Freedom Church Romford

In this final message in our Hosea series, Dave Carter explores Hosea 14 and the beautiful closing invitation at the heart of the book: “Return to the Lord your God.”After chapters filled with warning, judgment and the consequences of Israel’s unfaithfulness, Hosea ends not with condemnation, but with grace. Despite the people repeatedly turning away, chasing idols and placing their trust in worldly strength, God’s desire remains the same, to restore, heal and welcome His people home.Dave unpacks the biblical meaning of repentance, not simply feeling guilty, but truly turning back to God with honesty, humility and surrender. Through the imagery of dew bringing life to dry land, blossoming trees and flourishing vineyards, Hosea paints a picture of a God who refreshes what sin has left barren and restores what has been broken.The message also challenges us to consider the modern “Assyrias” we trust in today, success, comfort, money, control and security, and asks whether we are truly placing our confidence in God or in the things around us.Ultimately, this passage points us to Jesus Christ. Through references to Isaiah 53 and Acts 3:19, Dave shows how the cross makes Hosea’s promise possible: forgiveness, healing, restoration and new life are available because Christ took the judgment we deserved.This sermon is a call to return home to the God who loves freely, heals completely and continues to invite His people back into relationship with Him.

In this message, Andy Lovell explores Hosea chapters 11 to 13, revealing the heart of God as a perfect Father, one who is both just and deeply compassionate towards His people. Drawing from passages such as Hosea 11, Andy highlights how, despite Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness, God’s response is not cold rejection but a mixture of grief, discipline and relentless love. Through vivid imagery, God is shown as a Father teaching His child to walk, stooping down to care, guide and provide, even when His people turn away. The message unpacks how the struggles of ancient Israel mirror our own lives today. While the outward behaviours may differ, the underlying patterns remain the same, trusting in things other than God for identity, security and purpose. Whether through success, comfort, control or performance, we often reach for substitutes instead of the One who truly satisfies. Andy also explores the reality that God, in His mercy, sometimes allows a “painful reckoning”, removing the very things we rely on so that we are drawn back to Him. What can feel like judgement is often, in fact, an act of loving discipline, calling us away from false supports and back into true relationship. At the centre of this message is the unchanging nature of God. Unlike human relationships, God’s love is not conditional or resentful. As He declares, “I am God and not a man” (Hosea 11:9), His forgiveness is complete, His compassion is real, and His desire is always to restore His people. This preach is both a challenge and a comfort, a call to recognise the patterns in our own lives, and an invitation to return to a Father who has never stopped loving, pursuing and leading us.

In this message, Nathan Shane continues our journey through Hosea, exploring the powerful call to integrity found across chapters 7 to 10, centred on the warning: “they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind” in Hosea 8:7. Speaking into a time of peace and prosperity in Israel, yet deep spiritual decline, Nathan draws a clear parallel to our world today. God’s people had become outwardly religious but inwardly distant, revealing hearts that had drifted from relationship with Him. This message confronts the reality that sin is not neutral. What we sow in our lives has real and lasting consequences. Through vivid imagery from Hosea, burning ovens, half-baked bread, senseless doves and the coming whirlwind, we are reminded that small compromises can grow into destructive patterns, and that idols, whether ancient or modern, will always promise much but ultimately lead us away from God. Yet at the centre of this passage is hope. Nathan points us to Jesus, the one who steps in and takes the whirlwind we deserve. Drawing connections to the cross and passages like Isaiah 53, the message reminds us that while we sow sin, Christ bears the consequence, offering forgiveness, restoration and a way back to relationship with God. The call of Hosea is not just to recognise our condition, but to respond. Rooted in Hosea 10:12, this preach invites us to break up the hard ground of our hearts, turn from false worship, and begin to sow righteousness in our lives.This is a message of both warning and invitation, a reminder that God does not walk away from His people, but continually calls us back to Himself.

In this Easter Sunday message, Two Roads: The Road to Emmaus, Chris Speller unpacks the story of the two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus in Luke 24:13–35, a journey marked by confusion, disappointment and lost hope. As the disciples walk away from the events of the cross, trying to make sense of what has happened, Jesus comes alongside them, though they do not recognise Him. Through this powerful encounter, we see how easily we can walk through our own seasons of uncertainty without realising that Jesus is present with us. Chris explores how this journey reflects our own lives, moments where we carry questions, disappointment or unfulfilled expectations, often echoing the words, “we had hoped.” Yet the turning point comes as Jesus reveals Himself, moving the disciples from confusion to clarity, and from despair to renewed purpose. Centred on the hope of the resurrection, this message highlights four key “signposts” for our own journey of faith: that we are completely forgiven, that we no longer need to fear death, that we are empowered by God’s Spirit, and that God’s love for us never fails. Drawing on passages such as Ephesians 1, Romans 4 and John 3:16, the message roots our hope firmly in what Jesus has accomplished through His death and resurrection. This Easter preach is a call to recognise that we are not walking alone. Even when we do not see Him, Jesus is present, walking with us, opening the Scriptures, and inviting us into a living hope.

In this Mothering Sunday message, Sarah Speller explores the heart of God and what it means to reflect that heart in the way we love others.Focusing on God’s nature as loving, compassionate and relational, this talk considers how His love is not something we simply receive, but something we are called to share. It invites us to think about how we carry that love into our everyday relationships and interactions.As we reflect on Mothering Sunday, this message highlights the importance of expressing God’s love in practical ways, showing care, encouragement and compassion to those around us. It is a reminder that knowing God’s heart should shape how we live, and how we treat others.

In this message, Hannah Hylton continues our series in Hosea by exploring chapters 4 to 6, focusing especially on Hosea 6:1–6 and the invitation to truly know God. Hosea reveals a powerful picture of God’s relationship with His people, like a marriage that has been repeatedly broken by unfaithfulness. Israel had turned away from God, pursuing idols and trusting in other solutions instead of seeking Him. Yet even in their wandering, God’s desire was never simply to expose their sin, but to restore them to relationship. In this passage we see that God’s correction is not driven by anger, but by healing love. “He has torn us that He may heal us.” Like a bone that must sometimes be reset to heal properly, God lovingly convicts His people so that they can return to wholeness with Him. This message also distinguishes between conviction, which leads us back to God, and shame, which leaves us stuck and distant from Him. Hannah also explores the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. Hosea calls us to “press on to know the Lord”, to pursue relationship, not just information. God desires steadfast love and genuine knowledge of Him rather than empty religious activity. This talk is a call to examine our own hearts, to turn away from idols and distractions, and to respond to God’s invitation to deeper relationship. As we bring our lives before Him in repentance and openness, we discover that His goal has always been restoration, intimacy, and life with Him.

In this message, we continue in Hosea, looking at chapters 2 and 3 and the picture of two broken marriages, Hosea and Gomer and ultimately God and His people.We see how the relationship breaks down through unfaithfulness, self-sufficiency, and simply forgetting God. But what’s so powerful in this passage is that instead of walking away, God says, “Therefore… I will allure her.” He pursues. He speaks tenderly. He turns a valley of trouble into a door of hope.This is a story about consequences, yes, but even more, it’s a story about covenant faithfulness. God doesn’t cancel His promises. He restores. He redeems. He refines.Hosea buying Gomer back is a beautiful picture of what Christ has done for us. We were bought with a price. And while restoration can be messy and painful, God’s goal is always intimacy and that we would truly know Him.

In this sermon, Philip Richardson ( a member of Freedom Church Romford, holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies, and serves as the Director of Theological Education for OMS), introduces the book of Hosea and unpacks the powerful message of chapter 1. Set in a time of political turmoil and spiritual unfaithfulness, Hosea’s life becomes a living illustration of God’s relationship with His people.Philip explores Hosea’s marriage to Gomer and the symbolic meaning behind the names of their children, revealing both the seriousness of spiritual drift and the depth of God’s covenant love. Even in judgment, God’s desire is restoration and He pursues His people with mercy and faithfulness.

In this recording, we explore the heart of prayer, not just as words spoken, but as time spent in relationship with God. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 3:18, we reflect on how prayer invites us to behold the glory of the Lord and experience a deep, ongoing transformation.Join us as we unpack what it means to be called God’s children, how spending time with Him changes us from the inside out and why even the messy, challenging moments in prayer are part of our journey toward spiritual growth. Through examples like Peter and Paul, we discover that transformation takes time, patience and faith.Whether you’re new to prayer or have been walking with God for years, this episode encourages you to find rest in His presence and embrace the freedom found in being with God.

In this recording, we celebrate the baptism of members of our community. This preach explores the significance of baptism as a public declaration of faith and a symbol of union with Jesus Christ, highlighting the deeper meaning beyond tradition.Whether you're new to Christianity or seeking deeper understanding, this talk invites you to consider what it means to truly believe, belong and embrace the transformative grace offered through Jesus Christ.The recording also includes the testimonies of those getting baptised and our young people feeding back about their time away at the Youth Weekend Away.

Adrian Horner is based at Kingsgate Church in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and travels extensively serving churches and leadership teams with a strong prophetic gifting. Having pioneered and led the team at Open Door Church in Kettering, UK, Adrian brings a unique blend of strategic insight, pastoral wisdom, and prophetic ministry to strengthen and encourage others.Married to Koreen and a father of three grown children, Adrian is passionate about helping believers learn to listen to God and grow in prophetic discernment. In this talk, he offers clear, practical guidance on hearing God’s voice and weighing prophecy carefully in line with Scripture.

In this interactive and practical talk, Fiona Richardson explores prayer as a living, personal connection with God. Using relatable imagery of a phone and deep biblical insight, she invites listeners to move beyond formulas and into relationship—learning how to listen, trust and stay connected to the voice that brings life. A message full of faith, clarity and encouragement for anyone wanting to grow deeper in prayer.

01 | Talking to God | PRAYER PRACTICE | Matthew 6: 9-13 |As we begin 2026, we turn our focus to prayer—not as a last resort, but as the foundation of our life with God. Prayer is how we commune with the Father, through Jesus, by the Spirit, and how our inner lives are shaped before our public lives. Rooted in Scripture and guided by the Lord’s Prayer, this message calls us to grow in both private and corporate prayer, seeking not just answers from God, but deeper knowledge of God Himself.

Chris Speller opens this series in Luke 2:10, exploring fear in the Christmas story and the angel’s invitation to “fear not.”Drawing from the stories of Mary, the shepherds, and Zechariah, this message reveals how fear often meets us at the very moments God is working most powerfully. Through Scripture and worship, Fear Not invites listeners to surrender completely to God each day, silence the voices of fear and anchor their hope in His unchanging promises.Rooted in the truth of the Gospel—that God entered our world to set us free from fear—this recording is a reminder that faith grows when we choose trust over fear and praise over anxiety.

Our guest preacher Nii Noi, explores God’s intentional design for human diversity and His desire for unity among all nations. Drawing from Genesis 1 and Genesis 10, Nii Noi explains that God created the world with rich variety - plants, animals and humanity made “according to their kinds”—and He preserved that diversity even through the flood (Gen 6:18–20). God then formed distinct nations, languages and territories as part of His plan.The message traces this plan through God’s covenant with Abraham, where God declares, “I have made you a father of many nations” (Gen 17:5). Nii Noi shows how this reaches its fulfillment in Christ: through Jesus’ blood, both Jews and Gentiles are brought near and made members of one household (Eph 2:11–22). Our unity becomes a living reflection of God’s glory seen in reconciliation, shared pursuit of Him, citizenship in God’s family and being built together as His dwelling place.The talk culminates with the glorious vision of Revelation 5:9–10 and Revelation 7:9–10, where people from every tribe, language, and nation worship before God’s throne. Diversity is God’s design. Unity is God’s glory. And in Christ, both find their fullness.

In this episode, Rosie Easter brings the Practising the Way Sabbath series to a powerful close, exploring Sabbath Worship through Mark 2:23–27. As Jesus declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath, we are invited to rediscover Sabbath not as obligation, but as a gift, a day to reorient our hearts and return to worship. Rosie reminds us that worship is more than a moment—it’s a life shaped by what we give worth to. Drawing from Scripture, ancient wisdom, and reflections from John Mark Comer, she unpacks how Sabbath moves us from stopping, resting, and delighting into the overflow of true worship. It is an invitation to lay down the idols of busyness and productivity, resist the lie that our value lies in output, and instead embrace our identity as children of God. This message calls us back to gratitude, reorientation, and surrender, worshipping not the created, but the Creator. Sabbath is a rhythm of mercy, not a burden, renewing our souls as we encounter the One who alone satisfies.

In this third instalment of our Sabbath series, Hannah Hylton explores the call to delight in God.Building from the rhythm of Stop and Rest, she unpacks how Sabbath is not simply about withdrawal from work, but entering into joy, wonder, and relational communion with the Father.Drawing from Isaiah 58, John 15, Nehemiah 8, and Jesus’ words in Mark 2, Hannah reminds us that God is a joyful God who sings over His children, and Sabbath is His gift to us — a time to remember who we are, delight in His presence, and taste the fullness of life that He intends.With reflections on counterfeit joy, community, and learning to recognise the Shepherd’s voice, Hannah invites us to embrace Sabbath as a practice of delight that flows from rest and anchors us in our identity as beloved sons and daughters.

Rosie Carter begins our series on the Sabbath, looking at how it is a time to Stop.Drawing from Genesis 2, she reminds us that God Himself rested not out of weariness, but to model a pattern for our lives. Rosie shares that Sabbath is an act of worship and trust, a time to stop striving and delight in God’s presence.

As we conclude our series, “The One,” David Bareham who is an Elder of Community Church, Thurrock, explores what it means to walk alongside those who have given their lives to Jesus. How do we help new believers grow in faith, establish deep roots and live as devoted disciples of Christ?

In this episode, Richard Hylton shares from Romans 10 on God’s heart for those who are far from Him. Paul’s longing for his people to be saved reflects the Father’s own desire that none should perish, but that all should come to know Him. The gospel is clear: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, but how can they believe unless they hear? Reaching The One invites us to consider our role in this story—not out of duty or pressure, but as an overflow of intimacy with God. When we live rooted in His presence, our words and actions become a natural witness, pointing others to Jesus. Whether planting seeds, watering, or simply showing up with the love of Christ, God is the one who brings growth. This message challenges us to see the people around us the way God does: each one known, each one loved, and each one worth reaching.

This message explores one of Jesus’ most powerful parables, often called The Prodigal Son, but more fittingly The Parable of the Two Sons. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories of what was lost and then found—the sheep, the coin, and finally, the sons—revealing God’s relentless heart for people.Through the rebellion of the younger son and the resentment of the older, we see that both are lost in different ways. One runs away in open sin, the other hides behind self-righteousness. Yet the Father seeks both—running to embrace the prodigal and gently entreating the elder.This sermon calls us to see ourselves in the story: Are we the younger, needing grace? Or the older, resenting grace? And ultimately, will we rejoice with God when the lost are found?

What does it mean to truly be a unified church? In this preach, Dave unpacks Paul’s powerful call to unity from Ephesians 4:1–6 and shows how humility, gentleness, patience and love form the foundation of a Spirit-led community. Unity is not uniformity, nor is it optional; it is central to the gospel we proclaim. This talk explores: • The manner and means of unity, how we live out humility, gentleness, patience and love. • The basis of unity, the sevenfold “one” that roots us in Christ and the triune God. • Why unity is essential for mission and witness in a divided world. If Freedom Church is to be a growing church plant that reflects Christ to our communities, we must embrace the Spirit-given bond of peace and rejoice together as one Body under one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.

Today we were celebrating Freedom Church's first birthday. Here's what some of us had to say about the last year.

As we continue our Practising the Way journey, this week we explore one of the most vital aspects of following Jesus: doing it together. From the earliest days of His ministry, Jesus called people not just to Himself, but to one another. Discipleship was never meant to be a solo mission—it’s a shared life, marked by depth, vulnerability, and a commitment to transformation. Drawing from Jesus’ example in Mark 1 and 3, and the wisdom of John Mark Comer and Rowan Williams, we unpack what it means to move from radical individualism toward the Kingdom culture of community. This is more than church attendance. It’s about showing up for one another in the everyday, forming spiritual friendships, and intentionally building relationships that shape us into the people God is calling us to be. Psalm 68:6 tells us, “God sets the lonely in families.” In this episode, we consider how to cultivate the kind of community that sustains us on the lifelong path of following Jesus—where we are known, challenged, encouraged, and changed.

This week Freedom Church visited City Church Canterbury, along with 8 other churches, for our Relational Mission Community Day.In this moving talk, John Kirkby — founder of Christians Against Poverty and leader of the Isaiah 61 movement — shares his personal story of transformation: from a lost, broken man living in deep debt and despair, to a life turned around by the kindness of a stranger, the love of a local church, and the redeeming power of Jesus.This message is not just a testimony — it’s a call to action. John challenges us to rethink evangelism and take five seconds of courage to change someone’s eternity. Through his story and the vision behind Isaiah 61, you’ll be inspired to believe again that no life is too far gone.Whether you’re struggling to share your faith or longing to see your church culture shift towards Jesus-sharing, this talk will move and motivate you.Find out more about the Isaiah 61 movement and how you or your church can get involved: https://i61m.org/

Practising the Way 6 - Rule of Life Over the past few weeks, we’ve been journeying through Practising the Way together, exploring what it means to truly follow Jesus. So far, we’ve looked at following Jesus, formation, spiritual practices, meeting God in pain and suffering, and last week Hugh shared about healing from sin.This week, we turn our attention to the idea of a Rule of Life. While not a direct biblical concept, a Rule of Life is a time-tested Christian tool designed to help us stay anchored in our walk with God and open to transformation. It’s not about legalism, but about intentionally living in obedience to Jesus and creating a framework that helps us abide in Him.Drawing on John 15:5–8 and the wisdom of early church saints like St. Basil and St. Benedict, we explore how a Rule of Life can support us in becoming more like Jesus. We all have a “rule of life” whether we realise it or not—the rhythms and routines that shape who we are becoming. The invitation is to reorder our lives around practices that help us abide in Christ: Sabbath, prayer, fasting, solitude, generosity, Scripture, community, service, and witness.This is not about guilt or striving but about responding to the grace of God and choosing to grow, step by step, into the people He is calling us to be.Please use the link below to access the Rule of Life Template.https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KQ31AE-jVR4-_54FpBiOeT3t1nYYA2P/view?usp=drivesdk

Practising the Way 5 - Healing from SinSin is not just wrongdoing, but a distortion of our desires and a rupture in our relationship with God and others. Jesus offers healing and freedom from sin through confession, repentance, and grace-fueled transformation.In this sermon, guest speaker Hugh Pearce—an elder at Redeemer Church Colchester—shares from Luke 5:27–32, exploring the themes of sin done by us, sin done to us, and sin done around us.

Practising the Way 4: Meeting God in Pain and Suffering This reality is that following Jesus does not exempt us from suffering, but invites us to meet God in the midst of it. Rosie Carter shares that through practices of lament, trust, and perseverance, we learn to encounter Jesus' comfort and transformative presence in our pain.This sermon also contains a moving testimony from a couple called James and Anna Palmer. Despite facing the heartbreaking loss of a first wife at 22 after only 9 months of marriage, the death of a baby nephew, mental health challenges, the pain of infertility, church hurt and intense work-related stress, they continue to put their trust and faith in the LORD. 🙏

Practising the Way 3 – Do as Jesus DidThis week, Kathryn Bailey from The City Church Canterbury speaks on what it means to Do as Jesus Did, focusing on Matthew 28:16–20.The practices of Jesus are essential to our spiritual formation. They are how we do what we can do—Sabbath, prayer, reading Scripture—to make space for God to transform us into the kind of people who can do what we currently cannot do: live and love like Jesus.

Drawing from John 15:1-9, Luke 6:39-40 and John Mark Comer’s *Practicing the Way*, this preach explores the deep spiritual truth that transformation doesn’t come through striving harder, but through *abiding deeper* in Christ.Spiritual formation is intentional, not accidental. Jesus calls us not just to do things *for* Him, but to be *with* Him. Abiding in Christ is the foundation of becoming like Christ. Practices like prayer, silence, Sabbath, and community aren’t burdens—they’re lifelines.Whether you're single, married, working, retired in school, or simply navigating modern life, you’ll be encouraged to slow down, be present, and abide in the love of Jesus.Where is your life abiding today? In Christ—or in distraction, hurry, and self-sufficiency?

On Sunday, we explored what it truly means to follow Jesus—not just in belief but in practice. His call to “Come, follow me” (Matt. 4:19) is an invitation to a lifelong apprenticeship.From Mark 8:34–37 and John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way, we learned that discipleship means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and centering our lives around 3 goals:1.⁠ ⁠Be with Jesus2.⁠ ⁠Become like Jesus3.⁠ ⁠Do what Jesus didThis requires reordering our lives through practices like prayer, Sabbath, Scripture, and community. This isn’t about guilt—but about accepting the gracious invitation to grow together in faith and formation.