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If we believe in God, why would we try to run away? Bern Leckie remembers being confused about God's acceptance and forgiveness as something we might have to keep earning, but finding that God went to some lengths to be found for who he is. Does David's praise show the size of God's love and grace instead as something too big to be earned? And can we enjoy God's presence lighting up darkness in our lives too?
Read MoreHow does it feel to be searched and fully known? Bern Leckie reflects on the experience of being found out for things we'd rather hide, but also known intimately by someone with complete love. King David showed vulnerability in his relationship with God, and ultimately found this wonderful and liberating. Can we share in his experience?
Read MoreHow many selves do you have, and how are they different? In this talk, Owen Lynch looks at how easy it can be for us to split ourselves into different parts, being one way with people in church and a different way at home or work, for example. Could this be creating emotional tension which undermines our relationships and even threatens our health? What can we do to bring our different selves together and live more emotionally healthy, integrated lives?
Read MoreWhat can we do that is healthy for others to copy? In this Fathers’ Day talk, Mal Calladine continues our series of looking at long term relationships as family. What are the benefits of having a goal for our households? When things go wrong, can we rebuild stability with some CPR - consistency, predictability and reliability? And how much difference can it make to share the words, “I love you,” “I believe in you,” “I’m sorry - forgive me,” and “I’m praying for you”?
Read MoreWhere can we find peacemakers and what can we learn from them? Dan Green interviews Dan Morrice, author of "Finding the Peacemakers", a book first inspired by the stories of Chilean miners trapped underground and sustained by faith and miraculous provision which was largely unreported at the time. Dan Morrice also interviewed peacemakers in the Middle East and his home city of Bristol and shares what we can learn, practise and pass on from their experiences.
Read MoreWhen problems come up in family relationships, are we more focused on correction or connection? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at different ways we relate to each other as family, in community as well as biological families. We can choose different styles of relationship, such as being authoritarian or permissive when we are parenting, but we might need to learn how to find a middle, more life-affirming way to avoid pain and stress. What can we do to improve how we connect emotionally? Can Jesus' stories and personal example help?
Read MoreWhen facing disagreements, divisions and injustices, what can we do constructively? In this talk, Dan Green looks at a story Jesus told about what it means to be a good neighbour, and considers examples of what we can do today. Speaking out, respecting differences, putting others ahead of ourselves, practising hospitality and serving in the midst of conflict can all make a difference. Can God empower us to do this, not in our own strength for our own agendas, but to be part of what he wants to do to restore and reconcile “all things to himself”?
Read MoreHow can weakness be a strength? In this talk, Owen Lynch shares about vulnerability and looks at how God has used lots of people with different character flaws. When we are concerned about our areas of weakness, could we find that we are uniquely suited for roles and relationships we had never dreamed possible?
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be family and neighbours? In this talk, Mal Calladine looks at how Jesus' close relationships with family and neighbours worked, and how this can help us reimagine what is possible in our relationships too.
Read MoreWhy are Jesus' followers called towards reconciliation between people? In this talk, Dan Green looks at a range of Jesus' teaching from the "greatest commandments" of loving God and neighbours to how Jesus develops this in surprising ways. Can we really love our enemies? What if it's harder than we thought to distinguish "us" from "them" in life? Is there a power strong enough to change our minds and turn us into peacemakers?
Read MoreWhat 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?
Read MoreWhen 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?
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