Christian Life Community Church - Online

This is week 3 of our sermon series "Listen Like Jesus" and this week Pastor Troy dives into John chapter 3 looking at Nicodemus and some of the questions he asked Jesus.

In our message today we look at Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine.  Our focus is not so much on the miracle as it is on the conversation Jesus had with Mary.   When Mary brought the problem to Jesus – ‘they’ve run out of wine’, Jesus listened with discernment.   He was aware of Mary’s concern but he was also aware of His priorities.  He understood the embarrassment and guilt that could come upon the wedding party if they run out of wine – but he also understood what was most important. Mary told the servants to “do whatever he (Jesus) tells you to do”.   She was willing to ask anything – but also willing to yield everything.  As followers of Jesus, we need to be willing to ask. God wants us to bring our requests to Him – but we also must be willing to yield to His will.   Ask anything – yield everything! Personal Reflection: Is there an area of my life I haven't fully yielded to God?   What is that area?   How will I respo

The Big Idea of this study is that for us to truly listen to other people it is more than hearing them, we need to know them. Question of the Day: What one thing can you do to show people that you are listening to them by seeing them?

“I Used to Think that God Didn’t talk to me, Now I know that I have selective hearing”

The Big Idea of this study is that Jesus warns us that unless we put in practice his teaching on the Kingdom of God we will crash during the storms of life. He doesn’t want people to just study his words, he wants us to hear and do what he says. Question of the Day: What is one thing you can focus on this week to build a solid foundation?

The Big Idea of this study is that fake religion leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths. In our speech, care of others and Jesus honouring lifestyles we have the opportunity to cause people to instead, have a hankering for Jesus and his community of friends. Question of the Day: Would someone be attracted to Jesus and his community of friends by getting to know you?

“I Used to Think I Had to Be Special for God to Use Me, Now I Know I Just Have to Say Yes” - Bob Goff •Series Prompted by Several Quotes in His Book: Love Does

The Big Idea of this study is if we really want to influence people, we need to help them see the good attributes that God has given them. In Love Does, Bob Goff states: “I used to think that words said about us describe us, but now I know they shape who we are.” Our world is full of people who suffer from self-doubt and insecurity. We’ve all seen how online no matter what your opinion people can be beat up and criticized just for stating their mind. We see Paul in his letter to Timothy encouraging his protégé in what he saw in him. He took ink and pen and encouraged Timothy in an area of strength in his life. We need to remember our 3 circles of relationship and actively look for way to encourage those people in them. There are 3 circles of relationships that everyone can have influence over. Inner circle: There are the people that are closest to you, your family members, your or your best friends. Your Influence Circle: These are the people that you run into on a regular basis. The people that you work

The Big Idea of this study is that what we sometimes call “the life of faith” is really a life of action.  True belief is not just a matter of our heads or hearts; it requires participation in the work of Jesus. In Love Does, Bob Goff states: “I used to think that being a believer was enough, but now I know that God wants participants,”  I often put it this way: “I want to not only believe in Jesus, I want to act like I believe in what Jesus believed in…for even the devil believes in Jesus.” In our text the Apostle Paul is summarizing discussion on believers attending idol festivals. In doing so he concludes with some important principles for living out our Christian faith. Put simply, following Jesus will make a big difference in how we live compared to people who don’t know Jesus. We do everything for the glory of God!  That is a huge statement. It encompasses everything we do: work, leisure activities and our Christian service. Everything for the glory of God. Everything with the intent of p

The Big Idea of this study is that the Lord uses our circumstances to shape us. We make choices with our renewed minds and trust the Lord with our choices. Like clay in his hands, he shapes us in the midst of our life events. “I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, now I know my circumstances shape me.” - Bob Goff in Love Does. I am not entirely sure what Bob meant by that, but it has prompted in me the question of how we find God’s will. Many believers tie themselves up in knots trying to discern the Lord’s will, hoping to hear a voice from heaven when they simply need to move forward with the decisions at hand. God allows us to discover his will by making choices. He has given us a renewed mind so that we can think like Jesus, so we need to rely on that and trust the Lord. Our choices and the circumstances we find ourselves in will shape us, but we can trust that we are in the Lord’s good hands and he knows our needs. Matthew 10:11-14 is informative along this line and it demonstrates ho

The Big Idea of this study is that love is more than thinking good thoughts about someone or something. It requires action. When we truly experience Jesus, we walk as he did. Bob Goff wrote a wonderful little book a few years ago that caught my attention called Love Does.  Bob is a lawyer and follower of Jesus. He has started a nonprofit that helps children who are in prison in underdeveloped countries get a fair trial. This series is based on a number of quotes found in his book that resonated with me. I have built this series around the quotes and have endeavoured to explore the Biblical values that they present. In our text this week John is refuting a false claim by some teachers he has come across. While they were claiming to know God because of some kind of ecstatic experience with God like a vision or mystical revelation, John maintains that if we really know God we will act like Jesus acted, or in his words, “walk like him.”  In particular, true believers will love their brothers and sisters

Today we conclude our series in Proverbs with a look at Proverbs 24:19-22.  This “Saying of the Wise”, challenges us to consider how we respond to evildoers in the world today.  Have you ever looked at the world and thought evil doers are winning the day? We watch evil doers seemingly prosper and have success. How can that be?  How should we respond to them?  We’re told not to fret or be envious because they have no future.   This begs another question though – why would we be angry or envious? If we find ourselves envious towards evil doers, this may reflect a false narrative  and/or perhaps I’ve forgotten my identity in Christ.  Both errors will lead me to respond to evil doers in an unhealthy manner. How should I respond?  In Matthew 5 Jesus tells us we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  Easier said that done – true!  But yet, this is how Jesus instructs us to respond. With God, all things are possible. Discussion Questions:

The Big Idea of this study is that wisdom bids us to build a home full of wisdom that requires understanding and knowledge, but there will be other competing voices calling out to us, don’t go there. In the book of Proverbs wisdom is often personified and depicted as a woman who builds a house.  Lady wisdom calls to the youthful to come and enjoy the benefits of living a wise life.  This image is set in contrast to another kind of woman, often a prostitute, who also calls out to come and enjoy her favours. Our text reminds us that both wisdom and folly appeal to us. Wisdom requires effort to be effective (build a house).  Understanding and knowledge often don’t come easily. On the other hand, folly or Lady Folly, who tends to call out more loudly and boisterously, promises easy pickings. “Stolen water and food eaten in secret is delicious” (9:17). The idea of folly as a home or a place of residence that becomes a trap or house of horrors has a long history in North American lore.  Songs li

The Big Idea of this study is that wisdom demands that we be very cautious regarding consuming alcoholic beverages. When I lived in dorms at University I chose not to drink beer with my friends.  When they asked why I would say:  “If ten passenger jets fell from the sky every year and killed everyone on board, you would think twice before boarding a plane.” The abuse of alcohol has even more devastating effects.  According to the World Health Organization, alcohol abuse is the number one killer in the world: more than war, more than cancer, and certainly more than the current Covid epidemic.  Yet very little is ever reported about this silent epidemic. The Bible perceives wine as a blessing from the Lord (i.e. Prov. 3:9-10; Psalm 104:14-15). Jesus turned water into wine for his first miracle. But it also warns of its misuse and danger.  Proof that any good gift from the Lord can be abused and end up causing great harm. Our Proverb this week is a warning about drunkenness and the abuse

The Big Idea of this study is that our desires need to be kept in check by our will which needs to be in line with the will of Jesus. I believe Confucius had it right when he wrote: “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First by reflection, which is the noblest, second is by imitation, which is the easiest, and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”  Scripture encourages us to learn wisdom by the first two methods. Our proverb this week challenges us to be careful about what we desire. It contrasts the desire to follow the ways of sinners and the desire to follow God’s will. Sin is that which is harmful to us and others and detestable to God. The reason it is detestable to God is that it is harmful to his creation. Sin is not attractive. In fact it is ugly.  The only reason we are attracted to evil people or evil things is that our desires have focused on them and we unthinkingly follow our desires. But if our wills are focused on the Lord and his will, then we will filter our desires throug

The Big Idea of this study is that riches will not buy happiness. It is better to be “rich toward God” and “rich in good deeds.” It seems like it is natural to think that money will solve our problems.  And money does solve many problems.  If you are very poor, more money will make a big difference in your well-being.  But wealth does not solve the most important problems, even though it seems we think it will.  Seeking riches can be a trap and lead to all kinds of problems. Our text this week warns us about the danger of trying to get rich.  This is the Old Testament equivalent of 1 Timothy 6:7-10 “The love of money is the root of all evil…” and of course Jesus’ teaching on the subject. In particular the story of the rich fool in Luke 12 comes to mind “I will eat drink and be merry…” Since wealth cannot solve the biggest issues of our lives it is better to seek after being “rich toward God” (Luke 12:20) and “rich in good works” (1 Tim. 6:18).  Remember Matthew 6:33 "Seek first t

The Big Idea of this study is the importance of the Lord’s wisdom.  It should be a lifelong goal to get wiser. Have you ever looked back on your past mistakes and wished you had been wiser? It sometimes seems that the only way to get wisdom is through mistakes. How often have you said: “I’ll never do that again!” But scripture tells us that wisdom comes from the Lord. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5) The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom. But we have to take it to heart. Our text this week says that when we apply wisdom to our hearts it is ready on our lips. The study and application of wisdom need to be a life-long pursuit. It will save us from a world of hurt. Over the next several weeks we will be looking at this collection of thirty sayings from Proverbs 22 to 24.  I believe we will find that placing these principles in our hearts will help us when we encounter those times when

The Big Idea of this weekend’s message: Many of us have surrendered to God’s moral will for our lives, but many of us have never surrendered to how God wants to use us with the people we interact with each and every day. As we look at the story of Jonah, it’s more than the kid's story we might have read to our children. It is not just a story of someone who disobeyed and learned his lesson. It was someone who thought that his own death might be better than a whole city repenting and turning to God. Many of us are satisfied with being good people. We love our family, we follow the rules, pay our taxes and try and smile at our neighbors. Jonah had the same attitude. Maybe he thought, “God, I’ll serve you where people who think like me live.” God had a greater plan for his life. God is calling us to be more than just ‘nice Christians’, he wants us to make a difference in the world that we live in. There are many things that we can get angry about in our world. Our neighbors make a mess, make too much noise, thei

The Big Idea of this study is that peacemakers demonstrate that they are brothers and sisters of Jesus. Our families of origin, for better or for worse, have a lot to do with our view of ourselves. Our nuclear family dynamic: conversations around the dinner table, on the way to school, and in front of the TV have a lasting impact. Those early impressions of who we are in the world and of our particular giftings and shortcomings tend to greatly influence our life’s trajectory.  This is why the Kingdom of God is such Good News. We have been adopted into a new family. We are being shaped by a new paradigm.  Our trajectory has been altered by the grace of God. Our new family and in particular our new Father and Older Brother change just about everything about us. This is the gist of our text. Peacemakers (and we need to define that carefully) will be called Sons of God. Actually “children of God or sons and daughters of God” the intent of the original language is not to focus on the male gender. But the

The Big Idea of this study is God is more concerned with the interior reality of our hearts than the outward appearances of our lives. As we focus on Jesus’ definitions on “The Good Life” this week we see his emphasis on the internal life. We can all be tempted to put on appearances, if even for good reasons. We can be led to believe the good life consists of having a persona or image that is approved of by the people around us. We can even believe that God is impressed with the exterior appearances of our lives. The Pharisees were a group of religiously-motivated people in Jesus’ day whose goal was to maintain the ritual purity of the people’s worship. Their initial goal was good – to honor God with the system of worship he had given them – but they had lost the plot, the heart of the issue. “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.” They began to concern themselves with the exteriors of piety, hoping that would move God to solve their problems. But God is much more concerned with i