First Congregational of Hamilton

This week let’s think about humble hospitality as it relates to the generosity and welcome we receive from God and extend to others. Jesus shares, around a dinner table, key instructions for our hearts and hands to challenge (in the best of ways) each of us in the year ahead.

The holidays are a time of gathering, gift-giving, and…baked goods. We sometimes think of these – especially the last one -- as purely secular matters, but we will see that the Bible is a lot more interested in baking than you might imagine.

Life is full of decisions. Each day, you and I are faced with mundane and momentous decisions that can significantly impact ourselves and the lives of others. When confronted with what to do or not do, we all want to make wise decisions. But how do we do that? This Sunday, as we begin a new year together, we’ll look at the life of Moses and discover some universal biblical principles in wise decis...

When you think of eternal life, what comes to mind? The tendency is to simply think of eternal life as an existence that goes on forever. But is that all that God offers to us in Christ? Just a permanent existence beyond death? What about the here and now? On this Christmas Day, we’ll look at the final part of John 3:16 and discover the meaning and experience of eternal life, the new life that Chr...

In our world of sad news, bad news, scary news and critical news, the good news of God’s love for the world is so needed. But what type of love does God give to us? What is God’s love? How can we spot it? Model it? And how can this love change our lives and world? Join us on this fourth Sunday of Advent as we look at John 3:16 and discover “The Love God Gives.”

The season of Christmas is often described as the season of joy. But why is that? And what is joy? How does joy differ from happiness or pleasure? And how does the birth of Christ offer us a joy that can survive the worst of times? Join us this Sunday as we consider the Advent theme of joy and learn how to experience a “Joy before the Resolution".

On the second Sunday of Advent, we consider the gift of peace. The word ‘peace’ is used by people from all religious backgrounds and walks of life. After all, who doesn’t want peace? Peace is one of those things that characterize a wonderful life. But what is peace? What are the different types and aspects of peace? And most importantly, how does the arrival of Jesus and his work in our lives brin...

Join us as we consider how we as Christians influence our world. Our guest speaker will share insights from Christians in other countries to help us recover a biblical approach to life and ministry that is more interested in the fruits of the Spirit than worldly success.

We all need encouragement. We all need a fresh imparting of courage and resolve to handle the various trials of life. But where do we get it? As we continue our study of 1 Peter, we’ll rediscover the unshakeable source of encouragement that we have in Christ. Join us as we learn how to draw upon the resurrection life of Christ to face our everyday struggles in the Christian life.

Last week, we looked at the recipe for the good life. As Peter continues with his instructions for Christian living, he now gives us the recipe for handling mistreatment. How do we winsomely handle unfair criticism or intellectual challenges to our Christian faith? How do we face unjust suffering in a way that points people to Jesus? Join us this week for another one of Peter’s recipes for effecti...

Are you living the good life? How can you tell? Advertisements suggest that better possessions, better circumstances, or better experiences are the key to living the good life. You just need to own this, or experience this, and then you'll live life to the full. But if that’s the case, then why are so many people who seem to have everything still miserable? Join us as we pick up our study of 1 Pet...

Refugees are just a part of many vulnerable communities in our midst who are some of “the least of these” that Jesus calls us to care for. How we care for “the least of these” will someday be affirmed by Jesus. It may surprise us, because we did not even recognize these acts of kindness as anything out of the ordinary, nor that it was in a way, Jesus himself! Whether here, or on the other side of...

When you discover the joy of knowing God and receiving God’s grace in Jesus, you want others to have the same experience. But what do we need to effectively reach others for Christ? Especially in this time where secular humanism is influencing so much of our culture and world, what do we need to effectively advance the gospel? Join us this Sunday as we kick off our Engaging Missions week by consid...

One of the unique things about the gospel is that it is all-encompassing—it relates and speaks to all of life. This includes the common relationships within human society. In this message, we continue our study of 1 Peter and discover how the gospel is meant to shape the husband and wife relationship. Moreover, we’ll look at the importance of encouraging and empowering women in ministry.

Dr. Sean McDonough considers the hope of reconciliation in the Old Testament accounts of the feuding sons of Abraham and Isaac who come together to mourn and bury their respective fathers.

There is a fear among many people, that if they say “yes” to God, they will lose their freedom. This is the exact opposite of what Jesus offers us in the gospel. In fact, for those who change their mind about Jesus and follow him, the result is more freedom, satisfaction, hope, and security. Join us this Sunday, and if possible bring a friend, as we look at this parable from Matthew 21:28-32. Unti...

Join us this week as we conclude another chapter in our study of 1 Peter. I’ve titled the message, “The Cross and Spiritual Formation,” because Peter teaches us a significant meaning and purpose of Jesus’ cross and also provides helpful imagery for understanding our spiritual growth—a daily rising, repairing, and returning in Christ.

As we return to our study of 1 Peter, we consider the beautiful but difficult call to follow Jesus down the path of selfless, others-first living. Peter reminds us that this path will often involve unjust suffering, but it is a suffering that can be purposeful and redemptive in people’s lives. Join us as we grow in our practical theology of suffering in the service of others.

Emotions are an important part of being human. And finding church to be a safe harbor to bring our emotions in, is critical to our spiritual well-being. But how can we understand our emotions and handle them in healthy ways? We don’t want to play on the emotions or downplay the emotions. We don’t want to make the emotions all-important, but we don’t want to make them unimportant either. How can we...

How do we practice the presence of God at work? As apprentices of Jesus, how do we face the various difficulties of work with his heart of deep respect and godly wisdom? How can a Christian begin to see their work environment as holy ground? Join us as we continue our study of 1 Peter and discover how to effectively and spiritually engage the everyday challenges of our working lives

How can Christians make a positive difference in our post-Christian culture today? What can we actually do to bring the truth and beauty of God’s kingdom into the spheres of authority and influence we find ourselves in? And what is the role of the church as it relates to our government, laws, and political leaders? Join us as we continue in our study of 1 Peter and rediscover an often neglected ap...

How well do you know yourself? There is much talk today on discovering your most authentic self. But how do we go about that self-discovery? And what do we do about the things that we see in ourselves that need to change? As we continue our study of 1 Peter, we come to a verse that sheds profound light upon the nature of fallen humanity, the internal struggles that every Christian experiences, and...

It’s been said that one thing you can always count on in life is change. Our lives are filled with small and significant changes and transitions. During these times, how do we experience a sense of inner stability and abiding peace? We’ll be taking a break from 1 Peter this week, and walking through the 23rd Psalm together. This psalm is not particularly a funeral psalm; it’s a transition psalm. I...