CityReach Marion

24 May 2026 | Esther: Courageous Faith in a Committed God | Esther 6:14 - 8:17

When the crisis seems tangled and unfinished, Esther reminds believers that God can still be working through the mess.

Darren Western traces the moment when Haman’s plot is exposed, his own gallows become his end, and yet Esther must plead again because the danger to her people remains. From there, the sermon presses toward courageous faith: seeking God’s presence before crisis, using what we have to bless others, and finding hope in the greater victory of Jesus. Listen or watch for a steady reminder that God is committed to his people.

17 May 2026 | Esther: Courageous Faith in a Committed God | Esther 5:1 - 6:13

God has made us for honour, but Esther 5:1–6:13 shows how quickly the desire for recognition can become twisted.

Luke Watts traces Esther’s risky approach to the king, Haman’s fragile joy, Mordecai’s unexpected honour, and the sleepless night that reveals God’s providence at work. As Haman’s hunger for glory exposes the selfishness of the human heart, the sermon points to the only King who can take our dishonour, remove our curse, and clothe us in righteousness.

10 May 2026 | Esther: Courageous Faith in a Committed God | Esther 4

Esther 4 brings God’s people to a moment of crisis. Haman’s law threatens the Jews with death, Mordecai mourns in public, and Esther must decide whether to stay silent or risk her life for her people. Luke Watts shows how Esther responds with courage, trust in God, and love for others. Esther’s brave action points us to Jesus, the true King, who gave His life to save His people.

What does it look like to trust God and do the right thing when staying safe feels easier?

3 May 2026 | Esther: Courageous Faith in a Committed God | Esther 3

Pride is never harmless. In Esther 3, Haman’s wounded pride becomes rage, manipulation, and a plot to destroy God’s people. James March shows how pride corrupts the heart, blinds judgment, and dehumanises others. Yet even when evil appears unchecked and God seems silent, His sovereign purposes are still at work, pointing us to Jesus, the humble Saviour who forgives, humbles, and transforms His people.

26 April 2026 | Esther: Courageous Faith in a Committed God | Esther 2

What kind of king are you serving? In Esther 2, Luke Watts explores a confronting story of power, beauty, compromise, and God’s hidden providence. Even in broken circumstances, God is at work, calling his people to resist compromise, find their identity in him, and serve Christ, the true King.

19 April 2026 | Esther: Courageous Faith in a Committed God | Esther 1

What does God do when power is proud, wisdom is worldly, and everything seems to rest in human hands?

In this message from Esther 1, Peter Budimir opens the book by showing the fragile glory of King Ahasuerus and the quiet providence of God. Behind the feast, the pride, and the royal decree, the Lord is preparing the way for His purposes.

Esther 1 reminds us that even when God is not named, He is still governing the story.

12 April 2026 | Luke Watts | Luke 18:1–14

Prayer can be hard. Some days it feels natural; other days it feels dry, weak, or absent altogether. In this sermon on Luke 18:1–14, Luke Watts shows how Jesus calls us to keep praying without losing heart and to come before God with humility, not self-reliance. If prayer has been a struggle, this message will encourage you to rest in God’s mercy and draw near through Christ, who gives us access to the Father.

Will you keep coming to God, even when prayer feels hard?

5 April 2026 | Resurrection Sunday | Luke 23:50 - 24:12

Why does the resurrection of Jesus matter for faith and life today?

This Resurrection Sunday message begins with the reading of Luke 23:50 to 24:12 and then reflects on the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection through 1 Corinthians 15, Romans 6, and Philippians 3. The sermon focuses on the resurrection as foundational, transformational, and relational for the Christian life.

 

3 April 2026 | Good Friday Reflections | Mark 15:1-47

On Good Friday, Darren Western reflects on Mark 15 by tracing four themes in Jesus’ death: Darkness, Abandonment, Access, and Response. He invites the church to dwell at the cross and consider both the depth of Christ’s suffering and the grace flowing from His death: Forgiveness, Belonging, and Access to God for those who believe.

With the temple curtain torn and the centurion confessing, “Truly, this man was the Son of God,” the reflection presses toward one central question: What will we do with what Jesus has done?

29 March 2026 | 2 Corinthians: Resilient Faith | 2 Corinthians 12:11 – 13:14

In this final message in our series on 2 Corinthians, Luke Watts turns to Paul's closing appeal to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 12:11 to 13:14. The passage is tender and weighty. Paul warns with love, calls believers to examine themselves, and urges them toward repentance, restoration, maturity, and peace in Christ.

This sermon reminds us that God does not confront us to crush us, but to restore us. In our weakness, Christ is strong. In our sin, He calls us to repent. In our relationships, He calls us to pursue peace, comfort, and holiness together.

Will you examine yourself before the Lord and let Him lead you to repentance, peace, and maturity in Christ?