In this exploration of Acts 7, Stephen Dawson delves into the life and martyrdom of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The central message revolves around imitating Christ through our actions, even in the face of persecution. Stephen's unwavering faith and bold proclamation of the gospel serve as a profound example for us today. The parallels between Stephen's death and Jesus' crucifixion are striking, reminding us that following Christ may involve suffering, but also brings ultimate victory.

In this talk, Matt Carvel explores the early church's growth and challenges as described in Acts 6:1-7. We're reminded that the church, despite its imperfections, has been a force for good for 2,000 years. God uses ordinary, imperfect people to spread His message and meet the world's needs. Just as the apostles appointed seven men to address the neglect of Hellenistic widows, Jesus continues to call and empower us today. We're challenged to consider: What is Jesus calling us to do? How can we bear fruit in our current season? In Christ, there's no 'subs bench' – we're all called to active ministry, whatever form that may take in our lives.

In this exploration of Acts 5, Tobi Ford-Western reminds us of the early church's unwavering commitment to proclaiming Jesus Christ. The apostles faced intense opposition, yet their faith remained unshakeable. We see God working through both supernatural means (angelic intervention) and practical wisdom (Gamaliel's advice), teaching us that He uses various methods to accomplish His purposes. The apostles' joy in suffering for Christ challenges us to examine our own perspective on hardship. Are we willing to rejoice when faced with opposition for our faith? This passage encourages us to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus, regardless of the consequences, trusting that God is building His church through our faithfulness.

In the first talk of the new series, The World Turned Upside Down, Neville Jones looks at the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This passage challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith and the dangers of hypocrisy. We're reminded that true Christianity isn't about following rules, but about experiencing a heart transformation that leads to genuine generosity and honesty. The stark consequences faced by Ananias and Sapphira serve as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of attempting to deceive Him.

Neville Jones challenges us to embrace the power of prayer, drawing lessons from Elijah on Mount Carmel about persistence, private communion, and praying God's promises.

Christmas, the incarnation, is God coming to dwell with His people. It is God coming to make a home in a broken world. But thirdly, it is also God coming to identify with us as individual people too. Jesus did not float 2cm above the earth but was content to become like us, even live under the labels like, ‘Nazarene’ that even everyday people would wince under. Christmas is a story of how Jesus became like us, became like you, to rescue us, to rescue you. God became flesh. He was born as a human baby. With feet and hands and eyes and tummy button. He lived in obscurity, he lived under threat, he lived a life of misunderstanding, persecution and injustice. And He did it all for our sake. He has become like us, even identified among sinners like us. He has made His home with us. To make His home, with the Father, our home.

In this final message of our Crisis of Confidence teaching series, George Benson reminds us that crisis is an inevitable part of life, but peace is always possible through Christ. The central scripture, John 16:33, offers a profound truth: 'In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.' This teaching doesn't shy away from the reality of suffering, but instead prepares us for it. We're encouraged to find our peace not in circumstances, but in our union with Jesus. Just as He remained calm in the storms of life, we too can access His supernatural peace that surpasses understanding. This message challenges us to develop consistent prayer rhythms and to approach Jesus in both good times and bad, finding in Him a source of strength and tranquility that the world cannot provide.

Stephen Dawson reminds us of the profound responsibility and privilege of parenting as a spiritual journey. We're challenged to see our role as parents primarily as spiritual formators, shaping the souls of our children. He draws parallel between our earthly parenting and God's perfect parenting of us. It's a call to acknowledge God in all our ways, with wholehearted embrace. Stephen invites us to courageously trust God, even when parenting feels overwhelming, reminding us that it's not about having the biggest trust, but about trusting the biggest God.

Neville Jones takes us through an overview of scripture looking at references to caring for the poor. In our journey of faith, we're called to reflect on God's heart for the poor and marginalised. The Old Testament, from Exodus to Isaiah, consistently emphasises God's command to care for the needy, strangers, and oppressed. This isn't just a suggestion but a divine mandate. When we serve the poor, we're essentially giving to the Lord Himself. This powerful imagery reminds us that our acts of compassion are deeply intertwined with our worship. The early church exemplified this beautifully, sharing possessions and ensuring no one was in need. Their care for the vulnerable went hand-in-hand with powerful ministry and church growth.

This powerful message reminds us of our profound need for a great high priest - Jesus Christ. The sermon takes us through biblical history, from humanity's original role as priests in Eden to the Old Testament sacrificial system, culminating in Jesus as the ultimate high priest. We learn that Jesus isn't just sympathetic to our struggles; He intimately understands them, having been tempted in every way yet remaining sinless. This gives us the confidence to approach God's throne of grace, no matter our past or present struggles.

In our journey of faith, we often grapple with the question of how to become better people. In this talk, George Benson challenges us to reconsider our approach, focusing on the transformative power of Christ rather than mere self-improvement techniques.