Christ Church Selly Park

The good, the bad and the hopeful

Allan Bartlam | Job 29:1-17 | Job 30:9-10, 30:16-23, 31:35-37 

‘How I long for the months gone by,
  for the days when God watched over me,
when his lamp shone on my head
  and by his light I walked through darkness!
Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,
  when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,
when the Almighty was still with me
  and my children were around me.’
...
‘I cry out to you, God,
  but you do not answer;
I stand up,
  but you merely look at me.
You turn on me ruthlessly;
  with the might of your hand you attack me.’
...
‘Oh, that I had someone to hear me!’

Job contrasts the blessedness of his former life - maybe it was not quite as perfect as he remembers it? - with the agony of his present state. As Allan explains, most of us experience a mixture of the two, but we can learn from Job's honesty.

The recording includes the readings from Sarah Trinder and ends with a short reflection from Cathie Bartlam.

Why will God not answer my question?

Ben Green | Proverbs 8:1-11, 22-29 | Job 28 

Does not wisdom call out?
  Does not understanding raise her voice?
...
‘Choose my instruction instead of silver,
  knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
  and nothing you desire can compare with her.’

Where then does wisdom come from?
  Where does understanding dwell?
...
God understands the way to it
  and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth
  and sees everything under the heavens.

After all the rounds of inconclusive debate between Job and his friends, an interlude comes in the form of a poem about the most precious thing anyone could have - wisdom. But what is it, and where is it to be found? As Ben explains, all our searches lead us to Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life.

The recording begins with the readings from Susan Mole.

Is God for me or against me?

Ben Green | Job 19 

‘Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
  for the hand of God has struck me.
Why do you pursue me as God does?
  Will you never get enough of my flesh?’
...
‘I know that my redeemer lives,
  and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
  yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
  with my own eyes – I, and not another.
  How my heart yearns within me!’

Accused by his friends, abandoned by his family, and - as it seems to him - struck by God, all that Job values has been stripped away. All the more astonishing, says Ben, that Job still longs to see God and has faith that one day this will happen. All the more reason for us to believe, who can see something that Job did not: the cross.

The recording begins with the reading from Peter Frere. Earlier in the service, the whole congregation read Psalm 16 as an act of worship.

Among the nations

Allan Bartlam | Revelation 7:9-12 

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’

How is it that the people of God can come from every nation? Only, says Allan, because someone told them about Jesus. The recording begins with the reading from Bobbie Frere, and continues with drama featuring some Bible characters. We also hear from Alison, Phil, John and Elsie who will be spending some time with churches in Bolivia in the coming weeks. Rachel Fasham then lists some practical steps we can take in response to Jesus' call to make disciples of all nations.

We had some problems with our recording equipment this week and the first 20 seconds or so in particular are below the audio standard we aim to achieve.

Do we really long for God?

Bobbie Frere | Job 9:1-24, 32-35 

Then Job replied:

‘Indeed, I know that this is true.
  But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
Though they wished to dispute with him,
  they could not answer him once in a thousand times.
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
  Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? ...
How then can I dispute with him?
  How can I find words to argue with him? ...
Even if I summoned him and he responded,
  I do not believe he would give me a hearing.’

In response to Job's suffering, his 'comforters' hold to their packaged theology while his wife urges him to turn against God. Yet, as Bobbie explains, Job continues to take his complaint to God, believing that he alone has the answers. Where do we turn when we are confronted by suffering and injustice in the world?

The recording begins with the reading from John Davies. In addition to this passage, the sermon is based on the whole of chapters 4 to 27. Also, earlier in the service, the whole congregation read Psalm 84 together.

Who that is innocent has ever perished?

Susan Haynes | Job 15:1-26 

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

‘Would a wise person answer with empty notions
  or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
Would they argue with useless words,
  with speeches that have no value?
But you even undermine piety
  and hinder devotion to God.
Your sin prompts your mouth;
  you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
  your own lips testify against you.’

A debate is in progress, and it's not going well. For reasons completely unknown to him, Job is being subjected to terrible suffering. His three friends have a simple answer: it is because he has sinned, and it must have been something really bad. Yet there are aspects of our broken world that they never even considered. As Susan explains, their judgemental worldview persists into the present day, and can add to people's suffering just as it did to that of Job.

The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones. In addition to this passage, the sermon is based on the whole of chapters 4 to 27. Also, earlier in the service, the whole congregation read Psalm 32 together.

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.