Riverwood Church Community: Recent Episodes
Riverwood Church Community
Thanks for listening to the weekly podcast of Riverwood Church Community in Winnipeg, Canada. To learn more visit our website at http://riverwood.cc
For Todd, IT began with a monkey costume, a construction site, a mop, a printing machine, and a soundboard. IT wasn’t particularly spiritual looking, yet IT quietly shaped the course of his entire life. Jesus said IT reveals our allegiance, redefines greatness, and is inseparable from following Him. So, what exactly is IT and what might Jesus do in your life when you embrace IT?
As Christians, we can hear the truths of Scripture again and again without ever letting them truly
take root in our hearts. Sometimes, it isn’t until our faith is shaken or we find ourselves in the
middle of pain that we’re confronted with the choice to believe Christ’s truths or not.
Thankfully, Jesus isn’t afraid to meet us in those moments. Just like He did for the woman at the
well, He reminds us that we are fully known, deeply loved, chosen, and accepted by Him. It’s
from that place that we find the courage to not only believe the truths Christ died to give us, but
to live them out.
Life can be complicated. We all carry responsibilities, ambitions, goals, and unexpected circumstances that can leave us feeling overwhelmed. When life becomes difficult, our instinct is often to work harder and solve the problem ourselves. Only when we've exhausted our own strength do we finally turn to God, making Him the last piece that completes the puzzle.
This weekend, we'll hear authentic stories of lives that are complicated yet transformed by the faithfulness of God. Through the story of Isaac, we'll discover that God was never meant to be the final piece of our life's puzzle. He is the main piece that gives meaning to every other piece. After years of conflict and striving, Isaac finally arrived at Beersheba, built an altar, and worshipped God. The question for all of us is: What will it take for you to arrive at your Beersheba?
What do you do when God doesn't remove the thorn? In this deeply personal message, Pastor Todd shares a story he's still living as he wrestles with an unexplained medical condition and discovers fresh hope in Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12). If you've ever prayed, "God, please take this away," this message may change the way you see your pain, and the grace that meets you in it.
Have you ever wondered if God still speaks to ordinary people? Through the story of Mary Magdalene and a personal story of God's call, discover how the risen Jesus still meets people where they are, calls them by name, and invites them into a life of hope, purpose, and mission.
What do a frightened seven-year-old, a violent storm, and a boat full of terrified disciples have in common? More than you might think. In this deeply personal message, discover how Jesus meets us in the moments when we feel most overwhelmed—and why being in over your head may be the very place where faith begins.
Hope has a problem. It has been misunderstood, domesticated, and reduced to little more than wishful thinking. But God's hope is remarkably untamed and unshakable. In this message, we'll discover why biblical hope isn't optimism about better circumstances, but unwavering confidence in the God who brings life out of what everyone else has declared dead.
From Caesar's chariots to the empires of today, the world has always measured power by who can dominate and who can make the crowd bow. But Jesus unleashed a kingdom that runs on a different kind of power entirely….one wilder than anything Rome ever paraded through its streets.
What if hospitality was more than greeting people at the door or inviting friends over for dinner? In this message, we explore God's vision for hospitality, a radical, Spirit-empowered way of living that helps people feel seen, welcomed, and loved. Drawing from Scripture, the hospitality practices of world class organizations, and the story of Hosea, we'll discover how God uses ordinary people to turn strangers into friends and friends into family. Hospitality isn't simply what we do. It's who we are as followers of Jesus.
In a world full of AI, biased news, and the constant pressure to "live your truth," it’s hard not to wonder: what is truth? In this message from our Church in the Wild series, we discover how our desire for limitless freedom often leaves us spiritually off course. Following God isn't about living a boring, restricted life, but leads us to live a wild adventure anchored by Jesus and the truth markers that never change. Join us as we look at the Gospel of John to uncover the liberating power of a truth that cannot be tamed, controlled, or defeated.
n week one of Church in the Wild, Todd opens Luke 15 by first taking us into one of the most shocking moments in modern courtroom history. From there, we walk through Jesus’ familiar story of two lost sons and one gracious Father, discovering that grace is not tame, tidy, predictable or easy to control. Grace welcomes the wrong people, costs more than we imagine, runs toward brokenness, restores before it is earned and offends every scorekeeper in the room.
In this teaching, Todd explores the seven devastating effects of sin’s attack on humanity in Genesis 3, and the stunning seven-fold reversal God reveals in Revelation 22. From shame to restoration, curse to blessing, exile to homecoming, and death to life, the final chapter of the Bible declares that everything broken by sin will one day be made beautifully and completely new.
This weekend, we’re sharing stories, reflections, and moments from Riverwood's recent trip to eSwatini through a message called Place in His Hands.
Again and again, we were reminded of this simple truth: when ordinary people place ordinary things into the hands of Jesus, He multiplies them into something far greater than imagined.
This service is a celebration of what God is doing through faithful people, open hands, and a God who still multiplies what is surrendered to Him.
What if the Book of Revelation isn’t primarily a secret codebook for predicting the future… but a curtain being pulled back so suffering believers can finally see what is really going on? In this message, Todd explores dragons, beasts, apocalyptic symbols, and the strange imagery of Revelation through a completely different lens: not as a rigid timeline, but as resistance literature written to strengthen frightened Christians living under the shadow of Rome. And somewhere between a 150-year-old optical illusion, Picasso, and a “fever dream of symbols,” you may discover that the final book of the Bible is far less about fear…and far more about faithful endurance.
In a world where truth feels flexible and faith feels fragile, the final books of the Bible speak a clear and urgent message: don’t drift, don’t doubt, and don’t dilute what God has entrusted to you. These final books remind us that our feelings can mislead us, but God’s Word keeps us aligned. The question is…are you trusting what you feel…or God has said?
At the very end of the Bible, the focus isn’t about fear or deciphering the future, but God’s last words to us are all about hope. But in the middle of real life, that hope can feel distant or fragile. As we live in this tension, God shows us how to live anchored in what’s ahead while fully present in what’s now.
One of the strongest forces in a relationship is invisible, often overlooked, but incredibly powerful: your words…or your silence. Words travel like electricity down the powerline of a relationship, and the right ones can reach the heart and change everything.
This Easter, the tour continues. What began on Good Friday in the Museum of Heaven leads us to a breathtaking exhibit of resurrection life, showing us the kind of people grace can raise, restore, and remake. Come celebrate the risen Christ and the new life only He can give.
This Good Friday, join us for a moving walk through the Museum of Heaven, where ordinary objects tell the extraordinary story of Christ’s final hours. Each exhibit opens a window into the humility, service, forgiveness, and sacrifice of Jesus, and reminds us that the greatest love the world has ever known was not merely spoken, but poured out.
Last week, we explored the stickiness of grace. This weekend, we move deeper into Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians to discover the kind of relational glue Paul kept applying to a world that was falling apart: “one anothering.” If our culture is training us to live in bubbles, this message is a call back to the beautiful, demanding, life-giving work of becoming the Body of Christ.
What if the thing that holds your relationships together isn’t chemistry, compatibility, or effort, but something far more powerful? In this opening message of The Glue, we uncover how God’s grace, received by us, becomes the very force that can stabilize, restore, and strengthen our relationships. And if that’s true…what would it look like for that grace to start showing up in your everyday life?
What if the moments that feel like failure, pressure, or weakness are actually the place where God wants to do His greatest work in your life? In this final message of the “When in Rome” series, we walk through the book of 2 Corinthians as a four-act story and discover why Paul believed weakness wasn’t something to hide but something God could use. If you’ve ever wondered why God doesn’t always remove the struggle…this message might completely change how you see it.
n this message, we discover how a simple misunderstanding of context can completely change how we read the Bible, and why understanding the world of ancient Corinth suddenly makes Paul’s challenging words in 1 Corinthians come alive. When you see the culture Paul was speaking into, his message becomes clearer and far more relevant for how we live today.
We’re called to do all things for the glory of God, but when it really comes down to it, what does that actually look like in everyday life? In this honest and challenging message on 1 Corinthians 1–10, our high school students wrestle with what it means to grow up in their faith, stay rooted in Christ, and recognize how their choices impact the people around them. It’s a real look at living with purpose, navigating pressure, and learning to follow Jesus in a way that points everything back to God.
We naturally conform to the patterns of the world—whether in fashion, behaviour, or relationships. Paul calls us instead to follow God’s pattern: a life transformed by mercy, renewed thinking, and love that honours others above ourselves.
When in Rome… do as the Romans do — but what happens when Rome isn’t neutral? In this message, we explore how Paul calls us to resist cultural drift not through reaction or superiority, but by remembering who we are: loved, broken, and called to a new allegiance in Christ.
What if “spiritual gifts” feel confusing, not because the Bible is unclear, but because our modern idea of gifts is? In this message from the Book of Acts, we discover that the Holy Spirit’s power was never meant for personal preference, self-expression, or optional upgrades. Instead, God empowers ordinary people with extraordinary power, not for themselves, but to serve others and advance His mission.
Is the Holy Spirit supposed to feel…weird? Drawing from a personal journey and the Book of Acts, this message cuts through hype and fear to show how the Spirit speaks in grounded, biblical, life-shaping ways…calling ordinary people to courage, obedience, and purpose. The goal isn’t spectacle, it’s a changed life.
What difference does the Holy Spirit actually make in real life, on a Tuesday afternoon, in your fears, your finances, and your private choices? In Acts 1–7, we don’t just learn who the Holy Spirit is, we see what He does: confusion turns to clarity, fear shrinks, generosity grows, and double-lives are exposed to the light of truth. This message explores the practical, lived-out ways God changes us from the inside out; not in theory, but where life is real and we need Him most.
Discover how God’s glory transforms lives and how the Holy Spirit dwells in you today. Moses on Mount Sinai to modern testimony, see how encountering God changes everything. Learn about eternal life, purpose, and living fully in God’s presence. Join us for God in Me and experience the Spirit at work in your life!
God isn’t just with us. Scripture shows that because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we can experience Him living in us. Come along as we journey through the Bible to explore His presence, from the very beginning at creation to the Holy Spirit dwelling in every believer.
Through the story of the Pool of Bethesda, Jesus interrupts systems that normalize suffering and invites us into a kingdom shaped by imagination, connection, and restoring presence.
Offer God all that you have, wherever you are, and keep Jesus at the center of everything you do.
Christmas isn’t a cozy Hallmark script, it’s a holy interruption. This message peels back the sentimentality to reveal why our deepest longings, aches, and anticipations are not distractions to overcome, but signposts pointing straight to Jesus.
Have you ever tried something risky, knowing it could backfire, but it turned out so worth it that you would do it again? Luke 6 to 12 challenges us to take that kind of risk by following Jesus. In these chapters, we see who Jesus really is, what following Him could cost us, and the steps He invites us to take, which may seem simple but are often hard to digest. The good news is that Jesus does not leave us to figure it out alone; He is with us every step of the way. The question is, will we take the risk to follow Him?
In this message, we’re diving into the first-ever Christmas playlists: three songs in Luke 1–2 that don’t just announce Christmas, they explain it. Mary sings of a God who turns the world upside down, Zechariah sings of a God who rescues us from dangers we no longer recognize, and Simeon sings of a God who keeps His promises and brings deep soul-rest. These ancient songs still confront us, comfort us, and call us to live in the Kingdom they announce.
In Mark 8-14, Jesus drops no less than 40 divine 'truth bombs' that explode assumptions, confront perspectives, and call us into deeper discipleship. From Peter’s well-intentioned misfire, to a woman’s extravagant worship, to the stunning revelation of the Last Supper, Jesus dismantles our small thinking and prods us toward a life of surrender. Join us as we rediscover these explosive moments and let their shockwaves reshape how we follow, worship, and trust Him today.
In this series launch, we’re introduced to Mark, the author of The Gospel of Mark, and his unique, fast-paced gospel of urgency. Mark’s Gospel isn’t only fast-moving; it also captures moments when Jesus hits us with a shocking, soul-searching teaching meant to stop us in our tracks. In this message, we will examine three of the hard sayings.
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 isn’t just a collection of ancient parables; it’s a blueprint for how we live today. Pastor T brings these stories to life, giving them a modern twist so we can hear them with fresh ears, revealing the Kingdom of Heaven’s call to be ready, be daring, and be selfless.
Ever wondered what happens when you shake things up? In this unique message, five pastors each take 7 minutes to unpack Matthew 15–21, sharing fresh insights from their personal chapter-a-day Bible reading. On the clock and on a mission, they reveal unexpected truths, practical applications, and spiritual gems you might have missed. Short, focused, and powerful; this is doing something different in both preaching and listening.
Matthew 8–14 showcases Jesus’ power through three triads of miracles that amplify His message, revealing that God’s mercy breaks barriers, God’s power breaks darkness, and God’s promise of life breaks death itself! The One who calms storms, conquers demons, and cancels sin doesn’t just display divine power, He invites ordinary people like us to follow Him into extraordinary life.
Dive into the first seven chapters of Matthew like never before! In this message, we trace the recurring words and patterns that reveal the heartbeat of Jesus’ message. Get ready to uncover the hidden truths that are meant to transform not just what you know, but how you live.
Centuries ago, those in power tried to destroy the Bible with fire, but it survived, and today it still sets hearts ablaze. What is it about this book that some fear and others find so life-changing? In a world of scrolling, clicking, and swiping, this message shows us how to slow down and truly “eat” the Word, letting it become part of who we are.
We live in a world full of voices telling us who we are. Many of us live still searching for our identity. But Psalm 139 reminds us that our true identity was established long before the world ever got its hands on us. In this message we discover what it means to be knit together by God and the wonder of living on purpose!
When life hits hard, we all need more than a program; we need a family. In this message, we uncover Jesus’ open-source formula for doing life in community, a recipe for growth, mission, and true refreshment of the soul. Discover how stepping into a life-group can anchor you, strengthen you, and stretch you in ways you never imagined.
In this message, we’re diving into a powerful question: Who, or what, is shaping your thoughts, emotions, and identity From Gutenberg’s printing press to today’s social media algorithms, disruptive technologies have changed how we see the world. But while algorithms work for profit, God’s Word works to transform our lives and set us free. The Word of God, described in The Bible as the flame, the hammer, the light, the source of life, the sword, the treasure, and so much more, isn’t just words on a page, but God’s living voice drawing us into relationship with Him.
Breakthroughs don’t come from one big moment; they’re forged in the quiet grind of showing up, day after day, when no one’s watching. That same kind of faithfulness has carried our church for 30 years, and now we’re stepping into a brand-new season. 30 & Counting: We’re Just Getting Started is more than a birthday party, it’s a 4-month adventure of fun, mission, and momentum toward the future God is calling us into.
Church in the Park is our annual Sunday celebration where all five worship communities come together for an outdoor service, BBQ, and an afternoon of connection. This year’s theme, “Can’t Steal My Joy” (Nehemiah 8:10, John 16:22), reminded us that true joy in Christ is unshakable and unstealable.
The invitation to follow Jesus is not a static invitation nor is it a title we wear. It is an invitation to follow him outside the camp. The world we live gives us empty promises of control, safety, and comfort, but to follow Jesus is to embrace the risk of leaving our city walls and embracing the path of sacrifice, humility, & radical love that Jesus himself journeyed to the cross on our behalf.
Struggles and sin may trip us up, but they do not remove us from the race God has called us to run. With endurance and our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can lay down every weight and keep moving forward. His sacrifice frees us from shame and gives us strength to endure.
The heroes of Hebrews 11 make faith look effortless—but a closer look reveals their paths were anything but easy. Through weakness, waiting, and hardship, each one showed unshakable resilience and faith, proving that Jesus Himself is always better than any promise or outcome we could receive.
We all have patterns we cling to and old ways of thinking, coping, and believing that keep us stuck. Hebrews 10 challenges those defaults, inviting us to think differently about sin, guilt, and repentance. Instead of avoiding the hard truths, it reframes them, leading us to someone better.
Changing your mindset isn’t easy—but it can change everything. In Hebrews 9, we’re invited to move from religious ritual to real relationship, from barriers to breakthrough, and from law to liberty through Jesus. This message is an invitation to stop striving and start living in the forgiveness, full access to God and freedom that Christ secured for us.
The Bible reveals a radical way of doing relationship: not as transactional contract but as relational covenant! God leads by example by providing a sacred, enduring promise of love that doesn’t expire when we fail. In Hebrews 8, we discover how Jesus mediates a New Covenant that’s not transactional, but transformational—one written on our hearts, rooted in grace, secured by forgiveness, and marked not by mutual benefit but by unshakable love.
Traversing dangerous mountain passes was once the only way to cross the Continental Divide—until the railway provided a secure, lasting route. In the same way, where human effort once struggled to reach God, Jesus now offers a better way as our permanent, trustworthy High Priest.
You can go to church, sing the songs, give, serve, follow the crowd—and still be stuck in a spiritual circle of death. In Hebrews 6, we’re called to grow, climb, and anchor our lives to something stronger than routine—we’re called to pursue Jesus.
Like the Fremen in Dune who faced desert struggles and longed for a true leader, we too face life’s hardships needing a perfect mediator. Hebrews 5 reveals Jesus as the ultimate High Priest—appointed by God, fully human yet without sin—who entered God’s presence once and for all to offer Himself for our salvation. When life feels overwhelming, remember: Jesus stands with you, fights for you, and intercedes before God on your behalf. Jesus is better.
Many of us can imagine the tension of receiving a warning. That unsettling moment when you’re told that where we are isn’t safe, and having to decide whether or not you’ll believe it. Hebrews 4 acts as this kind of warning for our souls, urging us stop living like the world that is obsessed with work and endlessly restless, and to cling to Jesus who gives us ultimate rest.
In 2018, a million-dollar Banksy painting shredded itself live at auction—and became even more valuable. Hebrews 3 invites us into a similar disruption: where what feels like loss might actually be God at work. Moses was a masterpiece—but Jesus is the Builder. What might God be asking you to release, so He can reveal something better? Join us for Week 3: Jesus Is Better—a bold call to let go, hold fast, and find rest.
Sometimes we encounter Bible passages that feel like a dense, tangled jungle—full of words and concepts that seem impossible to navigate. Hebrews chapter 2 is definitely one of those. In this message, we’ll take up our machete and start clearing a path through the thicket, uncovering remarkable vistas and powerful truths along the way!
Our world chases wealth, status, and fleeting pleasures — but is there more to life? The Book of Ecclesiastes confronts this brutal reality head-on, declaring that everything under the sun is temporary and ultimately meaningless. So why is such an unsettling book part of the Bible? And what deeper message does God want to reveal through its mystery and wisdom?
Many people are afraid to talk about spiritual warfare, assuming the conversation will lead them into the realm of demon possession and poltergeist exorcisms. However, Jesus shows us that spiritual warfare is far more common and subtle, targeting our souls with stealthy temptations designed to draw us away from God. In this message, we will uncover the strategies the devil uses and identify six poisoned darts Satan fires at the souls of Christ followers.
The devil’s not dead…yet! Which means that we have a real enemy that God commands us to be prepared for. To prepare ourselves, we need to understand who the devil is, the impact of his fall on the world, and the role of demons. However, even as we stay vigilant, we must always remember that we are not fighting for victory, but from a victory that has already been secured through the cross!
Have you ever been embarrassed by a verse in the Bible? There is a category of verses labeled as ‘atheist makers’ – on the surface they appear ridiculous, offensive, draconian, and illogical. In this message, we’ll use three such verses as case-studies in an attempt to learn skills for interpreting the Bible.
Sanctification is God’s will for every believer. The word itself can seem complicated and overwhelming but it simply means separation from sin and dedication to God. Yet a closer look at scripture reveals 3 stages of sanctification that show God’s plan and our role in being sanctified. Sanctification is us becoming who God has called us to be, and it is our primary call as Christians!
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:3a 'For this is the will of God, your sanctification!…' Let's explore and discover God’s truth for us!
Scientists are projecting that they will have brought the woolly mammoth back to life after having been extinct for 4000 by 2028! Aside from being a remarkable accomplishment, this provides a compelling example of what the Bible calls ‘re-birth’, ‘being born again’, or ‘regeneration’! In this message, we will explore what God says about regeneration.
In the beginning God’s intention for humanity was that we enjoy him forever. However, endowed with free will we read in the book of Genesis that Adam and Eve sinned, which brought about a break in fellowship with God. Redemption is the story of God's loving response to humanity's sin by sending his son to forgive us and call us back into a relationship with him. Join us as we go on this journey of understanding what it means to be redeemed!
**This message is best enjoyed on video. Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpIyPrUXljw
Join us this weekend as we screen a documentary about one of our former Swazi kids! Thokozani (TK) grew up in Eswatini and had God-given dreams for the future that he gave up as he reached adulthood. TK gives a real insight into how it’s not that kids can’t dream in Africa, but it’s the raw reality of their environment that keeps them from achieving those dreams. When that dream slowly dies, they start to settle for harmful opportunities which lead to being influenced by the world. It also highlights how God redeemed him from that place and is using him now.
Most people have this idea that catechism is Catholic, boring and irrelevant, however the truth couldn’t be more shocking! In this message we will discover the history behind catechism, the power of the idea as it appears in the New Testament and no less than six potent reasons why journeying through catechism is worthy of our next 52 weeks!
If you stand so close to a mural painted on the side of the building, all you see are some colorful smudges and brush strokes that are hard to discern. However, if you step back (way back) you begin to see the bigger picture. In this message, we’ll join Paul in a prison cell, being persecuted for his faith. We’ll listen to his advice for those facing intense cultural pressure and our step back in time will help give us a clearer picture of the dynamics at play in our world today!
While we may find ourselves deeply connected to our world and culture, when we give our lives to Jesus it's like we’re living in this space between the world and the Kingdom of God, and that space is called exile. In this message, we dive into the time of the Babylonian exile and will learn from the remarkable resilience of Daniel and his friends as they lived and thrived in a culture that was against them.
Most Christians can feel the ground shifting beneath their feet. They can sense an unsettledness in the air and a stirring on the horizon but lack the courage to talk about what they are feeling or the words to describe what they are seeing. In this message we will join Paul in Athens in Acts 17, observing how he responded to a culture that was opposed to him and His God. We will also go on a deep-dive adventure to observe the four tectonic plates that are shifting in culture.
Vision is often wispy, grainy pictures that flash through our minds and are easily lost. However, God instructs us to write-down-the-vision so that those who hold it may run with it! But this doesn’t mean visions are easy to catch or manage! People who see or hear a vision are often side-swiped and feel the crunch of what we’re calling ‘vision collision’! In this message, we study how visions work and roll out the final four strategic moves we intend to take in the coming year to turn the vision into reality!
Admittedly, as a church, we haven’t done a great job of mapping a path for people who want to journey closer to Christ. That changes this year! In Part 2 of our Vision Weekend, we review the strategy rolled out last weekend and move on to focus on how it is that we will ‘make disciples of Jesus’ (Matt. 28:19). Our answer is a strategy we’re simply calling “Next”!
People aren’t limited by their abilities but by their lack of vision! Yet, when God projects a compelling vision before His people and His people commit themselves to that vision, the limits are lifted and the impossible becomes reality! In this message, we will take time to reflect, confess, study, and allow our hearts to be ignited by the vision God is projecting on our hearts and upon our church!
There is nothing quite like gathering all of our Worship Communities together in one place to worship outdoors! The park offers us some unique opportunities to connect, worship, picnic, and go public with our faith! This year was no exception and we took a few minutes to simply focus on the wonder of Jesus and the lengths He went to make a way for us to the Father!
Have you struggled with unanswered prayers? Have you felt like God is silent? In this message, we will hear about the journey of 2 people who struggled with God's apparent silence, as well as some reasons why our prayers might not be answered, and what our response can be.
Peter and John could feel the tension. The culture had turned on them! They were outnumbered and heavily opposed. So, what do they pray for? Protection? Victory? Vindication? A rescue? No! They pray for boldness! This message examines what leads to one of the most inspiring prayers in the Bible, found in Acts chapter 4, and a recipe for boldness!
Do you ever wonder what God’s plan and purpose is for your life? This week we’ll break down Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and how despite the agonizing anticipation of carrying the cross, he still asked for God’s will to be done in his life. Jesus warned us that faithfully following God’s will isn’t easy... But when our prayer lives become dependent on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, we begin to more accurately and passionately follow His will.
Prayer is essential in the life of every believer, however, so often we find prayer to be a struggle! Today we will discover two tools we can use to fuel our prayer life found in the unconventional prayer of Agur!
Have you ever been called by God and wondered if you had what it took to do what He was asking you to do? God called Gideon to step out of his comfort zone and gather an army to defeat the Midianites. After much doubt and deliberation, Gideon said yes to God. At some point or another, God calls all of us to take a step of faith into the unknown. It is often scary, but it is through prayer that we find ourselves growing more and more confident in doing what God has asked of us.
Do you ever look at contemporary art that is worth millions of dollars and think “I don’t get it”? It’s interesting how what some consider masterpieces leave others bewildered, much like the most famous prayer in the Bible: The Lord’s Prayer. However, hidden within it lies a profound message that causes our hearts to answer questions that have the potential to lead us into greater conversation with God and reveals the masterpiece it really is.
A simple 4-word prayer that we can choose to pray either with a passive, one day in the future sentiment or an active, heaven invading earth activistic earnestness. Together we explore just what picture is painted for us in the last words of our Bible found in Revelation 22 and how a powerful prayer emerges for us should we have the courage to embrace it!
Do you feel weak these days? Do you doubt God’s love? Are you missing life & power in your day-to-day experiences? The Apostle Paul guides us through a prayer that he prayed for a group of people in the 1st century who were most likely experiencing these very things. Listen to what he prayed for them. It’s a prayer that we should regularly pray today.
Two words to describe Elijah would be ‘Effective Pray-er’! Wow! This guy had a track record of praying fiery, bold prayers that seemed to move heaven to act on earth! So, what made Elijah’s prayers so effective? Well, this message digs into Elijah’s life from 1 Kings 17-19 to reveal seven ways to make prayer effective!
Of the 222 prayers recorded in the Bible, Peter’s 15-word prayer, recorded in Matthew 14, was the one that excited me the least! However, what it lacks in length, poise, grandeur, and nobility it makes up for in raw passion, authenticity, and results! There is a lot to learn from this little prayer, especially if you happen to be experiencing a storm of your own right now!
Unmet desires and unanswered prayers can bring a significant amount of pain to our lives, yet Hannah’s life in 1 Samuel demonstrates a way to express our pain to God, be persistent in our requests, and stay faithful in our promises. Along the way, we might just find that not only our future changes but our own lives are transformed.
Prayer should be the lifeline of every Christian, nevertheless, in life there are conflicts that occur that affect our prayer life, making prayer a struggle! We will explore the details in Jonah’s life that made him struggle to pray and the relentless pursuit of God for his prayers to find out why prayer is so valuable within our daily lives!
This message takes one of the most overused, confused, misused, and abused words: ‘love’, explores its origins, its place in our current culture, and the reason human love is so limited. It then examines the unique properties and power of a different kind of love: agape!
If relationship phrases like ‘synthetic-relationships’, ‘a knife-in-the-back-of-our-own-selfishness’, ‘out-honouring-others’, and ‘taking-a-relational-laxative’ are unfamiliar to you, then this message from 2 Peter 1:6, Romans 12:10 and 1 Peter 1:22 may be just what you need!
As we attempt to understand the 5th element in Peter’s ‘formula for godly living’, we quickly realize that this idea of ‘godliness’ is somewhat nebulous, antiquated, and difficult to define! In this message, we take on the challenge of defining and taking a firm grip on what it means to be godly as we continue our study in 2 Peter 1:5-9!
Most of us would define ‘perseverance’ as ‘enduring the unpleasant’ with a side of ‘putting up with the painful’. However, as you’re about to discover in this message from 2 Peter 1:6, God’s definition of perseverance is so much more than simply grinning and bearing it! With stories and examples of perseverance, this message will take you from Japan to your laundry room, over to Barcelona and right back to your own heart!
To grasp the value and role “self-control” plays within our everyday lives we need to have a clear picture of what God desires for us. This weekend we will dive deeper into 2 Peter 1:3-4 to create a formula to help us understand God’s plan and our role in it! With the formula, we will also have a better understanding of our need to develop self-control.
If you were to sit down to test your knowledge of God, how well do you think you would do? Many of us would panic thinking, I can’t recite the books of the Bible or name the attributes of God or explain ‘the abomination of desolation’! But that is not the kind of ‘knowledge’ God is calling us to! This message, based on 2 Peter 1:6, explores what ‘knowledge’ means and the difference knowledge of God makes in our lives!
In 2 Peter 1, the apostle Peter lets us know that floating and bobbing in our faith will only lead to us being carried away by the currents of culture, so he provided us with a formula! It’s a formula for following. A formula for a godly life. However, before we can actually learn the formula, we need to lay a foundation. Join us as we do a deep dive into 2 Peter 1:5-9 for the next seven weeks!
This weekend our middle school and high school students took over leading the service! Leading everything from tech, to worship, to preaching, they explore how to cultivate hearts of thankfulness for who God is, how he works in our lives, and challenge us to make praises to him known to our world.
Are you a ‘royal watcher’? Do you enjoy watching ‘The Crown’ and catching up on the latest news of the King, princes, princesses, dukes, and duchesses? Well, this message visits the coronation of King Charles, Queen Elizabeth, and most importantly, Jesus Christ. It asks the question: what is the significance of the Palm Sunday coronation and what are we to learn from it?
One of the proven ways to conduct a thorough investigation is by challenging the problem with the 6-W’s: who, what, where, when, why & how? In this teaching, we will investigate the meaning, function, and significance of ‘surrendering to God’ with the 6-W method, resulting in what will prove to be a better understanding of what surrender actually means!
The Bible contains some rather in-your-face verses about what it takes to be a true follower of Jesus Christ and not just a fan! In this message, we’ll study one of those passages found in James 2:19-20! It’s a shocking passage that talks about ‘demon-faith’ and ‘Christian-atheists’! This all leads us to a dive into what it means to truly surrender to God!
We often think ‘God doesn’t want fans! He wants followers!’ and yet our passage for this message, Hebrews 12:1-3 lets us know God loves fans! God has lined up all sorts of fans!...but you might be shocked at who they are cheering for! In this message, we will study three proofs that God isn’t calling you to be a fan!
Many Christians approach their faith as something that is appealing, comfortable, and convenient! However, those are the marks of a fan, not a follower. As we launch a new series we are calling Not A Fan, we take a look at the characteristics of a fan and the words Jesus spoke to the enthusiastic crowds that showed what he was really looking for.
Most of us have a ‘To-Do-List’, but have you ever created a ‘To-NOT-Do-List’? This message explores the Biblical coaching tips on what-not-to-do-in-relationships and provides some super-practical relationship hacks you have probably never heard of!
Here’s a riddle for you: three frogs are sitting on a rock and one decides to jump off! How many frogs are left on the rock? Well, the answer might surprise you along with the practical usefulness of this relationship hack called ‘intentionality’! This message finds its roots in Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:15-16 with some ridiculously practical relationship-growing-hacks!
No offense, but…” Too late! We’re offended. We live in a time where we get offended pretty easily, and often it is those small offenses that ruin relationships. But it is possible that we can add some relationship hacks into our lives and become unoffendable?
Theory is great! Concepts, methods, and teachings are helpful, but it all falls apart if you don’t have the right tools for effecting change! In this message, we get ridiculously practical and teach out 10 tools for battling, dealing with, and silencing the broken soundtracks that spin around in our heads!
Medical and scientific researchers have been on a quest to discover the source of the voice in our heads. They have a conclusion: all that self-talk has one source – our own brains! However, the Word of God seems to indicate it might be a little more complicated and varied than that! In this study we will explore the four different sources for the thoughts we think, the soundtracks we spin and the temptations we battle!
Have you ever heard a song that had the power to transport you back in time? A song that awakened not only your memories, but your smell and sensations? In many ways, these songs form the soundtrack of our life. However, there are other soundtracks that play in our minds! This series will examine the broken soundtracks that drive us to action and the tendency we all have to overthink!
Who knew that a wildly-popular Christmas song performed by some of the world’s greatest rockers in 1984 would collide with Riverwood’s trip to Eswatini, Africa last week, producing some powerful and profound lessons about Christmas!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the season can be very busy with many different stresses. So today, we want to explore a biblical story that challenges this season's status quo and gives us a fresh obsession with Christmas!
It’s safe to say that our world is pretty much ‘Christmas-obsessed’! While enjoying the whimsical and fanciful elements of this ‘most wonderful time of the year', this message challenges us to consider the real story: the one full of chaos and stress! In that story is found true hope!
We would pretty quickly acknowledge that plagiarism is terrible and when it comes to art, the person who created the art should get the credit. Yet when it comes to God, we hesitate to give him credit, almost as if we’re scared it will go to His head. As we dig up this last piece of lost treasure, we might just find some surprises when it comes to God’s glory and how we’re called to give credit to God.
Read through the Book of Romans and your metal detector is going to buzz and chime no less than 55 times as it passes over this week’s Lost Treasure: Righteousness! What is it? Why is it important? And what kind of practical difference can righteousness make in your life? Join us on our quest in search of lost treasure!
As we continue our search for lost treasures in the book of Romans, this week our journey leads us on a quest to recover the 1st-century idea of faith. Along the way we look at the shortcomings of our English language in capturing the concept of Pistis and take a walk through the Reformation to see if maybe our modern, 21st-century church reflects what Paul was leading the church of Rome towards in his letter.
Welcome to week two of our new series, ‘Lost Treasure’! So far, we’ve examined the lost treasures of ‘God’s wrath’ and ‘Justification’ and in this message we examine a treasure that wasn’t so lost as it was stolen: ‘sin’. Now, before you scroll away, you need to know that sin isn’t a list of ‘don’ts’! It’s way bigger, deeper and more impactful than just a list of abstract rules! In fact, as a result of our study you might just want to go on a search and steal the word ‘sin’ back!
Welcome to the first week of our new series, ‘Lost Treasure’! Over the next 5 weeks, we will be mining for 10 lost treasures buried in the Book of Romans! Five of the treasures we’ll examine in our weekend messages and the other five will be rolled out in our new ‘Life Group Teaching Experience’ on YouTube! Now, this first one is going to be a bit of a bear to wrestle down: the wrath of God! But dig deep and be willing to get a bit dirty, because in the end, you will probably have a new appreciation for this misunderstood concept!
When you hear the word “prayer” what stirs in you? Anxiety? Boredom? Intimidation? This message takes a look at 4 reasons why someone may choose not to pray regularly, and what Followers of Jesus can experience when they are devoted to prayer like the 1st start-up church.
Have you ever wondered what the doctor is listening for when they put the stethoscope to your chest? Are they just listening to hear if you have a heart that is still beating, or is it something more? Well, in this message, we explore the 'heartbeat of the church'! What is the heart of the church? Is there a particular rhythm to the church's heartbeat? ...and how do we ensure we are living in that rhythm?
If we had to name that part of us that acts a bit stingy, begrudging and obsessed with money and things, we might as well just call it ‘Gollum’! This message dives into the powerful spirit of generosity found in the first-church. It also tracks the history of the ‘tithe’ and the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament in regards to giving and tithing.
There is nothing quite like a startup! The excitement. The risk. The tossing between euphoric emotions and raw desperation. In this message we delve into the story of the world’s greatest startup found in Acts 2:42-47, make some observations and ask some really hard questions. Questions like: what happens when your church is 27 years old? Is it possible to recapture startup energy and momentum? And, what would that take?
We’re wrapping up our series on belief and the Book of John with this question: What does it mean to believe and hasn’t secularism (or atheism or humanism and science) made belief outdated and obsolete? If you’re unsure of how to answer that question, this message is for you!
It’s not uncommon to hear or see the phrase “the truth will set you free!” as a motivational speech or protesters sign. People use it all the time to try to communicate a deep-rooted belief they have and want to convince others of. But is it possible that truth and freedom have really just been reduced to feeling? Are our feelings accurate to determine truth, or do we need something more?
Reading the Gospel of John would lead a person to conclude there is no understanding of the Bible without having a firm grasp on what it means to ‘believe’! The word ‘believe’ is used 98 times in this Gospel alone! This message joins Jesus as he takes Nicodemus on a tour of the ‘7 Wonders’ found in John 3:16!
What can we learn about Jesus' disciples? They have the best teacher right in front of them, spending all of His time with them, guiding and sharing with them, yet they often seem to miss what’s being said, lose the point, and head in the wrong direction. How does Jesus respond to them and how is it a good example of how we should respond to Him and those around us?
Two individuals in Luke 18 & 19 appear to have everything, but are actually missing something! In desperation, they both seek out Jesus. His response to them is the same, but they end up walking away with different emotions, and heart postures. This message examines the lives of these two people, and asks what our own response to Jesus will be?
Various surveys suggest the majority of churches haven’t taught or practiced ‘evangelism’ for years and that most individual Christians either don’t do evangelism or go as far as to say it’s wrong in today's culture! This message explores why we view evangelism, a cornerstone concept of our faith, with disdain and how we can still fulfill this part of our calling as Christ followers!
Jesus had a very laser-focussed mission statement: to find the lost and save them! (Luke 19:10). But isn’t that 2000-year-old concept outdated and offensive today? With the world being saved by knowledge, money, science, technology, and advancements…is there any need for Jesus? Or might the world be more lost now than ever?
As we close out week four of our month-long road trip, we have three final destinations! This week, Jesus is preparing to head to the cross and experience the weight of the world on his shoulders... We know how the story ends, but how did Jesus handle the process of being stressed and overwhelmed before the battle was won?
The disciples found themselves being anxious as they traveled toward Jerusalem knowing that Jesus would be killed by the Pharisees and Scribes. This was a road trip like no other. However, as they left the area called Perea they were ambushed by a man who ran up to Jesus and knelt before him. This man’s action resulted in a crowd gathering around him the same way we would gather around a roadside attraction to see what it’s all about. Today we will explore the image and the story of a living Roadside attraction
As we travel with Jesus through the Book of Mark, instead of just breezing by, we’re stopping at a bunch of roadside attractions! This week, Jesus takes us to the countryside and a tour of a number of agriculturally-themed stories that all have a single element in common: a seed! Join us as we slow down to ponder what Jesus was telling us through these parables!
With the invention of the automobile came the birth of the great ‘road trip’ pastime! However, town folk weren’t satisfied to have people whizzing by with their new cars and money! They needed to figure out a way to slow those people down so they would spend some time and money in their town. Thus was born the ‘roadside attraction’! This series will be traveling with Jesus to discover some surprises along the way!
As we journey through the steps of Jesus in Matthew 21-25, we encounter an emotionally charged moment in the temple that sets the stage for a strong message Jesus has for his followers….that faith should never be lost in sentiment.
In a strange but poignant location, Jesus asks his disciples this question, “Who do you say I am?” If your answer to that question is the same as Peter’s, following Jesus is the next logical step. But what does that really look like? In this message, we dive into Jesus’s question and also the challenge He gives to those who have made the choice to follow him.
Matthew sought to bring his audience's attention to the various challenges Jesus encountered while implementing God’s Kingdom agenda on earth. Yet despite the challenges, He kept the focus on his mission and went to enormous lengths to help others see and understand the effects of the Kingdom of Heaven.
If you were an inventor or someone who manufactures stuff, you would have a particular love for ‘prototypes’! Prototypes are ‘early renditions’. They are ‘samples’. They are ‘test runs’! Well, in this message, we watch an ancient prototype come to life in a profound a powerful way! We also learn that what Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven is about as backward, upside-down and difficult as any concept we have ever been introduced to! Difficult, but not impossible with His help!
This message kicks off another year-long Chapter-a-Day reading challenge through the New Testament with a study of Matthew 1-5! Matthew is on a mission! He wants everyone to know exactly who Jesus is and the significance of His coming. So, he breaks the incredible, hard-to-wrap-your-mind-around-it story in the opening chapters of the New Testament!
A moment in history needs to be pretty significant to be awarded the title ‘The Great’! The Great Awakening! The Great Depression! The Great Recession!...and now, we’re living through The Great Resignation! In this message, we examine the effects of The Great Resignation and ‘shrinkflation’ on our souls and our church as we study Nehemiah’s step-by-step guide to launching a fresh start!
What if the enemy has more faith in what God wants to do through the young generation than we do, which he why he works so hard to silence them and we passively allow that to happen? Well, this week our youth are raising their voices and sharing with us their stories, lessons from scripture, and inspiration to challenge us to greatly pursue a relationship with Jesus.
This message explores two powerful dynamics of the ‘tabula rasa’ (fresh-start) process: seeing the options and possibilities, and actually making a decision! Now, it’s hard to make a decision without fully understanding what you’re signing up for! Seeing as this series is about a tabula-rasa for our church, the message lays out the fresh-wording of our 12 Riverwood DNA statements and values, in an effort to help people know what we’re all about!
Tabula-rasa is a gutsy, gritty, realistic form of a ‘fresh start’! So many ‘fresh-start’ experiences are charged with whimsical emotions and expectations, but not tabula-rasa! Tabula-rasa is a fresh-start that will have you feeling the pain of scraping the slate clean. Just what many of us are in need of!
So? How is your peripheral vision? Do you tend to have keen awareness of what is happening away from the main characters and the main action? Do you pick up irregularities that live out near the edges? This message rewinds the Palm Sunday action from Luke 19 and attempts to study the dynamics of the day found in the periphery! It turns out there may be more to Palm Sunday than what you’ve come to know!
Have you ever wondered about the Holy Spirit job description? Why was it crucial that the Holy Spirit be present within our world? Join us as we look at the Holy Spirit's intention for the human race and how he would like to intervene in the life of every believer to produce the fruit of Self-Control.
We are accustomed to doing things our own way and change can be hard to do! Change requires our time, our energy, and our effort and often comes when we have no to little choice! However, God has given us His Holy Spirit to bring about Godly change in us However how do we engage this person of the Holy Spirit to bring about the change we so desperately need? Let’s look into Ephesians 3 where we will explore how the Holy Spirit desires to bring change in our lives and the role we need to play.
As we’ve gone through this series we’ve learned all about how the Spirit produces fruit in our lives. But what happens when we look at our lives and realize the Spirit isn’t working in our lives and maybe we’re the ones getting in His way? This week we’re putting our lives to the test, looking for signs that we might be getting in the way of the Spirit at work. As well as venturing into what it means to be exhibit faithfulness in our lives.
If there are two characteristics the majority of people believe they carry with them, they most certainly are ‘I’m right’ and ‘I’m good’! In this message, we examine the concept of ‘truth’ in the context of the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit! What are the various theories and who is right? Then we’ll take some time to explore the fruit of the Spirit called ‘goodness’! Are you really good?...and what is ‘goodness’ anyway?
This week we take a look at how our understanding of God’s Spirit can be framed through three important passages in the Bible and dig into discovering the meaning of true Spirit-infused kindness.
When you think of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, what is the first passage of scripture that comes to mind? Acts 1 & 2? Or was the activity of the Holy Spirit occurring long before that? We’ll go on a walk thru the Bible to examine the role of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible, and then dive into examining ‘patience’ -a ‘fruit' or evidence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the life of a Christ follower.
So? How well do you know the Holy Spirit? We’ve been looking at messed up ideas people have of the Holy Spirit and this message explores Messed Up Idea #4 – The Holy Spirit is Tame and Accommodating! We then will return to Galatians 5:22 to examine the real meaning of the ‘peace’ that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a Christ-follower!
If our study this week teaches us anything, it’s that many Christians have a messed-up view of the Holy Spirit and of joy! This message dives into the Bible for a more accurate and healthy perspective on both!
Nobody ever wants to be found guilty of being under the influence, unless you’re the Apostle Paul! In this message focused on Galatians 5, Paul states that living under the influence of the Holy Spirit is essential to being a follower of Christ. Then he takes it a step further, and lays out the evidence of someone who is under the influence of the Holy Spirit!
It takes a certain kind of personality to jump off a skyscraper, ride an upside-down rollercoaster, or race Formula 1 cars and not everyone is cut out for these levels of danger! However, dangerous prayers are different! Not only are they for everyone, but they could very well be the key to growing in your love and trust of God!
So often, the majority of our prayers are just about our needs & situations. We approach God as if he is a Cosmic Vending Machine in the sky, with our list of requests in hand. But Jesus taught a more rounded & relational way to pray. In this message we take a look at the template for prayer that Jesus; commonly known as the Lord’s prayer.
Prayer sometimes gets a bad rap because of the many “to-do’s” surrounding it, yet it plays a major role in how we experience God, our world, and the people within our lives. Listen in as we explore the realness and relevance of prayer in our everyday lives.
Sometimes spiritual principles are gleaned from the most unusual of sources! Take this message for instance. It turns out John 14, Revelation 21 and Buddy the Elf have a lot to teach us about our eternal home in heaven! Who knew?
So, how many times have you watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas?” Do you remember what the take-away lesson from that 56-year-old animated show was? Do you think you have the story right?...or could it have actually been about something I missed?...and what is the ‘real Christmas story'?
Most of us have come to believe that the ‘real Christmas story’ involves a young couple, a donkey, some sheep, shepherds, wisemen and, of course, a Baby! This message challenges that conception and tells a version of the story…without any of these common players!
After journeying through the book of Job together for the month of November, this week we take some time to look at what we can take away as we wrestle though the suffering and struggles we see in the world around us and in our own lives. While it would seem that the book of Job searches for the answers to the common human question of why there is suffering in the world, we realize that in the end this question is never actually resolved but it challenges us to discover what God is inviting us into in the midst of these questions.
Job suffered tremendous loss, and in the midst of it, his words and actions give us insight for how to get through our losses today. In this message we will unpack 3 helpful strategies for surviving the losses of life
Fascinating! Job’s three friends held degrees in theology, philosophy, natural science, and rhetorical analysis! They and their way of looking at life represented the majority! Meanwhile, Job was beat up, broke, frustrated, and attempting to put God on trial. Yet, God scolded the three friends and said they should be more like Job! Why? What did Job have that the three friends didn’t?
Job teaches us a lot about positive and negative ways to handle suffering, loss and the giant storms that happen in our lives. Let’s take a look at our myriad of responses and ask God to show us the way through
In this mini-series, Paul is giving us a total of eight practical and highly effective tools for disarming landmines: emotionally explosive issues! However, this series is more than just a theoretical teaching. Last weekend we uncovered and attempted to disarm the highly volatile issue of vaccines, QR codes, and segregation. This weekend we wander into the minefield to acknowledge one of the most explosive of issues: the church and the LGBTQ2S+ community. These issues are a test of how well we have learned to use the tools Paul gives us!
We all hide them! We all navigate them! We are all triggered by them! Explosive topics. Difficult issues. Philosophical, emotional, theological landmines! This weekend we’re going to enroll in the Apostle Paul’s ‘School of Disarming Landmines’, 101 and 201 levels. In the end, you will receive six practical tools and a homework assignment!
Fences are great! They provide clear definition of where the line is. They protect. Fences guard and provide us with a sense of security. However, fences also create barriers and send a clear message, “You don’t belong in here!” In this message, we watch as Jesus goes on a mission to pull out the fence posts and move the fences!
"There is no doubt that we are living in a remarkably divided, polarized and fractured world! While voices desperate for change yell louder, our ability to listen to one another is shrinking. In the midst of all this, we have the audacity to believe that God has given us a mission 'to be a God-powered, unified, restorative force in the world!' But how? How is it even possible to be united and unified?"
After diving into a personal “What Now” experience, we continue to explore Joshua’s journey through the impossible and discovering our mission to be a God-centred, unified, restorative force in the world. This message dives into chapter 20 and the Cities of Refuge Joshua was asked to build and how they show us a beautiful picture of God’s invitation to join in his restorative vision for the world.
They are invisible, imperceptible and you would never know they even existed if it weren’t the way the receiver lights up! Satellite signals! This message examines how Joshua lost contact with God in Joshua 9:14, not unlike when a satellite signal is dropped. We then turn to ask, “How is the power of God made real in our lives?” and we discover three very practical, actionable ways to ensure the connection is strong!
At this point in the pandemic, 18 months in with little sign of an end in sight, many people are asking “What now?” As church leaders, we certainly are! This message, from the Book of Joshua, takes time to acknowledge our losses and cast a compelling vision of the future!
One more young adult and two more high school students bring us God's Word from Leviticus!
This week we wrap up our 5 week series on the attributes of God from Psalm 89-119 with a look at the big-three ‘omni’ attributues!
This week, our investigation of the identity of God leads us to an attribute that often comes into question when we experience suffering. Is God good … all the time? We’ll delve into 3 places to look for the evidence of God’s goodness, especially during times of struggle.
This week, our investigation of the identity of God takes us face to face with two of the most controversial, contested and resisted attributes of God!
Linguistic DNA…is that actually a thing? We continue our experiment of putting on our detective lenses and investigate the identity and attributes of God from Psalm 89 – 119! We will discover how old cars can help us understand something we discover about God’s character as we uncover the language of Psalm 98 and 100.
It’s a relatively new technique in uncovering someone’s identity and it’s called ‘Forensic Linguistics’! This month we’ll bounce off some interesting criminal cases where forensic linguistics was used and we’ll use this idea to further investigate the identity and attributes of God from Psalm 89 – 119! In this message, we’ll be introduced to the tool and techniques and apply them to the first few verses of Psalm 89.
The heart is far more than a red, one dimensional shape featured on a Hallmark card! It is complex, tricky and, if not monitored, lead you into all sorts of trouble! That’s why God says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it will determine the course of your life!” This weekend we’re wrapping up our series with the last four of 12 EKG leads running from the Bible directly to our hearts!
This message will hook up EKG leads #5-8 in our series! These leads will run directly from the Bible to our hearts in an effort to measure the vitality of our ‘hearts’ and reveal any possible defects or deficiencies!
Is your heart, not the 2-chamber muscle in your chest, but your ‘other heart’ healthy? How would you know? Well, in this message we begin hooking up the first four of 12 EKG leads from God’s Word to our hearts to assess their health and strength!
“Would you ever consider having a porcupine as a pet? Well, some people think being in favour of ‘God’s judgement’ is just as ridiculous! However, in this message, we examine what you need to know about the prickly issue of God’s judgement! (Spoiler: It’s not what you think!)
Salvation is one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. Does this doctrine practically apply to our lives only when we choose to accept God’s gift of salvation, or is there something to consider even decades later? The prophet Isaiah speaks to this in Isaiah 17.
When we take a look at Isaiah 9 with a bit of emotional distance from the Christmas season, we discover that it has something to say to us about the fundamental role that hope plays within the story of our faith. Together we will explore a Theology of Hope and how we often mis-apply it to our lives and hopefully discover what it should look like when put into practice.
The doctrine is simple: God is holy! But what does that mean and what are the practical implications for us? Well, the prophet Isaiah does a brilliant job of spelling this out for us in Isaiah 6:1-9! The conclusion: It’s not unlike befriending a radioactive great white shark in space!
Can you believe it? This weekend we’re heading home! But not before making six more short stops and meeting six more everyday Christ followers, living out their faith…half way around the world from us!
During the first two weekends we travelled 33,095 km in search of the Acts of the Holy Spirit today! If week one was all about the spread of the Gospel and people coming to Christ and week two was all about paradigm shifts and confronting restrictive stereotypes, then this weekend is about the cost of following Christ and persecution!
Pack your bags as we take off on our journey "Around the World in 30 Days"! Seeking and finding what the Holy Spirit is doing all around the world as we continue our daily chapter-a-day challenge through the book of Acts!
It's been said, that to build something, you need to do it twice! Once in your mind and then physically! This ‘building something in your mind’ we commonly call ‘vision’ or ‘chazown’ in the ancient Hebrew! This message makes the case for getting rid of excuses and beginning to build God’s future for us with vision!
So, what if you actually did have a really good excuse? Like Parkinson's! In this message, the winner of Canada’s Amazing Race, season #1, shares his story, struggles and insights in light of ‘No Excuses’, his battle with Parkinson’s and Paul’s thorn in the flesh from 2 Corinthians 12!
One day, in Luke 14, Jesus told a powerful story about excuses! Today, we’re going to school on the story and we’ll draw out the key principles Jesus was teaching as well as some super-powerful truths about excuses!
What is an excuse? Why do we reach for them so quickly? And what does God’s Word have to say about excuses? This weekend we’re launching a new series for a new year rooted in the Book of Proverbs called “No Excuses!” Get ready! We’re about to challenge the ruts and outrun the excuses!
So? Any regrets? Any moments you wish you could have a chance to do over from this last year? On this first Sunday of a brand new year, we’re taking a look at God’s amazing ability to help people make a fresh start!
For the last three weekends we’ve been walking through Luke 1 & 2, meeting the characters that played a pivotal role in the original Christmas story. While many people are getting ready to pack up Baby Jesus and put Christmas away for another year, we’re continuing the story with what happened next!
As we flip through the photo album we know as Luke chapters 1 and 2, we’re taking time to study the characters we meet on these pages! Herod, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the Angels and this weekend, Simeon, Anna and the Maggi! We join them in their search for the Messiah!
Our tour down the halls of history continues this week as we make our way through Luke 1 & 2! The walls of this magnificent monument are lined with the portraits of unsuspecting people, caught up in the unfolding drama that will one day become ‘Christmas’! Join us as we study and learn from each of these portraits!
As we move into our tenth month of this pandemic, weariness is becoming a theme for many! Our new series, inspired by the old Christmas carol, O Holy Night, will introduce us to some of the original weary characters of the story and provide us with fresh and timely inspiration for the season…and life!
Today, we’re going to wrap up our series with the final two ingredients for making ‘strong yarn’ in an effort to be ‘knit together in love’ (Colossians 2:2). These final two ingredients may actually turn out to be two of the most important and essential ingredients for anyone who hopes to have healthy relationships!
Today our message series takes a shift! For the last few weeks we’ve been rolling out Biblically inspired, practical strategies for connecting during a pandemic! Today, as we look at strategies 7 & 8, we’re not going to study a technique, but rather the composition and ingredients for making strong and healthy relationship yarn!