Christ Church Selly Park

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 powe...

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...

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....

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 discipl...

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...

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 w...

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 o...

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...

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 w...

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....

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...

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 hill...

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 wit...

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...

John Lanchbury | Mark 6:30-44   By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. ‘This is a remote place,’ they said, ‘and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.’ But he answered, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘That would take more than half a year’s wa...

Peter Frere | John 1:35-51   The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there...

Ben Green | Matthew 4:18-22 | Matthew 28:18-20   As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. Jesus came to [the disciples] and said, ‘All author...

Dan Parnell | Matthew 2:1-12   After [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented...

Susan Haynes | Isaiah 43:14-21   This is what the Lord says -   he who made a way through the sea,   a path through the mighty waters... ‘Forget the former things;   do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness   and streams in the wasteland.’ We can learn from and be thankful for what God has done in the pa...

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 th...

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...

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 hardshi...

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...

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 se...

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 stil...