Newlife Church Toronto Sermons: Recent Episodes
Andrew Fountain
Parables Part 4 (Luke 14:15–24; Is 25:6–9) You are invited to be part of a supernatural kingdom with a fantastic celebration, the only condition being that you know you are a mess. But God wants you to step up to his call to help him build it! Stop telling yourself you are nothing and can’t do anything and say: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me!”
If we are in the Kingdom then we have an Enemy! What power does the enemy have? What are his tactics? How does he attack Kingdom work? How do we recognize him? How do we respond? (Matt 13:24-43)
If we are Christians, we have an incredible purpose: Our destiny is to rule future universe(s) in a way that displays us as reflecting the character, love and creativity of God himself. Our present struggles are part of this preparation as God shapes who we are. Understanding our future changes everything about how we see ourselves in this present world. (1 Cor 13 & 15; Col 3)
Parables Part 2 (Matthew 13:44-46) If you want to grow in your Christian life, the answer is not to try harder, but to be motivated in the best possible way—the joy of discovering the pearl and the treasure. There is nothing like the the joy of loving and being loved so intensely.
Parables Part 1 (Matthew 7:7–11) What does it mean to pray in faith? How should you go about praying for a sick person? Here is a survey of all that Jesus taught on prayer, resulting in some simple steps.
Have you had times of darkness in your life? We work through how we should read Old Testament passages so that they speak accurately into our situation. God says, “just hold on to me and I will never forsake you.” (Isaiah 55:1-13)
Guidance Part 6 (Habakkuk) How is it that the events of our lives don’t always seem to match up with the promises of God? It turns out that this is not just a personal struggle for a few, but one of the central themes of the Bible.
Guidance Part 5 (Various Scriptures) We conclude our series by looking at the role of unusual events or coincidences in guidance. These are sometimes called signs and can be useful but are highly dangerous if misused.
Guidance Part 4 (Acts & Philippians) When and how does God gives us supernatural direction, and how do we avoid some major pitfalls? Lots of stories from Scripture and from people today.
God says, Listen to me... you who have been carried from birth, you who have been supported from the time you left the womb. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you. Don’t invest in things of this age which will not be there for you in the end, but surrender your trust to God! (Isaiah 46)
Guidance Part 3 The goal of this message is to look at how Jesus and the apostles made decisions together with New Testament teachings, and come up with a clear framework for how to find guidance in our lives.
Guidance Part 2 (James 1 & 3) Some fundamental principles of guidance, with examples from the Bible and recent times
Guidance Part 1 (Judges 6; 1 Sam 14) How NOT to find a wife (George Whitefield), ‘Fleeces’ the good, the bad & the ugly, and three things we can mean by ‘God’s will’.
Again and again the N.T. tells us that we are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection. Great blessings are promised if we live in the truth of being joined to Jesus. But how do we actually do this in practice? (Romans 6:5-14)
Problems in Prayer Part 4 (Luke 11:1–13; 18:1–8) In Luke 11 & 18, Jesus gives us several strong motivations to pray, including an example, a parable and some very clear teaching that challenges our core beliefs about prayer. Listen to Jesus and be motivated by him today!
Problems in Prayer Part 3 (Deut 32:36, Ps 20:7-8) Behind idolatry is our fear, and a need to gain control when we are powerless. Once we see how it worked in Biblical times it is easier to spot control pattern in our relationship with God, and replace it with genuine trust.
Problems in Prayer Part 2 (Psalm 44) What looks like the darkest Psalm in the Bible looks like it has no answer. But there is an answer which is beyond our dreams in encouragement.
Problems in Prayer Part 1 (Psalms, Habakkuk) We can be confused, disappointed, upset, and even angry with God because it seems our prayers are going unheard. It’s not just us, the Bible and the lives of Christians ever since have many such stories, but we are also given some reasons, which can really help our faith.
Philippians Part 11 (Philippians) A fast walk-through the powerful themes of this letter, summarizing and collecting together all the lessons learned over this series. We did some activites to help us focus on what God is saying to us.
Philippians Part 10 (Phil 4:14-20) God’s heart is to fill you up with blessings from his own rich abundance. Catch hold of Paul’s secret for contentment and bring a fragrant offering to God, simply because you love him.
Are you going through a storm? This is one of the most encouraging stories I have ever read. Even with little faith you can survive the worst storms in your life. (Mark 4:35-41)
This is such an encouraging verse, but it seems too big. What does ‘all things’ include? Learn what it means and how to access this power every day. (Phil 4:10-13)
Philippians Part 8 (Phil 4:6-7) How to stop worrying and experience ‘the peace of God that surpasses all understanding’
Philippians Part 7 (Phil 4:1-9) Paul says “Stand firm in this way...” and then describes five powerful keys to defeating the enemy
Light is a key theme in Scripture, and as we put together references from the whole Bible, we see a beautifully unified theme that brings hope, and direction for living. (Various Scriptures)
If God has given you his own beloved Son, Jesus, then will he withhold anything from you? In Romans 8 Paul gives us some of the most encouraging words in the Bible. Lets unpack exactly what is being said here. (Romans 8:31-39)
Philippians Part 6 (Phil 3:10-4:1) -The core message in this central section of Philippians is somewhat surprising. Rather than simple objective truth, Paul explains that the way he defines his identity gives him the inner motivation he needs in order to press on towards his goal.
Philippians Part 5 (Phil 3:1-9) How can I measure how well I am doing as a Christian? Is there some kind of spiritual ‘scorecard’ I can check? This question has been one of the biggest sources of danger from the beginning.
Philippians Part 4 (Phil 2:12-30) What on earth does ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling’ mean? Is it: ‘Salvation is up to you and be very scared that you don’t make it’? It turns out that this ‘problem verse’ is in fact massively encouraging.
Even though you might think you are insignificant, God is using you! God is working, even when it doesn’t look like it. The Kingdom will be victorious! (Mark 4 & Luke 13)
Philippians Part 3 (Phil 2:1-11) This passage contains the most amazing song about who Jesus is and what he has done. Read it and be captivated by his love, and let his mind and heart be in you!
Philippians Part 2 (Phil 1:12-30) In order to help the Philippians (and us) cope with stress, Paul takes us inside his own inner world and shows how he is dealing with two stressful situations.
Philippians Part 1 (Phil 1:1-11) Philippians is highly unusual because it is so personal. An insight into Paul’s heart and deep feelings, and an insight into Christ’s emotions towards us. Wow, Amazing!
What is the secret to Christian motivation? Do we beat ourselves up about our failures, set regular challenges, or is there a better way? What does the book of Hebrews say? (Heb 10-12)
Understand how the Bible describes the conscience, the huge danger that misuse can fuel mental illness, and the joy of feeling your conscience is completely cleansed. (Rom 2; Col 2 & Heb 10)
Some churches focus on a firm foundation in the Word, some on the power of the Spirit, and some on love and community. But the early church excelled in all three—so why can’t we have them all today? The mission of Newlife Church is exactly that, plus it is the secret of growth and victory in our own lives. (Romans 8)
We can learn so much about prayer from this extraordinary Psalm, and what gives David so much confidence that he will be heard. On the one hand the equisite beauty and balance of the Psalm thrilled me, and on the other hand it has really helped give me confidence in knowing how to pray as I see what the Psalm is doing. (Psalm 20)
Quite often, when people start reading the Old Testament, they hit roadblocks such as: obscure language, stories that seem to condone violence or abuse, and strange or problematic laws - for example regarding women. All of these roadblocks can be shifted, and we do at least some shifting here. (Gal 3:24-28 & Luke 24:27,32)
By comparing the actual gospel messages recorded in the book of Acts, we can gain insight into how we can best communicate the message of salvation. (Acts)
Let’s focus on why we love Jesus, not just for what he has done for us, but because he is the most fascinating, wonderful, awesome and lovely person that has ever existed. (Col 1:15-20)
Let’s grasp what Jesus really means when he says ‘Eat my flesh and drink my blood’. These strange sounding words can be, for you, a deep source of life! (John 6:25-71)
Do you ever say to yourself ‘why am I such a failure as a Christian?’ or, ‘I wish I was more filled with the Spirit!’? Gal 5 tells us how we can ‘Walk in the Spirit’ and have victory (Gal 5:13–6:2)
Hebrews Part 20 (Heb 4,8,9,10 & 12) If we try to summarise the whole of Hebrews in one sentence, we are very much helped by two markers which bookend the central section. It turns out that our confidence that Jesus has washed us perfectly clean from sin is the central focus of the book.
Understanding God’s compassion is vital for living an authentic Christian life. It shines most brightly in the N.T. in Jesus, but there are some remarkable stories in the Old, demonstrating that God does not change. Many of us have trouble receiving this compassion and grace, which makes it hard for us to show it to others, and to experience joy ourselves. (2 Cor 1:2-4)
Hebrews Part 19 (Heb 10:24-25) There’s a verse in Hebrews that scholars agree is strangely worded, and a little scary if translated correctly. They don’t talk about what it might mean to follow this command in practice. Yet actually it is a key to our deep growth.
Hebrews Part 18 (Heb 13:5-6; Psalm 118) Hebrews pulls in references to two of the richest O.T. passages about the unshakeable security of God’s love for us. He will never let us go! The challenge is to truly take in these amazing promises, and also to live out our Kingdom membership in this world.
This book is a beautifully crafted poetic gem in Hebrew, with an opening that precisely matches the closing. Naomi goes from being totally emptied to being wonderfully filled, and in the middle of the story is an unexpected and surprising hinge-point. (Ruth)
Hebrews Part 17 (Hebrews 12:14-24) The story of Esau gives us a vivid picture which brings clarity to life’s choices.
The story of the man of God, Hudson Taylor is that although he was living an extraordinary life of service, he had a deep feeling of his own sin and failure. When the Spirit opened his eyes to the Scriptures about being united with Jesus, in an instant he received a joy which lasted the rest of his life. What was this truth? (Col 1 & 2, Eph 2 & 3)
Hebrews Part 16 (Hebrews 10, 12 & 13) Hebrews is full of little gems of positive direction about growth. Today we collect them together and see a strong and clear theme emerges about how we grow, or not grow as we try to Run the Race.
Psalm 90 starts out as one of the most depressing scriptures: “You live 70 yrs and die. If you live to 80 it will just be pain, and so on…” But by an extraordinary twist, which you need the handout to really see, everything is turned on its head. Make sure you view the handout here: https://bibl.ca/pdf/Psalm90-text.pdf (Psalm 90)
Hebrews Part 15 (Hebrews 10-12) From Abraham and Moses to the ‘Stanford Marshmallow Experiment’, the challenge of persisting is a common human experience. The Bible gives us three ways that not only help us endure, but turn it from a negative to a positive experience.
Hebrews Part 14 (Hebrews 11) After huge claims for the value of faith/trust for our lives, and the pleasure it gives our Father, Hebrews goes on to show this with a set of stories. But they contain a surprising twist—which makes them far more relevant to us today!
Hebrews Part 13 (Hebrews 11:1-3) The difference between living with your focus on the visible world, vs. the invisible world of God’s promises, and how this will change your life.
Hebrews Part 12 (Hebrews 10:1-23) Since we have authorization for free access to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the fresh and living way that he opened up for us, through the curtain—that is through his flesh, let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from a burdened conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.
A third of the book of Psalms is devoted to bringing complaints to God. But the form of these complaints is very specific. By giving us so many psalms in this form, God is telling us that he wants to hear the honest cries of our heart, but also teaching us how he wants us to bring these complaints to him. (Psalms 54 & 142)
Hebrews Part 11 (Hebrews 9) The central teaching of Hebrews is about our prayer lives—drawing near to God with confidence. This chapter is a key building block as it lays out the way to intimacy with such power and clarity.
Hebrews Part 10 (Hebrews) Who wrote Hebrews? Why and to whom? The book is very carefully structured, and understanding this is an excellent doorway into seeing the main focus of the book, and how the author supports such a powerful central claim.
Hebrews Part 9 (Hebrews 8-13, Luke 22:20) There is so much richness to be found in all the imagery that comes together in this celebration meal. In the end we see seven ideas woven together, there for us to turn over in our minds with joy as we break bread together.
Hebrews Part 8 (Hebrews 8:6-13) When you really understand the New Covenant, it will transform your life, bring you into a new freedom, and enrich your relationship with God. Sadly it is rarely explained, and most Christians are not entirely free from the Old.
Hebrews Part 7 (Hebrews 5:11-7:28) Hebrews is symmetrical. Everything hangs on what is at the center. And right in the middle of the center we have ‘an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast’
Hebrews Part 6 (Hebrews 6:1-12 & 8:9-12) Followup session answering the great questions that came out of part 4, which asked ‘Can a Christian Permanently Fall Away?’ The root of the answer is understanding what actually happens to you when you become a Christian, and then we look at some Scriptures which may seem to say the opposite.
Hebrews Part 5 (Hebrews 2, 4, 5 & 12) The stories from when Jesus walked this earth with us, show a man who experienced a full range of emotions, and was deeply empathic with those around him. Hebrews encourages us to experience this deep compassion as we engage with him in prayer.
Hebrews Part 4 (Hebrews 6:1-12 & 10:26-39) What do these passages actually say? And how do they fit in with other Scriptures that speak of the “Unforgivable Sin?”.
Hebrews Part 3 (Hebrews 4:12-5:10) We can gain a deeper appreciation of what Jesus does for us from this description of O.T. priests. Hebrews urges us to come to God in confidence because Jesus truly knows what it is like to be human: weak and tempted.
Hebrews Part 2 (Hebrews 3 & 4) It sounds like a contradiction when we are told: “Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest” (Heb 4:11) But actually it is not, it is one of the keys to a fruitful, productive and stress-free life.
Hebrews Part 1 (Hebrews 1 & 2) Jesus is far better than everything else we could possibly have. Incomparably better! So hold fast to him and don’t allow yourself to be pulled away by other attractions.
If shame can be so damaging, how can it be removed? We examine two accounts in the Bible, so that we can learn to help ourselves and others have the weight of shame lifted. (John 4 & Luke 15)
The church grows by every part doing their share. But how do I know what my part is? This talk works through 12 areas of gifting, explaining how they function within Newlife church, and how to identify where you fit in. (Eph 4 & Rom 12)
Why does the Bible have such an emphasis on being thankful? Remarkable studies have shown that gratitude makes us happier, less likely to be depressed and even live longer. But much more than any of that, God loves us to be thankful and takes great pleasure in our expression of it. (Col 2 & 3, Phil 4:6)
Healing Shame Part 1 (Phil 2 + other texts) Shame is an emotion given by God, but greatly misunderstood, and capable of causing extreme pain. It is vitally important that we understand where it comes from, what it signals, and what a church can do to heal the shame of the broken.
Why is this story even in the Bible? It certainly does not show Abraham as an example of faith. It is one of the oddest stories in Genesis, but it has a powerful and encouraging message for us. (Genesis 20)
Evangelism Part 8 (1 Cor 15; Rom 6:5-14) Living in the New, not the Old: Here is a challenge to grasp the implications of what the Bible says about our radical new status and see two huge ways in which being in the New Creation changes everything.
Evangelism Part 7 (Luke 14, Mark 8, John 10) The preaching of Jesus came down to one thing, “Follow me!” Understanding what this means is key to both becoming a Christian and growing as a Christian
Evangelism Part 6 (John 1 & Matt 10,11) The purpose of this talk is to equip believers to explain the message, and to guide those who are seeking along a clear Biblical pathway that is concise, yet complete.
Evangelism Part 5 (Colossians 2:8-19) Union with Christ in both his death and resurrection is the single most important truth in the whole of Christianity. If you truly understand what it means for you, and live out of this new reality, then it will affect you profoundly.
Evangelism Part 4 (Col 1:1-11) In this remarkable passage we see a vivid image of the New Creation that links back to the old, but also points forward to how we can spread the Gospel, and the source of growth and fruit in our lives.
Evangelism Part 3 (Acts 17) Today’s culture completely misunderstands what ‘Faith’ means. Let’s be very clear about what it really means and be challenged for the coming year.
Evangelism Part 2 (John 4:43-54) Even if you are a Christian, there are some deep challenges in this story. Jesus wants to keep moving you along the journey until you really know who he is, and act accordingly.
Why do most Christians find it so hard to share the Gospel? —fearful of being looked down on? —don’t know what to say? —afraid of creating an awkward moment? —This message aims provide some practical help and encouragement for sharing our faith. (John 3 & 4)
Listening to stories of extraordinary answers to prayer is a great way to build our faith and be encouraged to give prayer our constant attention. (Col 4:2-4)
Because our parents were imperfect, we can have problems with God as a parent figure. It is so important to correct this so that we can experience the intimacy and security that the Father offers us. (Luke 12 & 15)
The greatest joy in the Christian life is to feel and know the intensity of the love of Jesus, that surpasses knowledge. (Ephesians 3:14-21)
This is David’s best loved Psalm, but how did he come to write it? We piece together stories from throughout his life that could have provided inspiration for each part of the song. (Psalm 23)
Was tithing actually 10% ?, what does the New Testament say about it, and what are the principles for how much we should give? (2 Cor 8 & 9)
The goal for this talk is: Clarity in understanding what the Bible teaches about being filled with the Spirit, and how to be filled ourselves. (Acts 1:8; Eph 5:18)
God sometimes uses the language of a mother to describe how he relates to us. There are beautiful scriptures where he tells us how he sees us, hears our cry and deeply cares for us, using mother imagery. (Is 49 & 66; Matt 23)
This psalm is beautifully constructed, and designed to stir our hearts to praise God by painting a picture of how he cares for us so deeply. What encouragement! (Psalm 103)
We already knew that God is a God of power yet compassion, purity yet forgiveness, high above all but utterly faithful as a friend. But Jesus revealed something new, something shocking, something almost unbelievable, at the very core of the supreme being. (1 John 4:7-11)
What does it mean to bless someone? Does it actually do anything? How can a human bless God? We need a firm Biblical foundation for answering these questions. (Genesis to Revelation)
The truth behind baptism is deeply empowering and encouraging, and can explain some of the tensions we experience as we try to live the Christian life. (Romans 6:3–11)
Through stories of how God relates to humans we learn of a different kind of love that is at the core of who God is. Chesed is utterly faithful, loyal to the very end, a love that will never let you go. When you understand it, there is no word that is more beautiful. (Is 54:10; Ps 136 & other verses)
The resurrection of Jesus was not simply coming back to life, but the start of a new kind of humanity. It gives us access to a new kind of life within us—empowered for victory. (John 20, 1 Cor 15, Col 3)
Old Testament Devotions Part 1 (Num 21; Ps 1,3; Isa 42; Gen 14) All the Bible is God’s Word, and is beneficial, but different parts have different purposes. Some parts are more suitable for study than devotional reading and we can get discouraged if we make this mistake. Here is a way of deciding where to read.
Mark in a Month Part 6 (Mark 14-16) Let us read the last three chapters, and feel what it was like for Jesus, the one who paid our ransom, and be filled with love and adoration for him.
Mark in a Month Part 5 (Mark 11:23-24 & ch.13) Most of Mark’s Gospel is very easy to understand, but here are a couple of passages that give people problems: Jesus’ instructions about praying in faith seem confusing, and his predictions about the end of the age are hard to make sense of.
Mark in a Month Part 4 (Mark 8:22-10:52) The center of Mark holds the core of Jesus’ teachings, but it is not what anyone was expecting. Even today there are many who think they are followers of Jesus but don’t understand this idea. First and foremost it is a challenge to us to follow Jesus in this surprising way.
Mark in a Month Part 3 (Mark 4:9-13, 8:17-19) Does God deliberately harden people’s hearts to stop them repenting? Why did Jesus frequently accuse the disciples of unbelief? These are some of the questions that come up as we read through Mark, and lead to some powerful opportunities of hearing Jesus speak to us.
Mark in a Month Part 2 (Mark 2:13-22) Let Mark’s presentation of Jesus engage you, captivate you, and change your life!
Mark in a Month Part 1 (Matt 5:13-16 & Mark 1:1-20) A method for daily Bible readings that you can try out for yourself, which will help you to more clearly hear God speak to you through the Bible.
What God loves to do is to undo the work of Satan, turning the most broken and damaged people into the strongest and beautiful members of his Kingdom. (Mark 5:1–20)
The practice of “raising up stones” is a powerful one that we should be doing to grow in our faith. Here are some stories to get you started. (Joshua 4 & 1 Samuel 7)
It’s wonderful to live under Grace and not Law, but sometimes it can leave us with a level of confusion. Is God pleased with me right now? Does it matter what I do? What God actually wants from us is not what most of us think! (Rom 4 & Gen 15)
Ephesians Part 26 (Eph 6:21-24) The New Creation has already begun, but the Old has not yet ended. We are living in the overlap, which is tough, but if we understand it will be a source of immense power and joy.
The most amazing promises of God being with people run through the Bible. If we can truly get hold of these promises and allow them to sink deeply into us, they will be a huge strength for us as we go into the New Year (various Scriptures)
Jesus became a man, in part, so that we could have a deep relationship with him. The challenge today is, how can we deepen that relationship? (Heb 4:15-16)
Ephesians Part 25 (Eph 6:14-20) Fully taking hold of the message of Ephesians equips us for warfare in the spiritual world.
Ephesians Part 24 (Eph 6:10-13) You live in two realities: material plus spiritual where there is a huge war raging. You are joined inseparably to Jesus, so take a stand with courage and joy.
Ephesians Part 23 (Eph 6:5-9) We ask why the Bible does not condemn slavery directly, explore the rich content of Ephesians 6:5-9 and the shocking challenge to all of us in the workplace, and talk about how this works out in practice today.
Ephesians Part 22 (Eph 6:1-4) Tough questions about how to honor your parents, even when they are broken.
Ephesians Part 21 (Eph 5:25-32) Paul says: This mystery is profound, and I speak with reference to Christ and the church. By bringing in verses from throughout the Bible, we can shed some light on this amazing truth!
Ephesians Part 20 (5:22-33) How des this passage make sense since husbands are not like Christ? But when you really understand what is going on with this passage, it is deeply encouraging!
Ephesians Part 19 (Eph 5:17) The stories in Acts of Paul’s visits, plus what history tells us about Ephesus help us to see the life-changing power of these words.
Ephesians Part 99 (Ephesians) Seeing how this letter is structured, on the one hand provides a helpful framework for fully understanding the message, and on the other is a work of art which frames the beauty of the truth, like a diamond setting holds a diamond.
Ephesians Part 18 (Eph 5:15-21) The seventh, and final, Walk in Ephesians has three parts to it: wisdom, understanding, and being filled by the Spirit. Then there is a link to singing which is interesting and important.
Ephesians Part 17 (Eph 5:7-14) Paul uses the command to Walk to organize the structure of the letter in a very helpful way. This time we look at the 6th Walk: Walk in the Light
Ephesians Part 16 (Eph 5:1-6) Seven parts of Ephesians open with the expression: ‘Walk...’ We look at the fifth, ‘Walk in love’ which is immediately followed by the two biggest threats to a loving community. Thankfully there is a way they can be overcome.
Ephesians Part 15 (Eph 4:17-5:2) How do I live this new life? Not only does Paul explain the power, but he also lays out some very clear examples of this power in action in our daily activities.
Ephesians Part 14 (Eph 4:12-16) This passage speaks of a radical transformation of the church, from childhood to maturity, some time in the future. It certainly hasn’t happened yet, so is it going to? and if so, when and how?
Ephesians Part 13 (Eph 4:11-12) Misinterpretation of this passage has ed to a top-down hierarchical church structure. Most people just sat in their seats and did no more than give their money. Every single part is needed for growth
Ephesians from:2018-01-28 Part 12 (Eph 3:16-19) Enjoying and delighting in God is a core part of the Christian life. We all want more of it, but how do we get there? How can we have more?
Most of us have an inner voice that is constantly telling us that we should be doing better. This has been called “the inner bully”. There is an answer in Matthew 11 (Matt 11:25-30)
All of us suffer from the accusing inner voices of self-condemnation. The powers of darkness are constantly speaking lies into us. But victory from these voices is available and we can all experience the freedom that Jesus wants us to have. (Eph 4:7-10)
What is church? We look at a heaven’s eye view, a lower level view, and a ground-level view of what church actually is, and what it is not, and what the implications are for you and me. (Eph 3 & 4)
We can really deepen our relationship with God when we think of him as three persons. Knowing how each relates to us slightly differently can give us a richer experience of closeness. (Ephesians 4:1-6)
What Jesus did is the ultimate demonstration of love. The Scripture passage shows us four things that define real love, not just in a marriage, but in any relationship. (1 John 3:16-18 & 4:9-11)
Ephesians Part 8 (Ephesians 4:1-6) As Paul launches into the second half of Ephesians, he injects an extraordinarly compelling motivation, showing us how to copy and bring delight to our God.
Ephesians Part 7 (Ephesians 3:14-21) Of all the prayers prayed over people in the Bible, this must be the pinacle. This is such a good prayer to pray over one another!
Ephesians Part 6 (Ephesians 3:1-13) Paul’s concern that they might get discouraged by his own suffering leads him into an extraordinarily uplifting and motivating encouragement.
Ephesians Part 5 (Ephesians 2:11-22) Once again the poetry is so beautiful, and right at the center is a jewel — the song of peace. This centerpiece changes everything and turns hostile division into growth that defies our imagination.
Ephesians Part 4 (Ephesians 2) Living out of this new identity will transform your life!
Ephesians Part 3 (Ephesians 2:1-10) The goal for this message is that you should fall in love with the way this story is told, which if you trust Jesus, is your story
Ephesians Part 2 (Ephesians 1:15-23) If someone says ‘please pray for me’ —they would not expect you to pray this kind of prayer! Yet once you understand it, it really is a remarkably powerful prayer for each one of us.
Ephesians Part 1 (Ephesians 1:1-14) Ephesians opens with a single sentence, 12 verses long—an epic poem. We explore the art, beauty and thoughts that build our joy. We see the big picture which builds our interest. The hint of mystery motivates us to read on and find out where this is going!
There are Scriptures that speak of transcendent experiences of Jesus in the life of a believer. What are these? and is there anything we can do in order to have them? (Phil 4:4-9; John 15:9-13)
As humans we live our of our identity—our concept of who we are shapes our behaviour, decisions, attitudes and goals. Here is a selection from the New Testament that have the power to change us deeply if we make them ours. (2 Cor 5:17)
The story of the man of God, Hudson Taylor is that although he was living an extraordinary life of service, he had a deep feeling of his own sin and failure. When the Spirit opened his eyes to the Scriptures about being united with Jesus, in an instant he received a joy which lasted the rest of his life. What was this truth? (Romans 6:5-14)
There are few truths that will bring more peace and joy in this life than the connection between Jesus and the Sabbath. This is essential teaching for all Christians, and is the gospel for unbelievers. (Deut 5 & Matt 11)
Guidance Part 5 (1 Various Scriptures) We conclude our series by looking at the role of unusual events or coincidences in guidance. These are sometimes called signs and can be useful but are highly dangerous if misused.
Guidance Part 4 (1 Cor 2:16, Heb 8:10 & James 1:5) When and how does God gives us supernatural direction, and how do we avoid some major pitfalls? Lots of stories from Scripture and from people today.
Guidance Part 3 (1 Cor 2:16, Heb 8:10 & James 1:5) The goal of this message is to look at how Jesus and the apostles made decisions together with New Testament teachings, and come up with a clear framework for how to find guidance in our lives.
Guidance Part 2 (John 4-6, Acts 16) Some fundamental principles of guidance, with some examples from the Bible and recent times
Guidance Part 1 (Judges 6; 1 Sam 14) How NOT to find a wife (George Whitefield), ‘Fleeces’ the good, the bad & the ugly, and three things we can mean by ‘God’s will’.
There are a couple of basic reasons why your New Year’s resolutions are probably going to fail. But the answer is that we have the wrong person making the resolutions. Here’s a resolution that can’t possibly fail! (Phil 2:13)
Coming of Jesus Part 5 (Luke 2 & Phil 2) This story does have some very odd parts to it when you think about it, but Paul’s call for our response (in Philippians) makes perfect sense and is very motivational.
Coming of Jesus Part 4 (Luke 1-2) The 4 Gospels all report Jesus’s birth story very differently, yet they fit together perfectly. Seeing this increases our faith that it is real history, not myth. But underneath that there is a deeper challenge waiting for us.
Coming of Jesus Part 3 (John 1:1-18) So why no story of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel of John? Actually the story is there, with a message that echos through the whole book, and speaks deeply to us even today!
Coming of Jesus Part 2 We can lose sight of the extraordinay step that God took in the incarnation of Jesus. To truly grasp the truth of what happened in history and why he did this for us is a deep blessing!
Coming of Jesus Part 1 It is good to take some time to explore the huge number of prophecies which were fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. The timing could not have been more perfect historically, and the richness of the “servant songs” in Isaiah are a deep blessing to the soul.
Do you ever say to yourself ‘why am I such a failure as a Christian?’, or ‘I wish I was more filled with the Spirit! Gal 5 tells us how we can ‘Walk in the Spirit’ and have victory (Gal 5:13–6:2)
We usually read this parable as a story of forgiveness, but that is not it’s primary meaning. It is about how someone covered in shame can have it taken away by being honored. The reason that this is so important is that we very often come to God, feeling shame at our constant failure, and this story is to teach us how he wants to take away this shame with a gift of honor, and to receive us with joy. (Luke 15:11-32)
Almost all of us experience inner voices of self-condemnation that can lead to shame or hopelessness. It is vital that we know their source, and live lives of victory in Christ, through the victory he has won. (Romans 8:31-39)
It can be very hard for us to accept that we bring joy to God, but this is clearly taught by Jesus in the two parables—the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. Can you truly believe what Jesus said to be true about yourself? (Luke 15:1–10)
Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 (Matthew 4, 6 & 13) Jesus taught us to pray ‘Your Kingdom Come’. What are we actually praying for? How and when will this happen? and what is our part?
Kingdom of Heaven Part 2 (Luke 4, Matt 5, Mark 4 & John 3) -After centuries of waiting. the King burst on the scene and announced the kingdom. But it wan nothing like people were expecting, and right from the start Jesus was very challenging. If we really listen to Jesus then we will be deeply challenged as well – every one of us!
Kingdom of Heaven Part 1 (Matthew 6, 10 & 13) The Kingdom message of Jesus was deeply challenging. He told the story of a man who saw a priceless pearl and sold every he had to buy it. Does that describe your passion for the Kingdom? and what would life look like if it did?
In Luke 11 & 18, Jesus gives us several strong motivations to pray, including an example, a parable and some very clear teaching that challenges our core beliefs about prayer. Listen to Jesus and be motivated by him today! (Luke 11:1–13; 18:1–8)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 60 (Old Testament) If we can see how it all fits together, not only does it make more sense, but it speaks to us in a new way.
Virtually all of us recognize there are areas where we need to grow and mature. But how does this happen? I was surprised when I first looked at Colossians because to start with the answer didn’t seem to make sense. (Colossians)
All of us sometimes feel stressed, feel alone or vulnerable. Let’s examine the process David went through in Psalm 27 so that we can learn how to go from feeling stressed to peace and confidence. (Psalm 27)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 59 (Exodus 12, Matt 26 & 1 Cor 11) Passover was the central memorial feast of the Old Covenant, and while celebrating it with his disciples, Jesus replaced it with a new feast, saying ‘this is the New covenant in my blood, do this in remembrance of me!’ We explore 7 ways in which it connects with us.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 58 (1 John) While simple on the surface, some interesting and important questions come up, like ‘What about this is actually new?’ and ‘If it is part of our new nature, why should it require effort?’ together with asking what it might look like in our lives.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 57 (1 Kings 19) In this extraordinary story, God replaced his old way of speaking with a new way, through Jesus. It is imperative that you learn to hear this voice.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 56 (Jer 31 & Heb 8) When you really understand the New Covenant, it will transform your life, bring you into a new freedom, and enrich your relationship with God. Sadly it is rarely explained, and most Christians are not entirely free from the Old.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 55 (Gen 15 & Jer 31) When you really understand the New Covenant, it will transform your life, bring you into a new freedom, and enrich your relationship with God. Sadly it is rarely explained, and most Christians are not entirely free from the Old.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 54 (Various O.T. Prophets) The goal is to help us notice themes when we are reading the O.T. prophets, and capture the hope and excitement of their vision of the future.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 53 (Isaiah 15-16; 19-20 & Jonah) On the surface these prophecies against other nations can seem like unrelenting destruction, but on closer inspection there is a surprising revelation of the true heart of God in love and mercy, which culminated in the sending of his own son to die for the sins of his enemies.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 52 (Isaiah 5) Learning a few basic ideas about how to read the Prophets can make a huge difference in how well we can understand and connect with the message. Many people today think the Old Testament God is harsh and angry, but a correct reading of Isaiah 5 paints an entirely different picture.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 51 (1 Kings 22, Ps. 19 & 2 Kings 20) Sometimes we can feel God was leading us, but end up in a bad place. How should we understand this if this happens? and guard against it happening to us?
Understanding the Old Testament Part 50 (Habakkuk) How is it that the events of our lives don’t always seem to match up with the promises of God? It turns out that this is not just a personal struggle for a few, but one of the central themes of the Bible.
This is such an encouraging verse, but it seems to big. What does ‘all things’ include? Learn what it means and how to access this power. (Phil 4:10-19)
The Resurrection Part 2 (1 Cor 15-16 +others) We will do some digging and strengthen the roots of our faith in resurrection, then we can enjoy the fruits and feel the richness of the blessing. Here are three roots and three fruits.
The Resurrection Part 1 (1 Cor 15 +others) The truth of the resurrection is at the foundation of everything we believe. When we see how strongly supported this evidence is, it can be a great encouragement to our faith, our joy and our hope.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 49 (Isaiah 46) God says, “Even when you have grey hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you;” (Is 46:4) Do you believe this, or are you investing everything in the idols of this age which will not be there for you in the end?
In two beautifully compact verses, Paul gives us a new “rule of life” for living under the New Covenant and lays a foundation to everything that follows about the gifts of the Spirit. —a perfect summary of what it means to be part of the new people of God. (Romans 12:1–2)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 48 (Daniel 3) Let’s take this distant story in a distant land at a distant time under a hot sun, and connect it to us right here and now in Toronto so that it means something very directly and specifically to us.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 47 (Jacob, David & Israel) A core teaching of the Bible that is often missed, and that is deeply encouraging.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 46 (2 Kings 5) As we dive deeper into this account, we see more and more of the challenges, conceptual reversals and artistry in the narrative composition, with an exciting conclusion.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 45 (Gen, Josh, Chron etc.) Seven suggestions about the kinds of prayers that God responds to, based on stories found in the Bible.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 44 (Psalm 44) The Psalm does not directly provide an answer, but there is an answer which is beyond our dreams.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 43 (Joshua 4 & 5) This story of a new beginning for Israel has a compelling message for our own lives as we move forward into a new season, with precise New Covenant parallels to the Old Covenant symbols.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 42 (Gen 17, Jer 6,9,31 & Paul’s letters) Circumcision: Meaning, Significance and Practical Insights. When we see how neatly the Old and New Testaments connect together on this issue, it brings such clarity, not only to understanding the Bible, but also our own identity.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 41 (Joshua 1:1-9) This is an incredible promise, but can we take it personally? If we understand the context, the meaning, and our part in it, the answer is yes! What an encouragement!
Understanding the Old Testament Part 39 (Ezra) Life can bring discouragements, and Satan loves to pull us away from God. In this extraordinary story from the book of Ezra that is exactly what happened. But what is so encouraging for us is the surprising way that God turned defeat into victory.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 38 (Gen 3; Luke 24 & Rev 12:4-5) There is a golden thread that runs through the Bible from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. It is the story of the battle between the Serpent and the line of the promised Saviour, full of drama and climaxes in total victory.
With all the sentimental caricatures of the birth of Jesus, it’s good to focus on what really happened and why. Even most Christians don’t truly understand why he had to be a human. (Luke 2)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 37 (Luke 18:18–30) When you see what Jesus is really claiming here, it is both shocking and motiviating. An incredible parable that is often misunderstood.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 36 (Isaiah 1 & 2 and Joel) This message aims to help us get more out of reading the Prophetic books in the O.T. by understanding what they are about and how they can speak to us.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 35 (Psalm 20) We cam understand Psalm 20 at three levels: the Artistry, the Truth it expresses, and the Powerful Message that speaks to our hearts.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 34 When we see how Hebrew Poetry works, we are better able to take in its beauty and power, so as to be filled with joy in our amazing God.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 33 Sometimes we think of God as being too serious to be interested in beauty. But creating beauty is core to his very nature, and when we do the same, we are being God-like. Yet there in an extra dimension of beauty that comes by the Spirit.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 32 (Psalm 81) God has so much for you, and longs to satisfy you with the very best. So what is stopping him?. The same thing as in Psalm 81 where he longed to bless Israel, but they did not “shema”. This word is the key that will open all the blessings.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 31 (Psalm 16) We began by looking at the presence of God in the O.T. and then how Jesus and the Spirit took this to another level. Then we focused on experiencing him right now, using Psalm 16 as a guide. Come on this journey with us now!
Understanding the Old Testament Part 30 (Isaiah 55:1-13) Have you had times of darkness in your life? We work through how we should read Old Testament passages so that they speak accurately into our situation. God says, “just hold on to me and I will never forsake you”
Understanding the Old Testament Part 30 (Hebreews 11 & 12) From Abraham and Moses to the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, endurance is a common human experience. The Bible gives us three ways that not only help us endure, but turn it from a negative to a positive experience.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 28 (Isaiah 36,37) Have you ever been in a situation when it looks like something really bad could happen? We take an example of how to relate Old Testament stories to our own lives in a way that is faithful to the context, and also immensely encouraging!
Understanding the Old Testament Part 27 (Gen 1; Ex 23; Josh 5; Ps 45 +more) Why did God not tell us everything about himself right at the start? Because it is only in the context of an unfolding relationship that we can begin grasp the richness of who he is. Join us in this exciting journey!
Are you going through a storm? This is one of the most encouraging stories I have ever read. Even with little faith you can survive the worst storms in your life. (Mark 4:35-41)
Do you want to be part of a supernatural kingdom, built in an impossible way? You have to step up to God’s call! Stop telling yourself you are nothing and can’t do anything “I can do all things through him who strengthens me!” (Luke 14:15–24)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 26 (Luke 24 & Psalm 1) All the Bible is God’s Word, and is beneficial, but different parts have different purposes. Some parts are more suitable for study than devotional reading and we can get discouraged if we make this mistake.
What if we had a silver trumpet that we could blow at any time and God would come to our rescue? Actually such trumpets really existed! We have effectively the same thing if we can understand it. (Numbers 10:1-10; 2 Chron 20:3-30)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 25 (Hebrews 4:14-16) We can gain a deeper appreciation of what Jesus does for us by examining the description given to us of O.T. priests.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 24 (John 17, 2 Tim 1 & 2; 1 Pet 2:9) How does our new understanding of holiness fit with some N.T. passages that seem to be equating it with purity. By making an extra step in our definition, we can tie everything together in a way that not only makes sense but is helpful and motivating, and gives a very positive meaning to a word that is often seen as negative and discouraging.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 23 (Num 20:9-13; Lev 10:1-2; Ex 3:4-5, 19:5-6) Having presented a new understanding of this incredibly important word, we clear up some problems with other Old Testament passages and dig deeper into the meaning.
Let’s focus on why we love Jesus, not just for what he has done for us, but because he is the most fascinating, wonderful, awesome and lovely person that has ever existed. (Col 1:15-20)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 22 (Hosea 11; Psalm 145) A word that is so rich, so precious, and so heart-warming has been tragically misunderstood in recent centuries. God’s holiness is a positive quality very closely linked to his love, and it is so important that we connect with this.
God sometimes uses the language of a mother to describe how he relates to us. There are beautiful scriptures where he tells us how he sees us, hears our cry and deeply cares for us, using mother imagery. (Genesis 16, 21; 1 Peter 5:7)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 21 (Luke 24:27,32) Quite often, when people start reading the Old Testament, they hit roadblocks such as obscure language, stories that seem to condone violence or abuse, and strange or problematic laws, for example regarding women. All of these roadblocks can be shifted, and we do at least some shifting here.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 20 (1 Sam 2:1–8; 2 Chron 33:1-16) Understanding God’s compassion is vital for living an authentic Christian life. It shines most brightly in the N.T. in Jesus, but there are some remarkable stories in the Old, demonstrating that God does not change. Many of us have trouble receiving this compassion and grace, which makes it hard for us to show it to others, and to experience joy ourselves.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 19 (Rom 8:15; 1 John 4:18) Many people feel that the Old Testament God wanted to be feared but there’s a different God in the New who has banished fear. The solution to this problem is very rarely understood, even by Christians, and extremely important.
When we see what a strong foundation our faith is built on, the joy of that truth will well up inside us (Luke 24)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 18 (Dan 2; Eph 2 & Rom 11) When we see how God’s promises and prophecies to Israel fit with the New Testament and beyond, like Paul we will not be able to help bursting out in praises to God.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 17 (Mic 3,7; Eze 16; Hos 11) Watch the 7-min animation at info.church.to/israel - Seeing the big story of Israel allows us to get a glimpse into the heart of God that is deeply revealing and affecting.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 16 (Isaiah 40-43 & John 6) Seeing this theme throught the Bible will help us to take encouragement from some very powerful words from God in the Old Testament. We now see how they speak into our lives.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 15 (Deut 32:36-39; 2 Chron 14:11) Behind idolatry is our fear, and a need to gain control when we are powerless. Once we get how it worked in the Old Testament it is very easy to see how we fall into this trap ourselves on a daily basis.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 14 (Various Scriptures) Archeology shows us that Bible history and world history are the same. We don’t need evidence from archaeology to prove to us that God is real but it can be a great encouragement to see where things match up.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 13 (Isa, Jer, Ez, Colossians 3:1-15) All our problems as Christians, come down to the fact that although we are a New Creation, we are still living in the Old. Answering this problem leads to true victory.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 12 (Genesis, Exodus 32 & Romans 6) When we see how the images of Eden in the Bible all hang together in a beautiful way, it bring us so much hope and leads us towards victory.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 11 (Genesis, Heb 11 & 1 John 4) If we can grasp the big picture of God’s plan for humanity, it will not only help us understand the Bible, but hugely empower and energize us for the Christian life.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 10 (Is 54:10; Ps 103:11 & other verses) Through stories of how God relates to humans we learn of a different kind of love that is at the core of who God is. Chesed is utterly faithful, loyal to the very end, a love that will never let you go. -When you understand it, there is no word that is more beautiful.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 9 (Genesis 15-50) There’s a fresh start for humanity with Abraham and Sarah, a new Adam and Eve but with a very different requirement. Instead of law, they are under faith, with the requirement of simply trusting that he will be with them.
If God has given you his own beloved Son, Jesus, then will he withhold anything from you? In Romans 8 Paul gives us some of the most encouraging words in the Bible (Romans 8:31–39)
Understanding the Old Testament Part 8 (Various Scriptures) Light is a key theme in Scripture, and as we put together references from the whole Bible, we see a beautifully unified theme what brings hope, and direction for living.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 7 (Romans 2 & Galatians 3) If the Law was for the Jews, what about everyone else? Does the Law have any value in the New Covenant under Jesus? Plus other questions.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 6 (Genesis 9 +other passages) To understand the covenants is both the beginning and the end of the quest for truth. For in them we can grasp how the Creator relates to humanity.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 5 (Genesis 4-10) How we can make sense of the Flood account in Genesis, see how it connects with Jesus, and how it still speaks to us today.
Understanding the Old Testament Part 4 (Genesis+) Why did the disciples get so excited when Jesus opened up the meaning of the Old Testament to them? Learn about types and shadows and you will see!
Understanding the Old Testament Part 3 (Genesis 3) It is so important to grasp the Big Story of the Old Testament so as to make sense of the hundreds of small stories. To watch just the 4 min animation, go to https://go.church.to/arc
Understanding the Old Testament Part 2 (Genesis 1 & 2) We read the creation account, and then look at how the rest of the Bible reflects on, and adds to, the event. We end with the key question: How are WE to respond to the creation?
Understanding the Old Testament Part 1 (Hebrews 8, Numbers 21, John 3) The purpose of this talk is to convince you of the value of exploring the Old Testament, and to begin the journey.
Thanksgiving Part 3 (Leviticus 23; Psalm 118) We start with the origins of our Thanksgiving Day, work through the kind of things Jesus gave thanks for, and look briefly at modern discoveries of how thanksgiving changes your brain. Then we do it!
Thanksgiving Part 2 (Phil 4:6-7; 2 Chron 20) There is strong Biblical support for the power of weaving thanksgiving into the story of our lives. In more than one place, victory and answer to prayer are linked to giving thanks.
Thanksgiving Part 1 (Col 2:6-10; 3:16-17) The best remedy for Covid-19 depression is to increase our daily level of thankfulness by taking some practical steps. Here are some suggestions of things you can do.
A different take on this well-known story: You don’t have to be a David, and try to defeat Goliath! (1 Samuel 17)
Gospel of John Part 37 (21:24-25) John’s desire is that we should meet Jesus through his writing. Even if we are Christians, we can meet him in a new and powerful way as we engage in these pages with the one who is both God and human.
Gospel of John Part 36 (21:15-23) This story helps us understand how Jesus deals with our failure. Come to him and let him gently restore you and give you strength. Just honestly tell him about it, and accept it is the same gentle Jesus that talked with Peter on the beach that morning.
Gospel of John Part 35 (John 21:1-14) People get fixated on the 153 fish, Peter’s clothes or odd behaviour, and miss the wondrous and life-changing point that this story is making.
Gospel of John Part 34 (John 20) Life from the resurrected Jesus brought life to those around him. You can experience more of that life, as Mary did.
Gospel of John Part 33 (John 20 & 1 Cor 15) The resurrection of Jesus was not simply coming back to life, but the start of a new kind of humanity. It gives us access to a new kind of life within us—empowered for victory.
Gospel of John Part 32 (John 19:31-42) We believe the Bible because it is God’s word, but nevertheless it is encouraging to our faith so see the strength of the evidence. Plus it helps us to visualize and conceptualize what actually happened at a real place and date.
Gospel of John Part 31 (John 19:17-30) John is very selective, but this is because he is very focused in the unique way he wants us to relate to Jesus as he suffers and dies on the cross, a way that we miss if we don’t follow his references
Gospel of John Part 30 (John 18:28-19:16) Pilate was faced with a choice that in some ways is very similar to ours, even if we are a Christian. The challenge is to see what it is for you!
The simple celebration to remember Jesus is so often misunderstood. If we get what was so terribly wrong with the way the Corinthian church was breaking bread, then we have the key to bringing joy to the heart of Jesus. (1 Cor 11:17-34)
Gospel of John Part 29 (John 18:1-27) Jesus was betrayed, arrested, abandoned, denied and abused. Yet those were the very people he came to die for! What manner of love is this?
A third of the book of Psalms is devoted to bringing complaints to God. But the form of these complaints is very specific. By giving us so many psalms in this form, God is telling us that he wants to hear the honest cries of our heart, but also teaching us how he wants us to bring these complaints to him. (Psalms 54, 142)
Gospel of John Part 28 (John 17:24-26) We are a gift from the Father to Jesus: his beloved ones. He gives our love back to the Father as a gift: to be revealers of God’s self-giving love to the world (and universe). This is the highest expression of the Christian faith you will ever hear. More than that, it is the highest point of human existence
Gospel of John Part 27 (John 17:20-23) Jesus highest teachings, given just to his disciples in John 14-17 come to a climax in his prayer at the end, and now we reach the very pinnacle of the prayer
Gospel of John Part 26 (John 17:14-19) Jesus’ words move from comfort to challenge, from ‘Safe’ to ‘Sent’ as this amazing prayer in John 17 moves towards it’s climax.
Gospel of John Part 25 (John 17:1-13) What would it have been like for the disciples to hear Jesus praying for them in a way that was so loving and caring, was so challenging in the mission he gave them, and raised their identity and destiny so high?
Gospel of John Part 24 (John 16:16-33) Jesus said, “In a little while… your sorrow will turn to joy.” Do this, he says, and you will receive a joy that no-one can take from you.
Gospel of John Part 23 (15:26–16:15) Do you wish you could have been there with Jesus, heard him teach and seen the miracles? Jesus says you are actually better off with what you have now — the very Spirit of God living inside you and empowering you. How do we experience this?
Gospel of John Part 22 (John 14 & 15) Our connection with Christ, the vine, grows as we hear his words, believe them, and do them. In these troubled times, chose to believe these words of peace, and walk in them, rather than words of fear.
Gospel of John Part 21 (John 15:1–17) At the very centre of Christ’s last hours of teaching comes an idea that is striking and life transforming. To enhance its vividness, and help it to stick, the thoughts are laid out in semi-poetic form. They are like two beautiful flowers, with leaves around the outside, and vivid blooms in the middle. If Jesus has chosen to express himself in this way, we need to give attention and listen!
Gospel of John Part 20 (John 14:15–31) ‘If you love me, you will obey my commandments’ —Do we have to perform well enough at this love to get rewarded? The answer is both surprising and extremely encouraging!
Gospel of John Part 19 (John 14:1–14) As he faces the most horrific death that any human faced, Jesus feelings are instead for his disciples, deeply caring for them. But what is even more surprising is that in this act of selfless empathy, Jesus is revealing to us the heart of the Father.
Gospel of John Part 18 (John 13) Peter misunderstood foot-washing and so do many Christians, but Jesus tells us how blessed we will be if we understand and receive it. But most of all this chapter is about how Jesus loves his own ‘to the end’, and never abandon us to the end of time.
Gospel of John Part 17 (John 12) Let’s walk with Jesus through his last days of teaching. How come so very few really ‘got’ him? Does his final challenge connect with you?
Gospel of John Part 16 (John 11) Just before Lazarus is raised, Jesus weeps along with Mary. Why not just tell her everything will soon be ok? If this account was just about Jesus’ power to raise the dead it would be told in just 7 verses, but the other 43 tell of a Shepherd who loves each of his sheep in a unique way.
Gospel of John Part 15 (John 10) It is easy to read through John 10 on a surface level and miss what is going on. Here, at the final climax of Jesus’ public ministry he presents an image that will leave you enthralled with it’s beauty, and deeply moved by it’s implications.
Gospel of John Part 14 (John 9) On the surface this is a simple healing story, but John has beautifully put together a series of events and conversations that build up to a startling revelation from Jesus, that his light can actually lead people to become blind, and we ourselves need to pay close attention.
This is David’s best loved Psalm, but how did he come to write it? We piece together stories from throughout his life that could have provided inspiration for each part of the song. (Psalm 23)
The stories from when Jesus walked this earth with us, show a man who experienced a full range of emotions, and was deeply empathic with those around him. Hebrews 4 encourages us to experience this deep compassion as we engage with him in prayer. (Hebrews 4:13–16)
Gospel of John Part 13 (John 8) There is a voice inside you that is telling you lies! — Experience what it is like to have the truthful words of Jesus bringing freedom from this darkness.
Gospel of John Part 12 (John 7) Are you feeling dry and thirsty? Jesus is offering cool refreshing water—abundant, life-giving and free. Come and drink!
Gospel of John Part 11 (John 6:25–71) These strange sounding words can be, for your, a deep source of life.
Gospel of John Part 10 (John 6:1–35) After feeding the 5000 and walking on water, Jesus was asked to provide more food. The answer he gave was very strange, and resulted in many people walking away from him.
Gospel of John Part 9 (John 5) How might you be like the man at the pool? Most of those who have studied this chapter see it as disorganized and repetitive, but in fact there is a beautiful logic to Jesus’ reasoning.
Gospel of John Part 8 (John 4:43–54) Even if you are a Christian, there are some deep challenges in this story. Jesus wants to keep moving you along the journey until you really know who he is, and act accordingly.
Gospel of John Part 7 (John 4:1–42) There’s a lot more to this story than meets the eye, from why she misunderstood Jesus, to connections with several other well-encounters in the Bible, and finally all the talk about food at the end being a clue to what really satisfies us.
Gospel of John Part 6 (John 3:16–36) John 3:16 is probably the best known verse in the Bible, but it has a hidden depth and richness that makes it (and the rest of the passage) well worth studying.
Gospel of John Part 5 (John 3:1–15) Jesus challenged Nicodemus to think outside his religious box. In a similar way he challenges us, not to live ordinary lives limited by the expectations of this world, but to embrace the amazing reality of the age to come, now in the present.
Gospel of John Part 4 (John 2:12–25) What exactly made Jesus so angry? Why did he gave such a strange answer to the Pharisees? When we can truly resonate with Jesus’ anger and feel his love, we can get what this story is all about.
Gospel of John Part 3 (John 2:1–11) Why does Jesus answer Mary in such an odd way? It is almost rude and seems very out of character. Yet it turns out that this answer is what unlocks the challenge to us in the story.
Gospel of John Part 2 (John 1:19–51) Before Jesus even started doing miracles, John is very interested in the impact he had on people. Some people didn’t care, but others were drawn to him powerfully. We can engage with Jesus today like those those first followers did!
Gospel of John Part 1 (John 1:1–18) Be impacted by the power and the beauty of this painting of Jesus at the beginning of John. My Jesus, God from all eternity, came down to earth as a human so that I might have new life. Make sure to view the handout: http://sermons.church.to/john1
- There are amazing connections between Eden, the Temple, Jesus’ teaching, and the book of Revelation. Our understanding of parts of the Bible will come into sharper focus if we get these themes and connections. Grasping the power of the temple imagery throughout the Bible will impact our own lives and mission.
Psalm 90 starts out as one of the most depressing scriptures: “You live 70 yrs and die. If you live to 80 it will just be pain, and so on…” But by an extraordinary twist, which you need the handout to really see, everything is turned on its head. Make sure you view the handout here: http://nlife.ca/sites/default/files/Psalm90-text.pdf
(Psalm 90)
Foundations of our Faith Part 8 (Matthew 24 & 25) We answer 12 common questions about the events leading up to Christ’s return, the day of judgement, and the age to come, with a focus on Matthew 24 & 25. We then consider what the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins really means, and how it challenges us.
It sounds like a contradiction when we are told: “Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest” (Heb 4:11). But actually it is not, it is one of the keys to a fruitful, productive and stress-free life. (Hebrews 3 & 4)
Foundations of our Faith Part 7 (John 17:14–26) In his last words to his disciples before he died, Jesus laid out for them a plan. In a few words he summarized what a Christian life should look like from beginning to end. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else in Scripture, we have a concise vision for our life’s goals and destiny.
Foundations of our Faith Part 6 (Ephesians 3:14–21) One ofthe things that gets in the way of our walk with God is that we so often fail and do the wrong thing. This can fill us with shame, and stop us coming to God. Here are two bad solutions to this problem and one really, really good one!
Foundations of our Faith Part 5 (1 Corinthians 15; Romans 6:5–14) Living in the New, not the old—two huge ways in which being in the New Creation changes everything (because we are united to Christ).
Foundations of our Faith Part 4 (Colossians 2:8–23) Union with Christ is the single most important idea in the whole of Christianity.If you truly understand what it means, and get a really firm grasp of it, then it will affect you profoundly.
Foundations of our Faith Part 3 (Romans 5:12–19) Most people will agree that there is something very wrong with this world. How did it get this way? And how can we personally avoid falling into temptation in our lives?
Foundations of our Faith Part 2 (1 John 4:3–11) In a universe of spiritual powers, where do we fit in? Two errors are: giving Satan too much attention or giving him too little. It’s essential that we hear the voice of the Bible and not be swept away by ideas that are popular but wrong.
Foundations of our Faith Part 1 (Ex 19–20, Matt 11) Some parts of the Bible show God as really scary and other parts gentle and comforting. Can these both be true? and if so then how can we really be close to him?
The preaching of Jesus came down to one thing, “Follow me!”. Understanding what this means is key to becoming a Christian and to growing as a Christian (Luke 14:25–33)
The practice of “raising up stones” is a powerful one that we should be doing to grow in our faith Here are some stories to get you started. (Joshua 4 & 1 Samuel 7)
This is one of the oddest stories in Genesis, but it has a powerful and encouraging message for us. (Genesis 20:1–18)
Most Christians have a rather limited understanding of this central part of the Christian church’s activity. How many of these did you know? (1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
It’s time to start giving over your burdens to God!:
“Even when you are old, I will take care of you,
even when you have grey hair, I will carry you.
I made you and I will support you;
I will carry you and rescue you.” (Is 46:3–4)
(Isaiah 46)
Developing our Gifts Part 4 (Acts 11 & 13) How do you build something without plans? It turns out there is a great set of plans in the story of the church at Antoch in Acts. Plans that every one of us can respond to.
Developing our Gifts Part 3 (John 15) Many people struggle with feeling that their Christian life is a failure—a lack of power, joy, or victory over sin. For centuries many have struggled with this, and 100’s of books have been written. Is there an answer?
Developing our Gifts Part 2 (Ephesians 4) The church grows by every part doing their share. But how do I know what my part is? This talk works through 12 areas of gifting, explaining how they function within Newlife church, and how to identify where you fit in. See website for worksheet: nlife.ca/video/identify_gifts
Developing our Gifts Part 1 (Ephesians 4) I’m optimistic about the future of the church. That’s because in Eph 4, God says that we’re moving out of childhood and into maturity. But how?
Here are six stories where God challenged people to make changes. What about your story? What is God asking you to do?
What does it really mean to have a relationship with God? It is a relationship with a real person, in fact, three people, and understanding what this means can deepen our love for them. (Eph 3:14-21)
Why do most Christians find it so hard to share the Gospel? Fearful of being looked down on? Don’t know what to say? Afraid of creating an awkward moment? This message aims provide some practical help and encouragement for sharing our faith (John 3&4)
God has so much for you, and longs to satisfy you with the very best. So what is stopping him?. The same thing as in Psalm 81 where he longed to bless Israel, but they did not “shema”. This word is the key that will open all the blessings. (Psalm 81)
Jesus became a man, in part, so that we could have a deep relationship with him -The challenge today is, how can we deepen that relationship? (Luke 1:26-2:20)
It’s wonderful to live under Grace and not Law, but sometimes it can leave us with a level of confusion. Is God pleased with me right now? -Does it matter what I do? What God actually wants from us is not what most of us think! (Romans 4)
Many have told stories of their lives being lifted to a new level when they fully grasp this idea of being inseparably joined to Christ (Romans 6:3–11)
We already knew that God is a God of power yet compassion, purity yet forgiveness, high above all but utterly faithful as a friend. But Jesus revealed something new, something shocking, something almost unbelievable, at the very core of the supreme being. (1 John 4:7-11)
John the Baptist sang the dirge and prepared the way for Jesus’ first coming—the flute and dance -But what does this say about Jesus return? -You might not like the answer, or maybe it will excite you beyond all else. (Matthew 11:7-15)
Connected with God Part 4 (John 15:1-17) What could be a more important question? I almost regretted promising to preach on this topic because it turned out to be so huge. But when I searched the whole New Testament for answers, it boiled down to just two things. They looked like t-shirt slogans, so here they are on simulated t-shirts.
Connected with God Part 3 (Gal 2; Col 1; 2 Cor 3,12,13,15 etc.) Three things that will change your life if what the Bibe says about being “filled with God”, is really true.
Connected with God Part 2 (John 17, Col 2 etc.) There is a teaching in Scripture that is generally overlooked because it seems too dangerous -We will point out the risks, and try to take in the huge benefits
Is church just a nice option for Christians who need it, or is it important to God’s plan? (Ephesians 4:1-7)
Connected with God Part 1 (Abraham, David and others) A core teaching of the Bible that is often missed, and that is deeply encouraging.
Practical Prayer Part 1 (Matthew 6:7-15) It can help us to understand prayer if we break it down into four basic kinds, and look at examples of each of them in the Bible and in our lives.