Week 24
Your Weekly Round-up Sunday!
Welcome to Week 24 — and this one is unashamedly about the Church. Not the building. Not the brand. The body. The bride. The blood-bought family of God walking with the Lord Jesus Christ in a world that's lost the plot.
We're bookending the newsletter with two fresh teaching blogs to set the tone and seal the close. We open with "What Are You Bringing to the Church?" — a straight challenge to swap consumer Christianity for the priesthood every believer is called to. And we land at the other end with "The 'One Another's' the Church Has Forgotten" — a walk through the small, sharp New Testament commands that turn a crowd into a family. Read the first to check your posture. Read the second to check your practice.
In between, the week pulls no punches.
Monday — "Do We Want to Save People, or Are We Just Glad We're Saved?" — a wake-up call on evangelism and the urgency of the lost.
Tuesday — "How Do You Get People to Go to Church?" — why clicking "like" online never built the Church of Acts.
Wednesday — "You Go to Church, So What!" — because warming a pew was never the finish line.
Thursday — "Why Can't We Find a Church Like in the Book of Acts?" — and what it'll cost us to be one.
Friday — Part Two — Why the Church Needs Under-Shepherds Today — the second half of last week's teaching on the men and women God is raising up to feed His sheep.
Add to that a fresh line-up across the YouTube playlists, the Blazing Apostles and Saturday Conversations podcasts, and our weekly Messages from the Outpost gatherings — Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, here at 186 Greenacres, Wetheral.
And a special shoutout this week to the news piece below — "When the Body of Christ Stood Watch!"
So settle in. Read every piece. Share what stirs you. And let this be a week the Word doesn't just inform you — it forms you into the kind of believer the Church needs and the Lord is looking for.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works [Hebrews 10:24 KJV].
With Christ's love, Dave & Elaine
Building Your Faith on Biblical Foundations! Discover core Christian principles and deepen your relationship with Christ through biblical teaching and practical application…
What Are You Bringing to the Church?
Stop asking what the church can do for you — and start asking what you bring through the door…
There's a question we've grown shy of asking, but the Bible asks it boldly: what are you bringing? Most modern church-going has slipped into a quiet form of consumerism. We turn up. We sit down. We listen. We leave. We rate the worship, weigh the sermon, judge the welcome — and head home until next Sunday. The early church didn't function like that. They didn't come to receive only. They came to give.
Paul couldn't have been plainer: How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying [1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV]. Every one of you. Not the pastor only. Not the worship team only. Every born-again believer arrived with something in their hand from God — a word, a gift, a song, an encouragement, a burden — and the assembly was richer for it.
We've lost that. Somewhere along the way the body of Christ became the audience of Christ. Pews replaced participation. Programmes replaced the priesthood of the believer. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ [1 Peter 2:5 KJV]. A priest doesn't just attend the temple. A priest brings something to the altar.
So look at your Sundays again. What are you carrying in?
Are you bringing prayer — interceding for the brother three rows behind you, for the family up the front who looked tired, for the leader stood at the door?
Are you bringing the Word — having spent the week in Scripture, ready to add to a conversation rather than empty yourself into one?
Are you bringing encouragement — that one sentence God laid on your heart for someone who came in barely holding on?
Are you bringing service — chairs stacked, biscuits made, children helped, hands willing?
Are you bringing fellowship — actually staying after to talk, to listen, to bear another's burden?
We were never meant to slip in and slip out. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another [Hebrews 10:25 KJV]. The verb is exhorting — active, intentional, deliberate. You can't exhort from the car park.
If the church has felt thin lately, the answer isn't always a better preacher or louder worship. It might be us. A body that arrives empty-handed grows lean. A body where every member brings something grows strong.
So next Sunday, before you ask what you got out of it, ask what you brought in…
"Something to think about" is a phrase that indicates there is a topic or idea presented that the reader should consider and contemplate, for further reflection or discussion. Published weekly on a Monday…
Monday 08/06/26
Do We Want to Save People, or Are We Just Glad We're Saved?
Are we reaching for the lost, or resting in our own rescue?
The Urgency of Our Mission
This teaching blog asks a question that should shake every believer awake: do we truly care about the lost, or have we become so comfortable in our own salvation that we have forgotten the urgency of the Great Commission? In Do We Want to Save People, or Are We Just Glad We’re Saved?, I walk through what the Bible actually says about the command to preach the gospel, the danger of a comfortable church, and the eternal reality we can’t afford to ignore. If you have felt that evangelism has become optional, awkward, or distant, this teaching is a clear call back to the heart of God for souls, and a challenge to step out in faith with boldness, compassion, and urgency…
Messages from the Outpost: Join us at our home church (186, Greenacres, Wetheral, Carlisle CA4 8LU, UK) every Tuesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm.
Tuesday 09/06/26
How Do You Get People to Go to Church?
In an age where clicking 'like' feels like commitment, discover what it truly takes to build a church worth attending….
The Challenge of Modern Church Attendance
In an age where clicking "like" on a sermon clip feels like participation, we face a startling reality: agreeing with Christianity online doesn't translate to showing up at church on Sunday. This teaching confronts the growing gap between digital engagement and physical commitment, challenging both individuals and churches to examine what makes a congregation worthy of attendance. Drawing from the Book of Acts, we explore how the early church created an irresistible community through sound doctrine, authentic fellowship, shared worship, and corporate prayer—elements that cannot be replicated through a screen. The question isn't simply how to fill pews, but how to become the church God intended: a transformative community that offers what the world cannot provide and what online content cannot replace. When believers demonstrate genuine unity, teach uncompromised truth, and live out their faith authentically, the result mirrors [Acts 2:47 KJV] — the Lord adds to the church daily those who are being saved. This isn't about better marketing or entertaining programmes; it's about being a living example of Christianity that demands to be experienced in person…
"Write this down" is a phrase used to draw attention to essential information that needs to be recorded or remembered. Published weekly on a Wednesday…
Wednesday 10/06/26
You Go to Church, So What!
There is more to being a Christian than going to Church, isn't there?
Beyond the Pew: What Real Christianity Looks Like
Church attendance is a help, not a finish line. True Christianity is a heart transformed by Christ, a daily walk of obedience, love for God and others, and a life that bears real fruit. Don't settle for warming a pew — be a doer of the Word…
Messages from the Outpost: Join us at our home church (186, Greenacres, Wetheral, Carlisle CA4 8LU, UK) every Tuesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm.
Thursday 11/06/26
Why Can't We Find a Church Like in the Book of Acts?
Discovering the radical faith that transformed the world…
The Heart of the Matter
The Book of Acts gives us the divine pattern — sound doctrine, genuine fellowship, steady prayer, and bold witness, whatever the cost. The disconnect today isn't God's fault, it's ours. Return to the Word, count the cost, walk daily with Christ, and the Church of Acts will be found wherever His people obey Him…
Back to Basics is a weekly Christian living teaching blog that focuses on teaching the principles of Christian living from a fundamental perspective. Published weekly on a Friday…
Friday 12/06/26
Part Two - Why the Church Needs Under-Shepherds Today
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd [Matthew 9:36 KJV].
The cry of the flock
Look around the church today and you'll see what the Lord saw in Galilee — believers fainting, scattered, drifting, wounded, lost in a crowd that calls itself a flock. The answer is not more lights, more music, or more programmes. The answer is shepherds who shepherd — men and women who feed, guard, and care for the souls God has placed within their reach. When the risen Christ restored Peter, He didn't ask him to lead a movement; He asked him about love — and then told him what love does: feed my sheep. Under-shepherding is how the love of Christ for His church gets to the church through the church. It doesn't begin with a title. It begins with three names and a willing heart…
YouTube: Engaging Content Line-up on 'Back to Basics: Christian Living' YouTube Channel. Published weekly from Monday to Friday...
This Week: 8 - 12 June 2026
Welcome to this week's exciting line-up on our "Back to Basics: Christian Living" YouTube channel! We've carefully curated content designed to strengthen your faith, provide daily spiritual nourishment, and accompany you on your walk with Christ. From devotional moments to in-depth teachings, we're committed to bringing you resources that both inspire and equip…
Something to Think About?
Our "Something to Think About" playlist offers brief, thought-provoking reflections on Christian living. Each video presents meaningful topics designed for contemplation and spiritual growth, encouraging viewers to examine their faith more deeply. Whether you're seeking inspiration or wrestling with questions, these concise messages provide valuable insights to carry with you throughout your day and spark meaningful discussions with fellow believers….
Shorts: messages from the Outpost!
Discover the truth of God's Word. We're addressing the erosion of Biblical teachings in today's world and inviting everyone to join us on this journey. Our mission is to uphold the true teachings of Jesus, challenging misleading interpretations, and promoting accountability…
Write this Down…
Our Write This Down playlist features essential Christian teachings and biblical insights you'll want to remember. Each video highlights key principles for your faith journey that are worth noting down for future reference and spiritual growth….
Back to Basics: Christian Living
…Laying the foundation for a Christian life…
Back to Basics: Christian Living guides viewers through core principles of faith. Each video explores essential topics like prayer, scripture and community, offering practical advice and spiritual insights. Whether you're new to faith or deepening your understanding, this series provides key teachings for a life rooted in Christian values…
Back to Basics: Plain Truth!
The home for our unscheduled, Spirit-prompted teaching videos — the ones that don't fit the weekly slot but need saying now.
No fixed format. No fixed length. Just plain, practical, powerful teaching from the King James Bible — opened, explained, and applied.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves [James 1:22 KJV].
Back to Basics: Living Faith!
Morning: Awakening Faith! - is a series that inspires you to walk in the Spirit, live by faith, and fulfil God's purpose each day.
What's on my Heart: Unfiltered Faith! - A playlist featuring brief spiritual insights where I share God's wisdom on specific topics with practical applications for your Christian Walk.
Let's Read the Word Together! - A series dedicated to Scripture study and its practical application to daily life.
Back to Basics: Christian living Q&A - A question-and-answer format addressing viewers' faith-related inquiries.
Archive Collections: Under the Tree! - Building a solid foundation for a Christian life -Reflecting Christ, Overcoming Challenges, and Standing Strong in Faith offering insightful discussions on several topics related to Christian living & spiritual growth.
Subscribe to our channel and tune in to strengthen your faith today! Perfect for listening whilst commuting, relaxing or seeking daily inspiration...
Note: Remember, these schedules are subject to change, but we're committed to bringing you content that enriches your spiritual journey….
Blazing Apostles & Saturday Conversations Podcasts…
Ignite Your Faith: Explore Our Podcasts
Watch on YouTube to connect visually with our teachings. Whether you're new to faith or well-established, these podcasts offer practical biblical applications to deepen your spiritual life.
Discover our podcasts "Blazing Apostles" and "Saturday Conversations" with hosts Dave and Elaine. Through engaging discussions, stories and practical teachings, we explore foundational Christian principles that refresh your faith.
Back to Basics: Christian living - Unscripted!
Whether you're a long-time believer or just starting your spiritual journey, our podcast will inspire and challenge you to live a life that truly reflects your Christian values. Discover practical ways to apply biblical truths in your daily life and gain a renewed sense of purpose and connection with your faith...
Subscribe to our channel and tune in to strengthen your faith today! Perfect for listening whilst commuting, relaxing or seeking daily inspiration...
Note: Remember, these schedules are subject to change, but we're committed to bringing you content that enriches your spiritual journey….
NEWS! Updates and announcements about Back to Basics: Christian living, including content changes, newsletters, website updates, and valuable information for our audience…
When the Body of Christ Stood Watch!
24 Hours of Prayer for a Beloved brother. One body of believers. One sacred day on its knees.
There are moments in the life of the Church that don't make headlines, don't trend online, and don't fill arenas — but heaven leans in to watch them. This past week was one of them. Believers from across the body of Christ joined hands and hours for a 24-hour prayer vigil for a beloved brother in need of healing. No stage. No spotlight. No production team. Just God's people, picking an hour, and showing up.
The vigil was raised for a much-loved brother in Christ — faithful, quiet-strong, a man who loves the Lord and His people. Facing a serious health battle, the call went out not for intercession — and the response said something the modern Church needs to hear: God's people still know how to pray. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much [James 5:16 KJV]. That verse wasn't a poster on a wall this week. It was a battle plan.
The vigil ran a full 24 hours, unbroken. Believers signed up an hour at a time — some at midday, some at midnight, some at three in the morning when the world was sleeping and the kettle was the only sound in the kitchen. Each one took their hour, prayed Scripture over our brother, stood in the gap for his body, his family, his faith, and his witness — then passed the baton. Not one minute went uncovered. Twenty-four hours. One hour at a time. One body. One Lord. One purpose.
We live in an age engineered to steal our time. Notifications, schedules, scrolling, streaming — a thousand small thieves robbing believers of the very hours God could use for kingdom impact. To carve out sixty minutes in a packed week and give them to focused, fervent prayer for one brother is no small thing. It is a defiant act of faith. It says, I will not be too busy for the body of Christ. I will not be too distracted to intercede. I will not leave my brother to fight alone. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2 KJV]. Prayer like this doesn't happen by accident — it happens when God's people decide that eternity matters more than the algorithm.
The New Testament shows it plainly: when believers come together to pray, God moves. The early Church gathered for Peter in prison, and the doors opened [Acts 12:5–7 KJV]. The disciples gathered in one accord, and the Spirit fell [Acts 2:1–4 KJV]. Two or three gather in His name, and He is there [Matthew 18:20 KJV]. A 24-hour vigil isn't a gimmick — it's the Church doing what the Church has always done: standing watch over its own. In a day when unity is rare and attention spans are shorter than a sermon clip, the sight of like-minded believers holding the line for one brother is nothing short of a quiet miracle.
What stands out from a moment like this is simple: prayer is still our greatest weapon — not opinion, not outrage, not online debate, prayer. The body of Christ is at its strongest when it is unified — a scattered Church prays in fragments, a gathered Church prays with fire. And healing belongs to the Lord — He still hears, still answers, still moves on behalf of His own. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth [Psalm 145:18 KJV].
If you took an hour. You stood watch when the world wouldn't. Let it stir you. The next vigil, the next call, the next brother or sister who needs covering may be just around the corner. Be ready. And if you've never given an hour like this — start now. Pick one. Take it. Pray it. You'll never lose what you give to God…
Back to Basics: Christian Living - Your Faith Journey. We're excited to share insights and practical guidance to help strengthen your faith journey in 2026…
The 'One Another's' the Church Has Forgotten
Christianity was never designed to be lived alone — and the New Testament proves it on every page…
Pick up your Bible, work through the letters, and you'll keep tripping over two small words: one another. They're scattered through Paul, Peter, John, and the writer of Hebrews like footprints across a path. Love one another. Pray one for another. Bear one another's burdens. Exhort one another. Comfort one another. Prefer one another. Forgive one another. Confess your faults one to another. They're not optional extras for the keen. They're commandments for the body.
And we've quietly forgotten most of them.
Modern Christianity has somehow shrunk to a personal device — a private app between me and Jesus. Bible by myself. Worship by myself. Faith by myself. But the New Testament refuses to let us live that small. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another [John 13:34 KJV]. That isn't a feeling. It's a command. And love that's never costly isn't really love at all.
Look at how practical the apostles got.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ [Galatians 6:2 KJV]. That means knowing your brother well enough to know what's weighing on him — and stepping under the load with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do [1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV]. Comfort and building up. Not gossip. Not critique. Building.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed [James 5:16 KJV]. Honesty before each other. Prayer over each other. That's where healing flows.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another [Romans 12:10 KJV]. Affection — actual warmth. Preferring — actually putting them first.
And the hardest one of all: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye [Colossians 3:13 KJV]. The standard isn't as you feel like. The standard is as Christ forgave you.
When was the last time your church-life actually looked like this? When did you last bear a burden, confess a fault, comfort a soul, prefer a brother, forgive a wound, edify a wavering heart? If we're honest, much of our fellowship has thinned into pleasant chat and polite distance.
The Lord didn't pour out His Spirit on a crowd of strangers. He poured Him out on a family. Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God [Ephesians 2:19 KJV]. Family lives in the one another's. Strangers don't.
Start with one. Pick a verse. Pick a person. Practice it this week. The body of Christ doesn't grow strong by listening to more sermons — it grows strong by obeying these small, sharp, beautiful commands until they look like Christ Himself…
