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Message for July 30 2023
Isaiah 58:9-14
In Isaiah 58, the prophet provides a number of conditional phrases for the people of God. If they will heed the heart of God, they will find the Lord as their delight and find themselves taken to the high places, with the heritage of Jacob as their possession. It will require a giving up of their own ways, their own interests, their own affairs, and the orienting of themsevles once again around true love of God and others.
Message for July 16 2023
Isaiah 58:1-9
In Isaiah 58 we find a challenging call from the prophet to the people of God - a call which is perhaps too relevant to the people of God today. The call is to be a people not of pious religiosity, but of peaceful (shalom) relationships. This is the heart of both Judaism and Christianity.
Message for June 18 2023
Zacchaeus
In Luke 19 we find the beautiful transformation of a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus (who by the way was very rich). Jesus invites himself over the Zacchaeus' house, after having seen him in the sycamore tree, which Zacchaeus had climbed because he wanted to see who Jesus was. Upon meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus realized that to know Jesus is to be challenged to follow him - a challenge Zacchaeus took up.
Message for June 11 2023
Come, Follow Me
In Mark 10 we find a rich man being called to leave what he knows and follow Jesus. There is not a whole lot of information as to what following Jesus will entail, other than a selling of all he owns and following a Jesus who loves him. This call comes in response to the rich man's question: what must I do to have eternal life? Jesus, rather than answering the question directly, calls the man to faith in the here and now.
Message for May 28 2023
Spirit of Love Among Us
God's desire for his people is simple, yet not so simple. What God wants is this: for us to love him and love one another. This was Israel's call as God's people and it remains the call of followers of Jesus today: to love God and love one another. While Israel seems to have constantly struggled with idolatry and injustice among them, God gives a promise that a day will come in which he will put his law of love inside of them by his Spirit.
Message for April 30 2023
The Need for Heart
Christianity is so much more than just a set of ideas to be believed with our minds; the Christian faith is so much more than something to be rationalized. The Christian faith is perhaps best described as a way of life, and one that involves our heart - our will, intent, passion and desire. It is, above all, about love, which is something which cannot be fully realized in the mind but must be taken up in the heart and lived.
Message for April 16 2023
Matthew 28
In the final chapter of Matthew we find the resurrection account of Jesus as well as what has become known as the great commission. In rasing Jesus from the dead, God the Father has affirmed Jesus' identity as the Son of God, and in the commission given to Jesus' disciples, the ministry of Jesus is to be continued.
Message for April 9 2023
Easter Sunday
The Apostle Paul noted in his letter to the Church at Galatia that he lived by faith in the Son of God who loved him and died for him. This is the call of Easter Sunday: to examine that which we have put our faith in. Is it Jesus' life, death and resurrection that creates hope in us? Do you recognize that it is for you he died, that it is you he loves? Will you live for him?
Message for April 2 2023
Palm Sunday
In Mark 11 we find what has been termed "Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem." Jesus enters Jerusalem as a King, but not to set up an earthly kingdom, but rather to establish the Kingdom of God. The crowds who were also entering Jerusalem for the festivities which were to take place proclaimed "hosanna" as they entered the city with Jesus. Some would soon add their voices with others to proclaim: "crucify him."
Message for March 26 2023
Jonah 4
In the final chapter of Jonah, we have the prophet's heart revealed and it is a sad state that is discovered. The book of Jonah ends with no resolution for the prophet, but the ending is powerful in that it invites us to examine our own hearts before the Lord God. Let us accept the invitation.
Message for March 19 2023
Jonah 3
In Jonah 3 we find God's call once again given to Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim God's word to them. This time Jonah goes, though we find in chapter 4 his heart is still not right. Nineveh, that great city, hears the Word of God as delivered by Jonah and repents; this is something which God's own people, on contrast, often do not do well.
Message for March 12 2023
Jonah 2
We find a prayer from Jonah in chapter 2. In Jonah 1, the sailors had called upon Jonah to pray to his God, but he was silent; now that he finds himself in the belly of a fish, he prays - and God hears his prayer. Jonah is delivered. While delivered from the depths of his own distess, we find in the beginning of chapter 3 that Jonah is not delivered from the call of God upon his life.
Message for March 5 2023
Jonah 1
The Book of Jonah is about a prophet of Israel who does not like the prophecy the God of Israel has given him - with the reason ultimately being his concern that God's mercy will triumph and the Assyrians in Nineveh will receive the love of God. So Jonah attempts to run from God to Tarshish, the end of the earth. Rather than making it to Tarshish, however, Jonah lands in the belly of a big fish and is given time to reconsider the Word of God upon his life.
Message for February 26 2023
Run the Race
In Hebrews 12, following the great faith chapter of the Bible (Hebrews 11), we find a call to run well the race that is set before us in Christ - considering those who have gone before us and considering Christ, the author and perfector of our faith. As we have entered this season of lent, let us consider Christ who for the joy set before him endured the cross and ask ourselves what it is we are being asked to endure.
Message for February 19 2023
Revived Concern
In Philippians 4 we find Paul rejoicing (once again) over the revived concern of the Philippian church for him, displayed through the gift delivered by Epaphroditus. This was a united endeavour of the Philippian church, which brought glory to God as a genuine offering. May our Lord help us to see what needs revived among us today.
Message for February 12 2023
Procuring Peace
In Philippians 4 Paul encourages the church at Philippi to know the peace of God through rejoicing, praying, giving thanks and expressing gentleness. Paul also admonishes them to think and act in accordance with the peace of God which is with them, guarding both their hears and minds.
Message for February 5 2023
To Know Christ
In Philippians 3 Paul makes known his ultimate desire: to know Christ. What is it you long for? To what lengths would you go to attain that which you long for? What would you give to have it? Paul has been and is willing to lay down everything for the surpassing value of knowig Christ.
Message for January 29 2023
Timothy and Epaphroditus
In Philippians 2, Paul shares of two followers of Jesus who are close to his heart: Timothy and Epaphroditus. Both have been a blessing to Paul, and to the church at Philippi. Timothy and Epaphroditus have a longing for God and for the church, which (aside from Paul) appears to be unmatched. These two men stand as examples for the Philippian church.
Message for January 22 2023
Unifying Humility
In Philippians 2, Paul challenges the church to recognize the calling of the gift they have received in Christ: a call to love one another with mercy and compassion and in so doing to lay aside any and all rivalry and self-centredness. The example for this sort of life in community is Christ himself, who though being God humbled himself in love to the point of death, even death on a cross. God having so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Message for January 15 2023
A Passionate Prayer and Plea
In Philippians 1, Paul and Timothy begin their passionate letter to the church they helped form at Philippi. The letter begins with a hearfelt prayer, followed by a powerful plea for the church to stand firm in their love of Christ and love for one another. They are encouraged to take up Paul's passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Message for January 8 2023
Heeding Wisdom
In Proverbs 3:1-10 we find a call to a son from his father; it is a call to heed the father's instructions. These instructions, we can safely assume, are derived from the Word of God. If the child will listen, they will find life; indeed, their life will be one of peace and love. Let us hear the call from God our Father this day, a call to follow in His ways and so find peace and love in our lives.
Message for January 1 2023
Responding to the New Born King
In Matthew 2 we have the account of the visit of the wise men to Jesus. Within the story of their visit, the other main characters are King Herod and the chief priests and scribes. The wise men have come to worship Jesus, King Herod wants to destroy Jesus, and the chief priests and scribes appear to be indifferent. As we prepare to begin a new calendar year, may we examen our own hearts in regards to our attiitude toward Jesus.
Message for December 18 2022
Do Not Be Afraid
In Matthew 1, following the genealogy of Jesus, we have Joseph finding out his betrothed is pregnant. Joseph, being a righteous man, makes the obvious decision under the law, which is to break the engagement. Joseph chooses to do this quietly, showing his righteousness is true in that it is also compassionate. An angel of the Lord, however, calls Joseph to not be afraid to carry through on his commitment to Mary, for the child is of the Holy Spirit. This Christmas season, might we not be afraid to carry through on our commitment to Christ.
Message for December 11 2022
The Presence
As we approach Christmas, our minds think of the presents we might receive from others (a beautiful Christmas tradition - the giving and receiving of presents). The greatest gift given to us, however, is the presence of God; this gift was first given to humanity, then after the fall of humanity, to Israel, and then with the coming of Christ, to the church and once again to humanity.
Message for December 4 2022
Go in Peace
In Luke 7 we find an amazing encounter between Jesus and a woman who is known by nothing more than being a sinner, yet a sinner whom Jesus loved much. The context of this encounter is a meal at the house of Simon the Pharisee, and following teaching through a short parable, Jesus dismisses the woman with peace.
Message for November 27 2022
Prepare the Way of the Lord
John the Baptist, called of God, preached a message of repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins. This also involved living a life of bearing fruit as the people of God. As we have entered into the season of advent, a time of waiting and anticipation, we wait for the revealing of God in Christ; yet this time of waiting is also a time of preparation - in part the preparation of our own hearts in repentance that the way of Christ may be found in us.
Message for November 20 2022
A Time to Rebuild
Toward the end of 2 Chronicles we find a people who have been taken captive, a city (Jerusalem) destroyed, along with the place of God's presence being left in ruins. This is all on account of the people of God's lack of faithfulness. Yet at the very end of 2 Chronicles and into Ezra and Nehemiah, we find that God is not done; by the Spirit of God, God's people are called once again to rebuild a place for God's presence to be known and His Word to be heard.
Message for November 13 2022
Shalom
Within scripture we find three great themes which invade the life of Israel and the Church. These themes are the way things ought to be: shema (loving God with all that we got and subsequently loving our neighbour as ourselves), shabbat (resting in the provision of God and remembering to care for our neigbhour), and shalom (practing peace with one another as the people of God). Shalom is the active culmination of shema and the daily living out of the reorienting work of sabbath in our lives.
Message for October 30 2022
Shema Israel
If asked what the most important verse is in the Bible, some may go to John 3:16 or another familiar verse. When Jesus was asked this question, having only the Old Testament scriptures, he answered by qouting Deuteronomy 6:4-5. This passage is known as the shema and is a central text for Jewish faith and practice. Why was it so important? Is it important for us today as followers of Jesus?
Message for October 23 2022
Repentance that Leads to Life
In Acts 10 and 11 we find the account of Peter and Cornelius. Both receive words from the Lord God which bring them together, facilitating the spread of the Gospel to Gentiles. Peter had things he needed to get past in order for this to happen. In your life, what might stand in the way of the gospel being spread?
Message for October 9 2022
Psalm 100
Psalm 100 is a call to praise - a call to praise the Lord God who has made us, guides and protects us, and loves us with an everlasting love. Will we praise the Lord God? Will we worship him? This is a call to not only sing songs of praise to him as we enter his courts (draw near to him in church), but to serve him with our whole being.
Message for September 18 2022
Meanwhile, the Church . . .
In Acts 9:31 we find an update from Luke on how the Church is doing; and this is not a church in a particular location, but rather the Church as a whole. Since Pentecost and throughout the persecution, the Church has multiplied - and this is a result of their continued fear of the Lord, fellowship in the Holy Spirit, and genuine care and concern for one another. What would an update on the Church in our area say? What would it include?
Message for August 7 2022
Stephen: Truth over Tradition
In Acts 6 & 7 we find the brief account of Stephen and his role in the church. Stephen was one who was full of faith, Holy Spirit, grace and power - and this showed through his servant ministry, mighty deeds, and powerful proclamation. Stephen believed that Jesus was the Messiah, that God operated beyond the oral tradition, and for this was falsely accused of blasphemy. Stephen was stoned, with the approval of Saul who went on to ravage the church; Saul's defense: being zealous for the traditions of his ancestors. What holds you: truth or tradition?
Message for July 24 2022
Answering Complaints
In Acts 6:1-7we find an issue arising in the early church, where one group is complaining against another. The complaint is warranted, and the Apostles present a solution which also relieves them of the gowing burden of a growing church.
Message for June 26 2022
In Jesus' Name
In Acts 3:11-16 Peter begins his address to the people who have gathered around following the time of prayer at the temple. The reason the people have gathered around is because a man lame from birth (who is now 40 years old) attended the time of prayer in full health with Peter and John. Peter gives all the credit to Jesus - this being done in Jesus' name. Can this be said of our ministry today?
Message for June 19 2022
Beyond the Beautiful Gate
In Acts 3 we have the account of Peter and John going to the temple at the hour of prayer and they encounter a man who has been lame since birth. He was asking for alms; Peter and John had no money to give him. This does not prevent them from having a profound encounter with this man which leads to his healing. What does this miraculous incident call us to today? What do we have to give?
Message for June 12 2022
Repent and be Baptized
In Acts 2, following Peter's sermon on the day of Penetecost, some of the religious leaders are convicted over their role in having crucified Jesus. Having come to realize that Jesus was in fact the Messiah, they ask Peter what they should do. Peter's answer was: repent and be baptized. What relevance does this have for us today? What does it mean to repent and be baptized?
Message for May 29 2022
The Ascended Lord's Continued Work
In Acts 1, Luke continues the story of Jesus ministry, having written in his gospel all that Jesus began to say and do. At the ascension of Jesus, the work of Jesus was not done. In Acts this work was continued through the apotles, and down through the years the work of Jesus has continued through his church. Today, this continued ministry involves us.