Newlife Church Toronto Sermons

Gospel of John Part 21 (John 15:1–17) At the very centre of Christ’s last hours of teaching comes an idea that is striking and life transforming. To enhance its vividness, and help it to stick, the thoughts are laid out in semi-poetic form. They are like two beautiful flowers, with leaves around the outside, and vivid blooms in the middle. If Jesus has chosen to express himself in this way, we nee...

Gospel of John Part 20 (John 14:15–31) ‘If you love me, you will obey my commandments’ —Do we have to perform well enough at this love to get rewarded? The answer is both surprising and extremely encouraging!

Gospel of John Part 19 (John 14:1–14) As he faces the most horrific death that any human faced, Jesus feelings are instead for his disciples, deeply caring for them. But what is even more surprising is that in this act of selfless empathy, Jesus is revealing to us the heart of the Father.

Gospel of John Part 18 (John 13) Peter misunderstood foot-washing and so do many Christians, but Jesus tells us how blessed we will be if we understand and receive it. But most of all this chapter is about how Jesus loves his own ‘to the end’, and never abandon us to the end of time.

Gospel of John Part 17 (John 12) Let’s walk with Jesus through his last days of teaching. How come so very few really ‘got’ him? Does his final challenge connect with you?

Gospel of John Part 16 (John 11) Just before Lazarus is raised, Jesus weeps along with Mary. Why not just tell her everything will soon be ok? If this account was just about Jesus’ power to raise the dead it would be told in just 7 verses, but the other 43 tell of a Shepherd who loves each of his sheep in a unique way.

Gospel of John Part 15 (John 10) It is easy to read through John 10 on a surface level and miss what is going on. Here, at the final climax of Jesus’ public ministry he presents an image that will leave you enthralled with it’s beauty, and deeply moved by it’s implications.

Gospel of John Part 14 (John 9) On the surface this is a simple healing story, but John has beautifully put together a series of events and conversations that build up to a startling revelation from Jesus, that his light can actually lead people to become blind, and we ourselves need to pay close attention.

Gospel of John Part 13 (John 8) There is a voice inside you that is telling you lies! — Experience what it is like to have the truthful words of Jesus bringing freedom from this darkness.

Gospel of John Part 12 (John 7) Are you feeling dry and thirsty? Jesus is offering cool refreshing water—abundant, life-giving and free. Come and drink!

Gospel of John Part 10 (John 6:1–35) After feeding the 5000 and walking on water, Jesus was asked to provide more food. The answer he gave was very strange, and resulted in many people walking away from him.

Gospel of John Part 9 (John 5) How might you be like the man at the pool? Most of those who have studied this chapter see it as disorganized and repetitive, but in fact there is a beautiful logic to Jesus’ reasoning.

Gospel of John Part 8 (John 4:43–54) Even if you are a Christian, there are some deep challenges in this story. Jesus wants to keep moving you along the journey until you really know who he is, and act accordingly.

Gospel of John Part 7 (John 4:1–42) There’s a lot more to this story than meets the eye, from why she misunderstood Jesus, to connections with several other well-encounters in the Bible, and finally all the talk about food at the end being a clue to what really satisfies us.

Gospel of John Part 6 (John 3:16–36) John 3:16 is probably the best known verse in the Bible, but it has a hidden depth and richness that makes it (and the rest of the passage) well worth studying.

Gospel of John Part 5 (John 3:1–15) Jesus challenged Nicodemus to think outside his religious box. In a similar way he challenges us, not to live ordinary lives limited by the expectations of this world, but to embrace the amazing reality of the age to come, now in the present.

Gospel of John Part 4 (John 2:12–25) What exactly made Jesus so angry? Why did he gave such a strange answer to the Pharisees? When we can truly resonate with Jesus’ anger and feel his love, we can get what this story is all about.

Gospel of John Part 3 (John 2:1–11) Why does Jesus answer Mary in such an odd way? It is almost rude and seems very out of character. Yet it turns out that this answer is what unlocks the challenge to us in the story.

Gospel of John Part 2 (John 1:19–51) Before Jesus even started doing miracles, John is very interested in the impact he had on people. Some people didn’t care, but others were drawn to him powerfully. We can engage with Jesus today like those those first followers did!

Gospel of John Part 1 (John 1:1–18) Be impacted by the power and the beauty of this painting of Jesus at the beginning of John. My Jesus, God from all eternity, came down to earth as a human so that I might have new life. Make sure to view the handout: http://sermons.church.to/john1

There are amazing connections between Eden, the Temple, Jesus’ teaching, and the book of Revelation. Our understanding of parts of the Bible will come into sharper focus if we get these themes and connections. Grasping the power of the temple imagery throughout the Bible will impact our own lives and mission.

Foundations of our Faith Part 8 (Matthew 24 & 25) We answer 12 common questions about the events leading up to Christ’s return, the day of judgement, and the age to come, with a focus on Matthew 24 & 25. We then consider what the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins really means, and how it challenges us.

It sounds like a contradiction when we are told: “Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest” (Heb 4:11). But actually it is not, it is one of the keys to a fruitful, productive and stress-free life. (Hebrews 3 & 4)

Foundations of our Faith Part 7 (John 17:14–26) In his last words to his disciples before he died, Jesus laid out for them a plan. In a few words he summarized what a Christian life should look like from beginning to end. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else in Scripture, we have a concise vision for our life’s goals and destiny.

Foundations of our Faith Part 5 (1 Corinthians 15; Romans 6:5–14) Living in the New, not the old—two huge ways in which being in the New Creation changes everything (because we are united to Christ).