Recent talks - The City Church

Evening: Genesis 39 | God Is With You in the Pit and the Palace

February 22, 2026 • Rhys Poore • Genesis 39

In this message from Genesis 39, we continue our journey through the life of Joseph and discover a powerful truth: God is with us, even in seasons of injustice, temptation, and suffering. Joseph’s story is not one of easy blessing or instant breakthrough. Sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison, Joseph remains faithful to God through it all. Despite relentless temptation and deep injustice, his heart posture stays fixed on the Lord. And in every high and low moment, we are reminded of this powerful refrain: “The Lord was with him.” This sermon explores what it means to live with a heart fully devoted to God — not just in our actions, but in our character. We reflect on how temptation often comes persistently, how injustice can shake our faith, and how true hope is found not in immediate outcomes but in eternal perspective. Ultimately, Joseph’s story points us to Jesus — the One who endured the greatest injustice so that we could receive mercy, grace, and redemption. Because of Christ, we can trust that God walks with us in every circumstance, and that one day true justice will be fully revealed.

Morning: Genesis 39 | God Is With You in the Pit and the Palace

February 22, 2026 • Carrie Clark • Genesis 39

This message continues our journey through the book of Genesis, focusing on Genesis 39 and the life of Joseph. In this second act of Joseph’s story, we see him betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. Yet through suffering, temptation, and isolation, one theme stands out clearly: “The Lord was with Joseph.” Rather than responding with anger, bitterness, or despair, Joseph displays remarkable integrity — in suffering, in secret, and in seclusion. His story challenges us to consider what integrity looks like in our own lives: at work, at home, online, and in the hidden places where no one else sees. This sermon explores how suffering can refine us, how surrender shapes our character, and how true success in God’s kingdom often looks very different from the world’s definition. Ultimately, Joseph’s life points us forward to Jesus — the one who perfectly surrendered to the Father’s will and whose integrity in suffering brought us salvation.

Evening: When Dreams Are Crushed

February 15, 2026 • Martin Segal • Genesis 37

This message continues our journey through Genesis as we turn to Genesis 37 and the beginning of Joseph’s story . From the dreams of a 17-year-old boy to the betrayal of his own brothers, this passage invites us to wrestle with both the promise and the pain that can mark the life of faith. As we enter the final section of Genesis, we see the focus shift from Jacob to Joseph — a young man marked by favour, flawed by immaturity, and chosen by God. Joseph’s dreams point to a future of leadership and purpose, yet almost immediately those dreams give way to rejection, jealousy, and suffering. Hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery, Joseph’s story moves from dream to nightmare in a matter of moments. In this sermon, we explore two key themes: • Joseph’s Dreams – How God speaks, calls, and plants purpose in imperfect people • Joseph’s Nightmare – How suffering, betrayal, and hardship do not cancel God’s promises Along the way, we are challenged to examine our own hearts — the dangers of jealousy, anger, and hidden bitterness — and reminded that God’s grace meets us in our immaturity and weakness. The message also lifts our eyes to Jesus, the true and better Joseph: the beloved Son sent by the Father, rejected by His own, sold for silver, and yet positioned through suffering to bring salvation. Whether you are holding onto a dream from God or walking through a season that feels more like a pit than a promise, this message reminds us that God is present in both. He does not abandon us in suffering; He works through it. There is hope, even in the darkest places. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 12:3).

Morning: When Dreams Are Crushed

February 15, 2026 • John Bailey • Genesis 37

In this message from Genesis 37, we look at the story of Joseph through two images: a new coat and an old goat. Joseph’s robe of many colours symbolised favour, identity, and calling — yet it also stirred jealousy, comparison, and division. Through this familiar passage, we reflect on what truly defines us. Is it the “coat” we wear — status, gifting, recognition — or is it our identity as children of God? We also consider Jacob’s journey, a man shaped through testing and failure, and how God used difficult circumstances to refine him. Ultimately, Joseph’s story points beyond itself — foreshadowing Christ, the rejected servant who fulfilled God’s greater purposes. This sermon invites us to: • Put off the old self and put on the new • Align our lives with God’s purposes • Recognise and steward the gifts He has given us • Trust Him in both hardship and blessing Whatever season you are in, be encouraged: God is at work. The coat does not define you — Christ does.

International Sunday 2026 | One body, many parts

February 8, 2026 • Alan Tower • Romans 12

On International Sunday, we reflect on the beautiful diversity and deep unity of the global Church. Drawing from Romans 12, this sermon reminds us that God’s people are described as one body made up of many parts—each with a unique role, gifting, and purpose. Through stories from around the world and everyday life, we’re invited to see that no role in the Church is insignificant. Whether visible or unseen, every act of service matters. God celebrates diversity, not conformity, and uses it to build a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant Church. This message also challenges us to think beyond ourselves and recognise how God calls us to serve together—locally and globally. With a special focus on welcoming international students, we’re reminded that mission often begins with simple hospitality, faithful presence, and shared life.

Morning: Wrestling with God

February 1, 2026 • Martin Segal • Genesis 32:22–32

This sermon explores a key moment in the life of Jacob, when he is left alone and wrestles through the night with an unknown figure. As the encounter unfolds, Jacob is changed. He is given a new name, Israel, and comes away not only with a limp but with a deeper understanding of who God is. Jacob’s life had been marked by striving—against others and within himself. In this passage, we reflect on how struggle is often a part of our journey too. Rather than seeing it as something to escape, this message encourages us to consider how God can meet us in those places of difficulty. Transformation often comes when we reach the end of our own strength. Jacob’s story reminds us that God is faithful and present, even in seasons of waiting, wrestling, or uncertainty.

Evening: God in the Wilderness

January 25, 2026 • Jonathan Lewis • Genesis 28:10–22

In this message, we look at a key moment in Jacob’s life as he begins a long and uncertain journey. Having left home in difficult circumstances, Jacob finds himself alone and unprepared—yet it is here that God meets him. Through a dream of a staircase reaching to heaven, God graciously reaffirms His promises to Jacob, not because of Jacob’s faithfulness, but because of His own. This passage invites us to consider how God often meets us in unexpected places, not based on what we’ve done, but because of who He is.

Morning: God in the Wilderness

January 25, 2026 • Kathryn Bailey • Genesis 28:10–22

In this week’s message from our Genesis series, we journey with Jacob as he flees into the wilderness—alone, broken, and far from God. What unfolds is one of the most breathtaking moments in Scripture: heaven opens, angels descend, and God meets Jacob exactly where he is. Through Jacob’s dream at Bethel, we discover a powerful truth: God sees us—in our mess, in our wandering, and in our questions. Just like Jacob, we don’t have to climb our way to God. Instead, God comes down to us. This sermon unpacks how God’s presence transforms despair into purpose and shows how Jesus becomes the true “stairway” between heaven and earth.

Evening: The Cost of Deception

January 18, 2026 • John Bailey • Genesis 27:1–45

Even the most broken of families cannot stop the redeeming work of God. In this message, we explore the deeply dysfunctional dynamics between Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob in Genesis 27—a story marked by deception, favoritism, and failed communication. Yet through it all, God’s purposes still prevail. John unpacks how each character strays from God’s will, but also how God sovereignly works through their flaws to bring about His promises. The story reminds us that although we often fail, God is faithful. More than that, He redeems. This message is a powerful call to trust God’s process, to resist manipulating outcomes for our own gain, and to surrender our lives into the hands of a God who brings beauty from chaos.

Morning: The Cost of Deception

January 18, 2026 • Olly Knight • Genesis 27:1–45

In this message from our Genesis series, we look at the story of Jacob, Esau, Isaac, and Rebekah in Genesis 27—a story shaped by deception, manipulation, and broken trust. As Jacob disguises himself to receive his father’s blessing, we reflect on the cost of trying to take control instead of waiting on God. Though Jacob receives the blessing, the fallout affects his family for years to come. This passage invites us to consider: • Are there times we’ve taken matters into our own hands rather than trusting God? • Have we been tempted to force outcomes, even with good intentions? • What does it mean to wait patiently and faithfully for God to fulfil His promises? Despite the failures in this story, we see God’s grace at work. Jacob’s journey reminds us that even in our weakness, God is faithful—and that His purposes are not dependent on our perfection.