Building His Church | Four12

Did satan fall before Adam and Eve were created, or did they fall together? Most modern-day Christians believe satan fell before God created Adam and Eve – but what if they fell at the same time in the Garden of Eden? Here we take a fresh look at this account, considering what Scripture shows us and what some of the early Church Fathers believed. Beyond the question of when lucifer fell, Andrew Se...

Did you know that lucifer was created to be a perfect representation of God? He was created to be perfect in beauty and full of wisdom (Ezekiel 28:12), but then he fell and became satan. Scripture gives us a striking contrast between the devil, who grasped for God’s glory and sought to exalt himself, and Jesus, though fully God, humbled Himself to exalt the Father (Philippians 2:6-8). Andrew Selle...

How do the shoes of the gospel and the helmet of salvation work? As believers, we are in a battle for territory – not only in the world around us, but also in our own hearts and minds. Ephesians 6 points us to two essential pieces of armour God has given us for this fight: the shoes of the gospel of peace and the helmet of salvation. Christ gives us peace with God so that we can stand firm and car...

How do we use the breastplate of righteousness and shield of faith? In our spiritual battle, we need to know how to protect what is vital – God has given us the armour we need to stand firm and guard our salvation. Ephesians 6 points us to two important defensive weapons: the breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith. Here, Andrew Selley unpacks how God’s grace gives us a new heart and...

How does spiritual warfare really work? Many modern teachings about it are not biblical, drawing some believers into battles Scripture never tells us to fight. Satan’s primary weapon is deception, and he aims to misdirect us in the spiritual war. But the Bible shows us how we win as we submit to God, resist the devil, and advance the gospel one person at a time. Here, Andrew Selley challenges doct...

How do we know if satan has deceived us? The enemy can get into our thoughts and quietly shape the way we think – capturing our beliefs in subtle ways that sound like truth, feel right, and confirm our biases. Spiritual deception can come through cultural ideologies, the media we consume, and our personal “bends”. Here, Andrew Selley encourages us not to be distracted by controversies, conspiracy...

What is spiritual warfare, and how do we stand firm and win our battles? We are all in a spiritual fight, and the battle reaches into every area of our lives – from our thoughts and emotions to our marriages, relationships and churches, the enemy seeks to hinder us from taking hold of what God has for us. In this session, Andrew Selley brings greater clarity to the unseen realm, unpacking the natu...

Why is taking new ground for God’s Kingdom such a battle? Extending God’s rule and reign, both in our lives and for His church, comes with opposition. Whenever God is birthing something new, resistance from the enemy will follow. Revelation 12 shows the dragon standing before the woman, ready to devour the child as soon as it is born – a picture of the enemy’s desire to destroy what God is establi...

Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does it mean to follow Him? Being Spirit-led begins with understanding who He is and why Jesus sent Him. In this session, we are introduced to the person of the Holy Spirit and shown what it means to walk in step with the One who comforts, convicts, empowers, and transforms. Here, Luke Watson reminds us: the Holy Spirit cannot be confined to our expectations. As ch...

What happens when faithfulness quietly gives way to familiarity? In this message, Luke Watson unpacks this searching question through Mark 1, Mark 14, and the account of Blind Bartimaeus. Though Jesus remained the same, the disciples gradually became less captivated by Him. Their greatest danger was not that Jesus had left them, but that they had stopped seeing Him for who He truly is. If your lov...

What if God has a greater purpose for church hurt? Relational challenges make us more like Jesus. In this message, Andrew Selley explores how Scripture teaches believers to process hurt and offence. Wherever people walk closely together, hurt is inevitable – whether through misunderstanding, insensitivity, or intentional actions – but God can use those moments to shape us. As we choose to forgive,...

What does it look like to truly belong to the body of Christ? Pete Witt calls believers beyond a spectator mindset and into the life that God has designed for His church to live together. He reminds us that following Jesus was never meant to be an individual journey of "me and God," but a shared life where every believer is connected, known, contributing, and growing together. Drawing from Ephesia...

What do your priorities say about your love? True faith is not measured only by what our Sundays look like, but by our devotion throughout the week. In this session, Andrew Selley traces a line from Jesus’ zeal for the Father’s house to the church’s calling to live with the same kind of passion, care, and sacrifice. He draws on David, Paul, Haggai, and the early church to show that love for God is...

Can the way we think impact our correct understanding of the Bible? In this message, Andrew Selley explains the broader context of Scripture by looking at it through the lens of Hebrew culture, revealing the bigger story God has been telling all along: how we can become acceptable to Him. Andrew looks at the sacrificial system of atonement and forgiveness to show us what confidence we can have thr...

We are all seeking, but do we realise it’s for Jesus? In this message, Luke Hulley reflects on Jesus as the "Pearl of Great Price" (Matthew 13v45-46) – the deepest desire of every human heart. Drawing from his own journey and Jesus' parable, Luke explores the different stages people go through as they search for meaning, purpose, belonging, and everlasting life. Whether someone is unaware of their...

Are we interpreting Scripture through God’s intended lens? Our culture can influence the way we understand the Bible. In this message, Andrew Selley explains what faithful interpretation is: studying Scripture within its proper historical, cultural, and linguistic context to understand what it is really saying. This requires learning how Hebrew culture thought and communicated in the time the Bibl...

How does God’s design for motherhood reflect His nature? What is God’s plan for mothers? Motherhood is more than a role – it reflects an aspect of God. In this Mother’s Day message, Andrew Selley unpacks the beauty and purpose of biblical womanhood in a culture where God’s design is often challenged. Through Scripture, we see how mothers nurture, comfort, train, and shape lives in unique ways. And...

What is the process for us, as saints, to have our needs met in church? In this practical message, Andrew Selley unpacks how God has designed His church to function when caring for people, drawing from Scripture and real-life experience. We are reminded that it begins with openness – speaking honestly and asking for help. At the same time, difficult conversations need to be embraced, as we take ow...

Are you gaining knowledge—or actually being shaped into Christ’s likeness? Are we truly learning the way God intends, or simply gathering information? In this session, Andrew Selley challenges modern approaches to teaching and explores the biblical model of discipleship. Andrew contrasts information-driven learning with life-on-life transformation, showing how true growth happens through relations...

What is holding you back from your purpose in God’s Kingdom? Are your beliefs limiting God’s plan for your life? In this message, Andrew Selley explains that God has chosen every believer to make an impact, but so often learned helplessness, fear, and unbelief hold us back from walking in our calling. Through Scripture, Andrew unpacks this astounding truth: in Christ, believers are called greater...

Are we living in both God’s forgiveness and His resurrection? What is the true meaning of Easter? Here, Andrew Selley reminds us that the Apostle Paul calls the death and resurrection of Jesus “of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15v3-4) – it is the two legs our faith stands on. During Easter, we celebrate not only forgiveness through the cross, but also our transformation through His resurrection...

How do we live out faith in a way that pleases God? In this message, Daniel Barnard unpacks what it means to live a life of faith, and so to please God (Hebrews 11:6). He explains that, more than just an internal belief, faith determines how we live - what we do, the decisions we make. As such, it is vital to have a proper understanding of what faith is. True faith stems from the belief that God,...

God is always our provider, even when we face lack. We all face moments of doubt, wondering if God will provide. In this message, Ashley Gabriel draws on the story of Ruth to show how easily we can drift from trusting God, especially in uncertain seasons. Through Naomi’s journey and Ruth’s commitment, he highlights the need to trust God daily – not only when things are going well. Sharing from his...

How can we be sure we are interpreting the Bible correctly? In this message, Andrew Selley equips believers with practical tools for reading and studying Scripture so that we can discern God’s truth. By asking whether Christians can be under God’s curse if we do not tithe, Andrew shows how easily we can draw the wrong conclusions when we read isolated verses without considering the wider context o...

How do we discern God’s truth in Scripture beyond our own biases and beliefs? The Bible is not just a text to study – it is the living Word that examines our hearts. In this message, Mike Davies shows us how Scripture not only reveals God but also our thoughts and intentions. Too often, we allow our understanding to be shaped by our biases, rather than embracing the whole counsel of Scripture. Mik...