Media

SERIES: Automatic, for the People

Message: for the people

Reading: Mark 4: 26 - 29 

If things like gravity and entropy are automatics built into creation, it ought to make us curious, 'are there any automatic principles built into the kingdom of God?' Forget for a moment that not all believers are in agreement and what the kingdom is - kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, thy kingdom come, coming, came (?) - instead, consider how the kingdom behaves. It grows according to principles all by itself; automatically.

SERIES: Automatic, for the People

Message: Automatic

Reading: Mark 4: 26 - 29 

If things like gravity and entropy are automatics built into creation, it ought to make us curious, 'are there any automatic principles built into the kingdom of God?' Forget for a moment that not all believers are in agreement and what the kingdom is - kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, thy kingdom come, coming, came (?) - instead, consider how the kingdom behaves. It grows according to principles all by itself; automatically.

SERIES: One is a mammal with a big heart. The other is a prophet.

Message: Jonah Ch. 4

Reading: Jonah 4

Jonah may have multiple motivations for his actions in the story, because the Bible does not provide a singular clear motivation. It is, indeed, a deeply complex pathology at work that compels him to run from God and then later sabotage his own mission to Nineveh. The story concludes in an open-ended way: have we taken a vantage point by which to see God's grace or actively obscure it?

SERIES: One is a mammal with a big heart. The other is a prophet.

Message: Jonah Ch. 3

Reading: Jonah 3

Forget Compton or even Moncton; Nineveh was in a bad way. But given the tragectory of the narrative so far, we should not be surprised when Nineveh turns to God. The Book of Jonah holds out one greater element of suspense: it is Jonah himself who needs deep and abiding transformation in his life.

SERIES: Baptism Service

Message: YES

Reading: 2 Corinthians 1: 12 - 24 

To us, 'yes' is just a word and most words are empty. Especially at a time when we are highly cautious about making commitments and signing contracts, our 'yes' is rather more a, 'let's see how it goes.' God's 'yes' is different. It is anything but empty; rather, it calls forth into existence the very thing to which he is signalling affirmation. God's 'yes' is a reality that can be seen, held and relied upon.

SERIES: One is a mammal with a big heart. The other is a prophet.

Message: Jonah Ch. 2

Reading: Jonah 2

We would expect big things from Jonah's 'belly-of-the-whale-ordeal.' And indeed, when Jonah begins to pray to God, we get what we had hoped for - humility, submission, repentance. The only problem is: Jonah prayed that prayer thinking he had drowned and gone to the realm of the dead. Is that not exactly what he wanted and asked for? Is it like God to give a disobedient prophet exactly what he wanted and asked for?

SERIES: One is a mammal with a big heart. The other is a prophet.

Message: Jonah Ch. 1

Reading: Jonah 1

It seems strange that the Book of Jonah falls within the Biblical category of ‘prophecy.’ Prophets call people and nations into submission before God. Jonah does very little of that. In fact, he lives in active disobedience to God; submitting to nothing and no-one. There we discover that Jonah is himself the ‘prophecy;’ a tale of caution to all readers about pride and despair and the only hope: of being found humbled and at peace before God.

SERIES: Jesus Genes (Advent series)

Message: Pt. 4 - my brothers and my sisters

Reading: Matthew 13: 53 - 55; Mark 3: 31 - 35 

By about the 4th C, the church had rubbed out of history Jesus' childhood family in favor of the doctrine of the perpetual purity of Mary - that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life, even in the act of giving birth on Christmas. What it means, is Jesus did not grow up with any other children in the house. That is simply not true. The Bible describes his 1/2 brothers and sisters and they remain, to this day, both the medium and the message of gospel good news.

SERIES: Jesus Genes (Advent series)

Message: Pt. 3 - what say you, Joe?

Reading: Matthew 1: 16 - 25 

Joseph contributes a "still, silent center" to the story of Christ's birth. In fact, he enters and exits Scripture without ever uttering even a syllable. Imagine the courage and conviction of one who married under strange circumstances (Mary was already pregnant), was visited by angels, and moved his family in haste to Egypt to escape Herod, and yet did all of that without recording a word in the Bible. God does not promise that we will always get the last word. He promises himself and honors those who obediently follow his call.

SERIES: Jesus Genes (Advent series)

Message: Pt. 2 - that ole dvd

Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 11b - 17, Matthew 1: 1 - 17 

What is surprising is not so much how David's life turned out; the meteroric rise and equally meteoric falls that characterise his life - that deadly ricochet between pride and despair with which we are so familar. It is that when we open the New Testament story of Jesus Christ, the Bible is still clinging to David. His name lights up Matthew ch. 1 like a Christmas tree! What is God telling us that a person like David can figure so promently in Jesus family tree?

SERIES: Jesus Genes (Advent series)

Message: Pt. 1 - my four moms

Reading: Matthew 1: 1 - 17 

Comparing Matthew and Luke’s attempt at genealogy reveals discrepancies: names (generations) go missing, the ordering gets goofed up, women appear out of nowhere and against the tradition. The question is not ‘who is right?’ (Matthew or Luke) but, ‘why is creative license employed?’ – for what purpose or end? It is, of course, to tell us who you need to be to end up in Jesus’ family tree.

SERIES: Does Christianity Still Matter?

Message: Pt. 3 - Truth be Told

Reading: Luke 12: 13 – 24, 29 – 32 (The Message)

"One of the most famous quotes of 2017 suggested, 'these are the alternative facts.' Certainly by the time we begin arguing Christianity has a factual basis, we may expect push-back. 'Those may be your facts, but those are not my facts.' In a world reduced to mere subjective opinion, can anything really be known for sure?"

SERIES: Does Christianity Still Matter?

Message: Pt. 2 - Lost and Found

Reading: 1 Chronicles 17: 1 - 15 

"Lost in the vastness of the multi-verse, human beings do what human beings have always done: gone in search of God; finding Him and figuring out how to relate to Him is the project of organized religion. Christianity bears one marvelous and unexpected distinctive: this God comes in search of us, through the presence of Immanuel, 'God with us.'"

SERIES: Does Christianity Still Matter?

Message: Pt. 1 - The Big Booming Voice 

Reading: Job 38: 1 - 11, 31 - 33

"The mysteries of creation give testimony to the need for a creator. Christianity provides the most sensible creation narrative, not despite of science, but because of it. Creation and Creator are key pieces in a narrative that gives meaning and vocation to all human beings."

SERIES: 12 personalities, 24 footprints, 36 months, 1 road

Message: the Little'ns

Reading: Matthew 10

SERIES: 12 personalities, 24 footprints, 36 months, 1 road

Message: the Andrew Effect

Reading: John 1: 35 - 42, John 6: 1 - 14 

SERIES: 12 personalities, 24 footprints, 36 months, 1 road

Message: without the stuffing

Reading: Luke 17: 11 - 19 

SERIES: 12 personalities, 24 footprints, 36 months, 1 road

Message: AKA

Reading: John 1: 29 - 42 

SERIES: 12 personalities, 24 footprints, 36 months, 1 road

In technical terms, discipleship involves a three-year immersive internship under the wings of a Teacher who may as well have the entire Bible memorized, so overwhelming is his knowledge and wisdom. You and I would say, "I can't drop what I'm doing to follow this Teacher; that's too great a commitment." Except that this Teacher knows us, gets inside of us, and moves us with motivations that are not burdensome but winsome. 

Message: Crossing Over

Reading: Mark 1: 9 - 20 

SERIES: 12 personalities, 24 footprints, 36 months, 1 road

Message: On Foot

Reading: Genesis 1: 26 – 31

Labour Day Weekend

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3: 11 - 15 

Message: Live. Laugh. Labour.

Series: Holy Hyperbole

The snake is an odd choice for a role model. It is such an obvious symbol in the Bible that we would expect Jesus to curse the snake, not commend it. That is true, except with regard to its shrewdness; the snake demonstrates cunning, craft and deliberateness. And those same things put to use for the Kingdom will gain a net yield and a commendation from the King.

Message: Shrewd as Snakes

Reading: Matthew 10: 1 - 16

Series: Holy Hyperbole

Jesus locked gaze with a woman who was clearly in need and when he finally opened his mouth to speak to her, he said the word, 'dog.' To be very clear, Jesus' interaction with this particular individual today would have sparked a #hashtag movement. The interesting thing is: she wasn't offended. Nor was it Jesus' intention to offend her, but to offend those who would either overhear this conversation or read about it later. 

Message: Dog Under the Table

Reading: Matthew 15: 21 - 39

Series: Profession of Faith

"Every church has two rites of passage - a baptism and a dedication. In our tradition, often the baptism happens at infancy and the dedication (or profession of faith) as a rite of adulthood so that by the time the full responsibility of life, with its work and worries arrives, we have long forgot about the meaning of baptism. Jesus puts it into perspective by introducing us to a gardener who goes about his work with the steady trust and reliance of a child."

Scripture: Psalm 127; Mark 4: 26 - 29 

Message: The Gardener and the Worrier

Series: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

Both literalists and non-literalists can agree that a talking snake is an example of 'anthropomorphism' - the attribution of human characteristics to an animal or thing. The thing we are referring to, of course, is the invisible spiritual realm. What does the Bible say about evil in our midst and what kind of response should this elicit in us?

Scripture: Matthew 16: 13 - 28 

Message: [Pt.7] Spiritual Realm?

Series: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God - such a narrow gate for people who carry with them so much stuff - that is, until they get good at letting go. Money is just one thing - perhaps the scariest thing - to imagine letting go of. But we know from experience that hangups about money often go much deeper, revealing hidden hurts and areas of vulnerability in our lives. How do we let go of those?

Scripture: Mark 10: 17 - 31 

Message: [Pt.5] Sell Everything?

Pentecost is one of those things, we may imagine, that resulted from being in the right place at the right time. Before he ascended, Jesus left specific instructions: 'be in the holy city in a few days or you will miss out.' However, we know that missing out on Pentecost is not simply about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Spiritual revival is at one in the same time a gift, a miracle, a mystery, and not for the faint of heart.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14: 18 - 33 (The Message)

Message: No Pentecost without a Cost

Series: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

Standing on this side of Easter, the question would seem to apply to Jesus: "where were you Easter weekend? As someone who has come back from the dead, tell us, what is it like?" That is, after all, the question we would ask of anyone who has peeked over the line between life and death and returned to talk about it. What does the Bible say about the destination beyond?

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 - 18 

Message: [Pt. 4] Intermediate State?

Series: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

"Promises have fallen on hard times; they are both meaningless in the context of our political disillusionment, and so intensely meaningful that we fear forever-commitments made through promises. God does not suffer from either our disillusionment or fear of commitment. He makes promises to us as old as time and as relevant as ever. The Bible refers to God's vows as covenants."

Scripture: Genesis 15

Message: [Pt. 3] Covenant?

Series: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

"Fortune cookies and horoscopes offer wisdom in such generalities that it applies to all people, everywhere, all the time. For Christians, that message is: 'today you will need to forgive someone.' In a world where retribution is the first law of human nature, forgiveness is a challenge for all believers, everywhere, in all times. Why is it so hard and what will help us re-engage the process of forgiveness?"

Scripture: Matthew 18: 21 - 35  

Message: [Pt. 2] Forgive?

Series: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

"Long time listener, first time caller would probably describe most of you. You have listened to sermons for a long time just as some preachers have preached for a long time. This time the tables are turned and it's you on the air, choosing the music; your voice, shaping the content and conversation. One of you called in this request: what is canon? Who decided which writings should be considered sacred and therefore gain entrance into the Bible? And did that person choose wisely?"

Scripture: Luke 24: 27 - 35; Hebrews 4: 12 - 13 

Message: [Pt. 1] Canon?

Series: Easter Sunday

"The disciples spent much of Easter weekend in a locked room. This would be called the “bottle episode” in the unfolding drama of the Easter story. It’s a long scene with little movement as each of the disciples comes to terms with what happened on Good Friday. But when they emerge from the locked room, they are a group transformed with faith and power and boldness. Only one thing explains this transformation: something happened in that locked room – an encounter with the risen Christ."

Scripture: John 20: 19 - 31 

Message: 'The Other Resurrection'

Series: Controversy was the Crime

"Every generation wishes to believe that we were the only ones who had to walk to school uphill both ways; we were the ones who worked the hardest, complained the least, and never had anything handed to us. And now you can understand how the generation of his day reacted to Jesus – after everything that they had worked for it seemed Jesus was just handing it out for free. "

Scripture: Matthew 20: 1 - 6, 13: 24 - 30 

Message: Pt. 4 'Every Generation'

Series: Controversy was the Crime

"They found themselves on the wrong side of history. Like coal miners in the 21st Century, history passed by the religious people of the 1st Century. But not without a fight; one that reached its climax in the death of Christ. Jesus scandalized their religious rituals and traditions in order to place history on the side of those who embrace relationship instead; relationship with Christ, and one another."

Scripture: Hebrews 10: 1 - 18 

Message: Pt. 3 'Kicking at the Obstacles'

Series: Controversy was the Crime

"Zach Morris was a preppie, Ferris Bueller was a troublemaker. Every high school has its distinct cliques and clans but that is not ideal - it is, after all, high school. Jesus united twelve individuals each from very different walks of life and formed something the world had never seen - a discipleship movement capable of far greater drama, beauty and transformation, than if we all remained in one clique or clan."

Scripture: Mark 3: 13 - 19, 31 - 35 

Message: Pt. 2 'Kin, Clan, Clique'

Series: Controversy was the Crime

Scripture: John 2: 13 - 25 

Message: Pt. 1 'Temple'

Scripture: Nehemiah NIV Introduction; Nehemiah 1

Message: 'not just another brick in the wall'

Series: Emoji

Scripture: Luke 7: 36 - 50 

Message: Pt. 4 'Love'

Series: Emoji

Scripture: John 11: 17 - 37 

Message: Pt. 3 'Grief'

Series: Emoji

Scripture: Psalm 103

Message: Pt. 2 'Fear'

Series: Emoji

Scripture: Genesis 18: 9 - 15; 21: 1 - 7 

Message: Pt. 1 'Laughter'

New Year's Eve 

Scripture: Esther 4: 9 - 17 

Message: 'time' for Esther

Series: Follow the Star

Scripture: Luke 2: 1 - 7 

Message: making space

Series: Follow the Star

Scripture: Matthew 1: NIV Introduction, excerpts

Message: the whole holy family

Series: Follow the Star

Scripture: 2 Peter 3

Message: the other advent

Series: Follow the Star

Scripture: Revelation 12

Message: cosmic Christmas

Scripture: NIV Introduction: The Book of Job; Job 2: 1 - 20 

Message: ‘The Book of Job'

SERIES: "500" - top three ideas, 500 years later

Scripture:  1 Peter 1: 22 – 2: 3; 2 Peter 3: 14 – 18

Message: ‘always reforming'

SERIES: "500" - top three ideas, 500 years later

Scripture: Ephesians 1

Message: ‘loved you first'

SERIES: "500" - top three ideas, 500 years later

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 6 - 31

Message: ‘sovereignty'

SERIES: Sibling of the Seven

Scripture: Revelation 3: 14 - 22

Message: ‘three taps'

SERIES: Thanksgiving

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5: 13 - 20 

Message: ‘beyond reason'

SERIES: Sibling of the Seven

Scripture: Revelation 3: 1 - 6

Message: ‘asleep in Sardis'

SERIES: Sibling of the Seven

Scripture: Revelation 2: 12 – 29

Message: ‘how did we end up here?'

SERIES: Sibling of the Seven

Scripture: Revelation 2: 8 - 11, 3: 7 - 13 

Message: ‘the that' 

SERIES: Sibling of the Seven

Scripture: Revelation 2: 1 - 7 

Message: ‘your first love'

SERIES: Confined, but not solitary. Fastened, but free. From jail, with joy, love Paul.

Scripture: Philippians 4

Message: ‘the missing word and the secret'

SERIES: Confined, but not solitary. Fastened, but free. From jail, with joy, love Paul.

Scripture: Philippians 3: 1 - 14 

Message: ‘Listicles and Other Rubbish'

SERIES: Confined, but not solitary. Fastened, but free. From jail, with joy, love Paul.

Scripture: Philippians 2: 19 - 30

Message: ‘Elder Epaphroditus'

SERIES: Canada Day 150

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7: 11 - 22 

Message: the invisible Canada

SERIES: Confined, but not solitary. Fastened, but free. From jail, with joy, love Paul.

Scripture: Philippians 2: 1 - 18 

Message: ‘running (better) on empty'

SERIES: Confined, but not solitary. Fastened, but free. From jail, with joy, love Paul.

Scripture: Philippians 1: 12 - 30 

Message: ‘Paul's Cell Group’

SERIES: Confined, but not solitary. Fastened, but free. From jail, with joy, love Paul.

Scripture: Philippians 1: 1 – 11

Message: ‘Ragtag in Philippi’

SERIES: ‘What do we really mean when we say _______?’

Scripture: Acts 2: 14 - 41

Message: repent

SERIES: ‘What do we really mean when we say _______?’

Scripture: Luke 17: 20 - 25 

Message: kingdom

SERIES: ‘What do we really mean when we say _______?’

Scripture: Genesis 3

Message: sin

SERIES: ‘What do we really mean when we say _______?’

Scripture: Luke 4: 14 - 30

Message: good news

SERIES: ‘What do we really mean when we say _______?’

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 4 – 10; Luke 15: 25 – 32

Message: grace

SERIES: Easter

Scripture: John 20: 1 - 16

Message: the only remaining theory

SERIES: Parable and Passion

Scripture: Matthew 22: 1 - 14 

Message: not looking like that, you won't

SERIES: Parable and Passion

Scripture: Matthew 13: 31 – 35

Message: it’s gotta start somewhere

SERIES: From Parable to Passion

Scripture: Luke 13: 1 – 9

Message: give it time

SERIES: From Parable to Passion

Scripture: Matthew 21: 28 – 46

Message: beyond the road paved with good intentions

SERIES: From Parable to Passion

Scripture: Matthew 21: 33 – 46

Message: where’s the fruit?

SERIES: The Doomsday Clock

Reading: Revelation 12

Message: the view from Meggido

SERIES: The Doomsday Clock

Reading: NIV Intro: Revelation; Revelation 1: 1 – 3; 22: 16 – 21

Message: life in the last days

SERIES: The Inner Cynic

Reading: Ecclesiastes 12: 1 – 8

Message:Pt.6: before I sign-off

SERIES: The Inner Cynic

Reading: Ecclesiastes 9: 1 – 12

Message: Pt. 5: who could have predicted?

SERIES: The Inner Cynic

Reading: Ecclesiastes 4: 4 – 12

Message: Pt. 4: your hands

SERIES: The Inner Cynic

Reading: Ecclesiastes 3

Message: Pt.3: for all a time and a time for all

SERIES: The Inner Cynic

Reading: Ecclesiastes 1: 12 – 2: 11

Message: Pt. 2: the grand undertaking

SERIES: The Inner Cynic

Reading: Ecclesiastes 1: 1 – 11

Message: when there’s nothing new under the sun

SERIES: “From Fullness to Emptiness (and Back Again)”

Reading: Ruth 4: 1 – 13

Message: the first Christmas in Bethlehem

SERIES: “From Fullness to Emptiness (and Back Again)”

Reading: Ruth 3: 1 – 13

Message: cross the threshing floor

SERIES: “From Fullness to Emptiness (and Back Again)”

Reading: Ruth 2: 1 – 10

Message: the door

SERIES: “From Fullness to Emptiness (and Back Again)”

Reading: Ruth 1: 1 – 18

Message: in anticipation of the last word

SERIES: Year of the Yubel

Scripture: Luke 15: 11 – 24

Message: [Pt. 2] The New Yubel

SERIES: Year of the Yubel

Scripture: Luke 4: 14 – 30

Message: [Pt. 1] Time to Sound the Yubel

SERIES: BIG

Reading: Romans 12: 1 – 8 (The Message)

Message: Pt. 4: Big Reform

Series: BIG

Message: Pt. 3: Big Book

Scripture:  Luke 10: 25 – 29

SERIES: BIG

Message: Pt. 2: Big Gifts

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 1 – 10

SERIES: BIG

Reading: Isaiah 45

Message: Pt. 1: Big God