New Life Ministries Sermon Podcast

In psalm 32 we hear the experience of walking with God and yet having sinned against him.  The writer feels spent, withered, and unsettled.  If we know God is quick to forgive our sins when we confess them, why does he give us this kind of experience when we sin?  What is God like and what is his agenda?  Let’s join our Sunday service as we look at this passage in the Bible. Th...

John 17: 1-26 In John 17, we have Jesus’ prayer at the end of his life. Just hours before the crucifixion event begins, what does he pray for? Help to go through the next few days? Ministry plans for his disciples? Needs for those who will struggle? Interestingly, none of these. What Jesus prays for is all about relationships – oneness. Within that oneness, we also see his grand plan for the world...

John 16:12 -33 For the past several chapters, Jesus has been instructing his disciples how to continue once he is gone. He has talked about many different topics. The disciples, though, are confused (and I imagine, tired and overwhelmed). How do all the pieces fit together? In the last section of the discussion, they begin to understand. Something is about to be born that will change how history p...

John 15: 18 - 16:10 When you gave your life to Jesus, you were given a new origin story, a new identity. With it, you were appointed to bring God’s blessings to others. How might the world respond? Jesus warned his disciples, sometimes the world will respond by hating you. In Canada, we don’t experience the kind of persecution Christians do in other parts of the world, but we still might get pushb...

John 15: 1-17 Jesus famously said that he is the vine and we are the branches. We’ve heard it so often we might not consider what he is meaning. The passage actually starts with Jesus saying he is the true vine and his Father was the gardener. What does the word ‘true’ refer to? In today’s passage, Curtis unpacks the historical context around the vine imagery as we go deeper into what Jesus wants...

John 14: 15-30 Have you ever been happy for someone as they begin a new phase of their life, and yet also sad at the loss it might mean for you? When Jesus tells his disciples he is going away, he also mentions the good things that will come because of it. One of the most amazing good things is the gift of the Holy Spirit – the one who will help us follow Jesus. These are recordings of our Sunday...

John 14:1-14 Why do we complain? Underneath whatever is frustrating us, often there is fear or uncertainty about what it might mean for us. There are a lot of things today that leave us feeling uncertain. As Jesus approaches the last days of his life on earth, he knows his disciples will not understand what is about to happen. They will be anxious, confused, and angry. He tells them what to do: do...

John 13:14 -38 Have you ever lost a friend as you walked with Jesus? Jesus did. For all the victories and blessings available to us when we follow Jesus, there are times we also have to grieve some losses. In this next section of John, the mood darkens. Jesus is telling his friends and disciples what they need to know once he is gone. These are recordings of our Sunday morning messages and some of...

John 12:20 -50 When you think of the word “servant” what images come to mind? Do they draw you towards the role? Or does being a servant seem unappealing? Jesus was a servant. Queen Elizabeth II was a servant. When we follow Jesus, we are called to be a servant. As John concludes this section of his book, we find there are only two options: accept Jesus and serve him, or reject him and serve anoth...

John 11:45 - 12:19 In today’s passage of scripture, various characters start to express their internal thoughts and motivations. Rather than divide them into “who is bad and who is good”, instead let’s consider how their responses were very human and normal. What can we learn about being honest with the Lord with what is going on inside of us? These are recordings of our Sunday morning messages an...

John 11: contains so many moments that could be pondered. Why did Jesus say what he did to Mary and Martha? Why did Thomas say that unusual sentence? How did Jesus respond to death and pain? The text, though, has an over-arching lesson. Jesus wants to strengthen the belief his disciples have in him. He wants them to discover something they had not considered These are recordings of our Sunday morn...

John 10:22 -40 In the book of John, Jesus is shown as fulfilling the expectations in the various feasts and festivals in the Jewish calendar. Today’s passage looks at Hanukkah. Is Jesus the Messiah who would protect God’s people The problem, however, is that people had already decided the answer was no. Our question, when we look at the story, is “Why did they not recognize who Jesus was by what h...

John 9:35 - 10:21 “A crooked load doesn’t reach its destination.” When Jesus gave us the teaching in John 10, where he talks about sheep, the shepherd, and a group he calls “thieves and robbers”, the folks didn’t understand what he was getting at. How true that can be of us as well. We just don’t see what he is trying to get us to understand. Maybe we need to consider who we are in the parable. Th...

John 9:1-12 Have you ever asked, “What did I do to deserve this?” It’s tempting to look for someone to blame. However, is life really that straightforward? Simple cause and effect? In John 9, Jesus encounters a situation where people ask that question. Let’s see what he says and does!

John 8:31 -59 “The truth will set you free.” What a comforting phrase. However, the first part of that quote says, “If you hold to my teachings... then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” That “If” changes the meaning somewhat, doesn’t it. It means there is a particular teaching that will set you free, not just any piece of truth. And it also says you have to live the teachin...

John 7:1-9 You know those moments when you become aware of your vulnerability? Or when you feel a little lost in the world? During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus said people who are thirsty should come to him and be satisfied. He said he is the light of the world. Understanding this particular festival deepens what Jesus is telling us. And yet, he also said the time was not right. What was he get...

John 7:1-44 Have you ever had someone push you to engage with something when you really didn’t want to? Maybe it was solving a problem, settling a fight, or making a decision you’d rather have avoided? Do you suppose the Lord ever has to provoke us to get involved? In today’s passage, it sure seems like he does.

John 6:35 -52, 59-71 Why does Jesus say no one can come to him unless the Father draws them? If that’s true, why does he reprimand those who don’t believe? Today we continue looking into John 6. With a passage this thick with ideas, it is helpful to slow down and ponder the ideas line by line. As we feed on the text, what does it reveal about both choosing to believe in Jesus and yet being chosen...

John 6: 6-60 Welcome to the New Life Ministries podcast series on the book of John. Has your heart ever cried out for a different life, a different type of existence - one without the regular oppression and ‘slavery’ we feel? That experience is common and God knows you feel it. When we look at the big-picture view of John 6, we realise Jesus is offering an answer to that cry. He is offering us a n...

John 6:24 -47 Welcome to the New Life Ministries podcast series on the book of John. Jesus made the audacious claim that he was the son of God and given the authority to judge and grant life. A natural response this is would be, “Prove it!” In the second part of John 5, Jesus lays out the evidence that he is indeed who he claims to be.

John 5:1-30 Welcome to the New Life Ministries podcast series on the book of John. Jesus heals a man who is waiting by a pool for a miracle. But it’s a sabbath. The people really get upset that Jesus heals on a sabbath. Why? In this talk, we consider how the crowd interpreted Jesus’ actions and what he meant when he called God his Father. These are recordings of our Sunday morning messages and som...

John 4:43 -54 Welcome to the New Life Ministries podcast series on the book of John. A prophet has no honour in his home land. Jesus critiques people who only want him for the miracles he can do. Yet, in the same passage the people in Galilee welcome Jesus and he performs a miracle for a man in crisis. What are we missing? Today’s message ponders the next “sign” in John. What is it calling us to r...

John 4:1-42 Welcome to the New Life Ministries podcast series on the book of John. On a hot summer day, would you rather drink a class of stagnant water or fresh stream water? The latter, of course. However, which better describes your life – stagnant, never going anywhere, or fresh and full of new life? When Jesus offered living water to the woman at the well, he was not just talking about eterna...

John 3:22 -36 Welcome to the New Life Ministries podcast series on the book of John. Have you ever been part of the losing team? What kind of things do we start to focus on? In today’s message, we look at the words of John the Baptist to his disciples, as they notice the ministry of Jesus gaining more followers than their own. These are recordings of our Sunday morning messages and some of the dis...

John 2:23 - 3:21 Welcome to the New Life Ministries podcast series on the book of John. These are recordings of our Sunday morning messages and some of the discussion that follows. This is the fourth message in our series. Every so often we encounter a passage in scripture that seems very unusual. The end of John 2 is one of those passages. Yet, understanding it will shed light on one of the most...