Back to the Bible Canada with Dr. John Neufeld

Giving is never just about money — it's a declaration of trust. In this episode, Dr. John works through Deuteronomy 26, the closing chapter of Moses' second sermon, exploring two ancient acts of worship tied to giving: the firstfruits offering and the third-year tithe for the poor. With characteristic honesty about why money sermons make people uncomfortable, Dr. John unpacks what faithful...

The family isn't just a social unit — it's the foundation God built society upon. In this episode, Dr. John works through Deuteronomy 25:5–19, examining four laws designed to protect family life in ancient Israel: caring for widows through levirate marriage, safeguarding future generations, ensuring honest dealings in business, and remembering the ruthless attack of Amalek on Israel's...

God had a lot to say about how a society treats its most vulnerable. In this episode, Dr. John works through Deuteronomy 24:5–25:4, unpacking a sweeping set of ancient laws that speak directly to the issues of our day: protecting marriage and family, defending the poor from exploitation, safeguarding public health, extending justice to foreigners, and ensuring punishment never crosses into cruelty...

Marriage was never meant to be disposable. In this episode, Dr. John works through Deuteronomy 24:1–5, tackling one of Scripture's most debated passages on divorce — and letting Jesus have the final word. With pastoral honesty and personal reflection, Dr. John explores what God's law truly permits, what it never intended, and why the sanctity of marriage remains one of the most important b...

Rituals are easy — it's the heart that's hard to clean. In this episode, Dr. John walks through Deuteronomy 23, exploring how ancient Israel's laws of ritual purity speak to four timeless areas of Christian integrity: worship, personal hygiene, money, and care for others. Drawing on Jesus' warning about cleaning "the outside of the cup," Dr. John challenges listeners to mov...

The 7th commandment — you shall not commit adultery — is one of the most countercultural truths in all of Scripture. In this message from Deuteronomy 22:13–30, Dr. John works through six civil laws in ancient Israel that flow from this command, addressing everything from virginity at marriage to sexual violence, and makes a compelling case for why God's standard of sexual faithfulness is not p...

What do lost livestock, building codes, and bird nests have in common? In this message from Deuteronomy 22:1–12, Dr. John works through six seemingly incidental laws given to Israel and uncovers the thread running through all of them — a call to live not for yourself, but for the good of others. A surprisingly practical and convicting episode rooted in one simple question: if everyone lived the wa...

What does God's law have to say about family? In this message from Deuteronomy 21:15–23, Dr. John works through three of the harder family laws in Scripture, covering polygamy and inheritance rights, the rebellious son, and the burial of the executed — and shows how each one points us toward a God who cares deeply about justice, order, and ultimately, grace. This episode ends in a place you mi...

Ministry gets messy — and so does life. In this message from Deuteronomy 21:1–14, Dr. John works through two of the messier laws in Israel's legal code: what to do when a murder goes unsolved, and how to treat a woman captured in war. Far from brushing past the difficulty of these passages, he unpacks what they reveal about a God who takes sin seriously, values every human life, and meets us n...

What are the limits of a just war? In this message from Deuteronomy 20:10–20, Dr. John tackles some of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture, addressing the laws governing Israel's warfare with surrounding nations, the command to completely destroy the inhabitants of Canaan, and what all of it reveals about the character of a righteous God who will not be trifled with. The Law and Ho...

Is there such a thing as a just war? In this message from Deuteronomy 20:1–9, Dr. John explores what the laws of Israel reveal about warfare — not from the perspective of military strategy, but from the perspective of justice for the soldiers themselves. From the priest's blessing before battle to the surprising list of exemptions that allowed men to go home before the fight, this episode unco...

What stands between a civilized society and the law of the jungle? In this message from Deuteronomy 19:1–21, Dr. John walks through three distinct laws given to Israel — covering homicide, property rights, and the integrity of the courts — and makes a compelling case for why God's perfect standard of justice is as relevant today as it ever was. From cities of refuge to the danger of false witn...

Who speaks for God? It's a question that created conflict in Moses' day and continues to cause chaos in churches around the world today. In this message from Deuteronomy 18:15–22, Dr. John examines the biblical marks of a true prophet, traces the line from Moses to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to send a prophet like no other, and offers a timely warning against th...

God loves diversity — but not everywhere. In this message from Deuteronomy 18:1–14, Dr. John explores why the one true God demands exclusivity in worship, not plurality. From the role of the Levitical priests and how they were to be treated, to the strict prohibition of occult practices among God's people, this episode makes a compelling case for why Israel's religion was never a product o...

What do the ancient laws of Israel have to do with us today? In this introduction to a new series on Deuteronomy 18–26, Dr. John unpacks the relationship between Israel and the church, addresses the hotly debated topic of Christian nationalism, and lays out four principles for applying these ancient laws to our lives today. If you've ever been tempted to skip over the Old Testament law, this e...

Life is full of pivotal moments that change us forever. In this message from John 14, Dr. John Neufeld explores how the Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out — giving us certainty in Christ's truth, a peace the world can't offer or take away, and a passion for God that finally moves us beyond our own self-absorption. Passion:  Easter is a pivotal time in the life of a Christian. Th...

How do you stay focused on eternity when life keeps pulling you back down to earth? In this message from John 14, Dr. John Neufeld introduces the Holy Spirit — the Helper Jesus promised his disciples before he left — and explores what it means to have God himself living inside us, keeping our perspective, and giving us the power to actually live the life we know we should. Passion:  Easter is a pi...

Who was Jesus, really? In this message from John 14, Dr. John Neufeld cuts through centuries of speculation and revisionist history to explore what eyewitnesses actually said about Jesus — the way, the truth, and the life. He unpacks Jesus' breathtaking claim to be the very image of the Father, and what that means for who we are and how we can approach God today. Passion:  Easter is a pivotal...

Every civilization in human history has longed for something beyond the grave. In this message from John 14, Dr. John Neufeld explores what God has revealed about heaven — a real, physical place where the greatest joy won't just be the place itself, but coming face to face with Jesus. He also addresses the most important question any of us will ever face: how do you actually get there? Passion...

What would it mean to truly know you are loved? Not for what you do, but simply for who you are? In this message from John 13, Dr. John Neufeld reminds us that we cannot truly love until we have first experienced being loved. Exploring the mutual glorification of the Father and Son at the moment of Christ's betrayal, he outlines the marks of Christlike love — trust, sacrifice, and authenticity...

Judas had every opportunity to turn back — but he didn't. In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld walks through John 13:20–30, tracing the final moments before Judas leaves the upper room to betray Jesus. It's a sobering portrait of what happens when a heart grows so hardened that even the outstretched hand of Jesus is refused — and a warning that the darkness we choose can eventually become the...

What does it really mean to be a servant leader — and does serving others mean giving up authority? In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld unpacks John 13:12–20, exploring what Jesus taught his disciples after washing their feet. True servant leadership, Dr. John shows, isn't about flattening hierarchy — it's about using whatever position you hold to sacrificially love and care for those entrus...

On the night of his arrest, Jesus did something no one expected — he knelt down and washed his disciples' feet, including the feet of the man who would betray him. In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld explores John 13:1–17, unpacking what this remarkable act of humble service reveals about the love of Jesus — a love that serves, gives, forgives, and ultimately leads him to the cross. Passion:  Ea...

Why do some people secretly believe in Jesus but never act on it — and what keeps others from believing at all? In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld unpacks John 12:42–50, exploring the danger of hardening your heart against the gospel. As Jesus brings his public ministry to a close, his final appeal to the crowds carries an urgent warning: the longer we delay, the harder our hearts can become. Passi...

Why do some people believe in Jesus and others don't — even when they've seen the same evidence? In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld explores the mystery of faith, unpacking John 12:36–43 to show why believing in Jesus is never simply a matter of seeing enough proof. Ultimately, faith is not about having access to better evidence — it's about surrender, trust, and the miraculous work of...