Redeemer Central

On this Pentecost Sunday, Adrian McCartney kicks off our new 5-week series, Before & After, exploring the missional trajectory found in the writings of Luke. Drawing on Luke’s unique perspective as an "outsider" (the only non-Jewish New Testament writer), Adrian explores how the Holy Spirit didn't just empower individuals, but birthed a brand new kind of community.

By comparing the baptism of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke with the arrival of the Spirit in the Book of Acts, we see a mirror image of power, prayer, and purpose. Adrian challenges us to move beyond seeing faith as a "blueprint" to copy, and instead to see it as a "trajectory" to follow—allowing the warmth, generosity, and grace of God to "ooze out" into the streets of Belfast today.

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Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

The meaning of the cross is bigger than any single theory.

In the second part of this series, David Armstrong traces the road to Calvary — from Israel’s sacrificial system and the ritual of Yom Kippur to the Hebrew prophets wrestling with the tensions of justice and mercy.

We also explore various rich understandings of Jesus’s death offered throughout church history — from Christus Victor to René Girard's remarkable scapegoat theory — before approaching a question many of us carry but rarely voice: what about the wrath of God?

We conclude seeing that Good Friday and Easter Sunday are unified — not a failure followed by a rescue but one single, world-altering event. The cross was a victorious act of love descending into the deepest darkness, and the resurrection made that victory visible.

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

From a piece of Roman graffiti scratched on a wall near the Palatine Hill, to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. From an instrument of imperial terror, to the central symbol of the world's largest religion — inked on skin and worn around the necks of millions of people today. The journey of the cross is one of the most extraordinary stories in human history. But what actually happened at the crucifixion of Jesus  — and what does it mean?

In this first part of a mini series, David Armstrong explores the historical reality of crucifixion in the Roman world, asks hard questions about the dominant theory of what the cross achieved, and makes the case that the God revealed at Calvary is not an angry judge demanding payment — but a God of inexhaustible love who went all the way into the darkest place humanity could put him, and refused to be destroyed by it.

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[00:28] Prayer

[01:46] Mother’s Day Prayer

[04:38] Upcoming Events & Community News

[08:41] Sermon - David Armstrong

[44:01] Communion Liturgy

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

Mark 8 presents a collision between two visions of the kingdom. Peter's Messiah conquers. Jesus' Messiah suffers. In this Lenten message, David Armstrong traces that collision through history — from Christendom to colonialism to Christian nationalism — and argues that the church has repeatedly made Peter's error: baptising the way of empire in the name of Christ. The antidote, Jesus insists, is not a better empire. It is the cross.

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[00:28] Call to Worship

[03:33] Prayer

[04:35] Prayer of Peace

[11:28] Family News

[12:11] Notice: Update on The 101 Project

[14:37] Notice: 101 Prayer & Worship

[15:37] Notice: Alpha Course

[20:29] Sermon - David Armstrong

[63:03] Closing Prayer & Benediction

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

The Good Samaritan

What must we do to inherit eternal life? John Herron opens up one of Jesus most famous parables, the story of the Good Samaritan, showing that true life comes not from knowing the right words, but from the radical, often unexpected, act of loving our neighbour. This message challenges us to move beyond fear-based religion and towards a wider, more expansive love—a love that changes opinions, breaks prejudice, and ultimately transforms enemies into friends.

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[02:16] Sermon - John Herron

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

David Armstrong brings a Lenten message looking at a significant moment in Jesus life before he starts his ministry bringing God's Kingdom — his 40 nights in the wilderness and the three dark temptations that come to him.

Chapters/Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[00:28] South Bend City Church Trip

[01:55 ] Sermon - David Armstrong

[30:38 ] Song - Fra Sands

[35:49] Closing Prayer & Benediction

🌿 Give & Support

Redeemer Central is a diverse and vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community, and seeking the peace and common good of our city.

~  You can support our ongoing work by giving financially at redeemercentral.com/give. Your generosity is greatly appreciated ~ 

Look for the Light (Part 4): The Courage of Gideon

John Herron brings the fourth part of our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' as we reflect upon an ancient story found deep in the Old Testament scripture; the story of Gideon.

The season of Epiphany calls us to slow down and pay attention to the divine presence of God revealed in Christ. As we do we discover God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places.

David Armstrong brings the third part of our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' as we reflect upon Jesus first miracle. The season of Epiphany calls us to slow down and pay attention to the divine presence of God revealed in Christ. As we do we discover God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places.

David Armstrong brings the second talk in our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' that calls for us to slow down during this season of Epiphany and pay attention to the divine presence of God. As seen in the coming of Christ, God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places waiting to be discovered. 

In the second Epiphany story we reflect upon Jesus Baptism.

Look for the Light (Part 1): The Magi

David Armstrong brings the first talk in a new series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' that calls for us to slow down during this season of Epiphany and pay attention to the divine presence of God. As seen in the coming of Christ, God is so often found in the darkest and most unlikely of places waiting to be discovered. 

The first story we reflect upon is from the Christmas story from Matthew 2:1-12 and the moment when the Magi, the wise people from the east, follow their curiosity and longing to find and visit Jesus as a child at his birth.