Foundation Church Belfast

The Heart of Religion

For many people, religion is considered to consist of various dos and don'ts. But which rule is the most important?
Religious and non-religious people often live by a code... a fundamental rule for living:
Treat others as you want to be treated.
You be you.
Live life to the full.
Jesus was asked what he thought the fundamental rule for all of life should be. His answer may surprise you, and challenge the notion that religion is about the dos and don'ts.
In this message we see
the heart of religion
the problem of religion
the gospel of religion
Main text
Mark 12:28-37
 
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast
Gospel-Centred | Spirit-Empowered | Community on Mission

Four Ways That God Works

As we celebrate our fifth anniversary as Foundation Church Belfast, we reflect on how God has worked among us and humbly anticipate he will continue to do more in the years ahead.
When we look at the Bible, we see God interacting with his people along similar lines. At this seminal moment in the formation of his covenant people on Mount Sinai, we see:
God works by calling
God works by cleansing
God works by communing
God works by commissioning
Main Text
Exodus 24:1-18 & 25:1-8
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast

How to Honour Caesar While Living for Jesus

Jesus's critics are at it again. This time they employ cunning and flattery to attempt to trap Jesus in his words.
They bring up the question of taxation. Should God's people pay taxes to the foreigners occupying their land? Answer yes and Jesus would rapidly lose support of the people. Say no and he would land himself in hot water with the Roman authorities.
But Jesus replies to his enemies with devastating brilliance - 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'
How we handle money requires a clear understanding of these two basic realms - the kingdom of Caesar and the kingdom of God. A follower of Jesus is a citizen of both realms and so has responsibilites and opportunities within each.
In this message we see:
How to live well in the kingdom of Caesar
How to live well in the kingdom of God
How to avoid harmful polarisation
Main Text
Mark 12:13-17
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast

The Authority of Jesus versus the Religious Gatekeepers

Jesus is seen as a threat by the upper hierarchy of the ruling religious leadership.
They were not there to welcome Jesus as he made his anti-climactic 'triumphal entry' a few days earlier. Their silence at his official arrival spoke volumes.
Now we see the first in a series of clashes between Jesus and the various religious parties that held sway in the religion of the day.
Their accusations can be boiled down to one loaded question: Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to behave like this?
They didn't like his authority.
In this message we see:
The authority of Jesus challenged
The authority of Jesus suppressed
The authority of Jesus vindicated
Main text
Mark 11:27 - 12:12
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Fake Religion and its Alternative

Fake religion is a widespread problem. It convinces adherents that they are right with God and yet it lacks the power to produce profound transformation. Fake religion ultimately produces hypocrites.
In this episode we see Jesus tackle fake religion head on. First through his prophecy-sign, cursing the fig tree that was all show and no fruit. Then he entered the Jerusalem temple and temporarily halted the religious machinery. It too was all show and no fruit.
Jesus's actions highlight these three challenges to the contemporary church:
The Problem of Fake Religion
The Traits of Fake Religion
The Alternative to Fake Religion
Main Text
Mark 11:12-25
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Jesus: Expectation, Disappointment, Surprise

The community at Foundation Church Belfast is centred around one person - Jesus. What he said and did has profound implications for our life together. As we are a community shaped on this remarkable figure, it makes good sense to learn as much as we can about him so that we might be deeply influenced by him.
Our studies in the Gospel According to Mark help us learn about Jesus from the earliest sources about his life and work. 
In this message we examine the section known as 'The Triumphal Entry' - Jesus's official arrival and entry into Jerusalem. However his arrival was something of an anti-climax, with the crowds quickly dissapating after an early bit of excitement.
Was this just really bad timing? Does Jesus disappoint people like this today? 
For many people, his arrival into Jerusalem could have been Jesus's moment of glory and he blew it. However for Jesus, it was just another step towards his true moment of glory - his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.
The cross helps us deal with any disappointment we may experience in life.
Listen for more insights.
Main text
Mark 11:1-11
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Three Reasons For Hope This Christmas

No one can survive without hope.
As one ancient voice proclaimed, 'Hope deferred makes the heart sick.'
There is so much in life that can rob us of hope. Yet God spoke a message of hope to a hopeless bunch of people which still carries power and clarity to us today.
In Zechariah 9:9-13 we see three reasons for hope this Christmas:
It won't always be like this
Hope has a name
Your life count
If we understand and absorb these three headlines, we shall notice hope rising from within. 
The coming king that the prophet Zechariah pointed to has come to his people - at Christmas Jesus the King came to save his people.
When we see that he did this for us, hope is planted and begins to grow.
Main text
Zechariah 9:9-13
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast

United with Jesus: Baptism Sunday

Baptism is a powerful moment that shapes and defines the Christian faith. At its heart, baptism points to the profound spiritual connection between Jesus and his people.
 
In baptism we see what happened to Jesus, happens to us. Through faith, a believer has died with Christ, and is already set free from the power of sin. Likewise, through faith, the believer will also be raised with Christ - the hope of the resurrection life.
 
Both the past event of the cross of Christ and the future hope of our resurrection impact our present reality: Guilt is gone! Power to overcome sin! Hope even in the face of sorrow!
 
This sets up a community of people who are centred around Christ, and united by their baptism. We are a community on mission at Foundation Church Belfast, helping one another live out the implications of our baptism and drawing on the huge resources that God sends through his Son Jesus.
Main Text
Romans 6:1-11
Preacher
David Varney, pastor Foundation Church Belfast