Newmarket Alliance Sermon Podcast

We get into part 2 of our series "That Sinking Feeling" Since COVID especially, the rise of people feeling overwhelming anxiety has statistically skyrocketed. Interestingly, working moms are feeling these effects most acutely. It's a complex issue that may have its roots in physiology, psychology, trauma, emotions, circumstances, AND our Spirit! We don't take this topic lightly or tritely. We know...

New Series begins! How are you doing these days? Really. How are you REALLY doing? Do you sense something going on with people? Do they seem angrier? More fearful, more anxious, more depressed? What's going on? God has given us the GIFT of an array of powerful emotions. Jesus Himself experienced all of them (and managed not to sin). In what seems like the most emotionally volatile time in a genera...

he Final Letter from our "Dear NAC: 7 Letters From Jesus" series. The seventh letter is to the church in Laodecia This is my (Jonathan's) favourite of the 7 letters (Is that weird to have favourites?) It's an iconic letter that includes phrases you've definitely heard before. It includes perhaps the most dramatic rebuke... your "lukewarmness" makes me want to spew you from my mouth. But it also in...

"HE IS RISEN INDEED!” Our favourite Sunday of the year. Death is defeated. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive! Even some Christians though may not know some of the significant points and impact of Easter. You might just be surprised at the difference Easter can make!

Along with Smyrna, the church in Philadelphia is the only other church that receives no rebuke or correction. They were praised that even in their weakness they have been faithful and persevered through times of trial. They had been excluded from their local synagogues because of their faith in Jesus. Even through the loss of community, and family they remain faithful. Jesus doesn’t promise to res...

Does anyone else feel a little bit like you've been sleepwalking the last couple of years? COVID has had that effect. Motivation, discipline, and initiative have all taken a hit. But if we're honest this is more than a COVID problem. The daily grind of making a living, the distractions meant to entertain us and the relative comfort of Canadian life have lulled many of us into a sleep-like complace...

March 27, 2022 FENCE-SITTERS Getting the balance of being "in" the world but not "OF" the world can be tricky. Some err on the side of isolating, but as a result, never make a meaningful gospel impact on the world around them. They may COME to church but they never go and BE the church. For others, the temptation is to compromise to the ways and values of the world. The church in Thyatira had very...

Letter #3 So much talk of "battles" and "attack" and "war" in Revelation and most of it looks very different than what we are seeing in Ukraine (for instance). Jesus warns of a VISIBLE battle - (persecutors, bad rulers, and governments) which most churches were standing firm against, and he warns against the INVISIBLE battles (principalities and powers, lies, spiritual attack) which many churches...

This is the only letter where Jesus has no word of correction or rebuke. This was a good church, but they were going through some stuff. They were going through (literally) "crushing pressure..." You know, to be a true disciple of Jesus in 2022 means that at some point you will face "crushing pressure". Pressure from the culture to compromise. Pressure from the world to conform to their ways. Pres...

Letter #1 in our "Dear NAC: 7 Letters From Jesus" series. This one may sting. What if Jesus were saying something to us like... "You guys are working so hard. Your reputation in the community is one of high Christian character. The hungry are being fed. Missions are being supported. You are orthodox. I just have this one thing against you... It seems like you've lost your first love". If this chal...

As we begin this new series "DEAR NAC..." we need a little context on this sometimes perplexing book (actually a letter) called Revelation. Literally titled “The Apocalypse”. Now when I say the word “Apocalypse” most of you are thinking “Oh no, the zombies are here”. We talked about a couple of summers ago, that the word simply meant “unveiling”. It was used in the theatre world, as in “Pulling ba...

Byron Hurn has been an integral part of the history, ministry, and leadership of NAC. His influence and service simply can't be overstated. As the Hurns make a major life change, which includes settling in a different province, we wanted to hear if Byron had a "word" for NAC - a church he loves dearly.

Today Jonathan would like to pose a question to you. Have you already decided what your limitations are? Have you got a fixed idea of what your capacity is? How do you know what your capacity is if you never challenge it? How do you know what you’re capable of if you never get beyond what you're comfortable with. There is a God who is able to do “Immeasurably more than what we hoped or imagined”

Uh-oh. Is this one of those "The Church only wants my money" sort of things? Nope. In fact, we're starting this series in the midst of a surplus and healthy giving at NAC. Generosity is MORE than money BUT money IS a subject Jesus talked about ALOT. He knew back in the day that it was as true than as it is now, that money has the biggest potential to take us off course of being a fully devoted fol...

So often we have viewed Church as a “gated community”. Whose “IN”? Whose “OUT”? Who has the same Beliefs and Behaviours that we do so that they can belong? Who has said a specific prayer so that they get access? Maybe that wasn’t the model Jesus had in mind. Maybe Disciple-making isn’t even necessarily reserved for those who have “crossed the line of faith”. See if this very un-sermony presentatio...

to share briefly about a word he senses just might be the keyword for our church this year. Share your own encouragements, resolutions, prayers and even prophetic impressions by contacting us. Don’t want to miss any NAC news? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter www.newmarketalliance.ca/updates

Boxing Day, 2021 Newmarket Alliance Church The final story in our "Original Christmas Playlist" of people just breaking into spontaneous song, is that of old man Simeon who came to the temple every day hoping to catch a glimpse of the promised Messiah. One day his waiting paid off. So will yours.

Even after having been visited by an angel herself, it wasn’t until Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth (who herself was miraculously pregnant with John) that Mary burst into song, praising God in what has come to be known as Mary’s “magnificant”. Could the good news of Christmas this year even cause us to want to burst into song?

Before Frosty or Rudolph; Before chestnuts roasting on an open fire or dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh… Before even “Silent Night” or “Joy to the World” there were four songs recorded in the Bible surrounding the birth of Jesus. They are songs that aren't sung much at all these days, and perhaps need to be introduced to a new generation. The ancient church captured their words...

NEW SERIES: “THE ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST” Before Frosty or Rudolph; Before chestnuts roasting on an open fire or dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh… Before even “Silent Night” or “Joy to the World” there were four songs recorded in the Bible surrounding the birth of Jesus. They are songs that aren't sung much at all these days, and perhaps need to be introduced to a new genera...

LOSING MY RELIGION Part 7: “A Story of Re-construction” As we wrap up this series on the epidemic of folks losing their religion... walking away from their faith because of... well... because of a litany of reasons. Christians are deconstructing the religion they were raised with. A lot of GOOD has come out of that. Sometimes deconstructing has led to REVIVAL. Sometimes deconstructing has led to R...

LOSING MY RELIGION part 6: “Is There Really Only One Way?” One of the big criticisms of the Christian message is what seems to be its EXCLUSIVITY (read: "intolerance") Did Jesus really make a line in the sand for "insiders" and "outsiders"? Is the idea of eternal separation from God (read: "Hell") a deal-breaker for you? Doesn't this buck against the increasingly important cultural value of TOLERA...

What do you think is the #1 inhibitor to the Christian faith? One could argue it's me and it's you Or maybe it's more fair to argue it's those who consistently proclaim to be followers of Jesus but whose words, actions and lives look nothing like the Christ we claim to follow. But even then, are our collective short-comings enough to discredit the good news of Jesus? Enough to "Lose Our Religion?"

There are many things in Christianity that we can respectfully "agree to disagree" on. Many things in the Big Tent of Orthodoxy where there is room for differing interpretations. It's why we have the many denominations we do, each with its own emphases and unique calling.

You may have heard lately of many people "deconstructing" their faith. There are probably things we SHOULD deconstruct ... baggage from our childhood; "sacred cows" and church cultural remnants that should be dispensed with. Here's the problem; Most of the people I know who are "deconstructing" are not RE-constructing. Join us for a series that wrestles with the questions of skeptics, but will cha...