Around The Fire

At ELC, we've Created a mid-week Greenhouse Community for deliberate discipleship themed around Spirit in Mission. As we Gather & Grow, a question we are intentionally asking as community is – What is Holy Spirit inviting us/me into? Here are some of the questions we're jumping in to.   1.       Who is Holy Spirit? (big picture overview) 2.       Share some of your experiences of growi...

It's our second special guest episode of 2026 Jonny & Sarah are joined with Rev. Chris Lane from Beacon Church, Birmingham for some fab conversation. Jonny is Lead Pastor at ELC and Sarah is Head of Prayer & Leadership Development, as well as leading a national role for Elim as head of prayer. Moving on from last year's theme of Walking Well, they now look at how we Gather & Gr...

Mark 16 – Resurrection It's the second part of the Easter podcast. Mark – the blockbuster Gospel, fast paced, full of energy but it’s open ended here – what’s going on? What is the resurrection? Why does it matter? Dawn of a new creation. What connects with you from this account? Why? Who is in the white robe? What’s happening in this encounter? “ He has been raised, he is not here ” Another j...

Mark 15:25-41 – Crucifixion In this episode, Jonny & Sarah are exploring Mark's (Peter as source) account of the events around the betrayal, arrest, trial, death & resurrection of Jesus. Focusing on the crucifixion in this episode & the resurrection in the next. The cross is such a familiar image to many of us, If an alien were to land and ask what was happening, how would we descr...

Delivered out of death Exodus 14 Join Jonny & Sarah as they bring the mini-series looking at the life of Moses to a close. From Moses being a baby, put in a basket to sail downstream to be found by a princess, to the same Moses, through incredible faith, parting the Sea, oh, and not to forget the fire in the ordinary... How can the life of Moses be applied to us today? Jonny is Lead Pastor at...

Presence Exodus 12:31-42 + 13:17-22 The mini-series looking at the life of Moses continues. From Moses being a baby, put in a basket to sail downstream to be found by a princess, to the same Moses, through incredible faith, parting the Sea, oh, and not to forget the fire in the ordinary... How can the life of Moses be applied to us today? Jonny is Lead Pastor at ELC and Sarah is Head of Prayer &am...

Failure & Grace The mini-series looking at the life of Moses continues. From Moses being a baby, put in a basket to sail downstream to be found by a princess, to the same Moses, through incredible faith, parting the Sea, oh, and not to forget the fire in the ordinary... How can the life of Moses be applied to us today? Resources John Goldinjay - Exodus + Leviticus for Everyone (Paperback) http...

Baby Moses! In this episode, Jonny & Sarah start a mini-series looking at the life of moses. From Moses being a baby, put in a basket to sail downstream to be found by a princess, to the same Moses, through incredible faith, parting the Sea. How can the life of Moses be applied to us today? Let's kick in and find out! Resources Peter Enns - NIV Application Commentary https://amzn.eu/d/0et9...

It's our first special guest episode of 2026 Jonny & Sarah are joined with Andy Worthington from Open Doors UK. Every day, millions of Christians risk their lives to follow Jesus. In more than 70 countries, Open Doors supports them by supplying Bibles, providing emergency relief and helping persecuted believers stand strong for the long-term. In the UK and Ireland, Open Doors helps the chu...

The Map is the Mission – PRACTICE – 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-12 (NLT) 4  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.  5  There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.  6  God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7  A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.  8  To one p...

The Map is the Mission – PRESENCE – Acts 1:4-9 (NLT) 4  Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.  5  John baptised with[ b ] water, but in just a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” 6  So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for y...

The Map is the Mission – PLACES – Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT) 16  Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  17  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  19  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[ b ] baptising th...

The brand new series, Gather & Grow continues. Jonny and Sarah look at the theme of 'People' in this episode, centred around Genesis 17: 1-8. Who's involved? And who is being reached? ·      People Matter ·      Promise of God’s people that they’d be given place in His kingdom and offered partnership  ·      See that in story of God - Genesis 17 ·      He is faithful to that promis...

We're back!! Jonny & Sarah are back with a brand new theme, Gather & Grow. We can't believe it's season 4!! Wowsers! Hours and hours of brilliant wisdom & insight. The podcasts track with the talks from the Sunday communications at Elim Life Church in North Birmingham which you can find on the ELC Youtube channel Jonny is Lead Pastor at ELC and Sarah is Head of Prayer &...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!! In 2025 we’ve been walking well, thinking about our decision to choose the narrow way. Encouraging each other to find space to grow and have a go to make disciples and serve the city. Understanding how to walk with Jesus and what that means for our heart, soul, mind and strength. WALKING WELL - We are made to walk in the garden as friends of God. We are made to walk humbly, doin...

Our Christmas! Time to think about family and traditions and what makes your Christmas: turkey and tinsel with your favourite relative perched on the folding chair; games and winter walks; seasonal specials and silly jumpers; friends from afar gathering with gifts; stockings filled with satsumas, sweets and surprises. The family of faith we belong to, tells us Our Christmas story - creation, exile...

We have another guest episode. Jonny and Sarah are joined with special guest Katie B. Katie decided to take a year out and before moving on to Uni next year, has been a huge part of the team here at ELC. Katie has been instrumental in the formation of 'The Shed', and also Co-Lab, a new resource exploring the 5 Gifts (APEST) found in Ephesians in the Bible. Here she is to talk more about it...

In this episode, Jonny and Sarah are joined with special guest Pastor Sarah Hingley. Sarah is one of the Pastors here at Elim Life Church and loves creating resources. She share a bit about her journey but also the heart and thoughts behind creating this years Christmas devotional. In 2025 we are Walking Well , thinking about our decision to choose the narrow way. Encouraging each other to find sp...

In this episode, Jonny and Sarah are joined with special guest Cham Kaur-Mann. Cham has over 25 years leadership experience, across sectors and is a mentor and coach.  She is the first Asian woman minister within the Baptist Union of Great Britain. She’s culturally Sikh and therefore a convert from Sikhism.  She has an amazing back story which includes teaching herself to read and write and with t...

Jonny & Sarah take a look at the well known story of when Jesus was tempted found in Matthew 4:1-11. In 2025 we are Walking Well , thinking about our decision to choose the narrow way. Encouraging each other to find space to grow and have a go to make disciples and serve the city. Understanding how to walk with Jesus and what that means for our heart, soul, mind and strength. Walking Well – We...

The second of the two part mini series looking at the Sermon on the Mount looking around the bible verses found in Matthew 5: 43-48 - Love your enemies? Love your neighbour? Oh yeah. Jonny & Sarah give us their wisdom around these verses of the bible. In 2025 we are Walking Well , thinking about our decision to choose the narrow way. Encouraging each other to find space to grow and have a go t...

First of a two part episode looking at the Sermon on the Mount looking around the bible verses found in Matthew 5: 38-42. In 2025 we are Walking Well , thinking about our decision to choose the narrow way. Encouraging each other to find space to grow and have a go to make disciples and serve the city. Understanding how to walk with Jesus and what that means for our heart, soul, mind and strength....

This week Jonny & Sarah are joined by James Spencer. James is Head of Church Partnerships for Compassion UK. Compassion UK is a Christian child development charity. They’ve been working in partnership with local churches to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name since 1952. Elim Life Church love been a partner with Compassion, and it's brilliant to have James share his story. In 2025...

It's special guest time again and this week Jonny & Sarah are joined by Kaeli Murphy, Project Manager from Embrace Birmingham. Embrace is a charity supporting female on street sex-workers in the West Midlands since 2008. It's been great as Elim Life Church to partner with Embrace, and it's brilliant to have Kaeli with us in this episode to share her story. In 2025 we are Walking We...

How do we navigate change as apprentices to Jesus? How do we navigate change internally, externally, in community? This is the second part of the navigating duo. In 2025 we are Walking Well , thinking about our decision to choose the narrow way. Encouraging each other to find space to grow and have a go to make disciples and serve the city. Understanding how to walk with Jesus and what that means...