Back to the Bible Canada with Dr. John Neufeld

The smartest people in history made the worst mistake imaginable. Dr. John Neufeld explores 1 Corinthians 2:6-13, where Paul contrasts human wisdom with God's secret wisdom revealed through the cross. Even the brightest rulers missed God's truth entirely—they crucified the very Son of God. This episode reveals how God's wisdom can only be understood through the Holy Spirit, not human i...

Why would a leader boast about his weaknesses? Dr. John Neufeld explores Paul's surprising defense of his ministry in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. When the Corinthian church criticized Paul as an unimpressive speaker who failed to reach society's elite, Paul responded by embracing his inadequacies. He refused flashy rhetoric, focusing solely on the cross of Christ, and admitted to fear and trembli...

What makes a great church? Dr. Neufeld examines the Corinthian church to discover that effective churches aren't built on impressive credentials or programs. Instead, God chooses the "foolish," weak, and lowly to showcase His power. Using Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians, he shows that great churches are made of people who boast only in the Lord, carrying the message of the cross t...

Why does Paul call the cross "the foolishness of God" when God is perfectly wise? Dr. Neufeld explores how the cross appears foolish to human wisdom but represents God's power to save. He identifies four fatal reasons people reject the cross: trusting human judgment over God's, following what's trendy rather than eternal truth, pursuing dead-end philosophies, and ignoring God&#...

Why would early Christians choose the cross as their symbol when it represented death, shame, and defeat? Dr. Neufeld explores how the cross was considered foolish and offensive in the ancient world - yet became the central message of Christianity. Using Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians, he examines why the gospel message remains scandalous today: it strips away human pride, declaring that we...

Why do churches split over leaders and styles rather than core biblical truths? Dr. Neufeld examines 1 Corinthians 1:11-17, where Paul addresses four factions in the Corinthian church—those following Paul, Apollos, Peter, or claiming to follow Christ alone. Through Paul's pointed questions about baptism and the cross, Dr. Neufeld reveals that confidence in human skills was dividing Corinth, wh...

In a world filled with quarrels and divisions, wouldn't it be refreshing to find a place of genuine community and love? Dr. Neufeld examines 1 Corinthians 1:10, where Paul makes his passionate appeal for church unity. He breaks down Paul's four-part charge: submitting to Christ's authority, speaking with biblical vocabulary, ending divisive schisms, and being united in mind and judgmen...

It's easy to focus on everything wrong with the church, but Paul chose a different approach when writing to the struggling Corinthians. In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld explores Paul's strategy of beginning with what's right about the church—emphasizing that believers are recipients of grace, enriched by Christ in speech and knowledge, and secured with an eternal destiny. This timeles...

Churches today, like the Corinthian church, often struggle with the tension between engaging their culture and being transformed by it. In this compelling episode, Dr. John Neufeld takes listeners into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, a church that had gradually adopted the pagan culture around them rather than following Christ's way of life. The timeless message challenges today's ch...

What do ancient Corinth and modern Canada have in common? More than you might think. In this opening message of a 4-week series on 1 Corinthians, Dr. John Neufeld explores the parallels between Paul's ministry in pagan Corinth and the challenges facing Canadian Christians today. As Dr. Neufeld unpacks the historical context of this busy Roman city, he shows how the Corinthian church's stru...

It’s easy to sing at a wedding, but harder to sing at a funeral. Yet both occasions call for songs of praise and worship. Psalm 147 commands us to praise our Lord, regardless of our context. We are to praise God in pain or pleasure. Dr. John reminds us that worship not only exalts our King – it heals the heart of the worshipper. A Soul Oasis:  There are moments when we all need to pause, breathe,...

When life feels dark and God feels distant, our emotions can quickly become our loudest voice. But what if our feelings aren't telling us the truth? Drawing from Psalm 42, Dr. John Neufeld teaches that the fight of faith is learning to preach truth to your own soul — to look to the past, hope in the future, and remember who God is — until your emotions begin to follow. An honest, pastoral mess...

When life’s troubles seem overwhelming, Psalm 34 offers hope rooted in David’s desperate escape from enemy territory. Dr. John explores this beloved psalm, where David credits his deliverance entirely to God’s faithfulness rather than his own clever schemes. The commentary reveals three secrets for godly living: finding true life through righteousness, facing trouble by crying out to God, and main...

We do not call for help if we don’t perceive a problem. An undetected brake problem or cancer growing secretly, and we do not go to the mechanic or doctor. Psalm 32 may be hard to hear, but it informs us of a problem we already have. We are born into sin. When we recognize our need and confess it to God, only then can we rejoice and be glad. With God there is forgiveness! A Soul Oasis:  There are...

As creatures of time, the clock never moves more slowly than when we are in pain. In troubles we pray for immediate help and relief. But often God delays. Today Dr. John echoes David’s prayer, “How long?” Walk through this Psalm and discover David’s secret to hope and perseverance. A Soul Oasis:  There are moments when we all need to pause, breathe, and let God’s Word restore what life has worn th...

How can David confidently say “I shall not want” when we live with so many unfulfilled desires? Dr. John Neufeld explores Psalm 23:2-3, unpacking four ways the Good Shepherd provides for our daily needs: sufficient food (“green pastures”), peace for anxious minds (“still waters”), forgiveness and spiritual renewal (“restores my soul”), and wise guidance (“paths of righteousness”). Like sheep who l...

Throughout history, kings have wielded absolute power, but God's design for Israel's monarchy was radically different. Dr. John examines Deuteronomy 17:14-20 and God's requirements for Israel's kings - they must be chosen by God and not acquire many horses or wives. Most importantly, kings must write out and study God's law daily to remain under God's authority rather than...

The health of any nation depends on its leadership and how laws are created and maintained. Dr. John examines Deuteronomy 17:8-13 and God's design for justice in ancient Israel, tracing how Moses established a multi-tiered court system following advice from Jethro, and connecting these principles to New Testament teaching about authority, submission, and the church's role in handling dispu...

Real justice starts with knowing right from wrong. In this message, Dr. John looks at God's laws for Israel in Deuteronomy 16-17, showing why God demanded exclusive worship from His chosen people. He explains why mixing other beliefs with faith in God is dangerous, why we should give God our best, and how honoring God is the foundation for a just society. Living the Moral Life: A Practical App...

We were created to celebrate, be joyful, and remember God's grace. In this episode, Dr. John examines the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the Feast of Booths from Deuteronomy 16:9-20. He shows how these celebrations of harvest and wilderness wanderings find their fulfillment in the New Testament through the Spirit's outpouring and God's gathering of souls from all nations. Living the Mo...

A culture without grand moments of celebration will eventually cease to exist. In this episode, Dr. John explores the celebration of Passover from Deuteronomy 16:1-8, showing how this foundational festival commemorated Israel's deliverance from Egyptian slavery through the blood of the lamb. He draws powerful parallels between the ancient Passover and Christ as our ultimate Passover sacrifice,...

How does faith show up in the way we treat those who work for us? In this episode, Dr. John looks at Deuteronomy 15:12-23 and God's laws about Hebrew servants, showing how ancient Israel's approach was meant to help people rather than hurt them. He explores how employers and employees can respect each other, the importance of fair pay, and how our treatment of others shows whether we truly...

What would a society look like if no one lived in perpetual debt or poverty? In this episode, Dr. John explores Deuteronomy 15:1-11 and God's revolutionary Sabbatical year law that required the release of debts every seven years in ancient Israel. He discusses how this divine system was designed to prevent perpetual poverty while challenging listeners to consider how biblical principles of gen...

Money — we can't live without it, yet many bristle when the church talks about it. Dr. John examines Moses' teachings on tithing and discovers that God's financial principles aren't about taking from us, but teaching us to fear and trust Him. From joyful celebrations of God's provision to caring for the poor, Dr. John explores how proportional, systematic giving remains a bibli...

In a world where Christians often look indistinguishable from their neighbors, what does it mean to be truly set apart for God? Dr. John examines how God called ancient Israel to be distinctly different through funeral practices and dietary laws. While we're not bound by these Old Testament civic laws, the principle remains: we're called to reach the nations without becoming like them, mai...