Freedom Church Chester

Sunday. 31 May 2020 | Acts 18:24-28 // Dave Scotland | God’s wisdom – man’s folly // In this passage we are introduced to Apollos, a well-educated, gifted speaker. In spite of all his knowledge and wisdom, he had yet to learn about Christ and the work he accomplished. He humbly submits to the teaching of other disciples and then is used powerfully by God.

Sunday, 24 May 2020 | Acts 18:18-23 // Emma Beddoes | Travelling around // Paul spent a long time in Corinth. While he was there, Gallio, the representative of the Emperor in the region, gave a political-legal judgment in favour of Paul. This decision had wide-reaching consequences for the spread of the gospel. // // In today’s passage, we see Paul had his hair cut, which possibly marked the end o...

Sunday, 17 May 2020 | Acts 18:1-17 // Andy Lawrie | Stages of ministry // Paul was driven by his love for Jesus to travel, sharing the good news. He knew that, like us, he had done nothing to deserve the grave he’d received – quite the contrary. // // This passage sees Paul arrive at cosmopolitan Corinth, a city well-known for its immorality. There Paul worked and ministered. He could not be accus...

Sunday, 10 May 2020 | Acts 17:16-34 // Paul Jackson | The gospel and idols // Though we love God, we all have idols. These are things or people that have a dearer place in our heart than God. These may even be good things in their own right; it is just that we are giving them inappropriate priority. // // The apostle Paul was provoked by the idols he saw in Athens. He knew that the answer then, as...

Sunday, 3 May 2020 | Acts 17:10-15 // Keith Cooper | Greater Nobility // We need to know the Word. We have such ready access to the bible, there can be no excuse for failing to read and take in these precious truths. // // We must approach the word of God humbly, with an open heart. He still speaks and reveals himself to us. // // The Bereans in this passage were willing to listen and in this they...

Sunday, 26 April 2020 | Acts 17:1-9 // Rob Pomeroy | Trip to Thessalonica // This week we return to Acts, catching up with Paul and Silas as they journey to the city of Thessalonica. We learn to trust that God will use as as he has equipped us, and we reflect on the amazing future that awaits all those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. // // You can listen to the sermon on SoundCloud or watch o...

Sunday, 19 April 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 6 // Andy Lawrie | Working together to build God’s kingdom // Andy concludes our series focusing on Freedom Church’s vision and values. In this final episode, we address look at our comitment to working together, to build the Kingdom of God.

Sunday 12 April 2020 | He made a way // Keith Cooper | Colossians 1:16 // History is His Story, God’s story. His purposes are worked out through Jesus Christ. // // In Colossians 1:16 re read that all things created by him and for him; our purpose is to glorify God. That is the goal of our existence. // // Crucifixion was not unusual in Jesus’ time. But there was nothing usual about Jesus’ sacrifi...

Sunday, 5 April 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 5 // Keith Cooper | Growth, Gifts & Talents // Episode 5 considers Freedom Church’s value relating to gifts & talents, specifically: “Encouraging everyone to grow in faith, developing the gifts & talents God has given us”. As the UK and many other countries continue in lockdown, due to COVID-19, it is all the more important to reach out to one anoth...

Sunday, 29 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 4 // Khumbulani Sibanda | Value everyone, irrespective of their differences // The third edition of our series on the church’s values concentrates on the value of every person. This sermon was delivered via Zoom, as the congregation met online during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Sunday, 22 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 3 // Andy Lawrie | Outward looking with compassion for Chester // In the next in our series focusing on Freedom Church’s values, Andy looks at compassion. This is always relevant and never more so that during the current coronavirus situation. // // This sermon was delivered via Facebook live; the video is available here: https://www.facebook.com/F...

Sunday, 15 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 2 // Matt Banks | Generous in everything // Matt continues our season examining Freedom Church’s values. This week, we focus on generosity. // // Cover image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/epBIrtdg2Hk

Sunday, 8 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 1 // Dave Brown | Creatively reflecting God’s best in all we do // Today, Dave opens our mini series focusing on the church’s core values. We begin with “Creatively reflecting God’s best in all we do”. // // Cover image by Plush Design Studio on Unsplash

Sunday, 1 March 2020 | Acts 16:25-40 // Emma Beddoes | God Turning the Tables // Conversion is the first step along the road of salvation. This starts a journey of growing in faith and freedom. Freedom comes from following God’s direction, pursuing dependence on God and passion for his purposes. // // We have been destined for freedom. Destined for freedom from sin, freedom from the tyranny of our...

Sunday, 23 February 2020 | Acts 16:16-24 // Keith Cooper | Fighting Evil & Paying the Price // Demonic spirits cannot be trusted with the gospel. In this passage we see Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl who was exploited by her so-called owners for selfish profit. // // Satan intends to rob us of the inheritance promised to us through Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. We are divinely empowered...

Sunday, 16 February 2020 | Acts 16:11-15 // Rob Pomeroy | Open doors // Through the experiences of Paul, the other apostles and the new convert Lydia, we learn: // // - God calls us // - God commands obedience // - God's plans are perfect // - God opens hearts // - How we should respond //

Sunday, 9 February 2020 | Acts 16:6-10 // Keith Cooper | Where to, Lord? // The Holy Spirit prevented the apostles from travelling in the direction they had intended. During this process of closing doors, God was teaching them an important lesson about actively seeking, discovering and hearing God’s direction. It is essential for followers of Christ to walk by faith. // // When seeking his directi...

Sunday, 2 February 2020 | Acts 16:1-5 // Dave Brown | Cutting Issues // The Jerusalem Council ruled that the Gentiles did not need to follow all the ceremonial Jewish law. This enabled Gentiles and Jews to meet together without bondage or disunity. Nevertheless in this passage, Paul arranges for Timothy to be circumcised. // // Timothy, under Jewish tradition, was a Jew (by his mother’s line). And...

Sunday, 26 January 2020 | Our Father // Graham Webb // // Jesus’ example was to focus on the Father. We can do no better than to follow his example. // // Our Father is always working // Our Father always longs for his children // Our Father sees and rewards // Keep trusting your Father

Sunday, 19 January 2020| Acts 15:36-41 // Dave Scotland | Unfortunate Division // Paul and Barnabas were set aside together into a divinely appointed, godly, spiritually successful partnership. And yet here we see them in intense conflict with each other, despite the fact they are apostles. Apostles are not infallible. // // There is no mention in this passage of prayer and fasting, or of the dire...

Sunday, 12 January 2020 | Acts 15:22-35 // Khumbalani Sibanda | Letter Writing // God’s truth transforms lives and lifts burdens. Should we follow the world’s patterns (e.g. political correctness) or God’s? // // The apostles wrote to the gentile converts to clarify the place of the law in their lives. The law, fulfilled by Christ, shows us how to live, but no longer confers righteousness (it neve...

Sunday, 5 January 2020 | Acts 15:5-12 // Keith Cooper | The Evidence Decides It // Some Jews considered that the Mosaic law should be applied to the new Gentile converts. This meant, for example, subjecting the new believers to circumcision. // // Peter makes the point that God has shown his approval of the Gentiles by giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit – without asking any additional legal r...

Sunday, 22nd December 2019 | John 1:1-2 // Keith Cooper | Consider Jesus (part 2) // As John begins in v1 he does not speak of the ‘Word of God’, but of the word who was with God, and was God. John is telling us how things have been from all eternity. For John the Word is revealing the man: Jesus Christ. // // 1. Jesus Christ shares God’s eternity. // 2. Jesus Christ was eternally with God. // 3....

Sunday, 15 December 2019 | Hebrews 3:1 // Elizabeth Linton | Consider Jesus // Ignorance is growing, of the true meaning of CHRISTmas. Society is becoming superuser illiterate. But the bible tells us to consider Jesus. // // He is the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3). And through him we find freedom – freedom from sin and freedom from the curse of death. // // At Advent, we remember Jesus’s f...

Sunday, 8 December 2019 | Acts 14:21-28 // Matt Banks | Heading into Advent // We approach scripture through the lens of Christ. Christ is all and in all. With this lens, today we look at the incarnation afresh. The incarnation is about the coming, the suffering, the resurrection and the coming again of Christ. // // Three small details are worthy of notice in this passage: // // 1. Paul and Barna...