Thinking Through Scripture at Calvary Baptist, Cobourg: Recent Episodes
Clarke Dixon
Today we look at Ruth, Hannah, plus many other women from the Bible.Unfortunately, the microphone did not properly connect to my phone. Sorry for the audio quality.
When you have read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, John feels different. Is the Bible inconsistent? The Scripture Focus is John 1:1-18.
Are you ever confused about faith, Christianity, or the Bible? Are you ever certain about faith, Christianity, or the Bible? You are not alone!Our Scripture Focus today is Luke 24:13-35.
Can we depend on God to take our side? That is a question we face as we think through Luke Luke 18:1-14.
Do you wonder when God is going to do the next big thing? You are not alone! Today we go back to that time some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom was coming in Luke 17:20-37.
Are you looking for a sign from God that God exists and loves you? Today we think through the words of Jesus about Jonah and Easter. The Scripture Focus is Matthew 12:38-42
Jesus told us to pick up our cross and follow. Today we look at what is meant by that. The Scripture Focus is Luke 9:18-27.
Karen Bellamy preaches for us as Clarke takes a week's "reno-cation." The Scripture Focus is Matthew 4:12-25.
Perhaps we all know that the greatest commandment is to love. But do we know that it is not just about love? Today we think through Mark 12: 28-34.
Jesus said to Bartimaeus, "your faith has made you well." Can it happen that faith makes us unwell? Today we will think through Mark 10:46-52 as we seek faith that makes us well.
Was Jesus invented by organised religion, and therefore not to be trusted? Today we take a look through the lens of Mark's account of Jesus.
In today's sermon, continuing a series on reading through the New Testament in a year, we make the move from reading Matthew to Mark. The first thing we notice in Mark is how popular Jesus was. And is?
Could God not have done this better? Perhaps we wonder that when we hear of huge natural disasters in our world. Today we think through this as we continue to read through Matthew's account of the life of Jesus.
Jesus has kind words about the little children. Jesus does not have kind words about the spiritual leaders. Today we dig into why, and how it is important for us.
Have we made Jesus, and Christianity, boring? Today we consider the different picture we get of Jesus as we read through Matthew's Gospel.
Family and Religion are big influencers in our lives. As we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew we will consider what Jesus had to say about that.
Is opposition to Christianity proof that we are being faithful? After all, Jesus said "you will be hated by all because of my name" (Matthew 10:22 NRSV). Today we will take a look at this important question as we think through Matthew's focus on the authority of Jesus.
The World is in a bit of a mess right now and we might want to blame political and spiritual leaders for it. Today as we start reading the Gospel of Matthew, we meet a better leader.
With many of us making the commitment to reading through the Bible, or the New Testament this year, we take a moment to think through how to read the Bible, and how not to.The Scripture Focus is 1st John 1:1-4.
You've heard of how the Grinch stole Christmas. For Advent we are looking at how our peace, hope, joy, and love can be stolen at Christmas. Today we focus on how our love can be stolen by consumerism and greed..The Scripture Focus is Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25.
You've heard of how the Grinch stole Christmas. For Advent we are looking at how our peace, hope, joy, and love can be stolen at Christmas. Today we focus on how our joy can be stolen by grief.The Scripture Focus is Isaiah 35:1-10.
You've heard of how the Grinch stole Christmas. For Advent we are looking at how our peace, hope, joy, and love can be stolen at Christmas. Today we focus on how our hope can be stolen by unwise expectations.The Scripture Focus is Isaiah 11:1-10.
You've heard of how the Grinch stole Christmas. For Advent we are looking at how our peace, hope, joy, and love can be stolen at Christmas. Today we focus on how our peace can be stolen by wars and rumours of wars, and conflicts closer to home.
The Scripture Focus is Isaiah 2:1-5
We continue our series on "What Kind of Church" with the theme of hospitality.
This series is based on the cultural statements of Open Table Communities, which can be found at https://www.opentablecommunities.com
We continue our series on "What Kind of Church" with the theme of justice.
This series is based on the cultural statements of Open Table Communities, which can be found at https://www.opentablecommunities.com
In honour of our 137th Anniversary we welcome guest preacher, Rev. Brenda Mann. Brenda was a member of Calvary from 1981-1987 when her husband, Rev. Ralph Mann, was the pastor.
The Scripture readings are Isaiah 53; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 4:8-11
We continue our series on "What Kind of Church" with the theme of mutuality.
This series is based on the cultural statements of Open Table Communities, which can be found at https://www.opentablecommunities.com
We continue our series on "What Kind of Church" with the theme of empathy and compassion.
This series is based on the cultural statements of Open Table Communities, which can be found at https://www.opentablecommunities.com
For Thanksgiving Sunday we continue our series on "What Kind of Church" with the theme of generosity.
This series is based on the cultural statements of Open Table Communities, which can be found at https://www.opentablecommunities.com
Unfortunately, I forgot to clip on my mic, so the first wee bit has worse sound than usual!
What does growing in Christ look like? This is the second in our series "What Kind of Church."
Many people do not feel comfortable in church. We might wonder if Jesus himself would feel comfortable in some churches! This Sunday we launch an eight week series called “The Kind of Church Where Jesus Would Feel at Home.” This series is based on the cultural statements of Open Table Communities, https://www.opentablecommunities.com.
Everyone knows that Christians are obligated to keep the Sabbath, right? This is the second part in a two part series looking at Sundays and Sabbaths.
There is a lack of confusion about the Sabbath and Sundays. Notice that I didn’t say there is a lot of confusion about the Sabbath and Sundays, but there is a lack of confusion. Everyone knows that Sunday is the Sabbath, right? Everyone knows that no one, especially Baptist pastors, should shop or cut the grass on a Sunday, right? We all know it is a day of rest, right?
Should we be confused about Sabbath and Sundays? Today we take a look.
Jesus taught us to love our enemies. There is a group of people that we Christians seem to struggle to love even more than our enemies. Today we think through the words of Jesus about love as recorded in John 13:34-35.
This may be the last podcast for 16 weeks as I will be on a mix of sabbatical and holidays. Thank you for your understanding!
Afraid of death? Or afraid of life after death? Looking at what Jesus said as recorded in John 10:27-29, the follower of Jesus need not fear.
The Scripture Focus for today is John 10:22-30
If we are more devoted to Jesus than others, should we expect greater privileges? The interaction between Peter and Jesus following his resurrection will cause us to think through what we can expect.
The Scripture Focus for today is John 21:1-19
Would you say your life is marked by peace? Or has fear and fighting overwhelmed any sense of peace you may have once had? Today we think through that moment Jesus said “peace be with you.”
The Scripture Focus for today is John 20:19-31
Jesus is risen! That changes everything. Yet we often resist change. Today the resurrection of Jesus will inspire us to think about change.
The Scripture Focus for today is John 20:1-18
The video of this podcast can be seen at https://youtu.be/mNrAsUx0C9Q
Are you feeling triumphant these days? Or hopeless? Jesus’ “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem less than a week before his execution will help us reflect on our hopeless situations.
The Scripture Focus for today is Luke 19:28-40.
What happens when bad character meets bad ideas? With Judas and the chief priests in our Scripture Focus today, we don’t need to go too far to find out!
The Scripture Focus is John 12:1-11.
Are you like the prodigal son? Or are you more like his older brother? Today we will be encouraged and challenged by three parables of Jesus found in Luke 15:1-32.
What does faithfulness to God look like? As we focus on Luke 13:1-9 we may be challenged to rethink our answer.
Does your heart break when you see someone choose a destructive path? Perhaps your heart breaks watching what is happening in Ukraine. Today we consider what breaks God’s heart.
The Scripture Focus for today is Luke 13:31-35
What is the greatest temptation that you face? It may not be what you think it is! Today we think of Jesus' greatest temptation and find that it is ours as well. (It is also Vladimir Putin’s!)
The Scripture Focus is Luke 4:1-13
You can see the sermon at https://youtu.be/CzaNp8ojdbw
Vladimir Putin has expressed that he is a Christian. But is he listening to the voice of Jesus these days? Are we? The Scripture Focus for today is Luke 9:28-36.
Do you wish we lived in a less judgemental world? Today we look at how that can be possible.
The Scripture Focus for today is Luke 6:27-38.
The online worship expression this sermon is taken from can be seen at https://youtu.be/s6yLw9QXZdE
Does it seem like everyone is convinced they are right and everyone else is wrong these days? Our Scripture Focus, Luke 6:17-26, will help us navigate these polarised times.
This sermon can be seen at https://youtu.be/pYXdeXbyZJ4
Does the thought of God terrify you? Perhaps it should? Perhaps it shouldn’t? Our Scripture Focus, Luke 5:1-11, will have us digging into that question today.
Authority can be a prickly issue in our day. We will dig in as we think through Luke 4:31-33.
Relationships can get very ugly, very quickly. Today we learn from Jesus what to do when they do!
The Scripture Focus for today is Luke 4:14-21
If you were allowed just one of Jesus’ miracles would you ask for water to be turned into wine? Today we take a look at this strange miracle plus we ask, what would Baptists do?
The Scripture Focus for today is John 2:1-11
Is it just me or does our society seem more divided than ever? John the Baptist will challenge us.
The Scripture Focus for today is Luke 3:1-22
Worried? The “Verse of the Year 2001” will help!
According to the very popular YouVersion Bible app, this verse was the most shared, highlighted and searched in 2021. Today we take look.
The Scripture Focus for today is Matthew 6:25-34
Advent is the time for waiting. But we are not just waiting for Christmas! Today we look to the future!
The Scripture Focus for today is Mark 13:28-37
It can all seem like bad news. Climate change making us think we are doomed, accidents and disasters making us wonder if God is in charge, plus the people in charge don’t seem to care about the rest of us. Nevertheless, the angel had “glad tidings of great joy!” Today we look at how the identity of this baby born at Christmas, brings great hope to our bad-news-world.
Have we adjusted to the new reality? This was also a question for Mary, Joseph, Herod, and the religious leaders of their day.
This is not the way things are supposed to be. Welcome to Advent! The Scripture Focus for today is Isaiah 40:1-5