Encounter Church Henley

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

In the kickoff message for "Lovember"—a five-week series on building healthy, hope-filled relationships—Lead Pastor Tim Littleford addresses the fragile "DIY identities" we construct to convince ourselves we are okay. Reflecting on a high school basketball rivalry, Tim exposes how easily we wrap achievements, career success, bank balances, or impressive relationships around ourselves like bandages to mask an inner hollowness.

Turning to Luke 5, Tim contrasts our search for validation with the security of Jesus, who unhesitatingly ate with tax collectors and social outcasts without fear of public gossip or losing his status. Because Jesus drew His identity directly from the Father's spoken love ("You are my beloved Son"), He was completely secure—a whole person free to love others unconditionally. Tim challenges us to discover, rather than create, our true identity as adopted sons and daughters in God's family.

Key Highlights & Takeaways

• The Trap of the "Bandage" Identity: Wrapping external achievements, athletic success, wealth, or status around ourselves to shore up who we are creates a fragile, hollow sense of self that breaks when challenged.
• Why Fragile Identity Ruins Relationships: When we are not whole inside, we subtly demand that partners, children, or friends meet our emotional gaps, making us unable to love them freely for who they are.
• Whole People Love Wholly: Intimacy and healthy connection thrive when two secure individuals meet without requiring the other to validate their core worth.
• The Proximity of Jesus: Jesus didn't fear that eating with tax collectors and sinners would contaminate Him; He knew His secure presence and holiness would bring healing to them.
• Identity as a Discovery, Not a Creation: Quoting Dallas Willard and David Benner, Tim reminds us that real identity is an unearned gift of grace—received through adoption into God's family—rather than a DIY self-optimization project.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Ash Littleford

In the final message of the New Testament "Mountains" series at Encounter Church Henley, Pastor Ash Littleford dismantles the common assumption that God only calls the fully healed, highly qualified, or completely certain. Opening up about her own five-year health journey with POTS—filled with hospital stays, broken bones, and persistent questions—Ash reflects on how waiting until everything is fixed keeps us from stepping into God’s call right where we are.

Unpacking the climax of Matthew’s Gospel on the mountain in Galilee, Ash points out a striking, often overlooked detail: even as the risen Jesus stood before the remaining eleven disciples, some of them doubted. Ash shows how worship and doubt can coexist on the exact same hillside, and how Jesus meets us in the middle of our incomplete stories, commissioning us not based on our perfection, but on His ultimate authority and presence.

Key Takeaways

• The Myth of "I'm Not Ready": We often assume we must be fully healed, spiritual, or financially stable before serving God—yet Jesus calls us right in the middle of our ongoing process.
• Worship and Doubt on the Same Hillside: In Matthew 28:17, the word for doubt (distazo) means to waver or hesitate. Even in the presence of the resurrected Christ, mixed hearts were welcome.
• Grace Before Getting Sorted: The eleven disciples were carrying grief, shame, and a history of deserting Jesus, yet He called them "brothers" and entrusted them with the Great Commission.
• The Four "Alls" of the Great Commission:
  1. All Authority: The mission rests on Christ’s power, not human confidence.
  2. All Nations: The gospel is expanded to every person, including outsiders.
  3. All Commands: Discipleship is about living out Jesus’ teachings, not just hearing them.
  4. All the Days: Emmanuel promises His abiding presence to the very end of the age.
• Apprenticeship in Motion: Discipleship works like a trade apprenticeship—you don't wait in the truck until you know everything; you pick up the tools and learn alongside the Master from day one.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Josh Petrie

Some moments in life completely rewrite your trajectory—there is no going back, only moving forward into what now is.

In part two of "The Summit" series at Encounter Church Henley, Josh Petrie explores what happens when we experience a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ. Drawing from history—such as Prince Albert’s sudden, irreversible transition to King George VI—and his own story of leaving teaching studies to become a mechanic (and eventually coming full circle as a teacher), Josh highlights how pivotal moments alter our path.

Looking at the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain in Matthew 17, Josh breaks down how Peter, James, and John were given an overwhelming glimpse of Christ’s full divine glory. Joined by Moses and Elijah—representing the Law and the Prophets—Jesus stands at the center as the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan. Josh invites us to climb the mountain, clear out the noise of daily life, and step into an encounter that leads to true transformation.

Key Takeaways

• Irreversible Moments: History and personal life are filled with pivotal turning points that permanently alter our future trajectory—from sudden calling shifts to deep spiritual encounters.
• The Significance of "Six Days": Matthew 17 begins "after six days"—a direct parallel to Exodus 24, where Moses waited six days on Mount Sinai before God spoke from the cloud, signaling a sacred place where heaven meets earth.
• Law, Prophets, and the Messiah: Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the Prophets) standing alongside Jesus shows that all of Israel's history points directly to Christ as the center of God’s plan.
• The 4-Step Journey: Every authentic life-changing faith journey moves through four stages: Encounter $\rightarrow$ Revelation $\rightarrow$ Transformation $\rightarrow$ Declaration.
• Climbing the Mountain: God doesn't force His presence upon us; we must actively seek Him, clear away the daily noise, and make room to meet Him at the summit.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor of Encounter Church Adelaide: Jenny Wardrop

What does it truly mean to live a "blessed" life in a world that operates completely backward from the Kingdom of God?

In this opening message of a series on Jesus’ mountain teachings, Lead Pastor Jenny Wardrop walks through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, contrasting the ways of the world with the radical, upside-down kingdom Jesus invites us into. Starting with the powerful story of Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie—who thanked God for a flea infestation in a WWII concentration camp—Jenny illustrates how true peace and joy aren't defined by our circumstances, but by our proximity to Jesus.

Jenny unpacks each Beatitude with humor, vulnerability, and personal stories, challenging us to embrace spiritual poverty, mourn our sin, cultivate meekness (strength under control), and actively pursue right relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Thanking God for the "Fleas": How Corrie and Betsie ten Boom discovered that gratitude in the harshest circumstances opened doors for worship and prayer right under the guards' noses.
• The World's Beatitudes vs. Jesus' Beatitudes: Why culture tells us to "believe in yourself" and "look out for number one," while Jesus calls us to a life of humility, grief over sin, and meekness.
• Mourning Sin Brings Comfort: Why acknowledging our brokenness before God isn't about shame, but about opening the door to freedom, forgiveness, and intimacy with Him.
• Meekness Is Not Weakness: Understanding meekness as "strength under control"—choosing humility over power and relying on God's strength rather than forcing our own way.
• Hungering for Right Relationships: Why being right with God inherently compels us to pursue reconciliation and peace with those around us.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Guest Preacher: Sarah Boyens

In this powerful and eye-opening message, Sarah Boyens from Open Doors Australia sheds light on the reality facing the global persecuted Church—where 1 in 7 Christians worldwide (over 388 million believers) face high or extreme levels of persecution for their faith.

Tracing the 70-year legacy of Open Doors from Brother Andrew ("God's Smuggler") to today's work in Asia and Africa, Sarah reveals that Open Doors doesn't seek to end persecution—which Scripture promises—but to stand alongside and strengthen believers on the frontlines. Unpacking King Jehoshaphat’s response in 2 Chronicles 20 when surrounded by three vast armies, Sarah shares how we can learn from persecuted Christians to turn our gaze away from overwhelming circumstances and set our eyes fixated on Jesus.

Key Highlights & Takeaways

• The Legacy of Brother Andrew: How Open Doors began in 1955 smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain with the famous Smuggler’s Prayer: "Lord, make seeing eyes blind."
• The Reality of Persecution: The modern scope of Christian persecution across Asia (where 2 in 5 believers face extreme pressure) and Africa, including systemic "squeeze" persecution in North Korea and China.
• Standing in the Midst, Not Ending It: Understanding 2 Timothy 3:12—why persecution is a promise for those following Christ, and how presence ministry, Bible distribution, and practical aid empower believers to stay resilient.
• The Jehoshaphat Principle: When faced with fear and impossible odds, King Jehoshaphat made the deliberate choice to inquire of the Lord rather than rely on military strategy.
• Setting Your Face Like Flint: Why you cannot fix your eyes on Jesus while simultaneously letting your circumstances have the final say over your perspective.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Guest Preacher from Compassion Australia: Will Hall

What does it actually mean to live a life "all in" for Jesus?

In this inspiring message from Encounter Church Henley, guest preacher Will Hall unpacks the foundation of effective Christian faith and mission. Opening with a poignant story about his father’s final days and last words, Will contrasts human farewells with the ultimate last words of Jesus: the Great Commission in Matthew 28.

centered on Acts 16, Will explores three foundational principles for seeing the Gospel move forward in our everyday lives. He challenges us to move beyond an "either/or" mindset and embrace a "both/and" dynamic—combining intentional strategy with active sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways

• The Power of Last Words: Just as human last words hold immense weight, Jesus’ final words before ascending—"Go and make disciples"—are the central directive for every believer's life.
• Strategy Meets the Spirit: Effective mission isn't about choosing between strategic planning and Holy Spirit guidance; it requires being intentional with our plans while remaining completely open to divine redirects.
• Cultivating Expectancy: The early church shifted regions and shaped history because they expected the Holy Spirit to guide their daily steps, decisions, and conversations.
• Going "All In": Understanding why we are breathing comes down to surrendering our plans to God's greater purpose for transforming our communities.

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

What does it mean to live "on mission" in an increasingly secular culture? In this inspiring message, Pastor Tim Littleford breaks down the true theology of mission, drawing from personal family history, church tradition, and Paul’s journey in Acts 18.

From a simple plate of fish and chips at Henley Beach that changed his family’s trajectory, to unpacking why our spiritual impact relies on both proclamation (speaking it out) and demonstration (living it out), Tim reminds us that mission isn't something we control—it’s something we participate in.

Key Takeaways

• The Origin of the Mission: Encounter Church’s core vision—to see every person from city to beach encounter Jesus—stems directly from real life-changing moments, including Tim's father coming to faith as a 16-year-old in Henley Beach.
• Proclamation + Demonstration: True Christian mission requires both speaking the gospel and living it out. Doing one without the other turns us into either hypocrites or just well-meaning social workers.
• God’s Mission Has a Church: Quoting theologian Christopher Wright, Tim reminds us that the responsibility of mission sits with God, not us. We are simply everyday, ordinary people invited to participate in His extraordinary work.
• Strength in Weakness: The gospel becomes credible to the world not through polish, image, or perfection, but through authentic, imperfect believers who faithfully follow a crucified King.
• Overcoming Fear: Just like the Apostle Paul faced fear and hesitation in Corinth, we often fear the social consequences of speaking our faith in a secular culture. Yet, Christ’s encouragement to Paul remains true for us today: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking."

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

In this finale of the Essentials series, Pastor Tim Littleford unpacks the profound phrase in the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in the communion of saints." Starting with a vulnerable personal story of finding Pete Greig’s book God on Mute in a Melbourne bookstore while his wife was hospitalized, Tim shares how knowing someone has gone before us makes the path forward seem possible.

Putting on his "theological hat," Tim breaks down what it truly means to be a saint—not a person of moral perfection, but anyone set apart and made righteous through union with Christ. Because our faith unites us to Jesus, we are intricately connected to a global, historical "communion of saints." Drawing from Hebrews 11 and 12, Tim challenges us to remember that we are cheered on by a great crowd of faithful witnesses, encouraging us to throw off the sin and heavy weights holding us back and run our race with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Key Highlights & Takeaways:

• People Who Go Before Us: How finding others who have walked similar trials with faithfulness gives us the hope and courage to keep going.
• Redefining "Saint": Why biblical sainthood isn't about unrealistic moral perfection, but about being set apart by grace through union with Christ.
• The Doctrine of Union with Christ: Understanding that what happened to Jesus—His death, resurrection, and righteousness—happens to us through faith.
• The Crowd of Witnesses: How heroes of the faith throughout history witness our everyday lives and prove that a life of faith is possible in any circumstance.
• Eyes Up, Weights Off: Practical encouragement to throw off unhelpful habits, generational baggage, and insidious sin by keeping our focus on Jesus rather than fixating on our flaws.

Scripture References: John 14:20, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:1, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12:1–2, Genesis 4:7

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Tex Horner

In this moving and practical message from the Essentials series, Pastor Tex Horner unpacks the line from the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church." Clarifying that this refers to the universal body of Christian believers (little 'c' catholic), Tex shares a deeply personal story of how his church family showed up with front-yard worship and meals during a 19-day COVID isolation, illustrating what true biblical community looks like in action.

Drawing from Hebrews, Genesis, and Romans, Tex challenges us to push back against the modern "loneliness epidemic." While salvation is a free gift from Jesus that cannot be earned, living in genuine community requires us to actively trade convenience and comfort for sacrificial, unconditional agape love. Tex breaks down three practical steps to move from isolation to belonging: showing up, actively engaging, and taking immediate action to love others.

Key Highlights & Takeaways:

• The Universal Church: Why confessing belief in the "Holy Catholic Church" connects us to the global, historical body of believers across all traditions.
• Front-Yard Faith: How practical acts of love—sacrificing time, comfort, and energy for others—create unforgettable moments of dynamic Christian community.
• The Antidote to Isolation: Understanding God’s declaration in Genesis that "it is not good for man to be alone" and overcoming the cultural trend toward loneliness.
• Agape Love in Action: Why true, sacrificial love requires other people to receive it and how church is meant to be a family, not just a weekly box to check.
• Attend, Engage, Act: Three clear, actionable choices to shift from passive attendance to building a thriving, Christ-centered community.

Scripture References: Genesis 2:18, Romans 12:4–6, Hebrews 10:24–25

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor of Encounter Church Adelaide: Mike Wardrop

n this message from the Essentials series, Lead Pastor Mike Wardrop steps up to unpack one of the most vital, yet often misunderstood, lines of the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in the Holy Spirit." Injecting a dose of lighthearted humor, Pastor Mike navigates past technical church language to explore who the Holy Spirit is, how He operates, and why His presence matters in our daily lives.

Tracing the Spirit from Genesis to Pentecost, Pastor Mike breaks down the shift from God's presence dwelling in the Old Testament Temple to living inside every believer today as His "mini-temple." This message addresses the difference between God's general presence and His tangible, life-changing manifest presence—offering practical ways to recognize the Holy Spirit's whisper and align spiritual experiences with scripture.

Key Highlights & Takeaways:

• The Apostles' Creed as a Anchor: Why standing together under this historic confession unites us with the global, historical Church (the catholic with a little 'c').
• The Holy Spirit's Timeline: From hovering over creation in Genesis to empowering Old Testament leaders, fulfilling prophecies in Ezekiel, and filling believers at Pentecost.
• Torn Veil, New Temples: How the death of Jesus tore the temple curtain from top to bottom, releasing God's presence out into the world and into the hearts of everyday disciples.
• Omnipresence vs. Manifest Presence: Why we don't just want intellectual information about God—we crave the real, felt, transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
• Discerning the Voice of God: How to recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance, distinguish it from our own random thoughts, and test every prompt against the truth of the Bible.

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1–2, Ezekiel 36–37, Matthew 27:50–51, John 16:7, Acts 2

Connect with Encounter Church Henley:

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