Christ Church Selly Park

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.

Come, walk on water

Allan Bartlam | Matthew 14.22-33 

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.

Even in the daytime, it would have been enough of a shock to the disciples to see Jesus walking across the water towards them. But at night, in a storm... yet Peter's response is that he wants to copy Jesus and walk on the lake too. Allan encourages us to trust Jesus amid the storms of life.

The recording begins with the reading from Trevor Whitehouse, and there is a concluding prayer from Cathie Bartlam.

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

Go, tell what God has done

Graham Romp | Mark 5:1-20 

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

This man was an outsider in every sense: a terror to himself and others, and completely excluded from society. Yet, as the story proceeds, we learn how Jesus saved him from his torment and restored him in the sight of others. As Graham explains, Jesus commands the man to tell his own people what God has done for him. Only we can tell of what God has done for us, and those around us need to hear it.

The recording begins with the reading from Sarah Trinder.

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

Is there hope for the poor?

Judy Ward | James 1:27-2:6 

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Or... suppose the whole congregation is invited to breakfast, and while a wealthy few are given a full meal, most only have toast and a real outsider just a glass of water? Listen to the beginning of the recording to find out. Judy Ward goes on to explain the work of Christians Against Poverty in freeing people trapped in unpayable debt, and challenges us to respond to the needs, often hidden, around us.

The recording also includes an introduction from Jess Green, the reading from Janet Chalmers and a prayer from Rachel Fasham..

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

Come to me and rest

Bobbie Frere | Matthew 11:25-30 

[Jesus said,] ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

Is Jesus promising a life of ease? As Bobbie explains, far from encouraging us to put our feet up, Jesus challenges us to a different way of thinking about ourselves and our lives.

The recording begins with the reading from John Mason.

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