City Church Long Beach Sermons

The Spiritual Art of Taking Risks: Risking Embodiment City Church of Long Beach

It can be hard to break with expectations of others. To do the unusual. It can break the peace of the status quo. And it can break the peace inside of us. And yet - so many times, that’s where real life begins. Join us as we listen in to Carol and Anita about their wild adventure of following the Holy Spirit, literally picking up and leaving their ordinary lives to do something that disturbs all k...

The Spiritual Art of Taking Risks: Risk Worship – March 8, 2026 Sometimes it’s hard to risk worship - to really be present to God and to let your guard down, trusting that you won’t be judged for what you can’t give or for what you look like. This Sunday our worship leaders are taking the reins and gently guiding us through an experience reflecting in what worship is and what it’s not, how to make...

The Spiritual Art of Taking Risks: Risking Wholeness City Church of Long Beach

Many of us have heard that ‘taking up your cross’ means we have to lose our selves to find Jesus. But what if there’s a self to lose and a self to find, and all along we’ve been losing the wrong self? Join us as we explore what it means to find Jesus and our true selves.

Prayer Actually: Honest Answers to Real Questions about Prayer – Luke 11:1 – February 15, 2026 We’re wrapping up our six week series on prayer and still, we all have questions about prayer. Many of us spent some time writing those down and submitting them so that this Sunday a panel of pray-ers can respond to them. Come join us to hear what ordinary leaders in the church have to say about your ver...

Prayer Actually: Praying With & For Other People City Church Long Beach

If we invited you to tell us some of your biggest questions about prayer and spirituality, would something like this make your list? “Sometimes I get asked to Pray in Front of Other People, and it Makes Me Feel Icky. Help!” If yes, you are not alone. Let’s talk about it, what brings on the ick and if there’s a way from ick to authenticity and connection.

Prayer Actually: Moving from Anxiety to Gratitude City Church Long Beach

Prayer Actually: Sometimes Prayer is Quiet City Church of Long Beach

Prayer Actually: 5 Simple Movements – Matthew 6:9-13 (the Lord’s Prayer) - January 11, 2026 What is prayer all about, and how are we actually supposed to pray? Prayer often feels complicated and awkward, but Jesus told us it could be simple.

Are you starting the New Year resolving to somehow “be better” in 2026? What if our resolutions started from a place of believing we are already awesome, already unconditionally loved? How would our resolutions change? Where might we feel more freedom and joy? Let’s talk more and wrap up our Weary World Rejoice series.

Building Rituals City Church of Long Beach

How Does a Weary World Rejoice: Sing! – Luke 1:46-55 – December 21, 2025 How do you hold on to hope when the situation you’re in is not going the way you want it to? That could be a focused as having to deal with family drama over the holidays or as global as the state of our nation. These things wear us down. And yet - God continues to invite us into joy even in these situations. Join us this Sun...

Inviting Awe City Church Long Beach

Weary World Rejoice: By Finding Joy in Connection - Luke 1:23-45 with Josh Lopez-Reyes, executive director of the Echo Park Immigration Center.

Finding Joy in Connection City Church Long Beach

6 Kinds of Friends We Need Right Now: The Friend Who is a Partner in Purpose (Acts 18:1-3) - November 23, 2025 Sometimes strong friendships develop from a shared purpose, a mutual "mission," even between somewhat unlikely people. And it's a good thing because our churches are full of unlikely friends who've discovered they need each other on the journey toward Jesus, and they actually like each ot...

6 Kinds of Friends We Need Right Now: The Emotionally Safe Friend: David and Jonathan 1 Samuel 18:1- 4 - November 16, 2025

Suffering is inevitable in this life. There is hardship. There is pain. But somehow through the working of the Spirit of God, these difficult things can be transformed with one little addition: the presence of a friend. Join us again this week as we continue our series, The Six Kinds of Friends You Need These Days.

The Wise Mirror Friendship in the Book of Proverbs City Church Long Beach

6 Kinds of Friends We Need Right Now: The Friend In the Fight – Ecclesiastes 4:12 – October 26, 2025 One of the kinds of friends we need right now is a friend in the fight. We need someone who stands next to us as we push back against the injustices in the world. If we go it alone, we’ll wear out and break down and crack under all the sadness and pressure and frustration. That’s why we need this k...

Family, Forgiveness and Friendship City Church Long Beach

If you find yourself feeling lonely more often than you would like, you are not alone! Social scientists tell us that around 60% of Americans feel that way regularly, and those numbers are only going up. Let's honor the fact that God has wired us for love and meaningful connection, and spend the next few months seeing what God might have to say to us through some famous stories of friendship in Sc...

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the evil and suffering, the meanness (big and small) we see all around us and especially on our social media feeds. Where are the glimmers of hope we need to sustain us? How do we re-focus on these things and why do we need to? Join us as we explore Jesus's invitation to commit ourselves to the way of hope.