Pondering with the Peters: Recent Episodes
Brenden Peters
A strong marriage isn’t just built on love; it’s rooted in a shared walk with God. In this episode of Pondering with the Peters, we’re talking about how to build spiritual rhythms as a couple that keep you grounded, united, and growing in faith together. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to go deeper, this conversation will hopefully encourage you in your pursuit of God together.
Marriage isn’t just about surviving; it’s about thriving. In this episode of Pondering with the Peters, we’re talking about how to keep the romance alive even in the middle of full calendars, tired evenings, and ministry demands. Whether you’re newlyweds or you've been married for 30 years, this conversation is full of practical ideas to help you reconnect, have fun, and keep falling in love again and again.
You don’t have to carry the weight of ministry alone, and you’re not meant to. In this episode of Pondering With the Peters, we talk about rest, renewal, and rediscovering joy in what God has called you to do.
The wonder of Jesus is that he came, lived, died, rose, and is coming again. May we therefore live for his glory.
Baptism is a public declaration of our union with Christ, our obedience to his command, and our belonging to his people. What is preventing us from being baptized?
In John 21:18-25, Jesus teaches us that discipleship is about faithfully following him, wherever he leads.
In John 21:1-17, Jesus restores Peter through grace and recommissions him to fruitful service, reminding us that our failures do not disqualify us from following Christ but prepare us for deeper usefulness.
In John 20:19-31, we see that the risen Jesus meets us in our fear and doubt, calls us to believe in him, and gives us life in his name.
In John 20:1-18, we are confronted with the risen Christ who calls us to believe and to live in light of the greatest story ever told.
In John 19:31–42, we see that Jesus’ death and burial fulfilled God’s redemptive plan, confirmed the reality of his sacrifice, and awakened courageous devotion in those who believed he was and is worthy of honour.
In John 19:16-30, we see that Jesus suffered and died to finish the work of our salvation, so that we could rest in his victory.
In John 19:1-16, Jesus, though declared innocent, was condemned by men so that guilty sinners could be declared righteous before God.
In John 18:12-40, the innocent King is condemned so that the guilty might go free, revealing both the depth of human rebellion and the greatness of Christ's grace.
In John 18:1-11, Jesus demonstrates his divine sovereignty and loving obedience by willingly stepping into suffering to secure our salvation.
In John 17, we get a glimpse into the heart of Jesus as he intercedes for himself, his disciples, and his church - revealing his desire for God’s glory, our holiness, and the church’s unity.
In John 16:16-33, Jesus tells us that we can have a joy that sorrow cannot erase and a peace that this world cannot touch because he has overcome the world.
In John 16:4–15, we see that the Holy Spirit convicts the world and guides believers, shining a spotlight on Christ and empowering us to be faithful witnesses.
Every marriage thrives on love. But did you know that the way you express love might not be the way your spouse receives it? In this episode of Pondering With the Peters, we are joined by two special guests to discuss the Five Love Languages. When we love our spouse in the way they need, not just in the way that comes naturally to us, our marriages grow in connection, joy, and Christlike love.
The Five Love Languages Quiz: https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language
In Psalm 16, we see that true security, lasting joy, and resurrection hope are found in the risen Christ, who leads us on the path of life and will not abandon us in death.
Easter is more than a holiday; it’s the heart of the Christian faith! Jesus’ atoning death on the cross and resurrection from the dead changes everything - giving us hope, victory, and everlasting life. But how can we prepare our hearts to truly celebrate? In this episode of Pondering with the Peters, we discuss how to keep Christ at the center of Easter celebrations, and how to engage our communities with the hope of the gospel.
Easter Celebration Guide: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3jiy75z80gnvi1ncptfek/Easter-Celebration-Guide.pdf?rlkey=sv8mynqy0i9jh5igpvrnqptpq&st=hrhgercr&dl=0
Easter Countdown: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4vhm9rtt44babu8tkz3jj/Easter-Countdown.docx?rlkey=hpiy6mcfb21jz0nkc48w77bcq&st=w4tczmb8&dl=0
Easter Flash Cards: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9z08nwsx85asdpm3yahzq/Easter-Flash-Cards.pdf?rlkey=gjeh28qbupi2f0ilfqnildstf&st=zfkxdk56&dl=0
In Psalm 100, all the peoples of the earth are called to worship the Lord with joy and thanksgiving, for he is our King, our Maker, and our Shepherd.
Disagreements are inevitable, but how we handle them makes all the difference. Whether it’s in marriage, family, ministry, or friendships, conflict can either divide us or draw us closer together when approached with wisdom and grace. In this episode of Pondering With the Peters, we discuss how conflict can be an opportunity for growth, humility, and deeper relationships when handled in a Christlike way.
Conflict Management Style Assessment: https://www.blake-group.com/sites/default/files/assessments/Conflict_Management_Styles_Assessment.pdf
In Psalm 23, the Lord is our good Shepherd and generous Host who provides, protects, and pours out his overflowing goodness, inviting us to trust him now and forever.
In Psalm 95, we are called to make a joyful noise and bow before the Lord. But it also warns us to not harden our hearts. Worship is not just about what we say or sing; it’s about humbling ourselves before our good Shepherd and King, and obeying his voice.
The Christian life is a journey of growth. But how do we prioritize learning when life is already full? In this episode, we explore what it means to keep growing in faith and wisdom, even in the midst of ministry, family, and daily responsibilities.
In Psalm 121, we are assured that the Lord is our Keeper who will guard, guide, and sustain his people on every step of life’s journey - now and forevermore.
In Psalm 32, we see that true happiness doesn't come from hiding our sins but from honestly confessing them to the Lord, receiving his forgiveness, and walking in the joy of his salvation.
As Christians, we’re called to be a light in the world, but what does that look like in our everyday communities? In this episode, we explore the importance of engaging with our local communities in a way that reflects Christ’s love. Whether you’re looking for simple ways to connect with your neighbours or searching for opportunities to serve, we hope that this conversation will encourage you to live out your faith beyond the church walls.
In Psalm 51, we learn that because of God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy, even the most heinous sins can be forgiven if we but ask with a contrite heart.
Because the world hated Jesus, it will also hate his followers. But in John 15:18-16:4, we are encouraged to bear witness to Jesus and to not fall away - no matter the cost.
In John 15:1-17, we learn that the only way to bear lasting spiritual fruit is by abiding in Jesus - the true vine.
In a world filled with uncertainty, it can be easy to forget about what we have been given by God through Jesus. In John 14:15-31, we see at least three gifts that Jesus has given his disciples to strengthen them for the days ahead.
In John 14:1-14, Jesus speaks to troubled hearts, calling us to trust in him, rest in his promises, follow his path, and rely on his power, for he alone is the way, and the truth, and the life.
In John 13:21-38, Jesus calls his followers to love one another with the same sacrificial, humble, and selfless love that he has shown us, so that the world will know we are his followers.
In John 13:1-20, we see that Jesus loved his own to the very end by humbling himself to the point of death on the cross. We are called to follow his example by joyfully serving others in humility and love, pointing them to him.
On this Baptism of the Lord Sunday, we are reminded that the voice of the Lord is powerful. But the same powerful voice that makes the earth shake is the same powerful voice that comforts the people of God. As Psalm 95:7-8 implores us, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
On this Epiphany Sunday, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Do our words, our actions, our thoughts, our lives, our giving, our prayers reflect this reality?
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss all things Christmas. From family traditions to decorations to gifts to hosting, Christmas can be a busy time of year. But all of these things we love most about Christmas are intended to point us to the reason we can celebrate this time of year. Join us as we talk about how to keep Jesus at the center of the Christmas season.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss how to find peace and strength in Christ amidst the stresses of life.
In this passage, we see that the greatest act of love this world has ever seen is the gift of Jesus Christ - our Saviour, our Shepherd, our King.
In this passage, we see that true and lasting joy is found in the Person of Jesus Christ who came into the world to remove our punishment, to defeat our enemies, and to dwell with his people.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss how to encourage a lifelong walk with Christ in your children.
In this passage, we see that Jesus is the Prince of Peace who reigns with righteousness and justice, bringing true shalom to all who trust in him.
In this passage, we see that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world who shines into the darkness of our lives, bringing hope and light to all who believe.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the importance of quality time, the challenges to spending time together, and how to make date nights a priority in your relationship.
In this passage, we see several reasons why people do not believe in Jesus Christ. But Jesus is calling us to come out of the darkness of unbelief and walk in his light. Will we choose light and life, or will we choose darkness and death?
In this passage, the hour of Jesus' sacrificial death has come. Jesus would soon give his life so that others can live through faith in him. Will we look like to Christ and live?
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the importance of understanding each other's roles in marriage and ministry.
In this passage, we are reminded that Jesus may not be the King we expect, but he is the King we need, and he is worthy of our humble devotion, extravagant love, and wholehearted worship.
In this passage, though the Jewish leaders had closed their eyes and hardened their hearts to who Jesus truly is, God would fulfill his plan to send Jesus to be our substitute, taking the punishment for sin we deserved upon himself. Through faith in Jesus, we find forgiveness and life. Will we believe this good news, or will we disbelieve? How will we respond?
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the origins of Halloween, how to engage a culture that focuses on darkness, and how the story of Jesus Christ conquering sin and death through his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead is a better story than anything Halloween can offer.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the importance of rest and renewal in ministry and family life.
In this passage, Jesus declares that he is the resurrection and the life - the One who conquers death and gives everlasting life to all who believe in him. Do you believe this?
In this passage, we see that Jesus is our faithful friend, who walks with us in our waiting and suffering, and whose glory will be revealed in whatever we are facing.
In this passage, Jesus offers eternal security to those who believe, declaring his unity with the Father, even in the face of opposition from those who refuse to recognize his divinity. As we celebrate thanksgiving, may we give thanks for Jesus Christ who holds his people securely in his hands.
In this passage, Jesus declares that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, who intimately knows his sheep, and who fiercely seeks out his sheep.
In this passage, Jesus uses two figures of speech to describe the life of sheep. In a world filled with distractions and false promises, Jesus alone is the Door to salvation and the Good Shepherd who leads us into abundant life.
In this passage, we see what happens when Jesus, "the light of the world," draws people out of spiritual darkness and into his marvelous light. Those who know they are blind are the ones Jesus came to give sight, while those who think they can see are actually blind to their blindness. Our only hope is in Jesus who opens the eyes of the spiritually blind to behold him.
In this passage, we see that the Jewish leaders hated Jesus because they didn't understand what Jesus was saying and because they did understand what Jesus was saying. We have a choice before us: We will either love Jesus, or we will hate Jesus. As Jesus presents himself to us as the "I AM," may our hearts and eyes be open to see Jesus for who he truly is, and to live like we actually believe it.
In this passage, Jesus continues to say really hard things. But it's a good reminder that what we need is the truth of the gospel - that Jesus Christ lived the perfect life we could not live, that he died the death we deserved to die, and that he was raised from the dead in victory over sin and death, so that all who believe in him can be in the presence of a holy God forever and ever. This is the truth that will set you free.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss strategies for balancing ministry duties with family responsibilities.
In this passage, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." We live in a world that is increasingly dark and confusing. If we are stumbling in the darkness, we can embrace the light of the world in the person of Jesus Christ who alone can bring us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
We come to a passage of Scripture that almost certainly is not in the Bible. But in this passage, we find the same good news that is found all throughout Scripture. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. We are free, not to keep on sinning, but to live a transformed life in Christ.
In this passage, Jesus invites all who are spiritually thirsty to come to him and drink. Do we know that we are thirsty? Many people realize that they are thirsty, but they try and quench their thirst in their own way. But we are invited to come to Jesus Christ, and to drink long and deep from the well of salvation, where we will find our soul's thirst truly satisfied.
In this passage, we see many different responses to Jesus. Whether we are opposed to Jesus, skeptical of Jesus, curious about Jesus, confused about Jesus, or indifferent towards Jesus, we are invited to respond in faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. What is our response to Jesus?
In this passage, Jesus addresses the nature of true discipleship. Whereas a fan of Jesus will abandon Jesus when they are confronted with something about Him they don't like, a disciple of Jesus will stay with Jesus because there is no one else who can offer the hope and peace that Christ provides. Do you want to go away as well, or do you want to come to Jesus who alone has the words of eternal life?
In this passage, Jesus is willing to be misunderstood. His discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood is actually an invitation into an abiding relationship with Him. Just as we wouldn't normally go one day without earthly food, so also we must not go one day without Christ. If we're spiritually hungry, and we know that we're spiritually hungry, then we should come to Christ and feast on Him by faith, for He alone can satisfy.
In this passage, Jesus confronts the crowd's misunderstanding of Him. They had asked for a daily dose of bread from heaven, but what Jesus came to give them was eternal life and the promise of resurrection from the dead. Is Jesus your bread of life? Is He your sustenance? Is He your eternal security? Only in Jesus will we find our fulfillment and satisfaction.
In this passage, we see two familiar miracles of Jesus - the feeding of the five thousand, and Jesus walking on water. We are being invited in these verses to trust in Jesus' sufficiency and sovereignty - how the One who fed the multitude and who calmed the storm is able to meet our needs and guide us through our storms. This is the kind of Saviour Jesus is - One who is more than enough. But do we believe Jesus is more than enough for us?
In this passage, Jesus calls a series of witnesses to testify to His claims of equality with God. Will we embrace these testimonies about Jesus and declare that Jesus is who He says He is, or will we refuse to listen to their testimonies and reject our only hope in life and death?
In this passage, Jesus makes three audacious claims that prove His equality with God. These are claims that we cannot simply ignore. If this is who Jesus is, then our response to Jesus matters, not just for this life only, but for all of eternity. What will you do with Jesus?
In this passage, Jesus heals a lame man on the Sabbath. There is much in this passage of Scripture that should shock us about Jesus. But Jesus continues to shock us today by rescuing us out of our sinful and hopeless state. Just like the lame man here in John 5, we too can take up our bed and walk in newness of life as we put our trust solely in Jesus Christ.
On Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the mystery of God's Being as three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Psalm 8, David is encouraging us to praise the Lord for His majesty displayed in the heavens and the earth. Whether we look at the heavens or the earth, we see the glory of the Lord.
On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the outpouring and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit is not only involved in creating us and sustaining us and re-creating us as children of God and citizens of God's eternal kingdom, but God's Spirit is also involved in the restoration of all things that is to come. Therefore, "bless the Lord, O my soul!"
On Ascension Sunday, we celebrate that Jesus is King of the universe. All those who have acknowledged Jesus Christ as their sovereign King can rejoice that Christ has ascended to His heavenly throne and has empowered all who have put their trust in Him to be His witnesses to the end of the earth. With Jesus Christ as our King, the church cannot lose.
We learn from the healing of the royal official's son that Jesus must be more to us than any miracle. Our God is worthy of worship even when our request is not answered in the way we would like because He is the true sign and wonder. When we face trials of various kinds, we can trust in Jesus and Jesus alone.
In this passage, Jesus is urging us to lift up our eyes and see the many opportunities we have to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us. May God help us to be faithful labourers in the spiritual harvest awaiting us.
In this passage, the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman turns to the topic of worship. God is seeking true worshippers who will worship Him "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23). Regardless of who we are or what we've done, if we have put our trust in Jesus Christ and worship what is true about God, then we are the true worshippers God is seeking.
In this passage, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well, and He offers to quench her thirst forever. If we're thirsty for something more than what this world has given us, then we can come to Jesus who will give us abundant life in Him, so that we will never be thirsty again.
In this passage, we are encouraged to give thanks to the Lord for raising Jesus Christ from the dead. Because God acted to save Jesus from death, we can know that all those who put their trust in Jesus Christ will also be delivered from death on the last day. May we therefore joyfully celebrate the Lord's day, not just on Easter Sunday, but every Lord's day that we gather together to triumphantly declare what the Lord has done for us.
In this passage, we see the steadfast love of the Lord on display. When the psalmist was near death, the Lord responded to his distress and became his salvation. Unlike the psalmist, Jesus would actually die. But three days later, Jesus would be raised from the dead, later ascend into heaven, and will one day come again to raise His people from death to life. Because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, all who believe in Him will also conquer death. What ought to be our response to the Lord's goodness? We ought to "give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 118:1, 29)
In this passage, we see the humility of John the Baptist in making much of Jesus. Because of where He comes from, because of what He speaks, and because of His authority, Jesus Christ is to be exalted "above all." For those who believe in the Son, there is the hope of life. For those who do not believe, there is the promise of death.
In this passage, we see the greatest Lover (God) give the greatest gift (His only Son) that leads to the greatest result (eternal life). But there is a choice before us. Which “whoever” are we – the one who believes in the only Son of God, or the one who doesn’t believe in the only Son of God? What we choose will decide whether we have come into the glorious light of Christ, or whether we are still in darkness.
In this passage, Jesus highlights the importance of being born again - that is a entirely work of God, that it is transformational, and that all that is required to be born again is to look to Christ and believe.
Jesus is often pictured as being meek and mild, gentle and lowly. But in this passage, we see what Revelation 6:16 calls "the wrath of the Lamb." Jesus' anger is directed toward those who would use religiosity as a veneer for personal gain at the expense of God and others. Will we come to the true and better Temple - Jesus Christ - for forgiveness and grace?
In the Gospel of John, we have seen how Jesus is the Word, the life, the light, the Lamb, the Christ, the King, the Son of God, the Son of Man. In this passage, we come to a familiar story - Jesus turning water into wine. But there is nothing ordinary about Jesus here. Jesus is the true and better Master of the Feast who supplies the abundant wine of the gospel, and He is the true and better Bridegroom who makes purification for His Bride - the Church - through His blood that was poured out as the sacrifice for our sins.
In this passage, we see the glory of Jesus Christ in being the goal of our witness, the initiator of our salvation, the One with absolute authority to change our identity and command our allegiance, and the One who knows all things about us yet continues to love us. Ultimately, we see the "glory as of the only Son from the Father" in Jesus Christ's death on the cross. May we come and see, and then may we go and tell of His glory.
After concluding his theologically rich prologue, the apostle John turns his attention to the witness of John the Baptist. Rather than focusing on who he is and what he has done, John the Baptist focuses on who Christ is (the Lamb of God) and what Christ came to do (take away the sin of the world). The question is whether or not we are going to listen to the message of the messenger.
In this passage, we read about one of the most important events in history - the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Word became human without ceasing to be God, and we behold His glory through the eyes of faith.
In this passage, John introduces us to Christ as the Lord of Life and Light of the World. There are many who reject Christ as Life and Light. But to all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God.
In this passage, John is stating very carefully and very deliberately that the Word, Jesus Christ, is eternally pre-existent, that He is in eternal relationship with the Father, that He is eternally God, and that He is the eternal Creator of all things. May we marvel at the majesty and splendor and wonder of Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 146, the psalmist invites us to praise the Lord with our whole being and for our whole life. We may be consumed by worries of various kinds, but if we have put our trust in Jesus Christ, we can have assurance that God will take care of us. Such wonderful news should certainly make us sing for joy.
In Psalm 72, David prays for his son Solomon, king of Israel - that God will give him perfect justice and righteousness, that God will give him a long life and flourishing kingdom, that his dominion will extend to the ends of the earth, that he will be known for his care of the poor and needy, and that he will be a blessing to the nations. While Solomon partially fulfilled Psalm 72, God's answer to David's prayer would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who "will reign over the house of Jacob forever," and of whose "kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-33). While we wait for Jesus to come again to fully and finally establish God's perfect kingdom on the earth, may we bear witness to and pray for Jesus' coming.
In Psalm 122, the psalmist urges Old Testament pilgrims to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because "the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:9) was in the city. Since the church is "a dwelling place for God" (Ephesians 2:22), we should pray also for the peace of the church. And as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the peace of the church, may we long for the day when the new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven from God, and when the dwelling place of God will be with man forever. Only in Jesus Christ can such perfect peace be found.
Advent is a season that helps us wait for Christ's second coming while we wonder at His first coming. But for some, this is not the most wonderful time of the year. In Psalm 80, the people of Israel are crying out for God to restore them. This He would do by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to save His people from their sins. We all experience the brokenness of living in a fallen world, but the hope is that God will one day awaken His might and come to save us - fully, finally, and forever - when He comes again in the Person of Jesus Christ.
In this passage, the psalmist introduces us to the Messiah King - the Son of David and Son of God - who will rule to the ends of the earth. We may become discouraged and disheartened by persecution and suffering at the hands of the evil powers in this world, but Jesus Christ has gained worldwide victory, and in Him we can take refuge.
In this passage, the psalmist presents us with two ways in life - the way of the righteous that leads to everlasting life and blessedness, and the way of the wicked that leads to death and everlasting contempt. Which way will we choose? Will we walk with the wicked, or will we stand with those who are right with God?
As today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we are reminded in Scripture that we can find hope in a secular culture that is antagonistic towards Christianity and followers of Jesus because God is our refuge, because God is present with us, and because God will one day establish peace on earth.
Genesis teaches us that God is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, and sovereign. If we have believed this about God, then we have embraced the God of Genesis, and we are ready to live for Him.
Genesis teaches us that our only hope of deliverance from sin and death and hell is in Jesus Christ - the Messiah prophesied after the fall of the first man and the first woman, whose coming had been so marvelously preserved, and whose return we eagerly anticipate when the people of God will be ushered into the joy of His presence.
Genesis teaches us that all of life is grace. Not only are we saved by the grace of God, but God also sustains us by His grace and will keep us to the end by His grace, in order that we might praise God for His amazing grace, forever and ever.
Genesis teaches us that every fabric of our being is tainted by sin, and that the remedy to humanity's predicament is a righteousness that belongs to Christ and that can only be received by faith alone.
In this passage, we see that humanity is simultaneously wonderful and awful. Though we are helplessly sinful and hopelessly lost by nature, we are also truly wonderful, not simply because we were created in God’s image, but because Jesus Christ came to redeem the image of God in fallen humanity.
In this passage, we see Jacob bless his sons which points to the reality that God "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3), and we also see both Jacob and Joseph die in hope that one day God will fulfill His promise of the land of Canaan which points to the hope we have that one day God will fulfill His promise of a "new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
In this passage, God promises to be with Israel as they go down to Egypt. But God's presence with His people doesn't mean that they will always prosper. Israel would later be enslaved under a Pharaoh that did not know Joseph. But God would be with them even in their suffering. We may often doubt God's presence with us. But we can be assured that God will go with us wherever we go.
In this passage, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers after seeing their transformation. In His providence, God used the evil deeds of Joseph's brothers to send Joseph ahead of his family to Egypt to preserve Israel from famine. Ultimately, Joseph points us to Jesus Christ who was sent by God to earth to save His people. But Jesus saves not just from famine but from sin, and not just for a few years but for all of eternity.
In this passage, Joseph tests his brothers to see if they are the same men who sold him into slavery twenty years earlier, or if they have changed. We naturally don't want our sin exposed. But God loves us so much that He invites us into the light of His presence, so that we might be forgiven of all our sins and walk in newness of life.
In this passage, we see God's good providence in exalting His suffering servant to kingship - first with Joseph, but even more so with Jesus - in order to save the world. We too can entrust ourselves to God's good providence, knowing that He is able to accomplish His purposes for our good.
In this passage, we see Joseph's response to being thrown into prison on account of his faithfulness to his God is to continue to trust in the sovereignty of God. By faith, we too can trust that God is for us working all things according to His purposes.
In this passage, Joseph goes from the penthouse to the prison. But in all of this, the Lord was with him. We are reminded that God is with His people in times of prosperity and in times of adversity.
In this awkward interruption of the story of Joseph, we read about the royal line of Judah that ultimately leads to the Person of Jesus Christ. This narrative gives hope to believers in Jesus that, despite our scandalous rebellion of the King of the universe, God's grace is greater than all our sin.
In this passage, we see Joseph's sale into slavery, which ultimately points to the Person of Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God who not only became a servant and suffered humiliation and scorn at the hands of His "brothers," but who really did die to save God's people from their sin.
In this passage, we see the difference between worldly greatness and spiritual greatness. Esau may look impressive because he is in the land of his possession and has plenty of offspring, while Jacob is simply a sojourner in the land of Canaan and have become a stench to those around him. But what matters is that Jacob's trust is in the Lord who is more precious than any worldly pleasure.
In this passage, we see God graciously correct and complete the life of Jacob. Jacob was a man who made a lot of mistakes but who trusted in God when it counted. The life of Jacob reminds us that God is still delivering sinful people and keeping His promises today.
In this passage, we see human sin run rampant, but we also see the grace of God on full display. The world is discipling us in many different ways, but we have been called to live lives distinct from the world around us. All of us need the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ, and we are the ones who can bring the world this good news.
In this passage, we see reconciliation between Jacob and Esau, which ultimately points us to the Lord Jesus Christ who is the perfectly obedient Son of God, yet who took the punishment for sins we deserved, so that we might be reconciled to God through faith in Him.
In this passage, Jacob wrestles with God and is confronted with his need to fully trust in God alone. In the same way, we too must let go of our self-sufficiency and cling to Jesus who took the blow of justice we deserved, so that we might receive the blessing of grace.
In this passage, Jacob experiences the prosperity and protection of God. Jacob's experience, however, is not unlike that of the believer in Christ. We see that Jacob's Mesopotamian exodus points forward to the Person of Jesus Christ who plundered the power of evil, and who leads His people out of bondage to Satan and into the true and better Promised Land, the new heaven and the new earth.
In this passage, there are multiple wives, multiple births, sister hatred, and the use of surrogacy to celebrate and gloat. But it would be the beginning of God making Jacob's descendants as numerous as "the dust of the earth" (Genesis 28:14). Though the world around us hurts, we can be confident that God is ransoming a people "from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).
In this passage, we see that the Lord can fulfill His promises even through human deception. Though we are surrounded by all kinds of deceptions, we can be assured that God is not absent or unaware, but that He is transforming us into the image of Christ, who “committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).
In this passage, Jacob the exile meets the God of his grandather Abraham and his father Isaac. But rather than cursing Jacob for his deception, God blesses Jacob with His very presence. We may sometimes feel forsaken by God, but we who trust in Jesus Christ can be assured that God will be with His people wherever they go.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena have a special guest, Caylea Selke, to discuss atypical missionaries, the positives and challenges of mission work, and the ways God's people can be a blessing to missionaries.
For more information on NCEM and how you can get involved, please visit their website: https://ncem.ca/
In this episode, Brenden and Helena talk about the difficulty of striking the balance between family and ministry, and give ways to strike that balance.
While things may have looked really bad on Good Friday, in three days, Jesus would be raised from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures. In this sermon, we look at several examples in the Old Testament where God does resurrection things on the third day, and how these point to how Christ would be raised from the dead on the third day.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss biblical principles for giving, and what their family culture of giving looks like.
In this passage, we see that Jacob deceitfully takes the blessing from his old and blind father Jacob, while his brother Esau receives a kind of anti-blessing. Yet it was God's good plan that "the older shall serve the younger." This doesn't mean that God approves of this deception, but that God can use even human deception to accomplish His redemptive plan, ultimately culminating in the Person of Jesus Christ, who was betrayed and condemned to death, bearing the curse on our behalf, so that we might receive His blessing.
In this passage, we don't encounter anything new. Everything that happens in this chapter to Isaac has already happened in the previous chapters to Abraham. Thus, Isaac's life is a parallel to the life of his father Abraham. Each of us is passing on a legacy to the next generation, are we passing on a legacy of faith?
In this passage, we see that God, in His sovereign grace, chooses what is least in the world to be His victorious people, ultimately culminating in Jesus who “was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3) to be the Seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent.
In this passage, we see the providential hand of the Lord in providing Rebekah as His appointed bride for Isaac in order to continue the line of the seed of the woman. In His covenant faithfulness the Lord has provided the church as a Bride for His Son, Jesus Christ. Though it may seem like the church is losing, we can confidently entrust our existence to the Lord's providential care.
In this passage, we see the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise to give Abraham and his offspring the Promised Land. Even when it looks like evil and injustice are at home on this earth, we can have confidence that God will fulfill His promise to provide His people with a homeland, "a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13).
In this passage, we see that God tests His people for our good and for His glory. We don't tend to think about tests in this way. But we can be comforted by the fact that the God who tests is also the God who provides. The question is: Will we trust and obey Him?
In this passage, we see a series of three seemingly disconnected stories. But what the birth of Isaac, and what God's protection of Hagar and Ishmael, and what Abraham's treaty with Abimelech reveal to us is that we can take comfort in the fact that God will do what He has promised.
In this passage, we see that God is faithful to keep His promises, not because of His people, but in spite of His people. Though old sins will rear their ugly heads in our lives from time to time, our hope is in Jesus who will keep us to the end.
Even though the city of Sodom has been destroyed, the spirit of Sodom is alive and well, even in God's people. In this passage, we see that God isn't content to just take His people out of Sodom, but that He is also taking Sodom out of His people.
In this passage, we note "the kindness and the severity of God" (Romans 11:22). Severity because a holy God must punish sin, and kindness because God has shown us where certain behaviours lead. Before we come down too hard on the wickedness of Sodom, we need to look into the mirror of God's Word and examine our hearts and see if there is any wicked way in us.
In this passage, we see that the God of the Bible is good, that He is the Judge of all the earth, and that He will do what is just.
In this passage, we see that the God of the Bible is great, that there is nothing too hard for the Lord, and that the Lord loves to do the impossible. Do you have a great God?
In this passage, we see the institution of the covenant of circumcision and the importance of what is on the outside matching what is on the inside. Unfortunately, we have all failed to keep God's covenant and are by nature covenant-breakers. But the good news is that Jesus, the only true covenant-keeper, died the death of a covenant-breaker, so that by faith in Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we might become covenant-keepers.
After looking at the Songs for a Saviour in the Gospel of Luke, we're taking a look at one more song which will be sung at the end of the age when the redeemed people of God from every tribe and tongue and nation will stand before the throne of God and sing, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns!"
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we're looking at the song of Simeon. Upon meeting the baby Jesus, Simeon praised God for His gift of salvation. As we are confronted with the baby in the manger, what will we do with Jesus? Will we continue to oppose Him, or will we give our heart to Him?
On this third Sunday of Advent, we're looking at the song of the angels. After the birth of Jesus, the shepherds are the original recipients of this good news of great joy. But this good news of great joy wasn't just for the shepherds. It was good news of great joy for all those who trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
On this second Sunday of Advent, we're looking at the song of Zechariah. At the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zechariah praised God for His redemption, salvation, mercy, and faithfulness. There is peace with God available for those who trust in the One to whom John pointed: Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
In response to the news that she would give birth to the Messiah, Mary bursts into a song of praise. In her song, Mary draws our attention to God's care of His people, His overflowing mercy, and His authority over all of Creation. Mary responds the way each one of us should respond: Praising our Saviour.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss what prayer is, why we pray, and ways to get comfortable with prayer.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss how every follower of Jesus should be discipling other followers of Jesus, how every follower of Jesus should be discipled by other followers of Jesus, and how it is something that we will grow in until we become like Christ.
In this passage, we learn that God is sovereign and that we are not, that God's grace is sufficient for sinners like us, and that God's blessing abounds for those who trust in Him by faith.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena talk about some of the arguments for the existence of God and the hope that we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena talk about hospitality, what the Bible says about it, and how to incorporate it into your life.
In this passage, the Lord renews His promise of land to Abram, but in a very strange way. We see some animals get cut in half and some animals not get cut in half. We see Abram drive some vultures away. We read about an ominous prophecy concerning Abram’s descendants. But then, we read something so strange, in the smoking fire pot and flaming torch, that it sounds like a scene from Disney’s The Sword in the Stone. But we see how all of it points us to Jesus Christ.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the ways God speaks to us and whether or not we are listening to Him.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss how we were created for community, the challenges to community, the benefits of community, and how all followers of Jesus will one day be in perfect community with God and with God's people.
In this passage, we see how salvation works: By grace through faith in Christ alone. We can trust God to do all that He said He would do because Jesus conquered sin and death and hell on our behalf on the cross.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena have invited a special guest, Caylea Selke, to discuss the topic of suffering as a Christian, the ways God grows our faith in Him through suffering, and the hope that disciples of Jesus have of full and final restoration.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the creation, fall, redemption, and restoration of teaching, how we as Christians are to be a people of truth, and how we are to use words to tell others about Jesus.
In this passage, we see a battle and a blessing that point us to Jesus. We see that Jesus is the true and better King who executes judgment and plunders His enemies, and that Jesus is the true and better Priest who mediates a new covenant between the people and the Lord. May we find comfort in the fact that God always keeps His promises.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss what the Bible teaches about healing, some errors in relation to healing, and some practical steps for people facing sickness and disease.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the creation, fall, redemption, and restoration of service, and what service looks like in family life and ministry.
In this passage, we see a different Abram than we saw in Genesis 12. In light of Abram’s failure to trust in God, we see him here walk by faith once again in God’s promises, which is good news for all of us who, like Abram, wrestle with trusting and distrusting God and His promises.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss what Scripture says about magic, whether or not good magic exists, and what a Christian response to magic might look like.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss how the gospel shapes our relationships with each other, and what it practically looks like to love one another.
In this passage, we see Abram's obedience to the call of God to go to the Promised Land, but then we also see Abram's failure to trust God to fulfill His promises. Yet we can have confidence that nothing and no one can derail God's promises, not even God's people.
In this special episode, Brenden and Helena discuss where we can get good theology, how everyone is a theologian, and ways for how to teach theology to your children.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss their first core value - relationship with God - and what time with God looks like.
In this episode, Brenden and Helena discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how it shapes family life and ministry.
Though Abram seems like an unlikely candidate to re-establish God's kingdom on the earth, God will nonetheless be faithful to bring the nations back to Himself. And we have been invited into this unfolding drama. Jesus is inviting His disciples to reclaim the world for the kingdom of God and has empowered us by His Spirit to do it.
At the tower of Babel, we see man's attempt to ascend to God, and we see God's gracious condescension to man. God's scattering of defiant and self-reliant humanity looks forward to Pentecost where people from every nation would hear the good news about Jesus Christ in their own language.
The God who created all people has a plan to redeem all people. And by God’s grace, we have a part to play in God’s redemption of the nations.
In this passage, we see that sin is alive and well in the new world. But we also see the hope of Jesus Christ. Though we are all by nature like Noah and Ham, by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, God regards us as righteous.
God promises to sovereignly preserve the earth and to never again destroy the world with a flood. But what does God require of His creatures in return? In this sermon, we look at God's unconditional and universal and everlasting covenant, and how it points us to a new and better covenant through Jesus Christ.
In the flood account, we see how infinitely holy God is and how breathtakingly offensive our sin is to Him. Yet even though God judges sin and wickedness, in His grace, He always saves a remnant to continue His kingdom on the earth.
In this passage, we see just how far mankind has plummeted from their privileged position, as “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” But we also see how, in the midst of all the wickedness on the earth, there is hope: “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Noah points forward to Jesus who absorbed the floodwaters of God’s wrath, so that, by faith in Jesus Christ, it is not we who are blotted out, but rather, it is our sin that is blotted out.
In this genealogy of the godly line of the offspring of the woman, we see the faithfulness of God, the sting of death, and the hope of eternal life. When we receive the good news of Jesus Christ by faith, then one day we will be no more, for God will take us to be with Him forever.
How are Christians to engage and relate to the surrounding culture, the culture of Cain, a culture with a disposition toward leaving God out? We proclaim the good news that God sent His Son into the world, in the Person of Jesus Christ, that all who "call upon the name of the Lord" will be saved.
In the narrative of Cain and Abel, we see the battle between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman on full display. But we also see God's grace on full display. Even though we are rebels against the King of the universe like Cain, through faith in Jesus Christ, we don't get what we deserve, but rather, we get grace. And even though the battle against the serpent will be fierce and bloody, we can be assured that Christ is building His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The judgment of God against human sin explains every problem we face in the world. But in the judgment of God against human sin, we also see the answer to all the wrong in the world. For those who put their hope in Jesus, we do not get the judgment we deserve. Instead, we get grace. But there remains judgment for those who do not put their hope in Jesus. Will we believe the good news of Jesus Christ?
In Genesis 3, in the midst of God’s judgment against human sin, we see God’s grace in the promise of One who would crush the head of the serpent by being crushed for us. And His name is Jesus.
In Genesis 3, we come to the saddest moment in human history. When Adam and Eve sinned, we all sinned. In this passage, we find the explanation for why the world is the way it is, but we also find hope in Jesus Christ who offers us something better than the fruit of the garden; He offers us Himself.
Though we are not all married, we see what marriage points us to. The union of husband and wife is giving way to an even greater union that depends upon faith and repentance, as the Bride of Christ, the Church, is joined to the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and where we are His and He is ours.
In our text, we get a picture of the good life, the way things are supposed to be, and the way things will be once again. Though we all have failed to live perfectly before our Creator and King, Jesus Christ lived the perfect life and died the death we deserved to die and was raised from the dead in victory over sin and death, so that we can have eternal life through faith in Him.
After forming and filling the earth in six days, God rested on the seventh day. In this sermon, we’ll look at what God rested from, and why the seventh day is central, not only to creation, but also to the destiny of God’s people.
In Genesis 1, we see the apex of a fully formed and fully filled world. Looking at the second three days of creation, we see a remarkable correspondence to the first three days of creation, where God wondrously fills the creation He has formed, and how God can fill us with His forgiveness and righteousness.
In Genesis 1, we read the literal history of what God did when He created the heavens and the earth. Looking at the first three days of creation, we see the forming of the world that was once formless, and how God can bring form out of the chaos of our lives.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." These words are more than an introduction to the first book of the Bible. These words are absolutely essential to understanding what the world is, who we are in the world, and who God is in relationship to us and His creation.