City Bible Church, Nz

Did you hear about the old shepherd who got fired because he never knew how many sheep he had? He kept falling asleep as he counted them. Today we will meet the shepherds from the Christmas story. Unlike last Sunday's Innkeeper, these guys are real, and have a lot to teach us (so we wont be tempted to count sheep during the service). We will be in Luke chapter 2, verses 8 to 21

This Sunday, we considered why Jesus was born into such poverty. When you think about it, why was there ‘no place for them…’ Luke 2:7? God can do anything, right? Why not have Jesus at least born in the house where we find him later as a child? Why ‘no place’? Why was there no midwife to help Mary? Why does Jesus have to sleep in a feed trough? What is God saying to us in all this?

We continue learning about The Kingdom of Heaven, and this time we learn that it is like The Parable about a Fishing Net. As with other parables, the language in this parable is clear, concise and strong.  It's a parable found only in Matthew and returns to a similar theme of the parables of the treasure and the pearl, where you sell all - you do what it takes - to gain the kingdom.   On the day of judgement, when the true membership of God's kingdom is finally settled, the good will be separated from the bad. It is not for anyone to determine who are "the real Christians" - that task belongs to God. It's our task to be prepared.

Jesus taught in parables for good reason. We’ll be exploring two of His parables this Sunday, considering how we might see growth similar to what happens to a mustard seed, and yeast in dough, in our own lives and communities.

We live in a world which has both good and bad: kindness and evil, wheat and weeds. How should we live as Christians in this world? Can we show something of the "Kingdom of Heaven" where we live? On Sunday we look at these questions and our present role in the Kingdom.

We begin an exciting new series exploring the Kingdom of Heaven. We'll look at what Jesus meant when He proclaimed the Kingdom was near, and how this message might differ from what people of His time expected. As we delve into Matthew 4, we'll reflect on how our understanding today shapes our faith and discipleship. We'll also explore the Parable of the Sower, which teaches us about how the Kingdom grows in our hearts depending on how we receive God's Word. Join us for a thought-provoking journey through the Gospel!

What does it mean to be intergenerational? The church is a family - a group of people together in relationship with God and in relationship with each other, doing life together. How do our rhythms and practices foster connections and relationships across the generations that help us all grow in faith?

Jonathan's exploits and his relationship with David, and with a weak and jealous father, reads like a novel. But his story from 3000 years ago is very relevant for us today.  How? We will dig into that on Today.

We will be led by Jackie Millar, Prayer Coordinator for CCCNZ. She loves to champion prayer in churches across New Zealand and journey with churches to have strong and flourishing prayer cultures. The book of 2nd Corinthians finishes with these words: ‘May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.’  (2 Cor 13:14). Notice those words, grace, love, fellowship. Today we will exploring who is this God to whom we pray and how does this impact how we pray?

What rights do you believe you possess? Many would point to the right to life, good health, freedom, and the love and care of others. But what occurs when tragedy strikes, and those rights are taken away? We often find that these rights were just illusions. In that moment, how do we react? Do we feel hurt? Complain? Rebel? Get angry? Or do we place our trust in God? When Joseph was left with nothing, he believed God had everything. He didn’t demand answers, but rather waited for God to work, trusting Him in the process

Nicodemus starts out as a complete sceptic about who Jesus is. However, by the end of the book of John he has become a generous sacrificial worshipper of Christ. What on earth happened in his life to change him like this, and so fast?

Barnabas is a man who is almost invisible throughout the book of Acts yet he is nicknamed as the 'Son of Encouragement' by the Apostles, a good man, full of the Holy Spirit.  A man about which very little is written, yet whose impact is immense. So lets put the spotlight on this character and follow his story.

We begin our new series on some of the minor Bible characters and the role they played in God's overall plan. Shelley is kick-starting this off with Miriam and the role she played across significant moments in the children of Israel's exodus to the Promised Land.

We will delve into Philippians 4:10-23, exploring how to find true contentment and fulfilment. We begin by challenging a materialistic perspective, looking beyond the surface to discover deeper emotions and spiritual truths. We'll discuss the importance of relationships — both within our community and in Christ — highlighting the strength and support they offer. Finally, we'll be reminded of our call to seek and be satisfied in Christ in all situations, embracing a life of faith and contentment. Join us for this enriching journey into the heart of Paul's message!

Continuing our series on Philippians from chapter 3 verses 12 to 21

Paul has been sitting in jail for 4 1/2 years waiting for Nero, a cruel and mad Caesar, to decide his fate. And yet Paul is the happiest man in all Rome! How can that be? Is he mad too?  Today, we continue our series in Philippians, and look at joy (or rejoicing) in the Lord from chapter 3. What is it? Do I have it? Why does it matter? And how do I get it?

We open Phil 2: 12-18 we see Paul calling for unity amongst Philippian believers. This unity in brotherly love, and the way we care for each other and seek to put others before ourselves, should be attractive to our lost world. 

In the first chapter of Philippians we find the Apostle Paul in chains awaiting a decision from an insane Caesar. Does he live or does he die a horrible death? You would expect Paul to be full of anxiety and fear but he's not. So what is Paul's attitude to this? What can we learn from him to help us get through life's hardships, and to prepare us for death's certainty one day?

C.S. Lewis never claimed to have coined the phrase, but he is often credited with referring to Christians as "little Christs." His point is that if we claim to follow Jesus, we should resemble him. Just as an apple tree produces apples and a sheep gives birth to little sheep, those who love God should not only resemble Him, but also produce what He produces - love. While it's easy to say that we love our neighbour, it can be challenging to put into practice, especially since people can be difficult to deal with at times. Today we will be discussing how to truly love our neighbour and whether that includes everyone, or if we are allowed to pick and choose.