Back to the Bible Canada with Dr. John Neufeld

How did Christianity go from a localized faith in Jerusalem to become the dominant faith in all of Rome? In this series, Dr. John teaches from Acts 16-20 and demonstrates the progress of Christianity through Paul and his companions. Dr. John demonstrates that the truth of the gospel and the power of the Spirit, carried by frail but obedient people, could not be stopped. The lessons of those days b...

Historians wrestle with the rise of Christianity in first century Rome. How can a movement with little finances, no political power, and meager human resources set the Roman Empire on end? Luke answers the question in the book of Acts. Dr. John begins a series from Acts 16-20 to demonstrate the rise of the Christian faith in a hostile world. He points to the similarities between our day and the da...

Our pilgrim jouney is not a sprint. Finishing our race well takes endurance and a sustained effort. Listen as Dr. John describes the qualities of a race of faith. We can be encouraged by those who have gone before us. We must set aside that which weighs us down. Most of all, we laser our focus on Jesus who stands before us.  Faith and What We Hope For : Every hope has a foundation. It rests on a r...

Hebrews 11 gives a record of people of faith. While their lives might seem beyond our grasp, the faith they exercised is within our grasp. In this message, Dr. John uses the life of Moses as education for our faith. We will find that faith recognizes the plans of God for us. Faith is willing to embrace the cost for the greater advantages granted by grace. Faith and What We Hope For : Every hope ha...

The word "Pilgrim" may sound old-fashioned to some, but it is an apt description of the Christian life. It is the image you see portrayed in Hebrews 11 - those who are seeking a heavenly home. Dr. John cautions us in this message. We are prone to be settlers who sink roots into this world. Instead, we are to be pilgrims, passing though this life into eternity. The spiritual life is a journ...

What does it mean to live by faith? It has to do with consistency, perseverence, and following God. But it is more. Dr. John reminds us in this message that faith requires that we live our lives by what is unseen. Men and women of faith believe and obey what God has said. They trust His Word over their own five senses. While our world may be confused by such a lifestyle, God sees such a life and i...

So, what is faith? Is it having all of our questions answered? Is it goosebump excitement before a trip of a lifetime? Is it an attitude of confidence? Dr. John points to Hebrews 11 and teaches on the nature of faith. While faith may have elements of all these things, it is deeper and more powerful than them all. Listen to this message of hope and allow it to nurture your own life of faith. Faith...

The story of Jesus' birth is the pivot of God's larger story. The Bethlehem story is not God's full story. To understand the fuller narrative of God, we need to consider the complete Scriptural text. In this message, Dr. John reminds us that the story from God begins in Genesis, is reflected in Israel's history, and heard through prophetic promises of the Messiah. All of these thre...

Christmas cards tend to be idealic portrayals of peace and joy. But Jesus did not come to a Christmas card - He came to our world of shadows and danger. He came to a world where evil kings kill innocent infants. In this message, Dr. John demonstrates that God came to the real world - one where tears are shed. We are reminded that wickedness is real, pain is a human experience, but comfort and hope...

The name "George" means farmer. "Sophia" means wisdom. Now, George may not grow up to till the land and Sophia may not exude wisdom. But Isaiah promises that the child to be born will fulfill the expectations of His name. Dr. John walks us through the promises of the Son who would be given. He will be wonderful, counsellor, the mighty God, everlasting Father, and the prince of peac...

Faith is hard. Believing and trusting God consistently challenges us all. Those in faith may still have times of doubt. Those with no faith can't see a reason to believe. In today's message, Dr. John uses the example of King Ahaz and the sign promised by God as demonstration of God's grace to help our faith. "The virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and He shall be called Emmanuel....

Many have their DNA tested to determine their heritage. They are interested to discover where they come from and connect the dots of ancestors. When Matthew begins his gospel with Jesus as the "Son of David", it is not just for curiosity's sake. It is a declaration of Kingship. In this message, Dr. John traces Jesus through the lineage of David to the promises of God. Jesus is the King...

Jesus said that the whole Old Testament spoke of Him. Jesus is in the pages and promises from Genesis to Malichi. So Christmas too is in the Old Testament, if even as a whisper. Today Dr. John looks at the Day of Atonement and points to the coming of our Saviour. There is an overlap of truth from Leviticus 16 and the Christmas account from John's gospel. In both, we see the presence of God amo...

The central celebrations of Jews and Christians are similar. Passover and Christmas have much in common. They both are national and family observances. They both require a lot of preparation. They both are about God's deliverance for His people. In this message, Dr. John traces the details of the Passover and the fulfillment of those details in the birth of Jesus. Jesus has come as the ultimat...

To live with hope means trudging uphill against a strong headwind and over many obstacles. There is much in life that works against hope. In today's message, Dr. John points to the hope of a Saviour found in Genesis 3:15. That promise is challenged again and again in the narrative of Genesis. The events of  Genesis press against the hope of redemption. But with every twist, God repeats His pro...

We assume that life breaks simply because that is our known experience. Our machines and devices, our health and relationships, our dreams and ambitions - all of these suffer loss, failure and misuse. But it hasn't always been that way. In today's message, Dr. John takes us to the very beginning, where life was pristine and perfect. But the temptation of the serpent became the entrance of...

We shouldn't be satisfied with only half of a good story. And yet with Christmas, that is what most of us do. We enter the story of Jesus without much consideration of the story God has already spoken. We begin at Bethlehem, but God's story about Jesus begins much earlier. In today's message, Dr. John reminds and instructs us about the Old Testament being all about Jesus. Genesis to Ma...

Schools have report cards. Employees have evaluations. Finances have audits. There are many ways to be held accountable in this life. In today's message, Dr. John speaks of the ultimate accountability before God. Everyone who has taken breath will stand before His gaze. As Dr. John teaches on the separating of sheep and goat, we discover that God has a very particular criteria in mind - the tr...

Every one of us is granted by God the opportunities and resources of life. We may not receive these in equal measure, but we have all been graced by God. What we do with these matters. In today's message, Dr. John teaches on our stewardship from God. We are not owners of life's abundance, but managers of the grace God gives. Listen and consider the expectation of our Lord placed upon each...

There are situations that come in life for which we do not want to be unprepared. School exams. Invited supper guests. Tax deadlines. These things are not unforseen. We should be ready. Today Dr. John. teaches the parables of Jesus which warn us to be prepared. Jesus is coming again. The time of His return is unknown. The fact that He will return is assured. Now is the time to get ready.  The Begi...

What is expected of believers as we wait for Jesus' return? Jesus offers a singular answer. We are to be found faithful. The answer is simple, but the doing of it is harder. In today's message, Dr. John unpacks what faithfulness looks like. Listen and consider what faithfulness looks like in your own life. Notice especially the pleasure and reward of our Lord extended to all who are found...

We all live with a curiosity of the future. If we know what will happen and when, then we can be prepared! The disciples were no different. They asked Jesus questions about the future - but they didn't get the answer they hoped for. In this message, Dr. John reminds us that no one can know when Jesus will return. Instead of giving a date for the second coming, Jesus plants hope. We anticipate...

This is a message of hope. Dr. John turns us to the words of Jesus about His second coming. While no one knows the day or hour, Jesus promises that it will be a rescue for the sake of the elect. God will intervene in history and prevent humanity's self destruction. He will return in power and glory - seen by the whole Earth. His coming is our blessedness. The Beginning of Jesus' Passion :...

If we want to understand what Jesus says will happen, we need to know what has happened. History is a foundation to the future. In today's sermon, Dr. John will take us back to Israel's past and explain the "abomination of desolation." We will see the dark days of Jerusalem's destruction. The glimmer of light in this darkness is the certain victorious return of our Lord. The Be...

Sometimes, straight talk is what we need, even though we may not want to hear it. In today's message, Dr. John teaches on the straight talk Jesus had with the disciples about the temple and the end of this age. Dr. John will highlight five signs which follow the destruction of the temple. Jesus also gives a caution. Even when you can discern the signs, you will not know the hour or the day. So...