Redeemer Central
Religion & Spirituality
About
Weekly talks from Redeemer Central. We are a diverse, vibrant church in the heart of Belfast, practicing the way of Jesus through simple, intentional, and inclusive community and seeking the peace and common good of our city. Come join us on Sundays as we gather at 101 Donegall Street, Belfast. Everyone is welcome
Episodes
- The Day Everything Changed - What happened on the cross? (Part 2)
Part 2 of this series examines the meaning of the cross, connecting it to Israel's sacrificial system, Yom Kippur, and Hebrew prophets. It explores historical interpretations such as Christus Victor and René Girard's scapegoat theory, addr…
- The Day Everything Changed - What happened on the cross? (Part 1)
This episode discusses the historical journey of the cross, from Roman artifact to religious symbol. Part 1 examines the crucifixion of Jesus, questioning the dominant theory and presenting the cross as a symbol of God's love rather than j…
- Encountering Jesus, Resisting Empire
In a Lenten message, David Armstrong examines Mark 8's portrayal of kingdom visions, contrasting Peter's conquering Messiah with Jesus' suffering Messiah. Armstrong argues the church has historically adopted empire's methods, suggesting Je…
- The Good Samaritan
John Herron analyzes the Good Samaritan parable to explain that inheriting eternal life requires radical love for neighbours, moving beyond prejudice towards transformative relationships. This message from Redeemer Central encourages a wid…
- Deserts & Devils
David Armstrong shares a Lenten message from Redeemer Central, focusing on Jesus' 40 nights in the wilderness and the three temptations he faced. The episode includes a song by Fra Sands and a closing prayer.
- Look for the Light (Part 4): The Courage of Gideon
Look for the Light (Part 4): The Courage of Gideon John Herron brings the fourth part of our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' as we reflect upon an ancient story found deep in the Old Testament scripture; the story of Gideo…
- Look for the Light (Part 3): Water to Wine
David Armstrong brings the third part of our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' as we reflect upon Jesus first miracle. The season of Epiphany calls us to slow down and pay attention to the divine presence of God revealed in…
- Look for the Light (Part 2): Jesus Baptism
David Armstrong brings the second talk in our series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' that calls for us to slow down during this season of Epiphany and pay attention to the divine presence of God. As seen in the coming of Christ,…
- Look for the Light (Part 1): The Magi
Look for the Light (Part 1): The Magi David Armstrong brings the first talk in a new series, 'Look for the Light: An Epiphany Series' that calls for us to slow down during this season of Epiphany and pay attention to the divine presence of…
- Advent: Love Lifts All Places - Jason Miller (Guest)
Advent: Love Lifts All Places - Jason Miller (Guest) Many of us yearn for sacred spaces, believing true purpose lies elsewhere—in a grander city or a different life. But what if the divine arrives not where we expect, but in the ordinary,…
- Saying Yes to Advent
Mary’s “yes” to the angel Gabriel was not just about understanding; it was about belonging. Her response, “I am the Lord’s servant; may your word to me be fulfilled,” reveals a profound surrender to God’s purpose. Scott Witherick helps us…
- The Familiar Stranger Part 10: Q&A
In this concluding part, David and Stephanie reflect on the series and why we decided to do it in the first place. With a deep conviction that our spiritual lives are defined by experience, not just belief, they discuss the human need for…
- The Familiar Stranger Part 9: The Way of Love
Many of us are drawn to the spectacular and extraordinary, but what truly cultivates a deep life? In this message, David Armstrong explores Saint Paul’s invitation to follow the way of love, and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. This…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 8 — Healing & Redemptive Suffering
Stephanie Wilson continues The Familiar Stranger series with a powerful message that speaks to the reality of suffering in the human experience. She reminds us that suffering isn’t evidence of God’s absence but the very place where God mee…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 7 — The Subtle Tragedy of Nicodemus
We often seek explanations before we are willing to experience God yet this is a reversal of the scriptural pattern where experience often precedes understanding. David Armstrong explores the story of Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharis…
- Jesus, Justice & Gaza with Anton Deik
Story Sunday: Jesus, Justice & Gaza with Anton Deik Anton Deik — a Palestinian Christian and scholar — shares his family’s story and invites us to see the human, ethical, and theological realities of life in Israel-Palestine. He challenges…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 6 — The Curious Case of Simon the Sorcerer
The Familiar Stranger: Part 6 — The Curious Case of Simon the Sorcerer In this teaching John Herron helps us explore the cautionary tale of Simon the Sorcerer from Acts 8 —a striking story of power, money, and misdirected spirituality. Thr…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 5 — Dove
The Familiar Stranger: Part 5 — Dove Many associate the Holy Spirit with fire, wind, or powerful displays, but what if the truest image is quieter. Stephanie Wilson invites us to rediscover the Spirit not as a force to wield, but as a gent…
- Subversive Tables - Vision for a Community of Great Grace
Subversive Tables - Vision for a Community of Great Grace What does community look like in the church? In the 1st century Roman world, the dinner table was more than a place to eat—it was a stage for empire. Banquets celebrated Caesar, rei…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 4 — Water
The Familiar Stranger: Part 4 — Water The Bible’s story of the Spirit often comes with the image of water—rivers flowing into deserts, living streams making the Dead Sea fresh. David Armstrong unpacks the invitation Jesus gives when he bri…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 3 — Breathe
The Familiar Stranger: Part 3 — Breathe John Herron explores how the Holy Spirit, as God’s breath, transforms our lives. From Genesis to Pentecost, this divine “ruach” shapes chaos into order, brings life to the lifeless, and turns fear in…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 2 — The Advocate
The Familiar Stranger: Part 2 — The Advocate Jesus said it was better for Him to leave so that the Advocate could come. But who is this Advocate? In a culture that longs for experience more than explanation, we discover the Holy Spirit as…
- The Familiar Stranger: Part 1 — Rumour & Reality
The Familiar Stranger: Part 1 — Rumour & Reality Many of us know about the Holy Spirit, yet live as if He’s little more than a rumour—caught between promise and experience. In this opening message of our new series, David Armstrong explore…
- Scripture 03: Study
Scripture 03: Study The Bible is not a single book but a library — written over centuries, in multiple languages, by many authors, and in a wide range of literary genres. It’s no surprise, then, that understanding it can be challenging. Je…
- Scripture 02: Meditate
In part 2 Stephanie Wilson teaches how we meditate on scripture. The digital age teaches us to read quickly and move on, but the library of Scripture was created for slow, prayerful reflection so that God’s thoughts inhabit our minds compl…
- Scripture 01: Read
Scripture 01: Read Scripture is far more than an ancient text—it’s a sacred story and a portal into God’s reality, with the power to shape and transform our lives. In this sermon David Armstrong explores why reading the Bible is essential…
- Scripture: A Jesus-Centred Approach
Scripture 00: A Jesus-Centred Approach The library we call “the Bible” can connect us to God and change who we are, but distraction, hurry, and confusion can hinder our experience with these ancient texts. This is the first of a six-week s…
- The Book of Job (Part 3) - Epilogue
The Book of Job is a strange and compelling story nestled within the Hebrew Scriptures — a poetic exploration of human suffering, divine mystery, and the search for meaning in the midst of loss. In this opening message of a new mini-series…
- The Book of Job (Part 2) - Conversations with Friends
The Book of Job is a strange and compelling story nestled within the Hebrew Scriptures — a poetic exploration of human suffering, divine mystery, and the search for meaning in the midst of loss. In this second part Stephanie Wilson looks a…
- The Book of Job (Part 1) - Prologue
The Book of Job is a strange and compelling story nestled within the Hebrew Scriptures — a poetic exploration of human suffering, divine mystery, and the search for meaning in the midst of loss. In this opening message of a new mini-series…
- Easter Sunday: Practice Resurrection
The resurrection is not a happy ending. “Resurrection is not an invitation to escape the world; it is an invitation to change it.” — Desmond Tutu
- Palm Sunday: A Parody of Power
David Armstrong explores the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, marking the moment when Jesus’ project went public. Jesus’ entry into the city on a donkey, fulfilling a 500-year-old prophecy, was a form of guerrilla t…
- The Big Questions: 04 What about Hell?
In Part 4 of our series The Big Questions , Stephanie Wilson brings a hopeful theological reflection on the difficult question’ What about Hell?’, exploring various views of the church before looking most significantly at what Jesus said a…
- Mothering Sunday Reflection
A 7 minute reflection and prayer on Mothering Sunday by Andrew Farmer & Libby Ryans. Andrew performs a reading of his poem ‘Knitting & Kicking’ — a studio recording is available on his album Amelanchier at https://frmr.bandcamp.com/album/a…
- The Big Questions: 03 A God of War?
In Part 3 of our series The Big Questions , David Armstrong helps us explore the tension between violent depictions of God in Scripture and the radical peace of Jesus. While wars have been justified in God’s name throughout history—includi…
- The Big Questions: 02 What about the Cross?
The Big Questions: 02 What about the Cross? Crosses are everywhere. As NT Wright says “You can’t get away from it. It’s everywhere. In homes, in films, in paintings, in pop videos. Worn as an earring, as a necklace. Stitched or studded ont…
- Tom and Kirsten (Story Sunday)
David Armstrong interviews Tom Magill and Kirsten Kearney about their very different upbringings, the challenges they both faced, how they met, married, and went on to start their company, ESC Film. Together, they use their experiences to…
- The Big Questions: 01 What is God like?
The Big Questions: 01 What is God like? What comes to mind when you think about God? In this sermon, we explore how our understanding of God shapes everything. Challenging the idea of an angry, wrathful deity, we turn to Scripture and Jesu…
- Todd Deatherage and Jason Miller (Story Sunday)
This Story Sunday is a special one with our friends Todd Deatherage and Jason Miller. David Armstrong interviews Todd and Jason on their work, the principles of peacemaking, conflict and justice, Israel/Palestine, the genocide taking place…
- Esther: Part 4 - The Outcome
The final chapters of the Book of Esther reveal the resolution of the story. After Haman’s downfall, Esther and Mordecai work together to save the Jewish people. Mordecai is promoted to a position of great authority, and the Jewish people…
- Esther: Part 3 - The Plan
In Part 3, David Armstrong unpacks Esther’s courageous and strategic actions to save her people. After fasting, Esther risks her life by approaching King Xerxes and carefully revealing Haman’s plot against the Jews. Her wisdom and patience…
- Esther: Part 2 - The Threat
John Herron picks up the story of Esther in chapters 3 & 4, where we find a rising threat against the Jewish people as Haman plots their destruction. Mordecai urges Esther to use her position as queen to intervene, and she faces a life-thr…
- Esther: Part 1 - Setting the Scene
David Armstrong begins our exploration of the Book of Esther, a captivating narrative from the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. We journey into the Persian Empire under King Xerxes and delve into themes of fear, identity, and resilience loo…
- What Makes Us: 02 Living the Story
What Makes Us: 02 Living the Story In this second part of the What Makes Us series, we explore what it means to live out the Jesus Story in our daily lives. David Armstrong reflects on the incarnation—God becoming flesh in Christ and dwell…
- What Makes Us: 01 Embracing the Story
What Makes Us: 01 Embracing the Story We explore the power of stories and how they shape our lives, from the narrative of everyday life to the deeper stories that give us meaning, we’re wired for storytelling. David Armstrong challenges us…
- Give us this day our daily bread
Stephanie Wilson speaks on ‘the antidote of enough’ that counters our cultures message that we should ‘be more, want more and have more’. In the Lords Prayer recorded in Matthew 6 — a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples — we find an inv…
- Trinity Sunday: The House of Love
The Trinity is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. Jesus ultimate agenda was coming to humanity to reveal what God is actually like. We have come to understand God as three distinct persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—yet o…
- Solitude 05 - Q&A
Solitude 05 - Q&A David, Armstrong, John Herron & Scott Witherick discuss the series on solitude and share some of their learning along the way. This took place on Pentecost Sunday and includes Prayers & Liturgies to celebrate and mark thi…
- Solitude 04 - Encounter with Our God
Solitude 04 - Encounter with Our God Solitude is the place of encounter and ultimately, we go into the quiet to encounter God. We go because we ache for God in the deepest place in our being. We go because there is nothing like God’s prese…
- Solitude 03 - Encounter with Our Self
Solitude 03 - Encounter with Our Self Solitude can be deeply refreshing, but just as often, it can feel like painful emotional surgery. We can get away from people, but we can’t get away from our self . And often what we carry into solitud…