NCF Sunday Talks
431 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago -Listen regularly to Nuneaton Christian Fellowship's Sunday Morning Talk. A variety of topics are addressed, all firmly based on the Bible. We are situated in the centre of England.
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Episodes
Stories Jesus told: New wine in old wineskins
April 21, 2024 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBThis Parable is told in all the Synoptic Gospels, at Matthew 9:16,16, Mark 2:21,22 and Luke 5:33-39. God has given us all an Invitation to come to Him. How do we make sure that our regular activities and current ideas don't get in the way of what God wants to say to us and do with us? We can't pick and mix with a bit of God and a bit of us in our lives - it needs to be all of God! Once we've accepted God's Invitation, let's pass it on to other people. Heaven is going to be populated with ...
Stories Jesus told: What's the cost?
April 14, 2024 12:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBWhen Jesus spoke in Parables, He was helping us to remember what He was saying so that we could ultimately change as a result of what He was speaking about. The possibility of not understanding what Jesus was saying in His mini-stories in Luke 14:25-33 is small. He is telling us that we need to give everything we have and are to Him. How will we live sacrificially for Him? God might be calling you to do something specific, so start off small and grow in that sacrifice over time. God demands...
Stories Jesus told: The Ten Virgins
April 07, 2024 12:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBWe have around fifty parables spoken by Jesus that are written in the Synoptic Gospels. He used familiar visible items in stories that told the truth of God's upside-down invisible world. The punchlines often necessitated change in the listeners. They still do! Are you ready for Jesus' Second Coming? Are you ready for the commands He gives you? Fixing our gaze on Jesus and wanting to be close to Him are essential activities if we describe ourselves as Christians. Let's keep company with Jes...
It is finished!
March 31, 2024 13:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBThese two short Talks on Easter Day remind us of the immense actions that Jesus undertook on our behalf. We needed a Saviour to make it possible to have a good relationship with God, as sin had tragically blocked that intimacy. Jesus is that Saviour! The cross is now empty. The tomb is now empty. However, how obedient are you being to God? Paul reminded the Church in Galatia that we also needed to be crucified with Christ. Will you give everything you have and are to God? Make yourself dep...
Jesus entered
March 24, 2024 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBOn Palm Sunday we consider how Jesus wasn't the only person to enter Jerusalem that day. Thousands of pilgrims would have made the journey up to Jerusalem, as well as Pontius Pilate arriving with his large military entourage. Jesus had a choice as to whether to enter the city and continue His walk towards His death on the cross. It was a week of awful suffering for Him and yet because of us He chose to die. We should in a similar way let Jesus enter our lives and obey Him, as He says, "Foll...
Keep on Seeking!
March 17, 2024 13:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBAt our biennial Partnership Sunday we think about the life of Joshua. He faced fresh challenges at different points in his life and through them actively sought to be obedient to God. Whether NCF is our long-term spiritual home or not, God is calling us to partner with Him in both our actions and our character. Let's make the decision to follow God, obey God and serve God and others. Let's put aside daft things that don't help us or anyone else. Keep on seeking God! You can read the script...
God: so much more than a bang, a whoosh and a kaboom! (Songs of Praise)
March 10, 2024 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBWe begin with ten people briefly describing why they chose a particular song for our special Songs of Praise Service. We then remember how God is our shelter and our strength (Psalm 46). Our lives reflect the truth that God has substance. He is not like a doting uncle who gives presents galore. God loves us, but wants all to grow and mature. We need to actively obey and follow Him! God's laws liberate us in our lives. In our lives, we can echo the psalmist when he invited people to 'Come a...
It's all in the Book
March 03, 2024 13:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBWe need to read the Bible! It's good for us, as God inspired it to be written so that we might get to know Him. He encourages us, challenges us and leads us as we read it. The Bible straightens us and our lives out! The Script for the whole Service can be read here. (NB: After about seven minutes into the Talk John realised that he hadn't turned on his mic. Plenty of interaction had occurred in this initial period of the Talk, but it was later rerecorded in a much simpler way at home. This...
Shall we ascend: Being joined in God's grace
February 25, 2024 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBGod calls us to live in unity with other people. What a blessing it is to do that! A brief summary of all the Psalms we have met in this Series is also given. You can read the script for the whole Service here.
Shall we ascend: Growing Up
February 18, 2024 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBWe're all getting older! Physically, changes are going on in our bodies, but what about spiritually and emotionally? Are we maturing as Disciples of Jesus? Are we changing from being less childish to more childlike? Are we at rest with God? Often being content will lead on to being curious, but we need to be courageous in order to change. Is God causing you to be restless over something? That's good! Let's actively keep journeying with God on our pilgrimage. Let's trust God as a child would ...
Shall we ascend: It doesn't add up!
February 11, 2024 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBGod doesn't measure things the same way that we do. For our sins we deserve eternal separation from God. Instead, He offers everyone reconcilation and restoration if we accept the fact that He paid the cost for our benefit. If God kept a record of our sins we would certainly not survive. We ought to be living our lives more riskier than others because of God's goodness to us. Let's love our enemies and realise that God provides for us. Let's be still in order to recognise and understand that...
Shall we ascend: Incredible Restoration
February 04, 2024 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBThe Psalmist praised God for the way that He had restored them. It was beyond belief what God had done for them! May we too dream big because of what God has done in our lives and in the livesof others. May the wowometer of our lives consistently put God at the top of our actions and thoughts. May the Lord transform and restore our cracked walls, our broken cisterns, our flaky ideas and our crumbling foundations! The Script for the whole Service can be read here.
Shall we ascend: Trust God as you....
January 28, 2024 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBGod calls us both to work and to rest in our pilgrimage with Him. Let's not measure things by what we can see or hear now. Let's work for God in the ways that He instructs us to, then leave the outcomes to Him. The script for this Service can be read here.
Shall we ascend: Beyond measure
January 21, 2024 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MBThe Psalmist in Psalm 124 tells us several times that if it hadn't been for the Lord, then life would have been quite awful. God often goes well beyond the scale that we find to be normal in the way that He deals with us. We are on a Pilgrimage and Jesus is our Guide. Many of Jesus' stories are recounted in the four Gospels. Two of them (the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)) remind us that God doesn't stick to our measurement of giving love and showing compassion, but...
Shall we ascend: Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
January 14, 2024 13:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBWhether our day is golden or it has immense problems, we truly need to call our Maydays out to God. "We need You and we are desperate for You!" That's how some of the worship in the Psalms of Ascent reads. God, we won't be overwhelmed when we're with You. We need God's help, and the help of others, in our lives regularly. Without the Lord, we are lost! The Script for the whole Service can be read here.
Shall we ascend: Travelling where?
January 07, 2024 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBOur lives are a pilgrimage. How is our journey going? What are we carrying? What is our final destination? Who is guiding us there? This series of Talks in January and February will help us think about these questions. Let us give more prominence to the actual journey we're on and ask God to help us travel well and lightly with Him. The script for the whole Service can be read here.
Forwards and Backwards?
December 31, 2023 13:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBThe last day of a year is a wonderful time to look both backwards to 2023 in thanks and ahead to 2024 in order to prioritise our ambitions and dreams and then to submit everything to God. It's a certainty that God will remain faithful in 2024 as He has done in previous years and decades. The Script for the whole Service can be read here.
Joy, Peace and Trust (Christmas Morning)
December 25, 2023 13:00 - 11 minutes - 8.2 MBOur circumstances may not always make us feel joyful and peaceful. We all face uneasy things from time to time. However, let's decide to put out trust in God no matter what! You can read the Script for the whole Service here.
Names! Names! Names!
December 24, 2023 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBThere are several prominent names in the Christmas story. Jesus means "Yahweh saves." Jesus came to save all the people who have ever lived - not only the 8.1 billion who are alive now. He knows everything about us. He is very familiar with our very selves and also the circumstances we all face. Can you hear Him inviting you to the very special banquet He has arranged? Let's get ready for it today. You can read the Script for the whole Service here.
Sorry, we're full already! (Our Carol Service)
December 17, 2023 18:00 - 9 minutes - 6.79 MBWhat a great time of the year Christmas is, though it is SO busy! Can you imagine Mary and Joseph trudging around Bethlehem looking for a room? Several receptionists would have commented, "Sorry, we're full already!" Eventually they found a place and Jesus was soon born in a stable because there was no room elsewhere. Is there room in your life for Jesus? Decide to make room for Him - He wants to come and stay with you. The Script for this Talk is avalable here.
A shield about me
December 10, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBWe examine part of King David's life in this Talk. He started low in society by being the youngest son and a shepherd. Some years after he became King, David was overthrown by his son Absalom. He was living in a ditch again. How did he feel? What was his relationship with God like now? He had lost everything! God does allow bad things to happen. What is my response to God when there is a big crisis in my life. Is it still "Your will be done, Lord?" Things might seem very bad at the time, b...
Coming!
December 03, 2023 13:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBOn Advent Sunday (Adventus, a Latin word meaning: arrival or coming) we consider what impact Jesus' coming has made in our lives. God invites us to come to Him as we are - have you accepted that invitation for yourself? Wherever we are in our lives, Jesus says, "Come!" Let's come to God like children - wishing to grow, to sit and to enjoy being with Him. You can read the script for the whole Service here.
Gifts for all: Embrace the Possibilities
November 26, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBGod has given us all Gifts for the benefit of other people. If we are to see them grow, we need to use them and we need to remember how important relationships are in our life. We might discover our Gifts in various ways, but relationships will feature somewhere. There is an open door for our Servant Assignments. Will we step through and keep on going? You can read the Script for the whole Service here.
New way for a new day
November 19, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBLet us be passionate about God and His Kingdom as this time of great change.
Gifts for all: Why do you stand looking?
November 12, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBSome of the Gifts that God gives us to bless others with are done behind the scenes and few people consider them or even value them. Other Gifts are obviously obvious week in and week out. Let's ask God to fill us with His Spirit, so that whatever Gifts we have and use we will actively glorify God and encourage others in our lives. May we put our focus on the Giver of the Gifts Himself rather than on the Gifts themselves. After all, the Gifts are not ours anyway. You can read the Script f...
Gifts for all: Wholeness
November 05, 2023 13:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBJesus came to give us all an abundant life - one that is rich and satisfying. The devil is intent in making this difficult for us. However, God has given us a range of gifts that we might allow an increased wholeness in the lives of others and in our own life. To enable us to do this, God has called us to be Ambassadors, Antidotes and Anticipators. Let's endeavour to actively seek to be bringing wholeness to others with the Gifts that God has given us. You can read the script for the whol...
Gifts for all: Only Supernatural?
October 29, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBYou are unique and special. God wants to use you! Looking at some of the God-given Gifts that are mentioned in the Bible, it might seem that there is a division between natural and supernatural Gifts. Actually, they are all given in a supernatural way from a supernatural God. As the widow gave everything in her Temple offering (Mark 12 and Luke 21), so let us give everything back to God in worship, service and devotion as we use the varied Gifts that He has give us all. This is just one wa...
Gifts for all: Carrying a Message
October 22, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBGod has given us all gifts to use. We can all speak and some of us have speaking gifts. The important thing about learning to speak is that you have to listen first. Samuel said, "Speak Lord. I'm Your servant, ready to listen." As we spend regular quality time with God, so He transplants us so that we might be fruitful for Him. Let's soak in God's presence, ask Him to open the "yes" of our hearts and then be ready for the opportunities He gives us to speak for Him! You can read the script f...
Gifts for all: God's Kingdom extended
October 15, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBAs we become consumed by God, so the natural reaction is to want to sows seeds to others about who He is and what He has done. We are not generally to confront people harshly with the truths of the Gospel, but to show respect as we share with people so that they can begin to learn of God, believe in God and obey His words. It is not only evangeists who should share Jesus with people. It's the respondsibilty of all of us. After all, we all spread the news about something or someone in our li...
Gifts for all: Others are in need
October 08, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBIn a second introductory talk in this Series, we are reminded that God's gifts shouldn't be kept in a box that we look at occasionally. God pours out His Spirit on us in a greedy way so that we too may be liberal in the beautiful way we treat other people. It's super to be hospitable to people who are like us, but Jesus calls us to show warmth to strangers and kindness to people who are not like us. Biblical service goes over and above the norm for how we treat other people. Let's pour our l...
Gifts for all: Not on our own
October 01, 2023 12:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBGod is giving gifts to us. They are to give away to others, through our actions and our words. Let's embrace what God is doing today and get involved with receiving, then using what He is giving! You can read the script for the whole Service here.
A new direction
September 24, 2023 12:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBA short description for this Talk will appear here soon. The script for this Service can be read here soon.
Make your life a prayer
September 17, 2023 12:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBPrayer is vital. Prayer is life-giving. Let's not hide from God, but share all that we have with Him in honour and thanks. This Talk is shorter than normal to enable three others to briefly share thoughts on how we might pray for them. You can read the script for the whole Service here.
Express your thanks and praise!
September 10, 2023 12:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBSeptember used to be a time to celebrate the physical harvest for many churches around the UK. Today that happens much less, but every day is still an opportunity to give thanks to God and to each other. In this Talk we look at Psalm 92:1-5 and remind ourselves that it is fitting and good to praise God. Let our 'buts' be positive (I will still give thanks to God no matter what) rather than negative (life is hard so I can't praise God at the moment). Let's stir ourselves to be thankful people...
We're safe when with Jesus!
September 03, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBJesus' disciples accompanied Him all over the place. The Synoptic Gospels record an incident where they were on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus was asleep in the boat. A large storm suddenly came and even the fully trained fishermen were scared. They wake Jesus up and He sorts out their immediate problem of being scared and also teaches them that they should trust Him. We can trust in Jesus just as much in the middle of a large lake as when we are on the shore. The script for the whole Servic...
The Next Leaders: It's our turn now!
August 27, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBOver the past two months we have heard of how God used people very similar to us and we might have been impressed by what happened on different continents and in different centuries. Lives were changed, society was effected and God was glorified. It's our turn to move and shine for God. It's our turn now! The script for the whole Service is available here.
The Next Leaders: North America
August 13, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBGod's brilliance, majesty and compasson don't increase as we mature in the Christian faith. They are always infinite - way beyond our own imaginations or abilities. In this Series of Talks we're looking at how our Church Family in different centuries and various countries interact with our holy and omnipotent God. In this Talk we briefly look at our Family in North America over three centuries. They saw the need to be devoted to God in a daily way. True liberty can only be found in Jesus. L...
The Next Leaders: British Social Reformers
August 06, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBThere were plenty of social problems in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. In this Talk we briefly consider slavery, illiteracy, orphans and medical training. Some people in our family heard God nudging them to do something about these big problems. They followed God's leading, using their own resources, abilities and availability to make change occur. Sometimes change would take many years to happen, but members of our family were tenacious and stayed with it. John Wesley influenced m...
The Next Leaders: Britain up to c.1400AD
July 30, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBJoyfulness, prayerfulness and thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) are the basis for the Church in this country. There was a strong Celtic Church before Augustine was sent from Rome in 597AD. The people we hear about moved around this country as God directed them. Iona and Lindisfarne were particularly important. Prayer resulted in people walking and working with God. The Bible was translated into English, missonary schools were founded and many people started following Jesus as their Savi...
The Next Leaders: North Africa
July 23, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBIf you throw a stone into a pond, ripples will be created. When the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in Jerusalem terrifically powerful ripples were created. Some of these went to North Africa. We briefly look at some of the people from our family in 100AD to 300AD and notice that God calls us, just as He called them, to be Ambassadors for Him. What will your next chapter with God be like? The Script for this Service is here.
The Next Leaders: The German Reformation
July 16, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBWith eight members of our family joining us from eastern Germany, we looked at Martin Luther's contribution to our life today as Protestants. What was he, and others around the same time in history, protesting about and how did he/they do it? How is God asking us to act and speak in a counter cultural way today? Let's praise God that we have a Bible in a language that we understand and that the gifts He has given us are just right for who we are today. Near the end we hear encouraging tru...
The Next Leaders: Later in the NT
July 09, 2023 12:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBThe Eleven Disciples who had followed Jesus for around three years weren't the only people in leadership positions in the early Church. Other members of our spiritual family at that time included men, women, older people, younger people, people who grew up as Jews and those who were Gentiles. Some of their names might be hard to say today in our culture, but we are definitely part of the same family. To one person in particular then and to all of us now, the Apostle Paul encouraged them to...
The Next Leaders: The Twelve
July 02, 2023 12:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBMany of us are grateful for those family members and friends who have helped us physically and spiritually through the years. We are better people because of them! The Bible contains numerous stories of the Heroes of our Faith. With almost two thousand years of history since the Bible was completed, there have been countless people who have been a blessing to the Church since. This Series of Talks will explore some of them. What challenges did they encounter in their lives and how did God re...
Missing the Mark
June 25, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBThe work of the Cross is not just to forgive the wrong things you have done. It is to empower you to be free from whatever weakness and past you have. Jesus’ death gives you the building blocks to rebuild for the future for your character and actions. Nothing need hold you back in life, as Christ has given you a way out.
International Sunday
June 18, 2023 12:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBOn 18th June we heard information about Chile, Nigeria, India, Italy and Northern Ireland. Some of what was said, prayed and sung is caught here. The Script on our website will have more details.
Let's talk about Jesus
June 11, 2023 12:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBIn this Talk from the Regional Director of Good News for Everyone!, we are reminded of the difference God makes when we talk to others about Jesus. There is plenty to do and pray about in schools, accomodation venues and hospitals. May our feet be beautiful as we take out the Good News to others.
Flex those Abs!
June 04, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBKeeping fit is an important activity for everyone - both physically and spiritually. In this Talk we consider how Jesus should be at the centre of who we are and what we do. Our lives will Abound, as we Abide in Christ, get Absorbed by Christ and decide to Abandon ourselves to Christ. Jesus is the only foundation we should want in our lives. He is the source of all that is good. Let's be totally focused on Him and actively spend time with Him. We are all still in training!
Doxology: Power + Change
May 28, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBGiving a Doxology means that you are recognising who God is and then giving an appropriate response in thought, word or action. Lots of human and natural powers are impressive, but they are totally insignificant when compared to God's power. Jesus' disciples were discouraged and disabled when Jesus ascended into heaven. What was going on? In Jerusalem on that 'first' Pentecost they were encouraged and enabled when the Holy Spirit came. Let us live in the light and safety of God's power. Whe...
Doxology: Giving
May 21, 2023 09:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBWe have already heard in previous Talks that our own personal doxologies involve our actions and not just sung words. God asks us to give out of the abundance that He has given us. We explore some Biblical references as to how and why we give. God has the resources and uses us to bless others as we give. When there is an obvious time of need, it is often good to re-evaluate our own resources.
Doxology: Full Bloom
May 14, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBNear the end of his short letter, Jude reminds us how brilliant and wonderful God is. It is He who makes it possible that we can live our lives in full bloom today and when we reach heaven. It is equally marvellous that the variety of different blooms in His Church is astonishing. Let us decide that with God's help, we can be in full bloom wherever we go and on any day of the week!