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In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson reflects on the transformative nature of faith by contrasting two striking biblical figures: the criminal on the cross and Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

The sermon highlights how the thief receives salvation through a simple, sincere recognition of Christ’s divinity — without rituals, achievements, or theological sophistication. His story becomes a powerful reminder that divine grace is extended to flawed, broken individuals who come to Christ with nothing but need.

In contrast, Stephen’s martyrdom displays a bold and public proclamation of faith, a vision of the risen Christ, and a courageous witness in the face of violent persecution. Together, these two lives reveal the breadth of God’s mercy: grace for the dying sinner and strength for the faithful servant.

Pastor Thompson concludes by reflecting on communion as a vital spiritual refreshment — a means of grace that strengthens believers to remain steadfast in a secular and often hostile world.

This episode invites listeners to see that whether one comes like the malefactor in desperation or like Stephen in devotion, the same Saviour meets both with mercy, power, and hope.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God.

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

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In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson examines the Nicene Creed’s affirmation of the suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ — the historical and theological pillars on which the entire Gospel stands. The sermon emphasises that these events are not metaphors or myths but factual moments witnessed by many, forming the essential anchor of Christian assurance.

Pastor Thompson explores the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, showing how Christ’s sacrificial death satisfies divine justice and reconciles humanity to God. The Creed’s insistence on His burial and ascension forms a protective wall for the Church, guarding the faith against modern attempts to reduce the Gospel to symbolism or moralism.

The episode highlights how the resurrection and ascension confirm that salvation is a finished work of divine grace, not human effort. These scriptural truths stand as the beating heart of Christian hope — the assurance that the crucified Saviour lives, reigns, and intercedes for His people.

This reflection invites listeners to rest in the completed work of Christ, whose cross, empty tomb, and heavenly throne secure the believer’s salvation now and forever.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God 

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson explores the profound mystery of the Incarnation, the belief that Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully human. The sermon emphasises that this dual nature is not an abstract doctrine but a fundamental necessity for salvation: only a sinless human could represent mankind, and only God possesses the power to overcome the weight of sin.

Pastor Thompson reflects on the interaction between divine initiative and human response, seen in the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing of Mary and her willing, faithful consent. The Incarnation becomes the moment where heaven and earth meet — where the eternal Son takes on flesh to redeem a fallen world.

The episode highlights how this doctrine forms a protective barrier against heresies that reduce Jesus to a mere moral teacher or suggest that salvation can be earned. Because God truly took on physical form, every aspect of human life is validated, healed, and given a new pattern for holy living.

Ultimately, the Incarnation is presented as the essential hinge of the Christian faith — the act by which the Creator draws near, reconciling humanity to Himself and restoring creation from within.

Know Surrender

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson explores the Nicene Creed’s declaration that Jesus Christ descended from heaven for our salvation. The sermon emphasises that because humanity is fallen and incapable of self‑rescue, the incarnation is a deliberate act of divine grace — not a response to human effort or merit.

Pastor Thompson highlights how Christ’s pre‑existence confirms His identity as the eternal Son, whose voluntary humility in taking on human flesh bridges the infinite gap between a holy God and a sinful world. This doctrine becomes a protective barrier against heresies old and new, including the claims that Jesus was merely a moral teacher or that salvation can be earned.

The episode clarifies that while the need for rescue is universal, the work of redemption is exclusively divine. Christ descends for all, but the saving power belongs to Him alone.

Ultimately, the incarnation is presented as the essential foundation of the Gospel — the assurance that the Creator has drawn near, compassionate and mighty to save, entering our world to redeem His creation from within.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God.

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson explores the profound Christology of the Nicene Creed, focusing on the declaration that Jesus Christ is “begotten, not made.” The sermon distinguishes between being begotten — eternally sharing the Father’s divine essence — and being made, which belongs only to created beings.

Pastor Thompson explains how the Creed’s use of homoousios (“of one substance with the Father”) affirms Christ’s full equality in nature, glory, and worship. This truth forms a necessary shield against historical and modern heresies that reduce Jesus to a creature, a prophet, or a lesser divine being.

The episode emphasises that if Christ were merely created, He could not reconcile humanity to God or grant eternal life. His divinity makes salvation possible, while His humanity makes salvation complete.

Ultimately, the Nicene Creed stands as a protective wall, ensuring that believers place their trust in the true, uncreated Saviour — the eternal Son who shares the very being of the Father and brings us into the life of God.

Know Surrender

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

This is an advert for financial support

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson explores the Christological heart of the Nicene Creed, focusing on the confession: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only‑begotten Son of God.” The sermon presents this declaration not as a human invention but as a protective wall safeguarding the biblical gospel from ancient heresies and modern distortions.

Pastor Thompson examines the titles “Lord” and “Christ”, showing how they affirm Jesus’s divine nature, eternal existence, and unique relationship with the Father. The study distinguishes Christ’s eternal Sonship from the created status of Adam or the adopted status of believers, emphasising that His full deity is indispensable for human salvation.

The episode highlights how the Creed anchors the Church in a scriptural understanding of Jesus as both fully God and fully man, the only Saviour capable of reconciling humanity to the Father.

This reflection invites listeners to rediscover the depth, clarity, and comfort found in confessing Christ as the eternal Son — the One who reveals the Father, redeems the world, and reigns forever.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God.

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Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson reflects on the doctrine of God as Creator, exploring why this truth forms the indispensable foundation of the entire Christian faith. By affirming that the universe is an intentional work of God rather than an accident of chance, the sermon shows how the gospel’s message of sin, redemption, and resurrection only makes sense within a created order.

Pastor Thompson explains how this belief acts as a protective wall against modern errors such as materialism, nihilism, and the denial of human purpose. Recognising God as Maker also defines humanity’s role as one of stewardship, dependence, and dignity — creatures made by God and for God.

The episode highlights how the deity of Christ and the necessity of the resurrection are logically tied to God’s identity as Creator. If He made all things, then He alone has the authority to redeem, restore, and raise the dead.

Ultimately, acknowledging oneself as a creature becomes the starting point for purposeful worship, grounding life in humility, gratitude, and trust.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God. 

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

This is an advert for financial support

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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We discuss  a recorded sermon and its written transcript focusing on the In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson explores the foundational opening of the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty.” By turning to Genesis 1, the sermon shows how monotheism and the sovereignty of God as the sole Creator form the essential bedrock of all Christian theology.

Pastor Thompson reflects on how identifying God as both Father and Almighty gives believers a profound sense of personal relationship combined with the security of an all‑powerful protector. This opening confession becomes a protective wall, guarding the faith against modern distractions such as idolatry, secularism, and existential fear.

The episode emphasises that without accepting this first truth — that there is one supreme Creator who is both sovereign and relational — every other Christian doctrine loses its structural integrity. The Nicene Creed begins here because the entire Christian worldview stands or falls on the nature of God Himself.

This reflection invites listeners to rediscover the strength, clarity, and comfort found in confessing the God who made all things and holds all things together.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God.

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

This is an advert for financial support

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson explores the closing chapters of Genesis, reflecting on the final years and deaths of Jacob and Joseph and the enduring legacy they leave for the people of God.

The sermon highlights how Joseph, standing in a position of immense power, chooses forgiveness over vengeance, interpreting his brothers’ betrayal through the lens of divine sovereignty: what they meant for evil, God used for good to preserve a nation.

Though both patriarchs adopted certain Egyptian customs — including embalming and formal mourning — they remained spiritually distinct by insisting that their bodies be carried back to the Promised Land. Their burial instructions become acts of faith, declarations that God’s covenant would outlast Egypt’s splendour and lead Israel home.

Pastor Thompson reflects on Joseph’s refusal to seek retribution, entrusting justice to God and extending mercy to his family. Joseph’s final request concerning his bones stands as a prophetic witness, pointing forward to the Exodus and affirming his confidence that God would surely visit His people.

This episode invites listeners to consider themes of redemption, the providence of God over human malice, and the identity of believers as faithful pilgrims whose hope rests in promises that reach beyond this life.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God.

.

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

This is an advert for financial support

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode Pastor Ian Thompson explores Genesis 49, where Jacob delivers his final prophetic blessings to his sons — words that reveal how character shapes destiny and how God’s purposes unfold across generations.

The sermon reflects on the sobering reality that Reuben, Simeon, and Levi forfeited privileges through past sin, while Judah is unexpectedly elevated, receiving the promise of the royal sceptre. Jacob’s blessing points forward to Shiloh, the Messiah and Prince of Peace, whose reign is everlasting.

Pastor Thompson highlights how these ancient prophecies reveal the intertwining of human responsibility and divine sovereignty. Jacob’s final words become a window into God’s redemptive plan — a plan that moves through flawed people, surprising choices, and ultimately through the coming of Christ.

This episode invites listeners to consider how God shapes lives, families, and nations through both promise and discipline, and how every blessing in Genesis 49 ultimately finds its fulfilment in Jesus.

Know Surrender is a weekly Bible study and reflection podcast offering gentle, scripture‑rooted teaching to help believers grow in faith and walk closely with God.

Welcome to Know Surrender—a podcast about learning what it truly means to surrender to Jesus Christ. Not in defeat, but in devotion. Here we explore scripture, history, and the call to follow Christ with heart, mind, and life. To know surrender… is to know Him.

This is an advert for financial support

Support the show

If you enjoy hearing our podcasts why not consider supporting our church

Bank Sort Code 60-20-23 Account Number 38445514
Account Name "Bootle Protestant Free Church

or

Cheques can be sent to Pastor Ian Thompson

Made to "Bootle Protestant Free Church" University Rd/Trinity Road Bootle Merseyside L20 3BB

and why not visit our facebook page

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