john stephenson

Prayer requires intimacy with God. It was a priority with Jesus. As we pray we can ask God to burden us with how He feels for different nations and circumstances. We can invest our prayer lives in others so that they are blessed and encouraged in their walk with God. Variety is very important. Ask God to show you the heavenly realities that are around you today - open our eyes and ears Lord!

This Talk begins with a video by Frank HW Miller (www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1KQ9zrhXtI). The background wind sound soon dies down. We then consider seven attributes of Jesus' hands. At the end we are reminded to shake off our complacency. The numerous PowerPoint slides and typed Outline are available on our website - you may wish to look at them as you listen to this Talk.

Two main questions are asked in this Talk: where are you sitting and what are you focussing on? God invites us to spend time with Him at His table. You can read the notes and PowerPoint slides on our website.

Jesus changes our outlook on life when He is our Lord. What seemed normal can become strange and what we used to consider weird becomes the obvious way to think, speak and do. An experiment with two bar magnets helps us to ponder whether we are ready for God. Are we ready for action now, for Jesus coming back, for the expected and the unexpected and for change? What reminders of God's love are we creating in Nuneaton and where we live/work? As Samuel listened to God and was obedient, let's purpose to do the same.Using the notes on our website might be helpful for you. The PowerPoint slides are easy to see there, as are extra points and information.

We continue to think about 'Holiness in Action' in this Chapter. Submission is seen as a negative action by many in our society, but the Bible tells us it is a good thing to do. Christianity has both privileges and duties. How much do Jesus' attitudes and actions affect my own? John 13 is used to illustrate this point. Trusting in God, our Rock, is part of our calling (Psalm 62:5-8). Look at the notes on our website too, as these have the PowerPoint slides and much more material that wasn't actually shared during the Talk.

In this Talk we get to understand a little more about Peter, as some of the episodes he found himself in in the Gospels and Acts are described. We also hear about how his two Letters fit into the rest of the New Testament. You might like to read the Talk outline on our website as you listen, as this shows all the PowerPoint slides and often goes into more detail.

We are encouraged to pray more than ever. We are individuals but part of a community. As we share our lives together, let us make prayer the centre of it. Looking at the PowerPoint slides on our website will help you to understand this Talk more.

This Family Service focussed on Davit's Baptism. As well as a short Talk we will hear lots of people pray for Davit, as well as other spoken parts of the Service. Welcome and Initial Comments (00.00), Talk with children (01.28), John’s Talk (08.34), Davit’s Testimony (21.46), the Baptism and Paul's Prayer (24.15), Introduction to the Puppets (25.28), Reading: Matthew 28:1-10 (25.50), Prayers for Davit (27.27) and Closing Prayer (38.27).

In this Talk we hear about the how John's Gospel is different to the other three. We learn about the significance of the phrase "I Am" and how we should respond to Jesus being our Good Shepherd.If you're able, follow the printed Outline of this Talk on our website, as you will be able to see all of the slides then.

This Family Service focussed on Alan’s Baptism. As well as a short Talk we will hear lots of people pray for Alan, as well as other spoken parts of the Service.Welcome and Initial Comments (00.00), John’s Talk (4.24), Offering (14.52), Alan’s Testimony (18.11), the Baptism and SeungJin’s Prayer (20.31), Gill’s encouragements (22.49), Jo’s Reading (17.23), Prayers for Alan (30.11) and Closing Comments and Prayer (42.48).

In this Talk we hear about King Manasseh, his life and legacy, as well as the background to his reign. He set up high places in Judah and can be seen as an evil king for much of his reign. Are there high places in our own lives? We can’t be the best disciple of Jesus if we live dual lives –tolerating our own sins (like a plank) but getting annoyed by others’ sins (their speck). There is a battle going on, but God is with us and for us. Chronicles describes how Manasseh repented, just like Paul of Tarsus did. We are encouraged to turn our default setting down so that we hate sin too. “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould” (Romans 12:2). We also watched a video by Justin Welby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m9h3FoeXNA

We look further into the background of the Kings and Prophets of the Divided Kingdom. Why are some of the Kings mentioned only in the Books of Kings and some in both Kings and Chronicles? Who wrote these books and why?Jehu’s story is mostly told in 2 Kings 9 and 10. He was certainly appointed by God and was perhaps the best King that the northern Kingdom had. However, he didn’t follow through totally with the things that God had asked him to do. He let idolatrous worship continue. He tolerated evil.“Because” and “but” are words God uses to partly describe different Kings. Jehu might have started off his reign in a good way, but it didn’t continue. Doing well in the past can strengthen us today, but we still need to decide to follow and obey God wholeheartedly today. What steps of faith will I take today? How can I help and encourage others in their next step? Neil Armstrong didn’t make that famous step in 1969 on his own. He needed a great deal of help from others. True discipleship needs deep relationships. We need to invest our lives in other people as God leads us. Transformation for the town and our church will necessitate change in us personally.As God speaks to us, so we all need to make a response to Him. Using the Notes on our website in conjunction with this Audio will help you as you will be able to see all the slides that were used.

In this Talk we learn a little about King Rehoboam’s reign and the three Kings of “unified” Israel that preceded him. How can we apply these incidents to our own lives? Pray for those in authority, be more sensitive to others and be more sensitive to God. Listening to and then obeying God will cost us. We have many empty chairs and a hidden baptistry. By praying, fasting and then obeying God in an earnest manner we will see NCF change as we will be changed individually. Are we willing to choose to follow God whatever the cost?Using the Notes on our website in conjunction with this Audio will help you as you will be able to see all the slides that were used.

This Talk began with a YouTube video which featured Colonel HW Miller talking about what Christmas isn’t about. It can be viewed here:www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP37kQg0w_4Not everybody enjoys Christmas. Perhaps those who are ill, have experienced death in the family recently, those in debt and those in wars.Three well-known Kings from the Christmas story are briefly discussed, as well as one who is much less known. King Herod (Alex), Caesar Augustus (Keith) and King Jesus (Andy) are described with regard to what they were like and what they did.“King Me” takes the crown off Jesus. “King Me” isn’t interested in others. We are encouraged to give the crown we wear to Jesus. Our primary response to Jesus at Christmas isn’t to send cards, eat a lot or give to charity. Christmas is really recognising who Jesus is and then giving Him our own crown in order to follow Him wholeheartedly. Let Him increase in our lives and ourselves decrease. Celebrating Christmas is about allowing Jesus to wear our crown.

There are 66 books in the Bible. How does the letter that was written to the church in the city of Corinth (that we call 1 Corinthians) fit into that? Why and when was it written?Paul reminds us that we are called by God to be saints, to be thankful, to be one and to be child-like/foolish. It might be useful to follow the Bible Reading Plan for Acts and 1 Corinthians during October and November. This is available on our website, as well as from the back of the church.Using the written materials for this Talk will help you as you listen as lots of PowerPoint slides are described.

In this Talk we are reminded that God is in control and sometimes He doesn't do things the way we might expect. Using several examples from Church History, Habakkuk 1:5-7 and quotes from AW Tozer and Jonathan Edwards, it is made clear that we should not limit God where He hasn't limited Himself. Reflecting several times on Hebrews 13:8, we are encouraged to continue to pray for Revival in our own lives as well as in the greater Church. God can still shock and surprise us as He has done in other places and in previous times.You might find it useful to look on our website to look at the Powerpoint slides as you listen to this audio.

In this Talk we are encouraged to look back at what God has done across the centuries in this nation. Examples from 1735, 1739, 1859, 1904, 1905 and 1949 are briefly mentioned with events and people being described. Links to books and interesting websites are given on our website so that more information can be discovered.In conclusion 2 Kings 4:1-6 is read. Our life is like a jar. Dare we give an empty jar to God so that He can use it for His purpose? God whispers to us all: "Listen! Be Holy! Be Ready! Be Radical! Surrender and obey!

Waiting. It's not something we like, but it's definitely something God uses to help us grow and develop as Christians. In this Talk we hear how different characters in the Bible had to wait and how it is really beneficial to wait on God together.

Is it a paradox that the heavens are silent and yet speak? A few examples are given in this Talk to suggest not! We hear what the vocabulary of our worship is often like and then get ideas how this can be expanded and deepened.

This Talk begins with a general introduction to our latest Series: Psalms 1-41. Psalm 23 is then discussed, especially thinking about God's Providence, Protection and Provision. The LORD is our shepherd, but we need to let Him be close to us in order for us to know it in reality.