Balham Vineyard Church Podcasts

What was it about the temple scene that pushed Jesus to the absolute limit? What set him off? Why was he so willing to risk his life all for the sake of prayer? Viv takes us back to the temple courts of Jesus' day and walks us through what Jesus saw; the alienation, the discrimination, sexism, and exploitation. All of these things literal barriers put in place by the sinful hearts of men to keep people from the presence of God. And what Jesus saw were the very things he came to dismantle. He would do anything to ensure his brothers and sisters the privilege of his Father's presence. Today, these very same concepts come to disconnect us from God, but Jesus made a way through the sacrifice of his body so that we might find ourselves within the Holy of Holies, face to face with our Father and Creator. "My Father's house is a house of prayer for all nations..."

Most of us are all too familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. But have we ever taken the time to break down the story and peer through the eyes of each character. It may surprise you just how much you and I are quite similar to the priest or the Levite. Join Phil as he concludes his three part series on The Heart of Obedience and challenges us with brand new insight into one of the most renowned yet overlooked parable of the gospels.

Picking up where he left off, Alexander continues his series on personal spiritual formation. Through the ancient practice of lectio divina he inspires us to look and process scripture in a whole different way. As you listen take the time to reflect on the presented passage in a peaceful place and hear what God is saying to you through the text. You'll notice the passage is read multiple times. See if something significant and altogether singular stands out to you each and every time.

If you sadly missed this past Sunday with us here's a chance for you to listen in. Hear the testimonies of Coco & Tabitha and be reminded and refortified in your faith by their compelling stories of God's pursuing love and redemptive power. He is alive. And He is making all things new!

There are often unpleasant or uncomfortable realities that as people we'd like to pretend don't exist or have any such impact on our lives, but as followers of Christ and fellow human beings shouldn't we have something to say about such injustices happening all around us? Don't we have a redemptive role to play in all of this? As Karen draws our gaze to the harsh reality of human slavery, she begs us with this same question. She kindly reminds us of God's feelings towards such evils and how we as his people get to be a part of his redemptive plan to change things. Now that we've been made aware what are we going to do about it?

The poor and marginalized have always been a people close to the heart of God. Woven throughout scripture He commands his priests, his kings, and his people to tend to the helpless, the destitute, the orphans, and the widows -- those powerless in the wake of society. In light of this what does it mean for us? How are we defending the rights of the poor and subsequently seeing their needs met? Listen in as Steve delivers a message straight from the heart of God or better yet, the "gut" of God. Find out just where the word for compassion comes from and how that affects the way we minister to the world around us today.

Over the course of this year God has been faithfully involved in and through the people and ministries of BVC. Listen in to story after story of those He has healed, pursued, revealed Himself to, and championed in their faith. This podcast is a tribute to the goodness of God more than anything else. It is singularly because of His goodness that BVC remains an efficacious and necessary instrument to and for the people of Balham, Greater London, and beyond. There is still so much more to come!

For many the word 'fear' has mostly negative connotations, and it's no wonder believers have such a hard time conceptualizing why we're instructed hundreds of times in scripture to fear the Lord. Even so, this is what we as children of God have been designed for. And if He has designed us for such things then there must be a healthy approach to it all. Join Viv as she lays out the true reality of what fearing God actually means and looks like, and how this holy fear has promises and benefits attached to it. By the end we may discover it has way more to do with God's goodness and holiness than anything else. "The fear of the Lord is not the opposite of love. It's what love is about." -Viv Bateman

In a brilliant expose, Phil links satirical stories from his own life along with biblical teaching to translate the nature of the 'obedient heart'. Through comprehensive teaching, Phil gives us a clear portrayal of what obedience practically looks like in 6 key areas of our lives -- all of which, bedrock themselves upon the linchpin of relationship. He holds true to the fact that true obedience comes out of a place of relationship and not out of empty servitude. As Jesus once spoke, "If you love me, you will keep my commands..."

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." Echoing the words of Jesus, Steve reminds us of what we're packing as followers of Christ. Just as we have freely received from the bountiful depths of God's infinite power, we've also been commissioned to release that same power for the benefits of those around us. Putting this into practice; Steve coaches us through the Biblical definition of words of knowledge and releases the congregation to participate with the Holy Spirit to give specific words and to pray over those those words are for. As a listener, if you find that any words are applicable to you, receive them as your own. God is able and willing to heal you no matter your physical locale.

Finishing up our Summer in the Psalms series, Anna & Terence drive it home with an exposition on Psalm 91. Taken from the point of view of a lover, they break down the declarative vows that God is, in fact, inviting us into a marriage type relationship where He gets to be the one that hides us, protects us, and satisfies us. Through classic American directness and vulnerability, they share from their own lives where self-sufficiency and trust in false messiahs has kept them at bay from experiencing the true fullness of their salvation through hearfelt openness and trust with Christ.

The awesome SP and Addison dive into Psalm 73 today unpacking how this Psalm impacts our lives today.

Phil finished our series on 'Born Identity' with a brilliantly visual and practical talk on how to walk out your identity and to keep putting on your true identity. Using some data on values, a powerpoint presentation, an easel and several T-shirts this was a powerful and inspiring sermon.

After two weeks away in Turkey, Steve brings us first-hand accounts of what it would've been like to visit 1st century Ephesus. We find that in many ways modern day London mirrors what Ephesus in Paul's day would've been like. And if Paul, one man, was able to turn a city upside-down with the gospel what does that mean for us? Can we also be a force for dramatic social change -- upsetting the forces of oppression in our land and beyond?

Wrapping up our series on Born Identity -- Hannah McLean dives into Paul's notable passage on spiritual warfare and the armor of God. She cleverly draws our attention to the reality that Jesus is, in fact, our armor, and when clothed with him, we are prepared to stand against the schemes of the enemy.

Charlie continued our series from Ephesians and gave a stunning talk of how we are to live out our born identity. We then wrote and nailed to the cross our sin, shame, past, pain and areas of unforgiveness, before taking communion together.

After a fun and exciting weekend away, Viv welcomes us back into our series on identity with a pair of fresh eyes. She eloquently unpacks Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 -- drawing light to the omnipotent power of God which can do immeasurably more than all we ask or can even imagine.

Steve talks about Jesus washing His disciples as a model of us serving one another and bringing life to the city

Alexander talks about the importance of refuelling in order to fulfil all that God has called us to fulfil. He gives us practical ways of connecting with God regularly including leading us in the Daily Examen.

Karen talks from Isaiah 6 (Rev 4, 5) and paints a picture of the King on the throne and talks about worship being our highest priority - that through worship we see the King for who he is, and by spending time in his presence, we become like him, more effective at what we do, and receive what we need to be sent out.