Talks about Church

These are Sunday talks from the last few years on the topic of being Church. For the very latest, see the "Latest Recorded Talks" page. Sermon series are available on Exodus, selected PsalmsIsaiahLuke's Gospel, 1 CorinthiansEphesiansPhilippians, 1 Peter and James.  Previous talks not in those series are on the Recorded Earlier page. You can download older files, back to 2011, from the Sermon Archive. For some of our favourites from all these collections, see the panel at the lower right of this page. 

Your browser may play the "Ogg" files straight away – some others may be happier with mp3 format. One or the other is virtually certain to work. Contact us with comments or questions.

1 Peter 1:22–2:3 – Loving, leaving, longing

Sunday 5 September was the official launch of THCC Lighthouse. For the video recording of the whole service, including a talk by Tony Uddin, see YouTube: 05th September 2021 - THCC Sunday Service @ Lighthouse

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"CHURCH IS MORE THAN…" 

A series exploring what it means to be church, delivered shortly after the start of the merger process between Lighthouse Baptist Church and Tower Hamlets Community Church

Acts 3 – Church is more than the natural

Starting a new series on what the church is: It is more than what is natural.  (Gary Davidge, 10 October 2021. Includes a long Q&A at the end.)

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Romans 12:1 – Church is more than singing

For many of us, singing is very dear to our hearts, but church is about far more than that.  (James Blake, 17 October 2021)

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Deut 6:1-25, Judges 2:7-15 – Church is more than now

God impressed on his people that they must pass his story on to the next generation.  This is still a task for every one of us today.  (Bex White, 24 October 2021)

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Acts 2:42-47 – Church is more than Sundays

Fellowship means sharing life in common, around our shared life in Jesus, not around shared culture or interests.  (Tony Uddin, 31 October 2021)

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Philippians 2:1-11 – Church is more than me

Even though we are surrounded by messages and beliefs that say we should put ourselves first, we can and should live differently: living a life of humility in community, and not an individualistic lifestyle.  (Tony Uddin, 7 November 2021)

We have a video recording of this message on YouTube.

In that service we also celebrated the baptism of Keziah Davidge.

Romans 12:9-21 – Church is more than church

Paul challenges us to look outwards, and practise love outside the church as well as in.  Two points need our attention: loving enemies, and taking care to consider how we can find common ground with surprising people.  (Bex White, 14 November 2021)

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Romans 12:3-8 – Church is more than rotas

God gives us gifts to build His church and serve others – using our gifts to glorify God.  What are the gifts that you can see God has given our church for His purposes? How can you encourage someone in their gifts this week?  (Caroline Millar, 21 November 2021)

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Matthew 16:13-20 – Church is more than us

When you think about the global Church, what things most stick in your mind?  What does it mean to be a part of it?  (Tony Uddin, 28 November 2021)

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Ephesians 5:12-33 – Church is more than a phase

To understand this passage, start from the end. It is written for all of us, and Paul's point is that marriage is something like Church.  "Here Comes the Church!"  In what ways do you see Jesus washing, cleansing and making his church spotless?  (John Day, 13 February 2022.)

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VARIOUS EARLIER TALKS ON CHURCH GIVEN AT THE LIGHTHOUSE

Ephesians 1:22 – Head over everything for the church

This is the beginning of a discussion about the sovereignty of Jesus and his purpose in the Covid-19 crisis. (Erik Pattison, 18 October 2020.  Apologies for the poor recording quality.)

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Worship: A short series

Matthew 6:9 – Hallowed be your name

What does this line mean, and why does Jesus give this as the first thing that we should pray for?  (Neville Reid, 2 September 2018)

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Romans 12:1-2 – The life of worship

Once God has redeemed us, how are we to live? What does it mean to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice"? (Erik Pattison, 26 August 2018)

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Revelation 5 – A New Song in Heaven

What extraordinary event prompts the worship of heaven to change forever?  The revelation of God in Christ, and his work of redemption.  (Erik Pattison, 19 August 2018)

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Revelation 4 – The Holy Creator

This is the first theme of the everlasting worship of God in heaven.  What does it mean that God is Holy, and what does it mean that he is Creator?  (Includes Q&A. Erik Pattison, 12 August 2018)

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Luke 7:36-50, Mark 14:3-10 – Perfume for Jesus

Two women anointed Jesus with perfume – an act that was extravagant and embarrassing.  What does it tell us about true worship?  (Erik Pattison, 5 August 2018)

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Matthew 2:1-12 – Worshipping Jesus

The wise men made a long journey to find the baby Jesus.  What do we learn about real worship from these men?  (Erik Pattison, 22 July 2018. Includes a wide-ranging Q&A at the end)

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1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 – A vision for your church

Some of us have an individualist vision, some have an institutional vision. Paul seems to have had a communal vision of the church, filled with the Holy Spirit and with every person bringing what they have from God to the common development of the congregation. (Erik Pattison, 13 December 2015)

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1 Thessalonians ch.3 – The most important church in Paul's world

He uses the most extravagant language to express why they are so valuable to him. There is so much for us to learn about what a gospel-formed church can be. (Erik Pattison, 8 November 2015)

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1 Thessalonians ch.1 – Delighting in the Work God does in His Church

It is wonderful to see people changing and beginning to work for God as the Holy Spirit Himself sets to work Congregations of believers are where this work becomes visible and this is why we can delight in church. (Erik Pattison, 18 October 2015)

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1 Corinthians ch.5 – When the church must discipline a member

Occasionally, churches have to act when there is scandalous behaviour and the person concerned justifies what they are doing  or they refuse to change. It is an unhappy business but sometimes doing nothing is worse

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1 Corinthians 1:1-9

You might call the church at Corinth many things: fractious, rebellious, ignorant, unstable - sometimes immoral and heretical. But God calls them saints - sanctified - and they will be blameless. How does that work?

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John 17 – The church in Christ and Christ in the church

Jesus' will for the church revealed in a prayer which God the Father loves to answer. The unity created by the Holy Spirit must be treasured and maintained..

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Ephesians 4:1-14 – The Pyramid of Truth

Think of a pyramid of truth with Jesus at the apex going down through Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Pastor/Teachers to the Church. Now do what every hierarchy has failed to do - turn it upside down.

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Acts 2 etc. – The Spirit of Prophecy

The church is a prophesying community and the Spirit poured out means we are all prophets in various ways. This talk is an overview of how this happens.

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Joel 2 and Acts 2 – The Spirit fills the Church

An ancient promise of God fulfilled which is still ours to enjoy today.

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Matthew 18:1-14 – Who is most valuable in the Church?

Every group of people has some kind of ranking or pecking order doesn't it? Who is "Most Valuable Player" and who is the "weakest link"? Jesus had a slogan for these questions...

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Matthew 16:13-20 – Jesus' Church defeats the Gates of Death

Jesus will gather His people on the ground of Peter's confession the way Moses gathered Israel. But this time it is Hades itself which is under attack. Just as the gates of Jericho and the cities of Canaan fell before Israel so the gates of Death will fall.

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Matthew ch 10 – The Unique work of the Apostles and being an Apostolic church

The 12 and a few others of their generation have become a foundation on which churches still are built today. We must receive their ministry to receive Christ and we must receive Christ if we would receive God.

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Colossians 1 – Church is for meeting God

What is church for? (5) Meeting God: Not up a mountain nor in a garden nor in a spaceship nor in personal prayer and meditation. Christ is present as the "hope of glory" in churches.

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1 Timothy 3:14-15 – Church is to love

What is church for? (3) Church is to love. Four reasons to value church. Why you can't love God without loving churches. 

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Ephesians 3:1-11 – Church is for revealing God

What is church for? (1)  Revealing God, His achievements and purpose. From the letter to the Ephesians, especially 3:1-11. 

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1 Corinthians 14 – Church that makes sense

God wants our meetings to be mumbo-jumbo free and understandable so they can be good for everyone. 

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