Churchcentral Birmingham: Talks

In this talk we learn how the highest use of our freedom isn’t to assert our rights, but to lay them down.

Money is a sensitive subject that brings all sorts of risks when we chat about it. So why teach about it? We look at a range of reasons, then compare and contrast worshipping God and worshipping money.

Zoe examines an example of how the Exodus story is remembered in the Psalms

Is it possible to be radically holy, AND engage meaningfully with the wider world we live in? Jesus did it, but can we?! Jonny unpacks from this passage.

The practice of witnessing to others about the work of Jesus in our lives is as old as the Church itself. How can we do this in our cultural moment? Becky speaks, followed by a panel of real stories.

It's hard enough to quiten blame and guilt and shame when we know we haven't done anything wrong. But what about when we HAVE done wrong? The gospel has two answers to make us blameless, and we round off 1 Thessalonians looking at them.

This passage explores a load of instructions and actions for the church. How could it be summarised? Growing in the visible FRUIT of our Christianity in our lives.

What is the power of hope in our lives? And what specifically IS our hope as believers in Jesus? Wishful thinking? Blake shows us.

In a shortened and interactive talk, we explored two key values for a mature church - the quality of our love and the quietness of our lives.

Jonny looks at Paul's teaching on singleness, and sweeps us all up in the huge purpose of God for our lives - undistracted devotion to God.

Jonathan unpacks a range of passages that help us understand God's heart on the sensitive issue of divorce and remarriage.

Our friend Adrian Hurst visited us from Oasis Church Birmingham to invite us into life in full. He spoke about how we can rest from all that makes us weary and burdened to rest in Jesus’ ease and lightness.

Chris rounds off our series on Luke with an exploration of what the resurrection of Christ means for us

Our passage today is all about how we are to live as Jesus' people - the dos and don'ts, the rights and wrongs. How is this stuff good news? How should we think about holiness and how we become holy?

In Exodus 5, we heard how Pharaoh asked "Who is God, that I should obey him?" In this talk, Chris explores God's response to that question as God unveils what would happen when he steps away.

Chris explores how the promises of God allow us to find hope in hardship.

How joyful does your Christianity feel? Do duty, responsibility and habit play a bigger part than joy right now? In a passage that's filled to the brim with joy. Kirsty takes us digging for 'joy reasons'. We see a load!

James examines one example of how the Exodus story is remembered in the Psalms and why.

Dave examines what it means to burn, but not be consumed.

On We are One Sunday, Tim Brown came from Hope Community church to share a message about the power of Faith, Love and Hope lived out.

We were blessed by CC South sending us Emily and Jonny and families for the morning. After hearing news from South, we were equipped brilliantly by Emily on the power of sowing seeds of encouragement in one another's lives, amidst the sorrow and joys of life.

As we welcomed Rich (and Joel & Kirsty via video) from Shenley Community Church, we looked at Jesus' 'why' behind all his (and our) kingdom activity and sacrifice.

There is a wrong way to think about sex but there is definitely a good way to think about it as well. The Bible writers thought about sex and wrote about it a lot. Before he gets on to marriage, singleness and divorce in 1 Corinthians 7, Paul follows suit. Let’s see how he helps us think about this topic biblically and wisely.

It seems God does NOT promise to keep his church from pain and suffering. But how does God grow us in the midst of it? Mike shows us.

We explore the principle of generosity / the provocation for generosity / the power for generosity / the practice of generosity.

James examines how Moses early life mirrors both the future life of the people of God, as well as Jesus.

We take some time to consider the power of praying together with other believers. Why is this different to just praying by ourselves? How do we actually pray for another believer in a meeting or gathering? Rob helps us.

What should our response be as a church to the words of the Bible? How do we grow in a godly receptivity to teaching from Scripture, even when it challenges us or costs us? Annabel takes us through!

Chris explores how God's people were living and growing, even as they were away from God's place

Dave introduces our Exodus series by zooming out and taking a look at the bigger picture, starting with promises made 400 years before

This chapter is about marriage, but it’s also, once again, about wisdom. Jonny looks at how, in chapter 7, Paul applies his teaching on wisdom and making right judgements from the first 6 chapters.

Leadership is desperately broken, everywhere we look, with abuse and toxic leadership touching the royal family, Westminster, and sadly the church. So, should we just scrap leadership to keep ourselves safe from the issues? Or, could this passage have some values to draw from, to help become a church with a healthy leadership culture?

James shares the good news from Luke 23

This talk lifts our gaze beyond ourselves and shows us the bigger picture, connecting who we are & how we’re to live to three core truths: Our bodies matter / We are united with Christ / We are not our own.

The church in Thessalonica / Thessaloniki is described as having become "examples" to believers in their region. What about them was exemplary? James explores their input, their output and their impact.

Verena helps us understand more about the discipline of prayer, before welcoming Nick & Jan up for a panel, exploring the practical side of prayer!

As we celebrated a baptism, we started a new series in 1 Thessalonians. We see the definition of the church as those who belong to God. How can that quite intense, 'ownership' language be good news?

In the final episode of our Church Activated series, we learn an accessible, practical, highly reuseable tool to explore any Bible story. This method - known as Discovery Bible Study - is being used across the world to help people discover Jesus. Jenni joined us for the morning to help us explore it ourselves!

Our culture can shrink our hearts, like the Grinch, to be "two sizes too small". But the kingdom of God is one with the DNA of generosity pulsating through it! Matt Partridge - our beloved friend and father in the faith from our Catalyst family - came to stir us and provoke us towards living with generous hearts and hands.

While we were unable to meet in person, Dave recorded this talk to explain how the Last Supper helps us make sense of life in the now and not yet.

Judging Others. Kicking people out of churches for sinning. Lists of behaviours that won't be tolerated in the kingdom of God. It can all seem very petty and moralistic. Jonny explores Paul's further instructions on how we should make right judgments in our churches and encourages us to open our eyes to the immense purposes of God that lie behind these tricky topics.

We were thrilled to welcome local friend Andy Boxall to equip us, on this key phrase 'people of peace'. Jesus says we're to invest our time in disciple-making among those who receive us with peace. What does that mean? How do we spot such people? How do we meet such people? Andy shows us the way!

Jonathan opens up a passage around a scandalous and shocking situation going on in the church in Corinth. We see why that situation is so unhealthy, and what the church should do about it.

Chris explores what Gideon's story has to say about how we approach our vision for the Church

Between 'generally approaching people with blessing' and 'someone coming to Christ', what do we do? How do make progress in our relationships with those we'd love to come close to Jesus? Rich explores.

Eric explores what the Christmas message has to say about immigration and citizenship

HOW? Disciple Makers Go Wide With Blessing // Luke 10:5 // Rich Pitt // Shenley CC 14.12.25 by Churchcentral Birmingham

Sarah tells the story of her family's journey into adoption and links it to the Christmas story.

Jonny invites us to follow the example of the wise men, by coming close to Jesus, however far away we're starting.

More equipping from Jesus in disciple-making, as he tells the disciples they are like lambs among wolves, and not to take a load of provision with them.