City on a Hill Melbourne East

The fall brings consequences. Relationships with God, one another, and creation are broken. In this sermon, we see how even within the curse, God points forward to hope and restoration.Bible Reading:Genesis 3:1–24Preacher: Sermon by Grant van der MerweThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

Sin fractures humanity’s relationship with God and introduces shame, fear, and brokenness into the human story. In this sermon, we see how our rebellion reveals our deep need for God’s saving grace.Bible Reading:Genesis 3:1–24Preacher: Bishop Paul BarkerThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

Temptation enters the story as the serpent questions God’s word and goodness. In this sermon, we see how humanity faces the pull of autonomy and distrust, revealing the subtle lies that shape our struggle today.Bible Reading:Genesis 3:1–24Preacher: Sermon by Jimmy YoungThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

Men and women share equal dignity as image bearers yet are created distinct and complementary. In this sermon, we see how God’s design calls us to honour, love, and work together.Bible Reading:Genesis 2:4–25Preacher: Sermon by Neil CastleThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

God declares it is not good for humanity to be alone and establishes family as a gift. In this sermon, we see how through marriage and community, God’s people reflect His image and participate in His unfolding plan.Bible Reading:Genesis 2:4–25Preacher: Sermon by Grant van der MerweThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

God rests on the seventh day, setting a pattern for humanity. True rest is more than stopping work. In this sermon, we see that it is trusting God’s finished work and longing for the ultimate rest He promises.Bible Reading:Genesis 2:1–3Preacher: Sermon by Grant van der MerweThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

Work was God’s good design long before the fall. Created to cultivate and steward creation together, our work reflects God’s character. In this sermon, we see how our work contributes to the flourishing of the world He made.Bible Reading:Genesis 1:1–31; 2:4–25Preacher: Sermon by Grant van der MerweThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

Humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation, made in His image with dignity, value, and purpose. In this sermon, we see how men and women are called to represent God’s rule and steward creation for its flourishing.Bible Reading:Genesis 1:1-31Preacher: Sermon by Grant van der MerweThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

God brings order from chaos, forming a world designed for life and flourishing. In this sermon, we see how creation reveals the goodness of God and points us to its good Creator.Bible Reading:Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-3Preacher: Sermon by Neil CastleThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

Before anything existed, there was God. Eternal, transcendent, and sovereign, He is the source, sustainer, and ruler of all things. In this sermon, we see that creation begins not with us, but with the God without whom nothing exists.Bible Reading:Genesis 1:1Preacher: Sermon by Jimmy YoungThis episode is part of The Beginning of Everything, a teaching series exploring Genesis 1–11.As we open the Scriptures, we see the beauty of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and God’s unfolding purpose for the world. We encounter the God who creates, provides, judges, and shows mercy—and discover how the beginning helps us make sense of life today.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/genesis

As the sun rises on Easter morning, so does our hope. In this sermon, we witness the empty tomb, remember Jesus’ promises, and rejoice in the risen Lord who overcomes death and brings new life.Bible Reading:Luke 24:1–12Preacher: Sermon by Nick CoombsThis episode is part of Easter Matters, a teaching series exploring the death and resurrection of Jesus, and why this moment still changes everything.As we open the Scriptures, we see how light broke into darkness, hope rose from the grave, and new life is offered to all who trust in him.In a world that can feel uncertain and heavy, Easter reminds us that darkness does not win. Life is stronger than death. Hope is real.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/easter

We pause at the cross, where darkness falls and Jesus gives his life. In this sermon, we lament the reality of sin, suffering and death, and see how God meets us in the heaviness of a broken world.Bible Reading:Luke 23:44–49Preacher: Sermon by Grant van der MerweThis episode is part of Easter Matters, a teaching series exploring the death and resurrection of Jesus, and why this moment still changes everything.As we open the Scriptures, we see how light broke into darkness, hope rose from the grave, and new life is offered to all who trust in him.In a world that can feel uncertain and heavy, Easter reminds us that darkness does not win. Life is stronger than death. Hope is real.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/easter

Preacher:Sermon by Nick Coombs This episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

Jesus came to set captives free. We will explore how the Spirit empowers the church to bring healing, restoration, and freedom through the gospel.Preacher: Sermon by Neil CastleThis episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

The mission of Jesus always moves outward. We will finish by exploring how the Spirit empowers the church to raise leaders, plant communities, and carry the gospel further.Preacher: Sermon by Nick CoombsThis episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

The Spirit gives courage to speak and display the good news. We look at how God equips his people to bear witness with clarity, compassion, and boldness.Preacher: Sermon by Nick CoombsThis episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

The Spirit shapes who we are becoming. This week we will consider how spiritual gifts form us into Christlikeness and grow the church in maturity.Preacher: Sermon by Grant van der MerweThis episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

From the temple to the gathered church, God longs to dwell with his people. We will look at how the Spirit uses some spiritual gifts to reveal God’s presence to his people.Preacher: Sermon by Jimmy YoungThis episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

The church is called to be people who display the love of Jesus. We will look at how some gifts equip members of our church to tangible show the love of God.Preacher: Sermon by Nick CoombsThis episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

We begin by laying foundations for understanding the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts. Learning to approach the Spirit with humility, hunger, and trust — not fear, control, or confusion.Preacher: Sermon by Nick CoombsThis episode is part of Wind & Fire, a teaching series exploring the person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.As we open the Scriptures, we look to Christ and ask God to move among us again, bringing fresh wind and fresh fire to our hearts, equipping us with spiritual gifts, and empowering us for the mission of Jesus.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/windandfire

Preacher: Sermon by Nick Coombs This week is a special, stand alone sermon, where Pastor Nick Coombs speaks to our vision to be a church that knows Jesus and makes Jesus known.

Preacher: Sermon by Jimmy YoungSuburbia promises comfort, privacy, and control: a life lived safely behind locked doors. But the risen Jesus walks straight into locked rooms and sends fearful people out. From castles to commission, this sermon explores how our homes, habits, and neighbourhoods quietly form us, and how the resurrection shatters our love of comfort. If Jesus is truly alive, staying safe is no longer an option. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”Find out more at cityonahill.com.au

Preacher: Sermon by Nick Coombs The suburbs sell us a life of contentment only after we've accumulated the next thing. We are consumers who need more in our life if we're going to keep up with our neighbours. But Jesus calls us out of consumerism into a life of cheerful contribution. We need to be shaped by the One who gave it all for us.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au

Preacher:Sermon by Grant van der Merwe Growth in Jesus requires intentional formation. In suburbia, our greatest discipleship threats are busyness, ease, and drift. Jesus doesn’t just call us to learn—he calls us to be shaped.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au

In a suburb shaped by convenience and individual choice, Jesus calls us into committed, embodied community. Gathering isn’t a habit—it’s a declaration that Christ is King and his people are our people.Preacher:Sermon by Nick CoombsFind out more at cityonahill.com.au/melbourne-east

We are all searching. Searching for peace in the pressure of life, purpose in the chaos, love that truly lasts, and hope that endures beyond the moment. We try to find it in many places — in the approval of friends, the success of our careers, the excitement of new experiences, or the comfort of possessions. Yet, no matter how much we accumulate or achieve, something still feels incomplete.The story of Christmas reminds us that while we have been searching for meaning, God has been searching for us. From the very beginning, He has been pursuing a relationship with us, longing to draw us close. And in Jesus, God stepped into our world — not from a distance, but into our messy, complicated, everyday lives.Christmas isn’t just a story from the past — it’s a living invitation to encounter the One who makes all things new.In Jesus, the search is over.Preacher:Sermon by Nick Coombs Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/christmas

Three days in the tomb. When all hope was seemingly lost, Jesus rose from the grave. The crown of death has now achieved a crown of life for all who believe. Jesus leaves us with one mission – to preach the good news of Him to all the earth.Bible Reading:Matthew 28:1-20Preacher:Sermon by Grant van der Merwe This episode is part of The Passion — Season 5 of our teaching series The Kingdom, as we journey through the Gospel of Matthew and discover the good news of Jesus the King.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/passion

Beaten, bruised and bloodied – Jesus carries his cross and takes the punishment to put a final end to sin and death for eternity. As Jesus takes his last breath, the temple curtain tears in two and the new covenant has begun.Bible Reading:Matthew 27:32-66Preacher:Sermon by Jimmy Young This episode is part of The Passion — Season 5 of our teaching series The Kingdom, as we journey through the Gospel of Matthew and discover the good news of Jesus the King.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/passion

Mocked, betrayed and wrongly accused. Judas feels the weight of his guilt and betrayal of Jesus. Peter denies following Jesus. Ultimately, Jesus is delivered over to Pilate to face the punishment we all deserved.Bible Reading:Matthew 26:57-27:31Preacher:Sermon by Nick Coombs This episode is part of The Passion — Season 5 of our teaching series The Kingdom, as we journey through the Gospel of Matthew and discover the good news of Jesus the King.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/passion

At The Last Supper Jesus instituted the covenant meal with his disciples, prayed in deep anguish at Gethsemane at what he was about to suffer on the cross, and was ultimately betrayed, arrested, and abandoned by his disciples.Bible Reading:Matthew 26:1-56Preacher:Sermon by Grant van der Merwe This episode is part of The Passion — Season 5 of our teaching series The Kingdom, as we journey through the Gospel of Matthew and discover the good news of Jesus the King.Find out more at cityonahill.com.au/passion

Jesus warns his followers to be ready for his ultimate return, where he will come back to judge all people and the righteous will inherit eternal life for serving “the least of these,” while the unfaithful face eternal separation.

Jesus leaves the temple and tells of the destruction that is to come and warns his disciples of coming trials, false messiahs, persecution, and great tribulation, urging them to stay alert and endure to the end until his glorious return.

Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, and burdening others with empty religion while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He lamented over Jerusalem’s hardness of heart, expressing God’s love for his people.

Jesus told a parable of a wedding feast, showing that God’s kingdom is open to all who truly respond, not just the outwardly religious. He teaches the greatest commandment – to love God and love others.

The religious leaders challenged Jesus’ authority as he was teaching in the temple. A parable of true obedience to God and a parable of Israel’s leaders that had rejected God’s messengers, and would ultimately reject His Son.

A triumphant entry and the turning of tables. Jesus returns to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, before entering the temple and driving out the sellers who had turned a place of worship into a marketplace.

‘Woke’ is a term we hear a lot and yet its definition is hard to pin down. Where does it come from – and how should the church respond to it? Do we celebrate it or resist it? It’s worth asking – what would Jesus affirm and would he confront? And what is the way forward from here?

Many people around us are going pretty well in life; they’re kind, they help others, they are successful and have purpose – so why (and how) do you share the good news of Jesus with people when they seem to be doing fine without it?

As wars rage in the Middle East and opinions divide, we are confronted with the question of how we should respond. What does God have to say about war in general, and what might he have to say about this one in particular?

How should we read the ancient text of the Bible in light of our ever-expanding scientific knowledge? Does evolution contradict the Bible, or just help us understand it better?

In a culture where LGBTQ+ people are affirmed and celebrated, the church often seems critical and judgmental. What does the Bible say on these issues and to people wrestling with their identity? How should Christians live out these truths in their communities today?

Jesus claimed to be ‘the way, the truth and the life’ – but isn’t that arrogant? Aren’t all religions basically the same – a different path to the same destination, shaped by the perspectives of the particular time and culture we live in? Or is it possible that we’re wrong? How do we assess all of these truth claims?

The roles and responsibilities of women and men in the church have been the source of much debate and controversy since the early church – so what does the Bible really say about it all? What do we know about God’s design for men and women in ministry, and how do we live that out here at City on a Hill?

In a noisy and distracted age, how do we recognise the word of God – and how do I know if what I’m ‘hearing’ is the word of God, or just the voice of my own heart?

Jesus declares, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant… even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”. Jesus is the greatest — not in the way the world recognises, but in the way heaven does.

A sermon in the Greatness series.

Jesus compares the greatest in the kingdom to the children who come to Him with curiosity and faith. Those who seem powerless, weak and unimportant and deemed great and worthy of the kingdom of heaven because of Jesus’ power made perfect in their weakness.

The Transfiguration becomes a divine spotlight on who Jesus truly is: “This is my beloved Son… listen to him.” The truth of Jesus’ divinity is revealed to the disciples, as they marvel at his glory and authority given to Him by the Father.

Peter confesses His love and devotion to Jesus - not just in action but in his heart. Peter is confronted by his fear of Jesus’ foretold suffering. Jesus rebukes him - pointing to His suffering as the path he must take to put an end to sin and death for eternity.

Jesus warns of spiritual blindness - that some will go searching for a sign, when the sign was right there in front of them. Beware of teaching that focuses on religious obligation rather than pointing to the person, work and heart of Christ.