Sunday Sermons - Reality Church London

“Who wants to live forever?” asked the band Queen a few years ago without much hope of an answer. But many years before Queen, the King of Kings stood on this earth and said that he is living bread that came down from heaven and whoever eats will live forever.

In John 6:34-51, we look at the person who offers life that satisfies forever. We’ll be feeding deeply on the spiritual nourishment of knowing Jesus, Bread from Heaven.

What is it that you are looking to as you seek out a life of meaning, purpose and wholeness? What are the things of which you say, “If I can just get that, then I know I’m okay”?

This Mercy Sunday, Pastor Bijan preaches from John 5 where we see a story of a man who experiences the powerful healing of Jesus Christ. Through this story, we’ll see how Jesus invites you to lay down your striving and to rest in him as the ultimate healer of your soul.

The Rolling Stones can't get no satisfaction even though they try and they try and they try. Everyone is seeking something to satisfy the ache in their soul.

As we look at John chapter 4, we meet a woman thirsty for meaning, friendship and love who encounters Jesus and finds her whole life transformed. Jesus offers everyone the water of life, the truest satisfaction our souls could ever hope for.

In John 3, Jesus Christ has a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus is an upstanding member of his society, a religious and moral example. It is to this man that Jesus says, “You must be born again.” That may be the most radical thing Jesus ever said, and he says it to you too.

We continue in our “Seeing Jesus” series as Pastor Bijan teaches us what it means for our lives that Jesus is more than a teacher: he’s the giver of new life.

Every action Jesus takes in Scripture reveals something about His identity. Pastor Obed Brefo of Kings Cross Church in San Diego shows us what is revealed about Christ in one of Jesus' most controversial actions found in John 2:13-25.

Who is Jesus Christ? That may be the most important question you are ever asked. As author A.W. Tozer observed, what comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you. This autumn, our sermon series will be focused on Seeing Jesus.

This week Pastor Bijan preaches from John 2 where we see that Jesus Christ is the bringer of true, lasting joy; joy that will never run out.

How should we view our leaders? And what does it say about our maturity? In 1 Corinthians 3:1-19 we discover more about our role in the church, our maturity, and why God is the one who truly brings about our growth.

Where is God, when other people let you down? How does the gospel enable us to press forward in the face of significant change and even disappointment? Finishing our series through 2 Timothy, we explore how the presence of God changes the way we face the challenges ahead of us as individuals and as a community.

And as we finish this series, we also come to Pastor Tim Chaddick’s final sermon at Reality Church London, and he charges us, as Paul did for Timothy, to always remember the Gospel in both word and deed.

What is good Bible preaching? And why is it essential for us to hear it? How does it shape the way we communicate with the world around us? In 2 Timothy 4:1-8 we explore why preaching matters for the church and what it means for all our lives personally.

What does it mean to live a life of righteousness? How do we become wise for salvation through Jesus? How do we get thoroughly equipped to serve God in love and good works every day? In 2 Timothy 3:14-17, we learn how to handle God’s word: to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Holy Scriptures so we know and live for Christ each day.

How do the desires of our lives shape the direction of our lives? And what do the things we love tell us about our spiritual condition? From 2 Timothy, we learn about the danger of disordered loves and how the gospel reorders the desires of our hearts.

In this talk, Pastor Tim Chaddick shares a church community announcement, what it means for the next season of the church and encouragement from Colossians 4 about what it means to be faithful in ministry for us all.

The Bible tells us that we all have a call to be useful for God's purposes. But what are those purposes? And how can we live into them? Continuing our series on discipleship we explore how handling God's truth is the key to how we handle our lives and become useful for His purposes.

It is possible to become spiritually dull and burned out without realising it. How can we keep from drifting and make sure we keep on growing? How can we become strong and resilient in our faith?

Faithfulness is a severely underappreciated but absolutely essential quality for each one of us to possess. But why? What is it about the nature of the Christian life that makes faithfulness so important? And how can we become faithful people? We explore through the Book of 2 Timothy how the gospel of Jesus both calls us to a faithful life and empowers us for it.

What does it mean to be unashamed of the gospel? In 2 Timothy 1:8-12, we explore Paul's powerful words about living out of conviction and without the fear of other people's opinions.

Who is the most significant influence in your life? And how are you influencing the people who watch your life? According to the Bible, a disciple is one who follows Jesus as their chief influence and helps others to do the same. We begin a new series on discipleship through the New Testament book of 2 Timothy by exploring these questions.

If you know how a story ends, it changes the way you experience the journey. In the Christian life, there will be troubles, hardship and adversity, but the good news is that we know how the story will end. This hope changes the way we face our trials now. We conclude our series through the Book of Job as we learn about God’s good purposes for our lives.

If you had face to face time with God right now, how do you think the conversation would go? Condemnation? Explanation? Instead, Job experiences a God of revelation. As we continue our series through the Book of Job we learn about God’s presence with us in the storms of life.

According to Christianity, hope is not wishful thinking or vague optimism. Christian hope is active, powerful and grounded in the truth about God. What does living in hope look like in times of trial and adversity? Today we continue to digest what is going on in our world through the Book of Job.

In this episode, Tim Chaddick is joined by Anthony Ogunbowale, the founder of GOODFRUIT and who works at the intersection of technology, culture and brand marketing. Our chat today is about the importance of connecting external influence to internal growth, how abiding in Christ is key to cultural influence and how good habits keep us focused.

 In this sermon we hear from God's Word about confronting racism and injustice, His righteous love and how the church can be a prophetic voice in this moment.

The best way to learn about faith in hard times is not in a classroom but a community. But what happens when our dialogue becomes debate? What does the Bible teach us about navigating difficult conversations about faith with our friends? We explore how the Book of Job shapes our understanding of how to live by faith in uncertain times.

In a time of social distancing, how can we find comfort for ourselves in community? How can we be a source of encouragement to others? We explore the themes of friendship, comfort and community through the ancient story of Job and how it points us to the comfort of God.

When we face adversity, we must endure. But how? As we continue to explore the power of faith through the Old Testament Book of Job, we discover how the Bible’s teachings on faith empowers us to keep pressing on during trials.

How do we face adversity in a way that doesn't destroy us but transforms us? Addressing the theme of God's goodness in the midst of grief, the Book of Job grapples with the big questions of life the same way we do today - through experience and conversation. Job teaches us to wrestle honestly with the adversity while looking to the ultimate hope found in the person of Jesus Christ. Today we begin our journey through this powerful story.

How can we make plans in times of difficulty? Where do we find security amid uncertainty? We conclude this short series by exploring what the Bible teaches about making plans in an uncertain world.

How do we navigate grief and loss, especially in these times? How does the Christian faith offer hope and strength? In this episode of Great Question, Host Andrew Baughen is joined by Professor John Wyatt author of Dying Well, Dr Dawn Hobson, a researcher in palliative care and Faye Martin who gives a personal testimony of caring for a family with a terminal illness.

What is the difference between solitude and isolation? What good is journaling during a pandemic? And why are we starting to hate Zoom meetings? In this episode, Tim Chaddick is joined by Ellie Jackson-Smith, a member of the Reality London community, to explore what can happen when we are alone with God and how it can bring health to our heart.

Does prayer matter in times like these? What does praying even accomplish, and how should we go about practising prayer? In this talk, we explore a powerful prayer in the Book of Acts and how it shapes our the way we approach God in times of difficulty.

What kind of hope do we have? What kind of hope should we have? Andrew Baughen compares and contrasts popular versions of hope with the think that comes from the message about Jesus.

In this time of lockdown and physical isolation, the question of our habits, rhythms, and practices come into sharp focus. What kind of habits will bring life? How does Christian faith develop new and redemptive patterns in life? 

Why are people searching the internet to learn about prayer in times of crisis? Why is Christian prayer so unique? And how does the Lord’s Prayer help us deal with our fears? In this episode Pastor Tim Chaddick is join by Al Abdulla, Founding Pastor of Reality Church Boston, as they unpack the discipline of prayer.

How does God provide us with power and direction in times of crisis? What does it mean to be a community dependent on the Holy Spirit in this season? We continue our Sundays Online by looking at the promise of the Spirit in the Book of Acts 1:1-8

Great Question is hosted by Andrew Baughen, who connects the curious questions of our culture to the truths of Christian faith. This resource will not only be helpful to those in the church but can also be shared with those who are exploring Christianity for themselves as they try to navigate through such confusing times. 

Rhythms for Life is a new weekly audio resource with Pastor Tim Chaddick, which helps us think through what spiritual disciplines are, how they work, and why they matter, especially for this moment of crisis. Each week will also feature a guest who will help us learn through their personal experiences of growth and encourage us in our work through best practices for our daily lives. Listen to the introduction episode today by heading to our resources page or subscribing to our podcast here.

To help us find our bearings and learn how to navigate this unprecedented moment in our history, we are breaking from our current series to do a short series in the Book of Acts. And as we do, our hope is that we would discover the power of faith in this uncertain world. 

Being a Christian is not only about believing in God but also about experiencing God. Why is that? What does prayer have to do with it? As we continue our series through the Book of Ephesians we learn about what it means to know and experience the love of God in our lives.

The problem with our ambitions, according to the Bible, is not that they're too high but too low. This statement might be surprising, but it makes sense when it comes to our experience of God, as Paul describes it in the Book of Ephesians. We begin two-weeks exploring one of the great prayers of the Bible and what it means for us all.

When adversity comes to our lives, where can we find the strength to endure it? And what does the church have to do it?

In Ephesians 3:1-13 we learn how the gospel not only gives us hope as individuals but creates a community of hope in hard times.

In a divided and disconnected world, we all long for community and acceptance. But where can we find true belonging? How is it possible?

The word grace is used widely by Christians as a shorthand way to describe how God works in people's lives. But what does it actually mean? What exactly does it change about our lives? In Ephesians we discover how grace changes not only our past but also our present and future.

What is the point of prayer? For some, prayer is an unnecessary religious activity. For others, it's an optional resource for moments of need. For the Apostle Paul, however, prayer is both essential and powerfully life-changing.

Continuing our series through the Book of Ephesians, we explore the purpose and power of prayer.

In our culture, feeling blessed is a popular notion. The term is also used frequently by Christians. But, according to the Bible, what does it actually mean? How should we understand the blessing of God?

We explore the life-changing blessings of what it means to belong to God as we continue our series in the Book of Ephesians.

At the heart of Christian faith is the idea of life with God. But how do we experience this relationship? And what does it change about my identity, purpose and future?

What does it really mean to know and experience a relationship with God? How does this change the way we relate to everything else in life?

Our city is filled with the sights and sounds of the Christmas season. But have we understood the surprising truth of the Christmas story? What does the nativity reveal about God? How does it bring us hope and joy?

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? For some, that’s a joyful question. For others, it might be a painful one. Pastor Al Abdulla from Reality Church Boston explains why Advent brings the greatest gift we could ever receive.

When your future seems unclear, how should you respond? Where do we find hope in seasons of waiting, and what does this have to do with Christian faith? As we begin the Advent season, we explore how the promises of God find their fulfilment in the person of Jesus.

Why is it so important to keep on praying? How should we pray? What can we expect to happen when we do? We explore the prayers woven throughout the Book of Ruth and what they teach us about why prayer matters.

Your perspective on your circumstances will determine how you live within them. What keeps our view from becoming toxic? How does the gospel change our perspective in a way that gives hope and strength?

Many like the idea of community but the reality is often quite different. How does the gospel re-shape our expectations of community? And how can we experience powerful change within community? We continue to explore redemptive relationships through the story of Ruth.

Whether it's through friends, romantic interests or family, we all long for some kind of acceptance, security and rest. How is this longing for rest fulfilled in a relationship with God? How does resting in God transform the way we relate to others? As we continue our journey in the Old Testament Book of Ruth we explore what it means to find rest in God.

It has been said that the difference between Christianity and all other belief systems can be summed up in one little word: Grace. But what does grace tell us about God? And how does it change our lives? We explore a story of remarkable grace as we continue our series through the Book of Ruth.

Whether you realise it or not, your character is impacting the lives of others. How does Christian faith cause our character to become an influence that is redemptive, not destructive? How does this shape the choices we make each day? We explore the importance of kindness and character through the story of Ruth.

Sometimes life can become bitter. But how can we avoid becoming bitter? How can we face adversity in a way that does not destroy us but transforms us? As we continue our series through the Book of Ruth, we explore how the gospel heals resentment in our lives.

Why would an ancient story of kindness matter to the current issues we are facing today? What is it about the Bible's description of kindness that makes it so essential? As we continue our new series through the Book of Ruth, we discover the power of kindness and how the gospel produces it in our lives.

In times of uncertainty, confusion and doubt, where do we look to make sense of it all? Where do we find direction? Where can we find hope? 

On the surface, the Book of Ruth is a story of courage against the odds, kindness amid chaos, generosity in a time of scarcity. Beyond this is a story of faith, how one woman finds her hope and healing in the bigger story of God. And her life becomes our lesson, showing us how we can find our place in God's story and what happens in us and through us when we do.

What does it mean to be free? What is true freedom? And how can we know and experience it? We discover in the letter of Galatians how the Bible defines freedom and how the good news about Jesus brings it about in our lives.

How do we find guidance in life? What determines your decisions? According to the Bible, we are neither the captain of our souls nor a captive to our circumstances. We're guided by a good God.

In a city like London, many people are assessed and valued by how talented and gifted they are. But the Christian understanding of giftedness is radically different. It is also wonderfully liberating.

In Ephesians 4:4-16 we seek to understand what the Bible says about spiritual gifts and why they are unique, essential and completely connected to the good news of Jesus.

The Christian life can sometimes sound like it's all about memorising information, monitoring our behaviour and making sure we busy ourselves with church activities. But Christianity is not merely about adopting particular practices. It's about knowing and experiencing the dynamic and personal presence of God. If we find ourselves being burned out, weary and joy-less, there is good news for us. This empowering presence is exactly what Jesus promised to everyone who trusts in him.

How many of our prayers are like shopping lists or ‘complaints to the manager’? Philippians 1 sets us straight. It all begins with love. It always has.

What does it mean to pray in the Spirit at all times? And how is this related to the spiritual battle the bible teaches us we all face? When our enemy's aim is to wound our heart, we need to be equipped with right weapons and defences to stand against him. The Apostle Paul teaches us what these are and how prayer is the key to it all.

What is essential to grow as a Christian? What should we be praying for ourselves and others as we seek to live out our faith? In a time where there is an abundance of self-help books, we need to be reminded of what the bible teaches us about this.

What is usually the focus of your prayers? What does this say about what's important to you? Reflecting on this may surprise us, especially if we compare our prayers to the Apostle Paul's. He gives us a model for prayer that focusses on our deepest needs.

Whether we realise it or not, our lives influence and impact the lives of others. The question is, how are we using our influence? According to the Bible, a disciple of Jesus helps other people to follow Jesus. The gospel both influences us and empowers us to influence others.

Who is the most significant influence in your life? And how are you influencing the people who watch your life? Every one of us follows someone or something to give us meaning and purpose; the only question is who or what are you following? The answer to this will shape your identity, your character and your future.

What does the way we view money say about ourselves? And why is this issue so connected to what we believe about God and life?

Our relationship with emotions is complicated. On the one hand, some of us seem to be masters over our emotions, careful not to wear our passions on our sleeves. On the other hand, some of us can seem controlled by our emotions, assuming that our feelings alone guide us in life.

How does faith enable us to understand our emotional life? And why is this understanding a crucial part of Christian growth?

The community of the church offers so many joys, but not without its challenges. How do we navigate those challenges and live in community well? How is the gospel key to wise community?

Humility is perhaps one of the most undervalued virtues, while pride is one of our most underestimated enemies. How does the gospel cultivate humility and kill off pride in our lives?

What makes friendships so important to the direction our lives take? And how are good friendships made and maintained?

The Book of Proverbs transforms our ideas about friendships by grounding them in relationship with God.

Where should I work? Who should I marry? Where should I live? These questions and more often fill our hearts with anxiety in a world of endless options. What does the Bible say about God's will and our choices? How do we learn to make wise decisions?

We explore Proverbs to find where decision-making wisdom comes from and what it has to do with our faith. 

What is it about our words that create such an impact? And how can we ensure that the impact is good?

We discover how the book of Proverbs re-shapes the way think about our words and leads us to the good word of God's grace.

Our everyday choices are more important than we may realise. How do we face daily decisions in a way that helps, not harms, our character?

From Proverbs 6;1-19, we learn the profound role of the warnings and wisdom of God in shaping who we become. 

According to many, wisdom is about life hacks and top tips for success in life. But what if it was more than that? What if true wisdom was about understanding our desires and motives and what to do with them?

With all the decisions that lie before us each day, how can we be sure to make the right ones? How can we become wise in our choices?

The Book of Proverbs shows us how to get wisdom in a way that is both practical and powerful.

Wise people are not born, they are made. But how? We begin our series through Proverbs by exploring what wisdom is, who it is for and where it comes from.

This Easter Sunday, we discover how the Resurrection of Christ transforms every aspect of our lives. After our service, we celebrated several people being baptised. This podcast begins with a testimony of how one of those who was baptised who experienced the transformational power of the Resurrection.

As Jesus makes His final approach to Jerusalem in Luke 18:31-42, He encounters a culture unable to see its need for mercy. However, on the road He meets a blind man who is able to see His need. In this story, we discover how seeing our own need for God’s mercy causes us to live mercifully to the world around us.

In our culture, feeling #blessed is a popular notion. The term is also used frequently by Christians. But, according to the Bible, what does it actually mean? How should we understand the blessing of God?

Whether we realise it or not, the direction and health of our lives can be shaped by the habits in our lives. How can we avoid destructive patterns? And how does Christian faith develop new and redemptive habits that make us strong in life?

The future can either be a cause for concern or a reason for hope; it all depends on what we expect is going to happen. 

What does the Bible teach about our expectations about the future? And what type of person will I become now if I believe these things are true?

When past failures starve our dreams of what we want to achieve or wrong motivations steer us off course, what is the way forward? What does the Bible say about our goals and how can our ambitions be put to work in the way God intends?

Why does the Bible address things like sexual ethics? What is the connection between what we believe about God and the way behave toward others in areas like this?

In 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 we explore how knowing God's design for the way we live our lives leads to true freedom and flourishing.

In prayer, we discover more deeply who God is, who we are, and how God changes us. But what exactly is prayer? And how do we integrate prayer into our everyday lives?

In 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 we examine the example of the Apostle Paul’s prayer for his friends and what it means for us.

We live in a world where authentic friendship and community seem hard to find, and even harder to maintain. How can we cultivate friendships that are trustworthy and true? And what keeps them from becoming transient or even toxic?

In 1 Thessalonians 3:1-9 we see how faith transforms our idea of friendship and our very lives in the process.

When trouble comes to our lives, where can we find the strength to endure it? More than that, how can we face difficulty in a way that doesn't destroy us but transforms us?

We continue our series through 1 Thessalonians and discover how the gospel actually creates resilient people.

In a culture often defined by disconnection and loneliness, where can we find examples of what strong community can be? And where do we find the resources to be a part of it?

Continuing our series in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, we find a model of gospel-centred community, balancing both truth and love, and what that means for our lives.

Though many long to see change in the world around us, what kind of change needs to take place within us? And how can we know we are changing in the way we should?

From 1 Thessalonians, we discover the signs of true change and how the gospel brings it about, in and through us.

In a restless and conflicted world, how can we cultivate an authentic and healthy spiritual life? How does the good news about Jesus bring life to every area of life?

We begin a new series by looking at 1 Thessalonians 1:1-4 exploring how the gospel brings about faith, love and hope.

Does it really matter where Christians live, work and gather? What difference does it make?

In Titus 3:1-8 we explore why the presence of the church matters, why your presence matters, and what priorities we must embrace to not only bring good news to our neighbours but experience personal transformation along the way.

We all long for friendship and community, and yet there is a rise in individualism and isolation within our culture. In what way does Jesus not only transform our idea of community, but also the very core of our own lives? 

With a new year comes new opportunities– and new obstacles. How we face them all is a matter of priorities. What are some of the priorities of the Christian life and how can they be practised?

We begin the first few weeks of 2019 by exploring key passages in the New Testament on what it means to be a follower of Jesus, seeking the renewal of our city.

As we look to the year ahead, what reason do we have to hope? In the face of pain in our own worlds and the world around us, how do we hold onto the hope that the gospel offers us?

As we end our year and look to the one to come, we see how God responds to the questions we hold within, and calls us to hope in Him alone.

The gospel writers describe the arrival of the son of God as light overcoming darkness. In what way is our world in darkness? And how is the coming of Jesus in the world and our lives a light that darkness cannot overcome?

As we continue our advent series in John 1, we discover what the arrival of Jesus means for the world and for our lives.

What does the familiar story of Christ’s birth teach us about our truest needs and God’s grace? Our Advent series continues in Matthew 1:17-25 exploring how the Christmas story is not about inspirational principles, but life-changing news. 

In a culture where running on empty is not only the norm but the expectation, we realise our need for rest. But what if true rest is about more than changing busy schedules? How do we change busy hearts?

Continuing our Advent series in 2 Samuel, we discover how the arrival of Jesus transforms our hearts and how we rest.

In the Bible, God makes staggering and extraordinary promises. And yet, in a world of so many broken promises and unmet expectations, we may wonder what makes him any different. Why should we trust him? And what happens when we do?

As we begin our Advent series, we look at Genesis 12:1-9 and discover why the coming of Jesus is essential to understanding the promises we read in the Bible.