Ivy Church

If God is perfectly righteous, how can people who have done wrong ever be right with Him? We all want justice when someone else does something wrong. But what happens when we’re the ones who are guilty? In this message from our Know God series, Anthony Delaney explores the righteousness of God and one of the most extraordinary truths at the heart of the Christian faith: God doesn’t just do what is right. He makes a way for us to be right with Him. Looking at Romans 3, Anthony takes us into a courtroom where the evidence is undeniable. We’ve all fallen short of God’s perfect standard. We can compare ourselves with others, make excuses or try to justify our actions, but none of us can claim to be completely righteous. And just when it seems the verdict is inevitable, two words change everything: “But now.” — Romans 3:21 God has made a way for us to be forgiven, declared righteous and set free — not through our own efforts, but through faith in Jesus Christ. At the cross, Jesus willingly took our place. He carried the judgement our sin deserved and paid the price we could never pay. The charge sheet tells us what we’ve done. The cross tells us what He’s done. Anthony explores what it means to be justified by grace, why Jesus’ sacrifice was necessary, and how God’s righteousness and love come together in the good news of the gospel. And he challenges the exhausting idea that we need to earn God’s approval by trying harder, doing more or being better. You can’t climb high enough to reach God. But through Jesus, God has already come down to you. Our relationship with God doesn’t depend on how well we’ve performed today. It rests on what Jesus has already accomplished. Through His death and resurrection, we can receive forgiveness, freedom and a completely new life. Righteousness isn’t a reward for being good enough. It’s a gift of God’s grace. So whether you’ve been trying to earn God’s approval, carrying guilt from your past or wondering where you stand with Him, this message is an invitation to stop striving and receive what Jesus has already made possible. You can be right with God — because Jesus has made you right with Him. Key Bible passages: Romans 3:21–26 Romans 5:17 Ephesians 2:4–6 Micah 6:8 Revelation 21:1–5

Where is God when you can’t feel His presence? Is He somewhere far away, watching from a distance? Is He only present when we’re in church, worshipping or having a particularly spiritual moment? Or could it be that God is closer than we realise? In this message from our Know God series, Lynn Swart explores the omnipresence of God — the incredible truth that God is everywhere, at all times, and that there is nowhere we can go where He is not already present. Through Psalm 139, we discover a God who doesn’t simply know everything about us, but who knows us personally. He knows our thoughts, our fears, our hopes and the things we’re carrying that nobody else can see. And despite knowing everything about us, He still chooses to be with us. We are fully known and fully loved. Lynn reminds us that God’s presence isn’t dependent on our feelings. There will be moments when we feel close to Him and moments when He seems distant, but His presence doesn’t change. His presence is a promise, not merely a sensation. And that promise becomes even more personal through Jesus, who tells His disciples: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20 Through the Holy Spirit, God doesn’t simply surround us or walk alongside us. He makes His home within us. God around me.
God with me.
God in me. Knowing this changes everything. We don’t have to live in fear because we’re never alone. We don’t have to pretend or perform because God already knows us completely. And we can step confidently into what He’s called us to do because His presence goes with us. Whatever you’re facing today — uncertainty, disappointment, difficult relationships or an overwhelming situation — God wants you to know: I know you. You don’t have to hide.
I’m with you. You don’t have to fear.
I’m in you. You don’t have to face life alone. Key Bible passages: Psalm 139:1–18 Matthew 28:16–20 1 Corinthians 3:16 Psalm 23

Is life just a series of random events, or is God working through it all — even when things go wrong? Life can be unpredictable. Plans fall apart, people let us down, and circumstances change in ways we never expected. Sometimes we find ourselves asking: Where is God in all of this? In this message from our Know God series, Anthony Delaney explores what it means to know the God who is sovereign — the God who rules, reigns and sees the whole picture, even when we can only see a tiny part. Through the extraordinary story of Joseph in Genesis 37–50, we discover a young man who experienced betrayal, slavery, false accusations and imprisonment before eventually becoming one of the most powerful people in Egypt. Yet through every changing circumstance, one truth remained: The Lord was with Joseph. God’s sovereignty didn’t mean Joseph never suffered. It meant that even when others intended evil against him, God’s good purposes could not be defeated. Years later, Joseph was able to tell the very brothers who had betrayed him: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” — Genesis 50:20 What Joseph experienced as being sold into slavery, he eventually recognised as being sent by God to save many lives. Anthony explores how this same truth can transform the way we understand our own circumstances, disappointments and uncertain futures. We don’t always know why things happen. We don’t always get the answers we’re looking for. But we can trust the God who sees what we cannot see. And ultimately, Joseph’s story points us towards Jesus. At the cross, humanity’s greatest act of evil became the place where God accomplished the greatest good — our salvation. Romans 8 reminds us that God works in all things for the good of those who love Him. Not that everything that happens is good, but that God is working through it all, with the ultimate purpose of making us more like Jesus. So whatever you’re facing today, you can hold on to this truth: I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future.

What do you do when you simply don’t know what to do? Life doesn’t always make sense. We face decisions without knowing the outcome, circumstances we can’t explain and questions we can’t answer. But while we don’t know everything, God does. In this message from our Know God series, Anthony Delaney explores the wisdom of God and the story of Solomon in 1 Kings 3. When God effectively gives Solomon a blank cheque — “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” — Solomon doesn’t ask for wealth, success or a long life. He asks for wisdom. His request begins with humility: “God, I don’t know. I need You.” That’s where wisdom starts. God is omniscient — He knows everything. But He isn’t simply all-knowing; He is also perfectly wise and completely good. He always knows the right and best thing to do with everything He knows. That means we don’t have to understand everything when we know the One who does. Anthony explores the difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom: Knowledge tells you what.
Understanding tells you why.
Wisdom tells you how. And God’s wisdom isn’t something reserved for a select few. James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault. Whether you’re facing questions about your future, relationships, family, finances, work or a decision you simply don’t know how to make, you don’t have to pretend you have all the answers. But Christianity isn’t ultimately a self-improvement programme about making wiser choices. The New Testament points us to something even greater: Jesus is the wisdom of God. He doesn’t simply give us better answers or point us towards the right path. Jesus says, “I am the Way.” So perhaps the wisest prayer we can pray is also the simplest: “Jesus, I don’t know the way — but I want to follow You.”

What can we learn from what God is doing in Nigeria, and how might it transform the way we live, pray and serve here in Manchester? Following his recent trip to Abuja, Nigeria, Anthony Delaney sits down with Andrew Sherry to share stories, experiences and powerful lessons from his time speaking at a major Christian leadership conference. In this honest and inspiring conversation, Anthony reflects on the extraordinary passion for prayer, fasting and worship he encountered, the importance of honour and humility, and what it means to live with the authority and purpose of God’s Kingdom. He also shares how Ivy Church’s Knowing, Growing, Going discipleship resources are opening doors internationally, and why the global Church has so much to learn from one another. Above all, Anthony challenges us to rediscover prayer not as a duty, but as a joy, to step beyond our comfort zones, and to embrace the unique calling God has placed on each of our lives. What might happen if we made more room for God, grew in faith, and allowed His Kingdom to transform every area of our lives? Join us for this special evening of conversation, reflection and prayer as we consider what God is doing around the world and what He might be calling us into next. Find out more about Ivy Church at ivychurch.org.

Is God still good when life doesn’t go the way we hoped? In this message from our Know God series, Louise Yuill explores what it really means to know the goodness of God — not simply when life is going well, but in the difficult, painful and uncertain seasons too. Looking at Moses’ encounter with God in Exodus 33, Louise explores three powerful truths: God’s goodness means His presence with His people.
God’s goodness makes His people distinct.
God’s goodness is part of His glory. Moses understood that even the Promised Land wasn’t worth having without God Himself. God’s greatest gift isn’t simply what He can give us — it’s His presence. In Mark 10, we see the contrast of the rich young man, who struggles to surrender what he has in order to follow Jesus. Together, these passages ask us a challenging question: What do we value most — God’s presence, or what God can give us? Through testimony and personal experience, Louise also explores what it means to trust God’s goodness when circumstances are painful and prayers don’t seem to be answered in the way we hoped. Our faith isn’t built on getting the outcome we want. It’s built on knowing who God is. And ultimately, we see the goodness of God most clearly in Jesus. At the cross, God gave His Son for us — taking all of our hopes, dreams, victories, defeats, pride and shame. Whatever season you’re walking through today, God has not forgotten you. His goodness isn’t measured by your circumstances. His goodness is His character. Key Bible passages: Exodus 33:15–23 Mark 10 Psalm 73:28 Know God — Week 4 God’s greatest gift isn’t simply what He gives us. It’s God Himself.

Does God really love you — even when you’ve messed up, wandered away or lost sight of Him? In this message from our Know God series, Sarah Small explores one of the most extraordinary truths at the heart of the Christian faith: God is love. Looking at the three stories Jesus tells in Luke 15 — the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost sons — Sarah shows us a God who cares deeply about the one who is lost. He searches, He waits, He welcomes, and when the lost are found, He celebrates. In the story of the two sons, both are lost in different ways. The younger son has walked away from his father, while the older has stayed home but begun to see himself as a slave rather than a beloved son. Yet the father goes out to meet both of them. That’s the love God has for us. We don’t have to clean ourselves up, earn our way back or prove ourselves worthy. God invites us to come home and receive the love He has already demonstrated through Jesus. God doesn’t just tolerate you. He loves you. And His love isn’t simply a warm feeling or a promise of an easy life. God’s love is costly and sacrificial. At the cross, Jesus gave His life for us while we were still sinners, removing the barrier between us and God and making a way for us to come home. So where are you today? Maybe you need to receive God’s love for the first time. Maybe you’ve been around church for years but need to rediscover the joy of being a son or daughter rather than a servant. Or maybe you know how deeply you’re loved — and God is challenging you to share that love with someone else. Key Bible passages: Luke 15 1 John 4:7–10 Romans 5:8 John 3:16

What does it really mean when we say that God is holy? For many people, holiness sounds like coldness, judgement or condemnation — a God standing at a distance saying, “Keep away. You’re not good enough.” But is that an accurate picture of the God revealed in the Bible? In Week 2 of Know God, Anthony Delaney explores Isaiah’s breathtaking encounter with God in Isaiah 6 and Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus in Luke 5. When Isaiah sees God as He really is — “Holy, holy, holy” — he also begins to see himself clearly. Yet God’s response isn’t simply to expose Isaiah’s sin. He cleanses him, calls him and gives him a purpose. And centuries later, Peter experiences the same thing in Jesus. The Holy God cleanses us.
The Holy God calls us.
The Holy God commissions us. God doesn’t stand at a distance waiting for us to make ourselves good enough. In Jesus, the Holy One comes near, does for us what we could never do for ourselves, and then invites ordinary, imperfect people to join Him in His mission. As we prepare for the God Loves You Tour at Co-op Live, Anthony challenges us to consider who God might be calling us to reach — and whether we’re willing to answer as Isaiah did: “Here am I. Send me.” Key Bible passages: Isaiah 6:1–8 Luke 5:1–11

What if the biggest barrier between you and God isn’t God — but the picture of Him you’ve been carrying? In the first part of our new Know God series, Anthony Delaney asks one of the most important questions we can ever consider: What is God really like? All of us have a picture of God. It can be shaped by our upbringing, our experiences, other people, disappointment, suffering and even our own assumptions. But what happens when the God we’ve imagined isn’t an accurate picture of the God who has actually revealed Himself? Through the story of Job, Anthony explores what happens when our circumstances don’t seem to match what we believe about God. Job wanted an explanation for his suffering — but instead, God gave him a revelation of Himself. And ultimately, if we want to know exactly what God is like, Scripture points us somewhere even clearer: Look at Jesus. Jesus isn’t simply someone who gives us information about God. He is the revelation of God — “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” This series isn’t simply about knowing more about God. It’s an invitation to really know Him.

What if making an eternal difference in someone’s life was as simple as bringing them to Jesus? In the second and final part of The Harvest, Gav Lightbown looks at one of the quieter disciples in the Gospels: Andrew. Andrew wasn’t a famous preacher, scholar or teacher. He often lived in the shadow of his brother, Simon Peter. Yet whenever we encounter Andrew in John’s Gospel, we see him doing something remarkably consistent — bringing people to Jesus. He brought his brother Simon. He brought the boy with five loaves and two fish. He helped bring the seeking Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus. His approach was beautifully simple: Find them. Tell them. Bring them. As we prepare for the God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham at Co-op Live on 3 October, Gav introduces the I Am Andrew initiative and challenges each of us to think of at least one friend, family member, neighbour or colleague who doesn’t yet know Jesus. Who is your one person? Write down their name. Begin praying for them. And when the opportunity comes, have the courage to invite them. God uses ordinary people to carry extraordinary hope. Key Bible passages: 1 Peter 3:15 John 1:35–42 John 6:8–9 John 12 🌾 The Harvest is a two-part mini-series exploring how we can prepare for the opportunities God is giving us to share Jesus, invite others and help people find their way back to God. God Loves You Tour – Manchester 📅 Saturday 3 October 2026 📍 Co-op Live, Manchester 🎟️ Free admission