At The Last Supper Jesus instituted the covenant meal with his disciples, prayed in deep anguish at Gethsemane at what he was about to suffer on the cross, and was ultimately betrayed, arrested, and abandoned by his disciples.Bible Reading:Matthew 26:1-56Preacher:Sermon by Grant van der Merwe This episode is part of The Passion — Season 5 of our teaching series The Kingdom, as we journey through the Gospel of Matthew and discover the good news of Jesus the King.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/passion
Jesus warns his followers to be ready for his ultimate return, where he will come back to judge all people and the righteous will inherit eternal life for serving “the least of these,” while the unfaithful face eternal separation.
Jesus leaves the temple and tells of the destruction that is to come and warns his disciples of coming trials, false messiahs, persecution, and great tribulation, urging them to stay alert and endure to the end until his glorious return.
Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, and burdening others with empty religion while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He lamented over Jerusalem’s hardness of heart, expressing God’s love for his people.
Jesus told a parable of a wedding feast, showing that God’s kingdom is open to all who truly respond, not just the outwardly religious. He teaches the greatest commandment – to love God and love others.
The religious leaders challenged Jesus’ authority as he was teaching in the temple. A parable of true obedience to God and a parable of Israel’s leaders that had rejected God’s messengers, and would ultimately reject His Son.
A triumphant entry and the turning of tables. Jesus returns to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, before entering the temple and driving out the sellers who had turned a place of worship into a marketplace.
‘Woke’ is a term we hear a lot and yet its definition is hard to pin down. Where does it come from – and how should the church respond to it? Do we celebrate it or resist it? It’s worth asking – what would Jesus affirm and would he confront? And what is the way forward from here?
Many people around us are going pretty well in life; they’re kind, they help others, they are successful and have purpose – so why (and how) do you share the good news of Jesus with people when they seem to be doing fine without it?
As wars rage in the Middle East and opinions divide, we are confronted with the question of how we should respond. What does God have to say about war in general, and what might he have to say about this one in particular?
How should we read the ancient text of the Bible in light of our ever-expanding scientific knowledge? Does evolution contradict the Bible, or just help us understand it better?
In a culture where LGBTQ+ people are affirmed and celebrated, the church often seems critical and judgmental. What does the Bible say on these issues and to people wrestling with their identity? How should Christians live out these truths in their communities today?
Jesus claimed to be ‘the way, the truth and the life’ – but isn’t that arrogant? Aren’t all religions basically the same – a different path to the same destination, shaped by the perspectives of the particular time and culture we live in? Or is it possible that we’re wrong? How do we assess all of these truth claims?
The roles and responsibilities of women and men in the church have been the source of much debate and controversy since the early church – so what does the Bible really say about it all? What do we know about God’s design for men and women in ministry, and how do we live that out here at City on a Hill?
In a noisy and distracted age, how do we recognise the word of God – and how do I know if what I’m ‘hearing’ is the word of God, or just the voice of my own heart?
Jesus declares, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant… even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”. Jesus is the greatest — not in the way the world recognises, but in the way heaven does.
Jesus compares the greatest in the kingdom to the children who come to Him with curiosity and faith. Those who seem powerless, weak and unimportant and deemed great and worthy of the kingdom of heaven because of Jesus’ power made perfect in their weakness.
The Transfiguration becomes a divine spotlight on who Jesus truly is: “This is my beloved Son… listen to him.” The truth of Jesus’ divinity is revealed to the disciples, as they marvel at his glory and authority given to Him by the Father.
Peter confesses His love and devotion to Jesus - not just in action but in his heart. Peter is confronted by his fear of Jesus’ foretold suffering. Jesus rebukes him - pointing to His suffering as the path he must take to put an end to sin and death for eternity.