The Gathering | Windsor Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Gathering Windsor
The Gathering is a young church in Windsor, Ontario, CANADA, that was planted in 2014 as part of the Send Network. Dr. Garth Leno serves as the lead pastor and primary teacher in our church. We invite you to listen to any of the sermons on our podcast and let us know what you think!
The Gospel is the very power of God - to reconcile sinners through repentance & faith in Jesus Christ!
In Acts 14:1–7, Paul and Barnabas faithfully proclaim the Gospel in Iconium and see both belief and opposition. The same message that brings salvation also divides hearts. As resistance grows, the mission continues. This message explores faithful proclamation, divided responses, and the unstoppable advance of the Gospel.
How do we respond when we face opposition to the Gospel? Because God means all evil for good, we must boldly proclaim His praise.
If we are honest, most of us know what it feels like when faith feels small. There are seasons in life when faith feels strong and confident.
Often the struggle to believe is whether God can be trusted with the everyday and the ordinary — with your whole life.
God alone can take credit for our worthiness before Him--because every time He makes someone part of His family, He performs a miracle, like conceiving a child in the womb of a barren woman. Every time He makes someone a part of His family, they have reason to rejoice as free heirs to an extraordinary gift. Because God alone saves, we can rejoice in Him alone. Genesis 12 shows us what true faith on God really is. Trusting God enough to leave the world behind.
Is your faith just a claim, or is it alive?
This week we delves into James 2:14-26, challenging the idea of empty belief.
We explore the difference between a head full of knowledge and a heart transformed by the gospel, referencing insights from John Calvin and John Chrysostom. Discover why true saving faith is always shown through our actions, using the examples of Abraham and Rahab.
Join us as we ask the critical question: is your faith alive and active, or is it dead and idle?
In this message titled “Abide in Him” from 1 John 2:1–14, we explore what it truly means to remain in Jesus. Discover how His Word anchors us, His Light guides us, and His Love flows through us.
Jesus is our model. Making disciples is our mission. Love is our motive. The Holy Spirit is our means. And the Gospel is our message.
Faith #AbideInHim #1John #ChristianPodcast #SermonShort
Ever had your hopes dashed? Its here in this passage that the Resurrected Christ draws near and opens their hearts to understand scripture.
In this message, “I Must Decrease,” we explore what it truly means to find relationship and rest in more of Christ and less of ourselves.
Through John 3:16–31, we’ll walk through five powerful truths that anchor our faith and shape our daily walk:
- The Gospel Grounds Us (vs. 16–18)
- Discipleship Shapes Us (vs. 19–21)
- Comparison Distracts Us (vs. 22–26)
- Worship Reorients Us (vs. 27–29)
- Community Strengthens Us (vs. 31)
Join us as we rediscover the beauty of humility and dependence on Jesus—
→ Less of us. More of Him.
→ Less pride. More humility.
→ Less distraction. More Gospel.
→ Less comparison. More community.
Where and how can we find satisfaction? David had incredible ups and downs, but he seemed to be able to find it. We can spend our lives earnestly seeking ENOUGH, but how will we know when we've found it? As we experience God and remember his goodness, ENOUGH might actually be ENOUGH.
Repentance is a word we hear often in church, yet its true meaning is far deeper and more transformative than we realize. True repentance is not a work of man but God’s transforming work in a surrendered heart. True biblical repentance, as modeled in Psalm 51, is a three-step journey—confessing our sins, receiving God’s restoration, and responding with a transformed life.
Psalm 27 is not theory. It’s not a feel-good song on easy days when everything’s going your way. It’s the battle cry of a man who has been through the fire—who knows what it means to face enemies on every side, betrayal close to home, and the crushing weight of personal loss.
Psalm 23 is personal, passionate, powerful because its authentic, and real. It highlights our vulnerability, our need for protection from a shepherd. Someone who will watch out for us, who will lead us in paths of righteousness.
Psalm 17 is a prayer of David seeking God's protection and justice, asserting his innocence and asking to be delivered from wicked enemies. He trusts in God's love and looks forward to being satisfied by beholding God's face in righteousness.
There are moments when God feels genuinely absent from us--even though He is sovereign over our suffering, and chooses to vindicate his people. Because God is sovereign, we can trust Him to work our suffering for good—even when He hasn’t done it yet.
If you’re honest, you often wonder: “Does God even see me? Does He hear me? Is He really there in this dark hour?” That's exactly where Psalm 4 meets us. In the dark hours.
David's time drew near. He passes on the throne to his son Solomon...You don't have a choice in leaving a legacy. Everyone leaves one either good or bad.
David, had time on his hands, but on his mind he was filled with pride. Somehow he believed he was above consequences.
David is on the run, stripped of every comfort — no palace, no royal favour, a lot of insecurity. At this point he’s anointed but not enthroned, chosen yet chased. He flees to the cave of Adullam, alone, desperate, and broken.
David is on the run, stripped of every comfort — no palace, no royal favour, a lot of insecurity. At this point he’s anointed but not enthroned, chosen yet chased. He flees to the cave of Adullam, alone, desperate, and broken.
So for those who feel confined, passed over, trapped in a menial place. Be encouraged by David’s example. When God wants to prepare us for bigger things, He teaches to first be faithful in the little things
Are you carrying someone’s burden today? Or are you only watching from a distance? Paul calls us not to isolation, but intervention in love.
In Pastor Phil's final sermon at The Gathering, he explains both the reality and necessity of the Holy Spirit's power in the Christian life. In order to grow in godliness we must learn to walk by the Spirit.
Now, as we head into chapters 5 and 6, things get very practical. We’re still learning grace and truth—but now we’ll see how that shows up in our actual lives. Paul starts talking about what it looks like to walk in the Spirit, how we deal with temptation, how we love one another, and what real freedom in Christ looks like.
God alone can take credit for our worthiness before Him--because every time He makes someone part of His family, He performs a miracle, like conceiving a child in the womb of a barren woman. Every time He makes someone a part of His family, they have reason to rejoice as free heirs to an extraordinary gift. Because God alone saves, we can rejoice in Him alone.
As we move into chapter 4 and beyond, we’ll see that this freedom doesn’t lead to sin—it leads to righteousness. Not a righteousness we boast about, but one that flows from the Holy Spirit who now lives in us. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
We live in a world of extremes. More often than not, we feel pressured into placing our identity in one end of an extreme or the other. The Apostle Paul puts the Law against the Promise to prove to the Galatians, and to us, that our identity should be found in neither. Our identity is to be found in Grace, knowing we are sinners in need of saving who have a Savior in Jesus.
Distortions to the gospel were drawing the Galatians away from the truth of God's grace. Paul wrote to remind believers that we never move on from the gospel. We are saved by grace through faith and, we live each day by grace through faith.
The Apostle Paul, with holy urgency, writes to the Galatians as a father pleading with his children (Galatians 4:19). He is bold, even direct at times, because eternity is on the line. He reminds them—and us—that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.
Christ had paid it all—completely, permanently. But instead of resting in His finished work, the Galatians - the church in Galatia (modern-day Turkey) - were being led to believe they needed to add something to their salvation.
Making disciples is not some distant unachievable goal. It’s about being before doing, being Gospel focused, incorporating Jesus into the conversations and relationships we already have. We’re not waiting for the perfect moment – it starts now, in the middle of our busy lives.
It is a historical fact that Jesus was crucified. But did he really rise again? Everything hinges on if that is true or false. Pastor Phil lists 4 reasons to believe the resurrection of Jesus really happened.
Jesus knew the cost. He knew the agony of the scourging, the shame of the mocking, the suffocating pain of the nails. He knew the wrath of God would be poured out upon Him, that He would cry out in the darkness, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). And yet—He still came. Jesus stepped into our place, taking the judgment, we deserved, so that we could walk free.
They had tried discrediting Jesus before the crowds. They had even tried accusing Him of breaking the law. They made up a reason. They fabricated charges. They staged a trial.
Failure is an unavoidable part of life. Peter experienced incredible failure when he denied Jesus three times. Pastor Phil explains that because our King is gracious and merciful, our failures don't have to define us.
Two days before his crucifixion, Jesus promised he would return to sit in judgment over the nations. He will judge righteously, familiar with suffering and sovereign over the world. Because the King is coming in judgment, we must serve Him now.
The return of Christ is one of the most essential doctrines in the Bible. The story of Jesus is incomplete without it. He came, He died, He rose, He ascended, and He will return. The grand narrative of history and redemption finds its culmination in Christ’s return, and here in Matthew 24-25, Jesus provides us with clear and compelling insights on this event.
Who is Jesus? Is He a nice man? This passage shows that Jesus is more than a rabbi we should listen to; He is the Messiah we must trust in.
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But as Jesus entered Jerusalem, something was different. This was not the entrance of a conquering general, nor the display of a military ruler seizing power. Instead of a mighty warhorse, Jesus chose a donkey—a simple, unassuming animal of peace. Instead of swords and shields, He was surrounded by ordinary people laying their cloaks and palm branches before Him. Instead of military victory, He came to offer grace, and truth, hope and healing, He offered salvation.
We are called to live differently than the world. One of those differences is how we view marriage and divorce. Jesus gives clear teaching that combats views prevalent then and today. We need to understand that marriage is part of God's good design. Since that is the case, we must resist divorce and fight for our marriages.
Jesus measures greatness in His kingdom by one primary characteristic - humility, in serving others, and in trusting in Him, in His word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, completely and doing this daily.
The transfiguration of Jesus is a foreshadowing of the glorified Christ after His resurrection. Highlighting the future hope for all truly repentant disciples of Jesus.
Jesus said to Peter, "On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Jesus wasn't talking about Peter himself, but the profound truth that Peter made: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This is crucial that we get that right and build on that solid foundation.
Resolutions aren't bad but according to the Bible, they aren't enough. What we need as we head into a new year is for Jesus to cleanse and renew our hearts.
In Luke 2:8-18 we see the fulfilment of God's promise. The long awaited Messiah has come, who would be the light of the world.
Jesus, the Word become flesh has come to illuminate the darkness of sin, revealing the Father’s love and securing the gift of eternal life for all who have repented of their sin and who have received this gift -who believe in Him
It's far too easy for us to go through the motions of the Christmas season and end up on autopilot. Pastor Phil preaches through a familiar passage and challenges us to resist Christmas autopilot by truly focusing on who Jesus is and what He has done.
These words carry the hope of Christmas: God is with us. Immanuel has come to fulfill this promise. Jesus’ birth reminds us that no matter how dark or uncertain life is, His presence brings peace, deliverance, and hope of a better day.
In Matthew 15:1-9, we’re given a front row seat right into a scene where Jesus faces off with the Scribes and Pharisees— those religious authorities, the respected experts of the law who in this case had come all the way from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus.
The Gospel of Matthew records miracles because the miracles are Jesus' message: they show that because Jesus is sovereign, we can trust Him--even in the midst of danger.
Jesus offers more than a one-time miraculous meal of bread. Jesus is the Bread of Life, the only one who truly satsifies now and forever. Because Jesus is the only one that satisfies, we need to trust in Him.
Here’s the reality: we can know about Jesus—know all the Bible stories, sing all the hymns, even come to church every Sunday—and still have hearts of unbelief.
The twin parables about treasure explain how valuable the King & His Kingdom are. And since they are the true treasure, it is reasonable to give everything up for them.
When Jesus talked about the "kingdom of heaven" he meant God's renewed reign in a broken world. God's kingdom started small, but because it is growing, we must proclaim it with confidence.
Each of us belongs to one of two groups: the wheat or the weeds. Though we may not be able to tell merely from outward appearances, the truth is revealed in the fruit or lack-there-of.
Jesus uses a series of parables. A parable both reveals and conceals at the same time. These parables are not merely stories; they resonate deeply with our own experience and challenge us to consider our own responses to the Word of God.
Walking in prayer requires intentionality. We can learn from Paul's prayer for the church at Colossae in both the WHO and the HOW of this daily practice of prayer.
The Apostle Paul challenges & encourages us to rejoice in The Lord, a direct byproduct of our prayers.
Pastor Phil walks through the Apostle Paul's powerful prayer for the Ephesian church. He unpacks how we need God's strength to help us grasp God's greatness and love for His people.
Christians are not promised an earthly happily ever after. We are promised eternal life in glory because of the gospel. Since this is true, we must learn to focus on eternity.
What kind of God is God, that the innocent suffer and the guilty prosper in His universe? God answers Job out of the whirlwind with His own questions--questions that show us that because God is sovereign, we can trust Him that His purposes are good.
Nobody wants to suffer or go through hard times. The reality is that we will. And since suffering is part of life, we must learn how to trust the Lord so we can suffer well.
Remember to honour God in every stage of our lives, in the beginning, in the middle years and nearing the end.
The word “proverb” comes from the Hebrew word “mashal” and means “a short, saying” that’s “easy to remember.” It can also mean “to rule” or “govern” The book of Proverbs are sayings meant to teach us wisdom, wisdom from God's word.
Nothing we have is ours as we are charged to be God's stewards. If all we have belongs to God, and if God calls us to be generous, we have no reason not to be irrationally generous. The question is - does our generosity reflect a dependence upon God or a dependence upon self?
As we celebrate 10 years of God's goodness & faithfulness to our church, Pastor Phil explains that since we have been reconciled to God we must join the work of reconciliation.
The Religious leader's asked for a sign, the curious onlookers misunderstood Him and the small group of disciples followed him. Which group describe me?
Our words matter. Jesus tells us that our words reveal and reflect our hearts. Because our words condemn our hearts, we must ask Jesus to change us.
What is the unforgiveable sin? Pastor Phil tackles that significant question and explains that if people reject the only one who can forgive and save them, they are without hope.
Pastor Joseph talks through the problem of anxiety in our lives and how we can learn to trust the Lord more in our daily lives.
Pastor Phil explains that Jesus is the Servant-King and gives 8 reasons why people should trust in him.
Rick walks through 14 verses explaining what Sabbath is and how Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and how we need to find rest in him.
Jesus is the King of kings who rules the entire Universe. And yet, he is also gentle and lowly in heart. He is so patient and understanding with those who humble themselves before him. He is our only hope for salvation. And since only Jesus can give rest to our souls, we must respond to his invitation and come to him.
This passage is intense and full of almost shocking statements from Jesus. Jordan Legg explains in these verses that, Because God will judge the world, we must turn away from our sin.
This passage is intense and full of almost shocking statements from Jesus. Jordan Legg explains in these verses that, Because God will judge the world, we must turn away from our sin.
Guest speaker Ed Gregorcic encourages us to be strong and courageous as we trust the Lord and his presence with us.
People are confused about Jesus. People seemingly have always been confused about Jesus. Working through Matthew 11:1-19, Pastor Phil explains that since confusion about Jesus abounds, we must correctly understand His identity and purpose.
Each congregation is full of a diverse range of people with all kinds of gifts and abilities. Pastor Phil explains from 1 Corinthians 12 that since God has brought us together as a church, we must learn how to function as one.
Pastor Phil preaches through John 19 and explains how such a horrible event can be called "Good Friday.
Pastor Phil preaches through John 19 and explains how such a horrible event can be called "Good Friday.
Because we are designed by God, we must look for him to provide everything we need. Too often we try to be self-sufficient, taking on God's character of needing nothing, but that is not how we were designed to live.
Through the prophet Amos, God reveals that the heart of worship matters more than the act itself. Any form of worship not rooted in a desperate, authentic love of God, even in church, is idolatrous.
If we’re serious about being a disciple of Jesus, then we’ve must know9 what He’s calling us to. What Jesus tells all of us is that as disciples of Jesus we are all on mission, must face real opposition, and are called to make hard decisions.
Jesus how given you an obstacle that is intended to lead you straight to him in all of your need. Your faith can be deflated. Your faith can be wearied, but God will not allow it to be extinguished. God won't shut that door and keep you out. He will let your faith stay alive. He's the one who keeps us; He keeps our faith going – so keep crying to Jesus, and follow him even if he is silent until he brings you to wherever he wants you to go.
Walking through a familiar story, Pastor Phil explains that Jesus offers hope for those who come to the end of themselves.
"What was once a robust, vibrant, and expectant hope that the day would come for that one sick sinner would be saved. But today, we’re not praying for him. Not because we don’t love them or want God’s best for them, but we are weary of praying for them. Does God care? Does care for the believer as we pray for strength to serve him well? What can we do to? What we learn today is that now that we know King Jesus has the authority to save all kinds of people, we must direct every sinner to Him.
When situations arise that are so fierce, so ominous, that our faith feels like its suffocating along with us, we can begin to doubt Jesus’ authority and especially when faith is challenged by fear. Fear leads us to wonder whether the God that has demonstrated his sovereignty over physical creation has any rival among the metaphysical. Jesus is sovereign over the natural, but is he any match for the supernatural?
Pastor Phil examines this popular story and explains that we must trust Him to forgive us since Jesus has the authority to forgive sins.
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When situations arise that are so fierce, so ominous, that our faith feels like its suffocating along with us, we can begin to doubt Jesus’ authority and especially when faith is challenged by fear. Fear leads us to wonder whether the God that has demonstrated his sovereignty over physical creation has any rival among the metaphysical. Jesus is sovereign over the natural, but is he any match for the supernatural?
“Have you underestimated the cost of something only to realize after that you might have bit off more than we can chew? When it comes to discipleship, Jesus doesn’t want us to be surprised. How do you count the cost when you don’t know what’s coming in your life?” The answer is that Jesus requires, upfront, a commitment to the highest possible cost.”
Hebrews 11:1-7 is the passage and I understand the title of the presentation is “Genesis: Missing Piece of the Puzzle.” The write up could be something like, “Calvin Smith from Answers in Genesis visited The Gathering to provide an update on the work of this ministry and encourage the believers to trust God’s Word against all opposition.
While worry, fear, and anxiety were a huge struggle even before COVID craziness of a few years ago, they are enormous struggles right now. How will we enter the New Year? For some, they’ll be fighting anxiety as the clock counts down. Yet, as the people of God, we can be assured that our Sovereign is in control even when we’re overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.
We look everywhere and try seemingly everything in order to have a better Christmas. We must remember that in order to have a better Christmas, we need to worship the better king.
Christmas isn’t about us or even our happiness. It’s about the man in the name – a man who is so much better. How does this better Adam give us a better understanding of ourselves, a better Savior, and a better hope for the future? If we are to have a better Christmas, we must receive the Better Adam
As the Apostle Paul concludes the letter to the Colossians, he encourages the believers to not forget the gospel but to focus on displaying it everywhere, all the time.
Who sees all of the excellent work every day? God does. As Christians, we should pursue excellence in our work not because we want to impress the boss, or to get a raise, we work first for Christ. He sees even when no one else does.
For many of us, there’s an underwritten rule: what happens at home stays at home and nobody on the inside is really going to snitch, exposing me for being earthly or sinful. Work is another area of our life where it’s easy to let our pursuit of Christ-likeness hide. Why not, right? If we can’t tell people about Jesus at work, why bother living like Christ either. But if we are committed Christ followers, we must seek to display Christ even in difficult places.
Jesus is incomparable. He alone is sufficient to save us and keep us and because of this, if we are Christians, then Jesus must be your life; not just Savior, but also Lord. It makes no sense that after having been made clean to then go back and live a sinful life.
False teachers had crept into the church in Colossae and were distorting the gospel with all kinds of legalistic ideas that offered spiritual growth. Pastor Phil explains that in order to progress towards the goal of becoming more like Christ, we must resist legalism and focus on Christ.
We have tendency, really a natural propensity to supplement salvation by adding in a little bit of us. Yet, salvation is a sovereign work of God – it does not need to be seasoned by us. That’s why God gets the Glory Alone.
When it comes to your salvation and mine, it’s not just faith alone in any old thing – it’s certainly not the amount of faith, but who you place your faith in. The Protestant Reformers didn’t fight for people to have faith; they insisted on what the Bible insists on: that salvation depends on Christ alone!
How do people receive the salvation that God offers? Pastor Phil explains the crucial teaching of Sola Fide: that people receive salvation in Jesus Christ through faith alone.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a sinner can be made right with God, not by the complete and fully pleasing sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, but that grace requires additional merit. Today we find out whether Rome was right, or whether the Reformers, armed with the Bible, were correct in proclaiming salvation by Grace Alone.
If Satan can diminish the confidence that we have in the reliability, ability, authority and the profitability of the Scriptures, then Christianity is reduced to religion. The danger that the church has always faced and continues to face will define us and will either give us the confidence we need or will leave us as we slowly sink in the shifting sands of true today and wrong tomorrow.
While our prayer may seem so small next to the vastness of all that God will inevitably do, we must decide whether I pray or not. We wonder what difference our prayers might really make. Jesus models pray for us that reminds us that we need to pray more than we will know.
If our Savior is truly incomparable, then our lives must look vastly different. In this text, God gives us 2 commands for how to do just that, through the writings of Paul.
God’s Word intends to provide the kind of reassurance that we need. He wants us to never wander too far from Him, but to depend on him – not just when we face the impossible, but also when we’re confident that what we face is very possible for us to handle on our own
God has entrusted us with the privilege and the responsibility to serve the real Jesus by helping each other to become the people who are confident in their faith and spiritually mature. Yet, we can be deceived into embracing a false identity.
Many people say they believe in Jesus. But what do they believe about Jesus or, which Jesus do they believe in? Pastor Phil preaches through Colossians 1:15-20 and explains that believers in Jesus must believe the truth about Jesus.
“As Paul prays, these Colossians will learn what will help them stay and succeed in the game of life. What we’ll find is that It’ll be what we need to accomplish all that God intends for each of us, but nothing we can find in ourselves.”
If Jesus Christ alone was not sufficient for salvation, then eternal life could be obtained by any sort of means, and the gospel would be reduced to just another path. Paul begins his letter the Colossians by introducing himself to those he’d never met, reminding them exactly how thankful they should be for the one who cannot be replaced.
Are we true disciples? Are we building our lives on the solid rock or shifting sand? Pastor Phil finishes the series on the Sermon on the Mount by examining the intense warning and gracious invitation contained in Matthew 7:21-29
Are we true disciples? Are we building our lives on the solid rock or shifting sand? Pastor Phil finishes the series on the Sermon on the Mount by examining the intense warning and gracious invitation contained in Matthew 7:21-29
“This whole sermon of Jesus comes on the heels of Jesus’ first call to disciples to repent. To this Jesus essentially returns as he asks people like you and me, ”Do you know where you are going? How will you get there?”
You could imagine that Jesus, fully aware of every human heart would see this combination of desire to live for God and be successful in Kingdom living, and yet at the same time the look of “how are we ever going to be able to do this?” Is this not just a recipe for despair? Our effort to live for Him in His Kingdom is possible as Jesus points out in this well-known but often misunderstood passage.
A sermon on judgement in our lives. The way judgement should be looked at in every aspect of our scripture and through God's grace in an effort to discern and uphold His standards.
How do you handle day-to-day worries? The simple things that we get anxious about like food or clothing? What about our careers, our money, or relationships? Jesus addresses them for us and gives us a practical approach to handling the stress that often comes with them.
Like the first disciples, fallen sinners exposed to a world of selfishness, will fight the temptation to focus on temporal wealth – things that do not bring glory to God. They’ll collect earthly treasures as if they are better than anything Heaven can give. Jesus wants to wake us to reality and teach us that what we treasure tells us more about our relationship with Him than we may know.
The Lord’s Prayer is well known but is it well applied? Pastor Phil walks through the Lord’s Prayer and explains that citizens of the Kingdom of God must develop kingdom priorities in prayer.
Believers must remember that the things that we do must be solely for God and not for ourselves. The question is: will what we do be for God or for us. It might be a harder question to answer than we might think.
We understand justice, but as believers who want to be more of who God has remade us to be, what we share with Jesus’ disciples is the need to be more like our King in how we respond when we are personally mistreatment by others. This will of course, also inform how we are to treat others as well.
We like loopholes and often look for them. So often we are like the Jews of Jesus’ day, who valued convenient truth over absolute truth, we often rely on a “as you don’t get caught mindset.” How much are we committed to truth, exactly?How does that relate to Oaths? In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus continues to challenge the popular but false Jewish interpretations of the OT.
Pastor Phil concludes the series in the book of Ruth by highlighting the character of Boaz and Ruth. He also explains that Boaz’s redemption of Ruth is a foreshadow of our ultimate redemption in Jesus Christ.
We get so caught up in doing, that we forget that God is the One who can make it happen and possibly without even realizing it, we jump up on the throne of grace – we grab the wheel of our life and exclaim – “thank you Lord, we’ll take it from here.” Today we learn that if we’re going to live for God by faith, it’ll mean that we must be careful to let Him lead.
We can’t always perceive what God is doing in our lives and wish we could see just what God is up to. We have the benefit of hindsight as we walk with Naomi, Ruth and Boaz and learn that God’s imperceptible providence is continually at work in the lives of ordinary people.t is God up to through our disasters?
If Christianity is a ‘singing faith,’ why do we sing and what good will it do in the life of the believer? Today, from both the Old and New Testament, guest speaker Jody Cross will explore with us what it means to “Sing!”
Naomi teaches us that we need to trust God even when we don’t want to; when our theology is right, but our interpretation is wrong. What is God up to through our disasters?
Pastor Phil begins our series on the book of Ruth by explaining that God’s people are called to trust God’s plans even in the midst of pain.
Pastor Phil begins our series on the book of Ruth by explaining that God’s people are called to trust God’s plans even in the midst of pain.
Whether you have grown up in church or you are new to exploring Christianity, we all need to hear of and reflect on the power of the Gospel. The Gospel is real, as evidenced in the
Many of us know this story about “Doubting Thomas.” John adds this story to help sinners to believe in Jesus, but also as a reminder to believers to help them grow in their faith.
While the gospel accounts tell us everything we need to understand how Jesus died, Galatians 3:10-14 helps us to understand why it was needed. As Paul explains the Curse, the Christ, and the Cross, we’ll see that Jesus Christ overcame our greatest problem, and provided for our deepest need.
Adultery, lust, and divorce damage and destroy marriages. It’s an all-too common reality in our culture. However, believers in Jesus, are called to live in counter-cultural ways. They are to live as citizens of God’s kingdom. Pastor Phil walks through a difficult passage and explains that kingdom citizens honour their king by honouring marriage.
Kingdom citizens have, in Christ, an exceeding righteousness that makes it possible for us to live as we should – the way that God intended with attitudes and desires that please him. This is possible all because Jesus came.
Salt and light has an unmistakable influence in life, and so they serve as a divinely inspired, and relatively easy-to-understand metaphor about the importance the role that believers play in the world.
The Sermon on the Mount is the quintessential summary of Jesus’ teaching. The beatitudes serve as the introduction to the sermon. They also describe the counter-culture values of the Kingdom of God. Pastor Phil walks through Matthew 5:1-12 and explains that those who trust in the King must learn to live as citizens of his kingdom.
To join Jesus in his Kingdom and on his mission into the darkness will mean that his people will have had to undergo significant
transformation and the loss of everything the world considers essential
Every sinner is unable and unprepared to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is reserved for those
who run from sin, and rest in Jesus. Matthew 3 is a reminder that God must change a person from what they are by
nature if they are ever to meet God.
We can glorify God and be his obedient people in the strength that God provides. We can be a church that glorifies God, because before anything else, we know that God is able. Only he can provide the strength that we need. The question is, how does he do it?
We need direction. What we find is that God has provided us with a strategy that will equip us to be everything God has saved us to be as a church.
Pastor Phil continues the series about our church’s renewed vision and explains that all Christians are called to be witnesses for Jesus.
When people can’t distinguish between real and fake news, it creates confusion and misunderstanding about what matters most. When people can’t distinguish between real and fake worship, it creates confusion and misunderstanding about who matters most.
We want to continue to be a gospel-centered church striving for the Glory of God. What could possibly support the weight of our ambition. Where do we start? We start at the center where God started with us and finishes with us. It’s at the center – at the power plant of God – the gospel.
Pastor Phil begins the new year by challenging us to fight idolatry and find true satisfaction in Gog
Christmas is an invitation to every human being to respond to the Savior. So, what will it be? Will you oppose him, or will you trust him. The choice you make will not only determine what Christmas will mean for you in time, but what Christ will mean to you for all eternity.
The world doesn’t need a human remedy. Mankind cannot help mankind in the way we need it most. Only God can rescue us from our greatest problem.
We don’t always find it easy to do the right thing even if it’s for the right reason, and especially when it involves people we love. Our commitment to Godliness in Godless Days will impact the kind of relationships that we have with others. From Titus 3:9-15, Paul will help us to see how our commitment to Godliness will impact our relationships.
We know that God’s grace is an absolute priority in each of our lives as believers, but we can forget that grace fits us with the extravagant means to be good toward others. Grace has not only transformed us in heart, the promise has readied us for life among believers, and even in an ugly world. So far in this book, with the exception of a brief reference to slaves to masters, Paul has focused in on family business – church stuff – the believer in relation to other believers. Today, he makes us uncomfortable as we learn about our call to be Christians toward those who we may not naturally like, and who may not like us in return.
We often get discouraged in our effort to be godly because we fail to realize the power that is available to believers in not in our ability, but in the grace of God. The result is that believers in Crete, believers in Windsor and all points in between will find it not only impossible but discouraging in their effort to be who God has saved them to be. In the grace of God, we find all that we need to be who God has called us to be.
The calling on the church is to go out and make disciples who will then make disciples. Every person who calls them self a follower of Christ has this calling . We have the privilege to partner with God on this commission.
Pastor Phil looks at Titus 2:9-10 and explains that Christians are to pursue godliness in every context that God places them, including their jobs.
Our greatest need is the transforming refreshment of God’s Word/sound doctrine if godly life is to be our reality. The sad result of neglect in this is a generation of professions without resemblance. God addresses 4 basic categories of people in terms of gender and life experience to bear fruit in their personal context – as God sovereignly has placed them. When men and women are committed to this kind obedience, the result will be a discipleship environment that produces pleases God.
As those who are pure in heart, we want to live pure lives for the glory of God.
Like the Cretans of Titus’ day, we are surrounded by and susceptible to doctrinal error that cannot be left unaddressed because sinners are still going to hell, Christians still want to please the God who saved them and Satan is still seeking to rob God of Glory through us. It’s game on, and the stakes could not be higher! The consequences of refusing to fight error is unacceptable for a people who are called to be light in the dark and salt in a tasteless age.
We all have different impressions of what makes a good leader, even what makes the
best church leaders. While we may advocate for the appointment of leaders based on a variety of abilities, talents, or skills, we may be inclined to advocate for those who don’t actually qualify. In this passage, we learn what God’s priorities are in the selection of Elders in the local church.
The godless days are days when we ready ourselves and seek to be like Jesus – to live out the gospel. What we find is that the godless days have more conforming power than we may realize. Paul sends a letter to challenge Titus about issues that are as relevant to the Cretan believers as they are all of us – that challenge is that godliness is better.
Pastor Phil concludes the series on the 10 Commandments by looking at stealing and coveting. Since Christ is enough for us, we must fight against covetousness and fight for contentment.
Pastor Phil continues the series on the 10 Commandments. This week, he explains that we show love to others by honouring parents, life, and marriage.
What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain? Am I supposed to keep the Sabbath? If so, how?
What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain? Am I supposed to keep the Sabbath? If so, how?
What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain? Am I supposed to keep the Sabbath? If so, how?
Guest speaker, Tim Hamer explains the dangers of false witness and challenges us towards true witness.
God encourages us to be thankful even in adversity
When we forget this, we forget that God is with us and for us and in us.
Pastor Phil begins the series on the 10 Commandments. He explains that we are called to worship God exclusively, shun idolatry constantly, and treasure Christ completely.
We all enjoy receiving forgiveness but how are we at giving it? Pastor Phil explains that since Christians have received forgiveness from God, they must forgive others.
Guest speaker Tony Lynn talks explains how the Holy Spirit synchronizes relationships in our lives, but are they are radical as what we see in Acts chapter 10?
Pastor Phil walks through 1 Peter 4:7-11 and explains that Christians are called to serve one another for the glory of God and the good of others.
One of our church's young adults, Wes Werner, explains that since we have been rescued from darkness, we must learn to walk in the light.
Guest speaker, Mike Durbin from the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, walks through Acts 9:36-43
Pastor Phil continues the One Another series. If we believe in Jesus, we must encourage one another to follow Jesus.
Guest speaker, Tony Lynn walks through Galatians 5:19-26 and explains that, when we spiritually train with the Holy Spirit we can move past our personal best to become stronger in the Lord
Guest speaker, Steve Walters gives fresh insight into the familiar story of the Good Samaritan and our calling to love others.
Jesus gave his disciples a clear command to love one another. Pastor Phil walks through John 13:34-35 and explains that since we are loved by Jesus, we must love one another.
From the first day that a rag-tag bag of wounded and broken people got together in south Windsor for a Saturday night Bible study, we have tried to put the gospel first because the gospel changes everything! It is of “first importance!” 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
John Piper says, “When sinners turn from their sin and come home to God, God is glad.” That’s what we see illustrated in this parable of the Prodigal Son. The wayward son comes back home where he belongs, and the father is glad.
As our church faces significant changes, Pastor Phil preaches through our church's vision statement and reminds us what we need to focus on.
If God so loved us when we were enemies, now that he has made provision for us at such infinite cost, much more will he save us from the wrath of God and then see us through to the final goal of our glorious salvation!
Today we look into a wonderful Psalm of Asaph, Psalm 73.
“Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Genesis 3 not only focuses attention on how sin gets a foothold in our lives, but it also focuses on how expensive it is, how painful and deadly it is.
We need to explore further how pleasure can become a potent force in captivating the heart of a Christian. Pleasure can draw us away from God and prevent us from coming back to God, back home, where we belong.
We admire people like that who know what they want in life and will do whatever necessary to achieve their goals. But there's also a dark side to ambition. Sometimes our thirst for success can lead us away from our heavenly father.
The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 yields an understanding into the human heart and why we are so prone to wander far from Home.
Ehud would likely never have been Israel's choice to deliver them from foreign oppression. But he was God's choice. Pastor Phil takes us on a journey through Judges chapter 3 and explains that God uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plans.
In our own real worlds of real grief, and real loss, and in real death, and real evil, and real injustice, and real sin, the question is this: What is our hope for real hope for resurrection?
For us who find life in Jesus’ death, seeing Jesus’ humiliation teaches us what our sin deserves and what great lengths Jesus went to save us. At the same time, we need to see Satan’s hand at work here, so that we can recognize his accusations as those who continue to carry with faith the cross God gives to us. Today, on this Good Friday, we will look at the humiliation of the Lord Jesus.
How does the King of Heaven get to the cross? Matthew wants us to understand that Christ’s death is not accidental – it is calculated and strategic. It’s for the purpose of accomplishing God’s rescue mission – the redemption of His sinful people who deserve death. Jesus’ death and resurrection a statement that demands a response. Jesus died in the place of sinners, did Jesus die for you?
We live in a time where truth has become relative and people claim that there are multiple ways to God. Pastor Phil walks through Jesus' claim to be the only way to God and asks the question, "Is Jesus' claim true?"
We’re surrounded by people. What does God expect of you in relation to them? What does God expect of you in relation to the people behind you in the drive through at Tim Hortons today? What does God expect of you in relation to your next-door neighbors? What do we owe each other? Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
One of the surprising things Jesus said early in his ministry is about a sin that could never, ever, ever be forgiven. That’s in the Bible! In the last two thousand years, many tortured souls have wrestled over this warning.
We’re all tempted in some way to deviate from what God says about us in His Word. The battle is and will always be to believe God’ sovereign purposes for us are good, including those who wrestle with sexual identity. The question at the heart of this issues is, what does it mean, if anything, to be a man or a woman, and is our biological assignment fundamental to who we are and what God purposes for our lives?
We are tempted every day to love everything else but God. Yet for the believer, we must love above all else. Today, we’ll learn that God wants to teach us something important about how to authenticallylove like him.
Having described love in verses 4-7, Paul picks up where he left off in verse 8, and again begins to contrast love and the three most elevated spiritual gifts in the Corinthian spiritual gift arsenal: prophecies, tongues and knowledge. Paul will give us two reasons why love must be what we are known for.
Things haven’t changed since the first century because the nature of sin hasn’t changed. We still live in a selfish, sin-cursed world that doesn’t understand what agape (God-like) love is. If we’re going to be the kind of people who are motivated by love, then we need God to show us what that agape love looks like in his Word. What does love do, and what does love not do? We find out this week from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
The question that this chapter asks us is, when it comes to the character of our service for God, what should that look like? What pleases God about what we do? What ingredient, if it were missing would, would empty our service of any value from God’s perspective?
We find out this week from 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Not everyone understands what Communion is or why the church continues to celebrate it. Pastor Phil walks through 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 and explains four responses Christians should experience as they celebrate Communion.
Most people have no idea why they’re here on planet Earth. They have no sense of God’s plan and purpose in their lives. No sense of direction. No path they are following. We’d like to change that!
Ephesians 5 exhorts us to live as children of light “and find out what pleases the Lord.” Do you know what that is? It should be one of our holy obsessions – to find out what makes Him smile!
There is much confusion in our culture today with respect to personal identity and so much turmoil in the media. Developing a gospel-shaped sense of self has never been more difficult or more crucial.
It’s common, and it’s also recurring. You can catch discouragement several times, and relapses are frequent. There is no vaccination available for discouragement but God’s Word has an amazing prescription for it!
Today is the first of five messages during the month of January that will try to answer some of the very real and very honest questions that may be bouncing around in your heart these days. So close to New Year’s Day, we want to ask, “How can I ever change?”
One of the longings of humanity throughout all ages has been peace. Is peace possible? The hope of Christmas is that the peace with God, the peace of God, and peace with others. Can all of these be ours?
Home is like a magnet at Christmas time! “I’ll be home for Christmas” is a song we hear everywhere at this time of year. But was we read Luke 2, we discover that just about everybody involved in the story was away from home at Christmas. Joseph. Mary. The angels. The wise men. Even Jesus Himself was away from home.
Eternal life is the goal at Christmas. It’s the purpose of God in sending Jesus Christ. It’s the reason behind the baby in the manger, and the man on the cross. Eternal life is the destiny of those who believe in Christ, but how does one acquire it?
Genuine faith in Jesus Christ provides the fundamental connection between your soul and God’s love. If the danger in John 3:16 is perishing, and the design is love, then the duty must be faith.
John 3:16 is very common to many people, but it’s still amazing and wonderful and mind-boggling all at once. God the Father gave up his only begotten Son for us because his perfect design from the beginning was love.
One of the reasons John 3:16 is so widely memorized and so deeply loved is that it is such a remarkably full summary of the Good News. Yet this verse contains a warning of potential danger. It mentions the possibility of perishing.
These are the final words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Rome. He concludes this long letter full of theology and gospel with a deluge of praise and adoration: “To the only wise God be glory forever!” and makes two assertions that everyone should memorize.
Doctrinal error is always a legitimate and significant threat to the spiritual health of every believer. To ignore this danger is to set ourselves up for spiritual derailment and guaranteed misery; from the path of God’s blessing in our lives; and the inability to be part of the movement of the gospel here. How can we be faithful under fire? We find out this week from Romans 16:17-23.
We live in a day where division and deception abound. With some of his final words, the Apostle Paul warned the church in Rome to "watch out," for both. Pastor Phil explains what our church must do to guard against division and false doctrine.
As Paul nears the end of his letter to the church at Rome, his tone changes. The mood is modified, the disposition is different, and we get to see and hear the heart of Paul in a fresh way. He pours out his love and compassion on God’s people, including us!
Paul had a deep desire to visit the church in Rome. He asked that they would strive in prayer with him for this request and for God's will. Pastor Phil reminds us that believers in Jesus must strive in prayer.
In light of the gospel, what should my priorities be? From the life of Paul to the experience of every believer, Romans 15:17-29 helps us to appreciate what God’s people care about: they let the gospel define them, they submit themselves to God’s Leading, and they want to give like God.
Our circumstances in life have many ups and downs, much like a roller coaster. But our ability to be thankful must not be rooted in our circumstances. Pastor Phil explains that God's people must remember God's character as they seek to be thankful.
Why would Paul pick the church in Rome, a church that after 25 years of ministry, he had never been to, for support in the advance of the gospel ministry into western Europe? Great Commission churches – churches that care about the gospel, prayerfully strive to develop godly qualities – qualities that make them places to be to the advance of the gospel.
Every believer needs to balance their Christian liberty with Christlike love. We need to balance diversity and unity. How do we do that? Join us for this message as we learn how to walk the diversity-unity tightrope with four balanced phrases in mind.
We are celebrating seven wonderful, glorious, grace-filled years of church planting here at The Gathering Church in Windsor, Ontario. We planted the church in 2014 and God has been so good.
The church in Rome was fighting over matters of opinion and experiencing division.
They struggled to agree to disagree. What do we do when we disagree with other Christians? Pastor Phil explains that people who have been changed by the gospel strive to love others even in the gray areas.
Despite the many kinds of people in the world, God calls His people to strive to love them. This week in our study of Paul’s letter to the Romans, we’ll find out how to love others.
With this single sentence our Lord established the validity of human government, while at the same time setting its limits: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. Romans 13:1-7, then, is Paul’s exposition of Jesus’ remarkable saying. Paul tells us how the citizens of Heaven are supposed to relate to human government. He tells us how we can be the kind of citizens God wants us to be.
Much more than body type goes into becoming an elite athlete. But performance psychologists who work with Olympians of all sizes tell us that some physical characteristics can provide an edge in one sport or another. Yet, one writer is confident that every body has Olympic qualities. Paul continues to show us that if our lives have been transformed by the gospel, we should be shaped by it. The gospel has equipped every body with a born-again nature – Divinely-given qualities that equip us to live life for God.
Now that Christians have been transformed by the grace of God, they must learn to live for what truly matters according to God. Pastor Phil walks through Romans 12:9-13 and explains that Christians should be defined by love, perseverance, and generosity.
Today we begin a new series in the book of Romans with the first message covering Romans 12:1-8. Chapter 12 begins the “so what?” – the application of 11 chapters of theology – the working out of all the doctrines Paul presented to us in Romans 1-11. In chapter 12 Paul begins to balance the vertical with the horizontal, the doctrinal with the relational.
What do you need when something or someone punctures your fragile dam and threatens to bring you down? Or when your life is engulfed with pain and confusion? You need a shelter. You need a refuge. A listener. Someone who understands you.
Psalm 71 was written by a man who wanted to finish well, a man who realized that old age presents its own special dangers and unique demands even in the life of a Bible-believing, born again Christian. The writer also shares wonderful encouragement for everyone who is growing old.
The road which leads to the blessing of forgiveness is often paved with predictable encounters of the human soul. Psalm 32 helps us to see clearly why only those who have been forgiven by God can be truly happy and blessed.
David helps faithful followers of Jesus to see that it’s better to stay loyal to Jesus than to chase the riches and success of the world. There will always be people who have more than us! Let’s remember: God is in control. He will not forsake his saints. The Lord can be trusted above all else!
Psalm 78 is a psalm of Israel’s history. It reveals how God patiently persevered with his people, even when they disbelieved and spurned him. Psalm 78 is also a psalm of urgency. It confronts us with the absolute necessity of reaching the next generation for God and for the gospel, and we must heed its teaching.
Truth Matters. “Wikiality” is a poor reality, especially when we’re searching for answers about how to live the Spirit-filled, fruit producing, Jesus-only life that cost God his only Son. Amputating any false doctrine from gaining any further ground is not only the only option, but it is a matter of urgent action. Because the truth matters, Christians must make some important choices.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” If we live by the Spirit, then we will walk in line behind him as He leads us. That’s what it means! Today we’ll talk about walking in line with the Spirit of God and bearing much fruit for the glory of God.
These final three verses (Gal. 5:24-26) are crucial in our study of the fruit of the Spirit because they explain what we, like the Galatians, are called to do to cultivate growth in our lives and in each other. Our spiritual DNA determines the production of fruit, but that doesn’t mean that we are passive. When we decide to cultivate a life that encourages spiritual growth, it can make the kind of impact that will cause us to grow!
As we come to the end of the list of the fruit of the Spirit, it is crucial for us to stay engaged. We must know what all of the fruit of the Spirit looks like, including gentleness and self-control.
The Holy Spirit produces His fruit in Christians. What is that fruit and what does it look like? Pastor Phil explains what true patience and kindness look like and how those qualities can develop in our lives.
Today we are carefully removing two slices of that one fruit of the Spirit and examining joy and peace. Does your joy and peace look like the biblical description? When we take joy and peace and match that with what our current understanding, it’s very possible that you’ll come to see joy and peace might not be what it should be.
Christ has set us free. We stand in that freedom by living by the Spirit. We live by the Spirit by saying yes to him and saying no to sin. As we learn to live by the Spirit, we will grow in love.
What was so inconceivable to think, was soon embraced in the Galatian church– that acceptance by God was no longer all about Jesus but needed something added to. What happened to them and why? Could it also happen to us?
Nehemiah leaves Jerusalem for a while, and while the cat’s away the mice will play. When he returns, he discovers four giant problems that he quickly addresses in his final reforms.
Nothing reveals the nature, character, and glory of God quite like the resurrection of Jesus Christ because it puts the infinite power of God on display for the world to see.
This is our first message in our Easter series about the glory of God. Looking at Matthew 21, Pastor Phil explains how Palm Sunday foreshadowed the true glory of Jesus Christ.
We must give ourselves to God! The theme of Nehemiah all the way from 11:1 to 12:26 is that we offer ourselves for God’s mission in response to God’s mercy. Starting in Neh 12:27, we witness the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem at which the people give their praise and their gifts to God.
The walls of Jerusalem are complete. Now it was time to repopulate the city. Many of the Jews willingly offered to move into Jerusalem. Nehemiah 11 offers a picture of the people of God responding to the mercy of God by offering their lives for the mission of God.
Nehemiah 8 ends with the people of God savoring spiritual revival with a special day of fasting and prayer and dedication to God. Chapters 9 and 10 are all about preserving this renewal among the people of God and fanning the flames of revival.
Now that the city walls had been rebuilt, it was time for Israel to rebuild their relationship with God. Ezra came to read and teach the Scriptures and a spiritual revival began!
Nehemiah didn’t listen to the lies of his enemies Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. He was smarter than that! Yet, Satan used four strategies in attacking him; strategies that he still uses against us today.
Personal integrity in the life of a leader is indispensable. If we are going to lead well in our respective spheres of influence, we need to lead with integrity, and Nehemiah provides a good example for us.
Communion is a sacred celebration that the church has practiced for over two thousand years. When we celebrate communion, we remember and proclaim that in Jesus, we are secure in God’s family because of God’s grace and covenant promises.
Nehemiah 4 ended on a note of great victory: In spite of all the opposition, the people of God were doing the work of God. Our God will fight for us! is what they declared. But in this section of Nehemiah 5, the rebuilding effort grinds to a halt because of conflict and disunity within the community of faith.
Nehemiah was called by God to rebuild the wall. The opposition plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and against Nehemiah and to cause confusion. How are you supposed to respond to that kind of opposition in your life?
The king who had forcibly removed Nehemiah and his people from Jerusalem years before was now willing to send him back with letters of safe-conduct, army officers and soldiers for protection! What a change of heart, and Nehemiah was ready!
What do you do when you’re up against the wall? You have nowhere to turn. No one to help you. You’re facing unbearable, impossible circumstances and there’s no one to talk to. What do you do? Perhaps you sit at the feet of Nehemiah and learn from him.
As we come to the end of 2020 and prepare to step into a New Year, let’s recover, or reclaim the wisdom that comes from heaven.
Christmastime is a good time to rebuild and renew relationships that have been damaged by a broken world and by the brokenness in our lives.
Wouldn't it be great if every spouse or friend or parent or child came with self-correcting technology?But the human race isn't self-correcting. In fact, we're self-destructing, and we need to find forgiveness and someone to rescue us from this.
No more coasting! Christmastime is a perfect time to renew or refresh your faith by the grace of God that he readily makes available through the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Phil concludes the series by looking at one of the most famous, "Life Verses" Jeremiah 29:11. As we look at this verse in context, we will see how it encourages us to endure present difficulties as we follow Jesus and look towards the glorious future that we have in him.
Pastor Jay continues our series on, "Life Verses." He draws our attention to Galatians 6:14, which was the life verse of famed preacher, Billy Graham.
Pastor Phil begins a new series looking at some beloved verses of Scripture. The first installment highlights one of Charles Spurgeon's favourite verses, Isaiah 45:22. This verse shows that there is only one path to eternal salvation and it is found in Jesus Christ.
And as we pursue faithfulness to God in our own lives, we can rest in the grace of Jesus, remember his perfect faithfulness, and rely on his strength so we can stand firm to the end.
As disciples of Jesus Christ and as a church that bears his name, we must preach and teach and share the Word wherever we go. In our homes, our schools, and in our circles of influence, we need to share the truth wherever and whenever we can!
The world will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. That’s what the Bible says, and that’s the reason why it’s critical for us to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed….”
Children love to imitate their heroes. Superman! Taylor Swift! Auston Matthews! But this practice is not restricted to children, and we have all observed the power of an example – good and bad. In 2 Tim 3 the Apostle Paul talks about godly and ungodly examples.
Adding to the solder, athlete, and farmer illustrations from the preceding verses, the Apostle Paul introduces three more word pictures to describe the important work of teaching God’s Word.
Guarding the gospel is not for the faint of heart, and words of encouragement along the way will surely help. In our passage today, Paul presents four words of encouragement that were written for us!
The Gathering exists to bring glory to God through lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
After charging Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God so that he could serve more effectively, Paul exhorts him to guard the gospel, the good deposit entrusted to him. What are the implications for us?
As we open 2 Timothy together and begin this new series, we are reading Paul’s final words. This is the last letter Paul ever wrote – his last communication to Timothy and to the churches who would benefit from it – churches like ours!
In the final story of this teaching series, Jesus gives his followers hope and motivation to persist in prayer.
In this story, Jesus confronts greed and materialism and explains that true life cannot be found in money and possessions.
This is perhaps the most famous story Jesus ever told. As we unpack it, we will see that the main point of this story is that being a true neighbour involves showing radical love and deep concern for others.
In this story, Jesus explains that while people have a variety of responses to the Word of God, only one response results in salvation and genuine life change.
Although the Gospel is foolishness to the world, it is the power of God for the believer; it is essential for our journey to Christ, and for our life in Christ.
The preservation of the saints is that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart, is continued and brought to completion by God’s grace and for His glory. We need this!
When God’s one and only Son was born in Bethlehem, the whole purpose was to pardon people who were living in bondage to sin, people like you and me. But why is God so eager to forgive?
Money can’t buy it, people can’t build it, churches can’t bestow it, but God promised peace. It’s actually a two-fold promise, because the Bible speaks about peace with God, and the peace of God. They are related but distinct in their functions.
God’s sovereignty is a major theme in the life of Joseph, and Joseph himself intends for us to interpret his life in light of God’s providence. God wants us to see how he puts himself in these impossible situations and yet always finds a way to keep his covenant promises.
Seventy people suddenly land on Joseph’s doorstep, and he needs to provide for them. It would be a struggle with a new country, a new culture, a new language, a whole new way of life! How would Joseph fulfill his responsibilities as the prime minister of Egypt and look after his huge family, without compromising his integrity?
As we work our way through Genesis 45-46, we rediscover the importance of walking with God every day no matter what we’re facing and no matter what the consequences may be.
Joseph’s final test of his brothers revealed their changed character. This led Joseph to reveal himself to them and enjoy reconciliation.
All of Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt at his request. They are fearful, worried, and feeling guilty. They have no idea what is about to happen. It’s a beautiful picture of grace at work!
Today we’re talking about Jacob, Joseph’s dad. Jacob had known God for a long time, but his faith was constantly being undermined by his negative spirit, his horizontal point of view, and his closed mind.
God used a famine in the land to bring Joseph's brothers down to Egypt. In Egypt, they unknowingly encounter their long lost brother. God used Joseph’s treatment of his brothers to start softening their hard hearts.
Having interpreted Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph faces the best and worst of days. This portion of the story helps us to see how we can remain faithful, patient and confident even though we have no idea what is going on.
After being imprisoned and forgotten by man, Joseph is suddenly remembered and promoted by God! This fascinating account reveals the sovereign grace of God in preparing Joseph for his ministry.
Joseph was falsely accused and stuck in prison for over 2 years. But God was with him. And like Joseph, we need to trust God's presence, God's plans, and God's timing.
Doting on Joseph may have brightened Jacob's world, but it brought only dark clouds into Joseph’s.
Jesus came from heaven to earth, went to the cross, shed his blood, and then came out of the grave alive! All of it is an extravagant demonstration of the extravagant love of God for you!
We have all kinds of categories for people. But at the foot of the Cross, on the day Jesus died, there were only two. Two classifications that count for eternity: those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and those who reject him.
Palm Sunday is a day of preparation for what’s to come – Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It’s also a day of extravagant worship with palm branches and cheering crowds and shouts of Hosanna, blessed be the name of the Lord!
Pastor Phil concludes the series in Romans 8 by examining verses 31-39 and explaining that when Christians know that God loves them and is for them, they will receive new confidence to follow Jesus no matter what they might face along the way.
In Romans 8:18-30 we learn about the glorious future that we have in Christ and how focusing on that future will produce faithful endurance in the present.
ROMANS 8 | New Identity | Mar 15 2020 | Pastor Phil Siebenmorgen Romans 8 explains that we receive new life when we put our trust in Jesus Christ. Part of that
Many of the hymn stories we’ve heard so far point to the fact that life can be unpredictable. Our life’s dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. But can we say, “It is well?”
Our series of examining the theology behind classic hymns continues with, Great is Thy Faithfulness.
Today we begin a new series of sermons that explore the stories and
Scripture behind some of the favorite old hymns of the church and
why they are so popular.
Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, we should be thankful and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28).
The narrow road can be bumpy, and the pain can be real, but the challenges and trials we face in this life actually testify to the loving discipline that comes from our Heavenly Father.
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” This is such an urgent, strong and compelling call to persevere, to stick it out till the end of the race, to not give up!
An advocate is someone who helps or defends the cause of another. Pastor Phil teaches from 1 John 2:1-2 and explains Jesus' role as our advocate.
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. It sounds pretty cool but what does it mean? Pastor Phil unpacks this name given to Jesus and explains that Jesus is completely reliable and totally trustworthy.
It’s Christmas Eve. For a few precious hours, we behold him. Christ the Lord. Our Savior! Jesus! The King! Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. All of a sudden he’s everywhere. Do you see him?
God took the first step toward us. God initiated this new relationship.
God instigated this new friendship. God so loved the world, means God loves all, and most importantly, he loves you!
There is something special and deeply moving about giving gifts to the people and to the causes that you love and care about. The best gifts of all celebrate a relationship, and that’s what we talk about in this message.
The quest to celebrate Christmas is exhausting for many of us. We try to keep up with everything and everyone, but it’s tough! So, what if we talked about celebrating a Simple Christmas this year? What if we do things a bit different…?
In His own words, Jesus tells us in John 10:11 that he is “the good
shepherd.” And the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
And in John 10:14-15: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep,
and they know me just as my Father knows me and I know my Father.
And I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God, and he alone takes away the sin of the world on the Cross. It was not nails that held him to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, it was his love for the Father; and it was his love for sinners like you and me. Behold the Lamb!
Today we begin a brand new sermon series on our favorite topic: Jesus! The Bible says His name is higher than any other name!
His name is above every name! He is the Advocate, Bread of Life, Chosen of God, Door of the Sheep, Emmanuel…. His name is Jesus. And in John 15, Jesus tells us he is also called The True Vine, and his father is the gardener…
Our Father commands us: Fear not! Be not dismayed!And if God commands us to do something, there are good reasons for it. Fearlessness comes from understanding who God is, believing and acting on the promises of God.
Unforgivable! Have you ever experienced such an ordeal that by worldly standards is simply unworthy of forgiveness? In this new series NO MORE, we will be addressing the bitterness that stems from unforgiveness and how to remedy that through the power of Christ.
Nothing evokes more powerful sensations or provokes more dramatic responses than authentic love. It mystifies us, engages us, and fascinates us. Disciples of Jesus are called to love those in the church and those in the world. Listen to find out how!
What makes a great church? It makes me happy to hear people say, “We have a great church!” But what is a great church? No one knows exactly what it means. How do you know when a church has truly become “great” and not just “good?”
As we begin this new chapter in the life of The Gathering Church, we must understand that life change happens when the grace of God leads us into living transformed lives that reflects the love that Jesus had for this world. This week we’ll learn that becoming a “Living Sacrifice” requires Consecration, Transformation and Evaluation.
The grace of God is a phrase that is tossed around so often that it can lose some of its impact. This morning, Pastor Phil walks us through Titus 2:11-14 and shows us that the grace of God saves us, changes us, and sustains us.
Many of us have not been alive long enough to have any recollection of either of the World Wars that have taken place in the last century. But not too many realize the magnitude of the cosmic war that we entered into the day we were born and have been battling ever since! Listen and learn how you can be equipped to fight the good fight?
It's easy to look back on our lives and see the wreckage of lost opportunity. The debris of disappointment is everywhere, and the rubble of regret is evident. And for this we have the Gospel of God!
Many Christians do not understand how much we need the gospel every single day. The promises of the Gospel are for today, not simply yesterday or tomorrow. We should preach the gospel to ourselves every day!
1 Corinthians 12 tells us that through faith in Jesus Christ, we become part of the body of Christ (the church). The body needs all parts in order to function properly. Pastor Phil explains that every Christian is called to be a humble, contributing part of the body of Christ.
A life well-lived honors the Lord and inspires others, but it also produces rewards for the one who lives it. By the grace of God, we get to enjoy some of the benefits, some of the rewards, before we get to heaven!
The story of David begins with an obscure, underestimated young man tending sheep in the wilderness of Palestine. He is chosen later to be King in Israel, but his humble roots never leave him. In spite of some major sin in his life, he continues to model what’s humble.
The problem with every works-based religion is that you can never work hard enough, never pray long enough, never bow low enough, never walk on your knees far enough, and you can never sacrifice enough. Unfortunately, this kind of bartering for the Lord's favor has never ended. Tune in today to find out what God does expect of you!
In the marathon of Saul’s life, he started with splendor, but finished with failure. His heroism was short lived due to his many character flaws. How do we avoid the same mistakes as Saul?
In Numbers chapter 12, Aaron & Miriam oppose Moses' leadership of Israel.
Submission to authority has become a foreign concept in our culture. We love to have autonomy and chart our own course and , "Stick it to the man!"
Pastor Phil reminds us that every follow of Jesus is called to submit to the leadership that God has established.
Samson was the guy who defeated the Philistines single-handedly with the jawbone of a donkey! He was a real, live superhero in Israel. Or was he…?
Superheroes attract us because of their abilities and character. Sometimes we may elevate characters in the Bible to the level of "superhero." Pastor Phil unpacks the popular story of Jonah and explains that this character is anything but a superhero.
The book of Acts is amazing, but the ending disappoints. It’s not a good ending to a book with 28 chapters! It seems like there should be another chapter or two; like there should be an Acts 29.
And this may surprise you…. There is an Acts 29. The author of the book of Acts, does not finish the story because the story of the church is not yet finished.
We finally reach the last chapter in the book of Acts! Paul’s journey to Rome ends without a resolution! That’s because it’s the job of the church to pick up where Paul left off! How are you going to respond to the Mission of God?
The last two chapters of Acts are devoted mainly to Paul’s journey to Rome (27:1–28:16). And the voyage to Rome is given with great detail and with remarkable precision. But the main point of the story is the providence of God, especially the saving of Paul’s life so that he could share the gospel in Rome!
We sometimes think God is not working… When we don’t see visible signs of his activity, we figure he’s gone dark. But the quiet, invisible hand of God is always working, always functioning, always operational.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ. Disney didn’t create it. Pixar can’t animate it. Marvel can’t match it. Jesus came out of the grave alive! And he can come into your life and be alive in you! Paul put it this way in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Today we come to the part in the Easter story where the Gospel according to Matthew reveals that Jesus was not only accused for us, he was also punished for us. In my place! Instead of me!
"Accused for Me"
Our Easter series will look at some of the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and how those events expose the human soul. We are the ones who are on trial here! Today as we focus on the accusation and trial of Jesus, we will see how the four primary characters involved in the trial represent us and show us four ways people still respond to Jesus today.
For the last decade of his life the Apostle Paul has intentionally engaged strategic cities like Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus with the gospel. But now we will observe Paul playing defense. The Apostle becomes a prisoner, and the rest of his ministry recorded in Acts is basically a set of reactions to opposition.
"Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
These words are often repeated as part of the Lord's Prayer, but how devoted are we really to the expansion of God's Kingdom on earth?
What makes a leader? Is it his ability to “fill a room?” Is it her speaking ability? Maybe the leader is the one with the most Instagram followers? Listen to Paul’s farewell message to the Ephesians elders to find out what characteristics are important for Christian leaders.
In recent years we have heard about several high-profile farewell tours, like the Rolling Stones in 2019. Mick Jagger is 75 years old! They wanna make one more big splash before they get out of the pool! In Acts 20, Paul completes his ministry in Greece, and then he’s ready to hit the road on his last missionary journey. This is his farewell tour, so to speak!
The New Testament provides some excellent examples of Word-driven disciple makers. We need to learn from them in order to build strong, biblical, courageous, gospel-centered, grace-filled, Spirit-driven disciples for Kingdom expansion.
The Apostle Paul leaves Athens feeling weary and disappointed in the response to the gospel. The work in Athens was tough. But Corinth brings new opportunities and new prospects for gospel ministry. And here, in Corinth, the Lord Jesus rejuvenates his servant in some wonderful ways. Need a little renewal yourself? Listen in!
Paul seized the opportunity to be a witness for Jesus in Athens as he addressed a culture saturated in idol worship with the life-giving message of the gospel. We have been entrusted with the same message of hope and salvation and with the Holy Spirit's help, we must seek to take advantage of the opportunities we have to spread that message.
When he healed a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, Jesus paused, looked into heaven, and sighed. From the depths of his being came a rush of emotion that said more than words ever could. He sighed. We explore that today in our communion meditation.
Every believer in Jesus Christ needs to learn how to live appropriately for the glory of God and their own good! In the last installment of this series, Dr. Leno talks about managing your resources in a way that is both financially healthy and Kingdom expanding.
Join us this week as our Pastor talks about why people don’t like to save, why it’s a necessary skill for us to learn, and how we can glorify God in it!
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” God has given us an incredible opportunity to participate in what He is doing on earth and in heaven, and we should respond generously!
The annual top two challenges to marriage are communication and money. Married couples don’t know how to communicate well or manage money. Discovering God’s design for you and your money is critical, married or not. In this introduction to a brand new series, Pastor Garth begins to build a case for biblical stewardship.
Every believer in Jesus ought to be undeniably and unmistakably devoted to knowing Christ and making him known.
Jesus rose to life and ascended to heaven two thousand years ago. He has promised to return one day. Pastor Phil unpacks three things that will help us remember how to wait for the return of our Lord and Saviour.
Christmas means that God sent his only Son from heaven into the world to be our Savior, so that we could experience unlimited, excessive, profound joy! He is with us! He is Immanuel.
In spite of the tremendous turmoil in our world today, in spite of the personal brokenness of so many people we know and love, and in spite of the bad news reports we hear about, the Bible is clear: Jesus Christ is still the Prince of Peace!
The history of mankind has been the story of discovering and using power. First it was manpower, then horsepower, then steam power, hydropower, atomic power, and now nuclear power. Each step has aided mankind materially and financially, but we are not any richer spiritually.
The gospel of God turns two towns upside down and sets the church on fire through the Scriptures. Discover how God uses his Word to reach, win, disciple, and multiply!
Who am I? A simple, yet profound question that everyone needs to ask themselves. Romans Chapter 8 holds the answer to this life-altering truth. It's changed my life, will it change yours?
A wealthy business woman. A demon-possessed slave girl. A blue-collar guy who’s ready to retire. They all meet Jesus in this chapter of Acts and they are transformed by the power of his Name! You and I can experience the same thing!
Acts 15:36 to 16:10 depicts the launching of Paul’s second missionary journey and introduces us to new members of the missionary team. Paul was both flexible and obedient to the direction he received from the Lord along the way.
Is salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone? Acts 15 chronicles a crucial moment in the history of the church as they convened a council to clarify how the gospel was to be presented around the world
Acts 14 shows us the courageous attitude of the apostles in their loyalty to Christ through thick and thin. Specifically, these first missionaries held to their purpose of preaching Christ despite extreme opposition and temptation to quit. Their valiant and consistent attitude is a great model for all of us.
You visit a church on Sunday. The worship set is over, and the Scripture is read. And then, pointing to you, the elder in charge asks if you would come to the stage and share the Word of God with the church! What would you say?
As Pastor Garth shares God’s Word through Titus 2:11-14, he says, “For years this passage has confronted me with its truth, humbled me, and encouraged me all at the same time!” Listen in, and find out why.
Acts 13 is a story of the power of God at work, converting individuals on the basis of what Jesus Christ had accomplished in his life and death, creating fearless communities that cared little about the consequences of their faith because they were anticipating the kingdom to come!
Acts 12, set in a context of mounting persecution, opens with the apparent inability of God's people to do anything to deliver themselves, but then depicts an amazing display of strength among seemingly helpless Christians and reveals the source of that strength.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we often feel insecure. Those who hide it best often feel it most. But our insecurity is an invitation from God to escape the danger of false beliefs about who we are and find true peace in who he is. God made us who we are so we could make known who he is. Our identity is for the sake of making known his identity.
How does a person get on the right path and then stay on the right path for his or her life … and how can we avoid not getting lost along the way? Pastor Garth tries to answer those questions in this message from Proverbs 4.
The thought of having lots of friends is exciting. But, Proverbs 13:20 and 18:24 remind us that we need to use wisdom as we choose our friends
This passage is used often to justify the “prosperity gospel,” and teach that if you just tithe to the church then God will bless you with everything you ever wanted, and more! But as Lyn points out in his talk, that’s not the focus in this text.
The glory of God is man living by faith in Jesus Christ and walking in the all-sufficient wisdom of God! That is where Proverbs 3 wants to take us! It begins with this appeal: “My son, do not forget my teaching….”
Raising children can be daunting as there seem to be so many "ways" to follow. Pastor Phil unpacks Proverbs 22:6 and explains that wisdom is the right way to go.
Proverbs 22:4 reminds us that wisdom and humility are closely linked and that one of the wisest things we can do in life is pursue humility.
God himself tells us how to take our next steps into newness of life. We want to change. We want to get closer to him, closer than we have ever gone before. And here, God tells us how….
Followers of Jesus who seek hard after wisdom, and practice the spiritual disciplines, will pack on more and more wisdom as they walk with God. But there are times in life when Wisdom can be dangerous….
The book of Proverbs repeatedly reminds us to pursue a life of wisdom. This includes how we use our tongues. Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. And since our words have such power, wisdom cries out for each of us to learn how to guard our speech.
God is speaking to us through a father who is advising his son. “My son, hear your father’s instruction….” Every dad needs to have some talks with his son or daughter during the critical teen years. That is the original setting in which this wisdom is shared. This dad is having a serious talk with his son. Let’s listen in…and learn!
Both the commands of the law and the thunderings of the prophets spread out before us the gigantic truths of God. They gave us the big picture. But we need more than the big picture. So God gave us wise counsel in Proverbs – wise counsel for daily life.
Communion can often be overlooked and/or mis-understood. Pastor Phil walks through 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 to give us a greater appreciation for Christ's work on the cross and how we are to remember and celebrate Him.
Acts 11:19-30 depicts the birth of a brand new church in Antioch. Pastor Phil unpacks three lessons we can learn from this church, challenging us all to be gospel-preaching, encouraging, and generous followers of Christ.
God’s conversion of Peter’s attitude and the spiritual conversion that God brought about in Cornelius paved the way for the Gentile mission. The whole point of the narrative is this: the gospel is for the nations.
Every follower of Jesus can live a genuine, joy-filled life in spite of his or her chains, critics, and crises. To live in Christ! And Jesus is the key to our joy.
After meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul is led into the city where he spent time with the disciples. The radical changes in his life were fortified by the discipleship he received, and the example set for us is inspiring!
In Acts 9 we read about the most famous conversion in all of Christianity. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus is actually one of the most important events in the history of the church!
We are presented with divine opportunities to spread the message of Jesus. Like Philip in Acts 8:26-40, we must all learn to seize these opportunities so that more lives are changed by the gospel.
The church is “on fire” in the power of the Spirit, and we get to read about it, and study it, and learn from this young, vibrant church that is exploding. As we move into Acts 8 with this message, we witness the gospel advancing again, transforming people and families and culture.
Luke describes the remarkable Christlike life and ministry of Stephen, whose martyrdom advanced the mission of God. Pastor Phil walks through Stephen's life and ministry and unpacks the challenge he presents to each one us.
The church in Acts was growing rapidly. This growth brought challenges as the 12 Apostles realized they couldn't effectively minister to everyone. The church was forced to adapt in order to stay focused on the mission of God. We will need to adapt as well if we want to keep reaching people and making disciples.
Every failing leader, and every failing athlete, and every failing church has the same problem: The core is malfunctioning. The core is broken in some significant way. The latter half of Acts 5 illustrates what can happen when the gospel of Jesus Christ is the heart, the center, the core of the church.
Palm Sunday - a day of insight and a day of misunderstanding. Good Friday - a day of mixed emotions. But Easter Sunday…? Totally different! All things become new! Nothing but joy.
Palm Sunday was a day of insight and a day of misunderstanding. Good Friday was a day of mixed emotions. Joy because our salvation is secured. Sorrow because of the cost.
Palm Sunday was a day of insight and a day of misunderstanding. The insight gave joy, and the misunderstanding brought about his death. Walk with us through the day as we sit in wonder and amazement to admire our King Jesus!
Acts 5:1-11 describes the first instance of internal trouble within the early church. The trouble is caused by hypocrisy and deliberate deception. As we look at this passage we will find that any amount of hypocrisy is ALWAYS bad for the church.
While at the temple, Peter and John performed a miracle of healing in Jesus' name. Peter then took the opportunity to explain that Jesus truly is the Messiah and that forgiveness of sins is available in Him.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” This is one of the most quoted verses in Acts 2, following the descent of the Holy Spirit. It’s a profound expression of true fellowship, and Pastor Phil helps us understand how best to apply it!
The followers of Jesus waited, just like he said. It has now been 50 days, and the feast of Pentecost was here! "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." The Spirit of God is poured out upon the disciples, and everything changed in that moment!
Acts 1:12-26 | Feb. 11, 2018 | Pastor Phil Siebenmorgen As the early church waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit, they had a crucial decision to make in finding a replacement for Judas. What we find in Acts 1:12-26 is a mission-focused church that was devoted to prayer, committed to the Word of God, and that trusted the Lord's will for their decisions.
Today we begin a new series of expositions on the Book of Acts, and we are pumped! Acts seems to be all about ordinary people, like us, with human frailties and limitations, empowered by the Spirit of God to take the Good News all over the world! Let's do it!
Depending on the church, the role of deacons varies significantly. At The Gathering, we want the role to be informed by the New Testament. Pastor Phil explains that deacons are Spirit-filled, qualified individuals who help to meet the practical needs of the church
There is a big difference between board-elders and shepherding-elders, and our church is served by the latter because we believe it is the model presented in the New Testament. Listen in while Pastor Garth explains what elders do and why we owe them our respect and cooperation in the ministry of our church.
Acknowledging Jesus as the supreme head of the church is important to The Gathering as we seek to make more disciples and plant more churches for the glory of God. He’s the boss of the church, and our leadership teams, the elders and deacons and pastors, must submit to Jesus before they can lead the church into what God has planned for us.
We are forgetful people and we need reminders. As we begin a new year, Pastor Phil walks through Isaiah 53 and reminds us of the significance of the cross and that Jesus was born to die.
Jesus is coming again! That day is approaching! And he will judge the living and the dead. So we better be ready for his appearing! Be ready in season and out of season – when it’s convenient and when it’s not. Listen in as Pastor Garth explains 2 Timothy 4:1-8.
Jesus was convinced. He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” And most people who receive the Kingdom of God like a child actually believe that God can do anything, and that all the power in the universe belongs to him. Today we’re looking at God’s power with childlike faith….
It was a glorious night that changed the course of history. It was a night of miracles, when God sent his Son to be our Saviour. It was the night when love was born, and now God’s love is available to all who trust in His Son Jesus.
Children are usually magnanimous when it comes to forgiveness. They give and receive forgiveness easily. Maybe that’s why Jesus said unless we become like a child we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Forgiveness is critical!
You can use a 50-cent theological word like omnipresence to state the fact that God is present everywhere at all times. Or, in child-like faith you can say, "God is with me," right here, right now, and always! This Christmas we are looking at some characteristics of God from the perspective of a child. Join us!
In this Christmas series we hope to look at some of the characteristics of God from the perspective of a child, with child-like faith! Jesus said, "Anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it" (Mk. 10:15). Today we look at God's goodness ... like a child.
Have you ever struggled with the idea of “healing?” Why does God heal some people and not others? Why is there little agreement on this teaching? Is illness linked to sin? Is it God’s will to heal everyone? So many questions – so few answers. Pastor Garth tries to answer some of the most nagging questions about divine healing in this very personal message from James 5.
In the secular view, suffering is never seen as a meaningful part of life but only as an interruption. In the Christian worldview, we see suffering not as an interruption, but as a mysterious introduction to the grace of God. Pastor Garth opens this passage in a message titled "Patience in Suffering," which is full of encouragement and hope for us all.
James tells his wealthy readers to "come now, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you." Ouch! Does God want us to be poor? Is that the idea? Having money is sinful? Becoming wealthy is a terrible thing? Tune in to this message as our Pastor unpacks this warning from James' letter.
We have no idea how long we will live on this earth. In light of that truth, James 4:13-17 instructs us to forsake pride in our plans and to humbly submit our lives to God and His plans.
At the end of James 3 we read about God's wisdom that brings about peace. In sharp contrast, the next 12 verses are a warning to those who make war instead of peace. James warns everyone who would fracture biblical community with selfish ambition, and jumps right into the middle of all the action with some hard-hitting advice about interpersonal conflict.
You can ask for anything your little heart desires. So what is your request? Do you ask for a new house with seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, two cleaning ladies, and a pool in the backyard? Solomon asked for wisdom, and this passage in James helps us understand why godly wisdom is critical.
Too many churches, and too many believers take a watered-down approach to life and ministry. James wants us to understand that real faith is a faith to live by every day. Authentic faith is a faith that works, and he opens this passage with a question.
White collar, blue collar, no collar – we are pursuing “a faith to live by!” And The Gathering church must never be swayed. We must not show partiality to those who have money, power, or prestige. Today, Pastor Garth explains how deadly partiality can be.
Our topic today is divorce. Not a divorce between husband and wife. Rather, a divorce between theory and practice. We’re talking about the great divorce that takes place when a man or woman decides not to practice what they preach – when they decide that the Christian message can be divorced from Christian conduct.
The Bible warns us about the power of temptation and how to stop or deflect whatever the Enemy may fire at us. What does a person do when wrong appears to be right in the moment? How should we handle tempation?
In the opening paragraphs of James, he talks about the storms of life and how we should handle them. Unexpected unemployment, unfaithful marriage partners, crippling accidents, the rejection of a great idea, the sudden death of someone close…. The list is long. What do you do when the storm comes? This message will help.
Students are heading back to their classes soon, and today we will relearn the “Three R’s” from Psalm 34. Not reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic, but Resolution, Remembrance, and Realization!
Our summer intern preaches his final message of the summer, and deals with the need to fulfill the ministry God has given to each one of us. We may not all be preachers or missionaries, but we all have a ministry!
We have all struggled to understand why bad things happen to good people, and why good people sometimes draw the short straw! Pastor Garth traces the journey of Asaph in Psalm 73 in trying to answer the age-old question.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to live a life worthy of the Gospel. What kind of life is that? Nathan Legault, in his first sermon as The Gathering's intern, explores what this means for us today.
The God we serve is a strong and loving God. Psalm 62 puts those two characteristics together in the most interesting fashion, and Pastor Garth unpacks them for us in this Sunday morning message at The Gathering in Windsor.
The phrase, "God is in control" gets thrown around a lot and at times it can seem cliche. What we find in Psalm 97 however, is anything but cliche. The Lord reigns over all things and that simple but profound truth should produce joy in the lives of His people.
Our friend, John David Thompson, from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, opens the Word for us today as we continue our summer series in the Psalms.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! That's one of the most famous lines in the Psalms! In this message Pastor Garth gives us some good reasons for blessing the Lord and praising His name!
What does it really mean to be "blessed?" Pastor Phil takes us through Psalm 1 to show that the way of blessing is found in avoiding wickedness, delighting in God, and pursuing righteousness.
When we finally come to our senses and turn back to our Heavenly Father from the wilderness of waywardness – while we are still a long way off, he sees us. His heart fills up with compassion, and his mercy overflows.
What do you need when circumstances puncture your fragile fortifications and threaten to engulf your life with pain an confusion? You nee deliverance. You need a refuge. When Go shows up on the scene, that's exactly what he provides.
When God shows up, the commonplace becomes remarkable, the conventional becomes exceptional, the mundane becomes noteworthy, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Pastor Garth takes the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4 as the starting point for this inspiring message!
Many of the men and women you meet in the pages of Holy Scripture are beggars. Not necessarily poor and homeless or displaced, but beggars nonetheless. They are spiritually bankrupt – spiritually impoverished – spiritually destitute. But when God shows up, when he breaks into their lives, they become rich beyond compare.
Self-control might be the epitome of 'easier said than done.' And yet, as Christians, we are called to live a life of self-control. But why and how do we do that? Pastor Phil unpacks Titus 2:1-6; 11-14 to reveal answers to those questions.
There is one main point that the author of Hebrews is driving at in our text for the talk today: "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” So, let every follower of Jesus run with endurance. Let every mother, every father, parent their children with endurance! Join us for this exposition of Hebrews 12:1-3 on Mother's Day!
When governments lack vision they flounder and make bad decisions. When businesses are short on vision they lose money. When churches have a deficit in vision they become anemic. Vision is critical on so many fronts, and yet it is in short supply in our current day. Pastor Garth takes an unconventional approach to vision in this message, so we invite you to listen in.
“If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.” So goes the old adage. But standing for the right something is critical, and in this message we talk about the importance of integrity and how that impacts every facet of our lives.
The challenge of living in a fragmented and malfunctioning society can be overwhelming. Even more so when courage is in such short supply. In this first message of our new series Pastor Garth explains the vital role courage has in our daily lives.
Christianity rests on the certainty of Jesus’ resurrection as a space-time occurrence in history. All four Gospels highlight it, focusing on the empty tomb and resurrection appearances, and Acts insists on it, and the rest of the New Testament affirms it. What difference does it make in your life?
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said ““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” He makes atonement for our sin. What does that mean and how are we to understand this doctrine today?
The Quest for the Historical Jesus was a book written in 1906 by Albert Schweitzer before he began his medical studies. The title of the book has been used for decades to describe the attempt to understand the origins, the work, and ministry of the Messiah Jesus Christ. People today are still asking, “Who is this man? Who is Jesus Christ?”
Today we begin a new series called “Big Questions.” And these questions may not be the questions that everyone in our culture is asking. Rather, they are subjects and topics that form our theological and practical understanding of the Bible. Today with the question, “what is man?”
In 2 Samuel 9, King David shows kindness and grace to crippled Mephibosheth. It is a wonderful passage and a beautiful picture of the kindness and grace that Jesus gives to everyone that trusts in him.
Psalm 145 is a Hebrew acrostic poem. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and together they form a beautiful, God-honoring hymn of praise. Every believer in Jesus needs to live a life of persistent praise, and Psalm 145 gives us excellent reasons for it.
Marriages that last; marriages that are healthy and happy are full of loyalty, dedication, faithfulness, and most of all commitment. Commitment is the key to a lasting marriage.
Every marriage begins with excitement, enthusiasm, joy, and great delight. But it doesn’t take very long for reality to settle in and take its toll. Accumulated resentment requires excavation, and that’s what Pastor is talking about in this message.
Words. Vehicles of emotion and reason that can breathe life or death into a relationship or marriage, depending on how we use them. This week Pastor Garth gives us some "words to build on."
“If marriage is so much fun, why am I having so much trouble?” Pastor Garth begins to address that question in the first of this four-part series on relationships and marriage.
This is the final installment in our series, "Made Right." Romans 5:12-21 has been dubbed one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament, but here we try to unpack it, and keep it simple.
This third message on Romans 5 deals with “The Purpose” of Jesus’s substitutionary death on the Cross. Pastor Garth explains why Jesus died and how we benefit from his death and resurrection
Today’s message is titled “The Fruit” from Romans 5:3-5. When a person is made right by God’s grace, he or she is not instantly immunized against all pain and suffering. The gospel does not vaccinate us from the pressures of life, or the devastation of disease. Quite the opposite. It equips us to face the battles of life with joy.
Today’s message is titled “The Benefits” from Romans 5:1-2. Since no one can be righteous before God by keeping the Old Testament law, the Apostle Paul explains that right standing with God comes through faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross, and it comes with a lot of benefits for the believer!
Nothing can compare to the simplicity and devotion of Christmas carols. This sermon series is based on the background and the text of various carols that are familiar to us all. You will be encouraged to go deeper in your own understanding and appreciation of the One who was born in Bethlehem.
Nothing can compare to the simplicity and devotion of Christmas carols. This sermon series is based on the background and the text of various carols that are familiar to us all. You will be encouraged to go deeper in your own understanding and appreciation of the One who was born in Bethlehem.
Nothing can compare to the simplicity and devotion of Christmas carols. This sermon series is based on the background and the text of various carols that are familiar to us all. You will be encouraged to go deeper in your own understanding and appreciation of the One who was born in Bethlehem.
Nothing can compare to the simplicity and devotion of Christmas carols. This sermon series is based on the background and the text of various carols that are familiar to us all. You will be encouraged to go deeper in your own understanding and appreciation of the One who was born in Bethlehem.
Nothing can compare to the simplicity and devotion of Christmas carols. This sermon series is based on the background and the text of various carols that are familiar to us all. You will be encouraged to go deeper in your own understanding and appreciation of the One who was born in Bethlehem.
The word “Church” may not seem to fit with other words we’ve examined in this series, like justification, sanctification, conversion, regeneration and adoption. Listen to the message and find out why “Church” is the best place to end the series!
Adoption is about relationship. About family and connections. It’s personal, intimate, and wonderfully warm. We may define adoption is the gracious act of God whereby he makes us members of his family, and in today's message Pastor Garth describes the privileges of adoption by God.
Martin Luther called justification “the cornerstone of Christianity.” In this message Pastor Leno defines justification, describes the means of justification, and talks about the effects of justification.
Although the term "conversion" is common in theological and religious discussion today, it was a relatively rare term in the Bible. In its current popular usage it refers to someone who has come to Christ or become a Christian. The biblical roots of the concept involve the use of two terms that mean "to turn.” So, conversion is a turning to God from evil and sin.
God could have used countless other pictures to describe what happens when we undergo spiritual regeneration, but he chose a baby: “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Regeneration is the secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us. Listen to our podcast to learn more!
This is the first in a new sermon series at The Gathering called “Godwords.” We’ll examine some of the most important words in the Bible and theology and discover how they impact our lives today!
Pastor Phil walks through Psalm 100 and gives us some reasons to be thankful today and forever.
It seems that our heavenly Father is moved by the gratitude of his people. Thanksgiving glorifies God and pleases him, and that should be enough to produce thankful partners here at The Gathering.
What does it take for people like us to be unifying members of the body of Christ and a local church? Pastor Garth unpacks Ephesians 4:1-16 seeking to answer that question.
We have waited for over two years to introduce our church family to the idea of membership. We call it “Partnership” because we think Partnership better describes what a member is and does. In this first of four, Pastor Garth talks about the practical side of partnership in a local church.
You’re stuck. You feel trapped. You’re jammed up. Puzzled and stumped, you drag yourself through the day at work. You dream about working someplace else…any place but here! In this Labour Day weekend message Pastor Garth talks about the higher purpose of God in our work. Our work serves as a conduit for the goodness and grace of God.
In a battle with the Ammonites and Syrians, Joab took a risk, lived by faith, and trusted God with the results. Today's message will seek to remind all believers to have an eternal perspective as we take risks for the Lord.
Learn how Caleb and Joshua'a "risky faith" can be an encouragement to us as we trust God to make disciples of all nations. Numbers 13 & 14
“A church that doesn’t multiply becomes a dead-end link on the Great Commission chain,” says Jeff Christopherson. So today, in the last of our four-part series on Life Change, Pastor Garth talks about the necessity of multiplying disciples and churches.
The apostle Peter wrote to the church, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…” Today’s message helps us understand what God intended when he gave each one of us a spiritual gift.
Maturity in Christ is described in Scripture as “growing up into Christ.” It is critical for believers to grow in Christ because of the danger of false teaching and the unrestrained temptation of the world. Here Pastor Garth adds more to our pathway for discipleship: Love, Grow, Serve, Multiply.
The Gathering exists to bring glory to God through lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s our vision and our purpose as a church. But how do we encourage that life-change to take place? This new four-part series explores some of the objectives in making disciples.
Paul is concluding his letter to Galatia. He’s wrapping up. He’s closing this epistle, and his mind is filled with “one more thing” that he wants to say in the final moments of this dispatch.
It happened in the early church in the book of Acts! Maybe it can happen again. When God shows up and we make room for the Holy Spirit, great things will happen in the church!
Through the gospel, we've been set free from sin and have received the Holy Spirit. Every believer must now learn to live by the Spirit as we seek to grow in godliness.
No matter how you look at it, legalism is a dangerous enemy. When you abandon the doctrine of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, you always lose big.
“When God measures a man, he doesn’t put the tape measure around his head or his wallet, but around his heart.” Learn what metrics God uses when he looks at a father or grandfather and how much grace is needed along the way.
Many of our people have been hard at it lately…serving their brains out, helping our church gain traction and get established while they also look after a boatload of personal and family responsibilities. We need encouragement to stay with it: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Pastor Tyler encourages the troops today!
There is no room for pride at the Lord’s Table, so let’s deal with the sin that holds us back!
Apparently the Apostle Paul divided the whole world into “two kinds of people:” those who are spiritually enslaved, and those who are spiritually free. From this complicated passage in Galatians, Pastor Garth explains the critical significance of living as a child of promise.
The slavery that the Galatians are in danger of embracing again is not just a matter of forfeiting sonship, but of abandoning the Only True God. So the Apostle Paul makes an impassioned plea for them to understand the nature of their adoption into God’s family.
As we journey through life as believers, it's crucial for us to remember who we were before faith in Jesus, what God has done for us, and who we are now through faith in Jesus. When we receive salvation, not only are we forgiven, we also receive the incredible blessing of being adopted as sons and heirs into God's family.
There are four things every mother needs to know, and Pastor Garth unpacks them for us in this important message to every mother and grandmother in our audience.
This Sunday marks the second birthday of our Sunday Services! Pastor Garth talks about some of the reasons for celebrating today.
Paul explains the true purpose of the Law and reveals several promises of blessing that God makes to every believer in Jesus Christ.
None of us can sit easily under the scrutiny of the book of Galatians. Divine blessing and divine curse are the issue, according to Galatians 3:9-10. Those are the only two options.
Faced with pressure from false brothers, the Galatian believers were beginning to forget the truth of the gospel. Paul writes to remind the Galatians and every believer, that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
As those who trust in Christ, regardless of our past, we can leave our slavery to sin and condemnation as we joyfully step into our freedom in Christ. But every once in a while, some people become confused and behave as if they are still prisoners. That’s what happened to Peter.
You’ve outgrown what was. You’re tired of what has been. You need something else, something new, something better! This is not all there is, and Easter is the answer you’ve been looking for!
We have all kinds of categories for people. We call them Germans, Canadians, Romanians, Filipinos, African, Chinese... We say that people are funny or serious, sensitive or unfeeling, and so on. All kinds of categories and classifications. But at Golgotha on the day Jesus died, there were only two.
Palm Sunday is more than a time to look back at Jesus' triumphal entry. It's a time to recognize that Jesus truly is the King of kings. He is worthy of our worship. Matthew 21:1-11 invites us all to worship the King.
The biblical gospel gives freedom. The biblical gospel brings liberty. Everything else leads to spiritual slavery. Everything else leads back to bondage, back to captivity, and Galatians 2:1-10 addresses this matter clearly.
Churches often ask their members to share their testimony or their faith journey in a service or prayer meeting. And here, in Gal. 1:11-24, we find the apostle Paul sharing his in this autobiographical portion of the letter.
The underlying truth of Gal. 1:6-10 is very simple: There is no other gospel. Another gospel is not another gospel. It is no gospel. To change the Good News in the smallest amount is to lose it so completely that the new teaching has no right to be called a “gospel.”
The book of Galatians is dynamite. It is an explosion of joy and freedom which leaves us celebrating a life of blessing that only God can provide because it brings us face to face with the gospel. Join us in this study as Pastor Garth launches the series in Galatians!
This is the last message in the series, and today we take all that we’ve learned in the last three weeks and talk about having fruitful Gospel Conversations with the people God has placed in our lives. God is already at work! Let’s join Him!
If we are going to live life on mission with God we need to share the gospel story often. Everyday missionaries don’t just listen to the story about Jesus, they tell others. In today’s message, Pastor Garth talks to us about some clear-cut practices that will help us.
The gospel is the starting point, the sustaining point, and the finishing point of all mission and all of life! If we are going to be everyday missionaries we must understand the gospel foundations.
Imagine a movement of God across North America that changes the culture and attitudes of people. Imagine entire communities that are desperate, being filled with courage and hope. This is part of the big picture that we’re talking about at The Gathering. Tune in so you can hear more about this exciting adventure!
Paul, the Apostle, charged his young pastoral protégé to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” Listen to our podcast to hear how Pastor Garth challenges our new associate pastor Phil Siebenmorgen to preach and teach the Word.
As people get more comfortable in our church, and acquire a sense of belonging to the family, they will ask: What can I do at The Gathering? What can I do to help? Pastor Garth takes time in this message to provide a more comprehensive answer to that question.
Almost everyone on the planet is haunted by similar questions. In 1943 Abraham Maslow came up with his hierarchy of needs, and every student of psychology since then has studied them. But these 3 questions are even more basic, more fundamental that Maslow’s theory.
So what did you get for Christmas? Socks and underwear? Again?! What you want for Christmas may not be what you need. This talk by Pastor Garth is the last in our Christmas series. Listen in as we unwrap the gift of joy….
Christmas is the season of expectation, and what you want for Christmas may not be what you need! Most of us are desperate for peace and don’t even know it!
What you want for Christmas may not be what you need. Our Father in heaven knows exactly what we need and when we need it! In the second talk in the series, our pastor talks about the gift of hope and how important it is for living in the world we live in.
What you want for Christmas may not be what you need. Our Father in heaven knows exactly what we need and when we need it! In the first message of our Christmas series Pastor Garth explores this idea a little further.
From Matthew 2:1-23 Pastor Tim talks about giving: giving freely, giving grief, and giving your heart. What a great challenge for us all!
This is the last installment in the series on the life of Daniel. This week Pastor Garth explains that living a life of distinction, confidence, courage, and devotion to God is an act of thankful worship, not a fearful means of trying to gain favor with God. Jesus is the only source for living a life like that!
Your family and friends, your coworkers and neighbours all need to know about the love and grace of our compassionate Heavenly Father. But there may come a time when courage is required to speak words of warning and caution or even judgment.
If you want to live a life of confidence for the glory of God, then it must be a life surrendered to the power of God. Daniel’s pattern and priorities are helpful in learning how to live with humble confidence in the Lord.
Choose today to live a life of distinction – a life that is different from the world around you, a life that is built on faith, a life that rests on the finished work of Jesus on the Cross.
The author of Hebrews makes the point that Jesus is a better priest because he is a Permanent Priest who promises to be our mediator, our advocate, our facilitator, and our intercessor forever! Listen to the last message in the series.
Dr. Lynn is the Director for Missions in the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. After searching, praying, and contemplating over his message for The Gathering the idea of partnership came to him – how the Apostle Paul learned to be content in every station and circumstance of life. The Lord Jesus is our partner in times of joy and in times of trials.
In this message we examine the words of David in Psalm 16 when he says, “in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” We are asking the Lord Jesus to help us find the fullness of joy in Him alone!
Many of us read this verse as a promise, and we are thankful for it! It is a promise of the utmost practicality. It is realistic. It is sensible. It is even expedient. But is it true? Do all things work together for good…?
St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” In his sermon today, Pastor says, “I don’t want to sit back and talk about the power of God, or discuss the power of God, or debate the power of God. I want to experience the power of God personally and effectively and convincingly!” Please join us as we discover the wonderful promise of God for power in our daily lives.
Everyone needs forgiveness, and Jesus is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from the inside out. This first message in a short series on the Promises of God focuses on forgiveness.
Christ’s love controls us, says the Apostle Paul. Yet we battle daily the power and influence of sin in the world. Pastor Phil helps us understand we can fight against sin and our own sinful nature.
The devil – Satan – is the Accuser. Even though he has been thrown down, even though his power and the scope of his ability is limited, he works hard to accuse the brothers and sisters in Christ. He works hard to defeat us and discourage us. Listen to this message and learn about our best defense against the Accuser!
Satan provoked David to go against God in 1 Chronicles 21. He instigated and motivated and prompted David to take the census which God did not authorize. Pastor Garth helps us understand how Satan, the ruler or prince of the power of the air, seeks to pull us away from God. Then he shares with us the defense that God has provided!
Last week we started a new study called “Satan’s Toolbox: The Schemes and Strategies of the Enemy,” and we talked about the devil as The Deceiver. The deceiver’s target is your mind, his weapon is lies, and his purpose is to keep us ignorant of the Word of God. In this message Pastor Garth highlights the work of the Enemy as the Destroyer.
Satan is our enemy and he is a master of deception. Revelation 12:9 calls him the “deceiver of the whole world,” and we need to understand how he works in order to detect him and defeat him. Pastor Garth speaks today on the devil’s art as a master deceiver in order to help us recognize his schemes and strategies.
From 1 John 1:7 our pastor leads us to the Cross and the glory of salvation by grace with the words "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."
Jesus said he was sending the disciple out "as sheep in the midst of wolves." That sounds dangerous! We welcome Pastor Tyler back to The Gathering for another Sunday as he teaches from the Scripture!
A lot of people have no idea why they’re here on planet Earth. They have no sense of God’s plan and purpose in their lives. No sense of direction. No path they are following. Today’s message brings clarity to this quest for purpose!
The Apostle Paul said that God has “delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This is the gospel which is bearing fruit all over the world!
We welcome Pastor Wayne to our church for this Sunday while our pastor is away on vacation.
Lets stop building bearers and lets start building bridges to people. We need to start meeting people where they are.
Do you doubt, at times, whether following Christ is worth it? Do you need assurance that your commitment is worth it all? Dr. Tony Lynn, senior pastor at Crosspointe Church in Monroe, MI, addresses this question from the text of Scripture (Judges 7:1-22; 2 Corinthians 4:1-7).
David is on the run, trying to stay away from Saul who is losing his mind! David finds refuge in the cave of Adullam. Find out what’s so significant about this place as Pastor Ed unpacks the passage 1 Samuel 22:1-5.
This Sunday we welcome Pastor Danny Gray from Parkwood Gospel Temple in Windsor, ON. Danny is the pastor of Young Adults, Young Marrieds and Missions at Parkwood.
This Sunday we dedicate two beautiful baby girls to the Lord, so Pastor Garth takes advantage of this special occasion to teach on the family, using Deuteronomy 6:4-9 as the primary text.
In this last message in the mini-series on biblical eldership, Pastor Garth tackles the remaining three distinguishing features of New Testament elders.
Last week we answered the question “What does an elder do?” And this week Pastor Garth deals with the question “Who Can Be An Elder?” Who can serve? What qualifications does the Bible lay down for men who serve as elders in the local church?
In the second half of the evening, Pastor Garth spoke on 1 Peter 1 and the call to be holy men, which is based on what Jesus accomplished on the Cross and the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ.
In the first message of our men’s event, Pastor Aaron took 2 Corinthians 1:20 (For all the promises of God find their Yes in him) and brought a powerful message about the power of “Yes!” in Christ.
As we come to 1 Peter 5, serving as the last message in the series on First Peter and the first message in the series on Biblical Eldership, Peter is ready to sign off and say goodbye. He gives some last minute instructions to the church, not the least of which is a charge to elders.
Our series on First Peter is all about hope…even in the midst of the most difficult challenges we may face. Listen in, and learn how we can trust God in the fire.
Our pastor speaks from 2 Timothy 1:1-7 and explains why there is no more influential or powerful role on earth than a mother’s. As significant as political, military, educational, or religious public figures may be, none can compare to the impact made by mothers.
One of our church partners, Pastor James Dean from the Springfield Baptist Church in Springfield, Tennessee, delivers the message at our First Birthday (for Sunday Services).
When time is short, things get urgent. When the doctor tells you that you don’t have long to live, your time with loved ones becomes more urgent. Your conversations become much more focused. Today, the situation is urgent. The mission is simple. We’ve got to keep our head in the game.
Through 1 Peter we are learning to lean on the gospel in the midst of our affliction, discovering how to cope with injustice, and be filled with hope while we do so.
John wrote, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” What has to take place before that?
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” Paul stated clearly that the Resurrection of Jesus was of first importance. Find out why in this podcast!
“I don’t understand why Jesus had to die on the Cross!” In this message Pastor Leno provides reasons why Jesus came and why he died in our place.
Matthew 21:1-17 As Jesus draws near to the final events that led to his death on the cross we see the coronation and declaration of a King. The crowds shouted “Hosanna!” which means “Save us now!” The people are excited about this Jesus who will deliver them but is this the king they are expecting? Who is this Jesus and what is his true purpose?
In the passage we cover today, 1 Peter 3:8-12, we examine list of godly virtues that all believers are called to exemplify at all times, in submission to Jesus as Lord of all.
When Peter wrote this letter things were lopsided in terms of marital responsibilities. But along comes this new Christian ethic which turns everything upside down and inside out. Husbands also have duties and obligations in this covenant relationship called marriage.
Peter now applies the general principle of submission more specifically. “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives…” Has there ever been a more understood passage? Tune in to hear how Pastor Garth explains it.
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution? You’re kidding, right…? What does it mean for a servant of God to be subject to every human institution?
The best defense against everything that wages war against your soul is a strong offense. The best way to defend your spiritual life, and protect your heart, is to make sure you are growing in grace.
This passage in 1 Peter tells us that if we have come to faith in Jesus Christ, we have experienced the same birth, we express the same love, and we enjoy the same nourishment as members of the same spiritual family. And then Peter goes on to describe this supernatural phenomenon called the church! It’s amazing…and encouraging.
Believers are born again through God’s eternal word, the gospel, and then nourished by the same Gospel to help them grow up into maturity. The apostle Peter also speaks to the issue of loving one another and growing together as the family of God as we grow.
How do we advance spiritually in a world that is full of stress and pressure and pain? How do we live a life full of hope in a world full of problems? Peter makes several suggestions in this challenging but inspirational passage in 1 Peter 1:13-21.
Peter’s aim in 1:10-12 is to intensify our gratitude for the infinite value of this great salvation that we enjoy. He does this by giving us 4 amazing facts concerning this salvation that fill us with hope and expectation and praise.
Suffering and pain are key themes that Peter deals with in his first letter. But so is hope. We can be full of hope even in the midst of turmoil and suffering and personal pain. Pastor Garth launches the first message in our new series on 1 Peter called FULL OF HOPE.
As we look back on the last year of our lives, and our journey with The Gathering, we can hardly believe all the great things God has done for us. Through Ps. 126 we trace the blueprint God has drawn for our new church.
January 1 of every New Year is ground zero for us. As we stand on the starting line of another New Year let’s make sure we have our priorities straight!
With a great sense of urgency and excitement, the shepherds said, “Let’s get to Bethlehem as fast as we can! We have to see this thing the Lord has told us about.” That was the first Christmas rush, and Pastor Garth helps us to see the urgency of sharing the good news with others at Christmas.
Pastor Garth unpacks the two-line Christmas carol sung by the angels on the night Jesus was born. It may surprise you to hear what this carol really means for us.
The very first Christmas greeting was not a Christmas card delivered by Canada Post or UPS. It was a greeting of 59 words, spoken by an angel, to a bunch of shepherds, who lingered in the presence of the angels long enough to hear the Good News announcement!
Global News estimates that holiday sales in Canada will reach $53 Billion this year. Much of that will be spent in the week before Christmas. But the best gift has already been given by God, his precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ascribing to God his supreme worth – that’s what is missing in many churches today. We’ve made worship to be more about us and less about Him. Isaiah’s experience helps us return to a biblical priority on worship.
Put to the test, Abraham displays remarkable trust in God in Genesis 22, especially when the death of Isaac would appear to contradict all that God had promised to Abraham. Alin Patularu, who is part of The Gathering family, unravels the text to help us understand the importance of trusting God in all things.
Sin breaks fellowship with God, but repentance and confession restore it. Pastor Tyler walks us through this penitential psalm to show us how God has provided for our forgiveness and fresh hope in spite of our sin.
Moral failure does not just happen overnight. Occasionally, a temptation may broadside us. But more often, a series of slow, unattended leaks seeping from the lining of our character eventually weakens us to the point of a blowout.
We live in a culture awash in talk about happiness. But notice this phenomenon: People shoot for happiness but feel formed through suffering. Join us for this powerful talk by Pastor Garth using Job 1-2:10 as a text.
In this final message in the Jonah series, Alin Patularu discusses the anger of the misguided evangelist and the compassion of God from Jonah 4.
When Jonah cried out to God from inside the great fish, God gave him a second chance. But the deal didn’t change: He was called by God to be a missionary to Ninevah… the most reluctant missionary ever!
Jonah had an unusual “educational experience.” He attended the School of Hard Knocks where he learned some important principles about life – principles that he now passes on to us.
As we consider the beginning of Jonah’s sad story, remember that we can run but we can’t hide. God was with Jonah every step of the way. Though Jonah ran away from God, the Lord never left him. That’s good news and that’s the gospel for us.
Obedience flows from believing, and believing in Jesus usually happens after you start to follow him. In this final segment of the three-part series, Pastor Garth talk about the Great Omission: obedience to everything Jesus commanded.
Developing a relationship with God is not rocket science. It does not require university training or a Ph.D. But it does require one to believe in Jesus. Pastor Garth helps us understand what it means to believe in Christ and put our trust in Him.
The reality is that the Christian life is more about a relationship with Jesus than it is about religious rules and regulations. At the heart of that relationship with Jesus is an invitation to follow. It’s that simple.
In this communion meditation on Romans 5:1-11 our Pastor explains how the One at the top took responsibility for the ones at the bottom. Before the war began, Christ forgave. Before a mistake could be made, forgiveness was offered. Before blame could be given, grace was provided.
In this closing message on Colossians we see and hear the heart of Paul as he closes out this letter. His passion and enthusiasm for the gospel stand to attention!
As we pray we need to trust God for conversations that will advance the cause of Christ and the gospel
Beginning with Colossians 3:18 we move from the theology of the universe to the theology of the kitchen and the living room! This letter gets very practical and very personal right here!
How many times have you gone to the closet and said, “I have nothing to wear?” In Colossians 3:12-17, the apostle Paul describes how we can be dressed for spiritual success.
At the Lords table, we remember that Jesus is our Passover Lamb that frees us from slavery to sin and death.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you….” What does that mean and how do you do it? This message on Colossians 3:5-11 explains the process.
God’s mission in this world is far more important than our earthly comfort and relationships. Let’s get on mission with God!
It's easy to lose yourself in all the ordinary stuff of life. God wants us to constantly seek the things above - to seek first His Kingdom and remember that we are His.
There are three alarms that every Christian needs to hear and respond to if he or she is going to maintain the freedom and fullness they have in Christ!
In Colossians 2:8 the Apostle Paul sounds the warning: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit…” Join us for this exposition by Pastor Garth in which he gives us a priceless summary of what it means to be alive in Christ and experience fullness in Him.
Romans 1:8-16 1) Praise a) for the Son of God b) for the Saints of God
2) Prayer a) for the saved b) for specific things
3) Personal involvement a) may exercise spiritual gifts b) may encourage each other
In Colossians 2:6-7 we have three exhortations referring to different aspects of our spiritual development. In this message Pastor Garth urges us to respond to each of these appeals in order to keep our relationship with God fresh and vibrant.
The Apostle Paul lays out his great struggle for the churches of Colossae and Laodicea in Col. 2:15, and in his message Pastor Garth explores how our hearts ought to feel and respond to the needs around us.
God has revealed the mystery that had been hidden for ages, Christ in you the hope of glory. We ought to then work with all the power of God in us to present ourselves, and our brothers and sisters mature in Christ.
In this fourth installment in the Colossian series, “The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ,” our pastor spells out the implications for us of the three reminders that Paul the Apostle gave to the church at Colossae in Col. 1:21-23.
In this installment in the series on Colossians: The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Jesus, Pastor Garth explores the scope of supremacy that Jesus has been granted in creation and in the church, from Colossians 1:15-20.
Pastor Garth continues to unpack this letter to the Colossians, and stuck between the pots and pans of Colossians 1, there is a little prayer with a lot of power!
Everyone faces adversity eventually. So what do you do with it? How do you overcome it? And how do you prevent bitterness from overpowering your life? Pastor Garth gives solid biblical advice in this message.
The Triumph of Easter includes the glorious privilege of a personal, certain, secure relationship with God.
This Palm Sunday message explains that Jesus went to the Cross and paid the supreme price for our salvation because His love for his people was greater than the pain of the journey.