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How Does God Grow Your Faith? Sermon: Through Trials James 1:2-4 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that we need to realize that trials in our lives are opportunities for growth. Through everyone’s life there will be tough times. Jesus even promised us “In this world you will have trouble.” John 16:33. This is not a promise we repeat to ourselves for encouragement, but it is a promise. We should expect them to come our way. The important thing that we should remember is that pain, trials, tests and even tough times are opportunities for growth and as James says they can bring “joy”. We have to learn to take the lessons from them and apply them to our lives. The fact is that you probably learn more through tough times than good times. Questions for Discussion: 1. What is your response when someone tells you that life isn’t fair? 2. What have you learned through your ‘troubles’? How have those trials brought joy? 3. Why do we look at trials as a negative? How do you think that we can remember that i

How Does God Grow Your Faith? Sermon: When the Word Lives in Us Colossians 3:16-17 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that we need to allow the word of Christ to penetrate our hearts so that we grow spiritually. The Word of God is powerful. Hebrews 4:12-13 “(12) For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (13) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” In this series we are looking at those things that cause our faith to grow. In other words; what helps us take the next steps to become all that Jesus wants us to be. Perhaps foremost we should understand that the Word of God has to become part of who we are. This is what our text this week is saying. The Word of Christ must live in us. This makes all the difference in

Change Before You Have To Sermon: Not Alone 2 Kings 6:8-24 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this message is that often when we find ourselves in a situation or have to make a change, we feel like we are all alone. Sometimes we feel like we are the only ones who have ever experienced what we are facing. This is the last week of our series on Elisha. This week we looked at a story of Elisha and his assistant thinking that they were outnumbered by their enemies. The assistant was looking at the problem and not the solution. God was there fighting for them. So know that if you are facing a decision, a situation or a change that you are having trouble with, you might even think that you are the only one who’s ever faced it. You are not alone. There are people who have gone through what you’re going through. You just have to look for those who are there to help. Questions for Discussion: 1. Talk about a time in your life where you saw someone overreact to the situation that they found themselves in. (extra points if

Easter 2022 Sermon: He is Risen Indeed! Luke 24:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:14,16-19 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that the Resurrection of Jesus is essential to Christianity. Without it, our faith is in vain. The resurrection of Jesus is essential to Christianity. Either it happened or it didn’t. There is no third option. If it didn’t happen, our faith is in vain. As Paul in 1 Cor. 15 says “we are to be pitied more than all men.” But if it did happen and we accept that reality, our sins are forgiven and we too will enjoy eternal life in resurrected bodies. The evidence for the resurrection is very strong. Throughout the centuries several alternatives have been suggested. Even on cursory examination, they all fall short. Jesus rose from the dead. There is no other plausible explanation for the historical and eyewitness testimony. Even beyond that, there is the testimony of believers over the centuries who give powerful evidence in the life changing power of the resurrection in their own lives (see

Change Before You Have To Sermon: Humility Helps – The Healing of Naaman 2 Kings 5:1-19 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that humble obedience is key to the change Jesus expects in his followers. The Children of Israel are the poster children to warn us to change before we have to. They failed to change. They were warned about the consequences of worshipping foreign gods and neglecting their role as God’s chosen people. They ended up in captivity and it is only there that they humbled themselves and began to follow the Lord with passion and faithfulness. Out text is a study in contrasts. See the difference between the attitude of the servant girl and that of the King of Israel. The little girl leads the way in demonstrating humble obedience and service; while the King seems totally out of it. Even Naaman, the mighty man of valour, eventually shows humble obedience and washes in the Jordon river. He ends up devoted to worshipping Yahweh only, something the Israelites were reluctant to do even while

Change Before You Have To Sermon: The Widow’s Son – Everything is Fine 2 Kings 4:8-37 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that our faith will be tested; it is the only way to grow our faithfulness. 1st and 2nd Kings are books that are written to exiles. They are directed to the Jews who had been taken captive by the Babylonians and were living in a foreign country. The books are intended to help the Jews understand why calamity had fallen on Judah and Israel. They were explaining how the covenant people had failed to live up to their part of the covenant and were now suffering from the consequences of their unfaithfulness. If they could hear and obey the lessons of the books, the Lord would restore their homeland and bring them back home. Our text this week is an illustration of the kind of faithfulness the Lord desires of his people. Keep in mind that it took place in an age where the Holy Spirit was not immediately available to individuals but certain men of God were chosen to be the spokespersons

Change Before You Have To Sermon: Start With A Little 2 Kings 4:1-7 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this message is that when we are looking for change, God often asks us to start with something small. Small decisions, small changes. We know that when we do an act of faith God is faithful. This is our second week of our series on Elisha. This week we told a story of a poor widow who found herself in a tough situation. She was in a situation that if she didn’t get some help quickly something drastic would happen. She found Elisha and he asked great questions, encouraged her to take a step of faith and God came through for her. There might be times we need to start with something small, and take a step of faith. We’ll see that when we take a step of faith, we’ll see God come through as faithful. Questions for Discussion:  1. Talk about a time in your life where God did a lot with a little. What did you learn during that situation? 2. Why do you think that it is hard to see what we have during difficult time

Change Before You Have To Sermon: Burn Something 1 Kings 19:19-21 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this message is that God often asks us to change and move on, but to move on we often have to let go of the past. This week we started a brand-new series on Elisha. Elisha was a prophet who was willing to take big risks to see change happen. Change is always hard. But for us to be where God wants us to be, we often have to leave some activities, ideas, habits and even some people behind. In the story that we looked at this weekend, we saw Elisha making a hard decision by moving on from what he was comfortable with; burning his past so he can go forward into what God has called him to do. Sometimes we need to burn the past so we’re not tempted to go back. Questions for Discussion: 1. Share with your group some of the tough changes that you have faced in your life. 2. What examples of ridiculous obedience have you seen in your life? 3. Have you ever had to obey God without knowing what was on the other side? Talk ab

You in 5 Years Sermon: You – Completely Secure Romans 8:35-39 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that in spite of the challenges that we face in life we can rest assured that God loves us and is actively working on our behalf. In the final lesson on this series from Romans chapter 8 we hear the Apostle sum up what he is trying to help us understand. God is for us. God loves us. Nothing can separate us from his great concern for our wellbeing. Remember, love in this context is not simply affection. In fact the way the Bible describes God’s love; it is not at all about warm fuzzy feelings. That is a modern and secular concept of love. God’s love for us is seen in benevolent action on our behalf. It stems from his commitment to us and is unaffected by our circumstances. Paul assures us that nothing can come between us and his love for us because of Jesus Christ. He lists two kinds of problems we might encounter. The first kind come from challenges thrown at us because of our faith in Jesus. The kinds o

You in 5 Years Sermon: You – In Good Hands Romans 8:31-34 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that we are in good hands. We should feel secure in knowing our life today and our eternal destiny are cared for by a God who at great personal cost has proven he has our welfare in mind. The Apostle Paul in our text this week intends to evoke a response from his readers. He uses a series of rhetorical questions to prompt us to come to the conclusion that we are entirely secure both in this life and the life to come because of what Jesus has done for us. This God whom we serve is not the kind of God the 1st Century world was familiar with. The gods worshipped at that time had little care for the welfare of the human population. They were enveloped in their own realm of drama and one-upmanship. Humans were mere pawns in their escapades. This is the way ancient humankind explained the world’s events which appeared random and harsh. The gods were at play. Paul paints a far different picture of God Almighty. He

You in 5 Years Sermon: You – A Transformed Life Romans 8:28-30 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that God works toward a specific purpose in our lives. He works every circumstance toward that end. We will be like Jesus. Our text this week is one of the most well-loved verses in the Bible. But it is often misunderstood and misquoted. Paul does not say “all things are good.” In fact bad things happen. We will have trouble in this life (John 16:33). He does not even say “all things work together for good.” In fact, all things on their own don’t work toward good. The idea here is that God works all things for the good. He is the subject of the sentence. Without him, all things work toward chaos. Paul defines for us what that “good” looks like in verse 29. It is the purpose for which he has called us. It is the image of his dear son. Our greatest good is to become like Jesus. Not only to act like him but to be motivated by what motivated him. This is the best kind of life. It involves taking on his char

You in 5 Years Sermon: You – A Great Future Romans 8:18-24 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this message is that everything that we experience is temporary. For us to have a better future, it is important for us to remind ourselves that whatever we are facing right now isn’t here forever. Our world is full of sin and suffering, but Paul is telling us about a future that is without sin and suffering. This week the Apostle Paul takes some time and compares the situation that we find ourselves in with the future that we have as followers of Jesus. In this passage, Paul talks about a few negative things that we encounter in our world: suffering, a curse, death and decay. He doesn’t leave it totally negative; he balances that out with a promise of a better future, he gives us hope. This week as we face the tough circumstances that life often brings us, how can we remind ourselves and the people around us that what we are facing isn’t normal and it won’t last forever? How can we be reminded that we have a hope in Jes

You in 5 Years Sermon: You – No Fear Romans 8:12-17 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that we can live without fear. If we are children of God then the wonderful outcome of our lives is assured. Fear and uncertainty go hand in hand. When our future is ambiguous we are tentative and afraid. We fear negative outcomes. This is a common and even prevailing response to the times in which we live. I believe from everything I have been reading recently that anxiety, even among children is at an all-time high in our culture. This is not God’s plan for us. At least 365 times we are told not to fear in Scripture. He wants us to live with no fear. Fear and faith cannot coexist. Our text this week points us to the reason we can live without fear. We have been adopted as God’s dearly loved children and share in Christ’s inheritance. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us away from a fear based slavery to the old ways of living into a love based guided relationship with our heavenly Father. Once we are certain of o

You in 5 Years Sermon: You – Living in Freedom Romans 8:5-11  Sermon Summary  The Big Idea of this study is that we need to trust God’s action in us. When we focus on ourselves we are bound to fail but when we turn our attention to the Holy Spirit at work in us we find freedom, life and peace. This week in our text the Apostle Paul gets more specific in telling us about life in the Spirit in contrast to life in the Flesh. When the Spirit is in us, he changes our focus: off of self and on to Jesus. This even creates new thought pathways in our brains and therefore opens new opportunities for us to move away from old thought patterns that once held us hostage. There is a tremendous difference between the mind governed by the flesh and the mind governed by the Spirit. Life and peace characterize those who set their mind on the Spirit. Anyone who has not welcomed the Spirit into their lives will not understand this. But for those who do, the same Spirit that was alive in Jesus is alive in us and will ch

You in Five Years Sermon: You – Guilt Free Romans 8:1-4 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that Jesus has set us free from condemnation. We are free to live according to the Spirit and we are no longer at the mercy of our disorderly fleshly desires. This new series is a deep dive into Romans chapter 8. A chapter which many theologians believe is the greatest chapter in scripture. It has so many important ideas. One way of looking at this series is to think: “If this is true; then what?” A helpful book on this topic is Mark Batterson’s book If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God’s What If Possibilities. It has prompted some of  our thoughts in this series. Our text today is wonderful. It stresses that we have a new standing with God because of what Jesus has done. We are no longer guilty. Paul uses some Jewish theology about sin offerings and the like to explain that Jesus has taken our guilt and shame and we are free to live in accordance with the Spirit of Jesus. In Paul’s letter he has bee

Bless Your Neighbour Sermon: Words are Important: Share Your Story Romans 10:12-14 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that we need to learn to share our story of how we came to know Jesus. The Apostle Paul encourages us by saying this is the way people come to believe in Jesus. Question of the Day: 1. What was your life like before you met Jesus? (Or if you have been a believer since childhood: What is your life like when you forget to rely on Jesus?) 2. How did you meet Jesus? 3. What difference does Jesus make in your life?

Bless Your Neighbour Sermon: Jesus Came to Serve John 13:3-5  Sermon Summary  The Big Idea of this study is that serving others is essential to Kingdom of God living. This requires a radical change in how we perceive the role of leaders. Jesus modelled this for us. Question of the Day: “What can you do this week to serve your neighbour? What might you have to give up or lay down in order to do so?”

Bless Your Neighbour Sermon: The Sacred Practice of Sharing a Meal Matthew 9:9-13 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that sharing a meal with our neighbours is a great way to bless them. Sharing a meal is more than just eating together, it is a sacred practice. Jesus modelled this for us. Question of the Day: “What would it take to plan a neighbourhood barbeque this Summer?”

Bless Your Neighbour Sermon: Listen Luke 18:35-42  Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is to understand that we have been blessed to be a blessing. Through this series we are talking about 5 ways that we can love our neighbors and change the world. Today we talk about what it would look like to really listen to those around us. Question of the Day: Think of a time when you felt heard by someone else. What did that other person do to make you feel like that? How can you do that for others?

Bless Your Neighbour Sermon: Begin with Prayer Genesis 12:1-3; Luke 6:12-16 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that we should begin every new adventure with prayer. We pray for our neighbours so that our hearts are ready to bless them. Question of the Day: “Will you consider fasting and prayer as a way to prepare your heart for what the Lord wants to do in your neighbourhood?”