Ivy Church

Ivy Church Podcast

Welcome to the weekly podcast from Ivy Church. Taken from our Sunday service we hope you are inspired and challenged. To learn more about Ivy Church visit ivychurch.org

  1. 6d ago

    Know the God Who Is Wise | Know God

    What do you do when you simply don’t know what to do? Life doesn’t always make sense. We face decisions without knowing the outcome, circumstances we can’t explain and questions we can’t answer. But while we don’t know everything, God does. In this message from our Know God series, Anthony Delaney explores the wisdom of God and the story of Solomon in 1 Kings 3. When God effectively gives Solomon a blank cheque — “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” — Solomon doesn’t ask for wealth, success or a long life. He asks for wisdom. His request begins with humility: “God, I don’t know. I need You.” That’s where wisdom starts. God is omniscient — He knows everything. But He isn’t simply all-knowing; He is also perfectly wise and completely good. He always knows the right and best thing to do with everything He knows. That means we don’t have to understand everything when we know the One who does. Anthony explores the difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom: Knowledge tells you what.
Understanding tells you why.
Wisdom tells you how. And God’s wisdom isn’t something reserved for a select few. James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault. Whether you’re facing questions about your future, relationships, family, finances, work or a decision you simply don’t know how to make, you don’t have to pretend you have all the answers. But Christianity isn’t ultimately a self-improvement programme about making wiser choices. The New Testament points us to something even greater: Jesus is the wisdom of God. He doesn’t simply give us better answers or point us towards the right path. Jesus says, “I am the Way.” So perhaps the wisest prayer we can pray is also the simplest: “Jesus, I don’t know the way — but I want to follow You.”

    Know the God Who Is Wise | Know God
  2. Oct 11

    Know the God Who Is Good | Know God

    Is God still good when life doesn’t go the way we hoped? In this message from our Know God series, Louise Yuill explores what it really means to know the goodness of God — not simply when life is going well, but in the difficult, painful and uncertain seasons too. Looking at Moses’ encounter with God in Exodus 33, Louise explores three powerful truths: God’s goodness means His presence with His people.
God’s goodness makes His people distinct.
God’s goodness is part of His glory. Moses understood that even the Promised Land wasn’t worth having without God Himself. God’s greatest gift isn’t simply what He can give us — it’s His presence. In Mark 10, we see the contrast of the rich young man, who struggles to surrender what he has in order to follow Jesus. Together, these passages ask us a challenging question: What do we value most — God’s presence, or what God can give us? Through testimony and personal experience, Louise also explores what it means to trust God’s goodness when circumstances are painful and prayers don’t seem to be answered in the way we hoped. Our faith isn’t built on getting the outcome we want. It’s built on knowing who God is. And ultimately, we see the goodness of God most clearly in Jesus. At the cross, God gave His Son for us — taking all of our hopes, dreams, victories, defeats, pride and shame. Whatever season you’re walking through today, God has not forgotten you. His goodness isn’t measured by your circumstances. His goodness is His character. Key Bible passages: Exodus 33:15–23 Mark 10 Psalm 73:28 Know God — Week 4 God’s greatest gift isn’t simply what He gives us. It’s God Himself.

    Know the God Who Is Good | Know God
  3. Oct 4

    Know the God Who Loves You | Know God

    Does God really love you — even when you’ve messed up, wandered away or lost sight of Him? In this message from our Know God series, Sarah Small explores one of the most extraordinary truths at the heart of the Christian faith: God is love. Looking at the three stories Jesus tells in Luke 15 — the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost sons — Sarah shows us a God who cares deeply about the one who is lost. He searches, He waits, He welcomes, and when the lost are found, He celebrates. In the story of the two sons, both are lost in different ways. The younger son has walked away from his father, while the older has stayed home but begun to see himself as a slave rather than a beloved son. Yet the father goes out to meet both of them. That’s the love God has for us. We don’t have to clean ourselves up, earn our way back or prove ourselves worthy. God invites us to come home and receive the love He has already demonstrated through Jesus. God doesn’t just tolerate you. He loves you. And His love isn’t simply a warm feeling or a promise of an easy life. God’s love is costly and sacrificial. At the cross, Jesus gave His life for us while we were still sinners, removing the barrier between us and God and making a way for us to come home. So where are you today? Maybe you need to receive God’s love for the first time. Maybe you’ve been around church for years but need to rediscover the joy of being a son or daughter rather than a servant. Or maybe you know how deeply you’re loved — and God is challenging you to share that love with someone else. Key Bible passages: Luke 15 1 John 4:7–10 Romans 5:8 John 3:16

    Know the God Who Loves You | Know God
  4. Sep 13

    Be an Andrew | The Harvest (Part 2)

    What if making an eternal difference in someone’s life was as simple as bringing them to Jesus? In the second and final part of The Harvest, Gav Lightbown looks at one of the quieter disciples in the Gospels: Andrew. Andrew wasn’t a famous preacher, scholar or teacher. He often lived in the shadow of his brother, Simon Peter. Yet whenever we encounter Andrew in John’s Gospel, we see him doing something remarkably consistent — bringing people to Jesus. He brought his brother Simon. He brought the boy with five loaves and two fish. He helped bring the seeking Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus. His approach was beautifully simple: Find them. Tell them. Bring them. As we prepare for the God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham at Co-op Live on 3 October, Gav introduces the I Am Andrew initiative and challenges each of us to think of at least one friend, family member, neighbour or colleague who doesn’t yet know Jesus. Who is your one person? Write down their name. Begin praying for them. And when the opportunity comes, have the courage to invite them. God uses ordinary people to carry extraordinary hope. Key Bible passages: 1 Peter 3:15 John 1:35–42 John 6:8–9 John 12 🌾 The Harvest is a two-part mini-series exploring how we can prepare for the opportunities God is giving us to share Jesus, invite others and help people find their way back to God. God Loves You Tour – Manchester 📅 Saturday 3 October 2026 📍 Co-op Live, Manchester 🎟️ Free admission

    Be an Andrew | The Harvest (Part 2)
  5. Sep 6

    Will You Come With Me? | The Harvest (Part 1)

    What if sharing your faith was simpler than you thought? As we look ahead to the God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham at Co-op Live, Gav Lightbown challenges us to think about the part each of us can play in seeing a harvest of transformed lives across Greater Manchester. Using the story of Philip and the Ethiopian official in Acts 8, Gav explores what it means to live as a witness for Jesus — allowing our everyday lives to reflect Him, listening to the people around us, sharing the Gospel simply, and having the courage to offer a personal invitation. In this message, Gav introduces the LISTEN approach to sharing faith: L – Listen to their story I – Identify the difference Jesus can make S – Share your story T – Take them to the cross and empty tomb E – Encourage them to receive Christ N – Nurture them in their new relationship with Jesus Because evangelism isn’t about winning an argument or having all the answers. Sometimes it begins with one very simple question: “I’m going — will you come with me?” And when someone says yes to Jesus, that’s not the finish line. It’s the starting line. We’re called to climb into the chariot with them, walk alongside them and help them grow as disciples. Key Bible passages: Acts 8:26–40 2 Corinthians 3 Galatians 5:22–23 Romans 12:2 Psalm 119:30 🌾 The Harvest is a two-part mini-series exploring how we can prepare for the opportunities God is giving us to share Jesus, invite others and help new believers take their first steps of faith. God Loves You Tour – Manchester 📅 Saturday 3 October 2026 📍 Co-op Live, Manchester 🎟️ Free admission

    Will You Come With Me? | The Harvest (Part 1)

About

Welcome to the weekly podcast from Ivy Church. Taken from our Sunday service we hope you are inspired and challenged. To learn more about Ivy Church visit ivychurch.org