
Hosted by Severn Church, Bristol · EN

How can we bring hope where we live? David Jennings shares his experience of life in Bristol meeting people in difficult situations and trying to share God's love with them. It can sometimes feel like our faith life is purely personal, and it's good to remember how much God love us. But is this comfort only part of the life God wants for us? Can we believe that it's possible to share in suffering and bring hope and life too?

What does it mean to celebrate things that grow slowly? Owen Lynch looks at the Jewish festival that marked 50 days after Passover. In the time since offering first fruits of the harvest to God, more crops had grown and matured, and bread could be made that had time to rise. Offering this to God showed thanks for his provision of things that took time to get right. How often do we appreciate these things more than what we can get instantly, on demand, for ourselves? Pentecost also used to be understood as a celebration of the nation-defining law given to Moses so Jewish people could grow. Christians remember the Holy Spirit given to believers at the time of this festival too. What does God want us to know about what can happen when we let this Spirit define us and grow fruit slowly in us?

When life looks dark, what happens when light surprises us? Marie-Anne Joiner shares experiences of finding joy in difficulty and mystery, and how this can fuel creativity we all have. Everyone has stories worth sharing, but how do we find them? Can we learn to make space and silence to notice the fullness of God’s presence, like stars in the darkness?

What difference does our state of mind make when we see new things happening? Karen Green shares experience of life in Bristol and looks at stories of people around Jesus who looked at God’s coming kingdom in different ways. Can getting to know Jesus better and growing our faith in him change the way we see the world, and develop open minds to new possibilities?

How can celebrating and giving the first part of our year’s grown food be helpful to us? Owen Lynch looks at the festival of Firstfruits, given in the Bible for Jewish people to mark a few days after Passover. It recognises how a food-growing community that has gone through a season where nothing grew could look forward to more fruitful life ahead. They didn’t wait for the whole year’s harvest, but made offerings from their first fruits in faith that new life had overcome the threat of death. What difference could that kind of faith make to us, and how can we practise it?

What difference does the state of our hearts make to how we receive, process and grow with words from God? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at Jesus’ parable of the sower, and what it meant for their seed to be everywhere but growing differently in different places. What does good growth look like, and how can we see more of it?

What difference does sharing vulnerability make? Looking at examples from the Bible and stories of experience today, we look at how willingness to show where we are imperfect or need help can transform us and our relationships.

What does love from God mean for us? Jason Whiley shares experience of receiving, living in and sharing love from God, and looks at passages from the Bible including Psalm 139 which show how others have seen this too.

What do we expect from God’s kingdom and Jesus as King? In this Palm Sunday talk, Dan Green looks at what the crowd who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem hoped and believed might happen, and how they would have been shocked by Jesus and what would happen next. Similarly, when crowds gather today with faith, flags and the nation in mind, does Jesus fit expectations? What do we expect from Jesus?

We’re going through Lent spending time every day, not alone but with Jesus in the desert, not empty but full of his Spirit, not resting but wrestling with the things that get between us and God, not relying on ourselves but trusting in God to win every battle thanks to what Jesus did.Matthew 4:10-11Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.Jesus’ answer about worship is straightforward - only worship and serve God.What does this mean for us, though? Is it just about religious activity?How broad a role does worship have in our lives?What does it mean for us to worship God while working, talking, doing everyday things?How does this connect with our senses of identity, purpose and value?What might happen if we choose to deepen our faith in God, worship more and serve him only?We’re inviting you to reflect on this as Easter approaches.We hope you’ve enjoyed this series - thank you for listening!