Christ Church Selly Park

He is not here

Geoff Lanham | Mark 16:1-8 

The three women who arrived at the tomb were utterly shocked to find Jesus' body gone - too afraid, as Mark's account goes on to say, to tell anyone. Over the next few hours, days and weeks that sense of fear and bewilderment would spread to many more people - as would the total conviction that Jesus really was alive. How can we make sense of it today? Geoff challenges us all to think afresh about the Resurrection and what it means for us. The recording starts with a short, separate talk from Geoff which is quite explosive in nature!

As [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don't be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.’

Faith in the fire

Geoff Lanham | 1 Peter 4:12-19 | John 15:18-25 

Fiery ordeal? Sufferings? Hated by the world? This wasn't mentioned in the sales pitch! Yet, if we truly follow Jesus, along with all the countless blessings will come opposition: anything from suspicion and misunderstanding to imprisonment and execution. As Geoff explains, we need perseverance to live by different values and to accept whatever the consequences might be.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

[Jesus said,] ‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.’

What's in your tool box?

Rachel Fasham | Luke 4:1-13 

When times of testing come, what resources have we got to help us to stand against temptation? Speaking in an All-In service, Rachel explains how Jesus stood up to three different kinds of attack. After Rachel spoke we had the opportunity to respond through a range of activities. The recording begins with service leader Chris exposing us all to temptation - with chocolate biscuits!

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.” 

That your faith may not fail

John Lanchbury | Luke 22:24-34 

Simon Peter was about to go through the greatest test of his life, one that would prove that his own strength was not enough to follow Jesus. Yet though he let Jesus down, Jesus did not let go of him but restored him. John explains that if we take the call of God seriously, trials will come, but through it all we are held securely by the love and promises of God.

Discussions questions can be downloaded here.

[Jesus said,] ‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’

Faith to give

Bobbie Frere | 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 

If we were asked to suggest a sign that God is at work, generosity may not be the first thing we would think of. Yet Paul attributes the actions of the Macedonian church to the grace of God. When we start giving beyond our comfort zone it shows what we really value.

Discussion questions can be downloaded here.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Holy expectancy in worship

Geoff Lanham | Acts 4:23-31 | 2 Chronicles 5:1-14 

A few days before Geoff spoke, a tree came down and crashed through a neighbouring fence. What if God broke through into our worship in a similar way? Do we expect to meet with God in worship, and to be changed as a result? Geoff describes some incidents from his own experience, and encourages us to come to worship with expectation.

Discussion questions can be downloaded here.

An unexpected breakthrough

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God... ‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures for ever.’ Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

Faith to wrestle with God

Chris Turner | Genesis 32:22-32 

Jacob clearly does not realise, as this extraordinary wrestling match begins, just who it is that he is fighting. Only afterwards can he say, "I saw God face to face". As Chris explains, Jacob, the cheat who has been on the run for so long, also has to confront his true self. When God gets a hold of us to change us, the outcome will be painful, but it will be worth it.

Discussion questions can be downloaded here.

Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’

Things that seem impossible...

Susan Haynes | Luke 18:18-30 | Matthew 7:13-14 

One of Jesus' best-known sayings is also one of the most puzzling: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." As Susan explains in this All Age service, all of us are weighed down by things which make it hard to truly follow Jesus - money, fears, ambition and many more. She draws on her own (limited) camel-riding experience to encourage us to allow Jesus to do what we cannot do for ourselves.

A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ... Jesus... said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.

[Jesus said,] ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’

Faith that doesn't limit God

Chris Turner | Genesis 17:15-27 

Sometimes, in the face of pain and disappointment, it's easier to laugh than cry. Here it was again: another repeat of the promise, first made many years before, that Abraham and Sarah would have a son who would be the father of many nations. As Chris explains, it's hard to keep going when there is no sign of a promise being fulfilled. Yet God kept faith with them despite their disbelief, and turned it into joy as a hope and example for us.

Discussion questions can be downloaded here.

God also said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’ Abraham fell face down; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’

By faith in the name of Jesus

Geoff Lanham | Acts 3:1-16 

Day after day the lame man lay begging outside the Temple gate. We don't know how many times Peter and James had passed by without noticing him, but on this particular day he got their attention. Just as Jesus healed people during his earthly ministry, so his healing power was exercised through his followers - and it still is today, says Geoff. Healing often takes the form of receiving the grace to cope with disease and death, yet sometimes apparently impossible physical healing does occur. Will we be bold enough to pray for healing, and to notice and respond to the needs of those around us?

Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk.