Advertise on podcast: New Life Church Teesside Podcast

In Acts 12, the early church faces persecution, the death of James, and Peter’s imprisonment. Yet while Peter is bound in chains, the church continues to pray—and God moves in a miraculous way. In this encouraging message, Pastor Chris Parker explores what Peter’s escape from prison teaches us about faith, prayer, spiritual opposition, trusting God in difficult times, and the sovereignty of God. We may not always know how God will answer, but we can trust that He is able. Opposition, fear and doubt do not have the final word. As followers of Jesus, we are called to stand firm, pray boldly, walk in the freedom Christ has given us, and remain faithful whatever the cost.

Can the whole story of the Bible really be explained in 30 minutes… ish? In “The Story Of The Bible In 30 Minutes (ish)”, Pastor Luke Taylor takes us on a fast-paced journey through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation, showing how its many books, people, promises and events form one incredible story — and how every part ultimately points to Jesus Christ. Beginning with Creation, Adam and Eve and the Fall, we follow God’s plan through Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses and the Exodus, the Promised Land, King David, the prophets and Israel’s exile, before arriving at the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. From there, we see the birth of the early Church, the spread of the Gospel and the Bible’s final promise of a new heaven and new earth in Revelation. Whether you’re new to Christianity, reading the Bible for the first time, looking for a Bible overview, or struggling to understand how the Old and New Testaments fit together, this message provides a simple and accessible overview of the Bible’s big story. At the heart of Scripture is the story of salvation, restoration and reconciliation with God. The promised Saviour, the Passover Lamb, the suffering servant, the Son of David and the King who will reign forever all lead to one person: Jesus. Discover the story of the Bible explained from Genesis to RevelationSee how the Old Testament points to JesusUnderstand God’s plan of salvation through Jesus ChristExplore Creation, the Fall, Israel, the Cross, Resurrection, Church and RevelationDiscover how we can be restored to the relationship with God we were created for If you’ve ever wondered what the Bible is about, how the Bible fits together, where to start reading the Bible, or how Jesus connects the Old and New Testaments, this message is a great place to begin.

What does the Bible say about persecution, suffering for Christ and standing firm in faith? In “The Bible Across The World,” David Russon looks at Christian persecution, the early Church, global missions and the call to boldly share the Gospel. Drawing from the Beatitudes, Acts, the life of Paul and the martyrdom of Stephen, he shows how believers can remain faithful through opposition and difficulty. This challenging message explores the persecuted Church, evangelism, the Great Commission, unreached people groups and the power of the Holy Spirit to give Christians courage to live for Jesus and reach others with the Gospel.

Sunday Evening 11/10/26

How do you read the Bible and actually understand it? In “How To Read And Understand The Bible,”Pastor Luke Taylor shares practical guidance for new Christians, beginners, and anyone who finds parts of Scripture difficult or confusing. Using Acts 8 and the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, Luke gives six simple keys to help you understand the Bible: choose a translation you can understand, recognise different types of biblical writing, start with Jesus, pray before you read, ask questions, and apply what you learn. If you’ve wondered where to start reading the Bible, how to study the Bible for beginners, which Bible translation to use, or how to understand Scripture in context, this message will help you take the next step.

Join Luke and David Taylor for the very first Armoury Study Night—an in-depth, conversational exploration of one of life's ultimate questions: What happens when we die?In this session, we strip away cultural assumptions and look directly at what the Bible has to say about mortality, the afterlife, and our ultimate eternal hope.Key Topics Covered in This Study: The Historical Shift: Tracing how the hope of the resurrection and the afterlife developed from the Old Testament through to the New Testament, and why Christianity isn't simply a "coping mechanism" for fear of death.What is Death?: Unpacking death as both a physical state and a defeated enemy, and what Jesus meant when He said those who keep His word "will never see death."Before and After the Resurrection: Exploring the "intermediate state" (or paradise) prior to Christ's resurrection versus the believer's immediate presence with the Lord today.Is Hell Real?: Examining what Jesus and the New Testament writers taught regarding eternal judgment, Gehenna, and the seriousness of sin.Clearing Up Misconceptions: A candid look at doctrines like Purgatory, Limbo, Universalism, and Annihilationism in light of Scripture.The Grand Finale: Why the Bible points us toward a physical resurrection, a renewed cosmos, and a literal Garden City where God dwells with humanity forever.Hebrews 9:27 — And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment...2 Corinthians 5:8 — ...we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.1 Corinthians 15:54-55 — “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”Revelation 21:3-4 — He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes...Scripture Highlights:

Can we really trust the Bible? Is the Bible historically accurate, reliable and truly the Word of God? In this special panel discussion, How Can I Trust The Bible?, we explore some of the biggest questions surrounding the reliability of Scripture and why Christians can have confidence in the Bible they read today. From the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient biblical manuscripts and archaeology to science, fulfilled evidence, personal experience and the transforming power of Scripture, our panel approaches the question from several different perspectives. We explore how the biblical text has been preserved across thousands of years, why discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls matter, and how archaeology continues to shed light on people, places and events recorded in Scripture. We also look beyond historical evidence to ask what happens when we actually begin to read, trust and live according to the Word of God. The panel discusses the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, how God can speak through Scripture, the importance of applying the Bible rather than simply reading it, and why understanding the historical and cultural context of a passage is essential to rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Whether you are a Christian wanting greater confidence in Scripture, someone beginning to explore Christianity, or simply asking “How do we know the Bible is true?”, this conversation offers practical, historical and personal reasons to take the Bible seriously.

Sunday Evening 27/09/26

How has the Bible shaped the Western world—even for people who have never read it? In The Most Influential Book You’ve Never Read, David Taylor explores the Bible’s influence on Western civilization, human dignity, justice, equality, law, education, science, compassion and our understanding of humanity. Beginning with Jesus’ words in Matthew 22—“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”—David focuses on Genesis 1:27 and the truth that every person is made in the image of God, or Imago Dei. If a coin bears Caesar’s image, what does it mean that you bear the image of God? This message examines how the biblical view of human worth has shaped ideas of justice, equality, servant leadership, freedom of conscience, repentance, redemption and care for the vulnerable. David also considers the Bible’s impact on education, universities, science, art, language, law, hospitals and social compassion. From the prophets confronting kings to Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, this sermon asks whether Western society can preserve its moral values after abandoning the biblical story from which many of them emerged. Ultimately, this is a message about your worth before God. You were made in His image. You have value. You are loved—and so is every person around you.

Sunday Evening 20/09/26

Recorded at our Men's Conference 2026

What happens when God challenges the boundaries of who we think can be reached by the Gospel? In this powerful message from the Book of Acts, Pastor Luke Taylor explores the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10–11—one of the most significant turning points in the early Church. Through Peter’s vision, Cornelius’ encounter with God, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, we see God tear down a barrier that would change the course of Christianity forever. Peter discovers a truth that followers of Jesus still need to remember today: the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. No nation, background, social group, reputation or circumstance places someone beyond the reach of God’s grace. But this message goes even deeper. Peter hadn’t simply rejected people like Cornelius—he had never imagined they were people God might send him to reach. His understanding of God’s mission had to become bigger. Pastor Luke challenges us to ask: Who is outside our circle? Who have we stopped praying for? And who have we never even considered reaching with the Gospel? Discover how God prepares people and circumstances long before we can see what He is doing, why obedience matters when God says “Go”, and how Jesus ultimately destroyed the greatest barrier of all—the separation between sinful humanity and a holy God through the cross. The same God who brought Peter and Cornelius together is still at work today, preparing hearts, opening doors and calling His Church to take the good news of Jesus beyond familiar boundaries.

What happens when a person truly encounters Jesus Christ? In this powerful message from Acts 9, Pastor Cliff Henderson explores the remarkable transformation of Saul of Tarsus following his encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road. Saul went from persecuting the Church to boldly preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. His changed life affected everyone around him — the people of Damascus, the early Church, and even those who opposed the Gospel. Pastor Cliff looks at what genuine Christian transformation means for believers today: being born again, experiencing the joy of salvation, becoming a new creation in Christ, sharing the Gospel, standing firm in spiritual warfare, and allowing our lives to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. The same Holy Spirit who transformed Saul still changes lives today. Are we still carrying the joy of our salvation? Is our light shining in a dark world? And is our life having an effect for God? Be encouraged to remember what Jesus has done in your life, keep the fire of faith burning, stand firm against the enemy, and continue being transformed from glory to glory.

Is anyone beyond the grace of God? Can the person who seems furthest from Jesus become one of His greatest witnesses? In this message from the Unstoppable series, Pastor Luke Taylor explores the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:1–20. Saul begins the chapter as a feared persecutor of the early church, determined to arrest those who follow Jesus. But one encounter with the risen Christ changes everything. The enemy of the Gospel becomes an evangelist proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God. But Saul’s conversion is only part of the story. This sermon also looks closely at Ananias, the ordinary disciple God calls to approach the very man Christians in Damascus are afraid of. His understandable hesitation raises an important challenge for every believer: have we decided that some people are simply too hostile, too broken, too sinful or too far gone for God to save? Through the story of Saul and Ananias, discover how God’s grace reaches the unlikely, the hostile and the written-off, and how God sometimes has to change not only the person receiving grace, but also the way His people see them. Pastor Luke explores: • Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus • Why Saul was blinded for three days • Ananias’ fear and obedience to God • Why no one is beyond salvation • Sharing the Gospel with difficult or hostile people • Trusting God with people we think will never change • How God redirects passion for His Kingdom • What the conversion of Paul teaches Christians today • The power of obedience, evangelism and the grace of God Saul entered Damascus intending to arrest Christians. Instead, he was baptised, filled with the Holy Spirit, and immediately began preaching Jesus in the very synagogues he had intended to search for believers. His story is a powerful reminder that nobody is too far gone for God. The same Jesus who met Saul on the Damascus road is still able to transform lives today. And like Ananias, we are called not to ration grace according to who we think deserves it, but to trust what God can do with even the most unlikely person.

Sunday Evening 30/08/26