City Lights Church

What do we do when we disagree? As followers of Jesus, we won’t always share the same opinions, preferences, or personal convictions. But how we respond to those differences matters. Continuing our Big Questions series, we turn to Romans 14, where Paul challenges believers to pursue unity without compromising their convictions. From everyday decisions about music and traditions to questions about...

If the church is supposed to represent Jesus, why do so many people experience hypocrisy, judgment, and hurt from those who claim to follow Him? In the first week of our Big Questions series, we tackle one of the most common criticisms of Christianity: Is the church just full of hypocrites? Looking at Matthew 23, we see that Jesus didn’t ignore religious hypocrisy. He confronted it. He called out...

In the final message of our journey through Exodus, we arrive at the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus 35–40 and see the heart behind the entire story: God wants to dwell with His people. After rescuing Israel from slavery, providing for them in the wilderness, and remaining faithful even through their rebellion, God gives His people a place where His presence will dwell among them. The tab...

What do we turn to when God seems distant? In Exodus 32, Israel grows impatient waiting for Moses and trades trust in God for something they can see, control, and worship: a golden calf. While our idols may look different today, the temptation remains the same. In this message, Pastor Amos explores how good things can take God’s place in our lives, why religious activity alone doesn’t protect us f...

The Ten Commandments weren’t given as a way for Israel to earn God’s rescue. God rescued them first, then taught them how to live as His people. Continuing through Exodus 19–20, Pastor Amos looks at the Ten Commandments and what they reveal about our relationship with God, our relationships with others, and our need for a Savior. Just as Israel had to learn to leave the ways of Egypt behind, follo...

What do you do when God has led you forward, but the path ahead looks impossible? In Exodus 14, the Israelites find themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army. Fear takes over, but God reminds them that they don’t have to fight this battle on their own. He makes a way where there was no way, delivering His people and receiving the glory. Yet only days later, Israel begins to grumble...

This week, guest speaker Josh Hampton continues our journey through Exodus by exploring the Passover and how it points us toward the heart of the gospel. In Exodus 11–12, God prepares to deliver His people from generations of slavery. Judgment is coming, but God provides a way of rescue: a spotless lamb whose blood marks the homes of His people. Centuries later, that same picture finds its fulfill...

The story of Exodus begins with a people in bondage, crying out for rescue—and a God who hears, sees, remembers, and knows. As we begin a new series through the book of Exodus, we look at the story of Moses, the suffering of Israel, and two simple words found in Exodus 2:25: “God knew.” This wasn’t distant or detached knowledge. God knew His people intimately. He knew their suffering, their faithf...

Healthy homes don’t happen by accident. They’re built through intentional relationships between parents and children. Continuing our  It’s Complicated  series, we look at Ephesians 6 and what God’s Word teaches about creating healthy relationships at home. For children, that means learning to  obey and honor  their parents—not only through their actions, but through their attitude. For parents, it...

In this week’s message from  It’s Complicated , we turn to one of our most important—and often most challenging—relationships: marriage. Walking through Ephesians 5, we look at God’s design for marriage as something bigger than simply making two people happy. Marriage is meant to reflect the gospel. Husbands are called to love sacrificially, following the example of Christ’s love for the church, w...

In week two of  It’s Complicated , Pastor Amos turns to one of Jesus’ most familiar stories—the Good Samaritan—to challenge the way we think about our neighbors. In Luke 10, Jesus shifts the question from “Who is my neighbor?” to something far more personal:  Will I actually be a neighbor?  Being a good neighbor isn’t about sharing an address. It’s about paying attention, knowing people by name, c...

Relationships can be complicated—especially at work. Different personalities, expectations, communication styles, pressures, and past experiences all collide in the places where we spend much of our week. In the opening message of the new series,  It’s Complicated , Pastor Amos looks at Ephesians 4–6 and asks what it looks like for followers of Jesus to pursue healthy relationships in the workplac...

This week, guest speaker  Stephen Kimbrell  continues our  Different on Purpose  series by walking through 2 Peter 3 and reminding us that what we believe about the future should shape how we live in the present. As Peter addresses false teaching surrounding the return of Christ, Stephen unpacks why God’s apparent delay is not a broken promise but an expression of His patience and grace, giving mo...

This week, guest speaker  Noah Taylor  continues our journey through 2 Peter with a timely message from chapter 2, reminding us that popularity doesn’t determine truth. Peter warns the church about the danger of false teachers—people who may appear credible, attract large followings, and speak with authority while quietly leading others away from the gospel. In a world filled with influential voic...

What makes you different may be the very thing God intends to use for His kingdom. In this message from 2 Peter 1, guest speaker Christian Castro reminds us that we are not called because of our greatness, but because of God’s grace. He has already provided everything we need for life and godliness, and His Spirit is continually transforming us to reflect the character of Christ. Rather than manuf...

What should the church look like when life falls apart? Teaching from 1 Peter 5, guest speaker Pastor Marcus Witherspoon challenges us to see the church not as a hotel for people who have everything together, but as a hospital for broken people seeking the perfect Healer. Through stories of loss, addiction, transformation, and faithful community, this message explores God’s blueprint for His churc...

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...