Christ Church Selly Park

It's only the context of eternity that the chaos and suffering we experience are bearable. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Sending disciples is not about us sending people to other countries - but each other into all the places we go during the week. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Growing disciples means serving God our Father - and as we serve him, serving one another as well. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Making disciples means sharing Jesus in word and dead, with confidence and grace. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Disciples are apprentices of Jesus: worshipping him, serving him, bearing witness to him. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

God wants to transform us from the inside out - he does the inside bit, we join in with the outside bit. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

God's kingdom is here now - he rules, he reigns on high - so why do we pray 'Your kingdom come?' Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

We honour God because he deserves it, joining in with cosmic worship and making Jesus Lord in every area of our life. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Dealing with sin What's the right attitude to sin? How do we take it seriously without giving in to guilt? Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Ruth Let's give thanks for God's loyal love in action, shown us in Jesus, through which we become his children. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Daniel Are we brave enough to be more Christian, not less, in a hostile world? Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

By My Spirit It's hard to trust God in things that we really care about: but he tells us to act not by might nor by power, but by his Spirit. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Advent: Hope Christian hope is not a vague wish or a positive emotion, but confidence and trust in the God who fulfils all his promises. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Advent: Suffering What does God say when we ask him, 'Why?'  He doesn't respond with an essay, but with a story - a true story - of God become a Man. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Advent: Patience Do you find being patient hard?  Paul links patience with hope and faithfulness in prayer, which can help us grow in patience. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Advent: Anticipation Do you like surprises, or do you prefer to know what's coming so you can look forward to it? Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

In Christ What are you 'in' today?  Your home?  Your car?  Your uniform?  Love?  A bad mood?  Whatever you are in - true meaning and fulfilment can only be found 'in Christ'. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Truth & Love It's hard to keep going as a Christian, isn't it?  Often we don't talk about our challenges, which can make us feel as though we are the only ones struggling.  But we aren't!  It's not easy living as a Christian, and never has been. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Chaos In our church Bible reading plan last week, some of us were reading the end of Daniel.  The first half is familiar to many of us – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace, Daniel in the lion's den – but the second half gets a little… crazy. Music by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay

Ben Green | Mark 8:1-21  The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.' Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. Jesus refuses to meet the Pharisees on their terms, yet, as Ben explains, he has just revealed his true nature by feeding several thousand Gentiles - something the Pharisees would never have contemplated. Even Jesus' disciples struggled to gain a true understanding of who he was. Will we, who have the benefit of the New Testament and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, make the effort to find out? The recording begins with the reading from Alison Cooper.

Ben Green | Mark 7.24-37 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.  In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.  The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ‘First let the children eat all they want,' he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.' ‘Lord,' she replied, ‘even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.' Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.' She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Looking for some rest in Tyre, Jesus is found by a woman with a demon-possessed daughter, and then is begged to heal a man who is deaf and mute.  He helped them - can we trust him to do the same today?

John Lanchbury | Mark 7:1-23  [Jesus] continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, “Honour your father and mother,” and, “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) - then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.' Jesus' argument with the Pharisees, who believed that serving God was a matter of strict observance of rules, carries a warning for us today, says John. We too can put our own rules and customs before a heart obedience to God. John explains how to avoid falling into the same trap as the Pharisees. The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton.

Graham Romp | Mark 6:45-56  Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and [Jesus] was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. Jesus himself had sent the disciples across the lake, but as the wind and waves grew, so did their fears. As Graham explains, they did not realise that Jesus was watching them and would come to their rescue. His actions reveal who he is and something of what God is like. The recording begins with the reading from John Davies.

Bobbie Frere | Mark 6:30-44  They went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognised them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. What does it mean to have compassion? As the story proceeds, Jesus' disciples become concerned about the welfare of the thousands who have come to hear him. As Bobbie explains, true compassion involves taking action - and Jesus shows it by meeting their physical as well as spiritual needs. The recording begins with the reading from Dave Lucking.

Allan Bartlam | Mark 6:14-29  King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.' Others said, ‘He is Elijah.' And still others claimed, ‘He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.' But when Herod heard this, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!' The story that follows describes how Herod, intrigued by God's message but unwilling to follow it, was eventually forced into making a choice - the wrong one. As Allan explains, people respond in many different ways to the question we are addressing in this series: who is Jesus? It's not enough just to believe in him: we need to live out our faith in him every day. The recording begins with the reading from Susan Mole.

Susan Haynes and Sam Haynes | Mark 6:7-13  Calling the Twelve to him, [Jesus] began to send them out two by two... ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.' They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed with oil many people who were ill and healed them. The recording contains extracts from an Explore service, beginning with the reading from Peter Frere and a short explanation from Susan. Later, Dan Parnell and Sam Haynes - together with members of the congregation - discuss how we can live out Jesus' instructions today. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Nigel Hand | Mark 6:1-6  Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things?' they asked. ‘What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?' And they took offence at him. As Nigel Hand explains, Jesus' teaching when fully put into practice is bound to cause offence, since it runs counter to many of the values (which change over time) of the world. The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones.

Susan Haynes | Mark 5:21-43  A large crowd followed and pressed around [Jesus]. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. In this passage we learn of two examples of Jesus' power to heal, and even to raise people from death - and also of his compassion for those who are in desperate need. Yet we know that most people in need are not healed. As Susan explores this topic, she tells us about an extraordinary example of miraculous healing in her own family. We look forward to the day when all of creation will be restored and there will be no more grief, suffering or pain. The recording begins with the reading from Janet Chalmers.

Bobbie Frere | Mark 1:35-45  Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!' Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.' So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Far from seeking fame, it actually hindered Jesus' ministry. Despite Jesus' command, a man he heals is unable to keep quiet about it, and his failure to obey just makes things more difficult for Jesus. Bobbie encourages us to put Jesus first in everything, even if this goes against our natural desires and preferences. The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Susan Haynes | Mark 1:14-34  This recording was made via Zoom with limited audio quality. We hope to replace it with a better quality recording soon.

Susan Haynes | Matthew 28:16-20  Jesus came to [the eleven disciples] and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' The Great Commission, as it has become known, is perhaps the hardest task anyone has ever been set. Yet Susan has several stories of people who, in various times and places, have gone to others and brought them a little closer to following Jesus. The best news is that we don't have to do this alone: Jesus himself is with us, at work in us and those we meet. The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Allan Bartlam | Ephesians 4:11-16 | Colossians 2:6-7  Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. As humans, we start life as babies and grow up through childhood and become adults more or less automatically. As Allan explains, spiritual growth as Christians takes a bit more effort. He describes some of the steps we can take to halp make it happen, even as God works within us as we remain rooted in Christ. The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube. This includes the photos Allan refers to in his talk.

Ben Green | Matthew 28.16-20  Jesus came to [the eleven disciples] and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' The first part of the Christ Church mission statement is "making disciples", following the command that Jesus gave to the apostles. And, says Ben, it is one of the hardest things for us to do. He explains what it means to "make" or become a disciple, why we should do it and some principles to follow as we go about it. The recording begins with a short introduction from Ben, and continues with the reading from Susan Haynes. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube. You might also want to watch the video recording from the previous Sunday, when the Disciples of Jesus series was introduced. Most of the service material was visual and can't be presented in this podcast.

John Lanchbury | 2 Kings 6:15-17 | Matthew 28:16-20  When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?' the servant asked. ‘Don't be afraid,' the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all round Elisha. To human eyes, there seemed no way out for Elisha and his servant: a city besieged. Although we too may face hard battles, the reality is that God is with us through every trial. And Jesus promises to be with us as we carry out the Great Commission: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.' John reminds us that we don't carry out this task as individuals, but as part of a worldwide body of believers. Each of us has our part to play, at the right time and place. The recording begins with the readings from James Williams. An edited video recording of the Sunday service (which contains some material that can't be included in the audio) can be viewed on YouTube.

Graham Romp | 1 Peter 3:15-16  In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. The sixth 'M' in our series Fruitfulness on the front line is different from all the others, says Graham. The world as a whole does not value proclaiming the gospel, and it is also something that most of us find especially difficult. Graham explains how we can make personal evangelism part of our everyday fruitful lives rather than an ill-fitting extra. The recording begins with the reading from Dave Lucking. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Chris Turner | 2 Samuel 12:1-13  David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.' Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!' Very few of us will ever find ourselves in the same situation as the prophet Nathan, who at God's command confronted the king and denounced him as a murderer. Yet, says Chris, all of us have a part to play in standing up for justice and truth in a world that often does not want to hear this message. God give us the wisdom to know when and how to speak, as he did to Nathan. The recording begins with Bobbie Frere reading a message received from Kenya following her recent vist, with Peter, to our partners there. Then John Davies continues with the reading. After Chris' talk Susan Haynes concludes with a time of prayer.  An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Nigel Hand | Matthew 5:13-16  [Jesus said,] ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.' ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Our former vicar Nigel returns with a powerful challenge to be not just admirers of Jesus, but disciples. In our everyday lives and more widely, Jesus calls us to live according to his teaching and to be distinct from the world while still being in it. The recording begins with the reading from Alison Cooper and ends with a prayer from Bobbie Frere. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Dan Parnell | Deuteronomy 8:7-18  When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. For those of us who get our food from cans, packets and takeaways it is all too easy to forget that God is the ultimate source of all that we have to eat and enjoy. Through the reading, drama and Dan Parnell's talk we were reminded in this Explore service to get the right perspective and to give thanks to God. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Susan Haynes | Luke 10:25-37  Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.' As the story proceeds, we learn that the Samaritan - a member of a race traditionally hated by the Jews - tends the man's wounds and then goes to extra lengths to ensure that he is cared for. This would have shocked Jesus' listeners, but as Susan explains, the challenge is for all of us to display relentless kindness even to those we don't get on with. Small acts can make a big difference. The recording begins with the reading from Pat Clayton. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Ben Green | Colossians 3:22-4:1  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Work of some sort, whether paid or unpaid, is a fact of life for just about all of us. Since we live in a broken world, how can we restore the true God-given nature of work? Ben addresses this question in this short talk. During the service there was additional teaching in a video, produced by the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, which we can't include here for copyright reasons. A summary is included below. The recording begins with the reading from Simon Jones. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube. Teaching video summary: Mark Greene, who devised the series we are following, asked why the things we do from day to day matter to God? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as for the Lord... it is the Lord Christ you are serving“. Our everyday actions (all of them!) matter because we are doing them for God. If we do something for someone we love, we do it enthusiastically, carefully, as well as we can. If it‘s for God, we also do it worshipfully, for his glory. Keith is a decorator who, when he first started out, just did it as a job to earn money. A car crash made him rethink his priorities and he decided to earn so that he could give a lot away to the church and other charities. Only later did Keith realise that his work enabled others to live the lives they were meant to lead. He helped people who could not maintain their own properties. He served God by serving people and improving their lives. Work is a gift by which we can serve God. Everything can be done in a way which benefits others: stacking goods on shelves so that the labels face outwards, emptying bins in a way that leaves the place tidy, designing computers so that they are easy and pleasant to use. In the Genesis account of creation, humans are created only when there is a garden for them to look after. A loving God created the context for human flourishing through purposeful work. The Fall meant that work would become a lot harder, with frustrations and disappointment, but its original purpose survives. Christ died to begin the restoration of whole universe. We participate in this through our daily activities. You don't have to be a Christian to do a beautiful job. But we seek to consciously do whatever we do for Jesus. Let‘s pray that he will use our work to bless others. Psalm 90:17 - may God establish the work of our hands.

Peter Frere | Galatians 5:13-26  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. These are qualities that we all want, but how do we make them grow? How can we be free of the desires that get in the way and lead us to behave in contrary ways? As Peter explains, these are fruit of the Holy Spirit, that only his working in us can produce - but we have an essential part to play in the process. The recording begins with a report from Alison Cooper and Phil Banting on their visit to Bolivia as part of a team from Birmingham in August 2023. Then we hear from Bobbie and Peter Frere as they look ahead to renewing our links with Kenya in the following few weeks. This is followed by the reading from Dilys Garrod. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Ben Green | Mark 4:26-29  [Jesus] also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn – first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. As soon as the corn is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.' The recording begins with Susan Haynes introducing the Explore service and explaining more about our current series, "Faithfulness on the frontline." The congregation were then asked, in groups around tables, to read one of a set of Bible passages and answer a question on it. After hearing the feedback from each of the groups Ben gave a short talk describing how we become more fruitful. How much of a part does God play and what is our responsibility? The readings studied the congregation, and the corresponding questions, were: Genesis 1:24-31 Where does fruitfulness originate/begin? Colossians 1:1-14 What four things does Paul specify will come from being filled with the Spirit? Luke 3:7-14 What should repentance lead to? Isaiah 5:1-7 Why was the vineyard to be destroyed? Isaiah 27:1-6 What is the promise of this passage? John 15:1-17 What do we need to do in order to bear much fruit? Galatians 5:13-26 What three action words associated with the Spirit does Paul say will result in fruit? 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 What are some of the elements needed to produce a fruitful harvest? Revelation 22:1-5 Here we see the tree of life, bearing fruit, in a picture of what's to come. What is being promised at the end of time? An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Bobbie Frere | Colossians 1:1-2,15-20  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him... For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Where and how can we make a difference for the kingdom of God? Bringing people into a direct relationship with God is of truly life-changing importance, but it is not the whole story. Introducing our new series, "Fruitfulness on the frontline", Bobbie explains that Jesus is Lord not just of the spiritual realm but of the physical world too. Over the coming weeks we will explore how we can work this out in our everyday lives. The recording begins with the reading from Kate Routley. An edited video recording of the Sunday service can be viewed on YouTube.

Ben Green | Job 42.7-17 The Lord said, 'My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly.' ... and the Lord accepted Job's prayer. To close the series Ben summarises what Job teaches us about the life of a believer: marked by warfare, requiring patience, humility and forgiveness - with blessing at the end. The recording begins with the reading from Dan Parnell.

Ben Green | Job 38.1 - 42.6 'Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?     Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!' In the penultimate talk of the series, Ben looks at God's two speeches in reply to Job.  First God reminds Job that he is God - creator, sustainer of all.  Then he explores the nature of evil through the pictures of Behemoth and Leviathan - powerful and dangerous but God is still ultimately in charge. The recording begins with the reading from Dilys Garrod.

Graham Romp | Job 9.32-35 | James 5.7-11 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming... As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. In this interlude in our series 'Job: Out of the Storm' Graham explores how Job points to Jesus in what he says (expressing hope), in how he lived (he didn't give up on God) and in what he suffered (innocent, rejected, betrayed, deserted, outside the city walls).  One of the key lessons is this: righteousness is not incompatible with suffering.  In fact Job suffers because he was righteous, exactly like Jesus: the cross shows us righteousness and suffering are deeply and intimately linked.  Job thought he wanted justice, but what he actually got, was grace. The recording begins with the reading from James Williams.

Ben Green | Job 32:1-5 | Job 33:8-18  Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him... When he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. ‘But I tell you, in this you are not right,   for God is greater than any mortal. Why do you complain to him   that he responds to no one's words? For God does speak - now one way, now another -   though no one perceives it.' Into the debate, which has gone round in circles for so long, steps an angry young man, Elihu. What good can he possibly do? Yet, as Ben explains, he sees beyond everyone else - the older friends with their simplistic worldview, and Job who has come to believe that God is against him. Ben urges us to listen to God and trust him, in good times and bad. The recording begins with the reading from John Davies. The sermon is based on the whole of chapters 32 to 37.

Allan Bartlam | Job 29:1-17 | Job 30:9-10, 30:16-23, 31:35-37  ‘How I long for the months gone by,   for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone on my head   and by his light I walked through darkness! Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,   when God's intimate friendship blessed my house, when the Almighty was still with me   and my children were around me.' ... ‘I cry out to you, God,   but you do not answer; I stand up,   but you merely look at me. You turn on me ruthlessly;   with the might of your hand you attack me.' ... ‘Oh, that I had someone to hear me!' Job contrasts the blessedness of his former life - maybe it was not quite as perfect as he remembers it? - with the agony of his present state. As Allan explains, most of us experience a mixture of the two, but we can learn from Job's honesty. The recording includes the readings from Sarah Trinder and ends with a short reflection from Cathie Bartlam.

Ben Green | Proverbs 8:1-11, 22-29 | Job 28  Does not wisdom call out?   Does not understanding raise her voice? ... ‘Choose my instruction instead of silver,   knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies,   and nothing you desire can compare with her.' Where then does wisdom come from?   Where does understanding dwell? ... God understands the way to it   and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth   and sees everything under the heavens. After all the rounds of inconclusive debate between Job and his friends, an interlude comes in the form of a poem about the most precious thing anyone could have - wisdom. But what is it, and where is it to be found? As Ben explains, all our searches lead us to Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life. The recording begins with the readings from Susan Mole.

Ben Green | Job 19  ‘Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,   for the hand of God has struck me. Why do you pursue me as God does?   Will you never get enough of my flesh?' ... ‘I know that my redeemer lives,   and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed,   yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him   with my own eyes – I, and not another.   How my heart yearns within me!' Accused by his friends, abandoned by his family, and - as it seems to him - struck by God, all that Job values has been stripped away. All the more astonishing, says Ben, that Job still longs to see God and has faith that one day this will happen. All the more reason for us to believe, who can see something that Job did not: the cross. The recording begins with the reading from Peter Frere. Earlier in the service, the whole congregation read Psalm 16 as an act of worship.

Allan Bartlam | Revelation 7:9-12  After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.' How is it that the people of God can come from every nation? Only, says Allan, because someone told them about Jesus. The recording begins with the reading from Bobbie Frere, and continues with drama featuring some Bible characters. We also hear from Alison, Phil, John and Elsie who will be spending some time with churches in Bolivia in the coming weeks. Rachel Fasham then lists some practical steps we can take in response to Jesus' call to make disciples of all nations. We had some problems with our recording equipment this week and the first 20 seconds or so in particular are below the audio standard we aim to achieve.