Brunswick Street Baptist Sermon Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brunswick Street Baptist Church
Welcome to our weekly podcast, brought to you by Brunswick Street Baptist Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Missed the sermon or want to listen again? We've got you covered. To learn more, visit our website at thestreetonline.ca.
On a Thursday evening in Luke chapter 22, Jesus gathers with his disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. At a momentous point in the evening, he turns to them and declares: “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Is there any background for this declaration that might help us to further appreciate our own Communion celebration this week? In a short meditation to prepare our hearts, we will discover that Jesus’ potent phrase the new covenant comes from the book of Jeremiah, just after the halfway point in this scroll that details the prophet’s long and stressful career. Indeed, the life and times of Jeremiah take place during one of the worst seasons in the history of God’s people, as the Babylonian army was threatening to destroy the city and march the citizens into exile.
Even worse, the prophet is imprisoned by his own people while the city is under siege.Yet, at this bleakest of moments the word of God comes to Jeremiah with a startling announcement: “the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,” and our reflections on this passage will prepare us to receive the bread and the cup with fresh gratitude and a sense of wonder.
After the farewell on the beach with the members of the Ephesian community of believers—tearful, as they will not ever meet again—Acts 21:1-15 features a voyage from Miletus all the way to Jerusalem, with several stops in between: on more than one occasion after arriving on the coast, Paul is prophetically warned that danger and imprisonment await, and many people of faith are concerned and urge him not to keep going to Jerusalem!
A number of relevant questions for us arise in this section of God’s Word (How do we discern God’s will for our lives? Should we seek to avoid the way of suffering?). But we will especially focus on a particular issue that seems timely for all of us at BSBC in these days: how do we prepare ourselves for whatever lies ahead, and how do we fortify ourselves for times of uncertainty so that we can remain standing in any kind of adverse circumstance?
As we listen carefully, we will note some practical possibilities for application to our lives in this Mediterranean cruise that takes us all the way from Asia Minor to the city of Jerusalem itself. This section of Acts brings Paul’s “Third Missionary Journey” to an end, but another (more difficult) journey is just beginning.
Dr. Robert Knowles was appointed as Vice-President for Advancement of Crandall University in 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Atlantic Baptist College (now Crandall University), a Master of Divinity from Acadia University, a Master of Arts from Providence Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He is also a graduate of the Arrow Leadership Program.
An ordained Canadian Baptist minister, Dr. Knowles served in student pastoral roles for 4 years (Central Norton Baptist Church, Pleasantville Baptist Church, Brentwood Baptist Church) before joining the staff at Highfield Baptist Church in Moncton in 1992, where he served first as an Associate and later as Senior Pastor for a total of 11 years. From 2003-2012 he served as Senior Pastor of New Minas Baptist Church. During his time at New Minas, Dr. Knowles served as the President of Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (2010).
Dr. Knowles has served in a variety of roles in the Baptist and wider Christian community including the Board of Touchstone Counseling Group, Board of Governors and Senate of Crandall University, and the Board of Ministerial Standards and Education for Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. He is a frequent guest preacher throughout Atlantic Canada.
In his spare time he enjoys fly tying and fly fishing for trout and Atlantic salmon. He and his wife Crystal are the proud parents of four children. AND, he was a compatriot of Pastor Greg during their student days at Atlantic Baptist College.
The text is John 20:1-16 as Mary Magdalene is the first witness to our risen Lord! Why did Jesus choose to appear to Mary first? As we live our lives, sometimes we lose sight of Christ in the dark times, but we need only remember HIs devotion and love for us to help bring us back into the light. Praise God for His plan which eclipses any plan we could ever dream!
Pastor Greg shares a message based on Romans 3: 21-2.
He writes: I don’t know about you, but it seems a bit of a challenge these days to find real JOY! So, on Sunday, let’s consider an unending source of joy.
The first-century citizens of Jerusalem had specific expectations for the Messiah, and building on some of the great prophetic words of the past, anticipated that “salvation” from the Roman Empire would surely arrive on that long-forecasted day. Riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, many interpreted Jesus as the fulfillment of Zechariah’s message, and that political freedom was at hand. However, the truth of Palm Sunday is much more explosive, and the message of this day is that we can be set free from something even more serious than political oppression or military intimidation, and contemporary believers are therefore encouraged to live according to this new reality.
Our study of John chapter 12 this week will include highlights from surrounding episodes that include the plot of Caiaphas, the reappearance of Lazarus and the meal of Bethany, but we will mainly focus on the message of Palm Sunday in the context of Passover, challenging all of us at BSBC to wave branches for the right reasons and welcome the Messiah to be enthroned in every area of our lives.
At the midpoint of the Book of John, there are increasing hostilities directed toward Jesus, to that point that he and a company of disciples are forced to flee from Jerusalem and seek refuge on the other side of the Jordan. Meanwhile, an important friend, Lazarus (whose name means “God has helped”), grows critically ill, and soon dies. Among the most puzzling lines is John 11:6: “When Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”
This message during the season of Lent will explore the meaning of this sentence in the context of the Lazarus episode, and explore why Jesus waited, and what contemporary believers might learn from this story that moves from despair to resurrection hope. In this pivotal chapter that features a number of characters and important biblical themes, we will be challenged to re-envision how these events in Bethany (“house of affliction”) can potentially transform our understanding of the Easter experience.
Our voyage in the book of Acts continues this week, quite literally as we sail with Paul and his leadership team from Troas and around the eastern Aegean to the port of Miletus. In a hurry to reach Jerusalem, Paul sends for key representatives of the Christian community in Ephesus to come and meet him for some farewell fellowship.
To this point in the book many of the great speeches have been articulated for the benefit of “outsiders,” that is, those interested in learning more about Jesus the Messiah. However, this episode in Acts 20 features a long speech primarily addressed to insiders, that is, those who already are disciples. To this group—from the influential city of Ephesus, that we have compared to Toronto or New York—Paul discusses several important ideas.
First, Paul shares about the inevitability of hardship in the journey of following Jesus. What kind of obstacles should we expect, and how can we best prepare ourselves for adversity? Second, he talks about the necessity of spiritual discernment. Paul warns the Ephesians that “fierce wolves will come in after I am gone, and they won't spare the flock. Yes, even from among yourselves people will arise, saying things which will distort the truth, and they will draw the disciples away after them.” Are any such wolves around today, and if so, how should we respond? Third, Paul concludes with a long encouragement about our inheritance from the Lord, infinitely greater than silver and gold, encouraging us to be generous and help those who are weak.
Because we at TheStreet are living in uncertain days, Acts 20 provides a great deal of practical wisdom to a prominent group of first-century believers that we can apply in our lives today.
With Easter being just around the corner, and a lasting trial that has impacted all of us in many different ways still upon us, I am blessed to have an opportunity to bring our attention upwards, to the ever-lasting hope that is found in God alone. Together we will examine a few verses that carry what needs to be heard in this complex season of Humanity and be shared with all. Plus, you will be presented with an opportunity to join in on our colourful Easter BSBC project called: "Into your Hands." I look forward to see how God will speak to each one of us next Sunday morning!
Pastor Greg is this week’s preacher, live in both services. Building on last Sunday’s sermon on Mission Edge Churches, he’ll be leading us to consider how BSBC fits in that Mission Edge definition. One day the pandemic will be over. By that time, the BSBC family needs to have already coalesced around a defined mission and to have already dreamed and planned and continued to act from a resolve to “make disciples of all nations” with loving , thoughtful and Spirit-led ministries. It’s a tall order. My prayer is that it continues with earnestness and purpose. Please pray to that end.
As part of our three-week Life Together Sermon Series, Dr. Greg Jones introduces us to the concept of Mission Edge Churches and the characteristics that define them. Greg serves our denomination of Canadian Baptist of Atlantic Canada as the ‘Associate Executive Minister for Congregational Renewal’.
Our denomination deems Mission Edge Churches to be on the cutting edge of effectiveness in gospel ministry and engagement with society.
In the city of Troas there is an incredible event in Acts 20:7-12: a young man named Eutychus is sitting in a window listening to the apostle Paul, but then falls three stories to his death, although the story is not over. Back in chapter 16, we noticed that Paul and his team depart from the port city of Troas to commence their European missionary tour.
Now in chapter 20, they return to this city and celebrate communion with the other believers. But an exciting evening with the apostle turns catastrophic when young Eutychus suffers that mortal fall. However, his resurrection is a memorable illustration of the power of God to change our lives and bring us back from spiritual death.
There are several practical applications for contemporary believers at BSBC in this short episode, including our identity as a community that has a radically new perspective on resurrection (much like the careers of Elijah and Elisha emphasize), and the understated value of fellowship in a frenzied world.
Dr. Bodner is taking us back to the beginning, to the fourth chapter of the book of Genesis. The sermon, entitled “Why Are You Angry?” focuses on the first major episode to take place outside the Garden, a potent reminder about the persistence of evil and anger, but also provides longings for a remedy.
After the exile of Adam and Eve from Eden, Genesis 4 begins on a happy enough note with the birth of sons, who grow up and bring offerings of thanks to God. But the story takes a dark turn when Cain’s offering is not received with favor, and his anger threatens to spiral dangerously out of control.
For believers at BSBC today, there are at least two powerful lessons in this story. First, Genesis 4 contains mention of “sin” in the book, and here sin is described as a dangerous beast that is waiting in ambush outside the door to consume its victim (who really needs to remain within the safe “house”). Second, there is a sober reminder that while there are external sources of evil and malice (i.e., the snake), there are also internal sources of evil that lurk within, and this message will include some practical discussion about guarding our hearts.
Despite mayhem in a major league stadium and a serious conspiracy to destroy the apostle, Acts 20:1-6 underscores that the journey of the good news is undaunted by violent outbursts and subtle plots.
The riot at Ephesus Stadium is set in motion because the business of idolatry in that city is disrupted by changed lives due to the gospel. But far from diminishing the advance of the gospel to the ends of the earth, the next installment of the story illustrates that such “setbacks” can be used by God, and contains a number of useful applications for us at TheStreet.
First, this section of Acts 20 stresses the importance of teamwork in reaching our cities. Second, the layers of conspiracy remind us of a central theme throughout the biblical witness: God’s takes opposition and redeploys it for a much different and much greater purpose. And third, the return to the city of Philippi is a stunning declaration that God can take the smallest seeds and cause them to grow to incredible heights.
Despite the scarcity of resources, there are abundant lessons about discipleship in the wilderness adventures of the Israelites. On the first Sunday of 2021, we explored Numbers 13-14, a pivotal event that takes place in the desert of Paran on the threshold of the land of promise. Despite witnessing copious examples of God’s supernatural power, in a singular failure of faith and vision the people of God refuse to believe God’s promises, and instead cower in fear, desiring a return to Egypt.
The words of Joshua and Caleb (“Don’t fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us”) are unheeded, and the result is forty years of wandering in the wilderness. At the threshold of fulfillment, why the stunning lack of faith, why the fear, and what might have prevented it?
This week we will probe deeper, and suggest some earlier lessons that God’s people needed to internalize. For all of us at BSBC today there are some valuable insights in this section of Scripture, and we will study several verses that will inspire us to live with wisdom and courage as we continue our journey of faithful discipleship and seek to honor our Lord Jesus in 2021.
Through a chaotic scene in the Arena of Ephesus, the reader of Acts hears an unexpected voice of reason at an opportune moment that prompts us think about the intersection of faith and our contemporary world. Comparing Ephesus to New York City is apt, and in both places the gospel is apparently not needed. Yet, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the early church community shares the message of good news in challenging circumstances.In the next installment at Ephesus, a dangerous antagonist arises: Demetrius, a silversmith who produces images and shrines of the goddess Artemis. Known as Diana to the Romans, her image allegedly fell from heaven, and is therefore venerated by the Ephesians in a temple that is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. When the situation in the 24,000 seat stadium of Ephesus is spiraling out of control, a civic administrator speaks sensible words with shades of Gamaliel back in chapter five and Gallio in Corinth.This episode raises important issues for us at TheStreet, such as the critique of idolatry and confronting controversial elements in our present-day society.
After a long stay in Corinth, often nicknamed the “Las Vegas” of ancient Greece, Paul crosses over to the bustling city of Ephesus to share the good news in the modern equivalent of New York City.
Since arriving in Europe we have learned some things about Paul that we didn’t know before: not only is he a Roman citizen (a valuable commodity in the first-century world) but he is also a tentmaker by trade, and both of these elements in his background are later used in his ministry.
The move from Corinth to Ephesus challenges us at Brunswick Street to think afresh about how we share the message of the gospel in difficult circumstances, and to remain faithful and persevere while trusting that God is always at work in every fractured and hurting human heart.