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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?”

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation Sermon: Get Ready to Tell Luke 2:16-20; Matt. 10:26-27 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that God expects us to share the Good News. He whispers to us in the dark and we are to proclaim his praise in the light. Question of the Day: “While we should be careful not to be obnoxious about sharing our faith, there is a time to speak up and let our voice be heard. Do you err on the side of caution?”

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation Sermon: Get Ready for Jesus Matthew 1:18 - 21 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that Jesus not only came as our Saviour but also our King. Saviours get you out of trouble and Good Kings keep you out of trouble. Question of the Day: What is it in all of us that has trouble taking direction from someone else? What have you been avoiding thinking about because you think that Jesus will lead you somewhere you don’t want to be?

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation Sermon: Get Ready for God to Be Involved Luke 1:1-4, 26-38, 46-56 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that even when we feel like we have random events happening around us, God is with us and involved in our lives. Question of the Day: Do you believe that God can work everything for His purpose in your life?

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation Sermon: Get Ready for a Test Matthew 2:13-18  Sermon Summary  The Big Idea of this study is that our faith will be tested. God already knows us so this kind of testing is not for God to understand us, but for us to understand ourselves so that our faith will grow. Question of the Day: “When in the midst of a test of your faith would it help to remember that the Lord is allowing you to test His faithfulness? What is really on trial here: your faith or God’s faithfulness?”

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation Sermon: Get Ready for a Miracle Luke 1:11-17 Sermon Summary  The Big Idea of this study is that God still works miracles. We are all in need of his supernatural intervention in our lives. Question of the Day: When was the last time God did a miracle in your life? Where do you need His supernatural presence right now? Talk to Him about that.

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: Creating With Your Co-Workers Romans 12:9-11 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that while we are made for Monday, we do not always find Mondays easy. Work was interwoven into the story of creation and right from the very first chapter of Genesis we see God working. Right from the beginning we see God separating the waters from the heavens from the waters from the earth. Right from the beginning God created and invited us to come alongside of him and create together. God asks humans to come along and do a part, we were to name the animals. Naming the animals was not above God’s skill set, but God asks us to partner with him in the creation process. God wants us to partner with Him in all the areas of our lives and continue this process of creation. Today we talked how God continues to ask us to create in our work spaces, by naming the gifts that God has already placed in many of the lives of those we work with. There is an idea of common grace. Com

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: Work and Sabbath Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12, 15 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that Sabbath rest is a reminder or our identity as image bearers and our freedom from slavery. Yes, work is God’s good idea for us. It is to bring him glory. But every six days we are supposed to stop work and rest. There are two texts which help us understand why work combined with rest is so important. Each gives us different but complementary reasons to observe Sabbath. The Exodus text tells us it is because God rested on the 7th day of creation. As his image bearers we are to be like him and take time to enjoy and reflect upon his creation. In the Deuteronomy passage we are to observe the Sabbath because it is a reminder of our emancipation from slavery. Here we have two really important Biblical themes. The first reminds us of who we are. We are to follow the Lord’s pattern at creation and rest after six days because we are like Him. This truth that we are

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: Work and Justice Isaiah 59:3,6-9a  Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that justice issues are very important to the Lord. We can’t be in a right relationship with him without caring for those he cares about. Those of us who have been around for a while can remember when we put a great deal of trust in institutions and corporations. It was shocking to hear of an organization that betrayed the trust of its employees, or customers. Today it is commonplace to hear of outrageous things happening in corporations, the police force, and even the church. Imagine what this means for the generation of folks under 30 years of age. They have never lived in an era when they could completely trust their world.  I’m sure there are many reasons for the suspicion and lack of trust we are experiencing. In this week’s sermon I discuss some of those factors. But regardless of the reasons, we have a responsibility as followers of Jesus to reverse the trend. We

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: All For the Glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31  Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that we need to see our problems and disagreements through Gospel glasses. Knowing the Gospel story and identifying the real problem is essential to bringing glory to God at work, home and in the church. In my lifetime I have pastored through many disagreements in the church. The current Covid controversies are just the latest in a long line of issues that thoughtful, devout followers of Jesus have disagreed about. I can remember when not wearing a tie on the platform was considered irreverent and then there were the worship music wars and the length of men’s hair. I served under a pastor when I was a youth pastor who was convinced that any music with a rock and roll rhythm was from the devil. The Apostle Paul’s advice about a very hot topic in the 1 st Century was to be careful, no matter what side of the controversy we find ourselves on, to do everything for the

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: Idols at Work and the Gospel Solution Exodus 20:4-5  Sermon Summary  The Big Idea of this study is that while work is God’s good idea there are aspects of work that lead to pitfalls in our spiritual lives. Any good thing can become an idol in our hearts. The Biblical view of idols is that they can be anything that takes the place of God in our lives. Even good things can become idols if they are taken too far. Ezekiel 14:3-7 talks about “idols of the heart.” Anything that replaces the Lord in terms or our security, happiness, satisfaction, etc. has become an idol. We should be careful to be on guard against the tendency to allow anything to come between us and the Lord. The history of Israel is of course riddled with examples of them gravitating toward idolatry and the terrible consequences. The problem with idol worship is that it does not lead to good and meaningful lives, it leads to bondage. This is why the Lord wants us to worship him only and

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: Called For Work 1 Corinthians 7:17, Genesis 37, 39-41 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that while we are made for Monday, we do not always find Mondays easy. We live in a world where people seem to be on a happiness quest. They get in relationships to make themselves happy, buy cars to make them happy and some even take a job to make themselves happy. What if we are shooting for a target that doesn’t exist? We’ve all bought, signed up for and dated what we thought would make us happy and found out that happiness is a feeling and we know that feelings lie to us. This weekend we looked at the story of Joseph from the Old Testament. Joseph was one who had jobs that were terrible. Joseph worked as a slave and worked in a jail, but “(he) succeeded in whatever he did.” (Gen 39:2) Joseph took a job that shouldn’t make him happy and he found purpose in it. What would it look like for us to look at our jobs not as something to bring us happiness, but to

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: Problems at Work Genesis 2:15-17; 3:17-19 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that while we are made for Monday, we do not always find Mondays easy. Something is wrong with both work and the workers. But fear not, the Gospel has a solution.  The original sin messed up creation. Both humankind and the rest of the created order are tainted by the fall. Adam and Eve hide from God, thorns and thistles begin to grow. The results of the fall reverberate through time all the way to our own generation. We sometimes sum up our frustration with the comment “there are problems at work.” Keep in mind that the problems at work are not just with the projects that get messed up or the delays in processes or the computer crashes, but there are people problems as well. Not only can work be messy, people are messy. The Gospel is not just about saving souls it has all kinds of ramifications for the workplace and all of creation. “God so loved the world” not just

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God Sermon: Work and the Image of God Genesis 1:26-27 Sermon Summary The Big Idea of this study is that as image of God bearers we reflect God’s image in the way we work.  We work to bring orderliness to creation and work is about service, love and worship. What it means to be made in the image of God has occupied theologians, both Jewish and Christian, since the beginning of time. It is probably best to think of a constellation of characteristics that humankind has in common with God. It also helps, I think, to remember that the basis of the similarities is so that God can share an eternal relationship with us. He made us to share in his presence forever. This week we are learning about the nature of God’s work in creation and how it sets the stage for how we are to work as his representatives. We stand between two worlds: the world of heaven and the physical realm. We represent to creation the nature of God and we present up to God the worship of his creation. As

Made for Mondays Sermon: Work is God’s Idea Genesis 2:1-3, 15 The Big Idea of this study is that work is God’s good idea; we are Made for Monday. While work cannot provide our self-fulfillment or our identity (only Jesus can) it is a way God continues his work on Earth. Question of the Day: Knowing what you now know about Identity and Self-Fulfillment, what would you say to yourself 10 years ago?

The Big Idea of this week is that Jesus listened for an opportunity to make a difference, not just to make a point. Jesus followers often come across situations where we can help and make a difference, and all that we do is tell them that we are praying for them and wish them well. We have to learn to look for these opportunities. We know that God is working in lives around us. This story encourages us to look for where he is working and helping in areas that we can. Love is an action. We should let Jesus do what he does and meet needs in areas that we can meet. Other scriptures to read: James 2:15-17 Group Questions: What are some of your famous sayings that you hear or say? What are some of the worst clichés that you’ve heard? What’s the opportunity that you wish you could have over again that you missed in your life? Read John 11:1-44 As you re-read that passage, what do you think that John wished he understood as he experienced this first hand? What practical things do you think that you need to re

The Big Idea of this study is that often the Lord invites us to participate in his miracles. Faith and obedience are required. Question of the Day: Can you determine to pray for your neighbours? When will you do that? What’s your plan?

The Big Idea of this study is that in order to listen like Jesus we need to learn to ask great questions. Good listeners are curious. Question of the Day: Can you determine to ask clarifying questions in your next conversation?

The Big Idea of this study is that in order to listen like Jesus we need to hear more than words. Good listeners are detectives.  Question of the Day:  Think back to your last conversation. Did you pick up on any nonverbal clues? How might you improve your listening skills?