In the second part of this series, David Armstrong traces the road to Calvary — from Israel’s sacrificial system and the ritual of Yom Kippur to the Hebrew prophets wrestling with the tensions of justice and mercy.

We also explore various rich understandings of Jesus’s death offered throughout church history — from Christus Victor to René Girard's remarkable scapegoat theory — before approaching a question many of us carry but rarely voice: what about the wrath of God?

We conclude seeing that Good Friday and Easter Sunday are unified — not a failure followed by a rescue but one single, world-altering event. The cross was a victorious act of love descending into the deepest darkness, and the resurrection made that victory visible.

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

In this first part of a mini series, David Armstrong explores the historical reality of crucifixion in the Roman world, asks hard questions about the dominant theory of what the cross achieved, and makes the case that the God revealed at Calvary is not an angry judge demanding payment — but a God of inexhaustible love who went all the way into the darkest place humanity could put him, and refused to be destroyed by it.

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[00:28] Prayer

[01:46] Mother’s Day Prayer

[04:38] Upcoming Events & Community News

[08:41] Sermon - David Armstrong

[44:01] Communion Liturgy

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Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[00:28] Call to Worship

[03:33] Prayer

[04:35] Prayer of Peace

[11:28] Family News

[12:11] Notice: Update on The 101 Project

[14:37] Notice: 101 Prayer & Worship

[15:37] Notice: Alpha Course

[20:29] Sermon - David Armstrong

[63:03] Closing Prayer & Benediction

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

What must we do to inherit eternal life? John Herron opens up one of Jesus most famous parables, the story of the Good Samaritan, showing that true life comes not from knowing the right words, but from the radical, often unexpected, act of loving our neighbour. This message challenges us to move beyond fear-based religion and towards a wider, more expansive love—a love that changes opinions, breaks prejudice, and ultimately transforms enemies into friends.

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[02:16] Sermon - John Herron

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[00:28] South Bend City Church Trip

[01:55 ] Sermon - David Armstrong

[30:38 ] Song - Fra Sands

[35:49] Closing Prayer & Benediction

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

John Herron brings the fourth part of our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' as we reflect upon an ancient story found deep in the Old Testament scripture; the story of Gideon.

The season of Epiphany calls us to slow down and pay attention to the divine presence of God revealed in Christ. As we do we discover God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places.

In the second Epiphany story we reflect upon Jesus Baptism.

David Armstrong brings the first talk in a new series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' that calls for us to slow down during this season of Epiphany and pay attention to the divine presence of God. As seen in the coming of Christ, God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places waiting to be discovered. 

The first story we reflect upon is from the Christmas story from Matthew 2:1-12 and the moment when the Magi, the wise people from the east, follow their curiosity and longing to find and visit Jesus as a child at his birth.

Many of us yearn for sacred spaces, believing true purpose lies elsewhere—in a grander city or a different life. But what if the divine arrives not where we expect, but in the ordinary, even out-of-the-way places we inhabit?

In this Advent message, Jason reflects on his deeply personal connection to South Bend, Indiana, and how a fresh reading of the Christmas story in Luke’s Gospel challenges our assumptions about sacred geography, quietly elevating Bethlehem—an unexpected and unimpressive town—into a place of profound divine significance.

Through this lens, we are invited to see how God’s presence has the power to transform any place, and any circumstance, into sacred ground when met with love. As Christ enters the world, our everyday “Bethlehems” are lifted up, becoming spaces of meaning, hope, and the tangible presence of God.

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:52] Notice: Christmas Compassion Appeal 2025

[03:20] Introduction to Jason Miller and South Bend City Church

[06:53] Sermon - Jason Miller

About Jason Miller

Jason serves as a pastor at South Bend City Church (IN, USA), a sister church and kindred community to us at Redeemer Central. SBCC are described as 'community of grace & peace for our city and the world', a Jesus-centred community not afraid to wrestle with the tensions of ancient faith in a modern world. He is also the author of When The World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus.

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[00:28] Interview with new Board

[18:28] Sermon - Scott Witherick

***

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

***

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

This recording also includes a Remembrance Sunday Prayer, some notices on upcoming gatherings plus a special honouring of Ian & Libby Ryans as they step down from 8 years of leading our Farmbox ministry. 

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:30] Worship & Prayer

[01:41] Remembrance Sunday Prayer

[03:51] Honouring Ian & Libby Ryans (Farmbox)

[09:20] Notice: Dinners

[10:22] Notice: Carols by Candlelight

[10:57] Notice: Dinners (updated)

[12:34] Sermon

***

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

David Armstrong explores the story of Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee, and his encounters with Jesus across three key scenes: a secret night visit, a public festival, and the solemn act of a burial.  Nicodemus’s story invites us to let go of our need for certainty and step into the mystery of faith—to move beyond belief into the wonder of being born again by the Spirit?

***

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

Anton Deik — a Palestinian Christian and scholar — shares his family’s story and invites us to see the human, ethical, and theological realities of life in Israel-Palestine. He challenges us to reckon with the injustices endured by the Palestinian people and to reflect on what faith, justice, and peace look like in the name of Christ.

Anton Deik is Associate Director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice and Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Bethlehem Bible College. Originally from Bethlehem, he has served in ministry and education across East Asia, England, Palestine, and Bolivia. Anton is married to Sara Améstegui (from Bolivia) and together they are parents to Nour Sofia. His background includes serving as Director of Online Education at Bethlehem Bible College, working with Operation Mobilization onboard MV Logos Hope, and leading research projects in computer science with Birzeit University and the Palestinian government.

About Story Sunday: Story Sunday creates space for sharing stories and exploring the intersection of faith and spirituality with lived experience.

Links:

Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice - https://www.bipj.info

Across the Divide Podcast - https://www.peacecatalyst.org/across-the-divide-podcast

Telos Group - https://www.telosgroup.org

In this teaching John Herron helps us explore the cautionary tale of Simon the Sorcerer from Acts 8—a striking story of power, money, and misdirected spirituality. Through Simon’s attempt to buy the Holy Spirit, we confront the allure of spiritual shortcuts and self-promotion, contrasting them with the slow, transformative work of grace. As followers of Jesus we are invited into an unmasking journey of healing and authenticity, asking: where do we seek validation, and what is the true measure of our wealth? The Holy Spirit offers not a shortcut, but a path to the genuine power of transformation and growth.

***

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Redeemer Central is a registered charity in Northern Ireland: NI100831 · Company No. NI623785

Many associate the Holy Spirit with fire, wind, or powerful displays, but what if the truest image is quieter. Stephanie Wilson invites us to rediscover the Spirit not as a force to wield, but as a gentle presence that rests. Tracing the image of the dove through scripture—from Genesis to Jesus’ baptism—we uncover a Spirit that brings order out of chaos, offers new life, and affirms our identity as beloved children of God. It is a call to move from striving to resting, from performance to peace and an invitation to allow the Spirit to hover over our chaos, whispering, “Let there be light,” and reminding us of our royal identity in the Father’s house.

***

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

~ Redeemer Central is a registered charity in Northern Ireland: NI100831 · Company No. NI623785

What does community look like in the church?

In the 1st century Roman world, the dinner table was more than a place to eat—it was a stage for empire. Banquets celebrated Caesar, reinforced social hierarchies, and excluded anyone who didn’t belong. Around those tables, uniformity and status ruled.

But in Luke 14, Jesus turns that entire system on its head. In this teaching, David Armstrong explores how Jesus reimagines the table—not as a site of exclusion, but of radical welcome. Here, the poor, the stranger, and the outsider are not just guests—they’re family.

This sermon invites us to see how the practice of Jesus’ table shapes a new kind of community: one marked by humility, generosity, and grace. In a world fractured by division and self-interest, we are called to keep our tables open, our gardens growing, and our wine pouring—living as witnesses to a different kind of kingdom and a different kind of King.

***

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

~ Redeemer Central is a registered charity in Northern Ireland: NI100831 · Company No. NI623785

The Bible’s story of the Spirit often comes with the image of water—rivers flowing into deserts, living streams making the Dead Sea fresh. David Armstrong unpacks the invitation Jesus gives when he brings holy disruption to the Feast of Tabernacles: “If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink.” The Spirit not only quenches our thirst but makes us springs of living water for the world. Where the river flows, everything will live.

John Herron explores how the Holy Spirit, as God’s breath, transforms our lives. From Genesis to Pentecost, this divine “ruach” shapes chaos into order, brings life to the lifeless, and turns fear into courage. The Spirit makes Jesus’ promises personal, connecting head to heart and filling us with God’s love. Rather than starting our days with screens, we’re invited to begin with a simple prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit.”

Jesus said it was better for Him to leave so that the Advocate could come. But who is this Advocate? In a culture that longs for experience more than explanation, we discover the Holy Spirit as a person—not a vague life force—who comforts, guides, and empowers. In this sermon David Armstrong traces the Spirit’s story through Scripture and invites us to live as little temples, filled with His presence and power.

Many of us know about the Holy Spirit, yet live as if He’s little more than a rumour—caught between promise and experience. In this opening message of our new series, David Armstrong explores the Spirit as the familiar stranger: present but often unnoticed, closer than we think, inviting us into a faith that closes the gap between rumour and reality, moving from theory into encounter.

The Bible is not a single book but a library — written over centuries, in multiple languages, by many authors, and in a wide range of literary genres. It’s no surprise, then, that understanding it can be challenging. Jesus himself often corrected harmful misreadings of Scripture, showing that when we misunderstand it, the impact can be damaging to both our souls and our society. But when we approach Scripture with clarity and care, its truth can transform and enrich our lives.

In part 3 of our practicing scripture series, David Armstrong explores the often-overlooked spiritual discipline of study — the patient, thoughtful work of seeking to understand what the Bible says, what it meant to its original audience, and what it means for us today. Though study can feel dry or academic, when done with the desire to know and love God, it becomes a vital part of our spiritual formation.

Scripture is far more than an ancient text—it’s a sacred story and a portal into God’s reality, with the power to shape and transform our lives. In this sermon David Armstrong explores why reading the Bible is essential for those who follow Jesus, the Rabbi who modelled a life deeply immersed in Scripture.

The Scriptures are not just for information but for spiritual formation. As we slow down, pray, and approach the text with hearts open to God’s presence, the Spirit invites us into a living encounter with Christ—an encounter that shapes who we are and roots us firmly in the Story of God.

The library we call “the Bible” can connect us to God and change who we are, but distraction, hurry, and confusion can hinder our experience with these ancient texts. This is the first of a six-week series helping us rediscover how to engage Scripture as an apprentice to Jesus.

In this first part David Armstrong explores the complexities of interpreting the Bible in a modern world where it often seems to conflict with science, morality, and lived experience. Rather than abandoning Scripture or reading it literally without nuance, we are invited to rediscover the Bible through the lens of Jesus. Rooted in the Anabaptist tradition, this Jesus-centred approach helps us reconcile difficult passages, prevents us from misusing Scripture as a weapon and instead embrace the Bible as a divinely inspired narrative that points us to Jesus.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

“Resurrection is not an invitation to escape the world; it is an invitation to change it.” — Desmond Tutu

“Two processions entered Jerusalem on a spring day in the year 30. . . One was a peasant procession, the other an imperial procession. From the east, Jesus rode a donkey down the Mouth of Olives, cheered by his followers. . . On the opposite side of the city, from the west, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, entered Jerusalem at the head of a column of imperial calvary and soldiers. Jesus’s procession proclaimed the kingdom of God; Pilate’s proclaimed the power of empire.” — John Dominic Crossan & Marcus Borg

Andrew performs a reading of his poem ‘Knitting & Kicking’ — a studio recording is available on his album Amelanchier at https://frmr.bandcamp.com/album/amelanchier

In fact, Jesus teaches his disciples that we should understand God as a divine parent, and throughout Scripture, maternal imagery portrays God as a mother—nurturing, caring, and protecting (Matthew 23:37, Isaiah 49:15). Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870 called women to oppose war and work for reconciliation—advocacy that flows from the transformative vision of what God is like: not a vengeful warrior, but a protective mother who seeks peace and wholeness for all.

This podcast recording begins with a 7min reflection and prayer on Mothering Sunday by Andrew Farmer & Libby Ryans. Andrew performs a reading of his poem ‘Knitting & Kicking’ — a studio recording is available on his album Amelanchier at https://frmr.bandcamp.com/album/amelanchier

Crosses are everywhere. As NT Wright says “You can’t get away from it. It’s everywhere. In homes, in films, in paintings, in pop videos. Worn as an earring, as a necklace. Stitched or studded onto leather or denim. Tattooed onto skin.”

What comes to mind when you think about the cross? In this sermon, John Herron explores a number of historical atonement theories about the crucifixion of Jesus and shows us how the cross is ultimately the fullest revelation of a loving, reconciling, forgiving God. As Brian Zahnd says “The cross is not what God inflicts upon Jesus in order to forgive, but what God in Christ endures as he forgives.”.

Please note that unfortunately due to a technical error the very end of this sermon was not recorded.

ESC Film is a filmmaking company and arts education charity based in Belfast, specialising in mental health. They primarily work with people with complex needs, offering facilitation, creative development, and film production. Their award-winning team has expertise in therapeutic filmmaking, giving a voice to socially excluded individuals and helping them transform their stories into powerful, compelling films.

For more information about their work visit esc-film.com

About Story Sunday: Story Sunday creates space for sharing stories and exploring the intersection of faith and spirituality with lived experience.

What comes to mind when you think about God? In this sermon, we explore how our understanding of God shapes everything. Challenging the idea of an angry, wrathful deity, we turn to Scripture and Jesus’ life to reveal a God of love, mercy, and grace. Through the Prodigal Son story, Rembrandt’s art, and reflections on historical theology, we uncover the heart of God and the liberating good news of a God who is truly love.

Todd Deatherage is the co-founder and executive director of Telos, an organization dedicated to reconciliation and peacebuilding in conflict zones like Israel/Palestine. With a background in U.S. politics and diplomacy, Todd equips communities to bridge divides and promote mutual flourishing. For more on Todd’s work and Telos visit telosgroup.org

Jason Miller is the lead pastor of South Bend City Church, a community-driven church in Indiana focused on creating an inclusive space for faith and justice. Known for his thoughtful teaching, Jason fosters a Christ-centered faith that embraces complexity and grace. For more on Jason’s work visit jasonadammiller.com and South Bend City Church visit southbendcitychurch.com

About Story Sunday: Story Sunday creates space for sharing stories and exploring the intersection of faith and spirituality with lived experience.

In Part 4, Stephanie Wilson reflects on the entire story, the characters' choices and decisions, and how the lens through which we read can alter our understanding of the narrative.

What begins as a story of imminent destruction ends with triumph and celebration. Esther and Mordecai’s actions remind us that God often works through ordinary people standing against oppression, emphasizing that justice is a collaborative act of divine and human partnership. This story calls us to a theology of advocacy and action, using whatever power, privilege, influence, and opportunity we have to seek the flourishing of all people, "for such a time as this."

In this second part of the What Makes Us series, we explore what it means to live out the Jesus Story in our daily lives. David Armstrong reflects on the incarnation—God becoming flesh in Christ and dwelling among us—and how it serves as a model for us to embody God’s active presence.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be His hands, feet, and eyes, continuing His mission of compassion, healing, and blessing in our communities. The early Christian practice of radical hospitality—welcoming everyone, whether sinner or saint, rich or poor — and the powerful metaphors of Tables & Gardens, illustrate ways to follow Jesus’ example by gathering in inclusive community and nurturing spaces of growth, life, and transformation.

We explore the power of stories and how they shape our lives, from the narrative of everyday life to the deeper stories that give us meaning, we’re wired for storytelling.

David Armstrong challenges us to reflect on the story we’re living in—is it one of grace and purpose, or have we unknowingly embraced a fiction that holds us back? When we look closely at the Book of Genesis we see that our true story begins with God's blessing, not with shame or failure. We are all sacred, created in God’s image, and invited to live authentically in the story of His grace.

In the Lords Prayer recorded in Matthew 6 — a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples — we find an invitation to a deep and daily trust in God’s provision and abundance.

In this sermon David Armstrong uses two images that help us grasp the mystery of God’s nature as seamless, dynamic, interwoven community of love that sits at the centre of all things — the triune in their fellowship of divine love — and the invitation to us to participate in that love and allow it to shape who we are.

Note: Episode Artwork is one of the most famous icons in history written by Andrei Rublev, a Russian monk and iconographer it 1425. It is entitled ‘The Hospitality of Abraham’, but more commonly known as ‘Troitsa’ - Russian for Triune or Trinity.

David, Armstrong, John Herron & Scott Witherick discuss the series on solitude and share some of their learning along the way.

This took place on Pentecost Sunday and includes Prayers & Liturgies to celebrate and mark this day and the end of the season of Eastertide.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Solitude is the place of encounter and ultimately, we go into the quiet to encounter God. We go because we ache for God in the deepest place in our being. We go because there is nothing like God’s presence. We go to listen for his voice, to hear him speak over us our identity and calling.

In this fourth and final teaching we learn that this back and forth of speaking and listening to God is the heart not only of communication, but of communion with God. As important as it is to receive our identity and calling as a gift from God’s hand, ultimately, the most important thing that happens in solitude is that we love and are loved by God.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

***Note: Due to a faulty recording we were unable to share the teaching by Scott Witherick. In it’s place for the podcast we are sharing the teaching from Practicing the Way, delivered by John Mark Comer.***

Solitude can be deeply refreshing, but just as often, it can feel like painful emotional surgery. We can get away from people, but we can’t get away from our self. And often what we carry into solitude is our pain.

In the third teaching Stephanie Wilson encourages us to follow the example of Jesus by finding a quiet place and going to the place of pain because it is there we meet God. Through this simple but difficult practice of noticing and naming our emotions before God in prayer, and offering them up to God in raw honesty, we can be deeply formed into the people God has always desired for us to become.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

In the second teaching John Herron looks at the goal of being alone with God in the silence: ultimately to hear God’s voice over all the other voices in our head, Jesus and his early followers fought battles in solitude. As we face resistance from three enemies of our soul — the world, the flesh, and the devil — in solitude, we learn to fight lies by listening carefully for God’s voice and using scripture to anchor ourselves in God’s truth.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Distraction is one of the greatest threats to spiritual health in the modern world. We all feel it — we’re bombarded by noise like never before. Jesus has an invitation for us: Step away from it all to be alone with him, for the sake of our souls and the sake of others. 

In this first teaching David Armstrong looks at how Solitude is not a place but a practice, one that follows Jesus’ pattern of retreating from distractions to be fully present with the Father and returning to serve in community.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Note: Sermon begins at 8mins

“Two processions entered Jerusalem on a spring day in the year 30. . . One was a peasant procession, the other an imperial procession. From the east, Jesus rode a donkey down the Mouth of Olives, cheered by his followers. . . On the opposite side of the city, from the west, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, entered Jerusalem at the head of a column of imperial calvary and soldiers. Jesus’s procession proclaimed the kingdom of God; Pilate’s proclaimed the power of empire.” — John Dominic Crossan & Marcus Borg

David, Armstrong, John Herron & Stephanie Wilson discuss the series on fasting and share some of their learning along the way.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

“Give to the hungry what you deny your own appetite.” —St. Gregory of Nyssa

In the West, many of us struggle with the problem of food abundance — having too much food to eat. Our cupboards overflow with snacks; we have so much food in our fridges it goes bad before we have a chance to eat it; apps on our phones can put any food we want just a few swipes away.

Dieting is a constant fad, and most of us live in a daily war of attrition against sugar, processed carbs, and over-indulgence. But most of the world, and many more people than we realise in our own neighbourhoods and cities, live with food scarcity — not having enough to eat. Often, they are hiding in plain sight in our own churches and communities.

Fasting is a way to bridge this gap, between “the haves” and “the have nots.” Going back at least as far as Isaiah 58, it has long been a vehicle for biblical justice, a way for those with too much food to share with those in need of food.

Early on in the history of the church, fasting was tied to what Jesus and the early Christians called “almsgiving” — a practice that combined generosity, serving, and justice. On fasting days, Christians would take the food or the money they would have spent on food and give it to the poor. Often, they would also give the time they would have spent cooking, eating, and cleaning up to serve the poor.

In Part 4 Stephanie Wilson shows us how this simple practice of giving away the money we would have spent on ourselves has the potential to transform not only the lives of the poor, but also our own lives and communities.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

***Note: This recording took place on Mother’s Day and includes communal prayers to mark this occasion for all.

Fasting and prayer go together. Like two wings of a bird, together they take flight. You can pray without fasting, and you can fast without praying, but when you combine the two, there’s a noticeable amplification of our prayer before God.

This comes as no surprise, since fasting is a kind of praying with our body. When the request of our heart is coupled with the yearning of our body, our prayer is purified of its dross and presented like a precious metal before the Father, for him to do as he will.

“Prayer” is an umbrella term for the medium through which we communicate and commune with God and it involves both speaking and listening. Fasting is a key companion in both.

In Part 3 John Herron helps us see the role fasting has in both hearing God and being heard by God. Firstly it is an aid in discerning the voice of God through the noise and distraction of our lives that we might hear how God is coming to us and his will and direction for our lives. Secondly, fasting is an aid to being heard by God, helping us break through the walls that stand between us and the release of God’s plans, purposes, and power. Story after story — in Scripture and church history — attest to this reality: When prayer and fasting link arms, it’s often the tipping point in the struggle to release God’s Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Fasting is one of the most essential and powerful of all the practices of Jesus and, arguably, the single most neglected one in the modern, Western church. The Fasting Practice will train you in this ancient discipline, integrating your whole body into life with God.

In Part 2 David Armstrong shares how fasting has many physical benefits for our bodies that mirror how it benefits our souls.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

*** Note: This sermon didn’t record live on Sunday so we re-recorded it later .***

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

***

Note: The first half of the sermon didn’t record live on Sunday so we re-recorded that part later .

As powerful as the mind is, because we are holistic beings, we can’t simply think our way into spiritual maturity. Our discipleship to Jesus must take seriously our body, as it is “the temple of the Holy Spirit” — a home where we make room for God to dwell.

Most of us are used to approaching our spiritual formation and life with God through the door of our mind — by thinking, talking, praying, reading, or hearing teaching and preaching. But very few of us are comfortable approaching our spiritual formation through our stomach, or our body as a whole.

In this first teaching David Armstrong looks at how Fasting is one of the best disciplines we have to reintegrate our mind to our body, and offer our whole selves to God in surrender.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

***

Note: The first half of the sermon didn’t record live on Sunday so we re-recorded that part later .

Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to become like him and partner with him in the world.

In Prayer part 4 David Armstrong explores the fourth stage of prayer: being with God. There comes a point in our spiritual journey when prayer goes beyond words to simple loving presence, or what the ancient Christians called “union” with God. This type of prayer has come to be called “contemplation,” based on 2 Corinthians 3v18. To contemplate is to look, to gaze upon the beauty of God, receiving his love pouring out toward you in Christ and by the Spirit, and then giving your love back in return.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to become like him and partner with him in the world.

In Prayer part 4 David Armstrong explores the fourth stage of prayer: being with God. There comes a point in our spiritual journey when prayer goes beyond words to simple loving presence, or what the ancient Christians called “union” with God. This type of prayer has come to be called “contemplation,” based on 2 Corinthians 3v18. To contemplate is to look, to gaze upon the beauty of God, receiving his love pouring out toward you in Christ and by the Spirit, and then giving your love back in return.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to become like him and partner with him in the world.

In Prayer part 3 John Herron helps us understand that prayer is not just when we talk but when we listen to hear his voice. As Jesus said in John 10v27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” This is a Spirit-generated desire in the heart of a disciple of Jesus.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to become like him and partner with him in the world.

In Prayer part 2 Stephanie Wilson helps us begin to learn how to talk with God. Praying pre-made prayers is a beautiful way to pray. It’s where we start our prayer journey, and it’s a place we revisit all through our lives. But at some point in our life of prayer, we desire to pray our own words to God — to share what’s on our mind, our heart. Our pain, our joy, our hopes and fears. We can’t help but desire to interact with God in a more authentic, personalised way.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to become like him and partner with him in the world.

In Prayer part 1 David Armstrong explores the first stage of prayer: talking to God. When the disciples asked Jesus, “Teach us to pray,” in Luke 11, Jesus replied, “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...’” He gave them a pre-made prayer, or what some call a liturgy, to pray to God.

One of the single most important tasks of discipleship to Jesus is starting, habituating, and fine-tuning a daily prayer rhythm. So we start our four-week journey simply, by praying pre-made prayers to God.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

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Note: This recording begins with a prayer captured during our time of sung worship. The sermon begins at 6min30secs.

Note: This recording begins with a prayer led by Ian Ryans for Israel-Palestine, amid all the conflict and violence taking place there.

In Sabbath Part 4 we look at how sabbath isn’t just a day to stop, rest, and throw a feast in community — it’s a holy day set apart and dedicated to God himself.

For many Western Christians, Sunday has become what Eugene Peterson called a “bastard Sabbath”–the illegitimate offspring of the Sabbath and a secular day off. Whether you practice Sabbath on Sundays, Saturdays, or another day of the week, it’s essential to remember God commands us to “remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy.” To keep it “holy” means to sanctify it, set it apart, and dedicate it to God for his special purposes. Sabbath isn’t just a day to sleep in, relax, and do whatever brings you joy (it is, but it’s more): it’s a day to worship. To reorient your entire life back to its center in God. In our final week of Sabbath, we elevate the Sabbath from a restful, joyful day off to a holy day of worship and delight in God himself.

***Note: Due to a last-minute change of circumstances we used the teaching resource from Practicing the Way, delivered by John Mark Comer.***

Part of the Practicing the Way series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Sabbath is a day of rest by which we cultivate a spirit of restfulness in all of our life.

In Sabbath part 3 John Herron looks at the third movement of Sabbath– delight. Jesus himself said plainly, “In this world, you will have trouble,” but he also said his desire for his disciples was “that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” Sorrow is inevitable in this life, but joy is not. In the Way of Jesus, joy is a gift, but it’s one that must be chosen and cultivated, day after day, as an act of apprenticeship to our joyful God.

Previous generations often thought of the Sabbath as a somber, serious day full of religious duty and legalistic rules. Today, many people think of it as a day to chill, relax, or sleep. Both generations miss the essential truth – the Sabbath is designed by God as a day to give yourself fully to delight in God’s world, in your life in it, and ultimately in God himself.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Sabbath is a day of rest by which we cultivate a spirit of restfulness in all of our life.

In Sabbath part 2 Stephanie Wilson explores the second movement of Sabbath–to rest. The idea of rest sounds wonderful, but in reality, rest is a radical, countercultural act of resistance to the powers and principalities of a world at war with God and his kingdom of peace. To practice Sabbath is to draw a line in the sand against all external (and internal) forces that would encroach upon your apprenticeship to Jesus and formation into his image. It’s to say, “This far you shall go, but no further.” It is to defy some of the most powerful forces known to humanity as an act of non-cooperation done in love for community, for the poor, for the earth, and ultimately for God himself.

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

When practiced regularly these keystone habits can powerfully guide our journey of spiritual growth and help us become more like Christ, transformed into the people we were created to be.

Each practice is taught in 4 parts and David Armstrong begins with our first practice, Sabbath — a day of rest by which we cultivate a spirit of restfulness in all of our life.

In Sabbath Part 1 we examine the most literal meaning of the Hebrew verb shabbat – “to stop” and how sabbath is, at its most basic, a call to stop, to cease, to be done.

Part of the Practicing the Way series. For info and resources on this series go to redeemercentral.com/ptw

Jonny Clark is the Program Manger of Public Theology for The Corrymeela Community. He is a facilitator and mediator working in political and inter-faith contexts and has devoted significant energy to the development of peace-building organisations around the world in post-conflict societies. His involvement in peace-building work continues to this day. He is also the curator of a monthly event of music, stories, dialogue & reflection called Borderlands that gathers people at the intersection of art, faith and community.

Notes & Links

Corrymeela

Borderlands

Guardians of the Flame - (Jonny’s Documentary & Podcast)

With God on our Side (Documentary)

The Other Side of the Wall (Book) by Rev Dr Munther Issac

Podcast Notes

Research Report: Abundant community theology: Working towards environmental and economic sustainability (EES) by Tearfund

Poem: On Generosity by Walter Brueggemann

We trust these prayers will bless you and also create a sacred spacious place in you where you can carry others to God in prayer.

We trust these prayers will bless you and also create a sacred spacious place in you where you can carry others to God in prayer.

In Part 1 David Armstrong introduces the series with one idea that helped him see the importance of emotional health in the life of a Christian before sharing some simple advice on how we should deal with emotions at this time.

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Redeemer Central is a church community in Belfast seeking to practice the way of Jesus and work for the peace and good of our city. For info on gatherings, prayer, resources and more during the season of COVID19 visit https://redeemercentral.com/churchathome

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These have been beautiful prayers of longing, aching and hope.. helping us process our fears, our grief and call on God for those who are in much need at this time. They have blessed us so much that we thought we would share them here so in this podcast episode you will hear from three people in the Redeemer community — Lisa Whitten, Caitlin Nelson and Sam and Audrey Fishlock. We trust these prayers will bless you and also create a sacred spacious place in you where you can carry others to God in prayer.

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Redeemer Central is a church community in Belfast seeking to practice the way of Jesus and work for the peace and good of our city. For info on gatherings, prayer, resources and more during the season of COVID19 visit https://redeemercentral.com/churchathome

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These have been beautiful prayers of longing, aching and hope.. helping us process our fears, our grief and call on God for those who are in much need at this time. They have blessed us so much that we thought we would share them here so in this podcast episode you will hear from three people in the Redeemer community — Eleanor Ford, Terry Vaz and Jude Hill. We trust these prayers will bless you and also create a sacred spacious place in you where you can carry others to God in prayer.

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Redeemer Central is a church community in Belfast seeking to practice the way of Jesus and work for the peace and good of our city. For info on gatherings, prayer, resources and more during the season of COVID19 visit https://redeemercentral.com/churchathome

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:: Show notes ::

NT Wright Article :: ‘Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It's Not Supposed To’

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:: Help & Support ::

If you are listening at home and need some help or support at this time let me encourage you to visit https://redeemercentral.com/care where you can reach out to our pastoral care team and they’ll be in touch to see how we might help or support you right now.

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Redeemer Central is a church community in Belfast seeking to practice the way of Jesus and work for the peace and good of our city. For info on gatherings, prayer, resources and more during the season of COVID19 visit https://redeemercentral.com/churchathome

Daniel interviews Rosie about Home for Good, a Charity working to find families and homes for children.

David discusses the ‘Hesed’ love that Ruth had, how she loved beyond limitations and challenges us today to be a people of embrace.