Merry Christmas! In this message, we look at what Joseph had to go through with the announcement of Mary's pregnancy. He loved her and didn't want her to die for what looked like unfaithfulness, but he didn't want to marry her either. This message deals with Joseph's shame, and through it all we see God with him, and God with us.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Message from December 8
This message is part of our "Beating the Christmas Blues" series. The birth of Jesus was for Mary a mixture of joy and sorrow, and an old prophet told her that a sword would pierce her heart. What was that sword? What about parents today whose children are on a path that might bring sorrow?
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Message from December 1 2013
Sometimes the Christmas season isn't as joyful as we wish it were. This series explores how the birth of Jesus brought a combination of joy and sorrow to those who were around, like the shepherds who didn't realize what the Saviour meant to their jobs.
The Complete Series on Galatians - "The Song of Freedom"
Galatians 1:1-5 - The Christian life is much more about what Jesus gives to us than what we give to Him.
Galatians 1:6-10 - What does it mean to be a servant of God?
Galatians 1:11-24, 2:1-10 - When Paul speaks about grace, this is what he means.
Galatians 2:11-14 - Partiality and prejudice have no place in the kingdom of God.
Galatians 2:15-21 - This is the definition of living the Christian life, containing perhaps the most important verse in the Bible for Christians.
Galatians 3:1-14 - What is the connection between obedience to the law and faith?
Galatians 3:15-18 - The promise to Abraham (and us) is superior to the law revealed to Moses.
Galatians 3:19-25 - Why was the law added to the promise and to faith? Do we need it?
Galatians 3:26 - 4:7 - We are better than God's servants; we are his children.
Galatians 4:8-20 - Living by grace alone is harder than living by grace plus works.
Galatians 4:21-31 - Paul uses an Old Testament analogy to show the difference between living by law or by grace.
Galatians 5:1-12 - What does freedom in Christ look like?
Galatians 5:13-15 - Freedom is not about pleasing yourself but about putting others before yourself.
Galatians 5:16-25 - Walking in the Spirit is what is appropriate for believers, but what does it look like?
Galatians 5:26 - 6:10 - There is one law that Christians are under: the law of Christ, loving others.
Galatians 6:11-18 - Believers are meant to put complete confidence in what Christ has done, and not in what we can do ourselves.
Galatians 1:6-10 - What does it mean to be a servant of God?
Galatians 1:11-24, 2:1-10 - When Paul speaks about grace, this is what he means.
Galatians 2:11-14 - Partiality and prejudice have no place in the kingdom of God.
Galatians 2:15-21 - This is the definition of living the Christian life, containing perhaps the most important verse in the Bible for Christians.
Galatians 3:1-14 - What is the connection between obedience to the law and faith?
Galatians 3:15-18 - The promise to Abraham (and us) is superior to the law revealed to Moses.
Galatians 3:19-25 - Why was the law added to the promise and to faith? Do we need it?
Galatians 3:26 - 4:7 - We are better than God's servants; we are his children.
Galatians 4:8-20 - Living by grace alone is harder than living by grace plus works.
Galatians 4:21-31 - Paul uses an Old Testament analogy to show the difference between living by law or by grace.
Galatians 5:1-12 - What does freedom in Christ look like?
Galatians 5:13-15 - Freedom is not about pleasing yourself but about putting others before yourself.
Galatians 5:16-25 - Walking in the Spirit is what is appropriate for believers, but what does it look like?
Galatians 5:26 - 6:10 - There is one law that Christians are under: the law of Christ, loving others.
Galatians 6:11-18 - Believers are meant to put complete confidence in what Christ has done, and not in what we can do ourselves.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Message from November 17, 2013
A person can have impressive arguments about why they believe what they believe, but in the end, love is what matters. How a person carries themselves in their human relationships is "the law of Christ", as Paul talks about in Galatians 5:26 - 6:10.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Message from November 10
As my series on Galatians begins to wind down, the writer Paul describes what grace in action looks like in a believer's life. Some behaviours are appropriate, and others are not. This message gives some ideas about how to listen to the Spirit's leading in your daily walk with God.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Message from November 3
Jesus has certainly, most definitely set believers free. Paul tells his readers not to take that for granted, and not to indulge in sinfulness; rather, serve others in love.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Message from Sunday, October 27
My son came home from a youth rally, very confused about something that he heard there. He was told regarding the Christian faith that, "If you're not all in, you're not in at all." This message is my response to this belief called Lordship Salvation: that you may not even be a Christian if you have disobedience in your heart. It implies that faith is not enough - you need works too. My response was off-the-cuff and not refined, but it was heart-felt and passionate.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Message from October 20 2013
All through the book of Galatians, Paul talks about being free in Jesus. In chapter 5, he begins to share some specifics about what that looks like... love for others.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Thanksgiving Message from October 13
On the night before He died, Jesus was still thankful. Despite being so close to the cross, what was Jesus thankful for?
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
This I Believe
Earlier this week, a good friend of mine summarized my life's message: the grace of God. So I wanted to put together a presentation of what I believe about myself, God, Jesus, the Bible, love, and grace. Comments are welcome - just be nice if you want me to reply to you after.
Message from Sunday, October 6
This message is called "Desperate Housewives" - I love it when I can have a silly but accurate title. It's about Abraham, and the women of his life - Hagar and Sarah, and their children - Ishmael and Isaac. The Bible writer Paul uses them as examples of living under law and living under grace, and what true freedom really looks like. It's a challenging sermon with an encouraging message: trust yourself less, trust God more.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Message from September 29
It's so easy to start off the Christian life by trusting in Jesus, but at some point switching to all the things you have to do. Why do people insist on your finishing the job, after Jesus started it?
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Message from Sunday Evening
This was a message I shared in a casual Sunday evening service. It expresses my understanding of living by grace, filled with many instances from my own life where I lived under something other than grace and faith. For a better understanding of where I am coming from personally, it might be worth the 30 minutes or so.
Message from Sunday Morning
This message from Galatians explains the words of Paul, when he says that it is better to be a child of God than to be His servant. Our worth to God is not based on how much we can do for Him.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Message from September 15
Last week, we saw that the law (God's or our own) doesn't help us in our walk of faith in Jesus. This week we learn why. The law was given so that we would sin more, and then reach out to Jesus in faith. Hear the freeing encouragement from God's word.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Message from September 8
As we again pick up our series in Galatians, we see the promise made to Abraham, as he trusted in the Lord. Our arrangement with God is much more like the agreement with Abraham than the agreement with Moses, with the 613 laws and rules. Enjoy the freedom and the good news of Jesus as we live by faith.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Message from August 18
Psalm 137 is one of the more disturbing passages in Scripture. It expresses a desire to kill the babies of someone's enemies. That sentiment shows up occasionally in the Bible. So what do we do with it? While the emotion might be normal, there is a better way for those who trust in Jesus.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Message from August 11
We all face times of stress and uncertainty, when we see chaos and confusion more than the hand of God working. This psalm tells us to take heart, to listen for God's voice instead of the voice of stormy seas around us.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Message for August 4, 2013
This past week, we had the junior church kids sit in for the service with the rest of the church, and the service was aimed at them. The message came from Psalm 100, where we are told to enter His gates with thanksgiving, and to enter His courts with praise. With some help from volunteers, we demonstrated what that looked like. Then we saw the difference that Jesus has made, and how we can trust Him to get us closer to God.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Message from July 28
As we continue our series called "Summer Through the Psalms", we studied Psalm 110. This psalm tells us that Jesus has won the victory for us, and that we can take heart in His complete and total forgiveness of all we've ever done, or will do. Hear the words, and be encouraged by God's goodness.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Message from July 21
This week, we looked at different words to praise, like exalt and worship, and saw what it means to praise God. We also saw what God's holiness means, and how all this matters to us. Take a listen!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Message from July 16, 2013
The psalmist wrote that the Lord had done great things, and we are glad. So what has the Lord done for us? Check out this encouraging message!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Message from July 7
We've all been guilty before God, and we've all experienced that feeling of separation and lost-ness. David's words in Psalm 51 have helped us find the words to express our remorse. But are there words for us to use when talking to God about sins, that more accurately describe our relationship to Him? Let's see...
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Message from June 30
Many people try to mix faith in Jesus, with obedience to some set of rules or laws. This message speaks to those attempting such a thing, using the words of Paul: curses and blessings. There is a better way!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Message from June 23
This could be the most important message I have ever preached. It's good news for believers that could change our lives we we really grasped it all, and would drive us to faith in Jesus more than faith in ourselves.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Message from June 16
Even though it was Father's Day, the message is for all people. The message, which is a little harsher than most of my messages, deals with how we treat other people. Do we show favouritism? Do we treat some people better than others because we think their sins are worse? No, let's treat others as we have been treated.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Message from June 2
This message, the 2nd in our series called "The Song of Freedom", through the book of Galatians, describes Paul's response to people who complicate the simple good news of God's grace. The writer Paul also says what he thinks of being God's servant.
Message from May 26
This is the first message in a series on Galatians. This message is about Jesus giving Himself, which we know, but we somehow turn around to how much we give Him. An encouraging message about grace.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Message from May 19, 2013
On Sunday, we celebrated the holiday of Pentecost. Pentecost was originally a Jewish holiday called Shavuot, which was a celebration of the first grains of the harvest. So, I spoke about Jesus' statement that He was the bread of life. What does that mean? Why does that matter?
Monday, May 13, 2013
Message from Mother's Day
This Mother's Day message encourages all of us to be sincere and real, knowing that as believers we are not under God's condemnation.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Message from Sunday, April 28
Sorry it took so long to post this, but it was due to technical difficulties. This is the last in a series on walking in the Spirit, and it describes the bottom line for believers: love.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Message from April 21
As we continue in our series about walking in the Spirit, we discuss the issue of obedience. Does grace lead a person to sin more? If sin is dealt with, then why does it matter if we sin or not? What does obedience look like? This message asks a series of questions, and follows up with answers of encouragement to anyone who wants to follow God but struggles sometimes.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Message from April 14
This is the 2nd part in our series called The Walk of Life - what it means to walk in the Spirit. This message of encouragement deals with the idea of spiritual growth... growing in our walk with God. Growth is becoming more and more who you already are. Take a listen...
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Message from April 7
We began a new series on walking in the Spirit - what it is, what it isn't, and where to get started on it. In light of all the amazing things God has done for us and in us, how then should we respond?
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Message from Resurrection Sunday, March 31
This was the message from the Easter Sunday worship service. It's encouraging and uplifting, and describes why the resurrection matters to us today.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Message from March 24
This was a message preached without notes. It clarifies another difference between the old way to connect with God, and the new way. Jesus called His disciples to take up their cross, but that same message never showed up in the early church. Why? Because Christians have already taken up their cross. What does this mean, and why does it matter?
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Message from March 17
Sometimes it sounds as if Jesus and Paul were arguing, and forgiveness is one of those issues. Do we forgive in order to be forgiven, or is forgiveness given to us freely? Why do we forgive, anyway? We forgive because of what Christ has done.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Message from March 10
Understanding the covenants of the Bible will help you understand your relationship with God. Righteousness is a free gift, not based on our performance, whether it's good or bad. Listen to good news.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Message from March 3
The church has been sending out a message loud and clear for some time now: do more, try harder. Why? Because we aren't enough as is. This message from Colossians 1:9-14 declares that believers are enough, already, for God to be pleased with. What does it mean to be enough?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Message from February 24
The church has such an obsession with sin - labelling it, naming, calling it out, and trying to beat it. We are called to something greater - to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
KITCHEN PARTY POSTPONED
Our Kitchen Party music night scheduled for Saturday night is going to be postponed until later, out of respect for the situation in the community this week. Thanks for your understanding.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Message from February 17
We've begun a new message series called The Crossover, speaking about what the New Covenant means for us. In this message, we see that we have gone from being distanced from God, to being near to God, and why that matters for us as believers.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Messages from February 10
We wrapped up our series called Saviour Like the Shepherd. We asked a couple of questions? How much does it cost to follow Jesus? How can we repay Him for all He's done? Answer: It's free, and you don't. Listen to "The Cost of Sacrifice".
As well, in a casual Sunday school conversation, we saw a fantastic truth when we discussed judging others, hypocrisy in Christians, and identity in Christ.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Message from February 3
As we continue the Saviour Like the Shepherd series, we find a fellow named Mephibosheth whose poor self-image caused him to lose what was rightfully his. Are we that different from him?
Monday, January 28, 2013
Message from January 27, 2013
I was just getting a cold as I preached this message, so my voice wasn't always loud. In the message, I explored the story of David and Goliath, how Jesus fits into that narrative, and what it means for us.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Sunday school class for January 20, 2013
Does the writer James argue with Paul? Are we made right with God by faith alone, or by faith plus works? Should we constantly examine ourselves to see if we're doing enough good deeds? What did James mean when we said faith without works is dead?
Pastor Pat doesn't teach Sunday school often, but he did this week, and recorded the results. An encouraging message for people who wonder how many good deeds are enough for God.
Message from January 20
The second in our series called Saviour Like the Shepherd, about seeing Jesus in the life of King David, we explore the role of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, in the New, and how it all matters so much to us.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Message from January 16
In this message, the first in a series about seeing Jesus in the life of the Old Testament hero King David, we see that Jesus is our shepherd. What does that mean for us today?
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Message from January 6, 2013
Sometimes Jesus preached law, and sometimes Jesus preached grace. Understanding why Jesus used this technique will help you appreciate His grace, just as Zacchaeus did in this message.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Message from December 30, 2012
On the way out the door, one man said that more people on Cape Sable Island really need to hear this message. Check it out for yourself.
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