for the best!
There's a natural and human tendency to look over the fence at others - what they do, what they have - and compare our situation with them. In Psalm 73, this is what the writer does. Do you know what he finds and concludes? When all is stacked up side by side, when we appreciate what we have in Jesus, and the promises and provision of God, there is no comparison. There is no doubt about it. GOD IS GOOD!
The Psalms give us an intimate look into David's relationship with the Lord, including in the midst of sin. Psalm 51 shows us David at his most vulnerable: acknowledging and dealing with sin, doing business with God, and experiencing undeserved mercy.
In our summer journey though the Psalms – literally the ‘songs we sing’. We find in Psalm 23, a song of desire – of needs and wants that are satisfied in Jesus, Our Lord. Join with us on Sunday as we explore and apply it to our lives in very practical ways. This Journey starts with being able to proclaim that the Lord is MY shepherd….
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the complexity of life – from the tiny details to the overall big picture? The Psalmist, however, looks at the chaos created by humanity’s incessant scheming and asks incredulously, “why do you plot in vain?” The reality, despite appearances, is that there is one who is in control. When we trust, submit to, and serve him, we can navigate the modern world with clear confidence and hope, expectant of the Lord’s blessing.
As we begin a summer series in the Psalms, we are challenged with the ultimate reality that there are only two ways to live. Every person chooses either to live in the light of what the Creator God has revealed about himself or to keep their own counsel. Only one of these leads to a life of blessing.
James 5v13-20 | Last week, James encouraged us to patiently endure suffering until Jesus’ return. This week, James reassures us that our Heavenly Father hasn’t abandoned us until then, rather he continues to compassionately and daily care for the needs of those who trust him.
James 5v7-12 | Impatience, a trait some (many?) of us may struggle with. Are we impatient for Jesus to return? In some ways this is good, but in other ways impatience can lead to negative outcomes in relationships and life circumstances.God's sets an example of patiently waiting. Bearing this in mind, James offers us some practical advice about how we can wait in ways that are positive, effective and productive.
James 4v13-17 & 5v1-6 | Moving on from describing the war that can wage within us, those things fighting for our allegiance, but reminding us of the grace that is always available to give us victory, James seeks to challenge and warn us further concerning our ambitions, our plans and our boasts. He suggests we ought to get a better perspective on life, consult with God about our plans, and seek his kingdom before trying to establish ours.
James 4v1-10 | There is a particular kind of spiritual illness that can plague followers of Jesus, making life miserable, if it’s not dealt with. It’s easy to get side tracked by the presenting symptoms, but James gets to the root of the problem and prescribes the cure; learning to win the war within.
We take our second mid-James break to look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Someone who James doesn’t refer to in his book, although we have and will see His characteristics especially in the form of ‘wisdom’.Mostly from the gospel of John, but also some of the Pauline letters, we will ask:Who is He? What does He do? Where is He working? When is He working? How does He work? And finally, Why is he so important to the believer?
James tells us that your works will show if you have a living faith, or not. Yet, his point was not that we should all start running around trying to do good things and be nice people. So what does your faith need in order to become living? Well, for that James takes us right back to the beginning of his letter. What makes your faith a living faith is not works, but wisdom.
James teaches us that ‘the events of life’, especially the difficulties, are meant to being us to maturity (testing leads to perseverance, leads to maturity 1:4). The real issue is whether our faith or trust in Jesus is the real thing or what James calls ‘dead faith’ (2:20). He says that the real thing, real faith produces changes not just intellectually in our belief system but in our actions (2:18). What does, then, a mature faith, a grown up faith start to look like – James continues with what he calls the number one ‘mark of maturity’ - how we use language. This Sunday we will be looking at what He says in James 3:1-12, as well as some practical advice from the Proverbs.
There has always been a tension between faith and deeds for followers of Jesus. In the Scriptures - like that of Ephesians 2 - it clearly confirm that deeds (works) are not at the root of salvation. Faith is. However, in James 2v14-26, he seeks to underline how there is an important link of the 'fruit' of our faith, seen and expressed in deeds.
James continues to build upon this idea that mature, healthy faith involves the whole man - heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is much more than a set of ideas that we affirm as factually true. This Sunday, he reminds us that God doesn’t play favourites and neither should we. Because the way we act towards others actually reveals what we truly believe about who God is and how we would like him to treat us.
Moving on into the book of James - the second half of chapter 1 - we are challenged again about our faith, as to whether it works in our lives each day. He asks us to examine just how our faith, our walking with/in Jesus, impacts our thinking, listening, speaking and acting. Such a challenge can prove to be uncomfortable, but rewarding.
As we commence a journey with James on practical Christian living, still relevant today – we will start by looking at how the events of life - trials and temptations in particular, ought to push us to the Lord in asking for Wisdom for ourselves, and his promise to supply it! Ultimately of course is the reward for His people who persevere in life.
We have been looking at 3 different encounters in the gospel of John to show that an encounter with Jesus as Lord is what makes Him relevant to all cultures: An honour/shame culture, a power/fear culture and a guilt/innocence culture.We want to conclude the series by looking in Genesis 1:26-2:14 and see the roots of mankind’s rebellion against His maker. To see how God’s design for us to have Significance, Acceptance and Achievement result in these different cultural patterns so that our relationship with him and others has been twisted and distorted so that we are ‘alienated from the life of God’ (Eph 4:18)
The 3D gospel is an expression that many use to show that the Gospel – The Good News about Jesus (Mark 1:1) - is good news for all cultures. We will look at 3 stories in the Gospel of John to show that Jesus work - his life and death, resurrection and Holy Spirit-Sender affect all cultures.John 11v1-44As we look at the story of Lazarus this Sunday, we discover that Jesus is the one we need to trust. Faith, ultimately, is not about what or how much you know, but about WHO you know. Jesus, himself, is the resurrection and the life. He frees us from sin, fear, and death.
The 3D gospel is an expression that many use to show that the Gospel – The Good News about Jesus (Mark1:1) - is good news for all cultures. We will look at 3 stories in the Gospel of John to show that Jesus work - his life and death, resurrection and Holy Spirit-Sender affect all cultures.This week we look at the healing of the man blind from birth (John 9v1-41) and show that sinful humanity is trapped in the shame of spiritual and physical blindness. Jesus is the Light of the World who comes into the darkness to heal and restore and whoever honours him does not come into judgement, but passes from death to life.
The 3D gospel is an expression that many use to show that the Gospel – The Good News about Jesus (Mark1:1) - is good news for all cultures. We will look at 3 stories in the Gospel of John to show that Jesus work - his life and death, resurrection and Holy Spirit-Sender affect all cultures.This week we want to look at the women ‘caught ‘ in adultery (John 8:1-11) and show that Jesus confronts a Guilt/Innocence culture based on the ‘law of Moses’ so that through Grace and Truth in Him, there is no condemnation for that which separates us from the Life of God (Eph 4:18)
This Sunday we look at our tenth and final core value: we want to be a sacrificially loving family. Join us as we discover what it means to belong to the “household of faith” and, in celebration of Mothering Sunday, we’ll also see how mother’s uniquely illustrate the sacrificial love that is so important in any church family.
As Jesus followers who are being made into his image, we think and act differently than the world around us. Not because being out of sync with the world is the goal, but because we march to the beat of a different drum. As we strive to keep in step with the Spirit and to let him bear his fruit in our lives, the result is that we stick out in the same way a foreigner might stick out. Indeed, our true citizenship is not in this world, but in heaven. [1 Cor. 1v18-2v5].
Usually when we hear the word ‘generosity’, we immediately think about money. And, to be completely honest, it would be way easier if the generosity Jesus calls us to was as simple as that. But actually, biblical generosity is far broader, far more involved than simply how much money we give away. If we look at God’s own generosity towards us, he literally gave himself away for our benefit. In the same way, he’s calling us to submit everything we have to him and to be generous in every area of our lives. And we do this joyfully because the upside down truth of the kingdom of God is that living in this way is the place of abundant life.
Truly passionate worshippers are also mission-minded. The normal outcome of a personal encounter with Jesus is a desire to tell others about him; just as the Samaritan woman did after meeting Jesus at the well. Tim Berry looks at the second half of John 4 and about what it means to be a mission-minded people. [John 4v27-42]
The sixth strand of our DNA at City Church is that we desire to be passionate worshippers. Jesus talks about worshipping in Spirit and Truth, and he does this with someone who wasn't even his follower. It's clear that worship for human beings is a central aspect of our being; everybody does it in one way or another. Andrew Berry looks at Jesus teaching on worship, both as a whole of life posture and how we express worship as a community of believers. (John 4v7-26)
[Luke 18v1-14] In our culture today, we’ve never been busier. Time is of the essence. Time is money. Time is perhaps our most valuable commodity, leading many to cry out, “don’t just stand there…DO something!” Stop wasting time. Make yourself useful. And yet, the consistent testimony of the Scriptures, to our bewilderment, is this: “don’t just stand there…PRAY something!”
Pastor Tim Berry examines what it means to make the most of our time as a prayer dependent church.
We pause to give thanks for all the Lord has done in the past two years. Equally, we also want to look forward at where the Lord is leading us and continue to commit those things to him in prayer- key, if you want to have a sense of where we've been and where we're going.
At one time and in one way or another, each of us asks the question, "why am I here?" It's a question about purpose and meaning, and whether we realise it or not, we instinctively know that life ought to have joy and purpose and meaning and hope. Jesus said that the way to have all of those things, to be fully human, was by following him. Tim Berry looks at what it means to follow - and be transformed into the image of - Jesus.
Andrew continues in our series of ‘core values’. Core values are what tie our practices as people and as a local church to the driving force of what we believe and are in Christ. They are, if you will, the spokes in a wheel which gets Holy spirit power to the tyre so that a cycle can move! The first set of three – like big thick spokes’ are ‘Jesus-Centred', 'Gospel-Driven' and 'Shaped by Scripture’. These three are the main spokes which are driving our practices and rhythms in life. As a a group of three they provide stability to a ‘wheel’ so that it doesn’t go ‘wonky’. This week is the last one – Shaped by Scripture – we want the Scriptures to guide us in our lives, beliefs, and practices as a local church and as Jesus' Disciples.
Exploring the DNA of CCA, the Core Values of our church. As the Apostle Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 15, the gospel that was .... "preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved". The gospel that drives us.
Exploring the DNA of CCW, our Core Values as a local church. This week we look at being Christ-Centred.
Pastor Tim Berry concludes the series on FAITH as portrayed in Hebrews 11, looking at "Faith's Fight and Endurance" (Heb 11:32-40)
Pastor Tim Berry looks at the faith and its wonderful consequences in the life of one woman, Rahab.
"The Ins and Outs of Faith" - Pastor Tim Berry looks at the journey of faith for the Hebrews as they exit Egypt, crossing the red sea, and enter the promised land, crossing the Jorden to take Jericho.
Pastor Tim Berry speaks about "Faith in Egypt", illustrated through the life of Moses and his family (Hebrews 11:23-28)
Pastor Tim Berry explores the impact of faith in life and in death. Being focussed on God's eternal promise ahead affects the the way we live in the present. How to live well and die without regrets!
Pastor Tim Berry looks at Sarah and her journey of faith, and God's faithfulness through the generations.
Pastor Tim Berry explores the example of Noah and the work of faith - revealed by God, resulting in obedience, and fulfilling a witness to others.
Pastor Tim Berry leads the second study from Hebrews 11, regarding the nature and character of FAITH, as seen in the lives of people like Abel and Enoch
Andrew Berry introduces a new series of studies about FAITH, based on Hebrews 10 and 11
Mothering Sunday is an important occasion to remember our mothers and to thank God for them and the many ways they've impacted our lives. Not least are the ways in which they uniquely reflect the nature of God to us. A.W. Tozer once observed that, "what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." So, in the interest of thinking rightly about God, we invite you to join us as we take this opportunity to dig in to the aspects of God's character uniquely modelled for us by our mothers
Have you ever watched a group of people walking together? They might all be walking in the same direction, but each individual gait is unique. In fact, we are often able to recognise someone simply by the distinct way they walk. Similarly, each person has one body with many different parts which are all necessary to its healthy functioning. This Sunday, you’re invited join us, as we explore the first of these two pictures of what it means to ‘grow up into Christ'.
It’s a running joke in my family that I can’t keep a secret. Every so often I come up with a great idea for a birthday present for my wife. But I’m so pleased about it that I keep dropping subtle (and not so subtle) hints. Usually, I wind up spilling the beans ahead of time and ruining the surprise. This Sunday, join us as we unwrap the mystery of Christ which is a surprise to be shared rather than a secret to conceal.
Circumstances come along on a regular basis with the potential to shake us to our very core. Join us this Sunday as we learn from Psalm 16 how to pray in the midst of the chaos, accept what God has given us, and thrive in the midst.
Have you noticed how much hostility is in the world? Humanity has a long history of failed peace treaties. And even “successful” ones only manage to stop violence, at worst, and, at best, manufacture some sort of future cooperation. But how many have established true peace, founded on a deep relationship of trust and goodwill? It is even possible or are we humans doomed to remain alienated from one another? As ever, we believe both that human conflict is incredibly complex and that the answer is found in Jesus – the Man of Peace.
I’ve got two pictures of the back of my house. One featuring a muddy, cracked cement patio that’s falling to pieces, looking utterly miserable. And the second looks almost like a different house. Instead there’s a spacious deck where the patio used to be. Without the first picture, the second loses its meaning. This Sunday, you’re invited to join us as we look at two pictures, the before and after of salvation found in Christ Jesus.
C’est la vie. Que será, será. Zo is het leven. That’s life. Nearly every human language has some way of expressing feelings of powerlessness or futility. We’ve all been in situations where we feel helpless. Stress and anxiety are on the rise, as an entire generation of young people feel paralysed by life’s demands. What the world needs is local churches full of disciples who know the dynamic, transforming power of God. If you sense your life is lacking in power, we invite you to join us this Sunday morning as we explore how to lay hold of the immeasurable power of God towards those who believe.
There are no guarantees in life. Nothing is certain. Except death and taxes, of course. Or so the saying goes. Perhaps the uncertainty of the past year has left you shaken and anxiety-ridden, and all the while the certainty of death has loomed large as news sources publish the daily stats. But what if our mortality isn’t the lethal certainty, it’s been made out to be? Or to put it differently, what if it isn’t something to be feared because death itself is not the end? Come discover how the Spirit of God gives us a divine guarantee that death is nothing to worry about.
If you’re seen one of our City Church invite cards, you may have noticed the words on the front, in big bold letters, which read, “Life is complex. Jesus is the answer.” Life on this planet is indeed mind-bogglingly complex. You’ve probably experienced that in your relatively short time here. Possibly even this week. Yet the God of the Bible, in equally mind-boggling grace and wisdom, has set in motion a plan which more than accounts for all of it. That’s right…all of it. And it hinges entirely on one person: Jesus.
All of us have a father. For many, that relationship is complicated, while for others it’s just fine - good even. Yet, as far as I know, none of us has a perfect father. So when God is described as a father in the Bible, that raises questions for nearly everyone. What kind of father is he? Is he like my earthly father? You’re invited to join us this Sunday as we explore the vastness of his love and marvel at the riches of grace.
Mechanical engineers define resilience in terms of the characteristics of a high-rise building which allow it to sway because of an earthquake, before quickly returning to its normal position. As we look back at 2021 and forward to 2022, we pause to consider several key attitudes enabling followers of Jesus to withstand the storms of life. If you’re feeling ill-equipped for the New year, we urge you to join us and to discover how Jesus is all you need for all of life.
In a world of bad news (at least it seems that way sometimes), when was the last time your heard good news? In fact what’s the best news you’ve ever heard? As we close out our Advent series, we reflect on the work of the kinsman redeemer in Ruth and Naomi’s lives and the arrival of our own Redeemer this Christmas season. Join us this Sunday as we discover the Good News of Redemption.
Often, we think of redemption, when we think of it at all, in terms of turning something evil into something good. Or freeing something that was in captivity. In material terms, we redeem gift cards to favourite shops or online. Ultimately, however, redemption is far more profound because it’s about home and family and belonging; about knowing and being known. So, join us this Sunday, as we rejoice in the romance of redemption at City Church Wolverhampton.
Occasionally, we say things like, “God is God” or “what will be, will be”. Sometimes we assume God working, “all things for the good of those who love him” means everything will work out in a few short weeks or months. The reality, however, is often very different because God’s timing is not our timing. In his great wisdom, He works providentially through the nitty-gritty complexity of human life. So join us this Advent season, as we look at Jesus’ birth through the lens of the book of Ruth and are reminded that we can live in hope because God’s purposes will ultimately succeed.
How do you recognize “the real thing”? Counterfeit experts-in-training learn their craft, not by looking at counterfeit bills, but by spending the bulk of their time examining and recognizing the defining characteristics of real bank notes. Only by having an intimate knowledge of the real thing, does one become equipped to identify the counterfeits. This Sunday, as we close our series in Acts, we return to the church in Antioch to take a final look at the characteristics of a genuine, Christ-centred church.
You’ve probably heard the classic lightbulb jokes with their clever, witty answers. How many engineers, physicists, or teachers does it take to change a lightbulb - and so on. As we near the end of our time in Acts, we ask a slightly different question: how many people does it take to plant a healthy church? Even better, what kinds of people are needed to plant a church? Join us, this Sunday, as we consider the quality of people needed to see a new church birthed and grown to maturity.
When I googled ‘How to prepare for the unexpected’ this week, the top three answers that came back were: 1) Take Sod’s Law to heart, 2) Brainstorm possible futures, and 3) Know your risk tolerance. Interesting. In the last eighteen months, we’ve seen much for which we were unprepared. As followers of Jesus, what can we do to become resilient in the face of unanticipated change? Even better, what do we need to know to thrive when we find ourselves outside of our comfort zones?
Jesus once said that he came, not to bring peace, but to cause division. He didn’t mean that he came to cause conflict and war, but that, ultimately, each individual person must decide whether to follow him, or not. It’s very black and white; there’s no neutral position. Either he is the Son of God - the Messiah - or he’s a madman and a liar. There’s no middle ground. So, what’s your position? Who do you think he is? Join us this Sunday as we examine how one man’s answer to those questions radically changed after a profound encounter with the living Lord Jesus.
Do you remember hitting an awkward stage as a child, where your arms and legs had grown longer so that your coordination was a bit off? And because it takes time to recalibrate, you’d trip over a deceptively flat bit of floor or knock a vase off a table that had never caused you problems in the past. This week in our text in the book of Acts, we see a local church experiencing growing pains because of the significant growth that has come about. Join us as we explore the kind of adjustments needed so that the word of God will continue to increase and disciples continue to multiply!
Inadequate! Sometimes my teacher would write this on a report, especially for music. It’s how we feel when faced with a huge task in which we have neither training, nor tools, nor friends to help accomplish it. The task facing us, like the early disciples, is huge: the whole world needs to hear the Gospel. But Jesus sends his Spirit, to give us a new family, to fill us so we can proclaim the gospel, and to give gifts so the new community can grow and serve one another and the world. The truth is, we are not inadequate, but more than adequate. So much more.
Have you ever tried to appear to be something you’re not to fit in? How do you feel when a close friend turns out not to be the person you thought they were? Many of us try to put our best foot forward on social media. We attempt to hide our quirks as we start in a new job or school. But what’s the true cost of all our attempts to appear better than we are? Join us this Sunday to discover
Do you recall being invited, as a younger child, to play with the older kids? Remember the sense of exhilaration and fear, as well as the sense of ‘how am I going to keep up’? Especially when you find you’ve got the ball, the big lad is bearing down on you, and he can tell you feel outmatched! In the same way, the Lord invites us, as disciples, to take part in the great game of eternity. At times this collides with resistance from those oppose him. How then should we react? Join us this Sunday as we uncover how to persevere in our engagement with God’s mission in the ‘age of the Spirit'.
Have you ever felt like you stick out like a sore thumb? Like you just don’t belong anywhere? Or maybe you’ve found a community, but you feel a bit aimless? Like you’ve got no purpose in life? The need to belong and the need to believe in something bigger than ourselves are things with which we all wrestle. Join us this Sunday as we discover how believing in Jesus and belonging to him leads us into a new way to be human.
Bono once said, “music can change the world because it can change people”. There might be some truth to that, but there’s more music available to us than ever before and yet the world doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better. So how do you pursue change in our world? Through social activism? Political influence? Mass protests? Donating money to the right causes? Join us this Sunday as we discover Jesus’ explosive, counter-intuitive way of changing the world.
When a couple is expecting a new baby, the parents start to transition their frames of reference, even before the actual birth. They prepare a new bedroom. They start to imagine being a family and not just a couple. They begin to budget. They don’t realise all that will happen, but they are expecting to be changed. Join us this Sunday as we begin a new preaching series in the Book of Acts, looking at the days of expectation leading up to the momentous birth of the Body of Christ.
Have you ever struggled to make sense of life? Or, inversely, do you feel in control of your life, but still have a nagging feeling that something’s missing? Join us as we close out our preaching series in Nehemiah by looking at three big truths that anchor and give purpose to our lives.
How do you handle disappointment in life? Do you ever struggle to see how things will get better? Join us to explore how Nehemiah handles disappointment following significant success and what we need to know about persevering in faith.
Have you ever sung your heart out at a concert or football match? Did you notice something magical - spiritual even - about joining your voice with thousands of others? Singing together moves us in mysterious ways that few have captured with words. But the things that make us sing the loudest reveal much about who we are and what we value. Join us as we explore why we need to sing, what we need to sing about, and why we need to do it together.
When you go through a time of personal crisis, what do you turn to? Ever watched a friend or loved one spiral downwards as they turn to the wrong things to cope? In crisis, we all turn to something, but not everything helps. Join us this week as look to the one person we can turn to in crisis who won’t ever let us down.
Calling out instances of politicians and celebrities issuing what has become known as the “non-apology” is something of an internet pastime. While it’s easy to point the finger, the sad reality is that we have all attempted to blame-shift, justify, or excuse when caught with our hand in the cookie jar. But what if a repentant, contrite heart is actually the doorway to the good life? What if confession fundamentally changes something in us so that we can know true hope and joy? Learning to say sorry and mean it, this Sunday at City Church.
I recently spoke to someone who believes the material, physical world is all there is. But as followers of Jesus, we believe there is something beyond what we can see, hear, feel, and touch. Each day we engage in a spiritual battle against an unseen enemy. So how do we fight that battle well? What does it take to live victoriously? Join us this Sunday, as we take a week off from Nehemiah, to learn from Jesus’ own temptation and, in the process, discover what each of us needs to know in order fight the good fight.
Our culture longs for renewal. Have you noticed it? Have you heard the pleas for political, societal, and institutional change? Have you witnessed the calls for revolution in the way we think about almost everything? Everything that is, except radical, personal transformation. And yet, that’s where renewal begins. As we continue this Sunday in Nehemiah, with the wall completed, Nehemiah shifts his attention to the renewal of the people. Because the reality is: the rebuilding of the walls and the temple is utterly pointless until they are filled with a people transformed by the presence of the living God.
Are there any activities that so consume your attention that you forget about everything else, even meals? On the other hand, do you find that you're constantly distracted, constantly checking your phone, unable to focus? As Jesus’ disciples, we want to learn to keep our attention focused on the right kinds of things. So how do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, while avoiding the subtle distractions of the enemy? This Sunday, Nehemiah demonstrates the importance of godly tenacity and focus as God’s enemies seek to divide God’s people by forcing him into compromise.
As we meet in person for the first time and continue in our series in the book of Nehemiah, the people of God must deal with conflict from within. Nehemiah shows the way forward by taking careful, decisive action to reconcile the people and taking great pains to model what servant leadership looks like. Dealing with trouble from within, this Sunday at City Church Wolverhampton.
Building sand castles and waterworks on the beach is a lot of fun when you are small, and when older it brings back happy memories! The race against the ocean is always on. Nehemiah was involved in building something more solid - the walls of Jerusalem, but even they would eventually be torn down. We can however learn some principles, as we are Gods co-labourers, in how he builds his church - we as ‘living stones’ each with a key spiritual part in His eternal temple. Will you be a part of what he is doing. This Sunday we will look at 5 concepts that S.H.A.P.E. us into being His church.
Conflict is a part of life. How do you handle it? Do you fight or do you flee? Do you compromise or do you cancel? Do you value disagreement, or do you avoid it? This Sunday, Nehemiah and the people of God encounter intense external opposition and in the process model four key things we need to keep doing in the midst of the battle. Join us this weekend on Facebook Live as we discover what it takes to face trouble from without.
Everything comes with a price tag. It might be money or effort or time. There might be a mental, emotional, or relational expense, but there is always a cost. What are your choices costing you? Is it worth it? This Sunday, we follow Nehemiah as he takes stock of the people, the city, and the opposition in order to determine what it takes to rebuild. Counting the cost, this Sunday at City Church Wolverhampton.
In the 1986 World Cup final against England, Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona scored an infamous goal by disguising a hand ball as a header. In a post-match interview, he cheekily remarked that the goal had been scored, “a little with his head, and a little with the hand of God”. As we continue in the book of Nehemiah, we see not a little, but a lot of God’s hand at work. In fact, his fingerprints are all over the place as Nehemiah prayerfully lays the groundwork for the task to which he has been called. Join us this Sunday morning as we rejoice in the beauty of the good hand of God at work in and through Nehemiah.
Can you imagine trying to play football without being able to communicate? No shouting directions, no encouragement, no gestures, no waving. Nothing. When communication on a football team breaks down, so does every other aspect of the game. Players are out of position, ball movement disappears, and, ultimately, the game is given away. In the great game of life, communication with God is also key to joining in with what he's doing. Join us this Sunday at 10am as we launch a new series looking to Nehemiah as a model of how to join in with what God is doing.
I love to go ‘zip-lining’. This experience has two great feelings with it: a thrill - as one speeds along high in the air - and a huge sense of perspective of a given terrain - hills, streams, rocks, etc. This week we want to wrap up our studies in 1 Peter – a letter written by Peter to people who were new believers so they could live well as ‘sojourners’ in a world that doesn’t accept their values and direction of travel. Having looked at some of the details of each individual paragraph we want to go back and get that ‘big-picture’ of what it means to be a ‘new kind of human’ – like Jesus, who are part of new type of community. To do that we will look at four themes that run throughout Peter's letter.
Last words are important. They’re weighty and significant. At the end of his first letter to the believers of the Dispersion, Peter leaves three key instructions for the flock, the local body of believers, before signing off. Join us this Sunday at 10am on Facebook Live as we learn from Peter’s final words, and find out what good disciples do.
Trust in public institutions and leaders has waned in recent years due to the perception of corruption, abuse of power, and lack of transparency, amongst other things. Maybe you count yourself amongst those who distrust leaders and institutions. Or perhaps you’re in or seeking a position of leadership. Is leadership really about power, control, and influence? Or something different? What should leadership look like in the local church? Join us this Sunday as we discover what the apostle Peter has to say in answer to these questions.
Has life ever caught you by surprise? I’ve always loved taking youth groups to high ropes courses. But a few years ago, standing 200 feet over a ravine, a sudden fear of heights paralysed me. In the Christian life, suffering is one of those things that often catches us by surprise. We know that the good news of a relationship with God through trusting Jesus brings forgiveness from sin, freedom from fear and honour in the face of shame. But suffering comes as a surprise. Why? Not only why does it happen, but why is it a surprise? Join us this Sunday at 10am as we prepare for suffering in advance so that it doesn’t catch us out.
For obvious reasons, there’s been a lot of talk about the ‘hospitality industry’ this past year. If you google ‘hospitality’, you’ll quickly discover that our society’s understanding of the term primarily relates to business and entertainment. Ultimately, I would argue it isn’t about either of those things. So, what is it about? Join us this Sunday at 10am as we rediscover the heart of hospitality through the lens of three key feasts in the Bible.
How long do we have? Does life on this planet just keep rolling forward, or is there an end point to history? Is the climate crisis the beginning of the end? Or is it something else? Jesus said, and Peter reiterates, that there is an end and that it should be at the forefront of our thoughts - shaping who we are and what we do, but probably not in the way you’d think. Join us this Sunday on Facebook Live at 10am as we discover what it means to live in light of eternity.
The life of faith is not a walk in the park. In fact, quite the opposite: it's a battlefield. And some of us are walking around without any protection. This Sunday, we continue in Peter's first letter as he commands us to arm ourselves and gives us ammunition for our spiritual arsenal. Join us as we discover how to win the battle for our minds by suffering well.
Do you have something you want to change in your life? Maybe even some deep sense of guilt, shame, or fear that you can’t seem to shake? Jesus is not only relevant for eternity and for giving us a purpose, but he also gives the desire and the power to deal with the things that hinder us from experiencing true humanity. Join us this Sunday at 10am on Facebook live to discover a new way to be human.
“So, what’s the big deal about Easter?”, you ask. Well, have you ever been crippled by fear of the future? Have you found yourself drowning in despair in an overwhelming situation? Perhaps there’s been a time in your life when you’ve felt purposeless and aimless. Maybe you’ve got things you’ve done and said in your past that you try to forget. The disciples felt that way after Jesus’ death. And yet just a few days later they were completely transformed into bold and courageous men, willing even to die for what they believed. What changed them? Easter! They met Jesus, risen from the dead! So join us this Easter Sunday as we look at the person of Jesus and uncover what he gave to his disciples that utterly transformed them and can transform you as well.
In the past year, we’ve been confronted with sickness and death in a way that hasn’t happened for generations. The pandemic has reminded us of our mortality and our vulnerability to disease. On the other hand, surviving lockdown has reminded us that we are more than just physical and material beings – we have emotions, a mind, a soul, even - and we’re social creatures as well. Whether one of these hits closer to home than the other or you feel them both equally, Jesus is the one who is able to heal us today – heart, soul, mind, and body - and who can heal us from the ultimate sickness: death. Join us this Sunday at 10am on Facebook Live as we discover what it means to trust Jesus for our wellbeing.
I haven’t spoken to anyone in the last year who hasn’t looked at our world today and thought: “what a mess…”. It can be utterly disheartening to look at the overwhelming complexity of every issue facing humanity today, and, if we’re honest, the lack of clear, straightforward solutions. Or perhaps you look at your personal life and think the same: “what a mess…”. In the end, it comes down to this: we need someone who can do what we can’t. We need someone who can sort out this mess. We think that person is Jesus. Join us this Sunday at 10am on Facebook Live to hear why Jesus is the one you’ve been searching for.
This Sunday, we celebrate Mothering Sunday – one day a year that we give thanks to God for our Mums. Some may say: ‘Why only one day? Is that all they get?’. The answer is simply that it is one day which we set aside to honour them as a reflection of what is true throughout the entire year - in the same way that we set aside one day a year to celebrate the resurrection (Easter) - but we want to live in the light of it every day.
So Mums: know that we love you! Interestingly, the Scriptures make a comparison between the attributes of Our Heavenly Father and something that is more easily seen in a human Mother rather than in a Fathers, and generally in Parents. It is almost as if Mothers are especially gifted in these areas: ‘Giving birth’, ‘Nurturing’ and being a part of the mystery of marriage. Consequentially Mother's are a gift from God and reflect Him to us in a unique way. Listen in this Sunday at 10am and be encouraged!
There are two different kinds of people who give us courage to walk through sorrows in this life: those who walk through our circumstances with us because they have been there and those who have the power to change our circumstances. But when it comes to the ultimate suffering of the human experience – death - who can help? Who both understands our mortal existence and transcends it? Join us this Sunday, as we look to the Righteous One who not only knows what it means to face death but has triumphed over it!
Suffering in this life is a given. It’s not a question of “if”, but of “when”. This week, Peter tells us if we’re going to suffer, we’re much, much better off suffering for righteousness’ sake than for the sake of evil. Because suffering for righteousness’ sake comes with an expiration date, but suffering for evil doesn’t. So join us, this Sunday at 10am, as we discover how to suffer well and, surprisingly, that it’s possible to find the Good Life, in the midst of suffering.
Did you know marriage is an important means of sanctification (looking more like Jesus) and witness (proclaiming Jesus to others)? Join us this Sunday morning at 10am on Facebook to find out how as we consider Peter’s words to married couples.
Our society today tells us to avoid pain and seek pleasure. This is one of the primary ways in which the world around us makes decisions. But Jesus says that, actually, the sorrows we endure today will result in glory and honor and praise in the next life. So, as we try to reorient our lives around Jesus’ perspective, what does it mean to suffer as he suffered?
There are many things in this world that vie for our attention and commitment. But Peter says there is only one who ultimately deserves our devotion. This Sunday, join us as we examine the challenge for the allegiance of your soul.
Do you know the excitement and belonging that come from being part of something that’s bigger than yourself? This weekend, we look at the new community of Jesus, built out of what the Apostle Peter calls ‘living stones’. If you’ve experienced the isolation and exhaustion of trying to ‘be yourself’, join us this Sunday at 10am to find out about the rest that can only be found in Jesus.
Two weeks ago, we looked at the beginning of Peter's first epistle and this idea that we're living as exiles in this world with living hope rooted in Jesus' resurrection. But how should that hope shape who we are and what we do? This week Peter shows us four ways in which our lives should look different. You're welcome to join us this Sunday at 10am as we dive in!
The advent of a new year brings with it a hope for change: “Perhaps this one will be different…especially after a year like 2020”. And yet, the things we’re most likely to run to – a vaccine, political change, the prospect that human affairs are trending in the right direction – are anything but certain. But what if there’s hope that doesn’t crumble beneath the weight of its own expectations? What if there’s hope that is actually rooted, not in wishful thinking, but in a real person and an historical event? What would it take to have that kind of hope? Join us online this Sunday morning at 10am to find out.
Join us this Saturday evening at 7:30pm as we unpack the defeat of sin and death by the plan-confounding, earth-shaking mystery of God-as-man and, in the process, discover two distinct ways we participate in the battle for our souls this Christmas.
Advent is about war - the war for our souls. And one quiet night in Bethlehem, almost 2,000 years ago, the tide turned. But how? What exactly changed? This Saturday night, we look at how Jesus - the Word made flesh and the Lord of Light - drives out the darkness and delivers us from death.
It might seem strange to talk about war during Advent. But the imagery of war represents two distinct realities that come together at Christmas. First, it recognises the reality of brokenness, of chaos, in the world in which we live. And second, in the manger, it sees not a safe, inoffensive baby in a manger, but the God of the universe who took on flesh and has come to ransom us. It is this low-born king, who's coming forth is from of old, in whom we hope. So this December, we look to Bethlehem, and the turning of the tide.
This week, we witness Mark's account of THE central event of history: the resurrection of Jesus, in which he is declared to be not only the earthly Man of Sorrows, but the heavenly Man of Victory!
This week, we contemplate the most shocking, sobering event in history: the death of the Son of God. Come gaze in wonder at the Suffering Servant who did not save himself so that he could save others.
Most of us do everything we can to avoid personal crisis. But this week, Jesus shows us that the way of the cross is the only way to gain an undivided heart. This week, we examine what it means to have a united heart and see how Jesus, in the midst of his journey to the cross, shepherds his disciples through their own crises.
As we continue our series in the Gospel of Mark, a young man asks Jesus a question most of us have pondered at some point: what does it look like to live the good life now? Join us this Saturday evening as we discover Jesus' answer.
Jesus' identity is not just who he is, but what he has come to do. And that has life-changing, world-shaking implications.
Do you think you have to earn God's favour? Jesus teaches that true faith never comes through external traditions, only by the grace of God and he gives us his Spirit so that we can be different.
Two very different people, from two very different parts of society. Jesus has time for both, but not in the order you might think. He always makes time for faith and we need to experience the living Jesus Christ who by his blood heals us, purifies us, and restores our honour and who, by his resurrection, conquers fear and death.
The heart of the Gospel is the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. No more and no less. Journey with us over the coming weeks as we discover that Jesus is not just the man of power who draws our gaze, but also the man of sorrows who takes our place.
How do you get through personal crisis? The prophet Jeremiah models three essential practices for us.
Where do you run in the day of trouble? When life overwhelms you and you can't see a way out, who do you trust? Our God is on his throne, in control, and his very presence is the place of our sanctuary and rest. Run to him!
We have a problem: we're sick and it's killing us. The sickness is called sin. Fortunately, there's good news. There is one, the Great Physician, who knows the remedy. At great personal cost, he diagnoses and heals us.
How do you survive in the desert? For a plant, it needs to have a deep root system into a water source. In a spiritual sense, the key is to be properly rooted in scripture and filled with the Spirit. This is the way in which we as a church and as individuals can bear fruit in any circumstance.