Centre Street Church: Recent Episodes
Centre Street Church
Centre Street Church is one church many locations. Listen weekly to the Biblical teaching from Centre Street that focus on Christ at the centre of your lifes, your community, your city and your world.
God wants to transform your life, conform it to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, and use you mightily for His Glory.
Dale Carnegie once said that, “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Our name is the word for who we are, it is the symbol of our identity. In Scripture, names have huge significance because they provide such a critical clue to who we are. Think of names like Abraham, Isaac, or the most important name of all – Emmanuel - that spoke to who the person was and how they would act in the world.Most of us carry around names beyond the one we were given when we were born. Some are good, and some are not so good. These are things we believe about ourselves based on what we’ve experienced or what we’ve been told. This week we will wrap up our summer series with a message entitled In Search of a New Name and will look at how God will give us an identity rooted in the work and righteousness of Jesus.
Unresolved conflict takes up a tremendous amount of mental and emotional energy. Our culture often advises us that in conflict situations, it is best to dissolve the relationship. This is a temporary solution at best that leaves us with emotional wreckage. In Matthew 5, Jesus makes it clear that being reconciled with the people around us is vitally important in our walk with Him.
Luke 19 describes an encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus. Because of his meeting with the Lord, and as a result of the interest and concern Jesus had for him, Zacchaeus committed to making things right with anyone he had harmed. Making things right with others is an essential part of being set free and being made whole.
In Matthew 18, the disciple Peter approaches Jesus to ask Him about forgiving others. Peter approaches Jesus with the assumption that there are limits to forgiveness – one person can only forgive so much. In response, Jesus tells Peter a story that provides an insight into God’s forgiveness and makes it clear that there are no boundaries on forgiveness.
This week we pick up our series, “Beneath the Surface: Following Jesus into Mental and Emotional Wholeness” by digging into Jesus’ teaching and learning how we can begin to understand what God has done for us in Jesus and begin to apply the forgiveness we have received to the people around us.
This week we’re continuing our series “Beneath the Surface: Following Jesus into Mental and Emotional Wholeness.” We’ll be taking a look at the life of Joseph from Genesis 37-44 and then focus on chapter 45.Throughout his life, Joseph experienced significant trauma at the hands of people he should have been able to trust. God helped and healed Joseph in the areas where he had experienced trauma and used him incredibly to show the goodness of God to his family and many other people. This week, we’ll consider how we can follow in Joseph’s footsteps – finding a healthy resolution to our trauma.
Many of us love Jesus, and have made Him the centre of our lives, but we still experience anxiety, fear and discouragement in our lives. This week we start our new summer series, “Beneath the Surface: Following Jesus into Mental and Emotional Wholeness” with Ken Dyck, founder and executive director of Freedom Session. Ken will be helping us to dive into the important topic of mental health, and how we, as followers of Jesus, can experience healing for ourselves and help others.
This week, we’ll begin this journey of exploration – thinking about the challenges that can get in the way of our flourishing. We’ll consider what scripture has to tell us about the life that God has for us and the steps we can take to deal with our inner lives in light of His truth. Join us as we begin to enter into a life of freedom.
Jesus is the architect of the future peace that will last forever when all of creation will be fully in alignment with God’s plans. While the first coming of Jesus brought peace, we await the consummation of all things when Jesus returns. As the knowledge of God spreads the earth, it will lead to lasting peace and unending worship.
The biblical word for peace is shalom. The concept of Shalom is wholeness or completion, much bigger than an individual’s peace of mind. The coming of Jesus ushers in this promise of restoration and better days. In the most challenging time, God established His plan of entering this world in the little town of Bethlehem. Even in our lives, when we cannot make sense, we abide and trust that God is establishing His promise of better days.
The church in Philadelphia remained faithful in the midst of many oppositions. They remained faithful in holding on to God’s Word and fulfilling their mission even when they had limited strength. Jesus encourages them to persevere by fixing their eyes on the promises of the future.
The church at Sardis looked good on the outside, but they operated in their human strength without the power of the Holy Spirit. According to Jesus, though Sardis had a reputation, in reality it was as good as dead. The call to wake up is a sobering reminder that we desperately need revival and the fullness of the Holy Spirit today.
Convictions serve to anchor the church and sets us apart from the world. When the church accommodates to the cultural mandates, it loses its bearings. This was the main message of Jesus to the Church at Thyatira.
The Church in Smyrna faced intense persecution because of their devotion to Christ. Jesus calls them to be faithful even to the point of death. Even today, persecution is inevitable and we are called to persevere till the very end as followers of Christ in light of our future rewards.
As we look at the life of Moses we see a template of how God brings transformation in our lives.
God told the Israelites that He would take them to the Promised Land, but He would not go with them. In his conversation with God, Moses affirmed that God was more important than the land of promise. As Christian believers, we ought to long for the presence of Jesus even more than heaven. Let’s delight in God Himself and not just His blessings.
Israel had a huge setback when they violated the terms of their covenant with God after experiencing a series of spiritual highs. God hears Moses’ intercession on behalf of the people and responds by giving them another chance. Because of Christ's intercession on our behalf, God extends compassion and mercy when Christian believers stumble and fall.
Exodus 25-30 Tabernacle:
God came to dwell among His people through the construction of the Tabernacle. He has always desired to fellowship with humans, and this theme runs through the Bible. The entire tabernacle, along with the various furniture items, points to Jesus, who stepped down from heaven as the embodiment of God’s presence.
How do the ancient laws of the OT apply in our day and age? It is helpful to glean the timeless principles behind the laws and do a cultural transfer. Since we belong to the New Covenant, we interpret these laws through the lens of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
The final three commandments focuses again on our relationships with one another. In order for our individual and communal life to thrive we need to adhere to these commandments.
Honouring One Another addresses our horizontal relationships. Commandments five, six and seven calls us to Honor Parents, Honor Life, and Honor Marriage.
The first four commandments revolve around our relationship with God and serves to strengthen the vertical dimension of our life. Rather than rules that restrict, these commandments are freeing and offer life to the full. Honoring God means – we give Him total allegiance, we worship Him alone, we represent Him rightly to those around and we take time in our schedule to cultivate our relationship with Him.
Israel was set apart for God as a nation to function as priests and reveal God’s character to the nations. There are three things God highlights in this text: Israel was a treasured possession, a priestly kingdom, and a holy nation. In 1 Pet 2:9, the Apostle Peter uses similar language to refer to the church. The church has been set apart as a community of priests and we are called to reveal God to the world and reconcile them to God.
Moses was overwhelmed by the leadership responsibilities and caring for the vast population of the Israelites. Jethro’s advice about delegating the responsibilities to other capable leaders was priceless. Ministry in the church operates according to a similar principle: we share the task by using our unique gifts in the Lord’s service. God has saved us so we may serve Him in freedom!
When Moses recounted the story of Exodus, his father-in-law, Jethro, a Midianite priest, affirmed his faith in the God of Israel. This incident depicts God’s desire to reveal Himself to the nations through the events of the Exodus. It is also a pointer to the greater Exodus and God’s plan for the nations to come to the worship of God through Jesus Christ.
Romans 14:1-12 As Christ followers, it is critical we are unified in the 'essentials' of our faith. However, there are many behaviors, practices and lifestyle choices that the Bible does not specifically or fully speak to, often resulting in division and conflict among Christians. In Romans 14, the Apostle Paul refers to these as 'disputable matters'. The question Paul addresses is 'How do we stay unified and love each other as Christians when we don't agree on things the Bible is silent on or doesn't specifically speak to?"
In the wilderness, the Israelites faced an unprovoked attack from the Amalekites. Responding to this opposition called for the Israelites to respond in prayer and fight the battle. When we face opposition from the enemy that hinders God’s plan for our lives, it calls for prayer and effort on our part. The Lord reveals yet another name in this passage: that He is our banner, and in Him we have victory!
How do we respond to life's uncertainties and hardships? If we are not careful, we can seek to manipulate or force God to meet our perceived needs. God wants us to seek Him first and find our contentment in Him. The provision of waters at Rephidim is a reference to the living waters Jesus offers all who trust in Him.
The Apostle Paul challenges us to 'wake up from our slumber' and to give our lives to the two things that will last forever: to love God and to love people. So how do we love and glorify God by loving people?
What is our responsibility as Christians to those who are in authority over us, including our governing authorities?" What does it mean to submit to our governing authorities? Are there Biblical exceptions to obeying government directives? These questions and more are addressed in this part of God's Word
The Israelites experience God's gracious provision of manna and quail in the wilderness. It was a reminder of God's care for them. Even today, in our wilderness journey, God graciously provides for our needs.
Paul teaches us how to love those who seem to have it out for us, those who hurt us and feel like enemies, whether in or outside of the church. What does a Godly love look like in these circumstances? This message will not only encourage you but will also provide you with some practical Biblical guidance in how to respond when experiencing relational tension or conflict.
We all want to know and understand our identity, we spend hours trying to figure out. Pastor Ben encourages us to look to God for our identity not the world.
God is our great Physician and no healing comes apart from Him. He is able to restore our health and bring healing in all domains. In this text God reveals Himself as Jehovah Rapha – our Healer.
God specializes in the art of making a way where there seems to be no way. Our part in the process is to be still and let Him be God.
The Apostle Paul teaches what it means to glorify God in our relationships. Every time we love someone the way God loves us, we are worshiping and glorifying God. Paul teaches us what it practically means to love others the way the Lord loves us.
Romans 12: 9-13
God's fundamental will for us is that we would love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and that we would glorify Him in all we say and do. We glorify God when we surrender our lives and our bodies to Him, when we embrace the mind and the way of Christ, when we see ourselves as He sees us and when we use the gifts He has given to us.
Romans 12:3-8
God delights to guide His children along the paths He has prepared for them. But His ways can be unexpected and even unnerving at times. Following God’s guidance does not guarantee a smooth journey, we don’t always understand the twists and turns, but He will lead us to the destination He has in mind for our lives.
The God of the Bible is not passively waiting on the sidelines; He is a God who pursues us. He reveals Himself to all who are truly seeking.
Most of us have never known a time in our lives when our world has become so unmoored from everything we once defined as normal and leaned on for security and a sense of peace. Jesus Christ came as the Prince of Peace in order that we know that as a reality in our lives and world.
In our pain, we long for a God who speaks, who breaks the silence, who relates with us. God moved into the neighbourhood and He spoke definitively through Jesus. Jesus presents to us the true character of God. Jesus didn't just bring God's message, He is God's message to the world.
Jesus willingly assumed the position of a servant for our benefit. The God of Christmas is neither lofty nor exalted; rather, He descended by emptying Himself.
When we surrender control of our lives to Jesus, He starts the process of transforming us – helping us take on the mind of Christ and see life through His eyes.
An idol is something we worship instead of the true God – a thing that prevents us from loving God with our whole heart, soul and mind. Idolatry is the enemy of being transformed to be more like Christ. Here are five questions that can help us detect idols and focus our worship back on God:
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The thing I’d be most worried about losing is _________________?
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The thing I’d be most worried about never attaining is __________________?
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Throughout my life what have I been most willing to sacrifice for?
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What has made me most bitter in life?
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Whose approval do I seek?
Prayer: As you consider these questions, ask God to show anything you might be worshipping instead of Him. Repent of any idolatry and ask God to help you surrender to Him and be a living sacrifice.
While the Israelites experienced freedom from Egypt, they were not free to go their own way. Their freedom was a transfer of allegiance. They were now set apart/sanctified as God's own people. This introduces us to the doctrine of sanctification. The New Testament teaches that when we encounter Christ, we are freed from our sins, and set apart for God's purposes.
Vision Weekend Pt. 2 - Part 1 of this year’s Vision Address concentrated on the ways Satan is tempting the Church to be DISTANT from God. This weekend, in Part 2, examines the ways Satan is tempting the Church to be DIVIDED as Christians and DISTRACTED from our God given mission.
The annual state of the church address alerts us to some of the ways Satan is seeking to mess with the good things God is doing in us and through us as Christians and as a church. Then shows what our loving and good Lord calls us to do about it.
The tenth and final plague along with the institution of the Passover proclaim the concept of substitutionary atonement. This section of Exodus offers one of the clearest depictions of the gospel. Jesus is our Passover lamb and we are saved from God's judgment through the shed blood of Christ.
Have you ever felt that you failed God in some way and as a result He has given up on you or abandoned you? Even though there are times when we experience these feelings, the truth is, just because you've failed Him does not mean He'll fail you. God is for you and is faithful to His promises.
The next set of plagues drew a line between those who believed in God and those who did not. The Egyptians who trusted in God also came under His protection. The plague of darkness that enveloped the land for three days foreshadowed the darkness Jesus endured when he hung on the cross (Matt 27:45-46). Jesus endured the darkness of separation from His Father so those who believe in Him can walk from darkness to light.
As children, we desire to be in relationship with God and to hear from Him. The Voice of God becomes clearer the more time we spend with him. Samuel confidently moved and acted according to the voice of God, which was a result of him spending years with the Lord, learning to hear His voice. Jesus is the best example of hearing God and acting on it. How can you carve out some time for God to better hear his voice?
There are two words in the Christian vocabulary that many people in our culture dislike. The two words are 'lost' and 'saved'. People are offended by the insinuation they are 'spiritually lost' and that they need to be 'saved'. The Apostle Paul clearly articulates in Romans 10 who can be saved and how we can be saved.
Romans 9:14-33
Was Pharaoh just a pawn on God's great chessboard of life whom God used to demonstrate His power to the world at that time? Or was Pharaoh responsible for his actions? Do we have any freedom? Romans 9 helps to answer these questions.
The plagues were God's judgment to affirm His superiority over the gods of Egypt. More importantly they served as 'signs' that revealed God's character to all of Egypt, Pharaoh, Israel and the entire world!
Romans 9 deals with the tension between God's sovereignty and man's free will. It teaches about the nature of our God and its implications for our lives. We cannot fully understand grace without fully understanding God's sovereignty.
Have you ever wondered whether there is anything you might do that will separate you from the love of Christ? Do you at times doubt that God is for you? Have you ever had fear that God will not provide what you need?
If any of these are true, God has something very meaningful to say through this study.
In the face of discouragement and doubts, God reveals His plan to deliver the people of Israel from Egypt by breaking the yoke of oppression. When we are confronted by our own weaknesses, we ought to stand strong on God’s promises.
Moses expected everything to go smoothly as he responded to the call of God. But he runs into hostile oppositions – as he engaged with Pharaoh who hardened his heart. Oppositions in our spiritual life do not necessarily mean we are outside of God’s will but it is a call to press on resolutely.
Ken Dyck speaks on authentic living through conflict; marriages fail, people leave jobs, and people leave churches and ministries - all because of unresolved conflict. Conflict exists but when we to learn to deal with it and to deal with it well, we can have flourishing relationships, productivity, satisfaction, and live on mission better. Ken teaches the ABCDE model that we teach in the Authentic Living book of Freedom Session.
Guest speaker Sean Campbell preaching on 2 Chronicles 20. A powerful sermon on how we approach 'battles' in our lives - the focus is on verse 12 "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
Moses doubts his ability to play the role God intended for him. God reassures Moses of His power to use him despite His weaknesses. There is a lesson here for all those who battle with insecurity.
After refining Moses in the desert, God reveals Himself to him in a powerful way by revealing His name. He calls Moses to serve in the mission of delivering His people. History is filled with stories of God encountering His people to commission them to make a difference.
Moses had a small inkling of God’s plans for His life. But rather than surrendering to God’s timing, he attempts to take matters into his own hands. In the process, God taught Moses lessons on waiting and shaped his character. God is interested in transforming us first before He can use us to transform the world.
Moses enters the scene as the human agent God will use in leading His people out of Egypt. God’s providential plan overrules the plan of Pharaoh to kill the Israelites. God’s providence offers us comfort even when times are dark for nothing can thwart His purposes.
Through the arrival of Joseph, the descendants of Jacob ended up settling in Egypt. Fortunes changed unexpectedly leading to a crisis as they reel under oppression and slavery which threatened God’s covenant with Abraham. While the people questioned God’s presence, unbeknownst to them He was at work. The times we question God’s presence in our life, know that He is at work behind the scenes.
If you have suffered loss or are going through a difficult time right now, God has something very special and meaningful to say to you through Romans 8. He gives us the Holy Spirit who is with us when hardships and trials come our way.
When we put our faith in Christ, a divine exchange takes place. In the eternal realm, God takes the perfect righteousness of Christ and puts it on our account. Jesus enters our spirit, making us spiritually alive in Christ. God sees us as forgiven and righteous, not because we live perfectly in this life but because we are in Christ, and He is perfect. Sadly, many Christians continue to allow sin and the law to be their master; resulting in significant frustration in their Christian lives. How can we be set free? Victory is found by living in the Spirit.
We struggle with believing that God accepts us when we are good but rejects us when we sin. The Apostle Paul knew the struggle and addresses this issue in Romans. He helps us understand why this struggle happens and what the steps are to finding victory in this area of our lives.
Preacher: Dr. Henry Schorr
Are there times you feel plagued by the feeling that despite your efforts to live and serve the Lord, He is still disappointed in you because you continue to fall short in certain areas of your life? You believe God loves you but you aren't convinced He accepts you. If you can identify with this, you will be encouraged by this study in Romans 7
Preacher: Dr. Henry Schorr
The Christian life is not a sprint but it is a marathon. We need a deep-rooted foundation in order to weather the storms of life and remain standing until the very end.
Speaker: Ashwin Ramani
A cursory reading of Jesus’ words to the seven churches in Revelation confirms that even New Testament churches within a few decades needed revival. When monotony and predictable patterns take a toll in the life of a church, it is easy to lose our zeal and passionate love for Jesus. Revival calls us to return wholeheartedly to our first love.
Revival is an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts serves as a paradigm for revival and gives us a glimpse of how God intended His Church to be. The Holy Spirit’s empowerment enables ordinary Christians to live a life of extra-ordinary spiritual impact. Utter dependence on the Holy Spirit is the mark of a revived community.
Josiah became king during a time of great spiritual decline. But the recovery of the Book of the Law stirred a powerful revival that cleansed the nation and reversed the spiritual declension. Repentance and radical obedience to God’s Word fuels revival.
The humble, fervent prayers of God’s people serve as a catalyst for revival. Revival is not a product of human strategies and techniques. Concerted personal and corporate prayers prepare the way for an outpouring of God’s Spirit and reverse the spiritual decline. 2 Chr 7:14 urges God’s people to engage in united prayer.
Is it possible to be a Christian when there is no indication of a desire to know God more and grow in one’s faith or a desire to find freedom from a habitually sinful lifestyle? Paul answers that question in Romans, chapter 6. The answer is no. The bondage and power of sin does not have to be part of the Christian’s life. Christ sets us free.
Preacher: Dr Henry Schorr
As we continue the study in Romans, this sermon begins a change in focus found in the beginning section of the book on how to be set free from the penalty of sin. The apostle Paul now brings our attention to how we can be set free from the power of sin. Sin no longer needs to have control in the believer’s life as we begin to grow in our relationship with God and experience the abundant life God wants for us.
Preacher: Pastor Henry Schorr
Romans 5:1-2 "The Joy of Justification" In the fifth chapter of Romans, we are reminded of the blessings, the rewards and implications of being justified by faith. As people who know Christ we are grateful for this gift and for how this truth is able to change lives, attitudes and behaviors.
Preacher: Dr. Henry Schorr
What does radical trust look like in the face of overwhelming circumstances? Psalm 46 gives us a glimpse of maintaining our unshakeable trust in God even when all hell seems to break loose in our world. This Psalm does not promise a problem-free life but offers the assurance that God will be with us in the midst of our problems. The presence of God will sustain us even when we walk through the darkest valleys.
Preacher: Ashwin Ramani
Do you believe God is able to change human nature? Is it possible for immoral people to be given self-control, cruel people to be made kind, selfish people to become generous? The second half of Romans 5 not only summarizes the first four chapters but it also lays a foundation for the New Testament’s answer to these questions.
A Barna national survey question was: “If you could ask God only one question, and you knew He would give you an answer, what would you ask?” The top response was: ‘Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” We know that there are four major causes for suffering: (1) Our broken world; (2) our enemy, Satan; (3) other people; and (4) ourselves.
Preacher: Pastor Henry Schorr
Writing to his disciple Timothy, the Apostle Paul talks about the influences that have shaped Timothy’s faith and how they can shape our faith today. God uses three important influences in shaping an individual's faith - the biological family, the spiritual family and personal disciplines. An authentic, deep and unshakeable faith is needed to pass the baton of the gospel to the coming generations.
Preacher: Pastor Ashwin Ramani
At Centre Street Church we GO GLOBAL. This weekend we will hear about what God is doing around the world through Global Ministries. Specifically, we’ll be hearing about how we Grow the Church through church planting, missional community development and evangelism.
David’s confidence in God models for us what it means to face our challenges today with unshakeable confidence that is rooted in God. It is not about how strong we are but it is all about allowing God to fight our battles. Our confidence stems from the assurance that God is greater than all of our foes.
Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 17
This sermon continues to look into Romans chapter 4 and the life of Abraham. We discover what true faith looks like and how God grows our faith in Him.
The emphasis in Romans 4:1-17 is on faith. Through the life of Abraham it is shown that it is the grace of God through faith, which not only brought justification to Abraham, but is available to each one of us also.
Jeremiah 17:5-8
There are two ways to live our life - by trusting in our own resources or trusting in the Lord. Those who trust in the Lord don't have to fear what the year holds. By letting our roots go deep we can receive God's strength no matter what may lie in store for us.
Luke 1:46-55 (Mary's Song)
Mary’s song offers us some of the prerequisites of hope. It calls us to place our faith in God even when we do not fully understand what He is doing. Mary’s song opens our understanding of the inversive nature of God’s Kingdom. In God’s kingdom, blessed are those who are at the bottom of the pyramid. As we understand and come to terms with the hope we have in Christ we can become agents of hope to our world.
Simeon's Song
In Luke 2:25-35, a character named Simeon placed his hope in God’s promise that he will see the Messiah face to face before his death. Rather than wishing for a change in external circumstances, Simeon’s hope was rooted in God and His Word. God infused our world with the promise of hope through the coming of Jesus.
Jesus modelled for us what it means to be faithful by giving Himself fully to the will of God. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work (John 4:34). Until the very end, Jesus remained committed to the task the Father had assigned for Him. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of faithfulness in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” The faithful play a pivotal role as a link in the chain. It is through the faithfulness of God’s people that the baton of the gospel is passed on from one generation to the next.
Jesus is the embodiment of good. As Jesus changes our hearts, we are no longer under the control of our sinful nature. Consequently, goodness is the natural overflow of a transformed heart. Jesus challenges us to do good deeds as proof of the radical change that has happened inside of us.
Romans addresses numerous themes and issues that are relevant to today, but the overarching theme is the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul writes “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” The question we will be asking ourselves is, “Are we ever ashamed of the gospel?” Do we wince when someone talks about the wrath of God, about sin, hell and eternal judgment and other themes that are often viewed as offensive to our culture? Have we been distracted from sharing the love and the truth of Jesus by other things, including COVID related issues?
In the hustle and bustle of life in the 21st century, patience may not be seen as a virtue. But to become more like Jesus the fruit of patience needs to ripen in our life. Just like Jesus we need to demonstrate patience in waiting for God’s timing as well as in our dealings with difficult people.
Jesus gives us this astonishing promise: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). The world may define peace as the absence of conflict, but Christians equate peace with the presence of Jesus. If you have Jesus you can have peace no matter your circumstances.
One of the reasons we fail to experience joy is because we look for it in the wrong place. Christian joy is not rooted in our circumstances; Jesus is the source of our joy. It is through a relationship with Him we experience joy unspeakable and glorious. As we share in the joy of Jesus, we in turn become joyful Christians.
Jesus guarantees that the gospel of His Kingdom will be proclaimed to all nations before the coming of the end. Even before Jesus gives the Great Commission in Matt 28, He offers us this great certainty that nothing can thwart His mission. Focusing on this bright spot in Matt 24 will give us a contagious passion to advance the good news instead of being obsessed with the signs of the end times.
Many people have lost the sense of imminency when it comes to the Second Coming of Jesus. In Matt 24:36-51, Jesus gives us three illustrations that warn us about the unexpected nature of His coming and the importance of being ready at all times.
Be Discerning: Matt 24:1-13
In Matthew 24, Jesus responded to the disciples’ questions about the signs of the end of the age. He goes on to outline the signs that will characterize the New Testament age. The Bible does not give us a clear blueprint of when Jesus is going to return. But it is more interested in how we live in light of the reality of His return. We are called to stand firm until the very end!
There are so many distractions and detours that we can take which can shift our focus away from the main thing. But pursuing simplicity will help us to maintain our focal point. In Philippians 3:10-14, the Apostle Paul points us to the main focus of the Christian life.
In the midst of growing distrust, frustration, confusion and uncertainty in our society and world today, what do the Scriptures call Christ followers to focus on and give their lives to? The focus of this sermon will be on our pursuit of God as the beginning point in the life we are called to. This is the first part in a new series of messages entitled "How Then Shall We Live"?
In Eph 1:15-23, Paul earnestly prays for the church to receive a revelation of the power and authority vested in Jesus. This power is demonstrated not only in His resurrection but in His ascension to the right hand of the Father. The ascension is the coronation of Jesus as the rightful King and it assures us that everything will be brought under His Lordship. We are living in times when the church is facing many challenges. We need this reminder that Jesus is King, and He is on the throne! This vision puts all of our problems into perspective.
We fail in so many ways in our life of discipleship. The enemy wants us to remain stuck in our failure and live in defeat. But as we understand the grace of Jesus, we come to realize our failures are not final. Jesus is well able to pick us up and restore us again. Matthew intentionally juxtaposes the spiritual failures of Peter and Judas and offers us lessons on how to recover from our failures.
The Christian faith is built on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul writes, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” This is why Christians take the resurrection of Jesus so seriously. If you believe Christ is risen, are you able to explain to a friend why you believe it? If you do not believe in Christ's resurrection, have you seriously considered the evidence? Have you thought about the implications of your belief?
When Jesus died on the cross He willingly took God’s judgment upon Himself on our behalf. The character Barabbas represents our fallen humanity. Jesus died in Barabbas’ place so he could go free. It is a symbolic representation of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus.
As we read Matthew 26:36-46, we see that Jesus faces agony, suffering, turmoil like no person has ever faced. Jesus knew that he was going to die. He had told his disciples that he must die – so Jesus’ agony and turmoil had to be originating from more than his impending death. What was Jesus facing that made Him feel the way He and pray the way He did. It is clear from Jesus prayer that that night that there was a gap between Jesus circumstances and what He desired. His words, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” The way that Jesus faces his circumstances and the desires in His heart serves as a model for us to follow.
The Passion Week portrays many characters who fail to understand the events that were about to unfold in Jesus’ life. This includes Jesus’ own disciples who were unable to come to terms with the cross. In the midst of all that, Matthew presents to us an unlikely person who models the life of a disciple and grasps the implications of Jesus’ impending death. This unnamed woman in Matthew 26 anoints Jesus as a prophetic act that confirms His upcoming death.
This sermon examines Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem which is recorded in Matthew 21 As He entered the city Jesus no longer constrained the praises of the people. He accepted it all, for the time of His coronation had come. On this day, Jesus declared "I am your Lord and King". On this day, Jesus essentially said, "From this day forward, I welcome your praise and worship". So, what does it mean to worship God and why does God want our worship? Is there worship that is pleasing to God and worship that isn't? Even more importantly, who or what are we really worshiping? This study of the Palm Sunday narrative will reveal answers to these questions.
Matt 16:21-28 teaches us that there are no fast tracks in discipleship; there are no short-cuts to heaven. Even Jesus faced the temptation to bypass God’s plan for His life and take the easy route. But He remains steadfast and thereby sets an example for us. Following Jesus in the path of discipleship brings eternal rewards.
Why is it necessary to be part of a church? Is the organized church needed at all? Does the church and its mission really matter? Why can’t it just be Jesus and me? Many of these questions are addressed in this sermon on Matthew 16:13-20.
In Matthew 15:21-28, a Gentile woman comes to Jesus begging for healing on behalf of her daughter who is tormented by a demonic spirit. Jesus uses this incident to give a dual faith test. On the one hand, He tests the disciples to challenge their prejudices. On the other hand, Jesus gives a faith test to the mother to help everyone see the greatness of her faith.
Knowing that He would soon be departing, Jesus gave special attention to growing His disciples' faith, one of the most important things they would need going forward. In two stories found in Matthew 14:13-36, Jesus provides several opportunities for His disciples to grow in their faith. As we learn from this passage we are also able to see how God seeks to do the same in our lives today.
In times of solitude, God gives us His perspective and enables us to cope with our disappointments. Jesus’ desire for solitude was interrupted by a large crowd that gathered to hear Him teach. Rather than sending them away, Jesus ministered to the crowd out of compassion. The way to overcome personal disappointments is by focusing on others. Our personal disappointments can empower us to be God’s agents of healing to those around us.
In our series in the gospel of Matthew we come to a turning point in Jesus' ministry where the people of His day become increasingly hostile toward Him. Jesus experiences this particularly upon returning to his hometown of Nazareth. As He teaches in their synagogue, the people are amazed at His teaching and wisdom, but despite this, they refuse to believe He is anything more than a man. Through this incident in the life of Jesus, we learn about the signs of unbelief, the cost of unbelief and ways we as Christians can avoid sliding into the ditch of unbelief.
In Ezekiel 22:23-30, the prophet Ezekiel describes the state of God’s people in the Old Testament. The nation of Israel was corrupt at all levels of leadership and it led to the disintegration of the whole nation. In such a time of spiritual crisis, God was looking for a human being who can stand in the gap and intercede. The times today are no different and we are in a world that is in great spiritual crisis. God is still looking for men and women who can serve as intercessors and stand in the gap.
God demonstrated His great love through the coming of Christ. In 1 John 1:1-4, the Apostle John speaks about Jesus from his personal experience. Here in this passage is the good news of Christmas - fellowship with God is possible for every person in this world who is truly seeking!
Advent is about waiting for God’s arrival. Psalm 130 offers us some important lessons on waiting. It is only as we wait patiently we understand the character of God. It is only those who know the character of God who can be people filled with hope.
In the parable of the bags of gold, Jesus draws our attention to an important truth which is especially pertinent to us today. Even though we need to be ready, alert and discerning of the signs of Christ’s return, through this parable Jesus calls us to something that is equally important that reveals the state of our heart and the depth of our relationship with Him.
The Parable in Matt 22:1-14 highlights the varying responses of people to God’s generous invitation to be part of His Kingdom. As we unwrap this fascinating story, you will find here a clear description of God’s mission. He is looking for wedding guests who can be part of the great banquet that awaits us when Jesus returns for His bride the Church. So God commissions His people to bring as many into the Kingdom.
There has been a lot of talk about end times during this pandemic. Is Jesus coming back soon? This parable in Matt 25:1-13 offers us insights into how we as believers need to live in light of Jesus’ promise of His Second Coming.
In Matthew 20: 1-16 there is a story which seeks to help us understand God's grace through Jesus telling the parable of the workers in the vineyard. There are some aspects of Jesus teaching in this parable that will be hard to receive and challenges our sense of fairness and justice. But, it will also set us free from the rollercoaster of emotions stemming from constantly comparing ourselves, and our lives, with others. Jesus wants us to understand God's grace and its part in the Kingdom of God.
The parable of the net in Matthew 13 speaks about the end of the age, when Jesus comes again and we will be judged according to the decisions we have made in this life. Jesus describes two pathways, one that leads to eternity with God in heaven, the other to eternity without God in hell. Which path are you on?
In Matt 13:44-46, Jesus uses two small stories to teach us about the surpassing value of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus compares the kingdom to a hidden treasure and a costly pearl. Both parables make the same point - If we value the kingdom of heaven as priceless, we will gladly give up everything to be part of this kingdom. However, our giving up is only a fraction in comparison to what we receive from Jesus.
Entitlement seems to be all too prevalent in our day and age. Even in the Christian community, there is a subtle belief that God owes us the ‘good life’. To celebrate Thanksgiving meaningfully, we need to battle this attitude of entitlement. In 2 Sam 7, King David responded with a prayer of Thanksgiving even when God said no to his request, and his dreams were set aside. This prayer shows us how to battle against entitlement.
Have you ever found yourself whispering or perhaps even shouting "Lord, if your kingdom is here, why does it seem like the enemy is winning? Where are You in all this?” Jesus answers these questions and more through a number of parables, explaining to His disciples what the Kingdom of heaven is like and that their understanding of the Kingdom isn't aligned with His. This sermon is focused on the Parables of the Mustard Seed and Yeast found in Matthew 13, the lessons in them and implications for our lives.
In Matt 13:24-30, Jesus told the parable of the wheat and weeds. This parable answers the age-old question that people of all generations have asked: Where is God amidst all the evil that surrounds us today? Why does He not do something about it? However, God is not being immune or indifferent to the presence of evil. He assures us that there is coming a day when all evil will be wiped out from the face of the earth.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus spoke so often in parables? Many of us assume Jesus is simplifying spiritual truths by using stories. As you read Matt 13:10-17, you may be surprised to find the real reason behind why Jesus spoke in parables. The parables offered a deeper revelation of the Kingdom to those who were spiritually seeking. However, it had a negative effect on those who have no interest in spiritual matters.
Jesus had a view and plan for the nations and Sean Campbell from Samaritan’s Purse shared it with us. He shared with us many hard stories of what he has seen around the world. He showed us how God always proceeds with love in hard situations and gave us hope for the world in the light of God’s immeasurable love for humanity. In light of all of the global uncertainties that we may face, Sean gave us hope in Christ in the midst of trouble.
TJ Syroteuk takes us through the Old and New Testament, Jewish customs and Revelation to point us to the reason we celebrate Communion and its further meaning in relation to the future celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The sacrifice of Jesus, His love for us and the future He has planned are shown in this Communion celebration.
Life’s varied demands can take its toll on us. Nevertheless, there is good news for a world desperately looking for hope. It is to those who are weary and tired Jesus promises rest! He extends this great invitation to all who are needy: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).
In the middle of Matthew 11, Jesus calibrates high challenge to the people of three cities He performed most of His miracles in. Why? Because most still chose not to repent and believe the good news. While the words of Jesus seem harsh, it reveals how passionate he is about repentance. Repentance is at the core of the life of a Jesus follower. The call to repent is more than the start of the Christian walk. It is the whole of our Christian lives. The purpose of gospel repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Jesus in order to weaken our need to do anything contrary to God's heart! Gospel repentance is choosing humility over pride, love over indifference, courage over anxiety, faith over fear!
John the Baptist, was in prison. He knew who Jesus was but he was experiencing significant doubt about Jesus being the Messiah. How was this possible? How could this man of strong faith be in this state? This sermon will explore what may have caused John to doubt Jesus, how Jesus responded to John’s doubts and steps we can take to defeat doubts in our lives
Discipleship may be the hardest journey you will ever undertake but it brings the greatest rewards. Why is this the hardest journey? What are the rewards of discipleship? This sermon offers answers to these pertinent questions.
Have you ever had an opportunity to share your faith about Jesus with someone, only to become gripped by fear and have the words get stuck in your throat? When you hear the words “share your faith”, what do you feel – excited, nervous, guilty, turned off, discouraged? As Jesus prepared His disciples to share the good news with others, one of His core messages was this: “do not be afraid”. Jesus wants to give us courage.
Jesus has called us to join His mission. there are risks and we are not guaranteed safety. However, we are promised that Jesus will be with us, giving us the words we will need and that this opposition and persecution will bring an expansion of God's Kingdom. Blessings come when we are faithful to live on mission. Are you in?
The keyword for discipleship in all four Gospels is the word ‘follow’. When a person commits their life to Jesus Christ, they embark on a lifelong journey of following Him! While the invitation to follow Jesus is offered to all, the demands are total. Jesus calls us to embrace costly discipleship!
Death is a longstanding enemy of the human race and it brings despair and gloom. We are under the firm grip of this enemy. Jesus has already exercised His decisive authority over death. He has comprehensively defeated this enemy and removed its sting. Death no longer reigns but Jesus does!
Matthew 8:28-34 shows us that Jesus holds within Himself total and supreme power and authority over the supernatural world. Jesus uses this power to free 2 men from being harassed and possessed by demons. What does this mean for us today? Jesus still has power over the supernatural world and so we don’t need to be afraid of Satan and demons. Jesus isn’t afraid of the sin and brokenness in our lives. Motivated by love and compassion and grace, Jesus heals and restores us to life.
The created world tarnished by sin has lost its balance and wavered from God’s original intent. That’s the reason we have earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and floods. Matthew 8:23-27 presents Jesus’ authority over the forces of nature. The One who has absolute authority over nature is well able to handle the storm you are facing in your life right now!
Jesus demonstrates His authority over all the forces that oppose God’s Kingdom. The last few weeks have confirmed the power of disease and the havoc it wreaths on humans. The good news is Jesus has conquered this enemy and the promise of divine healing is available to all who trust in Him!
You may have caught yourself asking the question, “Is this it? Is this all there is?” What you hoped would bring you true satisfaction hasn’t turned out the way you believed it would. You have begun to lose hope. Those same feelings can be seen in the lives of Jesus’ disciples. But then something happened that brought them out of deep discouragement. It radically change their lives, their perspective, convictions and give them a renewed hope. That something was nothing less than personally encountering the resurrected Jesus Christ.
John 10 records the claims of Jesus and the varying responses of the Jewish religious leaders. All through history, God is eager to reveal Himself to whoever is seeking. Even in dark times like this current coronavirus pandemic, if we pay attention we will hear God’s invitation to draw closer. How we respond to this invitation makes all the difference!
Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This is the promise of Jesus to all the sheep in His flock. Our circumstances do not negate the promises of God. Do not allow anything to rob you of the gift of abundant life you have received from Christ!
All through the ages, Christians have turned to an imagery of God in the Bible in seasons of difficulty. In moments of distress, this image of God is calming and reassuring. It is this beautiful picture in the Bible of God as our Shepherd. Our security lies in knowing the Good Shepherd who watches over His sheep!
Matthew 4:23-25 demonstrates the passion of Jesus to reach out to those who are outside of his spiritual family. Through His teaching, preaching and healing ministries Jesus advanced His mission. The task Jesus assigns to his spiritual family is to seek and save the lost. Anytime the church loses this passion it is bound to decline. Spiritual families continue to make a difference by serving together in unity and shine the light of Jesus in the midst of darkness.
Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship the enemy. It was the offer of a crown without the cross – a shortcut to accomplish the goal of Jesus’ life. The focus of this temptation is our ambitions. In a world that believes in the philosophy of “have it all and have it now”, one can see how ambitions can go wrong. If our ambitions are not shaped by God and surrendered to God they can clearly lead us astray.
The story of Jesus’ baptism and temptations go hand in hand. At His baptism, the Holy Spirit came on Jesus and He heard words of affirmation from God the Father. The next moment the same Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. A major confrontation takes place in the wilderness and a lot was at stake! Until this moment, the human race had lived in defeat and bondage to the enemy. Now for the very first time, we have a son of Adam raising up an effective defense that counters the schemes of the Devil.
This podcast concludes the Sermon On The Mount series from Matthew 7:24-29 by looking at how Jesus challenged us to first of all examine the kind of foundation we are building our spiritual lives on and then being obedient.
This sermon is the beginning a new sermon series from the Gospel of Matthew, dwelling on the life, ministry, teachings, and the finished work of Jesus. Matthew begins his Gospel with a long list of names as he gives us the family tree of Jesus. He uses the family tree of Jesus to demonstrate how He is the fulfilment of the historic promise God made to Abraham and David. He sent the Promised Saviour at the right time in history so people of all backgrounds and cultures may become part of the family of God.
On October 26 and 27th, Pastor Jason Hague, from Christ's Center Church in Oregon, author of the book Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer, spoke to our community about the way of aching joy. He shared, through personal examples, about how honestly embracing both the pain and the joy in our lives, and crying out to God and one another, can lead to compassion and ultimately increased inclusivity within the body of Christ.
Jason Hague was one of the keynote speakers at the Umbrella 2019 National Disability Ministry Equipping Conference hosted by Special Needs Ministry and Centre Street Church on October 25 and 26th. Jason and his wife, Sara, are the parents of five children, one of whom has autism.
What kind of season are you experiencing in your life?
In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon writes “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Eccl 3:1).
Just as we have seasons in nature, so also we have seasons in our individual lives. Our lives are not random or haphazard but God in His providence directs the course of our lives. While some seasons or experiences of life may not make sense to us, they all fit together in the end. This weekend, we looked at how God transforms even the difficult seasons of our lives to bring something beautiful out of it.
What is life all about? Is that all there is? Does life have a greater purpose? Deep philosophical questions like these have occupied our human minds for centuries! In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon – the richest, wisest, most famous man of his time – wrestles with the fleeting transient nature of life. He helps us to see the futility of life from a mere physical, materialistic perspective. Solomon comes to a resounding conclusion that without God life has no ultimate meaning. All of our life’s pursuits fail to satisfy the longings of our heart until we learn to find our contentment in God alone.
How were you created? What were you created to do? God has some things to say to you about these questions in Psalm 139 and Ephesians 2.
The keyword in this section of 1 John 5:13-20 is the word “know”. There are 3 “know” statements highlighted in this sermon: We know that we have Eternal Life, We know that God hears us when we pray and We know that the evil one cannot harm us.
The Apostle John defends the credibility of the witnesses through Scripture that declare Jesus is the Son of God. Are we willing to also testify to who Jesus is and what He's done in our lives?
Pastor Matt discusses two important issues that face the church today, discipling the next generation and honouring our God-given leaders.
The Apostle John, in 1 John 5, affirms our salvation comes only by believing that Jesus is God’s Son. Then John reminds us that if we love God and if we love others around us, then the evidence of our love must be seen in our obeying God’s commands. This sermon looks at several questions. What is the evidence of our love for God? How are we doing at obeying God’s commands? What is the antidote for our disobedience? What liberates us from our sin and restores us to our true identity as children of God.
Any view of God that doesn’t affirm the centrality of His love is deficient. Any dominant mental image of God that we have that doesn’t reflect His loving heart most certainly falls short of the description of God in the Bible. In 1 John 4:16-21, the Apostle John describes the effect of knowing God’s love. First of all, we are freed from our fears including the fear of punishment. Secondly, we are freed to love others. We have a new capacity to love because our hearts are now filled with the assurance of God’s love.
We all hunger and thirst for encouragement. Encouragement gives life to relationships, it revives and refreshes. It can actually keep us from falling into despair and giving into temptation to sin. Encouragement helps us overcome when we feel overwhelmed. It helps us soar rather than to sink. There is great power in encouragement and the Bible has much to say about it.
We understand true love through the sacrifice of Christ and we are called to share this love with others around us.
This sermon continues the series in I John. It examines what God’s love is, what it isn’t, and what God’s love looks like in everyday life. How we exercise God’s love gives us assurance of our position in Christ and empowers our prayer life.
In I John 2: 28--3:10 the Apostle John reminds us of Christ’s coming and of our identity in Him and speaks very directly about the issue of sin in our lives. He writes “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” What is the devil’s work that Jesus came to destroy? How did Jesus destroy it? How does sin affect our relationship with God?
False teachers and deceptive philosophies have the power to do great damage. Even in the first century, several false teachers were attempting to split the church and take followers with them. In 1 John 2:28-27, the Apostle John addresses the false teachers who distorted the identity of Jesus. John calls them antichrists who oppose the work of God! Just as in the early church, we have many antichrists at work today. They are satanic forces seen behind the system, philosophy and the way of thinking of our culture. They exist to deceive people and to take us on a spiritual detour! How do we stay the course in light of such sustained spiritual opposition we face today?
The way we consume media content has changed over the past few years, but the power of media has not. Entertainment like movies, tv, social media, and books are all conveying a message. So as believers, how do we navigate through this content while still living holy lives in service to the Lord? Is all media evil or is everything permissible? This is a message about the power, dangers, and blessings of modern day media.
What is the world? What does it mean to ‘not love the world’ and ‘to love the world’? What is the ‘lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, the pride of life’? How can we live out this command faithfully today? These are some of the questions this sermon, in the 1 John Series, addresses.
We all have a sin problem, so God sent Jesus because we can’t fix it without Him. This Resurrection Sunday sermon shows us from Scripture the truth of God’s plan to deal with the sin problem in our lives.
As a spiritual father, the Apostle John speaks to the different age groups within the church. In 1 John 2:12-14, he commends the older generation for their knowledge of God and the younger generation for their strength and passion! Centre Street Church is a multi-generational church and it is critical that the older and younger generations in our community learn to interact with one another. Our older generation needs to invest in the younger; those younger need to be humble to learn from the ones who have the experience!
Temptation has been a battle from the very beginning, as Satan uses the "lust of the flesh", the "lust of the eyes", and the "pride of life" to lure God’s people away from God’s plan. As Christians, we are called to fight against sin and temptation in our life, which is difficult as our human nature desires whatever is contrary to God and His will. The good news is that Jesus came to this earth, successfully faced those same 3 temptations we face, and offers us victory over temptation and sin. As a result, we find victory over temptation and sin when we love Jesus more than our sin. Our victory in this battle is found in His finished work on the cross on our behalf!
Vision Weekend 2019 is a time that Centre Street Church celebrates what God is doing in and through this church. This sermon speaks about the state of our church and also where we believe God is leading us as a church. It illustrates what our vision and mission is and what we, as a church, are passionate about.
Have you ever regretted a conversation? What about a day? Or what about regretting a whole decade? Some of us find ourselves wanting a whole life do-over. The good news is that, through Jesus Christ, we can have new life and a new identity! In this message Pastor Kent Priebe teaches how baptism is a visible response to an invisible reality; the reality that a life surrendered to Christ is a life now defined in every way by Jesus.
Our words have the power to destroy someone or build someone up. One of the ways we tear people down is through gossip. This practical message challenges us to resist gossip and instead use our words constructively to bless others.
An authentic Christian not only seeks to “LIVE AS JESUS LIVED” but also to “LOVE AS JESUS LOVES”. We don’t love and live as Jesus did to become a child of God, but we seek to love and live as Jesus did because we already are His child through faith in the finished work of Christ. In part 6 of the series in 1 John we look at what it means to love our spouse, members of our family, friends, those we disagree with, even our enemies or those who feel like enemies.
In this message we look at yet another majestic portrait of Jesus. Revelation 19 presents Jesus like we have never seen Him before in the Bible. Heaven opens and Jesus arrives on a white horse. Jesus is portrayed as the Conquering King who overcomes all oppositions to His Kingdom and establishes the reign of God. In this message Ashwin will address the meaning of these military metaphors in Revelation mean. He will also address the practical implications of Jesus' return and how this has the power to sustain us in the most trying times of our life. Most importantly, be prepared to be challenged by yet another powerful image of Jesus in this amazing book. Join us for the concluding message of this series!
In Revelation 12 we are introduced to three characters: a pregnant woman, a male child and a fierce dragon. While the dragon attempts to devour the child, the child is miraculously caught up to the throne of God. In typical apocalyptic language the Apostle John presents the gospel message and the defeat of Satan. Jesus is the dragon slayer and we overcome the enemy today through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. This portrait of Jesus as victor puts all of our current struggles into perspective and provides strategies for us as we face temptations, condemnation, evil and injustice in our world today.
When Jesus called His Church, in Matthew 28, to ‘go and make disciples’, He also revealed that the primary vehicle He would use to bring people to Himself and to build His kingdom around the world would be through His followers - His Church. This is why the Church really matters and it must be committed to introducing people to Jesus and accomplishing God’s redemptive purposes in the world.
Throughout the Bible, time and again we see God do great things in response to bold prayers. God has established prayer as the means by which we receive supernatural help. When the Apostle Peter was thrown into prison by King Herod the early church earnestly interceded on his behalf. The end result was a supernatural answer to their prayer which surprised everyone! God used their imperfect faith to do something spectacular, just as he can use ours to do the same. In this message we are challenged to unearth the potential of prayer in a fresh way and pray with expectation!
Are you weary and burdened? In our performance driven world we often think, "if I get such and such, then I will have internal rest and happiness," but this "if, then" way of thinking is a trap. Instead, Jesus invites all who are weary to come to Him and he will give us rest. This is an invitation to enjoy some space with someone who deeply loves you. Instead of trying to find acceptance by achieving the expectations we or others put on ourselves, we can find rest in knowing that we have already been accepted. In this message guest speaker Ken Shigematsu provides some practical, daily habits that help us to rest in this accepting love.
In most nativity scenes, we see three men with colourful costumes bowing down before the baby Jesus. Who were the Magi? What is the significance of their coming? What is Matthew trying to tell his readers through these characters? Much can be learned from these men who travelled from far on a mission to meet the King of the Jews. As we journey with them our lives, and the lives of those around us, may be impacted today
The cliche “Good things come to those who wait” may best describe this less referenced character in the Bible, Simeon. What do we see when we look at Simeon’s life? We see the example of a godly man. We see his patience and his faith as he waits for the consolation of Israel and in the promise made to him by God that he would not die before he has seen the Lord’s Christ. We see his obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We also see that when Simeon holds baby Jesus in his arms, the promise of the Messiah and salvation is fulfilled, not just for the Jewish people, but for all people.
How do you respond to the things God calls you to do? When an angel appeared to Mary and brought the news about the son she was to bear, she could have responded in many ways. Her "yes" could have led to public ridicule and great difficulty, yet she still chose to respond with submissive obedience.
There is much we can learn from Mary's story about seeking understanding, knowing our identity, and choosing to follow God's leading and commands with obedience.
In this message, experience Christmas through the eyes of a key character in the story who gets very little attention. He is a quiet person – the NT records no words spoken by this character. He stays far from the spotlight and before you know it he fades away from the story. He is a behind the scene character in the grand nativity story. But there is so much we can learn from what little we know of him in the Gospels! Joseph’s role may appear to be small on the outside but it was pretty significant! As Jesus’ earthly father he had a profound influence on his life. There's much we can learn from Joseph's experience of suffering, decision making, and obedience to God.
Are there times you wonder if you are a true Christian? Do you wonder if you have eternal life? If you are, you are not alone. Believers have struggled with these questions down through history beginning in the early church. The Apostle John wrote the book of I John primarily to address this concern. This sermon continues John’s teaching on what it means to be a true follower of Christ from 1 John 2.
Do you often struggle with a certain sin? Does your struggle make you wonder whether your faith in Christ is authentic? If your struggle with sin is robbing you of the ‘joy of the Lord’ in your life, this sermon will encourage, challenge and point you toward freedom in Christ through God’s Word.
How are you building room for God in your life? During this special Global Ministries weekend we hear from South Africa partners Gareth and Robert about trusting God and stepping out in faith rather than being overly cautious. Sometimes we need to dwell in the world of "perhaps." Even when we haven't heard a specific word that our plans will be successful, we can still step out and take risks knowing the character of God as revealed in the Bible. He is utterly trustworthy. This message includes stories about how God has provided for the building projects taking place at Reconciliation Road Church (South Africa) and VELA Ministries (Mexico).
Our culture sees all religions as basically the same. But Jesus was not one among many gods but He presented Himself as unique. Nathan Betts from RZIM addresses the uniqueness of Jesus from Luke 5:1-11.
Ever since our first parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God in the garden and then tried to cover up and hide from God, we have all tried to do the same with the sin we find in our own lives. This study in 1 John speaks to this predisposition in our lives. The Apostle John spells out several ways people attempt to deal with their guilt and shame only one of which will set us free. There is a way to be freed from the regrets of the past and the opportunity to start over
John spoke as a firsthand witness who had heard, seen, and even touched Jesus. His proclamation came out of his personal experience. We live generations past this historical event of the Incarnation. Can we also be certain of Jesus’ existence? Can we experience the Word of Life today? The answer to this question can be found in what John is saying in the opening verses of his letter. This message explores how we can have an authentic experience with Jesus which in turn leads to sharing this good news with others around us.
The early church faced a major dilemma – they struggled to reconcile their suffering with Christ’s victory. They wondered, “If Jesus has won the battle, why are we not experiencing the victory?” This is also one of the most relevant questions for us today. In Revelation 5 we see one of the greatest paradoxes of the Bible: Jesus as both the lion and the lamb. He is the Lion who conquered as a Lamb; the only one worthy to unfold God's redemptive plan for our world.
This sermon begins a study in I John. The key reason the apostle wrote this letter is found in chapter 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life.” He gives three tests that reveal whether or not a person is truly a Christ-follower: Test #1: What do you believe about Christ? Test #2: How are you living like Christ? Test #3: How are you loving like Christ? The first two tests are the focus of this sermon.
We live in an age of rage. It is seen it everywhere – in our homes, our schools, our places of work and of course on our city streets and freeways. Every day we see or hear numerous accounts of the carnage created by uncontrolled anger. The Emoji Series of sermons continues as we look at this topic. The focus of this sermon is on what anger is and how to Biblically deal with it.
Here is the sermon description for this weekend. September 29/30, 2018 - Unveiled: Jesus in the Book of Revelation - Part 1: The Exalted Christ - Ashwin Ramani What is the image that comes to mind when you think of Jesus? The book of Revelation is not merely a book of end time prophecy; first and foremost it is a stunning revelation of Jesus Christ. Most of our mental images of Jesus comes from parts of the four Gospels as well as movies and paintings we have seen of Christ. This culturally conditioned, passive Jesus that people know of is often a Jesus of their own imagination. And that is most certainly not the Jesus you encounter in Revelation. The book of Revelation helps us to see the true Jesus who has all the attributes of divinity!
It’s relatively easy celebrating God’s goodness when our health is excellent, our income is flourishing, our family is doing well and our friends like and admire us. But what happens when all that breaks down? Our confidence in the love and goodness of our Lord is tested. We may get angry and blame God, or take matters into our own hands and quit or run. In this last message of this series on Psalm 23, we’ll seek to understand more fully how God is preparing a table for us, anointing us and pursuing us with His goodness, grace and mercy.
Surveys tell us that millions of people are haunted by fear - the fear of failure, rejection, loneliness, death, ill-health, unemployment, and the death of a loved one. In those times of fear and uncertainty, King David found the Lord, his Shepherd, to be completely trustworthy, a friend who faithfully walked with him through the dark valleys of life. This sermon in the continuing study of Psalm 23 teaches how to find victory over our fears through the Lord our Shepherd.
Life is a series of choices. Every decision has consequences for us and others in our lives and the potential for making wrong decisions is a reality because we are imperfect human beings. We face numerous decisions every day and some of them are life altering. The good news is we don’t have to face the future alone. In Psalm 23, King David essentially says to us, “Let me tell you about the LORD, MY SHEPHERD, Who guides me.” This focus of this sermon is on how we can receive guidance and direction from the Lord our Shepherd.
"In the final instalment of the 2018 summer series, Pastor Kent Priebe has a look into the first chapter of the book of John where Jesus asks the question “what are you after”? In other words, what are you seeking? What builds and shapes our lives the most is what we seek after. What are YOU seeking and do you have people in your life that will push you towards following Christ and seeking after Him? In this message, Pastor Kent addresses the crucial importance of community in the pursuit of Christ."
At church, or “when we gather at church”, we worship in song, tithing, serving, and the praying and preaching of God’s Word. This is so crucial for community and growth! But worship also carries over into the other six days of the week, sometimes especially when nobody else is watching. Worship is the little things like stopping to pray in the morning before you rush off to work or school. Worship is being kind, and helping your neighbor carry groceries into their house. Worship isn’t just song, it’s life.
Have you experienced failure? At the trial of Jesus on the eve of his crucifixion, Peter denied that he had any association with Jesus. Crestfallen and dejected at his failure, Peter decided to return back to his old life of fishing. But Jesus would not let him go very far; He took the initiative to restore him back. Of all the questions that Jesus could have asked, He asked Peter in John 21, “Do you love me?” The truth is every one of us have failed in some way or form in our spiritual lives. If you have failed as a Christian, and you are wondering “Can I come back to the faith? Will I even be accepted after what I have done?” Jesus wants to know one thing – Do you still love Him?
Doubt fills every area of our lives, from questions like, "does my friend still care about me?" to "did I buy the right refrigerator?" We shouldn't be surprised if doubt also shows up in our faith. In Matthew 14:22-33 we see that even Peter, one of Jesus closest disciples, experienced doubt. We can learn from this story that the key to a life of faith is fixing our eyes on Jesus.
Do you know someone who is guilty of a serious sin? How do you respond? Are you the one who is guilty? In this message on the story of the adulterous woman from John 8, Rosemary Flaaten brings our attention to how Jesus responded to sin. In this story about rocks, grace, and freedom, we are encouraged to extend love and grace instead of condemnation, receive grace for our own sins of all kinds, and then turn from our sin and follow God 's best plan for our lives.
How is your prayer life? If we are honest, many of us have wondered at some stage in our lives – Does prayer make a difference? Jesus asked, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:11-12). Jesus’ teachings on prayer first and foremost focus on the character of God and His eagerness to bless His children with good gifts. Rather than making us feel guilty for not taking the time to pray, Jesus invites us to understand the heart of our heavenly Father. The secret to a powerful prayer life is understanding the character of the One we are praying to.
We may not often think of ourselves as being great. Perhaps it’s our Canadian culture that keeps us from standing out or perhaps we think that greatness is a sign of, or synonymous with, pride and arrogance. In asking “Who is greater?” Jesus infers that it is okay and even a good thing to seek after greatness. Was Jesus great? Were you and I created to be great? What is true greatness and how do we pursue it? In Luke 22:24-28, Jesus describes greatness according to God’s kingdom and offers a way for us to live lives of greatness.
Do you worry? Do you consider worry a sin? In this continuation of our series on the questions Jesus asked in the Gospels, Ashwin preaches on the topic of worry. This is a very relevant, practical question for us in the 21st century! In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus connects worrying with lack of faith. As believers, we know we do not need to worry because we can trust in our heavenly Father who promises to meet all of our needs.
Do you know what you want Jesus to do for you? Most of our desires are mere symptoms of a greater need. We often ask God for the wrong things. In this second message of the "Here's a Question" series, Ashwin teaches from Mark 10:46-52. In this text we meet a blind man named Bartimaeus whose life is turned around when he boldly answer's Jesus question, "What do you want me to do for you?" This question cuts to the core of the matter, and Jesus heals Bartimaeus in his place of greatest need.
Who do you believe Jesus is? Everything else in our life will depend on how we respond to this one question. In this first sermon in the "Here's a Question" series, Ashwin teaches from Matthew 16:13-20. In this text Jesus Himself posed this question about his identity to his disciples. On that day in Caesarea Philippi – Peter made an historic confession about the identity of Jesus that has become the bedrock of our faith.
Life has a way of continually surprising us. We try to control as much as we can but so much is out of our control. Like running a race, when life gets hard we have the choice to either quit or endure to the end. Jesus never preached that following Him would make life easy, in fact life in some things would be more difficult. But Jesus did preach that it’s worth it to persevere. That He’s with you in your pain and that He’s running beside and inside of you. Whatever you’re going through, Jesus says lean not on your own understanding, but trust in Him and His strength. Join us as this Sunday evening as we discover the strength we have in Jesus to endure all life throws at us.
Most of us have a propensity to spectatorship. There's a difference between just being in the crowd, and being personally involved. Jesus is extending us an invitation to participation! In this message from guest speaker Jason Ballard, we hear about the work God is doing across Canada through the local church, through Alpha, and through unqualified people like you and I who choose to stop, look, listen to the Holy Spirit, and participate.
God never intended our work to be our all-consuming passion. He never intended work to take the place of our time with Him or with those we love. He never intended work to rob us of sleep and to leave us in a continual state of emotional and physical exhaustion. In the same way God gave us the gift of work, He also gave us the gift of rest. God considers rest as important as work.
Were you, at one point in your life, closer to the Lord than you are today? In Psalm 1 two lives and their outcomes are described; the life of someone following God and the life of someone who has turned from him. In this message, Pastor Kent encourages us to live a life following the Lord; a blessed life. Those who are sensitive to the Good Shepherd's voice are those who meditate on his word day and night. Will you take up the challenge to spend more time in the Bible and in listening prayer?
Life rarely turns out the way we envision it to be. Life can start out with the greatest of dreams and be cut down by illness, an accident or a broken relationship. Life can hand us a set of circumstances that leaves us wondering whether God even cares. In Psalm 23, David, tells us about the Lord, in whom he trusts. The Lord Who is our rock, our fortress, our shelter in times of storm, our Shepherd. David’s testimony teaches us how to build our trust in God.
The last sermon in the “Pursuing the Kingdom Series”. There is discontentment that finds its motivation in our ego and self-interest which pushes us to want more or to achieve more. When we follow this pathway, we often find ourselves facing the back-breaking stress of debt or a frantic life of trying to do more than God ever intended us to do. This sermon teaches about contentment from the life and teachings of Paul, who wrote in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Have you ever done something in your life that you regret? Does that regret turn to guilt, and then ultimately to shame? Or do you find yourself constantly doing the same thing over and over that you are scared to talk about it with other people in fear of them judging you? The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of grace, freedom and life! Not the burden of religion with the bad news of rules, shame and bondage. Join us as we discover that the church is the messiest place with the messiest people who have a very real and safe place to walk out of shame and condemnation and into freedom.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
This global ministries weekend, our missions leadership team shared the vision and six core strategies that Centre Street Church uses as we introduce people to Jesus and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ, around the world. This is our global mission and our response to the great commission.
Sociologist’s define a multi-ethnic church as a church where no one ethnicity makes up more than 80% of the whole. By that definition, Centre Street Church is a multi-ethnic church. But being a multiethnic church is not for pragmatic reasons alone but for gospel reasons. In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul addresses how Jesus has broken the dividing walls of hostility and created one new human race. Diverse people worshipping and serving together in unity demonstrates the power of the gospel to the world around us!
God has blessed us with many special gifts including our health, time, talents, spiritual gifts, money and possessions. He has given these gifts to us in large part to partner with Him in bringing people into relationship with Himself and to accomplish His redemptive purposes in the world. Will we hold these gifts with an open hand or will we keep our gifts hidden, or don’t step out and use what we’ve been given for the purposes He intended?
This second part of “Pursuing the Kingdom’ series looks at how the economy of God’s Kingdom works in comparison to the way our world’s economy operates. God’s Kingdom has an economy and He calls us to use our time, talent and treasure to contribute to the health and advancement of His Kingdom. If we believe God and commit to follow Him, our lives, values and priorities will be significantly different than those in our culture who do not follow Jesus as Lord.
There is a powerful correlation between the state of our spiritual life and what we do with our time, talent and treasure. A lifestyle of generosity is normal for the disciple of Jesus. Our hearts are broken by the things that break the heart of God and therefore we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus by introducing people to Jesus and being generous with all we have received from the Lord. This sermon begins a three part series on “Pursuing the Kingdom”.
The annual Vision address to Centre Street Church by the senior pastor is the focus of this sermon. There is a looking back at what God has done, what He is doing and then a vision of where God is leading Centre Street. It will provide a greater understanding of what we’re about as a church, where we’re going as a church and even why we do some of the things we do as a church.
Very few people would deny that they are a truth-seeker, even if they aren't one! In this message from guest speaker, Sean McDowell, Christians are given tools to be more thoughtful about their faith and to talk about it with others. If you are a truly a seeker of truth, it is reasonable and necessary to examine and consider the evidence for and against faith with an open mind.
Grace is a central truth of the Christian faith and one of the greatest gifts of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Only Christianity makes God’s love unconditional because of God’s grace to us. As we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, we will realize and understand more of this incredible gift.
This final sermon in the series on Colossians examines the life of John Mark, a young man who failed and paid a dear price for it, yet who not only recovered from his failure but was used mightily by God the rest of his life.
Ashwin Ramani The “wilderness” is a common spiritual metaphor for a period of refinement in our life. It is a time of testing and trial that serves as a preparation time for the next season of life that is about to unfold. So a great question to ask in the middle of your wilderness is – “What is God preparing me for?” In the wilderness, the Israelites learned to humbly depend on God. It is those same lessons of trust and humility that God challenged them to apply when they reached the Promised Land. Will you humbly trust God both in times of need and times of affluence?
The main reason behind Israel’s failure to enter the Promised Land was their lack of faith and inability to trust God completely. The next 40 years in the wilderness, God was going to teach them faith lessons so they can grow in the very area they had failed. God allowed 40 years of wandering through which the Israelites would learn that He was trustworthy! This is true of our personal wilderness experiences as well - it is often in the wilderness we come to realize God is dependable.
How often have you been crippled by the unknown? Fear has a powerful way of stopping our progress. It is a weapon not of the all-powerful King of Kings, but of the prince of earth. Will fear rule your heart? Or will the power of God make you fearless?
In this sermon Kent Priebe walks us through Psalm 3, looking at the life of David and sharing about how we can deal with fear in our lives.
In the final ten verses of Colossians the apostle Paul sends greetings to the believers in Colossae from himself and a number of his close friends and ministry companions. These names represent real people who were used by God to make a real difference. They are in Scripture for a reason. Even the postscripts in the Bible, including long lists of names, have something to say to us.
What do you do when you end up suffering through no fault of your own? The wilderness is a breeding ground for victim mentality, but as a child of God you cannot allow that pain to rob you of the joy and the purpose of God for your life! In this message, Ashwin introduces us to a man who suffered for no fault of his own. Caleb did not allow that to stifle him or make him bitter but rose to the occasion to do great things for God. Because we know Jesus can change victims into victors, we can choose to wholeheartedly engage in God's mission for our lives. It is never too late.
Fear can be a necessary and healthy part of life. It warns us of danger, and can help us to choose wise decisions. However, fear can also be paralyzing; it can prevent us from being obedient to God. In the first speech of Moses in Deuteronomy, Moses reviews the failures of the past generation and how they missed out on an incredible opportunity. They were at the threshold of the Promised Land, the land that God had promised to their ancestors -Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The promise was all set to be realized. But, they yielded to their fears and squandered a God-given opportunity. In this message on Deut. 1:19-36, Ashwin talks about facing your fears and boldly advancing God's mission for your life.
We were never meant to live life experiencing anxiety, that’s why we’re encouraged in 1 Peter to cast it all onto God. He’s a good father who wants to hold the weight of our burdens, stresses, and fears. Today, choose to give it to Him and not carry it yourself! What are you releasing and asking Him to carry today?
The Bible is one unified story. Do you struggle to see that while you are reading each chapter on it's own? In this message, TJ Syroteuk speedily leads us through the story of the scriptures, revealing the underlying plot line, key verses, and parallel stories. We begin in the beginning, where we are introduced to a God who is on a mission. In Genesis 3:15 we learn that humanity is waiting for a "serpent crusher." We then look for the coming serpent crusher, meet him in the person of Jesus, and see how we fit into this glorious story today.
If you feel intimidated and inadequate introducing people to Jesus or if you are just uncertain how God can use you to point people to Him most effectively, this sermon, Part 2 of Joining God on Mission, provides teaching and practical ideas that will be helpful.
The world must come to know Jesus. It is of utmost importance. What is God’s role and what is our role in that process? We know only God can change people’s hearts, but we also know that God calls us to join Him in fulfilling this mission. We have a part to play. In Colossians 4: 3-6, the Apostle Paul paints a picture that helps bring understanding to this tension. God opens doors and we walk through them. He is the one who softens hearts, who draws people to Himself and to His truth. Our role is to pray for open doors, to be alert and then to step out in obedience and walk through the door God has opened for us.
In Colossians 4, Paul writes: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” This sermon addresses several questions: What is prayer? What does it mean to be devoted to prayer? What does it mean to be watchful in prayer? When and how long should we pray and how should we pray?
As we approach the New Year, we often take time to look back over the year that was and reflect on the victories, defeats, joys and memories. This often reveals a different perspective than the one we had when we were “in the trenches” so to speak. What would happen if we took a step back and chose to look at all situations in life with a good news, gospel perspective? In this message, Pastor Travis encourages us that we that we can have a good news perspective because of who Jesus is, what he has done, and what is now true of us!
King Solomon had it all, experienced it all, and yet in the end he said it was all meaningless, ‘a chasing after the wind’. None of the many things and wealth that he had was able to satisfy the deep yearning within him. That is why Jesus came and why we celebrate Christmas. He came to reveal to us that the void we often experience in our lives is really our longing for God and that only God can meet the yearning of our soul. But more than that, He also came to make a way for us to come home to a loving relationship with God.
Most of us are so used to the Christmas story that we miss the awe and wonder in it. We imagine the picture of a helpless babe laying in a manger, but forget that this is the cosmic Christ, the divine king of the universe. In this message from Ashwin Ramani, we look at the Christmas story through the lens of the gospel of John. Here the glory of the incarnation is clear. Because of Christmas day, we can know God and He knows us. God is not hiding, He has made Himself vulnerable and available.
The final sermon is the series on Choosing a Mate, this sermon discusses three more principles that should be explored as we look for the person who will be our life partner - seek someone you are compatible with, seek someone who honours you sexually and finally, seek someone who shares the same mission in life as you.
This sermon, third in the series of ‘Living Your New Life in Your Work”, examines how Jesus replaces our idolizing of work with His love and acceptance. Whether you are employed, or work as a student, homemaker or volunteer, you will be encouraged through what God’s Word has to say about work and how to avoid making it an idol in your life.
Jesus Christ brought meaning back to work. Even though God didn’t remove the painful, sweaty part of work, He did replace the meaninglessness of work in and through Christ. When we embrace Christ by faith, our perspective of life completely changes - including our perspective on work.
God intended our work to be a way for us to worship Him, to bless others and to introduce others to Jesus. This sermon continues the study in the book of Colossians, showing what ‘being in Christ’ looks like in our work, how we can find joy and contentment as we work and point others to Christ through our work.
Do you have compassion for the people around you? In this message Pastor Kent Priebe describes true Biblical compassion as seeing the needs around you, feeling the needs, and responding with action. In our world today there are many needs; people are lonely, spiritually hungry, confused, hurting, grieving, and in poverty. People need Jesus. In Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus demonstrates that our first response should be compassion and prayer. Will you prayerfully respond to the needs around you this week?
Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he who wins souls is wise.” Healthy Christians are not content with just knowing Christ themselves, they have a heart burden for the lost, and are about helping them be made right with God, by pointing them to Jesus! They do this by intentionally praying and sharing with the lost around them, on a daily basis. The Greatest purpose in light of eternity for a Christian; is to introduce people to Jesus! “He who wins souls is wise.”
Where can we turn when our confidence collapses, when our self-esteem takes a beating or when our hearts get broken? God intended the family to be the people we turn to in times like this. In Colossians 3 we are given a prescription for building healthy relationships, including healthy families.
In this message we hear from guest speaker Daniel Henderson on how to pray. Using the prayer Jesus taught his disciples as a guide, Daniel demonstrates what the healthy pattern for scripture-fed, spirit-led, worship-based prayer is. Prayer is intimacy with God that leads to the fulfillment of His purposes - it can be so much more than what often takes place in our prayer gatherings!
Beginning with Colossians 3:18, Paul talks about how our new life in Christ will impact all of our relationships including those with our spouse, our family and colleagues at our workplace. The focus of this sermon is on the Apostle Paul’s instruction to husbands and wives, emphasizing how our new life in Christ impacts our marriages.
Do you find it difficult to be thankful in the midst of sorrow? In this message Pastor Ashwin presents us with an age old spiritual practice that has been sidelined in our contemporary Western churches - the practice of lament. A lament is an agonizing cry of despair uttered in the context of trust. If you don't feel like you have been experiencing the promises of God in your life, God encourages you to express your feelings to Him in an honest way. Lament gives way to thanksgiving when God lifts the fog and gives us clarity.
In the great commission Jesus instructs us to "go" and make disciples. What we often miss is that a better translation of this word is "as you go." In this message from Brad Friesen, Pastor of Global Ministries, we are asked what it looks like to live life well. As we go about our lives, are we loving God, loving our neighbours, and loving ourselves the way Jesus loves us?
Christ cares deeply for us, has our best interest at heart in all things and longs for us to be free to live the victorious Christian life. The question is how can we be set free from the power of sin in our lives? This sermon continues to look into Colossians 3 for answers to that question.
The Bible teaches the ‘person I was’ is gone and that I am a new person in Christ. But often it doesn’t feel new because we are still struggling with sin and seem to be living far from a life of victory. Colossians 3 shows how it is possible to live a victorious Christian life.
Is it possible to be a Christian and continue to maintain a habitually sinful lifestyle? If we are dead to sin, then why do we still struggle with sin? How can we possibly live a holy life? This sermon on Colossians 3 seeks to answer those question.
This is the first sermon in the series on Choosing a Mate. Two principles are presented. The first principle is to be content as a single before you seek your mate. The second principle is to seek someone who is spiritually compatible with you.
Paul articulates, beginning in Colossians 3, how the lordship of Jesus will impact our values, attitudes and behaviors going forward. Many people embrace Jesus for what He can do for them but if they are really honest, they really have no intention to follow Him or to live for Him. The sermon begins to describes how a surrendered life would be lived.
Jonah was more concerned with his own comfort than for the lives of the people of Nineveh. He did not want them to receive grace. Though he called their city "wicked," throughout this book God calls the city "great." God has great concern and compassion for the people. In this message Pastor Ashwin Ramani challenges us, "do you understand and reflect God's heart for our city?"
Have you ever found that you want grace for yourself, but justice for others? In this message Pastor Ashwin Ramani preaches on Jonah's response to God forgiving the Ninevites. Though it may seem strange to us that Jonah would be angry at God for extending grace and forgiveness, Ashwin points out that all of us are capable of similar "Jonah moments." Jesus instructed us to love our enemies; to pray for them and wish the best for them. Today you are invited to open your heart to the transforming power of Jesus so that he may help you love those you hate, can't forgive, and hold prejudices against.
Have you ever felt that you were beyond the reach of God's grace? In this message pastor Kent Priebe speaks from Jonah 3. God uses Jonah to bring repentance and grace the the entire city of Ninavah - a miracle that is more amazing than Jonah surviving in the belly of a fish! Not only does God give Jonah a second chance, he gives the people of Ninavah a second chance. In the same way, God is extending a second chance to you, and to those around you, through you. God's capacity to forgive is limitless. How will you respond to this grace?
Part of God's plan to lead us to maturity will often involve seasons of testing, intended to force us to learn that which we wouldn't normally learn in times of ease. The tests help build our character, make us trustworthy and capable of "handling" the blessing God desires to give us. In this message we will look at 4 - 5 tests God typically uses to prepare us for further blessing or responsibility.
Alone and surrounded by utter darkness in the belly of a whale, Jonah restores his relationship with God. Have you ever felt that you have run so far that not even God could reach you where you were? Pastor Ashwin addresses this in the next installment of the Jonah series. God has the power to raise you from your deepest darkness!
Is the Lord calling you to do something you don't want to do? On this special family focus weekend we hear an engaging recitation of the book of Jonah by actor Tim Bergmann, followed by a message from Family Ministry Pastor Matt Schorr. Matt challenges us to engage in discipleship with children and youth as well as providing practical ways to do so. Do you value the young people in your life? Are you sharing truth and love with them? Or are you, like Jonah, running the other way?
What happens when a Christian attempts to run away from God's plan for his or her life? In this second part of the Jonah series, pastor Ashwin shows how our God is a God who is in hot pursuit of his people. God lovingly disciplines us just as any parent would. He sends us wake up calls, to rouse us from our spiritual slumber.
Are you moving towards God, or away from Him? In this first message of the Jonah series, Pastor Kent Priebe challenges us to turn towards God in obedience and trust, rather than fleeing the other way. Jonah clearly heard God's call to go to Nineveh but he deliberately went in the opposite direction. This was not just disobedience but it was an outright mutiny. In so many ways we are also like Jonah. How often we receive a clear calling from God and yet choose to go on a detour! Just remember – outrunning God is never a good option.
How can God's people help preserve Canada as a great nation? In this message we hear from the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, former member of the Canadian House of Commons, on how to answer this question. She shares information on current political issues and challenges us to seek the peace of our nation and pray to the Lord for it. Canada is a great nation; are you obediently following Christ in a way that will keep our nation great?
This sermon from Colossians 2 continues to examine the various philosophies and religions that seek to kill our spiritual growth, the freedom we have in Christ and to remind us of what Christ has done to set us free in Him.
Who do you call a hero? In this Father's Day sermon Rosemary Flaaten speaks from the life of Gideon. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Heroes are not born. Heroes are made as they live out their love for God and their neighbours. Every one of us can become a hero as we follow the example of Gideon. He responded to God's initiative and then allowed God to empower him to become a great hero.
The believers at Colossae committed their lives to Jesus Christ, but there were teachers who were trying to convince them that Jesus wasn’t enough, that Jesus was great, but if they wanted to experience life to the full, they needed Jesus plus special knowledge, special experiences, special rituals and special disciplines. The Apostle Paul wrote to not only fully explain who Jesus is and that He is totally trustworthy, but to help them understand they are complete in Christ, that He is enough.
What is the driving passion inside you that compels your actions, even in the face of great suffering? Continuing in the Colossians series, Pastor Ashwin addresses our responsibility as Children of God to not only hear God’s revelation for our own benefit but to steward it well and share with all the secrets He reveals to us.
This first sermon in the series on the book of Colossians focuses on Colossians 1: 15-23. In it Paul gives a powerful and compelling description of Jesus and why He is worthy of our worship and total allegiance - Jesus is Lord and Jesus is Enough.
Do you forget God? Do you go about your life in a way that shows you have forgotten what God's character is? In this message Pastor Kent Priebe guides us through Psalm 103, a reminder not to forget God. God is good, He has redeemed you, and He always loves you. These truths remain regardless of our life circumstances.
This sermon part three of the ‘Greatness According to Jesus’ series. We all want to make a difference and want our life to count for something. The question is what if it doesn’t happen? What if your role as a mother or father, your marriage, your family, your career, your impact as a follower of Christ doesn’t turn out the way you initially envisioned it would?
Are you a friend of Christ? In this message based on John 15:12-17, Ashwin Ramani encourages us that Jesus calls us friends! He did not redeem you because he wanted a slave, but because he wanted a friend. This friendship is freeing, it inspires confidence, it motivates us to obedience, and it's nurtured by communication.
Are you a "friend of sinners?" Would you be invited over for dinner at their house? In this challenging message from CSC partner church pastor Brad Morrice, we get a look into the direction our culture is headed and how this affects our mission as Christians. Montreal is more connected to Europe and is 10-15 years ahead Calgary in terms of culture. The culture is hostile to the Christianity. Brad challenges us to reach out, authentically befriend our neighbors, serve them, and share our faith. He quotes Charles Spurgeon, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.
Jesus teaches that true greatness comes to those who not only serve others, but also to those who trust in God’s goodness even when the path He has us on is full of detours and nasty unexpected turns. No matter the path, God will direct the way.
If we believe Jesus lives, what ramifications does this truth have on our identity, our values and the way we live our lives? This is the focus of the message this Resurrection Weekend.
We all want to make a difference. We all want our lives to count for something. The question is what if it isn’t happening? How do we resolve our disappointment and keep on keeping on? In Matthew 20, two disciples asked Jesus if He would authorize them to sit on His right and left in His Kingdom. They aspired to be in positions of greatness, positions of significance and influence. Jesus response to them is instructive to all who want to make a difference, to those who want their lives to be great or significant.
This final message on James is focused on the importance of being in community with other believers and how we should respond when people we know and love wander from the faith.
What does it mean to pray ‘in the name of the Lord’? What is the ‘prayer offered in faith’? Will those who are sick be healed if they have enough faith or those praying for them have enough faith? These are some of the questions this sermon addresses from James 5:13-18.
How would the world look differently today if all your prayers this past week had been answered? In this week's message Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks from Acts 4. Because of the early church's bold prayers, the world changed drastically within the span of one generation. Throughout history, every time the church has been on the defensive it has been to great detriment. Instead, let us pray on the offence! Bold prayers rooted in God's character and God's word will change us, our nation, and the world.
Prayer isn’t part of the Christian life; it IS the Christian life because prayer is all about being in relationship with or communicating with God. Why is prayer important? Does prayer make a difference? These questions are of this sermon from James 5.
In our world today there is a general pessimism about family - so much so that many members of the younger generations are giving up on the institutions of marriage and family altogether. In this message Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks from Psalm 128, revealing the beautiful plan for family found in the Bible. When we are living our lives in surrender to Christ, we do not face marriage and family alone. Instead, we have all the resources of heaven to call on! God wants to bless our families and has given us guidelines to help these important relationships to thrive. - See more at: http://www.cschurch.ca/sermons/general-sermons-2017/the-blessings-of-a-godly-home/#sthash.GTgEgsGu.dpuf
Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) We face hardships, disappointments and suffering. We will be treated unfairly, because this world is broken and is far from what God intended it to be in the beginning. As Christ followers, how do we respond to these storms in our lives?
This sermon based on James 5:1-6 examines three warnings James gives to us about money and how we can break the hold it and our possessions tend to have in our lives.
Can we say that the North American church is bold and courageous? In Acts 4 we see that the early church boldly proclaimed the gospel. Around the world today, Christians are bold as they share their faith despite the possibility of persecution. What consequence are we afraid of in North America? Awkwardness. In this message, Ashwin reminds us the sources of our courage and encourages us to proclaim God's truth boldly.
In Acts chapter 3, Peter, John and a lame man were each having an ordinary day. Yet, in the midst of the ordinary, Peter and John chose to represent Christ - and that made all the difference! A miracle occurred when the lame man was healed. Christians are Christ's representatives in the world, even on ordinary days. How are you representing Christ? In this sermon Kent challenges and equips the church to share the gospel.
Few of us would say ‘we are God’. However, in practice many of us live and make decisions like we are. In this study of James, the writer draws our attention to this tendency to be the centre of the universe and illustrates the consequences of replacing God with ourselves.
In James chapter 4 the author spells out not only the causes but the cure for the conflicts in our world, workplace, communities, churches, friendships, marriages and families.
In this New Year's Day sermon Rosemary Flaaten brings God's question in Genesis 16 alive for us; "Where are you coming from and where are you going?"At this time of year we have a chance to reflect on the past and project into our futures. Will you trust God with both?
In this Christmas Day sermon we hear from Rev. Wayne Smele on Matthew 2:9-11. What would you give the Lord Jesus for Christmas? What kind of gift does He desire or deserve? The wise men gave Jesus 3 gifts with great significance. Through their example, we can have an idea of what kind of gift we can give Jesus at Christmas.
At Christmas we are especially reminded that Jesus did not come to give us a new set of rules to live by, an 8-fold path and a 5 step code of ethics to follow. Jesus came to give us the gift of Himself, to show us that God is not some distant, unknowable deity but is WITH US.
In this week's sermon Pastor Kent Priebe speaks from 1 John 3:1. As Christians we believe a lot of core truths, but many of us find it hard to believe the most central truth of all - that God loves each of us in a personal way. Do you believe God loves you? Are you living as a child of God?
The Bible describes these two systems as kingdoms - the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of heaven. James says the one is based on ‘false wisdom’ the other on ‘true wisdom’. What does it look like to be a citizen in the kingdom of this world and in the kingdom of heaven? Sooner or later, we all need to decide which kingdom we’re going to give our lives to. To not decide is to have decided.
Words are very powerful. They can either hurt or they can heal. This sermon on James 3 examines the power of the tongue and how we can keep a tight rein on our tongue.
What type of faith saves us? How do you know you are really a Christian? What is the difference between true faith and false faith? The answers to these question is the focus of James 2:14-26 and the subject of this sermon.
In this third sermon of the series Faith Arise, Pastor Ashwin talks about how God builds our faith through the storms of life. In Matt. 14:22-33, we find Jesus sent His disciples into a storm because He wanted their faith to arise! The disciples were desperate and paralyzed with fear as the wind and the waves battered their small boat. But it is through this storm they understood the identity of Jesus like never before. God still uses our personal storms to reveal Himself to us – not just what He can do but who He is!
In James 2, the author challenges us to treat each and every person the same, without showing favoritism to anyone. This sermon also challenges us to accept, listen to, pray for and serve those who are our neighbours.
In this sermon, Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks about the only person in recorded history who amazed Jesus with his faith. As we look at this narrative from Luke 7, we see how faith calls for a high view of Jesus. It is not about believing with all our might, nor the name-it-and-claim-it phenomenon. Rather, faith is a response to God's character. it you want your faith to grow - you need to take a fresh look at who God says he is.
In this second sermon on Facing God’s Truth we are challenged with the fact that hearing God’s Word is important, but hearing alone isn’t enough. If we only hear, if we only accumulate more knowledge and insight, we may believe we are spiritually mature, yet James says,” we deceive ourselves”. Spiritual maturity comes to those who hear the Word and do what it says.
This week we hear from Pastor Kent Priebe on living a life of contentment. Contentment is not something we drift into, nor something we achieve when we have gained all the wealth, success, and relationships we dream of. Rather, contentment comes from trusting in God. We can face all of life's circumstances with contentment through Christ who gives us strength!
In this message pastor Ashwin Ramani provides a challenge to live a life of faith. There are two times in scripture where it says "Jesus was amazed." One of these instances is in regards to faith, the other to a lack of faith. We all have heard of the power of faith; that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. But do you know the power of unbelief? It is also a spiritual force but it robs us of God's blessings.
Are you able to recall a time you were really angry with someone? You really wanted to see them pay for the hurt they’ve caused you. In the first two sermons in the Inside Out series, we have discovered how to respond to trials and temptations. In the remaining verses of the first chapter of James, the author shows us how to respond to truth - the truth of God’s Word.
The nature and source of temptation and how we tend to fall prey to it are examined in this sermon in the Inside Out series. It also provides hope and how to find victory over temptation when it comes.
This sermon, the second in the Inside Out series, examines God’s desire that followers of Jesus will see trials and face trials differently than those who are not following Him.
An introduction to the Book of James, this sermon looks at the life of James as he came to know Jesus, not just as his brother but as his Saviour and Lord.
In this last message of the summer "Follow Me" series, Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks to us on persevering in our Christian faith. Based on the Hebrews 12 metaphor of the Christian life being a race, the goal is to run as if it as a long distance marathon, not a 200 metre dash. When we are 80 years old we should be more excited and deeply rooted in Christ than when we first began at age 18. The further we run, the stronger we should get!
In this message from the "Follow Me" series, Pastor Kent Priebe speaks on community. The starting point for Jesus' ministry was looking for friends. He then built an extended family to partner with him on his mission. Today, the best way to accomplish the mission of sharing the gospel is still through loving communities, just like it was in Jesus time. This sermon closes with a sense of belonging to the greater Christian community, as well as a challenge to build close friendships that become like the extended family Jesus created.
In this sermon from the "Follow Me" series, Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks on how God comforts us in our suffering. Jesus has not promised us a problem free, trouble free, carefree life, but we do have the promise of his presence and comfort. This sermon looks at the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazurus from John 11. Jesus gave Mary and Martha different answers in their grief over Lazurus's death. To Martha he spoke words of theological truth and to Mary he offered his comforting, empathetic presence. God gives us both of these answers in our suffering as well. We do not have a God who is unfamiliar with suffering, and he meets each of us where we are at.
In this sermon from the "Follow Me" series, Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks on listening to God's voice. One of the most precious gifts Jesus gave us is the ability to sit at God's feet in worship and hear Him speak directly to us. This is the only thing that is necessary for our Christian lives and it is the key to true fruitfulness. Are you making time with God a priority?
In this message from the "Follow Me" series, Ken Dyck, author of Freedom Sessions, speaks on the story of the adulterous woman from John 8. He describes how each of us fit into this story, and how God wants to meet us where we are and give us freedom. Jesus wants us to live without condemnation, and he wants us stop sinning.
Matt Schorr speaks on having significance in life. Nothing will give you greater significance, fulfillment, and meaning than introducing people to Christ. Your children or others in your life may read the Bible, but what will they learn if they are not in your life? Matt gives a challenge to pursue mission not happiness. It is only through this that true significance will be found.
In this third sermon of the "Follow Me" series, Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks on the power of the gospel. This life changing power was clearly evidenced in the life of the Apostle Paul. As a fierce persecutor of the early church he was the least likely convert, yet he came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. The power of the gospel can conquer any heart even the hearts of your friends and family.
In the second sermon of the “Follow Me” series, Pastor Kent Priebe shares his story of saying yes to Jesus’ invitation to follow him. As a missionary kid in Cameroon, Kent grew up with an awareness of God and an understanding that the Bible teaches truth. He shares several pinnacle moments from his journey following Jesus.
This sermon explores those actions which strengthen our spiritual influence in the lives of our children and then encourages them to embrace Christ and follow Him with all their heart.
In this first sermon of the summer "Follow Me" series, Pastor Ashwin Ramani speaks from Matthew 11:25-30. In this text Jesus gives us a tender and passionate invitation to come; to enter His rest and submit to His guidance. What happens when you reply with a "yes" to Jesus invitation? "
This sermon examines and illustrates several Biblical principles on how we can influence our children and/or spiritual children to become fully devoted disciples of Jesus.
This weekend’s service gives a ‘snapshot’ of what God is doing directly and indirectly through Centre Street Church, locally and globally, to advance His kingdom work. It provides clarity as to why we do what we do in fulfilling our mission, and are reminded and challenged to be engaged in fulfilling the mission God has called us to as individuals, families and groups.
This week we hear a powerful message from special guest Joni Eareckson Tada. She shares her story of living with quadriplegia and how we should face suffering in our lives. Though she has dealt with deep feelings of despair, she has also learned how to have great joy. Suffering is like a sheepdog that snarls at our heals and drives us on to Calvary. We are challenged to stop complaining, embrace our weaknesses, grow in holiness, and run further into the arms of Christ.
Why do so many people today do everything they can to avoid thinking about death and the afterlife? Why are many people not overly excited about heaven? This sermon examines what the Bible teaches about heaven and why every Christ follower should be excited about calling it home for an eternity.
In this message titled “Animal Sermons”, Pastor Warren Wiebe dives into Proverbs 30:24-28 to shed light on God’s smallest creations. We may underestimate the strength, power, or wisdom of something simply based on its size but through this message we see that we can learn life lessons from the examples given to us from the smallest creatures.
In the final sermon of the Decisions that Make a Difference series, Ashwin compares the choices made by David and Saul. Both of these men started out strong, walking a road of obedience to God, but then took a detour. David turned back to obedience through a truly repentant heart, Saul did not. We are left with the encouragement that, though bad decisions cannot be undone, they can be redeemed!
Mother's Day is a special occasion to celebrate the brave woman who gave us life. In addition to honoring mothers, this sermon desires to celebrate all women at whatever stage of life she is at, whatever career path she has chosen, whatever her family looks like. From Judges chapter 4, we look at two women, Deborah and Jael. Both were women lived their life on mission and were mightily used by God.
In this message we hear the heart behind the ministry of Compassion Canada. President and CEO, Barry Slauenwhite, describes how we all look at poverty through our own unique worldviews. These worldviews are often based on advertisements, media, and sometimes personal experiences, but the best place to base our view of poverty is always in scripture. Poverty is a weapon used in a spiritual war, therefore, we must fight it with spiritual weapons. The answer to poverty is the gospel, wrapped in tangible love. We are left with a challenge to impact our world for the kingdom, not just do good deeds.
In this message we hear the heart behind the ministry of Compassion Canada. President and CEO, Barry Slauenwhite, describes how we all look at poverty through our own unique worldviews. These worldviews are often based on advertisements, media, and sometimes personal experiences, but the best place to base our view of poverty is always in scripture. Poverty is a weapon used in a spiritual war, therefore, we must fight it with spiritual weapons. The answer to poverty is the gospel, wrapped in tangible love. We are left with a challenge to impact our world for the kingdom, not just do good deeds.
When we die, the Bible teaches we will spend eternity either with God in heaven or separated from God in hell. This sermon examines what the Bible has to say about hell and its implications for our lives.
It is possible to live our entire lives pursuing good things while neglecting the most important thing God created us for - a relationship with Himself and with the people He brings into our lives. This sermon, in the Christianity 101 series, speaks about the mission Christ has called us to and what that might look like today in our lives, friendships, families and church.
Continuing in the Christianity 101 series on THE CHURCH, this sermon examines what the Bible says about the importance of loving one another and what that looks like practically in life.
In the third sermon of the “Decisions that Make a Difference” series, Ashwin compares the choices made by Orpah and Ruth. Orpah was motivated by safety, and safety is what she got. Ruth made a risky decision, but it led her to become part of God's chosen people and even part of the genealogy of Christ! Ashwin encourages us to take risks for the sake of Christ. If your Christian life is dry, chances are you are not living out the spiritual adventure the Lord has in mind for you.
Easter is about hope. There are times when we discover that what we placed our hope in didn’t turn out the way we believed it would. When our trust is in the resurrected Christ, there is real and secure hope.
This sermon looks at what it means, as the Church, to pursue a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. Christ established the church to encourage each other to make our relationship with God and with others a top priority.
In the second sermon of the “Decisions that Make a difference” series, Ashwin compares the choices made by Jacob and Esau. These two brothers illustrate that our decisions are not private; they affect generations to come. - See more at: http://www.cschurch.ca/sermons/general-sermons-2016/jacob-and-esau/#sthash.6jkjbHj2.dpuf
There are those who believe that faith is a private matter between them and God and don’t see the need to be part of a church. This sermon in the Christianity 101 series looks at the nature and purpose of the church and provides an answer to that question.
How can we ensure we are interpreting the Bible correctly and what are the key principles for interpreting the Bible? This sermon focuses on this question, as it continues with the Christianity 101 series.
This sermon examines Deuteronomy 6, looking at how we can pass on our faith to those in our sphere of influence. We are not only challenged but will learn some practical ways to do this in our homes and throughout our lives.
In the first sermon of the “Decisions that Make a difference” series, Ashwin compares the choices made by Abraham and Lot. Though we are free to make choices, we are not free from the consequences. Abraham waited on the Lord, but Lot took his own initiative. Lot faced terrible, unforeseen consequences. Abraham saw God fulfill the promises He had made. We do not have to strive to make God’s promises come true, we can hold them with an open hand and walk with spiritual confidence! - See more at: http://www.cschurch.ca/sermons/general-sermons-2016/decisions-that-make-a-difference/#sthash.pZUto2XI.dpuf
As followers of Christ, we are free to discover the truths of the Bible, but we are not free to fabricate our own truth. We have a responsibility to study it carefully and interpret it correctly. This sermon discusses three principles of Bible interpretation.
Why do Christians believe the Bible is God's written Word and therefore true and reliable? What did the Apostle Paul mean when he said "All Scripture is God breathed? When it comes to the practice of our faith on a day to day basis why do we believe Jesus Christ (the Living Word) and the Bible (His written Word) is our sole authority? What implications does all this have on our lives?
In this sermon, Pastor Warren Wiebe speaks to us on our assurance of salvation. Using Roman 5:1-2, he reminds us that we are justified by faith. The moment we exercise faith and trust in Jesus, He sees us just as if we never sinned. We now don’t have to crawl into God’s presence, we can stand in it! He instructs us to think less of ourselves and put our trust in Jesus. If we do this, our confidence will grow. - See more at: http://www.cschurch.ca/sermons/general-sermons-2016/yourre-richer-than-you-think/#sthash.iQLmKb6o.dpuf
Pastor Kent speaks from James 5:13-20 in this sermon, to stir up our passion, desire, and conviction to pray. Prayer brings about eternal change, is the most powerful force in our world, and it should be our first response to everything that happens in life. Kent leads us through several examples of the power of prayer. If you or someone you know is sad, glad, sick, or sinning: then pray. What would change in our hearts and our world if we did this? - See more at: http://www.cschurch.ca/sermons/general-sermons-2016/pray-for-our-world/#sthash.vF7Bt6zL.dpuf
In this final sermon of the series Pastor Ashwin shares from Mark 4:35-41 where Jesus calms the storm and establishes His authority as the Lord of Creation. We can enter into this New Year with confidence because our Mighty Saviour is journeying with us in the same boat and the winds and the waves obey Him even today! - See more at: http://www.cschurch.ca/sermons/general-sermons-2016/mighty-saviour-part-4/#sthash.prenwnnT.dpuf
In this week’s sermon, titled “Losing Track of Jesus,” Tim Volkman reveals the gospel’s glory, power, and relevance. All Christians have the potential to lose track of Jesus, even in the midst of Christian service. Jesus is the focus, the apex, the most central thing in our faith. He is the last Adam, the new Israel, the reconciler who births a new creation and prepares for His wedding day. We are a part of this story, and the same spirit that lived in Christ is now alive in us.”
In this Christmas Eve sermon, Henry Schorr shares on how our triune God created humans out of love and is now pursuing us like a love-sick father. God sends each of us wake up calls. Perhaps He sent you one when your child was born, when you met a genuine Christian, or when you drove past the cemetery. This sermon includes a video testimony of a young man, and how he responded to God’s wake up calls. How have you responded to his calls?
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus challenges us to forgive our debtors, to forgive those who have sinned against us. This message focuses on what the Bible teaches about forgiveness, what it is, what it is not and why forgiveness is critical to our emotional health and spiritual freedom.
The key to overcoming worry is to pray about everything. When it comes to the worries of life, Jesus taught His disciples, in the Lord’s Prayer, to come to the Heavenly Father and to specifically ask, “Give us today our daily bread”. (Matthew 6:11). This is the focus of this sermon as Dr Henry Schorr continues the Christianity 101 series on prayer.
In this second sermon of the series ‘Mighty Saviour’, we look at the comprehensive defeat of two long standing enemies of the human race – Sickness and Death.
In Part 1 of his “Mighty Saviour” series, Pastor Ashwin shares how Jesus is more powerful than demons. Based on the story of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5:1-20, we are reminded that although spiritual warfare is happening constantly in our world today, our Mighty Saviour is far more powerful than anything Satan can send our way!
Oh Canada, Acts 1:8 - In this Global Ministries weekend sermon, Pastor Wayne Smele shares how the book of Acts is a witness to the spread of Christianity. Pastor Wayne's observances are: the disciples were a witness to the life of Jesus Christ; we as disciples are called to be witnesses; and we as witnesses are shown where to go - Jerusalem (locally), Judea (nationally) and to the ends of the earth (internationally).
Oh Canada, Acts 1:8 - In this Global Ministries weekend sermon, Pastor Wayne Smele shares how the book of Acts is a witness to the spread of Christianity. Pastor Wayne's observances are: the disciples were a witness to the life of Jesus Christ; we as disciples are called to be witnesses; and we as witnesses are shown where to go - Jerusalem (locally), Judea (nationally) and to the ends of the earth (internationally).
True spiritual growth requires us to both hear the word of God and then to put it into practice. Our lives will not change, grow or move toward that which is most important to us and God if we don’t do the things required to move us in that direction.
The third key to financial simplicity and freedom is examined. It teaches what it means to live simply so that we can not only live with less anxiety but have additional resources to help people and also be able to support churches and ministries committed to doing the same.
This sermon focuses on another factor that adds a great deal of stress and complexity to our lives - our finances. In this part of Dr Henry Schorr's ‘Pursue Simplicity’ series we continue to learn from Jesus how we can simplify our lives by simplifying those finances.
In this Thanksgiving weekend sermon, Pastor Kent challenges us to “Choose Gratitude” – based on the story of the 10 Lepers in Luke 17. Choosing gratitude reminds us that we are not entitled to blessing, that we cannot get along all on our own and that we need to glorify God and give thanks to Him.
One thing that often adds to the complexity of our lives is relationships—too few, troublesome ones, or too many relationships. This sermon provides instruction from Jesus’ life on how to simplify our lives by simplifying our relationships.
God has given a gift in our pursuit of simplicity. It is the gift of the Sabbath. What is the Sabbath and what is involved in observing it?
The first sermon in the 'PURSUE SIMPLICITY' series by Dr. Henry Schorr begins an examination of the Scriptures, looking at the life of Christ to discover how we can live more simply and give space in our lives for what really matters to God and to us.
In Matthew 6:9, His model prayer, Jesus introduces us to one thing we can do to deal with all that is wrong in our world. He calls us to pray and to specifically pray that God’s Kingdom will come, that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. While praying is not the only thing we should do, it is the most powerful thing we can do because God has chosen to accomplish His will primarily through the prayers of His people.
In the ninth and final sermon of the “Living in God’s Story” series, Pastor Kent Priebe shares with us about the life of Jesus. Jesus was the perfect example of what it means to live in God’s story. We can do that by: listening to the words of Jesus, living in the ways of Jesus and practicing the works of Jesus.
Ken Dyck, author of Freedom sessions, joins us to speak on the life of Adam in what is the eighth sermon of the “Living in God’s Story” series. Adam chose to let sin enter the world and now all humanity must face the brokenness it causes. Ken challenges us to identify the brokenness in our lives and our families, to accept responsibility, address it, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring about healing.
In the seventh sermon of the “Living in God’s Story” series, Pastor Warren Wiebe speaks on King David’s well-known sin. Warren tells us that the most important decisions we make in life are the ones after we make bad ones. When David is confronted about his sin, he takes responsibility, repents, and carries on. We are challenged to do the same.
In the sixth sermon of the “Living in God’s Story” series, Pastor Warren Wiebe speaks from the book of Samuel, on the life of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was crippled, alone, and lived in fear for his life. As a relative of Saul, David could have wanted him dead. Instead, David changes his status, adopting him into his family and giving him a place at his table. We are reminded that all our stories are truly rags to riches stories, as God welcomes us to join Him at His table.
Special guest Brian Stiller is a global ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance. In this message, Brian shows us the five major trends that we see taking place that is impacting the world with the gospel as the Lord chooses to use us.
In the third sermon of the “Living in God’s Story” series, Pastor Ashwin Ramani shares on the life of Moses, based on Hebrews 11. Moses grew up with all the treasures of Egypt at his disposal, yet he chose to give them all up for the sake of following God. We are challenged to choose a God-centred life over a self-centred one, for the immense value of the Kingdom far outweighs any sacrifices or inconveniences.
In the second sermon of the “Living in God’s Story” series, Pastor Ashwin Ramani shares about Joseph. Joseph’s life was a series of hard knocks, but because he remained faithful and obedient to God – even in the middle of his horrible circumstances – God was faithful and blessed him. Our challenge is to remain faithful even when life is hard.
In the first message of our summer series - Living in God's Story - Pastor Kent Priebe shares about Abraham. Abraham's life demonstrates that living in God's story requires us to: have a relationship with God, receive our identity from Him and submit to God which is demonstrated by radical obedience.
Nabeel Qureshi, (Ravi Zacharias ministries) was born into a Muslim family and through the amazing love and pursuit of God, he is now a dedicated Christian. His personal story of how he experienced life-change is an inspiration and challenge to each one of us to love those God has placed in our lives.
This sermon examines and illustrates several Biblical principles for effective parenting - principles that apply to those who have children and to those who are investing in the life of a spiritual son or daughter.
A ‘snapshot’ is given of what God is doing directly and indirectly through Centre Street Church locally and globally to advance His kingdom work, as well as a vision for the future.
Prayer that is powerful & effective part 2 The Bible does spell out conditions for effective prayer, principles we can apply in our prayer life.
This sermon examines what the Bible teaches on how to pray effectively. What makes some prayers more powerful and effective than others and what are the obstacles that make our prayers less effective.
Pastor Ashwin Ramani preaches Part 2 of his sermon series “Hope in Troubled Times” with a powerful reminder that in spite of the despondency and despair of what might be happening in our world, God’s power is available to us to overcome whatever it is we are facing. We have an “Anchor that holds us in the midst of the storm.”
Pastor Ashwin uses Isaiah 6 to remind us that we are not the only generation that has faced troubled times - there are people who have lived before us who faced far more troubles but anchored their hope in the Lord. In Christ, we have hope! This is the first part of a 2 week sermon series
Pastor Kent used John 21 as the text to remind us that Jesus is closer than we think. Jesus restores us by entering our world, He wants to know how we feel about Him and He affirms that our calling is still in place – even after we fail Him. Nothing can change how Jesus feels about us.
Without prayer, we will lose the battle against Satan because prayer is the very thing that holds the armor of God together and makes the armor effective. Prayer unleashes God’s power for victory.
This sermon looks at the final three pieces of spiritual armor found in Ephesians 6. It spells out how we can win the spiritual battle through Christ by putting on the shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit.
Concentrating in Ephesians 6: 10-15, this sermon continues to show how to live in victory over Satan by putting on the first three pieces of the armour of God.
Continuing the series on Satan, this sermon examines what the Bible says about how we can live in victory over him. It looks particularly at the Christian’s identity and position.
What is worship? Why do we worship? Is there worship that is pleasing to God and worship that isn’t? This sermon finds answers to these questions as it examines the Biblical account of Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
This sermon explores what the Bible says about who Satan is, his influence in our lives and how we can resist him.
The sermon starts with an interview between Pastor Kent Priebe and Pastor Matt Schorr challenging us to invest in the lives of children and others around us. As true disciples of Jesus it is good to ask the questions: Who is like a spiritual father/mother to me? Do I have a life worth imitating?
This sermon examines the difference between a faith that is genuine and a faith that is empty. It will give hope to those struggling with doubt or uncertainty and help to find the way to peace and assurance through the Holy Spirit.
Do you know the big picture of Christianity? It can be easy to get lost in the details. Boiled down, the Christian story has five elements: God, man, Jesus, the cross and the final resurrection. This message features guest speaker Greg Koukl from Stand to Reason.
The trophies, the symbols of success, money and possessions, the applause of people are fleeting and will pass away, but we still find ourselves obsessed with attaining them. So how do we deal with the incongruity and the tension between what we believe to be true and how we live our lives? In this sermon the relationship between the Holy Spirit and how we live is examined.
The third part of the series, “Holy Spirit: How He Guides” explores the question of how to discern if a leading, a whisper or prompting is from God. We can be certain the God does speak to the individual and that we are able to know with a great deal of certainty those whispers that are from Him.
Pastor Ashwin preaches about the third key to overcoming temptation: the power of worship. Who or what are you worshipping? In Matthew 4:8-11, Satan tempted Jesus with a more “glamorous” life plan than God’s, and asked Jesus to worship him. Yet Jesus did not compromise. He remained determined in His surrender to God’s plan, and in the end – He won the ultimate victory on the cross!
Jesus’ second temptation is found in Matthew 4:5-7 where Satan wanted Jesus to manipulate His Father God by using the privileges of His Sonship to twist God’s hand. Pastor Ashwin preaches on the second key to overcoming temptation: having an identity rooted in Christ. If we don’t know our identity, we will manipulate God and others in order to gain approval and acceptance.
In this first sermon of a three-part series, Pastor Ashwin examines Matthew 4:1-11 when Jesus was tempted by Satan to act independently from God. The subtle suggestion to act on our own outside of God, to take what is within our reach, is at the heart of temptations we face today as well. There is a lot to learn from how Jesus countered Satan’s strategies with Scripture and walked away from the temptation trap.
The second part of a two part series, ‘Holy Spirit: How He Guides’ examines the questions: “How can we be more receptive to hearing God’s voice?” and “How can we discern whether we have heard from the Lord?”
This sermon is part of the Christianity 101 series focusing on the foundations of our faith. We have explored the nature and character of the triune God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. God created us to enjoy a meaningful friendship with us. His desire is to love, encourage and empower us to live in victory, but also to guide us. God wants to be our personal guidance counselor through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
This is the final sermon in the Pursue Generosity series. The question, ‘How can I be sure I am pleasing God in my financial decisions?’ is explored. It looks at how we can make decisions about our priorities and lifestyle that will answer that question.
This sermon, the seventh in the Pursue Generosity, focuses on Paul’s teaching in I Timothy 6 on how we can have maximum impact for Christ in the lives of others through generosity. How we view money and use our time will impact the live of the people in our sphere of influence.
This sermon is Part 6 of the Pursue Generosity series. It examines the key reasons people struggle with being generous, that is, the problem of debt and a failure to have a God-honoring financial plan. It explores the Biblical foundations for financial freedom.
This sermon, Part 5 in the Pursue Generosity Series, explores what the Bible teaches about contentment - about how one comes to that place of resting in God alone. Discontentment always creates a struggle over generosity with our time, abilities and money. The quest to have more brings the stress of debt and in our desire to impress others we will be exhausted from frantically trying to do more than God ever intended us to do.
We are living in a time of urgency to tell others about Jesus. Pastor Kent shares the challenge that each of us have been sent. You may be sent overseas, or you may be sent to the neighbourhood where you live. Romans 10:14-15 says that If no one is sent, then no one will be saved.
Part 4 of the Pursue Generosity series. The word ‘give’ is used in the Bible almost twice as often as ‘faith, hope and love’ combined. Though we may exercise token generosity, we are not naturally inclined to be sacrificially generous. This sermon explores what the Bible teaches about a third principle of generosity, ‘All that I Give, God Multiples.’
Most people want to be more generous, but they are afraid to doing so. They wonder if they give all this money away and then lose their job, or if they are generous and then suddenly get hit with a huge unexpected expense, what will happen to them? This sermon addresses this issue - ‘Can I trust God to meet my needs?'
Anyone can be thankful in good times, but can we be thankful even during the tough times? Pastor Ashwin preaches from Habakkuk 3:16-19, encouraging us to celebrate Thanksgiving meaningfully no matter what circumstances we are going through in life.
This sermon is the second in the Pursue Generosity Series. God owns everything but He gives to us what we need and more to share with our world. This sermon focuses on God’s plan for us and the priceless faith-building adventure through generosity God wants us to experience.
The Pursue Generosity series will explore the powerful correlation between our spiritual condition and what we do with our time, talent, money and possessions. This first sermon of the series looks at the foundational aspect of generosity – ‘Who do we trust?'
As the final part of the Why Believe Series by Dr. Henry Schorr, this sermon is the second part of ‘Why the Church Matters’. It continues to make a case for the relevance of the church and for the very vital role it has played and continues to play in the lives of people and nations of the world.
In this first of a two part series on the Church several questions are addressed in this final section of the ‘Why Believe’ series. Why do so many people have a positive opinion of Jesus Christ and an altogether different opinion of the church He established? Does the church matter? Is it making a difference in our world today?
To conclude our “I AM” summer series, Pastor Gordon Dirks shares the ‘best of all’ of the I AM statements of Jesus – “I AM with you always.” We can be assured that we are never alone, we don’t need to live in fear, our identity is in Christ, we can persevere in times of struggle and we can live lives of powerful impact.
In John 15:1-5, Jesus declares, “ I am the true vine … apart from me you can do nothing.” This is not a statement of arrogance, but rather an invitation of hope. If you find yourself disconnected from Jesus today, you can be restored by repenting and accepting Him as your salvation.
Our guest speaker this week is Mark Buchanan, writer and professor. He preaches a message about another one of Jesus’ proclamations from John 14:6: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”.
In knowing Jesus deeply, we have a sure foundation that cannot be shaken even in the midst of the uncertainties surrounding us. When we come like sheep to enter through the Gate and come under the secure care of the Good Shepherd, He gives abundant life.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” to Martha, whose brother Lazarus had died. Jesus had a plan all along that Lazarus’ death would be an opportunity for everyone watching to believe in Him and to trust in Him – right in the middle of their grief, and discouragement, and their doubts. Pastor Kent leads us through this powerful and miraculous story found in John 11:1-44.
In a world that is constantly seeking for more, is there anything that can bring true satisfaction to our hearts? The promise of Jesus in John 6:25-40 is radical and significant: “I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never go hungry.” Jesus offers us something more important than food: contentment though a life-sustaining relationship with God.
In John 8:12, Jesus says, I am the light of the world”, right after the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus redeems the woman from darkness, and transforms her life. The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus forgives sin, takes away shame and leads us into the light.
Kicking off our summer sermon series, Pastor Ashwin gives background on the ‘I Am’ statements that Jesus made. When Moses encountered God through a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-15), God introduced Himself to Moses as I AM or Yahweh. In a clear, bold proclamation of His divinity, Jesus uses this same phrase in John 8:48-59.
This sermon in the Why Believe series explores what the Bible has to say about what about will happen to those who have never heard of Jesus if He is the only way to God.
Another in the Why Believe? Series, this sermon gives compelling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and why this truth matters.
People question how a loving God could send people to hell. Many refuse to believe hell exists, and those who do often embrace a view of hell that is significantly different from what Jesus said about hell in the Scriptures. This sermon in the Why Believe series examines what the Bible has to say about hell and its implications for our lives.
In this part of the Why Believe Series the question of why an all-powerful God would allow innocent children to die, and particularly why in enacting judgment against wicked nations He would allow innocent children to be killed is discussed.
This sermon from the ‘Why Believe?’ series explores several questions. Where is God in times of heart break, disappointment, broken relationships, or the death of someone you love? What possible purpose could there be for hardships and suffering? Why doesn’t God put an end to evil?
Another sermon in the Why Believe? Series. The topic is ‘Why Only One Way to God?’ Jesus said many outrageous things but at the top of that list might possibly be, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
This sermon continues with the investigation into why we believe in the Bible and concentrates on the testimony of Jesus. How did Jesus view the Old Testament? How did He prepare His apostles for the writing of the New Testament?
The Bible is the only sacred book that makes specific predictions about the future. This sermon in the Why Believe Series will explore the many instances in Scripture where we see evidences of fulfilled prophesy. It inspire our faith and affirm that the Bible is no ordinary book, but is in actuality God’s Word.
Pastor Henry continues in the "Why Believe" sermon series with this second sermon on ‘Why Believe in the Bible?’ This sermon concentrates on three aspects which give evidence for the truth of Scripture - the fact of manuscript reliability and the discoveries of archaeology.
God is revealing Himself through the vastness, beauty, symmetry, order and complexity of His creation, through His Son Jesus , and through His written Word, the Bible. This sermon in the ‘Why Believe’ Series deals with the reasons to believe that the Bible is objective truth and is in actuality the Word of God to us.
This week we continue the Why Believe series with part 2 of "Why Believe in God." This sermon deals with the Moral and Personal Experience argument for the existence for the God of the Bible.
This is the second sermon in the Why Believe series, “Why Believe in God?” Many have been exposed to a lot of reasons not to believe in God. This sermon introduces us to two compelling reasons to believe in the God of the Bible and the Christian faith.
This sermon looks at the question, ‘So who is this Jesus?” It looks in depth at who He is, what the Bible and history say about Him, what Christians believe about Jesus Christ and why they believe it. On the basis of the evidence presented, what will the individual’s response be to Jesus’ request to trust Him? This is the first sermon in the Why Believe series where we investigate into what Christians believe and why we should believe them.
How do we represent Christ and communicate our love for Christ at our workplace in a way that honors our Lord and also honors those we work with? Join us as we study Colossians 3: 22 to 4:1 concluding our 3 part series on "Work Matters"
God knew that work was good for Adam and He knows it is good for us. The problem is that sin and man’s rebellion destroyed God’s original plan for the work we were to do. How did sin take this fulfilling plan of God’s and turn it into something that is so often unfulfilling? God is redeeming what sin had taken away. He brings purpose and meaning to what we do. He gives joy in it and He brings glory to Himself as we work with Him. Join us for part 2 of Pastor Henry's series on Work Matters.
Research tells us that only a third of us are satisfied and fulfilled in our work. Given that we will spend nearly 40% of our life working, it is critical for us to understand what God has to say about our work. This is the first in a series that will explore what the Scriptures teach about work.
As we continue our sermon on the mount series in Matthew 7:13, Jesus asks the crowd of people listening to Him , “What about you? You’ve heard what my Kingdom is like and what my followers will look like, so which gate and which pathway will you choose? Which Kingdom will you serve - the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of you? The Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of this World?”
The Golden rule is not a theory; it is a lifestyle. In Matthew 7:12 Jesus calls us to do unto others what we would have them do unto us, but how do we put these few words into practice in our daily lives?How does it become an integral part of our DNA as a Christian? This sermon explores and gives practical ideas on how to do that.
This sermon looks at the questions: "What are you pursuing in life?"; "What is the main thing you are giving your life to?"; "Who are you investing your life in?"; "What is going to matter in the end?"
Jesus gives us a picture of the character, the attitudes and behaviours of people who are fully devoted to Him, those who are part of His kingdom. And those who are part of His Kingdom invest in heavenly treasures and have an eternal perspective, and serve God and God alone.
The drive to be noticed is not only a product of the fall of man, but it is also the result of being created in the image of God. The issue is not the wanting to be noticed or appreciated, the issue is who we want to be noticed by. Jesus says that people who are part of His kingdom seek the affirmation of only one Person, their Heavenly Father.
This sermon asks the question: "What does it mean when Jesus calls us to love our enemies?" Further it answers the question "Why should we love our enemy?" and provides practical ideas on how to do that.
Jesus teaches that His followers are to love and do good to their enemies. Does this mean we should become passive and let others walk all over us? Does this mean we should do nothing to protect our lives, our livelihood or the lives of our loved ones? What exactly does Jesus have in mind when He says, "Love your enemies"?
How good is your word? Jesus says that people in His kingdom will be so 'truth-filled' that they will be truthful in all their relationships. Their yes will be yes, and their no, no!
This sermon explores the challenges and the hope God's Word gives to those who are struggling in their marriage and contemplating divorce.
Adultery doesn't start in a cheap motel. Adultery starts in the heart and mind of the person who lets lust grow.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives a number of examples of how we can bring His will in heaven to earth. One of those ways is how we deal with our anger and hurt and how we do that is reflective of the Lord we serve. If we are the lord of our universe, we will deal with our anger differently than if Jesus is Lord of our life.
The Bible is clear that gratitude is central to the Christian life; the curious thing about gratitude is that it originates from the root word ‘grace.’ If you feel in your heart that an immeasurable about of grace has been extended to you, you will express gratitude in your actions. This theme of cultivating a grateful heart is illustrated by a powerful display of gratitude towards Jesus found in Luke 7:36-50.