Podcast
Christ Central Church Portsmouth
Hosted by Christ Central Church · EN
Christ Central Church is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multiplying, Bible-teaching church in the great waterfront city of Portsmouth. Our mission is to Bring Hope and Share Truth. We exist to see lives and communities, in, around and beyond Portsmouth transformed by the gospel, enjoying God and glorifying Him in all thing. All are welcome!
We meet in two congregations:
PO1 is our large central congregation meets at 10:30 in the John Pounds Centre, Queen Street, PO1 3HN.
Stacey Centre is our congregation for people living in Milton & Baffins that meets at 10a.m in the Stacey Community Centre on Walsall Road, PO3 6DN.
We love having visitors, you’re so welcome, you can find out all you need to know online at www.christcentral.church
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Living a life worthy of our calling - Stand Alone Talks
1w ago00:37:18Tap to summarizeToday we gave thanks for Pete & Debs who have been with us as a church for many years now. In the service today we prayed for them and heard Pete give a final preach encouraging us as we follow Jesus' call on our life.For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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The Faithfulness of God - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
2w ago00:39:14Tap to summarizeGenesis 35-36 God sends Jacob to Bethel again, coming home. God’s instructions are similar to Exodus 19 when Israel prepare themselves in holiness to come to God’s mountain. God protects Jacob’s family from what he feared would happen in the last chapter (verse 6). God reiterates Jacob’s name change to Israel and his promises to Abraham’s family. Then Chapter 35 comes crashing down as Rachel dies giving birth to her son, who she names Ben-Oni which could be ‘son of my vigour’ or ‘son of my sorrow’. Jacob renames him Benjamin, ‘son of my right hand’. Jacob’s eldest son sleeps with his concubine! A mess! But we are reminded of God’s faithfulness in the end. We saw 12 sons of Nahor (Genesis 22), 12 princes of Ishmael (Genesis 25), and now at last 12 sons of Israel. Esau’s family tree is much lengthier and impressive! But God will work through the weaker family of Jacob to bring his kingdom to the world through his descendent Jesus. For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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Trauma and tragedy - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
3w ago00:37:50Tap to summarizeGenesis 34 There are dark stories in the Bible because the Bible is honest. It’s difficult to speak about Shechem’s self-centred desire for Dinah and the trauma it would’ve caused her. His actions remind us of the very first sin (Genesis 3:6). Dinah is silent, not because the Bible does not value her, but to illustrate how little Shechem and Hamor cared about her voice. Genesis is crystal clear on how evil this is (verse 7). They are right to protest (verse 31). Her brothers were right to be angry, yet their anger led them to do something that is not right. They misuse the sign of God’s covenant blessing (circumcision) to deceive and murder. The brothers become like Shechem (verse 29). Jacob showed no active care for Dinah, only for their reputation, but he had no reason for his cowardice (Genesis 35:6). Oh, how Jesus is our only hope! He shows us true selfless sacrifice. He heals our selfish desires. He promises justice in the end. He breaks our cycles of revenge. For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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What makes humans worthy of rights? - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
4w ago00:42:09Tap to summarizeThis week we are exploring this question and how it spotlights the good news of Christianity. Human rights arose from Christianity, not secular reason alone, tracing back to biblical beliefs that all people are made in God’s image and valued by Christ, regardless of power, ability, race, or usefulness. Today’s secular society affirms our human rights but can’t answer the question ‘Why?’. Without the Bible, you struggle to justify what makes humans worthy of rights. When society keeps Christian morals but abandons Christian beliefs, human rights become fragile beliefs. This should get us thinking: how can our modern beliefs in equal rights be a bridge to finding faith in Jesus? For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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Forgiveness and reconciliation - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
Jun 2100:43:02Tap to summarizeGenesis 33 Jacob's lies were irreparable. Esau comes towards his brother Jacob with 400 men. Jacob arranges his people to meet Esau in order of who he values least to most, to protect those dearest to him (Reuben probably isn’t happy that Joseph is last!). He expects revenge. Jacob cannot repay Esau, but can he endear him with his gifts? Will Esau forgive? To forgive a debt means first to abandon the expectation of repayment. Esau runs to welcome Jacob back! The surprise of reconciliation brought them both to tears. Jacob recounts God’s kindness to him, introducing his family. He sees God’s kindness in Esau’s face. God treats us this way when we repent, which is why Jesus uses this story to describe an event greater love for sinners in Luke 15. For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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Weakness is the way - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
Jun 1400:37:49Tap to summarizeGenesis 32 Jacob left Canaan with the sound of his lies echoing through their family, but his journey was interrupted by angels at Bethel. It has been a long, difficult twenty years since then, yet through it he has come to trust that God is with him. But now he faces his brother. Once again angels accompany him on the way before he returns. He’s a different man now. Esau was destined to serve Jacob (Genesis 25:23) but Jacob calls himself Esau’s ‘servant’. Unlike Abraham and Isaac who lied when in danger (Genesis 12 and 26), Jacob tells his people to be honest. Jacob prays humbly, aware that he deserves none of the kindness God gives him. Jacob wrestles a mysterious figure and speaks to him like God and confesses he saw God (Peniel means ‘Face of God’). In this match, God subdues him. Israel comes away limping, yet with a blessing and a sight of God. For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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Dealing with disagreement - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
Jun 700:37:33Tap to summarizeGenesis 30:25 - 31:55 Jacob came to Laban alone and poor. Now he leaves with multiplied family and possessions. Jacob begs Laban to let them leave. Laban sees that God has blessed Jacob, watching how God provides for Jacob. But Laban’s heart hardens. He chases after him! Laban treated Jacob as a hireling and treats his daughters as property (Genesis 31:13-14). He’s angry! He spins the story as if Jacob is the villain and he is the victim. Rachel tricks her father by stealing his idols (either to spite him or as superstitious worship), which leads to Jacob snapping in Genesis 31:36. Twenty years of mistreatment bubbled up! But Jacob treats Laban differently than Rachel. Even in anger he trusts God to vindicate him, so he accepts peace between them instead of fighting. Jacob has learnt to trust that God is Lord, even above harsh employers and fathers-in-law. For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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Love for the unloved - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
May 3100:38:29Tap to summarizeJacob tricked his father Isaac. Now Jacob’s tricked by Laban. Jacob sought a wife because he must keep the covenant family distinct. Jacob takes initiative here and works 7 years to marry Rachel. But just like we saw the younger brother Jacob deceive his father, making him think he was blessing the older brother Esau, now we see Laban deceiving Jacob by giving him the oldest sister Leah when he thought he was marrying the youngest sister Rachel. So he works another 7 years for Rachel. Disregarding God’s design for marriage leads to disaster. Leah’s sons’ names reflect her sadness. Reuben sounds like “has seen my affliction”; Simeon like “has heard”; Levi like “attached to” etc. Their names will echo her loneliness. Yet it’s Leah’s family line that brings Jesus to the world in tribe of Judah. For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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Becoming aware of God - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
May 2400:36:26Tap to summarizeAbraham made it clear to Isaac that he should not marry a wife from Canaan because they should be distinct worshippers of the Lord and Isaac repeats this instruction to Jacob. However, this isn’t as noble as it seems. He’s only going because his mum tricked his dad into sending him off. His parents also seem to not have the same concern for his brother, who marries from outside the promised line. Nevertheless, God meets Jacob. God will have his way with Jacob even though, until now, we’ve seen nothing of Jacob’s faith. God repeats all the promises he gave to Abraham and Isaac to Jacob despite Jacob’s past sin and even though Jacob still has much to learn. Jacob was unaware of God, but that’s not a problem for God. He will make himself known. The prophet Hosea looks back on this moment as a picture of the Exodus story, as Jacob works hard for many years for a bride and is eventually brought into the promise land to worship God (Hosea 12). Jesus looks back on this moment and says that the promises God gave his people will be fulfilled in him (John 1). For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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The damage of deception - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
May 1700:37:02Tap to summarizeGenesis 26:34-27:46 When Jacob and Esau were born, God made promises about his plans for them. But as parents, Isaac and Rebekah gave in to favouritism and became indifferent to Esau’s life choice about who he marries. Isaac’s spiritual state seems as bad as his physical state. Now we see the harmful effects of ungodly parenting leads to their son Jacob being estranged for 20 years. It may be that Rebekah tries to “help God's promise come true” in her own strength (like her father-in- law Abraham did with Hagar). She suggests Jacob lies to his father. He does. Four times. He take’s God’s name in vain. We don’t need to be told this was wrong, you just need to see the impact on Esau and Isaac’s heartbreaking conversation and Esau’s vow to murder Jacob. Rebekah fixes the consequence of her last trick with another trick: convincing Isaac that she’s concerned that Jacob needs to find a wife. How does this story show us any hope of knowing God might redeem this family? For more about Christ Central Church Portsmouth visit: https://christcentral.church Or via socials: www.facebook.com/christcentral.ch www.instagram.com/christcentralchurchportsmouth To connect with us email: hello@christcentral.church or give us your details at https://www.christcentral.church
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