Christ Church Balham Talks

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?

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.

Meditation Service, Good Friday 2025

You can change! Jesus gives gigantic hope and the essential key to how we can bear beautiful fruit in our lives.

In a confusing, uncertain and threatening world, Jesus speaks with crystal clarity - he is the only way to God.

Discover why Jesus is the good shepherd who seeks us and does not abandon us.

Distinctives - Why we believe what we believe that is secondary but important. Why we baptise infants of believers.

Why did Jesus call himself “the gate”? Discover the warning, the challenge and the life-giving invitation of Jesus' words…

Distinctives - Why we believe what we believe that is secondary but important. Why we are not homogenous.

What does Jesus mean when he calls himself “the Light of the world”? A daring and divine claim that is both life-giving and calls for a very serious response.

Guest preacher James Poole (Wycliffe Bible Translators) begins our I AM series - exploring the divine claims of Jesus and the life he gives. As “The Bread of Life”, he is what we need to live, and we access him through his words of life.

Paul brings his letter to a close with a barrage of diverse commands, but all of them relate to the practical mechanics of how we might continue to grow in holiness and hope in the midst of hardship.

How is that Christians can grieve with certain hope? In this passage Paul explains that our eternal future is tied to Christ's death, resurrection and return - which transforms not only how we die, but also how we live.

Distinctives - Why we believe what we believe that is secondary but important. Why we value arts and culture.

How ambitious should we be as Christians with regards to sexual holiness and generosity? By what standard should we measure whether we are sanctified enough? In this passage we see Paul's fatherly heart for the Thessalonians as he encourages them to pursue holiness and love "more and more"

Distinctives - Why we believe what we believe that is secondary but important. Why we embrace spiritual gifts.

If God works when God's people endure suffering through hearing God's word, then what is Satan's counter-work? And how might we counter his counter-work? Through lovingly longing, encouraging and strengthening, and praying.

Distinctives - Why we believe what we believe that is secondary but important. Why we are Sacramental.

When is God at work? In this passage we see how God is powerfully operating in his church, through the preaching of his word, in order that those in Christ would endure suffering with him

The credibility of a message is inevitably tied to the credibility of the messenger. In this passage we learn a great deal about Paul's pattern of ministry, so that we can be effective and Christ-like leaders and messengers of the gospel.

Distinctives - Why we believe what we believe that is secondary but important. Why we have bishops.

What are the most important things to communicate to new Christians who've just begun following Jesus in a hostile city? In lieu of a proper onboarding, Paul writes to the Thessalonians to reassure them of where they are, what is normal, and why they exist.

Distinctives - Why we believe what we believe that is secondary but important. Why are we Anglican?

At this women's breakfast, Katherine speaks from Philippians 2:19-30

For our Co-Mission Sunday this year, Rob Newham, pastor of Becontree Church, speaks on Ezekiel 37 - the Valley of Dry Bones.

Christian Fielder, one of our elders, draws together themes from the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and shows, from the book of Galatians, how it is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus.

Our guest speaker, Yannick Christos-Wahab, from Stockwell Baptist Church, takes us to the book of Revelation, and shows how Christmas reminds us that we have the victory, and have a glorious future to look forward to.

What is the appropriate emotional response to the coming of the King? Joy, sorrow, or both? In this passage, Jesus demonstrates his absolute sovereign control over his mission to win peace between God and man.

What does Jesus want us to do while we wait for his return? This parable is a massive encouragement for us to keep busy with the king's business. Sermon includes a deleted scene!

What sort of people does Jesus want on his team? In this passage Luke completely pulls the rug out from under our feet by demonstrating how Jesus shows mercy to the least likely person! Will we respond like the crowd or like Zacchaeus?

At this women's breakfast, Hannah speaks from Philippians 2:12-18

Why is it that some people 'see' who Jesus is and others don't? Is it just a matter of intelligent investigation? In this passage we are surprised to see that those who really should have seen Jesus do not whereas a man who really should not have seen Jesus does!

Why doesn't God just instantly change me? Why do things take so long? Discover the surprising truth that God highly values process; and it's crucial we know what the goal is.

Should your body be amazing, or is it not really you anyway? Amidst confusing messages from our world, God speaks with clarity about how good our physical bodies are, with huge implications for our lives and worship.

Why do we never have enough time? Part 2 of this series explores how to live wisely within our good, God-given limits in time.

Can our limits be good? In this first of a topical series, Jonny explores the goodness of humility as foundational to our humanity - dependent on God and on people.

"Sell everything you have and give to the poor". This is perhaps Jesus' hardest teaching, so how do we make sense of it without blunting its impact? What is the relationship between wealth and salvation? What claim does Jesus have on our spending habits and use of money?

At this women's breakfast, Beth speaks from Philippians 1:27-2:11

How old do you need to be to enter God's kingdom? This might seem a strange question, but it is one of the areas where Bible believing Christians often disagree. In this passage Jesus not only overturns the prevailing worldview of his day, but also challenges us not to hinder little ones from coming to him.

It has been widely observed by both Christian and secular social commentators that self-righteousness is the human 'default' mode of operation. But why is that? Discover how the way of Jesus transforms not our understanding of how we are saved, but also how we consider ourselves in relation to others.

We live in a broken world where often the ‘little people' suffer at the hands of the more powerful, but Christians in the West are largely untouched and unmoved by such injustices. In this parable Jesus offers both a comfort to those persistently praying for justice, and a challenge for those who are not.

When will God make the world right again? In this passage Jesus warns that many who say that they are longing for the Kingdom of God are actually unprepared. How can we be safe for the day the Son of Man comes?

What is the impact of gratitude upon our spiritual health? As Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem we discover his intent to bring spiritual cleansing and restoration to those who are diseased and at a distance.

David meditates on seeing, hearing and responding to God. We can also know God by knowing the Son who is the radiance of God's glory.

David praises God for rescuing him from his enemies and establishing his kingship. Find out how we too can sing of victory - in Christ.

In this Psalm we'll see how God rescues and delivers those who are righteous in His eyes from their enemies. He is the one who vindicates and rescues!

As we continue our series looking at the Psalms of David, we'll find out how we can find the security of knowing God, and finding refuge in him.

Psalm 15 wonderfully points us to Jesus. In this Psalm we unpack what it would be like to be in God's dwelling place and who gets to go there.