City Bible Church, Nz

As we continue in our series on How To Thrive In Life, today we will be looking at one of the biggest struggles that every single one of us has to deal with - the struggle of waiting.  We wait for so many things in our lifetimes, and the last few years has brought this reality into our lives with a greater intensity as we have had to wait for things we had previously taken for granted: When was flour going to be available to buy again? When am I going to be able to visit my family/friends again? When will I ever be seen by the Doctor? Waiting is an uncertainty in life that can stress us to the point of popping. So how can we learn to wait well? This is what we will be thinking about today - Waiting Well.

Kia ora Agora, We are in the middle of our sermon series How to Thrive in Life designed to help us face the struggles of life in light of the truths of scripture. Last time we focused on how we are so fully known by God, and how we are treasured and valued by Him despite what we might have done. As Christ followers, our thriving in life depends on God being more than a concept that is fitted in alongside our existing beliefs and activities. He has to become our ultimate reality, overtaking all other aspects of who we are and what we do. Unless God is our ultimate reality, we can forget about a life of lasting peace, fulfilment, and joy.  Today we look at what the Word shows us about this and see one of the main obstructions to thriving with the reality of God in our lives. 

We will be looking at how we go through life picking up narratives about ourselves. Some of these can be positive, however it’s the negative narratives that seem to stick. These negative narratives can work to bring us down such that when we’re struggling, they become detrimental to our wellbeing. Today we want to look at these stories and put them to the test. We will open the word of God and challenge them to see if our worth is greater than what we tell ourselves. 

This Sunday we discussed the heavy topic of Anxiety. How do you THRIVE in life when it feels like you could explode or pop at any point? Does the Bible say Anxiety is a part of life, is wrong, or even did Jesus experience Anxiety? 

Kia ora Agora, We are starting a new series looking carefully at some of the struggles people are experiencing at present - anxiety, overwhelmed, waiting on God in struggle and so on. How do we thrive in life, when so many of us, and people around us, are finding life so hard? Today we are beginning the podcast with an interview between Josephine and Ann, where Ann shares her empowering testimony, followed by the sermon on thriving in life.

Kia ora Agora,  Last time was a wild look at Jonah chapter 3 where Jonah 'exits' his fish taxi and this time obeys God. God is so good and patient and always gives us second (and 50th) chances.  Today it's Jonah chapter 4 where Jonah is very happy for God to show him love, but ticked when God shows that love to the Ninevites. I know we are never like that - or are we? 

Jonah chapter three is a totally wild passage. Jonah is fresh from his excellent fish taxi and ready to preach to the most evil vile nation on the planet. Will Jonah obey this time? Will the Ninevites repent? Will God relent if they do. Boom - action story!

Kia ora Agora.  This week as we look at Jonah Chapter 2 we find Jonah a bit “down in the mouth” to state the obvious. However, it is one of the beautiful prayers of the Bible. In this chapter we find him dealing with his own failures. We find out what Jonah does to refocus his heart and mind in order that he can then do what he was originally asked to do. God shows mercy and demonstrates how He is the God of the second chances.

Today we are starting a new series studying through the book of Jonah. Chapter one is such a funny part of the Bible as you have non-believing sailors worshipping God while Jonah - the prophet! - is running away from God in disobedience. I so can't wait to start digging into this book with you all. 

It was mother's day this sunday - wooooooo At Agora we want to honour all ladies who take on the essential role of mother, aunty, mentor, carer and supporter. So many of you are a mum to so many different people. You are most awesome. 

This Sunday, Graham Carter is discussing the fascinating topic of mission - here and overseas. The importance of 'missions' to God's end times purpose is often underestimated. Jesus is building His church and He's looking for ordinary, fallible people like you and me to use to do it.

Eli preached the most excellent message last week on the humanity of Christ and looked at how Jesus helped people dealing with grief and emotion. So good! Catch it on this podcast or the video channel if you missed it.  This week we're looking at a key topic in the Bible, that may be a tiny bit controversial. Jesus did it regularly, God commands us to do it, and Paul and the other New Testament writers encourage us to do this all the time. You could read Matthew 16.13-18 for a clue...

Today we are looking at the humanity of Christ and how he experiences emotion and is able to empathise with us when we are troubled. Is it really ok to experience emotion, or is it more healthy to hide it all away and just get on with life? Does God meet us in our pain and hurt, or does he leave us to deal with it ourselves? John 11:17-35

We are looking at an overview of the book of Jeremiah and thinking about the reality that God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. The prophet Jeremiah is given such a hard life by God. How do we rise above the hardship of life, knowing God has us under his care?

The message is asking the ‘so what’ question. So, what that Jesus rose from the dead? So, what that we have a risen saviour of the world. So, what difference does all this resurrection truth have to do with my life today?

This is the last Sunday before Easter, so we are looking at one of the most powerful verses in the bible.  "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Co 5:21. Amazing - 'for our sake' such a key truth to think on leading into Easter. 

This Sunday, we have a guest speaker Graham, who is starting our Easter series. We begin by looking at the servant heart of Jesus and His unexpected love.

We were created for connection. Join us as we continue to explore what it means to grow in connection with God, with each other and with the world around us. 

We were created for connection. Join us as we continue to explore what it means to grow in connection with God, with each other and with the world around us.