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

In this episode of the 'to the heart' podcast, Helen Thorne-Allenson, Steve Midgley, and Andrew Collins explore the importance of heart-centered conversations within the church. They discuss the nature of the heart in biblical counselling, the appropriateness of depth in conversations, and how to respond to individuals sharing their struggles. The conversation emphasises the need for understanding, humility, and the role of Scripture in facilitating change. Practical applications are provided, particularly in addressing issues like envy, and the team discuss encouraging a culture of openness and honesty in church communities.

Takeaways:

• The heart is central to our relationship with God.
• Churches should foster environments for heart-centered conversations.
• Navigating social norms is crucial in deep conversations.
• Acknowledging someone's struggle takes courage and humility.
• Understanding is a collaborative process, not a one-sided analysis.
• The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in revealing truths.
• Change is a complex process involving both understanding and action.
• Scripture should be woven into conversations naturally.
• Building a culture of openness can transform church dynamics.
• Everyone can grow in their ability to engage deeply with others.

Real Change
The Real Change course is discussed towards the end of the episode.

Chapters:

00:00 -Introduction to Heart-Centered Conversations

00:56 -Understanding the Heart in Biblical Counseling

02:57 -Navigating Depth in Church Conversations

06:59 -Responding to Heartfelt Struggles

11:33 -Exploring Deeper Issues of the Heart

14:17 -The Role of Understanding in Heart Conversations

17:15 -The Process of Change and Scripture's Role

22:31 -Practical Applications: Envy and Heart Issues

32:59 -Building a Culture of Openness in the Church

Hosted by Helen Thorne-Allenson and produced by Andrew McKenna.
Find all episodes on your favourite podcast provider or at bcuk.org/podcast
For regular news from BCUK join our mailing lists at bcuk.org/join
To support the work of BCUK visit bcuk.org/get-church-talking

In this episode of the 'to the heart' podcast, Helen Thorne-Allenson, Andrew Collins, and Amanda Cook explore the theme of listening to the heart within the context of biblical counselling and church community. They discuss the importance of being attentive to our hearts, the barriers to vulnerability, and how to create a safe culture in the church for open conversations. The conversation emphasises practical ways to encourage deeper discussions, the significance of prayer, and the transformative power of sharing our hearts with one another.

Takeaways:

• The heart is central to our relationship with God.
• One anothering in the church involves being attentive to each other's hearts.
• Vulnerability is essential for meaningful conversations.
• Creating a safe culture in the church encourages openness.
• Listening to our hearts requires humility and self-awareness.
• Barriers to vulnerability include fear of judgment and discomfort.
• Practical love flows from a heart that relates well to God.
• Transitioning from small talk to deeper conversations is important.
• Prayer should focus on the heart, not just circumstances.
• Transformation in the church comes from honest conversations about our hearts.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Listening to the Heart
02:21 One Anothering in the Church
05:04 Natural Conversations About the Heart
07:54 Barriers to Vulnerability
11:15 Creating a Safe Culture in the Church
15:22 Listening with Pure Motives
19:47 Transitioning from Small Talk to Heart Talk
25:25 Connecting Bible Study to Personal Hearts
30:37 Encouraging Deeper Prayer Requests

Hosted by Helen Thorne-Allenson and produced by Andrew McKenna.
Find all episodes on your favourite podcast provider or at bcuk.org/podcast
For regular news from BCUK join our mailing lists at bcuk.org/join
To support the work of BCUK visit bcuk.org/get-church-talking

In this episode of BCUK's 'to the heart' podcast, Helen Thorne-Allenson, Steve Midgley, and Andrew Collins delve into the concept of the heart within biblical counselling. They explore its significance, the shift from focusing on external behaviours to understanding internal motivations, and the importance of integrity in one's spiritual life. The conversation emphasises the role of emotions in revealing the heart's desires and fears, and offers practical steps for self-exploration and reflection. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the transformative power of attending to the heart in fostering spiritual growth and deeper relationships with God and others.

Chapters
00:00 Understanding the Heart in Biblical Counselling
07:28 The Shift from External to Internal Focus
14:08 The Importance of Integrity and Consistency
19:57 Exploring Emotions and Their Significance
25:51 Practical Steps to Explore Our Hearts
32:24 The Benefits of Attending to the Heart

Hosted by Helen Thorne-Allenson and produced by Andrew McKenna.
Find all episodes on your favourite podcast provider or at bcuk.org/podcast
For regular news from BCUK join our mailing lists at bcuk.org/join
To support the work of BCUK visit bcuk.org/get-church-talking