Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church

Following on from our last Questions of Life on free speech. Mark and Donald discuss the problems with and the guard rails to speaking the truth to another person "in love".

Sensitively, Paul unpacks the warnings from the story of Lot in Sodom. How do we respond when God, seeking to protect us, gives us warnings?

When the Bible talks of God being jealous - what does it mean? Donald seeks to explain and show how this links to God's promise to do the best for his people. When we have lost much in life God seems to promise to give us much more in return. Was might this look like?

We are all faced with choices as to whether to do what we think is right when it looks pointless or doomed to failure, or whether to do what is expected and easy, though it feels wrong. How do we carry on? The woman carried on to the tomb when there seemed no point - "Who Will Roll Away The Stone?" they asked. Why did they go when they expected their way to be blocked?

It would appear that the freedom to be able to say whatever we want is one of the new core values of the current social media world, but is this what God thinks? How do we handle our words? When is freedom of speech good or bad? Donald and Mark discuss with audience questions

James from Compassion spoke on Compassion Sunday on Exodus, looking at how we all face disappointment at times and how we can deal with this well.

Paul continues his series in Genesis. How do we react when faced with this passage?

We long for an end to suffering, but how will this happen? Donald explains the "day of the Lord"

Deb and Vanessa explore how our world has become broken, and Jesus' offer to renew us and bring fullness of life.

In the prequel to his first talk on Ephesians 6v10, Donald looks at the first half of the verse. Why are we given life? What are we meant to do with it?

We were created to do good things but how do we know what good things we are to do? With illustrations from his own life Donald unpacks this question. He had just been away with our young people on their weekend away and this is the final talk back at the Church. The first part of this verse will be explored in a week's time.

Kent, director of European Christian Mission in Britain, explored how we will all have to wait at some point in our lives and therefore - how can we learn from the Bible how to do this well…

Donald begins a new series from the book of Joel. Is it ok to be honest with God and tell him how we are really feeling? What is the power of being heard?

Deb explores the beginning of chapter 4 of Ephesians - the turning point in the book - that looks back on all that has come before and moves forwards to how we can live as a result...

Charlie shares a story from his life of waiting on God not rushing into his own solution

It's the week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Donald leads this United Service with the other Town Centre Churches. Churches all over Britain are reflecting on Jesus' question to Martha - "Do you believe this?" What is it we believe and how do we know if we believe it?

Paul continues his series in Genesis. What can we learn from the way Abraham welcomes three strangers?

Donald reminds us of our Church's purpose and mission and leads us in renewing our commitment

In the first part of Renewal Sunday, Donald concludes his mini series on Matthew 11:28-30 and helps choose some prayers to pray as we seek to walk with Jesus

In Part 2 of our Carol Service Donald explain's the Good News of God' love and how it can save us

Part 1 of our Carol service - Donald talks about Jesus is good news for those who want peace

Paul continues in Genesis with stories of the unexpected

How do we handle doubt in ourselves and in others - especially when it creates damaging behaviours? Do we pull people close or push them away? Jude tells us to be merciful, Donald tries to unpick this message

Deb looks at the time needed to have strong roots and foundations if we are to remain firm through the things life will throw at us.

What does it look like to be walking in God's love and how do we stay in that place? Deb and Donald discuss these and other related questions from the congregation

Former Staff member Sarah uses Psalm 146 to update us on her news and ministry in South Africa

What causes war? Can we do anything about the culture that creates war? How might living as Citizens of Heaven help us make an impact for good? Donald delves into some controversial areas this Remembrance Sunday

How are we affected by the negativity of others? Is it ok to ovoid Grumblers? What if we are one?

Prompted by Psalm 142 Lorna shares a personal story of God's healing and deliverance

Deb gets Donald to share some of his struggles with comparing himself to others over the years, and what he has learnt to think and do to over come this.

Deb looks at the mystery that was revealed to Paul and considers whether we are living as if it is still a mystery...

So much in the world seems to be unstable and shaking at this moment in history''. Guest speaker Chris Mitten from Anchor Church, helps on reflect on this experience in the Bible, when God shakes the things we have come to trust in and the invitation when our lives are being shaken to come to Jesus

Donald grapples with the tension between two controversial questions. 1. "If we know God is going to forgive us do we need to change and bother with the commands we don't like?" And 2. "If we do something we know to be wrong can we ever really be sorry enough to be forgiven?" So can grace and judgment live together? What is justice? Donald gets on a plank to help us

Donald interviews Richard about his life and how grace has overcome shame and, after a difficult journey, led him to place of helping others to rebuild their lives.

Abram becomes Abraham, as he receives something very special from God. The consequences echo through the ages.

David reflects on Psalm 131 and of when he was reminded of the truths expressed in this Psalm in his own life.

Donald explores the beginning of the letter of Jude and his relationship with Jesus - and reflects on how we might describe our relationship with Jesus and how we might shift our perspective.

Where do we find ourselves imitating the culture of our family from the past or the world around us today? Why do we repeat what we see, even when we don't want to. What are the values of Jesus that we want to look for in the people we copy?

A Questions of Life special with a panel of David, Shelagh, Donald and Deb, discussing their experience and answering questions on recognising God speaking

John in his third letter warns us of someone who wants to be first, so Donald unpacks the dangers for us of wanting to be first and the pain we feel or cause when we compete with or compare ourselves to others.

When do we show love the love of Jesus and welcome someone we believe is wrong in their views or behaviour, and when do we dis-associate from someone who we believe is a bad influence. It's a tricky question because the Bible and even John seems to say different things at different times. On the second in our series being deceived Donald tries to help us work out who is influencing us and who can we influence?

The apostle John warns the Church to look out for deceivers, but how do we know which of the many voices we see and hear are false? John tells us to hold on to the teachings of Jesus, Donald unpacks what this might look like today

Deb shares about what she was speaking about on camp, and some of the young people tell their stories of thankfulness from the week.

Richard shares his recent experience of pilgrimage as he reflects on Psalm 119

Reflecting on Philippians 4, Bert Han, from the Birmingham Chinese Evangelical Church, encourages us to allow God to compose a harmonious tune in us as we seek to live in genuine connection with others

David helps us imagine a scene with Jesus to help us feel Psalm 118 in a powerful way

The command of God is to love, but what is love? John tells us it is to obey the commands of Jesus; so what are the commands of Jesus that help us understand what love looks like?

What does walking in Jesus look like? Donald starts a new series in John's second and third letters

An encouragement to pray as the early church did - with stories of encouragement from around the world and ending with a couple of songs from Drakeford.

Paul looks at Hagar, Abram and Sarai in Genesis 16 and what we can learn from them.

In the final talk from our series, Nehemiah is looking back over his life and asks God to remember him. He chooses three strange stories, that perhaps we wouldn't be so proud of but reveal his anxiety as he not only asks what he will be remembered for but also "Am I good enough?". Look out for our follow up evening where Donald and Sam discuss nehemiah's questions.