Simon Watkinson explores Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus and the invitation to be born again. It reminds us that no one enters the Kingdom through status, knowledge, or goodness, but through new life in Christ. Jesus calls us out of hiding and into the light, where we can receive His forgiveness, be filled with His love, and live as people who draw others towards Him.

Jamie Mulvaney sits down with Worship Pastor and Youth Pastor, Dwaine, to reflect on the opening message of the Encounters with Jesus series. Beginning with Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, they explore what it means to come to Jesus honestly with our need, our emptiness, and the places where the wine has run dry.

Dwaine shares why this passage matters so deeply to him, and Jamie unpacks some of what did not make it into Sunday’s sermon, from Jesus as Creator to the deeper imagery woven through John’s Gospel. Together, they discuss why encountering Jesus is not just about learning more information, but being drawn into transformation through the presence, power, and love of God.

The conversation also explores worship, vulnerability, obedience, communion, and the simplicity of Mary’s words: “Do whatever he tells you.” Jamie and Dwaine reflect on how Jesus meets us in our lack, fills what is empty, and offers more than enough, not just as the provider of the gift, but as the gift Himself.

Dwaine also speaks personally about finding Jesus in grief, suffering, and the hardest places of life. Through honest reflection, he shares how encountering the love of God changes not only what we believe in our heads, but what we know in our hearts, reminding us that Jesus is near, faithful, and able to bring joy, hope, and transformation even in the valley.

This conversation is for:

–anyone who feels spiritually dry or aware of their own need

–those longing to encounter Jesus beyond information or routine

–worshippers, preachers, and leaders wanting to make space for genuine encounter with God

–anyone walking through grief, pain, or disappointment and wondering where Jesus is in it

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Jesus turning water into wine as a picture of his abundance, joy, and power to meet every need. It reminds us to bring our lack to Jesus, trust that He is more than enough, and live with expectation instead of a scarcity mindset. Obedience to Jesus is not restrictive, but the pathway into freedom, fullness, and joy. As we encounter Him, we are invited to be filled with his life and to let that overflow into the world around us.

The Holy Spirit does not just grow Christ’s character in us, but also empowers us to live for him in the world around us. It encourages us not to give in to hopelessness or feelings of inadequacy, because God fills ordinary people with his Spirit and uses them for the good of others. Whatever gifts we have are not meant to stay private, but to strengthen the church and reveal Jesus to the world. Even when we feel weak, Christ has more than enough to work through us.

Simon is in conversation with Alan Searle, following his ⁠talk⁠ in our Flourish series on the person and work of the Holy Spirit (watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlnYZe-diq0). We cover Alan's journey to faith and with the Spirit, how we might experience the regular filling of the Spirit, and what the Spirit convicts us of.

We hope that this is an encouragement to any believer wanting to be more and more led by the Spirit, as well as those in various forms of leadership who are wanting to spur that on in others. And if you're curious about faith and what the Holy Spirit is and is for, why not try some of the practices Alan mentions, and see what you learn?

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This message explores how the Holy Spirit helps us flourish by drawing us closer to Jesus, guiding us into truth, and equipping us to live with bold faith. Rather than relying on our own strength or simply knowing the right things, we are invited to depend on the Spirit for a life that bears lasting fruit. Through everyday obedience, prayer, and surrender, we discover that true spiritual growth comes from remaining in Christ.

Jamie Mulvaney sits down with Miles Toulmin, CEO of Alpha International and former church planter in Malaysia, for a conversation that moves from dramatic healings in Kuala Lumpur to the unprecedented spiritual hunger sweeping Gen Z across the Western world. Through extraordinary testimonies and practical wisdom, Miles makes a compelling case: real transformation comes from encountering the Holy Spirit.

Catch up on the Flourish series from St Michael’s Sunday talks: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFbwp0n7VmNTukTESX4k6RefnzB_9HRWZ&si=HNDLvMySFCX9NyMp

Miles shares stories that sound more like the book of Acts than modern church life—a Taoist medium of 40 years who had to be baptised that day to break free from spiritual oppression, a man healed of a slipped disc after a word of knowledge, and a Malaysian family that came to Christ one by one until the local temple sent undercover agents to their Alpha course. But beyond the remarkable testimonies, Miles offers deeply practical wisdom on how ordinary believers can step into the gifts of the Spirit with confidence.

The conversation tackles questions many Christians are too afraid to ask: How do you know if a word of knowledge is really from God or just your imagination? What do you do when you've prayed for healing for years and nothing has changed? Why do spiritual gifts seem to work more powerfully outside the Western church? And what's behind the staggering statistic that Bible sales in the UK are up 134% in five years—with the King James Version as the bestseller?

This episode is for:

- Anyone who's read about the Holy Spirit in scripture but wonders why their experience feels so different

- Church leaders wanting to move prayer ministry from the margins to the centre of congregational life

- Believers who've been praying faithfully for breakthrough and are tempted to give up

- Those curious about spiritual gifts but unsure how to start exercising them—Miles calls it ‘exercising the muscle’

- Anyone tracking the remarkable spiritual awakening happening among Gen Z and wondering what comes next

Miles reveals why the new Alpha series launching in May 2026 is targeting Gen Z as its bullseye, what he's learned about spiritual authority from a decade in Asia, and why he believes we're on the edge of a wonderful harvest—prepared by the faithful prayers of those who've ploughed tough ground for years.

Before becoming CEO of Alpha, Miles was Vicar of Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, and Associate Vicar of HTB in London.

Follow Miles on Instagram: @mtoulmin

Find out about Alpha: alpha.org

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On Pentecost Sunday, we reflect on Jesus’ invitation to the thirsty: to come to Him and drink. In a world full of escapism, exhaustion, and temporary sources of hope, Jesus offers something deeper and lasting through the Holy Spirit. This message reminds us that God does not just fill us for our own refreshment, but so that His living water can overflow through us into the world around us.

Jamie Mulvaney sits down with Associate Vicar, Simon Watkinson to explore human flourishing and the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. Following the launch of St Michael’s new Flourish series, they reflect on what it means to receive life from God rather than trying to manufacture it ourselves.

You can catch up on Jamie's talk from Sunday: https://youtu.be/whCF79Ugyd4?si=5bdl1QNlnWwTLy1a

Jamie shares what didn’t make it into Sunday’s talk, including the connection between being rooted in Scripture, delighting in God, and being sustained by the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit. Simon and Jamie discuss the pressure many people feel to create their own identity, control their future, and chase the next “life hack”, and how Christianity offers a different vision: receiving who we are from the God who knows and loves us.

The conversation also looks at why flourishing is never purely individual. From gathering as a church to waiting faithfully on God, Jamie and Simon explore how the Holy Spirit forms people not in isolation, but in community. They reflect on prayer ministry, the importance of creating space for God to move, and how both giving and receiving prayer can become places of encounter, growth, and blessing.

This conversation is for:

–anyone feeling spiritually dry or unsure where God is in their current season

–church leaders thinking about how to create space for the Holy Spirit in gathered worship

–those wrestling with the pressure to define themselves, control their life, or find the next fix for flourishing

–anyone curious about prayer ministry, the Holy Spirit, and what it means to meet with God in community

Make sure to subscribe, and we’d love to see you on a Sunday soon.

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We all long to flourish, yet life can leave us feeling restless, scattered, and unrooted. The Holy Spirit roots us in God’s story, draws us into real community, and helps us flourish together rather than alone.

True flourishing comes from being filled with the Spirit, staying connected, and living with purpose wherever God has placed us.