Christ Church Selly Park

A God-given purpose

Allan Bartlam | Nehemiah 1.1 - 3.2 (abridged) 

God's people had been in exile for many years, Jerusalem destroyed, the city gates burned by fire. God called Nehemiah - the butler of the emperor of Persia - to lead his people in rebuilding the walls. Nehemiah's example can help us learn to be faithful to God wherever he has called us.

The recording begins with the reading from John Mason.

Remember me

Dan Parnell | 1 Corinthians 11.23-28 

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

From the earliest days of the church, the celebration of Holy Communion has formed a central part of worship. But why, and what does it mean? Speaking in our All-In service, Dan gives a brief explanation.

The recording begins with the reading from Janet Chalmers.

Encountering God

Ben Green | Acts 1:1-8 

Then they gathered round [Jesus] and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

In their last earthly meeting, the disciples present Jesus with a request which seems completely in keeping with their understanding of God. Yet Jesus counters with a promise which reveals a much greater purpose. When we truly meet with God, whose agenda will we follow? As Ben explains, submitting to God's way - hard though it is - is truly worthwhile.

The recording begins with the reading from Trevor Whitehouse.

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

Creating community

Ben Green | John 13:1-17 

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.

Jesus, who knew he had total authority, took on the work of a slave. How can we acquire and live out such counter-cultural attitudes? As Ben explains, we need to do this not just within the church but in every community that we are part of.

The recording begins with the reading from Kate Routley.

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

Doing evangelism

Chris Turner | John 4.5-10, 15-18, 27-30, 39-42 

 

So [Jesus] came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’

The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.’

He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’

‘I have no husband,’ she replied.

Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.’

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you talking with her?’

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could this be the Messiah?’ They came out of the town and made their way towards him.

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I’ve ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.

They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.’

Chris Turner continues our series "Big Church Little Church" by looking at what evangelism is, why we do it - but most importantly how.  He shares encouraging stories to illustrate how we can share our faith, and offers some practical tips: listen, ask good questions, pray, train and practise sharing the gospel and our personal testimony.

Becoming disciples

Chris Turner | Acts 2:42-47 

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Chris Turner continues our series "Big Church Little Church" by considering how we grow into our identity as disciples (or 'learners') of Jesus, and lay strong foundations in the Word.  He encourages us to work with and alongside one another, and offers some resources to help us.

Those resources are available here and here.

All involved

Ben Green | Mark 10:35-45 

Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

We begin a new series "Big church, little church" by looking at Jesus' example of service. The recording begins with Bobbie leading a brainstorming session to list all the things that happen in Christ Church (and some were missed) - things which only happen because people serve and use their gifts.

Then Ben introduces the new series, and after the reading from Chris Powell, Ben returns to challenge the way we think about gifts and how we discover, value and use them.

Below are some photos of the whiteboard at the end of the brainstorm session.

Receiving the Spirit

Ben Green | Acts 1:4-5,8 | Acts 2:1-21 

[Jesus said], ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

We finish our series "Resurrection People" by celebrating the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to bring the church into being and empower it to live out Jesus' resurrection life. This All Age service tells the story in dramatised form, and Ben Green explains how we can know the Spirit's power each day. 

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

Returning to the Father

John Lanchbury | Acts 1:1-11 | Hebrews 4:14-16 

[Jesus] said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.’

We do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.

The recording begins with a dramatised version of the first reading (performed by Pat Clayton), as one of Jesus' disciples tries to make sense of the recent events - from the Resurrection to the Ascension. Dilys Garrod follows with the second reading, and then John Lanchbury looks at what all this means and the implications for us today. Jesus knows what it is like to be human, to go through our struggles and pain. What should our response be?

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

Restoring work

Susan Haynes | John 21:1-14 | Isaiah 65:17-25 

Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ‘I'm going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We'll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing... [Jesus] said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
    or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
    so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.
They will not labour in vain,
    nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
    they and their descendants with them.

Once again Jesus appears to his disciples after the Resurrection, and this time he turns up at their workplace. Does "secular" work - or related activity such as studying or volunteering - have any value in God's kingdom? Susan Haynes explains what we can learn from this encounter and how work fits in with God's purposes.

The recording begins with the readings from Kate Routley.

An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube. The song Susan refers to at the end of her talk is also available to hear online.