Talks

Our amazing guest speaker Sim Dendy showed us a side of Jesus we don’t often think about: The cunning Jesus!  Jesus is the most cunning man you will ever meet - brilliant, clever, and uncatchable. (John Eldredge)
Sim’s first question to us was: What are you hungry for?
He then gave us three options / qualities of Jesus we should/could be hungry for:
1) No compromise! Based on the story in Matthew 22 verses 15-22 where the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus, Sim explained how cleverly Jesus answered questions without compromise yet avoided the pharisees trap.
2) Radical Justice! Sim’s example of Jesus’ radical justice was taken from John 8 verse 1-11, where Jesus invites any accusers of the woman without sin to throw the first stone. Jesus is brilliant! “Shrewd like a serpent, yet gentle as a dove”.  Jesus protects the woman, without condoning what she had done. Jesus died for people, not for principles!
3) Divine Wisdom! Again, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in Luke 20 verses 1-8 asking him in what authority He was preaching. Jesus doesn’t answer their question, but instead responds with a question of His own.  When the Pharisees can’t answer his question he tells them He won’t answer theirs either!  Brilliant! They didn’t really want to know the answer, they just wanted to trap him.

Jesus is Playful, fierce, extravagant and also cunning!  Don’t you just love Him!  Join us this Sunday to think about another important quality…..

On Sunday our guest Speaker Jonas Eyles spoke powerfully to us using the passage from John 21 verses 1-22. He explained the 5 things that Jesus beautifully does for Peter on the beach, and still does for us today.  He’s a reminder of the message:

Jesus Reminds
Jesus restores Peter by reminding him of his past experiences of Grace: Once again, Peter catches no fish, but an abundance when Jesus tells him to try the other side of the boat, just like he did before.

Jesus Renews
Jesus restores Peter by renewing him physically and spiritually: After Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus now gives Peter the chance to tell Jesus three times that he loves Him.
Jesus Recommissions
Jesus restores Peter by recommissioning him with the call of God over his life to be a leader and teacher and “feed His sheep”.
Jesus Repairs
Jesus restores Peter by beginning to heal and repair his brokenness and deal with areas of weakness in his life.
Jesus Refocuses
Jesus restores Peter by refocusing him on Him, and calling him back to simply follow Him again. Jonas challenged us with the question: Are you following Jesus or are you inviting Him to follow you?

Simply JESUS - Who do you say I am?
What a great Sunday! We welcomed Joe Gisbey (CEO of Links Charity and friend of Ashwood) to give us an update on what is happening with Links but also to bring us a great message based on Matthew 16:13-20.  The same passage we have focused on already in 2025!

Peter has a revelation of who Jesus is and then Jesus gives Peter a new name! Peter the rock!

Joe explained in detail the context for this significant moment for Peter (and the other disciples) This exchange took place in Caesarea Philippi, it was a place where the gods Baal and Pan were worshipped in all sorts of horrific ways. And so it was significant that Jesus was saying in the middle of the darkness and the evil in the world I will build my church and start by building it on you Peter!
Joe shared his own story about a very dark time in his life and how he got there. He also told us about the moment when Jesus met with him in a powerful way and lifted him out of the darkness and gave him a new hope and a bright future.
What would it look like if we took our light into these dark places? Jesus asks: “Will you come with me to these dark places?” Are you willing to say: “Here I am, send me”?

Let’s continue to pray during our prayer season for us to Encounter Jesus and have a revelation of him just like both Peter and Joe did.

Rachael Heffer (Head of Missions of the Evangelical Alliance) spoke to us about Jesus the source of all courage.
In Isaiah 43:1-13, Jesus says: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine”.
When we see the news in the world, it can make us spiral into darkness and hopelessness: Our response to this should be like the three train experiences Rachael had in the last few months: stop – review – advance.

Stop:
Train scenario: Pull the emergency cord!
Isaiah was in a similar situation to us today: the world around him looked very bleak. But God says: do not fear, I have called you by name, you are mine. Whatever scenarios you find yourself in today, do not fear. We are called for a purpose. STOP and consider whose you are and focus on positives. There is a lot we can celebrate:  1 in 5 people in the UK believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. 45% can believe in Jesus dying and rising again.

Review:
Train scenario: The train driver comes into the carriages, explains the situation and the plans.
We need to look to Jesus as our driver.
In Isaiah’s time, the people were in exile, but God reframed their situation and encouraged them: “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not see it? “

Advance:
Train scenario: Once the obstacle is removed the train can move on in your journey.
The Lord our God is powerfully with us and will not forsake us.
You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.
Advance with confidence!
We’re on a journey of a lifetime to become like Jesus.

Jesus the Leader
What a great weekend!  It was a privilege and delight to have Jack and Trish Groblewski from Bethlehem USA with us both on Saturday with leaders in the morning, and Transformed Worship in the evening.  And finally Sunday morning – where Jack continued our “Who do you say I am? Series speaking on Jesus the Leader.

Jesus never described Himself as a “leader” but He was and is clearly the greatest role model we can ever have as a leader.  Leaders (by definition) are those being followed.  When we look at Jesus we see why so many people chose to follow Him.

Jack said:
“Spiritual leadership in the church and the kingdom should be spiritually obvious to those being led.”
What is leadership? It’s not “Lordship”. Earthly lordship voids biblical leadership. It is humanly centred and its authority rises from position and ego rather than relationship and call.
However - leadership in the kingdom is God centred and its authority arises from call, sacrifice and servanthood.
In Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, His agenda was to be our saviour and king. In Jesus’ ascension His agenda was and is to build His church.
Jesus the leader is filled with zeal for His church, and leaders who lead in His name are filled with zeal for His church too.

If Jesus is the leader – how can we follow Him well?

What an amazing Mini Conference we had!  Sunday Morning was also Session 3 with input from both Paul and Perrianne Brownback.

Session 3 (Sunday morning) focused on Jesus’ “wild” appearances after He had risen from the dead.  Imagine what it must have been like for the disciples to see Jesus again, after the trauma of watching Him die and be taken from them.

What do we learn?

Transformation: Jesus is the same, yet different
Recognition: Many don’t recognise him at first
Embodiment: He eats, shows wounds, speaks peace
Mission: He commissions his followers every time
Presence: He’s no longer limited by time or walls

Perrianne talked specifically about Thomas.  People often call Thomas “doubting Thomas” – but maybe he should really be called “over-thinking Thomas”. He needed to see proof before he could believe that Jesus really had risen from the dead.
Jesus graciously creates a moment where he can prove to Thomas, and shows him what he asked for.  (To see Jesus’ wounds) It was Jesus’ PRESENCE that convinced him first.  Often we’re looking for proof that Jesus is real and exists today (which is fine!) but sometimes the proof comes when we experience Jesus’ presence.  Let’s ask for that!

After giving us an update on what is happening with Links in Africa, our Special Guest Speaker Sam Walker talks to us about dwelling with and on Jesus, based on what we read in Luke 10:38-42 (the story of Mary and Martha) and Luke 11:1-4 (The prayer Jesus taught his disciples).

Sam touches on 5 important points:
1) Dwell with Jesus - often (Mark 1:35 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed)
2) Dwell with Jesus - when its busy
3) Dwell on Jesus - then move to action
4) Dwell on Jesus - who is at work within
5) Dwell with and on Jesus - through simple personal and communal prayer

Simply Jesus!