Crowd Church Talks
Series: Origin | What does the Bible say about? | Mark’s Gospel | Alpha Course Online
Did Abraham Know Something About Money That We Don't (Genesis Part 13)
In this exploration of faith and provision, Jack Mariner unpacks how Abraham's journey from self-reliance to radical trust transformed his relationship with possessions. When faced with famine, Abraham initially schemed his way through Egypt rather than trusting God's promise. Yet his encounter with the mysterious Melchizedek marks a turning point—giving away a tenth of everything as an act of worship. Through personal stories of miraculous provision and candid conversations about money's grip on our hearts, this message challenges us to discover the paradoxical freedom that comes when we open our hands and trust our abundantly generous God.
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.