Cities Church Sermons

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell asks the question “What is the good life?” In Psalm 73, we learn of 3 major lessons that are absolutely necessary in pursuit of the good life: recognize our broken perspectives, remember that God is real, and reorder our heart’s affections.

In this sermon on Psalm 72, Pastor David Mathis expounds upon this 3000-year-old, yet timeless, prayer for an ideal leader. This passage points to the ideal leader, King Jesus, who is unmoved. Jesus is the one true, perfect, immovable leader. Beyond Jesus, the passage reveals four aspects of the ideal leader: his people flourish, his strengths serve his people’s good, his heart pities the needy, a...

In this sermon on Psalm 71, Pastor Mike Schumann expounds upon the significance of the Psalmist's praise and how that connects to the way God cares for us. The psalmist wants us to see that his own praising of God is proof that God is his strong refuge, his mighty fortress. Let’s hear the songs ourselves when we praise God, “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning...

In this sermon on Psalm 70, Pastor Kevin Kleiman expounds upon the text by looking at what the text says, how it points to Jesus, and why it matters for us. David is in crisis, and he responds by crying out to God for help, also praying for the souls of those persecuting him. Jesus responds similarly in the Gospels, although he takes it even a step further by praying that God would deal with his e...

In this sermon, Pastor Mike Polley expounds upon David's response to his distress and suffering in Psalm 69. This psalm is a lament for a time of suffering and distress. David was being piled upon, yet God did not abandon David, he did not abandon Jesus, and he will not abandon us. So we, like David, can praise God in the midst of the valley. We are not yet home, but he will see us through, and we...

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell continues the ‘all nations’ conversation from last week's sermon (Ps. 67) by expounding upon the meaning of Psalm 68 – that the ‘all nations’ hope will be realized by the coming of a victorious divine king named Jesus – and then gets practical by sharing the ways Cities Church specifically may join in on this ‘all nations’ mission.

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds upon the hope of Psalm 67 – that all nations of the earth would worship God. Our missionary calling is to continue spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. And what we should realize is that we are apart of “all the ends of the earth.” We have heard the gospel because global missionaries were sent. It’s because Jesus did have witnesses to the...

In this sermon on Psalm 66, Pastor Joe Rigney expounds upon five exhortations or calls from the psalmist's song. When we are facing trials, sad and frustrated, harried by the day and haunted by the night, with anxieties piling up in our soul – we should know God is the one doing it; he's purifying your faith. And so do you offer superficial obedience and bail when he sends relief? Or do you rebel...

In this sermon, Pastor Mike Schumann expounds upon Psalm 65 in which the tone is silence, awe, and joy. In this Psalm, the psalmist testifies to God's working on behalf of his people: God supplies his people with life, he saves them from death, and he satisfies them with himself.

In this sermon on Psalm 64, Pastor Jonathan Parnell looks at a common theme in the psalms and slows down to think about how we approach the psalms as readers. When we look at the text we should look at it in three ways: text, Jesus, life. Psalm 64 leads us to the invitation from Jesus to join him in his joy. Jesus gives us joy, down deep in our souls.

In this sermon, Pastor Kenny Ortiz expounds upon Psalm 63 where David gives us a good example of how we should follow God. David knows that the things of God are better than life. Let our souls thirst for God, for he has been our help and he upholds us. His “steadfast love is better than life.”

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell begins our fifth summer of Psalms by expounding upon David's words in Psalm 62. The main message of Psalm 62, and the whole Book of Psalms, is to show what it looks like to have radical faith in God. Radical faith is the full-throated, consistent faith that we’re all called to, and it’s faith that only makes sense because of who God is.

In this sermon, Pastor Max Kozak expounds Hebrews 9:23-28 which focuses on Jesus appearing. Jesus now appears in heaven for us, has appeared to deal with sin decisively, and he will appear to welcome us home. Let's eagerly anticipate the return of Christ, and let's enjoy the little glimpses of this glory right now in the things of earth.

In this sermon, Pastor David Mathis expounds Hebrews 9:15-22 which tells us why Jesus had to shed his blood. Humans have sinned, thus the blood is required. But what does the blood do? Jesus's blood redeems former sins, enacts a new covenant, and uphold the new covenant. In the blood of his eternal covenant, we see the greatness of Jesus, and therefore, we come to worship him.

In this sermon, Pastor Kenny Ortiz expounds Hebrews 9:1-14 which teaches on our eternal sacrifice, the New Covenant. The blood of Jesus was better than the blood of a goat in the Old Covenant. This better covenant was a blood without blemish, a permanent and willing sacrifice by Jesus in which he substituted himself in our place against wrath, and because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross –...

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds Hebrews 8:7-13 which is all about the New Covenant. The New Covenant targets the Old Covenant problem of unbelief and unfaithfulness. All members of the New Covenant have the instruction of Yahweh written on their hearts. The New Covenant declares the entire forgiveness of all the sins of every covenant member.

In this sermon, Pastor David Mathis expounds Hebrews 8:1-7 which is the midway point of the Book of Hebrews. Jesus is the new covenant and he is so much superior to the old. Jesus serves in a superior place, Jesus makes a superior offering, and Jesus mediates a superior covenant. We live with this new covenant right now and forever.

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds Hebrews 7:20-28 which is about the hope of the new covenant – a better hope, a better covenant, a better salvation. Jesus gives us a better hope because God swore that he is our High priest like Melchizedek. Jesus guarantees us a better salvation because he is our eternal high priest and he is our perfect high priest. Jesus – the all-sufficient sacr...

In this sermon, Pastor Kenny Ortiz expounds Hebrews 7:1-19 which points to the reality that Jesus, in his perfection, is superior to the old way. The old covenant was not sufficient to complete the redeeming work we need, therefore we needed a new covenant. Jesus fulfilled this need through his power of an indestructible, never-ending life. He is forever our Great High Priest, the sure and steadfa...

In this sermon, on Easter Sunday, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds Hebrews 6:13-20 which is most importantly about the resurrection glory of Jesus. Last week, we learned the writer of Hebrews is confident in the salvation of these people and in this week's text we see that it is because God sees, God swore, and Jesus is risen.

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds one of the strongest, most uncomfortable warning passages in the New Testament – Hebrews 6:4–6. The sad reality is that there are people who fall away from Jesus. They “taste” the truth, yet they fail to cling to Jesus — but we can be confident that our story won’t be like theirs.

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan Parnell expounds upon Hebrews 5:11-6:3 which is the Hebrew author's inspirational word to the people to make a comeback by pressing on to maturity. They were still feeding on milk, when they ought to be eating solid food by now. When comparing and contrasting the world with the Church, we see churches in our society get stuck on the common ground preference, and our...

In this sermon, Pastor Mike Schumann preaches from Hebrews 4:14-5:10. Jesus is the Great High Priest and as such he is Son, sinless, and sympathetic. The author of Hebrews ensures that we know Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, therefore we should know to draw near to Jesus when we are feeling weary.

In this sermon on Hebrews 4:12-13, Pastor Jonathan Parnell shows how the Bible is the living and active word of God, and therefore when we listen to it we are listening to God himself because it is an extension of himself. God's word performs a heart surgery in us so that we believe and confess our faith. This is a powerful word, and we should be thankful and allow that gratitude to shape our mini...

In this sermon, Pastor David Mathis expounds upon Hebrews 4:1-11 through the lens of four truths about genuine faith. This passage is about what faith is, what faith is not, what faith does, and the object of faith – which answers these questions: How can we have assurance of faith? How can we rest in the work of Jesus? Let's remember that Jesus will hold us fast. Do you have faith in Jesus?