A community that speaks:A talk by Helen Thorne-Allenson at the BCUK Growing a Culture of Care event in Bournemouth, November 2025.Chapters00:00The Importance of Community and Love09:12Understanding and Supporting Struggles17:57Practical Ways to Help25:48The Role of Scripture in Healing36:04Building a Supportive Church Community

A community that loves:A talk by Steve Midgley at the BCUK Growing a Culture of Care event in Bournemouth, November 2025.Chapters00:00Introduction to Ephesians 403:05Living a Life Worthy of the Calling05:57The Struggles of Church Life09:07The Nature of Trouble in Our Lives11:48The Call to Care and Cure15:01God's Transformative Work in Us17:52The Foundation of Love in the Church21:01Growing in Knowledge of God's Love23:58Reflecting God's Love in Community26:58The Pursuit of Maturity in the Church29:49Serving One Another in Love32:59The Importance of Unity and Diversity36:02The Call to Serve Like Christ39:05Living Out the Put Off, Put On Principle42:03Speaking the Truth in Love44:58Conclusion and Prayer

In this conversation, Ste Casey discusses the challenging topic of unanswered prayer, sharing personal experiences and insights from his book 'I Prayed and Nothing Changed.' He explores the emotional turmoil that comes with praying for change and feeling unheard, emphasising the importance of wrestling with God in prayer and recognising his presence in our pain. The discussion highlights the risks of abandoning faith during difficult times and encourages listeners to seek a deeper relationship with God, even amidst unanswered prayers.Buy the book here: https://uk.10ofthose.com/product/9781645072218/i-prayed-and-nothing-changed-paperbackChapters00:00Introduction to Unanswered Prayer08:08The Experience of Unanswered Prayer12:20The Risks of Doubt and Abandonment17:00God's Work in Our Pain21:51Wrestling with God in Prayer28:35Encouragement for the Broken

In this episode of BCUK's To The Heart podcast, hosts Helen Thorne-Allenson, Steve Midgley, and Andrew McKenna discuss the importance of preaching to the heart. They explore the concept of the heart in biblical terms, the challenges of addressing diverse hearts in a congregation, and the role of community in preaching. The conversation emphasizes the need for preachers to engage the heart throughout the sermon, from the introduction to the conclusion, and highlights the significance of illustrations and sermon structure. The hosts also address the balance between faithful exposition and heart engagement, the impact of preparation on preaching, and the importance of follow-up after sermons.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Preaching to the Heart02:53 Understanding the Heart in Preaching05:56 The Challenge of Preaching to Diverse Hearts08:54 The Role of Community in Preaching11:40 Engaging the Heart Throughout the Sermon14:37 The Importance of Illustrations17:35 Structuring a Sermon to Engage Hearts20:19 Concluding a Sermon Effectively23:32 Faithful Exposition vs. Heart Engagement26:11 The Impact of Preparation on Preaching29:09 Follow-Up After Preaching

In this episode of the 'to the heart' podcast, Helen Thorne-Allenson, Andrew McKenna, and Nicola Eggertsen explore the profound impact of singing on the heart and spiritual life. They discuss how singing serves as a means of heart change, the importance of various musical genres in worship, and the role of the Holy Spirit in enhancing our singing experience. The conversation emphasizes the communal aspect of singing, the need for thoughtful leadership in worship, and the balance between emotional engagement and biblical truth. The hosts also address the challenges faced by music directors and the importance of prayer in fostering a vibrant worship culture.Takeaways:Singing is a fundamental aspect of human experience and worship.It helps in heart change by embedding biblical truths.Singing can be a response to wayward hearts, guiding them back to God.Different genres of music serve various emotional and spiritual needs.The Holy Spirit actively works through our singing to teach and remind us of God's truths.Leading singing should be an act of worship, not a performance.Avoiding emotional manipulation is crucial in worship settings.Introducing songs thoughtfully can enhance congregational engagement.Congregational singing is a communal activity that strengthens the body of Christ.Praying for music leaders is essential for a healthy worship culture.Chapters:00:00Introduction to Singing and the Heart02:32The Role of Singing in Heart Change08:46Singing in Response to Wayward Hearts13:34Genres of Music in Worship19:43The Holy Spirit's Role in Singing24:02Leading Singing to Engage Hearts30:02Avoiding Manipulation in Worship33:47Introducing Songs Thoughtfully37:30Encouraging Congregational Engagement41:22Prayers for Music Directors and Congregations