The BCUK Podcast

A community that speaks

A community that speaks: A talk by Helen Thorne-Allenson at the BCUK Growing a Culture of Care event in Bournemouth, November 2025. Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Community and Love 09:12 Understanding and Supporting Struggles 17:57 Practical Ways to Help 25:48 The Role of Scripture in Healing 36:04 Building a Supportive Church Community

A community that loves

A community that loves: A talk by Steve Midgley at the BCUK Growing a Culture of Care event in Bournemouth, November 2025. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ephesians 4 03:05 Living a Life Worthy of the Calling 05:57 The Struggles of Church Life 09:07 The Nature of Trouble in Our Lives 11:48 The Call to Care and Cure 15:01 God's Transformative Work in Us 17:52 The Foundation of Love in the Church 21:01 Growing in Knowledge of God's Love 23:58 Reflecting God's Love in Community 26:58 The Pursuit of Maturity in the Church 29:49 Serving One Another in Love 32:59 The Importance of Unity and Diversity 36:02 The Call to Serve Like Christ 39:05 Living Out the Put Off, Put On Principle 42:03 Speaking the Truth in Love 44:58 Conclusion and Prayer

I prayed and nothing changed

In this conversation, Ste Casey discusses the challenging topic of unanswered prayer, sharing personal experiences and insights from his book 'I Prayed and Nothing Changed.' He explores the emotional turmoil that comes with praying for change and feeling unheard, emphasising the importance of wrestling with God in prayer and recognising his presence in our pain. The discussion highlights the risks of abandoning faith during difficult times and encourages listeners to seek a deeper relationship with God, even amidst unanswered prayers. Buy the book here: https://uk.10ofthose.com/product/9781645072218/i-prayed-and-nothing-changed-paperback Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Unanswered Prayer 08:08 The Experience of Unanswered Prayer 12:20 The Risks of Doubt and Abandonment 17:00 God's Work in Our Pain 21:51 Wrestling with God in Prayer 28:35 Encouragement for the Broken

Preaching to the heart

In this episode of BCUK's To The Heart podcast, hosts Helen Thorne-Allenson, Steve Midgley, and Andrew McKenna discuss the importance of preaching to the heart. They explore the concept of the heart in biblical terms, the challenges of addressing diverse hearts in a congregation, and the role of community in preaching. The conversation emphasizes the need for preachers to engage the heart throughout the sermon, from the introduction to the conclusion, and highlights the significance of illustrations and sermon structure. The hosts also address the balance between faithful exposition and heart engagement, the impact of preparation on preaching, and the importance of follow-up after sermons. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Preaching to the Heart 02:53 Understanding the Heart in Preaching 05:56 The Challenge of Preaching to Diverse Hearts 08:54 The Role of Community in Preaching 11:40 Engaging the Heart Throughout the Sermon 14:37 The Importance of Illustrations 17:35 Structuring a Sermon to Engage Hearts 20:19 Concluding a Sermon Effectively 23:32 Faithful Exposition vs. Heart Engagement 26:11 The Impact of Preparation on Preaching 29:09 Follow-Up After Preaching

Singing to the heart

In this episode of the 'to the heart' podcast, Helen Thorne-Allenson, Andrew McKenna, and Nicola Eggertsen explore the profound impact of singing on the heart and spiritual life. They discuss how singing serves as a means of heart change, the importance of various musical genres in worship, and the role of the Holy Spirit in enhancing our singing experience. The conversation emphasizes the communal aspect of singing, the need for thoughtful leadership in worship, and the balance between emotional engagement and biblical truth. The hosts also address the challenges faced by music directors and the importance of prayer in fostering a vibrant worship culture. Takeaways: * Singing is a fundamental aspect of human experience and worship. * It helps in heart change by embedding biblical truths. * Singing can be a response to wayward hearts, guiding them back to God. * Different genres of music serve various emotional and spiritual needs. * The Holy Spirit actively works through our singing to teach and remind us of God's truths. * Leading singing should be an act of worship, not a performance. * Avoiding emotional manipulation is crucial in worship settings. * Introducing songs thoughtfully can enhance congregational engagement. * Congregational singing is a communal activity that strengthens the body of Christ. * Praying for music leaders is essential for a healthy worship culture. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Singing and the Heart 02:32 The Role of Singing in Heart Change 08:46 Singing in Response to Wayward Hearts 13:34 Genres of Music in Worship 19:43 The Holy Spirit's Role in Singing 24:02 Leading Singing to Engage Hearts 30:02 Avoiding Manipulation in Worship 33:47 Introducing Songs Thoughtfully 37:30 Encouraging Congregational Engagement 41:22 Prayers for Music Directors and Congregations