Sermons from City on a Hill, Wellington

Finding Hope in a Broken World

Preacher: Tim Maddock

Date: 19/07/2026

Series: Finding Jesus

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15

Our world can feel pretty hopeless, whether it's global uncertainty, health struggles, or the reality that none of us escapes death. But what if we've been settling for a hope that's far too small? Tim explores 1 Corinthians 15 and what Jesus' resurrection might mean for us today.

Finding Purpose in a world of chaos

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 12/7/2026

Series: Finding Jesus

Reading: Ecc 1:1-11 & Col 1:15-23

Is it possible that the things we look to for purpose — career, relationships, achievement — were never actually designed to carry that weight? Andrew explores Ecclesiastes 1 and Colossians 1:15-23, wrestling with why life "under the sun" leaves us feeling like vapour, and what Jesus might have to do with the answer.

Peace in a World of Anxiety

Preacher: Paul Shoemark

Date: 05/07/2026

Series: Finding Jesus

Reading: Philippians 4:1-9

Why does anxiety feel so normal, even in a world more comfortable than ever before? This message walks through Philippians 4:1–9, exploring how our culture's promises of peace - through performance, control, or simply "being true to yourself" - tend to run dry, and how Jesus offers a peace grounded in his grace and sovereignty.

Kept in God's Love

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 28/06/2026

Series: Contend for the Faith

Reading: Jude 17-25

What does it actually look like to stay close to God when things get hard? In Jude 17–25, we explore what it means to keep ourselves in God's love — and what it means that God is the one who keeps us. There's a beautiful tension here that's worth sitting with.

Contend For The Faith

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 21/06/2026

Series: Jude - Contend For The Faith

Reading: Jude 1-16

What happens when grace gets twisted into something that looks like the real thing but leads people away from Jesus? Jude wrote this urgent letter to a church facing exactly that question. This message explores what it means to "contend for the faith" and why that matters so much for us today.

The God Who Goes With His People

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 14/06/2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 31:1-22

What if the greatest danger we face isn't out there, but inside us? As Andrew wraps up the book of Deuteronomy, this sermon explores what Moses' final words reveal about God's faithfulness, our wandering hearts, and how the promise of atonement in Deuteronomy 32 points us all the way to Jesus.

A Heart that Chooses Life

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 07/06/2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 30:1-14

What if trying harder is actually making things worse? Andrew explores Deuteronomy 29-30 and Romans 10, asking what it really means to "choose life." Could the deepest problem we face be something no amount of willpower or effort can fix — and could God's answer be closer than we think?

The New Creation

Preacher: Mal Gill

Date: 01/06/2026

Series: The End of the World

Reading: Rev 21:1-8

What actually is heaven — floating on clouds, an endless church service, or something else entirely? Revelation 21:1-8 pulls back the curtain just a little, and what we glimpse is stunning. This message from Malexplores seven aspects of new creation that speak directly to our deepest longings for a world without tears, anxiety, or brokenness.

The End of the Wicked

Preacher: Mal Gill

Date: 31/05/2026

Series: The End of the World - Church Camp 2026

Reading: Rev 17:1-6, 18:1-8

When we read Revelation, it's easy to get lost in the details and miss the big picture. So what happens when we zoom out? Across Revelation 17–18 we meet two women, two cities, and two outcomes — all leading us to one question: which kingdom do we belong to?

The Chaos of History

Preacher: Mal Gill

Date: 31/05/2026

Series: Church Camp - Revelation

Reading: Rev 6-7

What happens as history unfolds? In Revelation 6–7, Malcolm walks us through the four horsemen and the strange comfort of God's judgement. If the world feels chaotic, where is it all heading? This message explores how we might follow the lamb when everything seems uncertain.

Worthy is the Lamb

Preacher: Mal Gill

Date: 30/05/2026

Series: It's the End of the World - Church Camp 2026

Reading: Rev 4-5

When Christians in the ancient world faced persecution and felt unseen, God gave John a vision of heaven — a throne room where the Lamb who was slain is worshipped alongside the Father. This sermon explores how that heavenly reality in Revelation 4–5 speaks directly into our own moments of discouragement and gospel-weariness.

The Serious Joy of Life with God

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 25/05/2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 27:1-13 & Gal 3:10-14

What happens when the law demands perfection and we fall short? Deuteronomy 27 confronts us with the weight of sin and its consequences, but the story doesn't end there. Galatians 3:10-14 shows us how Christ steps into the curse so we can receive the blessing. This message explores what that means for us.

Ancient Laws, Timeless Truths

Preacher: Andy Williams

Date: 17/05/2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 12 & Psalm 19

Why do Christians follow some Old Testament laws but not others? Andy walks through Deuteronomy 12-26, exploring what these ancient laws, about worship, feasting, justice, and caring for the vulnerable, might reveal about who God is and what he loves, and how they find their fulfilment in Jesus.

Remember the Lord

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 10⧸05⧸2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 9:1-8 & Ephe 2:1-10

What if the blessings we enjoy aren't actually about us at all? In Deuteronomy 9, Moses warns Israel — just as they're about to receive everything God promised — that pride has a sneaky way of rewriting the story. This message explores what grace really means, and why no one gets to boast

The God Who Speaks

Preacher: Paul Shoemark

Date: 3⧸05⧸2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 5:1-22, Hebrews 1:1-3

What actually shapes your life? In Deuteronomy 5, Paul explores the Ten Commandments, not as a checklist to earn God's favour, but as words of grace spoken to people already loved and rescued. Could it be that hearing and obeying God's word is where real freedom is found?

The God who went before you

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 26⧸04⧸2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 4:1-40

At Mount Sinai, surrounded by fire and darkness, Israel experienced something remarkable, there was no image, no statue, just a voice. So what does it mean that God reveals himself through words rather than what we can see or feel? This message from Deuteronomy 4 explores what that means for us today.

Remember the Journey

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 19/04/2026

Series: Choose Life

Reading: Deut 1:1-8 & 19-46

There's a generation in Deuteronomy 1 who saw everything God did — the plagues, the Red Sea, bread in the desert — and still couldn't bring themselves to trust him when it really mattered. Andrew explores this ancient story and what it might have to say about the way we hold onto God's promises today, especially when life is messy, painful, and complicated.

Heart that loves Jesus

Preacher: Dave MacIver

Date: 12⧸04⧸2026

Series: < >

Reading: Luke 6:43-49

What does it actually look like to follow Jesus — not just in what we say, but in how we live? In Luke 6:43-49, Jesus connects our outward actions back to what's really going on in our hearts. This message explores what it means to build a life on a foundation that holds when the storms come.

The Lamb is Alive! Isaiah 53:7-10

Preacher: Paul Shoemark

Date: 05⧸04⧸2026

Series: Easter 2026

Reading: Isaiah 53:7-10, Matthew 28:1-10

What does Easter actually mean — beyond the eggs and the long weekend? Isaiah 53 painted a picture of a suffering servant 700 years before Jesus, and it points to something bigger than death. This Easter message explores what it means that the grave wasn't the end, and what Jesus' resurrection offers us now.

Good Friday

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 3/4/2026

Series: Easter

Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:10

Hundreds of years before it happened, a prophet described someone who would be "pierced for our transgressions" and crushed so others could find peace. Who is this servant? What does his suffering have to do with us? This Good Friday message from Isaiah 53 explores what might be the most important question any of us will ever face.

Betrayal and Denial

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 29⧸03⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 13:18-38

Could the cross be God's greatest moment — greater even than creation? And if so, what does that mean for the way we love each other? Andrew unpacks John 13:18–38, exploring how Jesus' love for Judas and Peter shows us what it means to love not from our own strength, but because we've been loved first.

Followers Who Serve

Preacher: Tim Maddock

Date: 22⧸03⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 13:12-17

Could serving others really be the blessed life? In John 13, Jesus — the Lord of the universe — takes on the role of the lowest servant, and then tells his disciples this is what following him looks like. This message digs into what that means for us today, and why we can only truly serve others once we've understood how we've been served.

Love that Kneels

Preacher: Paul Shoemark

Date: 15⧸03⧸2026

Series: Believe and Have Life

Reading: John 13:1-11

What does it mean that Jesus says "unless I wash you, you have no part with me"? In John 13:1–11, the foot washing points forward to the cross — where Jesus humbles himself to death to cleanse us of sin and give us not just a clean slate, but a clean state.

Why Don't People Believe

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 8⧸3⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 12:37-50

What happens when people see overwhelming evidence of Jesus but still don't believe? Andrew explores John 12 and discovers that unbelief isn't really about lacking evidence - it's about what our hearts do with Jesus' words when we hear them.

The Hour Has Come

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 01⧸03⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 12:27-36

What does it mean that the cross is the "glory" of God? Andrew walks through John 12:27–36, where Jesus speaks about his coming death with stunning clarity — not as a tragedy, but as the decisive moment of all history. This message explores what the cross accomplishes and what it means for us to walk in the light.

Surrender Everything to Jesus

Preacher: Andy Williams

Date: 22⧸02⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 12:20-26

Is there something more satisfying than Olympic glory, career success, or living life on our own terms? In John 12:20–26, Jesus makes a radical claim — that losing your life is actually how you find it. This sermon explores what surrender to Jesus really looks like, and why it leads somewhere far greater.

The King We Need

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 15⧸02⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 12:12-19

What happens when Jesus doesn't match our expectations of kingship? Andrew explores John 12:12-19, where crowds welcome Jesus with palm branches expecting a political deliverer, but find a humble king on a donkey heading toward the cross - the king we need most.

Costly Devotion

Preacher: Paul Shoemark

Date: 08⧸02⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 11:55-12:11

When Mary poured out a year's wages in perfume on Jesus' feet, was it wasteful or worship? This message from John 12 challenges us to examine what our lives are truly devoted to and whether Jesus is worth our everything.

When God is Still in Control

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 01⧸02⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 11:45-54

Life can feel like looking at the back of a tapestry—chaotic, messy, out of control. But John 11:45-54 lets us glimpse the front side, where God's sovereign purpose unfolds perfectly. This sermon examines how Jesus' death wasn't plan B, but God's intentional rescue from the very beginning.

Life Because of Jesus

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 25⧸01⧸2026

Series: Believe & Have Life

Reading: John 11:1-45

What do we do when life feels out of control and death seems to have the final word? In John 11, Jesus reveals something extraordinary about himself through Lazarus' death and resurrection. Andrew explores how Jesus' identity as 'the resurrection and the life' changes everything about how we face uncertainty, grief, and our ultimate future.

Underestimating Jesus

Preacher: Andy Williams

Date: 18⧸01⧸2026

Series: Parables of Jesus

Reading: Matthew 22:1-14

Have you ever wondered what qualifies someone for God's kingdom? This parable from Matthew 22 reveals how easy it is to underestimate Jesus - both His generous invitation to all people and His authority as the King who determines who truly belongs at His wedding feast.

People Jesus Met

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 11⧸01⧸2026

Series: The Parables of Jesus

Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

How many times should we forgive someone who keeps hurting us? Through Jesus' shocking parable about impossible debts and unexpected mercy, we discover that forgiveness isn't about keeping score but flows naturally from hearts that have experienced God's limitless grace.

The Good Samaritan

Preacher: Phil Colgan

Date: 04⧸01⧸2026

Series: The Parables of Jesus

Reading: Luke 10:25-37

What happens when Jesus turns our questions upside down? Phil explores the famous parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10, showing how Jesus challenges us to stop asking 'who is my neighbor?' and start asking 'who can I be a neighbor to?' - even when it costs us everything.

God's Inclusive Grace

Preacher: Andy Williams

Date: 21⧸12⧸2025

Series: A King is Born

Reading: Matthew 1:1-18

Matthew's genealogy isn't just a boring list of names - it's a profound statement about God's inclusive grace. Andy unpacks how Jesus' ancestry reveals that no one is too far from God to be saved, and what this means for our church community.

Christmas Carols 2025

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 14⧸12⧸2025

Series: A King is Born

Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Christmas crackers remind us that at the heart of Christmas is a king. But what sort of king can we expect? This message from Matthew 1 explores how the names Jesus and Emmanuel show us a king who doesn't demand something from us, but gives himself to us.

God's King and God's Mercy

Preacher: Andy Williams

Date: 07⧸12⧸2025

Series: A Greater King

Reading: 2 Samuel 24 & 23:1-7

How can one person's decisions impact an entire nation? This message examines David's leadership legacy and his final words, revealing what it means to rule in righteousness and fear of God, ultimately pointing to our perfect king Jesus.

God's King in Distress

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 30⧸11⧸2025

Series: A Greater King

Reading: 2 Samuel 18:1 - 19:8

What happens when justice and love clash? Through David's heartbreak over Absalom in 2 Samuel 18, Andrew explores how the cross becomes the place where God's perfect justice and overwhelming love finally meet. How does Jesus resolve what David never could?

God's King in Crisis

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 23⧸11⧸2025

Series: A Greater King

Reading: 2 Samuel 13

How does the devastating story of Tamar reveal our need for a perfect King? Andrew walks through one of Scripture's darkest chapters, showing how Jesus is the wonderful counselor, mighty God, and prince of peace that David's house failed to be.

God's King Sins

Preacher: Paul Shoemark

Date: 16⧸11⧸2025

Series: A Greater King

Reading: 2 Samuel 11-12

From a lustful look to lies, adultery and murder - David's fall shows how one sin leads to another when left unchecked. Paul examines this cautionary tale from 2 Samuel 11-12, exploring our choice to either confess our sin or cover it up, and God's incredible response to genuine repentance.

Birthday Service

Preacher: Andrew Southerton

Date: 09⧸11⧸2025

Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:8

As we celebrate our church's birthday we reflect on what would Jesus feel when he looks at Wellington? In Matthew 9-10, we discover Jesus' gut-wrenching compassion for those who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Andrew explores how the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, and what it means for us to pray, plant ourselves here, and partner in God's harvest field.