Back to the Bible Canada with Dr. John Neufeld

At times, we speak of the deity of Jesus as a way to make a point. We bear witness to others that Jesus is God, so we point to the Scriptures. Dr. John reminds us today from Hebrews that the deity of Jesus is more than an apologetic. It is the hope and comfort for us all in the midst of trial and persecutions.  2023 Highlight Reel : Good things are repeated. When it comes to sunsets, birthdays, an...

Psalm 90 ends with five prayers for those who have squarely faced the trouble of life and have found God. Each of these prayers arise out of faith, out of the joyous discovery that trouble is not the last word; instead trouble has been the pathway of discovering God Facing Trouble and Finding God:  The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs des...

In in this portion of scripture we will see Moses reflect on sin, the anger of God and the trouble that we all face. Facing Trouble and Finding God:  The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is going on in our hearts. Psalm 73 and 90 speak of two central questions we wrestle with – injustice and death. We struggle with wrongs th...

Psalm 90 teaches us how to pray, how to come to terms with our sins and how to come to terms with an altogether righteous God. It comes with a request that God would favour us all the days of our lives, but what’s even more significant, it contains a great note of happiness. Facing Trouble and Finding God:  The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic...

We are never facing reality if we are not facing eternity! As long as our lives are consumed by what is seen, we will struggle to have faith in the the things that will be.  Facing Trouble and Finding God:  The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is going on in our hearts. Psalm 73 and 90 speak of two central questions we wrest...

We are studying Psalm 73. In it, we will discover a man by the name of Asaph who so doubted his faith, that in his own words, he almost lost his footing and became an unbeliever. Psalm 73 tells us how he found faith after it had almost disappeared. Facing Trouble and Finding God:  The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is goin...

It's the secret to learning the piano, running a marathon or having a successful marriage. It's called "endurance."  One scale at a time, keep your legs moving and offer love and grace each day. Endurance means to keep consistent over the long haul. That applies to our spiritual walk as well. Dr. John offers three keys to endurance of our faith, by which we persevere into glory.  J...

Our culture suggests that sin is a small matter with minimal consequence. God doesn't agree. Today, Dr. John speaks of a warning from Hebrews that jars us. It is a message of hope, not because it makes sin small, but because the truth guides us on a path of life. Jesus, Our Sacrifice:  The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of t...

A hypocrite wears a mask. It's a mask that hides defaults and conforms to surrounding expectations. In playing a role, hypocrites live fragmented lives. In Jesus, believers can abandon their masks. The grace of forgiveness and His new life in us allows us to drop pretence and live authentically. We are free to draw near to Him, press on with confidence and experience genuine love in community....

If we can't be good, we try to appear good. We do and say the right things to mask our internal failures. But appearing good can never replace obedience. Nothing replaces our need to do the will of God. It's an impossible task for us. But Jesus always does the will of the Father. Through Him, our requirement for obedience is fulfilled.  Jesus, Our Sacrifice:  The God of promises has given...

It's our default to manage our lives. We try to control the direction and outcomes of our thoughts, words, and deeds. We even try to manage our sin problem by fixing it, balancing the bad with the good or trying to outrun our sin with a fresh start. Dr. John teaches that we can't manage our sins away. Even the sacrifices of Old Covenant could not solve the problem of sin. Only a perfect Sa...

Modern sensitivities would want to shape Christianity into a bloodless code of morality. The Bible prohibits it. Christianity is founded upon, "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins." Listen as Dr. John teaches about the necessity of not just Jesus' death, but the shedding of His blood. By that sacrifice, we are forgiven. Jesus, Our Sacrifice:  The God of promise...

Distract. Deny. Desensitize. These are the ways many cope with guilt and shame. On our own, we have no remedy to silence our guilty conscience except distract, deny, desensitize. But God has the answer. Today, Dr. John teaches on the grace of a clear, cleansed conscience. It is found in the sufficiency of Jesus.  Jesus, Our Sacrifice:  The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many...

We are quick to criticize the old once something new arrives. The new car reminds us of how antiquated our old car was! From Hebrews 9, Dr. John teaches on the value of the old covenant, even when the new one has come. The first covenant proclaimed that our sin creates a barrier between us and a holy God. That distance can only be crossed by God's initiative and God's design. Jesus is the...

A covenant is a promise. It is the assurance of what will be. So why did God give two covenants to His people, the "Old and the New?" Dr. John teaches from Hebrews 8 to compare the covenants God has made. The new covenant is not a changing of purpose or a contradiction of the old. The covenant made by Jesus in His blood fulfills and enlarges what God had promised at Sinai. The covenant of...

Every collector knows that the real item is of more value than a copy of it. The book of Hebrews repeats this central truth. The priestly ministry of sacrifices in an earthly sanctuary are symbols that point to the ultimate ministry of Jesus for us all. Dr. John reminds us that symbols are worthy only if they point us to what is real - the full and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus for our sin. Our co...

To understand the forest, you can't go tree by tree. Trees vary in size, colour, and structure. Is the forest filled with contradictions? Of course not. We understand the whole by the particulars and the particulars by the whole. The same is true of Bible teaching. We need to understand the specifics by understanding the whole of Scripture. Dr. John presents his last criteria for good Bible te...

It is said that the best way to discern counterfeit currency is to be very familiar with what real currency looks like. If you know the genuine, the false is readily identified. If we are to recognize Bible teaching that is false or imbalanced, we need to be personally familiar with the Scriptures. Today Dr. John calls us to a personal commitment of Bible reading and study of the Scriptures. If we...

Today’s society seems to be driven by polls. Decisions and direction are determined by the voice of the majority. Polls set political agenda, marketing strategy and community development. But polls must not determine Biblical teaching. Dr. John reminds us that Bible teaching tied to the voice of a generation will become dated. The truth of God's Word is the only sure and reliable guide for lif...

Some approach the Bible like a set of instructions for life, emphasizing what we should do. We ought to obey the 10 commandments, slay the Goliaths of our life and remain as faithful as Daniel. Their instruction focuses on our efforts and abilities. But the Bible is about God's grace rather than our efforts. Dr. John reminds us that good Bible teaching is about the actions of God, not the effo...

If a love letter is all about the thoughts and feelings of the author, you may wonder if the letter is misguided. Shouldn't the letter be about the beloved? Much of today's Bible teaching is like that. Sermons are filled with our own concerns and problems. But shouldn't Bible teaching be about God? Today Dr. John reminds us that Bible teaching you can trust keeps God center stage. The...

Psalm 22 was written by David to convey a struggling time in his life. We can identify with his words when we too encounter troubles. Today Dr. John reminds us that the ultimate subject of this Psalm is Jesus Christ. The sufferings of Jesus become not simply a means of sympathy for us, but the deliverance from sin, over death, for all eternity. He is our Saviour.  Never Alone : Isolation is a prob...

It's hard to imagine that our difficult times can become a cause of encouragement for others. Yet, you know that it is true. The story of God's deliverance for us becomes hope and joy to those who hear. Listen as Dr. John teaches on David's experience. He was isolated in trouble, but shared God's rescue as cause for community celebration.  Never Alone : Isolation is a problem in ou...

The world can be a dangerous place. There are dangers we see and try to avoid. There are unseen dangers that we are susceptible to because of our ignorance. In Psalm 22 David sees that he is surrounded by enemies like bulls and lions - powerful, terrifying. He calls to God for deliverance. Listen as Dr. John teaches that despite our vulnerable places - we are safe with God. Never Alone : Isolation...

To be forsaken is bad. To be betrayed is worse. In Psalm 22 David thinks of those that have turned their backs to him. They have treated him as if he was valueless. But since God created him, David has value before God. Dr. John reminds each of us that regardless of how others treat us, we find our hope and approval in God.  Never Alone : Isolation is a problem in our society. Many feel alone and...