Elevation Waterloo Sermons

This week we look at the story of Jesus' crucifixion as told in the Gospel of Mark. Our series has been exploring the Gospel of Mark with open hands, asking what it looks like to give up scripture as a rulebook, and embrace the mystery inherent to the text. Following the themes we have explored so far, we ask how Christ's death challenges the powers of the world, or critiques anything Jesu...

We are continuing the “Simply Mark” sermon series this week,and it would be helpful to read through Mark 10 in preparation for Sunday. Mark 10 provides a series of encounters where Jesus clearly teaches Kingdom values that stand in contrast and opposition to the norm. How might we consider and apply these teachings of Jesus in our time?

If you’ve ever felt like you were doing faith wrong because you couldn’t make all the pieces fit - this space is for you. This Sunday, as we continue our series through the Gospel of Mark, we’re looking at what happens when even the closest disciples get things completely upside-down (Mark 8–9). Drawing on the ancient practice of midrash - the art of stepping into the Bible’s quiet gaps to questio...

As we continue our journey through the gospel of Mark, we begin to ask questions about the very nature and purpose of biblical story. Mark has long been viewed as a concise, journalistic description of Jesus' life, demanding biblical certainty and historical consistency. This week we hope to explore Mark as an invitation to curiosity and imagination, experiencing Jesus in a way that may transc...

What happens when rules meant to protect and guide us become more important than the people they’re meant to serve? As we continue in our Simply Mark series, we explore Jesus’ encounters with religious leaders and his willingness to challenge rules when compassion and human flourishing are at stake. What might it look like for us to hold boundaries with wisdom, humility, and compassion—and to see...

As we begin our Simply Mark series, we'll explore our own relationship with the Gospel of Mark and the Bible, while considering what it might mean to see the wilderness—and our faith—differently. We will invite you to reflect honestly with us on where we are in our journey and what we bring with us as we enter this new series.

This week, we will close our Noticing God Summer series by hearing from one of our Elevation community members who is no longer able to join us in person regularly. Keith Martin will share with us about the health journey that he has been on over the last few years, and how he is finding intentional ways to notice and experience God's presence, even in the midst of suffering and unexpected cri...

If you believe God created the world and believe in God's omnipresence, then why not look for God EVERYWHERE? The practice of paying attention and being aware of God's Holy Spirit and what God may be trying to teach us does not have to be contained to 'Christian' places or content. What if we watched and listened for God everyday and in every normal, mundane act of our lives? What...

With many spiritual practices, it's easy to fall into trying to do them perfectly. When it comes to seeking rest, this can happen as well. Together, we'll explore the ways that we can pursue rest as a spiritual practice while finding ways to honour our own needs and to be gentle with ourselves.

This Sunday we will continue our Noticing God sermon series by looking at “alone time”. In his ministry, Jesus taught and demonstrated the importance of spending time alone with God. We will look into the benefits and practices of silence and solitude. Resources: ⁠ Contemplative Outreach contemplativeoutreach.org The Centre for Action and Contemplation  cac.org The Welcoming Prayer

“Fellowship” is an outdated term that doesn't get used much unless you are working at a University or are really into Hobbits. But it was a concept tightly woven into much of church life in past generations. Join us as we examine the concept of Fellowship, unpack how it has been used for harm in the past and think about what it might mean to reclaim the concept of Fellowship for the Church tod...

This Sunday, we’re continuing our series on Noticing God, and this week we’re exploring the most challenging – yet rewarding place to encounter the Divine. It’s a practice that moves us beyond simple observation and into a way of living that can change the very fabric of how we interact with the world around us. If you’ve been looking for a way to bridge the gap between your spiritual life and you...

This week, we are excited to welcome TK and Nikki from Future of Africa to come and share with us. Future of Africa has been one of our partners for many years, and are continuing as our Global Partner as part of our Peace in Action Team . TK, Nikki and their family live and work in Ghana, but are here in Waterloo visiting in June. We are looking forward to hearing more about their passion and vis...

As time goes on we can sometimes feel as if we have been missing God in our day to day. You may have learned practices you were told would guarantee a happy and flourishing spiritual life, but these practices now feel distant or simply never served you well. In our upcoming summer series “Noticing God” we will explore practices which have benefitted members of our community as they search for, liv...

They’re doing it again! This week, our Youth will take over the Sunday gathering at 22 Willow. From the welcoming, worship, announcements and connection time, to the message/teaching, they’re in control!

The Gospel of Jesus continues to unfold, and there is still more to be revealed. We do not fully know or understand all that is to come, but scripture provides encouragement that we are participating with God in the continuing unfolding of the “very good Gospel”. This Sunday we will look at the mystery of the Gospel and the renewal of all things.

What does Jesus have to do with the gospel? This may sound like a ridiculous question. The answer may feel irritatingly obvious. But are we able to explain our ideas around the gospel from the story of Jesus? Are we able to explain what we mean by 'the gospel' without Paul, or Peter, or John? Continuing our series on The Unfolding Gospel, we take a look at how Jesus not only fits in, but s...

What if the most terrifying parts of our tradition are actually the most hopeful? This week, we’re looking at the “destruction” promised in the Gospel. Not the destruction of people, but the destruction of everything that prevents us from truly experiencing and extending the love we were made for (aka sin). Come discover a version of judgment that doesn’t lead to fear, but to a radical wholeness f...

We are continuing with the second week of our “Unfolding Gospel” series this Sunday. We began last week by spending some time reflecting on the goodness (Shalom) that God intended for all of creation, and how that dream extends to even today. However, we don’t have to look long and hard to see that so much of creation is not experiencing and living in this shalom. So, what is wrong? Where do we fi...

This week we begin our new series, The Unfolding Gospel , by exploring Shalom —the goodness God created and is drawing us back into.

Join us this Easter Sunday as we will explore the story of Jesus' resurrection. On the heels of our Lenten series about The Justice of Jesus, we ask how this justice informs the resurrection story. With a look at Jesus' teachings, life lived, and how everything ties together, we hope to widen and explore the mystery of Christ's resurrection in our lives and beyond.

How do we understand Palm Sunday in the original historical and scriptural context of Jesus, Justice & Empire? And how does the example of Jesus in Palm Sunday inspire us to live in ways that peacefully resist the ways of the empires of our day in 21st century Southern Ontario today? This Sunday, we conclude our series on ‘The Justice of Jesus’ by diving into the ancient, non-violent, unifying...

How do we move from feeling overwhelmed by the world’s needs to actually participating in its healing? This Sunday, we continue our Justice of Jesus series by diving into the practical architecture of the Kingdom. We will explore four essential disciplines that sustain any movement for restoration: Prayer, Advocacy, Partnership, and Community. Join us as we move beyond theory and into practice. Fo...

The Church as we know it in our Western culture has become intertwined with the dominant colonial systems and power structures. These systems and structures do not reflect the ministry or the justice of Jesus, and can perpetuate inequity and harm on the marginalized. This Sunday’s sermon will look at how our congregation may pursue justice by intentionally stripping away those biases and actively...

In a world of "Thoughts and Prayers" and performative social media posts, what does it mean embrace the cost of Justice? Join us this week as we dig into the story of the  Good Samaritan  as we continue with our lenten series on  The Justice of Jesus .