Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

In a culture that senses a transcendent reality but struggles to define it, Lead Pastor Tim Littleford kicks off a new sermon series, Essentials, exploring the ancient, foundational truths of the Apostles' Creed.

Starting with the declaration, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth," Tim addresses a fundamental human question: If God exists, what is He actually like? Drawing from a candid bedtime conversation with his daughter, insights from philosopher Francis Schaeffer, and the wisdom of Dallas Willard, this message dives into why our ideas about God shape every corner of our lives. Discover how an infinite, relational, and triune God reveals Himself—not as an abstract cosmic force, but personally through the character, grace, and love of Jesus Christ.

Key Highlights & Takeaways:

• The Problem of Existence: Why searching internally for life's ultimate purpose falls short, and why true meaning must come from the One who designed us.
• Understanding the Triune God: How the Trinity demonstrates that God is inherently relational and the ultimate source of complete, reciprocated love.
• At the Mercy of Our Ideas: How our foundational views of God—whether we assume He is distant, disappointed, or deeply loving—directly shape our identity, dignity, and worldview.
• God Revealed in Jesus: Exploring Hebrews 1 to see how God moved beyond silence to show His exact character through the mercy, justice, and sacrifice of Jesus.

Scripture References: Hebrews 1:1–3, Romans 1:19–20

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Angus Green

In this moving message at Encounter Church Henley, guest speaker Angus Green tackles one of the most raw and challenging topics in the Christian walk: healing and suffering. Angus shares his personal story of watching his mother miraculously recover from breast cancer—only to face the heartbreak of its aggressive return and her passing when he was just 13 years old.

Through his own journey with grief, anger, and spiritual wrestling, Angus addresses the damaging lie that "a lack of healing is caused by a lack of faith." Drawing from the Old Testament story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, as well as the life of Job, Angus explores how God desires encounter over transaction. This message is an invitation to stop trying to dictate terms to God, lay down our need for control, and discover how His presence can transform us—even in the midst of unfulfilled prayers.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• Personal Testimony & Grief: Angus’s story of navigating his mother's cancer journey and processing the pain of unsaid answers to prayer.
• Debunking the "Faith Formula" Myth: Why a lack of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing is not a reflection of poor faith, insufficient prayers, or a lack of God's love.
• Lessons from Naaman (2 Kings 5): How military general Naaman almost missed his miracle because he tried to receive healing on his own prideful terms rather than through surrender and obedience.
• God’s Power vs. God’s Presence: Understanding that while God's power can change our outer circumstances, His presence has the ultimate power to change us from within.
• Moving Away from Transactional Faith: Breaking free from the mindset of viewing God like a subscription service where "more prayers equal guaranteed breakthrough."
• Navigating Suffering with Job: Looking at how Scripture frames suffering, testing, and trust when life completely falls apart.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley welcomes Guest Preacher: Nathan Pullman

In this inspiring message at Encounter Church Henley, guest speaker Nathan Pullman (Pastor at Waypoint United Church) shares a humorous yet deeply moving insight from a bathtub moment that changed his life—and brought him together with his wife, Darcy.

Drawing from the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, Nathan explores why God doesn't just want our ears or our task lists—He wants a deep, loving relationship with all of us. If you’ve been feeling burnt out, distracted by urgent tasks, or trapped in the lie that you have to perform to earn God's love, this message will invite you to slow down, stop striving, and choose the "one necessary thing."

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• God is a God Who Speaks: Understanding how God speaks into the chaos of our lives through His Word, His church, His Spirit, and quiet moments.
• The Desert Island Joke & The Bathtub: How Nathan realized God presents opportunities right in front of us, but we have to step out to take them.
• The Trap of "Hurry Sickness": Examining how constant rushing and overwhelming to-do lists turn our time with God into a rushed afterthought.
• Mary vs. Martha (Luke 10): Why Martha was distracted by good tasks, and what it truly means to sit at Jesus' feet like a student with their Rabbi.
• The Concept of "Beholding": Moving past short "arrow prayers" and stepping into a life lived fully in deep relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Abiding in the Vine (John 15): Why working in our own strength leads to burn-out, and how abiding in Christ gives us true rest, joy, and purpose.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Church Henley Welcomes Guest Preacher: Conrad Tickner

In this episode, guest preacher Conrad Tickner drops by Encounter Church Henley to unpack the true, complex definition of righteousness. Sharing stories from his 35+ years in ministry—from experiencing a high school revival on Kangaroo Island to stepping out in crazy faith at an airport counter—Conrad challenges us to stop treating our relationship with God as a transaction.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your past environment, old habits, or the pressure to perform for others, this message is for you. True righteousness isn't a wage you earn through good behavior; it’s a banking metaphor—a free gift credited to your account by Jesus. The only question left is: are you going to leave that gift unopened in the closet, or are you ready to rip it open and live out your true calling?

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• Conrad's Journey: From growing up on Kangaroo Island as a "ratbag" with divorced parents to seeing God move miraculously through fire recovery, school pastoral care, and cross-cultural missions.
• The Train Seat vs. The Cross: Why common courtesy and human kindness, while wonderful, are completely different from the righteousness of God.
• The Definition of Righteousness: A simple yet profound look at what it means to do what is right in the sight of God.
• Imputation (The Banking Metaphor): How God formally credits Jesus' clean record to our account as an absolute free gift.
• Ripping the Paper Open: Moving past your old nature and environments to embrace a transformed mind, bold faith, and a lifestyle that expects God to do big things.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Ashlee Littleford

In this launching episode of our new winter series, The Power of Encounter, Pastor Ashlee Littleford addresses the unspoken dryness so many of us experience. The problem isn’t that you aren't trying hard enough, nor is it that God is stingy. The reality is that we are constantly and expertly being formed by a modern culture built on an attention economy—where the carved rule over every door is to go up, build a personal brand, and secure the high ground.

Pulling from John 13, Ashlee takes us into the upper room to witness what historian John Dickson calls "the humility revolution." In a world where humility was held in contempt, Jesus—with full authority and all things in His hands—rewrote the definition of greatness by picking up a towel and a basin.

If you are tired of standing on the dry high ground of self-promotion and striving, this message is your invitation to step into the low place. Because grace is like water—it never runs uphill. It always finds the lowest place in the room and pools there.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• The Attention Economy vs. The Basin: How modern culture rewards self-promotion, while the algorithm of heaven has no category for pride.
• The Monument to Pride: A look at the 12 disciples with dirty feet, arguing about who was the greatest, while the basin sat untouched by the door.
• What Humility Is (and Isn't): Why humility isn't about thinking less of yourself or being a doormat, but rather being so secure in who God says you are that you are free to spend your power on others first.
• The Direction of Glory: Recognizing that going low isn't a step down into defeat; it's a deliberate step into the living rivers of the Holy Spirit.
• Washing and Being Washed: The challenge to not only find your "basin" this week in your home, conflicts, and credit but to also possess the humility to let others serve you.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Emma Petrie

What if your faith wasn’t meant to be kept quiet? In the finale of our Core Values series, Emma Petrie (Kids Coordinator at Encounter Henley) challenges the unspoken rule of keeping religion off the table and dives into what it truly means to be a Monday Invader.

Pulling from the iconic story of the woman at the well in John 4, Emma breaks down how Jesus intentionally pursues the overlooked, the messy, and the broken—not to fix them first, but to send them out exactly as they are. Through witty reflections (including an unexpected theological nod to Shrek!), this message contrasts a mere transactional faith with a truly transformational encounter.

Sundays are our fuel stop, but Monday is the destination. You don't need a theology degree or an extroverted personality to share your faith; you just need to walk back into the places you already occupy—your office, your school gates, your dinner table—and live from the overflow of being fully known and fully loved by Jesus.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• The "Monday Invaders" Value: Church isn't a place to hide from the world; it’s where we get refueled to head back into it.
• Transaction vs. Encounter: Comparing Nicodemus' quiet, private nighttime transaction with the Samaritan woman’s life-altering, midday encounter.
• The Power of "Come and See": Why your ordinary story and a simple invitation are more powerful than having all the perfect answers.
• The Original Monday Invader: How Jesus crossed every cultural, gender, and societal boundary to reach us first, ultimately exposing Himself on the cross so we never have to hide our shame again.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

In this episode, Lead Pastor Tim Littleford continues our core values series at Encounter Church Henley by unpacking a deeply challenging value: Contending in Prayer.

Drawing from Paul’s final words to the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 6), Tim reminds us of a life-altering truth: people are never the enemy. We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness that weaponize violence, moral compromise, and constant distraction.

Discover why prayer isn't just a misguided attempt to make God happy or a last resort for crisis management—prayer is war. Learn how to trade bitterness and gossip for a holy defense, get into the trenches, and wage your battles on your knees.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

• The "People Are Never the Enemy" Principle: Shifting our mindset away from interpersonal conflict and recognizing the true spiritual root behind our frustrations.
• The Three Fronts of Enemy Strategy: How the church is consistently attacked through violence, moral corruption, and the subtle, modern weapon of distraction (like our daily screen time).
• The C.S. Lewis Perspective: Understanding that there is no "Switzerland" or neutral ground in the universe; everything is claimed and counterclaimed.
• Defense Over Offense: Why the Armor of God is built for standing firm in God's resources, not for seeking out spiritual fights.
• The Sovereign Group Project: Balancing the tension of God's absolute sovereignty with His sovereign choice to work through our persistent prayers.

Scripture References

• Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Armor of God and the call to pray in the Spirit)
• Acts 2 (The early church, Pentecost, and the enemy's counterattacks)
• Genesis 2 (Human dominion and the stewardship of the earth)

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Charlie Evans

In this episode, Charlie Evans continues our core values series at Encounter Church Henley by diving deep into a defining value: Hearts on Fire for Jesus.

Looking at the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, Charlie unpacks what it looks like to live with a holy defiance against secular culture. The "literal fire boys" didn't avoid the furnace; they walked straight through it because they knew an essential truth: God is exactly who He says He is.

Whether you are walking through a minor personal spark or a raging societal furnace, discover how true faith isn’t about your own perfect strength—it’s about surrendering to a trustworthy Savior who meets you right in the middle of the mess.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

• The Psychology of Identification: Why we naturally try to associate ourselves with high-standing people, and how human disappointment forces us to guard our hearts.
• Faith in the Fire (Daniel 3): Dissecting the radical "even if" statement of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and why choosing to suffer is better than choosing to sin.
• The Ultimate Trustworthy Being: How the absolute holiness of God means it is literally impossible for Him to sin against you (featuring insights from Jackie Hill Perry).
• The Fourth Man: Recognizing that you are never alone in your trials; the Holy Spirit is present as your Comforter, Savior, and Protector.
• Grace for the Sinners: Why Romans 5:8 proves that Christ’s love for you stands firm, regardless of how strong your faith feels today.

Scripture References

• Daniel 3 (The story of the fiery furnace)
• Hebrews 11 (The Hall of Faith: Noah, the Israelites, and Rahab)
• Exodus 20:1-5 (The First and Second Commandments)
• Romans 5:8 (Christ dying for us while we were still sinners)

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

In this episode, Pastor Tim Littleford of Encounter Church Henley explores the profound truth that the content we consume—and the influences we follow—inevitably shape who we become. Just as nutritional components interact with our bodies, the ideas, people, and spiritual inputs we allow into our lives metabolize into our character, our decisions, and our ultimate direction.

In this message, we explore:

• The Diet of the Soul: Why consuming the wrong "content" can be as destructive to your spirit as a poor diet is to your physical body.
• The "Trailer" Trap: A call to move past the consumer mindset of "going to church to be fed" and instead becoming disciples who feast on the Word and follow the Spirit for themselves.
• Bible-Fed and Spirit-Led: Why Encounter Church is prioritizing this core value, and how you can stop "snacking" on scripture and start "feasting" on it.
• The Habit of Surrender: Practical ways to build the habit of checking in with the Holy Spirit throughout your Monday-to-Saturday life, moving from distraction to divine direction.
• Our Heritage: How these values aren't new trends, but are deeply rooted in our spiritual ancestry—from the "people of one book" legacy of John Wesley to the fire-born movement of early Methodism.

Whether you are new to faith or have been following Jesus for a lifetime, this message is a challenge to stop drifting and start intentionally orienting your life around the living Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

• Metabolize the Word: Don't just study scripture—assimilate it until it influences your reactions, decisions, and prayers.
• Ask "What Next?": Learn to pause in the "chinks of time" during your day and ask the Holy Spirit for His perspective, not just your own.
• Jesus is the Goal: Both the Spirit and the Scripture exist for one purpose: to testify to Jesus. Pursuing them will always lead you face-to-face with Him.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

• Website: encounteradelaide.com.au
• Instagram: @encounterhenley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Daniel Clisby

In this episode, Daniel Clisby kicks off our brand-new sermon series on Encounter Church's five core values, starting with a message close to his heart: Multiplying Resilient Disciples.

Drawing from his own painfully relatable battles with university procrastination and shifting gravel, Daniel unpacks the Apostle Paul’s radical, upside-down framework in Romans 5: rejoicing in our trials. Discover why suffering isn’t something to flee or muscle through on our own, but rather our ultimate spiritual training ground—one where the Holy Spirit serves as our spotter and the church community acts as our recovery spa.

If you are ready to stop trying to control your way out of hardship and start yielding to true spiritual endurance, this message is for you.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

• The Spectrum of Coping: Why both avoiding reality (the "numbing" route) and aggressively fighting it (the "hustle" route) are worldly pursuits destined to fail.
• Paul’s 3-Step Program (Romans 5): How suffering builds endurance, endurance develops character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
• The Holy Spirit as Our Spotter: You don’t have to push through life’s heavy weights in your own power.
• Doing Life Together: The vital role of Resilient Disciple Groups (RDGs) in sharing burdens and breaking the habit of hiding our pain.

Scripture References

• Romans 5:3-5 (Rejoicing in problems and trials)
• Matthew 6:26-27 (Anxiety and trusting the Father)
• Jeremiah 29:11 (God's plans for hope and a future)
• Hebrews 12:1-2 (Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of our faith)