City Lights Church

In this message from 1 Peter 4, we continue our series,  Different on Purpose , by looking at what it means to live a life that stands out because it belongs to Jesus. Peter reminds believers that following Jesus means leaving the old life behind, living for God’s glory instead of our own, and trusting Him when obedience costs us something. True freedom is not the freedom to do whatever we want, b...

In this message from 1 Peter 3, guest speaker Tony Madrid continues our Different on Purpose series by exploring what it means to live as a faithful witness in our relationships, our character, and our response to the world around us. Peter’s words to wives, husbands, and all Christians point us toward a life marked by honor, understanding, humility, unity, sympathy, brotherly love, and gentleness...

This Father’s Day, guest speaker Todd Kear continues our  Different on Purpose  series with a message from 1 Peter 2, exploring what it means to build our lives on the only true foundation—Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone. Through personal stories, biblical teaching, and Peter’s encouragement to the early church, Todd reminds us to crave the lasting nourishment of God’s Word, become living stones in...

In this opening message of our new series,  Different on Purpose , guest speaker, Pastor Jomel, walks through 1 Peter 1 and reminds us that Christians are called to live differently—not to appear better than others, but because we belong to Jesus and have been given a living hope. Through Christ’s resurrection, we have new birth, a secure inheritance, and a salvation that God Himself is carrying t...

In this episode, Pastor Amos reminds City Lights of the heartbeat of the church: to help people find and follow Jesus and to experience a disciple-making movement in Chula Vista. Looking at Jesus’ call to His first disciples in Mark 1 and His commission in Mark 16, we’re reminded that following Jesus is not just an invitation to believe, but an invitation to become His apprentices and join His mis...

In the final message of the “Even Though” series, Pastor Amos walks through the closing verses of Psalm 23 and reminds us that God’s presence does not disappear in the valley—it becomes even more personal. Reflecting on the image of the Lord as both Shepherd and King, this message explores what it means for God to prepare a table in the presence of our enemies, to anoint and heal us in the middle...

In this episode of the City Light Church podcast, we continue the  Even Though  series through Psalm 23 with a deeply personal conversation from Jake and Ilse as they share the story of losing their son, Axel. Through heartbreak, grief, and impossible decisions in the NICU, they recount how God met them in the middle of their darkest valley with peace, strength, and His presence. This powerful tes...

This week, we begin our new series,  Even Though , with a message from Psalm 23 about trusting God in the valleys of life. David reminds us that faith does not deny the reality of darkness, pain, grief, or uncertainty. Instead, faith declares that the valley is not the end. Through the image of the Lord as our shepherd, we see that God is personal, present, protective, and faithful. Even when the...

In the final message of our  Renew Your Mind  series, we look at Philippians 4 and the promise of peace that comes through Christ. Paul reminds us that peace of mind is not found by ignoring anxiety, denying pressure, or pretending life is easy. It is found by rejoicing in the Lord, remembering that God is near, bringing our worries to Him in prayer, and refocusing our minds on what is true. This...

This week in our Renew Your Mind series, we look at Philippians 2 and what it means to have the mind of Christ. Paul calls the church to a shared mindset rooted in unity, humility, servanthood, and complete obedience. In a world that pushes us toward pride, selfish ambition, and proving ourselves, this message invites us to follow the example of Jesus, who humbled Himself, took the form of a serva...

This week in our Renew Your Mind series, we look at Colossians 3 and the call to set our minds on things above. What we think about shapes what we love, what we love shapes how we live, and Paul reminds us that following Jesus means choosing a new direction every day. In this episode, we talk about what it means to seek Christ, put to death what no longer belongs, and put on the character of Jesus...

This week, we continue our Renew Your Mind series with a message from 2 Corinthians 10 about the unseen battle that takes place in our minds. While we often focus on the struggles we can see around us, this episode reminds us that some of our greatest battles are spiritual, and that the enemy often works through lies, fear, shame, and distorted thinking to gain influence in our lives. We look at w...

This week, we kick off our new series,  Renew Your Mind , with a message from Romans 12 about the connection between how we think and how we live. In a world that is constantly trying to shape our values, identity, and perspective, this episode is a call to resist conformity and pursue true transformation through Christ. We look at what it means to live as a living sacrifice, why surrender is a re...

On this Resurrection Sunday message, we look at 1 Peter 1 and the life of Peter to see what Easter really means. Peter knew failure, fear, doubt, grief, and shame firsthand, yet he also experienced the life-changing reality of the risen Jesus. Because of the resurrection, Peter’s story was not over, and neither is yours. This sermon explores how the resurrection of Jesus brings new life, living ho...

In this episode, we look at the miracles of Jesus not just as powerful moments, but as signs revealing who He is, what He does, and why He came. From giving sight to the blind and calming the storm to raising the dead, every miracle points beyond the act itself to Jesus as the promised Messiah, the compassionate Savior, and the One who restores what sin has broken. This message is an invitation to...

As the Easter season begins, this message turns our attention to Jesus, the sinless One. Walking through Hebrews and other key scriptures, this sermon shows why Jesus had to be fully God and fully man, why His virgin birth and sinless life matter, and how He became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Because He never failed, never sinned, and never fell short, He alone could stand in our place. Th...

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three connected stories that reveal the heart of God toward “the lost ones”: a shepherd who leaves the 99 to find one sheep, a woman who turns her house upside down to recover a single coin, and a father who runs to welcome home a rebellious son. Each story follows the same rhythm: something valuable is lost, it’s pursued with urgency, and when it’s found there’s a celebrat...

In this message from the “The Ones” series, we zoom in on a core set of “one another” commands that shape what the church is supposed to be: not a building, but a people marked by Jesus. Pastor Amos walks through why  love is the foundation  (John 13:34–35, 1 John 4:7) and why the world should be able to recognize Jesus’ disciples by the way they care for each other. From there, he gives practical...

In Luke 10:38–42, Jesus steps into the home of Mary and Martha—and exposes a tension most of us live with every day: serving Jesus versus sitting with Jesus. Martha welcomes Him with sincere hospitality, but she gets pulled in a hundred directions until her good intentions turn into anxiety, agitation, and frustration. Meanwhile, Mary chooses a different posture—she sits at Jesus’ feet as a devote...

City Lights is growing up—and this message is a clear call to grow  together  on purpose. In this sermon, Pastor Amos shares the heart behind City Lights: a disciple-making movement in Chula Vista that helps people who feel  far from God  and  far from home  know they  belong . You’ll hear the church’s 2026 vision and theme— “One Way. One Witness.” —and a practical framework for what it means to b...

In the modern West, we have more comfort, convenience, and “stuff” than any generation before us—yet so many of us feel deeply alone. In this final message of  The Way , we look at what it means to practice  community the Jesus way : not as a Sunday event, but as a new kind of family formed around tables, shared life, and apprenticeship to Jesus. In the Gospels (especially Luke), Jesus is constant...

In this message, we talk about  generosity —specifically the “treasure” side of it, and why Jesus addressed money so directly. Most of us live in one of two money stories:  scarcity  (“I don’t have enough”) or  more  (“just a little bit more”). Either way, money has a way of consuming our thoughts, shaping our decisions, and competing for our trust. Jesus cuts through that by reframing what we’re...

In this message from  The Jesus Way , we lean into one of the most important rhythms Jesus practiced:  life in the Scriptures . From  Matthew 4 , we watch Jesus face temptation in the wilderness and respond the same way every time:  “It is written…”  He fights lies with truth, not willpower. But there’s a warning too. Even the enemy can quote the Bible, twisting it out of context, which is why we...

In this message from the  Jesus Way  series, Pastor Amos moves from last week’s practices of Sabbath and solitude into two core rhythms Jesus modeled:  prayer and fasting . Walking through  Matthew 6:5–18 , he highlights what Jesus confronts head-on— performative religion . Prayer isn’t a show, a script, or a way to earn God’s favor. It’s communion with a Father who already knows what we need. Jes...

In this message from the “Jesus Way” series, we confront a problem most of us feel daily: we’re exhausted—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—because our world trains us to believe we are what we produce. Pastor Amos unpacks the biblical practice of Sabbath as God’s counter-rhythm to nonstop hurry: a weekly 24-hour reset built into creation itself. Rooted in Genesis 2 and the Fourth Commandme...