We Are Christchurch

That's a wrap on our first running of The Way Course: Journey Through Life With Jesus. Listen to the latest conversation at We Are Christchurch podcast to hear more about how it went.

Lewis and Lindsey are back to wrap up our Galatians series and talk about how this glorious letter might apply into the life our church.

Gavin, Lewis and Tiff discuss their recent road trip to Liverpool, Tiff shares about her role with CAP, and we introduce you to The Way Course: Journey into life with Jesus.

Alongside ‘the cross becoming personal' are there any other signs of the Spirit? What of miracles and other ‘signs'?  Lewis and Jo return to Galatians 3 and delve a little deeper into its opening verses.

Lewis and special guest host Jo dig a little deeper into Galatians 2:15-21.

The OG! (…original gospel) As Christchurch celebrates 30 years, We are Christchurch returns for a new series. Listen in as we go a little deeper into the opening chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians and Lindsey quizzes Lewis about his own ‘origin story'.

Luke and Lewis delve a little deeper into Matthew 18: 21-35 and discuss the final part of our Life Together series.

How far should we go in pursuing a wandering Christian? Lindsey and Lewis follow up Sunday's message ‘Pursue' and answer listener's questions on Matthew 18: 10-14. In closing Sunday's message, Lewis quoted W Spencer Walton's hymn, In Tenderness He Sought Me. Matt Searles has written a stunning arrangement of these words - stick around til the end of the pod to hear this beautiful setting of some stunning gospel words. They also chat a little about Brickworks? Have you visited yet? Submit your questions for future episodes. 

Lindsey and Lewis are back! And this week, they're digging a little deeper into Matthew 18: 5 - 10. What's the difference between a friendship and a clique? Does it matter that I'm naturally introverted? How does the gospel compel me to welcome others?

We're back! Join Lindsey and Lewis as they go a little deeper into the opening sermon of our Life Together series.  You can listen to the sermon here: https://christchurchnewport.co.uk/media/jdhhg84/life-together-childlike If you'd like to submit a question for upcoming episodes you can do so here: https://ccnewport.churchsuite.com/forms/7mfga0rn  

Over the past few months, we've been privileged to witness a number of people from different backgrounds, with different stories and various experiences of the Christian faith come to know Jesus and express an interest in being baptised. So in this episode of We Are Christchurch, Lewis and Bob run through some of the most common questions regarding this ancient practice. What is baptism? The New City Catechism describes baptism as “the washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; it signifies and seals our adoption into Christ, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment to belong to the Lord and to his church.” As complicated as this sounds, baptism is actually very straight forward. To be baptised is to be immersed and raised out of water by another believer. This simple practice has been performed by the Church for over 2000 years, and is laden with symbolism: our sins being washed away; our belonging to the One who died, was buried and rose again; our rebirth and new life by the Spirit. In being baptised by the church, we're acknowledging that we are part of Christ's people, and in so doing before the watching world, we're making a public declaration that our allegiance now lies with him. But maybe most importantly, baptism is an act of obedience. At the end of Matthew's gospel, the risen King calls his church to follow his commands and baptism is often the first step in this new life of discipleship (Matthew 28: 18-20). This is why for centuries, before being baptised ‘in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit', disciples have uttered the ‘sacred confession' that ‘Jesus is Lord' (Philippians 2: 11). Who should be baptised? Everyone who believes in Jesus! The sole requirement for baptism is faith in Christ (Acts 2:41). But… What about children? Faith is not age dependent. But for various pastoral reasons, we would advise caution before baptising children. If in any doubt, come chat to a pastor. What if I was baptised as a child?  On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel and 3000 people believed and were baptised. This sets a pattern to follow. From here on, regardless of ethnic background or history or previous experience, baptism is linked to the faith of the individual believer and this is the practice we adhere to at Christchurch (Acts 2: 38, 41; 8: 12, 36; 9: 18; 10: 48; 16: 14-15, 30-33; 18: 8; 19: 4-5; 22: 16; Col 2: 12; 1 Peter 3: 21). What if I was baptised, fell away and have since returned to Christ. Should I be baptised again?  Maybe?! The answer to this one depends entirely on your personal story. If this is is you, come chat! When should someone be baptised? As soon as possible! Believers in the New Testament were baptised the same day (Acts 2:41; 8:35-39) and we see no reason not to follow this example and baptise believers at the first opportunity. What do I do now?  If you're faith and trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ, get in touch and one of our pastors will be in touch to chat more.

We're welcoming a host of guests to come preach throughout the summer. And returning on August 25, by popular demand, is Sammy Davies. Sammy is an old friend to us as a church. He's pastored Ammanford Evangelical for over 15 years and though he's preached with us a bunch of times, we've never heard his story. So here it is. Last week Lewis traveled to the Union campus in Bridgend and found out more about him.

Simon Voth is a Masters student at Giessen Seminary in Germany, and from September through to April, we were delighted to welcome him as a pastoral intern. It was a pure joy and we're delighted to welcome him back to preach on Sunday August 18.  Simon became well loved among us as a church, but his personal story isn't well known. So ahead of him preaching, Lewis sat with him to find our more.

As we conclude our series through Romans 8, here's one last teaching - not a sermon, not a conversation - but a rewording of the glorious grace found through life ‘in Christ'.

Romans 8 changed her life.   As we conclude our series through this magnificent passage, one of our members shares how these words changed everything for her.   When Gloria felt the shame of a broken marriage and the fear of parenting alone, Romans 8 brought her liberating grace. Listen in as she tells her story.          

Last week Lewis flew to Scotland to catch up with Sam Wilkins. As you'll hear in the pod, Sam left Newport in order to turn his back on a previous life of drug dealing and gang violence. Five years later, he's preparing to plant a church on the Gorgie estate. As a church, we're delighted to support this work through our mission fund, and so in this special episode of We Are Christchurch, Lewis and Sam recall those early days of his conversion and subsequent story of grace.

Ahead of Christopher returning to preach at Christchurch on April 7, here's a short interview Lewis recorded with him.

On Sunday, our friend Steve Levy is joining to preach the penultimate message from our 1 Peter series. Get to know his story by listening in on this conversation he had with Pete Greasley from 2015.

As our series through 1 Peter draws to a close, Lindsey and Lewis dissect Sunday's message ‘Post-Christian Survival Guide' and answer listener questions. [If you find Lew's keys, please get in touch…]

What does it mean to do good? For 2000 years the church has sought to live this out, often at great cost. Why?Listen in as Lindsey (stifles the lurgy and) asks Lew about Sunday's message, Good in Exiles.   Have you got the app?   ‎  

It's a We Are Christchurch special as Lewis travels to East Sussex to meet Terry Virgo. We hear Terry tell his story from his early life in Brighton, conversion through his sister's boldness and subsequent ministry spanning seven decades. Terry has seen God move, first among a small group of believers and outward into a movement of 1500 churches in over 70 countries globally. It was thrilling to hear him tell the story of grace from first to last. Here's the chat.

On Sunday September 17, Joel Virgo preached a wonderful message from Matthew 8. If you haven't heard it, here it is. The day before preaching, Lew sat down with him to hear his story of life and ministry. Here's the chat.

A quick pod!  Gav and Lew travelled to East Sussex this week (you'll have to listen in to find out why). On the way home they took a few moments to look back over the first two years of The Church Office.

We're back! After a summer break, The Debrief returns to delve deeper into the message preached at Christchurch Newport last Sunday. It was called ‘A Good Life' and you can hear it here. The night before school restarts (which might explain some of the background excitement…), Lindsey and Lew recap the message, probe a little deeper into applying it to our lives, and answer listeners questions. If you'd like to contribute a question for future episodes, do it anonymously here. Christchurch Newport are a people together, to make Christ known, to all. If we can serve you in any way, get in touch. We'd love to connect.

Tom Clewer is an old friend. Of Christchurch, of the pastoral team, of Lew, and of so many in our church. He's the pastor of Grace Community Church, Porthcawl, and on August 20 he's coming to preach Psalm 121 to us. Ahead of his coming, Lew visited the Welsh Riviera to hear something of his story. Grace abounds!

In 2018, alongside a small group of believers, Owen and Charlotte Cottom planted Grace Church Cardiff, located in Grangetown - the most ethnically diverse postcode in the country. Ahead of him coming to preach on August 6, Lewis caught up with him to hear some of his life story and how Grace was started.

Before we take a break for the summer, Pete and Lew get together to chat more about Sunday's message, and answer your questions - thank you! They cover a load of territory from transgenderism, to belonging to why there are better podcasts out there… During the conversation, Pete referenced a message Ed Shaw gave at Christchurch recently. You can listen to that here.

Lindsey and Lewis catch up to briefly talk hanging baskets before going deeper into 1 Peter 1: 13-21, and the message Christchurch heard on Sunday June 25. What is holiness? And what practical steps can we make to living it out? And why does it matter anyway?

Lindsey caught up with Bob at his house to chew over Sunday's message What a Salvation! Listen in as we go a little deeper into what it means for ‘the Spirit of Christ to predict the sufferings of Christ' and how Christchurch seeks to build community around the Bible. 

Join Gavin, Lew AND JACK! as they chat over and think through applying Post-Christian Joy, a sermon preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday June 11.

Daniel Hames is one of the pastors at St Aldates Oxford, a lecturer at Union School of Theology and the author of God Shines Forth (which he co-authored with Mike Reeves). He also dabbles in a bit of song writing… His passion in life is helping the church grow into a deeper joy of understanding God as Trinity, and that's why we've invited him to come preach to us on June 4 on that subject. Ahead of his coming, Lewis caught up with him over Zoom to hear more about his life, and how the Trinity - rather than being a quirky academic complexity - is the source of lasting, real joy.

Ed Shaw is pastor of Emmanuel City Centre, Bristol and one of the founders of Living Out, and organisation established to help people, churches and society talk about faith and sexuality. On Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30pm Ed will be joining us to share his story of same sex attraction and the greater joy found in rooting his identity in Jesus Christ. He'll speak frankly and honestly of ongoing attraction and choosing to live a celibate life for the glory of God. There will be an anonymous Q+A on the night too. Ahead of him coming, Lewis caught up with him over Zoom to hear more about his life and what it means to submit out sexual lives to Jesus Christ. [Special thanks to Heather for prepping Lewis!]

As a follow up to last Sunday's message, Lewis sat in Pete's garden and asked him questions about the place of prophecy in the life of Christchurch Newport. Thank you to all who submitted questions! We tried (and failed!) to get through them all. (P.S. Please note, Ed Shaw is coming on Weds June 7th not Tues June 6th as stated in the podcast.)

In 2015, Bilge left his as German academic and relocated his family to Turkey where they planted Projekt Istanbul. Christchurch Newport has supported this work from the beginning, and it was a pleasure to welcome him to preach on May 21. The day before, Lewis sat with him to hear his story. In this second part, they chat about the call to Istanbul, the debt he owes Tim Keller as a personal mentor and the reality of living in modern day Turkey.

In 2015, Bilge left his life as a German academic and relocated his family to Turkey where they planted Projekt Istanbul. Christchurch Newport has supported this work from the beginning, and it was a pleasure to welcome him to preach on May 21. The day before, Lewis sat with him to hear his story. In this first part, they cover Bilge's early life in Hamburg - his origins and experiences as a Turkish immigrant, how Christ called him and his discovery of prayer.

It's Monday and it's The Debrief! Lindsey and Lew (AND ZAC!) are back to hear what's ahead in church life, laugh at illustrations that don't quite work and discuss Living Hope [https://christchurchsermons.libsyn.com/living-hope], a message preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday May 14.

The Debrief is back for a new series as Christchurch Newport begins Strangers and Exiles: Christ's people in a post-Christian world. Listen in as Lindsey and Lewis chew over Sunday's opening message, and (try!) to answer the questions that came in (spoiler alerts! Some of them were BIG).

On Sunday April 23, Clive Bowsher returns to Christchurch to preach Genesis 15.Ahead of him coming to us, Lewis and Clive caught up to hear his story, find out more about Union School of Theology and learn how God called him whilst at Music College in Birmingham. Clive Bowsher is a pastor-theologian who serves as Provost of Union School of Theology, and teaches and researches in New Testament and Biblical Theology. He is the author of Life in the Son: Exploring Participation and Union with Christ in John's Gospel and Letters (IVP, 2023), and One: Being United to Jesus Changes Everything (Union Publishing, 2023).

We wrap up this series of the Debrief with Gav, Bob and Lew looking back on Sunday's message from John 17. Listen in as they chew over the series as a whole, look ahead to what comes next (and Christmas!) and of course revel in the Father's love for his people.

Listen in as Lindsey and Lew chat over On Love and Sorrow, a message preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday March 19. In this episode, they delve a little deeper into what it means for God to be with his people, and what we do when it seems like he's not.

Lindsey's back in the host's chair, this time to chat to Lewis about When He Comes, a message preached at Christchurch Newport on March 12, 2023. Listen in as they chat about the Spirit's work in the life of the believer, both at conversion and ongoingly. They also talk a little about the Good Friday event Christchurch is hosting on April 7. For more information about this, click here.

It's a We Are Christchurch Special. Joining Lew on this We Are Christchurch Special is Lauren Medlicott. Lauren got in touch with our office a couple of weeks ago to share the the heart of Embrace, and the need they have for befrienders, especially in Newport. If you have a heart to love and serve some of our city's most vulnerable; if you can spare an hour or two a week… listen in and reach out direct to Embrace.

On today's Debrief, Gav is joined by Pete Greasley to chat more about Sunday's message 'Courage and Grace in a Strange World'. We wanted to give this vital issue a bit more space and reflection, so they're joined by Lew to consider the intersection of faithfulness, opposition and life in a post-Christian society.

Did you know Lindsey has a co-host?    Whilst Lindsey takes a deserved couple of weeks off, Gav takes the chair and chats to Bob Mc Can about Chosen as Friends. This sermon was preached on Sunday February 26.    In this episode, they go a little further with the idea of election and what it means for Christ to ‘choose' his disciples, and enjoy together the idea that in Christ, you and I get to commune with God, ‘as face to face'.    Didn't hear the message? Listen here. If you'd like to go a little with the passage, either in community or in personal devotion, you'll find the accompanying study sheet here. 

The Debrief returns with this follow up to The Quest for Joy, a message preached by Pete Greasley at Christchurch Newport on Sunday February 19. In today's episode, Lindsey and Pete sit down to discuss how this invitation to joy might play out in our day to day lives. The Lord's Prayer: 1:00 Overview of ‘The Quest for Joy': 3: 18 Questions What sort of fruit matters? 11:00 Keep the commandments? 13: 06 How do you decide to leave verses out of a message? 17: 38 What if I can't be bothered? 20:10 Is ambition futile? 22:10 Does God want me to be happy? 23:40 You can listen again to the sermon here. If you'd like to go a little deeper with this sermon, either in community or in personal devotion, here's the accompanying study sheet.    If we've never met, let's connect! Reach out through ChristchurchNewport.co.uk or join us any Sunday at The Christchurch Centre, Newport. 

Welcome back!    In this second episode of The Debrief, Lindsey and Lew discuss the work of the Spirit, as they chew over ‘Jesus' Best Friend'; a message preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday February 12, 2023.    They touch on a bunch of things provoked from the message: from 'how was Jesus empowered for his ministry?' to 'what does it looks like when the Spirit enters into a person's life?' to 'whether it's ever possible for the Spirit to leave a believer?'. If you're one of the people who asked a question following the message - thank you! Keep them coming!   You can listen again to the sermon here. If you'd like to go a little deeper with this sermon, either in community or in personal devotion, here's the accompanying study sheet.    If we've never met, let's connect! Reach out through ChristchurchNewport.co.uk or join us any Sunday at The Christchurch Centre, Newport. 

This is The Debrief. Lindsey and Lewis unpack Troubled Hearts and Greater Works, a message  preached at Christchurch Newport on February 5. Listen in as we delve deeper into the text and answer listeners' questions. [This is a pilot episode. Get in touch here - if you have any suggestion for future episodes]

Ahead of the Rebuild Conference, Gav and Lew sit down to discuss why this conference matters (and why you should consider coming along!) Over the coming weeks, they'll be sitting down with some of the conference contributors and hearing their thoughts on how the pandemic has affected church life, and the grace of God available now as seek to rebuild. Subscribe to hear Joel Virgo, Pete Greasley, Andy Hunter, Paul Mallard, Elizabeth Oldfield, Steve Robinson, Sharon James, Phil Swann and others share their lasting impressions on  What is Rebuild? Rebuild is an opportunity for pastors, ministry teams, church staff and lay leaders to reflect on all that's been, lament that which is lost and be renewed in God's unchanging grace. By June, churches across the country will have walked the walls and found that life is anything but normal. How has Covid-19 affected church life? Much has gone, some will not return. One thing's for certain, everything has changed. Everything that is, except the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. How to book? Visit Rebuildthechurch.co.uk to book and for more information. - Early bird tickets are available until Saturday 30th April and cost £75 per person* - From 1st May, the standard ticket price is £90 per person* Rebuild is gratefully sponsored by Union - an ecosystem for church growth: growing leaders through our School of Theology, strengthening God's people with theological excellence through our research at Newton House, helping believers delight in God through our Publishing house and resources, and supporting church planting through our Mission network.

Still want to know more about BibleTogether? Here's Gav and Lew chewing it over on a recent episode of We Are Christchurch.

Here's part 2 of our conversation with Ste Robinson, pastor of Cornerstone Church Liverpool and Director of the Cornerstone Collective. Before he preaches with us this Sunday, tune into the second half of this chat to find out more about Ste, what he did before becoming a Pastor and how even in some of the darker times in his life, God has used it for his glory to grow the Church. (If you haven't heard part 1 of this conversation, it's well worth catching up here.)

In our latest 'We are Christchurch' episode, we venture to Liverpool to meet Ste Robinson! Ste has a clear heart for the church, he's a pastor of Cornerstone Church in Liverpool and Director of the Cornerstone Collective, a communion of churches that work together to share the gospel with the city of Liverpool. Join Ste and Lewis, as they deep dive on relationships between churches, from the importance of relational communion within a church to maintaining relationships across a network of churches. And join us in looking forward to welcoming Ste to preach for us on November 14th (not the 16th as we said in the intro!). Please note this is part 1 of a two-part conversation, so be sure to keep an eye out for part two being released in a few days time.