The BPFC Sermon Podcast

Pastor Ian Thompson continues our covenant series with a deep exploration of the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7:8–16 — God’s promise to establish the throne of David forever.In this sermon we trace David’s journey from shepherd to king, the astonishing promise God makes to him, the painful honesty of David’s failures, and the collapse of the kingdom that followed. Yet through every rise and fall, God’s covenant faithfulness remains unbroken.This message shows how the longing for a righteous king ultimately leads to Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom is established not by earthly power but through the cross, the resurrection, and His eternal reign.Whether you are new to the faith or have walked with Christ for many years, this sermon invites you to place your hope not in human leaders or institutions, but in Christ the King, who reigns, restores, and will return.Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:8–16Series: The Covenants of God  Church: Bootle Protestant Free Church (BPFC)

In this sermon, Pastor Ian Thompson continues the covenant series by exploring the often‑forgotten Priestly Covenant made with Phinehas in Numbers 25. Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land, yet their nearness to blessing did not protect them from spiritual collapse. Their covenant infidelity, leadership paralysis, and moral confusion mirror the challenges of our own day.This message examines the five great truths of the Priestly Covenant:that sin destroys communities,that leadership without moral clarity leads to suffering,that true spiritual leadership requires courage,that God provides mediators for His people,and that no human priest can bridge the gap — only Christ can.Phinehas’ zeal stopped a plague; Christ stops the plague of sin. Phinehas acted once; Christ intercedes forever. Phinehas restored temporary peace; Christ brings eternal peace. This covenant ultimately points beyond itself to the perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, who stands in the gap for us and brings us the peace of God.A sermon for believers old and new, calling us to holiness, integrity, and confidence in the One true Mediator.

Pastor Ian ThompsonIn this sermon, preached to the Orange Institution in April 2026, Pastor Ian reflects on what it truly means to be protestantis — a people who give witness. With Scripture in one hand and history in the other, he calls believers to rediscover their identity as those who testify to the Word of God, stand firm in truth, and live as witnesses of Christ in a confused and drifting age.Drawing from 2 Chronicles 24:19, the meaning of Protestant witness, and the legacy of William III and the Glorious Revolution, this message challenges us to cherish the liberties God has given, to steward them faithfully, and to ensure our Protestantism is a testimony — not a grievance.This sermon speaks to:our identity as witnesses of the gospelour heritage of liberty and conscienceour calling as Christians to carry peace, speak truth, and stand firmMay we be a people who live the gospel we proclaim, defending freedom with grace and witnessing to Christ with humility and courage.Scripture:  2 Chronicles 24:19; Matthew 10:5–22 (KJV/NKJV)

Pastor Ian Thompson  Bootle Protestant Free Church — BPFC Sermon PodcastThe Relief of Derry (1689) stands as one of the defining moments in the Protestant story — a testimony to God’s providence, steadfast courage, and the defence of religious liberty.In this sermon, Pastor Ian Thompson reflects on the siege, the suffering of the people, and the extraordinary deliverance that followed, drawing clear lines to the Christian life today: perseverance under trial, trust in God’s timing, and the call to stand firm for Christ’s Crown and Covenant.This message explores:The historical background of the Siege of DerryHow God preserves His people in seasons of pressureThe spiritual meaning of deliverance and enduranceWhy the memory of Derry still matters for believers todayLessons for faithfulness in a hostile ageWhether you’re familiar with the history or hearing it for the first time, this sermon offers a pastoral, Scripture‑centred reflection on courage, conviction, and God’s unfailing care.

In this third episode of our Nicene Creed series, Pastor Ian Thompson continues exploring the Creed’s opening declarations by focusing on the phrase: “Maker of heaven and earth.” Building on the foundation laid in Genesis 1, this sermon examines what it means for Christians to confess that God is not only Father and Almighty, but also the Creator of all things visible and invisible.This teaching highlights how the biblical doctrine of creation shapes the entire Christian worldview. Pastor Ian shows how Scripture presents creation as purposeful, ordered, and good—an expression of God’s wisdom, power, and fatherly care. The sermon also addresses modern challenges to the doctrine of creation, including materialism, naturalism, and the loss of meaning in contemporary culture.Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of:Why the Creed insists that God alone is the CreatorHow creation reveals God’s character, glory, and covenant loveThe difference between biblical creation and secular origin storiesHow the doctrine of creation anchors Christian identity and hopeWhy the Church must continue to confess God as Maker in every generationThis episode offers a rich, accessible, and theologically grounded exploration of the God who speaks worlds into being and sustains them by His Word.

In this second episode of our Nicene Creed series, Pastor Ian Thompson explores the opening declaration of the Creed: “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty.” Rooted in the reading from Genesis 1, this sermon shows how the Bible reveals God as both sovereign Creator and loving Father, the One who brings order out of chaos and speaks light into the darkness.This teaching examines the Creed’s insistence on one God in a world filled with competing spiritualities, idols, and modern forms of self‑made religion. Drawing from Reformed theology and the biblical doctrine of creation, Pastor Ian explains how God’s almighty power is not cold or distant, but deeply personal, fatherly, and covenantal.Listeners will discover how Genesis 1 establishes the foundation for Christian faith:God alone creates, commands, and sustains all thingsGod reveals Himself as Father through His works and His WordGod’s almightiness is expressed in purpose, order, and goodnessThe Creed protects the Church from false views of God—ancient and modernThis sermon offers clarity, encouragement, and a firm grounding in historic Christian doctrine for believers seeking to understand why the Church confesses one God, the Father Almighty.

In this opening message of Series 2, Pastor Ian Thompson introduces the Nicene Creed, the historic confession first established in AD 325 and treasured across the Reformed tradition as a faithful summary of essential Christian belief.This sermon offers a clear and accessible overview of the Creed’s purpose, structure, and enduring importance for the Church. Pastor Thompson explains how the Nicene Creed articulates the Trinity, affirms the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus Christ, and sets out the foundational truths that unite believers across centuries.The message highlights the Creed’s role as a guardrail for biblical orthodoxy, helping Christians hold fast to the Gospel in an age of confusion and competing voices. Rather than replacing Scripture, the Nicene Creed echoes its central message and strengthens the Church’s witness to the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.This introductory sermon prepares the way for the full series, exploring how the Creed continues to shape Christian faith, worship, and discipleship today.The BPFC Sermon Podcast shares weekly preaching from Bootle Protestant Free Church, proclaiming the unchanging truth of God’s Word.The "Deep Dive" of the Nicene Creed may be found on our sister podcast "Know Surrender" using the same series and episode numbers. In this case Series 2 episode 1

Pastor Ian Thompson — Bootle Protestant Free ChurchIn this sermon, Pastor Ian Thompson reflects on the transforming power of God’s grace by contrasting two striking biblical figures: the malefactor on the cross in Luke 23 and Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in Acts 7.The dying thief turns to Christ with nothing but need — no ritual, no achievement, no time left to prove anything. His simple confession shows that salvation is entirely by grace, received through faith alone.Stephen’s martyrdom reveals the other side of grace: bold witness, Spirit‑filled courage, and a vision of the risen Christ even in the face of violent persecution. His prayer of forgiveness mirrors the mercy of the Saviour he proclaims.Together, these two lives reveal the breadth of God’s mercy — grace for the desperate sinner and strength for the faithful servant. Whether we come like the malefactor or stand like the martyr, Christ meets us with hope, forgiveness, and eternal life.Pastor Thompson concludes by reflecting on communion as a God‑given means of spiritual refreshment, strengthening believers to remain steadfast in a secular and often hostile world.For a fuller exploration of these themes, listen to the companion Deep Dive episode on our weekly reflection podcast:Know Surrender — “The Malefactor and the Martyr: A Testimony of Grace.”

Speaker: Pastor Ian ThompsonIn this sermon we continue our journey through the great covenants of Scripture and arrive at one of the most defining moments in the Old Testament — the covenant God makes with Moses and with Israel at Mount Sinai.From liberation out of Egypt to the giving of the Ten Words, from the tabernacle to the sacrifices, from Israel’s calling to their rebellion, this covenant reveals the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the mercy that holds His people fast.We explore:God’s grace before God’s commandsIsrael’s identity as a treasured possessionThe Ten Commandments as a framework for lifeWorship, sacrifice, purity, and God’s dwelling presenceIsrael’s unfaithfulness and God’s steadfast purposeHow the Mosaic covenant prepares us for Christ, our true MediatorThis sermon calls us to holiness, identity, obedience, and gratitude — not to earn God’s love, but because we already live within it.Part of the ongoing series: The Covenants of God. A deeper discussion of this sermon will be released on 1st June in our sister podcast Know Surrender. You’re warmly invited to listen. 

 Recorded during Affirmation Weekend, this is the powerful Christian testimony of Sammy Heenan — a story of suffering, survival, and saving grace. Through trauma, bereavement, and the violence of the Troubles, Sammy bears witness to the faithfulness of God and the hope found only in Jesus Christ. 

In this week’s sermon, we explore the Abrahamic Covenant — the moment God calls an ordinary man to trust an extraordinary promise. From the command to “Go,” to the covenant ceremony, to the near‑sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham’s story reveals a God who binds Himself to His people with unbreakable faithfulness.We look at the three strands of the promise — land, descendants, and blessing — and how they shape the whole biblical story from Genesis to Christ. Abraham’s doubts, failures, and questions remind us that covenant is not about perfect people, but about a perfect God who keeps His word.Whether you are new to the faith or have walked with Christ for many years, this message calls us to trust the God who still leads, still provides, and still fulfils His promises in Christ, the true offspring of Abraham.

 In this second message of the covenant series, we turn to God’s gracious promise to Noah after the flood. The world had been judged, the waters had receded, and humanity stood at a new beginning. Into that moment, God spoke a covenant of preservation — a commitment to uphold the rhythms of creation, restrain judgement, and sustain the world until redemption’s story reached its fulfilment in Christ. This episode explores the structure of the Noahic Covenant, the sign of the rainbow, and the way this universal promise forms the backdrop for every covenant that follows. A study in mercy, patience, and the faithfulness of God to a world that still desperately needs His grace. 

In this opening message of the covenant series, we explore God’s first dealings with humanity in the Garden of Eden. Before the Fall, before judgement, before sacrifice, there was a covenant of life — a gracious arrangement in which Adam was called to trust, obey, and walk with God. This episode traces the shape of that covenant, the blessings it offered, and the consequences of its breach. More importantly, it shows how the Adamic Covenant prepares the way for every covenant that follows, pointing us ultimately to Christ, the Second Adam, who fulfils what the first Adam failed to keep. A foundational study for understanding the whole sweep of Scripture and the unfolding story of redemption.