Sermons from All Souls Church

Joe starts by reflecting on the life of the Queen and her living with Jesus, like Jesus and for Jesus. The only guidance Jesus gives in today's passage is "remain" with me. Proximity is key. Don't go your own way - like Adam and Eve - but be "in his dust". This is where the Holy Spirit comes in - making God accessible everywhere. "Habit eats will power for breakfast" so we need to practice his pre...

Introducing this 4-week series Joe asks us to consider the moon's relationship to the earth, our relationship to God (here and now), a Jewish rabbi's relationship to his disciples (there and then) and Jesus's relationship to his apprentices (always and everywhere). Are we becoming apprentices - being with him, learning from him and doing what he does - or remaining observers?

Joe starts this Summer series with a reminder of our imperfections and the opportunities we have to press the reset button and try again. Today's passage is a reset for Simon Peter, after his thrice denial, with the simple and deep encouragement to "follow me". Joe encourages us to similarly reflect and restart.

Joe recaps the series so far, lays out post Summer intentions and revisits what it means to be Jesus in our today. What's the point of a one-off act if it doesn't change the big picture? Joe looks at gun crime in the US - including this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9-IYiQjWD4 - to see one radical response to a familiar challenge. He then recalls a "Bridge of Spies" type swap of gr...

Joe shares two tales from his week (involving a toffee latte and a hit-and-run incident) to relate to Peter's encounter with a lame man and a consequent crowd. After a quick recap of the "Gathered" series so far Joe highlights how Peter - once fearful of a mob - seized an opportunity to point people, given cause to pause by an unexpected happening, to Jesus. Would we do likewise?

Rachel goes back to questions in Genesis to consider our relationships with God and each other and mentions how in Exodus answers were encapsulated in the 10 commandments. She then zips us forward to Acts 2 and the power at Pentecost - when Jesus's vine of relationships accelerated outwards into a new community of believers - reflecting God's heart for humanity. That was then, this is now - what d...

Joe continues the series with part 3 of 'Gathered' - looking at what lessons we can learn from the early church in thebook of Acts.

Joe continues the series with part 2 of 'Gathered' - looking at what lessons we can learn from the early church in thebook of Acts.

Joe highlights how a multinational crowd was given a second chance 2000 years ago just as we all are today. Back then, Peter was speaking and Jesus's reality was not in question ("as you yourselves know") and his healing reputation was well established but his identity had been largely misunderstood. Peter pointed out the error and the crowd was "cut to the heart". Christians today are reportedly...

Richard challenges us to live out being under authority. He takes us back to the reality at the end of Matthew's gospel when some worshipped, some doubted and Jesus expected them to go and make disciples. To live our best lives we need to obey.

Joe concludes this series by recognising the struggle we all have embracing another's rule. Given all the needs in the world and your limited time to pray what makes your list? Do we race through asks, generalise or prioritise (knowing there will be gaping gaps)? From personal experience of running out of words Joe reflects on listening and acknowledging that we're joining God's plan (not vice ver...

Maf compares the spans of the gospels to open this week's talk and highlights that John's starts before the foundation of the world and ends with breakfast - Jesus welcoming friends. With references to Wordle, Nerdle and Her Majesty the Queen Maf unpicks symbolic meanings hidden for all of us within that final fellowship meal.

Joe points to Pete Grieg whose book we've been using as a guide. Pete points to Jesus who taught his disciples how to pray and to keep on praying. From tales of a persistent widow to a grumpy judge we are encouraged not to give-up. Joe retells Pete's story of a troublesome mosquito cloud and how its removal after prayer prompted thankfulness. Whilst we may not understand unanswered prayer inviting...

We start with Psalm 57 then progress to Joe quoting Frankenstein's monster as we recognise prayer builds relationship. The opening line of the Lord's prayer gives us context as we orient ourselves - we need to stand in awe and rejoice that we are encouraged to treat him as "Daddy". We are God's beloved and invited to trust - to make sense of ourselves and our purpose as we recognise who we are spe...

Rachel recognises one's need to pause - to listen to the still, small voice that may be drowned out in the noise of rush. Whilst some may sit still (lit candle, quiet space) Rachel finds walking forces her to pause - what works for you? She goes on to recognise that prayer is as much about listening as talking, and talking starts with a "Hi! Great so see you" (labrador-like) before any list of ask...

In the last of the series Joe reflects on what we've learned from our study of how to live counter-culturally. Tying up loose ends he starts with Jeremiah's words of encouragement for living in exile. Then he jumps to Daniel's looking ahead to the coming kingdom and when it will be... Then we move to Chronicles and its span from Adam to the close of the Old Testament. And back, to Daniel in the li...

Jon starts with a reminder that many of our day-to-day phrases originated in the bible. He goes on to unpack Daniel chapter 5 and summarises with three "P's" - priorities, perseverance and pride. Priorities - the party thrown whilst Belshazzar's state was at war and his drunken abuse of holy items. Do we (dis)respect God's word? (It's not just another book(!).) Perseverance - Daniel was remembered...

Dan starts this session with a laser-enabled comparison of the dimensions of the church to a breath-taking gold idol. The idol represented an idea that people were obliged to bow down to - in some ways not unlike the idea of apartheid that used to separate lives in South Africa. Dan reflects on the life of one who wouldn't bow down to that idea - Desmont Tutu - and how he forced the people of his...

Joe starts with a cocktail of clips and a shoe story to launch us into this week's examination of the exploits of the Hebrew 4. Daniel shares the interpretation of a dream with the king predicting downfall and receives a humble response. Joe highlights the humility of Daniel, his wisdom and tact in challenging circumstances and how he held to the truth throughout. Joe encourages us to similarly le...

Joe starts this session with a tale from Uganda - fetching and feasting on beef alongside daily maize, rice and beans. Way before Veganuary became fashionable Daniel asked for simple food... and the four young men not only looked better nourished as a result but they went on to demonstrate expertise and understanding beyond their peers. How do we live similarly faithfully in our cultural landscape...

Joe starts a new series with his own experiences of settling in (tidal) west south west London (UK). He then opens up the experiences of Daniel and his friends and how they dealt with the strategies (isolation, inculturation, integration, identification) of their captors. What did it take to live fruitfully and faithfully in circumstances beyond one's control?

Hannah addresses our struggling souls and encourages us to listen for God's breath in the darkness. She takes us back to the 16th century and Brother Juan's "Dark night of the soul" and his commitment to love and worship God, despite one's circumstances. We are being guided by God even in times of his apparent absence. Hannah, speaking from her own experiences, gives practical advice about how to...

Joe starts with a selection of unpopular opinions (e.g. "Monday is the best day of the week")to position today's talk. He then unpacks Paul's letter to the Galatian church to help them (and us) understand what freedom from the law is for - not to indulge but to serve. Applying willpower tries to break us out of negative sin cycles but, quoting from the book of this series, "habits eat willpower fo...

On Remembrance Sunday Rachel reminds us that as we live in the troubles of "now" and "not yet" there will be a time when our joy is complete. Our God, outside of history, sees the lives we go through often crying out "Why Lord?". Drawing from the book of Ecclesiastes she finds God makes everything beautiful in its time - our longing, our hope will be fulfilled.

Dan Bowring takes a look at what it means for the soul to need blessing, and challenges us to find ways to bless others in our daily lives.