Rest·Awe Youth Talks

Content warning: This episode discusses anger, lust, and sexual sin. Anger doesn’t start with violence. Lust doesn’t start with actions. Both begin in the heart. In Matthew 5:21-32, Jesus goes beneath behaviour to our hearts. Where unchecked anger grows into destruction, and unchecked lust distorts our perception of people and the world. It’s confronting, because it includes all of us. No one is o...

Do Christians actually need the Old Testament anymore? What even is going on with all the strange laws, sacrifices, and commands in the Bible? And when Jesus came, did he just get rid of all of it? In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus says something surprising: “I have not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets… but to fulfil them.” The Old Testament isn’t pointless or outdated. It was always pointing to J...

Christians don’t get a neutral life. Whether you realise it or not, your life is already saying something about Jesus. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus calls his people the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In other words, followers of Jesus are meant to stand out. Not by trying to be noticed, but by reflecting him in the way they live. Not blending in. Not pointing to themselves. But showing...

We all have a picture of the good life. Success? Comfort? Approval? Control? But what if we’ve got it completely wrong? In Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus lays out a picture of a good life. A blessed life. *Spoiler alert* It’s nothing like what we expect! The flourishing life isn’t proud, powerful, or put-together… but instead it's poor in spirit, meek, merciful, and even persecuted. It’s upside down. I...

What if your place with God depended on passing a test perfectly? No mistakes. No slipping up. No second chances. In Matthew 4:1–11, a similar test happens. But you aren't the one taking it. Jesus is tempted, pushed to the limit, and offered shortcuts to an easier life and glory. But where everyone else has failed - Adam, Israel, and us - Jesus doesn’t. He passes. Not just as an example, but f...

Why would a perfect person be baptised for repentance? In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus steps into the water - not because He needs forgiveness, but because we do. Jesus chooses to stand in our place, identifying with sinners and committing Himself to a path that will lead to the cross. This is a different kind of greatness. A King who humbles Himself for his subjects. A Son who fully pleases God. And ye...

What would you do if you knew a king was about to arrive… and you weren’t ready? In Matthew 3:1-12, John the Baptist appears in the wilderness with a blunt message:  the King is coming. Get ready. Crowds come to hear him. Some repent. Others assume they’re already safe. But John makes it clear that heritage, religion, or appearances won’t prepare anyone for the arrival of God’s King. The only way...

When we look at the world, it can feel hopeless. Families fleeing. Leaders abusing power. Innocence crushed. In Matthew 2:13-23, we see a world in a similar situation. Jesus, the Son of God, is fleeing a violent king and living in humility and obscurity. But Matthew helps us see something bigger than the chaos: this is Jesus, the faithful Son, who enters the mess of our world and stays faithful. F...

The Magi travelled from far away to worship Him. Herod felt threatened enough to try and destroy Him. How will you respond to Jesus? In Matthew 2:1-12, we see two completely different responses to the birth of Christ. Foreigners pursue him with joy, surrender, and worship. A king sees a rival to his throne. But this tension isn’t just historical - it’s personal. If Jesus really is the true King fo...

Trust often feels risky. We find ourselves fact-checking, double-checking, and looking for a track record - because trust grows where faithfulness is proven. In Matthew 1:18–25, we’re confronted with a scandal: an unmarried young woman found to be pregnant. It’s a moment where trust is tested. Yet in the middle of uncertainty and fear, we see trust and obedience flourish as a promise hundreds of y...

Matthew’s Gospel opens with a long list of names and at first glance, it doesn’t seem very exciting. But this genealogy isn’t random. It tells a story. From Abraham to David to the exile, God made promises to bless, to send a forever King, and to bring His people home. For centuries, those promises seemed stuck... Until Matthew writes:  “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.” Have a listen t...

Who are we at Rest·Awe Youth and why do we exist? Before starting at the beginning of Matthew, we went to the end. In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus gives a mission to His disciples: go and make disciples. That mission shapes everything about who we are at Rest·Awe Youth. We’re not just a Friday night hangout - we’re a community gathered around Jesus, learning to follow Him and helping others do the same...

It’s getting harder to know what’s real - fakes, filters, and false claims are everywhere. When it comes to Jesus, we can easily wonder,  “How can I have confidence in him?” Thankfully, the apostle John wrote his letter of 1 John to people facing similar uncertainties. In this Rest·Awe Youth Talk, we began our new series in 1 John by seeing that confidence in the real Jesus leads to  fellowship , ...

What are you living for? Now or Eternity? Are you just drifting with the tide - chasing what won’t last - or are you swimming toward Jesus, the only path to eternal life? This week at Rest·Awe Youth, we opened  Colossians 3:1-17  to see how Jesus frees us to live not just for now, but for forever. Have a listen and hear what it means to set your heart on eternity and swim against the tide. Speaker...

Relationships can be complicated. Friends drift, dating gets messy, families clash. The tide around us says ' put yourself first'. This doesn't work. Jesus calls us to something greater: to love God above all, and to love others out of the overflow of His love for us. This week at Rest·Awe Youth we opened Matthew 22:34-40 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 to see how following Jesus transforms o...

We’re all thirsty for something. We long for peace, love, belonging, purpose... But too often we run to the wrong wells: approval, relationships, success, or scrolling endlessly on our phones. They promise life but leave us empty. In John 4, a woman comes to a well, thirsty and weighed down by shame. Jesus meets her there and offers her living water that truly satisfies. This week at Rest·Awe Yout...

How we speak matters. We’ve all felt the sting of careless words, and we’ve all said things we wish we could take back. This week at Rest·Awe Youth we opened Ephesians 4:25-32 and 1 Peter 3:15 to explore how followers of Jesus are called to use their words. Have a listen and discover what it means to speak the truth to build others up. Speaker: Sam Foster Series: Against The Tide Topic: How We Spe...

We live in a world that never looks up. Screens glow, feeds refresh, and our lives get swallowed by endless scrolling. Social media, games, notifications on repeat… They shape us more than we want to admit. Jesus calls us to something better: to focus our attention on Him. Speaker:  Sam Foster Series:  Against The Tide Topic:  Phones & Social Media Bible Passage:  Colossians 3:1-17 + Matthew 1...

Stress is everywhere , and it’s exhausting. This week at Rest·Awe Youth, we explored how following Jesus changes the way we handle stress and reshapes our priorities. From Martha’s busy kitchen to Mary’s place at Jesus’ feet, discover what it looks like to stress less, trust more, and prioritise Jesus in a world pulling us in every other direction. Speaker: Sam Foster  Series: Against The Tide  To...

What if forgiveness isn’t impossible, even when everyone else is weighed down by bitterness and resentment? In this Rest·Awe Youth Talks episode, discover how God’s forgiveness of us through Jesus empowers us to forgive others . Listen now to learn how His grace helps you swim against the tide of unforgiveness and forgive. Speaker: Sam Foster Series: Against The Tide Topic: Forgive Because God For...

Speaker: Sam Foster Topic: Introduction to Living Against The Tide Passage: Romans 12:2 + 1 John 2:15-17 Date: Term 3 Week 1 (25/7/25) Series: Against The Tide Website: restawe.com

Speaker:  Sam Foster, Topic: The Comission, Passage: Acts 1:1-11, Date:  Term 2 Week 1 (2/5/25), Series:  The ACTS of the Apostles

Speaker:  Sam Foster, Topic: Mission Continued!, Passage: Luke 24:13-52 Date:  Term 1 Week 9 (4/4/25), Series:  Who is Jesus in Luke

Speaker:  David Burdis Topic: Mission Accomplished?, Passage: Luke 23:33-24:12 Date:  Term 1 Week 8 (28/3/25), Series:  Who is Jesus in Luke

Speaker:  Jamie Woods, Topic: The Mission of Jesus, Passage: Luke 4:16-21 Date:  Term 1 Week 7 (21/3/25), Series:  Who is Jesus in Luke