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The Apostle of Christ
Colossians 1:24-2:5
We live in a world of influencers and platforms; a world of content creators and followers; a world that poses some interesting challenges to following the Way of Christ. And that is the overall focus of this series of sermons in Colossians; as people seeking to be “Centered on Christ”, how do we follow the Way of Christ? It turns out that continuing on the Way of Christ requires us to be thoughtful about who we listen to, whose opinions we value, whose influence we embrace. Let’s unpack this thought this Sunday as we take our first look into Colossians 1:24-2:5.
The Purpose of Christ
Col 1:21-23
God’s love and salvation comes to us unconditionally – but our experience of His love and salvation require our engagement: We must say Yes, not just at the altar call but in our day-to-day lives; not just to the Gospel pitch but to Gospel obedience over the course of this sojourn called Life. Join us this Sunday as we return to the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Colossians and hear about “The Purpose of Christ”.
We Mourn
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matt 5:4; John 11
Please join us this Sunday as the pastoral staff has decided to do a lament service in light of the recent tragedies.
The Way, The Truth and The Life
John 14:4-6
We return to our studies in the Gospel of John this Sunday where Jesus makes maybe his most audacious claim yet. He says he is the way, the truth and the life. Notice he doesn’t say he is a way, a truth and a life. He says he is the way, the truth and the life.” He even says he is the only way to the Father. These are indeed enormous claims! Join us this Sunday as we explore these bold claims.
Preparing for the Wedding
John 14:1-3
We continue our studies in the Gospel of John this Sunday in the upper room where love continues to be the central theme. From the words of institution celebrating the love revealed at the cross, to the washing of feet celebrating the love of service, to the new commandment celebrating the “just as Jesus” kind of love, this week we will celebrate the love of marriage. Specifically, we will celebrate the deep love of Jesus, the bridegroom, for the church, his bride. Jesus will go to prepare a place in his Father’s house, and when he is ready, he will come back and take his bride to be with him where he is. Join us this Sunday as we explore some of the most wonderful promises in all of Scripture.
Love Just as I Love
John 13:21-38
As we enter back into John 13 this week, we join the disciples in an upper room in downtown Jerusalem on the night before Jesus goes to the cross. Jesus astonishingly begins this final teaching by serving his disciples in the act of washing their feet. Next, Jesus will explain this act even more, but framed in the language of love, and not just any kind of love, a “just as” kind of love. What is even more astonishing is that this teaching happens in the context of heart-wrenching rejection. Join us this Sunday as we explore this “just as” kind of love.
All The Way To The End
On Sunday we welcome a guest preacher, Iain Provan, Old Testament Professor at Regent College Vancouver, who will meet next week with our pastors for their annual retreat.
David began the beloved Twenty-third Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd.” A thousand years later Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. Psalm 23 and John 10:7-15
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The earliest Christian art depicted Jesus as the Good Shepherd caring for his sheep.
People of the Towel
John 13:1-20
We return to our studies in the Gospel of John this Sunday, a Gospel that invites us to Come and See who Jesus really is. Our text this week is the well-known text of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Would it be even more well-known, because it is in this scene where Jesus turns everything upside-down. He defines Lordship (even deity!) in terms of a towel, then defines what it means to be people of the towel. Join us this Sunday as we explore the foot-washing event by the foot-washing Lord.
When Sunday Feels Like Saturday
Mark 16:1-8
As the saying goes, “It’s always darkest before dawn” — this was no less true that first Easter Sunday when Jesus’ followers woke up thinking He was still buried in the tomb. But as the Gospel of Mark reminds us, sometimes it’s pretty dark even after the sun has risen! This Easter coincides with a return to post-pandemic normalcy, but perhaps life still feels dark despite the sun. Come join us as we prepare to emerge together into the Resurrection life of Christ.
The Cost and Crowning Joy of Redemption
Ruth 4
In the final chapter we witness how Ruth’s courageous acts of hesed love propel Boaz to new levels of incalculable risk and joy of covenanted relationship that culminates in a “redemption” that outlasts history!
Who Are You My Daughter?
Ruth 3
As we enter the third chapter of Ruth, we encounter more bold and daring examples of hesed (“unfailing love to the helpless”) that, at first glance, appear dangerous and deceptive—a midnight encounter on the threshing floor that is loaded with sexual overtones and double meanings. Warning bells go off—“Parents Be Warned: Mature Subject Matter.” True, the scene is riddled with sexual tension, but I believe we need to teach our children how God’s people are perpetually confronted with difficult situations and hard choices and how they must decide whether they will be guided by self-interest or hesed. The choices made by Naomi, Ruth and Boaz are exemplary and compel us to constantly re-negotiate the complexities of moral decision making in a world where everyone is in some way threatened or compromised. Carolyn Custis James suggests that this is “one of the most powerful gospel encounters between two people in all of Scripture.” I believe it also gives a radical understanding to what it means “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:21).
Finding Favor in His Sight
Ruth 2
We are continuing our studies in the book of Ruth, where will discover new dimensions of hesed (“unfailing love for the helpless”). Even though Ruth is a barren widow, poor and an immigrant living in a foreign land, she takes bold and daring initiatives to provide food for her mother-in-law. Her boldness and industry do not go unnoticed by Boaz, who reciprocates her hesed in ways Ruth or Naomi could have never imagined. The text has much to say about the dynamic of God’s grace and human initiative and the importance of crossing social barriers and breaking societal rules to raise the dignity of the marginalized.