NCF Sunday Talks

“The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.” (FB Meyer)We are encouraged in Colossians 4:2-6 to be devoted to prayer and we are reminded that Jesus was passionate in prayer while on earth. It is good to be thankful as we pray too.

What is Baptism all about? Based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 2:38,39 we are reminded of the four steps to Initation Baptism. Part 2 is coming on 19th March.

Our Series is brought to a close by looking at the final King of each Kingdom: King Zedekiah (Judah) and King Hoshea (Israel). Though they reigned around 140 years apart there are many similarities between their characters and the times in which they lived. Their lives are mirrored. We look at some of the history of the period, including inter-state relations. We are reminded how important the Pro...

Looking in 2 Kings 22, 23 and 2 Chronicles 34, 35 we find a king that makes us smile. Two key words of his reign are Renewal and Revival. Some kings had a good start in life yet ruled Judah in an evil way. Josiah’s brilliant reign is a miracle because of the poor inheritance he gained from his dad and grandad. At the start of his reign the Temple in Jerusalem and worship in general was in a terrib...

In this Talk we hear about King Manasseh, his life and legacy, as well as the background to his reign. He set up high places in Judah and can be seen as an evil king for much of his reign. Are there high places in our own lives? We can’t be the best disciple of Jesus if we live dual lives –tolerating our own sins (like a plank) but getting annoyed by others’ sins (their speck). There is a battle g...

Hezekiah was a good King of Judah. He sought God through reading the Scriptures that existed then, listening to Isaiah and praying. However we learn that he was also proud on occasions.

We look further into the background of the Kings and Prophets of the Divided Kingdom. Why are some of the Kings mentioned only in the Books of Kings and some in both Kings and Chronicles? Who wrote these books and why? Jehu’s story is mostly told in 2 Kings 9 and 10. He was certainly appointed by God and was perhaps the best King that the northern Kingdom had. However, he didn’t follow through tot...

Another good King is focussed on. Jehoshaphat's heart was for God. Does anything obscure our view of Christ? Does our life revolve around Him? Let's align ourselves fully with God. "...Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

These Tributes were recorded at TaeDae's Funeral at Nuneaton Christian Fellowship on 19th January 2017.00.00 - Miss HeeJin Yoon (Tribute); 07.19 - Mr HyungJin Yoon (Tribute); 17.55 - Rev Dr Nik Howarth (Tribute); 26:12 - Rev David Rhodes (Prayer); 29:30 - Rev Paul Wood (1 Corinthians 15:50-58); 32:37 - Rev Professor Bob Akroyd (Revelation 21:1-5); 34:40 - Rev Dr Fergus Macdonald (Sermon); 49:...

King Jeroboam set the tone for evil leadership in the northern kingdom of Israel. Yahweh’s rule was utterly rejected. It was a dark nation under King Ahab’s rule too. Alliances were made with other neighbouring nations for when things were bad for them. This led Ahab to marry Jezebel. She brought many false prophets with her when she moved to Samaria. The killing of God’s people certainly happened...

We look at the background to why Jeroboam became King, which primarily involves King Solomon. Jeroboam could have been a very good King indeed but turned out badly. He is the “What If?” King. He can be compared to King David in many ways. The way they worshipped and encouraged others to worship is what separates them. Do we involve God in the major decisions of our lives? Do we worship God the way...

In this Talk we learn a little about King Rehoboam’s reign and the three Kings of “unified” Israel that preceded him. How can we apply these incidents to our own lives? Pray for those in authority, be more sensitive to others and be more sensitive to God. Listening to and then obeying God will cost us. We have many empty chairs and a hidden baptistry. By praying, fasting and then obeying God in an...

We are reminded how the shepherds encountered the angels and then went to see Jesus. At the end we pray for the Yoon family, after hearing about the death of our good friend Rev TaeDae Yoon, who died on 21st December.

This Talk began with a YouTube video which featured Colonel HW Miller talking about what Christmas isn’t about. It can be viewed here:www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP37kQg0w_4Not everybody enjoys Christmas. Perhaps those who are ill, have experienced death in the family recently, those in debt and those in wars. Three well-known Kings from the Christmas story are briefly discussed, as well as one who is...

We hear about how Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna were ready for God when He acted in surprising ways in their lives.

Mary and Joseph were common and normal people from an insignificant place. Their lives were part of the Greatest Story. How can we inspire others to embrace their destiny in God? How can we inspire them to look to God in their everyday lives? We are encouraged to act as one of the characters in the story, to be a narrator of the story and to be a translator of the story. Mary was willing to embrac...

Jesus’ work on the cross changes our identities from sinner to co-worker with God. Paul is the typical example of this radical change of his life and destiny through reconciliation with God. His entire life and ministry was to help people reconciled with God (salvation) and bring reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles which was beyond their understanding in the first century world. We know that...

On this Remembrance Sunday we are encouraged to deny ourselves, just as many soldiers and civilians did in previous generations. It’s a profound challenge to deny ourselves as we consider our walk with God. What does it mean to be a Disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:25-27)? Paul created a new norm in Corinth. How can I move in the opposite spirit in the context in which I live? There are many things we c...

Why do we take Communion? What is the background to how Paul of Tarsus describes what needs to change at the Church in Corinth? Recognising our sins and then repenting is an important part of our Christian walk. Our faults need not hold us back from serving God though.

It's brilliant that we have freedom in Christ. This is not a freedom where we can do anything we want though. It's the freedom to lay aside our freedoms. It's the right to lay aside our rights. This Talk also gives us some background to Paul and his relationship with the church he planted in Corinth.

In this Talk we are reminded Who the Holy Spirit is and how, in several ways, that we are truly dependent on Him for our Christian walk and growth. It would be useful to look at the PowerPoint slides as you listen to this Talk. They are available on our website.

All of us sin, with everyone having certain sins in their lives that somehow plague them, though we perhaps tolerate them. We are reminded that we can't have dual citizenship with God and the world. At the end there is a eight minute Question and Answer Session between Paul and John which gives a few practical ideas on this important subject. We shouldn't keep silent about our problems a...

There are 66 books in the Bible. How does the letter that was written to the church in the city of Corinth (that we call 1 Corinthians) fit into that? Why and when was it written? Paul reminds us that we are called by God to be saints, to be thankful, to be one and to be child-like/foolish. It might be useful to follow the Bible Reading Plan for Acts and 1 Corinthians during October and November....

On Partnership Sunday we are reminded what it means to be a Partner of NCF. The form is also discussed.

On this Prayer Sunday we are encouraged to be generous as we pray. This Talk starts off with the stories of the Prodigal Son and Good Samaritan being told. Was it the same person in Jesus’ mind? As our heavenly Father forgives us for what we have done, so we can go out with His power to bless and encourage others. Just as God loves a cheerful and non-reluctant giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), so surely...