Life Church Southampton

If we try to sort out our own sense of purpose, believing it to be a narrow tightrope we can easily miss, then we place an unhelpful weight of burden on every decision we face. In this series we look to what the Bible teaches about identity, eternity and purpose.

Eustace Tackie-Otoo joins us from Grace Community Church, Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana. Eustace helps us to see our wider mission as a church belonging to a family of churches like Commission. We see that God's purposes for His church extend way beyond our own immediate activities and area, and the part which we play in all of that.

Here Chris considers how care is outworked both in the broader church community as well as within smaller groups. Abigail also explains how the Life Groups work at Life Church, and the pastoral benefits of belonging to one.

Life is filled with trials of every kind. Only Jesus is the Rock who remains faithful and able to help each of us in times of trouble. We build our lives on Him, the Son of the Living God.

The Bible encourages us to care for one another. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to welcome, encourage, build up and bear with others in love.

This message looks to the New Testament and the early church as our model for those who 'shepherd', care for and oversee the flock.

This year two interns have volunteered their time for Life Church whilst undertaking Commission's Theology for Life and Intern training. This week they each bring a message shaped by what God has been revealing more to them over the past year.

In Acts 8 we see the good news about Jesus being shared and salvation coming to the Ethiopian official who immediately believes and is baptised in the name of Jesus. The message of salvation in Jesus is a truly global message for all.

Since the early church began there has been persecution against those who proclaim the gospel, and persecution remains commonplace in much of the world today. But, God is building His church and the message continues to spread. What should our response be like?

Race, gender, class, and many other social categories intersect to shape our experiences of both privilege and oppression. As we consider this Intersectionality and it’s effect on us and those around us, we look to Jesus who has ultimate privilege and power, yet chose to serve and sacrifice.

Authentic church is a people who have witnessed Jesus, and who share that witness with others. We are not alone in this as the Spirit also witnesses. The witness of the church and the Spirit cannot be stopped.

The holiness and purity of God must be taken seriously. The church is a place of acceptance and grace, where dishonesty and hypocrisy have no place. Confession and forgiveness lead to authentic fellowship. In this message Chris helps us see how to avoid offending God and harming the church.

This Sunday we gave to our Life Church Gift Day. Reading from Acts 4, Si Munsie addressed the relationship we have both with God and with the 'stuff' around us. The early church had been so radically effected by the grace they had received in Christ that it had wonderfully changed their relationship with their belongings. By grace, the same can be true for us.

It is the presence of Jesus in our lives that leads us to live extraordinary lives with extraordinary moments of breakthrough through the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer.

In this message Jon helps us what an authentic church looks like when engaging with those in poverty, be it economic, relational, aspirational or spiritual poverty. In Christ, we are empowered by the Spirit to bring good news to the poor.

We celebrate the great diversity of the church, because we are united together in Christ! On this occasion we look at generosity, both within our own church and across churches and nations - giving generously for the sake of the gospel.

What does it look like to be devoted to something? The early church, we’re told in Acts, devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching, fellowship with other believers, the breaking of bread and prayer. What does it look like, and what does this communicate to others, when we do the same?

When Peter preaches at Pentecost he speaks as a changed man, emboldened and equipped by the Holy Spirit which is now poured out on all believers. His proclamation for the need for repentance cuts to the heart of his listeners and some 3000 are added to the church that day.

Jesus told his disciples that it would be better for him to go, in order that the Father send the Holy Spirit who is present now in all believers. Si helps us to know who the Holy Spirit is, and how we can continue to be filled and see the work of the Spirit amongst us.

Moments before Jesus ascends he commands his followers to wait for the promised gift of the Father - the gift of the Holy Spirit. God's presence is about to be poured out on the church, empowering and transforming people for all time.

When Paul writes to Philippi he makes a bold claim about the future of the Philippian church. Paul says 'I am sure of this…'. How can Paul speak with such absolute certainty - only because of his confidence in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It seems like just the other day that news was shared of Dave and the McNee family moving on from Life church. In this LifePod episode Si and Dave reflect back on some memories of Dave's time here and talk about their next steps as they continue to seek and follow God's call together.

1 Corinthians makes clear that the gift of prophesy is available to all believers. It is a gift for building up God’s church. Alex helps us to trust God in both using and receiving prophecy for our good, and for God’s glory.

This Easter Chris Kilby considers Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, and shows what this means for us by looking at what it meant for the three men on crosses that day.

Simon considers the fear, humility and joy with which King David brought the arc to Jerusalem in the Old Testament. How much more liberated are we in the very presence of God, now we have been brought near in Christ and freed from condemnation through His sacrifice!