Living Rock Podcast

Act ch 9 includes a wonderful description of the early church, in the season following the conversion of Paul. Here we read of the church’s unity and oneness (despite now being geographically spread out), its peace and strength, its reverence for the Lord, its encouragement by the Holy Spirit, and its consequent increase and multiplication (Acts 9:31).  These fantastic hallmarks are as vital to the church today as they were then, and in this message we explore some of the practical implications and opportunities for us at this time.

Do we sometimes put limits on how we experience God? In this message from the ‘Extra-Ordinary’ series, Sam challenges us to step beyond routine faith and embrace the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Using a prophetic picture of an ice cream parlour, she reminds us that while all ice cream has the same base, the flavours are endless—just like the ways God can reveal Himself to us. This message will inspire you to listen more intently, expect more boldly, and open your heart to the extraordinary ways God wants to speak to you.

Today we turn to Romans 8 v 15-17 where believers are variously described as being Gods sons, Gods children, as having received a Spirit of Adoption and finally as God’s heirs. We consider the vital role of the Holy Spirit in testifying to our spirit to affirm who we are.

Wilderness times appear all through the bible and in our own lives. Wilderness times are challenging times, but the scriptures have plenty to say to help us and the Spirit is with us to lead us through and out of the wilderness. 

Have you ever wondered why speaking in tongues is so important, or even relevant? Is it just for a few “super spiritual” people, or is it meant for all believers? In this message, Stephen unpacks what the Bible says about this powerful gift of the Holy Spirit.Starting in Acts 2:4—where “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues”—Stephen explores why speaking in tongues is not just an ancient phenomenon but a crucial part of our faith today. He also looks at 1 Corinthians 14:4, where Paul teaches that speaking in tongues edifies the believer, and Mark 16:17, where Jesus Himself said, “These signs will accompany those who believe… they will speak in new tongues.”Through real-life stories, practical insights, and biblical teaching, this message will challenge you to step out in faith and embrace this gift of the Holy Spirit. Whether you’ve never spoken in tongues before, or want to grow in this gift, this episode will encourage and inspire you.

Life is full of choices—some small and simple, others big and life-changing. In those tough moments, making the right decision can feel overwhelming.All throughout the Bible, people came to Jesus for guidance, asking Him questions and seeking His wisdom. He was the perfect counsellor. But Jesus knew His time on earth was short, so out of His deep love for us, He made sure we wouldn’t be left on our own. He asked the Father to send us another Counsellor—someone to help, comfort, and strengthen us every step of the way.John 14:16 (AMP)“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever.”In this message, we’ll explore what it means to have the Holy Spirit as our Helper and how we can lean on Him in every decision we make. You’re not alone—God has given you the best Counsellor you could ever ask for!Listen today and be encouraged.

The sending out of the apostles from Antioch in Acts ch 13, empowered for the first great missionary journey, is a wonderful example of what can happen when the Holy Spirit is leading and directing things.  But what was it that made this church and its leaders ready to be entrusted with such a great commission?  The answers are found in Acts ch 11, which describes the roots and foundations of this great church, and provides us with a fantastic description of the characteristics and hallmarks the Holy Spirit wants to embed in our own lives at this time.

As we continue in our Extra-Ordinary series this week Mike dives into the powerful relationship between the Holy Spirit and Scripture. We explore how the Spirit works through the Word, guiding us in understanding and discerning God’s voice for both general and specific situations. We look at the importance of Scripture as both a foundational anchor and a filter to help us hear the Spirit clearly in our lives. This message will help you gain confidence in your ability to hear God’s voice and act in obedience, empowered by the Spirit’s presence in your daily walk.

Peace—it’s something we all need. For some, it’s about finding peace for the first time; for others, it’s about returning to it. In today’s world, peace is needed in every area of our lives. But here’s the good news: peace isn’t just something you find when life is easy. It can show up right in the middle of your struggles, in the midst of your stressful days. In this message Ovi shares about how to experience true peace, no matter what you’re facing. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, He brings peace even in the middle of life’s storms. But when we focus on how big our problems are, peace can feel impossible.

Our daily invitation from The Lord is to Lay Down, Be Still and Stand Strong. Being empty of everything else enables us to be full of the Holy Spirit and His extraordinary life and power overflows from within us!

Today we consider how God was present with people at the beginning, breathing life into Adam and walking with them in the garden. Today, God is primarily present with His people by His Holy Spirit, freely given to every believer. This gift is to be received in order that we can enjoy His presence.

In this message we start to explore the Person of the Holy Spirit, by considering Him as our Closest Friend and our Comforter.  

Listen back to Stephen's message from Market Harborough on Sunday 2nd February. He speaks about the person of the Holy Spirit and how important it is to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. 

In the second part of these introductory messages we consider some choices, actions and habits that will play an essential part in helping us stay full of the Holy Spirit.  In it all, we are reminded that life in the Spirit is a day-by-day relationship, and that He wants us to draw close to Him and know Him as our Greatest Friend.

As we start a new year, we take a fresh look at the great need for Jesus's church to be filled with His Spirit.  In part 1 of these introductory messages, we see that everything that ultimately matters begins with a move of the Spirit, and we explore what that meant for the ministry for Jesus and for the mission of the early church.  And in the stories of two lame men miraculously healed (Mark 2 and Acts 3), we discover some vital characteristics that will help us be this kind of church this year... 

Our culture has three words: me, me, me! But are these the words that people who know God, who have seen his goodness and who can experience relationship with Him want to be defined by? What are the three words that we might choose to define us?

Christmas is a Christian celebration. Whatever society might think it is, at the core it is a festival about the word becoming flesh - a beautiful truth! Christmas is ours, so how should we celebrate it? In this message Mike and Lisa share 10 simple ways that we can see Christmas as ours; cutting through all the noise of this time of year, brushing off the pressure and expectations and simply celebrating our wonderful King and Saviour.

Stephen shares a message from 1 Corinthians 12, all about practical contributions when the church gathers together. This message is part of our 'Gather' series. 

During Jesus' baptism, God the father declares “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”. Do you know that we are also children of God? When we give our life to Jesus and ask him to be our Lord and Saviour we become children of God. The enemy will always try to make you question if you are really saved, if God really loves you, if he really listens when you pray... He is fighting to bring confusion to your identity, because he knows who you are and what you are able to do as a child of God. In this message Ovi unpacks this for us and encourages us to know who we are. 

As we conclude our three-part series, this time we consider our purpose and identity as God’s image-bearers. God created mankind, as male and female to reflect His nature, in similar and in differing ways from each other. Not only to enjoy a complimentary partnership with each other, but to relate to each other through Him, thus enjoying the joy of trinity!