City Base Church

Preaching from Isaiah, David Howett explains how Bible prophecy is different from any other kind of writing, because it reveals God's unchanging plan from the beginning of the world. And Jesus fulfils these prophecies completely!Isaiah 46: 8 - 13 (NIV)“Remember this, keep it in mind,    take it to heart, you rebels.9 Remember the former things, those of long ago;    I am God, and there is no other;    I am God, and there is none like me.10 I make known the end from the beginning,    from ancient times, what is still to come.I say, ‘My purpose will stand,    and I will do all that I please.’11 From the east I summon a bird of prey;    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.What I have said, that I will bring about;    what I have planned, that I will do.12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,    you who are now far from my righteousness.13 I am bringing my righteousness near,    it is not far away;    and my salvation will not be delayed.I will grant salvation to Zion,    my splendor to Israel.

In our Christmas Day service, Lerato Ngcwabe reminded us that our lives are marked by God's grace. We are chosen and favoured in His sight. God's grace allows us to live freely and empowers us to live out His plan for our lives.Luke 1: 29 - 38 (NIV)Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Preaching from Ephesians 2 this week, Dion van Breda reminds us that as unbelievers we were without hope, but because of Jesus we are reconciled to God, and there is peace between us and Him, and between us and our fellow Believers.Ephesians 2: 13- 20 (NIV)But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.

Continuing our preaching series from Ephesians, Guidance Kandemiiri teaches that when we are exposed to the holiness of God, we realise how sinful we really are, and that only Jesus can redeem us and reconcile us to the Father.Mercy rescues us from death, and grace lifts us up into a new status as alive in God.Ephesians 2: 3 - 8 (NIV)All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

Preaching from Ephesians 2, Alex Becker reminds us that when we became Believers, the same power that raised Jesus from death saves us from our sins and makes us new creations.Ephesians 2: 1 - 9 (NIV)As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

In this sermon, Stephen King continues our series, preaching from Ephesians 1. He shows us the wonderful picture that the Scriptures paint of a God Who accepts every single one of us in His great love. As His children, He promises to walk with us now, as well as promising us an eternal future with Him.Ephesians 1: 13 - 14 (NIV)And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.

Continuing our preaching series on the Book of Ephesians, today Dion van Breda shares from Ephesians 1: 7 - 10 that God's plan is to bring everything and everyone together in Christ, through His work of salvation.Ephesians 1: 7 - 10 (NIV)In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Preaching from Ephesians 1, Dion van Breda reminds of some wonderful truths:When we are saved, we are in Christ;Our right response is to live holy and blameless before Him;We are adopted into the family of God because He chose to save us.Ephesians 1: 3 - 8a (NIV)Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that He lavished on us.

Today, Dion van Breda starts a new preaching series. For the next few weeks, we'll be walking through the Book of Ephesians together, learning with the people in Ephesus what God wants His church to look like.

In this message, Dion van Breda reminds us that God's plan for our lives is for us to become more like Jesus.He also encourages us to remember that God wants us to live lives of impact and increase, even when we're facing times of trial and difficulty.Jeremiah 29: 4 - 14 (NIV)This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

In this message, guest preacher Linton Patrick reminds us what we are to do with the Word of God:Admit that it is the TruthCommit it to our hearts and mindsSubmit our lives to its authorityTransmit it to othersThe Word Became Flesh1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.John 1: 1 - 9 (NIV

In this sermon, guest preacher Deon Stapelberg teaches us about the Trinity - and that Jesus is truly God.(John 8:58) Jesus said to them, "Mostassuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:59) Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

In this sermon, guest preacher Malcom Isles speaks to us about being disciples so that we can make disciples.A disciple is someone who is called by Jesus to be with Jesus and other Believers, to learn from Jesus, to become more like Jesus, to continue the ministry of Jesus.

In this sermon, Dion van Breda asks us to consider whether we're building our lives for the King, or focusing on our own comfort and satisfaction.Haggai 1: 1 - 11 (NIV)A Call to Build the House of the Lord1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

In this sermon, Dion van Breda wraps up the preaching series on the Book of Habbakuk, with the encouragement that when we know what God has done before, we can trust Him while we wait for Him to act in our present circumstances.1 Corinthians 12: 7 - 10 (NIV)Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In this special service, Barry Farr from the NCMI Apostolic Team preached on the hope of the Gospel, and the need for every Believer to preach it faithfully and continually.1 Timothy 1: 1 -11 (New International Version)1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

In Part 4 of our preaching series from the Book of Habakkuk, Dion van Breda encourages us not to give up, and not to lose hope while we wait upong the Lord's answers to our prayers.Habakkuk 2: 1 - 4 (NIV)I will stand at my watch    and station myself on the ramparts;I will look to see what he will say to me,    and what answer I am to give to this complaint.2 Then the Lord replied:“Write down the revelation    and make it plain on tablets    so that a herald may run with it.3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;    it speaks of the end    and will not prove false.Though it linger, wait for it;    it will certainly come    and will not delay.4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;    his desires are not upright—    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness ...

In Part 3 of our preaching series on the Book of Habakkuk, Dion van Breda looks at how we ought to respond to God's answers.Our Response:1. Stop and listen to what God is saying.2. Make a note of what He says.3. Be patient and wait.

What do we do when it seems as if our prayers are falling on deaf ears? Or when God's answers are not what we expected them to be?Join us for Part 2 of Dion van Breda's preaching series through the Book of Habakkuk to find out how the prophet dealt with these same questions.

Have you ever had questions like: "I know that You can, Lord, but why don't you?" or "Lord, I've prayed about this for so long, why haven't You answered me yet?"If you have, join us for our new preaching series: "Why, God?", where Dion van Breda will be exploring what the Book of Habakkuk can teach us about how to respond when God doesn't do the things we want Him to, or doesn't answer our prayers the way we think He should.