00:00 Welcome Introduction with Dan Beth 01:44 Talk: Did God Design Us To Be Environmental Guardians? With Matt Edmundson 07:42 What Genesis Actually Says About Creation Our Role 14:57 'Greenwashing' Fair Trade 18:24 Why God Started Adam With Just a Garden 19:48 Finding Balance Between Development vs Preservation 28:06 Conversation Street: Practical Ways to Care for Creation When it comes to environmental issues, it often feels like we're caught between denial and despair. But what if there's another way? This week at Crowd, Matt Edmundson explores how Genesis offers a radical perspective on caring for our world - one that's neither about exploiting creation nor worshipping it. Right from the start, Matt made it clear this this wasn't going to be another polarising debate about climate change. Instead, he took us back to Genesis to uncover God's original design for how humans should relate to the natural world. The opening chapters of Genesis present a view that challenges both extremes of the environmental debate. The earth isn't divine (something to worship), nor is it worthless (something to exploit). Instead, it's God's good creation, entrusted to our care. One insight came from looking at the Hebrew word for "dominion". Rather than meaning domination or exploitation, it's more like the authority of a shepherd caring for sheep - protection with responsibility. This helps us to understand how to approach environmental issues. We're not just jumping on the latest eco-bandwagon; we're fulfilling our most basic human calling as stewards of God's creation. Feeling overwhelmed by global environmental challenges? Matt reminded us how God started Adam with a garden - a specific, manageable space. While we might not be able to solve global warming single-handedly, we can each tend to our own "garden" - whether that's our home, workplace, or community. During Conversation Street, the discussion turned practical. From choosing to walk instead of drive when possible to teaching our children about stewardship, the focus was on doing what we can with what we have within our sphere of influence. The chat revealed that caring for creation isn't just about recycling or avoiding plastic (though those things matter). It's about recognising that everything - from supply chains to shopping choices - has an impact on both planet and people. The key takeaway? Environmental care isn't an optional extra for Christians - it's part of who we were created to be. But rather than being driven by fear or guilt, we can act from a place of purpose, knowing we're partnering with God in caring for His creation. Want to explore more about how ancient wisdom speaks to modern challenges? Join us next Sunday as we continue our Genesis series, looking at the nature of God with Steve Connolly. In person at 6:30pm or online at 7:00pm UK time. Ever feel your spiritual journey doesn't match the Instagram-perfect Christian life? Sue Uddin's message brings liberating hope through Abraham's story – a faith hero whose CV included panic, dishonesty and questionable decisions alongside his legendary obedience. Yet God still called him "my friend." This powerful reminder shows that authentic faith isn't about flawless performance but honest relationship through life's ups and downs. Whether you're confidently trusting God's promises or struggling to hold on during difficult seasons, Abraham's messy journey proves you're never disqualified. God didn't give up on him – and He won't give up on you either. 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 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. 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. 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? 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. 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. 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. At Crowd Church, we are committed to creating a space for you to explore the Christian faith, regardless of where you are on your faith journey. Every week we livestream our online church service and release a new story on What’s The Story Podcast. We have weekly online community groups that meet up and all of that good stuff. You can find out more about everything that goes on at Crowd by browsing through this site, and you can reach out to us via our contact page. Are you interested in joining in with what is happening here at Crowd? We would love to meet you! Come and join our in-person service in Liverpool. Join in with the Church Livestream Subscribe to Crowd Church Podcast What’s the Story Podcast Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to the YouTube Channel New to church? If so - check out the New Here link. Any questions? Please connect with us via our Contact Page, or via WhatsApp: +44 7984 530 429