In a culture where promises often come with fine print, where “I’ll be there” turns into “something came up,” and “forever” lasts only until it’s inconvenient, it’s easy to grow sceptical. We’ve all felt the sting of betrayal, the disappointment of unmet expectations, the quiet fear that no one can truly be relied upon. Yet right in the middle of this messy reality, the Bible introduces a radical counter-story: a God who makes promises and keeps them, no exceptions, no excuse

“I don't always feel His presence. But God's promises do not depend upon my feelings, they rest upon His integrity." -R.C. Sproul

Having spent much of my ministry in and around churches either needing or undergoing revitalisation, I’ve heard certain phrases repeated across different contexts so often that I’ve had to pause, pray, and ask: Does this truly reflect the heart of Scripture? One such phrase is the oft-repeated counsel that a pastor must “take everyone with them” in ministry, ensuring no one is left behind, unhappy, or resistant during seasons of growth, change, or rediscovering a church’s mis

(Christianity 101 - Tuesday, 10 February 2026) Tonight we explored one of life’s deepest questions: Where did everything come from, and does it have real meaning? The Bible’s answer is clear and majestic: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”  (Genesis 1:1). The triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, spoke the entire universe into existence from nothing ( creatio ex nihilo ), bringing order, beauty, and goodness out of formless void. He didn’t need to c

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4–5, ESV) Jesus echoes and expands this ancient command: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.’” (Matthew 22:37–38, ESV) What does it truly mean to love the Lord? In a world full of dist

The church, as the body of Christ, is called to reflect His glory in every generation. Yet throughout history and even today, churches can drift from the pure teaching and practice laid out in Scripture. Reforming the church according to God’s Word is not optional. It is a biblical imperative that honours Him deeply. When we humbly return to Scripture as our ultimate authority, we position ourselves to experience His renewing power, and He receives the glory He deserves. The

Do you attend your church's prayer meeting? 12 quotes on the power of the prayer meeting. John Knox - "The strength of the kirk lies not in its numbers, but in its cries to God in the assembly of prayer." Charles H. Spurgeon - "Prayer meetings are the throbbing machinery of the church." E.M. Bounds - "The prayer meeting is the pulse of the church; its power is in proportion to its prayer." Thomas Watson - "A prayer meeting is the forge where the church’s weapons are beate

The Great Worship Lie We’ve All Believed The modern lie that has shaped much of contemporary worship is this: We gather in church primarily to see what God will do – to coax, invite, or manipulate His presence and power through our efforts, our singing, our prayers, and our emotional intensity. When Worship Gets the Direction Wrong This approach reverses the true direction of worship. It assumes God is distant or unresponsive unless we push hard enough, perform sufficiently,

New to faith? Exploring Christianity? Or just wanting a solid refresh? Join us for Christianity 101—a 20-week Tuesday evening course starting 27 January 2026 at 7:30pm. We will walk through who God is, what went wrong in the world, how Jesus saves us, and what life looks like as His people—all grounded in the Bible’s big story of God’s faithful promises. Perfect for enquirers, new believers, those considering baptism, longtime attendees or members. 20-min talk + 10-min Q&A ea

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. 'When we read the word of God ... we do it not to any other end and purpose, but to be instructed in good doctrine, that is to say in doctrine as is profitable to our salvation' (John Calvin, Sermon on Titus I:I-4). “John Calvin was the greatest exegete of the Reformation age: he was the Reformation's greatest theologian. And h

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR Length of days does not profit me Except the days are passed in Thy presence, in Thy service to Thy glory. Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains Sanctifies, aids every hour, That I might not be one moment apart from Thee, But may rely on thy Spirit To supply every thought, Speak every word, Direct every step, Prosper every work, Build up every mote of faith, And give me a desire To show forth Thy praise, Tes

Dear friends, Tomorrow morning, Sunday 7th December at 10:30 am, we dive deeper into the heart of God’s greatest promise during our Advent series at Honiton Evangelical Congregational Church. Last week, we explored how the very first whispers of hope after the Fall – promises to Adam and Abraham – pointed straight to Christmas. This week, we turn to Moses and David, and how the Tabernacle and the throne were always crying out for something more. “Every sacrifice in the Tabern

Evening, friends—let us discuss a matter close to my heart: the importance of formal church membership. I understand how counter-cultural it can seem in our individualistic, consumer-driven society, where commitments often feel burdensome, akin to a gym subscription, a sign now, regret later kind of thing. However, bear with me as we explore this further. As a pastor in reformed churches, I find great value and help in classic Reformed confessions such as the Savoy Declaratio

Tomorrow everything changes – Advent begins at Honiton Evangelical Congregational Church Dear friends, Tomorrow morning, Sunday 30 November at 10:30 am, we begin the greatest journey in history. Four weeks. Four promises. One Baby who keeps every single one of them. This Advent at Honiton Evangelical Congregational Church we’re walking together through the ancient promise God made again and again: “I will be their God, and they will be My people. I will come and dwell with t

You’ll hear much on the news over the next few days about the murder of Charlie Kirk, perhaps a name you’ve never heard before. Kirk was...

Church History Traces the ‘Footprints’ of God. Helpful article on the utility and necessity of church history to our present day faith...

It was a pleasure and a privilege this Lord's day morning to extend the right hand of fellowship to two new members on behalf of HECC. Dan and Ian are a blessed addition to the church, and we are pleased to welcome them in, following their clear testimonies to God's saving grace in their lives, and their desire to be engaged in the life of the body and the cause of the gospel. Our prayer is that these additions will be the first of many as we seek together to have a renewed f

Carl and Caroline Peet It's now nearly 5 months since I took up the role of pastor here at HECC, so I thought it was about time I put together a post! My name is Carl Peet, I am a 47-year-old Welshman. I am married to Caroline, and we have four children: Daniel, Matthew, Rebekah, and Martha. I have been in ordained ministry since 2014, first serving in reformed churches in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, whilst studying for my Honours Degree in Theological Studies at H

On Easter Sunday 2023 Mike Plant preached his last sermons as our pastor and on Saturday 15th April we held a farewell service to say...

Margaret and I will write a prayer letter and circulate it to everyone before we leave Honiton which will update you on our plans and...