Hearts on Fire for Jesus
Bible Fed & Spirit Led
Multiplying Resilient Disciples
FIRE
Lock In
Greater Vision
Believing Thomas
Ghostbusters
Road to Emmaus
The Resurrection
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Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Charlie Evans In this episode, Charlie Evans continues our core values series at Encounter Church Henley by diving deep into a defining value: Hearts on Fire for Jesus. Looking at the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, Charlie unpacks what it looks like to live with a holy defiance against secular culture. The "literal fire boys" didn't avoid the furnace; they walked straight through it because they knew an essential truth: God is exactly who He says He is. Whether you are walking through a minor personal spark or a raging societal furnace, discover how true faith isn’t about your own perfect strength—it’s about surrendering to a trustworthy Savior who meets you right in the middle of the mess. Key Takeaways From This Episode The Psychology of Identification: Why we naturally try to associate ourselves with high-standing people, and how human disappointment forces us to guard our hearts. Faith in the Fire (Daniel 3): Dissecting the radical "even if" statement of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and why choosing to suffer is better than choosing to sin. The Ultimate Trustworthy Being: How the absolute holiness of God means it is literally impossible for Him to sin against you (featuring insights from Jackie Hill Perry). The Fourth Man: Recognizing that you are never alone in your trials; the Holy Spirit is present as your Comforter, Savior, and Protector. Grace for the Sinners: Why Romans 5:8 proves that Christ’s love for you stands firm, regardless of how strong your faith feels today. Scripture References Daniel 3 (The story of the fiery furnace) Hebrews 11 (The Hall of Faith: Noah, the Israelites, and Rahab) Exodus 20:1-5 (The First and Second Commandments) Romans 5:8 (Christ dying for us while we were still sinners) Connect with Encounter Church Henley: Website: encounteradelaide.com.au Instagram: @encounterhenley
Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford In this episode, Pastor Tim Littleford of Encounter Church Henley explores the profound truth that the content we consume—and the influences we follow—inevitably shape who we become. Just as nutritional components interact with our bodies, the ideas, people, and spiritual inputs we allow into our lives metabolize into our character, our decisions, and our ultimate direction. In this message, we explore: The Diet of the Soul: Why consuming the wrong "content" can be as destructive to your spirit as a poor diet is to your physical body. The "Trailer" Trap: A call to move past the consumer mindset of "going to church to be fed" and instead becoming disciples who feast on the Word and follow the Spirit for themselves. Bible-Fed and Spirit-Led: Why Encounter Church is prioritizing this core value, and how you can stop "snacking" on scripture and start "feasting" on it. The Habit of Surrender: Practical ways to build the habit of checking in with the Holy Spirit throughout your Monday-to-Saturday life, moving from distraction to divine direction. Our Heritage: How these values aren't new trends, but are deeply rooted in our spiritual ancestry—from the "people of one book" legacy of John Wesley to the fire-born movement of early Methodism. Whether you are new to faith or have been following Jesus for a lifetime, this message is a challenge to stop drifting and start intentionally orienting your life around the living Jesus. Key Takeaways: Metabolize the Word: Don't just study scripture—assimilate it until it influences your reactions, decisions, and prayers. Ask "What Next?": Learn to pause in the "chinks of time" during your day and ask the Holy Spirit for His perspective, not just your own. Jesus is the Goal: Both the Spirit and the Scripture exist for one purpose: to testify to Jesus. Pursuing them will always lead you face-to-face with Him. Connect with Encounter Church Henley: Website: encounteradelaide.com.au Instagram: @encounterhenley
Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Daniel Clisby In this episode, Daniel Clisby kicks off our brand-new sermon series on Encounter Church's five core values, starting with a message close to his heart: Multiplying Resilient Disciples. Drawing from his own painfully relatable battles with university procrastination and shifting gravel, Daniel unpacks the Apostle Paul’s radical, upside-down framework in Romans 5: rejoicing in our trials. Discover why suffering isn’t something to flee or muscle through on our own, but rather our ultimate spiritual training ground—one where the Holy Spirit serves as our spotter and the church community acts as our recovery spa. If you are ready to stop trying to control your way out of hardship and start yielding to true spiritual endurance, this message is for you. Key Takeaways From This Episode The Spectrum of Coping: Why both avoiding reality (the "numbing" route) and aggressively fighting it (the "hustle" route) are worldly pursuits destined to fail. Paul’s 3-Step Program (Romans 5): How suffering builds endurance, endurance develops character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. The Holy Spirit as Our Spotter: You don’t have to push through life’s heavy weights in your own power. Doing Life Together: The vital role of Resilient Disciple Groups (RDGs) in sharing burdens and breaking the habit of hiding our pain. Scripture References Romans 5:3-5 (Rejoicing in problems and trials) Matthew 6:26-27 (Anxiety and trusting the Father) Jeremiah 29:11 (God's plans for hope and a future) Hebrews 12:1-2 (Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of our faith)
Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Ashlee Littleford In this episode, Pastor Ashlee Littleford shares a hilarious yet convicting story about trying to move a heavy trailer by hand—and how that "trailer moment" serves as the perfect metaphor for the way we often try to live the Christian life. When we rely on human effort, we might make a little progress on flat ground. But the moment we hit the "incline" of real-life stress, grief, or temptation, willpower fails. In this episode, we dive into: The "Trailer" Trap: Why we choose to "unhitch" from God’s power and attempt to move life’s heavy burdens on our own. Competency vs. Dependency: How even mature believers can shift from relying on the Holy Spirit to relying on their own experience and intellect. The Theology of Pentecost: Why the wind, fire, and languages in Acts 2 aren’t just ancient history—they are the blueprint for God relocating His presence from a temple of stone into the hearts of His people. Practical Steps to "Hook Up" to Power: A guide for transitioning from self-reliance to a life of yielding to the Holy Spirit. Are you running on fumes, living on the memory of God’s power rather than the current reality of it? Stop pushing the trailer and turn the engine on. Discover how to stop striving and start catching the wind of the Spirit. Key Takeaways from the "Henley Homework": Stop Trying, Start Yielding: Learn the daily practice of surrendering your schedule, anxieties, and relationships to God before the day even begins. Treat the Temple with Honor: Understand what it means to care for your life—your physical, mental, and spiritual self—as the actual dwelling place of the Creator. Clean House: Identify the bitterness, addiction, or unforgiveness that is "grieving" the Spirit, and learn why repentance is an act of honor, not just duty
Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Josh Petrie "Am I meant for more than this?" It’s the question that drives every cinematic superhero from Tony Stark to Peter Parker, but as Josh Petrie explores in this challenging message, it is also the deepest question of the human heart. Drawing a line from the silver screen to the Great Commission, Josh examines the weight of conviction—that deciding moment where we choose to let our old selves die to become something new. Sharing his own journey of joining Encounter Church in 2019 with "no intention of staying," Josh illustrates how a single choice to move from spectator to participant changed his life’s trajectory. He challenges us to stop "domesticating" Jesus by treating church as a Sunday box to be checked. Instead, he calls for a community of Monday Invaders—people who carry the presence of Jesus into their workplaces, hallways, and the mess of real-life relationships. Key Takeaways Conviction vs. Convenience: Why staying the same is often harder than choosing the transformation God calls us to. The Handover: Understanding the Great Commission as Jesus passing the baton of His ministry to us. Go vs. Attend: Trading the "Sunday spectator" lifestyle for a "Monday invader" identity. Raised, Not Created: Why discipleship isn't a theology degree, but a season of being raised within a messy, authentic community. The "Plus-One" Culture: Dealing with the heartbreak of the "no" and the persistent call to keep investing in others.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford Are you feeling surrounded by "armies" of sickness, debt, or stress? It is easy to let what is visible dictate our reality, but as Pastor Tim Littleford explores in this powerful message, what is visible is often an incomplete picture. Drawing from the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings, Tim challenges us to trade our "Enlightenment hangovers"—the tendency to separate the rational from the spiritual—for Greater Vision. We learn that the same Spirit that opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant to see chariots of fire is available to us today. As Encounter Church enters its third year, this episode is a call to move beyond "Supernatural Sundays" and let the reality of God’s unseen kingdom invade our Mondays. Discover how personal knowledge of God provides a confidence that doesn't just fight or flee, but faces every challenge with prayer. Key Takeaways Visible vs. Real: Understand why the physical world is factual, but the spiritual realm is the ultimate reality. The Elisha Confidence: How to develop a "fifth" survival mechanism: facing down danger with prayer. The Enlightenment Trap: Why Western Christians struggle to talk about faith as "knowledge" rather than just "opinion." Personal Knowledge: Moving from "watching the game" to "getting on the court" with the Holy Spirit. God’s Vision for You: Why God’s dream for your life is 10x greater than any plan you could craft for yourself.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Ashlee Littleford This week, Pastor Ashlee Littleford explores the tension between intellectual defense mechanisms and deep-seated heartbreak. Drawing from her own background in mathematics and coding, Ashlee challenges the idea that doubt is a moral failure. Instead, she looks at the story of "Doubting Thomas" to show that Jesus doesn't meet our skepticism with a physics lecture—He meets it with His wounds. In this episode, we discuss: Why "weaponizing" ourselves with facts often keeps us barricaded in our own corners. The psychological reality of cynicism as a defense mechanism against emotional overload. The staggering statistics on why people leave the church when they experience doubt. Why Jesus retained His scars in His resurrected body specifically to comfort the doubter. How to move from seeking evidence to experiencing an encounter. Whether you’re holding up a shield of intellectualism or faking a certainty you don’t feel, this message is an invitation to drop the walls and bring the "absolute mess of your story" to a Savior who isn't afraid of your questions. Scripture Reference: John 20:24-29 "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'"
Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Angus Green In this episode of the Encounter Church podcast, preacher Angus Green dives into the heart of the Christian faith: the physical resurrection of Jesus. Moving beyond Easter Sunday, Angus explores why the bodily resurrection isn't just a "nice story," but a grounded historical reality that changes how we live today. Using a clever (and spoiler-filled!) comparison to Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, Angus highlights the stark difference between a distant, "spiritual" ghost and the very real, fish-eating Jesus who invited his disciples to touch his scars. Key Highlights: The Gandalf Comparison: Why Jesus’ resurrection is actually the opposite of Gandalf the White’s "otherworldly" return. The Numbness of Familiarity: How to recapture the "weight" of the resurrection when we’ve become desensitized to the story. Physical vs. Spiritual: Understanding why a purely "spiritual" resurrection would mean death hasn't actually been defeated. Caterpillars and Butterflies: A powerful look at how our future resurrected bodies will be a transformation—not a replacement—of who we are now. Hope Beyond Sentiment: Why the resurrection provides a "guaranteed promise" rather than just "blind optimism" in the face of grief and loss. Scripture References: Luke 24: Jesus appears to the disciples and proves his physical form. 1 Corinthians 15:14: "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." Isaiah 53 & Hosea 6:2: The Old Testament patterns of suffering and restoration. Philippians 3:20-21: The promise of our citizenship in heaven and transformed bodies. Connect with Encounter Church: Join us as we continue "The Resurrection Files" series. Whether you're a lifelong believer or just curious about the historical claims of Jesus, this message offers a grounded, encouraging look at the hope that death is not the end. "Our lives today matter. Restoration doesn’t begin after we die—it begins now." — Angus Green
Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford Have you ever felt like God let you down? Maybe your life doesn’t look the way you expected, your career has stalled, or a prayer for healing went unanswered. John Maxwell famously said that disappointment is the gap between expectation and reality—but for a Christian, that gap can sometimes feel like an ocean between us and God. In this opening message of our new series, The Resurrection Files, Pastor Tim Littleford dives into the story of the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24) to show us how the resurrected Jesus meets us precisely in our moments of deepest disappointment. In This Episode, We Explore: The "Emmaus" Escape: Why we often run toward comfort food, doom-scrolling, or old habits when God doesn’t do what we thought He would. The Cost of the Story: A fascinating look at the historical "floor price" of Luke’s Gospel and why he invested so much to include this specific encounter with two "nobody" disciples. The Perception Problem: Why the disciples' disappointment was actually based on a misunderstanding of reality—and how Jesus was doing something far better than they could have imagined. Three Ways Jesus Meets Us:In Scripture: Loving correction that realigns our perspective. In the Breaking of Bread: Finding His presence in community and communion. In the Burning Heart: The internal witness of the Holy Spirit when we contend in prayer. "Disappointment isn't usually with who God is; it's with what God has or has not done. Don't stuff it down—speak it out to Him." — Tim Littleford
Encounter Church Henley Welcomes Pastor: Tex Horner Did you know that the last execution by guillotine in France happened in the same year that Star Wars: A New Hopepremiered in theaters? 1977. It’s a fact that seems impossible—the futuristic collision of a space epic and a medieval method of execution. As Mark Twain famously said, "Truth is stranger than fiction, because fiction is obliged to stick to possibility and the truth isn’t." In this high-energy Easter message, Pastor Tex Horner uses mind-bending history and a bit of "chocolate-throwing trivia" to explore the most unbelievable truth of all: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In This Episode, We Explore: The "Nonsense" of the Truth: Why the first report of the empty tomb sounded like total nonsense to the disciples, and why even Peter left the tomb feeling more confused than comforted. The Validity of the Witness: A look at why the Gospel writers chose a group of women—who were legally disqualified from giving testimony in the ancient world—to be the primary witnesses. If you were making this story up for power or control, you’d leave that part out. The fact that it’s there is proof of its truth. The Problem with "Comfortable Lies": How we often trade inconvenient truths for comfortable lies—the lie that we are unloved, irredeemable, or that our past defines our future. A New Story Begins: Why the resurrection isn't just a happy ending to an old story, but the explosive beginning of a brand-new one where victory over death is a historical reality. "Jesus didn’t come here to protect comfortable lies. Jesus came to reveal heavenly, world-changing, soul-altering truth." — Tex Horner