City Church Memphis: Sermon Audio Podcast

This Sunday at City Church Memphis… the battle may be over, but the war has just begun.David killed the giant… and became an overnight hero.But what happens when applause turns into envy…when songs turn into spears…and the same king who promoted you now wants to kill you?In Week 6 of The Life of David, Dr. Foster helps us discover how to survive jealousy, betrayal, and spiritual attacks… and why your next challenge may actually be your next promotion.[recorded at service on 5/3/2026]

Welcome to week five of the Life of David. What if the giant in front of you… isn’t there to destroy you but to define you?Fear has been threatening for 40 days…but this week, we’re learning how to run toward what everyone else is running from.Dr. Foster will help you discover why you can’t win in someone else’s armor, how to speak God’s promises over your problems, and how one stone in the hand of God can change everything.[recorded at service on 4/26/2026]

What if the biggest battle in your life… isn’t in front of you—but in your mind?For 40 days, a giant shouted lies, And an entire nation believed them.But one shepherd boy refused to negotiate with fear.This week at City Church, Dr. Foster leads us into The Life of David: Week 4 — Where you’ll learn how to silence the voice of the enemy, break generational strongholds, and step into a confidence that doesn’t come from you, but from God.

What if everything you thought was the end… wasn’t the end at all?What if your past didn’t get the final word, your pain didn’t define you, and your story isn’t over?Today, Dr. Foster and City Creative help you discover how one empty tomb changed everything—your freedom, your purpose, your future.Because if Jesus got up… you can get up too.[recorded at service on 4/5/2026]

This Sunday at City Church we step into a moment that looked like a victory parade—but was really a rescue mission.The crowds shouted “Hosanna!”… but days later, those same voices would cry “Crucify Him.” Because Jesus didn’t ride into Jerusalem to take a crown—He rode in to take your place.Every miracle, every moment, every move of heaven was leading to this… a King who came not to be served, but to save. This Palm Sunday… don’t just remember what God did—encounter what He’s still doing right now.[recorded at service on 3/29/2026]

When God’s presence lifts… what fills the space? This week King Saul is tormented… and a shepherd boy steps into the palace.Before David ever fought a giant, he learned how to fight in worship. Before the palace, there was preparation. Before the spotlight, there was obscurity.What if your breakthrough isn’t about opportunity… but preparation?This Sunday Dr. Foster helps us discover how God turns private worship into public destiny, and why your greatest weapon isn’t in your hand… it’s in your heart.

What if the greatest king in Israel’s history started out as the most forgotten kid in his own family? Last week we saw tragedy turn into triumph as Ruth’s grief became part of a king’s genealogy. But this week… Israel demands a king because they want to be like everyone else.So God gives them Saul — a king who looked perfect on the outside… but slowly drifted from obedience on the inside. While Saul was drifting, God was preparing someone else.Not in a palace. Not in a throne room. But in a field outside Bethlehem.A shepherd boy. If you have ever felt Overlooked. Uninvited. Forgotten. Then this message is for you.  This Week Dr. Foster takes us deep into the heart of David's Childhood rejection, to show us God's direction.[recorded at service on 3/15/2026]

Before there was a crown… there was a famine.Before there was a king… there was a widow.Before David ever faced a giant… God was already writing his story.This Sunday we begin an 11-week journey through caves and crowns, battles and betrayals, identity and legacy.You’ll discover this: Your greatest battle isn’t Goliath — it’s your identity.Your hardest season isn’t punishment — it’s preparation.David’s story didn’t start in a palace.It started in loss… loyalty… and redemption.And what God did for Ruth… He can do for you.Don’t miss Week One.[recorded at service on 3/1/2026]

Last year… we tore down walls.We launched a campus.We made room for more people to meet Jesus.But we’re not finished.At City Church, vision isn’t a slogan —it’s a pathway:Know God.Find Freedom.Discover Purpose.Make a Difference.The harvest is here.Now it’s time to build the barns.Vision Sunday 2026 — The future is calling.[recorded at service on 2/22/26]

What if the greatest intimacy manual ever written is already sitting on your coffee table… and you’ve been highlighting everything except that part?This week on Friends with Benefits, Dr. Chris Foster goes where culture has twisted it and the church has tiptoed around it. Sex didn’t start in Hollywood. It started in the mind of God.If you’re married, what happens inside the bedroom affects everything outside of it. No more drift. No more silent resignation. It’s time to reverse the curse, rekindle the fire, and rediscover the benefits God designed for covenant love.Last week we talked about being friends.This week… we talk about the benefits.[recorded at service on 2/15/26]

You were wired for emotion—but you were never meant to be driven by it. Emotions make great indicators—but terrible drivers. Peace doesn’t erase emotion. Peace stands guard over it.In week four of Life Hacks, Dr. Foster helps us to discover how the Holy Spirit brings order to emotional chaos, how to stop letting feelings run your life, and how regulated emotions produce spiritual stability.Because when the Spirit governs your emotions,panic gives way to peace, impulse bows to wisdom,and chaos is replaced with freedom.[recorded at service on 1/25/2026]

Most people don’t wake up planning to wreck their life…we drift there—one habit at a time.You don’t fall off a spiritual cliff…you stroll off it while scrolling.This week, Dr. Foster exposes a terrifying truth:you are your habits.Why impulse wins, why willpower fails,and how God gives you life hacks to interrupt the loopbefore your habits take control of you.Life Hacks – Week Three.Change your habits… and you change your future.[recorded at service on 1/18/26]

The Bible is packed with life hacks—Kingdom cheat codes for living a blessed, victorious life. This week, Dr. Foster exposes one of the most dangerous patterns of the human mind: avoidance.Avoidance doesn’t stop you—it distracts you.It feels like relief, but it quietly hands fear the steering wheel.God never calls His people to avoid. He calls them to advance.Because what you avoid doesn’t disappear… it takes control.This week, we’re breaking up with “later” and stepping into obedience now.[recorded at service on 1/11/2026]

What if the biggest problem in your life… is the voice in your head?This week, Dr. Foster kicks off Life Hacks with a truth you didn’t expect: your brain lies to you constantly. God's word is full of Life Hacks. The Holy Spirit shows us how to battle stink'n think'n.Fear, insecurity, worst-case scenarios—most of them are just trailers your mind created.But God’s Word gives you a better narrative.Learn how to spot the lie, take every thought captive, and let truth rewrite your story.Life Hacks: Week One — Don’t believe everything you think.[recorded at service on 1/4/26]

Join us as we enter the greatest story ever told — small and humble beginnings, with a world-changing ending.

Today’s message is about breaking free from everything the enemy tried to strap onto your life — fear, shame, labels, limitations. It’s about discovering that you were born to run the race God marked out for you.And to help us see it clearly, we’re stepping into a scene from one of the most iconic films ever made, where a boy in leg braces learns that breakthrough doesn’t start with strength… It starts with a step.Get ready: God is about to break off what’s been holding you back, and release you into the race you were created to run.[recorded at service on 12/7/25]

Welcome back to At the Movies! Today’s Dr. Foster Drops the flag on another modern-day parable. Heart-pounding action meets purpose and speed meets the soul. Sonny Hayes was a legend… until a crash derailed his destiny. Decades later, he discovers what every believer must learn: you can’t win the race of life without the right pit stops and the right race line. Because Scripture says you’re not running for a trophy—you’re running for transformation. And today God is ready to refuel, repair, and realign you for victory. Get ready for At the Movies: F1. [recorded at service on 11/23/25]

We’re stepping into a world trembling on its axis, where shadows rise, hope fades, and a hero emerges. Not a myth. Not a memory. But a reminder. Because the story of Superman isn’t just about a man in a cape, it’s a mirror of a greater truth: you were sent from another Kingdom, adopted by a greater Father, and called to carry a power not of this world. This week Dr. Foster takes us faster than a speeding bullet with At the Movies Week Two.[recorded at service on 11/16/25]

This weekend at City Church, we’re taking flight with Top Gun: Maverick. It’s more than jets and adrenaline — it’s a story of calling, courage, and learning to let go of the past that tries to clip your wings. Like Maverick, we’ve all carried regrets, guilt, and questions. But God says your past may explain you it does not define you. Purpose doesn’t expire. Grace doesn’t retire. And your mission is not over. Buckle up as Dr. Foster shows us through God's word how to rise, release, and soar again in week one of At the Movies.[recorded at service on 11/9/25]

This week, we step into the divine rhythm of God’s economy—where seed becomes substance, and surrender becomes supply. Harvest Time isn’t about what leaves your hand; it’s about what God releases from Heaven. The moment you trust Him with what you have, you invite Him to multiply what you could never manufacture on your own. When you sow, you don’t lose—you unlock. Because in God’s kingdom, generosity is not subtraction, it’s multiplication. Every seed carries power, every act of faith carries increase, and every obedient heart becomes the field where miracles grow. Get ready—your seed has an assignment, and your harvest is closer than you think.[recorded at service on 11/2/25]

Harvest Time is a journey through the biblical principle of stewardship and generosity. It’s not just about money—it’s about mindset, mission, and multiplication. In this series, we will discover Biblical keys to financially flourishing. Each week builds the connection between God’s economy and the Kingdom harvest, showing that generosity releases joy, purpose, and divine provision.[recorded at service on 10/26/25]

When Jesus opened His arms to “notorious sinners” in Luke 15, the religious crowd shook their heads. But Jesus wasn’t building a country club for the polished—He was launching a rescue mission for the broken. In this message, Dr. Foster unpacks the three portraits of lostness that Jesus paints: the sheep that knows it’s lost but can’t find the way home, the coin that doesn’t even know it’s missing, and the son who doesn’t care until life hits a crisis. Each one shows a different face of the human heart—and each one reveals God’s relentless, rescuing love. Heaven doesn’t whisper when the lost are found; it throws a party. Join us as we discover the Shepherd who carries, the Woman who searches, and the Father who runs—because when the lost come home, the celebration shakes eternity.[recorded at service on 10/12/2025]

Well, howdy folks—welcome to The Great Round Up! Today we’re diving into Luke 15, where Jesus tells stories of lost things being found—sheep, coins, sons. And isn’t that all of us? At some point, we’ve wandered off, we’ve drifted far, or we’ve flat-out rebelled. But here’s the good news: Jesus is in the business of round-ups. He doesn’t wait for the lost to stumble home—He goes after them. He lights lamps, He leaves the ninety-nine, He runs down roads with arms wide open. And the same Father who ran toward a rebellious son is still running today—after you, after me, after anyone who’s lost their way.[recorded at service on 10/5/2025]

This week in Fast & Fearless, Dr. Foster shifts gears from fast obedience to fearless faith—because fearless doesn’t mean the absence of fear, it means fear doesn’t own you. David didn’t run at Goliath because he felt no fear; he ran because God’s Spirit burned hotter than his fear. Paul told Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind”—fear isn’t from heaven, it’s from hell, and its only goal is to chain you down when God has dropped the flag. But when you ignite the gifts of God inside you, fear shrinks, faith charges, and holy fire roars like a supercar spitting flames out of the exhaust. Fear says, “Sit down,” but fire says, “Stand up.” Fear says, “What if?” but faith says, “What if you don’t obey?”; and that’s when you discover that God’s Spirit gives you the horsepower to live fast and fearless.[recorded at service on 9/21/2025]

Week One of Fast & Fearless kicks off with the roar of engines and the rush of faith. Just like racers battling for pink slips in Fast & Furious, David and Goliath stood toe-to-toe with the title deed of Israel on the line. For forty days, Israel stalled in fear—but one shepherd boy hit the accelerator of faith and ran straight toward his giant. This isn’t just about an ancient battlefield; it’s about your battlefield today. What giant is revving its engine against you? Fear? Doubt? Addiction? Debt? The bigger the giant, the greater the destiny on the other side. In this opening message, we’ll discover why God’s people can’t afford to hesitate—because when God drops the flag, victory belongs to those who move fast.[recorded at service on 9/14/2025]

For fifteen weeks we’ve walked the ancient streets of Rome with Paul, and every step has carried us deeper into the heart of the Gospel—from the devastating diagnosis of sin to the breathtaking cure of Christ, from chains to adoption, from despair to unshakable hope. We’ve seen that God’s mercy is wider than oceans, His Spirit stronger than death, His love unbreakable steel. And now, as Paul dips his quill for the final time, he doesn’t close with a weary sigh but with a triumphant shout—a prayer for overflowing hope, a promise of peace that crushes the enemy, and a thunderous doxology that lifts all glory to the only wise God. This isn’t just the end of a letter; it’s the launch of a life overflowing with joy, peace, and unstoppable hope.[recorded at service on 9/7/25]

What if the bride walking down the aisle on her wedding day looked less like a radiant vision and more like a battered fighter who just stumbled out of the ring? That’s the shocking image Paul paints in Romans 14—because when we gossip, criticize, and condemn each other, we’re not just throwing shade, we’re throwing punches at the Bride of Christ. Instead of preparing her to shine in splendor, we leave her limping, bruised, and bloodied. But Paul calls us higher: unity over uniformity, love over legalism, convictions without condemnation. Because Jesus didn’t die so we could win arguments—He died so we could win the lost. This week, we’ll discover how to stop beating up the Bride and start building her up, so the church can walk down the aisle radiant, ready, and redeemed.[recorded at service on 8/31/25]

Week 12 of On Location: Rome is your divine IKEA moment — God’s handed you every piece you need for a life of purpose, joy, and impact, but Romans 12 is the Allen wrench that makes it all fit together. Skip His instructions, and you’ll end up with a wobbly faith, extra screws of regret, and a life facing the wrong direction. Follow them, and you’ll be transformed from the inside out — worshiping with your life, resisting the world’s mold, walking humbly, using your unique gifts, loving without a mask, and overcoming evil with unshakable goodness. This is the Gospel in shoe leather — not a “try harder” chapter, but a “surrender deeper” invitation to live exactly as the Designer intended. Let's go on Location with Dr. Foster.[recorded at service on 8/18/25]

Have you ever seen a job so badly done, you laughed and said, “You had one job!”? It’s funny — until it’s not. Romans 10 reminds us that when it comes to eternity, humanity has one job: to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet, just like those “one job” fails, we overcomplicate what God made simple. Paul is heartbroken over people who are zealous for God, but aimlessly climbing the wrong religious ladder. This week, Dr. Chris Foster takes us on a powerful journey through Romans 10; where the Gospel is clear, salvation is accessible, and eternity hangs on one question: Did you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord? Don’t miss it — because eternity doesn’t grade on effort… it grades on grace.

This week we travel On Location to Rome with Dr. Foster. We scale the soaring heights of Romans 8 — the Everest of the New Testament. From the jagged cliffs of guilt in chapter 7 to the summit of “no condemnation” and the skyline of “no separation,” this chapter is a Spirit-filled anthem of freedom for every weary soul. The same power that raised Christ from the grave is alive in you. The courtroom of condemnation is closed, the verdict is grace, and the gavel has already fallen in your favor. If you’ve ever battled shame, wrestled with regret, or felt like your mind was a war-zone; this message is for you. Get ready to flip the switch from death to life, from flesh to fire, from fear to freedom. This is not about willpower, it’s about Spirit power.[from service on 7/20/25]

In Week 6 of On Location: Rome, Dr. Foster helps us dig into the raw, resurrecting power of Jesus Christ. In this chapter Paul officiates a for your flesh. This isn’t spiritual self-help or behavior tweaks; it’s a full-blown resurrection revolution. Your old self? Dead and buried. Your new life? Fueled by the same power that rolled away the stone and raised Christ from the grave. This isn’t about managing sin—it’s about mastering it through the one who already conquered it. So buckle up: it’s time to leave the graveyard behind and live like someone who’s actually been raised from the dead.[from service on 7/3/25]

Today, Dr. Foster takes us on location from Rome. In Romans 4, Paul brings the thunder: Salvation isn’t earned—it’s gifted. You can’t buy a $120K Hummer of salvation with $20 worth of good deeds. Just ask Abraham—before he followed any law, he believed, and God called him righteous. David? Same story. Broken but blessed. The gospel isn’t “Do more,” it’s “Done.” If you're tired of working for what Jesus already paid for, stop striving and start receiving. Faith is the key. Grace is the engine. And the ride? Paid in full.[from service on 6/22/25]

In Week 3 of On Location: Rome, Dr. Foster leads us to explore the richness of God's grace revealed against the backdrop of our guilt. God’s righteousness is not a principle but a person — Jesus Christ, who took our sin, bore our punishment, and gave us His righteousness. In a scandalous exchange at Calvary, Adam’s sin was imputed to us, our sin was imputed to Christ, and Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us. Righteousness has a name — and His name is Jesus.[from service on 6/15/25]

In Week Two of On Location: Rome, Dr. Foster led us through the piercing words of Romans 2, where Paul shifts his spotlight from the obvious sinfulness of the world to the subtler, more dangerous sin of self-righteousness. It’s not our outward appearance or religious language that defines us, but a heart transformed by grace. Dr. Foster reminded us that God’s kindness isn’t permission to keep sinning—it’s an invitation to repent. So let’s get R.E.A.L.—Repent honestly, Examine our hearts, Ask for the Spirit’s fire, and Live transformed.[from service on 6/8/25]

Embark on an inspiring journey with Dr. Foster in "On Location: Rome," a powerful exploration of God's Word and its global impact. Discover the transformative power of the Gospel and grasp the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice against the backdrop of our own judgment, ultimately revealing the immense joy of salvation. No travel documents are needed—only a desire to understand and embrace God's complete work in our lives.[from service on 6/1/25]

 In the final installment of The Deal with the Devil, we confront Satan as the Destroyer. Building on the past two weeks where we unmasked him as the Deceiver and the Accuser, this message isn’t about giving the enemy glory, but equipping believers for victory. Satan operates through cunning strategies—both external attacks and manipulates your will with two destructive tactics. Today, Dr. Foster will walk us through the ways to defeat the enemy's attacks on our will, and empower us for the victorious life. [recorded at service on 5/18/25]

Have you ever truly stopped to ask: what’s the real deal with the devil?In this eye-opening series, Dr. Foster pulls back the curtain on the ultimate deceiver — the architect of lies, the manipulator of minds, the serpent who whispers doubt into the depths of our souls.The enemy of our soul doesn’t march in with fire and fury — he slinks in through shadows. He hides behind pride, creeps through fear, wraps himself in shame, fuels confusion, chains hearts with addiction, and numbs spirits with apathy.But here’s the good news: God has not left us defenseless.Today, we’ll uncover the divine weapons forged in heaven to protect your family, secure your future, and destroy the enemy’s grip on your life.You’re about to expose Satan’s strategies — and once you see them clearly, you’ll be equipped to break his hold and walk in the victory God has already won for you.[recorded at service on 4/27/25]

Can you relate to the disappointment that comes with empty things in life? An empty bank account, an empty relationship, an empty ice cream tub at the end of a hard day — these moments often echo a deeper emptiness within us. But 2,000 years ago, on that first Easter morning, the women and disciples discovered an emptiness that changed everything. The tomb was empty — not by accident, but by divine design. And because the tomb is empty, your heart doesn’t have to be. That moment of holy emptiness became the greatest gift ever given to humanity — hope, life, and the promise of a Savior who fills every void.

Imagine standing before a judge — guilty, condemned, and sentenced to death. Feel the weight of that moment: the hopelessness, the fear, the dread.But then, the unimaginable happens. The judge looks at you and says, “The sentence must be served — but I will take your place.”With the slam of the gavel, the judge is taken away in your place… to face death, not you.That was the scene unfolding in the Upper Room and in the Garden of Gethsemane.Come with us now, as City Creative invites you to explore The Beautiful Empty.[recorded at service on 4/13/2025]

What do you do when you're confronted with life's most intense challenges? Are you ready to stand firm in your faith and boldly follow Christ, even when everyone else is conforming to today's culture? In today's message, Dr. Foster concludes our series Close Encounters of the God Kind by exploring an Old Testament appearance of Christ in the fiery furnace. You'll uncover powerful insights to help you persevere through hardship and emerge stronger, even receiving promotion through your trials.[note: recorded at service on 4/6/2025]

Christ appeared in the Old Testament to direct His people, protect His promise, and reflect His power. Today, Dr. Foster continues our series, Close Encounters of the God Kind, by examining one of the most unforgettable encounters between God and humanity — the burning bush. Together, we’ll explore how God has the power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and turn your desert into a holy place.[note: recorded at service on 3/30/2025]

We serve a God who will not only fight for you but also loves you enough to fight with you at times. Today, in week four of our series Close Encounters of the God Kind, Dr. Foster gives us ringside seats to the wrestling match between Jacob and Jesus. When God fights with us, it is to refine us, not to rebuke us; it is not to defeat us but rather to define us.[note: recorded at service on 3/9/2025]

Welcome to week three of our series, Close Encounters of the God Kind, where we explore Old Testament encounters with Christ. Today, Dr. Foster dives into one of the most enigmatic appearances in the Bible. A figure described as having no mother or father, no lineage, no beginning or end. His name means "King of Peace" and "King of Righteousness." This mysterious man appears to Abraham, offering him the first communion—centuries before Passover and thousands of years before the Last Supper. Who is this extraordinary figure? Tune in to today’s teaching to find out![note: recorded at service on 3/2/2025]

In week two of our series, Close Encounters of the God Kind, Dr. Foster explores the life-changing encounter between Abraham and Christ—an encounter that not only shaped the destiny of Israel but ultimately continues to impact the entire world. As we reflect on this pivotal moment, we’ll also discover keys to how we, too, can encounter Christ in our lives today through a deeper abiding relationship with Jesus.

In this series, Dr. Foster will take us on an odyssey of encountering Christ through the Old Testament. As we dive deep into the pages of Scripture, we’ll uncover moments where God breaks into the earthly realm in a mysterious, yet powerful way — revealing Himself in ways we may not have fully understood before. Have you ever wondered where Christ was in the Old Testament? While we often think of Christ’s work and presence in the New Testament, today we will look back to the Old Testament and explore a remarkable and often overlooked revelation of Christ: The Angel of the Lord.

The Bible says, 'Where there is no vision, the people perish.' Today, Dr. Foster will unveil a fresh and exciting vision for the future of City Church. As we pursue our mission, we remain committed to our bold motto: making it hard to go to hell from Memphis!"

As we wrap up our inspiring series, One Day or Day One, let’s explore one of the most powerful tools for transformation: building lasting, life-changing habits. God's word teaches us that Habits are the cornerstone of personal growth, shaping who we are and where we’re headed. But creating habits that truly stick requires intention, strategy, and the right mindset. In this final message, Dr. Foster uncovered six secrets to mastering the art of habit formation and you will discover insights that will empower you to break through limitations, cultivate consistency, and pave the way for meaningful, lasting change. Today is your “day one,” these principles will help you take control of your journey and thrive.

Setting goals is an essential part of living a purposeful and fulfilling life. As believers, we are called to live with intention, not aimlessly drifting through our days but pursuing the plans God has for us. Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 16:9 that “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Setting goals allows us to align our desires and ambitions with God’s will, helping us grow in faith, character, and service. Today, Dr. Foster will explore how to set meaningful goals rooted in biblical principles, how to remain steadfast when challenges arise, and how to trust God to guide us every step of the way as we become Day One people.

As we take on 2025, the Bible teaches the biggest barriers aren’t external—they’re internal. They’re the limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves, about others, and about what God has for us. God doesn’t want us to be bound by the small boxes we’ve placed ourselves in. Jesus came to give us life, and life abundantly. But to do that, we must first identify and confront the limiting beliefs that have held us back. Today, Dr. Foster helps us to turn our limiting beliefs into leading beliefs.

Have you ever wondered what separates those who are favored by God from those who seem to struggle? Have you looked at others and asked, Why are they so successful, and why does it feel like I’m stuck in place? Today, as we begin this new year, Dr. Foster is kicking off a series that will explore some profound biblical keys to understanding and transforming your trajectory. It's a fresh start — a chance to see your life not just as a string of days, but as an opportunity for divine purpose and power. This series is titled "Day One, Or One Day?" because the decision to step into the life God has called you to live starts now — today.