Trinity Chippenham: Recent Episodes
Trinity Chippenham
Jonathan Thomas preached from Hebrews for us at our 2025 Church Weekend Away on Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King.
The first message of 2025 and the launch of a value series at Trinity Chippenham. Peter Mead takes us to Ephesians 5:1, where Paul instructs the believers to be "imitators of God." What is he asking of them? Why is it important? And perhaps, most critically, how is it possible? What can fuel this kind of change?
On the final Sunday of 2024, the church met in a local Church of England building. Looking back over 2024, looking forward to 2025, we looked together at Psalm 33. In this Psalm, the global greatness of God is seen in His creation and His participation in human history. And yet, the grace of God is seen in His steadfast love - pervasive in creation, and personally concerned for us, His creatures.
As we move into an unknown future, we look to Him - our great and gracious God - and we know His eye is on us.
Jesus is the greatest gift we have ever been given. In Isaiah 9:6 we find a four-part description of this coming King that just gets better and better - he is exactly what we need!
Preached by Peter Mead at Kington Langley Village Hall, Christmas Day, 2024.
John 21
This was the third Bible session from our 2024 Weekend Away. The preacher is Jonathan Thomas
(The audio quality is poor for the first 4 minutes, then improves!)
You can find out more about Christians Against Poverty here: https://capuk.org/
New Year's Day, 2023. As we enter into another year, we do not know what it will bring. But Psalm 73 can help us think clearly about reality, time and what is good.
How can we incline our hearts to God in the modern world, so full of notifications and distraction?
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Telling yourself Truths about God is a crucial step to spiritual health.
Psalm 42, Psalm 103
How can we respond to God’s love? There us something we can do that is simple but profound.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
For us as we get set for a new decade, what does it mean that God is Emmanuel, with us? "Fear not..."
Isaiah 41:10 / Hebrews 13:5-6
Everyone in the Christmas story plays an important part. How they fit into the action communicates what, and who, God cares about.
Our life can be full of tears, and our final stop in our series on David has lots too. What happens when sin makes us weep?
This story pulls back the curtain of human depravity. It will unsettle us, but also lead us to worship our God and enjoy His grace.
Right at the start of the Bible story, God made a promise. Later, He also promised something to David- a vital landmark in his life, and ours!
Being patient is hard. David trusted God because he knew that God is good, in control, and trustworthy.
(An all-age message)
Many of us can identify with David’s experience of being alone. How does David respond to God when in trouble?
The next event in our series on David’s heart and life happens right after last week’s. David is perilously under threat, but he has a friend.
This story is incredibly famous, and long! Vivid, and full of interesting characters. It is about much more than courageously defeating giants.
In many ways King David is just like us. But he’s more than a model for us to copy. His life is a signpost to God’s amazing eternal plan. What is God’s perspective on us?
This story is about a dedication- but it’s also about how God works.
1 Samuel 1
(apologies for poor sound quality)
The Gospel is a message, of good news. It needs to be shared. What is our part?
Romans 10:5-10
Jesus invites his disciples to join his ministry, even us. Normal, unimpressive us. How can we do it? What needs to happen?
Matthew 9
This message was pre-recorded and played as a video due to French Air Traffic Control delays to Peter's flight back from Spain.
She only appears in one chapter, and she is surrounded by major characters ... but Elizabeth is a great focus for us to consider together!
Jesus’ brother James is intriguing. During his life he experienced a complete turn-around, a supernatural event.
Over time we can learn a lot about a person. In Caleb we see someone who trusts the LORD when almost everyone else has lost their sight of Him.
Taking matters into our own hands can lead to a real mess. However, we have a God who sees the most insignificant person, and a God who hears the weakest cry.
The great plan of God that was promised to Abram takes a big step with his interaction with Melchizedek. This ‘minor character’ shows us that God is the best!
(Genesis 14, Psalm 110, Hebrews 5&7)
What does it look like to be a church that is transformed by God’s love? Paul gives us very practical implications of the gospel!
Christianity is not about self-improvement and mere moral improvement. Actually, it is about a heart-to-heart encounter with Christ that brings an inside-out transformation.
The church has a reputation for being ‘nice,’ but not to each other. The Apostle Paul urges us to walk in light of the gospel, together.
What is the point of church unity? There is a purpose to it far bigger than we realise!
Jesus is committed to the church. He says clearly, “I will build my church.” The way he does it is incredible!
Life as a Christian in this world is hard. Peter has a reminder for us that will give us comfort and energy.
Jesus came to his disciples to bring them peace- when we are ‘on mission’ with Jesus, it is just what we need too.
(John 20)
Jesus, the King, changed human history. But not in the way people expected. He really has turned the world upside-down!
We cannot settle for ‘half’ of Jesus. His identity is too important. We can’t have Christ without the cross!
Sometimes we can’t see things that are right in front of us, and that can be true with how we see Jesus. We can know who he is, but do we really see clearly? To know who he truly is we need to know what he came to do.
There is something wrong in the world. What is going on? What is the heart of the problem?
In our all-age family service, we see that God has compassion on the needy, and satisfies the hungry.
Here are two desperate people that meet Jesus. They both have big needs, and they both underline that faith is the difference between life and death.
What happens when we experience storms in our life? Jesus is not just with us to make us comfortable. He cares for us more than that.
Jesus’ mission is to offer something incredible to people like us, and it goes further than we can imagine.
Mark 1:16-39 - a five-part menu of what we might expect spending time in Mark's Gospel.
In Nehemiah 8 the community of God's people came together to hear God's Word, and having understood it, they were convicted by it, and in it they discovered great joy.
Peter launches the new year and new value series by looking at Hebrews 10:24-25 to see what kind of community God is creating in the church.
Psalm 138 is a great Psalm for the end of the year and the start of a new one! It helps us to give thanks to our God.
Christmas brings people together - but what would it be like to be together with Jesus? What kind of 'Saviour' is he?
A Chippenham man and his experience of the Asian tsunami. Even more than that, his experience of God's rescue from a life without meaning!
We finish this series with an encouragement to "pray for boldness" because we can be fearful of so many things, yet our God is bigger and better than everything!
Josiah’s reign started when he was young, but God worked profoundly in his life. His heart was tender to God.
2 Chronicles 34-36
Jehoshophat was a lot like us- making mistakes and needing to learn from them. He also struggled with fear. But he prayed
2 Chronicles 17-20
“Seeking the Lord” is a key piece of the Christian life. But what does it mean? And are we still doing it?
2 Chronicles 14-16
What the world needs most is a church ‘on fire.’ What happens when we mess up big? How should we respond to pride?
God wants to be in the midst of his people, at the heart of the community. And he wants us to be responsive to him.
There have been moments in time where it seems as if God has made massive impact in society- lives changed. It always starts with God’s generosity. 2 Chronicles 1-6
Right from the start of the Bible story God's plan has been to reach the whole world through his chosen people, and ultimately through his church.
As a church we want to reach ‘beyond’ ourselves. We need to understand our mission, and know why we are doing it. [John 3]
We want to be a church that is safe and welcoming for guests, where all are introduced to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
God cares for the weak and broken. How can we show it to those around us? James 1:26-27
Jesus didn't teach his disciples to pray to God as a boss, nor as a genie, but as Father. What does this mean? It means we should pray shamelessly, and it means that God will give us the very best He has to give!
Our prayers reveal a lot about how we see ourselves ... but what does God think about it?
Jesus wants us to always pray and not to lose heart. How can we keep on praying? What if we have stopped? What will motivate us?
The kingdom of God spreads as the Word penetrates hearts and brings miraculous transformation.
As humans living in this fallen world we can live disconnected from God. But we are united to Christ, as a bride to a husband. What that means is incredible!
Paul concludes his thank-you letter with a reminder of the reality and beauty of God’s Kingdom, and the privilege of working side-by-side with other believers. Generosity is a central feature!
The book of Philippians, especially this summary paragraph, should affect and infect us. How will we live differently with Jesus at the centre?
Paul urges us to follow his example in running the race Jesus has called us to. But how do we do that, and why should we keep going?
Where do we place our confidence? Paul was prepared to lose everything he had trusted in, for the sake of knowing Jesus!
How can we make a difference in a world that is crooked and twisted? As we live out the cross-shaped life, we shine as lights in the world.
What does living for the gospel look like? Paul tells us that humility is crucial - but it's hard. What does true humility look like and what difference will it make?
Our happiness is usually dependent on circumstances. But there is such a thing as joy that is solid and deep, even in trials.
We’re told that the most important thing in life is to be happy. But Paul’s joy is not merely hoping in the future- it is now, and real.
God has made us all different, and we are all needed to play our part. But best of all, we get the privilege of together being a picture of God to the world
Working and being together as a church is like a body. Everyone has a role, everyone is united.
There is something special about being involved in church life. How can we discover our gifts so that we can use them well? [1 Corinthians 12:1-11]
How did the gospel grow from a small group of scared disciples to us today? How is it that a message that seems foolish and weak keep spreading?
Luke wants to bring us right up to the cross to see what happened there. What do we discover? 100% grace!
Where is God when life is complicated? How should we respond in the richness and pain of everyday normality? In this conclusion to the series we see the answer!
God uses suffering and hard times to deepen our relationship with him. Is there any hope for wicked and hope-less people?
Genesis 42-45
How can we make sense of life when everything falls apart? We see Joseh at his lowest point, but we also see a key principle about God’s goodness and care. [Genesis 40-41]
How can we live when God feels absent? God is at work, keeping His promises. Even when we don’t realise it. Even when we think He’s not. Even in our struggles with sexual desire.
[Genesis 39]
Where is God in our life? Sometimes our lives here can feel flat and unspectacular - so what's our place in God's Big Story? [Genesis 37]
What will we do with the Bible? We’re in the middle of a war, a war of Words. Whose will we trust?
[Psalm 1]
The Bible is a whole book. This means that it is a story, with a beginning, middle and end. Together, God’s Story will change and shape our lives.
Can we trust the Bible? Every religious book has authority for that religion- but the Bible is unique, the Bible is better. [2 Timothy 3:16]
God’s Word is powerful... but is it relevant? What about when our life is drowning in doubt and fear?
Going home for Christmas is a dream for some, and a nightmare for others. What does Jesus' birth tell us about 'home?'
What does it mean for Jesus to be called a Nazarene? It reflects everything that he came to do. It is such great news!
This is a Christmas passage we tend to skip over! It certainly leaves us uneasy, and feeling the pain of the families. But in it we see the ugliness and pain of sin, and God's goodness, even at Christmas.
We see God's gracious plan revealed - this child was born in the humble peasant home and he came to be with people like us, whatever our background or race.
Life for us is messy and full of questions, and it was no different for those involved in the Christmas story. And yet in the midst of the chaos is the Child.
The birth of Jesus is at the core of the Christian faith- and it is always relevant. The genealogy tells us all we need to know...
In many ways the story of the Bible is the story of God calling and setting apart a Kingdom of Priests. That story hasn’t ended- it is our privilege even today.
Exodus 19:4-6, Hebrews
Because of the truth of the gospel we can serve God joyfully, with our whole heart.
Titus 3:1-8
The Bible is precious. We don’t always treat it as such, but the Word of God is a treasure. In it we see and hear God’s Voice.
Exodus 33-34, John 1
Luther wrestled with fear- what God thought of him was terrifying! This forced him to investigate where real hope could come from. And he found a great answer!
[Romans 1:16-17]
It's really important that we live as contagious Christians. But there's more! Jesus wants to draw people to himself - and we can join in!
When we enjoy Jesus and are connected with people, what then? We need to communicate the gospel. Here is something simple and effective to remember and share. Such good news!
Being contagious and sharing your faith means you need to be close to the people you want to share with. Jesus came into the world as a human, so we shouldn't withdraw, but look for opportunities to connect.
Our lives have been transformed by Jesus- and we want to share Him. What's the first step? Having something (Someone!) to share!
[Psalm 63]
Where we invest our life and attention will lead us somewhere- we need to ask ourselves if it's somewhere we really want to go. [Proverbs 27:12 / 4:23-27]
There is real power behind words- words can bring life, and death. How we speak is an important theme in Proverbs.
God wants us to trust him with everything that we are - exclusively, exhaustively and entirely.
Proverbs says a lot about listening to instruction and reproof. We all find it hard, but with a humble heart and a listening ear, we will live. This practical message is all about listening to others and to God.
What is the role of wisdom in life? Our summer series will introduce us to a book of wisdom, and a portrait of a wise person.
The lesson is so simple and yet so important for all of us. The wise builder is the person who hears what Jesus says and does it. Simple as that. What is Jesus saying to you at the moment through your Bible reading, or through Bible messages at church? Just do it.
We care what Jesus thinks and says, even when it feels uncomfortable. The final letter in our series hits the nail on the head of so many issues in church- and it has an incredible invitation. {Revelation 3:14-22}
Here is a letter for every Christian who feels weak. In it we see Jesus who is kind, and will stick with us for eternity. [Revelation 3:7-13]
Having and building a reputation is a big issue, especially when it takes our focus away from Jesus. It's easy to focus on past glories and leave Jesus behind. Spiritual complacency is an issue that Jesus takes very seriously.
The issue of purity for a modern Christian is so important. Jesus says we can look to Him for change - the motivation doesn't have to be guilt.
[Revelation 2:18-29]
We've all had the experience of accepting standards that are lower than what we want. Jesus has lots to say to us about compromise, even in places where it's hard to be a Christian.
Revelation 2:12-17
What would Jesus write to a church facing persecution, poverty, slander and death? Here is His message of hope and help for them, and for us!
Jesus dictated seven letters to His old friend John, for the benefit of all churches- including us today! Our first letter was originally to Ephesus. How can we recapture our first love? Revelation 2:1-7
Jesus demonstrates what God is like, full of compassion and power. This speaks to us today and it's thrilling!
Forgiveness is so important for the health of any community - wounds are inevitable as we rub up against each other, and only with forgiveness can these wounds heal.
Why do Christians give? The Bible has lots to say about money and giving- but many of us can be confused about Christianity and what is a right response to Christ.
What does the 'wow' of being loved by Jesus look like? It means loving others like Jesus loves them. It can be hard, but what a difference Jesus makes! John 13:1-17
As a church our vision and values drive everything we do, especially because of God's glorious love. We want to be people who love others- just like Jesus. John 13:31-35
What difference does the Resurrection make? According to one eye witness it changes everything - it means we can be born again to a living hope. Not only hope for the life to come, but also hope in this life, as well as an unexplainable love for Christ and an inexpressible joy within!
"Hosanna" is a strange word, but it is powerful! This Palm Sunday, will we be part of God's people that say to Jesus, "save me"?
The last chapter in our series is full of beasts and distress! But there is also hope. The hope starts with the word "until."
Mothering changes lives! There are many biblical qualities in mothers that we esteem highly, so how can we be a community with mother-like ministry? 1 Thessalonians 2
"Making noise" about Jesus is rarely easy - there is pressure to be silent. Is speaking publically about Jesus possible and even desirable? There is a great reason to not stay silent.
The problem in Daniel 5 is pride - it's a big issue for all of us. There is real danger in "lifting up ourselves against the LORD," but the solution is beautiful.
Testimonies are a huge favourite to many! Today's story of a life transformed is spectacular. It begins with pride...
This chapter is about more than 'just' not bowing down to a big King. This incredible story raises a question that is at the heart of our culture, and at the heart of our churches: what is faith?
Daniel lived his life in and for God's Kingdom. Everyone around him saw only the most powerful man on the planet, yet Daniel and his friends knew the God who is in heaven. And they trusted Him with their lives.
How can we live in a world that is hostile to faith? It is possibe to live, undefiled, for Jesus in a culture like Daniel's. And the key is knowing the God we represent.
Daniel was taken to a hostile culture- one not too dissimilar to ours today. What was Daniel's God like? What was his message?
There is pressure all around us to be clean, to be impressive. And yet we know deep inside us there is a problem. What does Jesus think of our shame and guilt? (Mark 1:40-45)
The Christian gospel is one of transformation from the inside-out. At the heart of this good news is a good God who loves us, and who offers us true one-ness with Jesus. (Galatians 2:20)
The whole world is made up of two 'teams' of people. There is a problem, but there is a great rescue! (Romans 5:12-21)
At some point, we've all been daunted by the Bible. There are many landmarks that will help us get oriented and transform our lives - starting with who God is. John 17
At the start of the new year, how should we think about life? Instead of making a list of resolutions, trusting God should be at the top of the list.
The message of Christmas really is good news of great joy - this year we do not need to be afraid because God is with us.
At Christmas it's easy to miss the significance of the baby in the manger. This year, why not meet Jesus personally?
We have a God who is incredibly relational. He invites us to be adopted into His family - the closest, warmest and most secure relationship in existence.
Life is so often frustrating, full of searching for 'more,' full of empty unsatisfaction! What can we do to satisfy our longings for real lasting relationships?
Jesus is a Bridegroom. He offers Himself in amazing love - will we be transformed by Him?
John's Gospel talks a lot about 'belief.' We tend to see faith as on/off, but Jesus shows us that believing in Him is so much deeper.
Jesus offers true life- to the full. What does that life with Jesus like? At the launch of His ministry Jesus shows us His glory- his kindness and love, at a wedding!
Whatever our biggest fear is, Jesus is in control. He has the power and desire to save us. (This is the final part of a talk at a family service)
We need to be transformed and Jesus is the One who promises to do it. What happens when people start to meet Jesus?
Life is a mess - we fall short of even our own standards! The task of life-change is huge - but that is precisely what Jesus offers to us. Look up to who God really is.
Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became a human being. That means we can truly understand what God is like, without having to use guesswork but just by looking into the face of Jesus.
John tells us why Jesus came. And the reason is truly life-changing: Jesus came into our world to share his life with us.
As humans we tend to care 'inwardly', about people that are close to us. But God is an 'outward' God - a God who loves the world. Matthew 28 / Acts 1
Luke 10:25-37
'Reaching out' is not common in our world but it is totally at the heart of who God is. We want to be like Jesus in His life-giving generosity. What will that be like?
There's lots of talk about the world coming together but it is seemingly unachievable. God will bring people from every nation truly together.
God transforms lives. These Psalms join together to give us a picture of what His transformation looks like - forgiveness from beginning to end.
It's common for us to live and work within two extremes: self-reliant perseverance, and lazy inertia. Both are fruit of a fallen world. Today's Psalm on the other hand shows us a true and reassuring solution.
This Psalm tells us about about the difference it makes to remember God's past grace when we are feeling discouraged or distant or cold spiritually.
What do we need to know on our journey this week? The LORD is on your side. He has brought us to today and we can trust Him for tomorrow.
God cares for His people at every time and in every area of life. No matter how wicked or far away we are, God constantly keeps us.
Our worship reflects the One we worship - especially as church. Our God is a lover and sharer. Christians don't have to chase God on a Sunday. We can be in His Presence, with full access, all week! [1 Chronicles 16]
Jesus invites us to be a church that keeps our eyes on God, trusting that He's our Father and that He will provide for us everything we need.
What is treasure and what happens to it? In this part of our short series we see Jesus challenge our priorities. The things we treasure won't necessarily last for eternity. [Matthew 6:19-24]
God is generous and loves to give but we will be tempted to pursue praise for pretend piety. Especially with our giving, praying and fasting, God is most pleased with what is real and generous.
James doesn't write about trying harder- he tells us about the Father's heart for us, about living for Him because we are fully His and He is our everything! But what about when life is hard, in sickness and sin?
We go through life making and wanting more to-do lists. But Christianity doesn't work like that. What does it mean to live for Jesus?
The heart of Christianity is not self-determined self-improvement. The heart of Christianity is the husband-heart of God.
There are two kinds of wisdom - from above and below. Jesus is truly meek and embodies the wisdom of God.
Our words are powerful. They reveal so much about our hearts - positively and, of course, negatively. Is there anything we can do about it?
Being a Christian on a Monday morning, the day after Sunday church, is hard. But saying "we believe" isn't enough- real faith will show itself in real life.
We had the great privilege of having George Verwer with us. He shared his favourite verses and seven principles he lives his life by - as well as plenty of book recommendations! Responding to Jesus in all of life is a joy. (Matthew 9:35-38)
Being a Christian means having a dynamic relationship with God, following Jesus. It's also about responding to those around us - we should treat all others with the love we have received.
Want to grow as a Christian? Spiritual maturity comes from humbly receiving God's Word and responding to it
Written by one of Jesus' half-brothers, this letter is full of practicality but it's even more full of passion for Jesus! James' desire is to reflect Jesus' character in every area of our lives, in every place and every circumstance. God loves to give us good gifts, including trials that mature us.
We were joined by a detective on the hunt for evidence about Jesus - could He really have risen from the dead?
Easter Sunday is the day that changes everything. How can a 'normal' Spring day be that important?
Life in Christ is about faith not works, but what does that life look like? One key way is serving each other, in love. The quality of our relationship with Jesus in the 'secret place' will directly affect how (and if!) we love and serve others. Galatians 5:13-15
We come to the 'end' of Ruth and Naomi's story. We again see that in the very real ups and downs of life God is with us and for us. We have the big picture - the Kinsman Redeemer is born, the Saviour is coming.
This part of the story addresses Naomi's 'long term' problem - family. But this chapter is not really about matchmaking and dating advice...
Is God good and does he care? Ruth and Naomi need a protector and provider, just to survive. One day Ruth goes to look for "grace" and she 'happens' upon Boaz...
Where is God in dark places? Does he disappear? The characters in Ruth are normal, like us, yet they show us that it is possible to live godly lives in a dark culture.
Doubt is a huge issue but it isn't talked about a lot in churches. Questions about God and for God are common and can sometimes lead to people walking away from God. Psalm 44 gives us a pathway to faith- but not in the way we might think.
We all compare ourselves to others - sometimes favourably, mostly negatively. The Comparison Game is poison to every relationship so let's together look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Every moment of every day we can live by fear or by faith. Even Abraham, the great hero of faith, lived the battle of fear in his heart. But God loves us, is with us and is for us - He makes us all the difference. (Romans 5:1-5)
In our culture we tend to focus on guilt, justice, punishment, etc. Many of us still struggle with feeling "guilty" . . . maybe part of the reason for that is because we don't grasp the shame side of the story. (Romans 5)
Acts 8 God is at work in all of our lives. We can respond to him by meeting him in his Word Poor Sound Quality
In the little story of Zaccheus we meet a great seeker - someone prepared to go to extreme lengths to achieve his goal. The goal was fellowship at a table, and the cost was immense.
Christmas is full of contrasts, none greater than heavenly angels bringing a message to humble shepherds. The great news? The gap is gone . . . it is not up to us to climb to God, but He has come to us!
Mary's responsive faith when told of a very complex future is inspiring. But we don't get faith like Mary by looking at her. She would be shocked how much the church has looked to her. As we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mary we can discover the truth that gripped her heart - the Mighty One is merciful, to me!
Jesus came to give us life, but the way he did it was a real shock. His self-giving motivates us to let go of all this world offers us to follow him.
Disciples have everything they need- a message of good news, an invitation to God's Kingdom, brought in by and centred on Jesus. That means Christians will look very different to the world we are part of but, when we are faithful, and out of our heart's overflow tell others about Jesus, the message will spread.
The 12 year-old daughter of the most important man in town and the woman with a shameful 12 year-old problem both desperately needed to experience the gracious power of Christ. Our faith may be very weak, but the invitation to all of us is to approach Jesus and bring our greatest burdens to him.
How do we face fear? The truth is that even in the face of death we can express thankfulness to God. Why? Because He is God and we are not.
We all have things in our lives that have not worked out as we expected or hoped, and at some point we will all go through valleys. Praise God that his heart grieves over the sadness, pain and death in his good world, and that he is with us in the valley and able to shepherd us through it.
Are you drawn to Jesus or will you keep him at arm's length? Like light, Jesus chases away the darkness in our hearts. Stop, take stock, look at Jesus and fall in love with him again.
Jesus didn't tell parables as simple little stories to please the crowd. He told them to divide. People were, and are, either responsive or resistant to Jesus and his teaching. In the parable of the soils there were four soils, not just two. What are we to make of the thorny and shallow soils?
Why is our love for Jesus often weaker than we think it should be? In today's passage we see the principle that greater awareness of forgiveness leads to greater love for the forgiver.
Too easily we miss how involved Christ is in our lives today. Our relationship with him is not dependent on our worthiness, how we work up bigger faith, or the wealth of our knowledge. What is really important is the responsiveness of our hearts to him.
We live in a culture that avoids almost all references to 'death.' But for most of the world death is a real and present reality. Jesus compassionately conquers death, for those who don't deserve it.
We are very grateful to God for our new leaders. The Apostle Paul was a Christian leader who served the church, with integrity, tears, courage, compassion, proclaiming and teaching the whole Gospel.
What is the most important thing parents can do for their kids? Our biggest need is an answer to the brokenness we see the world- it is only by meeting Jesus that we have an answer and hope.
A Disciple is a Follower of Christ, being transformed, in relationship with Christ and His people. With him we discover our part in his mission - an invitation to be a disciple-making disciple.
David showed amazing kindness to Jonathan's son Mephibosheth. It's incredible that people like us, spiritual Mephibosheths, far away from God are shown the same amazing grace by King Jesus! 2 Samuel 9
Seek Jesus in all the areas of your life, and with all the people in your life. Love Him first.
The Gospel is simple: the Son of God become flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, that we might become spiritually flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. The Christian life in light of the Gospel is just as simple: Seek Jesus. Do everything in alignment with the heart and character of Christ.
Staying connected to him in a marriage union which doesn't just bring us benefits but gives us a whole new identity – buried with him, raised with him, and loved and accepted by his Father as our own Father!
Paul's ministry is all about maturity. "Christ in us" is the key to growing up and leaving the 'shallow end.'
Why does Paul encourage the Colossians to take their eyes off themselves and onto Jesus? Because He Jesus awesome! Colossians 1:15-23
The Colossian church were in many ways just like us - feeling tempted to question whether what they had in Jesus really was enough, or if there was something more. Colossians 1:1-14
Does the Bible really end with a party? And if it does, how come Christians seem to let us down so much now? We finish the series anticipating the end of the story, when the freedom of the glory of the children of God will be unleashed!
We have celebrated the promise God gave to defeat the rebellion. We have appreciated the preparation God made in the Old Covenant to prepare humanity for the coming of Christ and his New Covenant. But have we grasped the big picture of the Bible? The covenant's are described in marital terms, and Christ became one of us not only to reveal the Father and rescue humanity, but also to make the great marriage possible.
God's promise of the seed of the woman came to fruition when the fullness of times had come . . . so why did God take so long? In fact, why does God take so long in fulfilling his purposes in our lives today? This message looks at the Old Covenant to understand what was going on with the law, the tabernacle and the sacrifices . . . and sees how it is only in Christ, via the new covenant that the sin problem is finally addressed!
The Bible is The Story - the story of a giving God whose giving nature spilled over in creation, and then, in the face of rebellion and hatred, gave again. Human's rebel, and God does not reboot everything, but instead gives the Promise of the Seed - the One who would come and conquer death, pay for sin, and win the hearts of many back to God. This is part 1, the Promise.
Is God's love and mercy to undeserving sinners true? Or is it too good to be true? Mike points us to the story of the Lost Sons in Luke 15 for an answer.
Fraser Kay, pastor of North Swindon Baptist Church, spoke to Trinity Chippenham from 2 Corinthians 4 on the subject of leadership.
Paul gives a clear list of qualifications for those who should be recognised officially as leaders in the church. As we move toward recognising our own leadership, what are we to make of these qualification lists?
What do church leaders do? Church leadership is not about "lording it over," "getting things your own way," "getting rich," or even "doing the work of ministry." Church leaders are shepherds who lay down their lives as they feed, lead, care, protect and equip.
Why does the local church need leadership? Titus 1:10-16 gives insight into the dangers from which a leadership protect a local church. Leadership is given for the gospel and for the faithful.
The environment that allows for a community of authenticity is one saturated in the grace of Christ. How can we be part of creating a community of grace? In Colossians 3 we have the source - our gaze on Christ, and our union with Christ, and we also have the description of Christlike grace that will make the church community harmonious. Love, patience, forgiveness, the peace of Christ and the word of Christ. A grace-filled community is a safe place to be authentic.
"Investing time to build healthy relationships characterised by authenticity and grace." This week we zero in on authenticity. How can we, as fallen creatures, ever grow in authentic relationships? Peter took us to John 13 to see how in Christ we are able to have our security and identity anchored outside of the room we are in, and therefore be free to give ourselves away to others. Next week, we finish the story by looking at grace.
It is the Holy Spirit who takes a group of people and changes it into a supernatural community. What does he do? How do we engage with that? Ron takes us to Ephesians 5:15-21 to continue our series...
It is possible to socially engineer groups of people, but only God can create a supernatural community - one marked by His love, grace, forgiveness and authenticity. In this message we launch a brief values series by looking briefly at 1John 4, followed by the astonishing passage of Jeremiah 3
Jesus' mission and plan was to die and then be raised to life. Mark's resurrection account points us to the truth of the resurrection, and asks us what our response will be . . . fear, astonishment, faith? This is the final message in the series, "A Different Kind of King" . . . and the ultimate difference is that this one conquers death!
Human leaders tend to lead out of a self-concerned motivation. Not Jesus. In this chapter we see how Christianity is not about our commitment or what we are prepared to do for Jesus. Christianity is about Christ. He was the one who followed through on his calm commitment to die for those who didn't deserve it. The day before the crucifixion traced to point us to Jesus, a different kind of King.
Jesus faced a barrage of questions trying to trip him up. He handled them amazingly well, seeking to wake up the people to their need of him. We need to beware that the motivations that stopped them from seeing the truth don't do the same to us.
The whole of Mark's Gospel builds towards, and focuses on, Jesus' final visit to Jerusalem. In this chapter he arrives in a great celebration, but quickly shifts gears and turns things around. As the disciples expected a victory over their enemies, Jesus turned against the temple (and a fig tree). Lots for them to learn. Lots for us to ponder. Jesus is not concerned with crowds, but he does desire to woo genuine worshippers.
When Jesus predicted his suffering and death, he was turning the world of the disciples upside-down. We need to experience the same if we are to be gripped by what it meant for the Son of Man to come and give his life as a ransom for many.
What kind of follower does King Jesus want? The wealthy? The successful? The person who has achieved goodness? No, only God is good, and only God can give true goodness. The Rich Young Ruler stirred the disciples, and invites us also to chase after Jesus in our situation.
What kind of kingdom will this different kind of King establish? It is a kingdom where fearful competitiveness is not the driving feature. Instead, the lowest and smallest are welcomed as if they are God Himself. The disciples needed to learn this. So do we.
How does Sunday connect with the rest of the week? Do we rely on Sunday experience of Jesus to get through the week? This section shows Jesus on the mountaintop - a glimpse of the glory of the majesty of Christ, followed by Jesus dealing with the weak faith of a needy Dad and weak disciples. The infinitely glorious Jesus is involved in the grittiness of real life!
We start a new series by jumping into the mid-point of Mark's presentation of Jesus. Jesus makes huge claims, but is patient with slow to learn disciples. Like them, we can easily bring our own expectations to Jesus and then discover that his plan for us is infinitely greater! We want a king on our terms, but Jesus is a different kind of King!
If the Gospel is going to make a difference anywhere in our lives, it has to offer some hope in this area. Many struggle with a variety of difficulties that seem tied to this inner drive for intimacy, a drive that often feels more like a curse than a blessing. Does God understand? Did God really design us this way? How can we find help and hope in the midst of guilt, confusion, shame and struggle? The message is followed by a Q&A. The preacher addressed a group of teens and adults, but no children were present.
Our culture celebrates excessive busy-ness and laziness in almost equal measure! Why do we struggle with our use of time so much, and what is the solution? Andy takes us to an Old Testament prophet to get at the real heart of the issue. The message is followed by a Q&A.
Money might just be the biggest "alternative god" we face in life . . . so what should our perspective be? Looking at Matthew 6, David points us to Jesus' teaching on this critical and everyday subject.
The Gospel is an invitation to the Father's love, revealed in the Son and poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and that Gospel transforms lives! In this church anniversary message, Peter looks at 1Thessalonians 1 to see the vision of Trinity Chippenham being lived out in another young church all those years ago. 2015 can be a year of transformed lives, but it won't be down to our efforts, it will be down to God's glorious love!
Christmas soon passes and the wonder of it fades away quickly. But for Christians, Christmas is in the DNA of our faith. Is it possible to not lose the thrill of the Incarnation? The eternal Son of God became human. One extra word can stop this thrilling truth from fading for us this year!
Do we really need a saviour? How bad is the situation? How good is the rescuer sent to rescue us? This pre-Christmas message points our hearts toward Christ.
The traditional image of the Nativity scene may be traditional and familiar, but it is still strange. What would bring such diversity of people together? Heavenly invitation and the global goal of God's goodness bringing people into the most special kind of unity, that's what!
Isaiah's Jesus trailers anticipated the coming Messiah. Years turned into centuries, but eventually the fulfillment arrived in person. When he did, his presentation of Isaiah 61 stirred violent anger against Him, even though he came to give all God's good gifts. Ultimately God's good gifts are offered globally, to all people. And the Messiah was prepared to give everything in order to put God's plan into full effect.
Isaiah 53 is the very centre of the biblical message. Once we grasp two truths about human existence, then this passage is so clear that it will explode our hearts in humility and praise for God's ultimate solution to our great sin problem.
It is amazing to think of the Servant of the LORD being discouraged. It is even more amazing to see the bigger task the LORD gave Him to accomplish . . . and he did it!
In Isaiah 42 we get to see a different kind of servant. This Servant of the Lord represents God fully - not only in what he achieves, but also in the way he does it. Isaiah 42 is a powerful Jesus trailer, it makes us want to know Jesus more!
Why is Christianity a singing faith? In the context of death, how come we sing? Isaiah looked beyond the birth of Christ to the day when the earth will give birth to the dead. The end of the story is not bleak judgment, but judgment for the sake of establishing life as God intended it to be!
In dark times it is tempting to trust ourselves, but God works in the now to point us to the hope that is in the future. Immanuel, God is with us. Now, living after the first Christmas, we know who that boy really was. In these dark times, will we look to God for hope and anticipate Jesus coming again to put things right? Isaiah 7-12 . . . a flurry of Jesus Trailers.
Isaiah's great prophecy shows us the extremes of Jesus . . . on the throne, and on the cross. In his presence even our strengths count for nothing, but thankfully He is willing to do what it takes to deal with all our sin! This is the first part in our new series, The Jesus Trailers, taken from Isaiah 6.
How can a God of love also be a God of judgment? And what if we are the ones who deserve to be judged? Andy Cordle takes us to Psalm 7 to get some answers!
Guest Speaker Dick Papworth takes us to the ancient book of Jonah to consider the contemporary relevance of God's heart of mercy for the undeserving.
Christians often use the language of "salvation" and "saved." Why? Is this all about God helping those who help themselves? Is it all about believing in Jesus and going to heaven when we die? Or is it much richer, and even more thrilling than that?
Most people see sin as something other people do, and God's great obsession. In this message Peter takes us to Luke 18:9-14 to see that sin is not what we think it is. One of sin's greatest effects is that it makes us misunderstand sin. But we will never understand sin with our brains. For clarity we must be broken and so could God be at work in our challenging circumstances? God is not primarily concerned that we conform, but that we come home . . . and that is why He takes sin so seriously!
Everyone is living for something, but do we know what life is really about? David Searight invites us to consider two verses in the book of Jeremiah that bring a whole new perspective on what it is to be truly human and really alive!
Everyone knows what God is like. Or do they? Andy launches our new series by inviting us to get to know the God who reveals himself in the Bible.
Peter's message from the Sunday morning of our Church Weekend Away in Chepstow. Apologies for the sound quality. This message offers the massive encouragement of the sermon to the Hebrews as a backdrop for our weekend theme of prayer.
The Bible doesn't expect us to "have it all together." It expects us to be rocked by the explosions of life, and to struggle with the daily aches of life. But since God is a refuge for us, we can trust Him and pour out our hearts to Him. He is both compassionate and capable of handling the biggest and most persistent struggles we face. Let's be a church that is real with our struggles, and a church that really pours out everything to Him!
After the challenging experience of life in the wilderness, this Psalm of Moses offers much needed perspective as we also feel the shortness and difficulty of life. What does it mean to number our days? What does it mean to have the work of our hands established by God? Together we were invited to lift our gaze up to our loving God in this short and hard life.
This Psalm was composed by David at a time when he faced death from a couple of directions. Instead of looking to control his situation, or even question God's plans, he found security in God's presence. From the secure place of dependence upon God, David invited others to taste and see the LORD's goodness that he enjoyed in difficult times.
What happens when a worship leader struggles? Life was hitting Asaph hard because he was dwelling on the prosperity of the wicked and starting to slip away from God. We are all capable of drifting, and we are all people with a tendency to hide our inner turmoil. But what turned Asaph around? Something radically transformed his whole perspective from despair to delight. We can experience the same, anytime, anywhere.
Sometimes our sense of stability gets rocked and fear starts to take hold of our hearts. Psalm 46 offers great hope and comfort in the midst of impending military threat - God is our refuge and fortress and always accessible help. As we watch what is happening in the world today, there is reason to be fearful on a human level. But our God is the LORD of hosts and He will bring all war and conquest to an end. He is powerful, and He is a God who chooses to be with us, His people.
Jesus called an eclectic group of disciples to participate in his ministry, but his own family and the religious leaders opposed him and thought he was mad. What does that mean? It means that those of us who are Jesus followers get to be part of his family business - we get to join Jesus in caring for people and proclaiming the gospel, and we get to face opposition in the process.
Jesus created tension with religious folks. They were passionate about the law, but missed the heart of it. Jesus had come to give life, not law. They didn't appreciate that back then and so plotted to kill him. What is our response? Are we focused on keeping laws as if our holiness depends on our own performance? Or do we receive the life that only Jesus can give? Jesus came to give life, and to give his life, so that we can truly live.
This is Matthew/Levi's testimony from Mark 2:13-22. He reflects on the revolution that is Jesus and how being called by Jesus changes everything. Suddenly Jesus becomes the priority in your life, you start to share his values and follow him wherever he goes. Matthew urges us not to slip back into self-driven religiosity, but instead to get really close to Jesus and go where He goes - to the messy, needy, irreligious folks that Jesus so loves to befriend.
As Jesus continues to give of himself, he continues to shock and surprise. The implications for us are worth prayerfully pondering. How can we undermine the standard perception of Christ and his church in our culture? What are we prepared to do to get people to Jesus?
The last verses of Mark 1 show us Jesus' priority in his own ministry mix. While the healing ministry created the temptation to be popular in Capernaum, his priority was to reach much wider with the gospel. At the same time, his big picture vision didn't make him miss the opportunities to show compassion to those in front of him. Let's be praying for Jesus' priority and compassion to become ours too!
Mark's Gospel offers a wonderful glimpse into the ministry of Jesus, the ministry we have been called to join. Back to back teaching of God's truth, deliverance from God's enemy, and healing to show God's compassion, and then, just as the disciples were putting their feet up to reflect, the whole city gathered at the door! As the doors of the synagogue shut, Jesus just kept on giving. We are called to join Jesus in his ministry here in Chippenham . . . exciting times ahead!
There are some real parallels between our situation and the early part of Mark's gospel. Jesus was launching a new project and so focused on timing, location, vision and leadership. Surprisingly we find him walking in Galilee and picking some fishermen to be on his team! Here we are, two millennia later and Jesus' church project continues in surprisingly unimpressive places with people like us . . . we too are called to repent of self-focus and join Jesus in giving ourselves away as he builds his church!
New Series! Mark's document started a revolution as he launched a new genre of writing - a "Good News!" We saw how Mark doesn't want us to have any confusion - Jesus is the good news, because Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father stepping in to our world, to fight our fight, and to rescue us.
In the final week of "Starting Well," we see Paul was very much alone as he came to the end of his life, but he was ready to pour out his life for Christ. His final message for Timothy and the next generation of church growth was simple - herald the Gospel, preach the Word! This wasn't just a message for those of us who preach. It was an exhortation to us all - let's all be all about the Gospel, "preaching it" to ourselves, to each other, and giving ourselves away as we give Christ away to others.
Timothy, unlike evil people and impostors, was a man who had followed his faithful mentors (Paul, Lois, and Eunice) and knew the sacred scriptures that reveal salvation in Christ--the ingredients to living for Christ. And as a church and individuals we shouldn't ever let go of these ingredients to living a godly life in Christ Jesus. As we run our races in Christ, let us abide in the lessons of those who've gone before us and the Scriptures that reveal God's heart and are reliable for every moment of our lives.
Paul's warning is so important: not everything that claims to be Christian necessarily is what it says on the tin. Dangerous people are discerned by their character and their conduct, but what about those under threat? Just as a weak animal becomes prey when they drift out of the herd, so also we can become vulnerable if we are morally weak, emotionally unstable, spiritually fickle, and weighed down by unshakable anxieties. We live in a "survival of the fittest" society, but let's be different and care for one another in the body of Christ.
How could Timothy be sure to be a good leader, a good example, and a good servant in the church he was called to serve? What does it look like for us to grow together and serve together in the local church? Inky noses and effective relay workers . . .
How did Paul stir Timothy as he faced the next season of life and ministry in the early church? Inspiration for Timothy and for us in this heartfelt passage of Paul's final letter.
Timothy was launching into a new phase of life and ministry without Paul, but with confidence in the Saviour who saved us and called us before the ages began. The way we can guard the good deposit we've received in Christ, is not by being defensive or self-protective, but by giving what we have in Christ to another who can give it away to another. This new series is all about passing on to the next generation what has been passed down to us!
One of our values at Trinity Chippenham is "Pursuing God in the Bible." Luke 24 invites us to do just that! We don't get to see Jesus like the first witnesses, but we do get to pursue Him in the Bible. If we will pursue Him in the Bible and rely on His Spirit, we too can be his Easter witnesses as we move forward with the adventure of starting a new church!
As Luke tells the story of the crucifixion he focuses our attention on the two criminals crucified next to Jesus. In typical Luke style we are brought face to face with two people to convict us of our own response to Jesus. Will we go with the flow of our culture and treat Jesus as a Messiah if he proves himself by our standards (i.e. meet my needs!), or are we so touched by his death on the cross that we will forsake any need if we can be with him?
Jesus was completely innocent. Barabbas was completely guilty. One walked free. The other went to the cross. As a church we want to be deeply stirred by the centrepiece of history, and the central feature of God's great plan to rescue sinners like Barabbas, like you, and like me. Jesus was absolutely innocent, as proven through two pairs of trials in Luke, but even so, Jesus knew he must be numbered with the transgressors. If we want to be transformed by the glorious love of the Trinity, then we must be sure to spend time this Easter with our eyes focused on Jesus and His sufferings for us.