L'Abri Canada

Marilynne Robinson's quartet of Gilead novels, set mostly in rural Iowa, explore the tension between shame and grace. Much of this contrast comes through the medium of sight: how we see the world, ourselves, and God, and how others see us. Saturated in the beauty of the natural world, human relationships, and theological meditations, Robinson's novels have been beloved by many. Join us as we discu...

By looking at Daniel 2, we see that the Bible gives us a reflection on the relationship between God's people, their nation, and the kingdom of God. When we see nations without an anchor, power becomes arbitrary. How might the Christian respond in those times? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in f...

Many people accuse Christianity of fostering shame in its adherents. The self-esteem movement has attempted to address feelings of worthlessness. But does self-esteem work? How should Christians think about themselves? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it o...

In this third talk on Jordan Peterson, we look at his most recent book Beyond Order, the sequel to his best-selling 12 Rules for Life. Through his personal suffering and through his interactions with many people on tour, his thinking is refined and clarified. We also look at his emphasis on maps and stories as sources of knowledge and meaning, and how might a Christian think about his newest contr...

Both Peter and Judas asked of Jesus, "Is it me?" after Jesus had told his disciples that one of them would betray him. This can be a question that can cause hand-wringing even today. Am I saved or am I not? Am I chosen? This talk deals particularly with 'theological fatalism' (or 'hyper-Calvinism') and the concerns that the doctrine of predestination bring up. While the doctrine of predestination...

There is a deep resonance between our feelings of anxiety and our fear of out-of-control water. We feel ‘overwhelmed’, ‘flooded’. This resonance was shared by the authors of Scripture, who depict floods, storms and towering waves within the emotional landscape of God’s people. In fact, the bible story is saturated with water imagery. We will explore how that offers us company within our struggles,...

Today Thomas Paine is remembered for his books Common Sense (1776) and The American Crisis (1776–1783) which made him the leading propagandist of the American Revolution and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. What is largely forgotten is his devastating attack on Christianity in The Age of Reason (1737-1809) and other writings and his key role in creating what many schola...

While it has been popular in the past to call one's self "spiritual but not religious," we also see people who are "religious but not spiritual." This is not just the legalistic person or "a fundamentalist." We can all fall into this category at times in our lives, perhaps looking to this spiritual practice or this tradition to bring us close to God. It is a hope that an external form will guarant...

This is a look at Job 28, an unusual chapter. It is a calm reflection on the nature of humanity and wisdom in the midst of the torrent of argument and lament throughout the book of Job. What does this have to say to us about being human? How can humans be so powerful, intelligent, and adventurous, yet they cannot discover the meaning and wisdom of all these things? Is it all sound and fury signify...

In this talk, guest speaker Brett Cane examines the two key themes from the book, of God's sovereignty and of human character. God's sovereignty is revealed not through the miraculous but through the ordinary, and human character is revealed by faithfulness, dedication, resourcefulness and ingenuity, and what's more, by women, showing a unique perspective on the importance of women in God's plan....

This is the third talk in this series on Loftus's Christian Delusion. Here we deal with what Loftus refers to as the "Darwinian problem of evil," particularly in regard to animal suffering. Many evolutionists point to the evidence of animals suffering prior to human existence. How can this be? Can God be good if animals were created to suffer before the fall of humanity? Christians have offered se...

This is the second talk in this series on if the Christian faith fails as it has been claimed to do in John Loftus's The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails. In the first part, we looked at Loftus's "outsider test for faith." He with others now take aim not at Christian faith in general but now the Bible specifically. In it the book claims that the Bible is too scientifically inaccurate, too textu...

We welcome our colleague Joshua Chestnut from Southborough L'Abri via Zoom to speak to us about how we might have hope when our imaginations have become "pornified." Discussion afterward included. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without se...

This is a look at the first part at the five parts of The Christian Delusion edited by John Loftus (2010). This examines his Outsider Test for Faith (OTF), which he claims makes all religious faiths fall short of probability. (The following parts will include the veracity of the Bible, the goodness of God, the resurrection, and Christianity as a social good.) The Copyright for all material on the...

This past February, it was discovered that Jean Vanier, an important figure in Canada and around the world, and who many had considered a living saint, had over the decades taken advantage of six vulnerable women. How are we to understand such an incongruity? How are we to respond when our trust is betrayed, and our confidence is lost in the power of the gospel itself? We will look at how we can r...

A classic podcast style! For this episode, we are posting an interview rather than a talk with discussion. I (Clarke) discuss with Donna Hornibrook, a former field hockey player and coach, inducted into Halls of Fame for both, about sports and Christian faith. Then we opened it up to those present to ask their questions. Enjoy! The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellow...

As the Covid-19 pandemic wears on, most of us have been shaken in unprecedented ways by the global upheaval. However, pandemics have a long history and we have much to learn from the past. From early plagues in the Roman Empire to the medieval Black Death, pandemics have been a means of revealing what lies beneath the surface in society and human hearts. What might this history reveal to us about...

The doctrine of sin is perennially disliked and mocked, yet within this doctrine, we see the seeds of the gospel. What might it mean to recover this doctrine as something positive to proclaim to a society in desperate need for a profound diagnosis and solution. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in...

We live an age where people are more and more suspicious of, and even violent toward, anyone who doesn't share their views. We often speak of the need for tolerance, but this can become a way of still keeping people at arm's length. What does it mean to truly engage with people we disagree with or may even be scared of? This lecture will explore the Christian call to hospitality toward the strange...

The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'A...

We welcomed guest speaker Dr. Frank Stootman (PhD, physics), our colleague from Australian L'Abri, via Zoom, to speak on the relationship between science and the Bible. This is an exploration of Genesis and the Bible with the subtext that all truth is God's truth. *NOTE*: This was recorded on Zoom. There is also a high resolution video of this talk HERE . On this YouTube clip, you will be able to...

In this talk, Clarke explores the biblical view of salvation. Often to say one is 'saved' can create notions of people huddled away, awaiting an eternity that seems overwhelming and boring. Yet the Bible points to a salvation that calls us to become engaged in culture because of what Christ had accomplished through the cross and resurrection. We are not just saved from sin but saved for a renewed...

Guest speaker Brittney Salverda speaks on four aspects of prayer. While there are more, these foundational aspects are seen in Scripture, and as we reflect on them, give us more encouragement to speak and hear from the God who is truly there. NOTE: This was recorded alongside Zoom. Q&A is included. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect...

This is simply an introduction to the current discussion over racism in the USA. It first looks at black history in America and at how that informs current protests, and then looks at four views on how to respond: critical race theory, black conservatism, the simple gospel, and the whole gospel. NOTE: This talk was recorded over Zoom on 19 June 2020 and includes the Q&A afterwards. The discussion...

In this final talk on the stories of Daniel, Clarke examines how this seemingly simple story about Daniel and the den of lions points us to think critically about the place of the Christian in a society that diminishes or denies freedoms of religion and conscience. Daniel 6 calls us to seek the flourishing of society, without being ensnared by its idolatry, by looking to God in all that one does a...