City on a Hill: Whittington: Recent Episodes
City on a Hill: Whittington
Sermons from City on a Hill: Whittington, a church committed to Knowing Jesus & Making Jesus Known. For more resources, visit https://resources.cityonahill.com.au.
Jesus is born, the promise fulfilled and the Saviour is here. King Herod hears of the news and, seeking to kill Jesus, wipes out all the newborn sons in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary flee to Egypt following an angel of the Lord’s warning, before returning to Nazareth.
God’s promise to send a Saviour to redeem Israel is made clear in the genealogy of Jesus and the generations before His birth, from Abraham to Joseph. God is faithful to save His people by sending His Son - Immanuel, God with us.
Practice love, hospitality, and compassion, as you trust in God’s provision. Fix your eyes on the kingdom of God, as we continue to praise Him, abide in His word, act mercifully and share the good news with others, for these sacrifices are pleasing to Him.
Through Jesus, our mediator, we are invited into His kingdom of joy and celebration. Jesus invites us to listen to God’s voice, reminding us that one day everything temporary will be shaken, leaving only God’s unshakeable kingdom.
A good father will discipline his children. Likewise, God disciplines us as his children to produce holiness within us, and to form us into the likeness of Jesus. The way we live is an example to the world of Jesus’ ways, and the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
Many have gone before us in trusting God, and in His promises, without seeing the end reward. We endure the difficulties of this life by looking to Jesus, who perfected faith by enduring the cross, and strengthens us to stay steadfast in the face of opposition.
Through Jesus, we can draw near to God with assurance that we are forgiven of our sins. Despite struggle, in Jesus there is great eternal reward. Stand firm, resist sin, encourage one another and remember God is faithful to forgive and save you.
The old covenant's earthly tabernacle and repeated sacrifices were abolished with Christ's once-for-all sacrifice. We do not have to earn our faith or perform sacrifices to God. Jesus has paid the price for our sin and sanctifies us by his blood, giving us a new identity in Him.
Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary, offering His own blood as a sacrifice to secure eternal redemption for us, to cleanse us of sin and to gift us the presence of God, the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus we are invited into the throne room of God, to enjoy a relationship with Him.
Jesus fulfilled God’s promises of a new and better covenant, making the old obsolete. This new covenant is built on God's promises to write His laws on the hearts of His people by the Holy Spirit, offering complete forgiveness and a direct relationship with Him.
Unlike earthly priests, Jesus' priesthood is permanent because He lives forever. His perfect sacrifice brings complete salvation, making Him the ultimate mediator between God and humanity. Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant between God and us, his people.
Our hope in God's promises serves as an anchor for the soul, with Jesus as our eternal High Priest. Hebrews 5-6 encourages believers to keep trusting Jesus, warns against spiritual stagnation and reminds us to trust in God's promises and persevere in the faith.
Jesus is the great High Priest who sympathises with our weakness and temptation to sin, yet remains sinless. He offers mercy and grace, providing eternal salvation through his obedience to the Father and suffering at the cross and fulfilling his role as great High Priest.
Hebrews 4:1-13 reveals the glory of God through the promise of rest found in Jesus. This rest represents not only physical respite but spiritual fulfillment and peace. The invitation to enter God’s rest through Christ showcases His glorious provision and the divine purpose of offering eternal rest and tranquility.
Hebrews 2:1-18 highlights the glory of God as seen in the sacrificial role of Jesus, our Saviour. Through His incarnation and suffering, His willingness to become human and endure suffering for our salvation reveals God’s magnificent grace and redemptive power.
Jesus is the perfect, ultimate, final revelation of God. He is the ultimate expression of God’s glory, surpassing all previous revelations and angels. In Jesus, we’re invited to witness and experience the majestic glory of God’s presence.
Worshipping “in spirit” involves a heartfelt devotion, love for Jesus and full surrender to God. The Holy Spirit reveals and illuminates truths about God’s character, His will, and His redemptive plan through Jesus Christ to our heart, leading us to praise and worship him with our whole lives.
Those in Christ stand secure in the kingdom of God, yet we know the prince of darkness rules the city of man. The Holy Spirit allows us to fight sin, darkness and evil, as we put on the armour of God and take out the Sword of the Spirit.
God gives signs, wonders and gifts by the Holy Spirit to point us to his power, grace and love. He wants us to walk in the newness of life given to us in Jesus, seeking and using our spiritual gifts to help us to know Jesus deeper and to make Him known.
God’s Spirit and His Word are intimately connected and mutually reinforcing in the life of a believer - both are needed to flourish in Christ. The Holy Spirit illuminates the message of the Bible, enabling us to understand its truths and apply them, and to see and know the person of Jesus.
Disciples of Jesus are not only called to follow him, but also become like him. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the likeness of Jesus - leading us to a deeper sense of dependency on God as we navigate seasons of trial and temptation, and seek His guidance and strength.
Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit, reminding us that our redemption is not based on our own work or efforts but is a gift of God’s amazing grace. By the Holy Spirit and through faith in Jesus, we get to walk in our new and transformed lives.
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a gift received by faith, allowing us to encounter God, enabling our transformation and empowering us for life and ministry. As a living member of the Trinity who is with us today, The Holy Spirit desires ongoing fellowship with us.
In an age of social media, comparison and jealousy can easily creep into our hearts. God desires us to not be jealous and to be content in his gift of salvation in Jesus.
Is it ever okay to tell a lie? Deception and mistruth is evident throughout our world, but Jesus himself claims to be the truth and the light. Will we follow him in our actions?
In a confused generation, where is the line on adultery, cheating and affairs? We are all searching for the “right” way to do relationships. Will we follow God’s way?
Theft hurts other people, but it also dishonours God. Jesus teaches us that all we need for life can be found in him, and that God is our ultimate provider.
Murder is wrong. Most of us would agree on this. But is it ever justified? What does God have to say about life, death, and the value he places on humanity?
God created the heavens and Earth in six days, and on the seventh day he rested. God also desires us to rest and practice the Sabbath, and ultimately find true rest in Jesus.
Family is designed to be a place of love and safety, but it can also be messy and hurtful. How should we honour our parents and follow Jesus’ example, even when it’s difficult?
God reveals his character and power in the Bible. But there are many who share false gospels and misuse the name of Jesus. How should we honour Jesus’ name in truth?
Our hearts seek satisfaction in many idols like money, sex, power and entertainment. But we are made to be fully satisfied in Jesus. Do you desire God above all else?
Which way is the “right way” to live? Where do we find true morality in a modern age? God has a vision for life and the way it should be lived, through Jesus.
Queen Esther and Mordecai’s courage and faithfulness to stand up for their people - the Jews - will be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. Hope will always arise.
Mordecai learns about Haman's decree to destroy the Jews. Distraught, he urges Queen Esther to intercede with the king on behalf of her people. Will Esther risk her life and find the courage to approach the king?
Haman, an influential official, gains the king's favour and devises a plan to annihilate the Jews. Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman, leading to his vengeful plot and a decree to destroy the Jewish people. Who will stand up in the face of opposition?
Xerxes' search for a new queen continues through a beauty contest. Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, wins the king's favour and becomes queen. Meanwhile, Mordecai discovers a plot against the king and foils it.
A flyover of the whole story of Esther as an introduction to the series and how it points us to Jesus.
As we begin 2024, can you say as David did that you have seen the power and glory of God? Can you say that his love is better than life?
Death doesn’t have the final word as Jesus raises his good friend Lazarus from the dead, pointing to his ultimate sacrifice to be made on the cross.
Jesus passes a blind man begging in the street and acts mercifully, restoring the man’s sight with his touch and revealing his light.
5000 people are gathered to see Jesus, and with only 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed everyone Jesus performs a miracle and the crowd are fed in abundance.
Paralysed and unable to walk for the last 38 years, a man is healed by Jesus in Bethesda, breaking the rules of religious authorities on the Sabbath.
The royal official begs Jesus to intervene when his son falls ill, and with a few words Jesus miraculously heals the boy.
Jesus performs his first miracle at the wedding in Cana, turning water into wine, revealing his divine power and initiating his ministry.
Death: we are destined for it, yet many of us rarely think about it. What does wisdom have to say about the final reality, and the life we live before it?
In a world of anger, injustice and oppression, God’s commitment to justice is startling, and he stands as sovereign Judge. Align your life to his purposes for the world through Proverbs.
Work: we need it, we love it, we loathe it, drawn either to under-work or over-work. What does God’s word have to say about this fundamental feature of human life?
A church birthday reminder of our calling as a church to not just do for Christ, but be with Christ- to be transformed by the gospel and powered by prayer
Riches can do great good, but the love of money can consume and deform us – so how do we train our hearts to what is truly valuable?
Our Heavenly Father has created us to live in families, and Proverbs provides wisdom for building and shaping the fundamental unit of our community.
A friend can draw closer than family, giving inspiration and comfort – or crushing with betrayal. Find out what a true friend is in the Proverbs.
God has promised those in Christ the fullness of his salvation and life. And yet there is a tension between the “already and “not yet” as we experience a broken world. We press on towards holiness, understanding it will take patience and work, all while trusting in God’s transformative power.
A healthy “rule of life” involves finding joy in God and His gifts, while also following Jesus’ example of self-denial. We should live Christ-centred lives of celebration, but also sacrifice, service and self-denial, not for punishment but for healthy detachment from the world for the sake of joy in Christ's presence.
Examination practices and rhythms such as “The Daily Examen”, prayer, fasting and journaling help us cultivate an awareness of God's all-encompassing love. Just as we ask God to search our own hearts through examination, so we ask God to show us other people’s hearts, so we can encourage them in their journey.
A trellis is crucial for supporting a vine's growth, just as Christians need structure to remain in Christ. A "rule of life" serves as a pattern of spiritual disciplines to encourage flourishing in your walk with Jesus, and is a means of God's grace to deepen love and joy in Christ.
How do you prepare for big things? Paul's pastoral plea to the Corinthians is that they examine their faith and abide in the grace of Christ. Even when we struggle with sin or feel stagnant in our faith, we trust that our life is hidden in Christ and that the resurrection power which raised him from the dead is at work in raising us up too. May the love of God strengthen you in your weakness.
The church ought to be bold, empowered, and boastful not in ourselves but in the Lord. Boldness is about facing our problems head on. Turning the other cheek isn’t about being a doormat or tolerating evil. Strongholds aren't to be toyed with, but taken captive in submission to Christ. Jesus grabbed a whip and flipped tables to drive out sin. Paul was neither physically impressive nor especially eloquent. Wordly tactics and human strategy will not do, we need divine power through the mighty weapons of prayer and the ministry of the word. The bible is more than a text, it is the sword of the Spirit, to advance his kingdom and fight the darkness. Therefore, "let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
As Australians, we are living in one of (if not the) richest country in the world, in one of the most prosperous times in history. How can we be generous with the blessings God has bestowed on us? May we rejoice in the richness of God's grace to us, and seek to give generously. May we learn from the Macedonians how generosity springs from overflowing joy, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Idols and holiness do not mix. We become what we worship, and idols embody the demonic darkness from which we need deliverance. So, may we worship Christ with purity of heart and spirit, fully devoted to him. Idols don't have to be tiny shrines of gods we keep in our homes, but good things that have become distorted. What are you chasing after that is keeping you from full devotion to Christ? What false relationships are you holding onto? Lay them down at the cross.
The gospel transforms breaking bodies and ruptured relationships, so we make the goal of our lives around pleasing God and serving as his ambassadors on earth, making a difference in the lives of the people around us. Don't let sin corrupt you and lead to death, seek reconciliation with God and embrace the treasure of eternal life.
Paul describes to the church in Corinth that they are like jars of clay, to show that the glory comes not from their own strength, but from Christ's power in them. As with us, our fragility and brokenness are beautiful because God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Are you willing to take courage on your journey of faith and entrust that God will use you - in all your brokenness, doubt and shortcomings - for something beautiful?
The mirror of the law and the letter show us how we fall short of the glory of God. Yet, the gospel is good news because it gives us righteousness in the face of guilt, boldness in the face of fear, and transformation in the face of death. Unlike the law which disappoints, the gospel transforms. Our highest aim in live is to become like Jesus, which we do by faith as ministers of the new covenant. We are justified, but we are also being sanctified.
Is it going to be the crocs or the cross? Paul critiques the celebrity pastor culture of the Corinthians, urging them that not even he ought to be considered as anything, but rather that the focus be on the gospel.
Christianity is not about the easy and comfortable life. Affliction is at the heart of our faith, but amidst it he comforts us so we can comfort others in theirs. God is the God of all comfort, and while he can deliver us from affliction, his power is best displayed in our weakness. God can use suffering to strip away our pride. To be built up, we have to be torn down. Don't give in, and don't give up. God loves you. He's got you.
When we forget God, we are prone to forsake him. It is God's faithfulness in the past that fuels our courage for the future. Yet, we live in the tension of the now and the not yet, the promise given and the promise received. The road ahead will get difficult, but it is to be marked by obedience to God. Instead of dwelling in the land of fear and shame, we embrace God's grace and our identity as children of God. If we are to live as God's children, we must be courageous. We cannot stand with apathy and indifference when we witness evil in this world, but instead of fighting evil with evil, we fight with love, and we herald the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus, trusting that if God can break down the walls of Jericho he can break down the walls of any human heart.
God gave Israel land, a command, and an inheritance. He had kept his promises to his people, and now it was time for the people to settle into the promise. If God was in control of the details then, he is in control of the details now. We obey God now because we are undeservedly loved and given an eternal inheritance far greater than anything in earth, the inheritance of Christ, and of heaven.
God cares for his people, rules over creation, and responds to bold prayer. Whatever the immediate cause, miracles happens when God intervenes in supernatural ways, as the one whom made all things and holds all things together. Our faith is founded upon an unbelievable miracle, the idea that a man died Friday and came to life on Sunday. If, then, the bible says God paused the sun in reaponse to Joshua's prayer for victory in the battle, could he not do it? May we also have faith like Joshua to trust God can intervene in miraculous ways in our lives.
Despite being in the promised land of milk and honey, Achan desired more and stole a year's salary from the treasury. He did what he knew he shouldn't do, because the desire of the human heart is powerful. Don't follow your heart, follow God. Sin can't be hidden forever, everything done in darkness will be brought to light. Whatever is in the dirt, God will unearth, and judgement will come like Achan in the valley of Achor. Yet, for those in Christ, we have the door of hope, and salvation from our sins.
Without God's presence, Israel could do nothing. God chose the weak to shame the strong, the foolish to shame the wise. When you face a wall, trust God even when you feel like you're going in circles, the battle feels beyond you, and the world is burning. How do we handle a God that preaches life but allows death, that demands righteousness and judges wickedness? In God's judgement, there is mercy. The same Spirit that brought the walls of Jericho down, lives in the faithful. For all who look at Christ, there is life forevermore.
To cross the Jordan, Israel needed leadership and preparation. As God was with Moses, so he was with Joshua. Rather than placing their trust in their military might, they placed their trust in the ark of the covenant, and made their frontmen priests. Are we going to let fear or faith drive us? Will we trust in God's promises? By looking back on the promises of God in the past, the Israelites could confidently move forward, and so too can we.
Passage: 'Joshua 2:1-14'. Preacher: Pete Steven . Visit www.cityonahill.com.au for more about our mission to know Jesus and make Jesus Known.
Passage: 'Joshua 1:1-9'. Preacher: Matt Keller. Visit www.cityonahill.com.au for more about our mission to know Jesus and make Jesus Known.
Passage: 'Isaiah 6:1-8'. Preacher: Matt Keller. Visit www.cityonahill.com.au for more about our mission to know Jesus and make Jesus Known.
As Jesus is lord over this cosmos, so shall he be lord over the new heavens and earth as the first-born from the dead, the only one who was able to defeat death once and for all. There will be no referendums nor any limits to his reign, for Christ is preeminent and he shall reign forever.
Jesus holds all things at a cosmic, historical, and personal level. He is before all things - the cosmos, nature, or kingdoms - and in him all things hold together. His hands both hold the universe, and feed the sparrow. As his beloved creation, we are of more value than the sparrow. When anxiety washes over you, look to the one who holds the whole world in his hands.
The supremacy of Christ over all creation helps us stay curious, practice thankfulness, steward God's world, and worship Jesus as lord over all. There is nothing in all creation that doesn't find its origin and design in Jesus. It doesn't exist primarily for us, but for Jesus. Every planet, every sunrise, every mountain, every valley, every ocean, every heart, and every nation. All things were created through him and for him.
In Colossians, Paul was speaking to a church battling the heresy of Gnosticism, that the spiritual is better than the physical and Jesus was fully spirit yet gave the illusion of having a physical body. To this Paul writes about the pre-eminence of Christ, who is 'the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.'In Jesus, the invisible God became visible, the cosmic God who held the stars walked on Earth to be close to us. God became one of us. God has written himself into history and the story of our lives, to reveal himself to us and make himself known through Jesus. When Paul calls Jesus the first-born over all creation, he is not calling Christ a creation but reminding us that Christ is first and foremost over all things: every planet, every being, every nation, and everthing in all creation. Is he first in your life, your purpose, your possessions, and your time?
No one wants to fail. We are all trying our best to make this life work but somehow our flesh and this world have a way of catching us out. We will end up finding ourselves amidst our frailty and sin. What do we do then? The prodigal son is the story of all of us. Promised inheritance of our father’s land, we squander our blessings and live life our way, until life doesn’t work out anymore and we find ourselves bearing the weight of our sin and longing for a home to rest. We become overcome with fear that our father would never want us back. Yet, the father is waiting for us with open arms. When he sees us seeking him and facing him, recognising the mess of our life, we are not met with reproach but a father who runs to us. clothes us with a rich robe, and prepares a banquet to celebrate the return of the one who ‘was lost, but is not found; dead but is now alive.’ May we forsake the distant country of this world, and return to our inheritance in heaven, knowing God is waiting with...