Christ Church Selly Park

Live through walking

Bobbie Frere | 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.

Paul points out some things the Christians at Thessalonica were getting wrong in order to point them in the right direction. In this case, some had misunderstood the purpose of work. Is there a model we can follow? Bobbie outlines a framework for all kinds of work - paid or voluntary - based on gospel principles, those by which we should live.

The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones.

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

Conquering in Jesus

Ben Green | 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

What will happen in the future? How will it all end? Paul had taught the Thessalonians directly about these matters, but in his letter he only gives a summary, leaving us with many questions. Ben encourages us to focus on what we do know - that in Jesus we have the ultimate victory, whatever happens now or in the future.

The recording begins with the reading from Trevor Whitehouse.

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

Suffering in faith

Ben Green | 2 Thessalonians 1 

Among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

Paul begins his second letter to a church that continues to suffer severe persecution. Are their hardships a sign of God's disfavour, or that they somehow don't matter? As Ben explains, the true explanation is far more hopeful - indeed, glorious.

The recording begins with the reading from Susan Mole.

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

Living as gospel people

Graham Romp | 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

In all circumstances? Even when the church is suffering severe persecution, as was the case at Thessalonica? Paul ends his letter with some instructions that are timeless but especially ran counter to the culture of his time. As Graham explains, the Christian faith is truly radical.

The recording begins with the reading from Dilys Garrod.

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

Is there hope for peace?

Ben Green | Isaiah 52:7-10 

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    ‘Your God reigns!’

This Remembrance service is introduced by Susan Haynes, then, after the reading from a member of the Brownies, Ben speaks about where real peace can be found. Earlier in the service we had used a set of flags, each representing a nation currently in conflict, as an aid to prayer, and Ben refers to these flags in his talk.

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

Waiting in the light of the gospel

Ben Green | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

When Jesus returns it will be sudden and unexpected, but we can still be ready. Ben explains how, in this in-between time, we can live in the light even while we are surrounded by darkness.

The recording begins with the reading from James Williams.

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

Grieving according to the gospel

John Lanchbury | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

We can have real hope, says John, because our belief is based on the historical facts of Jesus' death and resurrection. Yet we still grieve at the loss of someone close to us, and John explores how we can support each other through such difficult times.

The recording begins with the reading from Kate Routley.

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

Walking by the gospel

Ben Green | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 

Brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more... It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.

Paul has many good things to say about the church at Thessalonica and wants to encourage them to keep becoming more like Jesus. As Ben explains, there have always been areas of life where Christianity will clash with the prevailing culture of the day.

The recording begins with the reading from Trevor Whitehouse.

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

Continuing in the gospel

Susan Haynes | 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 

Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love... Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Surely every church should want to be growing in faith and love, but what does that look like today? Susan involves the congregation in answering that question and encourages us to continue on that journey.

The recording begins with the reading from John Mason.

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

Is there hope for the planet?

Dan Parnell | Leviticus 23:39-43 

‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest... Live in temporary shelters for seven days: all native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so that your descendants will know that I made the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt.’

The short piece of drama which begins the recording also opened the first of our new-style, monthly Explore services. In a short talk Dan Parnell explains why we celebrate God's goodness at harvest time, and also how we can fulfil our call to restore our damaged world.

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