Gospel City Church

You don’t have to learn everything the hard way. In Joshua 11–12, Israel faces overwhelming opposition but walks into victory by trusting God, not giving in to fear, and dealing decisively with what stood in their way. In this message, we explore three powerful lessons that can spare you unnecessary pain and spiritual setback: Don’t give in to fear Don’t put your trust in anything other than God Don’t let “giants” remain in your life The life God has promised is on the other side of these decisions.

Jesus didn’t just promise a better life—He promised to build an unstoppable people. In Matthew 16:18, we discover that the church is not a place, but a powerful movement built on Christ Himself, advancing against the power of death. And here’s the twist: the abundant life Jesus promises is experienced most fully when we join Him in that mission.

Real freedom isn’t found in better circumstances—it’s found in a Person. In John 8:31–32, Jesus promises that as we remain in His word, we’ll know the truth—and that truth will break sin’s grip on our lives. This message unpacks how Jesus doesn’t just forgive sin, but frees us from its power, inviting us into a life of ongoing, Spirit-empowered freedom.

Jesus promises more than just life—He promises a fruitful life. In John 15:5, we discover that true spiritual fruit isn’t automatic or superficial; it’s produced as we remain in Jesus—hearing, believing, and obeying His Word by the power of His Spirit. When we stay connected to Him, our lives begin to overflow with visible, tangible fruit that reflects His character and brings glory to God.

Because of the resurrection, Jesus doesn’t just offer forgiveness—He offers rest. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites weary, burdened people to stop striving for acceptance and instead receive His perfect righteousness as a gift. This Easter message shows how the risen Christ meets our deepest exhaustion—not by lowering God’s standard, but by fulfilling it for us—and calls us to find true rest by coming to Him in faith.

Jesus doesn’t just offer guidance—He is the light. In a world of confusion, sin, and spiritual darkness, His promise is clear: follow Him, and you’ll finally see—clearly, fully, and truly.

In a world full of financial anxiety, Jesus offers a bold promise: when we put God’s kingdom first, He will provide everything we truly need. This message explores what that promise means—and what it doesn’t.

Just as Israel conquered the Promised Land one city at a time, Christians grow into the abundant life Jesus promises one step at a time. In Joshua 10:28–43, we see a pattern of faithful obedience and steady progress. Rather than being overwhelmed by the size of the promise, God’s people trusted Him and fought the battles in front of them. In the same way, Jesus leads His church to experience His promises—provision, rest, fruitfulness, freedom, and more—as we trust and obey Him daily.

Joshua’s decisive victory over the five kings of Canaan shows the power and confidence that strong leadership produces among God’s people. But Joshua’s triumph points to a far greater King—Jesus Christ. While Joshua conquered enemies in battle, Jesus first came in humility, suffering and dying to make a way for sinners to be saved. Today He reigns with all authority in heaven and patiently waits for people to repent before He returns in power to judge the nations and establish His kingdom. The question for us is simple: Will we trust, wait for, and submit to the true King of kings?

When the odds stack up and the enemy surrounds, God steps in. From supernatural confusion, to heaven-sent hailstones, to the sun standing still in the sky, Joshua 10 reveals a God who overrides nature to fight for His people. But these ancient miracles don’t just display power — they point to something greater: the darkness at the cross, the finished work of Christ, and the miracle of salvation that still changes lives today.

What can a group of ancient deceivers teach us about salvation? In The Gospel According to the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:22–27), we see a powerful foreshadowing of the gospel: hearing God’s warning, fearing judgment, making peace before it’s too late, and becoming servants of the King. This message calls us to face the reality of judgment—and rejoice in the greater reality of a Savior who seeks and saves the lost.

After a mountaintop moment of worship and victory, Israel walks straight into deception. In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites trick God’s people into making a binding oath—because Israel failed to seek the Lord’s direction. The result? A costly reminder that our words matter. This message explores the danger of relying on our own understanding, the seriousness of truth and integrity before God, and why keeping your word reflects the character of the God of truth. From Joshua’s mistake to the greater faithfulness of King Jesus, we’re reminded: don’t speak lightly—do what you say.

What can you do with the Bible? A lot—but only if you read it. In Joshua 8:34–35, we see Joshua do the most basic, powerful thing with God’s Word: he reads all of it—blessings and curses—to all of God’s people. This message calls us back to that same practice today, showing why reading Scripture is foundational to belief, obedience, and transformation, and culminating in the public reading of Jesus’ own words from the Gospel of Matthew. No commentary. Just the Word—read aloud, heard together, and received as God intends.

God’s Word is more than information—it’s life. In Joshua 8:32–33, we see why preserving Scripture matters, how God has done it through history, and what our role is today.

After Israel’s triumph at Ai, Joshua’s first response wasn’t celebration—it was worship. This message explores what true worship really is: recognizing the one true God, responding to His goodness, and offering Him not just songs or sacrifices, but our whole lives. Victory comes from God, worship belongs to God, and the life surrendered to Him is the life truly gained.

Israel failed at Ai… then God called them to try again. Joshua 8 teaches us that setbacks don’t cancel God’s promises—fear does if we let it win. This message is about courage, obedience, and pressing forward into the life God has promised.

When sin is hidden in the camp, victory stops. From Achan’s failure to Christ’s obedience, Joshua 7 teaches how personal sin can affect the whole community—and why God calls His people to holiness, confession, and grace.

A brand-new year and a new season begin with the same unchanging mission: making Jesus famous. From Joshua 6:27, this sermon reveals how God’s presence, obedience, and faithful people led to fame—not for Joshua’s sake, but to display God’s power. Ultimately, Joshua points us to Jesus, the greater leader whose fame spreads as His people trust and obey Him today. This message casts Gospel City Church’s vision for 2026: lives transformed by Christ so His name is known throughout the land.

As a new year approaches, this message explores the biblical connection between blessing and curse through Joshua 6:26 and the fall of Jericho. It reveals why God set boundaries around what belonged to Him, why people are tempted to rebuild what God has destroyed, and how those boundaries are meant to protect, not harm. Ultimately, the message points to Jesus, who took the curse upon Himself so we could walk in true blessing and live the life God desires for us.

Christmas isn’t unbiblical—it’s a powerful invitation to celebrate the birth of the King of the universe. Drawing from Matthew 2, this message shows how God Himself orchestrated the first Christmas celebration, why the date matters less than the devotion, and what kind of gift truly honors Jesus. The Magi brought treasure, but God invites us to bring something far more valuable: our lives. Christmas is about worship, surrender, and joyfully honoring the Savior who came for us.

Rahab’s story in Joshua 6 shows what happens when faith refuses to stay silent. By counting the cost and taking the risk, she courageously shared the way of salvation, and her house became a refuge amid judgment. This message challenges us to live with the same faith, wisdom, and courage so that others in our life might be saved too.

This sermon wrestles honestly with the difficult verse in Joshua 6:21, showing how its severity reveals God’s justice, impartiality, mercy, and grace. It explains why God judged Jericho’s deep, longstanding wickedness while also giving the city time and opportunity to repent. Even the hardest parts of the passage—including the death of children—are explored through the lens of God’s eternal mercy and the hope He provides. And it asks: What if even the hardest verses of Scripture are meant to reveal more of God’s goodness than we expect?

This message unpacks how God’s promises—like provision, rest, clarity, and freedom—often come with conditions that invite our obedience and perseverance. Through the story of Jericho, we discover three keys to possessing God’s promises: pushing through resistance, claiming only what He has promised, and following His instructions. It challenges us to pursue the abundant life Jesus offers by aligning with His ways, not our own. Are you ready to step forward and claim the promises God has already prepared for you?

This message explores Joshua’s encounter with a mysterious warrior near Jericho and demonstrates from Scripture that the figure is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. By examining His identity as the Commander of the Lord’s army, His acceptance of worship, and His declaration of holy ground, the passage reveals Christ’s eternal presence and authority. The sermon then highlights what this revelation means for believers today—namely that Jesus is not simply “on our side,” but calls us to be on His. Finally, it shows that the battles we face ultimately belong to Him, and we walk in victory when we worship, obey, and align ourselves with the Commander of Heaven’s armies.

This message explores how God reveals Himself as both powerful and faithful through His provision for Israel in the wilderness and in the Promised Land. Drawing from Joshua 5:11–12, it highlights that God provides, invites our participation, and often supplies our needs in different ways. It also addresses the challenging question of why God’s provision sometimes seems absent by offering eight biblical considerations. Ultimately, the message points us to Jesus, the true bread of life who sustains us eternally.

Just as Canadians pause on Remembrance Day to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom, Joshua 5:10 records Israel’s own “Remembrance Day” — the Passover — a sacred reminder of God’s deliverance. In this message, we trace the Passover from its first celebration in Egypt to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Through His sacrifice, death passes over all who place their faith in Him. As the church remembers through communion, we are called to never forget the God who saves, delivers, and remains with His people.

Before claiming the land, Israel had to reclaim their identity. God’s covenant mark reminded them who they belonged to—and who they no longer were. In Christ, we too are cut from our old life and raised into something brand new. The sign has changed, but the call remains: belong fully to God.

We all forget — but God calls His people to remember. Just as Israel set up twelve stones from the Jordan to remind future generations of God’s faithfulness and power, we too need memorials that point us back to what God has done. Remembering shapes who we are, strengthens our faith, and fuels our obedience when new obstacles arise. Today, the church itself serves as God’s living memorial — a people rescued from impossible situations, set together to declare His strength and faithfulness to the world. When we remember what God has done, we trust Him more deeply, fear Him rightly, and live as a testimony that the Lord’s hand is strong.

This message examines Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River as a powerful moment of transition from wilderness wandering to entering God’s promises. It explains the historical and spiritual significance of the Jordan River and the Ark of the Covenant, showing how God miraculously stopped the river’s flow to lead His people forward. The sermon draws five parallels for the church today: we are always in transition, everyone must move forward together, we follow God’s Word, all believers share in ministry, and consecration prepares us for God’s wonders. Ultimately, it calls believers to be spiritually ready, united, and obedient as God leads them into greater promises.

In Joshua 2, we meet Rahab—a surprising hero who risked everything to align with the God of Israel. As judgment loomed over Jericho, Rahab’s faith and quick action became her family’s path to salvation. This message draws powerful parallels between her story and our own need to be saved from coming judgment. God's mercy is still available today for those who want it.

God promised His people the land—but they still had to go in and fight for it. Why? Because faith takes action, and unbelief is the real enemy. This message explores how the spies in Joshua’s day reveal a deeper truth for us today: it’s not your circumstances holding you back—it’s what you’re believing. Want to experience the life Jesus promised? Start by asking: What’s standing in your way… and are you believing God enough to overcome it?

In this message a striking parallel is drawn between Joshua addressing Israel and Jesus speaking to His church today. It reminds us that when someone speaks to us—especially Christ—our response reveals our heart and shapes the whole community of believers. We are called to hear His clear commands and rely on His strength to obey. In doing so, we discover the life and blessing that come from following Him together.

This message explores the powerful example of the 2½ tribes in Joshua 1 who, though they had already secured their land and rest, were called to cross the Jordan and fight for their brothers until everyone received their promise. In the same way, God calls spiritually mature believers today to use their strength, peace, and victories—not for isolation, but for intercession. Drawing parallels to Jesus’ own self-giving love, this sermon challenges us to give our best, take the lead, and stay in the fight until others are doing okay in Christ too. Because in God’s family, personal peace isn’t enough—we’re called to pursue collective wholeness.

This message unpacks how God moves His people as one through a clear chain of communication—seen in Joshua’s leadership and fulfilled through Jesus and His church. Just like Israel followed Joshua into the Promised Land, the church today follows Jesus through the leadership He’s established. God’s design for unity through His Word and His leaders isn’t just practical—it reflects His very nature. When we move together under His direction, we show the world what He’s like.

God's command to "be strong and courageous" isn’t about self-confidence—it’s about trusting His promises, obeying His Word, and knowing He’s with you. Strength is the ability to do the hard thing; courage is the resolve to do it despite fear. Joshua 1:6–9 reminds us that faith closes the gap between our weakness and God's faithfulness. Because Jesus—the true and better Joshua—led the way with perfect strength and courage, we can follow Him boldly today.

Before Israel could step into the Promised Land, they had to prepare. In Joshua 1, God speaks to Joshua with a blunt truth—“Moses is dead”—and a bold command: “Get ready to go.” Grief, fear, and comfort can keep us stuck, but God’s promises are still alive. He gives us everything we need to move forward: a clear calling, the guarantee of His presence, and the assurance of success—if we follow Him. Just like Israel, we’re invited to leave behind the wilderness and walk into the life Jesus promised—together, as His people. The question is: Are you ready to go?

This message is a preview of the book of Joshua, showing how its ancient story of leadership, promise, opposition, and obedience mirrors our spiritual journey today. Just as Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, Jesus leads us into the abundant life God has promised. But walking in that promise requires faith, obedience, and trust in God’s Word. This series will explore how we, like Israel, are called to step boldly into all that God has for us.

Paul ends his letter to the Colossians the same way he started it - with the grace of God. This final message in our series looks at how the grace of God to the Colossians is found in the very words that the apostle wrote to them. The entire book of Colossians is an undeserved gift of God's goodness to us. The Word of God to us is the grace of God for us.

Paul is nearly finished his letter to the Colossians. But before he wraps it up he leaves them with some final instructions. He calls them to love the other local churches in their area, to love the Word of God, and to love those in the congregation who need some encouragement - instructions that should still be observed by every local church today.

Luke and Demas - Two coworkers who were with Paul while the apostle was under house arrest in Rome. A few years later only one of them was still found by Paul's side. The other deserted him. In this message we look at why someone would walk away from God and we learn what we should look for in our own lives that would indicate if we will stay faithful until the end.

Paul uses a phrase in Colossians 4:11 when he identifies three of his fellow countrymen who had joined his ministry team; he labels them his "coworkers for the kingdom of God." In this message we take a brief look at the nature of work, the kingdom of God, and how those two ideas are connected.

Failure is a part of life. It is inevitable. Everyone fails. But not everyone recovers from their failures and overcomes them. Mark was somebody who did. In this message we look at what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians concerning Mark and we learn some valuable lessons about overcoming failure.

Paul allocates one half verse to mentioning his fellow prisoner Aristarchus. And he uses these few words at the front end of Colossians 4:10 to relay a message from Aristarchus to the believers at Colossae. And the message is this: Greetings! In this sermon we take a look at the significance of the New Testament greeting and we draw out an implication for our lives by looking at the circumstances that Aristarchus sends his greetings from.

Onesimus comes back home. The backstory behind his leaving Colossae and his return to it is fascinating. And it teaches us a valuable lesson about who we are in Christ. 

Tychicus was sent by Paul to deliver his letter to the Colossians. And in that letter, Paul wrote about Tychicus, commending him to the church at Colossae. Why did Paul do that? And what are the implications of Tychicus' commendation for Christians today?

Are you a Christian who wants to be used by God when it comes to leading outsiders into the Kingdom of Heaven? In this message we take a look at how Paul instructed the believers in Colossae to engage with those outside the church. The instructions are timeless. Every believer today would do well to take Paul's words to heart. 

Most Christians are not called by God to travel to distant lands to bring the gospel to people who have yet to hear it. But that doesn't mean they aren't called to bring the gospel to people. Because they are! You don't need to hop on a plane to go and share the Good News about Jesus with someone. You can find people in your own backyard who need to hear the message that can save their lives. 

In the opening of his letter to the Colossians Paul shared with them how he had been praying for them. Now, as the letter begins drawing to a close, Paul asks them to return the favor - he asks his brothers and sister in the church at Colossae if they would pray for him. Specifically, he asks them to pray for God's intervention in Paul's evangelistic efforts.

Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines in a Christian's life. And yet so many of us go through seasons where we neglect praying. As the Apostle Paul nears the end of his letter to the church in Colossae, he calls them to prioritize this all-important practice. He calls them (and us!) to give ourselves to prayer. 

In his letter to the believers at Colossae, the apostle Paul addressed the various relationships that existed in the home. He spoke to husbands and wives. He spoke to fathers and children. And then he spoke to masters and slaves. When we read Paul's words to masters and slaves he doesn't seem to take issue with the institution of slavery that was widespread across the Roman empire in his day. Was Paul pro-slavery? Was he against it? Was he indifferent to it? We unpack those questions and more in this message.