The BCUK Podcast

A community that speaks:
A talk by Helen Thorne-Allenson at the BCUK Growing a Culture of Care event in Bournemouth, November 2025.
Chapters
00:00
The Importance of Community and Love
09:12
Understanding and Supporting Struggles
17:57
Practical Ways to Help
25:48
The Role of Scripture in Healing
36:04
Building a Supportive Church Community

A community that loves:
A talk by Steve Midgley at the BCUK Growing a Culture of Care event in Bournemouth, November 2025.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to Ephesians 4
03:05
Living a Life Worthy of the Calling
05:57
The Struggles of Church Life
09:07
The Nature of Trouble in Our Lives
11:48
The Call to Care and Cure
15:01
God's Transformative Work in Us
17:52
The Foundation of Love in the Church
21:01
Growing in Knowledge of God's Love
23:58
Reflecting God's Love in Community
26:58
The Pursuit of Maturity in the Church
29:49
Serving One Another in Love
32:59
The Importance of Unity and Diversity
36:02
The Call to Serve Like Christ
39:05
Living Out the Put Off, Put On Principle
42:03
Speaking the Truth in Love
44:58
Conclusion and Prayer

In this conversation, Ste Casey discusses the challenging topic of unanswered prayer, sharing personal experiences and insights from his book 'I Prayed and Nothing Changed.' He explores the emotional turmoil that comes with praying for change and feeling unheard, emphasising the importance of wrestling with God in prayer and recognising his presence in our pain. The discussion highlights the risks of abandoning faith during difficult times and encourages listeners to seek a deeper relationship with God, even amidst unanswered prayers.
Buy the book here: https://uk.10ofthose.com/product/9781645072218/i-prayed-and-nothing-changed-paperback

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Unanswered Prayer
08:08
The Experience of Unanswered Prayer
12:20
The Risks of Doubt and Abandonment
17:00
God's Work in Our Pain
21:51
Wrestling with God in Prayer
28:35
Encouragement for the Broken

In this episode of BCUK's To The Heart podcast, hosts Helen Thorne-Allenson, Steve Midgley, and Andrew McKenna discuss the importance of preaching to the heart. They explore the concept of the heart in biblical terms, the challenges of addressing diverse hearts in a congregation, and the role of community in preaching. The conversation emphasizes the need for preachers to engage the heart throughout the sermon, from the introduction to the conclusion, and highlights the significance of illustrations and sermon structure. The hosts also address the balance between faithful exposition and heart engagement, the impact of preparation on preaching, and the importance of follow-up after sermons.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Preaching to the Heart
02:53 Understanding the Heart in Preaching
05:56 The Challenge of Preaching to Diverse Hearts
08:54 The Role of Community in Preaching
11:40 Engaging the Heart Throughout the Sermon
14:37 The Importance of Illustrations
17:35 Structuring a Sermon to Engage Hearts
20:19 Concluding a Sermon Effectively
23:32 Faithful Exposition vs. Heart Engagement
26:11 The Impact of Preparation on Preaching
29:09 Follow-Up After Preaching

In this episode of the 'to the heart' podcast, Helen Thorne-Allenson, Andrew McKenna, and Nicola Eggertsen explore the profound impact of singing on the heart and spiritual life. They discuss how singing serves as a means of heart change, the importance of various musical genres in worship, and the role of the Holy Spirit in enhancing our singing experience. The conversation emphasizes the communal aspect of singing, the need for thoughtful leadership in worship, and the balance between emotional engagement and biblical truth. The hosts also address the challenges faced by music directors and the importance of prayer in fostering a vibrant worship culture.
Takeaways:
Singing is a fundamental aspect of human experience and worship.
It helps in heart change by embedding biblical truths.
Singing can be a response to wayward hearts, guiding them back to God.
Different genres of music serve various emotional and spiritual needs.
The Holy Spirit actively works through our singing to teach and remind us of God's truths.
Leading singing should be an act of worship, not a performance.
Avoiding emotional manipulation is crucial in worship settings.
Introducing songs thoughtfully can enhance congregational engagement.
Congregational singing is a communal activity that strengthens the body of Christ.
Praying for music leaders is essential for a healthy worship culture.
Chapters:

00:00
Introduction to Singing and the Heart
02:32
The Role of Singing in Heart Change
08:46
Singing in Response to Wayward Hearts
13:34
Genres of Music in Worship
19:43
The Holy Spirit's Role in Singing
24:02
Leading Singing to Engage Hearts
30:02
Avoiding Manipulation in Worship
33:47
Introducing Songs Thoughtfully
37:30
Encouraging Congregational Engagement
41:22
Prayers for Music Directors and Congregations