Do you ever think: there's a certain type of person God uses to do his work - and you're not it?

We often find a variety of reasons why we think God won't use you, or if he does, only minimally.

In this sermon we tackle three reasons we think God doesn't use us for his kingdom work:

1. Too young
2. Too old
3. Disqualified

However none of these things need apply to us - because of the power of the gospel. Through Jesus God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. We see this at the cross of Jesus.

Therefore, for anyone who trusts in Christ, God can use anyone in his kingdom work.

1 Samuel 16:1-23

David Varney, Pastor at Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family.

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foundation-church-belfast/id1599109887

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6uAXPfwFLdZGmKFlc0jRLX

Deezer https://link.deezer.com/s/30mr8UHtormGRTICQHHkP

Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0d056dc4-313c-4ccf-9064-398b5c0a3b06

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@foundationchurchbelfast

Religion can be a dangerous thing. For many people, real religion is a profound expression of true faith in Jesus, a life of knowing, following and enjoying him.

But for others religion is a necessary evil, a hoop to jump through to keep God or others happy. This is how King Saul understood his religion. In 1 Samuel 15 we see him exposed in grim reality.

But are we any different?

Three Dangers of Religion:

Danger 1: Thinking God's Word is Debatable

Danger 2: Playing One Virtue Off Another

Danger 3: Placing Externals Above Internals

Finally there is good news: a king who was rejected instead of us; who was punished for our religious games. Through trusting in Jesus, we can avoid the dangers of religion and enjoy the life God wants for us.

1 Samuel 15:7-23

David Varney, Pastor at Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family.

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foundation-church-belfast/id1599109887

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6uAXPfwFLdZGmKFlc0jRLX

Deezer https://link.deezer.com/s/30mr8UHtormGRTICQHHkP

Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0d056dc4-313c-4ccf-9064-398b5c0a3b06

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@foundationchurchbelfast

Message by Jonah from our series Seven Churches. This sermon encourages us to cling firm to Jesus under trials.

Revelation 3:7-13

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family.

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foundation-church-belfast/id1599109887

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6uAXPfwFLdZGmKFlc0jRLX

Deezer https://link.deezer.com/s/30mr8UHtormGRTICQHHkP

Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0d056dc4-313c-4ccf-9064-398b5c0a3b06

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@foundationchurchbelfast

This talk examines 5 Components of Bold Faith. We see this in the extraordinary display of bravery and courage from Jonathan, son of King Saul.

God grants us faith so that we make use of it. Christian faith is more than an idea, or even an inner conviction. Faith is active - it does something in those who have it, producing observable effects.

In order to obtain Bold Faith, we must:

1. Get the Big Picture
2. Be Humble
3. Recognise the Spirit's Leading
4. Have a Go
5. Expect Great Things

1 Samuel 14:1-23

David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family.

How we respond to the trials of life shows us a lot about what we fundamentally trust in.

Trials can either build faith or tear it down; push us towards God as our hope or away from him.

We see this play out in the life of King Saul. He was given a test to dig out what was truly in his inner being - a test he ultimately failed.

His trial is significant and weighty, but he responds by taking matters into his own hands, disobeying God's clear commands to him, and then attempting to make a load of excuses to point the finger of fault at everyone else.

By comparing his actions with the first man, Adam, we are pointed forward to 'a man after God's own heart,' a second Adam, fulfilled in Jesus.

Only through trust and faith in Jesus the Second Adam can we be freed from excusing away our bad decisions and faults, allowing us to be humble and accept our faults. Only then we can receive God's grace and mercy, sharing the victory of the Second Adam, Jesus.

1 Samuel 13:1-15

David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family.

If you are person of faith - how do you know if your faith is real? And how do you define your faith - by your own standards, or by a higher authority?

The Bible challenges us to examine ourselves to see whether we are 'in the faith' (2 Corinthians 13:5). It seems there are plenty of religious people who think they have faith, but don't.

This sermon examines the three ways we can test if our faith is real:

1. Guilt
2. Grace
3. Gratitude

The presence or absence of these things in our lives (and how we deal with them) shows us a lot about our faith - and whether it is true faith according to God.

1 Samuel 12:1-25

David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family

We sometimes pray: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, On Earth as it is in heaven. We are praying about the kingdom of God.

But have you ever wondered what that means? What are you really praying for? And how would you know when this prayer is answered? What even is the kingdom of God?

This sermon shows how in the Old Testament we see Glimpses of the Kingdom of God, snippets of what is to come in fulness through King Jesus.

Through the experience of Israel's first king Saul, we learn about:

1. Effects of the Kingdom
2. Entering the Kingdom

We come to recognise signs of the Kingdom of God within ourselves, and are challenged to examine the conditions for entering the kingdom itself - what must we do?

1 Samuel 11:1-15

David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family