Contributors.
Abigail Malortie
Adam Purcell
Adnan Khan
Adriana Bell
Aisha Noble-Clarke
Alicia Humphreys
Alister McGrath
Al Marsh
Amelia Abplanalp
Amy Howard
Amy Orr-Ewing
Andrew Wilson
Andria Evripidou
Andy Young
Andy Chevalier
Andy Crouch
Andy Tilsley
Andy Tuck
Angie Catlett
Anna Lyons
Anna Thompson
Prof. Ard Louis
Barry Catlett
Ben Thomas
Bex Nazar
Cameron Myers
Carina Crawford
Charity El-Khazen
Charlotte Coldrick
Charlotte Watson
Chloe Wang
Chris Bull
Chris Le Marquand
Chris Oldfield
ChristChurch London
Christian Pace
Christiana Makanjuola
Christina Mackenzie
Chris Wright
Colin Hardie
Corrine Haynes
Craig Jamieson
Dallas Willard
Dan Ryland
Danny Webster
David Stroud
Dee Wade
Eleanor Mumford
Elise Lamsdale
Elissa Day
Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Oldfield
Emma Boyle
Emma Sawers
Esther Faulkner
Faith Purcell
Francesca Lionetti
Gary Cottingham
Georgie Blake
Georgina Smith
Graeme Elder
Hannah Joy
Hannah Robinson
Hannah Elwyn
Helen Howells
Ian & Heather Rushton
Ian Rushton
Jack Wells
Jacqui Frisby
Jason Taylor
Jennie Pollock
Jo Morgan
Joanna O'Hanlon
Joanna Rossiter
Joel Nazar
Joel Wade
Johan Eldebo
John Archer
John Mumford
Johnny Blake
Jon Mendelsohn
Jonny Elwyn
Jon Tyson
Joseph Mukungu
Jo Wells
Justin Welby
Kat Tait
Kee Ramsorrun
Kelvin Cheung
Khiew Zhi Yoong
Krish Kandiah
Lars Due-Christensen
Liam Thatcher
Lizzie Salway
Lizzie Stanley
Louisa Richards
Luca Kocsmarszky
Lydia Gascoigne
Lydia Lewis
Mal Fletcher
Marc Howells
Baliva
Martin Vickery
Matilda Egere-Cooper
Matt Chandler
Mbonisi Malaba
Megan DeBoard
Melanie Mackay
Dr. Michael Pluess
Michael Ramsden
Mike Pilavachi
Naomi Smith
Natalie Drane
Natalie Powell
Nate Sence
Nicky Gumbel
Nicole Lewis
Niké Jemiyo
Nims Obunge
Oriana Langder
Os Guinness
Pete Greig
Rachel Tjahjadi
Rachel Gardner
Raphael Arthur
Rich Fishlock
Rich Butt
Rich Day
Ric Thorpe
Ross Bull
Samantha Crawford
Sam Parker
Sarah Olowofoyeku
Shabazz Graham
Shardarne Meghie
Sharon Mukungu
Simon Ash
Simon Ponsonby
Stephanie Relf
Tanya Marsh
Tanya Walker
Terry Virgo
Tim Frisby
Vicki Cavolina
Victor Ibarra
Warwick Sharp
Werner Joubert
Content From Liam Thatcher
Philippians: Philippians 2 -
| Sun Aug 18 '19
To a city obsessed with status and power, Philippians 2 is a beautiful, counter-cultural hymn, that challenges us to live with humility like that of Jesus himself.
Sermon on the Mount: The Wide and Narrow Gates -
| Sun Jul 21 '19
Jesus warns that the gate to life is small and easy to miss. In this talk, Liam Thatcher considers what Jesus’ teaching about the wide and narrow gates can teach us about enjoying the flourishing life.
Prince of Peace: Peace with Creation -
| Sun Jun 2 '19
The Bible teaches that we were designed to be in harmony with this world. In this talk, Liam Thatcher considers our responsibility towards Creation, and how we can care for it better.
Prince of Peace: Renewing Your Mind -
| Sun Apr 7 '19
So much of our fear is fuelled by the voices we listen to. In this talk, Liam Thatcher considers how we can learn to resist lies, and have our mind renewed by God.
Generosity: The Joy of Generosity -
| Sun Mar 17 '19
God designed us to experience joy in generosity, so that when we give away what we have, we get a foretaste of the eternal life and joy He has planned for us. In this talk, Liam reflects on 1 Timothy...
Awaken: Perseverance -
| Sun Feb 24 '19
In the last talk of the series, Liam looks at the examples of Anna and Simeon in Luke chapter 2, and how they embody what it looks like to persevere in prayer even through personal pain.
Awaken: Hunger -
| Sun Feb 3 '19
Right throughout the Bible, God’s people have undergone periods of fasting, where they have abstained from food and devoted themselves to prayer. In this talk, Liam considers the significance of this often-neglected practice, and how we can learn to enjoy...
Awaken: Faith -
| Sun Jan 6 '19
In a sun-scorched desert, Isaac finds himself unearthing ancient wells and remembering promises God made to his forefathers. In the first talk of the series, Liam considers how Genesis 26 invites us to return to God in faith and ask...
Stand Alone Talks: One Small Step for God -
| Sun Dec 9 '18
Many of us are familiar with the general themes of the Christmas story, but a little hazy on the details. But the meaning is found in the details. In this talk from our Bethnal Green Carol Service, Liam reflects on...
Proverbs: Master Your Appetites -
| Sun Nov 11 '18
We were created with desires and appetites for food, drink and pleasure, but often it’s easier to be mastered by our appetites than to master them. In this talk, Liam looks at how we can enjoy life whilst controlling our...
Proverbs: Love Wisdom, not Wealth -
| Sun Oct 21 '18
Proverbs has a lot to say about money, both its blessing and its dangers. In this talk, Liam considers three principles for how we should pursue wisdom, discipline and faith in relation to our finances.
Proverbs: The Beginning of Wisdom -
| Sun Sep 2 '18
In this talk, Liam kicks of our sermon series on Proverbs by looking at the importance of wisdom, knowledge and understanding throughout creation, and how building our lives on Jesus lays the foundation that can weather the storms of life.
Jonah: God’s Message -
| Sun Aug 19 '18
As Jonah emerges from the belly of the fish, God re-commissions him and sends him again to Nineveh. In this talk, Liam looks at God’s message to the city, and the message God gives us today.
Ruth: An Epidemic of Chesed -
| Sun Jul 22 '18
In this talk Liam looks at Ruth’s daring proposal to Boaz, and shows that God intends to change the world through men and women who bear His image and are committed to Chesed love.
Visions of God: The Lion and the Lamb -
| Sun Jul 1 '18
In Revelation 5, John turns to see who is sitting on the throne. But where he expects to see a lion, instead he sees a slaughtered lamb. In this talk, Liam considers what it means to know Jesus as the...
Visions of God: The Light and the Lampstands -
| Sun Jun 24 '18
The book of Revelation begins with a picture of Jesus walking among seven lamp stands. In this talk, Liam looks at how Jesus loves to speak to his church, so that he can speak through his church.
Visions of God: The Glory on the Throne -
| Sun Jun 3 '18
Ezekiel describes a mysterious vision of God’s glory. It’s so mysterious that he can barely put it into words. In this talk, Liam looks at a humbling paradox of God; He is unknowable, and yet knowable.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
| Sun Apr 8 '18
Perhaps the most important bit of the armour is the piece that covers the heart. In this talk, Liam considers Paul’s instructions to protect ourselves with the breastplate of righteousness.
Equipped: The Armour of God: The Whole Armour -
| Sun Feb 18 '18
Life is a battle! There are plenty of challenges that can wear us down. But in the first talk of this new series, Liam shows how God promises to give us everything we need to stand firm.
First Love: Worship and the Mind -
| Sun Jan 28 '18
Scripture is full of encouragements to gaze upon God’s beauty. But what does this actually mean, and how do we do it? In this talk, Liam considers the role of our imagination in worship.
Stand Alone Talks: Light Breaks In -
| Sun Dec 10 '17
It’s no coincidence that lights play a huge part in how we celebrate Christmas; the whole story is about light breaking into darkness. In this talk from our Carol Service, Liam considers the message and challenge of Christmas, and how...
Acts of the Spirit: The Spirit of Unity -
| Mon Nov 13 '17
One of the hallmarks of the early church was its incredible diversity. Cultural, social, and ethnic barriers were torn down, as the Holy Spirit united people from hugely different backgrounds. In this talk, Liam considers how we can build a...
Theology Matters: How to Read the Bible: Session 4: From Principle to Application -
| Fri Nov 3 '17
We’ve considered how to understand the meaning of a text to its original hearers, and how to determine the principles that help connect it to our world, but until we work out how to apply the text in our world,...
Theology Matters: How to Read the Bible: Session 3: Reading the Old Testament -
| Fri Nov 3 '17
For many people, the Old Testament is particularly confusing, since the gap between the original events and our context is so vast. In this session we look at an extra step in the interpretive journey, and explore some principles for...
Theology Matters: How to Read the Bible: Session 2: Crossing the Bridge -
| Fri Nov 3 '17
It’s one thing to know what Scripture meant to the original hearers, but how can we work out what it might mean to us? In this session we will consider how we can bridge the gaps of time, geography, language...
Theology Matters: How to Read the Bible: Session 1: Beginning the Interpretive Journey -
| Fri Nov 3 '17
Why is the Bible such a difficult book to read? And how should we approach some of the challenges that it poses? This first session looks at the journey we go on when interpreting Scripture, and the tools that can...
The Proper Place
| Fri Oct 20 '17
Liam Thatcher talks technology and the place it occupies in our busy modern lives. A few months ago, my wife and I were at The Tate Modern. We’d spent an hour or so wandering through the exhibitions, our senses being...
Acts of the Spirit: The Spirit of Power -
| Tue Sep 26 '17
A small band of disciples gathered in Jerusalem, waiting as Jesus had told them to, for the promised Holy Spirit. And when Pentecost came, everything changed. In the first talk of our new series, Liam looks at what it means...
David: The Chosen One -
| Sun Jul 23 '17
The people of God have asked for a king, expecting someone who is strong, powerful and wealthy. But God seems to have different ideas. In the first talk of our new series, Liam looks at the choosing of David, and...
Stand Alone Talks: God’s Tattoo -
| Sun Jun 25 '17
If God had a tattoo, what would it be? In this talk, from our Baby Dedication service, Liam looks at Isaiah 49 and considers how God is a loving Father, who invites us to join His family.
Stand Alone Talks: Thy Kingdom Come -
| Sun Jun 4 '17
Jesus taught us to pray ‘your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ In this standalone talk from Pentecost Sunday, Liam reflects on why this prayer remains important today, and how the Holy Spirit...
Encounters with Jesus: Peter - John 13:1-17
| Sun May 7 '17
As Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, he surprises them by washing their feet. In this talk, Liam considers our need to be made clean, and shows how God subverts our expectations and lowers himself to raise us up.
Encounters with Jesus: The Woman Caught in Adultery - John 8:1-11
| Sun Apr 9 '17
The religious leaders try to trap Jesus, by presenting a ‘sinner’ for him to condemn. But Jesus’ response turns the tables back on them in a surprising way. In this talk, Liam looks at how Jesus exposes ‘bad religion’ and...
Seven Words from the Cross
| Thu Apr 6 '17
I don’t respond well to pain. When I experience it, the sounds that come from my mouth tend to be a mixture of muffled grunts and involuntary exclamations. They are rarely dignified, eloquent or meaningful. They are certainly not worthy...
Stand Alone Talks: Taking the Plunge -
| Mon Mar 20 '17
Why on earth would fully-grown and fully-dressed adults allow themselves to be pushed under water and then pulled out again? And why does the church think this is worth celebrating? In this standalone talk, Liam looks at the theme of...
Hungry Hearts
| Fri Mar 17 '17
Bruce Springsteen famously sang: ‘Everybody needs a place to rest; Everybody wants to have a home. Don’t make no difference what nobody says, Ain’t nobody like to be alone. Everybody’s got a hungry heart.’ He’s right. All of us are...
Theology Matters: The Trinity
| Fri Mar 3 '17
A.W. Tozer wrote: ‘What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.’ It was with this in mind that we decided to spend a day recently thinking about the Trinity. To many...
Theology Matters: The Trinity: Session 4: The Trinity and the Christian Life -
| Wed Mar 1 '17
This final session considers what practical differences the Trinity makes to the Christian life, and how having an accurate view of the Trinity can enrich our prayer and our worship. Download the handouts.
Theology Matters: The Trinity: Session 3: Creation and Salvation -
| Wed Mar 1 '17
What does the Trinity achieve? And what can we learn from looking at the activity of God in the world? This session considers the role of the Trinity in creation and salvation, and the difference it makes knowing we are...
Theology Matters: The Trinity: Session 2: How (not) to think about the Trinity -
| Wed Mar 1 '17
How is the Trinity revealed to us? What does the interaction between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the gospels tell us about God’s eternal nature? And what are some helpful (and unhelpful) ways in which we can begin...
Theology Matters: The Trinity: Session 1: Introducing the Trinity -
| Wed Mar 1 '17
The Trinity is a mystery: a deeply complex idea at the heart of the Christian faith. So if it’s a mystery, why bother thinking about it at all? In this first session, we introduce the idea of the Trinity and...
The Lord's Prayers: Prayer for Unity -
| Sun Feb 12 '17
A short while before his death Jesus prayed a prayer for all those who would come after him – us included. In this talk, Liam looks at Jesus’ prayer for unity and considers how it should shape our own prayers.
The Lord’s Prayers: Recommended Resources
| Fri Jan 6 '17
In Luke 11 the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray!” In one sense, it’s a slightly strange request. These guys would almost certainly have prayed before. They would have attended the Temple and offered prayers there. They would...
Stand Alone Talks: Faith for the City - Genesis 18:16-33
| Sun Nov 27 '16
While God prepares to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleads for Him to show them mercy. In this talk, Liam considers the importance and prayer and thinks about how we can have faith for our city.
Stand Alone Talks: The Pursuing God - Luke 15:1-7
| Sun Nov 20 '16
Many people imagine God to be a distant being – an inapproachable perfectionist who judges from afar. But is that really the God of the Bible? In this talk from our Baby Dedication Services, Liam looks at Jesus’ stories of...
Got The X-Mas Factor?
| Fri Nov 4 '16
52 sleeps until Christmas! Unless you take a siesta in the middle of your working day, in which case it’s more like 89. Or if you’re an insomniac – hey rejoice, only one sleep until Christmas! But more excitingly, it’s...
Theology Matters: An Introduction to Hebrews: Session 4: The New Covenant (8:1–10:18) -
| Sat Oct 29 '16
Jesus has inaugurated a new covenant. But what does that mean for the old one? What was wrong with it, and how is the new covenant different? In this final session we look at how Jesus’ death achieves what the...
Theology Matters: An Introduction to Hebrews: Session 3: The Great High Priest (4:14–5:10; 7:1–28) -
| Sat Oct 29 '16
Hebrews describes Jesus as our Great High Priest. But is he qualified for the job? In this session we look at how Hebrews contrasts Jesus with Aaron, and we explore what it means for him to be a priest in...
Theology Matters: An Introduction to Hebrews: Session 2: Warnings and Encouragements (3:6b, 14; 6:4–20) -
| Sat Oct 29 '16
The book of Hebrews contains a number of warnings, using strong and challenging language. But it also contains many equally strong encouragements about the faithfulness of God. This session considers who the warning passages are directed to, and how we...
Theology Matters: An Introduction to Hebrews: Session 1: Jesus is Better (1:1–4:13) -
| Sat Oct 29 '16
The author of Hebrews begins by establishing Jesus’ credentials. In the first four chapters he seeks to show how Jesus is God’s ultimate communication – better than the prophets, the angels, Moses and Joshua – before addressing the theme of...
Stand Alone Talks: Sowing Our Tears - Psalm 126
| Sun Oct 16 '16
All of us go through painful times, where hope seems absent and tears are plentiful. In this standalone talk, Liam reflects on Psalm 126 and considers how we can sow our tears to reap a harvest of joy.
Summer of Love: Love Made Visible - 1 John 4:7–21
| Sun Sep 11 '16
John argues that ‘God is love’ and yet he also says that ‘nobody has seen God’. In a world so in need of love, where can we find it? And how can we see love if we cannot see God?...
Summer of Love: Life, Love and Light - 1 John 1:1-2:2; 5:13
| Sun Aug 14 '16
What is God like and how can we know Him? In the first talk of this new series, Liam looks at the opening of John’s letter and considers what it means for God to be life, love and light.
Summer of Love: 1 John
| Mon Aug 8 '16
Summer of Love: 1 John If you’ve been with us over the past few months, you’ll know that we’ve been preaching a series entitled The Heart of the Matter. It’s been a rollercoaster ride through various subjects to do with...
The Heart of the Matter: Modern Romance -
| Sun Jul 17 '16
Despite being one of the oldest passages in the Bible, Genesis 29 has some brilliant insights to offer about modern relationships. In this talk, Liam looks at the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah and considers how (not) to find...
The Heart of the Matter: A Place to Belong -
| Sun Jun 12 '16
Britain has recently been voted the loneliness capital of Europe! More than ever before, people lack community. In this talk, from our baptism service, Liam looks at Mark 2 and considers how strong community benefits our emotional health.
The Heart of the Matter
| Fri May 20 '16
I brush my teeth at least twice a day. I shower daily. I wash my hands countless times. I use the odd hair product and skin product – thanks for noticing! I don’t do as much exercise as I probably...
The Power of a Whisper: Recommended Reading
| Thu Apr 14 '16
One of the things that strikes me most when I read the gospels is the amazing sense of purpose with which Jesus lived. He seemed to know at any given moment where he should be focusing his energy and time....
The Power of a Whisper: The Divine Whisperer -
| Sun Apr 3 '16
Does God whisper today? In the first talk of this new series, Liam looks at Hebrews 1 and considers what it can teach us about the kind of world in which we live, and the role God’s whispers have in sustaining and...
Holy Week
| Wed Mar 16 '16
If you’re anything like me, Easter can whizz by almost without you noticing it. Cadburys Creme Eggs are in the shops from Boxing Day, you’ve eaten too many by the end of January and entirely forgotten about Easter by February, until...
Joshua: The New Covenant -
| Sun Mar 13 '16
The book of Joshua ends with a poignant ceremony in Shechem, a place with a rich history. Yet there is an elephant in the room! Even as the covenant is renewed, Joshua knows the people will be unable to keep it. This...
Church without make up
| Tue Mar 8 '16
I read a story recently about a newly married couple. All was going well until the morning after the wedding, when the groom awoke to find himself lying beside a lady he didn’t recognise. At first he thought she was...
Introducing Andy Crouch
| Mon Feb 29 '16
We are thrilled to welcome back to ChristChurch London our good friend Andy Crouch! Andy is a leading thinker, speaker and author from the USA. Among other things, he is the executive editor of Christianity Today and a senior fellow...
Joshua: A City of Refuge -
| Sun Feb 21 '16
As the people prepare to settle in the land, God gives instructions for how they are to conduct themselves, and the kind of cities they are to build. In this talk, Liam looks at the themes of justice and refuge.
Walker with Dinosaurs: On Creation and the BBC
| Fri Feb 12 '16
Few things make me involuntarily spit out my coffee. The taste of bad coffee is one. Reading this article was a second. The BBC has announced that after 15 years, Bill Turnbull is giving up his seat on the BBC...
The Fall of Jericho and the Love of God
| Sun Jan 31 '16
Today Tim Frisby and Jo Wells both continued our sermon series on the life of Joshua by looking at the fall of Jericho from chapters 5-6. This passage, and others like it, raise important and difficult questions about how we are to...
Joshua: Crossing the Jordan - Joshua 3-4
| Sun Jan 24 '16
The people prepare to cross the Jordan, and as with Moses before, the water parts to let them through. In this talk, Liam considers how the story of Joshua points to our need for a New Exodus.
In the Bleak Midwinter: A Prayer for Child Refugees
| Mon Dec 21 '15
This Sunday we showed a video from Home For Good, highlighting the great need caused by the refugee crisis, and in particular its effects upon children. Currently, 2 million children have left home due to fighting in Syria. In Europe...
O Come, Emmanuel
| Mon Dec 14 '15
At our Carol Services on Sunday we reflected on the name of Jesus – Emmanuel: God with us. And we took a moment to pray for our city, our nation and our world, asking that we would know Jesus as God...
When God came to the Wrong Place
| Mon Nov 30 '15
I saw some people walk into a shop the other day. A parent and his child. As they came face to face with a gleaming display unit, I heard a word spill from their mouths in unison. Only one expression...
Multiplicity: Athens: An Engaged Church -
| Sun Nov 22 '15
In Acts 17, Paul preaches in Athens, quoting Greek poets and playwrights and helping his hearers understand that the unknown God could be known, and He was closer than they thought. In this talk, Liam Thatcher looks at some of the traces...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 10: The Coming of the Son of Man -
| Sun Nov 1 '15
What is the ‘coming of the Son of Man’? When and how will it happen? And what should we make of Jesus’ end-of-the-world language in Mark 13? This session will use lessons we’ve learnt throughout the series as tools to help...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 9: Signs -
| Sun Oct 25 '15
Why did Jesus spend so much time doing miracles? Some of them seem so strange, or arbitrary: is there a purpose behind them? This session will help us to understand and interpret Jesus’ miracles in the context of his wider...
Multiplicity: Antioch – A Resourcing Church -
| Sun Oct 18 '15
As Christians scattered throughout the ancient world, the church at Antioch became a resourcing church. They benefitted from help from others, and sent people out to help those in other cities. In this talk, Liam Thatcher looks at the lessons we can...
Coming this Sunday…
| Tue Oct 6 '15
Love London Sunday is one of my favourite days of the year – a real highlight of our church calendar! It’s a great opportunity to celebrate our city and consider the role we have to play in working for its spiritual,...
Moses: Spies in Canaan - Numbers 13-14
| Sun Sep 6 '15
As the people stand on the edge of the Promised Land, they send in a group of spies to check it out. Many of them return fearful and disheartened, but Joshua and Caleb encourage them to trust in God. In this talk,...
Prayer for those in Calais
| Tue Aug 18 '15
As you’re no doubt aware, one of the main stories in the news over the past few weeks has been the so-called Calais Migrant Crisis. Estimates suggest that between 3- and 5,000 people are currently camped in Calais, with many...
Prayer for the Four Services
| Mon Aug 3 '15
On Sunday we looked at the story of Moses praying as the people faced significant battles in Exodus 17. We saw that victory was won through a combination of prayer and action. And at the end of the service we had...
Moses: Lifting Hands in Prayer - Exodus 17:8-16
| Sun Aug 2 '15
As Moses and his people face their biggest battle yet, God instructs Moses to hold his arms high and trust Him for victory. In this talk, Liam looks at how we can persevere in prayer.
404: The releasing power of non-existence
| Tue Jul 28 '15
This week I opened my Twitter app and was greeted by the following message: “@liamthatcher does not exist” It felt like a pretty low blow, particularly for that early in the morning. A mind-bending existential practical joke, reducing my entire...
Moses: The Passover - Exodus 12
| Sun Jul 12 '15
After a series of gruelling plagues, God tells His people to get ready to leave Egypt for good. In this talk, Liam looks at the symbolism of Passover, and the promise of freedom.
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 8 – Symbols: Temple and Torah -
| Sun Jun 28 '15
In this seminar, Chris Oldfield and Liam Thatcher look at how Jesus treated the central symbols of Judaism. In particular, they consider what he had to say about the Temple and the Law Download the handouts that accompany this session
A cancelled wedding, where all are welcome!
| Wed Jun 24 '15
Atlanta, August 2013. Tamara Fowler’s wedding day was fast approaching. The venue was booked, the catering arranged, the guests invited. Her parents were putting the final touches to this lavish event. Then 40 days before the wedding, Tamara called the...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 7 – Symbols: Monotheism and Election -
| Sun Jun 21 '15
In this seminar, Liam Thatcher and Andy Tuck look at how Jesus treated the central symbols of Judaism. In particular, they consider what he had to say about Monotheism and Election: who is God and who are His people. Download...
Moses: A new sermon series for the Summer
| Wed Jun 17 '15
Last autumn we preached on the final chapters of Genesis; the story of how Joseph clung on to his fragile dreams, even when life took unexpected turns. This Summer, we want to pick up where we left off, and turn...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 6 – The Little Stories -
| Sun Jun 14 '15
Why did Jesus spend so much time telling confusing little stories? Why are they often so hard to understand? And what do they have to teach us about the main themes of Jesus’ ministry? In this session Liam looks at how...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 5 – The Big Story -
| Fri Jun 12 '15
How do the gospels fit into the grand story of Scripture? How should we understand Jesus’ life, teaching, ministry, death and resurrection as a continuation of the biblical story? This session will help us to understand Jesus’ ministry in its wider...
Theology Matters: The Gospels
| Thu May 14 '15
If Jesus wanted people to understand his message, why did he speak in cryptic little parables? What did he mean when he spoke about the Kingdom of God, and why did it excite some people and annoy others? What did...
Simplify: Simplify Your Diary - Mark 1:29-39
| Tue Apr 21 '15
Busyness is an epidemic. For many of us, we feel our schedules are out of control and we spend our lives apologising for our busyness. In this talk, Liam considers how Jesus managed his time, and some basic principles for...
Holy Week: Gethsemane - Matthew 26
| Sun Mar 29 '15
In the final hours before his arrest, trial and execution, Jesus found himself alone in a garden, wrestling in prayer whilst his disciples fell asleep around him. This talk looks at the events in Gethsemane and considers what it was...
christchurchlondon.org: It’s Alive!
| Thu Mar 19 '15
A brand new version of christchurchlondon.org is alive and kicking! For a while now, we’ve been working behind the scenes to create a new version of the website which is better suited to a wider variety of devices, including phones...
The Way: Feast - Isaiah 25
| Sun Feb 22 '15
Wine is as old as civilisation. Almost every ancient culture and religion has rituals at the centre of which is wine. In this talk, Liam looks at how the biblical writers used the metaphor of wine to speak about the...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 4 – Purpose: Luke and John -
| Sun Feb 15 '15
Each of the gospels tells the story of Jesus in a particular way, for a particular purpose. In this session, Liam Thatcher looks at Luke and John and tries to work out why they emphasise certain themes and what particular points they are...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 3 – Purpose: Matthew and Mark -
| Sun Feb 8 '15
Each of the gospels tells the story of Jesus in a particular way, for a particular purpose. In this session, Liam Thatcher and Andy Tuck look at Matthew and Mark and try to work out why they emphasise certain themes...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 2 – Genre -
| Sun Feb 1 '15
What are gospels anyway?! Why do we have four of them? And why are there differences between the accounts? How were they written? And what are the particular challenges involved in reading them? This session will give some guidelines for...
The Gospels: Recommended Reading
| Wed Jan 28 '15
This week we kicked off a series of seminars called Theology Matters: The Gospels. Each term in 2015 we will spend four weeks looking in depth at the stories of Jesus’ life, examining the major themes and unpacking some of...
Theology Matters: The Gospels: Session 1 – Context -
| Sun Jan 25 '15
What was first century Israel like? Who were the main players of the day? And into what kind of world was Jesus born? This first session of Theology Matters will help us to understand the historical background of the gospels...
Theology Matters: The Gospels
| Thu Jan 8 '15
It has been said that the Bible is “like a river; broad and deep. Shallow enough here for a lamb to go wading, but deep enough there for the elephant to swim.” Wading. Swimming. I don’t know about you, but...
The Way: The Way: Journey (John 14) -
| Sun Jan 4 '15
Life is a journey and all of us are pilgrims. In the first talk from this new series, Liam considers the nature of the journey we’re all on, and how Jesus’ claim to be the way, the truth and the life provides...
The Way: Ancient Habits for Modern Pilgrims
| Tue Dec 30 '14
Apparently 2015 is the year of the sheep. Ewe herd it here first! Sheep aren’t the most glamorous of animals. They’re somewhat stupid, they smell, and they have a habit of blithely wandering into danger. Devotees of the Chinese calendar...
A Christmas Offering
| Wed Dec 10 '14
Jesus famously said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and Christmas is a time of year when both the giving and receiving of gifts plays a significant part. In amongst the festivities and celebrations, Christmas...
Holidays are coming…
| Thu Nov 27 '14
Christmas can be a bewildering time of year, where everything we think we know gets turned on its head. Trees are uprooted from forests and planted indoors; Starbucks swaps their customary white cups for a festive shade of red; and...
Joseph: Fragile Dreams that changed the world: The Transformation of Judah - Genesis 44
| Sun Nov 23 '14
As Joseph tests his brothers, Judah pleads for mercy and offer his own life as a substitute for his brothers. This seems vastly different from the Judah we saw in chapter 37; the brother who masterminded the betrayal of Joseph. Why...
Joseph: Fragile Dreams that changed the world: Thin Cows and Fat Cows - Genesis 40:23-41:40
| Sun Oct 19 '14
Years pass, and though it seems that Joseph has been forgotten, God has not forgotten him. In this chapter, Joseph is brought before the Pharaoh and reveals supernatural insights that answer the Pharaoh’s questions and help to save the nation of Egypt.
Pray for the Poor Weekend
| Tue Oct 14 '14
On October 17 1987, 100,000 people gathered in Paris to remember victims of poverty, violence, hunger and inequality. This was the very first International Anti-Poverty Day. 27 years on, a lot has been achieved, but there is still great need....
Joseph: Fragile Dreams that changed the world: The Dreams of Youth - Genesis 37:1-11
| Sun Sep 7 '14
Joseph was well-off, well-dressed and his Father’s clear favourite son. He had big dreams and a big mouth, and the combination got him into some serious trouble! In the first week of our new series, Liam looks at the beginning of Joseph’s...
Joseph: Fragile Dreams that Changed the World
| Tue Aug 19 '14
A new term, a new sermon series. On Sundays from September to December, we’re going to be preaching on the story of Joseph. Yes, that Joseph. The one who got a musical written about him. But in this sermon series,...
Prayer for Peace
| Tue Aug 5 '14
If you’ve read the news recently, it will not have escaped your attention that there is an enormous amount of conflict across the world right now – much of it fuelled by religious or ethnic tensions. In our service on...
Philippians: Finding joy in all of life: Philippians 2:1-11 -
| Sun Jul 27 '14
Philippians 2 opens with an ancient hymn, beautifully expressing how the humiliation of Jesus led to his exaltation. In the third week of our series, Liam looks at this well-known passage and considers how the humility of Jesus should function as a...
Philippians: Finding joy in all of life: Philippians 1:1-14 -
| Sun Jul 13 '14
Sitting in a prison cell, imprisoned by Roman guards, the Apostle Paul writes a letter to a young church in Philippi. In the opening week of this series, Liam looks at the background to Paul’s letter and considers how he...
Philippians: Finding Joy in all of Life
| Thu Jul 3 '14
Some people are happy all the time. You know the kind of person I mean; always smiling, always bright, never frowning. The glass is never any less than half-full. I knew a girl a few years ago who was one...
The Art of Neighbouring: Speaking of Jesus - John 1:29-51
| Sun Jun 1 '14
Have you ever struggled to start a conversation about faith? Have you ever thought you have no idea what to say? You’re not alone! In this talk, Liam Thatcher looks at John 1 and considers the different ways people get introduced to...
Moacyr Barbosa’s Ball and Chain
| Wed May 21 '14
It was the 1950 World Cup. Brazil had enjoyed a run of high-scoring victories, having defeated Sweden 7-1 and Spain 6-1. The competition was organised in an unusual format, in which the winners of each group went into a final...
The Art of Neighbouring: Recommended Resources
| Wed May 7 '14
We have recently started a new sermon series, The Art of Neighbouring, which will lead us through to mid-June, in which we are considering how to be the kind of neighbours who enrich the lives of those who live and work...
The Cross of Christ: Easter Sunday -
| Sun Apr 20 '14
Two men were walking down a road, their dreams shattered and every shred of hope destroyed. Only a few days previously it had looked like Jesus might have been the answer to their deepest longings. But in their despair and doubt, they...
Culture Making: Andy Crouch Answers Questions on Creativity
| Wed Apr 2 '14
Andy Crouch is the Executive Editor of Christianity Today and author of Culture Making, a book that has been an enormous influence to us as we’ve thought about what it means to be a community of people who are committed...
The Cross of Christ: Wisdom - 1 Corinthians 1
| Sun Mar 2 '14
The cross; a gruesome method of torture and death; an ancient symbol of Roman oppression. How has this symbol of weakness, shame, defeat and foolishness become something that Christians celebrate and draw strength from? In this first talk of our new series, Liam...
The Eucatastrophe of Easter
| Wed Feb 26 '14
Please forgive me. I wrestled long and hard over this. I’m aware that J.R.R. Tolkien gets too much airtime at ChristChurch London, but in my defence, I’m not quoting Lord of the Rings… In his essay On Fairy Stories, Tolkien...
Songs in the Key of LIfe: Peace - Psalm 23
| Sun Feb 23 '14
Whatever our circumstances – whether in calmness or chaos – the Bible promises a peace from God that passes all natural understanding. In the final week of this series, Liam looks at the most popular of all the psalms, Psalm...
Stand Alone Talks: Praying for Healing -
| Sat Feb 1 '14
Jesus regularly healed the sick and taught his followers to do the same. Around one fifth of the material in the gospels is about healing and for thousands of years healing prayer has been a core part of what the...
Songs in the Key of LIfe: Wonder - Psalm 8
| Sun Jan 12 '14
In an age like ours, it’s easy to right off ‘wonder’ as a primitive idea, now displaced by knowledge and science. But in the second week of our new series, Liam looks at Psalm 8 and considers why learning to...
Nehemiah: Nehemiah 12:27-47 -
| Sun Dec 1 '13
Nehemiah 12 paints the picture of a city that is teeming with life as musicians use their skills and passions to create a sound that echoes far and wide. In the penultimate week of our Nehemiah series, Liam Thatcher looks...
Nehemiah: Nehemiah 8:13-18 -
| Sun Nov 10 '13
Whilst reading the Bible, the people stumble over the story of an ancient ritual: the feast of booths. They celebrate it together, with joy and feasting, but a sad irony lingers over the story… In the ninth week of our...
Nehemiah: Nehemiah 6:1-14 -
| Sun Oct 20 '13
Life is full of distractions; things that tempt you off course, and cause you to neglect the important things God has called you to do. In this talk, Liam Thatcher looks at the challenges faced in Nehemiah 6 and considers...
Core Habits: Joy -
| Sun Sep 1 '13
One of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. But it’s not just a joy that we experience in the good times, when everything’s going well. The Holy Spirit promises us a joy that transcends our circumstances. In the final...
Core Habits: The Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:13-26
| Sun Jul 7 '13
What is the fruit of the Spirit and how do we cultivate it in our lives? In this opening talk of our new series, Core Habits, Liam Thatcher looks at Galatians 5:13-26 and considers how the Holy Spirit helps us...
Faith Conversations: What is the Gospel? -
| Sun Jun 23 '13
Christians talk about the death of Jesus as ‘good news.’ But how is the violent death of one man 2,000 years ago good news for us here and now? In the penultimate talk of our Faith Conversations series, Liam will...
Faith Conversations: Is God a Moral Monster? -
| Sun Jun 2 '13
Many people struggle with the picture of God painted by the Old Testament, and consider Him to be wicked and unpleasant. In this talk, Liam will consider how Christians, who claim to worship a God of Love, ought to understand...
Soul Food: Breathing -
| Sun Apr 14 '13
Nothing is more fundamental to a healthy lifestyle than the practice of breathing! In this talk, Liam explores how this simple act, which we do unthinkingly, can help us to recognise the presence of God and cultivate thankfulness.
Cross Roads: Luke 14:25-33 -
| Sun Mar 17 '13
Following Jesus is a difficult decision, not to be taken lightly. It’s like building a tower, fighting a war and taking up your cross. This week, Liam looks at Jesus’ challenging words about what it takes to follow him.
Cross Roads: Luke 7:18-28 -
| Sun Feb 10 '13
John the Baptist, imprisoned by Herod, sends his disciples to find out if Jesus is the real deal. This week, Liam looks at the theme of disappointment in discipleship and considers how Jesus offers hope to those facing struggles.
Global Cities: Audio and Video
| Wed Jan 9 '13
There are certain unique challenges and opportunities that face those building churches in large urban contexts. People live and think differently in cities and need churches that will do the same. In November 2012 we ran our first Global Cities...
Advent: Peace on Earth -
| Sun Dec 9 '12
Many details of the Christmas story are well known: no room at the inn, the child born in a stable and laid in a manger. But is it possible that we’ve become so familiar with the Christmas Card portrayal that...
Global Cities: Friday Session 1: Knowing and Seeing God - John 17
| Fri Nov 30 '12
What is eternal life? How do we know God, and how does our knowledge lead us to worship? In this talk, Liam Thatcher looks at Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and considers the awesome invitation to see and savour Christ. Click here...
Theology Matters: Resurrection: Resurrection in the Epistles -
| Sun Nov 4 '12
In this, the third and final week, we look at the theme of resurrection in the New Testament letters, and try to piece together a picture of what life after death might look like. Download the handouts.
Theology Matters: Resurrection: Resurrection in the Gospels and Acts -
| Sun Oct 28 '12
This week, we look at the Gospels and the book of Acts and consider how the resurrection of Jesus affected the way people thought and preached about him. Download the handouts.
InHabit: Learn – 2 Tim 3:14-4:5 -
| Sun Oct 21 '12
Every day our minds are bombarded by information from countless sources. So many voices shout for our attention and try to shape our lives, and as Paul puts it, we can easily end up seeking voices that simply tell us...
InHabit: Flee - 1 Tim 6:11-16; 2 Tim 2:20-26
| Sun Sep 23 '12
There is much to celebrate about city life, but there are also plenty of challenges. It can be hard to maintain a balanced lifestyle and resist some of the more unhelpful temptations. This week Liam will look at Paul’s instructions...
GOD: Is Father - Romans 8:14-17
| Sun Sep 2 '12
We’ve seen that God is Love, but He is not simply ‘loving’ in a vague or impersonal sense. The Bible describes Him as our Father. In this talk, Liam looks at how we relate to God as Father, and what...
Theology_Matters_Revelation: New Creation - Revelation 21-22
| Sun Jul 29 '12
What is God’s final plan for creation? This week we come to the end of our series on Revelation by looking at John’s incredible description of the New Creation, full of rich imagery and incredible hope. We will see what...
Theology_Matters_Revelation: The Millennium - Revelation 20
| Sun Jul 15 '12
As the story draws towards a close, we read that Christ will reign for 1,000 years. Little in Scripture has caused more debate than these chapters. What is the millennium, when will it happen and how is it relevant for...
Theology_Matters_Revelation: The Woman and the Dragon - Revelation 12-13
| Sun Jul 8 '12
Revelation 12 and 13 are some of the most confusing verses in Scripture. Winged-women, multi-headed beasts and a cryptic number: 666. What do these pictures mean, how on earth are they relevant to us, and what sort of hope should...
Theology_Matters_Revelation: Seals, Trumpets and Bowls - Revelation 6-11; 16
| Sun Jul 1 '12
John describes a series of shocking events: natural disasters, plagues and catastrophes falling upon the Earth. How should we interpret these? Are they literal predictions of a bleak future? How and when might they happen? And what do they tell...
Theology_Matters_Revelation: The Lamb and the Throne - Revelation 4-5
| Sun Jun 24 '12
John’s first glimpse into heaven is a dazzling picture: strange creatures, precious jewels, and a dramatic scene with thousands of worshippers. Here we look at the Lamb on the Throne in Revelation 4 and 5, learn to interpret the symbols...
Theology_Matters_Revelation: Apocalypse Now? - Revelation 1
| Sun Jun 17 '12
Confusing symbols, mysterious imagery, and sometimes unpleasant descriptions make Revelation daunting to read and difficult to understand. How much is it a prediction of the future? How is it relevant today? And how should we go about interpreting it? In...
Empowered: Praying for Healing -
| Sun Jun 10 '12
Jesus didn’t simply care about people’s spiritual wellbeing; he treated people as whole beings and provided for their spiritual, emotional and physical needs. Everywhere he went he restored sick people, and told his disciples to do the same. In this...
Habakkuk: The Promise - Habakkuk 3:17-18
| Sun Apr 29 '12
How can we find sustained joy in difficult times? In this talk we look at Habakkuk 3:17-18 and Deuteronomy 26:1-11 and consider how learning to trust God in the good times prepares us for the difficult times by (i) teaching...
I Am: The Living One - John 19:41-20:18
| Sun Apr 8 '12
As we reach the end of our series in John’s Gospel, Liam looks at the story of Easter Sunday in John 19-20, considering how Jesus’ resurrection is the eighth great sign, which promises New Creation.
“I was thirsty and ye gave me drink”
| Tue Mar 20 '12
It’s not every year you get to run a conference on St Patrick’s Day with a member of the Guinness family as your keynote speaker. Yet strangely, that’s exactly what we ended up with at the Everything Conference this year....
If God, Then What?
| Fri Mar 9 '12
I live in the same part of South West London as a prominent food critic. As soon as somewhere new opens locally he reviews it, which has led to some great culinary discoveries! So on the one hand it’s a...
I Am: The Light of the World - John 8:12
| Sun Feb 26 '12
Jesus stood up at the Feast of Tabernacles and made the bold claim ‘I am the light of the world!’ In this talk we explore what he meant, and how light is both a threat to those who love darkness,...
I Am: The Word Become Flesh - John 1:1-5
| Sun Feb 12 '12
Who is Jesus? What is so unique about him? And how is his message relevant to life in the twenty first century? Liam Thatcher opens our new series looking at the claims of Jesus in the Gospel of John, and...
DNA: Empowered - Acts 1:4-8
| Sun Oct 23 '11
Jesus told his disciples to wait until they received power from heaven. In this talk, we will look at how the Holy Spirit equips us for a dynamic life, as we embark on the mission God has called us to.
Esther: Scene IV Rest - Esther 7-10
| Sun Sep 11 '11
The story of Esther reaches its climax with a battle of epic proportions. As Esther seeks a way to save the Jewish people from destruction, we learn about the theme of rest, and get a glimpse of a day to...
LittleBig Church: Slaves and Masters - Ephesians 6:5-9
| Sun Jul 17 '11
In Ephesians 6, Paul gives us some principles for how we should approach our work. He offers a carrot and a stick – an incentive and a warning – in order to motivate us to work in a way that...
LittleBig Church: Brand New You - Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:2
| Sun Jul 3 '11
Many of us want to change, putting our old habits behind us, but we just don’t know how. In this week’s talk, Liam looks at Paul’s strategy for how to break old habits, and live a life of love that...
LittleBig Church: Dead Men Walking - Ephesians 2:1-10
| Sun May 22 '11
Ephesians two opens with three vivid pictures of man’s predicament without God, and three ways in which the good news of Jesus meets our deepest needs.
Teach Us To Pray: Wicked Man, Willing God - Luke 18:1-8
| Sun Mar 6 '11
This week we launched a new series on prayer by looking at the parable of the widow and the wicked judge in Luke 18, considering how the character of God motivates us to pray.
