If you’re seen one of our City Church invite cards, you may have noticed the words on the front, in big bold letters, which read, “Life is complex. Jesus is the answer.” Life on this planet is indeed mind-bogglingly complex. You’ve probably experienced that in your relatively short time here. Possibly even this week. Yet the God of the Bible, in equally mind-boggling grace and wisdom, has set in motion a plan which more than accounts for all of it. That’s right…all of it. And it hinges entirely on one person: Jesus.

All of us have a father. For many, that relationship is complicated, while for others it’s just fine - good even. Yet, as far as I know, none of us has a perfect father. So when God is described as a father in the Bible, that raises questions for nearly everyone. What kind of father is he? Is he like my earthly father?  You’re invited to join us this Sunday as we explore the vastness of his love and marvel at the riches of grace.

Mechanical engineers define resilience in terms of the characteristics of a high-rise building which allow it to sway because of an earthquake, before quickly returning to its normal position. As we look back at 2021 and forward to 2022, we pause to consider several key attitudes enabling followers of Jesus to withstand the storms of life. If you’re feeling ill-equipped for the New year, we urge you to join us and to discover how Jesus is all you need for all of life.

In a world of bad news (at least it seems that way sometimes), when was the last time your heard good news? In fact what’s the best news you’ve ever heard? As we close out our Advent series, we reflect on the work of the kinsman redeemer in Ruth and Naomi’s lives and the arrival of our own Redeemer this Christmas season. Join us this Sunday as we discover the Good News of Redemption.

Often, we think of redemption, when we think of it at all, in terms of turning something evil into something good. Or freeing something that was in captivity. In material terms, we redeem gift cards to favourite shops or online. Ultimately, however, redemption is far more profound because it’s about home and family and belonging; about knowing and being known. So, join us this Sunday, as we rejoice in the romance of redemption at City Church Wolverhampton.

Occasionally, we say things like, “God is God” or “what will be, will be”. Sometimes we assume God working, “all things for the good of those who love him” means everything will work out in a few short weeks or months. The reality, however, is often very different because God’s timing is not our timing. In his great wisdom, He works providentially through the nitty-gritty complexity of human life. So join us this Advent season, as we look at Jesus’ birth through the lens of the book of Ruth and are reminded that we can live in hope because God’s purposes will ultimately succeed.

How do you recognize “the real thing”? Counterfeit experts-in-training learn their craft, not by looking at counterfeit bills, but by spending the bulk of their time examining and recognizing the defining characteristics of real bank notes. Only by having an intimate knowledge of the real thing, does one become equipped to identify the counterfeits. This Sunday, as we close our series in Acts, we return to the church in Antioch to take a final look at the characteristics of a genuine, Christ-centred church.

You’ve probably heard the classic lightbulb jokes with their clever, witty answers. How many engineers, physicists, or teachers does it take to change a lightbulb - and so on. As we near the end of our time in Acts, we ask a slightly different question: how many people does it take to plant a healthy church? Even better, what kinds of people are needed to plant a church? Join us, this Sunday, as we consider the quality of people needed to see a new church birthed and grown to maturity.

When I googled ‘How to prepare for the unexpected’ this week, the top three answers that came back were: 1) Take Sod’s Law to heart, 2) Brainstorm possible futures, and 3) Know your risk tolerance. Interesting. In the last eighteen months, we’ve seen much for which we were unprepared. As followers of Jesus, what can we do to become resilient in the face of unanticipated change? Even better, what do we need to know to thrive when we find ourselves outside of our comfort zones?

Jesus once said that he came, not to bring peace, but to cause division. He didn’t mean that he came to cause conflict and war, but that, ultimately, each individual person must decide whether to follow him, or not. It’s very black and white; there’s no neutral position. Either he is the Son of God - the Messiah - or he’s a madman and a liar. There’s no middle ground. So, what’s your position? Who do you think he is? Join us this Sunday as we examine how one man’s answer to those questions radically changed after a profound encounter with the living Lord Jesus.