Christ Church Selly Park

Truth & Love | Vicar Writes (#2)

Truth & Love

It's hard to keep going as a Christian, isn't it?  Often we don't talk about our challenges, which can make us feel as though we are the only ones struggling.  But we aren't!  It's not easy living as a Christian, and never has been.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Chaos | Vicar Writes (#1)

Chaos

In our church Bible reading plan last week, some of us were reading the end of Daniel.  The first half is familiar to many of us – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace, Daniel in the lion’s den – but the second half gets a little… crazy.

Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Jesus is... the misunderstood Messiah

Ben Green | Mark 8:1-21 

The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.’ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Jesus refuses to meet the Pharisees on their terms, yet, as Ben explains, he has just revealed his true nature by feeding several thousand Gentiles - something the Pharisees would never have contemplated. Even Jesus' disciples struggled to gain a true understanding of who he was. Will we, who have the benefit of the New Testament and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, make the effort to find out?

The recording begins with the reading from Alison Cooper.

Jesus is... the one who does everything well

Ben Green | Mark 7.24-37

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.  In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.  The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’ ‘Lord,’ she replied, ‘even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Looking for some rest in Tyre, Jesus is found by a woman with a demon-possessed daughter, and then is begged to heal a man who is deaf and mute.  He helped them - can we trust him to do the same today?

Jesus is... the lawyer

John Lanchbury | Mark 7:1-23 

[Jesus] continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, “Honour your father and mother,” and, “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) - then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’

Jesus' argument with the Pharisees, who believed that serving God was a matter of strict observance of rules, carries a warning for us today, says John. We too can put our own rules and customs before a heart obedience to God. John explains how to avoid falling into the same trap as the Pharisees.

The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton.

Jesus is... the miracle worker

Graham Romp | Mark 6:45-56 

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and [Jesus] was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.

Jesus himself had sent the disciples across the lake, but as the wind and waves grew, so did their fears. As Graham explains, they did not realise that Jesus was watching them and would come to their rescue. His actions reveal who he is and something of what God is like.

The recording begins with the reading from John Davies.

Jesus is... the compassionate shepherd

Bobbie Frere | Mark 6:30-44 

They went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognised them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

What does it mean to have compassion? As the story proceeds, Jesus' disciples become concerned about the welfare of the thousands who have come to hear him. As Bobbie explains, true compassion involves taking action - and Jesus shows it by meeting their physical as well as spiritual needs.

The recording begins with the reading from Dave Lucking.

Jesus is... John the Baptist, Elijah or a prophet?

Allan Bartlam | Mark 6:14-29 

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah.’ And still others claimed, ‘He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.’ But when Herod heard this, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!’

The story that follows describes how Herod, intrigued by God's message but unwilling to follow it, was eventually forced into making a choice - the wrong one. As Allan explains, people respond in many different ways to the question we are addressing in this series: who is Jesus? It's not enough just to believe in him: we need to live out our faith in him every day.

The recording begins with the reading from Susan Mole.

Jesus is... the one who sends

Susan Haynes and Sam Haynes | Mark 6:7-13 

Calling the Twelve to him, [Jesus] began to send them out two by two... ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed with oil many people who were ill and healed them.

The recording contains extracts from an Explore service, beginning with the reading from Peter Frere and a short explanation from Susan. Later, Dan Parnell and Sam Haynes - together with members of the congregation - discuss how we can live out Jesus' instructions today.

An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Jesus is... the stumbling stone

Nigel Hand | Mark 6:1-6 

Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him.

As Nigel Hand explains, people today still take offence at Jesus. His message runs counter to many aspects of our culture and challenges the way we think of ourselves. It is hard to accept his teaching, but it is the way to life.

The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones.