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Does anyone like being misunderstood? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at a misunderstood Christian leader who wrote letters which are easy for us to misunderstand if we take them out of context. By looking at first century Corinth and what was happening there, we can get a better idea of why there were arguments and difficulties then, and things which are hard to grasp now. Can God help us find the wisdom which lasts and can help us today?
Read MoreHow can we face huge obstacles and learn to overcome them? In this talk, Bern Leckie looks at Psalm 18 and the training journey David is taken on by God after crying for help in a desperate situation. He sees what God can do, then starts to walk with God, get trained and strengthened by him, and finally can do everything he needs to claim victory in God's strength. Can we apply this where we need help and strengthening in our lives?
Read MoreHow can we deal with nightmare messes of people fighting, misbehaving and playing politics, all while they think they're doing the right thing in church? In this talk, Chris Simmonds looks at Paul's first letter to the Corinthians and finds practical advice putting love first, including maybe the world's most famous summary of what love is. What do we need to put this into practice today?
*** This talk contains adult references, and parents may prefer to watch without children present. ***
Read MoreWhat do you think about the Bible's attitude to women? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the apostle Paul and how his views on women and their role in church and life may have been misunderstood. Looking carefully at his letters and the culture they were written in, as well as what we know about how Paul lived in practice, might challenge us to change some of our assumptions and inspire us to work towards restoring the balance of power.
*** This talk contains adult references, and parents may prefer to watch without children present. ***
Read MoreHow can we make a difference in difficult times? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at why our hurried, anxious responses to challenge can make life worse, but if we can learn to become a non-anxious presence, we can change our world. We can learn about how to do this from the writer of Psalm 37. Like them, can we trust God to help us, creating space in our lives for trust and delight to grow?
Read MoreHow do our desires shape the direction of our lives? In this talk, Joanna Moss looks at Psalm 84, and how a longing to be with God and in His presence can influence and bless the rest of our lives. Through this Psalm we learn that as we take time out from our busy lives to centre on God and receive His blessings, we can become more aware of God’s presence in us and at work in our lives. Can this Psalm be an encouragement for us to seek more time to just be with God?
Read MoreWhat does it mean to have faith in God? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians and how he guided them to depend on faith instead of religious law. Christians enjoy the freedom this brings, but sometimes worry about losing their status with God if they doubt or don't know the right thing to believe. There is good news, though, if we discover what Paul really meant by "faith" and how we can depend on God's faithfulness.
Read MoreHow good is the feeling of relief? In this talk, Sarah Dowdeswell looks at how important it is for us to feel "Phew!" or "Finally!" kinds of relief when our circumstances change. Psalm 23 has become famously useful for connecting with God when we need relief, even if we are not yet seeing the changes we would like. Can we believe that God's grace is bigger than the circumstances we are in?
Read MoreWhat encouragement do you need to follow Jesus? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the first letter we have from the apostle Saul (Paul) to a church which faced challenges as they worked out their faith in an often opposing culture. How could they say there is only one God when the government and society said there were lots? How should they live distinctively in a sex-driven culture? And how can we interpret and apply Saul’s teaching ourselves once we understand some differences between Thessalonica then and us now?
Read MoreWhen we are feeling lost, how can we regain peace and perspective? In this talk, Claire Lynch looks at a Psalm with a heart cry to God about his awesomeness. It points to a “King of Glory” who is strong, victorious, connects people to God and is coming to change our city and the rest of the world. We recognise him as Jesus. But when we hit challenges and obstacles in life, are we welcoming him in to do what he does best?
Read MoreAs part of a process of dialogue and growing awareness of how racism affects all of us, Claire and Owen Lynch talked with Sarah Dodd and Myles Connor this week about their experiences and hopes about life in Bristol.
Read MoreHow can we turn difficulty and pain into positivity and praise? In this talk, Dan Green looks at a time when David chose to turn his focus from himself to God. As David reminded himself of God’s character and what he had done, David gained a fresh perspective on his own place in the world. Could this also help us to find more joy, thankfulness and peace in life?
Read MoreEleanor Mumford shares with us a message on Pentecost Sunday, looking at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that special day and how it has forever changed us and birthed the local church.
Read MoreWhat would be different about your life if you knew how long you had left? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the apostle Saul/Paul’s belief that the world would be changed massively by the emerging presence of God in his lifetime. This set his priorities and shaped his teaching. While we now have a view of God at work over a very long time, we still face choices about what to do with our limited time. So how can Paul’s urgency help us to see what could and should be different for us right now?
Read MoreWhat happens when we bring our pain to God? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at Psalm 40, a heartfelt cry of desperation quoted across our culture, including at the end of every U2 concert. If we can identify with the urgent call for help to deal with stuff which looks too hard for us, maybe we can feel God’s closeness the way this writer could too.
Read MoreWhat is the big story that shapes how you see the world and your part in it? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the story which shaped Saul’s beliefs in the time of Jesus. The Jewish people had lost their freedom to worship God and thrive in the way they had in the past, and they were waiting for a promised liberator to overcome what stood between them and their ideal life with God.
However, Jesus was misunderstood by many, including Saul at first, perhaps because they failed to recognise what was truly holding them back. Jesus showed a way, through love and self-sacrifice, to be free not just from oppressing empires but also from personal wounds, addictions and other drivers to selfishness. When we think about our big story in a society which prizes freedom, how much of this is driven by Jesus’ example, and how much by self-centred desires from which we still need to be liberated?
Read MoreHow much can people change? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the life journey of Saul, a devout Jew whose life started to be transformed by an encounter with the risen Jesus. When we look at Saul’s letters of teaching today, we might wonder why he wrote things we struggle to agree with, or missed out things we feel sure he should have taught. But when we understand his background, the change and progress in his life, we might read him differently. More importantly, we can have our own lives changed by Jesus too. How will that reshape the way we think and act?
Read MoreCould your life be changed by an encounter with Jesus? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at what happened with Saul, a devout religious teacher whose view on life was changed by meeting the risen Jesus in the original “road to Damascus” moment. Saul became Paul, who is often misunderstood today, but can we understand more, and even live better, by encountering Jesus for ourselves?
Read MoreWhat difference would it make for us to meet Jesus after he rose from the dead? In this talk, Til Gerber, teaching pastor at Basel Vineyard in Switzerland, looks at what happened to Jesus' first followers when they did this.
Read MoreCan people know what God is like by looking at us? In this talk, Jimmy Rocks, who planted a Vineyard church with his family in Florianapolis, Brazil, looks at how God made us to give people a taste of his kingdom and to shine with his light in a world which is often dark. So how does God immerse us in his kingdom world and renew our minds and understanding of the world around us? This is more than ideas - it's practical and life-changing as God can use us to bring heaven to earth.
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