Sunday at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge

Christ Church, Sowerby Bridge
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Join us each week for the latest sermon from Christ Church Sowerby Bridge, recorded live during our Sunday morning worship. Through Scripture, thoughtful preaching, and practical reflection, we explore how God's Word speaks into our daily lives. Whether you're part of our church family or listening from further afield, we hope these messages encourage your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and inspire you to follow Christ with confidence, hope, and love throughout the week.

  1. 3d ago

    Lest We Forget: Remembrance, Peace and the Light of Hope

    This week, as we mark Remembrance Sunday at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge, Revd Tommy reflects on the sacrifices of those who have served, the importance of remembering the past and our responsibility to build a more peaceful future. Beginning with a moving moment at the war memorial in Crow Wood Park, Tommy considers how every poppy laid in remembrance represents a life, a friendship and a story that must never be forgotten. Drawing on Jesus' Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, he explores three powerful themes. The light of our lamps represents memory, illuminating the lessons of history. The oil reminds us of our responsibility to seek peace, practise forgiveness and pursue justice. And the midnight call challenges us to remain ready, faithful and committed to our Christian duty. But Remembrance Sunday is not simply about looking back. It is about recognising how conflict begins, learning from the mistakes of the past and ensuring that the sacrifices of others inspire the way we live today. Above all, Tommy reminds us that Christ offers something greater than remembrance alone. He offers hope. Even in the face of suffering and death, we are promised that this life is not the end. This week's sermon challenges us to remember faithfully, seek peace courageously and carry the light of Christ into a world that desperately needs hope. Because true remembrance is not only about honouring the past, but about shaping a future filled with peace, faith and hope.

  2. Nov 1

    Behind the Mask: Discovering Who We Really Are in Christ

    This week, as we celebrate All Saints' Sunday at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge, Revd. Tommy takes an unexpected starting point for his sermon—Halloween! But beneath the costumes, masks and trick-or-treating lies a much deeper question: Who are we really, and are we hiding our true identity from the world? With his usual warmth and humour, Tommy reflects on our fascination with monsters, darkness and the things that frighten us. Drawing on his experiences of working alongside a prison chaplain, he suggests that the greatest dangers in our world don't come from imaginary monsters, but from the harm that ordinary people can sometimes cause. Yet the masks we wear aren't always intended to deceive others. Sometimes they hide something far more precious—our true identity as beloved children of God. We can spend so much of our lives listening to the world's judgements, convincing ourselves that we're not good enough, not worthy or not capable of making a difference. But Jesus tells us a very different story. Drawing on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, Tommy reminds us that being a follower of Christ means embracing humility, showing mercy, seeking peace and standing up for what is right—even when the world encourages us to do otherwise. Using a wonderful comparison with Superman and Clark Kent, we're challenged to consider whether the ordinary identity we present to the world is actually the disguise, hiding the extraordinary potential God has placed within each of us. All Saints' Sunday reminds us that sainthood isn't simply about extraordinary people from the past. It's about ordinary people today, living out God's love and allowing His light to shine through them. So this week, Tommy leaves us with a powerful challenge: What would happen if we took off the masks the world has given us and began living as the people God created us to be? Because our true identity isn't found in the world's expectations or judgements. It's found in Christ—and when we embrace it, His light can shine through us into the darkness.

  3. Oct 25

    Love Your Neighbour as Yourself: The Part We Often Forget

    This week at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge, Revd. Tommy explores one of Jesus' most familiar teachings: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbour as yourself.” But what does that really mean, and could we be overlooking the most challenging part? Beginning with some light-hearted reflections on the many different ways we use the word love—from enjoying a Sunday dinner to the unconditional affection we have for family and even a much-loved new puppy—Tommy considers how God's love is unlike anything we experience in everyday life. God's love is complete, constant and deeply personal. It doesn't mean we will always get what we want, or that every prayer will be answered in the way we hope. Sometimes love means saying no, setting boundaries or doing what is right rather than what is easy. But while loving God and loving our neighbours can be challenging, Tommy suggests that the hardest part of Jesus' commandment might be just three little words: “as yourself.” How can we truly share God's love with others if we struggle to recognise that we ourselves are worthy of that same love? Drawing on the Gospel, Paul's teachings and the promise of being born again, we are reminded that God doesn't love us blindly or simply hope for the best. He knows us completely, has created us in His image and has entrusted each of us with the responsibility of sharing His good news. Through faith, we can begin to let go of our fears of darkness and abandonment, knowing that Christ is our light and that God will never leave us. This week's sermon is a powerful reminder that loving ourselves isn't about pride or selfishness. It's about recognising our worth in God's eyes, allowing His love to transform us and sharing that same love, kindness and forgiveness with everyone we meet. Because to love your neighbour as yourself, you must first understand just how deeply you are loved by God.

  4. Oct 18

    The Power of Words: Changing How We See the World

    This week at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge, Revd. Tommy begins with a subject guaranteed to get everyone excited—taxes! But what starts as a light-hearted look at one of life's great certainties soon becomes a fascinating reflection on the power of words and how the language we use shapes the way we see the world. From climbing the career ladder to describing time as something we spend or waste, Tommy explores how everyday expressions influence our attitudes, relationships and understanding of others. Even the way we describe something as a burden rather than a blessing can completely change how we approach it. Drawing on Jesus' famous teaching about giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God, we discover how Jesus cuts through clever arguments and carefully chosen words to reveal a much deeper truth: everything we have ultimately belongs to God. Through the readings, we are also reminded of the extraordinary intimacy of God's love. He knows each of us by name, sees us as individuals and calls us into a relationship that goes beyond anything words alone can express. But this week's message isn't simply about choosing our words more carefully. It's about recognising the responsibility that comes with them. How we describe ourselves, our neighbours and even God can influence how others see them—and how we see ourselves. Tommy leaves us with a simple challenge: Take something you would normally describe negatively and, just for one week, try speaking about it positively. What happens when a burden becomes an opportunity, a chore becomes a gift, or a stranger becomes a brother or sister? Ultimately, our faith should move beyond words altogether, allowing God's love to shine through our actions, attitudes and the way we live. Because sometimes changing the way we speak can begin to change the way we see—and the way we live.

  5. Oct 11

    More Than Enough: Harvest, Generosity and God's Grace

    This week, as we celebrate Harvest Festival at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge, Revd. Tommy challenges us to think beyond simply giving thanks for what we have and consider a much bigger question: What are we doing with all that God has given us? Beginning with a humorous story about the seemingly endless choices available when ordering a meal, Tommy reflects on how many of us live in a world of abundance, where our biggest concern is often not whether we will eat, but what we will choose to eat. Yet while some have more than they need, others continue to struggle with hunger, poverty and loneliness. Drawing on the teachings of Jesus, Paul's reminder that those who sow generously will also reap generously, and the Old Testament's call to remember times of need, we are challenged to recognise that everything we have ultimately comes from God. Through Jesus' words about the ravens and the lilies, Tommy reminds us that we are part of God's creation, not its Creator. We are all dependent upon His love and grace, and every person is equally precious in His sight. But Harvest is about more than gratitude. It's about generosity, compassion and recognising the needs of those around us. Whether someone lacks food, friendship, love or support, we are called to see them as our brothers and sisters in Christ and respond with kindness. And while we may not always get it right, God's grace offers us the opportunity to begin again, growing in generosity and sharing His blessings with others. Because the true measure of Harvest isn't simply how much we have received, but how willing we are to share it.

  6. Oct 4

    Whose Power Is It Anyway? Giving It Back to Christ

    This week, Revd. Tommy reflects on power, humility and what it really means to depend upon Christ. Beginning with a wonderfully honest story from his ordination—complete with a troublesome deacon’s stole, some emergency stitching and the fear of a wardrobe malfunction—Tommy remembers a question later put to him by his bishop: “By whose power do you think you do this?” The answer was simple: by the power of Christ. Drawing on Jesus’ Parable of the Tenants, Paul’s desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and the commandments that “give light to the eyes”, we are challenged to consider how we use the power and responsibility entrusted to us. The vineyard does not belong to the tenants, and neither are our gifts, ministries or achievements ours to possess and control. Everything ultimately comes from God. Our calling is not to prove that we are good enough, but to place what we have into Christ’s hands. Tommy also challenges us to look less at whether the world is “Christian enough” and instead ask a much more searching question: How good are Christians at being Christian? Do our words and actions demonstrate Christ’s love, humility and respect for the equal value of every person? Giving our power to Christ doesn't mean believing we have nothing to offer. It means allowing Christ to take our gifts, abilities and lives and use them to their fullest. The challenge this week: remain humble, use power with love, and remember whose power it really is.

  7. Sep 27

    More Than Memory: When Faith Becomes Who We Are

    This week, Revd. Tommy explores the difference between simply remembering what God has done and truly learning who God is. Beginning with an admission that his own memory isn't always the best, Tommy reflects on the Israelites who complain about having no water shortly after receiving manna from heaven. They may have witnessed God's extraordinary works, but had those experiences really changed their understanding of Him? Through the Psalms, the teachings of Jesus and Paul's call to humility, we discover that faith is about far more than remembering Bible stories, names and facts. God's Word is intended to become written on our hearts—shaping our instincts, our actions and the way we treat others. The Pharisees knew the Scriptures, yet Jesus repeatedly challenged them because knowing the words wasn't necessarily the same as living their meaning. Their certainty could prevent them from recognising something new that God was doing. This week's message challenges us to remain humble enough to keep learning and asks an important question: What does the way we live teach other people about the God we believe in? We are called to move from remembering, to learning, to knowing, to living—until God's love, forgiveness, faithfulness and grace become not simply things we can recite, but part of who we are.

  8. Sep 20

    When Fairness Meets Grace: God's Generosity Beyond Our Expectations

    Is it fair that someone who works for just one hour receives the same reward as someone who has worked all day? This week, Revd. Tommy explores Jesus' challenging Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard and asks us to reconsider what fairness, generosity and God's grace really mean. We often crave simplicity and certainty, wanting life to follow clear rules where effort always determines reward. Yet Jesus challenges us to look beyond our own expectations and recognise a God whose love and generosity cannot be measured by human standards. Drawing on the Israelites' struggles in the wilderness, God's provision of manna and Paul's reflections on faith, Tommy explores how God remains alongside us even when we complain, doubt or struggle to understand His ways. This week's sermon reminds us that faith isn't always about finding easy answers. Sometimes it means learning to live with uncertainty, wrestling with difficult questions and trusting that God continues to guide and teach us. Above all, we are challenged to remember why we follow Christ. It isn't about earning more than others or comparing our faithfulness with theirs. It's about growing closer to God and helping others discover His love, regardless of when they begin their journey. Because in God's Kingdom, grace isn't something we earn by the hour—it's a gift generously offered to all.

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Join us each week for the latest sermon from Christ Church Sowerby Bridge, recorded live during our Sunday morning worship. Through Scripture, thoughtful preaching, and practical reflection, we explore how God's Word speaks into our daily lives. Whether you're part of our church family or listening from further afield, we hope these messages encourage your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and inspire you to follow Christ with confidence, hope, and love throughout the week.

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