Celebrate Church Bradford Sunday Sermon

Sorry ! There are some audio drop outs on the recording. Still well worth listening to.John Hulse opens with jokes, then recaps a church theme about building with an “empire mindset” and explains two lenses for life: separation (scarcity, certainty, perfection, self-centeredness) versus connection (enough, mystery, fallibility, others-focused). Using Psalm 23 (amplified), John argues it is often read through a Western, separation mindset that treats God like a controller, instead of a shepherd who feeds, guides, and shields. He links “I shall not want” to freedom from scarcity and describe green pastures and still waters as restoring spaces that foster creativity and prepare people for growth. John redefines the “valley of the shadow of death” as the fears that stop someone taking the next step of obedience, illustrating with Paul writing in prison and a personal story of becoming a union rep guided by Micah 6:8. He interprets “a table in the presence of my enemies” as inviting and honoring opponents, referencing a Russell Brand interview with Jamie Winship that challenged the speaker’s judgment.

Andrew Cannon of Gospel Grenades warmly greets Celebrate Church. He shares about his book and “Freedom in Christ” merchandise, and highlights Project Saved, inviting supporters to sign up for the newsletter and give monthly to help rescue children in Nepal, noting rapid growth in staff and rescues. He then teaches on “The Uncompromising Disciple,” outlining four themes: stand firm in faith, speak boldly, love fiercely, and don’t back down. Using scriptures from Ephesians, Joshua, Acts, 1 Peter, Galatians, Hebrews, and examples like Peter and John, Daniel, Jonah, and Paul and Silas, he urges believers to go public with faith, resist fear through God’s love, use praise as a powerful spiritual weapon, and live faithfully with courage and unity, even under pressure and potential persecution.

In this follow-up message, Claire reflects on how watching House of David drew fresh attention to the preparation behind David’s victory in First Book of Samuel. Instead of centering on the moment David faces the giant, the teaching highlights the hidden years that shaped him.David—King David—was overlooked and unseen, yet his life as a shepherd became the training ground where intimacy with God was formed. Fighting the lion and the bear built courage and faith long before he met Goliath. When the moment came, David refused Saul’s armor and trusted the God who had already proven faithful. Claire connects this story to modern battles—health struggles, work pressures, family burdens, mental health, and trauma—offering five “spiritual stones” for believers today:Prayer – cultivating closeness with God in the hidden placesGod’s Word – anchoring life in truth and promisesFaith – trusting God’s past faithfulness for present challengesTestimony & Community – drawing strength from shared stories and supportJesus the Cornerstone – building everything on Jesus ChristThe talk concludes by inviting listeners to name their own “battle cry,” praying for boldness, courage, and deeper trust in God as they face the giants before them.

Easter: Pierced for Our Rebellion, Whole and Healed (Isaiah 53:5)Liz Gregg shares their love of spring and Easter and reflects on how Jesus changed history, then explains they rewrote their message overnight to focus on Isaiah 53:5. She unpacks the prophecy—written hundreds of years before Jesus—saying Jesus was pierced for rebellion, crushed for sins, beaten so we could be whole, and whipped so we could be healed. Liz describes sin as the wrong and selfish harm people do, share how she gave her life to Jesus at nearly eight after a vivid sense Jesus said “it’s for you,” and explain biblical “shalom” as wholeness and inner peace despite circumstances, including a story of a traumatised woman feeling free. She recounts healings from Brazil and personal healing stories, then invite listeners to respond through forgiveness, wholeness, or physical healing and seek prayer.

Dealing With Disappointment: From John the Baptist to a Shield of FaithAfter opening with jokes, Stuart Gregg reflects on church life being measured by whether God “turns up” and whether the church does what He says, then shifts to two linked Bible passages about John the Baptist: first, John confidently prepares the way for the Messiah and points to Jesus; later, from prison, John sends disciples to ask if Jesus is truly the one, showing how expectancy can turn into disappointment. The talk explores disappointment in personal, cultural, and church contexts, warning against coping by distraction or displacement, and urging listeners to take disappointment to God and trusted people rather than isolating. Practical responses include honesty in prayer, worship, keeping testimonies to build a “shield of faith” against the devil’s “fiery darts,” seeking inner healing (sozo), and practicing 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18—joy, continual prayer, and thankfulness in all circumstances.

Liz Gregg shares announcements about their monthly rhythm of “Up” worship services, “Out” outreach at Café Nero in Bradford city center offering prayer to customers, and “In” gatherings focused on relationships, prayer, and meals, and asks people to help distribute CSSM Training and Miracles leaflets run by Kingdom Ministries. We welcome the Global Awakening team and introduce Rachel, who prays for increased faith and healing. Rachel outlines a five-step healing prayer model—prepare, interview, prayer selection (petition vs command), prayer ministry, stop/re-interview and test, and post-prayer suggestions—using Biblical passages and testimonies from events, travel, and ministry. She emphasizes following the Holy Spirit, forgiveness as a possible hindrance, and activating attendees through impartation and practicing healing prayer for one another.00:00 Church Model Overview00:25 Next Sunday Outreach01:34 Community In Sundays02:10 Training Leaflets Notice03:15 Welcoming The Team04:09 Rachel Opens In Prayer05:03 Service Plan And Activation05:33 Rachel Healing Testimony08:09 Biblical Basis For Healing10:46 Step One Interview16:12 Step Two Prayer Types17:47 Step Three Ministry Tips23:44 Step Four Recheck And Test25:01 Step Five Aftercare26:53 Recap And Impartation Prayer