Alive Church Newark: Recent Episodes
Alive Church Newark
Welcome to Alive Church Newark! We record our Sunday service messages for you to listen back to. We hope you find what you’re looking for!
Often it's difficult to recognise when we're in a season that God is using to prepare us for the next thing He has in mind for us to do. Recognising the season of preparation is not always easy, but once we recognise that we're always in a season where we're being prepared for something bigger - we can begin to position ourselves to take make the most of the season.
We read in the book of Leviticus that God's people must take action in order to be prepared to receive God's blessing. With this in mind, we look to Jesus to find out how he prepared himself for his public ministry and ultimate conquering of the enemy.
Happy Fathers' Day! We're opening the book of Esther to discover 5 characteristics of the Father's heart that we can see exampled through Mordecai. Mordecai is a supporting character to Esther in her story, and yet we are able to learn some valuable insights into God's own heart for his people, and crucially, how we're able to example these characteristics into our own world and communities.
The Father: Adopts; Protects; Never Leaves; Calls; and Restores.
In Genesis 22 God asks Abraham to take his son up a mountain to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Through this story of Abraham's incredible obedience and faith, we saw a miraculous provision of God. God spares Abraham from sacrificing his son, and instead provides an offering for him to us.
In response, Abraham declares that Jehovah Jireh - the Lord provides. Our final week in this teaching series, Samantha unpacks some of what it means that the Lord is our provider. In order to see the true provision of God, we must put ourselves in a position where the faith is required that God will provide.
After God delivered him from some fairly bleak situations, David was able to declare in Psalm 18 that the Lord is his rock - Jehovah Sela. Throughout the Old Testament there are many images of the rock being a place of refuge and safety, but also provision - as we see in Exodus 17.
We're continuing with our study into the names attributed to God in the Old Testament, this week Olivia explores what it means for us that God is our rock, and how we see the rock imagery continued in the New Testament through Jesus Christ - the cornerstone on which the Church is built.
In Exodus 17 Moses build an alter to God and calls it The LORD is my Banner. What does it mean to have the LORD as our banner. This week David explores some of the meaning of Yahweh as the one we raise high, and under whom we conduct our lives.
What does it look like to live lives under the banner that is God?
Gideon experiences the peace of God in Judges 6, when it seems likely that he would face certain death. This week we explore the story of Gideon and how God brought a sense of peace to him, such that he declared "Jehovah Shalom" - the LORD is peace.
We can see how the peace of the Lord is embodied in the person of Jesus, and what this relevation and truth means for us in our lives now.
In Philippians Paul talks about a peace of God that transcends our understanding, it is God's desire that we live in that peace.
In Jeremiah 23 God declares that He Himself will be the righteousness of His people. But what is righteousness? Why do we need it? How is our righteousness fulfilled by God?
This week we explore what God means when He tells us that He is our righteousness, and we begin to explore some of what righteousness means in context of its opposite - sin. We'll go on a whistle-stop tour of the biblical narrative to try and understand the impact of this declaration.
Finally, we come to observe how it is Jesus who earns righteousness, and how our righteousness is awarded to us by our faith in Him.
In psalm 23 David describes the God of the bible as being a shepherd, and we can read all across the Old Testament various scriptures where the relationship between God and His people is likened to that of a shepherd and his flock. In this epiosde we study what God means when He declares that He is our shepherd. We then look at how Jesus is the embodiment of the shepherd described in psalm 23, by analysing the evidence from His earthly ministry.
Finally, we unpack some of what this revelation means for us, today.
Samantha begins a new series discovering some of the character and nature of God, extracted from the names and story of God found in the Old Testament. This week we're looking at the name that God gives himself in Exodus 3, when speaking to Moses at the burning bush.
We're looking at 1 Samuel 17 and beginning to understand the vision that God has for our church. David spent time in a season of preparation before he was able to step out, and then step in to what God had called him to do. We're believing that God has called this church to be a field of preparation. Super mega announcement contained within this episode!
We're super excited!
This week we have a brilliant guest speaker, Lilly Brightwell, vice principle at Missio Dei bible college. Lilly brings a word of hope from the Gospel of Mark.
This week Olivia brings a word of encouragement and hope from Daniel 3, in which Shadrach Meshach and Abednego find themselves inside the fiery furnace at the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar. Olivia shows us how God will deliver us in whatever situation we find ourselves, from the furnace, through the furnace, or into the loving arms of God.
Continuing with our teaching series around the values of Alive, this week Samantha investigates the value of generosity. We look to scripture to see the generous nature of God, and therefore the model for our own lives.
We're continuing our series on the values of Alive Church with a message about the invitational nature of the Kingdom of God. We're looking at how God, in John 3:16, very clearly shows us that the Kingdom of God is intended for everyone, and we look at how Jesus demonstrated being "invitational". Not by inviting people to events or services, but by inviting people into his life!
Following on from last week's message from the wedding in Cana in the book of Luke, this week Dom asks a lingering question - why did Jesus turn so much water in wine? This week's message takes us to the book of Amos to see God's desire for revival.
We're testing the values of Alive Church by scripture to make sure we're heading in the right direction. This week Dom explores the value of excellence, where we see it exampled in the bible - and specifically in the life of Jesus.
We focus around the story of Jesus turning water into wine in John 2.
God models for us perfect relationship. Throughout His bible we see relational connections within the Trinity itself, and then outworked further in the people of God and later the followers of Jesus.
This week Olivia investigates Alive's value of relationship to see how it stacks up with true biblical principle.
In the book of Jonah we see God ask a prophet to go on a mission - which he doesn't want to do. This week Dom explores the book of Jonah and highlights key principles on our journey of hearing from God, and ultimately responding in obedience.
We're looking at each of the Alive Church values and testing them by the Word of God to make sure that the ideals that we're holding are indeed biblical. This week we're investigating the value of "Team". Dom looks into 1 Corinthians 12:11-27 where Paul describes the Body of Christ, and how each part works together just as God designed it to be. Where has God placed you in the Body? Have you asked him?
This week Samantha opens the book of Romans to discover who Jesus is. We read from Paul about how Jesus is 100% man and yet 100% God, and how both of these natures are essential to our salvation, and give the meaning to the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
In Psalm 139 David asks God to search his heart. This week Samantha speaks about asking God to search our hearts, to point out anything in us that needs to be dealt with. Our teaching series on King David is coming to an end, it's been brilliant to examine the life and writings of David.
Continuing in our series about the life of David, this week Olivia brings a word about empowerment. God empowered David with his Holy Spirt to go about the ministry that God had called him too. David, in turn, goes on to empower others to take up the mantle and run into all that God has for them.
Psalm 51 is David's prayer of repentance for the crimes against God that he committed. In the Psalm David cries out to God and asks for forgiveness and renewal. This week Dom talks through Psalm 51, and how each of David's requests to God have been answered through the person of Jesus Christ.
As we continue our study into the life of King David - a man after God's own heart, Samantha shows us the worshipping heart of David. 2 Samuel 6 describes David bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.
This week We turn to 2 Samuel 7 where God establishes with David his Davidic Covenant. Dom explores what it meant for David to have a kingdom heart, despite things not quite going to David's plan.
Dom continues our journey looking at the life of King David, this week we're studying Psalm 23. We can learn a great deal about David from his own writings, and Psalm 23 offers us an insight into David's personal relationship with God - and how we can apply some of this to our own lives.
Olivia continues our teaching series on King David and considering David's prepared heart.
God took several years to prepare David for the mission that was ahead of him. The years spent in fields and serving other people was not wasted on David.
This week we're continuing with our teaching series based around the life of David. Samantha talks us through David's battle with Goliath and the many aspects that we can learn from and apply when facing our own giants in battle.
Week 2 of our new series about the life and heart of David. This week we're studying the calling of David in 1 Samuel 16.
Dom explores what it looks like to be anointed and appointed by God. We tackle the lies that are spoken over our lives by ourselves, other people, and our common enemy.
Dom rounds off our All In mini series by beginning to explore what Jesus called us to do; our Great Commission.
Jesus said that we should go into the world, preach the gospel, make disciples, and see miracles happen in His name.
Jesus's church has an exciting future, and we're so blessed to be a part of it.
This week Samantha continues our mini series on some of the principles that Jesus laid out for his church. We look at what it means to be all in for the church. Jesus said that we would be known by the love that we have for one another, and he displayed it in action by washing the feet of his disciples.
What does this principle look like for us in a western 2021 culture?
The first in a 3 week series looking at the expectations that Jesus laid for his disciples and for his church. This week Dom looks at what it means to be all in for Jesus, to heed to call of the rabbi in Matthew 4 to "Come, follow me".
The final instalment in our teaching series based on the beatitudes brings us a challenge.
Olivia calls the church to pray as we consider what it means for our brothers and sisters in Christ to be persecuted for their faith across the world.
In Matthew 5:8 Jesus says 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God' - a beatitude which on the face of it seems impossible to be part of.
We explore what it means to be pure in heart, how we can see God in our Earthly experience, and how our participation in this blessing is only possible through Jesus.
In Matthew 5:7 Jesus tells us "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy".
What is mercy, what does it mean to demonstrate mercy? We explore mercy in the Old and New Testament within the bible, to discover what Jesus is instructing us to do in this 5th beatitude.
We're on week 4 of our journey through the beatitudes of Jesus found in the sermon on the mount in the book of Matthew. Today we look at "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied" - Matthew 5:6.
Jesus suggests that there is a dissatisfaction that needs addressing, and he tells us that a pursuit of righteousness is the key to satisfy it. But what is righteousness, and how do we hunger and thirst after it?
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth - Matthew 5:5
What does it mean to be meek? This week we study the third beatitude in Jesus' sermon on the mount to discover what it means to inherit the earth through meekness. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is controlled strength.
Samantha shares a great word about how we can display meekness in our day to day lives, and live in the inheritance that Jesus promised.
The third part in our series entering on the beatitudes, from Jesus' sermon on the mount. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted - Matthew 5: 4.
Olivia brings a great word for all those who mourn. As believers our hearts ache and break for the things that break the heart of God. Just as Jesus demonstrated, our mourning leads us to action.
This Pentecost Sunday Dom brings a word from the book of Acts 7:54-60.
We're talking about the stoning of Stephen, and how he was able to look past his immediate problem up to heaven to see the presence of Jesus above his situation.
We're on a journey to be the people that God has called us to be, individually and as the church of Jesus Christ. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we see the things He wants us to see, and experience the things he wants us to experience.
We pray that God speaks into your heart.
We're excited for week 2 of our series about The Beatitudes - The Jesus Manifesto. Samantha takes us through the first beatitude "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God" - Matthew 5:3.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? We we poor in spirit?
"being spiritually impoverished is being so full of God, that we can't possibly be full of anything else"
Our first week in a new teaching series called The Jesus Manifesto. We're starting off our look into The Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5. We'll take a whistle-stop-tour of all 8 beatitudes, and discover how they lead us closer to God, and guide us to new revelations of who He is. Together we'll climb the mountain to meet with God, and prepare ourselves to share what we find with others.