Keeping It Real

Keeping It Real

The Psalms are not the prayers of ‘nice’ people, couched in smooth, polished language. They are full of honest, rough and raw expressions of praise, anger, anguish, doubt, fear, pride and disappointment. They give a voice to common human experiences and emotions.

If our faith is to be grounded and not superficial, we need to be real with God and with one another. What can we learn from Scripture about how to grapple with times of struggle and distress? What wisdom does the Bible give to help us grow through them?

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Keeping It Real: Disappointment
Keeping It Real: Disappointment
Keeping It Real: Comparison
Keeping It Real: Comparison
Keeping It Real: Temptation
Keeping It Real: Temptation
Keeping It Real: Doubt
Keeping It Real: Doubt

Journey to the Cross

Journey to the Cross

Join us in the lead up to Easter with our ‘Journey to the Cross’ series!

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Journey to the Cross: The Peace Giver
Journey to the Cross: The Peace Giver
Journey to the Cross: Easter Sunday Celebration
Journey to the Cross: Easter Sunday Celebration
Journey to the Cross: The Messiah
Journey to the Cross: The Messiah
Journey to the Cross: The Forgiving Son
Journey to the Cross: The Forgiving Son
Journey to the Cross: The Loving Father
Journey to the Cross: The Loving Father

Unbreakable

Unbreakable

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Sam Marsh examines the relevance of the Bible today.

  • Does the Bible still have authority?

  • How does it influence in our lives?

  • What do we do when the Bible says something we don’t like?

All these questions, and more, are answered in this talk.

Money Talks

Money Talks

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What does the Bible say about money?

How we handle money is at the very heart of what it is to be a follower of Jesus. In a world where we are led to believe ‘more is better’, how can we find contentment, peace and purpose around money in our lives?

Download the Small Group notes

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Money Talks: Be Rich
Money Talks: Be Rich

The second talk of our ‘Money Talks’ series.

Money Talks: Breathing Room
Money Talks: Breathing Room

The first talk of our ‘Money Talks’ series.

Creed

Creed

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What do Christians believe?

The word ‘creed’ comes from the Latin word credo, meaning ‘I believe and trust’. The Apostles’ Creed is a summary of the Christian faith that has been handed down through the centuries. 

Join us for this series, as we look at the essential building blocks of our faith and examine what it means to believe and trust as a Christian today.

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Creed: The Holy Spirit
Creed: The Holy Spirit
Creed: Resurrection of the body
Creed: Resurrection of the body
Creed: Holy Church
Creed: Holy Church

Why do people go to church?

Creed: Jesus Christ
Creed: Jesus Christ

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

In the second talk of our ‘Creed’ series, Deborah Marsh continues our study of the foundations of Christian faith by speaking about Jesus Christ. Listen as Deborah explains what believing in Jesus means for us all today.

You’ll also hear from two members of the church, Heidi and Dave, about how they came to put their faith in the person of Jesus and the difference it has made to their lives.

Creed: God the Father
Creed: God the Father

What do Christians believe?

Join us in the first talk of our ‘Creed’ series as Ed Marsh introduces us to the Apostles’ Creed, a statement of Christian faith centuries old. Learn what it means when Christians refer to God as a ‘Father’ and how this simple but incredible truth affects our life.

Second Nature

Second Nature

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The more we practice something, the more it becomes second nature to us - an automatic response. Jesus always responded in a Godly way. What if there were attitudes of Jesus that we could practice that then become automatic responses for us too?

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Second Nature: Story telling
Second Nature: Story telling

We all have a story to tell. Are we telling it to people?

Listen as Clare Thompson shares with us the value, importance and relevance of God-focused story telling in our daily lives. Be inspired as you hear some stories from Clare’s own experience and discover how God can use your personal faith story to transform lives today.

Second Nature: Prayer
Second Nature: Prayer

Many of us acknowledge the importance of prayer to Christian faith, but how much of a priority do we give it in our day to day lives? This talk was given at the beginning of Prayer Week 2019 at Highgrove Church, and is intended to both encourage and to challenge us to make prayer a priority.

Second Nature: Accountability
Second Nature: Accountability

Our faith is personal but not private. How do we live accountable lives in community that give people permission to stick their nose in our spiritual business?

Second Nature: Rhythm
Second Nature: Rhythm

We see in nature different cycles and rhythms. When we try to work against these rhythms, things start to breakdown. What rhythms to our lives do we need to practice so that our lives work best?

Second Nature: Thankfulness
Second Nature: Thankfulness

We teach our children to say thank you. But is there more to thankfulness than just being polite?

Songs of Advent

Songs of Advent

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Luke the musical! Join us as we look at how Luke uses songs to help us wait for the coming of Jesus this advent.

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Songs of Advent: Simeon's Song
Songs of Advent: Simeon's Song

Sam speaks on Simeon's Song: Luke 2:21-40.

Songs of Advent: Mary's Song
Songs of Advent: Mary's Song

Tim Dobson speaks on Mary's Song: Luke 1:46-56.

Songs of Advent: Zechariah's song
Songs of Advent: Zechariah's song

Jamie kicks of our advent series looking at Zechariah's song of Faith: Luke 1:67-79

Faith Works

Faith Works

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Talk is cheap! It’s easy to say we have faith in Jesus without putting that faith into action. The book of James is a ‘how to’ manual sharing wisdom to help us live life the way Jesus is calling us to. Let’s put our faith to work!

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Faith Works: Responsibility of Wealth
Faith Works: Responsibility of Wealth

These verses can be a slap in the face to our western lifestyles. How do we tackle them without either melting in a heap of condemnation or glossing over them as not being relevant to us?

Faith Works: Cynical World James 4
Faith Works: Cynical World James 4

James commands us not to judge others. But in a world where ‘everyone’s a critic’ how do we recognise judgement and cynicism and also guard our hearts against it?

Faith Works: The Power of Words
Faith Works: The Power of Words

Words can either build others up or cut them down. What does James have to say about how our faith should change the way we speak to and about others?

Faith and Love in Action: James 2
Faith and Love in Action: James 2

James tells us, “Faith without deeds is dead’. How do we grapple with this statement alongside the belief that we are saved by grace alone? And what implication does it have for the way we live our lives?

Faith Works: James 1
Faith Works: James 1

Talk is cheap! It’s easy to say we have faith in Jesus without putting that faith into action. The book of James is a ‘how to’ manual sharing wisdom to help us live life the way Jesus is calling us to. Let’s put our faith to work!

Brave

Brave

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Joshua: Total Devotion
Joshua: Total Devotion

In the last moments of his life, Joshua reaffirms his total devotion to God by making this declaration to Israel, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh 24:15; see also Joshua 1:7).  We see in Joshua a picture of God who is worthy of our all.  How can we live a radically devoted life? What does it look like to choose God and not idols?

Joshua: Trusting God’s promises
Joshua: Trusting God’s promises

We read in the book of Joshua that “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:45). How do we trust God’s promises in our lives? What difference does it make to the way in which we live?

Joshua: Renewed Commitment
Joshua: Renewed Commitment

The Israelites developed a rhythm of commitment and recommitment to God. Renewed commitment to God brought blessing to Israel, as surely as disobedience brought curses. What opportunities do we have to renew our commitment to God’s purposes in the world?

Joshua: Steps of Faith
Joshua: Steps of Faith

Joshua 2: Where does trust in God and the need for for us to be active intersect?

Joshua: Courageous Obedience
Joshua: Courageous Obedience

God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. This courage was actually rooted in his obedience to God. And in Jesus we see this courageous obedience that delivers the promises of God to his people. It’s God’s promises and presence fuels our courage and strength.

Truth Encounters

Truth Encounters

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Jesus said 'you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free'. What truths did Jesus teach, how did it affect other person in that encounter? How should they affect us?

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Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be forgiven?
Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be forgiven?

Encountering truth and encountering forgiveness go hand in hand. Where does this forgiveness come from and what does it mean for us? 

Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be a follower?
Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be a follower?
Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be filled?
Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be filled?

John 4 - what does it mean to be filled? We talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit, that precious living water, but what does it mean? How was the Holy Spirit significant in this encounter with the Samaritan woman? How can we be daily filled by Him, and what could that look like?

Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be in the family?
Truth Encounters: What does it mean to be in the family?

Jesus said 'you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free'. What truths did Jesus teach, how did it affect other person in that encounter? How should they affect us?

How can we be good readers of John's Gospel?
How can we be good readers of John's Gospel?

Highgrove and Trinity College's Jamie Davies helps us to take a step back and look at how we can read John's gospel well.

Building Tomorrow's Church Today

Building Tomorrow's Church Today

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In this series we look at some of the values of Church and some of the practices that are more flexible as we consider the challenges of the future.

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Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Everyone Welcome
Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Everyone Welcome

How do we build a church of both welcome and inclusion for people of all backgrounds? Catch up with our talk from Sunday.

Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Money
Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Money

God loves a cheerful giver. How can we use money in ways that results in thanksgiving to God?

To find out more about giving go to highgrove.church/giving

Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Leadership
Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Leadership
Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Global Partnerships
Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Global Partnerships

What role does global mission have in building tomorrow's church today? Hear Rob's (10 minute!) vision for global partnerships.

Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Worship
Building Tomorrow's Church Today: Worship

In this series we look at some of the values of Church and some of the practices that are more flexible as we consider the challenges of the future.

Living As Witnesses

Living As Witnesses

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The book of Acts documents the first Pentecost and the gift of the Spirit to enable the disciples to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). Our series this May will look at what it means to be a Witness in the power of the Holy Spirit (alliterating around the letter W quite strongly!).

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Living as Witnesses: Way of Life
Living as Witnesses: Way of Life

The early Church had an integrated way of life where worship both gathered and dispersed, care for the poor, signs and wonders all contributed to a vibrant witness. How can our Christianity be more than a ‘Sunday’ affair but be a balanced way of life? What are the hallmarks of 24/7 Christianity? What are we modelling in our lifestyle to a watching world?

Living as Witnesses: Wonders
Living as Witnesses: Wonders

The book of the Acts of the Apostles could be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit. The spread of the Church documented in its pages is undergirded by ‘signs and wonders’; miracles of healing in particular. How normal should sign and wonders be in our Church life?

Living as Witnesses: Works
Living as Witnesses: Works

Works are the visible good deeds that a Christian community does in response to their faith in Christ; not dead works of religion, but live works of faith.

Living as Witnesses: Words
Living as Witnesses: Words

Words have power. Jesus speaks of his own words as ‘works of the father’ (John 14:10) as much as other ‘miracles’. Paul (Rom 10:14-15) asks how people can believe without a preacher.

But Words can get us into trouble. And Witness requires boldness, as well as sensitivity. How do we find the right words to be witnesses? How do we prepare, take opportunities, know God’s empowering?

Good Grief

Good Grief

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Is there such a thing as good grief? What does the Bible have to say about the inevitable losses in life? What do we do with our longings? What does the biblical idea of lament have to say to us today?

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Good Grief: Lament
Good Grief: Lament

The Psalms is the worship book of the bible and many of them are songs of lament, coming to God with grief and hard questions. The challenge of suffering is that very often our grief and our questions cause us to move away from God rather than closer to him.

How and when can we incorporate lament into our worship diet? What songs of longing and lament are there? How do we find a God who grieves with us and over us when we bring our griefs to him.

Good Grief: Longing
Good Grief: Longing

Who hopes for what they already have? Longing seems to be part of the human psyche, ‘God has set eternity in the hearts of men’ says the writer of Ecclesiastes. What part has longing played in your spiritual journey?

Good Grief: Loss
Good Grief: Loss

Loss is inevitable. What does the Bible have to say about how we face life's losses? Is there such a thing as good grief?

Exploring Easter

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The events of Easter are well known, but they raise some pretty big questions. We'll be exploring some of those questions as we prepare for Easter.

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How is death defeated?
How is death defeated?

God's rescue plan came to fruition as Jesus is raised from the grave, defeating the power of sin and death! 

Why did Jesus die?
Why did Jesus die?

Wasn’t there another way God could have acted other than Jesus dying? Why did there have to be a sacrifice? What did Jesus’ death actually achieve?

What is truth?
What is truth?

For some people, the truth of who Jesus is offends them. To others, the truth doesn’t make any sense. This has been the case ever since Jesus walked the earth and is demonstrated in this passage. What is the truth about Jesus? Who did he claim he was?

Why is God silent?
Why is God silent?

What can we do when God seems silent? In the garden Jesus prays to his Father, seemingly with no reply, and yet he still obeys. What can we learn from Jesus’ reaction to God’s seeming silence, and how can we engage with God in those times when he doesn’t seem to be speaking?

Why bread and wine?
Why bread and wine?

Why did Jesus give us communion? This is a chance to teach about the symbolism of the bread and wine, the importance of the new covenant and the links to the Passover and Jesus being our sacrifice. 

Application - what purpose does communion have in the modern, global church, and what impact does it have on us as individuals?

Rooted

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A Series in Colossians

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2

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How to dress for success
How to dress for success

As the saying goes, ‘dress for the job you want, not for the job you have.’ 

How often do you try to do everything in your own strength and fall flat on your face? The good news from Colossians is, we can step into a new set of clothes.

Colossians 3:1-17

How to get everything now
How to get everything now

'The world says we can have everything now; but is it truly everything?'

In a world that promises instant gratification, can we have everything we want now? Paul encourages the Colossians to put down roots. When we give Jesus everything, he doesn’t give us back religion, tradition, or teaching. When we give ourselves to Jesus, we receive Jesus Christ himself. He is everything now. 

How to find a hope that lasts
How to find a hope that lasts

In the book of Colossians, Paul addresses problems the Church faces and encourages believers to remain devoted to the exalted Jesus. In Jesus, the hope of heaven has already broken into earth. It’s all about Jesus - it always has been, is now and always will be. 

How to thrive in life
How to thrive in life

‘Live a life that brings pleasure to God. That’s how we can truly thrive.’

How does knowing God more, and staying connected to Jesus, allows us to live a life where we can thrive and impact those around us?

First Things First

Getting our priorities straight in the New Year

Based on Matthew 6

The start of the year is a good time to step back and assess how we’re investing our energy, time and money. What does the bible have to say about each of these things? And is what we say is important to us actually reflected in the reality of our day to day lives?

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Reading and Writing
Reading and Writing

It’s been said that ‘we are what we read’. What we fill our minds with will inevitably affect the way we write the story of our lives. What’s on your reading list?

Giving and Keeping
Giving and Keeping

Giving is at the heart of what it is to be a follower of Jesus. Why give and how should we go about it? Watch out for the cracking mother-in-law joke!

Talking & Listening
Talking & Listening

Prayer is key to a Christian life. How can we prioritise it more and how can we get better at it? Are we as good at listening as we are at talking?

Matthew 6:5-15

Fasting and Feasting
Fasting and Feasting

What are your priorities at the start of this New Year? In Matthew 6, Jesus talked of three priorities for believers and they are ones for us to embrace in 2018. What role does fasting have in modern day discipleship? And hear about Sam's plans to fast from clothes during Prayer Week!

True

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In the lead up to Christmas, we look together at how Jesus fulfils the Old Testament story.

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Thankfulness
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Christmas Day
True King
True King

In the Old Testament story, human kings feature large. But they all served to point towards the true, perfect, humble King.  This Christmas, how can we recognise again the kingship of Jesus in our lives? 

True Temple
True Temple

What are we doing talking about Temples two weeks before Christmas?! What significance does the Temple have in the story of God's relationship with humanity, and how is it relevant to Christmas? Oh, and, do you think we've really been putting something in the coffee?

True Israel
True Israel

The story of Jesus is the story of God’s true son. When Jesus is born as we prelude the Christmas story we see the one coming who resonates with the story of the nation of Israel but who is the one who will fulfil God’s heart to bless all nations. 

Testament

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For many people the Old Testament is literally a closed book. Yet for Jesus himself, and the early Church, it was their scripture. Jesus quotes the Old Testament often, as do Paul and the other New testament writers. Yet for may of us today there seems to be a disconnect between ‘the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ and the requirements of God as he appears in the Old Testament. How should we read this book?

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Love Your Neighbour
Love Your Neighbour

Who is my neighbour?

The Old Testament gives extraordinary teaching about ‘who is my neighbour’ (not just my family, clan, tribe) and what it means to love our neighbour, throughout its pages. Ultimately the Old Testament ties together love for God with practical living and love toward other human beings, most perfectly taught and demonstrated in the life of Jesus.

Love the Lord your God
Love the Lord your God

The ten commandments can be summed up (as Jesus sums up the Law) in ‘Love God, and ‘Love your neighbour’. Human beings thrive when they know God, shun idols and embrace worship (and rest from the pursuit of material/spiritual idols) at the core of their lives.

Why and how to read the Old Testament
Why and how to read the Old Testament

For many people the Old Testament is literally a closed book. Yet for Jesus himself, and the early Church, it was their scripture. Jesus quotes the Old Testament often, as do Paul and the other New testament writers. Yet for may of us today there seems to be a disconnect between ‘the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ and the requirements of God as he appears in the Old Testament. How should we read this book?