Galatians is often treated as a sharp theological argument, but this sermon reveals its deeper heartbeat: the cry of a spiritual father watching his children drift from the gospel he first delivered to them. Drawing from Paul’s own words in Galatians 4:13–15, we explore how the apostle arrived in Galatia weak, wounded, and vulnerable, and how the church received him “as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.” 

This episode uncovers the personal crisis behind the doctrinal one. The Judaizing teachers were not simply adding religious customs; they were redefining the gospel itself, turning Christ’s finished work into “Christ plus.” Their message pulled the Galatians back toward the slavery of the old life  a return to fear, chains, and performance-based acceptance. Paul’s sharpness is not authoritarian anger but fatherly anguish: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again…” 

You will hear how Paul’s wounded love mirrors the heart of God, a Father who calls, warns, pleads, and pursues His people when they wander. This sermon invites listeners to read Galatians not as a cold theological treatise but as a love letter written in tears. It calls the church back to the simplicity of grace, the sufficiency of Christ, and the freedom of the gospel.

As BPFC begins its Galatians series, this message sets the tone: a pastoral plea to return to Christ alone, with joy, humility, and the freedom that comes only through grace.

This week’s BPFC Teaching features a visiting preacher delivering a stirring message on the spiritual fight every believer is called into. Drawing from Exodus 13:17–22 and 1 Timothy 6:12–16, the sermon challenges Christians to recognise the reality of spiritual warfare, to face life’s battles with faith, and to trust God’s leading even when the road is not the easiest one.

Tom reminds us that God did not lead Israel by the nearest route, but by the right route — the one that would shape their hearts, strengthen their faith, and prepare them for the promised land. Likewise, the Christian life is not passive. We are enlisted into God’s army, called to fight the good fight, resist compromise, and stand firm in truth.

The message includes reflections on:

• The dangers of spiritual passivity
• Why God leads us through wilderness seasons
• The difference between exegesis and eisegesis
• The battles of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, Paul, and Christ Himself
• The call to share our testimony with neighbours, family, and community
• The importance of recognising God’s voice through Scripture
• The need to resist idolatry and distractions
• The assurance of salvation and the hope of heaven

This sermon is both evangelistic and pastoral, urging believers to live boldly, share their faith, and trust God’s purposes in every struggle.

On the 1st of July 1916, thousands of young men stepped forward in duty and devotion — many never returned. Their courage and sacrifice remain woven into the shared memory of these islands. In this sermon, we remember the fallen not only with solemn gratitude, but with a call to live lives worthy of their legacy.

The two‑and‑a‑half tribes of Israel crossed the Jordan to fight for their brethren, declaring, “We will not rest until our brothers have rest.” Their loyalty was lived, costly, and real — just as it was for the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, the Newfoundland Regiment, and the many who served from across the then‑Empire.

This message speaks to the Orange family, the bands community, and the wider PUL fraternity, reminding us that our pillars of fraternity, friendship, and Protestant faith stand firm only when centred on Christ and His Gospel.

We honour the fallen best not by sentiment, but by faithfulness:

• standing firm in our Protestant faith
• living as disciples of Christ
• supporting our brethren across the world
• upholding the liberties handed down to us
• walking with dignity, humility, and conviction

May we, in our generation, be found faithful — to Christ, to Scripture, to one another, and to the memory of those who gave everything so that we might live in peace.

In this teaching message, Pastor Ian explores the lives of Peter and Paul — two very different men, two very different personalities, yet one Lord and one gospel. Some believers feel impulsive and emotional like Peter; others feel structured and clear‑thinking like Paul; many feel like neither and quietly wonder whether they truly belong.

This sermon shows from Scripture that:

• God has no favourites
• There are no elite Christians
• There is no spiritual hierarchy
• Every believer is adopted with the same dignity and inheritance in Christ

Peter wobbles, stumbles, speaks too soon, and sinks after two steps of faith — yet Jesus restores him and builds His church through him.
Paul reasons, teaches, writes, and strategises — yet he says, “I am what I am by the grace of God.”

The early church needed both.
The church today needs both.
And Bootle Protestant Free Church needs every kind of believer God sends.

This message calls you to:

• stop comparing yourself to others
• stop believing the lie that you don’t belong
• stop assuming your gifts don’t matter
• stand in the grace that saved you
• walk in the calling God has given you
• rejoice that you are fully adopted, fully loved, and fully included

Whether you are a Peter, a Paul, or someone who feels like neither — Christ died for you, Christ calls you, Christ keeps you, and Christ delights in you.

God has no second‑class children. And that includes you.

In this sermon, we reach the final and greatest of God’s covenants — the New Covenant promised by the prophets, fulfilled by Christ, sealed at the cross, confirmed in the resurrection, and poured out at Pentecost.

From Jeremiah’s promise of a new heart, to Ezekiel’s promise of a new spirit, to Isaiah’s vision of a covenant for all peoples, we see how God creates not a repair job, but something entirely new. A covenant written on the heart, not on stone. A covenant sealed with the blood of Christ, not the blood of animals. A covenant sustained by the Holy Spirit, not human effort.

We explore:

• The longing of Israel for deeper forgiveness and true relationship
• The institution of the New Covenant at the Last Supper
• The cross as the hinge of history
• The resurrection as God’s declaration of new creation
• Pentecost as the empowering of God’s people
• The early church’s struggles — and how grace redeems the struggle
• What the New Covenant gives us today: forgiveness, a new heart, the Spirit, access to God, identity, community, and a future that cannot be shaken

This sermon also reflects on the joy of recent baptisms, showing how regeneration, forgiveness, and new identity flow directly from the New Covenant Christ established.

The New Covenant is not ancient history.
It is the air we breathe, the ground we stand on, and the hope we cling to.
It is the covenant we live in, the covenant we proclaim, and the covenant that will carry us into eternity.

Amen.

In this sermon we trace David’s journey from shepherd to king, the astonishing promise God makes to him, the painful honesty of David’s failures, and the collapse of the kingdom that followed. Yet through every rise and fall, God’s covenant faithfulness remains unbroken.

This message shows how the longing for a righteous king ultimately leads to Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom is established not by earthly power but through the cross, the resurrection, and His eternal reign.

Whether you are new to the faith or have walked with Christ for many years, this sermon invites you to place your hope not in human leaders or institutions, but in Christ the King, who reigns, restores, and will return.

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:8–16

Series: The Covenants of God 
Church: Bootle Protestant Free Church (BPFC)

This message examines the five great truths of the Priestly Covenant:

• that sin destroys communities,
• that leadership without moral clarity leads to suffering,
• that true spiritual leadership requires courage,
• that God provides mediators for His people,
• and that no human priest can bridge the gap — only Christ can.

Phinehas’ zeal stopped a plague; Christ stops the plague of sin. Phinehas acted once; Christ intercedes forever. Phinehas restored temporary peace; Christ brings eternal peace. This covenant ultimately points beyond itself to the perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, who stands in the gap for us and brings us the peace of God.

A sermon for believers old and new, calling us to holiness, integrity, and confidence in the One true Mediator.

In this sermon, preached to the Orange Institution in April 2026, Pastor Ian reflects on what it truly means to be protestantis — a people who give witness. With Scripture in one hand and history in the other, he calls believers to rediscover their identity as those who testify to the Word of God, stand firm in truth, and live as witnesses of Christ in a confused and drifting age.

Drawing from 2 Chronicles 24:19, the meaning of Protestant witness, and the legacy of William III and the Glorious Revolution, this message challenges us to cherish the liberties God has given, to steward them faithfully, and to ensure our Protestantism is a testimony — not a grievance.

This sermon speaks to:

• our identity as witnesses of the gospel
• our heritage of liberty and conscience
• our calling as Christians to carry peace, speak truth, and stand firm

May we be a people who live the gospel we proclaim, defending freedom with grace and witnessing to Christ with humility and courage.

Scripture:  
2 Chronicles 24:19; Matthew 10:5–22 (KJV/NKJV)

The Relief of Derry (1689) stands as one of the defining moments in the Protestant story — a testimony to God’s providence, steadfast courage, and the defence of religious liberty.
In this sermon, Pastor Ian Thompson reflects on the siege, the suffering of the people, and the extraordinary deliverance that followed, drawing clear lines to the Christian life today: perseverance under trial, trust in God’s timing, and the call to stand firm for Christ’s Crown and Covenant.

This message explores:

• The historical background of the Siege of Derry
• How God preserves His people in seasons of pressure
• The spiritual meaning of deliverance and endurance
• Why the memory of Derry still matters for believers today
• Lessons for faithfulness in a hostile age

Whether you’re familiar with the history or hearing it for the first time, this sermon offers a pastoral, Scripture‑centred reflection on courage, conviction, and God’s unfailing care.

This teaching highlights how the biblical doctrine of creation shapes the entire Christian worldview. Pastor Ian shows how Scripture presents creation as purposeful, ordered, and good—an expression of God’s wisdom, power, and fatherly care. The sermon also addresses modern challenges to the doctrine of creation, including materialism, naturalism, and the loss of meaning in contemporary culture.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of:

• Why the Creed insists that God alone is the Creator
• How creation reveals God’s character, glory, and covenant love
• The difference between biblical creation and secular origin stories
• How the doctrine of creation anchors Christian identity and hope
• Why the Church must continue to confess God as Maker in every generation

This episode offers a rich, accessible, and theologically grounded exploration of the God who speaks worlds into being and sustains them by His Word.

This teaching examines the Creed’s insistence on one God in a world filled with competing spiritualities, idols, and modern forms of self‑made religion. Drawing from Reformed theology and the biblical doctrine of creation, Pastor Ian explains how God’s almighty power is not cold or distant, but deeply personal, fatherly, and covenantal.

Listeners will discover how Genesis 1 establishes the foundation for Christian faith:

• God alone creates, commands, and sustains all things
• God reveals Himself as Father through His works and His Word
• God’s almightiness is expressed in purpose, order, and goodness
• The Creed protects the Church from false views of God—ancient and modern

This sermon offers clarity, encouragement, and a firm grounding in historic Christian doctrine for believers seeking to understand why the Church confesses one God, the Father Almighty.

This sermon offers a clear and accessible overview of the Creed’s purpose, structure, and enduring importance for the Church. Pastor Thompson explains how the Nicene Creed articulates the Trinity, affirms the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus Christ, and sets out the foundational truths that unite believers across centuries.

The message highlights the Creed’s role as a guardrail for biblical orthodoxy, helping Christians hold fast to the Gospel in an age of confusion and competing voices. Rather than replacing Scripture, the Nicene Creed echoes its central message and strengthens the Church’s witness to the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This introductory sermon prepares the way for the full series, exploring how the Creed continues to shape Christian faith, worship, and discipleship today.

The BPFC Sermon Podcast shares weekly preaching from Bootle Protestant Free Church, proclaiming the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

The "Deep Dive" of the Nicene Creed may be found on our sister podcast "Know Surrender" using the same series and episode numbers. In this case Series 2 episode 1

In this sermon, Pastor Ian Thompson reflects on the transforming power of God’s grace by contrasting two striking biblical figures: the malefactor on the cross in Luke 23 and Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in Acts 7.

The dying thief turns to Christ with nothing but need — no ritual, no achievement, no time left to prove anything. His simple confession shows that salvation is entirely by grace, received through faith alone.

Stephen’s martyrdom reveals the other side of grace: bold witness, Spirit‑filled courage, and a vision of the risen Christ even in the face of violent persecution. His prayer of forgiveness mirrors the mercy of the Saviour he proclaims.

Together, these two lives reveal the breadth of God’s mercy — grace for the desperate sinner and strength for the faithful servant. Whether we come like the malefactor or stand like the martyr, Christ meets us with hope, forgiveness, and eternal life.

Pastor Thompson concludes by reflecting on communion as a God‑given means of spiritual refreshment, strengthening believers to remain steadfast in a secular and often hostile world.

For a fuller exploration of these themes, listen to the companion Deep Dive episode on our weekly reflection podcast:
Know Surrender — “The Malefactor and the Martyr: A Testimony of Grace.”

In this sermon we continue our journey through the great covenants of Scripture and arrive at one of the most defining moments in the Old Testament — the covenant God makes with Moses and with Israel at Mount Sinai.

From liberation out of Egypt to the giving of the Ten Words, from the tabernacle to the sacrifices, from Israel’s calling to their rebellion, this covenant reveals the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the mercy that holds His people fast.

We explore:

• God’s grace before God’s commands
• Israel’s identity as a treasured possession
• The Ten Commandments as a framework for life
• Worship, sacrifice, purity, and God’s dwelling presence
• Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s steadfast purpose
• How the Mosaic covenant prepares us for Christ, our true Mediator

This sermon calls us to holiness, identity, obedience, and gratitude — not to earn God’s love, but because we already live within it.

Part of the ongoing series: The Covenants of God.

 A deeper discussion of this sermon will be released on 1st June in our sister podcast Know Surrender. You’re warmly invited to listen. 

We look at the three strands of the promise — land, descendants, and blessing — and how they shape the whole biblical story from Genesis to Christ. Abraham’s doubts, failures, and questions remind us that covenant is not about perfect people, but about a perfect God who keeps His word.

Whether you are new to the faith or have walked with Christ for many years, this message calls us to trust the God who still leads, still provides, and still fulfils His promises in Christ, the true offspring of Abraham.