Acts Part 4: Peter's Sermon

Acts Part 4: Peter's Sermon

Send us your questions or feedback here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545356/fan_mail/new] We continue to explore Acts 2 and the truth that the gospel is far bigger than simply "going to heaven one day." The gospel is the announcement that Jesus is King, heaven has come near, and the Holy Spirit is forming a people who embody the life of God together now. We reflected on how Scripture tells the story not of humanity escaping earth, but of God continually coming near — from Eden, to the tabernacle, to Jesus, to Pentecost, and ultimately to the renewal of all things. Acts 2 shows heaven invading earth through a Spirit-filled community. Peter's sermon does not end with private spirituality. It creates a people. Strangers become family. Generosity explodes. Meals become sacred. Prayer becomes central. The church becomes an outpost of heaven — a living picture of the Kingdom of God in the world. We consider how easy it is to approach church like a hotel rather than a home: evaluating, consuming, and remaining disconnected. But the New Testament vision is of a family where people carry burdens, forgive one another, serve sacrificially, and remain planted even when things become difficult. Isolated Christianity simply does not work. We were never meant merely to attend services, but to participate in the life of God together. We explore Jesus' words at Caesarea Philippi: "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." This verse can be imagined as the church under attack, but Jesus does not speak of the swords of Hades, the armies of Hades, or the arrows of Hades. He speaks of gates and gates don’t attack! This is a picture not of a frightened church hiding from darkness, but of a Spirit-filled church advancing into places ruled by sin, despair, and death itself: the gates being unable to withstand the life of Christ. Death cannot prove stronger than resurrection. Darkness cannot overpower light. The risen Jesus is building a people that don't cower from the darkness but through whom heaven pushes back the darkness. We reflect on Jesus standing in the synagogue in Luke 4 and reading from Isaiah 61 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to…" * Bring good news to the poor. * Freedom for prisoners. * Sight for the blind. * Freedom for the oppressed. * The year of the Lord's favour. Jesus announces that this mission is now being fulfilled in him. Then in Acts 2 that same Spirit is poured out upon the church. Meaning the mission of Jesus becomes the mission of his people. The Holy Spirit is not given merely for spiritual experiences, but so the life and ministry of Jesus continue through his body on earth. The church is meant to become: * good news to the poor, * hope for the lonely, * family for the unwanted, * light in darkness, * truth in confusion, * a channel for healing to the sick, * compassion in suffering, and, * freedom for those in bondage. Acts does not show a church hiding from the world. It shows ordinary people filled with the Spirit going out and "punching holes in the darkness" with the life of Jesus. The church must be marked not by pride or performance, but by humility, love, compassion, and service. The goal is not simply better church services. It is a different kind of humanity: a people shaped by the presence of Jesus, filled with the Spirit, living as a preview of the coming Kingdom. Until then: * Be planted. * Carry one another. * Stop merely attending. * Live the gospel. * And let the world see what the reign of Jesus looks like in human form. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@leominsterbaptistchurch] and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

Acts Part 3: Pentecost

Send us your questions or feedback here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545356/fan_mail/new] Acts Chapter 2 In this podcast we consider Pentecost and what it really means to live a life with God. Christianity does not simply offer a moment, an encounter, or even a powerful experience—it offers relationship. Not just, "I met Him," but "I walk with Him." Not just a spiritual high, but an ongoing, daily life with God. That matters, because many of us quietly build our understanding of the Holy Spirit around moments—times of emotion, power, or clarity. And while those moments can be real and significant, they are not the whole picture. A wedding may be unforgettable, but it is not the same as a marriage. In the same way, the Spirit is not just the giver of moments, but the One who brings us into ongoing fellowship—relationship, closeness, and familiarity with God. He is the giver of life. The Bible speaks of this as the great promise of the new covenant: that God would pour out His Spirit on all people. No longer limited to a few, but given to all who belong to Jesus. This is the age we are living in—the age of the Spirit. Not because the Father has stopped working or Jesus has stepped aside, but because the risen Christ has poured out His Spirit to dwell within His people. This also reshapes how we understand things like prophecy. In Scripture, prophecy is not mainly about predicting the future, but about speaking God's heart and will into the present. Some of it points forward, but much of it speaks into what is happening now. The Spirit means we can know God—not just know about Him, but know His heart. This is what was promised in Jeremiah: a day when people would truly know the Lord. And yet, like the disciples in Acts 19, many believers today live with a quiet gap. Faith is present, but awareness of the Spirit feels distant or unclear. The invitation is not to strive for something we don't have, but to recognise the One who is already near. So how do we know the Spirit is at work? Often not through the dramatic, but through the steady signs of life: a cry for God, a growing thirst for Him, a quiet transformation of character. Scripture tells us that no one can truly say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Spirit—and even that is evidence of His work within us. The Spirit also reshapes our practices. It's not just that we pray, but that we begin to want to commune with Him in prayer. It's not just that we read the Bible, but that we feel a pull to hear His voice in Scripture. It's not just outward holiness, but an inward desire to leave sin behind so that we might be set apart and draw closer to Him. These are not things we manufacture—they are signs of His presence at work in us. If you belong to Jesus, you are not empty, and you are not alone. You may feel like you are in the shallows—unsure, learning, or even dry—but you are still in the water. And so the invitation remains: don't settle there. Go deeper. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@leominsterbaptistchurch] and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

Acts Part 2: Let the Silence Speak (In the Upper Room)

Send us your questions or feedback here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545356/fan_mail/new] Acts 1: 9-14 It's easy to forget that there was a significant period of time between Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Probably 40 to 50 days.  Have you ever had to wait for something? I don't know about you but many of us are really poor at waiting. We are impatient to get on with things, we have plans, we need to do something. Didn't the gospels say, "Go into all the world ..."  They did. But the Bible also says, "Be still and know that I am God," and "Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly." (Psalm 37). It is during this time that God is preparing the disciples to go out and do things. But he is using the space, using the time, to form, to mould, to strip away so that when the disciples go out, so when they go to do the work that has been set for them, they do it relying on Him and not on themselves. Waiting on God often does three things in us: * It refines us – exposing our fears, impatience, and self-reliance while shaping our character. * It teaches us to listen – helping us become more attentive to God's voice through Scripture, conviction, peace, and prompting. * It intertwines us with God – drawing us into deeper relationship with him, not merely giving us answers but renewing our strength through his presence. The challenge is simple: don't substitute activity for dependence. The early Church understood that preaching, planning, serving, and mission all required the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Reflection As we continue through Acts, may we become a people who pursue God's presence, wait expectantly, and make room for all that the Spirit wants to do among us. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@leominsterbaptistchurch] and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

Acts Part 1: Jesus' Ascension

Send us your questions or feedback here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545356/fan_mail/new] Acts 1: 1-12 This podcast is the first in a new series of sermons on the Book of Acts – the second part of Luke’s investigation into the life of Jesus and his ministry. We give a lot of attention to Jesus' birth, death and resurrection, but the ascension is just as vital. Without it, everything Jesus had done would remain unfinished. The ascension is not an optional extra in the Christian faith; it is the moment that launches the next stage of God's mission in the world. The image of a rocket launch is helpful as we consider this passage. The first stage is essential, but it is not the final destination. It provides the thrust needed for lift-off, and then it is released so the mission can continue. In a similar way, Jesus' earthly ministry was not abandoned or made less important by his ascension. It was essential. But if Jesus had remained physically present in one place, the mission would have stayed local and limited. By ascending, he was not ending the mission but advancing it. At first, the disciples experienced the ascension as loss. Jesus was taken from their sight, and they stood looking into the sky. But the angels gently rebuked them. Why were they standing there? Why were they frozen? Because they had not yet realised that what looked like departure was actually release, and what felt like separation was actually the beginning of worldwide mission. The ascension means Jesus is not absent. He is exalted. He reigns at the right hand of the Father as our Prophet, Priest and King. As Prophet, he still speaks through his people as the gospel is proclaimed. As Priest, he represents us before the Father, securing our acceptance and giving us peace. As King, he rules over all things for the good of his people. The ascension changes how we live. It gives us joy instead of paralysis, confidence instead of fear, and purpose instead of passivity. Jesus leaving was not the end of the mission. It was the only way the mission could truly begin. Our Christ is not only crucified and risen, he is ascended, reigning, and at work still. You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@leominsterbaptistchurch] and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.

Elijah Part 7 - Let Go and Let God!

Send us your questions or feedback here [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545356/fan_mail/new] Elijah Part 7 - Let Go and Let God! 1 Kings 19 v 9-21 After Elijah's exhaustion and despair, God doesn't let him stay in his cave of self-pity. He gives him a clear, threefold mission: anoint Hazael as king of Syria, Jehu as king of Israel, and Elisha as his prophetic successor. It sort of sounds as if Elijah as just been, well sacked. And maybe he has been. But another way to reflect on this passage is that God takes us where we are. We are not forced to do things. Elijah was exhausted. God had met him, restored him and now, he recommissioned him. He has taken Elijah where he is and set him a new task and at the same time, allowed him to find an ending.  Elijah finds Elisha in the middle of ordinary work — ploughing a field. Without fanfare, Elijah throws his cloak over him, a symbolic act of passing on his prophetic mantle. Elisha asks only to say goodbye to his parents, then makes a radical break — he slaughters his oxen, burns his farming equipment, and feeds the people. There is no going back. He follows Elijah completely. Elijah was a steward and like all good steward’s he held in trust, the precious commission that God had given him. At the right time, he didn’t hold on to that commission; he passed it on with humility. Reflection: Take some time to read the text (1 Kings 19 v 9-21) and think about what we can learn about: * Renewed purpose: God meets Elijah’s despair with a new assignment – he takes him where he is and recommissions him. What does this say to us if we feel tired and that we may have disappointed God in our lives?  * Divine sovereignty: We are stewards. God's plan doesn't depend on just one person. When Jesus ascended, he said that he would send his spirit that we might do greater things than He. Think on this and ask yourself what that might mean in your life? * The cost of discipleship — Elisha burns his bridges to follow his calling by sacrificing his oxen and destroying his plough. Then, having bid his family farewell, he followed Elijah. What does this say to us today? * Succession — the prophetic mission will outlast any one prophet. Jesus said, "My yolk is easy and my burden is light." The great news is that God's purpose in His good world, does not depend on us. Even the most successful follower of Jesus is but a bit player in God's big picture.   You can see past sermons on the Leominster Baptist Church website at  Leominster Baptist Church - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@leominsterbaptistchurch] and can contact us directly with your feedback or queries through the Contact Us link at the top of the episode description text. Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster, Herefordshire. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.