Hope Church Merthyr Podcast

After taking a necessary detour into the mystery of the gospel with Paul, we now come back to Paul's prayer.He's praying for power... but what we need that power for might surprise you!

Ephesians 3:7-13The gospel is full of reversals. God's grace, wisdom, and love turn everything on it's head. And when better to be thinking about this than a baptism day!

Back in Ephesians. Start of Chapter 3. Paul's about to pray, but then something catches him in his tracks.A mystery revealed. And what is that mystery?It's us!

John 20:19-28 There were definitely some tech issues, but the whole sermon is here!We’re celebrating and thanking God for the gift of two little ones, as their families dedicate themselves and their sons to growing up in the wisdom and instruction of God. As a church family, it’s our opportunity to stand alongside them and commit ourselves to walking alongside them in this - raising kids takes the whole village!

Resurrection Day! It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the most significant day in human history. And yet it’s only significant if we see who Jesus really is. We can be kept from seeing who he really is, and what he’s like, by our expectations of him. If our expectations are just not great enough, we’ll miss the Resurrection and the Life that’s right in front of us!

Glory. Everyone wants a little bit of glory. But how this world defines glory and how Jesus defines it - two very different things!He wants us not to settle for the "Little glories", and instead to share in his. But this comes with a challenge!

John 12 -In the run up to Easter we’re taking a short break from Ephesians to walk the road to the cross — the events that changed the world. And we’re doing it through the eyes of John, “the disciple Jesus loved.”As John looks back, he notices the little clues, Easter Eggs, that Jesus left along the way — the signs that this was always the plan. The cross was not a tragic accident or a last-minute rescue mission. It was always how God intended to reconcile humanity to himself and renew the whole creation.This Sunday, we’re looking with Chris at a beautiful moment where one of the sisters of Lazarus (who Jesus raised from the dead) surprises everyone at the dinner table with an extravagant act of worship. Her actions were a challenge to everyone present, and are to us now!

In the run up to Easter we’re taking a short break from Ephesians to walk the road to the cross — the events that changed the world. And we’re doing it through the eyes of John, “the disciple Jesus loved.”As John looks back, he notices the little clues, Easter Eggs, that Jesus left along the way — the signs that this was always the plan. The cross was not a tragic accident or a last-minute rescue mission. It was always how God intended to reconcile humanity to himself and renew the whole creation.This Sunday, we are in one of the most painfully relatable moments in John’s Gospel. Two grieving sisters reach out to Jesus with words many of us have felt ourselves: “Lord, if you had been here…”Who Jesus reveals himself to be in that moment - and what he does - remains our solid and confident hope today.

As history, experience and recent events show, people are really good at building walls - disagreements with others that turn into discord, separation and isolation. Making peace can feel almost impossible.But what if the cross of Jesus doesn't just reunite people with their Creator? What if it also brings separated, isolated, even hostile people back together?That's exactly what Paul is saying in Ephesians 2: 11-22. IN days where we are seeing so much hostility, here we find real hope!

What difference does Jesus actually make to our lives? Does he tidy us up around the edges, make us nicer, more rounded people? Or is the change altoegther more radical? Paul seems to think so! (Ephesians 2: 1-10)

We like to pray for one another, right? But sometimes we hit roadblocks and it feels like our prayers just get a bit stuck. Well, if we're ever stumped as to how to pray for each other, Paul's got some great hints in Ephesians 1: 15-23!

Elect. Predestined. Chosen. Words that have power to bring great comfort and confidence - or great confusion - depending on what we think they mean.In Ephesians 1, Paul brings up the whole thing of predestination not for confusion, but for confidence. And the picture is bigger and more beautiful than we can imagine.

It's never a good idea to read Bible texts as though we are the centrepoint of the text! When we do, we miss the beauty and scope of who God is and what he's doing in the world. This is especially true of passages like Ephesians 1: 3-14. This is the kind of passage that's meant to lift our heads, open our eyes and thrill our hearts with just how awesome God is.

Ephesians 1: 3-14 shows what happens when we get excited about the truth of what God has done through Jesus! It's one long sentence in the Greek, and it's got so much in it that we're looking at it from three different angles over the next three weeks!This week... how does the Triune God bring about his plan of salvation?

We can tell a lot about who lives in a house by what the house is like. Paul tell us in Ephesians that the church is God's house - a dwelling made up of people, all different, yet unified in him. And the cement that holds it all together? His love!Big question: what can the world tell about God by looking at us as his house?This Sunday, we're kicking off our new series in Ephesians. Let's pray that over the months ahead we grasp the big vision of what God is doing, and who we are in the light of it!

So we are people with good news, and a mission to live out and share that good news. But how? How do we tell people about Jesus in a way that meets them where they're at? This Sunday, we're learning how Jesus himself shares his own good news. Who better to learn from than Jesus?

Last Sunday, we kicked off the new year with a reminder of the good news we get to share and the call to be people with "beautiful feet". This week, we dig into the mission Jesus invites us join. We don't have to dream - he's building his church, and we get to be part of it!

At the start of a new year, it's always good to refocus. As a church, who are we? What are we all about?Today - what is the gospel? Why is it good news?

There is nothing ordinary about the Advent story. A young girl in a backwater town is met by an angel, told she will bear a child though she's a virgin, and that this child is the long-promised Messiah! Then he lederly - but also miraculously pregnant - cousin confirms it all. And Mary? She breaks into song... but not the gentle lullaby you'd expect. It's a declaration that god is about to flip the world upside down - power, pride, privilege, all shaken loose by the arrival of her son.

It feels like all too quickly, Advent is upon us again. Today is the first of three pivotal moments in the Advent story - all involving Mary - that all reveal something fresh and surprising about what God is bringing into the world.

We're at the end of Hebrews.36 Sundays. Around 22 hours of seeing Jesus together. If someone asked you to sum it up, what would you say?Today we're trying to do that - in just two verses and four questions!

We're almost at the end of Hebrews. If everything we've heard about Jesus is true, if we are receiving something eternally unshakeable through him, how does that transform our lives now?

Ever feel like life’s shaking you?This Sunday we’re talking about what can’t be shaken.When we know the ground we're standing on is solid, we can know certainty in shaky times.Hebrews 12: 18-29

*Sound is less like Paul is in a tin can after 5 minutes*Faith isn't a smooth road - it's a rugged trail, full of twists, stumbles and uphill climbs. But here's the good news: we were never meant to hike it alone. The Spirit is with us, the great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on - and so are the people walking beside us!

The race of faith isn't a sprint - it's a lifelong marathon that's worth pushing for. So what keeps us going when the road gets tough? Spoiler alert: It's Jesus!

Faith is rarely glamorous, but it's often costly. The Bible talks about some people who were "sawn in two" while others "escaped the sword" for their allegiance to Jesus, and that's reality for many followers of Jesus today. Whatever the path involves, he is worth it - and it leads to ultimate victory because Jesus has already won!

Ever felt like you’re running on empty, wobbling like a wonky trolley in Asda?You're not alone. Elijah, the fiery prophet, went from hero to zero, yet God met him with love in his darkest hour. Join us today as we see how Jesus lifts seekers, the shattered, and the steadfast with a hope that lasts for eternity.

Hiraeth – a word that refuses to sit neatly in the box of translation. It evokes a sense, a feeling… a deep longing for home. But often, it’s a home from the past that no longer exists.For Christians, the opposite is true. It’s a deep longing for a home we’ve not yet been to – a home found in a Person called Jesus.This morning, we are looking at how a man named Abraham shows us what it looks like to long for the home we were actually created for. If you’ve every looked at the world and felt that ache – that sense there must be something more… If you’re homesick but don’t quite know what for – come and join us this morning as Chris guides us through the next part in Hebrews 11.

We live in a world that, for all its talk of “Be who you are,” loves to stick labels on people—reminding them of past shame, even cancelling them for it.But the good news of Jesus is this: God rescues and transforms us, freeing us from the labels of the past. And yet, in the Hall of Faith we find Rahab, who never seems to lose hers. Why would God leave it there?The answer might just surprise you—and change how you see God’s faithfulness.Join us as Rebecca takes us through the story of Rahab.

In a world of noise, God still speaks. But will we hear Him?This Sunday, we’re looking at how God broke into silence and spoke to… a kid! Samuel shows us that faith isn’t passive—it leans in, says “Here I am,” and listens. And this points to God’s ultimate Word: Jesus. If we’ll listen to Him, the promise is full life and hope forever.Want to turn down the volume on a noisy world and turn up God’s voice?

We’re all tempted to chase what looks valuable—wealth, influence, pleasure. Moses had it all… and walked away. Why? Because he saw the Invisible One as more real than what was visible.Join us as we learn to live with that same perspective.

One of the most incredible things about the whole Bible story is the way that God himself associates with messed up people. We’ve already seen how messed up Abraham was, but his grandson Jacob takes it to a whole other level. And yet God still calls himself, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”Prepare to be amazed by the kindness of God!

This morning, carrying on in Hebrews 11, we’re looking at the later life of Abraham. We’ll see how Abraham’s faith prepared him for the biggest test of his life, how it fits into the big story of the Bible and that it’s more than just a good story for the kids.Join us as Tim takes us through this section of Hebrews 11.

There are very few people in human history who didn’t die, less than a handful. And Enoch is one of them, so it’s not surprise that he’s in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.What can we learn from Enoch about a life of faith? Join us this morning as Nic helps us to explore the story of Enoch.

The Bible has many different examples of what faith looks like. Sarah shows us a faith that isn’t impulsive but carefully considered. Her story isn’t straightforward – it’s pretty messy (can relate?) but because God’s faithfulness is unwavering, we can grow in real, resilient faith too.Join Lisa as she helps us to unpack the story of Sarah.

The story of Noah points us forward to Jesus and the hope of the New Creation. How does Noah’s faith instruct us as we make choices today?Join Tom as he takes us through the story of Noah.

We all need examples to help us see what living by faith looks like. Not perfect people, but signposts.This Sunday, we’re starting our journey through the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11, and first up is a surprising character – blink and you’ll miss him, Abel! So what do we have to learn from him? Join Paul as he helps us to understand the significance of Abel.

Nobody gets surgery because it’s fun, but because it’s necessary. And a good surgeon provides the right aftercare to ensure recovery.This next section of Hebrews is a stern warning, it’s surgical, but it comes with a healing encouragement. Ultimately it’s for our good!

Is God real? If He is, does He care about you? Does He know you, and does He want friendship with you?YES is the answer! And the Good News is that He’s shown His care and His love by becoming human, becoming one of us, a man called Jesus. Because of Jesus, we can know and experience real relationship with this God, and not at a distance. Through Jesus, we have access!

This week has been another week where we’ve seen such sad stuff in the news. Something’s not right with the world—and if we’re honest, it’s not just “out there,” it’s in us too. So what does God do with a beautiful but broken creation?He doesn’t abandon it, or just patch it up. He redeems it! This Sunday we’re asking the question: How? How does Jesus save? How does He save the world, and how does He save us?This is a good news story which ends with everything made new!

“Covenant” isn’t a word we use very much, but it’s HUGE in the big Bible storyline.Covenants tell us so much about who God is and what he’s like. And because he’s a God who keeps his covenants, we can have hope that’s fulfilled and life forever.

The church makes a big deal (and rightly so) about: What Jesus has done (God become human, dying on the cross, rising again, defeating death and sin), and What He will do in the future (coming again to make everything new).But we spend a lot less time thinking about what Jesus is doing right now. And what is He doing right now? He’s sat down. He’s seated. And that is actually incredibly good news!

May 25, 2025Hebrews 7:1-28Speaker: Paul EdwardsJesus isn't a "cross your fingers" kind of hope. He is certainty, for this life and beyond. And we're all invited to know this hope! (We had a technical error so the sound is a little disjointed for the first couple of minutes.)

May 18th, 2025Hebrews 6:9-20Speaker: Jonathan ThomasWe all need hope. Without hope, we shrivel. But what do we place our hope in? We need something that's constant, unchanging, forever, permanent.Where can we find a hope like that?

May 4, 2025Hebrews 4:14 - 5:10Speaker: Paul EdwardsThe Priest We Need"Priest" is a word that means different things to different people. But the truth is that what we need most is a priest! Not just any priest, but the ultimate Priest, who stands with us, stands for us, dies for us and offers us life forever. This priest is called Jesus, and He is good news for everyone.

March 23, 2025Hebrews 4:1-13Speaker: Nic MathesonRest. We all like it. We all need it. But much of the time the rest we get isn't what we need. So where can we find true rest?Real rest is found in a person - Jesus!

May 18th, 2025Hebrews 6:9-20Speaker: Jonathan ThomasWe all need hope. Without hope, we shrivel. But what do we place our hope in? We need something that's constant, unchanging, forever, permanent.Where can we find a hope like that?

March 16, 2025Hebrews 3:7 - 4:5Speaker: Paul EdwardsUnbelief is dangerous. It's different to doubt, uncertainty, wavering. Unbelief says, "No matter what you show me, no matter what evidence, I will not believe." And that really is the difference between life and death.

March 9, 2025Hebrews 3:1-6Speaker: Paul EdwardsAs humans we have a complicated relationship with leaders. And it's easy to understand why, when we've got such a mixed bag of examples! Why is Jesus the ultimate leader we can trust?

March 2, 2025Hebrews 2:1-18Speaker: Tim CarterIn a world that is definitely post-truth, how do we know what to trust? Where to place our confidence? When it's easy to get blown around, how do we make sure we have our eyes in the right place, and not drift?