Freedom Church Chester

Sunday, 5 July 2020 | Acts 20:7-16 // Keith Cooper | Sleepy head // Why does Luke choose to include in Acts the story of Eutychus? In a warm room, after hearing Paul speak for a long time, Euthychus became sleepy – and fell out of a third storey window, to his death. // // Though this was a shocking event, the apostle Paul, unperturbed, prays over the body of Eutychus, who returns to life, completely unharmed. They then carry on with the meeting! // // We gain here a glimpse of the early church – meeting on a Sunday, sharing communion, listening to Paul share for hours! And against the background of persecution, a shocking incident and an incredible miracle, the church gladly remembers Jesus together. // // Luke includes this story to demonstrate the power of God and to give a revelation of the reality of our living Saviour.

Sunday, 28 June 2020 | Acts 20:1-6 // Khumbulani Sibanda | Mission bearing fruit // Here we see Paul after the riot in Ephesus, preparing to depart for Macedonia. Luke stresses the point that Paul encouraged the believers before leaving. Similarly as he continued on his journey, he brought encouragement to those who followed Christ. // // Our enemy Satan seeks to deceive and discourage us. He questions what God has told us, bringing doubt and fear. The encouragement from our brothers and sisters is one of the gifts of God that keeps us walking on his path.

Sunday, 21 June 2020 | Acts 19:21-41 // Rob Pomeroy | Riots and Reasons // In today’s passage, we see a riot that occurs in Ephesus, centring around the perceived threat of Christianity to the livelihood of some craftsmen – to the prestige of the city: // // - Christianity is not a threat to the state. // - We don’t normally attack the world’s sin; we present the truth. // - Do not cling to worldly things. // - But also don’t be afraid of the world, or fear its people. // - Be a true friend to sinners. // - Respect, appreciate and pray for the authorities.

Sunday, 14 June 2020 | Acts 19:11-20 // Keith Cooper | Power encounters // Jesus’ mode of operation included frequent healings & casting out demons – whether requested by the sick person or initiated by Jesus himself. Today’s passage shows that God’s attitude towards healing and deliverance is unchanged. // // Healing is not magic however. God is not at our beck and call. Not everyone will be healed in this life. Nevertheless, the power of God cannot be denied. We must still ask God, we must persist in prayer, asking in faith, knowing that God can heal us. And in his good time, he works his miracles.

Sunday, 7 June 2020 | Acts 19:1-10 // Keith Cooper | Another Pentecost? // Paul and John the Baptist had in common a realisation that Jesus is God. The twelve men mentioned in this passage needed to understand this. Like them, without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, there will always be something missing from our lives. // // Though the men had to some extent repented, they had not yet turned to Christ – which is necessary for salvation and transformation. The authenticity of their salvation could only be demonstrated by receiving the Holy Spirit – as we must. // // Be filled with the Spirit. Let your life‘s purpose be glorifying Jesus.

Sunday. 31 May 2020 | Acts 18:24-28 // Dave Scotland | God’s wisdom – man’s folly // In this passage we are introduced to Apollos, a well-educated, gifted speaker. In spite of all his knowledge and wisdom, he had yet to learn about Christ and the work he accomplished. He humbly submits to the teaching of other disciples and then is used powerfully by God.

Sunday, 24 May 2020 | Acts 18:18-23 // Emma Beddoes | Travelling around // Paul spent a long time in Corinth. While he was there, Gallio, the representative of the Emperor in the region, gave a political-legal judgment in favour of Paul. This decision had wide-reaching consequences for the spread of the gospel. // // In today’s passage, we see Paul had his hair cut, which possibly marked the end of a Nazarite vow (which would focus on abstinence and cleanliness). That in turn may have been a response to the uncleanliness and immorality he found in Corinth. Next they travelled to Ephesus and Paul left his travelling companions there. // // When asked to stay longer in Ephesus, Paul indicated that he would return, if God willed it. He was fully submitted to the direction of God and would not pursue his own agenda. We do well to emulate this example; wait on God, hear his voice, follow his direction, surrender your plans.

Sunday, 17 May 2020 | Acts 18:1-17 // Andy Lawrie | Stages of ministry // Paul was driven by his love for Jesus to travel, sharing the good news. He knew that, like us, he had done nothing to deserve the grave he’d received – quite the contrary. // // This passage sees Paul arrive at cosmopolitan Corinth, a city well-known for its immorality. There Paul worked and ministered. He could not be accused of sponging off believers. In his passion he demonstrated integrity. // // God continued to work out his purposes through Paul, as he works out his purposes in us today.

Sunday, 10 May 2020 | Acts 17:16-34 // Paul Jackson | The gospel and idols // Though we love God, we all have idols. These are things or people that have a dearer place in our heart than God. These may even be good things in their own right; it is just that we are giving them inappropriate priority. // // The apostle Paul was provoked by the idols he saw in Athens. He knew that the answer then, as now, was the gospel. And so Paul presented the gospel to this city in terms relevant and accessible to his listeners.

Sunday, 3 May 2020 | Acts 17:10-15 // Keith Cooper | Greater Nobility // We need to know the Word. We have such ready access to the bible, there can be no excuse for failing to read and take in these precious truths. // // We must approach the word of God humbly, with an open heart. He still speaks and reveals himself to us. // // The Bereans in this passage were willing to listen and in this they set a good example. A willingness to listen and a determination to keep Christ central will stand us in good stead as we face the uncertainties of life, contrasting them with the certainty of God’s eternal, certain supremacy.

Sunday, 26 April 2020 | Acts 17:1-9 // Rob Pomeroy | Trip to Thessalonica // This week we return to Acts, catching up with Paul and Silas as they journey to the city of Thessalonica. We learn to trust that God will use as as he has equipped us, and we reflect on the amazing future that awaits all those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. // // You can listen to the sermon on SoundCloud or watch on YouTube: youtu.be/bYYif5qNK68?t=31m26s

Sunday, 19 April 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 6 // Andy Lawrie | Working together to build God’s kingdom // Andy concludes our series focusing on Freedom Church’s vision and values. In this final episode, we address look at our comitment to working together, to build the Kingdom of God.

Sunday 12 April 2020 | He made a way // Keith Cooper | Colossians 1:16 // History is His Story, God’s story. His purposes are worked out through Jesus Christ. // // In Colossians 1:16 re read that all things created by him and for him; our purpose is to glorify God. That is the goal of our existence. // // Crucifixion was not unusual in Jesus’ time. But there was nothing usual about Jesus’ sacrifice. He voluntarily gave up his life. The earth shook. The sky darkened. The temple curtain separating God’s presence from the people, was torn in two. Despite what the Romans thought, it was Jesus, not them, who was in control of this situation. // // Jesus’ perfect sacrifice established a new way of dealing with sinners, characterised by grace and mercy.

Sunday, 5 April 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 5 // Keith Cooper | Growth, Gifts & Talents // Episode 5 considers Freedom Church’s value relating to gifts & talents, specifically: “Encouraging everyone to grow in faith, developing the gifts & talents God has given us”. As the UK and many other countries continue in lockdown, due to COVID-19, it is all the more important to reach out to one another, to encourage each other in the faith, to spur one another one and to show love and kindness to our neighbours and communities.

Sunday, 29 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 4 // Khumbulani Sibanda | Value everyone, irrespective of their differences // The third edition of our series on the church’s values concentrates on the value of every person. This sermon was delivered via Zoom, as the congregation met online during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Sunday, 22 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 3 // Andy Lawrie | Outward looking with compassion for Chester // In the next in our series focusing on Freedom Church’s values, Andy looks at compassion. This is always relevant and never more so that during the current coronavirus situation. // // This sermon was delivered via Facebook live; the video is available here: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomChurchChester/videos/808012069688884/

Sunday, 15 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 2 // Matt Banks | Generous in everything // Matt continues our season examining Freedom Church’s values. This week, we focus on generosity. // // Cover image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/epBIrtdg2Hk

Sunday, 8 March 2020 | Vision & Values – Episode 1 // Dave Brown | Creatively reflecting God’s best in all we do // Today, Dave opens our mini series focusing on the church’s core values. We begin with “Creatively reflecting God’s best in all we do”. // // Cover image by Plush Design Studio on Unsplash

Sunday, 1 March 2020 | Acts 16:25-40 // Emma Beddoes | God Turning the Tables // Conversion is the first step along the road of salvation. This starts a journey of growing in faith and freedom. Freedom comes from following God’s direction, pursuing dependence on God and passion for his purposes. // // We have been destined for freedom. Destined for freedom from sin, freedom from the tyranny of our own selfishness, freedom to love and serve others. True freedom is found in being like Christ. // // After his conversion, the jailer in this passage was immediately moved to serve Paul and Silas, with joy. Serving others is a far higher calling than serving ourselves.

Sunday, 23 February 2020 | Acts 16:16-24 // Keith Cooper | Fighting Evil & Paying the Price // Demonic spirits cannot be trusted with the gospel. In this passage we see Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl who was exploited by her so-called owners for selfish profit. // // Satan intends to rob us of the inheritance promised to us through Abraham and fulfilled in Christ. We are divinely empowered with weapons to fight against strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Jesus regained the authority that Adam and Eve surrendered in the Garden of Eden.