City Church OTR Messages

This week, we continued our series, The Church , with a message from one of our Elders, Ben Owliaie, on what it means to be a city on a hill. As the Church, we're called to reflect Jesus brightly and clearly to the world around us. In a culture marked by cynicism, we have the opportunity to stand out by remaining faithful and pointing people to the hope found in Him.

This week, one of our elders, John Polesak, taught on The Body of the church. He explored six things that can defile the body and six practices that bring restoration. Just as the human body works together when one part is injured, the church is called to support and strengthen one another through seasons of weakness and healing. This is a beautiful picture of what God's people can be. As we g...

This week, we kicked off our seven-week series, The Church . Our good friend Dave Workman taught on The People, the unique and set-apart people who make up the Church. He explored what gives us hope, what shapes our identity, and what sets followers of Jesus apart in the world.

This week, Chris wrapped up our series on Romans 8, VIII , with a teaching on Romans 8:38–39. He explored the powerful truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God. God's love reaches each of us in the way we uniquely need, yet He loves every one of us fully and completely. Not even death nor life can separate us from the love of God.

This week, Chris continued our series on Romans 8, focusing on Romans 8:31–37. If God is for us, who can be against us? Through Jesus' sacrifice, we have been covered by His blood and given new life. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and His work is complete. Because of what He has done, we are no longer bound by sin and can walk in freedom. For those who are in Christ Jesus, t...

This week, Michelle continued our VIII series through Romans 8. Romans 8:28-30 is a promise we deeply need but don't always fully understand. God's ultimate goal and our ultimate good is that we grow in the likeness of Jesus, but we need an eternal, Kingdom perspective to tap into this beautiful promise that God is working all things together.

This week, Chris continued our series on Romans 8 with a focus on suffering, teaching from verses 18–27. He emphasized that present pain is real, but it is not final; it is carried within a hope that is certain, even if it is not yet fully seen.

This week, Kristen taught on verses 14–17 of Romans chapter 8, the focus of our current sermon series, VIII. She explored how the Spirit brings about our adoption into God’s family. Though we all carry brokenness from our family lines, we are given a new identity as children of God. We’re invited to step into sonship, allowing His love to lead and form us there.

This week, Chris taught on verses 9–13 of Romans chapter 8, the focus of our current sermon series, VIII. He unpacked what it means for the Spirit to live within us and how that empowers us to actually live like Jesus. The gospel freely gives us grace, while also inviting us into truth and partnership with God. He moves not when we try to command Him, but when we invite Him in.

This week, Chris continued our series VIII on Romans 8, talking about the flesh. We unpacked what it means to be “in the flesh” and how it flows from status to mindset to affections to actions. We also named how culture has been deformed and imagined a new kind of Moral Revolution—one that begins by (re)setting our minds on the things of the Spirit.

This week, Chris continued our series VIII through Romans 8. We’ve all fallen short of the glory of God, but there’s still hope. We’re sinners, but Jesus came and died for us. That changes everything. Because of Jesus, there is no condemnation and we get to go and share this good news with others—inviting people in and celebrating new life through baptism.

This week, we gathered for Easter Sunday at City Church OTR—celebrating the resurrection and kicking off a new series, VIII , focused on Romans 8. Chris introduced the main idea: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Because of Jesus, the punishment we deserved has already been carried. Our guilt doesn’t get the final say anymore. Instead, we’re invited to live in the freedom...

This week, we wrapped up our series Prodigal , exploring each character in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Ivo centered on the Father, reminding us that many of the things we believe about Him simply aren’t true. Anything that paints God as less than good is a lie. He is a good Father—the best Father—and He desires a real, personal relationship with us.

This week, we continued our series Prodigal , exploring each character in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Brandon focused on the older son, a character meant to expose the heart of the religious—calling out pride and self-righteousness in us. His story invites us to lay those things down and return to the Father who is inviting us to join the celebration of a brother who was lost and is now found...

This week, we began our series Prodigal , exploring each character in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Chris started with the youngest son, reminding us that Jesus is the true older brother—the one who gave up His inheritance for us, the younger siblings. And at the heart of it all is this simple truth: our Father is always waiting, longing for us to come home.

This week, Chris continued our series on the Minor Prophets and taught on the prophet Habakkuk. Habakkuk wrestles with the question of how evil can exist under the rule of a good God, even showing how God used the empire of Babylon to bring justice to the evil in Judah. After chapters of lament and honest questioning, the book turns on a single powerful word: yet . Even in the face of loss and unc...

This week, Chris continued our series on the Minor Prophets , teaching on the prophet Amos. Through the words Amos received from the Lord, we see a clear picture of God’s heart for justice. While God is gracious with His people, He is also a God who cares deeply about righteousness. Amos reminds us that God sees injustice and does not ignore it. He looks ahead to the Day of the Lord, when all thin...

This week, Jason continued our series on the Minor Prophets by focusing on Hosea. Hosea’s story points clearly to God’s redemptive love for His people. Through Hosea’s marriage, we see a living picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness—and God’s steady, pursuing love. Even when His people turned away, God did not abandon His covenant. Instead, He continued to call them back into covenant with Him. It’s a...

This week, we began a new series focused on a few of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. Our friend Dwight Young kicked us off with a sermon on Jonah. Jonah’s story is one of redemption. He fled from God, but God pursued him, brought him back, and still chose to use him. Through Jonah, we see both the power and mercy of God on display—for a reluctant prophet and for the people of Nineveh.

This week, Chris continued our Wild Faith series by exploring the topic of approval. The enemy wants our faith to be ineffective and often tempts us to test God rather than trust Him. It's easy to become focused on the gifts and forget the One who gives them. God sees us fully, knows the deepest needs of our hearts, and chooses us anyway. Because of that, we don't need to test His love—we...

This week, in our Wild Faith series, Chris taught on the second temptation—the lust of the eyes —and how we combat it. This temptation reveals our ambition for more: more status, more control, more security. We were invited to confront that pull and instead place our trust in God’s provision. We also looked at the wild faith of the centurion, who simply said, “Just say the word,” modeling a faith...

This week, Chris launched our new series, Wild Faith . As we step into 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, we are intentionally entering a season of discomfort—acknowledging the wilderness and trusting God to meet us there. We fast because we want more of God, and we believe He still moves in power. As we begin these 21 days, what are you seeking Him for? What are you setting aside to make room for Him...

This week, Jake Vayda, lead pastor of Crete Church in San Diego, shared a powerful message on prayer. No prayer is too raw, too honest, or too big for our God. He welcomes it all—and invites us to come to Him.

This week, Chris closed our Christmas series, Still Near , by pointing us back to the heart of Jesus’ message: good news for the poor. Throughout the Bible, Jesus calls His followers to care for those in need and to live with open hands. Generosity is one of the ways God moves through us—using our willingness to bring hope, dignity, and care to others.

This week, Rob continued our Still Near series by reminding us that Jesus came to set the captives free. Though many are still held by the weight of sin, true freedom is found in the truth of who Jesus is. When we invite Him into our hearts and choose to worship Him, we step into the freedom only He can give.