Welcome Church Podcast

Christopher Hawes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing our series A Design for Life, we dig into Genesis 6–8 to discover why we can face the future with hope, no matter what lies ahead.In a culture often driven by fear, Noah's story reminds us that our lives and our world rest firmly in God's hands. Through Christ, we are provided with an ultimate Saviour who rescues us from sin, grounds us in eternity, and frees us to live with generous, active faith in our everyday lives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What an incredible Sunday! We were privileged to have Dub Everitt preach with us, and we had the immense joy of baptising 12 people across our two services. Watch to hear their powerful stories of lives transformed through Jesus—it was a truly inspiring day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing our series A Design for Life, we look to Genesis 4 to unpack how our heart's motives shape how we live, worship, and treat others. In a world filled with comparison, outrage, and self-worship, we are reminded that we become what we love. Looking at Cain and Abel, we see how easily small, unchecked emotions like resentment and jealousy can spiral into destructive patterns if left unaddressed. Genesis 4 points us directly to Jesus—the true Brother who meets us in our weakness, covers our mistakes, and gives us the strength to live out genuine love and mercy every day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing our series A Design for Life, Steve looks at Genesis 3 to explore one of humanity’s ultimate questions: what is truth? Culture tells us to look inward and define our own reality, but relying on ourselves leads to deception and distortion. From the first lie in the garden to the modern-day "fig leaves" we use to cover our flaws and shame, we are reminded that we need a truth bigger than ourselves. Genesis 3 points us directly to the gospel—where Jesus steps in as our perfect sacrifice, exchanging our sin and shame for ultimate deliverance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher continued our A Design for Life series, looking at Genesis 1–3 to explore God’s original design for work and purpose. Whether paid or unpaid, full-time or at home, we are reminded that our work is sacred, valuable, and created by God. Through Christ, every role becomes Kingdom work. As we serve others and invest our gifts, we are invited to join in God’s redemptive mission, bringing His light, purpose, and renewal to our everyday lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing our series A Design for Life, Christopher unpicks big questions around gender, equality, and who we are created to be. In a culture that says identity must be earned or discovered from within, the Bible reveals that our identity is actually a gift received from God. Looking at the creation account, we see that God made us male and female on purpose—equally valuable, equally commissioned, and uniquely complementary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve kicked off our new series, A Design for Life, exploring life’s biggest questions through Genesis 1–12. Looking at creation, we see how God took what was formless and empty, forming and filling the world with intention and beauty. Steve reminded us that every human matters—not because of what we achieve, but because we are made to bear God's image. Understanding our true identity shapes not only how we view ourselves, but how we treat everyone around us as an act of worship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was great to have Luke join us from Casa Cruzeiro. Speaking from 1 Peter 2:11–12, he shares how living as "foreigners and exiles" reshapes our everyday lives. Through stories from Rio de Janeiro, Luke explores the Good News of freedom in Christ and the Good Life of loving those around us—living not in our own strength, but through the transforming power of God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark the grand finale of our series in Acts, we pull on a vital thread running through the entire book: prayer. Rather than treating prayer like a phone accessory or a tick-box app, we are reminded that it is the ultimate source of our spiritual connection and power. Grounded in the example of the early church, we are challenged to move past trying to follow Jesus in our own strength. Instead, we are invited to pray to connect with the presence of our Heavenly Father and pray to receive the empowering of the Holy Spirit for everyday life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.