Back to the Bible Canada with Dr. John Neufeld

Every one of us knows the lure of temptation. It may be pride, greed, lust or self-centeredness that whispers to us; we all have heard it. Jesus was not immune to temptation, but faced this battle even as we do. Today Dr. John teaches on the three named temptations of Christ. Listen, not simply for a pattern for our own resistance to temptation, but to marvel and glory in our deliverance through t...

Various companies make it possible to trace your lineage back to your ancestors via DNA. While the technology is new, the idea is not. Israel excelled at naming and tracing ancestors. Dr. John teaches on the lineage of Jesus given to us from Luke. He explains why it is different from Mathew's recorded lineage and highlights the importance of those differences. There is a message among the name...

When lost, the first step is to stop going the wrong way. But the next step is even more vital to reaching our destination. We need to start going the right way. As John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus, he preached a message of repentance. Today Dr. John reminds us that John's message was more than, "Stop!" It was also a time to "Start!" Listen to the new way of l...

Dough must rise before the bread is baked. The ground is plowed before a planting. Fruit must ripen to be enjoyed. The idea of preparation is all around us. So too for the arrival of Jesus. Israel had to be prepared for the arrival of the Messiah. That preparation was the work of John the Baptist. Listen as Dr. John teaches on the timing, nature, and content of John's message. It was time for...

As a rule, the Scriptures do not satisfy our curiosity. We have more questions than God gives answers. The childhood of Jesus is one area of interest that is met with silence - except for Luke. He is the only gospel writer that speaks of Jesus in His youth. Listen as Dr. John teaches on the single incident of Jesus' boyhood which demonstrates His lifelong commitment.  A Firm Grip on the Gospel...

The rise of social media has given rise to suspicion as well. We read something online and wonder if we can trust it as credible. If that applies to things current, can we trust something written 2000 years ago? Dr. John begins this series on Luke's gospel with reasons why we can stand on what was written. Every believer needs to know the certainty of what they believe. A Firm Grip on the Gosp...

Victory is a time to celebrate. A sport team raises their trophy. Balloons descend while energetic music blares at a politician's triumph. Some will even "trash talk" their failed opponent. Today we watch David in a time of victory. His enemy Saul is dead. His pathway to the throne was cleared. Yet, David forbids celebration and laments. Victory is a time to be humble.  Life Lessons Fr...

Everyone suffers. No one is immune to physical, emotional, or mental pain. Pain is not proportional. There are people who have experienced what seems to be more than their share. Dr. John walks us through the most painful time of David's life. In place of anger or bitterness, David strengthened himself in the Lord. We can do the same. Life Lessons From David:  The life of David is full of less...

You can't live a "double life" with only one life. But we try to. We may be one thing at work and another at home. Our Sundays may be different from our Tuesdays. Our external life may be distinct from our inner life. In today's message we see David try to live a double life and God rescues him from his fault. God will reveal duplicity and lead us to a single heart. Life Lessons Fr...

What is of supreme importance in your life? What issue is always underneath everything you say or do? Today Dr. John points to the misplaced priority of King Saul who thought victory over the Philistines took precedence over hearing from God. Drifting from what matters ended in his death. Nothing should replace the primacy of our relationship with God. Life Lessons From David:  The life of David i...

Have you ever laid awake at night imagining the worst that could happen to you? Most of us have dealt with the pessimistic outcomes conjured in our fearful minds. Today, Dr. John deals with David's actions and plans to fix the negative outcomes he developed in his own mind. Regardless of the measures intended, nothing ever replaces faith in the care, presence, and promise of God.  Life Lessons...

Integrity is the harmony between what we believe and what we do. Life may press us to articulate our convictions, but then to act contrary to them. Dr. John looks at David as an example of one with integrity, who not only refused to do what was wrong, but chose to do what was right. A harmony of life needed within our days.  Life Lessons From David:  The life of David is full of lessons that we ca...

Has God ever prevented you from doing something you would regret later? Perhaps in a surge of anger or a hasty decision, God intervenes for good in our lives. God does what is right, even if we are prone not to. Today Dr. John teaches on about David's interaction with Nabal and Abigail. David had been wronged and was ready to avenge it. God stepped in with wisdom for the greater picture.  Life...

The confidence of a warrior is not enough to enable a king. David knew how to fight; he will need to learn how to reign. Dr. John points to God's care and schooling for David as he ran from Saul. A key lesson was learned in a cave in En Gedi. We learn to wait on God.  Life Lessons From David:  The life of David is full of lessons that we can still learn from today. David's faith and journe...

Only the naive think that David was prepared to be king at the defeat of Goliath. David demonstrated great courage and faith, but there was much in him that needed to be addressed by the grace of God. Dr. John teaches that the path towards glory is marked by suffering. God's intent is not pain, but purification. He shaped David for His purposes, even as he shapes us too.  Life Lessons From Dav...

Faithfulness is not a single step. It is a journey of many steps, one after the other in the same direction. Before David would be king of Israel, there were countless faithful steps he had to take. His path would face opposition, treachery and temptation. Listen as Dr. John points to the faithfulness of David despite great struggle. We can take courage in our own journey and trust the power of Go...

David went from being an obscure shepherd boy to Israel's hero. He was elevated, applauded and sung about. How did a young boy navigate the rapids of fame?  Today Dr. John points to a gift that God provided for David; a friend. Jonathan and David were bound by heart. This friendship did more than help David understand the royal court. It helped stabilize David in the crush of popularity. Every...

It was over in an instant. The battle between David and Goliath lasted as long as the flight of a stone. David faced Goliath with the tools of a shepherd and had the experience of defending his flock from a bear and lion. Dr. John reminds us that we answer the calling of God with the shaping and resources of God. God had prepared David for this moment. God is preparing you for His purpose as well....

The fact that we all have a calling from God doesn't suggest that everyone responds well to it. Rising to the call of God requires courage - but a specific kind of courage. Listen as Dr. John speaks of David and Goliath. You will note that while David had personal courage, it did not rest upon his ability, experience or equipment. David’s confidence was in God.  Life Lessons From David:  The l...

We are not self-made, but shaped. We are not self-directed, but guided. Believers do not craft their own calling, but respond to the Voice and Hand of God. We see in David's life, not only that God had a calling for him, but the way David discerned and answered that call. David's pattern becomes a template for us all. Life Lessons From David:  The life of David is full of lessons that we c...

The place and purpose of David within the Scriptures cannot be overstated. He is the epitome of Monarchs in the Old Testament and the foreshadow of Messianic reign in the New Testament. Mores so, David's life is evidence that God has purpose for us all. Listen as Dr. John begins to trace the intent of God through David's life. It gives hope and meaning for us as well. We may not rise to th...

Micah is a prophecy of stark clarity. It demonstrates the fallen condition of humanity and the judgement of God which rests upon us justly. But it is a Messianic prophecy as well. The Messiah will come to judge, rule and to pardon. Dr. John demonstrates how the coming of the Messiah in Bethlehem proves to be the hope for all for pardon and cleansing.  Micah's Message of Hope:  The shadows of o...

In an age of "actualizing our potential" or "managing our personal flaws," sin has become absent. Yet there is no escape from the biblical truth. We are fallen beings unable to rise to God's requirement. Today Dr. John teaches from Micah 6 with its courtroom drama. God's demands are clear. We must "do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God." Yet we fail rep...

For children and adults alike, the wait for Christmas seems long. Its coming is not measured simply in days or weeks, but in anticipation and goosebumps. It may feel delayed simply because we long for it so much. The same is true for Jesus' second Advent and, in fact, for all the promises of God. Dr. John reminds us through Micah that despite what feels prolonged, hope sees and waits for the p...

Our first thought when we hear the word "Advent" is about Christmas, and justly so. God has come to earth. Micah writes of Advent and acknowledges Bethlehem, but he looks further. The prophet speaks of Jesus' second advent and the righteousness of His earthly rule. Listen as Dr. John unpacks the plans of the Lord begun in Bethlehem, but much more is still to come.  Micah's Message...