City Church Houston

When the prophet Isaiah called the promised Messiah the 'Everlasting Father'--a surprising thing to call a little child--what did he mean? How might this title illuminate our understanding of who God is and the hope he offers, even for those who have a complicated history with their own fathers.  

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

While many think of Jesus as a great teacher, moral example, or inspiring historical figure, Scripture presents a far richer and more astonishing portrait. Isaiah declares that he is “Mighty God.” What does this title mean, and what difference can it make in a person’s life today?

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

The Advent season reminds us of the coming of a brilliant light that meets us in our darkness. This source of hope, Jesus, offers us presence and wisdom in a way that brings powerful healing and restoration.

Aaron Foster | Pastor

Like the famous words announced on the intercom of the London Tube, the church's call is to "mind the gap" between God's Kingdom and human culture, creating loving dialogue that help people experience the beauty of Jesus Christ and his good news. 

Clint Wilson | Pastor

Whether through unjust treatment or uncontrollable trials, suffering in life is inevitable. The question is--how we respond? This extraordinary story shows us how to persevere through pain, not only with courage, but other-wordly joy.

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

The transforming power of the gospel shines through in this story of two women from vastly different backgrounds. Remarkably, the first convert in Europe was a female Asian business leader—a powerful reminder that God’s grace reaches across every boundary.

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

For many, religious rules are comforting. But the gospel invites us into a radically healthy but utterly paradigm-shifting freedom from old rules and regulations. The church is meant to be the beating heart, the epicenter, of that message of freedom.

Clint Wilson | Pastor

What makes for a healthy church in a large city? What we see at the first-century church at Antioch, the third-largest city in the Roman empire at the time, is a beautiful case study: people coming to faith in Jesus, healthy dedicated leaders, Christians trained to be faithful disciples, and uncommon generosity--all marks of God's gracious hand at work. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Traditionally, it was assumed that the good news of Jesus was reserved exclusively for the religious. But God gives vision to both a religious man and non-religious man to correct the cultural understanding of who this good news was for.

Kai Chen | Congregational Life Director

Should the church be a place that welcomes outsiders? In this remarkable story, we see Christianity crossing geographic, cultural, ethnic, and national boundaries. But that’s only part of it. It’s also the story of a man who was spiritually curious yet had almost certainly been wounded by religious people.

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Certainty and faith, fear and calling - the story of Saul's transformation and encounter with Jesus has it all. The perspectives of Saul and Ananias give a great challenge for today's church in regard to the mindsets of religion.

Aaron Foster | Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM

New to City Church? Questions?
Send your name and email to welcome@citychurch.org or 713-489-8918.

Connect at City Church<...

Ever wondered why we do what we do on Sundays? Join us as Leo Schuster & Clint Wilson walk through the elements of a City Church service, showing how each part is shaped by both Scripture and tradition. Whether you’re curious about how a service is designed or want to dive deeper into the theology behind worship, this event is for you.

The church's inclusive invitation and exclusive truth claims have prompted resistance from religious and secular alike. When it comes time to prove the power of this message, however, the ancient church's evidence is the same as ours: healed lives. 

Clint Wilson | Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM

New to City Church? Questions?
Send your name and email to welcome@citychurch.org or 713-489-8918.

Connect at City Church Duration: 00:31:24

Data shows that wonder is powerful. It can improve our sense of self, make us more kind and wise, and infuse us with purpose. Where do we find it? Curiously, wonder is one of the refreshing characteristics of the church in its earliest days. Reflecting on an encounter early followers of Jesus had with a disabled man, we'll consider where wonder can be found and how we cultivate it in our daily life. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

It's understandable that today many have jaded views of the church. As we imagine the future of our church, what can we learn from the earliest days of the church? It was refreshingly dynamic, characterized by personal transformation, vital community, authentic spirituality, radical generosity, and contagious hospitality. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Moving into our new facility is a unique chance to relaunch. This sermon begins a season of pre-launch preparation for us. By looking at the first generation of the church, we're affirming that the path to our future runs through this ancient past. In this episode, the mission of the church is set before us in a way that both challenges and empowers us to embrace the opportunity ahead. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

If we long to encounter God, or simply encounter him anew, where do we start? The story of Moses glimpsing the "back" of God offers us a key to the door of this mystery. 

Clint Wilson | Pastor

Spiritual and Theological Formation

On this tenth anniversary of City Church, Psalm 100 invites us to center our celebration in worship, characterized by joy and thanksgiving because of God's goodness and faithfulness to us.  

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM

New to City Church? Questions?
Send your name and email to welcome@citychurch.org or 713-489-8918.

Connect at City Church
Website: http://www.citychurch.org
Instagram: https://w...

At a pivotal point in his journey, Jesus tells a tale about investments, a returning king, and his subjects--but it's really about our journey. This story shows us the secret to a life of true joy, fulfillment, and worth. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM

New to City Church? Questions?
Send your name and email to welcome@citychurch.org or 713-489-8918.

Connect at City C...

The parable coveys the message that righteousness is unobtainable through our own efforts, and only obtainable through the finished work of Christ on the cross. “We are right not because we have done right, but because we have been made right.”

Kai Chen | Congregational Life Director

Jesus tells his disciples the story of the persistent widow to encourage them "to always pray and not give up." We are not always told the meaning of one of Jesus's teachings so clearly; yet even in its clearest, simplest form, this teaching can be difficult to follow. Many obstacles attempt to deter us from persistent prayer. Ultimately, Jesus's encouragement "to always pray and not give up" is an invitation to abide in God's presence. Unlike the unjust judge, the Lord hears our prayers in love, and His faithfulness sustains us through all the injustice we suffer on Earth.<...

God’s favorite story to tell is about how he finds the lost and empowers the found to do the same.

Ayo Omopariola

Just like a mustard seed itself, Jesus' small parable of the mustard seed discloses a large truth: The Kingdom of God is already here, and new patterns of growth have already begun. 

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

How do we navigate deep and disorienting tragedy? When loss and sorrow shake us, how do we process the pain honestly—and still find hope?

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Jesus uses the parable of the friend at night to teach about prayer. Understanding prayer, as well as who we're praying to, is critical for anyone who wants to engage with an invisible God that often feels like a great mystery.

Kai Chen | Pastoral Resident

One of Jesus' most well-known stories tells the tale of a man who was attacked by robbers and left for dead on the side of a road. The surprising twist in the story is who comes to help him, and this raises important questions for us today about how we live our lives. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM

New to City Church? Questions?
Send your name a...

Though familiar to many people, the Parable of the Sower is actually a very complex story about finding both grace and hope while we wait on the harvest of God's promises.

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

When he and his followers are accused of not being "religious" enough, Jesus tells a series of parables that reveal just how transformative the gospel can be for those of us who feel worn out by the old, endless rituals and empty rules. He invites us to encounter something totally...well, new.

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

This is one of the most famous and beloved story Jesus ever told. Though it's commonly known as the parable of the prodigal son, the story actually features two sons. They represent two different ways of avoiding God. And it turns out there's more than one prodigal. The father in the story helps us to imagine just how outrageously extravagant God's love for us is. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 A...

The final feast of Esther is a culmination of the entire story: a two-day festival devoted to the sheer joy of divine deliverance. We learn a deep truth here—that celebrations are just different on the other side of salvation. 

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

Esther is a story of reversals, but never more so than in the story's final twist. In a moment of political intrigue, Esther devises one final counter-decree to secure her people's future. This moment points us to Jesus Christ, who was God's counter-decree of love in the face of the powers of death and despair. 

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

This episode is the heart of the Esther story and it has it all: Suspended suspense, intense irony, a dramatic reversal of fortune, and dark humor. While it reads like a made-for-TV drama, our entertainment isn't it's primary aim. This story for the ages offers timeless lessons to help us navigate with bravery and grace the drama of our own lives. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM

New t...

How do we deal with the things in life that shake us to the core? How do discover who we really are so we live lives of lasting purpose? These are just a few of the large questions addressed in this extraordinary segment in the fascinating story of Esther. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

RENEWING HOUSTON BY BRINGING BEAUTY INTO BROKEN PLACES

Sundays at 10:30 AM
House of Blues
1204 Caroline St., 77002

Online Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM

New to City Church? Questions?
Send your name and email to welcome@c...

The rivalry between Mordecai and Haman reveals the cost and the great reward of living by faith. When God extends us invitations to transformation, how we respond shapes our hearts and our futures.

Anna Russell Thornton

Esther finds herself in an ambiguous and complex situation where God is seemingly silent. How she responds during her season of silence gives readers a clue of how we can respond when God is seemingly not present in our difficult situations.

Kai Chen | Pastoral Resident

In these final words of the New Testament's first book we find the reaction was mixed when the disciples saw Jesus. Some doubted. Others worshiped him. Instead of scolding the skeptical, Jesus instead cast his vision for the future--a vision that's not only comprehensive but captivating. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Jesus' ministry was bookended by important forty day periods of time. While he was alone in the wilderness during his first forty days, his final forty days was spent with others. What did he do during those fascinating forty days between his resurrection from the dead and ascension to heaven? What does it mean for us today? 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Why does the season of Lent last 40 days? More than any other Biblical reference, Jesus' 40 day experience in the wilderness is the backdrop for the 40 days of Lent. In this remarkable story we find invaluable insights about temptation, why it can feel so fierce and leave us feeling so frail. And we discover how we can resist it and grow healthier in the process. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Life can feel like one crisis after another. It must have felt that way throughout David's forty years on the throne of Israel. How do we find the space needed to set about spiritual growth and renewal? David's psalms may hold a key.

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

Coming off of an incredible victory, Elijah is physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, and needing a true rest that only God can provide. What causes exhaustion in our lives and how does God respond to us?

Kai Chen | Pastoral Resident

It should have taken them less than two weeks. Instead it took 40 years. What can we learn from Israel's 40 years wandering in the wilderness?

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Moses, one of the most famous individuals in history, is more closely linked to the number forty than anyone in the Bible. His dramatic story helps to enrich our approach to the forty days of Lent as a season for spiritual growth. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

The first chapter of the Bible is not only one of the most famous and important pieces of literature, it features what is foundational to a full life. In it we discover what is central to life, how to deal with darkness in our life, and how to build sustainable rhythms that promote our well-being.  

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

How do we build a healthy self-image? Where we we get a sense of purpose in life and meaning in our work? Why does it matter how we treat others? Why do we feel offended when someone disrespects us or violates our human rights? Turns out we don't need to look any farther than the first chapter of the Bible for answers to these foundational questions. 

Leo Shuster | Lead Pastor

There are many ways to feel lonely—sometimes by ourselves and sometimes with others. The story of scripture honors both the dignity of solitude and the powerful purpose found in community.

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

Why are we the way we are? Why are we filled with potential, but also profoundly struggle? Why do we have a strong urge for freedom, but also find ourselves sometimes stuck? The famous story of Adam and Eve's seduction in the garden is the place to go to discover answers to these questions and find hope. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

This conversation will consider the role of the Fall in shaping the story and theology of the Bible. How do we make sense of sin, both our own and others’? How do we reconcile the ancient story of sin with our modern appreciation for the beauty and dignity of all human life? The story of the Fall, as with all stories in scripture, offers a compelling synthesis of both an abiding appreciation for the potential good in humanity and an honest assessment our shortcomings.

Roundtable:

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Valerie Tompson | Executive Director at...

In his novel, East of Eden, John Steinbeck wrote about the grizzly story of Cain and Abel that it is important because it is a chart of the human soul. It It helps us make sense of our inner world and gives us clues to help us grow into more healthy versions of ourselves.

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

While an ancient tale, Noah's Ark is a timeless account of the promises of an immortal God in the face of mortal suffering and fear. 

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

In the famous story of the Tower of Babel we find a cautionary tale of city dwellers whose ambition led to their downfall. It's a powerful reminder of the dangers of building our cities, our lives, and our churches on our own terms rather than aligning with God's purposes. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

The "Fruit of the Spirit" is not a moral, to-do list, but a pastoral reminder of what life lived with God's Spirit will look like. Pray these words just as we practice these truths. 

As a light bulb finds a current from outside its glass case, we find real power from beyond ourselves. The Spirit of God is the source of all true freedom.

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

The Magi's journey to see Jesus teaches us about the extraordinary reach this new child king would have and joy-filled response from those who encounter him. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Each Advent we remind ourselves that the powers of darkness are no match for the providential plans of God and the saving work of his Son, the light of the world.

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

Power can corrupt or cleanse. It can induce fear or freedom. It always, however, reveals. In this fascinating case study of contrasting figures of power, we'll see these dynamics at work and learn invaluable lessons for our lives today.

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

How do you deal with disappointment? The story of what happened when Joseph was blind-sided by the news of Mary's pregnancy offers helpful insights on how to respond when the unexpected hits. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

It may come as a surprise that the first page of the New Testament--the way Christianity introduces itself to the world--is through a genealogy. But this family tree is anything but boring. Bursting with significance, suspense, even scandal, it sets the stage for the kind of Messiah Jesus would be. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Kai Chen

The benefits to being a person of faith are many, but it isn't an easy life. When our faith seems fragile, feel like we're faking it, that we failed in some way spiritually, how do we pick up the pieces and persevere? The beautiful benediction found at the end of the book of Jude gives us all we need. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

In this special conversation with Mike Cosper, producer of the influential podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and director of podcasts for Christianity Today, we will discuss how to face seasons that feel like a spiritual or relational desert. In his latest book, Land of My Sojourn, Cosper uses the literal landscape of the Bible to narrate his own story of disillusionment, despair, and ultimately repair within the modern church.

Have you ever felt spiritually empty, searching for answers but finding only miles of wasteland and wilderness? Have you faced disappointment with those within the...

Life is tough. If it doesn't feel that way, just give it time! How do we deal with discouragement, even lurking despair, and discover true hope that fills us with lasting joy and peace? This benediction holds the key. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

A benediction is God getting the last word. In this benediction--from the last book of the Bible--God speaks a final word of grace to us that's especially helpful when we're under pressure, feeling stuck, struggling with a sense of purpose, and even facing the uncertainties of an election. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

True blessings in the Bible are not vain hopes for fortunate outcomes, but confident reminders of God's promised goodness to each of us.

Clint Wilson | Community & Care Pastor

What's most important in life and in faith? When religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus in his words, he answered their question in way that silenced his critics and has informed and inspired people ever since. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Maintaining perspective is so difficult. Just getting through the day can seem like a major accomplishment. But a healthy perspective gives us a vantage point that's essential to living a life that prioritizes what's truly important. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor 

The writer Simone Weil defines humility as "attentive patience." How do we become people who practice what we preach, so attuned to others' needs that we discover lives of uncommon purpose?

Why is it so hard to forgive? How do I forgive while protecting my mental health? Leo Schuster moderates a panel discussion with City Church leadership and a mental health expert on these questions and more.

Panel:
Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor
Melissa Ramsey | Licensed Professional Counselor
Chelsey Omoregie | City Kids Director
Clint Wilson | Community and Care Pastor

Jesus teaches not only that the gospel is for everyone, but also that it is for every moment of our lives. We are never so late, or so lost, that the hope of Christ cannot find us and fill us with a life-changing gratitude.

Healthy relationships are key to building a great life. So how do we deal with the pain often experienced there? What role is forgiveness supposed to play? How do we do that authentically when it's especially difficult for us?

How do we avoid burnout and find true rest amidst the exhaustion and stress of modern life? 

What makes for a truly great life? In the intriguing figure of John the Baptist we have a compelling portrait of someone Jesus himself held up as a singularly great human being. 

What leads Jesus to be amazed at one man's faith in the face of suffering? Discover a different definition of faith than you may have heard before.

Jesus cast a vision for the flourishing life by emphasizing inner character and interpersonal compassion. While this life is attractive, it can feel elusive. How do we realize it? 

How do we build a truly great life? What makes for an enjoyable and meaningful life, and one that withstands the storms encountered along the way? Jesus answered that by comparing life to building a home, highlighting the importance of a strong foundation. 

Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor

Our “character,” meaning our integrity and personhood, exists because we are created in the image of God; through His redeeming work on our behalf, our characters can be transformed to reflect His.

One of the truest challenges of faith is trying to comprehend the timeless God from within our time-bound existence. What can help us glimpse the eternity he promises? Join us this Sunday for a message on "Faith & Time."

The treasure of your heart will determine the trajectory of your life.

When we seek the deep answers of science, and use our God-given intellects to discern the laws of the universe, we are exploring the very nature and fingerprints of God, the supreme, creative force of all life. Faith and science are not opposed; they are engaged in an involved and intricate dance.

All of us struggle at times mustering the courage we need in life. God's instructions to Joshua when he was called to succeed Moses give us timeless truths to help us deal with debilitating fear and discouragement. 

Trust God in your pain while waiting for him to deliver you from your pain.

Paul's only strictly personal letter, Philemon, tells us about not only his heart for justice, but also the gospel's heart for justice. Our faith must arc, like the Bible itself, ever toward a more radical ethic of freedom and love for the other.

What's the role of the Bible for Christians or people curious about faith? Can we rely on it? How do we make sense of it? And how can it help us improve our lives? 

Faith is found at an intersection where we learn to set aside our sometimes hypocritical performances of self and embrace our true selves—more broken than we like to admit but more loved than we could ever imagine.

In our fast-paced, hyper-online world, loneliness poses a growing challenge to human flourishing. Whatever new form this ancient problem takes, this psalm reminds us that we are ever held in God's hands.

Are art and faith compatible or in conflict? Why do artists often feel disenfranchised by the church? How can art help us understand ourselves? How might art actually be an alternative window into the world of faith? In this message we'll consider these and other questions as we explore a biblical theology of art.

Many today are disillusioned with the church or just disinterested in it. This message will take modern concerns seriously and reflect on a passage that offers a refreshing vision for the church.

Not only does having a sense of purpose infuse meaning in our life, research suggests it is linked to a number of positive health outcomes. So why is it so elusive? What spiritual steps can we take to discover it and build our life around it?

The shortest verse in the Bible is by no means short on significance. When Jesus weeps over the loss of his friend, he reminds us that emotions are a vital part of our human lives, deserving of both our attention and our understanding.

What can shape us into people who are open-handed and big-hearted? The answer is found in this stirring and stretching ancient prayer.

Can you imagine sacrificial generosity in the midst of extreme suffering giving rise to overwhelming joy? While this may surprise us, it's exactly what we find in a moving story about an ancient community of faith. This beautiful example has the power to renew our modern sensibilities about the meaning of life.

Generosity is found less by facing greed than by facing fear, which is the root of greed. Sobering as it may sound, Jesus tells us that the path to overcoming our worldly worry is to accept that much of what we treasure will be lost. Only his Kingdom is eternal.

What biblical themes animate City Church's vision to renew Houston? How might this kind of church address cultural trends?

The New Testament author, Luke, was so taken with the story of Saul of Tarsus that he couldn't stop telling it. It's a curious case study of the power of Easter to change a person's life. 

When we're struggling, what do we really need? In these concluding words from Romans 8, a high-water mark in the entire Bible, Paul shares words that can lift us and lead through even the most challenging of circumstances.

Though far from comfortable, true spiritual growth leads us into the heart of suffering, so that we may taste more fully the goodness of the hope of Christ—who was himself no stranger to pain and loss.

Essential to spiritual growth is going out of our way to care for the practical needs people face. We can sacrificially enter in to other people's suffering because Jesus did so for us at great cost.

How do we change? What do we do with competing desires within us? Here we'll consider different paradigms for spiritual growth and what a healthy and hopeful way forward might be. 

Grace is a radical concept. If it grabs hold of us, it will absolutely change us--not making us different versions of ourselves, but new people altogether. This new identity means we're no longer struggling to be free, but free to struggle.

While suffering is often listed as the reason why people struggle to believe or disbelieve in God, it's curious that for the Apostle Paul it is central to spiritual growth and what it means to flourish in life.