church: untitled

In the story of the disciples in the boat, Jesus asks us "Do you still not understand?" In this question lies God's heart for his creation to know and understand him. When we don't make the connection between God's nature to our circumstances, the enemy steals the seeds sown to us. However, if we understand who he is and why it matters for our lives, his promise is that we will be fruitful. Bible...

No matter who we are, we are being influenced by someone or something - the world, our flesh, or the powers of the air. When we follow these things, they will only delay suffering and inevitably lead to death. But when we choose to follow Jesus, we find new life that only he can give. As we loose our life to Jesus, we find a life that cannot be taken from us. Through baptism, we declare that he is...

When we face a point of need, we have two choices: to worry or to worship. When we dwell on our lack, our hearts naturally lean toward anxiety or striving in our own strength. But when we focus on who we have, we can embrace God's nature—the One who provides for every need. Jesus invites us to a crazy simple faith: to make the connection between our need and the One who fulfills it. Bible Verses:...

In Mark's gospel, the disciples, concerned about forgetting bread despite Jesus just multiplying loaves, are confronted by him in their thoughts and conversation. Similarly, our human nature often forgets who God is and what he’s done for us. Yet, when we encounter him, we are expected to connect his revealed nature and how to live accordingly. While this accountability can be challenging, it is t...

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul invites his readers to embrace the humility that Jesus embodied, a humility demonstrated on the cross. This invitation is the same for us today. The path to this humility begins with recognizing Jesus as our rightful King and humbling ourselves before him. By positioning ourselves in surrender and asking for his help in vulnerability, we not only follow his e...

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61, offering comfort to the brokenhearted and proclaiming good news. Similarly, in our own lives, we encounter a God who comforts and proclaims freedom over us. Yet, tension often arises when we question whether he can truly fulfill his promises. Too often, we struggle to receive his provision because we’re still holding onto the very thing...

When we pray or ask God for something, past experiences with unanswered prayers can often influence our approach. However, when we pray as friends of God, our approach shifts. As we yield to him and remain obedient, our friendship deepens, and we learn to trust his nature and intentions. Rather than questioning whether God is able, we begin to ask with a deeper understanding of his heart. God invi...

During the Advent season, we reflect on the gifts that Jesus brings: hope, peace, joy, and love. Why do these promises sometimes feel out of reach even though they are always available to us? Just as friends share both burdens and blessings, Jesus invites us to be more than disciples or servants—he calls us friends. He is our King who is our Friend and the Friend who is our King. Often, we miss th...

As we enter the Advent season, we reflect on the arrival of Jesus and the gifts he brings: hope, peace, joy, and love. Yet, if we're honest, these gifts can sometimes feel distant or fleeting in our daily lives. Jesus reminds us that he gives in a way the world never can—his promises are constant and always available through his presence, his Spirit living within us. Bible Verses: John 14:25-27 Ro...

In a world filled with endless podcasts, books, and resources, it might seem like we should have solved many of humanity's problems by now. Yet, when Jesus walked the earth, he trusted that his three years of teaching and ministry were enough. He sent the Holy Spirit, knowing that the Spirit would continue the work he started. Wherever the Spirit is, he testifies to the finished work of the cross...

Before delving into the topics of money, sex, and power, it’s essential to first establish a foundational understanding of standing firm in the gospel. As humans, we often overcomplicate the simplicity of how Jesus saves us. The truth is straightforward: through his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, Jesus offers us the gift of fullness of life in Him. To receive this gift, we pla...

In the Gospel of Mark, we encounter a story where political leaders and teachers try to trap Jesus with a divisive question about paying the imperial tax, hoping to corner him into taking a side. But instead of engaging in their narrow debate, Jesus shifts their attention to the kingdom of God. Likewise, when we feel stuck or divided, we can look to Jesus and his vision for the kingdom, being remi...

No matter who we are, we are susceptible to money becoming a driving factor in our daily choices. If we're honest with ourselves in this, we may discover that we depend on what our finances can offer us more than God. When God reveals his nature to us, we are given the choice to either stay enslaved to the things he has freed us from or to choose him - we must choose and we cannot stay ignorant. I...

When we hit rock bottom, we find ourselves in a place of complete dependence on God. In these seasons, God trains our hearts to choose him, much like he did with the Israelites in the wilderness. But what happens when rest finally comes, and we’re given the gift of freedom? Here, we face a choice: will we give in to fear and settle for a lesser vision of Jesus’ freedom, or will we step forward in...

When we encounter Christ, we meet a God who fully knows our desires and needs. Yet, as we move from this encounter, our circumstances often try to convince us otherwise. Through the Spirit, we have a choice to hold onto God’s character in faith, living as if he truly is who he says he is—the God who provides. When we do so, he is honoured and seen. Faith isn’t just about hoping for more or waiting...

When we think of sin, we typically think of behaviours that are visible and overt. But Jesus raises the bar and diagnoses what’s happening in secret within the human mind. He offers us freedom from sin and condemnation and speaks directly into our thought life, cleansing our consciences. He doesn't just change our behaviour but gives us a vision of freedom and faith far above what we can see – a p...

As Christians, it is tempting to oppose or distance ourselves from other cultures, beliefs, lifestyles and religions. But when Paul arrives at Athens, he saw beneath the surface of their idol worship and meets them in their spiritual hunger. He pointed them to Jesus, the one true living God. What if we, as the body of Christ, were able to meet our city and culture without fear and speak truth and...

When the scriptures say that Jesus has given us everything we need, it can be tempting to think of this as hyperbole. But if we are living in him, the truth is that we are connected to an infinite source. Instead of protecting our own interests, our responsibility becomes protecting our connection with the source. In him we can let go of our reservations and give our lives freely away knowing that...

As followers of Christ, we often think and talk about dying to the overt sin in our lives. But, as we grow in him, we are called to also rid ourselves of the more covert and "socially acceptable" sins in our lives — anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language. It is human nature to justify and make excuses for these behaviours. However, we aren't meant to compare ourselves to our pasts, cultu...

In the face of his imminent death, Jesus reclined at the table and was eager to eat the Passover meal with his disciples. In that moment, they remembered the journey of God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, but Jesus pointed to a greater freedom and life that he was about to offer them through the cross the next day. Jesus prepares a meal that we are invited to partake, so that we can bring to...

In a church, we can have many surface-level things in common: demographics, interests, politics, etc. But, when we are called into "fellowship," we have to yield to its true definition: fellowship in the light, with him and with others. The relationships we have with the people around us reflect the relationship we have with God. When we hit blocks in our hearts with God or with others, it only ex...

For the past year, we've been trained, as a church, to recognize the Spirit and to prioritize his presence amongst us - but what happens after we've oriented our lives to him? As we take our place in him and understand our righteousness as a position and disposition, God can take his place amongst his people. Then from his throne, he sends us to bring the life of his Spirit that our families, busi...

What if the cry of our city is not for more money or programs, but for God's presence to touch every area and issue it's facing? His presence can only move forth in the city when his presence becomes central and his people take their place. It is his vision and design that there would be abundant joy, peace and prosperity across our city, with his throne room as the source of all life. What works...

In our faith, we often focus on personal holiness. But have you ever considered interpersonal holiness? As a church, we are called to be a dwelling place for God's presence - together. Our oneness with one another matters. If we allow offence to take root into our hearts, we create space where the enemy can sit at the table. Jesus became the antidote and made our oneness possible by laying down hi...

Just as Jesus picked up his cross, he leads us to the altar to surrender our whole lives into God's hands. How do we follow him in this seemingly impossible task? The source of Jesus' radical obedience was the Father's love for him and we have been given invited to this relationship. When we reach the end of ourselves, the only way forward is complete dependence on his love. By remaining in this p...