[This reflection by The HBC Team was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 27/Jul/2025]
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2 v8–9 [NIVUK]
Have you ever felt like religion feels a bit empty?
Maybe you’ve seen too many people go through the motions on a Sunday but live unchanged lives the rest of the week. Maybe faith has felt more like a box-ticking exercise than something that actually brings life. Or maybe you’ve been wondering what Christianity really looks like when you strip away the ritual and get to the heart of it.
That’s what this new sermon series is all about.
Starting next Sunday, we’re launching Beyond Religion: What Christianity Is Really About – a 5-part journey through one of the most powerful and practical letters in the Bible: Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Each message has been pre-recorded and thoughtfully crafted to help us see that Christianity isn’t about rules or rituals – it’s about identity, grace, purpose, transformation, and hope.
Dazz and Martin will be sharing the teaching throughout the series. Between them, they’ll explore what it means to be chosen by God, rescued from a broken world, and invited into a new kind of community. They’ll talk honestly about what it looks like to live differently in a culture that often pulls us the other way. And they’ll finish by acknowledging a tough but important truth: following Jesus puts us in the middle of a spiritual battle – but God has given us everything we need to stand firm.
This isn’t religion. This is relationship. It’s not about pretending to have it all together. It’s about discovering who you are in Christ – and what difference that makes to the way you live, love, and lead. Whether you’ve been a Christian for years or are just curious about faith, we believe this series will offer fresh insight and real encouragement.
Let’s go beyond religion – and rediscover what it’s really all about.
Resources:
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Horley Baptist Church onlineHBC main site
Confidential prayer link
Link to Recent Reflections
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Link to Index of Bible Passages
Last Sunday’s reflection: A Tale Of Two Specks by David Makanjuola
Contributed by The HBC Team; © The HBC Team