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What does it really mean when we say that God is holy? For many people, holiness sounds like coldness, judgement or condemnation — a God standing at a distance saying, “Keep away. You’re not good enough.” But is that an accurate picture of the God revealed in the Bible? In Week 2 of Know God, Anthony Delaney explores Isaiah’s breathtaking encounter with God in Isaiah 6 and Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus in Luke 5. When Isaiah sees God as He really is — “Holy, holy, holy” — he also begins to see himself clearly. Yet God’s response isn’t simply to expose Isaiah’s sin. He cleanses him, calls him and gives him a purpose. And centuries later, Peter experiences the same thing in Jesus. The Holy God cleanses us.
The Holy God calls us.
The Holy God commissions us. God doesn’t stand at a distance waiting for us to make ourselves good enough. In Jesus, the Holy One comes near, does for us what we could never do for ourselves, and then invites ordinary, imperfect people to join Him in His mission. As we prepare for the God Loves You Tour at Co-op Live, Anthony challenges us to consider who God might be calling us to reach — and whether we’re willing to answer as Isaiah did: “Here am I. Send me.” Key Bible passages: Isaiah 6:1–8 Luke 5:1–11

What if the biggest barrier between you and God isn’t God — but the picture of Him you’ve been carrying? In the first part of our new Know God series, Anthony Delaney asks one of the most important questions we can ever consider: What is God really like? All of us have a picture of God. It can be shaped by our upbringing, our experiences, other people, disappointment, suffering and even our own assumptions. But what happens when the God we’ve imagined isn’t an accurate picture of the God who has actually revealed Himself? Through the story of Job, Anthony explores what happens when our circumstances don’t seem to match what we believe about God. Job wanted an explanation for his suffering — but instead, God gave him a revelation of Himself. And ultimately, if we want to know exactly what God is like, Scripture points us somewhere even clearer: Look at Jesus. Jesus isn’t simply someone who gives us information about God. He is the revelation of God — “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” This series isn’t simply about knowing more about God. It’s an invitation to really know Him.

What if making an eternal difference in someone’s life was as simple as bringing them to Jesus? In the second and final part of The Harvest, Gav Lightbown looks at one of the quieter disciples in the Gospels: Andrew. Andrew wasn’t a famous preacher, scholar or teacher. He often lived in the shadow of his brother, Simon Peter. Yet whenever we encounter Andrew in John’s Gospel, we see him doing something remarkably consistent — bringing people to Jesus. He brought his brother Simon. He brought the boy with five loaves and two fish. He helped bring the seeking Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus. His approach was beautifully simple: Find them. Tell them. Bring them. As we prepare for the God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham at Co-op Live on 3 October, Gav introduces the I Am Andrew initiative and challenges each of us to think of at least one friend, family member, neighbour or colleague who doesn’t yet know Jesus. Who is your one person? Write down their name. Begin praying for them. And when the opportunity comes, have the courage to invite them. God uses ordinary people to carry extraordinary hope. Key Bible passages: 1 Peter 3:15 John 1:35–42 John 6:8–9 John 12 🌾 The Harvest is a two-part mini-series exploring how we can prepare for the opportunities God is giving us to share Jesus, invite others and help people find their way back to God. God Loves You Tour – Manchester 📅 Saturday 3 October 2026 📍 Co-op Live, Manchester 🎟️ Free admission

What if sharing your faith was simpler than you thought? As we look ahead to the God Loves You Tour with Franklin Graham at Co-op Live, Gav Lightbown challenges us to think about the part each of us can play in seeing a harvest of transformed lives across Greater Manchester. Using the story of Philip and the Ethiopian official in Acts 8, Gav explores what it means to live as a witness for Jesus — allowing our everyday lives to reflect Him, listening to the people around us, sharing the Gospel simply, and having the courage to offer a personal invitation. In this message, Gav introduces the LISTEN approach to sharing faith: L – Listen to their story I – Identify the difference Jesus can make S – Share your story T – Take them to the cross and empty tomb E – Encourage them to receive Christ N – Nurture them in their new relationship with Jesus Because evangelism isn’t about winning an argument or having all the answers. Sometimes it begins with one very simple question: “I’m going — will you come with me?” And when someone says yes to Jesus, that’s not the finish line. It’s the starting line. We’re called to climb into the chariot with them, walk alongside them and help them grow as disciples. Key Bible passages: Acts 8:26–40 2 Corinthians 3 Galatians 5:22–23 Romans 12:2 Psalm 119:30 🌾 The Harvest is a two-part mini-series exploring how we can prepare for the opportunities God is giving us to share Jesus, invite others and help new believers take their first steps of faith. God Loves You Tour – Manchester 📅 Saturday 3 October 2026 📍 Co-op Live, Manchester 🎟️ Free admission

What really happens after we die? Is judgement something to fear? What does the Bible actually say about heaven, hell and eternity? In the final message of our God’s Book series, Lynn Swart explores one of the Bible’s biggest and most challenging questions: What happens at the end? Drawing from Revelation, Matthew 25 and the wider story of Scripture, Lynn reminds us that God’s judgement is not simply about punishment, but about perfect justice, restoration and the hope of a new creation. Most importantly, she points us to Jesus—the One who was judged in our place so that we can receive eternal life through Him. In this message you’ll discover: • Why God’s judgement is ultimately good news • The difference between the Book of Deeds and the Book of Life • What Jesus taught about the Sheep and the Goats • Why grace and truth always belong together • How God’s justice restores what is broken • The hope of heaven and the invitation to eternal life through Christ Rather than becoming consumed by speculation about Revelation, we’re invited to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus—the centre of God’s story from Genesis to Revelation. Key Bible passages: • Revelation 20–22 • Matthew 25:31–46 • John 5:24 • John 8:1–11 • Romans 3:23–24 • Psalm 96:12–13 📖 God’s Book is a teaching series inspired by Andrew Ollerton’s bestselling book, exploring the Bible as one unified story that ultimately points to Jesus.

Is the Bible’s teaching about sex, relationships and marriage outdated — or is it pointing us towards something deeper? In this message from our God’s Book series, Anthony Delaney explores one of the most personal and challenging questions people ask about Christianity today: does the Bible’s view of sex still make sense in our modern world? Looking at the big story of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, Anthony unpacks how the Bible presents sex not as something shameful, but as a good gift from a loving God — designed around covenant, faithfulness, identity and love. With honesty and sensitivity, this message explores: • Why God cares about sex and relationships • How Jesus holds together both grace and truth • The difference between freedom and healthy boundaries • Why our deepest identity is found in Christ • What marriage, singleness and friendship reveal about God’s love • How Jesus meets us with compassion, forgiveness and transformation From the woman caught in adultery in John 8 to the picture of the wedding feast in Revelation, the Bible tells a bigger story — not of rules and shame, but of a God who loves us, restores us and invites us into true life.

Can we really trust the Gospel accounts of Jesus? And if we can, do miracles still happen today? In this message from our God’s Book series, Matt Donaldson explores the reliability of the Gospels, the evidence for the resurrection, and why Christians believe Jesus still heals, speaks and works miraculously today. Looking at both the historical evidence and the biblical story, Matt challenges us to move beyond “practical atheism”—believing in God while living as though He never intervenes—and instead rediscover a faith that expects God to move. In this message you’ll discover: • Why the Gospel accounts are historically trustworthy • The evidence for Jesus’ resurrection • Whether miracles still happen today • How to avoid both scepticism and unhealthy obsession with the supernatural • What it means to be a supernatural community centred on Jesus Ultimately, Christianity isn’t simply another philosophy or moral framework—it’s the story of a miraculous God who stepped into history to bring life, freedom and hope. 📖 God’s Book is a teaching series inspired by Andrew Ollerton’s book of the same name, exploring the Bible as one unified story that points to Jesus.

If God is loving and all-powerful, why does He allow suffering? It’s one of life’s deepest questions—and one every worldview must answer. In this message from our God’s Book series, Anthony Delaney explores what the Bible really says about pain, grief, injustice and loss. Rather than offering easy answers or clichés, Scripture points us to a God who enters our suffering, weeps with us, and ultimately defeats death through Jesus Christ. Looking at the Bible’s four-part story—Creation, the Fall, Jesus and New Creation—we discover that Christianity doesn’t simply offer an explanation for suffering. It offers a Saviour. In this message you’ll discover: • Why suffering was never part of God’s original design • How the Bible makes sense of pain within the bigger story • What Jesus’ tears at Lazarus’ tomb reveal about God • Why our deepest trials can become places of deeper revelation • The hope of resurrection and the promise that suffering will not have the final word Whether you’re wrestling with unanswered questions or walking through a difficult season, this message offers a biblical perspective filled with honesty, compassion and hope. Key Bible passages: • Genesis 1–3 • John 11 • John 4:50 • Hebrews 5:8 • Revelation 21–22 📖 God’s Book is a teaching series inspired by Andrew Ollerton’s book of the same name, exploring the Bible as one unified story that points to Jesus.

What are the small things quietly draining your spiritual life? In this Ivy Central message, guest speaker John Bunjo brings a prophetic call to hunger, holiness, and spiritual renewal. Speaking from Song of Songs 2:15, John challenges us to pay attention to the “little foxes” — the small compromises, habits, hurts and hidden issues that can damage the fruit God wants to grow in our lives. This message invites us into a personal spiritual health check: not to condemn us, but to help us bring what is hidden into the healing light of Jesus. This talk will challenge you to: * Guard your heart * Recognise small compromises before they grow * Ask God to search and heal what is hidden * Recover spiritual hunger and thirst * Live a transformed life that transforms others Because God doesn’t just expose what is consuming us — He offers healing, freedom and restoration.

If God is love, why does the Bible contain wars, judgement and violence? In this message from God’s Book, Anthony Delaney tackles one of the toughest questions people ask about Christianity: how can a loving God be connected to violent stories in the Old Testament? Looking at the wider story of Scripture — from Creation to Revelation — this talk explores how the Bible’s message moves from peace, through humanity’s violence and rebellion, back toward ultimate peace through Jesus Christ. This message explores: • Why context matters when reading difficult Bible passages • The bigger story behind Old Testament wars • Ancient warfare, hyperbole and spiritual conflict • How God restrains violence rather than celebrates it • Why Jesus is the turning point of the whole story • How the cross transforms “us vs them” into one family in Christ Because the Bible is not a story of a cruel God — but of a loving God entering a violent world to rescue and restore it.

How do we make sense of some of the Bible’s hardest passages? In this message from God’s Book, Anthony Delaney explores difficult questions around slavery, women, Old Testament laws, and how we should read the Bible today. Looking at the importance of context, the unfolding story of Scripture, and the person of Jesus at the centre of it all, this talk helps us understand how God works progressively through history — meeting people where they are, while moving humanity toward freedom, dignity, justice and restoration. This message explores: • Why context changes how we read Scripture • The difference between permanent laws, particular laws and principles • What the Bible really says about slavery • How Christianity transformed the value and dignity of women • Why Jesus is the centre of the whole story Because the Bible isn’t just a collection of disconnected verses — it’s one unfolding story pointing us to Jesus.

Has science disproved God? Or are we asking the wrong question? In the opening message of our new series God’s Book, Anthony Delaney explores one of the biggest assumptions of modern culture — that science and faith are enemies. Looking at creation, meaning, purpose and the limits of scientific explanation, this message shows why science is a wonderful tool for studying creation — but was never designed to replace the Creator. This talk explores: • The difference between science and scientism • Why faith and reason are not opposites • The deeper questions science cannot answer • Why human beings still long for meaning, beauty and hope • How Jesus reveals the God behind creation Because the greatest discovery we can ever make isn’t just how the universe works — but why we were made, and who made us.

How do we stay focused on what God has called us to do? In this final message from Restoring the House – Together, Louise Yuill explores Nehemiah 6 and the completion of Jerusalem’s wall. After weeks of burden, prayer, vision, participation, perseverance and unity, Nehemiah now faces one final challenge: distraction. When opposition tries to pull him away from the work, Nehemiah refuses to come down. His focus, courage and discernment help the people complete the wall in just 52 days — and everyone can see that God has done it. This message will encourage you to: • Recognise distractions from your God-given mission • Stand firm when accusations or fear come • Trust God to defend and strengthen you • Stay focused on the work He has called you to do Because when God calls us to rebuild, He gives us everything we need to keep going.

Sometimes the greatest threat to what God is building isn’t opposition from the outside — it’s what’s happening inside us. In this message from Restoring the House – Together, Anthony Delaney explores Nehemiah 5 and the danger of internal division, selfishness, and spiritual complacency. As the wall of Jerusalem is being rebuilt, cracks begin to appear within the community itself. Some are sacrificing everything, while others exploit the situation for their own gain. Nehemiah confronts the issue head-on and shows us that restoration requires more than external progress — it requires transformed hearts. This message will challenge you to: • Move from consumer to contributor • Understand generosity as a discipleship issue • Let grace reshape your heart • Build unity through sacrifice and service Because God’s house is rebuilt when ordinary people choose to give, serve, and build together.

What if hearing God and stepping out in faith became normal? In this Ivy Central Pentecost message, Anthony Delaney talks about encounters with Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and learning to respond when God speaks. From the miraculous catch of fish to the day of Pentecost, this message reminds us that the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to encourage, heal, prophesy, pray, and share Jesus with the world around them. This talk will encourage you to: * Be filled again with the Holy Spirit * Listen for God’s voice in everyday moments * Step out in faith, even when it feels risky * Believe that God can work through you Because faith often starts with a simple response: “Because You say so, I will.”