Christ Church Balham Talks

We live in an unjust and cruel world, where evil is often seen to prevail over good. Where is God in this? As we consider the ‘Problem of Evil', this passage may not give a complete answer, but it does give us the beginning of an answer. NOTES: Trial 1: Jewish Council - prejudiced but powerless (vv63-71) Trial 2: Pilate - savvy but spineless (vv1-7) Trial 3: Herod - curious but callous (vv8-12) Trial 4: Crowd - cruel and capricious (vv13-25) What does this passage reveal about... ...us? ...Jesus? ...God's plan?

What is it that motivates our hearts to deny Jesus? What is it that motivates Jesus' heart to embrace us? In this passage we are given remarkable insight into the mind of our Saviour, who took on human flesh for us and our salvation

At a time when more and more young people are considering following Jesus, fewer and fewer are entering into full-time paid ministry. In this passage Jesus lays out to the future leaders of his church his expectations for ministry and well as correcting our motivations.

At this Women's Breakfast, Jo talks about Money in our Money, Sex, Power series. Passages: 1. Proverbs 31:10-31 2.⁠ ⁠1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 3.⁠ ⁠1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 Discussion question: 1.⁠ ⁠USE YOUR MONEY FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD – Proverbs 31:10-31 •⁠ ⁠What is our natural reaction to thinking about money and finances? •⁠ ⁠Is there anything that surprised us in this passage? •⁠ ⁠What impact do you think fearing the Lord has no the woman in this passage? 2.⁠ ⁠USE YOUR MONEY FOR OTHERS – 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 •⁠ ⁠Where do you most see/ feel the pull to pursue more money and more stuff? •⁠ ⁠What most helps you to pursue contentment? •⁠ ⁠Can you remember a time when a Christian friend shared something with you? 3.⁠ ⁠USE YOUR MONEY FOR THE GOSPEL – 1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 •⁠ ⁠Who is someone you love, who you share life with, and would love to see come to know Jesus? •⁠ ⁠What is something they love, or that you love to do together? •⁠ ⁠Pray for them together.

What are Christians supposed to be thinking or feeling as we come to the Lord's Table for communion? As Luke narrates Jesus' last supper before his death we are encouraged to look forward to his return, look back to the cross, look around at our new family, and look within to check we come with repentance. The Lord's Sell-out (v1-6) The Lord's Sovereignty (v7-13) The Lord's Supper (v14-23) Look around Look forward Look back Look within

What is the hope for the diverse people of God in the midst of suffering? In this passage we see the hope of the nations. That God will save His people, and that His church is a diverse body of all then nations that will praise Jesus forever. 1) God will seal his servants v.1-3 2) God will save the Nations v. 4-12 3) God will comfort his people v. 13-17

How can people from totally different backgrounds truly live together in unity? In Colossians 3:11–15 Paul shows us how the gospel gives us a new shared identity in Christ which reshapes the way we treat one another. Unity in our diversity, Christ is all in all! 1.⁠ ⁠Christ brings Unity (v.11) 2.⁠ ⁠⁠Unity brings Love (v.12-14) 3.⁠ ⁠⁠We are One Body in Christ (v.15)

Why is it that Christians can be so easily drawn into hedonism, escapism or activism? In this passage Jesus tells us how we should live while we wait for his return, and how knowing about the events of AD70 can help us

Why should we bother contuining in costly discipleship when we feel our best efforts are but a drop in the ocean? In this passage Jesus both comforts those who feel unseen and undervalued, as well as challenging us to give in the same way that he gave for us.

In so many walks of life it is easy to allow ourselves to be distracted by what is irrelevant and so miss out on what is vital. In this passage Jesus warns us that not all those who would seek to lead and teach us are exhibiting faithful ministry.

We now live in a culture highly cynical of anyone in authority over us, but how should Christians be different? In this civilisation-transforming passage Jesus establishes how we should relate to rulers of this world, whilst living as citizens of the kingdom of God.

Why do people so often mistake Jesus' good news for bad news? In this section of Luke's gospel Jesus comes to Jerusalem to bring salvation and yet is roundly rejected by the religious leaders. Their reasons for doing so may reveal something of our own hearts and our need for forgiveness.

Visiting speaker, Matt Fuller, preaches on the power of prayer and how nothing we ask for is too big for our God as we ask in Jesus' name.

How has Jesus coming to earth as a baby at Christmas changed the world, and how should we respond? The book of Hebrews gives us four reasons to worship the incarnate Lord, and spur us on to be more like him in a new year.

How is it that the Christmas story meets our deepest needs? In this sermon we see how the prophet Micah foretold the world-changing birth of Jesus more than seven hundred years before it happened. How should we respond?

Come and find the gift of Christmas. We can't find the words to describe God's love for us, but we can see it made manifest in His gift for us. In John's letter he reminds that because of God's great love for us He send us his Son Jesus, so that we find life in him and truly love others.

What questions do we need answered before we will joyfully and willingly give generously to the needs of the church? In this passage Paul removes a number of stones from the soil so that the church might turn the gospel planted in them into an abundant crop of righteousness.

God created sexual desire on purpose. Its good. But what IS God's design for sex? But what does that mean if you are single? Or if even if you are married? OR if abuse in your background has brought suffering? Find out about God's design for us as sexual beings and his purpose in making us this way! It's a good thing, it's a God thing and Christian women need to start talking about it much more openly.

Money is power, and who would willingly relinquish power!? The beauty of the Christian message is that it motivates us to be generous, not through guilt or fear, but by God's grace overflowing from Jesus Christ.

When the church has become compromised or contaminated by the world, what will it take for our hearts to actually desire to repent? In these chapters Paul makes a passionate appeal for the Corinthians to repent whilst at the same time convincing them that he is absolutely for them.

Being a public follower of Jesus is undoubtedly hazardous, so we need to know: is it worth the risk? In this passage Paul persuades that it is worth sticking with his gospel, because in Christ we are given a new start and a new job.

This week we see God's power in human weakness. In Samson we see the danger of sinful habits, but more so the grace of God. Come and see how Samson, the weak saviour, points us to the true and better saviour, Jesus.

What kind of saviour do we need? In today's passage we see that Samson is the hero we deserve, he is just like us, but not the one we need. We need a saviour who is pure and fights for his people out of love rather than revenge.

Who will deliver us from the cycle of idolatry and oppression in our lives? In Judges 13 we see that Israel, and us, are trapped in a cycle of misery that is of our own making. But God moves in grace to send us a deliverer. We need a God-sent deliverer who can deliver us once and for all.

If Christians are a living advert for Jesus' kingdom, do our various weaknesses and failings help or hinder? In this beautiful passage Paul maps his ministry onto the pattern established by Jesus - he does not work despite our weaknesses, he works through them.

Many of us find the prospect of sharing Jesus with others difficult, especially when we experience mixed results. What will keep us from either losing heart or changing our message so that it is more palatable? In this passage we learn from Paul what keeps him from losing heart and giving up altogether.

Is our good news really that glorious if it keeps getting mixed reviews from those we share it with? In this passage Paul responds to accusations that his gospel lacks glory by showing how it differs from the merit-based ‘gospel' being pedalled by the super-apostles in Corinth.

At this women's breakfast, Lydia speaks from Philippians 4:10-23

Sharing the good news of Jesus with others can be a daunting prospect, so what qualifies us for this ministry? In this passage we are encouraged to see that the same gospel which saves us is the same one which equips us to herald Christ to the world around us.

With Paul's relationship to the Corinthian church under threat, how can he convince them (and us) of the biblical pattern of ministry? Why is integrity so important to leadership?

What does an authentic Christian life look like in a world marked by weakness and struggle? How can we experience God's comfort in our own trials and then extend that comfort to others? Discover how true gospel living reflects God's heart—bringing encouragement, endurance, and hope to those in need.

What does a profitable ministry look like? How can we ensure that our lives as individual Christians are productive? Titus 3 holds the answer…

At this special Ordination service Tim Davies guides us through Acts as the early church encounters problems as it grows and decides its priorities based on Jesus' principles.

Join us as we explore Psalm 5 in our summer series looking through the Psalms.

Join us as we explore Psalm 4 in our summer series looking through the Psalms.

Join us as we continue our summer sermon series of Psalms.

Join us as we continue our summer sermon series of Psalms.

Join us for the first in our summer sermon series of Psalms.

At this women's breakfast, Jules speaks from Philippians 4:2-9

Many of us go through life desperate to win people's approval, whether our parents, our bosses, or a significant other. But how can we know if we have God's approval? In this passage we are shown where we should look and where we should not look for certainty.

The New Testament teaches that in Christ we are a new creation, but in this passage we see why it is so necessary for demolition to precede construction. For God to build up, he must first tear down.

How can we be made eternally safe? Noah's ark is often dismissed as just being only for children, but the message is profound. In anticipation of Jesus Christ, here we see a righteous redeemer building a safe sanctuary in order to redeem creation from corruption.

If dying is simply a natural biological process (as some argue), then why does it just feel so wrong? In this very strange passage we see not only what causes death, but also where living hope can be found.

What actually IS rest?? Jesus answers the question - with masses of grace and lots of surprise too. Discover the vital role that believers play in helping each other experience this rest.

How restful is your home? Discover why that is a biblical question, and how we haven't yet arrived in the ultimate place of rest.

How much does God care about rest? And how can we find rest in a restless and busy world?

How do we make sense of our world, which is so full of beauty and joy, and also much pain and heartache? Genesis 4 is our first glimpse of life outside Eden and as such it contains so much explanatory power as we continue our search for the promised serpent crusher.

How have we lost Eden? How can we start again?

At this women's breakfast, Rosy speaks from Philippians 3:12-4:1

What was humanity created for? In Genesis 2 we discover that Adam's story is a microcosm of Israel's story. But where Adam, Israel, and we have failed, Jesus Christ succeeded. We root our purpose in him.

As a result of being encouraged to manufacture our own meaning and purpose in life, we live in a confused and anxious culture. It is liberating to see how Genesis 1 shows us the Creator who gives us a clear identity, ethics and purpose in life.