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Grace Community Church NI
Grace Community Church
450 episodes
1 week ago
Fran, Wendy and Amy share their reflections on 2025 and their dreams for 2026. Have you ever felt like your faith is becoming a bit… hollow? Like you’re going through the motions of ​“being a Christian” but feeling increasingly disconnected from the world around you? It’s a subtle drift, often moving us away from the messy, beautiful reality of people and into a sterile, private version of spirituality. In this gathering, we explore a provocative idea: the danger of ​“excarnation” — the de-fleshing of our faith. While religious professionals often seek holiness through distance, Jesus modelled ​“incarnate holiness” by moving into the neighbourhood and sitting with the very people others deemed unworthy. We hear moving, vulnerable reflections from members of our community on the challenges of forgiveness, the power of being truly known by God, and the simple desire to be the ​“friend in the ditch” rather than the bystander. What if the church isn’t just a symbol of Christ, but a literal extension of His earthly body? Join us as we dive into Romans 12 to discover how your everyday, ordinary life — your eating, sleeping, and walking-around life — can become a primary expression of God’s presence in a polarised world. It’s an invitation to stop faking it and start living from the centre of who you are. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/known-and-found
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Religion & Spirituality
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Fran, Wendy and Amy share their reflections on 2025 and their dreams for 2026. Have you ever felt like your faith is becoming a bit… hollow? Like you’re going through the motions of ​“being a Christian” but feeling increasingly disconnected from the world around you? It’s a subtle drift, often moving us away from the messy, beautiful reality of people and into a sterile, private version of spirituality. In this gathering, we explore a provocative idea: the danger of ​“excarnation” — the de-fleshing of our faith. While religious professionals often seek holiness through distance, Jesus modelled ​“incarnate holiness” by moving into the neighbourhood and sitting with the very people others deemed unworthy. We hear moving, vulnerable reflections from members of our community on the challenges of forgiveness, the power of being truly known by God, and the simple desire to be the ​“friend in the ditch” rather than the bystander. What if the church isn’t just a symbol of Christ, but a literal extension of His earthly body? Join us as we dive into Romans 12 to discover how your everyday, ordinary life — your eating, sleeping, and walking-around life — can become a primary expression of God’s presence in a polarised world. It’s an invitation to stop faking it and start living from the centre of who you are. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/known-and-found
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Religion & Spirituality
Episodes (20/450)
Grace Community Church NI
Known and Found
Fran, Wendy and Amy share their reflections on 2025 and their dreams for 2026. Have you ever felt like your faith is becoming a bit… hollow? Like you’re going through the motions of ​“being a Christian” but feeling increasingly disconnected from the world around you? It’s a subtle drift, often moving us away from the messy, beautiful reality of people and into a sterile, private version of spirituality. In this gathering, we explore a provocative idea: the danger of ​“excarnation” — the de-fleshing of our faith. While religious professionals often seek holiness through distance, Jesus modelled ​“incarnate holiness” by moving into the neighbourhood and sitting with the very people others deemed unworthy. We hear moving, vulnerable reflections from members of our community on the challenges of forgiveness, the power of being truly known by God, and the simple desire to be the ​“friend in the ditch” rather than the bystander. What if the church isn’t just a symbol of Christ, but a literal extension of His earthly body? Join us as we dive into Romans 12 to discover how your everyday, ordinary life — your eating, sleeping, and walking-around life — can become a primary expression of God’s presence in a polarised world. It’s an invitation to stop faking it and start living from the centre of who you are. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/known-and-found
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1 week ago
31 minutes 5 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Small Gems, Big Dreams
Ronnie, Puma and William share their reflections on 2025 and their dreams for 2026. Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions, passing the ball back and forth in a routine that has become all too familiar? It’s easy to live life on autopilot, but what if in our hustle to get things done, we are suffering from a kind of ​“inattentive blindness” to the very things God is doing? In this gathering of voices, we reflect on the year gone by and lean into the invitation of a new one. We explore a challenging but beautiful tension: that truly loving God requires us to pay attention, and truly loving our neighbour requires us to actually see them. From the front lines of mission trips in Spain and Egypt to the quiet, ​“remarkable ordinary” moments of hospitality at home, this conversation is a call to refocus. How can we rediscover the small, precious gems in our lives that the enemy wants us to overlook? We dive into why persistence in mission matters and how shifting our gaze can transform our relationships. This isn’t just about New Year’s resolutions; it’s a warm invitation to become ​“ambassadors of hope” by discovering beauty in everyone you meet. Will you stop long enough to see what’s right in front of you? Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/small-gems-big-dreams
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2 weeks ago
40 minutes 7 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Childrens Address | 25 December 2025
Have you ever noticed how fear can make you do the strangest things? Whether it’s a phobia of spiders or the paralyzing "what-ifs" of life, fear often drives us to make poor choices or, worse, to run away just when things are getting interesting. In this talk, we explore the moments where fear meets faith, specifically through the eyes of the shepherds on that first Christmas night. Imagine being in total darkness, on high alert for predators, only to have the sky explode with light and celestial beings. It’s no wonder the first words spoken were "Fear not." We dive into the "what if" of the Christmas story: What if those shepherds had let their fear win? What if they had legged it across the hillside instead of staying to listen? By leaning into the discomfort, they moved from terror to a front-row seat at the birth of a Savior. We reflect on how God often "jumps out like a ninja" when we least expect Him, and why his message is always one of peace rather than panic. If you’ve been feeling a bit apprehensive about the future, join us for a reminder that your fear doesn’t have to be the end of your story.
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2 weeks ago
7 minutes 9 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The One He Loved
Have you ever felt like just another face in the crowd, or perhaps just another name on a long list of people God is supposed to care about? It’s easy to hear that ​“God so loved the world” and feel like His love is a thin layer spread across billions of people — watered down and diluted just to make it reach everyone. But what if His love for the world doesn’t actually come at the expense of His love for you? In this reflection, we dive into the heart of the Christmas story to move from the general to the specific. We look at the disciple John, who had the audacity to call himself ​“the one Jesus loved.” Was that arrogance, or was it a profound revelation of how God truly sees us? We explore the beautiful reality that as you sit where you are right now, you aren’t receiving a fraction of God’s affection — you are receiving all of it. Why does this matter for your holiday season? Because when the familiar becomes fascinating again, everything changes. Join us as we explore what it means to be uniquely, specifically, and fully loved by the One who took on flesh just for you. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-one-he-loved
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3 weeks ago
7 minutes 48 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Sound of Joy
Have you ever felt like you’re supposed to be ​“happy” because of your faith, yet life just feels heavy? We often use the words joy and happiness interchangeably, but what if they are actually worlds apart? While happiness is a fleeting reaction to our external circumstances, joy is a steady state of the soul that doesn’t rely on things going ​“right.” In this reflection, we explore the unique nature of joy through the imagery of a bell — something that serves a purpose, impacts everyone around it, and, most importantly, resonates from the inside out. Using key insights from James, Nehemiah, and the life of Jesus, we look at how joy can actually coexist with grief and act as a form of spiritual resilience. What if the trials you are facing right now aren’t meant to steal your joy, but are actually the soil where the Holy Spirit is growing a deeper, more enduring strength? Join us as we discuss how to reconnect with the vine, recalibrate our perspective, and experience the ​“joy of our salvation” regardless of what the week brings. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-sound-of-joy
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1 month ago
16 minutes 29 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Finding Shalom
Have you ever looked at the state of the world—or the state of your own life—and wondered where the peace is? We often define peace as the absence of conflict or the end of our problems. But if that’s the standard, hope can feel impossible to find. In this talk, we challenge that definition. We explore the Hebrew concept of Shalom, discovering that it isn't about everything being quiet; it’s about everything being made whole. We look at how Jesus, the Prince of Peace, didn't arrive in a vacuum of safety but entered a world of political turmoil and personal danger. He didn't come to simply stop the noise; He came to be present within it. Drawing from the trenches of 1914 and the prophecies of Isaiah, we offer practical steps to access this peace today. Whether it is through the act of singing, the hard work of forgiveness, or the discipline of prayer, you will find a path to a peace that doesn't just survive the chaos—it transcends it. Come and take a breath. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/finding-shalom
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1 month ago
23 minutes 25 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Yeast Factor
Have you ever felt like your efforts are invisible? You show up, you do the right thing, and you pray, yet on the surface, nothing seems to change. It’s easy to wonder if God is actually at work or if you’re just wasting your time. In this talk, we open up Matthew 13 to look at one of Jesus' shortest but most shocking parables: the parable of the yeast. We explore why Jesus chose a symbol often associated with corruption to describe the Kingdom of Heaven, and how this challenges our demand for control and instant results. We discuss the tension between the "two-drawer life"—separating our faith from our daily reality—and a life where the Kingdom permeates everything. If you are feeling discouraged by the slow pace of change, this message is a reminder that the Kingdom is steady, unseen, and unstoppable. Just because you don't see it yet, doesn't mean it isn't growing. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-yeast-factor
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1 month ago
24 minutes 25 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Salt, Light, and the Upside-Down Kingdom
Have you ever felt like it is your specific job to set everyone else straight? We often mistake being the "salt of the earth" with a duty to act as the morality police or to fiercely guard religious traditions. But when we look closely at the life of Jesus, we see Him constantly turning those very traditions on their heads—not to be rebellious, but to reach the people on the margins. We explore the tension of what it really means to preserve the world around us. What if our calling isn't to enforce rules, but to preserve the inherent worth of every person we meet? We dig into the difficult reality that salt cannot do its work without contact. You cannot influence a world that you refuse to touch, even if that contact threatens your reputation. This conversation invites you to reconsider your impact. It challenges you to stop forcing your own "flavour" on others and instead listen well enough to bring out the beauty God has already placed within them. It is a call to move beyond judgment and into a life of restorative love. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/salt-light-and-the-upside-down-kingdom
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1 month ago
23 minutes 20 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Sheep and the Goats
Have you ever felt a deep tension between the God of love you read about and the terrifying wrathful God you were taught to fear? For many of us, the idea of an ​“eternal conscious torment” has been a foundational, yet deeply troubling, part of our Christian upbringing. It creates a picture of God that seems impossible to reconcile with the one who calls us to love our enemies. What if the primary reason Jesus spoke in parables wasn’t to give us black-and-white answers, but to provoke more questions and call us to wrestle with the truth in community? In this conversation, we’re diving into the challenging parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25 to question our assumptions about afterlife judgment. We’ll look at the historical context of the word Jesus used—Gehenna—which was a literal, infamous place, not just a metaphor for an eternal fire. More importantly, we’ll ask: what was the core message of the early church? When the apostles preached the gospel, they weren’t leading with a threat of hell. They were declaring a new King and a new Kingdom established here and now. Join the discussion as we suggest that the path to life isn’t found in a ​‘sinner’s prayer,’ but in a committed life of co-suffering love and mercy for ​“the least of these.” Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-sheep-and-the-goats
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1 month ago
27 minutes 50 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Lost Coin
Have you ever found yourself, if you’re truly honest, dismissing someone? Maybe because of their reputation, what they’ve done, or the label the world has given them. It’s easy to categorize people as ​“outsiders” or ​“misfits.” We see in the gospels that the Pharisees did this all the time, but Jesus… he sat and ate with them, ​“treating them as old friends.” In this talk, we are diving into the parable of the lost coin from Luke 15. It’s about a woman searching for a coin of ​“almost insignificant value.” And yet, to her, it was worth lighting a lamp, sweeping the whole house, and searching every dark corner to find. This isn’t just a story about being lost and found. It’s a powerful challenge for us. Who have we stopped searching for? Who have we allowed to ​“remain in darkness” because we’ve decided they aren’t worth the effort? This is a beautiful and simple reminder that everyone, no matter their story, is of supreme importance to God — and they are valued, simply because they are valuable. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-lost-coin
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2 months ago
12 minutes 15 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Leaving the Ninety-Nine
Have you ever read a parable you thought you knew, only to discover you might have been missing the point? We all know the story of the lost sheep — a shepherd leaves 99 to find the one. But what if that story is teaching two very different lessons? We jump into both Matthew 18 and Luke 15, and it turns out why the sheep is lost, and who Jesus is talking to, changes everything. One version is a warning about being led astray, but the other is a defiant celebration in the face of harsh judgment. We explore the tense moment when Jesus is eating with ​“tax collectors and sinners,” and the Pharisees, who had perfect theology, are furious. Their problem wasn’t with Jesus’s doctrine; it was with his heart. Jesus’s response wasn’t just to defend his actions, but to declare that his party with the ​“misfits” was a mirror of the celebration happening in heaven. It leaves us with a challenging question: How good are we at celebrating? Are we known for being right, or are we known for welcoming people home? Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/leaving-the-ninety-nine
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2 months ago
25 minutes 5 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Shepherd and the Gate
Have you been praying for a breakthrough? That feeling like you’re in a situation — addiction, depression, finances, just stuck—and you need God to move? We kick things off with a powerful, passionate call for a breakthrough in every area of our lives, drawing from the incredible promise in Isaiah 61 that the Spirit anoints us to proclaim freedom. But how do we get that breakthrough? It often comes down to one thing: hearing the right voice. We dive deep into John 10 to explore the Good Shepherd, the one who calls you by name. What if God is speaking to you through your own imagination, but you’ve been conditioned to distrust it? We’ll give you a simple, powerful question to ask (“What would perfect love say?”) to know if it’s His voice. This is a message about recognizing the Shepherd, finding safety in the ​“Gate,” and finally stepping into the abundant life He promises. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-shepherd-and-the-gate
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2 months ago
31 minutes 35 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Don't Stop Knocking
Speaker: David McBride Have you ever prayed for something for so long that you start to wonder if your prayers are being heard? You’ve prayed and waited, and yet, nothing seems to change. That waiting can weaken your faith. Jesus acknowledged this in a story about a persistent widow who refused to give up. We explore that parable to ask an important question: what if prayer isn’t about wearing God down, but about building our own faith up? We examine what it means to “keep knocking,” even when you don’t see the answer. Using illustrative stories—like a prayer that took 86 years to be answered and a bamboo tree that grows 90 feet in six weeks after five years of quiet growth—this message encourages perseverance. It’s a reminder that your persistence is laying a foundation and that the waiting period is not in vain. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/dont-stop-knocking
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2 months ago
31 minutes 5 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Figs or Thistles?
Ever stopped to think about what your words are truly producing? This conversation jumps into Jesus’ fascinating parables about vines and fig trees to explore a challenging idea: our words and actions are the ​“fruit” that shows what’s really going on inside our hearts. It’s a powerful look at why what we say matters so much, leading to a question you might just carry with you all week: are you a fig or a thistle? But it’s not all about tough self-reflection. We also get a beautiful new picture of God — not as a distant owner demanding results, but as a patient, hands-on Gardener who knows exactly what we need. Discover how God gives us the time and care required to become fruitful, and how staying connected to Jesus, the true vine, is the secret to producing the one fruit that matters most: love. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/figs-or-thistles
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3 months ago
27 minutes 25 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Getting into the Weeds
This discussion delves into the disruptive genius of Jesus’ parables — earthly stories designed not just to be heard, but to challenge our thinking and shape how we live. Using the powerful image of a farmer scattering seed, it explores how the condition of our hearts, like different types of soil, determines whether a message can take root and grow. The core invitation is to cultivate a receptive heart, breaking up the hard ground so that we can become fruitful, not for our own benefit, but to provide nourishment for others. The conversation also tackles the complex reality of a world where good and evil — the ​“wheat and the weeds” — grow side-by-side. This challenging parable serves as a crucial reminder to resist the temptation to judge who is worthy and who is not, a task that belongs to God alone. It prompts us to consider what it means to live patiently and faithfully in a complicated world, trusting in the steady, often unseen, growth of the kingdom. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/getting-into-the-weeds
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3 months ago
28 minutes 5 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Unexpected Tales
This series explores the parables of Jesus, revealing him as a playful, disruptive, and provocative storyteller. We’ll move beyond the search for simple formulas or one-line life lessons, which Jesus rarely offered. Instead, these discussions embrace how his stories challenge comfortable assumptions and invite us to think more deeply. The parables are designed to disrupt what we think we know, encouraging a more imaginative and interactive engagement with his teachings. Rather than just earthly tales with a hidden heavenly meaning, the parables call us to be provoked and to reconsider the world around us. A central theme is the overwhelming generosity of God’s kingdom, a concept that counters ideas of scarcity and waste. Ultimately, we find that the key to unlocking these profound stories is not a specific interpretive method, but a direct encounter with Jesus. The focus shifts from simply knowing the right answers to responding to the storyteller himself. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/unexpected-tales
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4 months ago
18 minutes 40 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
But Noah Found Favour
Speaker: Ronnie Dawson We’re drawn into Noah’s story in Hebrews 11, where an ordinary man made an extraordinary impact through faith. His life highlights four qualities God looks for: he was available, he dared to be different, he followed God completely, and he never gave up. Even when faced with ridicule, challenges, and years of waiting, Noah chose trust over doubt and obedience over excuses. His example reminds us that God values our willingness far more than our ability. At its core, this is a call to live with the same kind of wholehearted devotion. God is still searching for people ready to stand apart, follow His leading, and persevere when things don’t make sense. Just as He used Noah to influence his generation, He can use us to shape ours. The invitation is simple but powerful: make yourself available, keep your heart true, and watch how God can work through your life to bring lasting change. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/but-noah-found-favour
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4 months ago
38 minutes 10 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Story of Amy Anderson
Amy’s story is a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness from the very beginning of her life. Born with a fractured skull and a bleak medical prognosis, she experienced complete healing through the prayers of her church community—a moment that continues to shape her understanding of God’s power and care. Growing up, Amy can’t remember a time when she didn’t know Jesus, but her journey of faith was strengthened as a teenager when she discovered the value of community, peers, and finding her place in the church. From leading pre-teens at just 15 to choosing baptism at 16, she recognised early on that God had given her a heart for serving His people. Now, Amy reflects on how that calling has unfolded over the years in different forms but always with the same thread of love for the church and its young people. She shares the encouragement she finds in the baptism of Jesus, hearing God declare, “This is my beloved son,” and drawing strength from her own name: Amy, meaning “beloved.” Whether serving in her local community or investing in the next generation, her story is a reminder that God’s love is constant, His presence is personal, and His call to serve is both life-giving and deeply rewarding. It’s a story that inspires faith, perseverance, and hope for what God can do in every season. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-story-of-amy-anderson
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4 months ago
17 minutes 9 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Story of Paul Gwynne
A deeply honest and vulnerable chat with entrepreneur Paul Gwynne, as he shares his life story. You’ll hear about his journey from a bustling, success-driven life to finding a new purpose rooted in faith and community. Paul opens up about the defining moments that shifted his perspective, including a family tragedy, a challenging period as a young professional, and a series of deeply impactful health crises within his family. Through Paul’s story, you’ll discover how these events led him to a deeper, more profound relationship with God. He reflects on how his faith evolved from a childhood tradition to a powerful, guiding force that redefined his priorities. This conversation beautifully highlights the contrast between the fleeting joy of worldly success and the lasting fulfilment found in simple acts of service. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, what seems like a setback is actually a redirection toward something greater than we could have ever imagined. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-story-of-paul-gwynne
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4 months ago
20 minutes 40 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
The Story of Fran Anderson
A powerful conversation about faith, family, and resilience with Frances Anderson and her daughter, Amy Anderson. They explore life’s challenges and the enduring power of God. Frances shares her journey through childhood trauma and loss, finding her purpose and joy by trusting in Jesus, even when she felt lost. The discussion then turns to a remarkable mission. Amy and Frances are walking 96 miles in Scotland to raise funds for a new school in a remote Zambian village. This project will provide education and hope for children who currently walk six kilometers to attend class. This talk shows how faith can fuel global change and how small steps can create a significant impact. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/the-story-of-fran-anderson
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4 months ago
31 minutes 30 seconds

Grace Community Church NI
Fran, Wendy and Amy share their reflections on 2025 and their dreams for 2026. Have you ever felt like your faith is becoming a bit… hollow? Like you’re going through the motions of ​“being a Christian” but feeling increasingly disconnected from the world around you? It’s a subtle drift, often moving us away from the messy, beautiful reality of people and into a sterile, private version of spirituality. In this gathering, we explore a provocative idea: the danger of ​“excarnation” — the de-fleshing of our faith. While religious professionals often seek holiness through distance, Jesus modelled ​“incarnate holiness” by moving into the neighbourhood and sitting with the very people others deemed unworthy. We hear moving, vulnerable reflections from members of our community on the challenges of forgiveness, the power of being truly known by God, and the simple desire to be the ​“friend in the ditch” rather than the bystander. What if the church isn’t just a symbol of Christ, but a literal extension of His earthly body? Join us as we dive into Romans 12 to discover how your everyday, ordinary life — your eating, sleeping, and walking-around life — can become a primary expression of God’s presence in a polarised world. It’s an invitation to stop faking it and start living from the centre of who you are. Episode link: https://grace-community.church/lesson/known-and-found