Podcast
Christ Central Church Portsmouth
Hosted by Christ Central Church · ENGLISH
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
730episodes
Episodes
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What makes humans worthy of rights? - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
5d 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
2w ago00:43:02Tap 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
3w ago00:37:49Tap 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
4w ago00:37:33Tap 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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God's faithfulness in family failures - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
May 10Tap to summarizeGenesis 26: 1-33 Isaac receives the same promise as his father (verse 4), he commits the same sin by lying (verse 7), he is found out to be lying (verse 8), his lying leads him to get rich (verse 13), he secures wells (verse 18), he builds altars (verse 25), he makes a treaty with the leaders of other kingdoms (verse 28). All of this just like his father! Isaac relives his father’s greatest and worst hits. The promised child seems no more ‘promising’ than his father. Yet, we see God’s promised presence with him no less. God says ‘I will be with you’ in the future (verse 3) and ‘I am with you’ in the present (verse 24), and Abimelech says ‘the LORD has been with you’ in the past (verse 28). God’s plan does not ultimately depend on how good God’s people are, but on how good God is to his people. 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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God's unlikely choices - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
May 3Tap to summarizeGenesis 25 After Ishmael and Isaac bury their father Abraham in the same place as Sarah, God blesses Isaac. Abraham’s six sons with his second wife leave (they’ll be back – Isaiah 60:1-6!). Ishmael fathers twelve princes as promised in Genesis 17:20. Nahor had 12 sons. What is going on? When will Isaac, the promised one, flourish? We find out that Rebekah is childless and they waited 20 years (verses 20 and 26) until they had twins. Yet Isaac shows more trust in God than his parents did. He prays. Rebekah prays too. In response they’re promised the younger and weaker son, Jacob, surprisingly will continue their promised line while the eldest, Esau, becomes like an outsider (like Cain, Nimrod, and Ishmael). It becomes more surprising. We see Isaac’s superficiality and Rebekah’s favouritism shows itself in the rivalry between impulsive Esau and deceitful Jacob. How will God bless the world through 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
Transcribe →"Extra" Genesis 24 Conversation - Genesis - God's people in God's plan
Apr 2900:24:12Tap to summarize“Extra” from Christ Central Church Portsmouth is designed to go deeper into the Bible teaching when a preacher feels there is more to unpack than a Sunday sermon gives time for. Each episode creates space to explore questions, clarify difficult passages, and engage more fully with Scripture in community. Rooted in the conviction that the Bible is truth that transforms (see Gospel of John 6). This week's “Extra” helps listeners grow in understanding of practical and cultural questions that come out of Genesis 24. Covering topics like spiritual formation, relationships, and what it means to live as Christians “in the world but not of it” (Gospel of John 17; Epistle to the Romans 12). Listeners are invited to submit questions online or in person, making this a dialogue—not just a monologue—as the church seeks to grow together around the Word of God. https://christcentral.church/ask
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