Hope Church Merthyr Podcast

Ephesians 1: 3-14 shows what happens when we get excited about the truth of what God has done through Jesus! It's one long sentence in the Greek, and it's got so much in it that we're looking at it from three different angles over the next three weeks! This week... how does the Triune God bring about his plan of salvation?

We can tell a lot about who lives in a house by what the house is like. Paul tell us in Ephesians that the church is God's house - a dwelling made up of people, all different, yet unified in him. And the cement that holds it all together? His love! Big question: what can the world tell about God by looking at us as his house? This Sunday, we're kicking off our new series in Ephesians. Let's pray t...

So we are people with good news, and a mission to live out and share that good news. But how? How do we tell people about Jesus in a way that meets them where they're at? This Sunday, we're learning how Jesus himself shares his own good news. Who better to learn from than Jesus?

Last Sunday, we kicked off the new year with a reminder of the good news we get to share and the call to be people with "beautiful feet". This week, we dig into the mission Jesus invites us join. We don't have to dream - he's building his church, and we get to be part of it!

At the start of a new year, it's always good to refocus. As a church, who are we? What are we all about? Today - what is the gospel? Why is it good news?

There is nothing ordinary about the Advent story. A young girl in a backwater town is met by an angel, told she will bear a child though she's a virgin, and that this child is the long-promised Messiah! Then he lederly - but also miraculously pregnant - cousin confirms it all. And Mary? She breaks into song... but not the gentle lullaby you'd expect. It's a declaration that god is abou...

It feels like all too quickly, Advent is upon us again. Today is the first of three pivotal moments in the Advent story - all involving Mary - that all reveal something fresh and surprising about what God is bringing into the world.

We're at the end of Hebrews. 36 Sundays. Around 22 hours of seeing Jesus together. If someone asked you to sum it up, what would you say? Today we're trying to do that - in just two verses and four questions!

We're almost at the end of Hebrews. If everything we've heard about Jesus is true, if we are receiving something eternally unshakeable through him, how does that transform our lives now?

Ever feel like life’s shaking you? This Sunday we’re talking about what can’t be shaken. When we know the ground we're standing on is solid, we can know certainty in shaky times. Hebrews 12: 18-29

*Sound is less like Paul is in a tin can after 5 minutes* Faith isn't a smooth road - it's a rugged trail, full of twists, stumbles and uphill climbs. But here's the good news: we were never meant to hike it alone. The Spirit is with us, the great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on - and so are the people walking beside us!

The race of faith isn't a sprint - it's a lifelong marathon that's worth pushing for. So what keeps us going when the road gets tough? Spoiler alert: It's Jesus!

Faith is rarely glamorous, but it's often costly. The Bible talks about some people who were "sawn in two" while others "escaped the sword" for their allegiance to Jesus, and that's reality for many followers of Jesus today. Whatever the path involves, he is worth it - and it leads to ultimate victory because Jesus has already won!

Ever felt like you’re running on empty, wobbling like a wonky trolley in Asda? You're not alone. Elijah, the fiery prophet, went from hero to zero, yet God met him with love in his darkest hour. Join us today as we see how Jesus lifts seekers, the shattered, and the steadfast with a hope that lasts for eternity.

Hiraeth – a word that refuses to sit neatly in the box of translation. It evokes a sense, a feeling… a deep longing for home. But often, it’s a home from the past that no longer exists. For Christians, the opposite is true. It’s a deep longing for a home we’ve not yet been to – a home found in a Person called Jesus. This morning, we are looking at how a man named Abraham shows us what it looks lik...

We live in a world that, for all its talk of “Be who you are,” loves to stick labels on people—reminding them of past shame, even cancelling them for it. But the good news of Jesus is this: God rescues and transforms us, freeing us from the labels of the past. And yet, in the Hall of Faith we find Rahab, who never seems to lose hers. Why would God leave it there? The answer might just surprise you...

In a world of noise, God still speaks. But will we hear Him? This Sunday, we’re looking at how God broke into silence and spoke to… a kid! Samuel shows us that faith isn’t passive—it leans in, says “Here I am,” and listens. And this points to God’s ultimate Word: Jesus. If we’ll listen to Him, the promise is full life and hope forever. Want to turn down the volume on a noisy world and turn up God’...

We’re all tempted to chase what looks valuable—wealth, influence, pleasure. Moses had it all… and walked away. Why? Because he saw the Invisible One as more real than what was visible. Join us as we learn to live with that same perspective.

One of the most incredible things about the whole Bible story is the way that God himself associates with messed up people. We’ve already seen how messed up Abraham was, but his grandson Jacob takes it to a whole other level. And yet God still calls himself, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Prepare to be amazed by the kindness of God!

This morning, carrying on in Hebrews 11, we’re looking at the later life of Abraham. We’ll see how Abraham’s faith prepared him for the biggest test of his life, how it fits into the big story of the Bible and that it’s more than just a good story for the kids. Join us as Tim takes us through this section of Hebrews 11.

There are very few people in human history who didn’t die, less than a handful. And Enoch is one of them, so it’s not surprise that he’s in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. What can we learn from Enoch about a life of faith? Join us this morning as Nic helps us to explore the story of Enoch.

The Bible has many different examples of what faith looks like. Sarah shows us a faith that isn’t impulsive but carefully considered. Her story isn’t straightforward – it’s pretty messy (can relate?) but because God’s faithfulness is unwavering, we can grow in real, resilient faith too. Join Lisa as she helps us to unpack the story of Sarah.

The story of Noah points us forward to Jesus and the hope of the New Creation. How does Noah’s faith instruct us as we make choices today? Join Tom as he takes us through the story of Noah.

We all need examples to help us see what living by faith looks like. Not perfect people, but signposts. This Sunday, we’re starting our journey through the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11, and first up is a surprising character – blink and you’ll miss him, Abel! So what do we have to learn from him? Join Paul as he helps us to understand the significance of Abel.

Nobody gets surgery because it’s fun, but because it’s necessary. And a good surgeon provides the right aftercare to ensure recovery. This next section of Hebrews is a stern warning, it’s surgical, but it comes with a healing encouragement. Ultimately it’s for our good!