I love rollercoasters.
I love the thrill.
I love the excitement.
I love the fear.
I love the height!
For me, the bigger the better! Like that one in Blackpool…
The Big One.
More commonly known as the Pepsi MAX. Or Oblivion or Nemesis at Alton Towers.
I don’t really like small rollercoasters; they don’t really do it for me.
I’m the same when it comes to Church.
I don’t think Church was ever designed to be small.
It certainly was not designed to be insignificant, ineffective and one of the best kept secrets.
Here at BCC, we keep returning to the Message translation of Matthew 16:18. It describes a church that is so expansive with energy that even the gates of hell will not be able to keep it out.
The guards at the gates of hell tremble in their boots at the thought of Church as it was originally designed to be. As an unstoppable, indestructible force.
The House of God in Solomon’s day was described as nothing short of ‘Magnificent’; ‘famous and glorious throughout the world’ (1 Chron 22:5.)
The First Church in Acts reported that people were ‘added to’ the church every single day and that these were not just in their ones and twos; these were in their thousands!
Thousands of people were added to their church daily.
Isaiah 54:2 says, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
In the Message, Ephesians 1:23 says, “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
There is nothing ’small’ or ‘insignificant’ about the House described in the above passages.
There is nothing ’small’ about Bethel City Church.
With a rapid-growing, forward-moving and expansive church like BCC, it is important not to get isolated, lost or left behind.
Church is not a building we go to or a service we attend, rather Church is people. People who share their lives with one another.
You were not designed to live your life on your own.
Members of the first Church shared everything they had. They ate together, prayed together and lived together. They continually met together.
Here at BCC we don’t have ’small groups.’
The terminology itself implies restrictions.
BCC has City Life Pods.
Every 2nd and 4th week of each month, the living stones of Bethel City Church gather together in homes, pubs and coffee shops all over the city!
Every month, new pods are launched to accommodate the rapid growth taking place at BCC.
City Life Pods are powerful clusters of Bethel City Church DNA, packed full of passionate people, committed to the house and to one another.
Pods gather together to pray; to eat; to study; to discuss; to read; and to ‘do life’ with one another.
They are a phenomenal way to get connected; to become part of the family; to build relationships; and to get the very best out of BCC and for BCC to get the very best out of you.
This week marks the return of student City Life Pods. Student pods take place right on your doorstep; inside your very own Students’ Union. They are purposely designed for you! You have our full, undivided attention because we actually WANT to get to know you!
I believe student pods are incredibly important. You were not designed to merely ‘attend’ church but to actually ‘be’ the church. Being part of a pod will cause you to make that transition.
A BIG church is not defined by the number of people attending its Sunday services.
A BIG church is defined by the number of people committed to the cause; who carry culture and DNA; and who follow leadership. A BIG church is made up of BIG people who do life with other BIG people, causing each other to become BIGGER.
That’s what City Life Pods are all about.
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Diary Dates;
Staffs City Life Pod:
- Mon 25th Oct; Mon 8th Nov; Mon 22nd Nov; Mon 7th Dec.
Keele City Life Pod:
- Tues 26th Oct; Tues 9th Nov; Tues 23rd Nov; Mon 8th Oct.

