Christ Church Selly Park

Seeing things rightly

Susan Haynes | Ephesians 1:15-23 

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.

What if we could see things as they really are - the fullness of God's love for us, and what he can do through us? Surely, says Susan, the way we view our everyday lives would be transformed. She challenges us to ask God to renew our spiritual vision.

The recording begins with the reading from James Williams.

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

Responding with everything

Peter Frere | Romans 12:1-2 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This week we begin a new series: "Whole life worship". We all know that worship is not just something we do in church on Sundays, but how can we live lives of worship wherever and whenever we are? Peter begins by discussing why we worship, and how it should transform our lives.

The recording begins with the reading from Kate Routley. Peter's talk is followed by a reflective prayer from Janet Chalmers.

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

Is there hope after death?

Ben Green

Easter in emojis: Even though Ben's retelling of the story has a highly visual element, it can still be followed in audio only (follow the YouTube link to be able to see it). Nothing can truly convey the full drama of the first Easter Sunday, as the risen Jesus broke into the lives of his followers, just as he does today.

The recording begins with an Easter greeting led by Bobbie Frere.

A longer video recording of the Sunday service, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

The coming King

Rachel Fasham | Luke 19:28-40 

When [Jesus] came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

What was the atmosphere really like, on that Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem? We get some idea from the dramatic reconstruction in this recording (thank you Explore Service team for putting it all together). Then Rachel goes on to ask whether, as for the crowd in Jerusalem, our expectations of Jesus match up with the reality.

The recording begins with the reading from Janet Chalmers.

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

Go, sell everything

David Silvester | Mark 10:17-31 

Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

This man, often known as the rich young ruler, had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Why did Jesus ask such a high price? David explains what was wrong in this man's life, and encourages us to search our own hearts too.

The recording begins with the reading from Susan Mole.

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

Come like a child

Susan Haynes | Luke 18:15-17 

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’

As so often, Jesus sees things differently. Those who have no status in the world's eyes point the way to the kingdom of God. But what is the difference between being childish and childlike? Susan explains some of the characteristics of children that can bring us all closer to God.

The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones.

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

Is there hope in a pandemic?

Ben Green

During the first few months of 2020 all our lives were profoundly changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, the effects were only temporary, but others lost relatives, businesses, education and more, and continue to live with the consequences. In this recording our resident puppets, Bert and Lucy, reflect on the effect on young people. Then, members of the congregation summarise some of the ways in which the Bible addresses the wider question of suffering, before Ben gives a short talk.

A digital booklet containing all the Bible passages referenced can be downloaded from from our website.

A longer video recording, including music, can be viewed on YouTube.

Go, I am sending you

Ben Green | Luke 10:1-20 

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.’

At least Jesus warned his disciples what they were facing. He went on to instruct them about how to handle acceptance and rejection as they went out to spread the good news about himself. Ben Green explains how these principles apply to us today. The call remains the same: Go and spread the good news about Jesus.

The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton.

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

Andy Robinson on church and culture

To begin a conversation about sexuality and marriage, we invited Andy Robinson (Training Director of Living Out) to speak to us.  In this second of two sessions, he explored how we might as a church live out what the Bible teaches, and also engage with wider culture in this area.

Andy was a pastor for 19 years and now works part-time leading a ministry training course in Oxford alongside working with Living Out. Surprisingly, he enjoys talking personally about issues of sexuality – being able to say that God's grace is sufficient in our weakness. He describes himself as a northerner in exile and still insists that there is no 'r' in the pronunciation of bath.

Andy Robinson on Jesus, the Bible and sexuality

To begin a conversation about sexuality and marriage, we invited Andy Robinson (Training Director of Living Out) to speak to us.  In this first of two sessions, he shared some of his personal story and look at what the Bible has to say about sexuality and marriage.

Andy was a pastor for 19 years and now works part-time leading a ministry training course in Oxford alongside working with Living Out. Surprisingly, he enjoys talking personally about issues of sexuality – being able to say that God's grace is sufficient in our weakness. He describes himself as a northerner in exile and still insists that there is no 'r' in the pronunciation of bath.