Christ Church Selly Park

Purposes for the workplace

Peter Frere | Ephesians 6:5-10 

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way.

The language of slaves and masters speaks of the cultural gulf that lies between us and the world of Paul's day. Yet, argues Peter, there is much that we can read across into the modern workplace, in our attitudes and the way we treat others.

The recording, which begins with the reading, is an extract from our live Sunday service which was run via Zoom. The video version which also includes songs can be viewed on YouTube.

Purpose for the family

Susan Haynes | Ephesians 5:21​-6:4 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Starting from that basic principle, the apostle Paul goes on to explain how this should work out in family relationships. Taken at face value his words seem jarring to modern ears, but as Susan explains, the relationship between husband and wife and between parent and child arises out of self-sacrifice and a desire to put the other first. The service is introduced by Rachel Fasham and also includes a reading from Chris Powell and prayers from Christ Church members of all ages.

The full video version of this service, including music and much more, can be viewed on YouTube. All the links to the various follow-up activities are on our website.

A new way to live: part 2

Susan Haynes | Ephesians 5:1-20 

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord... Everything exposed by the light becomes visible - and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Starting her talk in darkness, Susan challenges us to actively choose - as individuals and as a church - to live in the light, just as Jesus did. It's not easy, but God has given us what we need to make this possible. 

The service is introduced by Martin Garrod and also includes a reading from Sarah Trinder and prayers from Dan Parnell.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

A new way to live: part 1

Allan Bartlam | Ephesians 4:22-5:2 

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Allan follows up the metaphor of putting off and on the old and new self like a set of clothes. He talks through some of the unwanted habits and lifestyles we should throw out, and the desirable "clothes" that - unlike real ones - cost nothing. The theme will be continued next week.

The recording, which begins with the reading, is an extract from our live Sunday service which was run via Zoom. The video version which also includes the songs can be viewed on YouTube.

Unity, diversity and maturity

Graham Romp | Ephesians 4:1-16 

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

If you find it easy to live with other people, says Graham, you’re not spending enough time with them. The church is built on relationships - with God, and between each other - and although we struggle because we are all different, God's purpose for us can only be fulfilled in community. We hear a practical example in the recording as Joy speaks about her experience of being in a Christ Church home group, currently meeting virtually.

The service is introduced by Janet Chalmers and also includes a reading from Kate Routley and prayers from Cathie Bartlam.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

God's plan for the church

Bobbie Frere | Ephesians 3:1-13 

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It's our privilege, as individuals and as a local church, to be part of God's purposes in the world. Bobbie explores this theme in her talk, and we hear how it works out in practice as Joanne Rose explains her role in the Christ Church Pastoral Care Team. The service is introduced by Peter Frere and also includes a reading from Pat Clayton and prayers from Charlotte Sherlaw-Sturrock.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

Grace breaks down the barriers

John Lanchbury | Ephesians 2:11-22 

Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth... were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

It was the big controversy of Paul's day: how could a Gentile be a true follower of Christ without becoming a Jew first? Since those days we have devised all too many ways of excluding people who do not seem to be like us. Yet Jesus has broken down the barriers, and John Lanchbury explores the implications in this week's service, which is introduced by Susan Haynes and also includes prayers from Cathie Bartlam.

The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service. The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

Gift of grace

Chris Turner | Ephesians 2:4-10 

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. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Without God's help we would be as good as dead, but through his grace we are not only saved but entrusted with his mission. Chris explains what God has done for us and the qualities that he enables us to display to the world. The recording is an extract from our live Sunday service which was held via Zoom.

A video version of this talk, plus the songs used in the service, can be viewed on YouTube.

Challenging prayers

Peter Frere | Ephesians 1:15-23 | Ephesians 3:14-21 

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

These are big prayers, but if - like Paul - we truly believe that the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, everything becomes possible. Peter explains how our outlook can change as we absorb these truths, and as an example, Bobbie Frere interviews Dee to find out about a recent change in her life. The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service, with readings from Sarah Trinder and prayers from Susan Haynes.

The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

Riches in Christ

Graham Romp | Ephesians 1:1-14 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

The words tumble out of Paul as he proceeds to list those spiritual blessings - or as many as he can before running out of breath. Graham reflects on what makes these gifts so valuable, in this, the first of our series on Paul's letter to the Ephesians. The recording is an edited version of our Sunday service, introduced by Dan Parnell with a reading from Matt Fox and prayers from James Howley.

The full video version of the service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.