June 21, 2008
This Weekend's Teaching
This weekend we start a new short series. "Lies I've been told!" - It's about those things we've believed that shape our beliefs and our actions but just are not true. As a result they've caused us to live in places that fall far short of the life God intended for us. This weekend we tackle the lie, "My life and my faith are private matters. Although that might sound scary, come and see what God has to say about that, and how the truth will set us free.
Posted by ed
March 25, 2008
You are the Church
Some of the central claims of the Christian faith are the source of many discussions and heated debates. But are we always debating the right things? Maybe some of our discussions would change significantly if we had more insight into the actual circumstances that surrounded the first people of the Christian movement - if we had a better idea of the things they did in the context of the world they lived in and their understanding of God's call on their lives. Maybe some of claims of the Christian faith that we typically perceive to be unique aren't as unique as we think. We are poorer in our experience, if we fail to understand how the first believers responded to God's call for them to become the Church.
This message was supposed to have taken place three weeks ago, but it was delayed.
Posted by ed
February 05, 2008
This week-"So, What's God's Plan?"
Okay, we know the priority of the Christ-Follower is; to follow! The cost of following is; saying no to anything, sinful or not, that would hinder your following. The marks of a follower are; a new kind of love, and bearing spiritual fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.) Last week we looked at the God of the Christ-Follower and found out that; he's the creator, he is good, and he's always had a plan throughout all of history, that people would seek him and find him and discover, well, that he's the creator and he is good and he has a good and perfect plan in mind for them.
This week discover, that when it comes to the carrying out of this plan, we, God's people, are center stage. We are the plan, and there's no plan B. Don't miss it!
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January 14, 2008
The Mark of a Disciple
Discipleship, the process of becoming, being and making followers of Jesus Christ. When it comes to being a Christ followers, Jesus left no room for guessing games. He let us know what it would look like and even what it would take. Two weeks ago we heard Jesus say that in order to be his followers, following him must be our first priority, and unless we're willing to make following the first priority, then following him isn't an option. This past weekend we learned that there is a cost to following Jesus. And no it's not 10% of what you earn, it's everything. It's about carrying a cross and dying to self. Again, if this is not what we signed up for when we decided to follow him, Jesus suggests we don't even start. This week, Jesus lets us in on what sets his followers apart as his disciples. Two things; a new love and fruit, and no we're not talking about bananas.
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January 10, 2008
Application Questions from "The Priority of Following Jesus"
Last week we talked about the priority of Discipleship. After looking at several passages it's hard to see how a North American Sunday morning, 1.5 hour long Christianity fits in to what Jesus was calling his followers to when he commissioned them, as well as at other different times when he called people to follow him. It's hard to come to any other conclusion but that Jesus calls his followers to an all or nothing approach to following him. Pastor Ed's challenge for us in 2008 is that we would surrender and give ourselves to this way of following Jesus. To that end, he suggested we consider the following questions on a regular basis....
Considering the fact that our lives will be interrupted in 2008, and that some of those interruptions will not feel good. How can we see those experiences as ones where Christ wants to grow us. To that end we should ask the following questions...
1. What are you going through right now, that God can use for your personal gain and his glory?
2. What do you need to do so that God is in control of those (your) circumstances?
3. What needs to happen, right now, so you can continue to grow deeper into Christ? (the way he commissioned us & asked us to and Paul reinforces)
4. How can others (in the Church help you in this? Christ makes it clear that this (discipleship) is a journey that isn't done alone, so what needs to happen in your life so that someone, or some people are helping you to follow Jesus the way he calls you to?
5. Is there anything that you have to drop because it's extra baggage weighing you down or even keeping you from the journey?
*The more honest and specific you are with your self in working through these, the greater the opportunity for God to show up and be free to rule in your life!
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This Week - The Cost of Following Jesus
The cost of following Jesus is something people don't like to talk about too much. We know there is one, but maybe if we don't talk about it.... The way we live our lives also seems to indicate this is something we forget pretty easily as Christ followers. We're often surprised by painful or difficult circumstances and our first thought is; "God please take these away, right away." When we think of the life of a Christ follower it seems we focus on the benefits and forget that there is a cost. There was a cost, first of all, to Jesus. It cost him his life, his all, to make our relationship with God right through his sacrificial death. As he invited his disciples, and as he invites us, his followers to follow him, the word cost was constantly on his lips. Yes the destination is awesome. And the journey is worth it, but lets not forget words like, "count the cost before you get on the road, there is one. Come and discover or be reminded of what that cost might be this weekend.
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December 30, 2007
This week - Your life, "An Amazing Race"
The Amazing Race is a popular reality TV show. Each Race couples from all over the United States gather in one spot and start a race around the world against one another. Each leg of the race they have to perform certain tasks in the countries they arrive at before they arrive on the finish line for each stage. Each week, the last team to arrive is disqualified. For the winning team at the end of it all, an amazing race and one million dollars. Sound good? Well, as Christ-followers we're in an amazing race. Life! Jesus invites us to this amazing race his way. It promises excitement, value, purpose, meaning and at the end, a prize that nothing else, not even a million dollars comes close to comparing to. But if you want to win the prize there is some advice you need to focus on - Sunday morning the writer of Hebrews gives us some advice on how to run, this, the most amazing of all races. Good advice to think on as we enter the next leg of the race - 2008!
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November 19, 2007
This Week - Are you following or are you just out for a walk?
Three weeks ago, Jan Den Ouden talked to us about Discipleship. The week after that, Pastor Ed took us back to Jesus' calling fishermen to be his disciples, and explained why they would just drop and leave everything in order to follow Jesus. He said that because Jesus calls us to be his disciples, he believes that he really can make us just like himself, if we are willing. This week, pastor Ed talks to us more about following Jesus. Are we really following him? Are we listening to his voice? Are we obeying his commands? Is there something holding us back? Do we believe that in Jesus we can become the people, the men, women and children God created us to be?
PIZZA NIGHT - Can you stack chairs. Can you serve food. Do you like chatting with people. Then why don’t you join us next Saturday for Pizza night. We get together at 4:30 to set up. We’d love to have you along in ministering to our community this way.
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October 09, 2007
Don't be a spiritual Exhibitionist!
In Jesus' day, the religious leaders had mastered the art of spiritual exhibitionism. Caring for the poor was an important facet of Judaism. The question wasn't whether you should or should not care for the poor, but how you should give. The religious leaders gave. However, when they gave they made sure they had an audience. Jesus comes along and says, when you give, don't give to be seen by others. Give to be seen by the one person it matters. God! If you give to be seen by others, that's all the reward you'll get, an inflated ego and maybe some applause. But Jesus says, when you give to the needy...don't do it to be seen or noticed by others. Instead, give so that no one, except God, knows. And he will reward you, for when you give to the needy, the Bible says, "you are lending to the Lord."
Posted by ed | click here and post a comment (0)
October 05, 2007
Love Your Enemies
Is Jesus gonna let up anytime soon? Unrestrained anger is the same as murder! The humble will be exalted! Fantasizing is the same as adultery! Just say yes or no and keep your word...don't lie for any reason! And now this, don't just be good to people, don't just love your neighbour as you want to be loved. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! Most of us haven't really experinced persecution. Most of us don't live under a political regime that controls us and beats us down. The people listening to Jesus that day, were and did. And to them Jesus said, love your enemies. And gave examples that clearly left no question as to their enemies were - the very people that would abuse them and take advantage of them. Which leaves no misunderstanding for us, we are to love our enemies - no exceptions.
Will Jesus help us to do that, no question. Ultimately, it's in his strength alone that we can do this. But don't be fooled, it will be up to you to learn to love - you will have to walk that road. Still want to follow Jesus. Is a life filled with purpose, meaning, and ultimate fulfilment worth it - do you want the promise of heaven? The promise of no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow - true joy, true peace to be your reality - you'll get no better offer, but the road is narrow - it's a road where Jesus followers, in his strength learn, but really love their enemies - after all, how hard is it to love the people you like - as Jesus said, anybody can do that...
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September 25, 2007
This weekend - "The truth and nothing but the truth"
In Jesus' day, in order to back up their words, the religious leaders came up with all kinds of "oaths" things that you could say to help people believe you. Jesus comes along and says, stop making oaths, and just tell the truth. It seems like something that doesn't really apply to us. However, in our day, people, still seem to struggle with speaking the truth and so, often, we still manipulate words and meanings of words, to try and get others to believe what we're saying, Jesus' words are still meaningful, and freeing to us today...Just speak the truth, do it in love, but speak the truth. Let your word speak for itself. Don't resort to oaths or swearing or twisting words around. Just tell the truth!
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July 09, 2007
A Reward Awaits You!
We have the privilege of having Susan Chalkias speaking to us this coming Sunday morning.
Susan is the Director of Operations for "Seeds of Hope." Please drop by their website to hear more about their vision of touching the children of Africa.
Someone has told me that God spoke to them more through Susan than any other speaker they have ever heard. So, you don't want to miss this.
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July 06, 2007
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right
If you were painting a picture of a movement that you wanted people to buy into, would you start by telling them that if they follow there's a really good chance they'll be persecuted? Not just that, but that persecution is something that God blesses? I wouldn't. Yet, that's exactly what Jesus did!
The sermon on the mount, where Jesus describes the kind of person he's trying to create and the kind of Kingdom he's ushering in, describes something that is anything but easy. So much so, that at the end of the sermon Jesus tells those who would follow him to, "count the cost," and uses imagery of crucifixion (picking up crosses) and death to describe the journey of a Christ-follower. Yet, especially in the West, we've created a religious system, often, based on following Jesus because of the perks. There are perks, Jesus starts the sermon on the mount by saying that God "blesses" these kinds of people. The problem is that the blessing is often not quick, or even what we'd expect it to be. But if we'd really hear Jesus, we'd hear him say, "it's not easy, it's not microwaveable, but it's worth it! It's more meaningful, fulfilling, purposeful, and longer-lasting than any other endeavour you'll enter into. So much so, that it's worth giving your life for. And God blesses that experience, that kind of commitment to his Kingdom. Sound a little to radical. Take it up with Jesus.
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June 25, 2007
Blessed are the peacemakers
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons (and daughters) of God." You want to be a visible instrument of God? Go against the grain of society! And, perhaps, in no, or very few other areas is this true, as in the area of how we will deal with conflict in our lives and in our world. Jesus answer? Be a peacemaker. As usual, he didn't just say that this is something you should do, he demonstrated what kind of peace he's calling for. By giving his life on the world's behalf he made it possible for there to be peace between ourselves and God, and ourselves and one another. The ultimate act of peace has been accomplished in Jesus Christ, now he asks us if we'll follow him in being peacemakers. Will you follow?
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December 17, 2006
What you missed Sunday morning...
There are also pictures HERE.
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July 11, 2006
Problems with teaching section?
Someone asked if anyone else with dial-up access was having problems listening to or downloading the sermons. If you have dial-up and you've had problems, would you let us know?
Thanks
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June 27, 2006
Fixed .mp3 of first marriage message
Several of you had mentioned that the first message for the marriage series was cutting out early. Near the end, but just short of it.
It has now been fixed!
Thanks for letting us know.
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