Grace City Church Ottawa

Are you tired of running on the treadmill of "good behavior" just to please God? Many of us grew up thinking Christianity was just a long list of rules to keep—or things to stop doing. But what if the "good news" isn't actually about being good? In this sermon, we open Romans 7 to explore the radical difference between living under the exhausting weight of the law and walk...

When conversations around gender often feel like navigating a minefield of power struggles, how do we find a path that leads to flourishing rather than friction? In this sermon, we're continuing our series on church membership by exploring one of our core distinctives: the biblical design of family, and how that pertains to gender and gender roles. Moving beyond "who gets to be in charge...

Our culture hasn’t just drifted from God’s design for sex and marriage — it has inverted it, treating personal sexual freedom as sacred and God’s wisdom as the problem. This sermon looks at what’s behind that shift, what the Bible actually teaches about marriage from Genesis to Revelation, and what it means to respond faithfully — whether that calls us to repentance, to costly obedience, or simply...

What is the difference between knowing the language of Christianity and actually being surrendered to Jesus? In this sermon, and as part of our series on church membership, Rich and Natalia Crosby share the story of Grace City Church, including their own story of moving past a "christianized" upbringing to discover the transformative power of grace. From the early days of planting Grace...

The Bible pictures the church as a human body — many different parts, all belonging to one whole. This idea shapes everything about membership. When someone becomes a Christian, they are not only saved from sin - they are added to a community of people. This means being truly interconnected, because you cannot follow Jesus alone. It also means knowing your family — the specific people you are call...

The Bible calls church leaders to be shepherds—a rich, ancient image running through the entire biblical narrative—not CEOs, therapists, or entertainers. Leadership is a gift from God to His people. Good shepherding means knowing your people personally, feeding them on Christ through the Word, leading them courageously (even when that requires correction), and protecting them sacrificially. The on...

In a culture of self-promotion and competing rights, Peter calls for a countercultural marriage rooted in Christ. Wives are invited to a "quiet spirit"—not out of timidity, but as a bold trust in God that prioritizes inner beauty over outward attention. Similarly, husbands are called to lead through self-giving sacrifice rather than entitlement. Together, they mirror the Gospel: a partne...

Peter’s message in 1 Peter 2:11–12 is simple: because we are God’s beloved exiles, we should live differently. We are called to trade soul-crushing passions for a life of such visible goodness that our neighbours see Christ in us. Transforming change doesn't come from just trying harder—it comes from loving Jesus more. Support the show

In 1 Peter 2:1-10, we see that while the world rejected Jesus, God chose Him to be the "Living Stone" and the foundation of a new people from all nations: the Church. This message calls us to examine our own lives: Are we building on the solid rock of Christ or on shifting sand? While God changes our hearts and gives us new spiritual appetites, we are called to actively participate in th...

The church is not a "Jesus Memorial Club," but a Spirit-filled dwelling where his actual presence produces inexpressible joy. To prevail in exile, we must move beyond knowing his story to experiencing his glory. Due to technical issues, we apologize for the poor audio quality of this recording. Support the show

Most revolutions begin by beheading the king, but Mary’s revolution, shared through her song in Luke 1, introduces a new one. In fact, Mary’s song was once considered so subversive, it was banned from public singing. This "revolutionary anthem" provides the basis for our modern values of equality and compassion, and celebrates the redemption of power through a King who was born in a mang...

Temptation doesn’t show up with horns and a trident; it arrives as desire. Drawing from Acts 5 and James 1, this sermon examines how the enemy uses our ordinary human desires as seemingly irresistible bait. Claiming to be a ‘special case’ or weaponizing your victimhood is futile. Instead, anchor your faith in the goodness of God, the “Father of Lights,” who knows exactly what we need to be truly s...

When a marriage becomes a conspiracy against God, who pays the price? The story of Ananias and Sapphira shows us the devastating consequences of deceit and the profound need for the fear of God in marriage and the church. The sermon also issues a direct challenge to young men: don’t pursue a culture of constant coddling. Like the young men in Acts 5 who ‘rose up’ even in the face of death, be read...

Ananias and Sapphira paid the ultimate price, not for holding back money, but for lying to the Holy Spirit about their motive. Did God overreact, punishing a “trivial offense” with death? This sermon on Acts 5 reveals how we must understand the entire human story—from Genesis to the Cross—to grasp God’s absolute holiness and the staggering mercy we live under every day. God’s grace changes our hea...

An accusation sometimes thrown against the church is that doctrine divides. It shouldn’t. In fact, Acts 4 shows us how God’s truth is a unifying force when anchored by God’s grace. Without grace, even excellent knowledge can lead to spiritual pride. This is one of the core aims of our church — embracing scriptural truth while being continually in awe of the undeserved favour of God. Support the sh...

Feeling overwhelmed by life's chaos? Feel like God would never call you to an adventurous  calling? Just like Gideon, who was hiding and fearful, God often turns up in the mundane of our lives to give us a valiant calling. Gideon’s story challenges the lie that says we must be qualified to be used mightily by God. God’s calling of an individual is a calling of grace, and God’s equipping is an...

Acts 4:32–37 reveals several features behind the radical unity enjoyed by the early church. Their 'oneness' was not a fluke, not vague, and not tribal. Acts reveals that people do not build unity by compromising doctrine or convictions. Instead, a shared, gutsy conviction in the risen Jesus builds unity that changes the world. Support the show

How do you respond to adversity? In Acts 4, the first action Peter and John took after being arrested and threatened for preaching Jesus was to gather with the church, and their second action was to pray. Why do we struggle with going to the church when we face adversity? Are churches filled with broken people really part of God’s plan for our healing and safety? The prayer of the believers in Act...

Peter and John’s confrontation with the Jerusalem leaders in Acts 4 reveals how the early church clung to the exclusivity of Jesus (‘there is salvation in no one else’), yet did so with profound humility. This means Christians today can reject the modern cultural pressure toward ‘all paths lead to God’ by showing that true Christian confidence stems not from arrogance, but from a broken self-right...

Control, status, and fear—those are the enemies Peter and John faced, and they're the same enemies fighting for your heart today. In this sermon on Acts 4, Joel Virgo looks at the deadly traits of a hard heart and asks a compelling question: Are you ready to let Jesus completely unravel your life and build something new? Support the show

Feeling annoyed, disturbed, or maybe even grieved? The Apostle Peter's bold preaching in Acts 4 wasn't met with polite applause—it was met with annoyance, anger and a strong desire to shut it down by people who allowed their emotions to rule over them.  This sermon explores the incredible cost of proclaiming Jesus and the cost of letting our emotions go unchecked. Our emotions can serve...

Is there a sense of something missing in your life? While that feeling might lead you to seek God, it may not be the root of your deepest need. In this sermon on Acts 3, Joel Virgo breaks down Peter's powerful sermon after the healing of the lame man, revealing how Jesus is the ultimate mediator for our spiritual condition. He is the Prophet who brings truth to our ignorance, the King who bri...

In Acts 3, Peter tells a man who couldn't walk from birth, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" What is it about the name of Jesus that carries the power to heal, and can the name of Jesus still heal today? Names matter, and no name matters more than His. Support the show

What is your purpose in life? So much around us tells us to seek our own glory, but scripture cuts through the noise and reminds us of our true, ultimate purpose: to live for the glory of God. Drawing from Isaiah 43 as defining our purpose and Galatians 6 as the outworking, this sermon from Grace City Church in Ottawa explores the dangers of self-glorification and religious pride, and why we shoul...

We all have different ways of responding to what God says. In this sermon, Benjamin Johnmark examines what Jesus teaches us through the Parable of the Sower and how the grace of God is revealed to us through the perfect faith and obedience of Jesus Christ.  Support the show