GARDEN CHURCH Podcast

Acts 2 is more than the beginning of the church. It is the culmination of the entire story of Scripture and the moment the Holy Spirit fills ordinary people to carry the presence of Jesus into the world. In this message, Pastor Darren unpacks Pentecost not as a distant event but as the Spirit’s ongoing invitation to live Spirit-filled and anchored in God’s Word.Listen to discover why a truly biblical church must also be a Spirit-filled church.

Waiting is never easy. The disciples were confused, disappointed, and broken after Jesus left. Yet in Acts 1, before the Spirit was poured out, God was already shaping a new kind of community. It was not built on power or position but on faithfulness and trust.In this message, Pastor Bill Dogterom calls us to keep showing up even when we feel hidden or overlooked. The Spirit empowers us not just to do but to be, to be a people God can trust with His presence.God works in the ordinary, in the places we would rather skip past. It is there that He prepares us for what is next.

Many followers of Jesus live with a faith that feels powerless. We settle for behavior management, curated church experiences, and good ideas rather than stepping into the life Jesus promised. But the book of Acts tells a different story. Ordinary men and women were filled with the Holy Spirit and became powerful witnesses of the risen Jesus.In this message, Pastor Darren unpacks Acts 1:8 and teaches on what it means to receive and grow in the power of the Holy Spirit. Power is not about hype or performance. It is the Spirit’s presence enabling us to live transformed lives, proclaim the gospel, heal the sick, and partner with God’s mission in the world.If you’ve ever wondered why your faith feels empty or how to experience more of God’s presence and power, this teaching will give you a framework for stepping into it.📖 Scripture: Acts 1:8, John 14:12, Mark 9🎙️ Part of our Church on Fire series, a journey through the book of Acts.

Jesus’ final words set the tone for everything that follows in the book of Acts. In Acts 1:8, He promises power through the Holy Spirit and calls His followers to be His witnesses. Ordinary people are invited to live lives that point to Him in every place, from the familiar to the farthest ends of the earth.In this message, Pastor Darren unpacks what it truly means to be a witness. It is not about consumer Christianity or simply sharing information. It is about embodying the reality of the risen Christ. Our lives, our communities, and our everyday choices become a testimony that Jesus is alive.This is the mission every Christian is called into: to live empowered by the Spirit, reflect Jesus to the world, and join God’s story of renewal.

The last command Jesus gave His disciples before sending them into the world was simple: wait. Not to strategize, not to build programs, but to wait for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. In a culture that hates waiting, this call can feel like weakness or failure. But in God’s kingdom, waiting is where He forms us, fills us, and empowers us.In this message from our Church on Fire series, Pastor Darren unpacks Acts 1 and reminds us that the Church was never meant to run on talent, vision, or programs alone. We are called to be a people who carry His presence into every corner of life.If you’ve grown tired of running on your own strength, this is an invitation to slow down, open your hands, and wait for His Spirit.

What was the primary message of Jesus? The answer might surprise you. His focus was not just love or good works but the Kingdom of God. In this message, Pastor Darren teaches what Jesus actually came to do: proclaim the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, cast out demons, and invite ordinary people to live in God’s presence.The Kingdom is not only a concept to learn about. It is a reality to be experienced. Darren shows how trying to explain it without experiencing it is like trying to describe a song you have never heard. Once you encounter it for yourself, it rearranges your whole life.If you are searching for what it really means to follow Jesus, to understand the mission of the early church in the book of Acts, or to experience God’s power today, this message will give you clarity and a fresh invitation. The Kingdom is here. Jesus is alive. And He is still doing what He has always done.

A gripping tale unfolds of an Anglican church official held hostage by Hezbollah for five years, showcasing resilience against adversity. The discussion shifts to the transformative power of prayer, where shame is replaced by forgiveness. Listeners are urged to re-evaluate their expectations of God, embracing awe and reverence. Personal stories, like a barber's unexpected journey to faith during a haircut, illuminate the power of connections. Finally, the podcast highlights how fervent prayer can restore communities and revitalize faith.

This Sunday we had the joy of hearing from Amy Hughes, who leads Trinity Church in Nottingham, England, with her husband Johnny. Amy shared her story of encountering God’s love in a life-changing way and taught from Matthew 6 on what it means to approach God in prayer, not as a tenant paying rent but as His adopted child.She spoke about the freedom that comes when we stop trying to earn God’s attention and instead come to Him as children who are loved, known, and welcomed. Amy invited us to bring every part of our lives to the Father with trust and simplicity, confident that He is good and He hears us.

What if Jesus wasn’t just your Savior, but the one who prays for you?In this message from our House of Prayer series, Pastor Ramin teaches from Hebrews 4, offering a powerful picture of Jesus as both King and Priest. He is full of authority, but tender in compassion.Jesus is not distant. He is the High Priest who understands your weakness, who intercedes for you, and who invites you to draw near with confidence. This message is a reminder that God's presence is not reserved for the perfect. His throne is a place of grace for the broken.Whether you’re weary, waiting, or just trying to hold on, this teaching will help you see Jesus clearly. And when you see him clearly, everything changes.