Mount Hamilton Baptist Church

Every follower of Jesus is called. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul pushes back against the idea that only certain gifts, roles, or people are “spiritual.” Instead, he shows that the Spirit is at work in every believer, giving different gifts to different people for the common good. The church is not a stage where a few gifted people perform while everyone else watches; it is a family that work together,...

If you don’t know what the CBOQ is, this is the perfect Sunday to learn about the family of churches we are part of. Darlene, Hildegard, and I will report to you all on how the Assembly went and give you a little look at what CBOQ is, and CBOQ’s executive minister, Leanne Friesen, will be preaching. It will be great to be together.

Joshua’s farewell calls the people to intentional faithfulness and service. At the journey’s end, he points forward — reminding them that identity is sustained through ongoing choice to serve and follow God. Our lives are shaped by the direction we repeatedly choose.

As the Hebrews stand at the edge of the River Jordan, they are about to enter the Promised Land to receive their inheritances. Joshua has words of challenge and warning for them. He tells them to “take good care…. to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments….to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” The people would face many temptations, bu...

The defeat at Ai reveals how hidden disobedience disrupts communal identity and purpose. This week explores how setbacks can become defining moments that either harden or shape us. God’s journey with us includes grace, correction, and restoration. After failure, God invites Israel back into obedience and worship. The covenant is reaffirmed publicly, showing that identity is continually reshaped th...

Jericho’s fall shows that success in the journey is not achieved through human strength but through faithful obedience. The strange strategy teaches Joshua and Israel that God’s ways redefine what victory looks like and that we can overcome any obstacle through His ways. We discover ourselves most clearly and can achieve the impossible when we surrender control and live in obedience.

Before major victories, Israel pauses for covenant renewal. God reminds them that their identity comes from belonging to Him. In our own journeys, God often calls us to slow down, re-centre, and rediscover who we are throughout following Him.

Crossing the Jordan marks a decisive step into God’s promises. The people must physically move before the waters part. This moment teaches that identity is formed through action—we become people of faith by walking into the unknown. Remembering God’s faithfulness and what He has done up to this point becomes essential as we continue the journey.

Rahab’s story reminds us that God often works through unexpected people and circumstances. As Joshua prepares to move forward, the community learns that faith is not about perfection but about alignment with God’s purposes. On our journey, we discover that who we are becoming is shaped by trusting God, even when we make mistakes.

Joshua stands at the threshold of leadership after Moses’ death, facing uncertainty and overwhelming responsibility. This opening moment reminds us that new seasons often begin before we feel ready. God’s command to be strong and courageous is not rooted in Joshua’s abilities but in God’s presence. Our journey of discovering who we are begins when we step forward in faith, trusting that God goes a...

He Is Risen Indeed!

We reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus.

Today Jesus marks the end of his journey. He has arrived in Jerusalem amid the cheering crowds who are waving palm branches. Today marks the culmination of three years of ministry. Palm Sunday becomes his final destination. Before him lies the spectre of the cross. Matthew tells us the whole city is in turmoil, asking the question “Who is this man?” When all is said and done, this is the ultimate...

How are we doing this together?  As we’ve looked at all these things in this series, we are called to do this individually and collectively. Are we a church that puts Jesus at the centre of what we do? Are we content with what and who we are, or do we desire transformation? Do we steward all God has given us well? Are we known as a generous community that meets the needs not just of ourselves but...

Where is our trust?  Giving is less concerned about the amount we give and more about the posture of the heart. Jesus honours giving that flows from trust, humility, and faith. Giving becomes less about obligation and more about alignment, a practice that speaks to where our heart is. It is part of generosity and the practice of freeing our hearts from the control of more.

We’re exploring generosity—not as obligation, but as something deeply woven into who God created us to be. Scripture shows a God whose generosity is so radical it sometimes offends our sense of fairness, and who invites us to live open-handed lives in response. What might change in our lives and our community if we truly trusted that there is enough grace, enough provision, and enough love to shar...

What stuff are you clinging to and what do you need to let go? Jesus reminds us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. We are often conflicted about the things we own. We all struggle with greed and the desire for more. Too often our “stuff” determines what we value most in life. St. Augustine put it well when he said: “God gave us people to love and things to use. Sin is a re...

What is at the center of your life? Our world is one of more, but so often the more you get, the more you want. No matter what we are talking about - money, stuff, power, comfort, pleasure - we never feel like we have enough. Anything that our heart and life are built on that can be lost puts us in the position of having to protect it at all costs, leaving us anxious, stressed, discontent, greedy,...

What is at the center of your life? Simplicity in different areas of our lives is great, but we need to understand the why and to simplify around something (or someone, in this case). It’s knowing what the center of your life is and allowing that to form you. As we start this new series, we will explore why we are called to live a simple life.

Jesus lived constantly connected to God; His relationship with His Heavenly Father was His priority so He made time to invest in that relationship. Prayer wasn’t just asking Father God for things, but two-way communication within a relationship. The Gospels routinely have prayer as something Jesus did all the time: before hard seasons or a difficult decision, in celebration and rejoicing, when in...

Jesus is less concerned with drawing boundaries to keep people out of the kingdom, and more inviting people to move towards the kingdom. That doesn’t mean there are no standards, but they are about movement towards a center, not a static boundary that we cannot cross. Jesus kept company with sinners, was on the side of the downtrodden and outcasts, the “lesser” of society. He routinely was harsh w...

Jesus is always being interrupted. It might seem like Jesus does more miracles in the interruptions than planned. Mark 5 alone has a demon-possessed man approaching Jesus, Jarius approaching Him to plead for his daughter to be healed, and then, even on the way to do that, a woman who has been sick for 12 years interrupts that journey. Christ works in the interruptions, using them as opportunities...

Jesus had lots of teachings to large groups, public miracles and works, and interactions with the people of Israel, but He spent most of his time investing in twelve close relationships - His disciples. This was more than just the cultural practice for Rabbis and students, but an understanding that transformation requires proximity and relationship. Jesus was present in all the in-between moments...

We began a new series on the rhythms of Jesus, starting with the practice of stepping away to be still with God. In a world full of noise, hurry, and constant demands, Jesus regularly chose silence and solitude. What if silence isn’t empty, but a space rich with the potential to meet God and remember that God is near? Join us as we slow down and practice it together.

After the rush of Christmas fades, Rev. Dale Rose invites us into a quieter, deeper moment of the story. Drawing from Luke 2, this post-Christmas message reflects on Simeon and Anna: two elders who spent a lifetime waiting, watching, and trusting, only to be surprised by joy when they finally held hope in their arms. Through stories of unexpected visitors, masked mummers, bucket lists, and patient...