the thinking church

People having different gifts, ideas and strengths can lead to approaches that are out of our norm or alien to us. This week Pastor Mark is joined for a discussion around how to recognise and value the difference in others and help us use this to work towards a common purpose.

For more resources from Pastor Mark, please visit: www.hopeunited.org.uk

The modern Church has lost it's call to holiness. Why? It's leaders have devoted themselves to things out-with God's Word. On this episode Pastor Mark explains the principle at work here: that whatever we devote ourselves to will ultimately be what we promote and endorse.  

For more resources from Pastor Mark, please visit www.hopeunited.org.uk

In a world where positive thinking and 'can do' attitudes are king, what do we do if we keep on failing? On this episode of #thethinkingchurch Pastor Mark shares the importance of not creating a false sense of security by turning every fail into a fake win - encouraging us to accept our losses, so we can grow through them. For More Resources from Pastor Mark, visit: www.hopeunited.org.uk 

How easy is it for our plans, resolutions or goals to go unfulfilled? This week Pastor Mark looks at how making certain things ‘non-negotiables’ can protect us when our emotions or circumstances around tempt us to compromise or settle for less than we originally intended.

For more resources form Pastor Mark, please visit www.hopeunited.org.uk

 God's word contains everything we could possibly need for life and walking with God. When we seek to solve our problems or help others outside of God's word, it can lead to frustration when we don't see the results we want. This week Pastor Mark teaches how the Word of God truly takes care of every area of our lives and brings a peace that comes as we stop striving and trust God & His word. 

Join us in the conversation as #thethinkingchurch takes on a different format for this week, where Pastor Mark is joined by some friends – talking about their experiences of not being picked or included and how God has used exclusion to grow and benefit their lives and walk with Him.
For more resources from Pastor Mark visit www.hopeunited.org.uk  

On this episode Pastor Mark shares how tempting it is for man to trust in his cleverness, setting himself and his own ideas above the truth of God’s Word, rather than use his intellect for God’s glory.

Beginning the new season of #thethinkingchurch Pastor Mark explains how we can buy into so many things in life that promise satisfaction: jobs, material possessions, relationships, financial security, the list goes on - but often these fail to deliver the goods. Join Pastor Mark as he looks at where true satisfaction can be found and why it isn’t necessarily a bad thing when the things of the world just won’t satisfy.

For more content from Pastor Mark and Hope United Church, visit: www.hopeunited.org.uk

On this week’s #thethinkingchurch pastor Mark follows on from last week’s ‘Soul-Bearing Relationships’ episode to ‘Relational Boundaries’. Soul-bearing relationships need boundaries however, superficial/social relationships need even more. Often our desire to want people to overcome and develop a more purposeful life can force us to put less boundaries in place than we ought to, often resulting in frustration and eventually a fragmented relationship. Therefore, healthy boundaries protect everyone, and allow relationships the space they need to organically develop.

On this week’s #thethinkingchurch Pastor Mark highlights one of the major factors determining our growth and freedom in Christ: the ability to have ‘Soul-Bearing Relationships’. Although we can both know and love God’s word, we also need to couple this with open and honest conversations with brothers and sisters in Christ; where we can share our struggles & failings and allow Godly wisdom to be spoken into our lives, providing us with the awareness necessary to help us navigate the challenges we face.