Welcome Church Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We continue our series in Acts, looking at Acts 19 and the powerful moment the gospel takes root in Ephesus—a culture ruled by idolatry, superstition, and human effort. We are reminded that following Jesus isn't about simply adding Him to our existing lives or relying on religious routines; it demands a series of radical exchanges. From trading spiritual formulas for personal faith to burning secret safety nets in total surrender, we are challenged to move past cultural comfort. When we let go of what cannot save us, we step into the true freedom, power, and kingdom life found in Jesus alone.

What do you do when sharing your faith feels daunting, or when it feels like the people around you just aren't interested?Dub continues our series in Acts, diving into Acts 18:1–11 where Paul arrives in Corinth. We are reminded that salvation ultimately comes from God; the power is in the message, not us as messengers. Dub tackles the fear of getting it wrong and the guilt of past disappointments, urging us to lift our heads and look for our "next door". We are challenged to stop carrying the pressure alone, lock arms with others in gospel partnership, and keep on speaking—knowing that God is already at work in the lives of those around us.

Have you ever felt completely alone as a Christian, wondering how to share your faith with a world that seems so far from God?Christopher continues our series in Acts, looking at Acts 17:16–34 where Paul enters Athens by himself and engages a culture full of idol worship. Rather than retreating or judging, Paul steps into their world—observing their beliefs, starting conversations, and expanding their view of who God really is. Christopher challenges us to examine our own hearts toward those around us who don't know Jesus. We are reminded that we don't need to have all the answers; our lives are simply meant to be arrows that point people directly to Jesus, the God who is far closer and more loving than our culture realises.