How Redeemer is trying to advance the kingdom
When you tell someone about Redeemer Church London, one of the first questions you might be asked is about what denomination or group we belong to.
Well, here’s your answer - we are part of the ‘Advance’ network, which is a growing partnership of about 150 churches based across five continents.
Advance is a relatively new movement which was set up about a decade ago when the charismatic Newfrontiers network was split into different sections.
Among the group’s overarching goals are to see churches established worldwide which support communities, train leaders and grow in a healthy way.
Advance officially defines itself as ‘movement of churches joining together to advance the Gospel of Jesus through planting and strengthening churches’.
While it sits within the broader tradition of Protestant Reformed churches, many parts of services are similar to those in Baptist churches – such as baptising adults.
Redeemer is also involved in the Advance UK Church Planting Course (ACPC) which helps with training, resourcing and sending people to set up new churches.
In addition, we join with other churches at the annual Advance UK & Europe Conference - most recently held at London’s Westminster Chapel last November.
And Redeemer also sends a delegation to the Advance Global Gathering – with the 2026 event held in Cape Town in March. It’s all part of our work in building churches together.
For more information about the work of Advance, you can visit their website here.
Christmas poetry at Redeemer
Redeemer Church London member STEVE PAGE has been spreading joy with his poetry for years – and here you can enjoy three he put together last Christmas, ahead of this Sunday’s carol service.
“The Wonders of His Love” - Redeemer Church London carol service
Sunday December 14, 2025 at 4.30pm and 6.30pm
University of West London
There’s less than a week to go now until this year’s annual carol service at Redeemer Church London on Sunday.
Church member STEVE PAGE has been spreading joy with his poetry for years – and we often hear his latest offerings at our Christmas services.
Here, you can enjoy three he put together this time last year. We hope to see you this Sunday!
CHILDREN UNDERSTAND
Children understand loveliness.
They recognise the aroma,
the touch of love,
the echo of hearts
that rise to adore.
Children understand loveliness.
They recognise the savour,
the weight of feast,
the press of voices
that sing with laughter.
Children understand loveliness.
They recognise Christmas
within the heat,
the fire and glory
of Christ's forgiveness.
Children understand Christmas.
Look to them.
SAVIOUR
This month I call you Saviour.
Mostly, instinctively
I call to you as Lord-God and Father.
Typically these are the names
I call to mind at early dawn.
But this month you are Saviour
as I become more acutely drawn
to my need to call on your saving grace
on your sacrificial willingness
to cast off the trappings
wrapped up with heavenly glory
to embrace the blood and the mess
that comes with small town nativity.
This month I address
my Hosannas to you,
my divine infant Saviour.
GIFTING
When does a gift given become a gift received?
If a gift is not accepted, is it a gift indeed?
If a gift is left unopened is the gifting actually achieved?
(Is a gift not a gift if it is rejected?
Does it lose its giftedness when refused or neglected?)
Does the gift itself retain some kinetic gifted energy?
Or does it need the active catalyst of reception
to truly be the gift that its giver intends it to be?
This Christmas be sure to accept your full responsibility
to receive with a fully open heart as well as open hands
this gift I give to you from me.
(I've left the receipt in the bag.)
Redeemer reads Galatians 5
This morning as we read Galatians 5 together, Matt takes us through just what true freedom looks like for us as Christians.
Welcome! Over the next week we will be reading through the book of Galatians together as a church! We’ll be reading a chapter each week day, beginning on Friday the 15th of May, and concluding on Friday the 22nd. We’re following the reading plan in the CBR Journal, which can also be found HERE.
Each day a member of the Redeemer family will be sharing with us some thoughts in video form, which can be seen above, previous days videos can be found on our Youtube channel. We’ll also be publishing blogs with more thoughts on the passages we’ve read, along with some ideas for those who want to study the passage further. We’re really looking forward to seeing God bear fruit in and through us as a church as we read his word, even during this challenging time.
Today Matt will be sharing with us his thoughts on Galatians 5.
In the first section of today’s passage, Paul continues to talk about what freedom looks like for those who are followers of Jesus, and defined by the fact they are children of God. However rather than just talking generally, he focuses specifically on the issue which the Galatians were struggling with. False teachers had arrived in Galatia after Paul had left, and had begun to successfully convince some of the Christians there that to really become “proper Christians”, they must be circumcised! Paul is aiming to change their perspective on these teachings.
The reality is that though the specific issue may have changed for us, we can still fall prey to the same false teachings that the Galatians did. We can choose to believe that it is something which we accomplish which gains us the right to be children of God, that is not only untrue, but it separates us from being able to truly understand, and partly reject the grace and love shown through Jesus’ death on a cross for us! That’s a dangerous place to be!
It is so important, especially in times like this, when we can feel so powerless to achieve anything for ourselves, that we remember Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
The second half of the chapter, from verse 13-25, is a continuation of Paul’s explaining just how to live by that very first verse. Focusing on how slavery can also look like a lack of religion, and falling back into being servants of our own desires.
Doing whatever we want is not true freedom, when whatever we want is to satisfy the desires of our old self. True freedom as a follower of Jesus comes from divine sonship, from submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and serving others above ourselves, out of love.
My prayer for you today is that you choose to live by the very first verse in today’s passage, and that God would pour out his Holy Spirit on you today, that you might not be burdened again by a yoke of slavery, but instead walk in true freedom!
Further Study
T. J. Tims is lead pastor of Immanuel Nashville. He earned a BA from Southeastern Bible College, an MA from King’s College London in 2010, and is a PhD candidate at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
In this podcast, Tims walks us through Galatians 5:5-6 and reminds us why we need to hear the gospel again and again.
