The Gathering Ottawa's Message Podcast

God's word - the Bible - is powerful. However, most people get their scripture from other sources, devotions, sermons, shows, inspirational quotes and friends to name just a few. We don't take the time to validate it with the source of truth - the Bible. This week, we will look at how we were designed, the result of the fall and how we were redeemed. 

Pastor Dan brought an interactive family friendly message exploring the greatest give ever given.

Scripture is full of names that mean something and that have power. God is intentional with naming His children and in Revelation 2:9, it says we've been given a new name. We will explore what that means for each of us.  

Peace and Healing are promised to us in the atonement. So why do we not all experience healing? In this sermon, guest speaker Rev. Dan Byrne from Connecting Streams explores three ways in which God restores us to  shalom  in our healing, and how we can posture ourselves before Him that hope.

In Acts 12, a persecution arises against the church and one apostle is martyred and another miraculously delivered from prison and certain death. This begs the question- why? Why are some people delivered from difficult situations and others aren't? Why are some people spared certain tragedies and hardships and others aren't?

This morning we are joined by the executive director of the Ontario Mennonite Brethren for a joint service held with the 3 other MB church in Ottawa. Trevor is preaching from Hebrews and brings a powerful message on the power and necessity of prayer and unity so that the name of Jesus may be made known in our world.

Pastor Josh continues our series in 1 John, focusing on 4:7–5:5 where John reminds us that God doesn’t simply  love —He  is  love. When we receive Him, we receive Love itself; Love that can drive out fear and transform how we relate to God, ourselves, and one another. In this passage, John confronts the places where fear and self-preservation still reign in our hearts. Perfect love—God’s love—cast...

True love isn’t abstract or sentimental—it’s revealed in how we live. In  1 John 3:11–24 , we see two ways to live: the way of Cain, driven by jealousy and resentment, and the way of Jesus, who laid down His life for others. As we abide in Christ, our hearts are changed—made capable of real, sacrificial love that shows itself not just in words, but in action and truth.

When you think of  “the church,”  what comes to mind? A Sunday service? A set of programs? A group of people with shared beliefs? In this message, Pastor Jeff invites us to reimagine the church — not as a product to consume, but as a  healing community : a safe place where broken people encounter the grace of Jesus and find wholeness together. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:17–21, we’ll explore how...

Pastor Josh Wang from Renewal Church was with is this week, bring a message in our series through the New Testament letter of 1 John.

Life often brings moments when the way forward feels uncertain — when loss, fear, or change leave us wondering what’s next. In Joshua 1:1–9, God speaks words of courage to Joshua as he steps into uncharted territory: “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” This Sunday, Pastor Jeff shares openly from his recent journey with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and re...

This Sunday, Pastor Jeff shared a different kind of Thanksgiving message — one shaped by his recent discovery of pancreatic cancer. Out of this season, Jeff has been listening for what God is saying and learning what it truly means to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Together, we reflected on questions we all face in times of hardship: Why me? Where is God at work in my s...

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said the pure in heart will see God. What does it mean to be pure in heart? Purity of heart is not about appearances. God sees our hearts, our desires and our motives. Pastor Dan unpacks what it means to have a pure heart and why that is an important attribute of Jesus' followers.

It’s easy to get caught up in the things this world offers—success, pleasure, material wealth. While they may promise temporary satisfaction, they ultimately leave us wanting more. In this Sunday’s passage, the Apostle John challenges us to examine where we’re placing our affections. Are we living for fleeting things that won’t last, or are we focused on what is eternal? This message calls us to s...

In this week’s message, Pastor Jeff dives into 1 John 2:3-11 by exploring what it means to “grow up in love.” In this passage, John the Apostle challenges us to move beyond simply claiming to know God and to examine whether our actions truly reflect our faith. What could change if love guided everything we do? Discover how living with obedience and sacrificial love can reshape our relationships, o...

God is light—completely pure, totally good, and full of truth. If we say we know Him, our lives should reflect that light. But what about when we stumble? What about the moments we fall short? John reminds us: walking in the light doesn’t mean never messing up—it means being honest about our sin and turning to the One who’s already dealt with it. Jesus is not only our sacrifice—He’s our advocate....

Christianity isn’t built on abstract philosophy—it’s grounded in a real, historical person: Jesus Christ. John opens his letter by sharing his firsthand experience—that he and the other apostles saw, touched, and spent time with the living Christ. Jesus is the Word made flesh, fully alive and present. This is where our confidence in faith begins—not in feelings or theory, but in the truth of who J...

Learning to hear God's voice can be tricky. How do we know if it's God or if it's just our own thoughts? How does the Spirit speak to us today? How can we learn to hear God's voice? This Sunday in "The Spirit-Filled Life", Pastor Jeff explores the 'Road to Emmaus' story in Luke 24 and it's connection to how it is that the Holy Spirit speaks today. 

Ever feel like there's a tug-of-war going on in your soul? Where you want to be led by the Spirit while also being pulled in another direction at the same time? What does the Bible have to say about this? And how can we learn to let the Holy Spirit win that great tug of war battle more often than our flesh wins? That's what we're exploring this Sunday morning as we look at Galatians 5:16-25 togeth...

Shame can weigh us down, isolate us, and make us feel unworthy. In Mark 1:40–45, Jesus meets a man whose life was defined by shame—and responds with unexpected compassion and healing. This powerful encounter reminds us that Jesus still meets us in our brokenness and offers wholeness today. ✨  Listen to explore: How shame affects our identity Why Jesus’ compassion was so radical What this story me...

The Spirit doesn’t just want to comfort & encourage you—He wants to change you from the inside out. But what if real transformation isn’t about trying harder, but surrendering deeper? Pastor Jeff explores the role of the Spirit in our sanctification journeys.

More than simply offering guidance and spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit offers us closeness with God the Father. He reminds us who we really are, and He reveals Jesus to us. How can we learn to get to know The Holy Spirit, experiencing intimacy with God as a result? How does the Spirit reveal our true identity in Christ?

The Holy Spirit isn’t some vague force or confusing theological concept—He’s the personal presence of God with us and in us. Before we can walk in His power, we need to know get to His heart. So, who is the Holy Spirit? And what’s He all about? This Sunday, as we launch in to "The Spirit-Filled Life", Pastor Jeff explores the question "Who is The Holy Spirit?", looking to Scrip...

April 21-30, Pastor Jeff visited the south of Brazil along with 6 other leaders from the MB Conference (our denomination) to hear from God and to learn from the Global Church. This Sunday, Jeff spoke about some of what experienced and heard from God during this trip in a message entitled, “A People of God’s Presence” coming out of Exodus 33. Check it out here!

How can we know if Jesus really did rise from the dead? Pastor Jeff shares some evidence for the resurrection, while a few others 'testified to the resurrection' by sharing their personal resurrection stories this morning. We've shared two of those stories here in addition to Jeff's short message. A few others shared in person too, but you had to be there to hear them!