Bethnal Green Mission Church

Parable titles sometimes take us in the wrong direction, and so it seems for Jesus' parable of the labourers in Matthew 20. What can we learn about the Kingdom of God from the reckless business actions of the vineyard owner? Why did he pay his one-hour-a-day workers the same as the whole-day ones? We echo the grumbling and the cries of unfairness from those who worked longer. What is this strange and subversive generosity pointing to about God's Kingdom?

In this talk James kicks off our new series 'why am I still a Christian?'. In this talk James vulnerably shares his own journey with faith and sexuality and how this journey has led him deeper in his belief of how the church can be a place of welcome, inclusion and celebration.

Welcome to this final episode in our journey through Deconstruction as Discipleship by Michael Houston. Chapter 6, titled Towards a Flourishing Community of Re-forming Disciples, brings us to a hopeful vision of what lies beyond disorientation. Mike explores how faith communities can become safe landing spaces—places of grace and graft—for those navigating doubt and reconstruction. He challenges us to expand our spiritual worldview, decolonise privilege, and embrace the liminal spaces of faith with humility and courage. This chapter is a powerful call to nurture kindness, friendship, and candour in our churches—to create brave spaces where lament and doubt are welcomed as sacred acts. Houston invites us into a vision of the church not as a place of rigid conformity, but as a Christoform community—ever ancient, ever new—where reformation is ongoing and grace is abundant. Join us as we explore what it means to be a people always re-forming in the way of Jesus.

Welcome to this episode, where we explore Chapter 5 of Michael Houston's Deconstruction as Discipleship, titled Surgery on a Malformed Faith. In this powerful chapter, Mike likens deconstruction to a necessary and often painful surgery—one that confronts harmful spiritual narratives and opens the way for healing. He identifies two core distortions in contemporary Christianity: the idolisation of certainty and the demand for conformity. These constructs, he argues, can damage authentic faith, stifle curiosity, and enforce exclusion. Drawing on stories, Scripture, cultural critique, and personal experience, Mike calls for a faith that embraces mystery, doubt, and diversity. This chapter is both prophetic and pastoral, challenging the church to move from rigid scaffolding to a flourishing garden of faith—where roots grow deep and wings are given to fly. Join us as we unpack what it means to let go of brittle belief systems and rediscover a Christ-shaped, open-handed way of following Jesus.

Welcome to this episode of our series on Deconstruction as Discipleship, where we engage with Chapter 4: Dismantling Two Faith Constructs. In this chapter, Mike explores two deeply ingrained yet often damaging theological frameworks: our inherited view of the Bible and our portrait of God.Using the metaphor of cathedral scaffolding, Mike argues that many of us have unknowingly inherited distorted faith structures—false facades built around sacred truths. He critiques biblicism, the idolisation of the Bible, and unpacks how rigid doctrines and punitive images of God have shaped anxious, guilt-ridden spiritualities. Yet, this dismantling is not destruction; it's an invitation to rediscover Scripture as sacred wisdom and God as radically Christlike. Through the lens of love and the cross, this episode encourages us to unlearn harmful ideas and reimagine a faith rooted in Jesus—the ultimate Word of God.

Welcome to this episode, where we explore Chapter 3 of Mike Houston's Deconstruction as Discipleship, titled Provocations of Faith Disorientation. In this chapter, Mike unpacks what causes many to move from a settled faith into a place of questioning and disruption. Whether it's personal pain, theological rigidity, or institutional harm, he suggests that disorientation is often the beginning of a sacred journey—one that can lead to deeper authenticity and a more Jesus-shaped faith. This isn't about losing faith, but reimagining it through honest reflection, courage, and the hope of spiritual renewal.

Welcome to this episode, where we dive into Chapter 2 of Deconstruction as Discipleship by Michael Houston, titled The Syntax of Deconstruction. In this chapter, Mike explores how the language and metaphors we use shape our experience of faith transition. Drawing on the Psalms, he outlines a powerful framework—Orientation, Disorientation, and New Orientation—to describe the movement of deconstruction. Far from being just about loss, this journey can be constructive, poetic, and even creative. Using imagery from gardens, jazz, and cartography, Mike invites us to reimagine faith as a living, evolving process grounded in authenticity and transformation.

Welcome to this AI-generated podcast series, based on Deconstruction as Discipleship: A Credo for a Christ-like Community Wrestling with Faith by Mike Houston. Drawing from over 35 years of church leadership, Mike shares his personal journey alongside the stories of others who have walked with him. Through theological, biblical, and pastoral reflection, he engages with scholars, writers, and contemporary culture to explore the evolving landscape of Christian faith.In this series, we distil the key insights from Mike's paper, focusing on how faith deconstruction—often seen as a crisis—can actually be a sacred and necessary process. Mike argues that when approached thoughtfully, faith disruption can become a transformative path toward a “Jesus-shaped” spirituality and a more authentic, compassionate Christian community.This first episode corresponds to Chapter One of the paper, where we explore the meaning and significance of the term deconstruction within a faith and wider context.To request a full PDF version of the paper, please visit the contact page at www.bethnalgreenmissionchurch.co.uk.

In the second sermon of Jesus' story of the 10 bridesmaids, we wrestle with Matthew's context, style of writing and emphasis to discover how they drive the parable's meaning. How is the Kingdom of God presented in a parable and gospel with so much judgment in it? And how does the delay of the Groom challenge our hope for the arrival of God's Kingdom?

It's safe to say that the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids is not one of Jesus' most loved stories. We have most likely heard it as a warning to be prepared for Jesus' coming, but this misses the nuances of the story, its cultural setting, and how Matthew has written his gospel. What if the parable offers us something far richer, more complex and which challenges our discomfort with the nature of the story and the outcome? NOTE: The audio file of the recording of this sermon was corrupted; this is an AI-generated podcast of the source material from that transcript of the sermon. 

Exploring Faithfulness in the Fruits of the Spirit series is inspired by the online exhibition from the National Gallery. The exhibits are Orazio Gentileschi, The Finding of Moses (NG6684), early 1630s, oil on canvas and  Soldi, Isabella, Duchess of Manchester, 1738, oil on canvas.

Peace. A word used liberally by those across all Christian traditions. But how should we understand it as the third Fruit of the Spirit? In this episode of our Art From the Heart series, we take a look at what we can learn about peace from Monet's Waterlilies.

We often make the mistake of believing the parables were spoken for our benefit. This is a classic example - the story of a would-be king entrusting his servants with money while he goes away and then holding them to account for the return they produce. Are we the servants of King Jesus, tasked with yielding a return for the Kingdom of God and accountable when returns? Or does the historical context and Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem lead to a deeper understanding of why he told this parable and thus a more nuanced and complex application to us?

Jesus talks a lot about farming, sowing seeds and how the Kingdom of God can be compared to various agricultural settings and practices. His parable of the weeds takes us into some deep territory about the nature of our world, the evil growing within it and how the Kingdom of God has a strategy to address it. What is this plan, and how does it disturb us and our presumptions about evil and the nature of God's Kingdom?

A reflection on the complex experience of joy. Wondering how the neurology and psychology of joy alongside the artistic capturing of it helps us appreciate the theological perspective of Joy as a fruit of the Spirit. Drawing from recent developments scientific research and National Gallery curators' commentaries on Frank Auerbach's _Mornington Crescent_ and Van Gogh's _Sunflowers_.

Jesus was a master storyteller. Speaking in parables was second nature to him, in fact, we are told he taught nothing without a parable. But how did these strange, quirky, confusing, sometimes violent and judgemental stories and riddles function? What was the point of them? In this introduction, we explore their purpose and role in Jesus' life and mission and examine how they, far from being moral lessons or clever sermon illustrations, were more forceful, illusive and subversive than we have ever imagined. 

Continuing our art from the heart and fruits of the spirit series, this talk looks at self-control through two paintings: JMW Turner's painting “Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway” and Ben Hartley's, “Devon Lane, Westlake.”These paintings invite us to meditate on technology, development, infrastructure and housing and how these impact nature. We pause to consider how self-control in consumerism could help slow down climate change. The talk finished by looking at how we could bring new self-control practices into Lent.

We conclude our marathon series on desire by taking a look at four more habits of Cruciform Desire in the context of our communal life together. We examine further what place joy has in our life of desire and the role of spiritual disciplines in our Christ-like formation. 

This talk picks up the Fruit of the Spirit series, with kindness in focus. Kindness is considered through a contemporary cultural lens that explores a recent societal response of kindness in contrast to the apparent attack on kindness in the sociopolitical sphere. Nevertheless, it is argued that Jesus models another kind of kindness altogether, a revolutionary/cruciform and courageous kindness that transforms lives, identities and situations.

We are continuing to look at the shape of our desire with 4 more habits of cruciformity. We return to our age-old quest for the 'good life' and how we understood it from the creation narrative of Genesis 1&2 in the first few weeks of this series. How can we develop wisdom habits that are orientated around the Trailblazer of the Good Life, that True Human Jesus? This talk involves a middle section of recordings from people's response to a discussion question. 

This we will focus on the habits of Cruciform desire, which can be summoned up in the prayer, 'Your will be done'. But what does it mean to align our desires with God's? We explore 5 central habits which may help us orientate our lives towards the One who was ultimately attuned to the will of God. 

Art from the Heart is our new sermon series exploring the fruits of the spirit inspired by the online exhibition from the national gallery. In this talk, James kicks off our series looking at the particular fruit- Gentleness and looking at what this fruit can speak to in a divided and polarised world.

The Christian church celebrates Epiphany today, and specifically in the West, the journey of the Magi to Jesus. Many added layers to this famous story have obscured the power and complexity of Matthew's story-telling. We will explore some neglected understandings about the Magi and what the feast of Ephiphany can mean for us 2000 years later.  

What is a love that walks? In this sermon, James finishes off our 'Compendium' series reflecting on a quotation from Kosuke Koyama. 

Advent is the time of year when we celebrate and anticipate the birth of Jesus. Well, not quite. Many of our Christian and secular approaches to Advent have viewed it as an extension of the Christmas season of merry cheer and a countdown to the main event. But what if we have misunderstood the mood and movement of Advent completely? What if it is less about peace, joy, love and hope, but a far more uncomfortable and disruptive season? Where does the church find itself at Advent?

The quote from this talk comes from Dorothy Day - "I really only Love God as much as I Love the person I Love the Least". Starting with an overview of Dorothy's life, we then consider how the Bible describes the Love of God, and how that is seen tangibly by considering how Jesus treated one particular individual - the woman subject to bleeding. 

We continue examining Jesus' life to help us understand the world of desire using seven words beginning with 'S'. We seek here to discern the scandalous nature of God's desire and his solidarity with our unfulfilled longings, the subversive Gospel desire economy, and the tension between duty and desire seen in Jesus's person. How does being 'awed to heaven but rooted to earth' shape our life desires?

We know our natural human desires are tricky and sticky. So how do we know what is truly good for us in the struggle with our fleshly desires? In this seventh talk on desire, we hang our thoughts on eight words beginning with the letter 'S'. They point to someone beyond us but who has become us to show us how to live the ultimate Good Human life.

The 14th-century mystic, Julian of Norwich, is renowned for her hopeful vision of God, seen in her assuring declaration: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well". But what does this mean for our life with God in a very uncertain world which certainly doesn't look very 'well'? 

The human desire for pleasure is one of the most complex human urges and passions. Christianity has often struggled to come to terms with our natural and normal longing for pleasure and the consequences of living with post-Eden anxiety over our disorientated and disordered desires. What is the love relationship between our temporal pleasures and our longing for God? A look at Eros-love might help us see the pleasures of life and the pursuit of God in a new light.

Adam and Eve's trespass in Eden was seizing wisdom on their own terms. It was a self-determined wisdom and self-discovered wisdom. The ricochet of this was the reversal of good - their equilibrium and flourishing of their relationship was disordered and disorientated, as seen in Genesis 3.16-19. In this talk, we will consider the meaning of verse 16 in particular - "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you". How has this been translated and interpreted, and what does it mean for gender relations, the impulse for rule and domination and the Christian understanding of power?

Reflections on the Human Experience. In her book, "This Here Flesh," writer Cole Arthur Riley states, "In lament, our task is never to convince someone of the brokenness of this world; it is to convince them of the world's worth in the first place. True lament is not born from that trite sentiment that the world is bad but rather from a deep conviction that it is worthy of goodness." This podcast seeks to consider some of the author's reflections on key themes from her personal stories, challenging us to dig deeply from our stories and biblical themes such as remembrance, memory and lament

The rich tale of the two trees in the Garden of Earthly Delights points to the choices and consequences of seeing, taking and eating what is desirable to look at. Humans require wisdom to be good stewards in the world and faithfully discern what is good and evil. So why were Adam and Eve warned not to eat from the very tree that would give them this? Why prohibit them from accessing wisdom? The answer to this question will give us insight into how our desires are manipulated and how the route to fulfilling them is not always as it seems. 

We have been exploring what is the specific vision of the good life that we desire. Genesis 1 and 2 point to a meaning of 'good' which is about order and harmony, multiplication and flourishing. In the garden of delights (Eden) there is a threat to this vision; an alternative route and telos, seen in the presence of the Tree of Knowing Good and Evil and that wily old snake. What danger do these represent to Adam and Eve and to the order and flourishing of our souls?

Asking what can be learned from  St. Catherine of Siena's words can, on the surface, seem like a trite meme on social media but in truth holds great depth and power coming as they do from a highly revered theologian who lived life in deep communion with God.  Reminiscent of passages of scripture, Colossians 3:2; Philippians 4:13; 1 Peter 2:9,  this quote and its context prompts questions like: How can we understand her concept of bravery in our lives today? How might we spread the light of our fire? How easy or hard is it for us to accept that in Christ we can do everything? If we are called to be in Christ, is it helpful to consider the weakness of Christ alongside the strength of his love? Who are you, who has God meant you to be and is there anything stopping the expression of that?

This is the second sermon in our mini WWMI series on Desire. James K. A. Smith believes that as teleological creatures, all humans have a specific vision of the good life, a picture of human flourishing. Our desires will focus on this goal. But what is the good life? What does 'good' mean, and how, as Christians, can we understand if our desires for the good life align with God's vision for human flourishing? This sermon takes us back to the creation narrative in Genesis and to the Garden of Eden, a place of good and desirable trees. 

In the first of our new Compendium series, James dives into the words of Evelyn Underhill. Drawing on natural theology, scripture and re-examining belief, he unpicks what she might have to say about the Christian life today.

WWMI returns for a mini-series on Desire. Augustine said, "Our life is a gymnasium of desire", that is, as humans we exist by desire. But how are these desires formed and curated in us and what do they  tell us about our human identity, God and our spiritual formation? In a world where desire feeds the economic system of capitalism and consumption, who or what is desiring us? For the next 5 weeks we will explore these questions along with many others. 

The focus of this talk is Psalm 84, with an emphasis on viewing it from a New Testament perspective. Luke records that the resurrected Jesus declared to his disciples "Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms". With this in mind, we considered how this  Psalm prophetically looks forward  to what the New Testament reveals about Jesus, and how applying this may strengthen us in our spiritual pilgrimage"

In this talk we consider the meaning we can draw from the metaphor of the church as the bride of Christ. What does this image tell us about the identity of the church, its relationship with Christ, and its role in the world today?

In this last talk on John 9 we explore, in scenes 4-6, the further reaction to the man's healing and testimony by his parents and the religious authorities. Will anybody choose to be his advocate and will his voice be finally heard? What do these scenes say about powerful, 'able-bodied' domination systems that get challenged and disrupted by the marginalised and disbelieved? What irony is employed by John that is pertinent to our understanding of disability theology?

This is the second part of our reflection on the encounter of a blind man with Jesus through the lens of disability. John 9 is a public trial of disability and ability, with several 'stakeholders' interacting with the man and Jesus over 6 scenes. The man has been given his sight by Jesus and this attracts debate and questioning from neighbours and religious authorities (v.8-17). What issues arise that may resonate with those who experience disability and what can able-bodied people learn from man's experience?

The early followers of Christ referred to themselves as followers of the Way. The Way is how Jesus referred to himself, a phrase taken up by the first-century church in the book of Acts. But what does this Way look like and what does going this Way entail for the church today?

How the message of 1 Peter weaves together key aspects of Israel's relationship with God with the person of Jesus and those who believe in him. How can the separate roles of Royalty and Priesthood make sense together? Who is Melchizedek? What might it look like for us to inhabit this priestly role? What are these acceptable spiritual sacrifices we are meant to offer?

In our quest to learn about theology from the margins, we give our attention to a story in John 9 and read it from the perspective of disability. What can able-bodied people learn from reading the bible with a new lens? In this first part, we will examine Jesus' response to the disciples' curiosity about the link between the man's blindness and sin. Was the man born blind so that God could perform a miracle of healing?

Within the diverse and creative world of biblical interpretation, it's possible to encounter scripture freshly and dynamically which helps to bring new understanding. This talk takes a second post-colonial look at Jesus' encounter with a 'foreign legion' that had possessed and subjugated a man. How does it speak to us about how imperial power has occupied, dominated and diminished people and nations? What does it say to us, our privilege and power, and our complicity in the system and spirit of empire?

What place links the New Testament events of Passover with Pentecost? Elisha with Peter, Mary, mother of Mark with Jesus? It is the Upper Room. The Upper Room is synonymous with prayer and the preparation for an encounter with God. This physically spacious dwelling place becomes the setting for Jesus to help the disciples encounter and embody the person of God - a God who has many rooms. How is this worked out in Pentecost and the story of the church in Acts and what kind of Christianity has many rooms?

"This Thing Called Church" talk focuses on the most used illustration in the New Testament - The Body of Christ". The passage is from Paul's letter to the Church in Rome and explores how the metaphor gives insight as to how the Church should function, including shared insights from the whole congregation. 

The challenge of any reading of the Bible is that we all come to the text as interpreters with different lenses. Peter Enns said, "All theology has an adjective" - our theology and interpretation are pre-fixed with a setting, a world-view and a bias. How can we prevent letting our filter become the dominant one? How can the diverse experiences of other people help us to encounter the Bible more richly and deeply? We will start using the lens of post-colonialism, at the story of Jesus' encounter with a 'legion of unclean spirits' in Mark 5 and allow each other to imagine and encounter the text through a new and fresh lens. 

What is mission? What is our place in the story of God? At the start of our new series, This Thing Called Church, James talks about the mission of God and how we are invited into the story of the restoration of all things.

We conclude our mini-series with a dive into some ancient habits and postures of prayer which are orientated toward being attentive to the sacred wonder in the ordinary and the everyday. We return to Nick Cave for some helpful examples and perhaps a surprising form of music as a metaphor of prayer.