Crowd Church Talks
Series: Origin | What does the Bible say about? | Mark’s Gospel | Alpha Course Online
Is the Christian God Cruel (Genesis Part 12)
Is the God of the Bible cruel? Sharon Edmundson tackles one of Scripture's most challenging stories – Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac – revealing how this passage actually demonstrates God's radical difference from ancient pagan deities. While other gods demanded child sacrifice, the true God provided an alternative, foreshadowing Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. During Conversation Street, the discussion explores surrender, testing, and living counter-culturally. Rather than a troubling tale of divine cruelty, this story reveals a God who makes a way when there seems to be none – the God who gives rather than takes.
Our New Covenant in Christ (Genesis Part 11)
This week, Matt Edmundson explores the radical nature of covenant through Abraham's story. Unlike modern contracts that can be broken with minimal consequences, ancient covenants were sealed in blood with one shocking rule: only death could break them. When God made His covenant with Abraham, He did something unprecedented—walking alone between the sacrificed animals, taking all responsibility upon Himself. This foreshadows Christ's sacrifice, establishing a new covenant through His blood. Discover how this ancient concept transforms our marriages, relationships with God, and very identities as believers today. A ‘mind-bending’ revelation that changes everything.
What If The Flood Story Isn't Just About The Rain (Genesis Part 10)
Dan Orange peels back the familiar children's story to reveal the profound theological depths of Noah's Ark. Far from just animals marching two-by-two, this ancient narrative chronicles God's grief over creation, His divine "de-creation" and the extraordinary faith of one man who built an ark on dry land. Most powerfully, Dan reveals how Noah's story whispers Jesus' name - while Noah saved a few, Jesus became the ultimate ark, sacrificing Himself so all could be saved. A thought-provoking exploration that challenges us: when the world rushes toward a cliff, will we have faith to walk the other way?
When Someone Else Gets The Win (Genesis Part 9)
Ever felt that sting when someone else gets the recognition you wanted? Pete Butland unpacks the story of Cain and Abel to reveal it's not just about murder – it's about our fundamental view of God. Using emergency Christmas presents and unwanted toffee pennies as illustrations, Pete exposes how we often give God our leftovers while keeping the best for ourselves. The real question: do we truly believe God is enough? When we don't, we become like Cain – resentful, bitter, and unable to celebrate others' success. But when we know God's abundance, we can give our best without fear and rejoice when others receive His favour.
Evil Is Not What You Think It Is (Genesis Part 8)
We can tend to either dismiss evil as superstition or distance it as something that happens to "other people". This week, Will Sopwith challenges both perspectives, revealing how evil operates closer to home than we might think. Drawing from Genesis, he unpacks three key components of evil - the pursuit of power, the perversion of good, and the perpetration of pain - while showing how God both judges and limits its impact.
But here's the hope - while evil is real, we're not powerless against it. Through Christ, we have practical ways to resist its influence and participate in God's restoration plan.
Growing Up Is Learning What To Want (Genesis Part 7)
Ever wondered why the things we want most aren't always what's best for us? This week, Jenny Mariner continues unpacking Genesis' wisdom on desire and decision-making, revealing how growing up spiritually isn't about having all the answers – it's about learning to want the right things. Through everyday objects and surprising insights from The Karate Kid, Jenny shows us why God's 'no' might actually be the path to our best 'yes'. From dealing with daily choices to life-changing decisions, discover how ancient wisdom speaks directly into our modern struggle between following our hearts and trusting God's guidance.
Why You Matter More Than Kings (Genesis Part 6)
In a world obsessed with status, Genesis drops a revolutionary bombshell on humanity: you're made in God's image. Not just kings, not just the special few – everyone. Dave Connolly unpacked what this means for us today, moving beyond surface-level selfies to something far deeper. Through stories of starlit skies and pottery wheels, we discovered how bearing God's image isn't about looking like Him, but carrying His essence. The evening sparked rich discussions about human worth, grace versus perfection, and how seeing God's image in everyone could revolutionise our Monday mornings. Because turns out, you matter more than kings – and that changes everything.
When Everything Looks Good But God Says No (Genesis Part 5)
Ever felt torn between what looks good and what God says is good? This week, Jenny Mariner tackled one of the most challenging aspects of faith - those moments when God says no to something that seems perfectly right. Through a fresh look at Genesis, Jenny explored how our culture's "follow your desires" narrative contrasts with God's invitation to deeper trust. From chocolate cake cravings to life-changing decisions, she revealed how God isn't restricting our joy but inviting us into something better. The following discussion got refreshingly real about relationships, power, and what it means to trust God when everything in us wants to say yes.
Can Science And Faith Tell The Same Story? (Genesis Part 4)
Ever wondered if your faith can survive a physics degree? This Sunday, theoretical physicist Josh Edmundson shared his journey from defending young-earth creationism to discovering a richer understanding of both science and scripture. Through university studies and deepening faith, Josh found that Genesis isn't trying to be a scientific textbook - it's answering much deeper questions about who God is and who we are. Joined by molecular biologist Will Sopwith, the conversation explored how both science and faith require humility, and how bringing your questions to God often leads to deeper understanding rather than doubt. A fresh perspective on the age-old debate of whether science and faith can truly coexist.
Why Genesis Changed Everything We Know About God (Genesis Part 3)
What if everything you thought you knew about God came from centuries of tradition rather than what Genesis actually says? This week, Steve Connolly helped us discover how these ancient texts present a radically different picture of God - one that challenged the beliefs of its time and still challenges ours today. From tackling big questions about science and faith to exploring what it means to trust a God we can't fully understand, we discovered why Genesis isn't just another creation story - it's a revolutionary declaration about who God is and what that means for us today.
Did God Design Us To Be Environmental Guardians? (Genesis Part 2)
When it comes to environmental issues, Christians often feel caught between denial and despair. But what if Genesis offers a different perspective altogether? In this service, Matt Edmundson explores God's original design for humanity's relationship with creation. Moving beyond both exploitation and nature worship, Genesis reveals how we're called to be guardians rather than owners. Discover what the Hebrew word for "dominion" really means, why God started Adam with just a garden, and how caring for creation isn't just about following trends - it's about living out our basic human calling as stewards of God's good earth.
Finding Life in the Chaos (Genesis Part 1)
Ever felt like everything's chaos? In our first look at Genesis, Jack Mariner unpacks how God doesn't just show up when everything's sorted - He specialises in bringing life from nothing. From those first mysterious words, "the earth was formless and empty," we discover a God who's always moving, always breathing life into situations that seem hopeless. Whether you're starting 2025 full of hope or barely crawling into the new year, this message reminds us that God isn't finished yet. He's still in the business of bringing order from chaos, still creating something beautiful from nothing.
Home Alone and The Christmas Story we Never Saw Coming
We take a fresh look at the movie, Home Alone, as we uncover how this beloved Christmas classic mirrors profound spiritual truths. From Kevin's misguided pursuit of freedom to his mum's relentless journey home, discover how this film reflects God's own story of seeking and saving the lost. Matt Edmundson & Anna Kettle explore what true freedom really means, challenge our preconceptions of God, and reveal why Christmas is less about being good and more about being found. Whether you're a film buff or faith explorer, this message brings new depth to both the movie and the Christmas story.
Philippians # 9 - Being Content
From his prison cell, Paul wrote about a secret to contentment that had nothing to do with circumstances and everything to do with Christ. This week, Jack Mariner unpacks this radical message that cuts right through our consumer culture, challenging how we think about satisfaction, happiness, and what we really need. In Conversation Street, we tackle those tricky questions: Can you be content and still want change? What's the difference between contentment and happiness? Whether you're feeling satisfied with life or struggling to find peace, this message offers a fresh perspective on true contentment.
Philippians #8 - Finding Peace When Your Mind Won't Shut Up
You know that feeling when your mind just won't shut up? When one anxious thought leads to another, and before you know it, you're spiralling? This Sunday at Crowd, Sharon Edmundson tackled this head-on, sharing her own journey with anxiety - from childhood fears to adult struggles - while unpacking some surprisingly practical wisdom from Philippians 4.
Philippians #7 - Pressing Toward the Goal
While we're pursuing God, He's actually pursuing us. It's like running towards a finish line and realising the prize is running towards you. Take Usain Bolt. He's naturally rapid, but did you know he trained six days a week, 11 months a year to become the fastest man alive? Sometimes we think faith's like that - all about our effort, our training, our dedication. But what if it's less about performing for God and more about responding to a love that's already chasing us down?
Philippians #6 - The Pursuit of Knowing Christ
Dave takes us through the next part of Philippians, cutting through the noise to get to something real - what happens when knowing Jesus becomes your main pursuit? In Conversation Street, Matt and Jan unpacked what this looks like in real life - from Monday morning meetings to Friday night takeaways.
Philippians #5 - Service & Sacrifice
Today is Remembrance Sunday. Andy Kettle explores themes of service and sacrifice through the lens of biblical figures Timothy and Epaphroditus, drawing parallels with the selflessness of soldiers commemorated on this day. Andy shares the inspiring story of Woodbine Willie, a chaplain known for his compassion during World War I.
Philippians #4 - The Name Of Jesus
This service is a lively discussion about the significance of names and reputations. Will looks at the power and influence of the name of Jesus, drawing from Philippians. He explores how names shape our perceptions and the ultimate authority of Jesus' name.
Philippians #3 - Living Worthy of the Gospel
Pete' Farrington explores the challenge of living a life worthy of the gospel and the profound themes of humility and sacrifice. The conversation looks into the significance of Christ's incarnation, the offence of the Gospel, and the transformative power of embracing God's principles.