Christ Church Selly Park

Jesus is… A teaching, healing, wandering Rabbi

Susan Haynes | Mark 1:14-34 

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.

As Susan points out, the whole reading contains 6 events of note in just 20 verses. In his ministry Jesus proclaimed the coming of his kingdom not just through words but dramatic actions. Jesus shows us, in vivid terms, what it means for heaven to break into our world.

The recording begins with the reading from John Davies.

Sending out disciples

Susan Haynes | Matthew 28:16-20 

Jesus came to [the eleven disciples] and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

The Great Commission, as it has become known, is perhaps the hardest task anyone has ever been set. Yet Susan has several stories of people who, in various times and places, have gone to others and brought them a little closer to following Jesus. The best news is that we don't have to do this alone: Jesus himself is with us, at work in us and those we meet.

The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones.

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

Growing as disciples

Allan Bartlam | Ephesians 4:11-16 | Colossians 2:6-7 

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

As humans, we start life as babies and grow up through childhood and become adults more or less automatically. As Allan explains, spiritual growth as Christians takes a bit more effort. He describes some of the steps we can take to halp make it happen, even as God works within us as we remain rooted in Christ.

The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton.

An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube. This includes the photos Allan refers to in his talk.

Making new disciples

Ben Green | Matthew 28.16-20 

Jesus came to [the eleven disciples] and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

The first part of the Christ Church mission statement is "making disciples", following the command that Jesus gave to the apostles. And, says Ben, it is one of the hardest things for us to do. He explains what it means to "make" or become a disciple, why we should do it and some principles to follow as we go about it.

The recording begins with a short introduction from Ben, and continues with the reading from Susan Haynes.

An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube. You might also want to watch the video recording from the previous Sunday, when the Disciples of Jesus series was introduced. Most of the service material was visual and can't be presented in this podcast.

The journey on

John Lanchbury | 2 Kings 6:15-17 | Matthew 28:16-20 

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don't be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all round Elisha.

To human eyes, there seemed no way out for Elisha and his servant: a city besieged. Although we too may face hard battles, the reality is that God is with us through every trial. And Jesus promises to be with us as we carry out the Great Commission: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’ John reminds us that we don't carry out this task as individuals, but as part of a worldwide body of believers. Each of us has our part to play, at the right time and place.

The recording begins with the readings from James Williams.

An edited video recording of the Sunday service (which contains some material that can't be included in the audio) can be viewed on YouTube.

Messenger of the gospel

Graham Romp | 1 Peter 3:15-16 

In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

The sixth 'M' in our series Fruitfulness on the front line is different from all the others, says Graham. The world as a whole does not value proclaiming the gospel, and it is also something that most of us find especially difficult. Graham explains how we can make personal evangelism part of our everyday fruitful lives rather than an ill-fitting extra.

The recording begins with the reading from Dave Lucking.

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

Mouthpiece for truth and justice

Chris Turner | 2 Samuel 12:1-13 

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’

Very few of us will ever find ourselves in the same situation as the prophet Nathan, who at God's command confronted the king and denounced him as a murderer. Yet, says Chris, all of us have a part to play in standing up for justice and truth in a world that often does not want to hear this message. God give us the wisdom to know when and how to speak, as he did to Nathan.

The recording begins with Bobbie Frere reading a message received from Kenya following her recent vist, with Peter, to our partners there. Then John Davies continues with the reading. After Chris' talk Susan Haynes concludes with a time of prayer. 

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

Moulding culture

Nigel Hand | Matthew 5:13-16 

[Jesus said,] ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.’

‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’

Our former vicar Nigel returns with a powerful challenge to be not just admirers of Jesus, but disciples. In our everyday lives and more widely, Jesus calls us to live according to his teaching and to be distinct from the world while still being in it.

The recording begins with the reading from Alison Cooper and ends with a prayer from Bobbie Frere.

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

Give thanks

Dan Parnell | Deuteronomy 8:7-18 

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

For those of us who get our food from cans, packets and takeaways it is all too easy to forget that God is the ultimate source of all that we have to eat and enjoy. Through the reading, drama and Dan Parnell's talk we were reminded in this Explore service to get the right perspective and to give thanks to God.

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

Ministering grace and love

Susan Haynes | Luke 10:25-37 

Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.’

As the story proceeds, we learn that the Samaritan - a member of a race traditionally hated by the Jews - tends the man's wounds and then goes to extra lengths to ensure that he is cared for. This would have shocked Jesus' listeners, but as Susan explains, the challenge is for all of us to display relentless kindness even to those we don't get on with. Small acts can make a big difference.

The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton.

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