Weekly Talks

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Luke 1: 39-56 Luke 1: 39-56 (NIV) On this first Sunday of Advent we began a new series called, ‘Songs of Advent’.  Luke includes four songs in the first two chapters of his Gospel. Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon, all break into song.  And over the next four weeks we’ll see that their song is also our song – as we celebrate what God has done, is doing, and will do to...

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Genesis 6: 1-8 Genesis 6: 1-8 (NIV) We’ve come to the second of our two-part mini-series called ‘Perplexing Passages’; and today we were looking at the time in Genesis when humanity had become so evil that the Lord decided to destroy everything with a flood.  At this point, we’re told about some mysterious people, called the Nephilim - and it’s not at all clear who or what t...

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Number 22: 21-35 Numbers 22: 21-35 (NIV) The book of Numbers does not begin with the words, “Once Upon a Time.”  In fact, the genre of Numbers is historical narrative and law.  So, what is a talking donkey doing in this book? Today, we explored this question as part of our 'Perplexing Passages' mini-series.

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 4: 10-23 Philippians 4: 10-23 (NIV) Over the past seven weeks, we've explored Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  A letter that’s full of joy, even though Paul wrote it from prison.  Paul’s relationship with the Philippians is one of mutual love, affection, concern and support.  It is a partnership in the strongest sense of the word and there's a lot we...

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 4: 4-9 Philippians 4: 4-9 (NIV) A lot of Christians don’t seem to realise that following Jesus is completely radical.  The life he calls us to is very different from what our culture teaches or expects of us.  And if we’re going to live in a way that goes against the grain of the world – we must first win the battle of the mind.  Right thinking will inevitably le...

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 3:10 – 4:3 Philippians 3:10 – 4:3 (NIV) Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians from prison, yet it was full of joy and hope. How is that possible? Well, because he was ‘living up’ to what he had already attained in Christ. Resurrection life is an absolute certainty – but we don’t always live as if it is. We need to aspire now to the kind of life that we will ha...

by Archbishop Jeremy Greaves | Philippians 3:1-14 Philippians 3:1-14 (NIV) In today’s passage, Paul makes it clear that our confidence should not be in ourselves.  Instead, we put our confidence in Jesus.  He wants to change and transform our lives, and ultimately, he’s made a way for us to experience resurrection life, with him forever.  Archbipisop Jemery Graves

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 2: 12-30 Philippians 2: 12-30 (NIV) Today's passage began with Paul telling the Philippians to ‘work out their salvation with fear and trembling’. He then gives two examples of men who were doing just that, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Two amazing servant-hearted men, who gave their all to spreading the good news of Jesus.

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 2:1-11 Philippians 2:1-11 Jesus was the most joyful person who ever lived, and if we want to experience true joy, we must have the same mindset as Jesus.  The world tells us that we find happiness and fulfilment when we focus on ourselves.  The Bible says something very different.  The Bible says that joy is found in humility and selflessness.

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 1: 12-30 Philippians 1: 12-30 (NIV) It’s not so much that Jesus is our ultimate priority – it’s that Jesus is our whole life – and all our priorities should emanate from a life led in obedience to Him.

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 1: 1-11 Philippians 1: 1-11 (NIV) Even though Paul was in prison when he wrote his letter to the Philippians, he expressed tremendous joy. One of the sources for his joy was the love and affection that the Lord poured into his heart for his brothers and sisters in Christ.

by Rev Charlie Lacey | James 5: 1-11 James 5: 1-11 (NIV) We live in a world where wealth is seen as the primary measure of success.  Very often, when we have more, we feel like we are more.  And when we have less, we feel like we are less.  Today we challenged that assumption.

By Penny Howchin| Colossians 1: 15-20 Colossians 1: 15-20 (NIV) Our creativity is a gift from God, the ultimate creator.  One of the ways we reflect God's image is by being creative.  Being creative in our unique ways honours God and who he made us to be.

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Genesis 1: 27-28, Genesis 2: 20-25 Genesis 1: 27-28, Genesis 2: 20-25 (NIV) What does it mean to be male and female – why is it important – and how much does our gender have to do with our identity anyway?

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Matthew 12: 46-50 Matthew 12: 46-50 (NIV) Today, as part of our 'Who Am I?' series, we looked at the family.  There’s no doubt that all of us have been shaped by our family environment, but what part does that play in our actual identity as we stand before God?

By Rev Trevor Adams | 2 Corinthians 5: 1-10 2 Corinthians 5: 1-10 (NIV) In the Bible Paul says our current body is like a tent! It has a ‘use by’ date. So what then is the other existence that Paul alludes to as “In the mean time,”  ‘The Holy Spirit is given to us as our guarantee of that future life?’ 

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Philippians 3: 1-14 Philippians 3: 1-14 (NIV) There will be things that we’re trying to achieve today – and there will be things that we’re trying to achieve in life more generally.  But how much do our achievements contribute to our identity - and are we trying to achieve the things that God wants us to achieve?

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Luke 10: 38-42 Luke 10: 38-42 (NIV) Each of us is wonderfully unique, and our personalities are a gift from God.  We don't need to change our personalities, but we must invite the Holy Spirit to shape them.

By Rev Mike Uptin | 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 (NIV) We began a new series today called, ‘Who Am I?’  The question of our identity has never been more important – and, in our culture, it’s never been more confused.  Over the next eight weeks we’re seeking to get a biblical understanding of our identity, and particularly our identity as Christians.

by Rev Charlie Lacey | Mark 14: 32-42 Mark 14: 32-42 (NIV) When Jesus walked the earth, he was faithful to God the Father.  He’s also been faithful to unfaithful humanity - and he remains faithful to us, in spite of our flaws and failings.

by Rev Charlie Lacey | Mark 6: 30-44 Mark 6: 30-44 (NIV) The virtue of kindness is almost so obvious a requirement for Christians that some might think that it doesn't warrant talking about.  However, when we remember that the standard is Jesus, we begin to realise that we still fall a long way short.

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Luke 4:1-13 Luke 4:1-13 (NIV) We started a new mini-series today called the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’. When we give our lives to Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, certain characteristics begin to develop in our lives. Over a three week period we’ll be looking at three aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, starting today with self-control.

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Genesis 18: 20 – 19: 17 Genesis 18: 20 – 19: 17 (NIV) We worship a just God—who does not overlook evil. Today, we confronted one of Scripture's most harrowing episodes: the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet even in judgment, God's mercy breaks through, as seen in his rescue of Lot and his family.     This passage ultimately points us to Jesus—the Righteous One...

by Rev Charlie Lacey | Genesis 17: 1-27 Genesis 17: 1-27 (NIV) In previous weeks we saw that God promised to give Abraham countless descendants and ratified it with a covenant.  Today we focussed on the final stage of the covenant making process.  2000 years later, Jesus fulfilled God’s covenant with Abraham and brought in a new covenant.  The sign of the Old Covenant was circumcision – and the si...

by Rev Charlie Lacey | Genesis 16: 1-13 Genesis 16: 1-13 (NIV) God promised Abram and Sarai a son, but when nothing seemed to be happening they grew impatient and deviated from God’s plan (again) – and created all kinds of problems (again).  But God remained faithful, not just to Abram and Sarai, but also to the slave girl, who got mixed up in their mess.