Ivy Church

What does the call of God look like for you? What does God see in you that you can't even see in yourself? Elisha was "a man outstanding in his field" but it took a Hero Maker to set his new trajectory for greatness. See here Elisha's humble beginnings, knowing that he, like us, was made for greater things! God has a unique call for every person within his master plan. The question is, how do we discover what that is? This talk is given by Tim Burr, one of our Hero Making leaders at Ivy, follow with him in 1 Kings 19:19-end - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19-21&version=NIV

This week we’re in 1 Kings 19:1-18. Elijah has just seen fire fall from heaven, he’s seen victory over the prophets of Baal and he’s prophesied and seen the rain fall to end the 3.5 year drought. But despite the miraculous things Elijah has seen, it takes one threat from his enemies for him to go from being on top of the world, into a place of deep discouragement, depression and despair. Elijah is down, but he’s not out. However far we run, however bad things may seem, however far out of reach God’s plans may seem; God does not abandon us. Through Elijah’s story we see, through God’s grace, how he gives us a way out, an opportunity of life, liberty and freedom from the things that hold us in a place of despair.

This week's talk is given by Hannah Bettany, site leader at Ivy Sharston. Here, Hannah looks at 1 Kings 18:1-39. You can follow with the readings from this talk here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+18%3A1-39&version=MSG Here at Ivy we want to see God's power released through God's power, but what's your reaction to the Summer of Miracles? In this message Hannah shows three responses to God's miracle power, maybe it feels uncomfortable, maybe it feels like it's all on you, Hannah's talk will help you see that it is all God! Listen, be encouraged and we pray that for the miracle you're trusting for that the fire of God will fall and see those things happen!

This is the second week in our series looking at Elijah and Elisha in the Summer Of Miracles. Here, Ivy Didsbury Site Leader Matt Round talks about the risks that are worth taking. The passage that we're following is 1 Kings 17:7-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2017:7-16&version=NIV Matt explains from the story how true generosity always has an element of risk, but when we step out that's where God's miracle power so often meets us. When listening to this there's an opportunity to take the step of faith in Jesus and Matt helps us see some of what that means, as that is the greatest miracle that can ever happen!

Don't Fall Away - Ivy Central Evening Service by Ivy Church Podcast

Summer of Miracles! We are so excited to be starting a new series with you looking at Elijah in 1 and 2 Kings in the Bible. You can follow with Anthony in 1 Kings 17 here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+kings+17%3A1-6&version=NIRV Anthony explains the context of these verses in helpful depth and clarity before delivering a passionate and powerful message imploring us to see what God is doing and saying NOW and what He is doing NEXT. This is a new series we are so excited about. We're entering a new series and entering into new things as present future people, with a greater awareness of God. This is an extremely important message, one that will set up so much of what God will speak to us throughout this summer, listen in and listen closely!

This talk is the last in our series journeying through the book of James. This has been so timely for so many throughout lockdown and the resources we've been using to follow in Ivy Grow Groups has been so valuable. If you're interested in going deeper midweek with one of our groups, visit https://ivychurch.org/growgroupfinder/ This week we're looking at James 5:13-20, which you can follow here https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A13-20&version=NIV James has led us to look at many tests that we face, and ends with the Prayer Test, whatever situation we're in, good or bad, James implores us to keep on praying. The prayer test, Anthony explains, may not necessarily be whether or not we get the answer we want, but that we persevere and keep on praying. Not giving up on prayer, not giving up on God.

This weeks message from James 5:7-12 is all about patience. You can follow along with Anthony at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A7-12&version=NIV This last week marked 100 days of lockdown, we've needed to learn patience and perseverance. Anthony in this message speaks about the journey it has been through James up to this point and the very real desire we have to meet again but also the word from God again this week from James is this - patience. Anthony opens up the passage James and draws out two points that we ought NOT to do if we want to be more patient and helps us see how God Himself is patient and what exactly it is that we're really waiting for.

Anthony here continues in our series from the book of James https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A1-6&version=NIV looking at what James says about money. Anthony refers to it as a litmus test, a visible demonstration of whether you really do love and live for and serve God, or mammon, and Jesus said you cannot do both. This is a challenging message but a very important one, the talk ends with the ‘Money Test’. We pray that God uses this message to encourage and speak to you today!

In this talk Anthony helps us to see the manner in which the wise and the foolish make plans. We’re continuing in our series on the book of James as well as in the gospels at Luke 12:16-21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A16-21&version=NIV We hope that this talk helps you refocus on the things that God says matter most and will last forever.

In this talk Anthony shows us 3 battlegrounds from James 4:1-12 that we are going to fight on, sin the world and the devil. You can follow with the talk here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james+4%3A1-12&version=NIV This talk may really help you in this difficult season to identify these battlegrounds in your own life and help you to stand strong.

In this talk Anthony helps us see what James (Jesus' half-brother) would describe as 'True Wisdom' and help us to grow in true wisdom that comes from above by revelation rather than earthly, unspiritual and demonic wisdom coming from below. Let us not seek to be wise in our own eyes but rather live with God's wisdom, true wisdom. Join us in James 3:13-18 at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A13-&version=NIV

This talk from Anthony is sure to challenge and help you navigate what it looks like to begin to train and tame your tongue. We're praying as you listen that the Holy Spirit will help change our hearts, and that the outworking of that would be shown in what comes out of our mouths. You can follow with us in the Bible in James 3:1-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A1-12&version=NIV

This talk looked at the passage in James 2:14-26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-&version=NIV There is a real challenge in this message, so much of the book of James is about calling us to a greater level of lived faith than simply knowing the right words, there's a call here to couple our faith with action. This talk from Anthony will help you to see what James would consider True Faith looks like.

Our series in James has been so timely for many of us in what we're going through at this time as well as having much insight to help us navigate this time. You can follow with Anthony here in James 2:1-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A1-13&version=NIV In this talk we're confornted with how we can hold prejudices as well as how we can prefer certain people but as Anthony notes here - character trumps gifts every time. Have a listen and allow Jesus to speak to you about what prejudices you have.

We do not want to be hearers of the Word only and so deceive ourselves. We want to be doers of the Word! Anthony says here that his prayer is to be quick to listen to others and to God. This is a timely message and we pray that it helps you practically as you listen to others and weigh your words. THINK - Is what you're saying True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind? Follow with Anthony here at James 1:19-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A19-&version=NIV

Our second week in the series on James is looking in chapter 1 verses 13-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A13-18&version=NIV In this talk Anthony speaks on temptation, on the source of temptation, the seduction of temptation and the solution to temptation. We are confident that this message will both be a challenge to you as well as being a significant encouragement for you wherever you are at today.

This was our first talk in the series starting looking at the book of James - 'God's Promise Under Pressure'. This talk came in a moment of pain for our church grieving a beloved member of our church. This talk is certain to encourage you whatever your circumstances are and whatever trials you are facing. Anthony mentions in this talk a children's book he reads to his granddaughter, the refrain in the book is - "we can't go over it, we can't go under it. Oh no! We have to go through it!" We're praying for you as you listen to it that it helps you find perseverance whatever you're going through at this time. Follow with us in James 1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A1-12&version=NIV

It's the best news ever! JESUS IS ALIVE! This talk from Easter Sunday will help you see again or for the first time the significance of Easter. Follow along at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16&version=NIV If you come to believe this one thing that Jesus is alive, you then see that nothing is impossible!

In the police Anthony saw the amazing power of crowds, what crowd are you in and what are you carrying with you in those crowds? Continuing the look at the Church that Acts, this talk from Palm Sunday looked at how important it is that we are devoted to fellowship and the importance of supporting and caring for one another.