If You Want To Check Out Ivy’s Music…

These amazing guys are just some of of our fabulous musicians, regularly helping people find their way back to God through using their gifts at Ivy Church – as well as finding many other outlets to turn places into parties wherever they are. We’ve come a long way since All Things Bright And Beautiful, but they actually are very bright, very beautiful people who I love lots. Treat your ears!

How the gospel can go viral like the Ice Bucket Challenge

This is my talk from our recent baptism service at Ivy, where I looked at the Ice Bucket challenge and drew out its lessons for leaders and churches committed to helping people find their way back to God. It followed 5 scheduled baptisms; some breathtaking stories of life change with Jesus as the star of every story – after the talk a number of people indicated that wanted to follow Him too, and then 3 more people were baptised too! (If it was good enough for the Ethiopian eunuch and Phillip…) I blogged some of the thoughts from my notes of this already on what has been one of the most read blog items I’ve ever done here if you want to look at that too, but there is more on the talk than that item. Thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoy the talk.  Let me know your thoughts?    

In Deep Water. Luke 5:1-11 @duffy_nick @ivchurchhub

How do we know what God is like? Look at Jesus- Heb 1:1-3 says Jesus is how God has spoken to us bad shown himself to us Truth is a person we know not a fact we know Everyone on the side of truth listens to Him. Nick talked about his uni days, right where he now leads a church: how he was just blowing his life till some crazy Christians set up a prayer room in Owens Park. He said yes – full on to Jesus And 3 months into that he was right on the edge of blowing it again. How does God treat people who failed? Fishermen fail a lot. Jesus stepped right into that boat. With an invitation – put out a little from shore. Matt 11:28-30 Jesus has unforced rhythms of grace for us. He chose you first remember! He knows you That’s intimacy – not information! We know him – by knowing him. By relating. Saying yes to the invitation and the challenge. Jesus takes him from observation in the shallows to participation in […]

Lucy Smith at Ivy Church – Filled to Follow

Revelation is meant to lead us into a face to face with God. To experience Him MORE. ‘We are designed to be people of ever increasing breakthrough’ Bill Johnson There is no kingdom formula It’s a relationship It’s about being filled, and following. The bible contrasts the flesh with the Spirit Go with the flesh, get the results of Gal 5:19-21 But then Jesus doesn’t just forgive us He fills us! We go from fear to freedom because the Spirit comes, like at Pentecost. The most powerful life is one that is filled and free – and fruity! Jesus went to the Father so this could happen. So we could be filled with the Holy Spirit. So are you free Are you filled Are you fruity?! How do you walk with the Spirit? 1) Read the Word It’s living, it’s active. Read it thinking – What happens there, can happen here! 2) Set your mind and intentions on things above We end up saying the craziest things in worship don’t we? Totally all out for God. Maybe that’s the real […]

I nominate YOU for this challenge – what are you going to do?

It started with one person, having water poured all over them. It was because of a disease, 3 letters sum up the disease. That person challenges other people, calls them by name. If and when that person responds, they get water poured all over them too, then they challenge their friends and family and people and people they work with maybe. And it’s like, ‘What are you going to do about this?’

Galatians 4 – @mattyhawthorne at Ivy Sharston

If you live under the law you’re inviting God to judge you on how well you keep the law. How will you do with loving God and people perfectly Parables = two things thrown down side by side Like the Pharisee and the tax collector. We pick sides quickly – it’s not so cut & dried in real life. Tax collectors did pretty well – it was a booming business. The fact that Jesus was friends with people like that said a lot about Jesus, not them. But the sinner is justified not the plaster saint Pharisee. The religious add on the list of conditions to the position of being children of God. They say ‘we are the sons of Abraham’ But Paul tells the Galatians – yes but Abraham had 2 sons – One represents law One represents promise One is the son of a slave – Ishmael. No miracle there. One is Isaac – where life came to what was dead. It’s 2 covenants – 2 ways 1) unbelief, make it happen yourself 2) trust and rest in […]