Living Rock Podcast

Because we’re loved by God and because we love God, we love those around us. It’s love that is our motivation for giving. We demonstrate the love of God as we give. Samaritan’s purse are a fantastic organisation that give out the love of God in practical and life changing ways. In this message we hear from them about how we can partner with them to give out the love of God.

There will be no division among you” said Paul to the Church in Corinth, and the same message applies to us today. It can sometimes be easier to create division than unity; to reject people that we don’t like or agree with and only spend time with people who are just like us. As Christians we are called be united around the message of the cross, even if this may look foolish and unimpressive to those around us. In this message, Ovi explores what this looks like; the difference between 'foolishness' and the 'power of God', and how we can unite around the foolishness that the Bible describes.

In Ephesians 4:2-6 Paul encourages the church in Ephesus to 'make every effort' to be united with one another. In this message we look at what unity is, and how the covenant meal (comm-union) is an opportunity for Jesus' body (the church) to demonstrate the powerful joining and unity that was made possible when He died on the cross.

As we continue to consider Paul's practical instructions to us (Eph 4:17 to 5:21), we take a look at what it means to 'put on' our new life in Christ (4:24), in this second part of a two part message. The apostle shows us how 'all of God does all that God does' in our salvation and sanctification. He points us to the PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit (4:30) empowering us to change, the GRACE of the Father (4:32-5:1) enabling us to let go of self-orientated thoughts and feelings, and the LOVE of the Son (5:2) endowing us with the capacity to love God and His people, as we look outward instead of inward.  

Launching our new focus for Autumn-Winter, we consider the background, context and purpose of Paul’s first epistle to the church in Corinth, before looking in a bit more detail at how the apostle begins his letter (1 Corinthians 1:1-9).  Here we see that he starts by reminding the church who they really are - "God’s church in Corinth" - men and women called-out of the culture of the city in order to live-out a radically different life and lifestyle.  They are God’s planting in that place - a charismatic Kingdom community, set in the midst of a culture that lives for itself.  With its many parallels to our 21st Century challenges and opportunities, we see that - like us - they really matter, and have all that they need as they stand-up for Jesus Christ and prepare the way for His return!  Paul’s great longing is to see this church grow strong and fulfil their destiny, and he has much to say that will help us do the same!...

As we read Paul's practical instructions about walking in our new life in Christ (Eph 4:17 to 5:21),  we consider in this first part of a two part message, what it means to 'put off' our 'former way of life' (v.22). To do so, we'll look at the difference between salvation and sanctification, and how as new creations (2 Co 5:17) the power balance has changed within us, enabling us to live as God created us to. No longer ruled by body and soul, our newly empowered spirit is able to take control of our thoughts and impulses, in order that we may be transformed through renewal (Ro 12:2), from the inside out.  

The best thing we can do to prepare ourselves to hear and receive what God wants to say to us is to live full of the Spirit. Here are 3 biblical principles and how I am applying them in my life to help us live lives in step with the Spirit of God.

God is interested in our work lives, and he wants to be involved in it. Your work can make an eternal difference in the lives of those you work with, those you work for, those you manage, and those you serve through your work. Change the way you look at and do your work, in the light of His gospel and grace. We are redeemed by grace, let’s live out that grace in the context of your work. You may never look at work the same way again.

In Ephesians 5:18-20 Paul gives an instruction to the Christians in the church in Ephesus - to be filled with the holy spirit, to sing praise and give thanks. In this interactive message we look at what these phrases mean, the difference between a psalm, hymn and spiritual song, and we look at why it’s so important that we sing praise together. 

Everybody is welcome in the family of God. Each of us is an important part of the church and God can use us all to minister to one another no matter what our age or physical ability. This Disability Awareness Sunday we consider how we are all loved and made in God’s image and are welcome in the church.

In preparation for our new series, ‘Love Builds Up’, during which we’ll be exploring Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians together, we consider in this message the City of Corinth, the Church in Corinth, and (Paul’s) Correspondence with Corinth. Strategically located as a trading gateway between east and west, this city was a bustling metropolis, full of people from many different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Into this melting pot the church was established by Paul (Acts 18) and quickly grew in number and gift (1:7). But with growth came some significant challenges. As we look at the different sections in this letter, Paul deals with each issue in turn, identifying the underlying issue at work. He encourages them to embrace the ‘folly’ of the Cross instead of revering the ‘wisdom’ of this world (1:18), to see the church is a beautiful temple of the Holy Spirit and not a marketplace (3:16, 6:19), to embrace service instead self-interest (10:23-24), and to learn each time they gathered how to flow to

This week we look at Paul’s prayer at the end of Ephesians 3, the example it sets in praying for empowerment and the expectation we can have as God’s power is worked out in our lives.

Life Groups are integral and indispensable for our church family. Will talks about why we need Life Groups and what we expect when our Life Groups gather in this short message.

This week we jump into Ephesians 3 and discover who Paul describes as displaying God’s wisdom in its rich variety!

God wants us to receive revelation! In fact the word says that He wants us to be continually receiving revelation. To understand the great mysteries of the word, to be empowered and to ultimately become more and more like Him. This morning we look at 5 keys and challenges to attain this goal here are the Five Challenges - that will develop revelation! People, books, experience, observation & thinking and pondering.

In this all-together gathering, we look at the Big Announcements the church is called to make. Announcements of welcome, to one another, to the world and until Christ returns!

We all need friends of faith. In this encouragement message, we focus on what the characteristics of friends of faith might be, how we can implement them in our church family and how we can be friends of faith to those who don't yet know Jesus. We end with a checklist for consideration and challenge!

Towards the end of Ephesians 2 we read some familiar verses that describe Jesus as the cornerstone. In this message we unpack what this means and go through verses 19-22 phrase-by-phrase. We see how Jesus the Cornerstone is placed at the very centre of both the church and our lives individually, providing a strong and stable foundation that everything else can line up to.

Continuing our series in Ephesians, Paul turns his attention at the start of chapter 4 to the practical day to day living of the transformed in-Christ life he has described in chapters 1 to 3. He urges us to walk worthy of our calling together as the One New People of God, guarding our oneness in Christ. And he gives us just the right tools to help… a new wardrobe of designer-label garments. Dare to wear!

Scripture tells us that ‘God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church’. In this All-Together gathering we think about how this truth can enable us to approach God in prayer, full of confidence!