Encounter Henley Welcomes Guest Preacher: Rev. Nick Patselis

This podcast episode features a guest message from Rev. Nick Patselis (Minister of Woodside Uniting) as he launches the new series, "Life to the Full." Nick brings a refreshing, humorous, and deeply practical look at what it means to live an abundant life in a world designed to distract us. From his son’s nickname for Encounter Church—"The Party Church"—to the accidental spiritual lessons learned from raising chickens, this message challenges us to check the "fullness" of our own lives.

Episode Highlights

The "Two-Year" Mark

Nick observes that the initial energy of any launch—a new church, a new job, or a new relationship—often begins to dip around the two-year mark. He explores how we can maintain the "Life to the Full" that Jesus promised, even when the "newness" wears off and the routine sets in.

Busy vs. Full

We often measure a "full life" by the number of blocks filled in our digital calendars. Nick reclaims the definition:

• A Busy Life: Back-to-back meetings, nights out, and a constant sense of rushing.
• A Full Life: A life overflowing with joy, peace, compassion, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Voice of the Shepherd

Drawing from John 10, the message highlights the difference between the Shepherd who calls us by name and the "thieves" that climb over the fence. Nick discusses the modern "thieves" of our time:

• Digital Distraction: How our phones and algorithms (like a Bad Bunny playlist) "discipline" our attention.
• The "Holes in the Fence": Our tendency to look for escapes when we don't like the "food" in our current season.
• The Fear Response: How we are often baited into spiritual "phishing scams" that steal our peace.

"Jesus calls us to have life to the full—not just when we birth something, not just when we launch something, but all the time."

Encounter Henley Welcomes Senior Pastor of Encounter Church Adelaide: Mike Wardrop

In this episode, Senior Pastor Mike Wardrop digs past the "passe" catchphrases to uncover the gritty, historical reality of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Speaking from his own experience as a young Christian and now as a seasoned pastor, Mike explores why we often struggle with anxiety despite having "victory" verses at our fingertips.

What You’ll Learn:

• The Danger of Proof Texting: Why pulling a single verse out of context can lead to a shallow faith, and how to embrace "The Whole Counsel of God."
• Historical Context: A look at Robert Estienne, the French printer who (in 1551) created the chapter and verse system we use today, and why it matters for our interpretation.
• The Reality of Paul’s "All Things": Understanding that Paul wrote about strength and joy while under house arrest in Rome (c. AD 60), facing trial and potential execution.
• The Secret to Inner Peace: Practical steps to shift your mind from "strongest desires" (often selfish) to "deepest desires" (the things of God).

"Our strongest desires are not our deepest desires. Only the peace of God can carry you through a time of suffering." — Mike Wardrop

Encounter Henley Welcomes Preacher: Emma Petrie

We’ve all seen it: "Be strong and courageous." It’s on mugs, t-shirts, wall art, and as Emma discovered, even toilet seat covers. But is this verse just a "self-help" mantra to make us feel better, or is it calling us to something much deeper?

Emma shares a hilariously relatable story about her "Type A" packing habits—including why she packs six pairs of underwear for a two-day trip—to illustrate our human obsession with comfort and control. She challenges the idea that "Be strong and courageous" is a pep talk for self-confidence, revealing instead that it is a command rooted in God's presence.

Key Insights

• The Danger of Comfort: Culture promises comfort (the absence of pain), but God promises His presence (the assurance of relationship).
• The Three-Part Movement: Emma breaks down Joshua 1:9 into three distinct sections:

1. The Reminder: "Have I not commanded you?"
2. The Command: "Be strong and courageous."
3. The Source: "For the Lord your God will be with you."

• Presence Over Relief: Real courage isn’t an emotion we manufacture; it’s a posture we choose because we know who is walking beside us.
• Anchored in the Word: Drawing from A.W. Tozer, Emma explains how meditating on Scripture is the primary path to recognizing God's presence in our lives.

"Comfort whispers to me: 'If I'm prepared enough, nothing can catch me off guard.' But the truth is, no amount of packing will protect me from the unexpected." — Emma Petrie

Encounter Church Adelaide Welcomes Senior Pastor: Mike Wardrop

In this powerful message, Pastor Mike Wardrop explores the "Looking Down" epidemic. Whether it’s the distraction of the pocket-sized computers in our pockets, the weight of depression, or the exhaustion of living without a clear direction, many of us are trapped in a cycle of spiritual stagnation.

But a life of distraction is not inevitable. It is not God’s best for you.

Drawing from Psalm 121 and the story of Elisha and the chariot of fire, Mike challenges us to lift our eyes higher than our natural sight allows. We aren't just called to live by the "Law" (what not to do); we are called to live by Revelation—the divine instruction that tells us where to go.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The Three Pillars of "Looking Down": How distraction, depression, and a lack of direction create a "cruel cycle" fueled by the attention economy.
• AI Slop for the Soul: Why meandering through "repetition and Netflix" leads to spiritual deadness.
• The Elisha Perspective: How to move from seeing only the "enemy armies" in your life to seeing the "chariots of fire" surrounding you.
• Revelation vs. Regulation: Why the Holy Spirit offers a higher vision than simple reward-and-punishment living.
• Encounter 2026: A look into Encounter Church’s pioneering vision to multiply resilient disciples across Adelaide.

"Sunday is coming." No matter how much your 2025 felt like Good Friday, 2026 is the year to lift your eyes and look through the eyes of Christ.

Enounter Henley Welcomes Pastor: Tex Horner

In this episode, Pastor Tex Horner explores the weight of public declarations and the freedom found in intentional servitude. Drawing from his own milestones—his wedding day and his ocean baptism—Tex discusses why making a "big choice" actually protects us from the exhaustion of having too many options.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The "Too Much of a Good Thing" Effect: Why absolute autonomy and endless choices often lead to stress, emotional exhaustion, and poor decision-making.
• The Power of Prisms: How choosing a specific path (like marriage to one person or discipleship under Jesus) creates a framework that makes future decisions clearer and simpler.
• Joshua’s Line in the Sand: A deep dive into Joshua 24, where an aging leader challenges a nation to "choose today whom you will serve."
• The Idol Audit: A candid look at what we worship today—money, fame, comfort, or even our partners—and why none of them are designed to sustain us like God can."We are all going to serve someone. If we don’t choose who we serve, we will end up serving something regardless. Isn't it better to have a say?" — Tex Horner

How to Make "Green Light" Choices

Tex wraps up the message with three practical "Text-isms" to help you align your daily actions with your heart's intentions:

1. Pray About It: Seek God’s vision before your own logic.
2. Establish Non-Negotiables: Identify the things you are simply not willing to compromise on to protect your vision.
3. Identify Your Idols: Be honest about what you are putting ahead of your relationship with God.

Encounter Church Henley Welcomes Preacher: Angus Green

In the kickoff of our brand-new series, "Quotable," Angus Green pulls apart the context of this iconic verse to reveal a message that is far richer, deeper, and more challenging than a simple motivational slogan.

In This Episode:

• The Koorong Cliché: Why we love putting "encouraging" verses on knickknacks and why taking them out of context can actually be damaging to our faith.
• The Reality of Exile: Discover the world behind the words. This wasn't written to a student choosing a career; it was written to a people who had lost their homes, their identity, and were facing 70 years of captivity in a foreign land.
• Machashavot Shalom: Angus breaks down the Hebrew meaning of "plans to prosper." Hint: It’s not about getting rich; it’s about Shalom—wholeness, peace, and right relationship with God.
• Faithfulness in the Waiting: How God plays the "long game" and why His faithfulness isn't measured by our comfort, but by His presence in our circumstances.

Key Takeaways:

• "God's faithfulness is not measured by our circumstance. It is measured by Him being with us in our circumstance."
• Promise #1: Faithfulness. Even when God seems silent or the "exile" feels permanent, He has not forsaken you.
• Promise #2: Restoration. Exile is never the end of the story. God redeems the years the locusts have eaten, ultimately through the work of Jesus.

Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

In this episode, Lead Pastor Tim Littleford tackles the "exhaustion" of the New Year. We are bombarded with motivational posts telling us to "dream bigger" and "write a good story" on our 365 blank pages. But what happens when the pressure to create a "DIY Self" becomes a form of slavery?

Key Insights in this message:

• The Exhaustion of the Idealized Self: Tim discusses the heavy burden of modern self-optimization—trying to be the perfect spouse, parent, and professional while staying "jacked" and reading 100 books a year.
• Identity as a Gift, Not an Achievement: In a world that has stripped away rites of passage, we are told to "work out" our own identities. Tim reminds us that we are created by God; our true uniqueness isn't earned—it is received as a gift.
• Contract vs. Covenant: Using the example of his 10-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Ash, Tim explains that a covenant is personal and relational, not just a list of obligations.
• The Unconditional New Covenant: While the Old Covenant was conditional on human obedience, the New Covenant—ratified by the blood of Jesus—is built on God’s unconditional grace and promise to write His law on our hearts.

"Knowing ourselves must begin by knowing the self that is known by God." — David Bennett

The Covenant Prayer

At the conclusion of this message, Pastor Tim invites you to pray the famous Wesleyan Covenant Prayer. Whether you are listening at home, in the car, or at the gym, we invite you to use this moment to renew your partnership with God for 2026.

Excerpt from the prayer: "I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will... Let me be full, let me be empty. I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service."

Encounter Henley Welcomes Senior Pastor of Encounter Church Adelaide: Mike Wardrop

In this message, Pastor Mike kicks off our Christmas series, "The Gift That Keeps On Giving," using the framework of the classic novel, "A Christmas Carol."

Drawing parallels to the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, Mike explores how our perception of hope is impacted by the hurts of our past, the comparisons of our present, and our view of the future.

The Ghost of Christmas Past (Hopes Gone By): Discover why we are often haunted by past trauma and broken promises, and how a modern culture's embrace of "victimhood as sainthood" can prevent us from moving forward. Mike challenges listeners to acknowledge the pain but embrace the responsibility of choosing hope, much like the promise of a "green shoot" growing from the "stump of Jesse" (Isaiah 11).

The Problem: Why do we get trapped by the hurts of the past?

The Solution: The choice of what to do next is your responsibility. God can turn past pain to eternal goodness.

The Ghost of Christmas Present (Alternatives That Haunt Us): Mike discusses the challenges of FOMO, comparison, and a seemingly hopeless culture (housing crises, political polarization, etc.). He reminds us that if our hope is placed in temporary, tactile things, it’s not hope at all. Drawing from Isaiah's message to King Ahaz, he asserts that Christians, as ambassadors of hope, must trust in God's faithfulness, not political or economic circumstances.

The Context: Why do the challenges of the present feel overwhelming?

The Anchor: Hope assumes that God is faithful and is able to bring about His good purpose.

Tune in to be inspired, challenged, and equipped to find lasting hope in Jesus Christ, the Messiah—the ultimate anointed one!