Search for anything here or browse our archive below
When we need physical healing, we know how to get help, but what happens when we experience pain which leaves us emotionally hurting, mourning or broken? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at different sources of emotional pain and the typical choices we make when we experience them. Are we complicating our healing from pain by refusing to deal with it? Can we recognise how people look to God with pain in the writings of the Bible, and build a culture which helps us too?
Read MoreHow different can the world look from our neighbours' point of view? Dan Green asks pastors from God's House International Centre, a multicultural church in the middle of Bristol, about their recent experiences. The expectations brought by different cultures and the history of conflict between countries and races can create stresses and divides we might not have seen or imagined. But by connecting, engaging, listening, immersing ourselves and sharing life in each other's spaces, can we learn how to mend some of the divisions?
Read MoreBetween the pain around us and our hope for the future, how do we live in the middle? In this Easter Sunday talk, Fin Gazzard looks at why we can believe in better life than we see right now, and how faith in the risen Jesus can guide us going forwards.
Read MoreA year after lockdown started, are we feeling held back or ready to go ahead with our lives? In this Palm Sunday talk, Mal Calladine looks at how Jesus sent his followers to go ahead of him to make preparations in a time and place which would change their lives completely. What if we already have a sense of what God has called us to do? Could now be the time for us to go ahead, take the places and roles God has uniquely made us for, and live the rest of this year with hope and faith?
Read MoreHow much racial injustice do we see, and how can we respond? In this talk, Dan Green looks at racism in our past and present, the events which may have made us more aware of it recently, and some practical steps we can take to change, listen and build better relationships for the future.
Read MoreHow liberating can it be to live within limits? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at what happens when we don't accept limits and become overburdened, disillusioned or tied into unhealthy relationships. For people who believe in Jesus, it can be hard to accept limits if faith says there should be none. But looking closer at Jesus, can the choices he made and the limits he accepted with his humanity help us make the most of our lives and limitations too?
Read MoreThis talk contains adult themes
How much of what we do is set by patterns inherited from our parents? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the influence of family on famous leaders in the Bible and people in our own time. We choose our own paths, but it can help us to grow awareness of how our choices are influenced by vows we made to ourselves when growing up. Can Jesus' offer of "born again" new life then break us free of inherited destructive patterns?
Read MoreWe can look nice and spiritually sorted on the surface, but what's going on underneath? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at what affects our emotional health which is often hidden from view until it bubbles up into occasional outbursts of impatience, anger or pain. Growing our awareness of what causes that pain can help us, not just to manage it but to outgrow it with God's help.
Read MoreDoes God only accept people who play by the rules of Christianity? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at how Paul addressed a church arguing about what was acceptable to God, and how shocking it was that Jesus died for everyone, not just good people. "More than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life!" wrote Paul about Jesus. For the life God wants us to have, and to accept everyone he wants to accept, do we need to rethink some of today’s religious laws?
Read MoreHow can we grow and support each other in committed relationships? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at ways the Bible tells us to treat each other when we have shared covenants or commitments to relationship. What does it mean to be two people of the same mind? How can we more live in harmony with each other? And what does submitting to one another look like in a healthy relationship?
Read MoreIs there any chance we can all get along? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the society Paul was writing into when he explained the gospel to Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Rome. It looked impossible to close massive divisions between people and many looked to secure their identity in nationalism. We can relate today. What Paul offered was not a new culture to defeat all others, but Jesus' way of reconciling people to God and each other through sacrifice and forgiveness. How can we join in with that now?
Read MoreHow good can it be to trust people to stretch us? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at more ways the Bible tells us to treat one another - these ones are for within relationships of trust. Sometimes we need challenging or instructing, other times we need correction or the chance to confess where we have made mistakes. Can we get better at doing this lovingly and prayerfully so our lives can be better?
Read MoreWe could all use some encouragement right now, so how can we get better at encouraging each other? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at what the Bible says about this and lots of examples of people who are good at encouraging. There are lots of practical ideas for building people up, comforting and serving people, and sharing difficult things too.
Read MoreDoes the Bible say it's wrong to be homosexual? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at what Paul wrote to the Roman church, the culture of the time, and why we might misunderstand his words today.
This talk is for a mature audience and contains discussion of sexual practices in Paul's time which were very different from life today.
Read MoreWhat can we do to improve the quality of difficult relationships? Can we get better at accepting other people? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at more of the Bible’s instructions on how to treat one another. As simple and familiar as they might sound, putting them into practice can be a real challenge, but there are huge benefits for us, our neighbours and our culture.
Read MoreIs there a secret to being contented in any circumstances, even really stressful ones? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at the writings of Paul who claimed that he had discovered this. Paul was probably writing from prison when he shared what he had found, that his strength could come from God and gratitude could take the place of anxiety. Can we live this way without grumbling and feeling entitled to better than we have?
Read MoreHow can we build our lives better around looking out for one another? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at four instructions from the Bible we can apply in all of our relationships where we make any kind of connection with people. What does it mean for us to love one another, greet one another, show hospitality to one another and be kind and compassionate to one another? And if God empowers us to do this better, what difference can that make?
Read MoreDid the Bible really say that slavery is OK? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at more of Paul’s letters which some interpreted to say that slavery was acceptable. But what did Paul really mean, and what was most important to him? His calls for everyone to work in partnership, and Paul’s own part in the freeing of one slave, reveal a bigger desire, powered by God, to change society and bring freedom to the world. What can we learn from Paul which can free us too, especially from racism and homophobia, and bring reconciliation to our relationships?
Read MoreNow that our world has changed, we can't go back, but what do you want to be better going forward? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at how 2020 has changed our situation, making us feel like exiles prevented from meeting together. Looking at the story of the temple built in Jerusalem after years of ruin and exclusion, it seems God had bigger priorities than meetings. What exactly can we do now to build our lives and communities back better?
Read MoreAre you anxious about what to do in life? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at a worship Psalm where the writer's main concern isn't to work out their activity but bond in their being with God. We can generate needless stress for ourselves by focusing on working to please people, or God, instead of being strengthened through healthy relationships. Can letting God search, test and shape our character relieve us of stress as well as guiding what we do?
Read More
