St. Albert Alliance Church: Recent Episodes
St. Albert Alliance Church
It is easy to rush past the things right in front of us when they become familiar. In the middle of the Christmas season, the busyness and stress of it adds to our tendency to rush past what’s right in front of us. Yet, in the darkness a light breaks through, a child born for us, and His name is Jesus. Join us for church as we look at the good news of the Promised Child.
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As we come into the Advent season, we remember the Christmas story. Join us as we take time to pause and reflect on the awesomeness of Jesus - that the creator of all things would come down to take the form of a baby. And He does so because of His deep love for us.
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Jesus illuminates the truth that what we give attention to, what we treasure, will always capture our hearts. In Luke 12:22-34, Jesus reveals how to overcome worry by putting God’s Kingdom first. Join us as we dive into the passage with Transitional Executive Lead, Carl Waldron.
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Have you ever wondered what tithing is all about? Why do we tithe? Join us as Pastor Bob talks about what the Bible says about giving to the Lord and how giving benefits us.
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Brokenness surrounds us and is within us. In Luke 8:26-39, Jesus encountered a man, so broken that everyone had written him off, but not Jesus. Jesus transformed the man’s life, moving him from brokenness to peace, and from peace to purpose. Join us and Lead Pastor Candidate, Kirk Cowman, as we discover what Jesus wants to do in our story and our community today.
NOTE: StAAC Podcast is moving! Please follow this link to connect to the updated Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/st-albert-alliance-church/id1650283917
StAAC Podcast is moving! Please follow this link to connect to the updated Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/st-albert-alliance-church/id1650283917
To be a church that would grow our confidence and capacity in the Holy Spirit is a growth area Jesus highlighted throughout our appreciative inquiry process over this last year. This Sunday, we are pleased to welcome Doug Balzer, as he encourages us to be a church community empowered by the Holy Spirit, joining the work He is doing in the world around us as we become missionally focused.
NOTE: StAAC Podcast is moving! Please follow this link to connect to the updated Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/st-albert-alliance-church/id1650283917
In a cultural moment in which much skepticism is mounting towards the church, what might Jesus have to say? Join us and our Guest Speaker, Nathan Carroll, as we look into the gospels and focus on a key statement of Jesus - a statement that the body of Christ ought to think deeply about at this present time.
As we wrap up our series, By Their Fruit, join us as we look at some of the most important areas in the lives of those practicing the way of Jesus, gentleness and self-control. Often, our decisions and actions are a reaction built on our emotions, experience and current circumstance. What if a life formed by the Holy Spirit saw us learn to respond rather than react, and that response is grown through self-control and gentleness. Join us Sunday as we look at a life that bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
How important is it for you to know that someone is truly good? As you consider who a good business partner, teacher, spouse or coach might be...how important is it to know that beyond just doing the right thing from time to time when it’s convenient, this person can truly be counted on to be consistently good and faithful with the things and people that we care about? Join us as we continue our series, By Their Fruit, as Pastor Lisa looks at the fruits of Goodness and Faithfulness, celebrating the truth that transformation into Christ-likeness in these things is available to us now.
Whether you watch the news or have a conversation with friends, there will probably be some comments about the unrest we are experiencing in our world. Whether it is the realities of war worldwide, political upheaval, pandemic weariness, or financial or relational stress. All of it adds up, and it can feel difficult to catch our breath and experience lasting peace. What if thanksgiving was a key that unlocks peace? Join us for church as we explore the connection between thanksgiving and peace and continue our sermon series, By their fruit.
As we continue our series, By Their Fruit, we’re going to spend some time looking at patience and kindness. How does patience get produced in our lives by the Holy Spirit, and what is the difference between being kind and being nice or friendly? Is there a difference? Join us on Sunday as Pastor Josh talks about it!
To truly love someone is one of the greatest gifts we can give them, isn’t it? Love is also one of the greatest gifts we can receive - we all long to know that we are truly loved. The last couple of years have been difficult in so many ways. Pandemic realities for example, caused relational tension and loneliness to be at an all-time high. So how do we love well? Join us as Pastor Lisa continues our new series, By Their Fruit, and shares how we can meaningfully grow to become people who truly love well.
Fall is upon us, and pumpkin spice is in full effect almost everywhere you go. As the seasons change, it's time to harvest the fruit of a summer's labour in the garden or the field. Long before the harvest, the soil was prepared, and there was work tending to the plants as they grew. Join us on Sunday as we begin our new series, By Their Fruit, exploring what it looks like to bear fruit as followers of Christ.
We all know what it is like to lose something and then experience the immense joy of finding what we have been searching for! Join us as we conclude our Summer Teaching Series, Jesus Stories, as Pastor Lisa shares the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Coin and Son as we reflect on God’s heart to seek and save all who are lost.
We all know what it is like to lose something and then experience the immense joy of finding what we have been searching for! Join us as we conclude our Summer Teaching Series, Jesus Stories, as Pastor Lisa shares the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Coin and Son as we reflect on God’s heart to seek and save all who are lost.
Jesus has a question and a promise for those who hear his teaching. We can’t avoid trials and storms, but how we build our lives makes all the difference. Join us on Sunday as we hear from Transitional Executive Lead, Carl Waldron, talk about the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builder.
Jesus has a question and a promise for those who hear his teaching. We can’t avoid trials and storms, but how we build our lives makes all the difference. Join us on Sunday as we hear from Transitional Executive Lead, Carl Waldron, talk about the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builder.
Have you ever shared your faith with someone and it didn’t turn out the way you hoped? Join us on Sunday as we learn about the Parable of the Sower and what Jesus tells us about sowing seeds of faith.
Have you ever been in a season of life where forgiving someone feels impossible? That the hurt they’ve caused and the pain you’ve experienced runs too deep? How do you move on? Is forgiveness even possible? When we focus on the wrong things, forgiveness can seem miles away. If we understand the invitation Jesus offers, we learn that the road to forgiveness and healing is closer than we think.
Have you ever felt like giving up on your faith? Have you ever felt like it was just too complicated? Join us as Pastor Bob leads us back to the Childlike Faith that allows us to experience the many riches God has for us.
In life, we are constantly faced with choices about how we spend our time and energy. We all know there is only so much to go around. It requires us to make decisions based on the value we ascribe to various activities and opportunities. Join us Sunday as we look at how hidden treasure and valuable pearls provide a window into the kingdom of God.
As we continue our summer series, Jesus Stories, we are looking at a story Jesus shared about a Barren Fig Tree. This week, we’re going to get a snapshot of the patience of God and hear all about what happens when a barren fig tree meets with a moving train.
Jesus was often confronted with questions, and often, his answer was in the form of a story. In the case of the Good Samaritan, Jesus not only wants to confront our ideas about who our neighbour is but also challenge our assumptions of mercy and justice in light of our current cultural moment. Jesus is inviting us to a life of radical transformation. Will you dive into the Word and see what He has for you?
Most parents who have made it through the toddler stage will have experienced the season of a million questions. The curiosity of kids and the desire to understand the world around them can be exhausting for those who are on the receiving end of the questions. As we continue our Jesus Stories series we see Jesus use the persistence of a widow who was unrelenting in her pursuit of justice as an invitation for us to be those who continue to ask without ceasing.
So much takes place over a great meal, doesn’t it? So often this is where relationships deepen, where dreams are freely shared and where meaningful and purposeful plans are made. When someone invites us to share a meal around their table, there is, inherent within the invitation, a desire to simply be with one another and engage something meaningful together. An invitation to dinner is something we do not want to miss! Join us as we continue in our summer series, Jesus Stories, as we look at how Jesus describes the invitation to life with Him in His kingdom as an invitation to a great feast, one that we want to make sure we embrace fully!
Jesus’ story of the simple mustard seed transforms our idea of what the Kingdom of Heaven means, challenging us to trust God in seasons of trial and waiting. It also gives us a picture of a durable, victorious faith rooted in Jesus’ own life. Join us as we continue our new series, Jesus Stories, and explore the parable of the mustard seed.
We’re kicking off our new series, Jesus Stories, and are going to spend time exploring the parables of Jesus. Join us as we get a picture of what the Kingdom of God looks like and reflect on the role we have in the Kingdom. Jesus has given us incredible gifts; how are they being lived out in the now available Kingdom of God?
Marking milestones is significant. They serve as reminders of the journey we have been on and provide the foundations we stand upon for the road ahead. This week, we gather to celebrate God’s faithfulness through his people as we host the official Grand Opening of our new building. Join us as we take time to acknowledge the ways God has made it possible while also looking ahead to all that God has in store for St. Albert Alliance Church.
In the early church, a big part of the work of the Holy Spirit was to lead believers to where and how to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. And this is still happening today. This week, join us as Pastor Bob shares stories of being led by the Holy Spirit in the early church and present day.
There is nothing about the Church that is supposed to be static. Since the birth of the early Church, in the book of Acts, we see a continual calling to dynamic movement. This movement is built out of obedience of following Jesus while empowered by the Spirit. Join us as we look at how we are invited to be part of what God is doing around the world.
Living a life of purpose is something we all desire. But how do we find purpose today? God’s vision for His church is a story the world needs to hear; it brings hope, life and meaning and calls us to join Jesus in seeing the Kingdom break out in the world around us. We can’t do it alone. Jesus invites us to journey with Him in His redemptive plan to bring life to a dying world. We have a mission. We have a purpose. Will we be the empowered church?
In our world today, it's easy to follow the lead of the things and people closest to us. We can distinguish who is leading our life based on our actions, thought patterns, and behaviours. But how would our lives look different if we chose to be led by the Holy Spirit? Join us as Pastor Lisa continues our Empowered series.
Join us as we hear from Transitional Executive Lead, Carl Waldron, as he shares an update about what we as a congregation, Elders, staff and transition team have heard where Jesus is leading us in this season.
Have you ever wondered what real power looks like and where real power comes from? Questions surrounding power, who can be trusted with it and how it should be stewarded are very real and timely in our world today. Join us as we continue our teaching series “Empowered” as we look at the book of Acts and what we learn about where true power comes from and how we are invited to live Spirit empowered lives for the glory of God and the flourishing of His Kingdom.
Have you ever watched the Antiques Road Show? People have shown up with items thinking they were worth a few dollars and find out their item is worth thousands. Or they assume what they have is worth thousands when it is actually a cheap knockoff worth only pennies. Join us Sunday as we kick off our new Series, Empowered, as we look at how the early Church grew as they understood the worth of the gospel.
What are you living for? It’s a question that has probably crossed your mind at one point or another during your life. The way we answer the question can set the course for the way that we choose to live - the places we spend our time, how we use our money, it may even impact where we call home. At the core of the question, we are really being asked, “What does it mean to live?” This Easter Sunday, join us as we explore Jesus’ invitation to new life and how that shapes our lives.
Have you ever felt that your life was lacking purpose and opportunity? This week, as we study from the book of Colossians and finish our series, Simply Jesus, we are invited to be part of a bigger story.
You don’t have to look far to see positions of power abused. Whether it is in relationship, workplaces, or other organizational structures. As we continue our series Simply Jesus, we see Paul confronting the traditional power dynamics and setting the course for a new way of living.
So often we surround ourselves in relationships with people who think, feel and behave like we do because we think this is what true Christian unity looks like, but Paul describes something very different in Colossians 3. Join us as we continue our teaching series, Simply Jesus, and look at what true Christian unity is meant to be.
Everyone wants to change. We all have this ideal life we want to live, where sin is no longer an issue. But we find ourselves in a tug of war between our old self, before Jesus, and our new self in Christ. Will it always be this way? Are we destined to live this back and forth life where the things we want to do we don’t do? And the things we don’t want to do, are the things we can’t escape? As we continue through the letter to the Colossian Church, Paul is asking us, “What do we believe is the key to real transformation?” The answer is better than we could ever imagine!
Look at where you want to go, not at the obstacles you are trying to avoid - this is a lesson with multiple applications. As we continue our series, Simply Jesus, Paul’s words challenge the obstacles we often set our sights on that we are trying to avoid. Join us on Sunday as we explore what it means to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Over the past two years, there have been a lot of conversations about freedom. Join us as we continue our study of the book of Colossians and examine the spiritual liberty Paul lived out of and how he encourages us to live out of today as we seek to apprentice with Jesus.
We all understand the significance of a good match in relationship! From friendships to business partnerships to marriage the quality of our “union” with people significantly impacts the quality of absolutely everything in our life! Join us as we continue in our Teaching series, Simply Jesus, reflecting on the truth that our choice to apprentice with Jesus is the most significant union we will ever enter into with the most significant gifts as a result.
We are living in a time where it seems like there is no middle ground on any issue we face. The polarizing viewpoints are on full blast, and we find it easy to dismiss the ones we see on the other side of the spectrum. Join us on Sunday as we explore Jesus as central to counter formation and how lives can be knit together in a time of division.
As we continue our study of Colossians, this week, we are looking at Colossians 1:24-29. Paul sees how we, human beings, need a purpose. In this passage, Paul talks about the purpose of suffering, the purpose of mission and the purpose of identity and is speaking to all Christians - past, present and future. Join us as we hear from our StAAC Pastoral Intern, Dylan Overdyk.
In any broken relationship reconciliation is a gift beyond measure. To have the fracture mended, to experience undeserved grace in reconciliation is a powerful thing and impacts our lives in meaningfully significant ways. As we continue in our teaching series, Simply Jesus, studying the book of Colossians, Pastor Lisa shares the profound gift of reconciliation offered to us by God in Jesus and how we can live in the reality of this gift of grace every single day.
Something we say often at St. Albert Alliance Church is that Jesus is First in everything. As we continue in our series, Simply Jesus, Pastor Lisa shares from Colossians 1:15-20. These six verses are widely regarded as the “pinnacle” of all the New Testament teaching concerning Jesus. This beautiful passage is central to who we are at St. Albert Alliance and continues to compel us to live a “Jesus first” story.
When we hear the word ‘hope,’ we often associate it with wishful thinking, something akin to a wish - that our desired outcome will become a reality. Unfortunately, that kind of hope doesn’t have much staying power in the face of uncertainty and disappointment. Join us as Pastor Mike continues our series, Simply Jesus, and we explore the Confident hope Paul commends and how it can form the hope we have as we navigate life.
What do we truly need to experience the kind of life Jesus intends for his followers? At the opening of his letter to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul shares three gifts that result in our spiritual growth, a joyful life, and unshakeable security. They’re also crucial for us here at StAAC as we prepare for a new chapter in our church’s story. Join us as Carl Waldron continues our new series, Simply Jesus.
“Who’s in charge anyway?” It’s a question that often gets asked on teams, in organizations and workplaces. In seasons of uncertainty, the desire to know who is in charge often intensifies. We look for someone to have the right answers, to know the direction and help us feel a sense of certainty. Join us on Sunday as we start our new series, Simply Jesus, looking at Christ as Head of the Church.
Jesus gives us a picture of what’s most important: to love God & to love our neighbour as ourself. As we enter into 2022, how are we intentionally making this a priority? Let’s take time to craft a rule of life for the next year so that we are intentional as we abide in Jesus - through this everything else will come together and our priorities will be in order
Coming out of advent, let’s take time to pause & reflect - what in the past year has been our priority? As we look ahead to 2022, what are we prioritizing? As we think through our priorities, what does Jesus have to say that is most important and does it align with how we’ve oriented our own lives?
Joy is something we all want to experience. However, it seems like life often wants to rob of us that joy. So, we do our best to manufacture it - we try to find it in a gift, a relationship or by distracting ourselves from our circumstances. What if joy isn’t something you create but something you choose? What if, no matter what season of life you find yourself in, Jesus is inviting us to choose joy? How do we do that? Is it possible to choose joy no matter what’s going on in your life? Join us as Pastor Dan continues our Advent series, God With Us.
Ronald Rolheiser once wrote: “The mark of a deeply mature man or woman, the mark of a very mature disciple of Jesus, and the mark of someone truly giving his or her life away is this: he or she is a person who blesses others and blesses the world, just as God does and just as Jesus did.” Join us this Sunday as Pastor Jeremy shares with us his last message as the Lead Pastor, blessing and praying for us as a church family as we follow Jesus into all that He has for us in the days ahead.
In our lives, we will inevitably face difficulties and go through storms, and it can be difficult to have hope in the midst of these storms. Join us as we begin our Advent series, God With Us, and Pastor Bob speaks about how we can find hope, even when we face the most difficult storms in life.
Sometimes the Bible can be hard to understand, can’t it? Often passages from scripture that are difficult to understand can be real tripping hazards for us because misunderstanding God’s word can lead to misunderstanding His heart. Join us as Pastor Lisa concludes our teaching series in the book of James, More than a Hashtag by addressing some potential tripping hazards with a fresh invitation from God to experience His love and grace.
On Sunday, November 21st, Jeremy Peters, Lead Pastor of St. Albert Alliance Church announced his resignation. To view Jeremy’s announcement as well as a statement from our Elder’s board and information on Pastor Jeremy’s final weeks at StAAC, visit staalliance.org/Jeremy
Have you ever gone through a hard time, and you said something like, that was one of the hardest things in my life, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything? Hopefully, we can look back and say the same about COVID sooner rather than later. God would not have us see only the short-term view of what’s going in life, but to have our sights on the long-term view and have a greater hope of eternity with Jesus, the coming king.
It's easy to look at the rich and famous and think that you aren’t very wealthy. It can even grow a sense of envy in our hearts as we live out of comparison, thinking if we just had a little more, the peace we are looking for would be ours. What if instead of peace, wealth actually brings anxieties. Join us as we continue our series more than a hashtag exploring our views on wealth and what it might reveal about our heart.
It's easy to look at the rich and famous and think that you aren’t very wealthy. It can even grow a sense of envy in our hearts as we live out of comparison, thinking if we just had a little more, the peace we are looking for would be ours. What if instead of peace, wealth actually brings anxieties. Join us as we continue our series more than a hashtag exploring our views on wealth and what it might reveal about our heart.
We all make hundreds of judgements every single day. This food tastes delicious. That cashier is having a bad day. My kid is having a bad day even though I’ve prepared delicious food! We do this all time – making judgments without any concern of being judgmental. What makes the difference? How do we live wisely and with discernment without slipping into being unfairly critical and judgmental? Join us this weekend as Pastor Jeremy helps us consider this as we continue in our series on the book of James: More than a Hashtag.
Though the letter from the Apostle James was written two millennia ago, it is strikingly relevant to our current cultural moment. Speaking to the church, he asks, “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” and proceeds to challenge followers of Jesus about whether they are truly friends of God, or whether they are friends of the world; about whether they are resisting the devil or resisting God. Join us as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa reflect on the confronting admonitions in James 4.
We all want our life to matter, don’t we? At our core we desire to know that we’re living a life that is bigger than ourselves…a life of significant meaning and purpose, that actually makes a difference in a good way for the people and even world around us. Join us as we continue on in our sermon series, More Than a Hashtag, studying the book of James, as Pastor Lisa shares some key insights from James 3 on how we can intentionally choose wisdom and live with the meaning and purpose God made us for!
Growing up as kids we learn quick cliches like Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me. These are supposed to be our first line of defence against the power of words spoken against us. We can all probably attest no matter how many times we recited those cliches, the words spoken actually did hurt. Join us Sunday as we take a look at the power held in one the smallest parts of the body and the power it contains.
Have you heard the statement “Talk is Cheap?” We often associate it with those who say one thing and do another. It reveals in us a desire for people to follow through on what they say. To live in a way that words and actions are congruent, that words become more than what we say, but are lived in what we do. Join us as we explore what it means to have faith that is put into action, that our faith would be more than just empty words.
Have you ever been excluded, judged unjustly, or ignored because you didn’t measure up to someone’s standard? Ever been guilty of doing it to others? There’s good news for you. This week our guest speaker, Carl Waldron continues our More than a Hashtag series
The book of James is an immensely practical book, addressing so many real-time issues in our human experience and one of the questions that is framing this series is ‘how do we move beyond hashtag awareness to holy, Jesus-directed action?’ Central to answering this question lies in how we relate to Bible as the Word of God, and James has some important insight for us in this regard. We look forward to having you join us in-person or online this Sunday as Pastor Jeremy guides our collective learning.
Jesus was not kidding when He said, “in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world”. Difficulty or trouble is something that we experience on a regular basis and in his letter to the early church, James encourages us to consider trials as an opportunity for great joy! What does he mean by this? Join us as we begin an exciting new sermon series studying the book of James and Pastor Lisa shares the encouragement that Jesus is faithful and does bring much good from the trials we experience as He redeems all in His time.
Many things impact our lives - some are beneficial, others can be detrimental; some are out of our control, and others are the results of our choices and decisions. Each one plays a role in shaping the way we engage with the world around us. What does a life shaped by faith look like when it feels like the world is on fire? What can we learn from those who have gone before us as they walked by faith and not by sight? Join us as Pastor Mike Sotski continues our Hall of Faith series.
This week, one of our Young Adults, Dylan Overdyk, continues our Hall of Faith series and we discover the relevance of the people of Israel’s faith as they walked in the promises of God. Join us as we learn how we may also walk in God’s promises and the reward that comes from our obedience.
We all have moments in our life that feel significant, moments that define us. Often we feel most significantly defined by moments we are not proud of and would much rather forget. But here is some very good news, in His inestimable and unconditional love for us, God does not define us by these things! As we continue our Hall of Faith series, join us as Pastor Lisa shares how the story of one unlikely hero gives us a beautiful example of how God chooses to define us by our faith in Him and not our failures.
For anyone familiar with the Bible, it will be no surprise to see that Moses shows up in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. But the reasons Moses is commended for his faith may not be what we’d expect to find as his life confronts some of the most common ideas about what it means to have the good life. Pastor Jeremy continues our sermon series Hall of Faith.
"Who am I?" This is a question we can spend our whole lives searching for an answer to, and often, come up short because we look in all the wrong places. Even Jacob, someone in the Bible’s Hall of Faith, asked this question. But where do we find the answer? Knowing who you are can bring peace and contentment, while not knowing, or trying to be something you're not, can lead to heartache and a sense of being lost. The answer is found, not in where, but in whom. There is one who knows you - before you spoke a word and has seen every day of your life, even before they have come to pass. So who are you? Jesus knows the answer.
Have you ever wondered about your certainty of who God is and if you can trust Him? Join us as Pastor Bob continues our series, Hall of Faith, and we learn about how Abraham trusted God in the greatest test of his life and through it, learned his greatest lesson of faith.
Nearly three dozen times in the gospels, it is recorded that people were amazed by Jesus but only twice is Jesus amazed by the response of people. As we mark the first opportunity for an in-person worship gathering in 16 months and the first gathering in our new building, Pastors Jeremy and Lisa reflect on what it takes to amaze Jesus.
Many times when we think of faith, we have a picture of epic adventures and huge leaps that are beyond what we think we can do. So what is the average person suppose to do? Join us as we explore the growing faith of Abraham and Sarah and see how God’s faithfulness meets us in the places we are at.
There are some stories that we have heard many times. These stories can become so familiar that we rush past them without giving things a second thought. This week, we are taking time to look at a story that can often be associated with animals and a rainbow, but what if there is more to the story that speaks to a life of faith and the heart of God? Join us as Pastor Mike continues our Hall of Faith series.
Have you ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of trying to please God, but feel like He’s disappointed in you? Or feel like you’re not measuring up to His expectations? Join us as Pastor Bob continues our new series, Hall of Faith, and learn about how God really feels about you and the fantastic reward that comes from seeking Him.
Have you ever been told you need to have faith? Often times that statement comes out when times are dire. Sometimes, faith can feel like we are grasping at straws. What is it about faith that keeps us moving forward in the unknown? Join as we begin our new series, Hall of Faith, and look at the faith of one man that continues to speak thousands of years later.
In the culmination of Jesus’ Last Words to His disciples before His death, Jesus concludes with a powerful prayer that extends all the way to our present day. Of all the things Jesus could’ve prayed for – world peace, relief from suffering, freedom from fear – Jesus prayed that we would share the same unity He had with His Father (and with the Holy Spirit) with one another. Join us as Pastor Jeremy concludes our Last Words series by reminding us of Jesus’ greatest priority for all who apprentice with Him.
As we continue our Last Words series, looking at the last words of Jesus to His disciples before He goes to the cross, Pastor Lisa shares three things Jesus asks His Father for on our behalf, three things He knows we need as we seek to apprentice with Him.
The Bible talks a lot about eternal life, but how does Jesus define ‘eternal life?’ When does eternal life begin? What does an eternal kind of life look like and how does a person enter it? Many people have a certain idea in mind when asked these questions…but some will be surprised to learn they have missed the main point. Will you?
Many times, when we approach prayer, there is an uncertainty if God hears, cares or would even answer. Praying with confidence is something we often think is only for the super-spiritual. But what if Jesus is inviting us to experience a confidence that would cause us to ask anything when we pray? Join us online as we look at where confidence in prayer is found.
We are people built for joy. Yet, much of what we experience in life causes what many would describe as the exact opposite of joy. So we spend our time, talent and resources trying to create moments of joy in our life. These moments prove fleeting and momentary. Is it possible to experience joy that is lasting? Join us as we take time to explore joy in our lives
Something we say often at St. Albert Alliance Church is this, “The most important thing about us is who we are becoming.” Join us as Pastor Lisa shares how, when we surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can grow to become the kind of people who exhibit the character of Jesus in meaningful and significant ways.
Seriously now, what are the chances that a group of uneducated, young adult fishermen, political activists, government employees, and brothers with anger management issues, who have no social standing, no media platform, no political connections, no strategic plan, no money and by the way, no building to meet in…what are the chances that a little group like this – with no earthly leader – could have a role in seeing the world turned upside down and the beginning of countless millions of people finding new life in Jesus? This should’ve been the ultimate mission impossible…but it wasn’t. Why not? Join us as Pastor Jeremy continues our sermon series on the Last Words of Jesus.
Often in life, when we are given a choice between a hard path and one that is easier, we will most likely choose the easier one. One of the markers of following Jesus is he often calls us to follow a path that is marked by hardship and opposition. Join us online as we look at how Jesus encourages us to take the path less travelled, as we choose to live differently.
Obedience is a bit of a controversial word and can surface a variety of thoughts and emotional responses. Often, we think of obedience in the light of seeking to “earn” something, but Jesus has a different invitation for us. Join us as Pastor Lisa continues our Last Words series, sharing the gracious invitation of Jesus to obedience and the true gift it is.
This week, we return to our Last Words series (that began in the Fall of 2019 – disrupted by COVID), to continue to reflect on Jesus’ last words to His disciples before His death and resurrection. Pastor Jeremy will be returning to the opening verses of John 15 to consider how God works with skilful precision to free us from that which holds us back that we might more fully flourish under God.
Join us as we celebrate Easter together! Jesus has triumphed over the grave! He has swallowed up death forever and wiped away every tear. Because of His sacrifice, our Hope has been restored. Join us this Easter Sunday as we celebrate this Hope and look at how the grave has become a garden.
If you were to poll a group of people who watched an event unfold, it's likely that you would have a variety of interpretations about what took place before them. The truth is, each one of us interpret the things we see through a variety of lenses that have been formed through our life experience. Join us online as we hear from Vanguard Bible College Student, Daisy Ejang, as she explores two types of lenses that shape the view of the world around us.
There are many things that threaten our hope in these days of the global pandemic, and yet, one of the single greatest threats to our hope is not from without, but rather within. Join us as Pastor Lisa shares the simple truth of how seeking to hide our sin immediately quenches hope in us and how confession can bring a greater experience of hope than we realized was possible.
Almost a year into lockdown and restrictions, many things have been challenged in our lives. Many would say they have had hopes dashed in a variety of ways, which can lead to discouragement and disappointment, but what if hope was steadfast? And what if we were the ones that were created to bring that hope to our world? Join us online as we look at the one who is the anchor or hope and how we were created for times just like this.
So much of our thinking is formed around the idea that we need to be strong and capable. It often creates a perspective that if we are going to get through this life, it is only because of our own ability. Yet, in scripture, Paul describes our lives as fragile Jars of clay. Join us online as Vanguard Student Kelsey Verge encourages us to see God’s power at work through our weaknesses.
When faced with too many disappointments, we can begin to feel a sense of hopelessness. What do we do when we are up against something that has no solution? Join us online as we hear a story of one such person and where he found hope.
Hope is something we need. Hope is something we want. Hope is something we recognize that some people have. But have we ever thought of hope as something we can give? Join us online as Pastor Lisa shares what the beautiful gift hope is and how we can bring the gift of hope into the lives of those around us as we follow God’s own example to us.
As we go through life, we will all face storms of various kinds - they may be issues of health, relationships, school or work-related. When we find ourselves in those storms, one of the questions that often comes to mind is, “Where are you, God?” Naturally, we think that if God is really with us, we probably wouldn’t find ourselves in these storms. Join us online as we take some time to look at how the disciples navigated a storm they found themselves in with Jesus by their side.
There are many experiences in our lives that can cause us to wonder if God is actually listening to us or aware of our circumstances. Many times those questions come out when we are faced with a variety of suffering. When there is silence in those moments, does that mean God’s not there? Join us this week as we hear from one of our Young Adults- Graeme Gibson -about God in those quiet moments.
As we continue our series on Resilient Hope, we find some surprises as one of the great heroes of the faith finds his courage faltering and hope evaporating in the midst of intimidating threats – despite a stunning track record of powerful displays of God’s presence and provision. Join us this week as Pastor Jeremy points us to how we might find hope when courage seems to be running out.
There is often significant stigma attached to issues of mental health, but many people we know are suffering in silence because we don’t know how to talk about it. In a time of great disruption, there is an increasing number of people that are dealing with diminishing mental health. Join us online as our guest speaker Brett Ullman shares from personal experience and helps us understand and address mental health issues for ourselves and for those around us.
In this time of physical distancing and restrictions, it is easy to experience isolation and disconnection from others. Yet time and again, in Scripture, we read of the importance of connection and relationship. So how can we be "In It Together" while still honouring our existing health guidelines? Join us online as we look at a story of four friends and what they were willing to do because they were "In It Together."
We are a world in need of hope! Countless people around the world have experienced one of the most difficult years ever, and many have found that their sources of hope and reasons for hope have been found insufficient for all that life continues to throw at them. How can we cultivate a resilient hope that prevails in the midst of chronic crisis and difficulty? Pastors Jeremy and Lisa kick off our Resilient Hope sermon series by reflecting on some key learnings from the life of David.
If you were asked to describe 2020, I think it would be safe to say that peace would not be one of the first words to come out of your mouth. Throughout our lives, peace is often an elusive feeling that we are continually chasing, which we just can't seem to grasp. Join us online as we wrap up our Advent series and take time to ask - what if peace is closer than we think?
In our lives we all have some thoughts that come to mind when we hear the word "dad." These thoughts could range from good, to bad, to ugly and everywhere in between. So when we hear God described as Father, many of our experiences with our own fathers cloud the picture of what God could be like. Join us online as we look at Jesus as one who reveals an unchanging picture of who God is as we seek to know Him as our Everlasting Father.
There are times in life that it is hard to see a way forward. The situation we find ourselves in seem beyond our ability to get through. Often these are moments of crisis or trails. Into a difficult situation Isaiah declares good news that to us a Child is born and one of his name is Mighty God. Join us this week as we take some time to look at how that name can change how we look at our current situations.
We know that much of our Christmas preparations will be different this year, but the call of Advent to prepare our hearts remains the same. At a time when uncertainty is at its height, what does it mean to know the one who is Wonderful Counsellor? Join us online as we begin our Advent journey, and join together to Prepare Him room.
Ever notice that the moments we love and are so meaningful to us seem to be over before we have experienced all of the joy that we want to receive from them? We often say that God is so good and yet in difficult times we wrestle with His love and intentions towards us. This week, Pastor Lisa shares a very simple yet profound rhythm of grace that will help us remember the goodness of God enabling us to embrace and experience the joy He offers us more deeply.
If you google the phrase: mental health impact of Covid-19, nearly 800 million results immediately surface. Most of the results focus on the daily number of infections, but there is a growing awareness of how the pandemic is impacting people's mental, emotional, relational and spiritual reality. The science supporting God’s invitation to a regular practice of gratitude to radically improve a person’s well-being, is fascinating and compelling, and this week’s rhythm of grace offers some thoughts on how to more consciously access it.
All of us experience loss and with every loss comes grief. This has a significant impact on our hearts and influences how we treat ourselves and others. Join us as Pastor Lisa shares how a simple Rhythms of Grace can help us to experience the kindness of God expressed to us in times of grief helping us to love both others and ourselves well.
It’s hard to believe there was a time when there was no such thing as the internet and a smartphone. What was once heralded as a way to free up time and make us more productive, has instead exponentially sped up the pace of our life to the point of chronic exhaustion. We need a rhythm to help us experience the grace of God in the midst of digital overload. Join us as Pastor Jeremy encourages us to embrace the JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out) by a return to Sabbath.
In a season where there is more collective uncertainty and anxiety, how do we access the healing our souls need and rest in the goodness of God? Join us, as Pastor Lisa shares a very simple and yet profound Rhythm of Grace that has the potential to bring meaningful restoration, turning our attention to the very presence and goodness of God, as often as we need it.
In many ways, the pause button was hit on various aspects of our lives 7 months ago. For many, our outer world was put on pause, yet, our inner world continued to spin at an unsustainable pace. One of Jesus' great invitations is that we would find rest in Him, but the experience of this is often far from the concept. Join us as we begin our new series Rhythms of Grace and take time to explore what it may mean to find pause in our lives amongst the noise and busyness of our world.
We are excited to share with you this weekend how we’re thinking about what’s next for us as a church family. You’ll hear the latest from our pastoral team about the trajectory of the next three months and how you can further engage with us. We’ll also give you an update on the progress of the Seed Project and how you can participate in a Big Month of Giving throughout October.
Jesus' heart for us is not just that we would hear of other people’s encounters with Him, but that we would have our own. This begins by responding to His personal call to each of us to be His apprentices. Join Pastors Jeremy and Lisa as they wrap up this series, reflecting on Jesus’ call to come and follow Him.
There are many questions that we are asked in the course of our day that have pretty straight forward answers. Many times, a simple yes or no is a sufficient response, and nothing else needs to be said. Have you ever found yourself in a position where an answer you gave or received goes beyond what was necessary for the posed question? Join us on Sunday as we continue our series, Encounters with Jesus, and look at a simple question asked and a response that is not what we would expect.
Waiting stirs up a lot in us. Whether we understand why there is a delay or not, it’s always hard, usually frustrating, and often confusing and disorienting for us. Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa share from two intertwined encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of Mark that offer us hope and encouragement in the midst of the waiting we are currently experiencing.
Do you find yourself living in a state of disappointment and depression, feeling like you can never live up to God's standards? Join us on Sunday as we look at God's liberating solution to this problem.
Does Jesus think someone can be too preoccupied with religion? Can we be overly concerned with moral performance and miss the heart of what God is really after? Join Pastors Jeremy and Lisa as they reflect on the strong words that Jesus has for those who prioritize religious behaviour over a humility of heart.
Have you ever been encouraged by someone else to “Just have faith” - maybe it is a line you have repeated to yourself or shared with others? So what is faith and what does it mean to have faith? Join us on Sunday as we look at an encounter with Jesus that causes Him to marvel at a person's faith.
There are often things that happen in our lives which cause us to wonder if there is a way forward. For some of us, it feels like we carry the baggage of past decisions or actions with us throughout our entire lives. Others feel like there is no return from the choices or actions of the past. Join us on Sunday as we look at an Encounter with Jesus that just might provide some hope for those who feel like they are on the outside looking in.
Loving your enemy isn’t easy. When Jesus talks about loving your enemy, He embodied what that meant. Jesus models grace in such a radical way, that when we see it for ourselves, it’s hard not to be moved. The question is, will it move us to be more like the culture around us? Or will the grace of Jesus overwhelm us to love even when it hurts the most?
Has there ever been a time when you felt unlovable? The story of Zacchaeus reveals the very real and intentional love that God feels towards those that would be considered unlovable. Join us this week as Pastor Bob shares a first person account of this amazing story.
The call to apprenticeship is one of full surrender. The challenge for most of us is usually not giving up the first 90%, but rather the last 10%. Join us as Pastors Jeremy and Lisa reflect on an encounter Jesus had with a good and honourable individual who He invited to trust God with unrestricted access to his heart.
Often Christians aren’t viewed as the life of a party, yet we often see Jesus finding himself surrounded by unlikely guests in unlikely places. One of those events is a wedding that is about to end badly for the newlywed couple, unless somebody steps up to help the celebration carry on. Join us as we look at Jesus, a wedding in Cana, and joy that is found in the abundance of grace he has made possible as we continue with our Encounters with Jesus series.
God is always looking for true seekers who are open and humble. To those who come with this posture, He will reveal deeper things. Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa continue in our Encounters with Jesus series.
Join us in this opening message to this series as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa share about how Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well reveals some beautiful aspects of His character that He desires for us to experience as well.
Think about the moments in life that you have felt most alive. Probably those moments were ones you stepped out of your comfort zone and took a risk of some sort. So many times when we think of the abundant life that Jesus offers us it has more to do with our comfort and security. What if following Jesus and the abundant life found in Him calls us to step outside our comfort zone and join in the places he is already at work. Join us Sunday we look at a life lived with boldness.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
For some of us It can be easy to drive past the same place 1000 times and never notice a business that has changed or a landmark that got moved. It could be that we are so focused on the road ahead that we don’t get distracted by the things around us, or we are totally zoned out because we have done the drive a million times that we don’t even pay attention anymore. What would it take for us to have fresh eyes as we navigate the world that we live in. Join us as we continue our “Transformed” series as we explore a life that is saying “Help me to see.”
Our lives are often filled with noise and busyness - we find ourselves running from one place to another. We often wear the badge of busyness with a sense of honour. Over the last number of weeks, our routines have dramatically changed, and many have commented that they have found more time to slow down and breathe. What if, as part of this season, God is providing an opportunity to see transformation happen in our lives? What if that transformation begins as we have ears to hear what he is saying to us? Join us on Sunday as we begin our new series called Transformed - New ears, eyes and heart, changed by love, changed to love.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
"In this world you will have trouble." These words from Jesus feel more true today than they have ever felt. Whether it's the global pandemic, the unrest and tensions around the world, or our own brokenness - grief will find us. But Jesus doesn’t want to leave us in our grief. He wants to bring hope - not only to us - but to the world hurting around us. Jesus wants to do something new, and through our pain and heartache, is looking to use the Church as agents of hope. He is calling us to something great, and that is worth being hopeful about!
This Sunday marks the culmination of our 40 days with Jesus emphasis, and we have a special service planned! Join us as we both celebrate the ways that God has been speaking to us in the last 40 days, and look ahead to how we are going to continue to steep in Jesus' presence in the days to come.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
The last 8 weeks have revealed a lot about the nature of our hearts. When our world is turned upside down, and we are thrown out of our routines, we notice the things that we cling to, hoping for security and stability. Join us on Sunday as Pastor Mike explores the Generosity of God and the invitation to live with open hands and open hearts.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
One-size fits all usually doesn’t fit anyone very well! The truth is, we are all unique and the way we engage in life, including our relationships, reflects our uniqueness. The same is true in our relationship with God. Pastors Jeremy and Lisa share how God has gifted each of us with unique Spiritual Instincts to experience Him deeply.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
Have you ever said to yourself, "I wish I had more faith" or "I wish my faith was stronger?" Whether having faith in God is a new concept for you or you are going through a time where you are struggling with your faith, join us this Sunday as Pastor Bob talks about how to increase our faith. Watch at www.staactv.com.
We are in a time where relationships are being stretched and tried like never before. The intensity of being in a confined space for an extended period of time, is revealing the cracks in our souls to those around us. How do we find a way forward that doesn’t make us want to walk away from those around us? Could we come out of this lockdown with vibrant, healthy relationships? Join us this Sunday, as Pastor Mike talks about Relationships - Finding our Way in a Time of Isolation.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
So many people in this season are asking the question, “What in the world is God doing?” On a global scale, there is both uncertainty and change. With everything that we are experiencing, we know that Jesus is lovingly seeking to form us in this moment. Join us as Pastors Jeremy and Lisa share about God’s vision for humanity restored.
Watch at www.staactv.com
These are confusing and disorienting days for the human race. No one alive on the earth today has firsthand experience with the impact of a global pandemic of this size and scale. It raises questions for many of us - what is God doing? Why is He allowing this to happen? How is He going to redeem this for His sovereign purposes? Where is God in all of this? While none of us ultimately knows all that is in the mind and heart of God, we do know His character is unchanging. In time, His goodness, wisdom and mercy will become clear as we hold tightly to Him.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
The Cross changed everything. And this year, everything has changed. But one thing remains the same.... Jesus Is ALIVE!! Join us for our online Easter Experience as we reflect on Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross and all that His resurrection has done for us!
Watch at www.staactv.com.
In our lives, when we face times of adversity, our response is often to merely survive. We think that if we can get through to the other side as unscathed as possible, we feel like we have succeeded. What if there was more to the experience of hardships and trials than merely surviving? What if adversity is actually a place that ultimately can bring out the best in us? Join us online Sunday as we move “Beyond Surviving.”
Pastor Matt Garvin shares some important thoughts on what it means to be the church during this challenging season.
Watch at www.staactv.com.
Join Pastors Jeremy and Lisa Peters as they explore Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 about worry.
How quickly things have changed in our world. The realities that we knew at the start of the week were completely turned upside down by the end of the week. When our works shifts at such a rapid pace many of the things we have placed our hope and security in suddenly don’t appear so hopeful or secure. Join us as we talk about how we navigate with faith in uncertain times.
Sometimes we aren't receiving the adoptive love of the Father because of blocks in our lives - things we've done, things that have been done to us, shame, secrets, etc. How do we receive the revelation of the Father's adoptive love and grow in our intimacy with God? Join us on Sunday morning as Dr. Rob Reimer teaches about The Father's Love!
If you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
Jesus does not pull any punches when he states matter of factly: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” How does a human being stay connected to Jesus (the Vine) in such a way that the Holy Spirit produces good fruit in that person? Come and hear Pastor Jeremy share practical ways to grow an awareness of God’s Presence in our everyday life.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
Because we live on a broken planet, pain is a part of life; no one lives a pain-free life. Following Jesus does not end our pain - it transforms it! Jesus gives meaning and purpose to our pain, regardless of the reason or causes of our pain, God can use it to our benefit. He takes our hurts, hang-ups, and habits, and weaves them into His plan for our lives. Join us on Sunday for the final week of our series Resolutions that Last, where we will discover that as we start experiencing healing and peace, God wants us to share our experiences with others.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
Agreements with lies are nearly always at the root of an issue when we find ourselves in cyclical patterns of thought, attitudes, actions, and behaviours that we know are wrong or are hurting us, but we can’t seem to overcome. Rob Reimer writes: “The symptoms you are trying to fix in your life right now are likely connected to lies you believe….Every time you act on a lie, the lie gains power in your life.” To truly experience lasting change and a lifetime of growth, we need the Holy Spirit to help us identify, confess and renounce the lies that keep us bound up. Join us this week as we hear another live testimony and Pastor Jeremy speak about the Growth Choice.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
Join us for week six of our eight-part series, Resolutions that Last. This week we are learning about the Relationship Choice - the choice where we thoughtfully evaluate all of our relationships, seek to genuinely make amends, and extend forgiveness where needed. Join us on Sunday to hear Pastor Lisa share from scripture, and listen to a powerful personal testimony from a member of our church family as we humbly seek to engage the Relationship Choice wholeheartedly.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
Change can only occur in our lives after we have admitted we don’t have the power to change ourselves and have realized we need God to save us. This Sunday, we will learn the story of a man named Jacob, and the choices he made to change the direction of his life. His story illustrates how God took him through the first five choices, leading him to become the man God intended him to be.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
This week, we are discussing the The Housecleaning Choice - which directs us to first openly examine what others have done to us and what we have done to others. We must confess our faults to ourselves, to God, and to someone we trust. This choice is about coming clean and admitting our failures. We may fear the honesty required to make this choice, but know that freedom is the reward for truth. This choice opens the path for Christ’s power to heal our wounds.
Watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
When we're hurting, we tend to cover up our pain with bad or harmful behaviour. We develop bad habits that shout, "I'm hurting!" - but all too often it's the habit that gets all the attention. Truthfully, that habit won't stop screaming until we get at the root of the hurt. We can break free from the cycle of pain by making godly choices, healthy choices that lead to peace, joy, and wisdom. It happens when we commit to choosing God's path over our own. Join us for Week 3 of our series, Resolutions that Last, to hear another powerful testimony of how Jesus can meet us in the midst of our story and lead us on a path to genuine life change!
Live Stream at www.staactv.com.
As we continue in the series Resolutions That Last, we look at the Hope Choice. By choosing to believe that God exists, we matter to Him, and He has the power to change us, God can heal our souls and lead us to a different way of living. As human beings, we try to avoid our pain, overcome our problems, and improve our lives with our own power, before we ask for God’s power and help. Join us on Sunday as we learn that God wants to provide a different kind of escape - like being permanently set free from a prison cell, we are empowered to grow and change.
Watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
This Sunday, we begin a brand new series - Resolutions that Last. In life, it seems that once a problem is solved, another one comes up. The same is true for our temptations and sins, they keep popping up. Even if we have been followers of Christ for a long time, when we think we may have an issue settled, Satan finds another way to attack us. Join us on Sunday and learn how to cut off the problems at their power source.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
One of the most profound marks of maturity in our apprenticeship to Jesus is a posture and practice of blessing others. There is ample research to affirm there is a deep hunger in our world today, to know the blessing of someone ‘above’ us. As we prepare to move into a new calendar year, join Pastors Jeremy and Lisa and reflect on what it means to become people of blessing to those around us.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
The word hope is one that often gets tossed around. Many refer to hope with a sense of wishful thinking - cross your fingers and hope that everything will work out. For many, our experience of hope comes from a place of disappointment or discouragement. The very things that we had hoped for did not go as expected and hopelessness grows. What if our hope is not dependent on circumstances or situations, and instead built on a person? Join us Sunday as we continue to celebrate the advent season and explore Hope found in Jesus.
Live stream at www.staactv.com.
As the seasons have changed, the physical darkness of winter is the new normal as we navigate the everyday routines of our lives. The songs of the season shout - Joy to the World, Peace on Earth and goodwill towards men. Yet this often seems far from our physical reality. In our hearts there is a longing for Peace, for rest, for relationships to be restored and the world says this will come through having more, doing more and becoming more. What if our peace was not dependent upon us? Join us Sunday as we explore Peace that has overcome the world.
Watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
What is the response that comes to mind when you hear the word obedience? Often we think of duty or obligation with a little bit of guilt sprinkled in for good measure. Why do we push back against the act of obedience? Whether its rules from a parent or laws of the land, it seems we are always trying to see how far we can go. What would change in our lives if we were to practice a life of obedience? Join us Sunday as we take time to look at the example of obedience given for us.
Live stream at www.staactv.com
Sometimes people think: ‘If only we’d been there when Jesus was around, it would have been so much easier. He would have explained everything to us, and told us what to do.’ But interestingly, Jesus himself said the opposite - he said that it was better for us if He returned to the Father. Why? Come hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa explore the next passage in our Last Word series and the promise of Jesus that we would never be alone.
Live stream at www.staactv.com.
The words of Jesus in John 14:12-14 can be difficult for us to understand. How can we do greater things than Jesus himself did? Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa speak on the incomparable gift of the Holy Spirit and what Jesus truly meant when He said “greater things.”
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
The call of Jesus is not an invitation to a religious system, but to personal relationship with Himself. While the vulnerability of relationship can be uncomfortable at times, come and hear Pastors Jeremy & Lisa encourage us regarding the unique transformation that is only possible through personal engagement with Jesus.
Live stream at www.staactv.org.
It’s often said that there’s no place like home. The home we long for is a place of security, safety and belonging. This is an inherent need we all have - to know where and with whom we belong. Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa continue our Last Word series, exploring John 14:1-5 and what it means to find our home with Jesus in the Father’s house. Watch the live stream at www.staactv.com.
Who is Jesus to us? It is a question that each of us need to answer because it reveals the role that Jesus will play in our lives. We can read the scriptures and be in awe of His wisdom, his compassion or even the way that he taught, but what happens if we see Jesus as more than just a teacher? What would it change for us? Join us Sunday as we look at titles, choices and the impact of both.
Live stream at www.staactv.com
We all love the idea of being thought of as a servant, but it’s a whole different story to be treated like one. Jesus once again models the true nature of servanthood and generosity in a thought-provoking expression of love and humility, showing us that the way up is down. Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa kick off our new sermon series, “Last Words,” based on John 13-17.
Live stream at www.staactv.com.
When Jesus invites us to follow Him, the possibilities are endless. We don’t know where we are heading, because He is going everywhere, to everyone. So we should prepare for an apprenticeship journey that begins at home and will lead us over the horizon.
Watch the live stream at www.staactv.com.
We live in a world that has never been more connected to those around the world and yet, at the same time, more disconnected from those around us. With the world in the palm of our hands via the smartphones we carry, we often lose touch with those right in our vicinity. This has created an understanding that faith and relationship with Jesus is solely an individual thing. Yet throughout scripture we see how God has created us for relationship, to know others and be known. Join us Sunday as we explore what community can look like as we choose to live as apprentices of Jesus.
Live stream at www.staactv.com.
Sometimes we experience a paradigm shift that is so significant it affects every area of our life and everything we thought we knew gets turned upside down. Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa explore why this one particular paradigm shift has such life changing - and world changing - potential.
Watch the live stream at www.staactv.com.
If you have ever listened to any high performance athlete you will probably hear them talk about keeping their eye on the prize. Their need to focus on the goal and the task at hand is vitally important if they are going to see any measure of success in their athletic discipline. What about the race of life? Many times we find ourselves going through the motions, thinking the decisions we make are mundane and unimportant, yet the life we live is a result of the choices we make. What if we took a step back and looked at our choices and asked the question, "Will this help me be race ready?" Join us Sunday as we continue our series Remodel.
Or if you can’t make it, watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream
As a church we have centered around learning from Jesus as His apprentices. Pastors Jeremy and Lisa explore Colossians 1, reminding us why we are so compelled by Him and why a true vision of Him impacts every aspect of our lives. Live stream available at www.staactv.com
Have you experienced a time when things were just not happening fast enough and you felt like you needed to “Get r done?” Discover how waiting on God can accomplish more with less stress. Watch the live stream at www.staactv.com.
Hopelessness is a common expression of the soul in our culture. The script we write in our hearts doesn’t always look hopeful. Not only does what we read on our news feeds often leave us feeling helpless, what we see going on in our lives leaves us feeling the same way. The psalmist reminds us time and time again that hardships are a part of life. We can’t escape pain. But we can cling to hope - a hope that in the middle of the mess there is a God who is faithful to walk with us. Because of the steadfast love of God, we can cry with hope, no matter what life brings. Pastor Dan looks at Psalm 42 in our Summer in the Psalms series.
Live Stream Video at www.staactv.com
While we are on the roller coaster of life there are going to be times of great highs and significant lows. At each place we often need a reminder of who God is. In the good times it is a reminder we still need him and in the bad times it is a reminder that he is still with us. Join us this Sunday when we look at Psalm 103 and see how it serves as a reminder to us of who God is in all seasons of our lives. (Watch the live stream at www.staalliance.org/livestream)
Have you ever been caught doing something you knew you weren’t suppose to? In that moment we have a couple of options for what our next move will be. With our mind racing, weighing the implications of the decision we are being confronted with, we often choose the path that will have the least amount of pain in that moment. Those choices don’t always turn out well in the long run. Join us Sunday to see how David responded when he was faced with that type of situation.
Who or what do you really trust when all else fails? Where do you go when you need a safe place? These days we are advised to be prepared for future disruption of our normal life. What can we do to prepare for spiritual shelter when we experience trouble? This Sunday we are looking at a “Safe Place” that God offers you.
(Watch the livestream at www.staalliance.org/livestream r at www.staactv.com)
When we are experiencing hardships and challenges in our lives does it feel like time stands still? Does it cause you to wonder where God is or if He even cares about your circumstances? Has he forgotten us? Pastor Mike explores Psalm 13 as David asks those very questions.(Watch the livestream at www.staalliance.org/livestream).
Sometimes we need reminding of the blessings in our lives. When life is hard, it’s difficult to see where God has been faithful and how He’s still at work in your everyday life. But this is where the church can be a blessing to one another. We need to hear stories of how God has been kind and gracious. We need to see that Jesus shows mercy beyond comprehension. We need to taste of the goodness that only He can give. And we need one another to be a conduit of the love of Christ!
Have you ever had the experience of being weary from facing all the challenges of life? Has it left you feeling overwhelmed, looking at the mountain ahead of you, trying to determine if you have the strength to climb it? If you’ve been there or find yourself there right now, join us on Sunday as we see David put words to those experiences and show us how we can engage with God during those seasons of life.
God is a communicating, conversational God. He loves to share His heart, direction and will with us. Most of the time He does this through actively speaking in a number of different ways. There are times however, where God goes quiet and we’re not sure why. Pastors Jeremy and Lisa share on this sometimes disorienting part of the hearing God journey.
For many people who are seeking to follow Jesus, one of the biggest questions they have is ‘what is God’s will for my life?’ Pastors Jeremy and Lisa seek to provide a framework through which to process life’s big decisions and to further discern God’s direction.
Ruth Haley Barton writes: “Discernment is much more than mere decision making; it is, first of all, a habit, a way of seeking that can permeate our whole life.” There are three habitual prayers reflecting a heart posture that help prepare us to hear from the LORD. Join us this week as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa seek to equip us to further tune in to the voice of Jesus in our everyday lives.
When it comes to hearing God’s voice and discerning his direction for our lives, our tendency is often to first look outward. In other words, we are looking for some external information that we need to help make our lives work better. However, as Ruth Haley Barton writes, “Discernment requires, first of all, that we are able to discern matters of our own heart.” Pastors Jeremy and Lisa invite us to consider how vital it is in seeking discernment from God that we engage an inward journey with Him and not just seek an outer experience from Him.
When I come to listen in prayer, how do I know if what I am ‘hearing’ is really God’s voice or just my own thoughts? Can we really grow in confidence that we are recognizing the Shepherd’s whispers? What does this inaudible voice of God sound like? Join us this Sunday or if you can’t make it, watch the livestream (www.staalliance.org/livestream) as Pastor Jeremy responds to these common questions.
In any relationship communication takes on various forms and styles. The longer we are in a relationship the more likely we can pick up subtle cues and body language that say more than words ever could. So what about our relationship with God? Are there other ways that he communicates with us? Could he use more than words? Join us Sunday as we continue learning to recognize God’s voice through our series, “Tuning In.”
Our world is full of noise - everywhere we turn is another voice, another opinion, another “fact.” In the midst of this noise can we actually tune in to the God who speaks? Join us Sunday as we look at what can break through the noise to reveal the heart of God that created us for relationship with him.
Perhaps you’ve heard someone you don’t know particularly well express something like, “God spoke to me about this…” or “God told me I’m supposed to do that…” and you have found yourself immediately trying to position this person’s credibility and level of sanity. Does God still speak today? Isn’t the Bible all we need? We hope you’ll join us as Pastor Jeremy begins our new sermon series called ‘Tuning In: Learning to recognize God’s voice.’
At Easter we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and His beautiful invitation to us. Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa speak on the profound truth that Jesus’ love is a resurrection that invites us to shed our grave clothes of fear and shame, so that we may live in the abundant life He offers us.
Jesus describes his followers as branches on a vine. It’s a picture of apprenticeship with a promise: as we stay connected, we bear fruit. His Kingdom is made up of countless believers from every background and corner of the globe experiencing the reality of this picture, often in ways and places that might surprise us. Jesus' challenge for us is to embrace the vision and find our place in the Big Kingdom.
“Extending the Kingdom of God on Earth – This is the essential reason for our existence as Jesus Christ’s servants. Regardless of our different backgrounds, we are united in our love of Christ, and in our commitment to bring the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.” - Billy Graham
What would it look like to create a culture of Apprentices of Jesus Christ who are committed to sharing the now available Kingdom of God with those who have no idea it’s available to them? Let's talk about this on Sunday.
As part of the body of Christ we understand that each and every one of us is uniquely created, each equipped with different gifts and abilities. Each part is valuable and needed for the whole of the body to function. It does not matter our age, or how long we have been choosing to put Jesus first in everything, we all have a role to play. Join us Sunday as we take time to recognize the gifting and role that God has called Pastor Dan to play as we celebrate his ordination.
In the whirlwind of our everyday life and church family activity, we sometimes lose the larger plot of what Jesus is calling us to in our apprenticeship walk with Him, and how He has been at work in our lives personally and corporately. Come and be reminded afresh of the vision we are seeking to walk out as a church family and listen to some of the story of Jesus that has been unfolding at StAAC over the past year.
It's been almost two years since Pastor Matt moved back to Tasmania with his family. This Sunday he is back with us and will be reflecting on what he has learned on the journey of the past few years about living a whole life, and also the dangers for those of us who look for a shortcut. We regret to advise that we are unable to provide subtitles for those who have difficulty with the Australian language.
Over the course of the last nine weeks we have been taking an intentional look at God’s beautiful design for marriage and sexuality. God, in His infinite wisdom, has designed things for us so that we would experience a flourishing life here in all of our relationships. But it doesn’t end there. Hidden within God’s beautiful design for marriage and sexuality is a divine mystery that points to something even more special and significant.
We know as a church that it's so important to reflect the heart of Jesus and some of the cultural reality in respect to sexuality. This podcast is from a Q&A presented byJourney Canada around the church and same-sex attraction.
We know as a church that it's so important to reflect the heart of Jesus and some of the cultural reality in respect to sexuality. This podcast is from a Sunday evening discussion presented by Graeme Lauber from Journey Canada around the church and same-sex attraction.
Sexual intimacy within the context of a loving, selfless marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts and is beautifully designed to be a mutual source of deep, ongoing fulfillment. So why isn’t this a more common experience? And what can we do about it? Come and hear Pastor Jeremy and Lisa reflect on what the Bible has to say about this and what the practical implications might be.
There is perhaps no other human reality in our time that requires more humility, grace, courage and a listening posture than that of same-sex relationships. Many people wrestle with what the Bible teaches on this topic and how to navigate the implications in a way that reflects the grace and truth of Jesus. Join us with a humble, teachable spirit as we have the second of 3 conversations on this part of the human experience.
There is perhaps no other human reality in our time that requires more humility, grace, courage and a listening posture than that of same-sex relationships. Many people wrestle with what the Bible teaches on this topic and how to navigate the implications in a way that reflects the grace and truth of Jesus. Join us with a humble, teachable spirit as we have the first of 3 conversations on this part of the human experience. (The second and third conversations will take place Sunday, February 24th in both the morning service and evening Q&A forum with Journey Canada www.journeycanada.org)
Sex is often one of those taboo topics, the ones that make us a little uncomfortable to talk about in public. Yet there are many questions about sex that we would like to know the answers to. If we are honest, most of our understanding about sex has been shaped by the culture around us, the shows we watch or the music we listen to. In a culture that proclaims the ideal of sexual freedom, why does it seem to be a leading cause of hurt and shame? Join us Sunday as we take some time to talk about sex as part of God’s Beautiful Design.
In the context of a church family that at times (appears to) elevate marriage as the ideal, we can miss the blessing and purpose behind singleness. God’s “Beautiful Design” for humanity encompasses the unique journey of a single person, and both the blessings and opportunities for spiritual formation that accompany it. Jesus, of course, modelled how, as a single person, it is possible to live a flourishing Kingdom life within the context of a loving community. Both marriage and singleness have something important to reveal to us about our relationship with Jesus, and we know your heart will be strengthened as you listen to Norah Kennedy share from her own experience of Jesus and His Word within the context of her life story.
Perhaps no other passage in Scripture regarding marriage has been more consistently misunderstood and misapplied than what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5 regarding authority, headship and submission between husbands and wives. As apprentices of Jesus, we look again to Him to understand what our unique ‘Jesus-roles’ are in marriage and beyond to all other relationships. Listen in as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa seek to encourage us to follow the example of Jesus and to embody mutual honour in relationship.
The foundation for a strong marriage is friendship. Often this gets overlooked as the world puts a disproportionate emphasis on physical attraction. While physical intimacy is a unique gift in marriage, we cannot overlook the truth that friendship is the foundation from which we experience deep fulfillment of every kind in marriage. Come and hear Pastors Jeremy and Lisa share both from scripture and their own personal journey of how this is true.
"Say Yes to the Dress." "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." You hear those titles and images of wedding excitement and celebration come to mind. We love the celebration of a couple being joined together as husband and wife in front of family and friends. Although there is lots of work that goes into a wedding it really is only the beginning. What happens when the party is done, the decorations are put away and Monday morning comes? In an age where we often hear the comment “Why would I get married - it is just a piece of paper?” what makes marriages worth more than the paper we sign? Join us as we continue our series “Beautiful Design,” looking at what comes after the “I Do” and why it is so important.
We all long for and crave deep and meaningful relationships. It has always been God’s beautiful design that human relationships – of which marriage is the most intimate and most profound – would be a major vehicle through which God would remake the human heart from the inside out. We often look to marriage as a means to our own personal happiness and fulfillment but God's design has always been that the way to happiness and fulfillment would be through self-denial and self-sacrificing love for the other (in the marriage relationship or in any other). Come and join us as Pastor Jeremy kicks off our sermon series, Beautiful Design.
Sometimes people feel as if they're adrift in the world. They work hard, but they don't seem to get anywhere worthwhile. A key reason that they feel this way is that they haven't spent enough time thinking about what they want from this year, and haven't set themselves any objectives. This Sunday we will be looking at Setting Objectives as a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and motivating yourself to turn your God-given vision of this future into reality.
Trust is central to any relationship we have. It is said that trust is something we are slow to earn, but can be quickly lost. Many live guarding their hearts because trust has been broken in the past and the thought of the hurt and pain that comes isn’t worth trusting others again. Jesus invites us into relationship and so there is a level of trust that needs to be present. Join us Sunday as we take time to look at what it takes to trust.
Have you ever been around a household on Christmas morning with a bunch of little kids? The excitement and anticipation is bursting at the seams as presents sit under the tree waiting to be unwrapped. The possibilities are endless as the kids hope to find the gift they have been longing for. There are many times in life that we feel like we are waiting and there isn’t the same excitement or anticipation that we see from kids on Christmas morning. Join us Sunday as we take some time to learn what it means to wait.
It doesn’t take long to notice that this world is not as it should be. Whether we are watching the news or reflecting on our own lives, the deepest part of our soul longs for the wrongs we see to be made right. And in the midst of all the pain and heartache that we are currently experiencing, we ask Jesus, “How long?” Advent is a season of anticipation. We look to the coming of Jesus as our hope that all these things will be made right. It’s in Him that sorrow and joy collide. As we mourn what is, we mourn with Hope that the Kingdom of God is available now and not yet!
What do you do with matters of the soul? Is it easier to ignore the issue, to compensate or escape? Guest speaker Doug Balzer helps us to examine God’s heart for us to overcome guilt and shame.
Ask people how they are doing and if you get a response beyond “Good” it will often include words like tired, busy, running, or I need a vacation. We often wear those descriptions almost as a badge of honour. We seem to think any other response would indicate we are lazy or unproductive. Is that the life we were created for? Always running, always worn out, always feeling like we never have quite enough? Join us this week as Pastor Mike helps us take a look at what it means to live a life filled up but not worn out.
We all want to experience the fullness of God and live out of the power of the Holy Spirit. But how do we do that? Are some of us more in touch with the Holy Spirit? Do others have more faith to see Him move in supernatural ways? The secret is, there is no secret. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in everyone who has put their faith in Christ! But how we respond to that power is where our answer is found, and we have to look no further than the person and work of Jesus Christ.
As we begin a new series, ‘The Spirit-Filled Life,’ exploring the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, it’s helpful to understand the dynamic within the Trinity itself of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Often people get hung up on the metaphysics of how there can be one God, yet three Persons, and miss the more fundamental and important truths of why it matters to us in the first place that God exists as Father, Son and Spirit. Pastors Jeremy & Lisa will seek to bring some further insight into why the Trinity matters to us as Believers today.
This Sunday, we conclude our Seed Project series with the Big Day of Giving. Come and hear stories of how God richly accomplished incredible miracles through those who were obediently willing to sacrifice for others. And the benefit it brought them.
In John 12:24, Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.” The Seed Project is all about our desire to see ‘a plentiful harvest of new lives’...but in order for new life to happen, Jesus’ illustration of the seed reminds us that first a death must occur. Join us this week as Pastor Jeremy calls us to follow in the way of Jesus through laying down our lives (John 15:13) as an act of love for those around us.
Each and every one of us is shaped and impacted by the places that we come from. For some there is a great sense of national or cultural pride that they identify with. Where we come from begins to set for us a foundation that we stand upon as we enter into the world we live in. It shapes how we view and interact with the world. It has impacted us with a legacy that we are carrying forward. What about our roots as people who are choosing to follow Jesus? What is the foundation, what is the legacy we are carrying forward and where are our roots planted? Join us this Sunday as we take some time to explore our roots and the legacy we are carrying forward.
After nearly 6 years of praying, preparing, and planning, we are on the cusp of a new chapter in our building redevelopment effort – The Seed Project. While we are excited about some of the new possibilities that will open up for us in the future, this project has never been ultimately about a building – Jesus’ focus has always been on our hearts. Come and be reminded of some of the journey Jesus has led us on and how He continues to form our hearts after His.
Often when we think of generosity, we tend to think of something tangible of material value. Though Jesus sometimes chooses to extend generosity in this way, this pales in comparison to the extravagant generosity He gives by offering Himself. Join us as Pastors Jeremy and Lisa conclude our series Captivated by Jesus.
Ask any average church-goer to describe the top 5 characteristics of Jesus and most will include ‘humble’ in their list. We can quickly give mental ascent to His humility but we often don’t understand what this meant for Him in the details. Join us this week as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa reflect on the staggering humility of the incarnation of Jesus and its implications for us.
In a world dominated by pressure to be ‘politically correct’ and where people often choose to pull away from people rather than speak to difficult relational issues, Jesus models another way to be human. Jesus – who is the Truth – wants to set us free from our delusions so that we can enter more fully into the Kingdom of God with Him. Pastors Jeremy and Lisa continue our series ‘Captivated by Jesus.’
To what extent do you generally think of Jesus as a person of irrepressible joy? How might we read the gospels differently – and interpret our own interaction with Jesus differently – if we truly experienced the full measure of His joy within us? Join us this week as Pastors Jeremy and Lisa invite us to consider these things afresh.
Have you ever found yourself in a dire situation where, if you would have taken your own advice, you could have avoided it? This Sunday we will be exploring how the choices leading to King Solomon’s fall may be the very choices we face every day. How do you recover from your own poor choices? How do we make the right choices?
No one today, if offered wisdom, would say no. We are all looking to be wiser in our finances, relationships and everyday situations. Everybody wants to be known as someone who makes wise choices. But what exactly is wisdom, and how do we get more of it? As we look at the rise of Solomon, we’ll see how the kind of wisdom we should all desire comes from God, and that although the world around can seemingly offer wisdom, Jesus is the true source of wisdom.
I think most of us would say that there are some things in our lives that we hope others would not find out about. The actions of our youthful foolishness or decisions made at a time when clear thinking wasn’t so clear. How would you respond when those decisions or actions got called out by a friend? Most of us would probably look for some place to hide. Join us this Sunday as we look at David’s life and how he responds when his worst moments in life get called out.
King David was a great King, a man after God’s own heart. But even he experienced how a seemingly simple compromise can lead to greater sin and heartbreak. Come and hear Pastor Lisa share from some of the lessons that we can learn from King David’s life.
The Rise of King David. How did David move from a Zero to a Hero?
What shaped David’s childhood life that would later gain him the title, “A man after God’s own heart?” We will be learning about God's planned purpose for David’s life and God's planned purpose for you.
There are many different places we can receive identity from. Knowing and living out of our true identity, the one given to us by God, is where abundant life is found. Living out of any other identity can lead to pain and compromise. Come and hear Pastor Lisa share how we see this play out in the life of King Saul.
When Leadership Finds You
Has there ever been a time in your life where you have taken a moment to look back and wondered how did I end up here? Sometimes those moments are good, other times not so much. This Sunday we are taking a look at the early interactions with the life of Saul and how the role of leadership actually found him and set him on a course to the throne as King of Israel.
Ageless Leadership
How often as a child did you hear the statement, “When you get older?” There are many things in life that we can only do once we reach a certain age. These can be as exciting as getting on the big rides at the amusement park or as important as voting. It is a general consensus that as we get older we have probably grown in our mental capacity and ability to make wise decisions and choices. Yet in doing so we have sometimes missed out on the value and importance of young voices and ideas. Join us Sunday as we look at the life of Samuel and the role his young voice plays in shaping the leadership of God’s people.
Foundation for Living
This week we conclude our study on the greatest talk ever given, the Sermon on the Mount, in our Jesus Manifesto series. In Jesus’ final words to us, he makes two statements:
1) Everyone builds a life, and
2) Everyone faces a storm.
The question is, when the storms of life inevitably come, what foundation will you have built your life upon? Join us on Sunday as we consider the call of Jesus to listen to, trust and obey Him as His apprentices and to build our lives on Him, the solid rock!
True or false? How is a person to know the difference? In a time that the words "fake news" gets thrown around, it is hard to know where to look or how to discern truth from fiction. This week as we continue our Jesus Manifesto series we are going to look at what Jesus had to say about how we can tell the difference between the two.
As we continue our study of Jesus’ most provocative teaching found in the Sermon on the Mount, this week we’ll be considering what is one of the most troubling passages for many people in our day. In Matthew 7:12-14, Jesus talks about the ‘narrow gate that only a few find.’ The deep concern that a lot of thoughtful people have about Christianity is that it calls certain beliefs wrong and calls certain behaviours immoral and therefore the concern is that it impinges upon human freedom by telling people what they must think and how they must live. How are we to understand Jesus’ claims and what should our response be?
Portion of this sermon by John Ortberg.
Used by permission by Menlo Church
To see the full John Ortberg sermon – click here: http://vpodcast.menlo.church/e/deconstruction-is-christianity-narrow-minded-john-ortberg-1523219551/
Ask for anything? Have you ever asked for something and never got what you wanted? Has that diminished your hope, caused you to wonder if you would ever get what you hoped for? Join us this Sunday as we look at what Jesus has to say about asking and the response we can expect from him.
This week we dive back into our Sermon Series looking at the Sermon on the Mount, The Jesus Manifesto. We are in the last chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:1-6. Once again, Jesus is speaking into real time issues that we all face. Though it’s unlikely any of us think of ourselves as judgmental or condescending, Jesus once again has a way of exposing our true hearts, helping us see things we might have missed and offering us a better way forward.
We all need an overall plan when it comes to staying balanced financially – an overarching framework within which we seek to wisely manage and prioritize our financial resources in a way that honours God and leads to a flourishing life. Though there are constant corrections required in order to stay balanced, it all begins by aligning our priorities with intentionality and forethought. This week Pastor Jeremy concludes our sermon series Balanced (originally developed and preached by Andy Stanley).
We have been built with a natural tendency to compare and it often starts as a kid when we compare who’s got the best lunch at school, or who’s dad is stronger. When we get older the things that we compare often tend to be a little more costly. The comparison often fuels an appetite in us to get the next, latest, greatest or best and all of that comes at a cost. Listen now as Pastor Mike teaches what it looks like to navigate the draw to compare and the appetite that it grows in us.
This sermon is apart of the Balanced series- developed by Andy Stanley (North Point Ministries)
We are continuing in our “Balanced” sermon series on personal finance (originally developed by Andy Stanley). One of the laws of balance is that you need to make constant corrections, and in personal finance, there are several areas where this is required. This week Pastor Jeremy will address the second constant correction we need to make in order to stay balanced in our personal finances, exploring one of Jesus’ parables about a very wealthy man who was trying to figure out what to do with all his ‘extra’ money.
We live in a time where with just one click, one tap or signature we can get just about anything we want. For many of us those purchases have been made on credit - money that we do not have and yet we are assuming responsibility for. Join us this week as we take a look at what the scriptures have to say about the wise use of money and debt as we try to live the clear objective of honouring God with all that we have.
We are continuing in our “Balanced” sermon series on personal finance (originally developed by Andy Stanley). One of the laws of balance is that you need to know what your basic overall objective is when it comes to money – in other words, what are we trying to accomplish? This week Pastor Jeremy will explore this question by looking at the life of King David and how he shows us that everything we have belongs to God.
This week we begin a new series on personal finance called “Balanced” (originally developed by Andy Stanley). Over the next 6 weeks, we’ll be looking at the ‘Laws of Balance’ and how to move toward financial health and Kingdom generosity. This first week, Pastor Jeremy explores the concept of balance in our personal finances and what Jesus identifies as our starting reference point for financial health.
If you were invited to sit with a group of friends and re-write the culture of your neighbourhood, what would that look like? What changes would you like to make? Re-shaping a neighbourhood may be easier than you think. This Sunday we will be hearing about how God can use you, to make your neighbourhood a better place to live.
The resurrection of Jesus has enormous implications for the kind of resurrected life that is to be the hope of all who have trusted in Him. On Easter Sunday we will be invited into an exciting vision of the life that awaits us at the "renewal of all things" (Matthew 19:28-29), as part of our inheritance as sons and daughters of God.
As a church family, we have been orienting ourselves around the vision of “Living together as Apprentices of Jesus in the now-available Kingdom of God.” The question is – what does that mean? What are the implications? Why have we oriented ourselves around this pursuit? In anticipation of our AGM on Monday night, Pastor Jeremy will be reminding us who we are seeking to become as a church family.
In keeping with his incisive unpacking of the human heart in light of the news of God's now-available kingdom, Jesus continues on to address one of the most universal of human experiences - worry (aka fear aka anxiety). This teaching confronts our professed 'beliefs' in some pretty serious ways. Do we actually believe God is sovereign? Do we actually believe that he loves us? Do we actually trust that he can/will care for us?
It is often the thing that causes the greatest disagreement in a marriage. When you don’t have it you are trying to figure out how to get it. When you do have it you are always trying to figure out how to get just a little bit more. Some even go so far as saying it is the root of all evil. So why does money carry such a bad reputation? Isn’t having money a good thing? Join us Sunday as Pastor Mike unpacks what Jesus has to say about our hearts and how those things we treasure impact it.
Most people have strong, internal urges and impulses that, at times, get the better of them. Despite our intent to follow Jesus, we sometimes find ourselves seemingly unable to exhibit the self-control we feel we should. A common misconception is that all we need is “stronger willpower.” But is that true? Come and listen in as Pastor Jeremy reminds us of an age-old practice specifically designed to help us learn impulse control.
Forgiveness. Both the need to give and receive forgiveness impacts all of us. Come and hear Pastor Lisa share on the importance of us truly being a forgiven people so that we in turn can freely forgive others.
Ask someone about prayer and they may often recite the first couple of lines of what is commonly referred to as The Lord's Prayer. At times prayer can seem just like a shopping list of requests that we recite without any certainty that God actually hears or will even do anything about the requests we do have. So what does The Lord's Prayer teach us about God’s heart for us and his desire that we would learn to share life together with him?
Join us this Sunday as we continue our look at the Sermon on the Mount and unpack what Jesus has to say about prayer and its role in our lives.
In our desire for acceptance and approval from others, we often portray a ‘way of being’ that makes us look better than we are. We want to be thought of in a certain light, with certain altruistic intentions, to be valued for our ‘moral character’ but in order to do so, we sometimes undermine the very thing we hope to be known by!
Pastor Jeremy unpacks how Jesus brings into the light our true motives and then how to walk with greater humility and integrity.
How is it possible to “love everyone” when we live in a time and place with such cultural diversities, where values and beliefs can range from one extreme to the other? Or does God even expect us to? This Sunday Pastor Bob will talk about how to love without partiality.
The way of Jesus is confronting and counter cultural. When the culture of the world declares that an "eye for an eye" is truly the only just way to respond to mistreatment, Jesus challenges this belief by offering another way. Come and hear Pastor Lisa teach on this challenging passage in the Sermon on the Mount.
It’s no secret that we live in a world dominated by spin, manipulation, and deception. Trust does not come easily because we all know what it’s like to feel used by others, and to be burned by lies. What does it mean to become the kind of person who simply speaks the truth in love, without intent to coerce or manipulate? This week Pastor Jeremy will be addressing Jesus’ direction and counsel on this pervasive issue.
When we say "Till death do us part” in our marriage vows does it really mean we are in it till the end? What if we fall out of love? Or have irreconcilable differences? Should we be able to go our own way? Everybody’s story is different but are there common principles that apply to all of us? Join us Sunday as we look at what Jesus has to say about Marriage, Divorce and finding our way through.
Many religious people are content to allow Jesus to speak into ‘spiritual matters’ about how to connect with God, but relegate Jesus’ teaching on ‘everyday matters’ to the sidelines. Perhaps this is no more true than in the area of sexuality. Yet Jesus has profound insight into the nature of all aspects of humanity and offers us a timely word on how to avoid sexual regrets by guarding our hearts wisely and relating to one another honourably.
As we start a new year are you making any resolutions? Will they last past next week? Are you thankful that 2017 is in the rearview mirror, hopeful that 2018 will be better? As we turn the page from 2017, what is the story that your life will write on the pages of the chapter called 2018? Join us Sunday as we take a look at what will give us the footing necessary so that when 2018 ends, we can boldly say we are still Standing.
There are some gifts that everyone needs but no one gets too excited about. Instead of the gift that you had been hoping for, you find socks and underwear – a gift that you really need, but not necessarily the one you were hoping for. Listen to this podcast of one of our Christmas Eve services for a fun and meaningful reflection on the greatest Gift ever given.
When we think of joy, we think of something that is up to us to find. Everyone is searching for joy. We look for it in possessions, money, relationships and our reputation, just to name a few. But joy in those things fades. Even after Christmas is all over, when the food is no more, when the gifts become a couple weeks old and when all the world is back to the routine of life, where will we find our joy? The good news of the Christmas season is that our joy no longer has to be self produced, but rather our lasting, unspeakable joy is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ! He is the greatest gift we could ever receive.
Have you ever wished there was more peace in your life? Peace in your home… Peace in the world… To be at peace with yourself… Peace with God. Is this even possible? What would your life be like if you were to “Be at Peace?” Join us Sunday as we explore what it means to Be At Peace.
What does it mean to have hope? We live in a time when it seems there is more hurt, pain and disappointment - in our lives, in our news feed - than stories, words or experiences of hope. So where do we find hope in the midst of all the brokenness and chaos that seem to rule the world? Does the good news of "God with us" change how we navigate the world we live in; does it offer us hope that can sustain us? Join us Sunday as we explore what it means to have Expectant Hope.
How do you say I am sorry? In the Christian faith there is an expectation that we have encountered or understood the forgiveness that is offered to us through Jesus. But what does forgiveness look like as we walk out relationship with others? Living forgiveness is the hard work of community; there is a cost to it and yet it brings freedom to the life of an apprentice of Jesus. Join us Sunday as we wrestle with what it means to Live Forgiveness.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is not addressing material for religious soap boxes and matters of cultural irrelevance. Rather he tackles head on the real stuff of life – anger, lust, divorce, manipulation, enemy opposition – all with the intent to show us the way to a full experience of Kingdom life. This week Pastor Jeremy helps uncover Jesus’ direction on how to overcome anger and it’s deadly effects.
Churches are dying and closing at alarming rates across Canada. Clearly the Church is no longer mainstream and now must operate from the margins of society. How do we rethink church from the location we now find ourselves? What does it mean today to be God’s people, on mission, making disciples, in a post-christian and oft times resistant culture? Join us as we explore what God has to say to the Church today from the life of Daniel (in Daniel chapter 1). Daniel is a bold example of how to follow God on mission as a resident alien.
Jesus in his life was often misunderstood; the same is true today. If you were to ask who he was and what he stood for, the responses would vary greatly. So as we seek to understand what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus, where do we go for our information? How does the scripture move beyond a list of rules full of do’s and don’ts? Join us Sunday as we continue to explore the Jesus Manifesto.
Jesus once said to a small group of people with no social, financial, or political status, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” The power of both salt and light is the influence or impact they have on something else, and Jesus calls us to live out our true identity that we might have a permeating influence on the world around us. Join us this week as Pastor Jeremy continues our series on the Jesus Manifesto.
The Sermon on the Mount begins with a list of Blessings, or Beatitudes. Understanding these Blessings and their significance to this Jesus Manifesto is critically important for us today because they set up the framework through which we understand the entire sermon. So the question lingers… have I understood what Jesus is saying through them? Come and share the beautiful truth of the Beatitudes with Pastor Lisa as she uncovers a false narrative that has distorted our understanding of what Jesus is saying in the Beatitudes and shines a light on the Jesus narrative that truly means the Beatitudes, and the Sermon on the Mount in it’s entirety, are good news for all.
Join us as we kick off our new sermon series ‘The Jesus Manifesto’ exploring Jesus’ greatest teaching, The Sermon on the Mount (found in Matthew 5-7). This great sermon is Jesus’ Manifesto – his public declaration of his intentions, beliefs, and vision for life in the Kingdom of God. This week Pastor Jeremy will lay the foundation for our journey together over the coming year.
Even though we live in a time when we have never been more connected, the reality of loneliness and disconnection has never been greater. Each one of us has been created with the need for community. So where do we begin and why would we make the choice to be linked together with others? Join us as we explore why we are better together.
God has created in each one a desire to know Him ... but sometimes, first there are barriers that need to be broken down or overcome. Pastor Bob shares stories of their move to the community of St. Albert, and why they are so passionate to see the community work through these barriers and meet Jesus.
In their book, “Slow Church,” Christopher Smith and John Pattison write: “Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. Long term interpersonal relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay, grow. People who leave, do not grow. It is that simple but profound biblical reality that we both grow and thrive together or we do not grow much at all.” This Sunday Pastor Jeremy will explore the real-time implications of this reality for our life here at StAAC.
In John 17 Jesus prayed that we, the Church, would be one as He is one with the Father. This is no small request! On Sunday morning Pastor Lisa will unpack this beautiful passage and share how Jesus Himself is the key to the fulfillment of His own prayer. It is possible for us to be one together… but only in Christ. Join us as we begin our new series- Linked.
The non-negotiable key to 'going and being the church' is to learn to be with Jesus in our every day life. 'Going and Being' will not first be about external behaviour or activity, but will flow from a life that is meaningfully connected to God. This week Pastor Jeremy will be describing what 'one day with Jesus' can look like and some practical steps we can take to grow in this.
Every week we send each other out with our corporate benediction to "Go and Be the Church in the places where we live, learn, work and play..." It sounds great. For those of us who have been around for a while, it would likely feel a little weird to end the service without it (sort of like having a Thanksgiving Turkey dinner without pumpkin pie for dessert!). But what does it mean? Many people associate 'church' with something we 'go to' on Sunday mornings. But Everyday Church? What are the implications of this. Join us this weekend as Pastor Jeremy addresses this vital vision question.
In our pragmatically-minded world, we can often look at examples of Jesus moving in relationships and communities and try to dissect the exact methods that “produced results”. Unfortunately, Jesus has not set up the work of disciple-making and gospel proclamation as “follow these steps” process. It is, rather, an incarnation process - meaning, it is about embodying Christ. Come and hear what Pastor Nathan has been learning about this on a very practical level as he and his family have been living for the past year in the neighbourhood of Old Strathcona.
As humans we are wired for connection in community. How does the church function as a worshiping community? What characterizes our corporate worship? What happens when we meet together as the body of Christ? Join us this Sunday as we kick off our new sermon series - Everyday Church, as we explore the significance and power of corporate worship in the presence of our Creator and Saviour.
This Sunday, Pastor Lisa continues our series Social Networks.
We live in a world that sees many things, even people at times, as disposable. The culture of the world would say that the older the things are the less value they have. Come and hear Pastor Lisa speak on the how the Kingdom of God is different from the culture of the world and how we, as the church, have the blessing and privilege of Honouring Up.
Pastor Dan teaches us about the importance of pouring into our students as they navigate through a society saturated with information and different experiences.
No one would argue that being a teenager these days must be tough. In a time when as a society we have more access to information and experiences than ever before, we’re expecting adolescents to filter everything they hear. And for those in the church, we hope that they are filtering it through a biblical world view. But what are we doing as the body of Christ to see this happens? What part do we each play in reaching and walking with the next generation as they Apprentice with Jesus? Like it or not, God has called us all to youth ministry, so let’s step into our calling and join with students as Jesus builds His Church.
Core to our vision as a church family is living together as apprentices of Jesus. It is impossible to live life in the Kingdom of God in isolation from others. We all need people in the journey with us who are ahead of us, those with whom we are in mutual relationship, and those whom we are investing in. Listen in as Pastor Jeremy provides practical insight into how to be purposeful in relationship with those within our social sphere.
The bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper are powerful symbols inviting us to deeper union with Christ and fellowship with other believers. This mysterious and profound celebration of Christ’s work, His presence and future return has been a hallmark of Christian worship throughout history. Join us on Sunday as we reflect on and celebrate the realities signified at the communion table.
There is perhaps no other symbolic act that more powerfully reflects the reality of a new chapter, of new life, than that of baptism. Why is that? What is baptism and why does it matter? Why is it so important in the life of an apprentice of Jesus? Join us for our Sunday service as Pastor Jeremy teaches on Baptism.
As our Stepping Into Your Story series draws to an end, Pastor Matt teaches about what it means to trust that our story is in God’s hands, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. As part of his final message at St. Albert Alliance, Matt will be reflecting on his own journey and sharing what he has learned through serving at StAAC that has prepared him for the next step on his journey.
If you have experienced the encouragement from another when you felt so undeserving… If you have been cheered on when you felt more like giving up… If you have had someone take the time to listen to your dreams and goals with care and support …then you have been blessed!
And if you are the reasons others have experienced such encouragement and support, you have been a blessing. This Sunday Pastor Wendy will share what happens to a man by the name of Saul, when he connects with a guy named Barnabas. The investment that Barnabas makes in Saul’s life had eternal dividends. Join us on Sunday!
On this Pentecost Sunday, we marvel at the incredible strategy of God in initiating a new kind of community: apprentices of Jesus that would be empowered, sent and equipped to continue the mission of Jesus in every region, sphere and setting. As we embark on planting a new expression of the church in Edmonton’s city centre, Pastor Nathan will be sharing about what he is learning about the Body of Christ and the incredible and unrivalled expression of community that it is intended to be.
1 Timothy 3:15 reminds us that we are part of the ‘household of God’ and that how we conduct ourselves impacts others in the family. The reality is that being part of a large family means that sometimes we need to simply stop and talk about the things that have an impact on our life together. There has been a LOT that has been unfolding here at StAAC over the past 5 months and this week Pastor Jeremy will be sharing some of the family matters that affect us as a church body.
Our sermon series, Stepping Into Your Story continues. Pastor Matt explores what it means to find life through the cross, which is actually the key to discovering the unique calling of God for you.
As we begin a new sermon series, this week, “Stepping into Your Story,” Pastor Matt will be exploring what it means to step into the adventure that Jesus has uniquely marked out for each one of us.
As we continue exploring what it means to live lives shaped by Jesus in a way that impacts our city in a real way, Pastor Matt will explore what love really means for us as individuals and as a church and what it means for the Good Neighbour Project for 2017.
Pastor Matt will be joined by a special guest, Brenda, as together they explore what it means for the church to be a living expression of the Good News that changes everything.
Though secondary to the central story of Easter, Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot are key players in the unfolding drama of God in the final hours before the death and resurrection of Jesus. Denial and betrayal mark the last significant interactions these disciples had with Jesus prior to his death, and yet the end of the story turned out radically differently for each of them. Listen in as Pastor Jeremy addresses what resulted in the stark difference in outcomes between Peter and Judas and what it means for us today.
We all have expectations. We expect a lot out of life and from ourselves. Sometimes those expectations are too high while other times we set the bar fairly low. But what about what we expect from Jesus? Whether we’d like to admit it or not we all have expectations of God. But what happens when he doesn’t meet our expectations? Palm Sunday was filled with expectations. The saviour had come! But why was that moment in time so important? Sometimes it’s what is unexpected that can really be greater than what we can possibly imagine.
As we begin a new Sermon Series, The Road Through the Cross, come and hear Pastor Lisa share how Jesus takes radical symbolic action in the temple to demonstrate His great love for us.
In Zechariah 8, the young prophet shares a powerful, prophetic vision of what it would look like when the Kingdom of God comes in fullness to the peoples of the earth. 500 years later, Jesus came pronouncing the Kingdom of God was now available for ordinary human beings to begin to access, and was to become a pervasive presence throughout the world. Join us as Pastor Jeremy reflects on Zechariah's vision and how it calls us forward into a greater realization of the Kingdom of God.
This coming Sunday Pastor Matt will be exploring the Apostle Paul’s revolutionary approach to money management from 2 Corinthians chapter 9. As we engage with Paul’s words we will discover the big question about how we manage our money is never about our money, but something far more important.
As we continue our focus on The Seed Project, Pastor Matt will explore two very well known parts of the bible book, Galatians, and how the core question of the seed project is not so much about a building but about what it means to be connected to, and committed to a family.
As with the growth of a seed, the growth of the Kingdom of God cannot happen all at once or through force or expectation, but only as a result of cultivating the soil with patience and trust. Seeds are neither apocalyptic nor dramatic: they work slowly and bring about silent revolutions. But make no mistake, they are revolutionary! We will be exploring Kingdom principles of seed sowing in this series and how they have the potential to bring revolution in our lives personally and as a community.
As we wrap up our series on Pathways to the King, Pastor Lisa shares what we need to ensure we stay on the Pathways – Tenacious Endurance!
The metaphor that life is test is seen right throughout the bible – God continually tests people’s character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. Words like trials, temptations, refining and testing occur more than 200x in the bible. The question is, ‘how do we navigate life’s testing and trials in a way that refines us to be more like Jesus?’ Pastor Jeremy continues our series, “Pathways to the King.”
Greg Musselman will be helping to expand our vision of what it means to pray ‘Kingdom-sized Prayers’ as we continue in our sermon series: “Pathways to the King.” Jesus told us to pray “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – as we learn how to more fully access the now-available Kingdom of God, growing in our tenacity and capacity to pray Kingdom prayers will be essential in our pursuit of the King.
If our invitation is to live in the river of God’s presence, then thanksgiving and praise must be understood as one of the primary means by which we enter in. However, our current concepts of thanksgiving, praise (and worship) can all-too-often be tied to our “feeling world”, seeking to satisfy a hunger for a “mountain-top” experience rather than being engaged as a discipline that, over time, yields far deeper fulfillment and joy. What does the bible say about approaching thanksgiving and praise in a way that enriches and sustains our life in the river of His presence?
Our God is a generous and loving God. Scripture is full of great and precious promises that God offers to us and we can be confident that every single one of God’s promises will be fulfilled – without exception. The problem we face is submitting to His timing. Pastor Lisa shares of how God’s promises for us are a pathway to His heart and surrendering to His timing is a key spiritual discipline that will enable us to live in the River.
The prophet Joel expressed in Joel 2 that in the last days, God would pour out His Spirit on all people - which means that we can now live fully in the River of God's Presence (see John 7:38-39)! It is a profound promise but one that is fully experienced only as we align our hearts around Jesus as first in everything. If the River is going to flow freely and abundantly, we will have to invite the Spirit to show us the debris in our lives that blocks the Spirit's work in us. Pastor Jeremy will be continuing our series on Pathways to the King.
In John 7:38, Jesus said: "Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” Rob Reimer writes: "The promise of Jesus is that the Spirit of God would flow within us like a river; He is the River of Life, and we must become River Dwellers." As apprentices of Jesus, we are to be in relentless pursuit of the Presence of God - learning how to dwell in the River of Life Himself and this is what we will be exploring together this week.
If we are going to experience ongoing partnership with God in ushering in His Kingdom here on earth and see genuine life transformation and widespread spiritual awakening, it will require more than simply a sense of obligation to do what we think is expected of us. Genuine passion for God and His Kingdom begins with a clear understanding of our identity in Christ. Susan Larison kicks off our series with a vital message on this foundational reality.
John Bloom has written: "There’s nothing wrong with a little aesthetic, nostalgic Christmas romance. God made us sentimental beings to increase our enjoyment of and gratitude for his many past graces. But if the romance and nostalgia become the substance, the pursuit of our Christmas celebrations, then they become deceptive - mirages of joy that disappear as soon as we reach for their illusive promise.
That's what Christmas has become for so many: a joy mirage, or perhaps a joy fantasy. That’s because our Christmas traditions don’t so much house joy as much as they point to joy.
This Christmas Eve - Pastor Matt explore's where true joy - indestructible, unspeakable joy - is found and how we might take greater hold of it this Christmas season and beyond.
In 1984, pop group Foreigner had a worldwide hit with the song “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
Too many of us think we know the answer to that question.
We fall in and out of love with people and things, not realizing that what we call love is actually an insipid imitation of the real thing.
In this Christmas week Pastor Matt will look at the meaning of love and how the baby born in Bethlehem launched a revolution that continues to change the world.
The arrival of Jesus was heralded hundreds of years before he was born in a stable in Bethlehem. These predictions were parceled with language and descriptions of peace like no one had ever experienced before. What kind of peace could this be and how does this baby's birth usher in it's reality - into our lives and into eternity? Pastor Nathan takes a look at True Peace.
Have you ever wondered what the word Hope really means? We see it everywhere we go this time of year, but what does it really mean to have hope. In a world where Hope is hard to find, Jesus is wanting us to know that there is so much more to hope than in what we see. This world will disappoint. People will let us down. But in this advent season, there is a hope in Jesus Christ that will never disappoint. Even when we are faithless, God is faithful. This Christmas, let’s remember that our true Hope is found in Jesus!
We live at a unique time in human history. For the first time, anyone with an opinion can communicate with the whole world. Through the U.S. Election we have seen the very nature of how we know what is true brought into question. Pastor Matt will be exploring what it means to be able to find our bearings in a confusing world through the Bible which is the word of God.
How did Jesus view prayer? What was the prevailing framework that He operated from and that He invites His apprentices to live out of? John 10 gives us great insight into these questions. Listen in as Pastor Lisa and Pastor Jeremy invite us to consider the heart of Jesus as it relates to prayer.
"Faith". It is sort of a buzzword in the human experience. The question is - do Billy Graham, George Michael and Donald Trump all mean the same thing when they use it? Interestingly, one of the best understandings of faith that Jesus came across in his life was from a cultural and religious outsider...
If God loves us so much, why can’t He just forgive us? Why is death required in order for us to experience forgiveness? And why does it matter that Jesus was raised from the dead? Pastor Jeremy follows a common thread from Genesis to Revelation as he responds to these questions about why Jesus had to die.
There has not been another human being who has influenced the whole world in the same way this first century Jewish Carpenter continues to do. Even the way we divide history into B.C. and A.D. was defined by his life. Over 2 billion people today claim to follow him. Pastor Matt will explore who Jesus was, what he thought he was doing, and why the world changed so dramatically because of this one person.
No strand is more core to the human experience than the desire to live a life that has meaning and significance. History has seen countless attempts at satisfying this craving through various social systems, religious structures and world views. In our present day, the general cultural sentiment seems to reside in the perspective that our lives are only given the meaning that we, ourselves, choose and pursue. How did Jesus address this all-too-human issue and what might be his invitation to us?
Is apprenticeship with Jesus primarily about believing the 'right' things? Doing the 'right' things? Is it possible to believe and do the 'right' things and still miss God? Come and listen in as Pastor Jeremy concludes this series of sabbatical reflections.
No one ever said it would be easy. There can be no real trust in God if there are not circumstances that present the opportunity to choose otherwise. But a deepening trust in God is profoundly freeing. Listen in as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa share some of their most shaping sabbatical reflections.
While there are many things God is up to in our lives at any given moment, whatever else He may be doing, He is always at work to make us both whole and holy. Repentance and reorientation are part of the ongoing journey with Jesus so that we can experience life in the now-available Kingdom of God. Come and listen in as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa share some of their most shaping sabbatical reflections.
No matter how long we find ourselves on the journey with Jesus, no matter how much we might come to learn about Him and His way of being, He never relents in calling us to fix our eyes solely on Him. Listen in as Pastors Jeremy & Lisa share some of their most shaping sabbatical reflections.
This week will both be celebrating Pastor Matt’s Ordination and also recognizing that we are called to be practically seeking first the Kingdom of God in this city and the world.
This Summer will be remembered as a time of conflict around the world and in North America, and sadly sometimes the church has been at the forefront of the divisions. As we prepare to engage with our community on August 28, we will explore how the Apostle Paul’s vision of the church calls us to a revolutionary and counter-cultural approach both to our city and to all the conflict we are seeing. Dave Campbell from Fusion Jamaica is our guest speaker.
With so many imitations of healthy community promising much and delivering little, we will explore the Apostle Paul’s visions for what the community of the church is meant to be. When the church is at its best, we are truly one… but we are also truly individuals.
The book of Romans is sometimes called the Apostle Paul’s Gospel. Paul spends 11 chapters outlining the incredible Grace of God and then in chapter 12 starts to talk about what it all means in two of the best known verses in the New Testament. Pastor Matt will unpack these verses and what it means for us as part of the Church in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada and the World.
The third chapter of 2 Corinthians describes God’s people as being a letter from Christ, written by the Spirit on the human heart. This is a sacred calling - and one that we ought to seek to understand. In the chapter 4, Paul (the letter’s author) unpacks the values and method that he has sought to in being a good-news bearer. How might we draw from Paul’s writing in our pursuit of being on mission here in St Albert and looking towards planting a church in Old Strathcona?
Youth today are searching; Searching for meaning, significance and purpose. And they can seemingly find the answer to all of those things with just a search of the internet. They have more access to information than any generation before them. But are they taking in all the right info? The church has an obligation to not just give information, but to model Jesus! To be His image in a broken world. How do we model Jesus to the next generation? By learning to live as Jesus lived, we can give the next generation the answers they are looking for.
Youth today are searching; Searching for meaning, significance and purpose. And they can seemingly find the answer to all of those things with just a search of the internet. They have more access to information than any generation before them. But are they taking in all the right info? The church has an obligation to not just give information, but to model Jesus! To be His image in a broken world. How do we model Jesus to the next generation? By learning to live as Jesus lived, we can give the next generation the answers they are looking for.
Putting Jesus first in everything is not always easy, is it? We are asked to live this life as apprentices of Jesus – how? By faith. That may mean that we live out many of our days, trusting that Jesus hears us, even when our circumstances bring that into question; trusting that Jesus not only hears us but is accomplishing his plans in and through us. What does it mean to persevere when we cannot see or understand what Jesus is doing. This Sunday we will meet a group of people who were weary and were given some great encouragement and direction. It is our prayer that we too will be encouraged to persevere in this amazing life of faith.
This week our journey through Ephesians 4 reaches its culmination. Pastor Matt will be asking what this radical vision that the Apostle Paul had for the church actually means for us in actuality. How will we grow to become the church Jesus desires us to be?
For video of the flower demo- visit staalliance.org
The church was designed to do life together. But how do we do when we all have our own ideas of what relationship looks like? One of the things that is sure to surface in relationship is anger. We get frustrated, short tempered and even lash out when we handle anger wrong. So how does the church handle anger? As we look at Ephesians chapter 4, Paul is going to reveal how to see anger through Gods eyes and how we might live in the manner worthy of our calling.
Pastor Nathan Carroll continues to unpack the Apostle Paul’s picture of the church in Ephesians chapter 4, as we come to a point where the author puts a giant mirror before each of us. The passage describes what being an apprentice of Jesus truly must look like - and what it truly requires of us. Do we have the courage to enter into this pursuit of becoming like Jesus?
The Apostle Paul believes that the purpose of church leadership is to help us become mature. This week Pastor Matt will be exploring what Paul means by maturity and what that understanding asks of us as individuals and collectively as we continue to journey through Ephesians chapter four.
This Sunday we dive into a passage in which Apostle Paul clearly describes both the purpose and the function of leadership in the church… and its quite different to what is normal for most of us. On the basis of Paul’s teaching, Pastor Matt will be exploring what it might mean for the different functions of leadership to be fully expressed in our church and also the broader Christian church.
Pastor Nathan Carroll walks us through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Euncuh as told from Acts 8.
As we begin our wrestle in Ephesians 4, with what it means to live a life worthy of the calling we have received, the apostle Paul's first and biggest concern seems to be with the people in the church learning to relate well with each other. Find out what i means for us as a church and individuals to "make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit."
Recent Research indicates a growing group of people whoaredone with church but not done with Jesus. The church they aredonewith is not the church that Paul describes in the bookofEphesians. This week we will be catching a glimpse of theradicalvision that Paul had for the church on the basis of whatheunderstood as God’s primary purpose.
If we are going to be serious about following Jesus then we should ask this question, When is the last time you made religious people uncomfortable by the people you hang out with?
The second biggest obstacle we need to overcome if we are to learn to love our neighbours is our fear . This Sunday we will explore what it means to get past our fears and learn to enjoy relationships with all kinds of people.
What if, when Jesus said to love your neighbour, he actually meant to love your actual neighbour?
Jesus gives a command that is so simple that most of us overlook it, but what if we didn’t? What if we actually took Jesus at his word? Not only would the world change, but we would be healthier, our neighbourhoods would have 60% less crime and our kids would be happier.
What have we got to lose?
Our world is full of people who live under the weight of their past - past hurts, past disappointments, past failures. As much as we try to concoct the illusion of “new beginnings”, left to our own devices, life always seems to cycle back around. With Jesus’ resurrection, however, the same old, same old - ultimately exemplified in the universality of death - is turned on it’s head and the future is radically redefined.
Living together as apprentices of Jesus in the now-available Kingdom of God expresses itself in two primary impulses – the Deeper life in Christ and participation in His grand mission. Come and engage around 4 strategic markers of someone partnering in the Mission of Jesus – Service, Vocation, Witness, Hospitality.
Living together as apprentices of Jesus in the now-available Kingdom of God expresses itself in two primary impulses – the Deeper life in Christ and participation in His grand mission. Come and engage around 4 strategic markers of someone pursuing the Deeper Life with Jesus – Worship, Prayer, Character, Obedience.
"Living together as apprentices of Jesus in the now-available Kingdom of God," has been the rallying cry of our church family for several years. Come be reminded why this vision has captured our hearts and continues to motivate us moving forward.
Dr. Dave Currie of Doing Family Right speaks to us about Passing on Your Faith to the Next Generation.
As apprentices of Jesus, we are well aware at the broken condition of the world in light of God’s design and purposes. This is particularly evident when we consider this whole topic of sexuality.
The question is - how do we (the church) function as a redemptive presence in the midst of this brokenness? Surely, as the presence of Christ in the earth, we should have the same approach that he took...
According to the bible, sexuality is lived out uniquely in two parallel walks of life - singleness and marriage. Strangely, our over-sexualized culture frowns on BOTH. Come and explore how Jesus, himself, initiates a radical understanding and legitimacy for both of these ways of life and what implications it has to our personal sexuality and the way that we foster community as a reflection of the Kingdom of God.
In this sermon, Pastor Nathan refers to several other resources to follow up on:
Sermons on Divorce: Part 1 or Part 2
Very few would argue against the fact that sexuality is tied (somehow) to love. Our in-built impulse towards intimacy (aka our human sexuality) is constantly driving us to draw near to others. Where does this drive originate from and what type of love will enable humans to flourish? Certainly our culture’s pigeon-holed view of sexuality as erotic cannot be the answer to the question - for we find our hyper-sexualized world to be one of marked isolation and relational breakdown.
As we embark on a 4-week conversation about sexuality, we need to realize the limp that we carry into the conversation as people who have been formed within the story that our world tells us about sexuality. Thankfully, we aren’t left to flounder in a world of confusion around such matters. Jesus has entered into the story to model a life of sexuality that tells an alternative story - the Kingdom of God.
Daniel was just a teenager when he was kidnapped and taken to a foreign culture for the duration of his life. Listen and learn from Daniel's example of how establishing a daily prayer rhythm sustained him under daunting workplace pressures in a hostile environment.
Hezekiah was a young king who faced an existential threat to the nation of Israel. Listen and learn from Hezekiah about what it means to pray meaningfully and intelligently under unimaginable pressure.
We begin our new Sermon Series- Livin' on a Prayer. Moses was one of the greatest leaders Israel ever had, but it was his desperation in prayer that sustained him and the children of Israel. Listen in and learn from Moses how the tide of your life's battles hinge on the location of your hands in prayer.
We are thrilled to welcome the President of the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Canada- Rev. David Hearn as our guest speaker this weekend. David is one of the most passionate and vibrant speakers you'll ever hear! Preaching about life in the Spirit and what Jesus is up to around the world- you won't want to miss this kick-off to the New Year.
Greg Musselman encourages us to live in God's safe place. There is a lot of fear all around us due to the uncertainty in the economy, terrorism, violence and calamities in our world. However for the followers of Jesus we are told over and over in the bible not to fear.
The Waiting Room continues as Pastor Lisa takes a look at Mary's intentionality to treasure God's work in her heart.
Pastor Jeremy teaches us from Simeon’s perspective (Luke 2), what it was like to wait with purpose for the coming promised Messiah. Waiting is never a waste in God’s economy, and there are many valuable lessons to be learned when it seems as though the promises of God are a long time coming….
Pastor Nathan walks us through Zechariah’s story which marks the beginning of a new thing that God initiated after a long period of historical silence. In both a micro and macro way, silence was broken as Zechariah finds himself very personally (and unexpectedly) drawn into God’s new unfolding story.
For 10 weeks we have been wrestling with what it really means to step into the Good Life. As we close out this series of messages Pastor Matt helps us to investigate the assumptions behind many of our day to day decisions, to see whether perhaps it is those assumptions that might be holding us back from the Good Life that we long for.
Pastor Dan walks us through Investing in the Kingdom... We all want to be remembered. No one wants to go through life hoping to be forgotten. Because of that we invest our lives in all kinds of things in hopes of leaving a lasting legacy. But what to you want to be remembered for? For the amount of money you left in your back account, or the size of your home? Do you want people to remember how you put yourself first? We all want to leave a legacy that matters! We want to be remembered for what matters! So what are you investing in?
This week our Good Life series continues with our final specific focus on money. Pastor Matt explores what it means to live in the freedom that comes from a commitment to generosity.
Money is never ultimately about money. Money is always about trust and where our hope is found. Come listen in as Pastor Jeremy continues the conversation about what it means to be financially reconciled to God.
“It’s not uncommon to hear people say that they are overwhelmed by financial anxiety, and while many people have experienced a spiritual reconciliation with God, many are still in need of a financial reconciliation with God." Pastor Jeremy leads us through the story of a man burdened by financial shame and how an encounter with Jesus changed everything.
"What does generosity do for people? Is the conventional wisdom right? If you give it away, do you lose it? Or is the unconventional wisdom right? That the more you give, the more you gain?” Listen and be inspired by the amazing faith of a single mom who dared to put God first in her life, and the incredible blessing that came as a result.
Jesus didn't shy away from the topic of money and resources, recognizing that it is a key indicator of our hearts and values. Listen to this podcast as Pastor Nathan continues the conversation of The Good Life sermon series by exposing the #1 myth about money in our world today.
Sometimes Christians live as though Jesus was only concerned that we believe certain things about him and we become more concerned to make a point than to make a difference. But the path to significance and experience of the Good Life doesn't rest on the belief of a set of intellectual propositions, but rather on the dominant characteristic demonstrated in and through Jesus' life. Listen to the podcast as Pastor Jeremy continues our series on 'The Good Life.'
Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, you are being spiritually formed. Our inner being is being spiritually formed all the time by what we watch, by who we listen to, by what we read. In fact, marketers are masters of spiritual formation. But what if someone wanted to be shaped by a more reliable Source of information on how to experience the Good Life? Is change really possible? How? Listen to the podcast as Pastor Jeremy continues the conversation about the Good Life.
Who has the Good Life? And Who is a Good Person? These are questions that every person in every age has an opinion on. But who is a reliable teacher for this pursuit? And whose life are we seeking to pattern our life after? Listen in as Pastor Jeremy opens the conversation about these things...
So many relationships get complicated because of miscommunication. Learning how to communicate with another person in a way they truly understand your intention is not an easy thing to do. Pastor Matt will explore what it means to communicate effectively, and particularly what it means to love people in a way they experience it as love. This is the last of our three part sermon series preparing us for The Church has Left the Building.
St. Albert is a great place to live, but it is the people of St. Albert that truly make this city great. Pastor Matt explores what the Bible says about the people of St. Albert and why they are so easy to love.
David Campbell, who works with young people in Inner-City Kingston, Jamaica, will be speaking about God’s Glory; God's eternal moral character. Using stories from his work in Jamaica he will explore how God’s Glory relates to the world we are passing on to the next generation, and how God's presence through his church offers hope.
Victory! What kinds of memories and stories come to mind? What feelings do you relive when you think of the victories in your own life? Pastor Wendy walks us through the story of victory that appeared to be one of total despair and defeat to those who loved Jesus, but for Jesus it was one of triumph!
Pastor Nathan walks us through The Bigger Ask. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record a poignant and tragic story about Jesus having a conversation with a young, successful and wealthy man. This conversation gives us a glimpse into Christ’s heart and kingdom as his response to the rich young ruler echoes prophetically to us in our culture of youth, success and wealth.
Greg Musselman shares his story of how he came to Christ and then went from being a television sport anchor/reporter to traveling to some of the most dangerous places on the planet to meet with Christians who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. At times Greg says he felt like he missed God's plan for his life, but today feels he is where he is supposed to be and references Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes."
Pastor Dan speaks to us out of the book of Daniel. In a world where our students are more connected than ever before, what is Jesus calling them too? Are they more than the pictures they post on Instagram or their posts on Facebook? Throughout history Jesus has used teenagers in ways we couldn’t possibly imagine. He has used them to make His name great, and His plan hasn’t changed. But what are we, the church, doing to help them answer the call? Has God just made us spectators or do we have a bigger part to play?
So what does this Sabbath thing actually look like when we are all so busy? Pastor Matt will looks at the question of what does a Life of Rest actually look like when we are surrounded by people, competing agendas and our own issues. He explores how one of the busiest men in the Bible, Nehemiah, lived a life of rest.
So what does this Sabbath thing actually look like when we are all so busy? Pastor Matt will looks at the question of what does a Life of Rest actually look like when we are surrounded by people, competing agendas and our own issues. He explores how one of the busiest men in the Bible, Nehemiah, lived a life of rest.
Pastor Nathan continues our spring teaching series entitled Work and Rest at Peace through The Journey of Discovering Your Purpose. As we explore this matter of discovering our God-given vocational call, we must understand that this is a journey – not simply a transaction. As such, the understanding and living-out of our unique vocational call takes different forms at different stages of our lives
Sabbath-living - how strange. Especially when held up to so many of the values and practices that we encounter in the world around us that is moving a mile-a-minute in every direction. It is also strange because Sabbath living is not a suggestion - but a command, given to us from God, himself. In a world in which we make our own rules according to what we feel like or what suits our interests best, how do we interface with an ancient command from the God who created us? This weekend Pastor Nathan continues our series Work; Rest at Peace with Sabbath People - Countercultural Agents.
Coming to understand our life purpose is rarely a simple, obvious, straightforward deduction; there is always an ongoing process of growth in self-awareness of how God has uniquely wired us. However, there is one question that can help us clear through the clutter of our lives, and help move us towards greater clarity on this point. Join us this weekend as Pastor Jeremy walks us through A Game Changing Question to find out what this question is and why it is so powerful...
This week Pastor Jeremy takes a very practical look at living a Sabbath lifestyle - addressing both the why and the how to live as God has designed. Dallas Willard has suggested that hurry is the greatest enemy to our spiritual life in Christ in our day. With incessant demands, constant accessibility, and enticement to over-consume, the gift of Sabbath provides a much needed and welcome practice to help us address this growing epidemic.
At St. Albert Alliance Church this May and June, we want to look at how the Bible might define work and rest differently - in such a way that our lives and families could experience more peace and wholeness. We believe that the Bible lays a blueprint for truly purposeful work that invigorates and enlivens as well as for rest that truly re-creates and renews us. Join us for "Consider Your Calling" with guest speaker Gordon T. Smith
Rest at PEACE - At St. Albert Alliance Church this May and June, we want to look at how the Bible might define work and rest differently - in such a way that our lives and families could experience more peace and wholeness. We believe that the Bible lays a blueprint for truly purposeful work that invigorates and enlivens as well as for rest that truly re-creates and renews us. Guest speaker Mark Buchanan begins our series with "Don't Just Do Something, Sit There"
CALLED OUT To A Mission - As we draw our exploration of the book of Acts to a close, Pastor Matt explores how the church was called to mission by Jesus, and how specifically the Apostle Paul’s journey towards discovering his calling in the context of that bigger story might be a model for us as we each seek the mission to which we are called.
Pastor Jeremy and Pastor Lisa teach on how the church has been "CALLED OUT To Work It Out". We all experience conflict in our relationships, the key is how we choose to engage in this conflict. From the Book of Acts we see that is possible to have conflict and still have healthy and honoring relationships.
Pastor Jeremy lead us through CALLED OUT To Put Jesus First - “The radical conversion of the Apostle Paul (formerly Saul) is one of the most powerful testimonies to the truth of Easter that Jesus Christ is indeed alive! Despite the dramatic nature of Saul’s conversion, there is a discernible pattern of conversion that applies to all who come to apprentice with Jesus. It’s a profound story of life change that continues to result in life transformation all around the globe.”
CALLED OUT To Welcome In - Isn't it sad that so many people these days see the church as an "exclusive club"? Pastor Nathan helps us explore the church in the book of Acts, we see that this rag-tag group of people bound together in Jesus Christ were anything but exclusive or isolated. There is a lot that we can learn from their example, particularly in how they prioritized making space to welcome others in a heartfelt way - giving vividness to the welcoming heart of Jesus.
Pastor Nathan lead us through Called Out To Welcome All - Is the church a community that is restricted to one certain culture or form of expression? Many people in the west might argue that this is the case. However, when we study the infant church in the book of Acts, we see that what began as a grassroots movement among some renegade Jews, necessarily required a metamorphosis in order to welcome people of all ethnic, cultural and spiritual backgrounds into it's fold. The church today needs to continue to champion this cause in the world.
As this rag-tag group of disciples called the church sets out to continue the work of Jesus on the earth by actually being his continued presence in the world, it does not take long to realize that the call to live Jesus’ life is also a call, for some, to give their lives as He did. This is sobering and quite hard to grasp - but life as ones who are “called out” by Christ means that we hold every aspect of our lives with open hands in obedience - even our lives, themselves. Greg Musselman delivers a thought provoking message CALLED OUT To Give Up Everything.
In many ways the book of Acts is the story of the clash of two Kingdoms. People were expecting Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom by earthly standards, however his was a heavenly kingdom “not by might nor by power”. Jesus radically redefines what power looks like, and the book of Acts tells the story of his followers discovering that power and clashing with the religious, political and business powers of the day.
We too are called to stand up and stand out as members of a different Kingdom. Pastor Matt explores what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the context of the religious, political and business powers of 2015 by examining what it meant for the followers of Jesus in the book of Acts.
As the church of Jesus Christ we are to be agents of his healing and Restoration. All of us are wounded and need healing in our lives in one way or another. Our healing comes through Jesus himself and in his grace he chooses, in part, to minister that healing through the church. Pastor Lisa speaks on the exciting truth that the church is Called Out - To Heal.
It's impossible to read the book of Acts without being confronted by the game changing reality of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence. This newly formed community of Jesus' Apprentices sees the power of God in action as the Holy Spirit empowers them. Pastor Lisa shares how the Holy Spirit is God's gift to empower the church today.
The book of Acts begins by Luke indicating that his gospel was his account of all that Jesus began to do and teach. His assumption is that the book of Acts is an account of what Jesus continued to do and teach through his followers.
Pastor Matt walks us through the question of what it meant for Jesus to continue to act and teach through his followers in Acts, and what it means for him to continue to act and teach through his followers in St. Albert Alliance Church and the Christian church more broadly today.
The book of Acts gets off to a fast start with signs and wonders and people coming to Jesus by the thousands… but not without first learning to wait on God, and then making prayer a continual priority. The power of God evidenced in the Book of Acts cannot be properly understood apart from the deep and growing prayer life of the early Church. Pastor Jeremy continues our series with CALLED OUT - To Pray.
Pastor Jeremy begins a new series, CALLED OUT - a journey through the book of ACTS. As we trace the early years of the Christian church through various snapshots in the book of Acts, we want to learn from both their successes and failures, to explore what it means to be "called out" today.
Pastor Matt speak about how much in our world is instant... we want instant noodles, instant printing, instant messaging and instant answers to our prayers. God answers all prayer, but a need for "instant" means that we can avoid the kinds of prayer that really changes the world, and changes us. God invites us to Think Long when it comes to prayer.
Pastor Jeremy teach us about, perhaps one of the greatest limiters to the effectiveness of our prayers is our lack of persistence. We tend to have a 'one and done' approach to prayer instead of committing to circle the promises of God consistently. The persistent widow in Luke 18 models for us the kind of tenacity in prayer that God is eager to respond to.
Pastor Nathan will be continuing our teaching series on Bold Prayer. Small-scale prayers will never be sufficient to illicit boldness in our prayer life. What keeps us from making big (and, at times, seemingly impossible) requests of God?
Pastor Jeremy kicks off our January series with Bold Prayer - give your prayer life a 360.
Pastor Dan teaches out of 1 Peter chapter 3, calling us to consider how we live in anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s plans.
As our Heaven series moves towards a crescendo, Pastor Matt preaches about how the purpose of the church is to be a foretaste of Heaven.
As we continue our Heaven Series, Dr. Rauser explores What Happens After We Die?
Dr. Randal Rauser, is the professor of Historical Theology at Taylor Seminary and author of many books including Finding God in ‘the Shack’ and his latest, What on Earth Do We Know about Heaven?, which our pastoral team have used as a reference while preparing for this current sermon series.
Pastor Jeremy looks at the connection that the Bible talks about between how we live our lives now and how we experience eternity.
Pastor Jeremy & Pastor Lisa explore the very practical question, “What Will My Day to Day Life Be Like In Heaven?"
Pastor Lisa explores the reality of what it means to have a physically resurrected body.
We continue our series on Heaven as Pastor Dan unpacks the core idea that Heaven is a Physical Place.
Pastor Jeremy looks at the question “The Biggest Obstacle To Understanding Heaven”. Prepare to have your heart and mind stretched!
Today we kick-off a 10-week series on Heaven that our team has been anticipating with a level of excitement for a number of months.
Pastor Lisa looks at the question “Why Does Heaven Matter"?
Pastor Matt explores what it really means to serve the nations and how that is related to finding our calling.
Pastor Jeremy teaches us on one of the best, most tried and tested means by which we can grow in discovering God.
Pastor Matt teaches from 2 Corinthians chapter 5 as we look forward, as a church family, to the following Sunday when we will be going out to serve our neighbours for our annual ‘Church Has Left The Building’ Sunday.
Guest speaker David Campbell of Fusion International (Jamaica), shares with us from 2 Peter, looking at Jesus’ invitation to us all to join him on his great mission.
This Sunday’s teaching (based on Galatians 5) is particularly geared towards kids (and adults, too ; ) as we explore who the Holy Spirit is and the difference that he can make in our day-to-day lives as we choose to live in sync with him.
Pastor Wendy teaches us out of John 15, looking at the secret to long-standing, heartfelt apprenticeship.
Pastor Nathan teaches out of Romans 6, looking at a striking image that Paul uses to describe life in Christ - a "slave to righteousness”. A slave? Really? But I thought the Bible says that we are free in Christ… Perhaps Paul is intentionally using this metaphor to challenge our idea of true freedom VS a kingdom idea of what freedom really is.
Pastor Lisa teaches a passage in Nehemiah 4 which focuses on a discouraged and tired group of people who desperately need to have their perspective shifted by God in order to have hope and strength to persevere...
Pastor Jeremy closes out our series on tough questions of faith, looking at one of the most challenging wrestles related to faith and the scriptures - that of God-ordained violence in the Bible. Do these circumstances in scriptures discredit God? Do they undermine his love and mercy? Or do they, in fact, substantiate it?
Listen in on a special church family moment as Pastor Jeremy offers a challenge from 2 Timothy 2:15 to a transitioning staff member and the congregation as a whole.
Pastor Matt G will be continues our series of addressing tough faith-related questions. This week will be all about a matter that is quite heated in our day and age - the fact that science and faith seem to be at odds. While many are drawing strong either/or lines around the matter, could it be that either/or isn’t the only option?
Ken Dyck the founder of Freedom Session - a recovery ministry that has been running at St. Albert Alliance over the past number of months, is our guest speaker this weekend. Tied-in with hearing from Ken will be the opportunity to celebrate the journey that members of our church family have been on in their journey to freedom in Jesus.
Pastor Matt K. delivers our message this week that tackles the oft-asked question of whether or not the Bible is a reliable resource to base one’s life on. Life as an apprentice of Jesus is intrinsically linked to the word of God - how can we come to the scriptures confidently and defend it to those who criticize its validity?
Pastor Nathan teaches our message this week that tackles the question of hell and a loving God - asked by believers and non-believers alike for ages. What would put us on a path to a biblical / kingdom-perspective on this very sensitive and challenging matter
Pastor Lisa teaches our message this week as we tackle the question, “why does God allow suffering?” This question is one that is asked both outside and inside the church. What insight might we find in scripture to the very understandable and relatable reality of human suffering that we see all around us?
As part of our series Questions on FAITH & REASON*(able) Answers, Pastor Jeremy will tackle a common question - “Do All Religions Lead to God?”* This question is one that is asked both outside and inside the church - what might scripture teach about how human beings from all cultures and backgrounds might satisfy their innate desire to know and understand the divine?
Pastor Jeremy will be launching into our spring series: Questions on FAITH & REASON*(able) Answers*. This week, we will be looking at matters surrounding God’s healing power - what is required of us in order to see God heal us?
Pastor Jeremy concludes our series on the book of Mark with The Kingdom Comes... celebrating the incredible hope that we have in the fact that JESUS HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
Pastor Nathan will be continuing on as we fast approach the end of our journey through the gospel of Mark. As the passion story looms, a fascinating and significant encounter with an unnamed woman reveals the kingdom in action even on the precipice of Jesus’ impending arrest, trial and ultimate death.
Pastor Jeremy will be continuing on in his unpacking of the end times from Mark chapter 13. Stemming from his suggestion (in Part 1 on March 23rd) that many culturally-believed end times occurrences described in this chapter might, in fact, have been fulfilled in the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, it leaves us asking, “ok, so…what now?” What does it mean to live in light of Christ’s return? How should it impact our day-to-day?
We had the privilege of having Pastor Ray Duerksen from Southland Church in Steinbach, MB as our guest speaker. He taught us on the role of Prayer & Faith in the life of an apprentice of Jesus.
Pastor Jeremy delves into a dense and challenging section of the text in which Jesus speaks of days to come. Ideas about the end times run rampant in our culture - what is it that Jesus might have to say on the matter?
Pastor Matt G will be teaches through the second part in our exploration of the role of money in the life of an apprentice of Jesus. Jesus has quite a lot to say on this matter and, if considered, draws a very strong line in the sand between the kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Matt G teaches the first of a two-part exploration of money in the life of an apprentice of Jesus. Jesus has quite a lot to say on this matter and, if considered, draws a very strong line in the sand between the kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of God.
Pastors Jeremy and Matt K teach us out of two shorter sections in Mark 12 in which Jesus makes some stark claims - both about his true nature and about heart-attitudes and practices that offend his nature.
Pastor Jeremy teaches us on the section in Mark 12 that involves both a real-life parable and a violent one-man demonstration - in which Jesus distills the law of God down to one simple, 2-sided command. It is a daunting challenge that Jesus puts before us - how can we possibly live this out?
Our favourite Australian Pastor, Matt G. will be continuing in our series on Mark, focusing on another confrontation between Jesus and some religious leaders of his day - this time over the matter of resurrection. We will be looking at the significance of Jesus’ response as well as stepping back to consider how we might follow his (Jesus’) example in engaging others in conflict - something that often seems like a far cry from our Canadian "code of conduct”.
Pastor Nathan will be teaching on the first of a series of traps laid out for Jesus by the Jewish leaders in Mark 12:13-17. It is always breath-taking to see how Jesus, time-and-time-again is able to masterfully navigate such snares - and on top of it all, reveal more about the truth of the kingdom of God! Give the passage a read-through before listening to the podcast!
Pastor Jeremy's teaching centers around a fascinating parable at the beginning of Mark 12 about a landowner and his tenants. This parable carried with it profound meaning to those who heard it in Jesus’ day and continues to carry with it very poignant connotations to us as we seek to journey as apprentices of Jesus.
This recording includes an important announcement from Wes Brodhead, Chairman of the Board of Elders at St. Albert Alliance.
Pastor Jeremy will be teaching on the triumphal entry in Mark 11 - focusing on the strange irony that many who would receive Jesus with celebration would soon not regard him as the king which he was received to be. Why is it that people move from wholehearted reception of Jesus to disillusionment?
Pastor Nathan will be teaching on the final passage in Mark 10 in which Jesus heals a blind man, putting on display the profound truths of the Kingdom of God that he has been teaching his disciples along their journey towards Jerusalem. This is far more than "just another miracle" - it is a culminate illustration of this radical world view.
Pastor Matt G will be picking up in the Gospel of Mark as Jesus explains in greater detail just what kind of Leader he has come to be and calls his apprentices to be as well…
Pastor Matt Kinniburgh brings us a message to challenge us to orient our lives as Jesus calls us to in Mark 10.
Pastor Jeremy Peters caps off of our advent journey of seeking to better understand The God Who is Poor. Join us as we place Jesus at his rightful place - as first in our holiday season.
Pastor Matt Garvin leads us as we seek to understand this profound mystery of a God who would willfully become poor so that we could be rich. At the core of this alternate, Kingdom reality is humility - the willful choice to lay down one’s right. In the incarnation, we see Jesus becoming the ultimate example of this and demonstrating kingship unlike anything the world has ever seen.
As we continue our advent journey, we delve deeper into this strange reality that is a God who would choose to become poor so that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Pastor Matt K. teaches us about all of the "valueless" people that are esteemed in and around the birth narrative of Jesus.
Pastor Jeremy launches us into our advent theme, 'The God Who is Poor', from Mark 10:17-23 in which a sincere and wealthy man comes to Jesus, but doesn't necessarily get what he is looking for...
This week, Pastor Jeremy will be continuing our study of the Gospel of Mark, highlighting a both fascinating and counter-cultural statement that Jesus makes about children and how they set the bar for everyone in their engagement in the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Nathan will be continuing on with the second part of his teaching on a biblical perspective on divorce - a topic that is close to home for nearly all of us in one way or another. Building on the scriptural/theological foundation that he outlined in his November 3 message *, Pastor Nathan will be addressing some peripheral issues related to the topic of divorce - including remarriage.
As we continue on in Mark’s Gospel, we intersect a topic that is very close to home - that of divorce. Pastor Nathan will be teaching on this passage in two parts, with this week focusing on the scriptural black-and-white lines that are drawn around this topic. Divorce is an issue that is quite close to home for many and can be a painful discussion for some, but it is imperative that we hold up the kingdom perspective on such things and seek to align ourselves with it.
Pastor Jeremy unpacks a series of scenes in the life of Jesus in which His conversations with His disciples turn to matters that are not always easy to understand or accept. Might it be true that Jesus is calling His apprentices to a life of hardship - even suffering? What is revealed to us about the Kingdom of God through these things?
As we continue in the book of Mark (9:14-29), Pastor Matt Garvin will be teaching through a fascinating series of scenes involving quibbling disciples, a desperate father and a back-room conversation - all of which lead us to some fascinating discoveries about the true nature of faith.
Seen For Who He Really Is
After a few months off, we are stepping back into the book of Mark and resuming our journey of watching the Kingdom in Action. This Sunday, Pastor Jeremy will be unpacking one of the most shocking and spectacular moments in the life of Christ - Jesus' transfiguration. What is this incredible revelation meant to underline for the disciples?
Pastors Jeremy and Lisa will be teaching our final two mini-modules on living as an apprentice of Jesus - all about living by a rule of life and the critical need for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Matt G and Pastor Jeremy teach us as we look more deeply into what it means to be engage with those around us who are spiritually disoriented and presence Jesus in the places where we live, work and play.
Join us as we continue our September series all about the invaluable fundamentals of living as an apprentice of Jesus. This Sunday, Pastor Matt K will be speaking on taking time in the scriptures, and Pastor Jeremy will be speaking on the whole idea of 'spiritual parenthood' and the crucial role that investing in others must play in the life of a mature Jesus-follower.
The term "apprenticeship" has really become entrenched in the culture of our church family as we talk about what it means to truly live as a follower of Jesus. We use it interchangeably with the concept of discipleship (a word riddled throughout the New Testament), because it contextualizes the heart of what being a disciple is - one who is apprenticing under a master - learning, by practical experience, a trade, art or calling. We want to take these coming 4 weeks to invite you into the classroom. To teach you the "trade" so to speak - the greatest skill you could ever learn. That of living abundantly through making Jesus Lord over every aspect of your life. This week, Pastor Nathan and Pastor Jeremy will both be teaching a short, practical module - one on true spiritual community and the other on a lifestyle built around prayer.
Pastor Jeremy teaches on the role of Spiritual Disciplines in helping us to experience the 'easy yoke' in the Kingdom of God out of Matthew 11:29-30.
Pastor Nathan teaches out of John chapter 14 - a passage that has been deeply formative for him in the past season.
Greg Musselman (a member of our church family with Voice of the Martyrs) will be preaching out of 2 Timothy 4 on the reward of a well-ended apprenticeship journey with Jesus.
Jeremy and Lisa each shared a couple of things that the Lord spoke to them personally while they were in Israel.
Pastor Matt teaches out of Philippians 2 on the Kingship of Jesus, moving towards the celebration of The Lord's Supper - the place where we remember his defining kingly act.
Pastor Jeremy takes us on our final look at the book of Mark before our summer teaching series, we focus on Jesus' healing of a blind man. A miracle that, strangely, takes two go-arounds to accomplish. What looks strangely like a sign of Jesus' frailty is, in fact, a parable about the universal state of spiritual blindness that everyone suffers from. What might the scriptures say to us as we seek to see things clearly?
Pastor Nathan focuses on the first part of Mark chapter 8. As Mark's gospel gets close to reaching its midway (and turning) point, it is becoming ever so clear that, while continuing to demonstrate the kingdom through many miracles, Jesus is still quite misunderstood - by those who are opposed to him and, interestingly, by those who are closest to him as well. What does he have to say to these various groups as they grapple with this rabbi who is like no other?
Pastor Jeremy focuses on the last section of Mark 7 in which we read about two very different encounters that Jesus has with two very different people - both leading to incredible demonstrations of His healing power. As we observe these two unique stories, is there something that we can learn about how we might approach Jesus for meeting our own needs as well?
Pastor Jeremy continues on in the Gospel of Mark, highlighting Jesus' explanation of what true dirtiness and cleanliness look like - ultimately pointing to the way that God was making that all humankind might be cleansed.
Step in, together, into this incredible adventure that is our shared journey as apprentices of Jesus with Pastor Nathan Carroll. We will be looking at a very interesting exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees in Mark chapter 7 in which Jesus cuts to the root issue behind the religious leaders' criticisms of Jesus' disciples. Ultimately, we get a glimpse at Jesus' view of the scriptures and how they are to play a central role in Kingdom living.
Life for Jesus' apprentices was the furthest thing from ordinary. They were witnessing some strange, strange things (from their lower story perspective, anyways) that would have inevitably left them wondering many things about Jesus. As Pastor Jeremy leads us through the passage that we will be focusing on this week is one of the most bizarre - Jesus, walking out to the disciples ON the water in the middle of the night...
Jesus truly is an uncontrollable force, an unmanageable storm of a person - yet one whose heart is a heart of love and patience and grace. Who is he - really?
Pastor Lisa continues in the book of Mark - focusing on a somewhat familiar story in Mark 6:30-44. However, as familiar as the story might be (at least to those who grew up in the church), might there be depths of kingdom-understanding that we have yet to access in it? The revolution that Jesus is bringing about during his life is not necessarily what you might expect…
The focus of our scripture teaching will be on Mark 6:14-29 - a fascinating and brief departure from the story of Jesus in which we learn about John the Baptist and King Herod. Pastor Matt will be teaching specifically about the history surrounding King Herod, highlighting the inevitable clash that occurs when the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of man encounter one another.
Pastor Jeremy opens up the word as we look at Jesus' sending out of his disciples in Mark 6. Interestingly, Jesus' apprentices are still "works in progress" at this point - far from being what we would consider "super disciples" by any means. Yet, their entrustment is profound and it seems that Jesus is more concerned about forming them as they go out, rather than waiting until they have it all together beforehand. We are all invited to live as Jesus' apprentices - could the same be true for us? What is Jesus sending us out to do?
Join Pastor Nathan as he explores Mark 6:1-13. This passage begins with a fascinating account of Jesus, whose public ministry is in full-swing, returning to His hometown and being received quite differently than He has anywhere else. The passage then moves to Jesus sending out His faithful (but somewhat immature and ill-equipped) disciples. What might God want to say to us, as a church family, about our heart posture towards Him?
Join with Pastor Jeremy Peters, there is no occasion for the church family to gather and celebrate like Easter Sunday. CHRIST HAS RISEN! With his resurrection, Jesus paves a way for all of us to experience a resurrected life. He is the "firstborn from the dead" (Revelations 1:5) and the promise woven into the resurrection will be the focus of our celebration this weekend.
Pastor Jeremy continues to unpack Mark chapter 5, focusing on a story about two healings - both very unique. At the heart of Pastor Jeremy's message will be an examination of the work of spiritual formation that the two principle characters in the story undergo as they interact with Jesus. In particular, as they process seeming 'delays' in Jesus' work of restoring them. We all know what it's like to feel like God is delaying - to ask, "where are you?" Jesus obviously sees things differently than we do and it befits us to lean in to text such as this one in order to get a glimpse of what is going on from an 'upper story' perspective.
Join us as we learn from the Bible about the Kingdom of God as Pastor Nathan teaches us about... Jesus and His disciples make it to shore after a scary night on the stormy seas. As they arrive, they are met with an equally scary reception which leads to another incredible demonstration of Jesus' power. BUT - there is a bigger plot unfolding…even as the story ends with Jesus and His disciples being asked to leave…
Join us for a special Sunday morning in which we get to hear, in more detail, from Pastor Jeremy and Pastor Lisa about their recent trip with Compassion Canada to Ecuador. What was Jesus showing to them? What does the in-breaking of God's kingdom look like in that part of the world and how can that spur us on here in St. Albert? Jon Bauer led worship and shared about his travels with Compassion, and we will learn how as a church family, we can participate in the Kingdom work of this wonderful organization. In addition, we will hear from Pastor Pam about her recent teaching trip to Cuba.
This weekend Pastor Jeremy looks at the well-known story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41. The story closes with the disciples (worn-out and petrified from their experience) asking the question (regarding Jesus), 'Who is this man?'. There are some stirring truths that can be drawn from this story as to who Jesus was and is and it befits us to lean in that we might better realize who Jesus is in our lives - especially in the midst of 'storms' that we find ourselves in.
Join us as we enjoy a time of gathering dedicated to the work of taking the good news of the Kingdom to the nations! We don't want to be a church family with an out-of-sight out-of-mind mentality when it comes to the nations. This is why we are seeking to be exposed to global-focused Kingdom work in many forms - be it through Alliance International Workers, Compassion Canada or many other Christ-minded organizations. Our guest speaker Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada, speaks to us about Taking Up Your Cross.
Jesus never gave a straight-up definition of the Kingdom of God - it just wouldn't do. Instead He described it using parables or analogies to everyday things. On the heels of the Parable of the Sower (which we looked at last week), Jesus shares a series of short parables, each with their own angle at bringing to light what the Kingdom of God is like. Join us as we gather together to worship Jesus and learn from His words as Pastor Nathan Carroll teaches us about The Kingdom Illustrated.
Jesus told a number of parables during His life, but did you know that the parable of the sower in Mark 4 is described as the "first of all parables"? In verse 13, Jesus literally says that if we can't begin to get our head around this particular illustration of the Kingdom, that we will be lost in trying to comprehend all other parables, analogies and illustrations. It is this parable that Pastor Jeremy is digging into - driving towards the ultimate focus of what Jesus was communicating - the fact that true engagement with the Kingdom of God causes people to bear fruit. Give this text a read or two and be ready to be stretched, to learn and, ultimately (we pray) to be left in awe of Christ and His kingdom.
Pastor Jeremy leads us as we move through chapter 3 of the Gospel of Mark and as we've been seeing, Jesus is creating quite a reaction. Everyone has an opinion on Jesus and is trying to make sense of who he is and what he means by what he says! This particular occasion inspires Jesus to once again 'draw a line in the sand' as to who he considers his true family...
Curtis, one of our international workers in Central America, will be continuing to teach through Mark about the Kingdom of God - highlighting what the Kingdom looks like as it is being pursued by apprentices of Jesus both here and in Central America.
As Jesus continues to demonstrate the "new wineskin" of the Kingdom of God, it becomes more and more apparent that this new way of doing life is completely incompatible with the existing, established ways of doing life - even religious life. What about all the rules that people have sought to live by? Does Jesus not care about any of the rules? Join us as Pastor Jeremy shares from Mark 2:23-3:6, and as we seek to hear from Jesus as to what rules really matter and how they usher us deeper into life in the kingdom.
This Kingdom, as demonstrated most vividly in the life of Christ, chafes against so many of the established patterns and structures in the world; even in those patterns and structures that have been established in the name of "religion". Jesus uses two analogies to highlight these conflicting realities in the time of his earthly ministry - an unshrunk patch of cloth on an old garment and new wine being poured into new wineskins. Join us as Pastor Jeremy explores the tensions of the old and new wineskins.
Pastor Nathan Carroll leads us in a time of reflection on the reality of God's kingdom in and around us as well as a celebration of Christian Community.
In Mark 2:13-17 we are introduced to two very different groups of people - Pharisees and Tax Collectors. Jesus' interactions with these two groups (who avoided each other like the plague) reveal some very scandalous aspects of God's heart and kingdom. Join us as Pastor Matt opens up the word and Jon Bauer leads us in worship.
Pastor Jeremy leads us as we march into the 2nd chapter of Mark and into a very peculiar story about a paralyzed man, his friends, some fancy rope work and an unexpected and astonishing claim. There seems to be more to Jesus than simply being a miracle worker - and there's more to this paralyzed man than simply his physical condition...
The Kingdom Arrives Against All Odds. As we begin to march towards Christmas, we continue to explore Mark's gospel, looking at Jesus' encounter with a man with leprosy (Mark 1:40-45). Though the story is short - it is HUGE in significance as it paints an incredible picture of the salvation that God intends to make available to everyone. Join Pastor Jeremy as he teaches from this passage and as we, in response, celebrate communion and the first lighting of the advent candle.
The inner life of Jesus was shaped profoundly through time invested in solitude and silence. Pastor Jeremy leads us through Mark 1:35-39 and the poser of this ancient discipline in the work of spiritual formation.
Pastor Lisa Peters teaches us about Mark 1:21-34, through this passage we see that Jesus has all undisputed authority; when He speaks the enemy listens. He touches and people are healed.
Pastor Jeremy Peters teaches us about the call to apprentice with Jesus that is being issued to each one of us, and as a church leadership, we try to put disproportionate emphasis on all that this means. We will be studying Mark 1:16-20 this weekend as we continue our pursuit of Christlikeness.
Significant preparation and spiritual formation is required in order for us to be fully available to God's call on our lives. As Pastor Jeremy Peters helps us explore Mark 1:9-13, we see in the life of Jesus the shape this preparation took and the insight it provides for us in our own journeys with Him.
What does it mean to be 'baptized' by the Holy Spirit? What does a life baptized in the Spirit look like? These are the questions addressed by Pastor Jeremy in this weeks message on Mark 1:8.
What about you? Join pastors Matt Kinniburgh and Jeremy Peters as they deliver the final message in our core values series... Living as an Apprentice of Jesus.
Join Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters as he delivers a message about our third core value here at St. Albert Alliance.
Join Pastor Nathan Carroll as he unpacks our second core practice in our series - Living as an Apprentice of Jesus.
Pastor Nathan Carroll offers this first message in our core practices series Living As An Apprentice of Jesus.
Pastor of Congregational Life Wendy Thomas delivers this message in our summer series "Passages".
Is Jesus first in everything for you? Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters offers a message in our series "Passages"
Join special guest Norah Kennedy as she offers a message based upon the passages found in Hebrews 12:1-2
In this edition of our summer series "Passages" Pastor Lisa Peters delivers a message entitled "Living in the Light".
Have you ever wondered what Gods will is for your life? Join Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters as he offers insight into learning to discern Gods will.
Pastor Nathan Carroll discusses the written Word of God in this episode of our Life with God series.
Are you ready to hear from God? Is your conversation with Him a one-way street? Join Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters as he delivers this first message in our new series "Life with God".
In this final episode of our whole Bible series join pastors Matt Kinniburgh, Lisa Peters, Nathan Carroll, and Jeremy Peters as they each offer a different image of Jesus given to us in the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament.
Join Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters as he delivers this message in our whole bible series - The Story.
Do you think God can use you for His purposes? Join special guest Paul Quantz as he uncovers the answer to this question in this latest in our whole Bible series - The Story.
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Join Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters as he answers many questions you may have about the Holy Spirit in this episode in our series "The Story".
In this Easter Sunday message Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters delivers a powerful look into the central message of Christianity. This message is entitled - "Everything Changes".
Join Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters as he discusses various worldviews in relation to the core beliefs of Christianity in this latest episode in our whole Bible series "The Story".
Are you ready to be blessed? Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters leads us through the story of Jesus sermon on the mount and the challenging message that was delivered for us on that day.
Worship Pastor Nathan Carroll offers this latest episode in our whole Bible series "The Story".
In this episode of "The Story" Pastor Matt Kinniburgh examines some of the prophesy that is offered in the Bible pointing to Jesus as The Christ.
Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters delivers this latest in our whole bible series. What does it take to be a person of vision?
In the face of the greatest adversity where is your faith? Join Pastor Wade Paton as he leads us through this incredible story of faith.
Pastors Jeremy Peters and Matt Kinniburgh share this latest in our whole bible series 'The Story'
God is at work in the world... with or without us. Join Lead Pastor Jeremy Peters as he delivers the latest in our series "The Story".
Pastor Wendy Thomas delivers this special New Years Day message in our whole Bible series 'The Story'.
Whose side is God on anyway? And whose side are you on? Join Wade Paton as he unpacks more of The Story...
Jeremy Peters shares a message about forgiveness of sin as part of our continuing series - The Story.
As we embark on our newest series looking at the story within the Bible we offer an introduction and a glimpse into the story behind The Story.
Pastor Jeremy Peters delivers a challenge in this message based upon 1 Samuel chapter 14. Are you up for it?
CD copies of this weeks message may be obtained by contacting the church office at intouch@staalliance.org
Join Pastor Wendy Thomas as she unpacks one of her favorite passages from the Book of Isaiah.
Join our Xtreme Kids leaders Pam Loeppky and Janelle Rempel as the look into one of their favorite Bible passages.
Pastor Matt Kinniburgh delivers this final episode in our Face to Face with Jesus series.
People often ask, "Why does God allow bad things to happen?". Join Pastor Jeremy Peters as he explores this question in our Face to Face with Jesus series.
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