Foothills Alliance Church | Audio

Promises, Promises - Luke 18:18-43: My dear wife told me about something she heard the other day from a man from China who had endured months of social isolation and physical distancing. He said he asked himself, "Do I want to emerge from COVID-19 being an overweight alcoholic, or having read ten books and learned another language?" Those may not be potential options, but let me ask it in a more C...

He is Risen: I know Christmas claims exclusive ownership of the “it’s the most wonderful time of year” mantra, but my vote still lies with Easter. There is the hope that one day snow might melt, that things will begin to turn green, that golfing season is coming soon! Despite lacking evidence for any of these realities, it is the season of new life and resurrection. As followers of Jesus, it is th...

No Wonder - Luke 19:28-44: Palm Sunday (or Pam Sunday as the Rev. Paton used to say it!) is one of those weekends we're sometimes unsure of. We expect kids to wave branches in church and we sing, "Hosanna," though we really don't know what that means. Was it truly the beginning of the end of Jesus' life on earth? Was it all part of a grander redemptive plan? In a world with COVID-19, we are tempte...

No Wonder - Luke 4:14-30: A.W. Tozer was famous for saying, "It is what we believe about Jesus that is the most important thing about us!" It is often in moments of crisis or loss that our faith is best revealed. In the heart of the COVID-19 reality, which is changing all the rules, we see all kinds of coping strategies. Some are beautiful and inspiring, while others are truly cringe-worthy! (Appa...

No Wonder - Luke 2:41-52 Luke 3:21, 22: Welcome Church to our second weekend of online only services! We are trying a few different things to enhance the experience, let us know how it works for you! We are trying to connect with you through all kinds of ways. We are most excited about our weekend services, but also hoping our new COVID-19 website, www.myfoothills.ca, will be helpful for you. We d...

No Wonder - Mark 14:32-42: What does Jesus' sorrow have anything do with us? When I would go to funerals with my dad as a kid (I went to many because I am a pastor's kid), I would usually never have a relationship with the family who had experienced loss. But as a kid, I could see the pain on their faces, and for some, it overwhelmed their entire bodies. What did I learn from other people's sorrow...

No Wonder - Mark 11:15-17: I love passages like the one we will study this weekend because they present a picture of Jesus that we desperately need to see! So often we settle for the "Sunday School Jesus," who loves, blesses and is nice. But we miss the powerful Jesus who transforms, battles and purifies! Yes he is the Lamb, but he is also the Lion. This weekend we'll focus on this side of his cha...

No Wonder… - Mark 7:24-30: If you are following the 2020 Project and reading through the Bible with us, this past week, Mark 7 may have been one of those passages that jumped out at and made you wonder, "What Jesus was thinking?" It has been said that if you think you have God all figured out and want to stay that way, you might need to stop reading the Bible. While we can be certain of Godss char...

Desperate Times - Exodus 33:1-11: You've likely heard the story of the lady who left her lifeboat on the Titanic to retrieve something from her stateroom. Allegedly, she bypassed her expensive jewelry to grab a bag of oranges from her room, which she brought back to the soon-to-be descending lifeboat. Circumstances have a way of redefining the things we value and treasure. Circumstances also have...

Desperate Times - Exodus 17:8-16: Come this weekend and find out! And discover the life-changing answer to the longings of our hearts to be at peace, happy and whole. I have never been much of a "gamer", especially if those games involve violence. I just don't see the joy in killing other people, even if it's just a game! But apparently millions of people disagree with me, as over 250 million copi...

Desperate Times - Job 42:1-6: Many years ago, when Bill Clinton was the president of the United States, Mother Theresa was invited to Washington as the guest speaker at the President's Prayer Breakfast. In her message, she spoke passionately and powerfully about the damage abortion was creating in so many lives around the world. She also said how we needed to do more to protect our most vulnerable...

Desperate Times - Job 1: How many of you, when going through some level of suffering, confide in a close friend or acquaintance and receive this wonderful piece of advice: just trust God more? If you’ve ever said this to someone, please don’t ever do it again. At least, not until you know what you’re saying. I know where you’re coming from and your heart behind it, but let’s be real. How do you do...

The Father Heart of God - Proverbs 3:1-10: Trust issues. Who doesn't have them?! Whether it's with a boss, teacher, child or parent, we all occasionally find ourselves in a place where it seems terribly hard to trust someone. Somehow, we usually find ways to navigate those concerns. But how do we respond when the one we are struggling to trust is God himself? Does he really see, know, care or inte...

The Father Heart of God - Genesis 27:1-40: Family tensions. Probably all of us know what this feels like. Joyce and I just survived a vacation with her four siblings and their spouses. Being on a big boat in the Caribbean helped! It was actually a great trip and we were all profoundly grateful for the opportunity — and desire — to travel together. (And I repeat, being on a boat in the Caribbean he...

The Father Heart of God - Matthew 7:24-29: Have you heard people ask the question, "Isn't the Bible just a big rule book?" I know I have, and typically I want to disprove that claim. But what about embracing it — could that be an option as well? How does the nature of rules and obedience affect the way we view relationships and friendships? I look forward to seeing you all this weekend to share wi...

The Father Heart of God - Psalm 1: My favourite tree is the weeping willow. They're mysterious and other worldly to me. Those sinewy vines with abundant leaves that drape a canopy long enough to touch the ground are enchanting. Weeping willows grow incredibly fast. Their root systems are aggressive, seeking out the nearest and largest source of water. Water provides moisture and carries nutrients...

Unfamiliar Roads - Jeremiah 6:16: Last month, Joyce and I had the chance to visit with our daughter who is going to school in Toronto. Never have I experienced traffic like I did there. How in the world did anyone find their way anywhere before GPS?! Even with the wonder of that technology … I felt like I was on the verge of being lost every time I drove. There's the 401, the 403, the 407 and the...

Unfamiliar Roads - John 1:12-16: What are you looking for? This question stems from the heart, and it's one we'll keep asking until we find an answer. It's part of being human. The answer to what you are looking for, what we all are looking for, begins with the Christmas story. And not so much the story that is most familiar (from Matthew, Luke and the manger scenes) but from another account, perh...

Unfamiliar Roads - Christmas Production: Have you ever thought about what prompted the risk the Magi took to travel 700 miles to Bethlehem? It must have been a truly magnificent wonder in the sky! What would it take to get you to travel 700 miles on the back of a camel? I'd like to hope if offered the chance, my faith would accept the risk. And, we know the Magi weren't disappointed. I'm not sure...

Unfamiliar Roads - 2 Samuel 9: We hear about David all the time in the Bible. His battle with Goliath, his failure with Bathsheba, his victories as a beloved King. We don't often hear about his unique commitment to a man named Mephibosheth. It's a beautiful story of grace, second chances, love and loyalty. It's a reminder that there is always room at the Father's table, even when we are feeling br...

Unfamiliar Roads - Philippians 2: This weekend, we have the privilege of watching our Foothills Kids put on a production called Breaking News in Bethlehem. In the play, angel news anchors report on the birth of Jesus. It's fun, artistic and beautiful — you don't want to miss it! We'll also be starting our Christmas advent series, Unfamiliar Roads. There's a lot to be excited for when talking about...

Global Impact Weekend - Acts 1:8: For three years, the disciples walked with Jesus witnessing his ministry of physical and spiritual healings firsthand. And then there he was, walking with them in his resurrected state. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he left them with a final message in Acts 1:8 — "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesse...

20/20 Vision - Psalm 119: I love these words from N.T. Wright: "It's a big book, full of big stories with big characters. They have big ideas and make big mistakes. It's about God and greed and grace; about life, lust, laughter and loneliness. It's about birth, beginnings and betrayal; about siblings, squabbles and sex; about power, prayer and prison and passion — and that's only Genesis." We're o...

20/20 Vision - Hebrews 4:12,13 2 Peter 1:20,21: Here at Foothills, we often describe ourselves as "people of the book". But what does that mean? Our answer to that question must be rooted in a careful understanding of what this book — the Bible — is. This compilation of 66 books contains writings unlike any other text, finding its origin in God's breath and human hands. Scripted long ago and far a...

20/20 Vision - 2 Tim. 3:10-17: I’m excited about this weekend, and not just for the obvious reason that we get an extra hour of sleep! We’re introducing “The 2020 Project”, which we believe can change our lives if embraced. I don’t want to give it away now, but here’s a hint! It’s based on the truth of Psalm 119:105 – a verse those of us who grew up in Sunday School would have memorized. You will...