At Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3:13-17, right at the beginning of his ministry, the words the Father speaks over him are words of identity. In this message we see that we find our truest selves neither by looking to the world, nor inside of ourselves, but by choosing to lay down our own desires to receive our identity from the Father.

In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus warns against lust. With powerful words, he speaks of how sexual sin will lead to death. For many Christians, the fight against lust and pornography seems hopeless but in this teaching we see how Christ has come to overcome all sin - including sexual sin. We can be confident that all of our sin has been forgiven, and that it no longer controls us. Through grasping the gospel, we get the power to say no to sin, and yes to living in righteousness.

This week we return to our By Design series, exploring the truth of friendship within the Bible. Through the Biblical examples of Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan and more, we begin to see how much we have lost sight of the depth of friendship that we can have today. In this message, Jem highlights that the whole story of the Bible can be viewed as a restoration of a friendship that was lost, through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. As we learn to love like Jesus does, we deepen our relationships with one another and with God, allowing them to endure forever.

In John 21:15-25, we see how Jesus challenges Simon Peter, asking him three times if he truly loves him. As Peter witnesses and convenes with the resurrected Christ, he cannot help but run to him, in spite of his own shortcomings. This week Nat challenges us to think about our own response to the resurrection of Jesus. As we begin to grasp the depth of his love for us, we are encouraged to follow after him with the same eagerness we see in Peter, regardless of our sin.

In John 21:1-14, we see the disciples unable to catch anything as they fish, until Jesus appears to them on the shore. As he proceeds to sit down with the disciples and enjoy breakfast with them, we are encouraged by the fact that Jesus gave up his life so that he could join in fellowship with us. This week Bethany highlights the beautiful picture of Christ and his church sharing a meal together, and reminds us of this relationship that was won for us at the cross.

In John 20 we see the resurrected Jesus make his first appearance to Mary Magdalene and the disciples. This Easter Sunday, Josiah reminds us of the great news that Jesus' resurrection is for each of our lives. As we reflect on Christ's sacrifice for us, and the new life he has brought us into, we begin to realise that our satisfaction comes solely from him.

In John 19:1-22, we read about Jesus' sentencing before the Jewish crowds and his subsequent death on the cross. As Jesus is prepared for his crucifixion, Pilate mocks his claim to kingship, laying purple robes and a crown of thorns upon him. This week Jem highlights the deep irony of Pilate's actions. The cross is not simply a dark point in history, nor a moment of defeat — it is the crowning victory of our king and the centrepiece of his coronation. As we come to recognise Jesus as our king, we can delight in the fact that he chose our salvation as the very means by which he would glorify himself.

In Matthew 22:23-33, the Sadducees attempt to challenge Jesus on the implications of marriage after the resurrection, and he emphasises that we will all remain single in eternity. This week Rhian continues our By Design series by showing us that like marriage, singleness is also good news, not just for eternity but also for our everyday lives. In recognising the gift of singleness, whatever our circumstances or relationship statuses are, we are reminded of what it looks like to live with full devotion to Christ, and we can eagerly anticipate the day when this will be brought to completion. 

In Ephesians 5:21-33 we see the outline of God’s good design for marriage, and what it means for each of us. Marriage is revealed as a profound act of sacrifice and unity, pointing beyond itself to a far greater promise. This week, Duncan shows us that whatever our circumstances or relationship statuses are, we are all caught up in this greater story. As we begin to understand the covenant made between husband and wife, our eyes are lifted to the greater reality it reflects: Christ and his church. In this, we are invited to wait with joy and anticipation for the day when we will be united with him.

As part of this year's Nations Sunday, where we celebrate the diversity of our church, Seyi brings us a one-off message from John 17:20-23. Here we see Jesus praying for all believers, encouraging them to be of one body, just as Jesus is united to God the Father. As we look to live as a people made in the image of God, this week we are challenged to set aside our differences and embrace one another wholly - that as a church we can be joined together in complete and radical unity.