Gospel City Church – Toronto

One of the biggest barriers to growing spiritually and sustaining a desire for God is when we think we are self-sufficient in life.  It’s especially true, living in an affluent city like ours, where we don’t have to worry about basic necessities like food, shelter, and safety.  If we need anything, it’s available to us with a simple click of a button. If we want more, we are capable of earning mor...

In Philippians 1:1-8, we see how the Apostle Paul couldn’t stand being apart from the church family. He longed to be with them again. He yearned for them with the affection of Christ. Now is this the same way that we feel about our church family?  Do we yearn for each other, long to be together, with the affection of Christ?

In Acts 4, Peter and John bravely declared that obeying God is more important than obeying human authorities. This points directly to Jesus who perfectly obeyed the Father even when it led to persecution. Jesus stood before the religious leaders who opposed him, and he remained faithful to God’s plan even when they condemned him to a cross. Similarly today, we sometimes face pressure to stay silen...

Jesus’ story didn’t end on Good Friday.  Early Sunday morning, the ground began to shake. That stone was rolled away. His buried body began to breathe. The Son of Man rose again and ascended to God’s right hand to be worshiped by angels and men according to the Father’s plan. In Him, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. Through Him, He reconciled all things to Himself. By Him, everything was...

Whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is to admit that you’re stuck, or to ask for help. Jesus gave us words for moments like this. Words to pray when we feel afraid, weak or overwhelmed.  One of them is the last phrase of the Lord’s Prayer: “But deliver us from evil.”

The Lord’s Prayer is not for the strong. It’s not for the self-assured. It’s not for those who believe they can handle life on their own. Rather, it is a prayer for the weak. It is for those who know how easily their heart can wander. It’s for those who have stumbled before and know they can stumble again. And that is what makes this prayer such a gift. Jesus gives us permission to come before the...

What’s the point in asking God for forgiveness, if we’re already forgiven by God? The fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us out debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” isn’t about justification. It’s not about asking God to be made righteous in his sight based on Christ’s righteousness. It’s about restoring daily fellowship and intimacy with our heavenly Father. God is not only our...

When it comes to the fourth petition in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” the vast majority of scholars today believe this petition is actually talking about bread. And this includes all of our daily needs such as food, water, clothing, and shelter. God cares when we pray these big kingdom-size prayers (the first three petitions of the Lord’s prayer), but He also cares about t...

We all have moments when the ground shifts under our feet, when life turns in a direction that we didn’t expect.  Suddenly the future seems uncertain, and we’re left asking, “What now?” Maybe it’s a cancer diagnosis. Maybe it’s watching your own marriage fall apart. Maybe it’s at work where you’re giving everything you have but you’re not sure how long you can continue.  It’s in moments like those...

Everyone draws lines, we build walls, we defend our turf because we have this drive for control. Deep inside, many of us are exhausted from trying to rule our own lives. But thank God, He steps in and reminds us that this is not our kingdom, but His. His kingdom is not fragile or temporary. It is a kingdom of love, justice, and peace. And it is good news that He is king and not us. That’s why Jesu...

If you take a look at the Lord’s Prayer, there are two clear halves. The first half focuses on God, on His holiness, on HIs sovereignty. But the second half focuses on our need and our utter dependence on God. This order is significant. When you pray to God, do you just go into prayer listing off all of your needs and wants.  Or do you begin with worship and adoration, seeking first His kingdom an...

A growing trend in today’s society is that we are choosing to do things in solitude that we used to do communally. We used to watch movies with friends in theatres. But these days, many of us watch alone at home on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, HBO Max. We used to go out and eat together at restaurants just because it was Taco Tuesday. But now we rather just order UberEats or D...

Nehemiah's story is about what happens when faith meets fear. It is about those defining moments when God calls His people to step forward not knowing what lies ahead, but trusting that He does. Moments when God stirs something deep within us whether it's sharing the gospel with someone, or stepping into a new calling that feels beyond us. Or standing firm in our convictions when it would be easie...

Do you long for heaven? Do you long for Jesus to return and to establish the new heavens and the new earth? If you are in Christ, a better country awaits you. A world without sickness and disease. A world without depression and loneliness. And a world without evil and injustice. In that heavenly city, there will be no sin. There will be no tears, suffering, and longing. For Christ will be our all...

Maybe there's something in your life that you don't want anyone to know. Maybe there's a hurt that you haven't been able to address. Maybe there's sin that you've been hiding and hoping that nobody will ever find out. Whatever it is you're thinking, feeling or experiencing, know that the God of heaven, the God of Nehemiah, cares about you. Jesus invites us to go to him...

What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit”? Walking by the Spirit implies both direction and empowerment. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He directs us into all the truth. And the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Power who teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. So the question we need to ask ourselves is, “Am I walking by the Spirit? Am I consciously walking by the Spirit?” E...

Just as a tree's growth leads to the spread of seeds, so we are called to spread the message of Christ. It's not enough to be grounded and growing. We are also called to be reaching and multiplying. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives his final commission to his followers: To go and make disciples of all nations. This mission is not optional. It is the heartbeat of the church and the ultimate...

The gospel is the source and the unshakable foundation for everything we do at GCC. The gospel is what keeps us grounded and growing. But a tree’s roots are only the beginning. Without a strong framework of branches, that tree would never bear fruit. In the same way, while the gospel is our foundation, love is the framework that shapes and sustains everything built upon it. You can hear the rest o...

Have you ever seen a tree stand firm in the midst of a violent storm? The winds howl, the rain beats down, yet somehow that tree remains upright and unmoved. How? Because its roots run deep. Beneath the surface, hidden from sight, an intricate network of roots anchors the tree to the earth. Those roots stretch far and wide, drawing in water and vital nutrients, giving the tree the strength to with...

When you’re in a difficult situation in life, what do you turn to? What is your first response and reaction to any trials that come in your life? Do you immediately go into problem-solving mode? Do you turn to your friends for support? Do you turn to the TV or go on social media to mindlessly distract yourself? Maybe it’s sports, alcohol, drugs, gambling, online shopping, video games, or pornograp...

If you could summarize 2024 in one word, what would it be? For some of us, 2024 has been a year of celebration: Answered prayers, unexpected blessings and dreams fulfilled. For others, this year might have been marked by trials: Unforeseen challenges or maybe you lost someone this year that brought you sorrow. But even in those moments, His grace has been a lifeline, holding us through when we fel...

God is love. His love is not a fleeting feeling or a selfish demand. His love stepped into our broken world, took on flesh, and walked among us. It is a love that does not ask, “What can I get?” but declares, “I will give.” It is a love that sacrifices, pursues, and never fails. This is the love we celebrate at Christmas. A love that did not remain distant but was born in a manger, endured the cro...

How often do we look for lasting joy in all the wrong places? It could be in warm family gatherings spending time with loved ones, or in our financial wealth to provide comfort and security, or maybe in a job promotion or having any kind of power and status to feel significant in society. But the problem with all of these things is that whatever joy it brings, it is always temporary. These momenta...

Peace often feels elusive. Look at the world today: War and conflict dominates the headlines. Nations are divided. Communities are fractured. And families are torn apart. Perhaps some of you are carrying heavy burdens, health struggles, broken relationships, financial stress, or anxieties about everything. We long for peace. But the question is: Where do we find it? The truth is that the peace we...

Why do we need hope? Because sometimes we feel hopeless. Life is hard. It’s full of trials and tribulation. It can feel overwhelming at times especially if you lose your job, or your health, or a loved one, or friend. We also face many fears in this life such as death, enemies, sorrow and pain, judgment, hunger and thirst, abandonment, or being alone.  We all struggle with one or more of these fea...