Life Church Southampton

Despite warnings of direct consequences the people reject God's rule in favour of a human king. How are we at trusting God to rule in all areas of our lives? Are there things we see that others have? Where are we holding back from letting God lead?

In this message we follow the Ark of the Covenant as it is taken to the battle field, captured by the Philistines and finally returned to the Israelites. The people are confronted with the weight of God's holiness.

Samuel hears his name being called and is faithful in answering the voice he hears. Are we listening out for God's voice and humble enough to obey when we hear His call?

As this series begins, Joshua Pun sets the scene for Israel as they stray from God during the time of Judges. In desperation for the rule of God and His Kingdom, Hannah prays for a son who will be devoted to God's will and see the fulfilment of God's purposes for the nation.

Cultures Sunday is a celebration of the cultural diversity we enjoy at Life Church and a reminder of the unity that there is in Christ. In this message Si introduces our Gift Day, with the aim and desire to partner with God in resourcing and releasing the Kingdom ‘Here, There and Everywhere.' For details on how to give, please visit: https://www.lifesouthampton.org/give/

It's Easter Sunday — Jesus is risen! This message asks whether anything else explain these seemingly impossible events, or are we left with the undeniable miracle of His resurrection?

In this message, we reflect on Good Friday and the harrowing events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion. We recall all that He suffered, considering at least twelve extraordinary acts accomplished on our behalf through His death and resurrection.

This sermon focuses on three acts of "laying things down": a woman's extravagant offering of perfume signifying Jesus' worth, Jesus' willing sacrifice of his body for a new covenant during the Passover meal, and his submission to God's will regarding the crucifixion. Jon, encourages us to consider what we value most, to remember Jesus' sacrifice and to reflect on where we are submitting our own will to God's.

Sunday marked the formal transition of leadership at Life Church, as Chris Kilby passes the role to Si Munsie. We are deeply grateful to Chris and Jo for their faithful, devoted, and fruitful service as followers of Jesus.

In this message Chris reminds us he will remain an elder at Life Church, focussing on pastoral care and evangelism, but also broaden his involvement in southern catholic Europe as he steps down from his current senior leadership role. Speaking from 1 Timothy he offers seven exhortations from Paul to Timothy to continue to lead and build church well.

When Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, it wasn't an act of uncontrolled rage. Rather, He demonstrated that no one should be excluded from encountering their Father in Heaven — a truth He would confirm once and for all through His death and resurrection.

Jesus seems to face many interruptions while fulfilling His ministry. How do we respond to the apparent interruptions in our own lives? Do we see them as obstacles to our plans—or even to God's plans—or as opportunities to receive and demonstrate grace?

Instead of arguing like Jesus' disciples about who was greatest, little children came to Jesus in humility simply to receive. Guest Speaker, Becky Peacock, helps us to take the same approach.

Up a mountain with Peter, James and John Jesus' face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. A cloud envelops Jesus and God speaks saying, 'This is my son, whom I love. Listen to Him.'. This is the call of every disciple, to listen Him and walk in daily obedience.

Jesus' disciples are challenged by the question, ‘Who do you say I am?'. It is here that Jesus reveals that suffering that awaits him, and the costs and rewards for those who take up their cross and follow him. NB We were unable to share the original video recording but this replacement audio only version has kindly been provided by Abigail.

When the disciples witnessed Jesus walk on water and calm a storm they were ‘amazed'. They had not yet understood just who Jesus is. This message helps us to see Jesus clearly through the events of Mark 6.

In this section of Mark's gospel, both the miraculous feeding of the 5000 and the 4000 feature. Bread is referred to often. As we read it becomes clear that Jesus himself, the Bread of life, is the one who sustains our life, spirituality and mission as follows of Christ.

Through the events recorded in Mark 5 we see that Jesus will go out of His way to meet us. When we hear Jesus, we can believe Him. His is the only voice to follow.

From Mark 3, Nathan highlights two key lessons Jesus' first disciples learned. First, Jesus chose them, not because they 'qualified', but because He wanted them. Second, they became a new family.

Jesus has given authority to us, his disciples. The church should be known today for the same things as Jesus' early followers - preaching the word of God and seeing regular signs and wonders, including the sick being healed.

In this series introduction we learn that Mark's gospel account is direct and to the point, beginning with its opening statement that Jesus is the 'Son of God'. We see that the Kingdom of God is at hand - not a place, but a person whom every disciple is called to follow into endless adventure.

Jesus made that claim, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' In this message we look at the many times the Bible talks about the arrival of an unending light in a world of darkness. Can Jesus really be the light to end all darkness? Christmas is a time to celebrate all that is light.

The birth of Jesus is a beacon of hope, a light shining in the darkness. This Christmas, we celebrate that light and the promise of joy and peace that it brings, even in the darkest of times.

There are so many things that keep us busy at Christmas. Annie encourages us to reflect on the simplicity of the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the most significant person in human history, and the simple invitation He makes to us - to come to Him and find peace and rest.

Chris Kilby introduces this advent series asking one question - Why Christmas? With all its trimmings and trappings, what is the underpinning, unshakable truth about Christmas and why does it matter?

In the concluding message in this series we discover that a life of meaning can only be found in ‘a long obedience in the same direction'. Not obedience to any arbitrary standard we choose but obedience to God, produced in our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

One of the biggest questions every person alive will face is, what happens after death? A healthy biblical view of death and dying will lead us to a healthy view of life and living.

There is no person alive who will not experience suffering and hardship is some way. How, as those who love and trust a God who is good, make sense of the suffering we experience and see all around us? It is the Bible which gives us a clear perspective as Katie explores in this message.

On average, an adult will make around 34,000 decisions per day. As we navigate these decisions, how can we ensure we are putting God and others first, rather than simply choosing what is best for me?

At Life Church we have a vision of Bringing Life to Every Community. The culture of Life Church is how if ‘feels' while we're outworking this vision. Our cultural headlines communicate what we are all about and in this special message we hear from the elders what these headlines are, and how they are expressed through what we do as a church.

What is the the ultimate purpose of Man? The Westminster Shorter Catechism answers, 'Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.' If God himself is the purpose of our lives, how do we choose and prioritise what we say yes to?

Having looked at how far humans have fallen from their original status and purpose as the pinnacle of God's creation, made to reflect his very image, Esther now looks at how that original status can possibly be restored - and it's not by anything that can be accomplished by human means!

Although humanity was created as the pinnacle of God's creation, made in His image, Genesis 3 reveals how corruption and evil entered the world—not through chance or fate, but through our own deliberate choices.

Human beings are distinct in all of creation. Only mankind is made in the image of God. What does this mean for our identity and the way we live life on purpose?

If we try to sort out our own sense of purpose, believing it to be a narrow tightrope we can easily miss, then we place an unhelpful weight of burden on every decision we face. In this series we look to what the Bible teaches about identity, eternity and purpose.

Eustace Tackie-Otoo joins us from Grace Community Church, Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana. Eustace helps us to see our wider mission as a church belonging to a family of churches like Commission. We see that God's purposes for His church extend way beyond our own immediate activities and area, and the part which we play in all of that.

Here Chris considers how care is outworked both in the broader church community as well as within smaller groups. Abigail also explains how the Life Groups work at Life Church, and the pastoral benefits of belonging to one.

Life is filled with trials of every kind. Only Jesus is the Rock who remains faithful and able to help each of us in times of trouble. We build our lives on Him, the Son of the Living God.

The Bible encourages us to care for one another. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to welcome, encourage, build up and bear with others in love.

This message looks to the New Testament and the early church as our model for those who 'shepherd', care for and oversee the flock.

This year two interns have volunteered their time for Life Church whilst undertaking Commission's Theology for Life and Intern training. This week they each bring a message shaped by what God has been revealing more to them over the past year.

In Acts 8 we see the good news about Jesus being shared and salvation coming to the Ethiopian official who immediately believes and is baptised in the name of Jesus. The message of salvation in Jesus is a truly global message for all.

Since the early church began there has been persecution against those who proclaim the gospel, and persecution remains commonplace in much of the world today. But, God is building His church and the message continues to spread. What should our response be like?

Race, gender, class, and many other social categories intersect to shape our experiences of both privilege and oppression. As we consider this Intersectionality and it's effect on us and those around us, we look to Jesus who has ultimate privilege and power, yet chose to serve and sacrifice.

Authentic church is a people who have witnessed Jesus, and who share that witness with others. We are not alone in this as the Spirit also witnesses. The witness of the church and the Spirit cannot be stopped.

The holiness and purity of God must be taken seriously. The church is a place of acceptance and grace, where dishonesty and hypocrisy have no place. Confession and forgiveness lead to authentic fellowship. In this message Chris helps us see how to avoid offending God and harming the church.

This Sunday we gave to our Life Church Gift Day. Reading from Acts 4, Si Munsie addressed the relationship we have both with God and with the 'stuff' around us. The early church had been so radically effected by the grace they had received in Christ that it had wonderfully changed their relationship with their belongings. By grace, the same can be true for us.

It is the presence of Jesus in our lives that leads us to live extraordinary lives with extraordinary moments of breakthrough through the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer.

In this message Jon helps us what an authentic church looks like when engaging with those in poverty, be it economic, relational, aspirational or spiritual poverty. In Christ, we are empowered by the Spirit to bring good news to the poor.

We celebrate the great diversity of the church, because we are united together in Christ! On this occasion we look at generosity, both within our own church and across churches and nations - giving generously for the sake of the gospel.

What does it look like to be devoted to something? The early church, we're told in Acts, devoted themselves to the Apostle's teaching, fellowship with other believers, the breaking of bread and prayer. What does it look like, and what does this communicate to others, when we do the same?