The latest talks from Greyfriars Church, Reading.
Matthew 13:31-35 Speaker Abi Ord The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast contrast our earthly perceptions of what God's kingdom looks like with its true nature. The gospel message we carry began with the birth of a baby in a stable, and by worldly standard appears utterly weak and foolish – yet Jesus declares that this tiny seed will one day fill the whole earth.
Nothing is impossible with God by Greyfriars & New Hope Church
Psalm 126 Speaker: Asa Humphreys When the returned exiles hear God's word, Nehemiah insists they trade tears for feasting because “the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Paul, writing from prison, repeats “rejoice” until the chains almost rattle in rhythm. Jesus pictures heaven itself being overjoyed over one lost sheep or coin found. Celebration testifies that grace is real, forgiveness final, and the future bright—even while wounds still heal.
James 1:22-27 Speaker: Natalie Worsfold The church scatters to be Christ's ambassadors all week; the gathered church is the launch pad, not the landing strip. Paul sweeps every task - emails, nappies, spreadsheets - under the banner “whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus.” James warns that hearing without doing calcifies faith into self-deception. The Great Commission's Greek literally reads “as you are going, make disciples,” insisting that mission is laced into the fabric of Monday-to-Saturday life.
Ephesians 4:11-16 Speaker: Chris hall Big Idea: Clergy and Church staff aim to be equippers, but the ministry belongs to the saints – us all! Church is better thought of as a jigsaw, whereby all the parts make up the whole. God gifts each individual with qualities to achieve their ultimate purposes in their local contexts.
Acts 2:42-47 Speaker: Natalie Worsfold Church isn't an event we watch but a covenant family we belong to. Jesus had crowds that followed him throughout his ministry because they came to see what he could do; to some of them, he was a spectacle and remained so. But Jesus showed them the power of God in him, not to entertain but to save; to invite them into the family of God.
Romans 16 Speaker Asa Humphreys In these final verses of this great letter, Paul highlights a number of people for their jobs – Priscilla and Aquila (vs3), Mary (vs6), Urbanus (vs9), Timothy (vs21) and more. They are commended for working hard and doing so “for the Lord”. Not all these people worked in ministry – Erastus was the city's director of public works. Paul himself was a tentmaker. God has created us to work (Genesis 2:15) and your job is part of God's plan to redeem this world, in the power of Christ.
Acts 8:26-40 Speaker: Chris Hall The passage tells the story of Philip, a deacon and evangelist, encountering an Ethiopian eunuch and converting him to Christianity. How do we follow the Holy Spirit?
Romans 15:14-33 Speaker - Dan Bright Paul brings his letter to a close with a reminder of his own priestly calling (vs16), speaking of Christ and ministering in the power of Christ, through signs and wonders (vs19). As we pray, share the Gospel and seek the kingdom of God, we too are taking on priestly duties. Paul made sure that Christ was glorified through words (the Gospel – vs18), works (ministry to the poor – vs26-27) and wonders (signs of the kingdom – vs19). Do we live in this fullness of calling, empowered by the Spirit?
Romans 15:1-13 Speaker: George Eapen Jesus came to this world to bring hope. Paul includes the passages from Isaiah 11 to remind the church in Rome that our hope is in Christ. Through Jesus, we are able to endure (vs5), to be encouraged (vs5), to accept others (vs7), and to know joy and peace (vs13). Paul's final prayer (vs 13) is for us to overflow with hope by the power of the Spirit, being a witness to the world of our hope in Christ.
Romans 14:1-23 Paul is writing to two groups of Christians – those who are more Jewish / conservative, and those who are more Gentile / liberal. These two groups are disagreeing on what to eat and it has caused a division in the church. Paul's response is to hold fast to the most important elements of the faith – the Gospel and the Lordship of Christ (vs9). He encourages us to ‘disagree well' on secondary issues, such as matters of diet. We are not to pass judgement on one another or to look down on others, but to love (vs15). How does this wisdom apply to other areas of dispute in our lives / the church?
Romans 13:8-14 Paul outlines, that the only debt we have (following on from vs 6-7) is to love your neighbour as yourself, and in doing so, he urges us to get ready for Christ's return. As part of his instruction to ‘wake up', we are to turn from darkness, sexual immorality, drunkenness and jealousy. Instead, we are to clothe ourselves with the Lord. In what ways do you need to wake up and get ready for Christ's return? What will you do differently, starting today?
John 20:19-29 Thomas believed that Jesus was alive when he saw him. How do we choose to believe when our eyes do not see?
Easter Sunday is the glorious celebration of Jesus' victory over death. While our journey through Lent reminds us of our human frailty and need for repentance, Easter declares that hope and life have the final word. Speaker: Natalie Worsfold
A reflective service with space for silent reflection interwoven around worship and examination of Jesus' actions from the day.
Exodus 16:22–17:7 Grumbling in the Desert (Part 2): Learning to Trust God's Continued Provision, Natalie Worsfold As the journey continues, the Israelites once again find themselves at a place of testing, needing water and questioning whether God is really with them. Despite repeated demonstrations of His care, they waver in faith and slip back into complaints. This cycle of doubt shows how prone we are to forget God's faithfulness once immediate needs arise again.
Exodus 15:22–16:21 Grumbling in the Desert (Part 1): When Thirst and Hunger Take Over Not long after their miraculous deliverance through the Red Sea, the Israelites begin to complain about their dire need for water and food. They forget how God saved them, focusing instead on what they lack. The bitter waters at Marah and the gift of manna reveal God's ongoing provision, yet the people's immediate response is grumbling rather than gratitude. Their physical hunger and thirst overshadow the memory of God's powerful intervention.
Exodus 14 Crossing Over: Trusting God's Deliverance Exodus 14 describes a breathtaking scene: God parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass safely while swallowing up the pursuing Egyptian army. In this dramatic moment, the people come face to face with the reality of God's might and faithfulness. Their journey is a leap from a place of desperation to deliverance, and it underscores the truth that God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
Exodus 12:1-7 The Passover: salvation through the Lamb On the night of the Passover, the Israelites witness God's powerful judgment on Egypt, yet they experience his merciful protection through the blood of the lamb placed on their doorposts. This defining moment sets them on a journey out of slavery and into a covenant relationship with the Lord. It's a story of God's deliverance and his desire to set his people free.
Exodus 3:1–12 The God who calls In this first Sunday of Lent, we explore the moment Moses encounters God in the burning bush—a pivotal event where God reveals both his holiness and his intention to free the Israelites from slavery. Moses, an unlikely and hesitant leader, receives a divine call that will shape the course of history. This passage reminds us that God often uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for his purposes.
Romans 12:9-21 Love in Action As Christ's body, we are to show the love of God to each other and to the world. Paul spells out what love in action looks like – pursuing good, honouring others, faithfully praying, showing humility, living at peace with others and overcoming evil with good. What does this look like this week, for you?
Romans 12:3-8 Being the Body of Christ Part of the transformation that takes place in us is a humbling (vs3) and a joining together with other believers, as the body of Christ. Paul encourages us to think of the church as a body, with many parts that work together for one purpose. And so, he encourages us to serve, prophesy, teach, encourage, give and lead, together as one in Christ.
Sunday 16th February 2025, Dan Bright Romans 12:1-2 As Paul moves on from writing about Israel, he urges his readers to worship God by offering our whole lives as a sacrifice. This means that we need to be transformed by God and not be conformed to the world. In particular, our minds need transforming. To what extent are we conforming to the world rather than be transformed by God?
Sunday 9th February 2025, 9:30 Service, George Eapan Romans 11:25-36 Paul is fully expectant that “all Israel will be saved” (vs26), backed up by the words of Isaiah, reminding us of God's covenant with his people. Knowing that “God's gifts and call are irrevocable” (vs29), we are to expect God to pour out his mercy on the Jewish people (vs31) in the same way he showed mercy to us. Paul is not suggesting that the Jews will be saved apart from Christ. Jesus is the only way of salvation, and the expectation is that ‘Israel as a whole' will come to salvation in time. We are to show mercy to the Jewish people and pray for their salvation.
God's Mercy seen through radical inclusion of all people
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