Redeemer Central

The Familiar Stranger: Part 6 — The Curious Case of Simon the Sorcerer In this teaching John Herron helps us explore the cautionary tale of Simon the Sorcerer from Acts 8 —a striking story of power, money, and misdirected spirituality. Through Simon’s attempt to buy the Holy Spirit, we confront the allure of spiritual shortcuts and self-promotion, contrasting them with the slow, transformative wor...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 5 — Dove Many associate the Holy Spirit with fire, wind, or powerful displays, but what if the truest image is quieter. Stephanie Wilson invites us to rediscover the Spirit not as a force to wield, but as a gentle presence that rests. Tracing the image of the dove through scripture—from Genesis to Jesus’ baptism—we uncover a Spirit that brings order out of chaos, offers...

Subversive Tables - Vision for a Community of Great Grace What does community look like in the church? In the 1st century Roman world, the dinner table was more than a place to eat—it was a stage for empire. Banquets celebrated Caesar, reinforced social hierarchies, and excluded anyone who didn’t belong. Around those tables, uniformity and status ruled. But in Luke 14, Jesus turns that entire syst...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 4 — Water The Bible’s story of the Spirit often comes with the image of water—rivers flowing into deserts, living streams making the Dead Sea fresh. David Armstrong unpacks the invitation Jesus gives when he brings holy disruption to the Feast of Tabernacles: “If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink.” The Spirit not only quenches our thirst but makes us springs of li...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 3 — Breathe John Herron explores how the Holy Spirit, as God’s breath, transforms our lives. From Genesis to Pentecost, this divine “ruach” shapes chaos into order, brings life to the lifeless, and turns fear into courage. The Spirit makes Jesus’ promises personal, connecting head to heart and filling us with God’s love. Rather than starting our days with screens, we’re...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 2 — The Advocate Jesus said it was better for Him to leave so that the Advocate could come. But who is this Advocate? In a culture that longs for experience more than explanation, we discover the Holy Spirit as a person—not a vague life force—who comforts, guides, and empowers. In this sermon David Armstrong traces the Spirit’s story through Scripture and invites us to...

The Familiar Stranger: Part 1 — Rumour & Reality Many of us know about the Holy Spirit, yet live as if He’s little more than a rumour—caught between promise and experience. In this opening message of our new series, David Armstrong explores the Spirit as the familiar stranger: present but often unnoticed, closer than we think, inviting us into a faith that closes the gap between rumour and rea...

Scripture 03: Study The Bible is not a single book but a library — written over centuries, in multiple languages, by many authors, and in a wide range of literary genres. It’s no surprise, then, that understanding it can be challenging. Jesus himself often corrected harmful misreadings of Scripture, showing that when we misunderstand it, the impact can be damaging to both our souls and our society...

In part 2 Stephanie Wilson teaches how we meditate on scripture. The digital age teaches us to read quickly and move on, but the library of Scripture was created for slow, prayerful reflection so that God’s thoughts inhabit our minds completely.

Scripture 01: Read Scripture is far more than an ancient text—it’s a sacred story and a portal into God’s reality, with the power to shape and transform our lives. In this sermon David Armstrong explores why reading the Bible is essential for those who follow Jesus, the Rabbi who modelled a life deeply immersed in Scripture. The Scriptures are not just for information but for spiritual formation....

Scripture 00: A Jesus-Centred Approach The library we call “the Bible” can connect us to God and change who we are, but distraction, hurry, and confusion can hinder our experience with these ancient texts. This is the first of a six-week series helping us rediscover how to engage Scripture as an apprentice to Jesus. In this first part David Armstrong explores the complexities of interpreting the B...

The Book of Job is a strange and compelling story nestled within the Hebrew Scriptures — a poetic exploration of human suffering, divine mystery, and the search for meaning in the midst of loss. In this opening message of a new mini-series, John Herron finishes our journey through Job by looking at the dramatic epilogue in Chapters 38-42.

The Book of Job is a strange and compelling story nestled within the Hebrew Scriptures — a poetic exploration of human suffering, divine mystery, and the search for meaning in the midst of loss. In this second part Stephanie Wilson looks at the conversations between Job and his friends (ch.3-42) and how we can learn to sit with doubt, lament honestly, and find God’s presence even in the midst of p...

The Book of Job is a strange and compelling story nestled within the Hebrew Scriptures — a poetic exploration of human suffering, divine mystery, and the search for meaning in the midst of loss. In this opening message of a new mini-series, John Herron begins our journey through Job by looking at the dramatic prologue in Chapters 1 & 2.

The resurrection is not a happy ending. “Resurrection is not an invitation to escape the world; it is an invitation to change it.” — Desmond Tutu

David Armstrong explores the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, marking the moment when Jesus’ project went public. Jesus’ entry into the city on a donkey, fulfilling a 500-year-old prophecy, was a form of guerrilla theatre, a deliberate subversion of power and an act that mocked the dominant displays of the Roman Empire. Jesus’ humble procession was antithetical to Pontius P...

In Part 4 of our series The Big Questions , Stephanie Wilson brings a hopeful theological reflection on the difficult question’ What about Hell?’, exploring various views of the church before looking most significantly at what Jesus said and how we might think, not only about what happens once this life is over, but how we live today as his followers.

A 7 minute reflection and prayer on Mothering Sunday by Andrew Farmer & Libby Ryans. Andrew performs a reading of his poem ‘Knitting & Kicking’ — a studio recording is available on his album Amelanchier at https://frmr.bandcamp.com/album/amelanchier

In Part 3 of our series The Big Questions , David Armstrong helps us explore the tension between violent depictions of God in Scripture and the radical peace of Jesus. While wars have been justified in God’s name throughout history—including today in Ukraine and Gaza—Jesus reveals a different path: love for enemies, rejection of violence and vengeance, and the peaceable Kingdom (Matthew 5:38-48, R...

The Big Questions: 02 What about the Cross? Crosses are everywhere. As NT Wright says “You can’t get away from it. It’s everywhere. In homes, in films, in paintings, in pop videos. Worn as an earring, as a necklace. Stitched or studded onto leather or denim. Tattooed onto skin.” What comes to mind when you think about the cross? In this sermon, John Herron explores a number of historical atonement...

David Armstrong interviews Tom Magill and Kirsten Kearney about their very different upbringings, the challenges they both faced, how they met, married, and went on to start their company, ESC Film. Together, they use their experiences to help others own their stories and find their voice. ESC Film is a filmmaking company and arts education charity based in Belfast, specialising in mental health....

The Big Questions: 01 What is God like? What comes to mind when you think about God? In this sermon, we explore how our understanding of God shapes everything. Challenging the idea of an angry, wrathful deity, we turn to Scripture and Jesus’ life to reveal a God of love, mercy, and grace. Through the Prodigal Son story, Rembrandt’s art, and reflections on historical theology, we uncover the heart...

This Story Sunday is a special one with our friends Todd Deatherage and Jason Miller. David Armstrong interviews Todd and Jason on their work, the principles of peacemaking, conflict and justice, Israel/Palestine, the genocide taking place in Gaza, and why these issues should matter to us as followers of Jesus. Todd Deatherage is the co-founder and executive director of Telos, an organization dedi...

The final chapters of the Book of Esther reveal the resolution of the story. After Haman’s downfall, Esther and Mordecai work together to save the Jewish people. Mordecai is promoted to a position of great authority, and the Jewish people celebrate their deliverance, marking the beginning of the festival of Purim. In Part 4, Stephanie Wilson reflects on the entire story, the characters' choices an...

In Part 3, David Armstrong unpacks Esther’s courageous and strategic actions to save her people. After fasting, Esther risks her life by approaching King Xerxes and carefully revealing Haman’s plot against the Jews. Her wisdom and patience lead to a powerful reversal, with Haman’s plans backfiring and resulting in his downfall. Esther’s transformation into a bold and discerning leader serves as an...