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Jesus, the Ultimate Light Show
Alison Hopkinson 17th December (Christmas family meeting)
The light Jesus brings isn't temporary, he's an unwavering, permanent source of hope joy and peace. Let's embrace him more closely this Christmas. |
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Life In The Spirit 7: The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Warfare - Leading Fruitful Lives
Andy Read 16th December
Andy rounds off our Ephesians teaching series with a look at chapter 6, weaving it with strands from earlier talks.
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Life In The Spirit 6: Guided By The Spirit Slides
Paul Wratten 10th December
Paul considers the importance of being guided by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our lives, but particularly in the context of our families.
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Reflections On Advent
Anthea Wratten 3rd December
Anthea encourages us not to 'skip ahead to the end' in this Christmas season, but to savour the next 3 weeks as a time for waiting, longing and ongoing discovery.
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Life In The Spirit 5: New Life of Unity and Peace in the Holy Spirit
Jill Stonehill 26th November
Jill speaks from Ephesians 4 on what it means to be church, and that relationships are key.
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Life In The Spirit 4: The Power of the Spirit - Empowered for Mission
Anthea Wratten 19th November
Anthea encourages us as a church family to continue responding to the Spirit by offering ourselves to be shaped to become God's people, living God's story, so that people are drawn to Christ. This is where mission begins.
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Life In The Spirit 3 - God Revealed by the Holy Spirit
Colin Barnes 12th November
Speaking from Ephesians 3, Colin considers our charismatic distinctive and brings a challenge - have we settled, or are we pressing on?
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The Mystery of Grace
Freddy Martin 5th November
Friend of River and guest speaker Freddy of the charity Asha (www.asha-india.org) speaks about grace, washing feet and reaching out in multiple ways to the poor of the slums of Delhi.
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Life In The Spirit 2: Relationship with God through the Holy Spirit
Nigel Rivers 29th October
Watch How You Walk! Nigel speaks from Ephesians 2, encouraging us to be obedient and faithful in all we've been called to be. It's not a question of whether we have ever been filled with the Spirit, but are we letting Him fill us today. Do we listen for the whisper of His voice, and know the strength of His presence, the fire of His anointing and the comfort of His dwelling place?
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Life In The Spirit 1: The Promise of the Holy Spirit - Inclusive for Everyone
Andy Read 22nd October
Andy introduces our new teaching series, which is based in Ephesians. We'll be looking in particular at the work of the Holy Spirit both then and now.
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Fasting Week 4: To Stand With The Poor
practicingtheway.org 8th October
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Fasting Week 3: To Amplify Our Prayers
practicingtheway.org 24th September
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Fasting Week 2: To Grow In Holiness
practicingtheway.org 17th September
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Fasting Week 1: To Offer Ourselves To God
practicingtheway.org 10th September
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Hidden Treasure
Jonny Ruffell 3rd September
Jonny speaks about the message of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl in Matthew 13, and what they tell us about how much God loves us. Link to 'The Same Love' song by Paul Baloche
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Followers of Jesus Then & Now 10: Crucifisurrection Slides
Nigel Rivers 30th July
Nigel rounds off this teaching series by looking at Mark 16, explaining the pitfalls of putting too much emphasis on either the crucifixion or resurrection. "Crucifisurrection" living involves balancing the sacrifice of the cross with the power of the resurrection, so that we don't live in limited- or un- reality. (Sorry, no video version this week). |
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Followers of Jesus Then & Now 9: The Greatest Day
Geoff Wilson 23rd July
Geoff celebrates Mark 15's account of the greatest day in history. He also asserts that we need to change if we are going to bring the Good News to this world; after all, the church in general has a track record of being wrong in so many ways.
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A Call To Fasting
Anthea Wratten 16th July
Anthea calls the church to a renewed commitment to Fasting in the context of our vision and values. Link to the "Practicing the way- Fasting" video which was also shown in the meeting.
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Followers of Jesus Then & Now 8: The Beginning Of The End?
Paul Wratten 9th July
Of the many scenes described in this eventful chapter Paul considers three in particular, involving an unnamed woman, an unnamed man, and a named disciple; and considers what they can say to us about where our focus should be.
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What Do You Want Me To Do For You?
Keith Grafham 2nd July
At this month's special family meeting Keith speaks first to the children and then to the adults about Jesus' encounter with Bartimaeus.
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Followers of Jesus Then & Now 7: The End of An Age
Anthea Wratten 25th June
Speaking from Mark chapters 12 and 13, Anthea explores the gospel's overarching themes of Kingdom and Messiah, highlighting the sensitivity and deep compassion of Jesus as He leaves us with an answer, the greatest commandment. |
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Followers of Jesus Then & Now 6: Jerusalem
Andy Read 18th June
Andy examines the lessons for followers of Jesus (ie us!) that can be drawn from Mark 11:1-12:12 under the headings of Fame, Fruitfulness and Focus. |
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The Feeding of the 5000
Jill Stonehill 4th June
A two part talk for our June Family Meeting - part 1 aimed at the kids, part 2 at the adults considering how we can be more compassionate in the way Jesus was.
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Followers Of Jesus Then & Now 5: Character & Gifting
Al Bullen 28th May
The world is hungry for good character (how we behave when no one is looking). Let's build this by being authentic, honest and pure, and develop our gifting by showing courage and exercising our 'faith muscles'. In turn let's give away from the goodness of what we have to bless others.
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Followers Of Jesus Then & Now 4: Joining In With What God Does
Nigel Rivers 21st May
(subtitle: Cast your bread upon the waters). Nigel draws out five challenges to being students of Jesus shown in these verses (Mark 6:30-8:38), and considers His 'other-ness'.
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Followers Of Jesus Then & Now 3: Imperfect Followers (ii)
Jonny Ruffell 14th May
Jonny encourages us NEVER to doubt that Jesus cares deeply for us and understands everything we're going through. Let's trust in His unfailing love.
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Followers Of Jesus Then & Now 2: Imperfect Followers (i)
Nigel Stock 30th April
Humanly speaking we are indeed imperfect followers of Jesus, but this isn't something to be despondent about, because it's in the context of the Bible's promise: 'let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author (creator) and perfecter (finisher) of our faith' Heb 12:2.
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Followers Of Jesus Then & Now 1: Faith
Andy Read 23rd April
Andy introduces our new teaching series, describing Mark's Gospel as being like a Bond movie. People at the time responded to Jesus in different ways: some were attracted, some approached in desperation and others came to confront Him. What is our primary response?
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Boundless Grace Slides
Colin Barnes 16th April
Colin considers the boundless favour that God shows us - it's immeasurable, incomparable and far exceeds and surpasses what we deserve or are able to comprehend. Through it He offers us the highest honour and the deepest rest. Let's first receive this grace, then give it away to others.
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Easter - What's It For?
Paul Wratten 9th April
Many in the UK know at some level what Easter is, but few really understand what it's for. Paul reminds us that the main reason is to enable us to be at one with God; free to be in communion with Him, to participate with Him, and to be changed by Him. So let's give 'em that 'what for'!
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Worship In All Of Life part 10: Worship In Times of Joy (2)
Emanuel Prinz 2nd April
In this talk, the last in our teaching series exploring The Psalms, Emanuel explains how we can be inspired to worship by responding to God's SONG - His word speaking to us through scripture (S), through others (O), via nature (N) and as a result of the good gifts (G) He gives.
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Worship In All Of Life part 9: Worship In Times of Joy (1)
Nigel Rivers 26th March
Nigel speaks about the need to have an attitude of gratitude; always to be praising; and the value of adoration in creation. He leaves us with the question: how can I experience a new song of joy in my life?
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Worship In All Of Life part 8: Worship In Lament (2)
Paul Wratten 19th March
Paul talks about learning to lament well: it's a journey of permission where we are invited to share all our feelings with God, but one we need to stick with, as there are no shortcuts. Finally it's a journey of hope, since it has the clear purpose of leading us back to a place of praise.
Lament - a poem by Nigel Rivers
Lament is not despair
For in despair no hope is left
The dark path leads on downwards
Into nothingness.
Lament may look just like despair
The pain, the desperate need, the lack of answers
The sense of isolation and the silent heaven.
The non-existent victory.
Lament is not despair.
The difference is not in the present
But in the orientation of my heart
As I acknowledge that lament is not the end
It is just a beginning for my heart
To walk with HIM and journey through the pain
With no assurance that the pain will pass
Powerless to shorten what I must endure.
Still knowing there’s a hope that never fails
Knowing this pain and emptiness is not
The final destination of my heart.
And so I choose to welcome this lament
To cry my loss out honestly to God
To choose to walk and hold on to my hope
No matter how long I will have to wait.
In hope. |
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Worship In All Of Life part 7: Worship In Lament (1)
Andy Read 12th March
Andy describes lament in his own life and explains how it's different to despair; also that it's normal, natural and definitely not the end of the story. Definitely worth watching / listening to if you're going through pain in your own life.
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Church Life in Damak, Nepal
Bijay Ghomal 5th March
Bijay is the pastor of New Horizons Christian Fellowship in Damak, Nepal, and is staying with Paul & Anthea for a couple of days before returning home after the Pioneer International and Pioneer UK conferences in Southampton last week. In this talk he shares from 1 Kings 11 before describing the challenges his church faces in reaching out to their community, and some of their successful initiatives.
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Worship In All Of Life part 6: Worship In Creation
Colin Barnes 26th February
Let's allow creation to nourish our souls: Colin considers God's amazing creation and reminds us that we are dearly loved, we are beautiful, we have great potential and we are significant.
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Worship In All Of Life part 5: Worship Through Justice
Sadie Barnes 19th February
There are many types of justice; Legal, Political, Social and Economic. Sadie suggests that our starting point needs to be humility, then we need to learn how truly to love mercy, and as a result we are more likely to act with justice. |
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Worship In All Of Life part 4: Worship Through Work
Alistair Bullen 12th February
Unfortunately Al's talk wasn't recorded. |
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Building Your Character
Sandra Bullen 5th February
At this month's special family meeting Sandra spoke to the adults about the need to be intentional about building (Godly) character, and the power of inviting and receiving feedback from others about how we're doing. |
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Worship In All Of Life part 3: Worship In Solitude & Silence
Anthea Wratten 29th January
Anthea argues that one of the greatest threats to Faith today is distraction, so the regular practice of silence in the presence of God is essential to a healthy spiritual life. After all, Jesus needed regular time in quiet places, so surely we do too.
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Worship In All Of Life part 2: Worship In Community Slides
Nigel Rivers 22nd January
Nigel considers what it is about a worshipping community that is so special. When God sees hearts given wholeheartedly to Him, He will draw close.
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Worship In All Of Life part 1: Authentic Worship – Spirit and Truth Slides
Andy Read 15th January
Andy kicks off our new Psalms-based teaching series with a look at WHAT worship is, HOW we should read the Psalms and WHO (what version of ourselves) should we bring when we worship.
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Waiting for the New Song
Paul Wratten 8th January
Paul kicks off the New Year reflecting on the 'new song' he believes God will reveal to us as a church community in 2023. Let's be patient and expectant.
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