City Church OTR Messages

This week, we kicked off our Christmas series, Still Near . Chris began by unpacking some context in the story of the prophet Isaiah and giving us some context around our theme passage for the series, Isaiah 61:1–4 . God sent His Son to bind up the brokenhearted — to draw near to us in our pain, our grief, and our moments of lament. He has always been close, and He is still near.

This week was our annual Sermon Slam—five five-minute messages from five different voices in our church body: Eric, Mackie, Lizz, Damian, and Donna. Each person taught on one of the women in the genealogy of Jesus: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. After each teaching, we took a moment to pause and worship together. Their stories reminded us that God often works through unlikely people —jus...

This week, Chris left us with a challenge to do a “generosity audit”—an honest look at how we’re stewarding what we've been given. He shared stories of how God has used the generosity of others to create real kingdom impact, and invited us to imagine what might happen if our own financial generosity didn’t end with us but rippled outward into our community.

This week, Chris wrapped up Exponential , our series on discipleship. He invited us to imagine a Cincinnati shaped by generation after generation of people becoming more like Jesus — and reminded us that this kind of movement requires sacrifice: the way we spend our time, the way we spend our lives. City Church is just one part of the greater discipleship work God is stirring across our city.

This week, Chris continued our discipleship-focused series, Exponential , by asking: where in our lives does the standard need to be raised? Jesus demands more than we think—but offers more than we could ever imagine. He may ask us to surrender our dreams, the very things we believe will fulfill us, yet in the end, He alone is the one who truly can.

This week at City Church OTR, we celebrated a milestone in our story. After five years of being externally governed by a trusted board of experienced leaders, we established our very own board of elders—a group of leaders marked by integrity, honor, and deep investment in the life of our church. Chris and Katherine introduced each of them to our church family and cast vision for what this next sea...

This week, Chris continued our discipleship-focused series, Exponential . He cast vision for what Triads could become and the movement we could join if we intentionally pour into the next generation. Looking back at church history, we saw how the early church exploded in both salvation and discipleship—and were reminded, “If we want what they had, we have to do what they did.”

This week, Kristen kicked off a brand-new sermon series on discipleship called Exponential . She shared three case studies of people who exemplify what it looks like to live a life of discipleship—following the command Jesus gave us to make disciples. Kristen also introduced Triads , City Church’s new opportunity for intentional discipleship relationships.

This week, Rob Groves taught on the Holy Spirit. God wanted so much more for His children, so He sent us a gift—the Holy Spirit. He’s not just someone we encounter; He’s someone who dwells within us. As followers of Jesus, we’re invited to live fully surrendered and Spirit-filled lives.

This Sunday, Chris concluded our five-part series on Revelation by walking us through a recap of the past year—summarizing each week’s message and the story it’s been telling. He highlighted Jesus’ promise, “I am coming soon,” unpacking what “soon” really means and how it calls us to live with sustained urgency.

This week, Chris continued our series, The New Earth, encouraging us to lengthen our view to eternity and let it shape how we live today. He walked us through eight things we will experience in heaven—rare or absent on earth—painting a picture of the beauty and fullness to come.

This week we began part five of our Revelation series, The New Earth . Chris shared thoughts on how to communicate about the events of the last two weeks lovingly and gently. He reminded us that many things we experience now will not be present when the new earth comes—a new earth with no tears, no curses, and no chaos.

This week, we celebrated City Church OTR’s 5th birthday. Chris shared the story of when his own journey intersected with City Church’s story—a moment each of us has experienced as part of this family. We are so grateful for all that God has brought us through, and we look forward with hope and expectation to the next 5, 10, even 50 years of City Church’s story.

This week, Chris gathered us as a church family to huddle together before our big 5th birthday. He cast vision for where we’re going, encouraged us to live more missionally in the world around us, and reminded us that we will continue to be a church shaped by the “living room” just as much as the “sanctuary.”

This week, we concluded our mission-focused series, Sent, by hearing from five people who are living on mission in their everyday lives. Mitch, Jason, Nina, Sadie, and Dean shared powerful stories along with practical ways we can all live on mission in our daily lives.

This week, Chuck Mingo from Crossroads Church shared a powerful word on what it looks like to live on mission in the everyday rhythms of life. The story of Daniel gives us a striking picture of someone who carried his faith with courage and witness in the midst of ordinary circumstances. Just as God used Daniel’s example to influence those around him, we too are invited to live on mission—in our w...

Kicking off our Sent series, guest speaker Beth Guckenberger reminded us why we are called to live on mission. As the Church, our role is to seek out the lost sons and daughters and invite them back into the Father’s house. And as we go, we can trust that God provides everything we need to carry His love and truth into the world.

This week Chris brought part 4 of our Revelation Series, The Weird Stuff , teaching on the Final Battle of Revelation. At last, we see Jesus return to earth—after waiting 19 and a half chapters for this moment. The victory belongs to God alone. The question is: have you pledged your allegiance to Him?

This week, Chris continued the 4th part of our Revelation series, The Weird Stuff , by teaching on Babylon. Babylon is a real place, and also a thread that runs through all of Scripture. It’s the name given to systems, cultures, and ways of life that are the antithesis of the Kingdom of God, highlighting the act of building things without God. Babylon invites us to build, perform, and achieve on o...

This week, Chris continued our series The Weird Stuff , part 4 of Revelation, by talking about the 7 bowls. In John’s vision, each time a bowl is poured out, something bad happens. It’s a vivid picture of God’s wrath—real, but unlike ours. His wrath is holy, just, and pure. Revelation reminds us: “Blessed is the one who stays awake.” We are called to remain alert and faithful, praying with enduran...

This week, Chris continued part four of the Revelation series, unpacking The Dragon, the Child and the Symbols. In Revelation 12, we see a war declared in heaven but ultimately won on earth between the dragon and the child. Though the dragon has been defeated, he remains powerful and full of rage, turning his attack toward the church. But we are victorious through the blood of the Lamb and the wor...

This Sunday, Chris kicked off part four of our Revelation series, teaching on the seven trumpets and the two witnesses. The trumpets in Revelation serve as a prophetic warning to those who don’t know Jesus. We are supposed to serve as witnesses to the outside world, which means that we will encounter resistance like the 2 witnesses did. We are called to witness through faithfulness and repentance.

Wrapping up our Scars series, Ivo preached on what it means to get back in the game. Too often, shame, offense, and anxiety sideline us, keeping us from stepping fully into our role in the Kingdom of God. Healed wounds become Scars. Our scars are not signs of defeat—they’re evidence that we’ve been in the fight, that we’re part of the battle.

This week, Michelle continued our Scars series on Anxiety. Anxiety traps us in “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios, stealing peace and joy from the present. We’re invited to renew our minds, trade “what ifs” for “even ifs,” and surrender to Jesus—the only One able to carry tomorrow.

This week, Brandon continued our series, Scars, by preaching on Offense. We’ve all been offended to varying degrees. When we encounter offense, we are confronted with a choice: avoid it, rebel with it, or address it. No matter where you’re at with offense, there is hope available for you.