Sunday 7 March 2010
Bobbie Frere | Embarrassing celebrations
2 Samuel 6.11-23: David's undignified celebrations as the Ark of the Covenant is brought back to Jerusalem
In this All Age service Bobbie begins by explaining the background to the story, then we hear part of the reading (which was acted out by the children as the story was told). True worship - both in church and in everyday life - is concerned with what God wants, not with our status, nor what others think. A sketch during the talk illustrates how foolish it is to look down on other churches whose style of worship is different to our own.
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Sunday 28 February 2010
Geoff Lanham | Worship and the body of believers
1 Corinthians 14.26-33, 1 Peter 2.4-10: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God"
The church at Corinth practised what Geoff calls multi-voiced worship, where members participated rather than being consumers. This created some problems, which the apostle Paul sets out to correct in his letter. Christ Church also has a culture of participation, and Geoff suggests some ways in which we can all use our spiritual gifts and so live out our calling as a royal priesthood both in the church and in everyday life.
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Sunday 21 February 2010
Stephanie Hayton | Making the most of Lent
Hebrews 12.1-6: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith"
Matthew 4.1-11: Jesus is tempted in the desert
In times of weakness we tend to act in accordance with our reflexes. After 40 days of fasting Jesus could resist temptation because obedience was embedded within him. God uses tough times to develop our character and deepen godly reflexes. We can learn from the Bible and draw strength from the community of Christians to co-operate with this process.
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Sunday 7 February 2010
Reloaded youth group | All Age service: Forgiveness
Matthew 18.21-35: The parable of the unforgiving servant
Sorry we have no recording this week. Reloaded acted out the Bible reading, where a servant who had been forgiven a huge debt refused to forgive someone else a much smaller debt, and was thrown into prison as a result. Ellen Eagling had a torch that did not light up, and it was found to be full of rubbish. Only when this was removed and a battery put in did it shine. It can be hard to forgive, but the Holy Spirit inside us makes it possible.
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Sunday 31 January 2010
Geoff Lanham | What makes God tired of worship?
Amos 5.11–24, Romans 12: "Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream"
The recording starts with the last few verses of the reading from Amos, where the prophet denounces a form of worship that has become divorced from morality. This is an empty religion that changes neither us nor the world. True worship is linked to how we treat the world outside and is expressed in acts of service.
At one point in the sermon where Geoff referred to the roar of a crowd, the children meeting in the other hall let out a loud shout. This was not picked up by the microphone but the congregation appreciated the perfect timing.
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Sunday 24 January 2010
Rob Bewley,
Associate Vicar of St John's Church, Harborne | Praise and thanksgiving
Psalm 96, Philippians 4.4-9: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Speaking two days after the death of a much-loved member of Christ Church, Rob draws on his own personal experience of bereavement to echo the apostle Paul's advice: Rejoice in (not for) all circumstances. Giving thanks to God - for what he has done throughout history, and in our own lives - leads to rejoicing, and protects us against worry and bitterness.
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Sunday 17 January 2010
Geoff Lanham | The heart of the worshipper
Habakkuk 3.1-19, John 4.19-26: The true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks
Whatever outward style of worship we use, it's what is in our hearts that counts. The passage from Habakkuk describes the prophet's choice to rejoice in God even in the face of disaster and to affirm that God is in ultimate control. Whether things go well or badly, we need to be thankful to God for all he has given us and to allow the Holy Spirit to light a spark within us.
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Sunday 10 January 2010
Geoff Lanham | The priority of worship
Exodus 20.1-6, Mark 12.28-34: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength"
The call to worship God runs throughout the Bible, and worship is part of our make-up, though it is often directed at the wrong things. Geoff gives three good reasons why we should worship God, and says that Christ Church needs to be passionate about worship if we are to fulfil our mission.
The audio clip played at the end was part of the sermon "That's my King!" by Dr S. M. Lockridge.
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Sunday 3 January 2010
Bobbie Frere | Epiphany
Matthew 2.1-20: The Magi visit the infant Jesus
This service contrasted the attitudes of two different people to Jesus. First Bobbie interviewed King Herod (please note that it is extremely rare for visitors to Christ Church to be booed) and then she spoke to one of the Magi. She challenges us not to imitate Herod's self-serving attitude but rather, at the start of a new year, to offer ourselves in humble worship to Jesus. A picture of Rembrandt's Adoration of the Magi was displayed during the talk.
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Sunday 20 December 2009
Geoff Lanham | Evening Carol service
Christmas can be a stressful time, and for many its only lasting effect is debt. The real good news of Christmas is easily overlooked: God slipped into our world almost unnoticed. He identified with the poor and helpless in their daily struggles. He showed that he is a personal God who can give us a new life of freedom and fulfilment. His story can become our story.
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Sunday 13 December 2009
Graham Romp | The song of Zechariah
Luke 1.57–80: The birth of John the Baptist, and Zechariah's song
Zechariah uttered his prophecy after the birth of John the Baptist. It was rooted in the Old Testament, looking forward to the fulfilment of God's promises. Yet this came about in surprising ways, so much so that even John later had his doubts. Graham reminds us that Jesus assures us of his love when we encounter difficulties. Zechariah recognised that a new kingdom was coming, and we can enter into it today.
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Sunday 6 December 2009
David Mole | Strange happening at Nazareth
Luke 1.26–56: An angel announces the birth of Jesus to Mary
We don't "do" angels in our modern world, but in Bible times it was thought more normal, if not usual, to see angels. Even so, Mary was afraid when an angel appeared to her, and shocked at the news that she would have a child, knowing that this brought the risk of shame and even execution. Mary still said yes to God's decision. The life of faith was not easy for her, and we should not expect it to be easy for us.
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Sunday 29 November 2009
Stephanie Hayton | The second coming... am I bothered?
2 Peter 3.8-13 "The elements will be destroyed by fire... but in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth"
The Bible presents two strands of thinking about Jesus' second coming: one about destruction and judgement, and the other about the growth of God's kingdom. His disciples saw both aspects in Jesus during his time on earth, but far more of the second. Seeing God at work in our present lives gives us confidence to trust him for the future. Material things will be destroyed, but our character and relationships we will take into eternity.
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Sunday 22 November 2009
Bobbie Frere | Who’s in, who’s out?
Matthew 25.31-46: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory... he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats"
Who's going to be in the company of Jesus for all eternity? We should not judge others, because only the King knows where each person belongs, but he wants us to know for ourselves where we stand before him. Jesus commends those who show love and compassion to others because their hearts are aligned with God's values, not out of a desire to impress. The Bible makes it clear in other places that we become right with God through faith, but real faith results in obedience to God.
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Sunday 15 November 2009
Geoff Lanham | Sharing faith (part 2)
1 Peter 2.11-12 and 1 Peter 3.10-17: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
Continuing the talk from 2 weeks ago, Geoff encourages us to share our faith by looking for common ground with those we meet, rather than condemning others. People will want to know more if they see Jesus in us. Geoff suggests some ways in which we can promote discussion with those we know. Stephanie Hayton (who was leading the service) adds some further thoughts at the end.
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Sunday 8 November 2009
Allan Bartlam | Remembrance Sunday: Love your enemies
Isaiah 2.1-5: "They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks"
Matthew 5.43-48: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"
Jesus demonstrates the values of the Kingdom of God by coming to make peace with us who were once his enemies. Allan suggests how we should respond to those who arouse our anger.
No MP3 available due to technical failure
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Sunday 1 November 2009
Geoff Lanham | Sharing faith without making (too many) enemies
1 Thessalonians 2.1-12: "We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us"
In the past the gospel message was often presented by aiming to win arguments, but in today's culture people want to be shown by example rather than told what they should believe. Jesus and Paul both worked by building relationships through which they could speak to others.
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Sunday 25 October 2009
Graham Romp | Mission: Where do we fit in?
John 17.6-19
Our mission is to be the continuation of Jesus' mission, going wherever he is working and following his example. Graham uses a personal illustration to explain what it means to be in the world but not of the world - immersed in it but distinct from it.
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Sunday 18 October 2009
Stephanie Hayton | Start of a new kingdom
Mark 1.14-15, Luke 4.14-21
Jesus presented his manifesto, using a Bible passage proclaiming God's favour to declare the values of a new kingdom. He would build a new community where strangers and outcasts would be welcome. (The "Welcome to the Vatican" image referred to can be viewed here.) Stephanie gives some examples of how living in God's kingdom has changed people's lives, and suggests what this might mean for our mission today. The song played near the end of the talk (not on the recording) was I will change your name.
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Sunday 4 October 2009
Bobbie Frere | Harvest: Make life flow
John 4.4-14: Jesus and the woman at the well
Before the talk we watched a short video from Tearfund showing how the building of rainwater tanks in a village in Uganda had removed the need for the women of the village to make dangerous and tiring trips down the mountain to fetch water. Bobbie compares their experience with that of the woman who met Jesus and had her burdens lifted.
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Sunday 27 September 2009
Geoff Lanham | Back to Church Sunday: Desperately seeking people
Luke 15.1-10: The lost sheep and the lost coin
People are uncomfortably like sheep - prone to wander off - but Jesus the Good Shepherd comes looking for us. God is passionate about recovering and restoring what’s been lost and damaged. We remain empty and isolated until we respond to his call.
No MP3 available due to technical failure
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Sunday 20 September 2009
Bobbie Frere | What exactly is salvation?
Romans 8.12-25
The word means being rescued or got out of trouble. Christians sometimes use it to refer to a conversion experience - a past event - but it also means our being changed (present) and hope for the future. Nor is it just something spiritual, since God is concerned with the whole of creation, and wants us to bring salvation to every part of our world. Bobbie quotes Bishop Tom Wright: "We are saved as wholes, not souls".
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Sunday 12 April 2009
Geoff Lanham | Easter Sunday: Reasons to be hopeful
John 20:1-18
A seed has the potential to be all that a real plant should be, but this will never happen until it is planted in the ground. Jesus' resurrection proves that he is who he says he is, and challenges us to take a step of faith in him and come alive like a planted seed.
The recording begins with the reading. The sermon was followed by a video sequence with background music (not included in the recording).
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Sunday 29 March 2009
Geoff Lanham | Confidence in transformation
2 Corinthians 3.12-18, Colossians 1.3-8
Only God can bring about true transformation - and he is at work within us, even if we don't recognise it. Our part is to live a life that is open to God and so create the conditions that allow this to happen.
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Sunday 22 March 2009
Geoff Lanham | Life you've always wanted
John 10.1-18, Isaiah 61.1-7
God knows and values us as individuals, and we have an intuitive ability to hear God's voice. Jesus the Good Shepherd opens the door to a different way of living.
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Wednesday 18 March 2009
Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston | Geoff Lanham's induction service
Mark 3.13-19
The reading (at the start of the recording) tells how Jesus appointed twelve apostles so that they might spend time with him and be sent out into the world. Bishop Andrew reminds us that we are Christians because Jesus chose us - not because of our achievements, but by his appointment. Churches and individuals have to find the right balance between being (spending time with Jesus) and doing (going out into the world).
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