Christ Church Selly Park

Building carefully

Ben Green | 1 Corinthians 3.1-23 

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.

The church has only one true foundation, says Paul, but there is more than one way of building on it - and only some will survive. In his talk Ben explains some of the metaphors Paul uses to describe the church, and considers how we might build that church that will last and become what God intends it to be.

The recording begins with the reading from Kate Routley.

A fuller video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

All-In Service: Harvest 2021

Rachel Fasham | Joel 2:21-27 

Do not be afraid, land of Judah;
be glad and rejoice.
Surely the Lord has done great things!
Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.
The trees are bearing their fruit;
the fig-tree and the vine yield their riches.
Be glad, people of Zion,
rejoice in the Lord your God.

Do not be afraid... yet now, just as when the prophet Joel spoke those words, the created world is in a mess. Speaking in this All-In service, Rachel encourages us to remember God's promises and to play our part in fulfilling his purposes.

A fuller video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Seeing spiritually

Ben Green | 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

So far in this series we have thought about the benefits God has freely given us, and that are open to anyone who wants to receive them. But how can we understand what the gospel is, and grow in our new identity day by day? Ben speaks about true spirituality that enables us to see the truth about God and ourselves.

The recording begins with the reading from Dilys Garrod and ends with a short prayer of response from Susan Haynes.

A fuller video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Believing foolishly

Ben Green | 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

If the heart of your gospel is an instrument of execution, you are never really going to fit into the culture of your day, least of all in an age that glorifies style and strength. Yet, says Ben, the cross in all its weakness is the key to eternal life - a life that is truly open to all.

Before Ben speaks, the recording begins with the reading from Susan Mole.

A full video recording of the Sunday service (with some edits) can be viewed on YouTube.

Waiting eagerly

Ben Green | 1 Corinthians 1:1-17 

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way - with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge - God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

You wouldn't guess it from these words, but the church at Corinth was in trouble. It was divided, disorderly and had lost sight of the things that really matter. Yet, says Ben, they belonged to Jesus and enjoyed all the benefits if only they chose to take hold of them - just like us.

This is the first in a new series "Seeing the Son" which, over the next few weeks, will take us through the first 4 chapters of 1 Corinthians. The recording begins with Ben introducing the series, then after the reading from Alison Cooper he preaches the first sermon in the series.

A full video recording of the Sunday service (with slight edits) can be viewed on YouTube.

Bigger barns

Ben Green | Luke 12:13-21 

Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’

Jesus went on to tell a story of a rich man who decided to build bigger barns in which to save for himself his vast stores of grain - but he did not live to enjoy his wealth. Ben challenges us: where do true riches lie? What should our life priorities be?

The recording is an edited version of our All Age Sunday service. It is introduced by Rachel Fasham and includes prayers from Phil Ennis.  A longer video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

The shrewd manager

Graham Romp | Luke 16:1-12 

[Jesus said,] 'The manager said to himself, "What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg - I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses." So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, "How much do you owe my master?" "Three thousand litres of olive oil," he replied. The manager told him, "Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifteen hundred." ... The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly... I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.'

The manager is sacked for dishonesty, and then proceeds to swindle his employer even more in order to secure his own future. Surely, Jesus' hearers will be thinking, this man will be thrown into prison? But like so many of Jesus' stories, this one has a surprise twist. Graham explains the lessons we can apply to our own lives (and acting dishonestly is not one of them).

The recording comes from a voice recorder rather than (as we prefer) our microphones so there is some traffic noise, and also some additional sounds contributed by a very young but contented member of the congregation.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Susan Haynes with a reading by John Mason, and before that, Elsie Lanchbury interviews Adrian Jones about his experience of joining a Christ Church home group.

The wheat and the weeds

Peter Frere | Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43 

Jesus told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed ears, then the weeds also appeared.... The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” “No,” he answered, “because while you are pulling up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: first collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”’

Jesus goes on to explain the meaning of the parable to his disciples. As Peter explains, it's a parable that speaks of God's patience and desire to save as many people as possible, but also of coming judgement. How should we respond to this story?

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Bobbie Frere with a reading by Kate Routley.

For copyright reasons we can't include the music in the recording, but this was the first service since the pandemic started when we have been able to have live music and sing together as a congregation.

The fig tree that hasn’t fruited... yet

Susan Haynes | Luke 13:6-9 

[Jesus] told this parable: 'A man had a fig-tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, "For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?" '"Sir," the man replied, "leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig round it and fertilise it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down."'

It sounds like a warning, but it's also an encouragement. The fig tree is given more time and care in order to have the opportunity to bear fruit as was intended for it. Susan points the way for us to be fruitful in bringing glory to God in our lives.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It is introduced by Ben Green, with a reading by Chris Powell and prayers from Bobbie Frere.

For copyright reasons we can't include the music in the recording. The opening song, "Let our praise be your welcome", was also used in the service held on 31 January 2021 and the closing song, "In Christ alone", was used in the service held on 20 June 2021 (the links are to YouTube videos). Also from YouTube is Dream Small by Josh Wilson.

Ready... but for what?

Ben Green | Deuteronomy 31:7-8 

Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’

As Ben speaks on the Sunday after taking up his post as vicar of Christ Church, we have much in common with the people of Israel, heading into an unknown future with a new leader. Ben points us to Moses' words of encouragement and how we should respond over the coming weeks and months.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. It begins with an interview with Ben and his wife Jess, conducted by Rachel Fasham, and includes a reading by Susan Mole and closing prayer from Graham Romp.  A longer video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.