Past Preaching Programme

One of the great themes of the New Testament is the inclusion of those who felt that they were excluded within the People of God. This begins during Jesus' ministry with figures like the Canaanite woman and continues after Jesus' ascension with the entry of the Samaritans and Gentiles into the church. The nature of these episodes has a great deal that can guide and inform our approach to mission and help us to become a church that is more effective at sharing God's love with those presently outside his people. 

One of the great themes of the New Testament is the inclusion of those who felt that they were excluded from being part of the 'People of God'. This begins during Jesus' ministry with figures like the Canaanite woman, and continues after Jesus' ascension with the arrival of the Samaritans and Gentiles into the church. Exploring these events and encounters can guide and inform our approach to mission, and help us to become a church that is more effective at sharing God's love with those who currently feel as though they are on the 'outside'. 

Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas when we celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world. In a sense, the entire contents of the Bible before Jesus looks forward to his coming. During this series, however, we will look at some of the more obvious biblical figures who do this and try to understand more about the coming of Jesus from King David, the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist.

Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas when we celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world. In a sense, the entire contents of the Bible before Jesus looks forward to his coming. During this series, however, we will look at some of the more obvious biblical figures who do this and try to understand more about the coming of Jesus from King David, the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist.

Although perhaps the most obvious answer is forgiveness from our sins, Jesus also came to bring us other things as well, such as freedom, peace and unity. Each of these blessings comes through the mysterious process of us being joined to Jesus, and, as a result, each characteristic is transformed into something that goes far beyond our usual understanding of what freedom, peace and unity mean in our world today.

The sermons in this new series will explore how in Jesus Christ, the truth will set us free; how he will bring us not just peace but also 'a sword'; and the unique nature of the family that we belong to through him. 

Although perhaps the most obvious answer is forgiveness from our sins, Jesus also came to bring us other things as well, such as freedom, peace and unity. Each of these blessings comes through the mysterious process of us being joined to Jesus, and, as a result, each characteristic is transformed into something that goes far beyond our usual understanding of what freedom, peace and unity mean in our world today.

The sermons in this new series will explore how in Jesus Christ, the truth will set us free; how he will bring us not just peace but also 'a sword'; and the unique nature of the family that we belong to through him. 

There is a great deal of sense in 'church' becoming habitual. At its best, all of the things that it represents - worship, teaching, service and community - becomes steadily built into the rhythm of our lives and transforms them. Its danger, however, is that we cease to reflect upon our response to these things causing our faith to become stale and less and less relevant to our daily lives.

In this series, we will seek to address this by looking for practical ways in which we can get the most out of church, looking at different aspects such as worship, service, giving and community. 

There is a great deal of sense in 'church' becoming habitual. At its best, all of the things that it represents - worship, teaching, service and community - becomes steadily built into the rhythm of our lives and transforms them. Its danger, however, is that we cease to reflect upon our response to these things causing our faith to become stale and less and less relevant to our daily lives.

In this series, we will seek to address this by looking for practical ways in which we can get the most out of church, looking at different aspects such as worship, service, giving and community.. 

Over the last few years, we have used the month of August to have different members of Christ Church talk about ‘Why I am a Christian’. These have turned out to be some of the most popular and helpful talks that we have had during the year, with plenty of downloads recorded on the Christ Church website. Each year different members of our congregation tell us some of the story of their lives and the key factors that have led them to become and continue as Christians.

Over the last few years, we have used the month of August to have different members of Christ Church talk about ‘Why I am a Christian’. These have turned out to be some of the most popular and helpful talks that we have had during the year, with plenty of downloads recorded on the Christ Church website. Different members of our congregation tell us some of the story of their lives and the key factors that have led them to become and continue as Christians.

During July we will be considering 'God's Big Plan' and the overall arc of the Bible as one story leading to Jesus - and addressing some of the questions that come out of this.

During July we will be considering 'God's Big Plan' and the overall arc of the Bible as one story leading to Jesus - and addressing some of the questions that come out of this.

Galatians 5 contains Paul’s famous list of nine characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Rather than being a list from which we can select particular ones that ‘are us’, keeping in step with the Holy Spirit is about seeking to develop all of these characteristics so that we become more like Jesus. During this series we will look at each of these virtues in turn and consider practical ways in which we could demonstrate them more fully within both our daily lives and our life as a church.

Galatians 5 contains Paul’s famous list of nine characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Rather than being a list from which we can select particular ones that ‘are us’, keeping in step with the Holy Spirit is about seeking to develop all of these characteristics so that we become more like Jesus. During this series we will look at each of these virtues in turn and consider practical ways in which we could demonstrate them more fully within both our daily lives and our life as a church.

King David is one of the most famous characters in the Bible with stories such as his battle with Goliath regularly used as examples of the power of his faith and trust in God. Alongside its more inspiring sections, however, the story of David is full of plenty that perplexes us in the actions of 'the man after God's own heart'. In this series we will try to approach all of this material head on and seek to understand more of how all of the elements in the story of King David - the good, the bad and ugly - form a vital part of preparing the way for the coming of 'the Son of David' in Jesus Christ. 

King David is one of the most famous characters in the Bible with stories such as his battle with Goliath regularly used as examples of the power of his faith and trust in God. Alongside its more inspiring sections, however, the story of David is full of plenty that perplexes us in the actions of 'the man after God's own heart'. In this series we will try to approach all of this material head on and seek to understand more of how all of the elements in the story of King David - the good, the bad and ugly - form a vital part of preparing the way for the coming of 'the Son of David' in Jesus Christ. 

Waiting for things is not a very popular notion today. It is, however, a concept that stands at the heart of the Christian faith and one particularly associated with Advent. During Advent, we wait not only for Christmas but for Jesus' promised return to earth. We can be helped to do the latter better by reflecting upon the ways that the Patriarchs, Moses, David and the Prophets and finally John the Baptist all looked forward to the first coming of Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. 

Waiting for things is not a very popular notion today. It is, however, a concept that stands at the heart of the Christian faith and one particularly associated with Advent. During Advent, we wait not only for Christmas but for Jesus' promised return to earth. We can be helped to do the latter better by reflecting upon the ways that the Patriarchs, Moses, David and the Prophets and finally John the Baptist all looked forward to the first coming of Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. 

There are a number of parts of church life with which we are so familiar that we can often stop looking for fresh thoughts about them. Our calling as Christians, however, is to constantly search the Scriptures for those things that God would have us understand better. During this short series we will therefore look for fresh insights from the Bible on the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion and also our annual service of Remembrance for those who have perished in war. 

There are a number of parts of church life with which we are so familiar that we can often stop looking for fresh thoughts about them. Our calling as Christians, however, is to constantly search the Scriptures for those things that God would have us understand better. During this short series we will therefore look for fresh insights from the Bible on the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion and also our annual service of Remembrance for those who have perished in war. 

The Bible uses a number of pictures and images to describe the church. Each of these provide us with different insights into its nature and purpose. Evangelical churches like Christ Church have sometimes been accused of having a rather low ecclesiology (theology of the church) and failing to recognise the importance that the Bible gives to it. As we start up our regular morning services again and relaunch Christ Church, it is therefore a good time to reconsider the nature of what church is meant to be and how we can respond to this calling and challenge.

The Bible uses a number of pictures and images to describe the church. Each of these provide us with different insights into its nature and purpose. Evangelical churches like Christ Church have sometimes been accused of having a rather low ecclesiology (theology of the church) and failing to recognise the importance that the Bible gives to it. As we start up our regular morning services again and relaunch Christ Church, it is therefore a good time to reconsider the nature of what church is meant to be and how we can respond to this calling and challenge.

Justice, Love, Spirituality, Beauty, Freedom, Truth and Power. These are ideals that we all strive for, yet so often we find ourselves falling short. Why is that?

Inspired by Tom Wright's 2020 book, we will be looking to the Gospel of John to help us to see, not only why we strive for these ideals, but also why we so often experience them as broken. In doing so, we hope to find how Christianity provides us with the vision and resources for mending these signposts, giving us a clear and compelling explanation of the world, and of our role and responsibility within it.

What if Jesus words were never intended to fit into your existing lifestyle? What if they were meant to change everything? What if Jesus really meant the things that he said? What might our response to His teaching look like? If he meant what he said how might his words affect our relationships, investments, speech, perspectives, politics, shopping, and every other aspect of life? What does it really mean to be a Disciple?

There are multiple accounts of Jesus’ resurrection appearances in the New Testament, with each one a unique and significant event. This short series looks at three of those events and explore what was special about each occasion: on the 'dusty road' to Emmaus, His appearances to the disciples 'behind locked doors' and beside the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Climate change caused by our carbon emissions is threatening our planet as never before. It affects us all, but particularly the poorest people in the world. As Christians we believe we have a God-given responsibility to care for God’s creation.

During this sermon series we will be exploring the theological basis for our relationship with the natural world, and Christian belief regarding its future. With a different theme being launched in the sermons each week, combined with the daily challenges during Lent, we hope to reduce our carbon footprint as individuals and as a church.

During this Carbon Fast we can examine and reshape our daily patterns of life, our spending habits and our travel choices and help preserve God’s creation for future generations.

As we begin a new year entering another lockdown, we look forward to a time, hopefully later this year, when Christ Church is fully restored.

As part of this hope, the talks in our services up to Lent will focus upon how we can 'Build Back Better' in 2021 as we think about what sort of community life we will return to.

At Christ Church, the month of August is usually marked by the return of an incredibly moving and powerful sermon series called 'Why I'm a Christian', which invites members of Christ Church to share their stories, and explain what their faith means to them, and how it has made a difference in their lives. This year, we're putting a new spin on an old classic, as some of the members of our staff team reflect on their faith journeys, as part of a series of talks entitled 'Why I'm still a Christian'.