Talks

Following the ‘fish incident’, Jonah is recommissioned by God with dramatic effect. Andrew considers the implications for our understanding of mission.

Jonah is a subversive book; it’s meant to disturb us. Andrew considers three ways in which the story messes with our conceptual categories, looking at Jonah, the pagan sailors and God himself.

Both Matthew and John directly refer to the prophet Zechariah in recounting the moment of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. How does knowing this Old Testament backdrop illuminate what’s going on at Palm Sunday?

It would be tragic if the story of Grace Church Truro, having started as a story about what God can do, turned into a story about what we can manage. Andrew concludes our series on faith by reflecting on how Jesus addresses the slow and subtle creep of unbelief in our hearts. 

Most of the Christian life isn’t lived on the mountaintop: it’s lived in the valley, where life is frequently a challenge and we can struggle to hold on to Jesus. Andrew explores the complex relationship between faith and doubt, urging us to bring our small faith and our honest doubt to Jesus.

‘It’s not enough to be impressed with Jesus, we need to put our trust in Jesus.’ Andrew presents five lessons on faith from this sobering passage.

Andrew Sampson launches our new sermon series by considering how Jesus’ summons to ‘Repent! Believe!’ relate to his message about the Kingdom of God.

Andrew turns his attention to the content of Daniel’s prayer of confession, considering how we might understand it today in light of the Cross of Christ.

‘God is on a mission to conquer the human heart.’ Andrew considers what the testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon teaches us about pride and humility.

In this world we can expect to suffer. But a Christian doesn’t suffer without hope. Andrew considers the relationship between rejoicing and grieving in the Christian life.

The in-breaking of the Holy Spirit dismantles the social and cultural barriers that exist in society.  Andrew Sampson connects the Spirit being given at Pentecost with the Asuza Street revival of 1906 with Grace Church Truro today.

For followers of Christ, this world is not our home: our citizenship is in heaven. Andrew considers how cultivating a heavenly mindset helps us live well here and now.

A passage about women wearing head coverings in church may seem irrelevant, but first appearances can be deceptive. Andrew explains what this text teaches about the difference that Jesus’ coming into the world makes to male-female relationships.

Christians hold differing views on the roles of men and women in the church. Andrew offers a general introduction to the debate, highlighting the non-negotiables which are ‘written in blood.’

The gospels tell us that the crowd that received Jesus as king had this psalm in their minds and hearts. Andrew considers how Psalm 118 illuminates the Palm Sunday story and Jesus’ onward journey to the Cross.

Andrew considers what it means to ‘think Christianly’ about assisted dying, before reflecting on how biblical teaching on the dignity of human life impacts on our day-to-day lives.

The church in Antioch is presented as a model church. Andrew considers three ways in which it shows us what the kingdom of God is like.

In this talk for our ‘International Sunday’, Andrew explains what we learn about God’s intention for humanity from the story of Peter and Cornelius and how this fits with the vision of Grace Church.

‘The way of the cross and the way of the Spirit are one and the same.’ Andrew considers what this portion of Acts tells us about the Spirit-filled life and the mission of the Church.

Luke doesn’t separate the internal organisation of the church from the outward mission of the church and nor should we. Andrew considers the example of ‘the Seven’, and what they have to teach us about the Spirit-filled life.

‘God by the Spirit wants to work in us, so that he can work through us, to change the lives people around us.’ Andrew launches our new teaching series by looking at the prominence of speech through the Book of Acts.

At Grace Church, we believe that the Holy Spirit is received at conversion, and that there’s more! Andrew considers how Paul in Ephesians affirms both sides of this statement, drawing out the implications for us today.

Andrew launches our new series, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ by looking at Luke’s account of what happened when the Spirit first came. Luke wants us to understand that we’re in a new day. And that means that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all.

The Kingdom of Heaven repeatedly confounds our expectations. Through this story, Jesus gives us an insight into what God is like and what it means for the Church to be a colony of the Kingdom.

‘A sacrificial life is the only means by which a life of faith matures’. Focusing on the story of Abraham and Isaac, Andrew considers how and why God calls us to make sacrifices today.

Picking up last year’s series on Abraham, Andrew explores the meaning of ‘the fear of the Lord’, the main biblical phrase for what it means to ‘live responsively and appropriately’ before God.

Andrew takes an unusual theme for an address to a carol service, exploring how John’s pictures from the Book of Revelation give us a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the Christmas story.

There’s only one thing that matters more than our faith in God, and that’s God’s faithfulness towards us. Andrew Sampson explores these ideas in connection with the extraordinary story of God establishing a covenant with Abram.

Abram knew God in a way that was unique. Which raises the question: Do we know God as Abram knew him?

Andrew continues our Abraham series by looking at what happens when faith gives way to doubt and fear.

Andrew launches our new teaching series on Abraham by looking at God’s command, God’s promise and the launch of God’s mission.

Unfortunately, please be aware only the last 15 minutes of the talk has been recorded, we are sorry for the inconvenience.

Esther 1-4

Andrew considers the invitation that God extends to each one of us to partner with what he’s doing.

Why do we need Jesus? Andrew explains how the message of Jesus as our great high priest answers the single greatest need in our lives.

Jesus is superior to the angels, but why does that matter? Andrew returns to the opening chapters of Hebrews to explore how Jesus is superior to the angels in his dignity and status, and in his humility and condescension.

The Church is called to demonstrate and display the values of the kingdom of God. Andrew Sampson is joined by Emma Mills who explains the steps that Grace Church is taking to serve some of the needs in our wider community.

In his first talk in the book of Job, Andrew Sampson considers what we can learn from the two most prominent innocent sufferers in the Bible: Job and Jesus.

Note: This recording started partway through the talk. We apologise for any inconveniences.

God has revealed his truth to us. We’re not making it up as we go along. Andrew and Jon explore what this means for us both communally and individually, concluding with ten statements of what we value at Grace Church.

The God of the Bible is a promise-making, promise-keeping God. Andrew Sampson explores how God’s promises fuel our faith, enabling us to remain committed to him for the long haul.

No sooner has God granted his people ‘rest’ in the land than Israel once again finds herself preparing for war. How does this story challenge our view of unity and our tendency to ‘do our own thing’?

We have an enemy who wants to take us out! Andrew Sampson draws parallels between the Gibeonites’ deception in Joshua 9 and the Book of Revelation to explain where we’re most vulnerable and what we can do about it.

The Battle of Jericho is important not only because it opened up Israel’s conquest of Canaan. It gives us a window into the nature of God and our salvation.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Ephesians 2:11-18

Psalm 89

Psalm 88

Ephesians 1:1-10

Andrew speaks from John 20, looking at the power of Jesus’ resurrection in bringing complete peace and wholeness at every level.

Andrew opens Psalm 105 and finds a remarkably broad and sweeping account of the history of Israel. He uncovers how this gave them their identity and how it can also form a basis for our identity as the people of God today.

In Psalm 137 we find some of the most challenging and violent language in the entire Bible. Andrew looks at how it is that this found its way in, and what it teaches us about how to pray.

Speaking from Psalm 57, Andrew explores the arena of corporate worship and challenges us to move from an individual-centric mode to a corporate-first mode of worship.

Andrew ties up the Jesus in Community series with a call to obeying Jesus’ teaching – with the promise of standing firm through life’s storms.

Andrew opens the Jesus in Community series by looking at how Jesus forms the community around him; selecting the twelve apostles from the crowds.

Andrew looks at different attitudes to weekly Sabbath rest, and discovers which ones Jesus accepts and which ones Jesus rejects.

Andrew looks at how he has come to an understanding of God’s design for the church, and whether church is an optional extra in the Christian life.

Andrew continues the Being Human series

Andrew introduces the Being Human series by addressing a key issue in our culture, and human experience – where we find our identity.

Also includes praying for Falmouth team.

The Book of Daniel commends a worldview that places God at the centre, but why is this preferable to the alternative? Andrew Sampson relates the story of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to the realm of ideas and to our lives as individuals.

Andrew Sampson continues with our series on the Book of Daniel by
considering the important question ‘How do we know what we know?’ While many
people today believe that revelation is little more than superstitious
nonsense, he argues that reason and revelation should be regarded as allies
rather than enemies.

Daniel 1
Andrew Sampson launches our new 9-week series on Daniel by considering the sense of tragedy and loss that Daniel must have felt when the mighty Babylonian army conquered his homeland. He shows how the Book of Daniel commends a worldview that rejects the easy answers of religious fundamentalism on the one hand and secularism on the other.

2 Timothy 2:14-26
Taking verse 15 as a headline statement, Andrew explains that the kind of life that God is looking for is one in which we’re attending to our character and becoming better skilled in our handling of God’s Word.

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Andrew Sampson introduces our new teaching series entitled ‘Confident’ by surveying three of the big themes in Paul’s second letter to Timothy: a call to activism; a call to loyalty; a call to have confidence.

Exodus 33:1-6, 12-17 Andrew Sampson concludes our series on Redemption by explaining how the presence of God is the unifying theme of both the Book of Exodus and the grand story that the Bible tells.

Exodus 34:1-10 This recording begins with an interview with Roger Chilman, discussing his battle with depression and encouraging more open discussion about mental illness. Following this Andrew Sampson explains how the God we read about in the Book of Exodus is the same God who reveals his glory and expresses his commitment to humanity through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 16

The newly-redeemed Israelites were expecting a land flowing with milk and honey and found themselves in a dusty wilderness. Andrew Sampson explains how God uses everything in our lives to help build our trust in him.

Luke & Acts

Andrew Sampson explains why church planting and strengthening churches is integral to our mission. Looking at Luke’s writings in the New Testament, he shows how our commitment to church planting is rooted in an understanding of the big story that the Bible tells.

Luke 14:1, 7-24 “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” Andrew Sampson explains how God offers every one of us – regardless of our background – a life that richly satisfies.

Luke 3 & 4 Christians are followers of Jesus who, filled with the same Spirit that filled Jesus at his baptism, are being empowered to live lives that increasingly look like Jesus’ own life. In this talk, Andrew Sampson explains how this truth should shape our expectations, and invites us to ask God for more of his empowering presence in our lives and in our church.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-12 (& 7:13-14) ‘Time and chance happen to us all’. But how do we respond when misfortunes strike? In this talk, Andrew Sampson shows us how the Teacher urges us to trust God in the midst of the calamaties, misfortunes and unexpected events that occur in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 One of the recurring themes of Ecclesiastes is that we live in a broken, messed up world. In this talk, Andrew Sampson shows how the Bible provides us with the resources we need to respond to evil and injustice.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-24
What is my attitude to work? Am I at risk of turning work into an idol? Andrew Sampson considers how Ecclesiastes can help us keep work in proper perspective, and point us towards the rest offered us in Jesus.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 & 2:12-16
In these passages the Teacher vents the frustration he feels as a student of knowledge and wisdom. Where can true wisdom be found? Andrew Sampson explains how the wisdom that comes from God is found in the cross of Christ.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
Andrew Sampson introduces our new series in Ecclesiastes by exploring three great themes of this remarkable book.

Hebrews 10:19-25

 We
Christians are called to ‘spur one another on’ to grow in maturity.
This means recognising that we have a responsibility towards one
another. Andrew Sampson invites us to consider:
who is on your list?

Andrew’s short paper about clusters can be found here –

Articles

Andrew Sampson reflects on the second of the whole-church themes that
we’re focusing on over the next year. Starting from Paul’s analogy of
the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12, Andrew invites each of us to
consider the extent to which we own Grace Church’s vision for building
community.

Andrew takes us through Romans 12:1-8 and looks at how the church can find unity in diversity.

We don’t just see divisions in 21st Century Britain – they’ve been around for some time. Speaking from a letter that Paul wrote to the Roman church, Andrew explores how Jesus broke down divisions in his time and continues to do so today.

Philippians 1:3-11

What is God’s priority for our lives? Andrew Sampson shows how God’s ultimate purpose is to make us more like Jesus, so that all the glory and praise go to him. Coming to appreciate God’s ultimate purpose for our lives is profoundly liberating, as it makes it possible for us to take failure, disappointment and suffering in our stride.

Philippians 4:4-9

In this passage, Paul calls upon us to take our private seriously, and to seek to cultivate an inner life which is characterised by peace rather than anxiety. Drawing upon Paul’s words in this passage, along with Gordon MacDonald’s book, ‘Ordering Your Private World’, Andrew Sampson examines two ‘pathways to peace’, namely prayer and a life centred on Jesus Christ.

In this autobiographical passage, the apostle Paul sets out with startling clarity just how much Jesus means to him. Andrew Sampson invites us to consider two questions in the light of Paul’s remarks. What is it that makes Jesus so special? And what difference does it make when you value Jesus above all else?

In this first message of our new preaching series, Andrew Sampson
introduces the main themes of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He
focuses on verse 21 as a summary statement of what the Christian life is
all about: ‘For me to live is Christ.’

Jesus will not allow us to accommodate him into our old lives. He calls
us to an entirely new way to live. Andrew Sampson examines the contrast
between the self-interest of the religious scribes and the total
sacrifice of the poor widow to explain what being
part of God’s kingdom is all about.

(Apologies for the quality of the audio – technical hitch on this one)

When Jesus entered the Jerusalem temple during the Jewish festival of Passover, he overturned the money-changers’ tables and drove out those who were buying and selling there. Why did he do it? Andrew Sampson explains how Jesus’ protest spoke of God’s judgement on His people and His intention to replace the temple with something better, namely Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. How shall we respond?

Matthew
25 :14-30

The Bible teaches that everything we have
ultimately belongs to God and he calls upon us to steward it responsibly.
Andrew Sampson explains how this principle of stewardship is rooted in three of
the great doctrines of Scripture – the doctrines of creation, salvation and the
Lordship of Christ – before spelling out some of the implications for how we
manage our money.
Link to video mentioned: http://vimeo.com/117157283

Andrew Sampson urges us to view our lives in the light of God’s expansive purposes. God has always intended for the salvation he offers through his Son to go to the ends of the earth. The early Christians took this on board and invested themselves in advancing the gospel through planting churches. The same priority should be seen in our lives today.

Andrew Sampson is joined by Ben and Helen Sewell in a three-way
conversation on what the Bible teaches about leadership in the home and
the church. Looking at passages from both the Old and the New
Testaments, the speakers explore the three big themes of equality,
complementarity and male headship.