Cu20 Podcast: Recent Episodes
Cu20
CU20 is the young adults ministry of Peoples Church of Montreal. We are a group of young Christians who gather in downtown Montreal to talk about issues regarding faith in Jesus and how to live as followers of Jesus in the modern world. Here are links to our website and social media if you would like to contact us or find out more...
www.peoplesmontreal.org/cu20/ www.instagram.com/cu20mtl/?hl=en facebook.com/groups/404731622896963/
In today's episode, we discuss what it means to have a generous heart. We then take a look at how to give effectively and why exactly the Bible calls us to do so.
Today we share 5 surprising things we learned from reading "The Freedom of Self-forgetfulness" by Tim Keller
The Bible speaks a surprising amount about friendship. What it is, why it's important, and how to foster it. Listen to Jess and Chris become better friends as we talk about friendship with you (very meta).
Have you ever been terrified of starting conversations about faith? Does the word “evangelism” make you want to run away screaming? We understand those feelings which is why this episode is a more relaxed approach to talking about faith. Join us as we ask questions, address our fears and share the successes experienced as we’ve taken Christ seriously and talked about him.
God’s grace gives us freedom to do whatever we want...right? In this episode, we share why this is true but also a great misunderstanding of the true gospel. Join us as we discuss the freedom Christ gives us to say no to sin as we trust Him and serve others.
This episode is a continuation of our Snack-Sized Series. Our goal is to quickly teach you about Jewish holidays in the old testament and how they point to Christ. Part 6 of our series explores the meaning of Pentecost.
This episode is a continuation of our Snack-Sized Series. Our goal is to quickly teach you about Jewish holidays in the old testament and how they point to Christ. Part 5 of our series explores the Feast of First Fruits.
This episode is a continuation of our Snack-Sized Series. Our goal is to quickly teach you about Jewish holidays in the old testament and how they point to Christ. Part 4 of our series explores the meaning of Passover.
Welcome to our new Snack-Sized-Series! This series aims to quickly teach you about Jewish holidays and how they point to Christ while providing a renewed appreciation for God’s work in our lives. Part 3 of our series explores the Feast of Booths.
Welcome to our new Snack-Sized-Series! This series aims to quickly teach you about Jewish holidays and how they point to Christ while providing a renewed appreciation for God’s work in our lives. Part 2 of our series explores the Day of Atonement.
Welcome to our new Snack-Sized-Series! This series aims to quickly teach you about the Holy Days prescribed by God in the bible and how they point to Christ while providing a renewed appreciation for God’s work in our lives. Part 1 of our series explores the Feast of Trumpets.
Today’s episode takes a deep dive into the topic of God’s promises. Our discussion aims to answer the following question: if God can really be trusted to keep his promises, how does this provide hope in situations that appear hopeless? We pray this reflection helps you develop a solid foundation for hope in turbulent times.
What are the true costs of conforming to hustle culture? How does our obsession with work affect our spiritual and relational health? To answer these questions, Chris and Jess describe a few personal stories and ponder scripture to help us understand how to carefully respond to society’s pressure to perform.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
How exactly did the bible go from being an ancient text written thousands of years ago to a book that’s still read in the modern age? This episode covers a brief history of the bible to help us understand where it comes from and how it can fascinate and transform us to this day.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Have you ever found it difficult to understand the bible? Are there passages that are particularly hard to interpret? Today, Chris and Jess unpack a few personal reasons why this can happen. They also discuss verses that are typically misinterpreted and explain how seeing the Gospel as the centre of the bible helps clarify these passages.
If you’ve been around christians long enough, you probably have a preconceived idea about the meaning of the word “blessed.” But what if this word has a deeper meaning? In this episode, Chris and Jess explore the true definition of the word “blessed” and its implications for our relationship with God. We hope this episode surprises you and gives you a new appreciation for what journeying with Christ is all about!
Today we tackle a listener’s question that came up in light of the scandals discovered in Ravi Zacharias International Ministries: when famous spiritual leaders derail their lives and gravely hurt others, what hope do the rest of us have of remaining faithful to Christ? This difficult question leads to a discussion on what is essential in leadership and what characterises a truly great leader.
website: peoplesmontreal.org email: christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Does God always answer prayers? Does the bible guarantee that He always listens to His children regardless of their behaviour? Chris and Jess answer these questions and also discuss how to have a sincere and effective prayer life.
website: peoplesmontreal.org email: christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Jesus uses the Last Supper with His disciples as an opportunity to establish some of the hallmark features of the community that will carry the gospel forward. One of those key features is servant leadership, modelled after His own heart as the one who came to serve and not to be served.
website: peoplesmontreal.org email: christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Pastor Bobby unpacks what it means to say Amen and why we should say it more regularly.
This week we will continue on our journey through the book of Luke. We will be covering a large section of chapter 21. In this section Jesus gives a prophecy about the destruction of the temple and speaks of The End, which is mirrored in the temple destruction. This rich and complex passage has a lot to teach us if we take the time to listen.
website: peoplesmontreal.org email: christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
In Luke 20:20-26 Jesus is posed a highly charged political question. It was a question that was designed to not have a right answer and answering it was meant to alienate some portion of his base or another. Jesus answers it in a way that radically reframes the issue and give us a grounding when it comes to developing all our political opinions and how to talk about politics. In our highly politicized world it is very timely that we listen once again to Jesus on this issue.
website: peoplesmontreal.org email: christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Why is it important to think deeply about hot-topic issues? Why should we listen to others (and the bible) and let them challenge our natural biases? And why is this process so challenging? Chris and Jess tackle these questions in a way that will hopefully help you re-examine your unquestioned answers!
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
In today’s episode, we’re using the concept of a True Crime podcast to answer the question, “Who Killed Jesus?” Understanding this helps us discover who Jesus truly is and what it means to be a christian.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email to christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
This week at CU20, Peter Sollazzo will be bringing a teaching on Deconstruction. This is the process by which Christians are questioning aspects of Christianity, the Church, or the teaching of the bible and figuring out what to do with them them. "If you’re deconstructing, you’re likely seeking to make sense of your faith—if Jesus is worth trusting, if it’s your faith and not just some inherited belief system, if there are too many problematic or perplexing issues with Scripture, if it’s worth putting up with the failures and hypocrisy of so many who claim the name of Christ.." Ivan Mesa
Deconstruction is not anything new, but it is a growing trend. It is something that can potentially be either a positive or negative phenomenon depending on how it is handled. For instance, we could deconstruct elements of church culture that are largely societal not biblical. However it could also lead to a church that is entirely culturally determined and not biblical. There is a lot at stake here.
Link https://www.peoplesmontreal.org/ email christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Welcome to this special CU20 podcast. The man being interviewed is Nick Nardi. When Nick was 25 he admits that money had become his god and he was on a path to doing whatever it took to get money however he could. Then Nick was prompted to go on a quest to disprove the existence of God, it was on this quest he discovered who Jesus really was and became a Christian. His new found faith radically altered his life plan as Jesus dethroned money as his true God. Nick has now spent many years in the world of business as a Christian and trying to be a missionary where ever God puts him. During his career Nick has run companies, started businesses and financed businesses. More recently he has even run a start-up incubator where 55 of the 58 start-ups broke even. He also is a guest speaker at the McGill MBA program and is a judge on the McGill Executive MBA final projects. During his career Nick has learned the joys and challenges of being a Christian in the workplace, up to the highest levels of management. He is hoping to share his insights with us and encourage those who are entering the work place or have questions about how faith intersects with work.
If you would like to contact us, please email Pastor Chris christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
In this episode, Jonny Somerville from Scripture Union Ireland helps us answer the question “what would Jesus Cancel?” We explore cancel culture and ponder what Jesus has to say about standing with those whom society condemns. We also discuss how to lovingly engage with one another and remain close to Jesus.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
You can learn more about Scripture Union Ireland here https://scriptureunion.ie/
You can learn about & download the Voke App here and watch the NUA Film series with a friend! https://www.vokeapp.com/
What do healthy relationships with people in ministry look like? What kind of boundaries should we have in these relationships? Chris and Jess offer their perspective on these issues while also taking a look at what the bible says about church leadership.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email to christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Self-deception is one of the key things that makes it so hard for us to effectively fight sin. In this episode, we explore more on self-deception but also address how the gospel frees us from the lies we tell ourselves.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email to christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
In this episode of Food For Thoughts, we discuss how to intentionally listen to and pursue friends who have left the faith.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email to christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
The bible is filled with passages describing how a change of behaviour first requires a change of heart. In this episode, Chris and Jess explore some of these scriptures, ponder the meaning of repentance and give practical advice to experience true change.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please reach out via email to christopher.shipster@peoplesmontreal.org
Our society encourages us to follow our hearts...but what if they are wrong and our hearts make lousy guides? Chris and Jess explore this question and challenge us to centre our lives on something deeper in this episode of Food for Thoughts. If you would like to reach out to us, please send an email at connect@peoplesmontreal.org
What exactly is loneliness and its causes? What are practical ways to address it when the pain won’t go away? Chris and Jess answer these questions to ultimately uncover the hope that Christ offers the lonely.
If you would like someone to pray over you this Christmas, please listen and pray along with me. After the end of the recording, begin to offer your own prayers to God for this Christmas season.
Contrary to popular belief, the bible describes the first Christmas in very messy terms. This episode takes a deeper look at this mess and how the gospel is unstoppable even when chaos surrounds our own experience of Christmas.
What does the bible really teach about the sabbath? How should it inform our own rhythms of rest? Chris and Jess explore these questions in a way that will hopefully prompt you to take a well-needed break.
In this second episode, Chris and Jess unpack 3 surprising reasons why knowing God's will for your life involves lying on your couch and being still before Him.
What do pond scum and childhood memories have in common? They're both topics of conversation in this pilot episode where we get to know Chris and Jess.
This is the first in our new series, in which we will dive in to the basics of Christianity. We will be following along the book, "Basic Christianity" by John Stott, and next week we will dive right in to Chapter 1.
You may be surprised to learn that joy and peace are considered evidence of the Kingdom in the same way that righteousness is (Rom 14:17). We hare commanded to have joy in Phil 4:4. Joy forms an important part of our lives as God's people and after all why wouldn't it? We have huge reasons to experience joy as Christians and have a deep well of hopeful and wonderful truths to dip into at anytime to infuse any situation with joy.
As a supplement to the sermon on Joy. I found this devotional today and I thought it was really good. It touched on way we keep joyful in trying times. I recorded myself reading the chapter which is from a devotional book called "Thy Geekdom Come" (Which is a fantastic and insightful book). I hope you listen and enjoy.
The topic of the sermon will be a study on Phil 4 which touches on how to cope with fear and anxiousness, also how to build a strong mind and heart to weather the storms of life. I am calling the sermon Flattening the Curve, because it ties strongly to the overall strategy we find ourselves in, and it links strongly to managing fears and anxiety, which can spike quickly too if it is not managed well.
As we continue our journey through Luke, it's important that we deal with strange or confusing texts when we can. This is one such text. Jesus tells a parable with seems to advocated dishonest behavior and then applies the story as a moral lesson. What is going on in this passage and how are we to apply it? What we discover is a simple but powerful (and perhaps painful) truth that Jesus brings crashing into our lives.
Matt, Mark and Luke all give an account of the transfiguration where we get to see the clearest picture, thus far, of who Jesus is. Luke interestingly sandwiches this account between 2 prophetic statements by Jesus regarding his imminent death. We the reader are meant to compare and contrast these 2 truths. By doing so we can come to grips with a fuller understanding of Jesus and his mission.
In Luke 14 Jesus makes a statement of uncompromising cost. Jesus told his disciples, "whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Why does Jesus ask for such an uncompromising commitment, and is he worth the cost it will mean to follow Him? These are the questions we will be asking in this Podcast.
There is a deep heart aching question mark that hangs over all of our hearts and heads. The big WHY question. Why do bad things happen? Why do we suffering? Why is there so much pain?
The bible gives rich and nuanced responses to these groans in our hearts. Overall the bible's aim is not to give us a complete answer to the why question, but rather to pull us back from wrong and corrupted answers we can often turn to. Instead the bible points us to the ultimate reality behind this one, to a God who is not immune to our pain and who moves to save us from a broken and hostile world.
In Luke 13, Jesus speaks to the existence of bare faced evil and horrible disasters, telling us what thinking to avoid, and how to respond rightly to calamity.
We are honored to be joined by Ryan Bussiere, Pastoral Apprentice at Church 21, to come and bring the message for us. He will be speaking from Luke 11:37-44
During the time of Jesus, Israel was rife with religious ritual and tradition. Jesus is quick to point out that unless a religious ritual results in a heart change then it is not useful or God honoring. The true act of cleansing that should be focused on is an internal cleaning of sinful motives and thoughts. A true relationship with God will result in this kind of change.
Find out more about CU20 at http://www.peoplesmontreal.org/cu20/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/404731622896963/
I probably don't need to ask you if you are worried or stressed out about something, because it is almost certain that you are. We all carry a lot of worries and fears around with us these days. It is good to know that Jesus has some solid and freeing advice about how to cope with worry and anxiety.
Sermon Notes Nine Promises for Every Anxiety // Battling Unbelief (John Piper) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G1safVBlQo
City without Stars https://thierrycohen.com/pages/work/starlights.html
What causes Jesus to erupt in praise and celebration? We find out one cause in Luke 10: 17-24, perhaps surprisingly or perhaps not, it's the gospel! Jesus celebrates as He sees the fruit of The Father's plan coming into the world. He points his disciples to the gospel as the true reason to celebrate and the foundation to establish your joy and identity off of too. There is a surprising amount to unpack out of this small account sandwiched between two popular sections of scripture. Please join us as we look through this often overlooked section and find the treasure within to celebrate.