Freedom Church Chester

Sunday, 1 December 2019 | Hebrews 10:19-25 // Dave Fellingham | Worship Ushers in the Kingdom // Hebrews was written primarily to the Jews, who were rooted in the Old Testament. The theme of worship predominates Hebrews, as it does the entire bible, Genesis to Revelation. We must worship God holistically, body, soul and spirit. // // Every time revival has come, worship has been an integral compon...

Sunday, 24 November 2019 | Acts 14:8-20 // Keith Cooper | Same Story, Different Reaction // The key word in the story of a crippled man, healed by Paul, is ‘faith’. This is not a difficult concept once we believe in a big God and a small Satan. This powerful God sent Jesus to save us. In the gospels Jesus repeatedly indicates that faith is involved in the process of healing and salvation. // // He...

Sunday, 17 November 2019 | Acts 14:1-7 // Dave Brown | The Cross at the Crossroads // Paul and Barnabas travelled along major trade routes, to commercial & cosmopolitan areas. In these busy locations they had ample opportunities to talk about the work of Christ. // // The effectiveness of the message was helped by the fact that Paul and Barnabas were: // // 1. Commissioned // 2. Anointed by the Ho...

Sunday, 3 November 2019 | Ephesians 6:12 // Rob Coleman | Knowing and Living in our Authority in Christ // Ephesians 6:12 – our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood. // // Notes: // 1. We are God’s workmanship // 2. God created humans to rule and reign over creation, serving in love // 3. He gives us the keys to bind and loose // 4. So let’s take back the ground that the enemy has stolen

Sunday, 27 October 2019 | Acts 13:4-12 // Rob Pomeroy | What’s in a Name? // Discipleship requires humility // 1. Commit all your plans to God // 2. He is God, not our servant // 3. What we ask may be bad for us // 4. God’s way is the best way // // Key points // 1. Salvation is from the Jews // 2. Treat people wisely, kindly & with grace // 3. Always seek God’s will // 4. Ask for, and exercise di...

Sunday, 20 October 2019 | Acts 12:24-13:3 // Keith Cooper | The Start of Missions // A central theme of Acts is the word of God spreading and the church growing. This is all in accordance with the sovereign will of God, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. // // Some points on direction: // // 1. The Holy Spirit brings personal direction. His plans are always better than ours. Obedience is the...

Sunday, 13 October 2019 | Acts 12:18-23 // Paul Jackson | Don’t dare mess with God // This passage details a fairly gruesome end to King Herod. Some would reject this (or the entire bible) because of the parts that are not to their taste. But the whole bible is the word of God and contains truth. We pick and choose at our peril. // // This King Herod was the same Herod who ordered the murder of al...

Sunday, 6 October 2019 | Acts 12:1-17 // Keith Cooper | Herod versus a praying church // Herod was ready to do whatever it would take to increase his popularity. He has had James (the brother of John) killed and his sights are set on Peter. But the church prayed earnestly. And God arranged a rescue. // // Our natural, default response, in every situation, should be to pray. In good times, in bad....

Sunday, 29 September 2019 | Acts 11:19-30 // Rob Pomeroy | Worthy of our Trust // God knows we are frail. In this passage, we see real people in real danger, responding to their situations with a mixture of fear and faith. We need not be discouraged though, when we face all kinds of trials and challenges. When we live to please God, we can live dailing in his presence, pursuing eternal treasure, t...

Sunday, 22 September 2019 | Acts 11:1-18 // Emma Beddoes | Turning Points // The Apostle Peter presents to the church his vision from God, where God transforms the ceremonial Israelite laws. This reinforced the message already brought by Christ: Jesus told his listeners that uncleanness was from within, from evil hearts, not from eating particular foods. By the same token, salvation was not exclus...

Sunday, 15 September 2019 | Acts 10:44-48 // Keith Cooper | God's confirmation // 1. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. You cannot be saved without him. But God pours out his Spirit willingly to all who come to him. // // In this filling we experience the love of Christ. He fills us with his joy. And we receive gifts. // // 2. God works according to his own sovereign will. He will fulfil his purposes...

Sunday, 8 September 2019 | Acts 10:23b-43 // Keith Cooper | To the Gentiles // God is changing Peter’s heart as he prepares him for ministry to the Gentiles. This involves overcoming a lifetime of teaching that the Gentiles were excluded from God’s plans. // // There is no salvation apart from Jesus. God in his good purposes chose Cornelius and Peter to be a key part of the plan, formed before the...

Sunday, 1 September 2019 | Acts 10:1-23a // Keith Cooper | Visions and Menus // This is a pivotal chapter, concerned with the grafting of the Gentiles into the Christian church. Peter was to be used sovereignly by God for this specific mission. This was a process spanning many years. God works according to his own timing and plan. We can trust his methods and timeline. His word will come to pass;...

Sunday, 18 August 2019 | Acts 19:32-43 // Matt Banks | Gospel in Action // Aeneas had been paralysed for 8 years, completely dependent on others for all his needs. Tabitha had been devoted to the works of the gospel and yet suddenly died. Both experienced suffering, a fundamental aspect of living in this fallen world – suffering that can remain this case, even though we lean into God. We should no...

Sunday, 11 August 2019 | Acts 9:19b-31 // Keith Cooper | A New Direction // Paul’s original mission to persecute Christians, was so well known that his change of heart caused great confusion. This confusion quickly turned into murderous intent. But Paul now considered it a privilege to suffer and be persecuted for the sake of Jesus Christ. // // Paul understood what he had been saved from. He valu...

Sunday, 4 August 2019 | Acts 9:1-19a // Andy Lawrie | A Transformed Life // Luke paints a beautiful picture of the transformation of Paul’s life through the direct revelation of Christ. In this, God answered the martyr Stephen’s prayer (chapter 7) not to hold the persecutors’ sin against them. No matter how bleak the situation, we should never underestimate how God responds to faithful prayers. Th...

Sunday, 28 July 2019 | Acts 8:26-40 // Keith Cooper | Divine Appointments // Philip willingly travelled to spread the gospel, despite persecution, because of the love God have given him for people’s souls. He listened well to the Holy Spirit’s direction and brought the enlightenment of the scriptures and the revelation of Christ to the people he met. And Philip obeyed God, going where he was sent...

Sunday, 21 July 2019 | Acts 8:1-25 // Elizabeth Linton | Gospel Effects // // Chapter 8 of Acts is a pivotal chapter. Death changes things. Stephen was the first to die, in a savage ‘mob rule’ attack. This changed the rules and the Christians became fair game. // // This may have seemed like a disaster, but God was building his kingdom and he would not be stopped. Christ has established his discip...

Sunday, 14 July 2019 | Acts 7 // Keith Cooper | Stephen’s reply // Stephen delivers an empowered speech, in faith tracing the story of God’s grace to his people from Abraham onwards. An overriding theme was that God’s most devout followers made him the Lord of their lives. // // We see this in Joseph, who became the vessel of God’s salvation during a time of famine, and in Moses, who led the capti...

Sunday, 7 July 2019 | Acts 6 // Rob Pomeroy | Life Happens // // The gospel was being proclaimed, Christians were facing and dealing with issues of poverty, and persecution was among them. In this environment, God blessed and used the new church powerfully. In Acts 6 we learn: // // 1. We are to be prepared // 2. Our lives as Christians should be marked by good deeds (though these do not themselve...

Sunday, 30 June 2019 | Acts 5 // Dave Brown | Fear and Persecution // The disciples, moving in the knowledge of God, were preaching of Christ and his sacrifice. The church was growing and reaching out into the entire community and Jewish places of worship. // // Ananias and Sapphira sold some land but attempted to deceive the apostles in relation to the proceeds of sale. They claimed they were han...

Sunday, 23 June 2019 | Acts 4:23-37 // Keith Cooper | One Heart and Soul // The disciples' knee-jerk reaction to persecution was to raise their voices in praise to God. They recognised that God was fully in control and that his authority was delegated to them, to preach his hand and spread the gospel. // // Exercising our authority in Christ: // 1. The Word of God is warfare // 2. Authority is fou...

Sunday, 16 June 2019 | Acts 4:1-22 // Andy Lawrie | No other name! // Scorn or salvation? // // The Spirit of God has moved, and here we see some of the fallout. Some people were curious and eager to see what God was doing. Others were outraged and stood in fierce opposition to the disciples and tut gospel spread. We should not be surprised then when we experience similar reactions. Jesus said tha...

Sunday, 9 June 2019 | Acts 3 // Paul Jackson | Power in his name // Having been filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples were then able to move in power. In Acts 3, we see the disciples Peter and John used to heal a lame man. And this healing was for purpose: not only to restore the lame man, but also to pave the way for the testimony of the gospel. // // As Peter says in verse 16, “And [Jesus’]...

Sunday, 2 June 2019 | Acts 2:42-47 // Emma Beddoes | Church Begins // They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.