Recent talks - The City Church

Evening: A Legacy of Faith

December 7, 2025 • Dave Boulding • Genesis 24

What do you do when it doesn’t feel like God has a plan for your life? In this message from our Genesis series, we explore Genesis 24—the story of Isaac and Rebekah—and discover how God’s perfect plans unfold even when we don’t see the full picture. Through the faith of Abraham and the obedience of his servant, we see what it looks like to prioritise God’s plans over our own, to trust Him in the waiting, and to walk in partnership with Him. But ultimately, it’s Jesus who perfects God’s plan—redeeming us, calling us by name, and inviting us into His greater story. This sermon is for anyone asking: – “Is God really working in my life?” – “Can I trust His timing?” – “How do I follow when I don’t see the full path?”

Morning: A Legacy of Faith

December 7, 2025 • Nii Noi Osuteye • Genesis 24

In this message we explore Genesis 24 and see what it reveals about legacy, faith, and generational purpose. Through the story of Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for Isaac, we see how God’s promises are sustained through faith-filled obedience, spiritual inheritance, and godly character. Abraham’s firm resolution, the servant’s faithful obedience, and Rebekah’s humble response all highlight the divine orchestration at work in fulfilling God’s covenant. This isn’t just a story about marriage, it’s about the continuation of God’s promise and how faith is passed from one generation to the next. You’ll be challenged to consider: What legacy of faith are you building? And who are you passing it on to?

Evening: Surrendering What You Love

November 30, 2025 • Jonathan Lewis • Genesis 22

In this message from our Genesis series, we explore Genesis 22—one of the most profound tests of faith in all of Scripture. Abraham is asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, and through this moment we discover what genuine faith, obedience, and trust in God’s provision truly look like. John unpacks how Abraham’s journey mirrors our own: the moments where God calls us to take a step of faith without seeing the full path, the challenge of obeying even when it’s costly, and the confidence that God always provides exactly what we need. Through personal stories, biblical insight, and the wider picture of the gospel, we see how Abraham’s faith ultimately points us to Jesus—the true sacrificial Son whom God did not withhold. If you’re wrestling with trust, stepping into something new, or longing to see God’s provision, this message will encourage you to take that step of faith knowing He will never let you fall.

Morning: Surrendering What You Love

November 30, 2025 • Olly Knight • Genesis 22

What do you treasure most? In this powerful and moving sermon, Olly unpacks one of the most uncomfortable yet transformational stories in Scripture—Genesis 22, where Abraham is asked to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. On a morning filled with joy for baby thanksgiving, we explore a passage about trust, obedience, and surrender. This message asks us to consider: What if God asked us to lay down the very thing we hold most dear? Through Abraham’s radical obedience and God’s faithful provision, we’re pointed to the ultimate exchange—when God did not spare His own Son, Jesus, but gave Him up for us all. The story of Isaac becomes a prophetic shadow of the cross, reminding us that Jesus is our substitute, and that true faith is found in surrender.

Evening: Covenant People, Consecrated Lives

November 23, 2025 • Ruth Dark • Genesis 17

In this message, we continue our journey through the story of Abraham in Genesis 17, where God reaffirms His covenant and calls Abraham into deeper relationship, consecration, and transformation. We explore three key themes: 1. A Call to Relationship – God desires intimacy with us before He asks for anything from us. 2. A Call to Consecration – Following God requires being set apart, inwardly surrendered, and wholly His. 3. A Call to Transformation – True change begins when God renames and redefines us according to His promise and purpose. This message reminds us that God’s promises are not just ancient words but present realities. Whether you feel far from God or in the midst of transformation, this sermon invites you to return to His presence and trust His process.

Morning: Covenant People, Consecrated Lives

November 23, 2025 • Martin Segal • Genesis 17

In this message, we look at Genesis 17 and the covenant that God makes with Abraham, described as everlasting. Rather than being something that belongs only to the past, this covenant helps us understand how God works with His people today. We reflect on how: The covenant is initiated by God, not earned by human effort Faith often requires waiting and trusting beyond what we can see Belonging to God is marked by spiritual transformation, not just outward signs God introduces Himself as El Shaddai, which means God Almighty. The passage highlights God’s character as both powerful and present. Even when Abraham laughs in disbelief, God remains faithful to His promise.

Evening: Sacrificial Generosity

November 16, 2025 • Martin Segal • Mark 12:41–44

As part of our annual Shoebox Sunday, we reflect on what it means to live sacrificial, generous lives for the sake of others and the glory of God. Drawing from the powerful moment in Mark 12:41–44, where Jesus watches a poor widow offer two small coins, this sermon challenges us to consider the heart behind our giving. What does true generosity look like in God’s Kingdom? Why does Jesus praise this woman over others who gave more? And how does her example speak to our own lives today? In this message, Martin explores: The upside-down mathematics of the Kingdom of God Why sacrificial giving matters more than the amount How Jesus sees and values what others overlook What it means to offer our whole selves to God This is not just a message about money—it’s a call to reorient our hearts. Whether you’re experiencing abundance or scarcity, Jesus calls His followers to a life of wholehearted generosity rooted in trust and love.

Evening: When Faith is Tested

November 9, 2025 • John Bailey • Genesis 16

This message continues our journey through Genesis, focusing on the story of Hagar, Sarai, and Abram in Genesis 16. Don draws out a deeply challenging yet hope-filled truth: even when we try to take matters into our own hands, God still sees, hears, and meets us with compassion. The passage reveals the devastating consequences of walking in our own strength instead of trusting God’s promises. Yet in the midst of pain, brokenness, and human failure, we encounter the God who sees us—El Roi—and responds with grace. Through the story of Hagar, we are reminded that God is near to the rejected, the marginalised, and the hurting. This message urges us to examine our own lives: are we trusting God’s timing, or rushing ahead in our own plans? It also calls us to repentance, and to trust in God’s faithfulness, even when the wait is long and the way unclear. This sermon encourages reflection on what it means to wait in faith, how God meets us in our wilderness, and the transforming power of His mercy.

Morning: When Faith is Tested

November 9, 2025 • Sam Gardner • Genesis 16

This week’s message from Genesis 16 explores what it means to wait on God’s promises—even when the waiting feels endless. Sam Gardner unpacks the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, showing how time can test faith and how easily we can take matters into our own hands when hope seems distant. Yet even when we give up on God, He never gives up on us. Through Hagar’s encounter with “the God who sees,” we discover the unchanging truth that God meets us in our pain, restores what is broken, and remains faithful to every promise He has made. This sermon invites us to reflect on where we might be weary in waiting, to recognise the warning signs of giving up on God, and to find fresh hope in the God who still sees, hears, and redeems.

Evening: Rediscovering the Power of Praying Together

November 2, 2025 • Martin Segal • Colossians 4:2

In this evening message, we pause our Genesis series to focus on one of the most vital aspects of the Christian life — prayer. Drawing from Colossians 4:2, this sermon explores what it means to “continue steadfastly in prayer”, emphasising the importance of both personal and corporate prayer. We’re reminded that prayer is not an isolated individual act, but a shared expression of relationship with God and one another. From Genesis to Acts, Scripture shows God’s people gathering to seek His face — in seasons of waiting, blessing, challenge, and growth. Through this message, we’re encouraged to move beyond independence and isolation, and rediscover the power of praying together — for unity, encouragement, and spiritual maturity. Prayer is not a religious duty but a gift of grace — a living conversation with the God who hears, answers, and transforms.