The Good Samaritan
Love Your Family
Our Families
God's Family
The Gods
Commit for the Long Haul
Commit when it Costs
Commit to Community
Spiritual Power
Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Ashlee Littlfeford In this challenging and empathetic message, Pastor Ashlee confronts the common misinterpretation of the Good Samaritan, suggesting it's not a to-do list for moral improvement, but a radical wake-up call to the very grace of God. Tired and Avoidant: Pastor Ashlee shares a personal, honest reflection on avoiding someone in need because she was "drowning" herself. She highlights a crucial truth: we often pass by pain not because we hate people, but because we are hurting too, tired, and running on fumes. The Radical Truth: Discover the core of the Gospel hidden in Jesus' parable: You are not the hero. Before we can be the Samaritan who helps, we must first admit we are the man in the ditch, rescued by Christ. Jesus meets us in our deepest need. Crossing the Road: The story is a "bomb" against religious tribalism, revealing that "racist categories of society do not exist in the Kingdom of God." Hear how Jesus' work on the cross—crossing eternity to carry us and pay for us—is the ultimate act of Samaritanship. Grace-Filled Mercy: Learn that the call to "go and do likewise" is not "grit your teeth Christianity," but a call to love others because you have been carried first. Imagine mercy becoming your instinct instead of avoidance. Tune in to be reminded that your capacity to love flows not from effort, but from the unending, undeserved help you've already received.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford In this episode, Pastor Tim Littleford dives into the complex and often painful story of King David and his son, Absalom, from 2 Samuel 18. A Familiar Struggle: The tragic failure of David's family serves as a powerful, ancient reflection of the complexity and difficulty of loving our own families—especially when they are messy, broken, or hard to forgive. An Unpleasant Reality: David, the "man after God's own heart," ultimately faces the death of his son after years of familial conflict. Pastor Tim explores three catastrophic failures in David's parenting—or "family sins"—that led to this heartbreaking end. Learning from Mistakes: Discover how David's errors—the sin of doing nothing (tolerating destructive behavior) and the sin of pulling away (estranging his son)—teach us to cultivate love, accountability, and connection, rather than bitterness and contempt, in our own relationships. A Better Way: Learn how to bring family patterns of brokenness into the grace of Jesus and choose a better, more loving way forward. Tune in to discover how to navigate the complexities of your own family with grace and intentionality.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Ashlee Littleford Do you ever find yourself running "scripts" or repeating patterns from your family of origin when life gets stressful? You are not alone. In this powerful message, Pastor Ashlee Littleford tackles the complex reality of generational inheritance—the good and the bad "emotional DNA" we carry from our past. Ashlee explores: The Myth of the "Self-Made" Person: Why our modern culture's idea of total independence crumbles under the pressure of real life, revealing deep-seated family patterns. Inheritance of Brokenness: Examining the repeated sin of Abraham and Isaac (lying out of fear for self-preservation) to understand how unresolved fear and sinful coping mechanisms become ingrained generational habits. Inheritance of Grace: Highlighting Lois and Eunice (Timothy's mother and grandmother) to show how emotional resilience, authentic connection, and intentional discipleship can pass down a pattern of peace. Repatterning in Christ: Ashlee provides practical, Gospel-centered steps for discerning the patterns, engaging in lament and repentance, and choosing the new secure identity in Christ, which frees us to stop relying on fearful family patterns for survival. The patterns of your past do not define the promises of your future! You have a radical opportunity to be a healing agent in your lineage and let the patterns of sin stop with you.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Tex Horner What does it truly mean to belong? In this inspiring message, Pastor Tex Horner explores the profound concept of family—both in a Hawaiian sense with a nod to Disney's Lilo & Stitch and, most importantly, in a biblical context. Drawing from Acts 4:32-37 and Galatians 3:26-29, Tex delves into: The DNA of Family: Discover what defines family for people today (hint: it's not primarily bloodlines) and why the church uses family language like "brothers and sisters." Unity in Action: Explore the early church's radical generosity, where "all the believers were united in heart and mind," sharing everything to ensure no one was needy. The Example of Barnabas: Learn how "the Son of Encouragement" sacrificially sold land and gave the substantial proceeds to support his new family in Christ, demonstrating that love sacrifices preference. Adopted by God: Understand that through faith and baptism, we are adopted into God's family, transcending old identities and earthly divisions—you are an heir to God's promises! Tex reminds us that our ability to live out sacrificial love for our church community flows directly from the fact that "He himself has been sacrificially loved." Get ready to be challenged and encouraged to move beyond "family words" into "family action."
Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford We all have something we cling to for security, value, or happiness that isn't God. In this powerful message, lead pastor Tim Littleford shares his personal struggle with making money an "ultimate thing" and explores what the Bible calls idolatry. Drawing from the story of Gideon tearing down his father's altar to Baal in Judges 6, Tim helps us diagnose the modern, subtle idols in our own lives—from career and approval to relationships and comfort. If you've ever thought, "If only I had that, then I'd be secure," this message is for you. Tim provides a clear, three-part framework for "idol breaking" today: Identify the idol in your own backyard. Dismantle the structures of dependence. Use the idol as fuel for worship, intentionally going in the opposite direction by making costly and sacrificial decisions to prioritize God. Discover why idols always over-promise and under-deliver, and learn how to replace the treadmill of striving with the lasting security and peace found only in Jesus.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Emma Petrie Have you ever started something with more energy than sense, only to have the mundane, difficult reality force you to quit? In this message, preacher Emma Petrie challenges us to swap the cultural obsession with "the quick sprint" for a commitment to a long obedience in the same direction. Drawing on her experience as a Scottish Highland dancer, Emma illustrates how two minutes of "effortless" performance are built on hidden hours of gruelling, unglamorous training. This is the essence of discipleship: not a flash of spiritual excitement, but a life of constant, consistent faithfulness. Emma explores Paul's journey to Rome in Acts 28 where his movement was restricted by chains and delays. Yet, the Gospel remained "without hindrance." His house arrest became a platform for an unhurried, two-year ministry, proving that God's power is perfected in our weakness and that His mission is never bound by our circumstances. This sermon is a powerful call to resist the pressure of urgency and instant gratification. Learn how to cultivate the slow, patient rhythms of faith, finding peace not in productivity, but in prioritizing presence over performance. It’s about trusting God to work in the quiet, unseen moments of your life, making your "long haul" a testimony to His unstoppable kingdom.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Angus Green In this powerful message, preacher Angus Green explores "The Cost of Commitment," as part two of the series "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction," this sermon challenges us to consider what we are willing to give up for God. Green uses relatable examples, from musician Ed Sheeran's journey to the ultimate sacrifice of Abraham and Isaac, to ask a profound question: "What is your Isaac?" He challenges listeners to identify the most cherished thing in their lives—the one thing they might be tempted to withhold from God. The message reminds us that true faith requires us to deny ourselves and lay down our desires, trusting that our sacrifices are never in vain. Ultimately, Green highlights that Jesus's own sacrifice is the foundation of our faith. He emphasizes that God's immense love fuels our obedience and that the rewards of following Him far outweigh any cost.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Tex Horner In this powerful message, Pastor Tex Horner dives into a deeply personal conversation, exploring how a shared foundation in Jesus sets a Christian community apart. He uses the blueprint of the early church from Acts 2 and the corrective wisdom of 1 Corinthians to highlight the importance of living out our faith in tangible, distinct ways. The episode challenges listeners to consider if their individual lives, and their church community as a whole, stand out to the world around them in a positive, compelling way. Join Tex as he explores the true meaning of Christian community, urging us to be a people who fight for, celebrate, and champion one another, living a "long obedience in the same direction."
Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford In this powerful message, lead pastor Tim Littleford shares his personal stories and insights on the vital role of spiritual power in evangelism. Drawing on the transformative events in Acts 9, Tim highlights two powerful stories: Peter's healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha from the dead. These miracles weren’t just random acts of kindness; they were irrefutable demonstrations of God’s power that led to many people believing in the Lord. Tim challenges the Western church to break free from what he calls a “powerless Christianity.” He argues that a focus solely on rational, knowledge-based faith has left many Christians hesitant to embrace the supernatural. He encourages a shift to a “naturally supernatural” mindset—one where we confidently and publicly live out our faith, trusting in the power of God to authenticate the gospel. This episode will challenge you to: Reject the assumptions of secularism and embrace a worldview where the supernatural is a natural part of life. Share your faith and spiritual experiences as factual truths, not private opinions. Practice "reflex prayer," offering to pray for people immediately and directly in their moments of need. Discover how to move beyond a hesitant faith and become a bold conduit for God's power.
Encounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Tex Horner Join pastor Tex Horner in a powerful episode titled "Testimony" as he unpacks the profound impact of sharing our personal stories of faith. Drawing inspiration from Paul's testimony in Acts 26, Tex challenges listeners to move beyond a simple, self-focused narrative and present a Jesus-centered testimony that has the power to change others. Throughout the episode, Tex explores how Paul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus wasn't just a personal revelation, but a powerful tool for evangelism. He encourages listeners to: Move beyond the "I, my, me" testimony to one that glorifies Jesus and his work. Recognize the power of personal stories in a world that is often wary of religious institutions but open to individual people. Understand that a testimony is not just for believers, but for everyone. Whether you've been a follower of Jesus for years or are simply curious, this episode will inspire you to see your own story as a valuable part of God's work.