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With conflicts and challenges around the world, many people are coming to Bristol to seek sanctuary - how should we respond? Dan Green looks at why this is happening and explores helpful principles from the Bible which can guide us, as well as ways to put these into practice. The talk concludes with a time for prayer and reflection.
Read MoreWe’re celebrating a coronation soon, but why? Owen Lynch looks at how the king is already king, but it makes a difference to us when we recognise and remember that. In many ways, Christ’s ascension to heaven was the same as a coronation - memorable and amazing for everyone who saw it, but Christ was already king. Was he only the king of people who recognised him or followed him at the time?
Read MoreIn difficult and stressful times, how can we carry our wounds and stay active in the situations that we’re in? Owen Lynch looks at some current financial and practical problems facing our church, and considers how Jesus demonstrated that new life even overcomes death. If Jesus calls us to take part in his new life together, how should we live, what should we expect, and what can we offer each other when we are wounded?
Read MoreWhat does God want to do in the world, and what part do we have in this? Caleb Bourne shares about his sense of purpose, calling and worth in partnering with God in a role described in the Bible as an “ambassador”. But what does that mean for each of us? Could it be that we are each commissioned but not given the whole picture of what God is doing with us, only a part?
Read MoreWhat do we think Palm Sunday is all about? Owen Lynch shares about the difference between his understanding as a child and the difficult reality of the story of Jesus’ coming kingdom clashing with the established powers of his time. It was a struggle that would result in death. But if we were there, where would we have been looking for life?
Read MoreWhat do we tell ourselves and each other about why we think a good God lets bad things happen? Claire Lynch looks at this from different angles, including beliefs that God is in control, gives us responsibility, or has ways to turn suffering into lasting goodness. How much of this can we understand better through Jesus, his participation in suffering and his promises to remain with us through all of our experiences? The talk concludes with a meditative time for remembering Jesus through the Lord’s Supper or personal prayer.
Read MoreWho do we think Jesus is, and what difference does this make in our lives? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at how Jesus’ followers dealt with this question. One of these, famous for doubting, changed their view in a close encounter with the risen Jesus, and their faith propelled them to share what they had found widely. What kind of encounter or experience with Jesus might we need to see him as he is, and who would we tell people that Jesus is?
Read MoreIf you were expecting a big inheritance, how would it affect the way you live today? Jack Saunders looks at the hope promised to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah and asks what hope we might carry through our faith in Jesus now. People following Jesus who have expected movements of renewal typically pray and invest in making disciples, especially looking to equip young people. What can we learn from this that will help us to play our parts in God’s bigger plans for now and the future?
Read MoreWhat nutrition do we need to be healthy, physically or spiritually? Owen Lynch looks at the role of what we feed on, and the surprising claim from Jesus that he is real food and drink for us. What does it mean to practise feeding on Jesus?
Read MoreAdam and Rebecca Kishtainy are commissioned here as leaders of the new Lighthouse Vineyard church in Totterdown. They explain their story to those gathered from Field and Severn Vineyard churches, and Owen Lynch gives a keynote talk.
Read MoreWhat do we have to do to earn God’s acceptance? Owen Lynch looks at the difference between a religion driven by rules and regulations and the unconditional love of God demonstrated by Jesus and written about through much of the Bible. Jesus embraced groups who were on the fringes of society, including women, the poor and the unclean with apparently limitless love. Could we have been missing this love while distracted by other issues?
Read MoreWhat is God like? Can we really trust that he is good? Claire Lynch looks at some difficult situations which would make us question this and how Jesus’ love and faithfulness might start to provide answers. Looking at the relationship Jesus led followers to cultivate with Father God, could this provide a context for us to learn God’s character? And instead of simply telling ourselves to believe that God is good, what would happen if we began a list of things that make life wonderful that we’d like to thank him for?
Read MoreHave you ever had an encounter with Christ Jesus in nature? Owen Lynch looks at how prominently nature featured in the Psalms and was woven into Jesus’ teaching as well as Old Testament stories. Do we tend to separate spiritual and physical things, or can we learn from looking for God’s nature in the world and universe around us? This talk concludes with a visual meditation on Psalm 104, and there’s a guide for how to take this further at the end.
Read MoreHow scary is it to launch into new things? Owen Lynch looks at how fear gripped some of God’s people when they saw a daunting job ahead of them. Church planting also feels difficult, but Severn Vineyard exists because some people moved from jobs and communities in Nottingham, and now Severn and Field Vineyards are planting Lighthouse Vineyard in Totterdown, Bristol. Owen talks with the leaders and a family who are moving from Severn to Lighthouse to help start this new church.
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