Guests and standalone talks

How is life different when we follow Jesus into God’s kingdom? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at how Jesus encouraged and congratulated people in difficult, undervalued and suffering circumstances. They would be the first to welcome the news that Jesus turned life upside down, compared with how most judged success. His way of life was, and still is, open to everyone. So what differences should it make for us?

How can we hear from God and share this to help others? Claire Lynch looks at our belief that prophesy is about connecting with God’s heart of love for someone, and is accessible to all. This is described as a promise in the Old Testament and as practice in the New Testament, thanks to the work of Jesus and the inspiration of his Holy Spirit. But how do we actually do it faithfully, or weigh up whether someone else’s words to us are from God? The guidance here can help us to practise.

What would it be like to see Jesus enter Jerusalem in his unusual triumph parade, days before he died? Jason Whiley looks at what happened, and what this would have looked like from the different angles of people in the story. If you can imagine yourself there with them, how might God grab your attention? What could he show you about his love, encouragement and purpose for you?

What makes a great leader? Dan Green looks at the differences between what people often expect and what Jesus showed through his service and self-sacrifice. Why was it controversial to put a life-size, captive Jesus (Mark Wallinger’s “Ecce Homo”) onto a giant plinth in Trafalgar Square, and would we find this comforting, inspiring or disturbing to see? Could it help to remind ourselves of how people were so surprised to see Jesus lead the way he did, and even more surprised to see the power of his kingdom?

What difference can it make to be told who we are? Joanna Ashby looks at a conversation between Jesus and one of his followers, Simon, who knew the identity and historic role of Jesus as the Messiah or Christ. Jesus gave Simon a new name, Peter, which gave him the identity of a rock that Jesus could build his church on. What has God said to us about who we are and what he can do with us? How can we put that into practice?

What do we mean by love, and how do we get better at loving? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at different kinds of love and what we expect from them, and the kind of self-giving love most talked and written about by Jesus and Paul in the New Testament. This turns out to be something which God grows in us - but how?

How do we grow in God’s love, and what does it mean to remain? David Jennings looks at Jesus’ teaching that his followers are branches in him, a vine, made for fruitfulness under God’s gardening care. This fruit isn’t work we do, it’s the character of love, joy and peace that grows as we accept Jesus’ love and become defined by him and his character. Is it challenging to allow this to happen, sometimes needing to give up what we’d been aiming for ourselves? If so, can we find assurance in Jesus’ promise that, by remaining in him, we will be incredibly fruitful?

Does this new year feel light and joyful, or have we loaded ourselves up with burdens? Owen Lynch looks at how spiritual and emotional health are important to us and need to be kept in balance. Jesus criticised religious leaders who brought loads of expectation which they could not carry themselves, and offered a better way of life.

Have we taken up Jesus’ offer? Maybe we can tell by asking if our faith life is making us weary, judgmental, unapproachable and inauthentic, when it could be lightening our hearts, making us more open minded, hospitable and authentic instead.

How do we feel about breaking the rules and crossing boundaries? Dan Green has lived across multiple cultures and trains people in what can help to build good relationships across cultural divides. In this talk, he looks at the story of a woman whose approach to Jesus looked completely wrong to many, but showed love and honesty which Jesus recognised and praised. Could the way we feel when we see others reveal ways that God's love needs to transform our hearts?

What does God really want from us? Phil Joiner from Breathe Ministries looks at his forty-year journey of coming to terms with an idea he thought he knew, that God wants relationship. We can get a different idea from the efforts people put in to find correct answers to hard questions, including how to make sense of theology. Occasionally, revelations might occur to us and we might wonder if their point is to set us right, but what if ongoing revelation and relationship are always going to be God’s desire for us? Could he have made us for “revelationship”?

Do we view God as distant, or close and loving? David Jennings shares his experience of encountering God for himself and in the lives of people he has worked with. Descriptions in the Bible about the movement and power of the Holy Spirit can tell us what believers can expect from God and why. Do we need to do anything special to be loved by God? How do we get to meet with God, feel and know what his love for us is like?

What it is like to follow Jesus? Dan Green looks at Simon Peter, whose story and character show several relatable sides to this.

Peter’s choice to follow and believe in Jesus was remarkable, given his life experience, but maybe not as much as Jesus’ choice to call and believe in Peter first. Peter’s response to Jesus involved much practical learning, faith risks, new experiences and changes of mind. His life became an emotional rollercoaster at times, but even though his low points included denying being a follower, Jesus restored him to the heights of trust and leadership responsibility because of the love he saw in Peter.

What might be stopping us from asking for everything God wants to give us? David Jennings looks at his experiences of scary situations, worries about losing control, and the stories he had been told about missionaries suffering. There is likely to be a cost when we trade what we wanted for what God wants, but could we find that it’s better not to settle, or let our busyness or current plans get in the way of the love-filled life God wants to give us?

What kind of father is God? Claire Lynch takes a Father’s Day look at how God is described in Psalm 103. How well does this fit what we expect from God and good fathers in general?

How does God speak to us today, and how can we helpfully share this? Claire Lynch looks at what the Bible says about prophecy in the lives of people who follow Jesus, and what we have learned about this from experience and practice in sharing.

Why is forgiveness so important? Rossie Henderson-Begg looks at what Jesus said and showed about this, and considers what happens when we can, or can’t, find forgiveness ourselves. Can our ability and choice to forgive have a profound effect on us, as well as people we know?

What does it mean to deny ourselves, and what difference can this make? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at what Jesus showed and taught, and what his followers came to believe about this. What are the advantages of self-control, and where can we find more strength to benefit from this?

What difference can it make to foster or adopt children? Anna Simmons describes her experience of becoming part of God’s family and, after having children, the decision they made to become a fostering family. Home For Good helps to find homes for the thousands of children that need them - find out more about them at homeforgood.org.uk

Did you know there's a surprising way you can feel happier, right away, right now? Claire Lynch looks at the power of thankfulness, including its proven ability to make us feel more satisfied, while also improving our relationships when approached in certain ways. It's also a major theme in the Bible, part of healthy personal and community life with God.

What is faith about? In this talk, Jordan Seng from Bluewater Mission Church in Hawaii looks at how they have built up so many stories of seeing God do amazing things, not just because they believed but because they put their faith into action and tried. This isn't the same as succeeding - sometimes the pressure to feel we must succeed puts us off trying, and that might be the root of our problems. Jesus can give us the encouragement to try. Can we build a culture of trying and, even in celebrating spectacular failures, see more of God's kingdom goodness than ever before?