The Gathering Ottawa's Message Podcast

Romans is a letter that has transformed many lives. From Paul’s original audience of first-century house churches in Rome to us today at The Gathering in 2024 - the truths contained in this letter are life-changing, giving us a deeper knowledge of the Gospel while also equipping us to apply the Gospel in our daily lives. That’s why, throughout the winter and spring of 2024, we’re journeying throug...

Jesus had a lot to say about money. In fact, 1 out of every 7 verses of Jesus’ words are money in some way. It’s an unavoidable reality: Living a generous life includes financial generosity. We cannot simultaneously hoard our treasure and experience the kind of life that Jesus died to give us. So, how can we be intentional to live generously with our financial treasure, especially when it feels li...

How does Jesus’ choice to empty himself challenge every lesson of self-promotion we've unconsciously absorbed? In Philippians 2:1-11, we encounter the ultimate example of humility in Jesus who shows us that true strength is showcased in surrender and that true glory is expressed in servanthood. Text: Phil 2:1-11

God has given each of us a set of unique gifts and talents. And they are not just for our sake - they are for the sake of others. So how can we be intentional to live generously with our talents, especially when we aren’t so sure of what our talents are or where they fit? How might understanding how God has wired & gifted us empower us to live a more generous life? Text: Matthew 25:14-30

Generosity is not just about what we do with our money; it is a way of life… a beautiful way of life.  Jesus told us that those who try to hold on to their lives will lose them while those who generously sacrifice their lives for his sake and for the sake of others will gain them. So then, what does it look like to live generous and sacrificial lives? And how can Jesus shape us into the kind of pe...

Mary - Jesus’ earthly mother. What was her role in the story of Christmas? Why did God choose her? And what can we learn obedience to God from the life and example of Mary?

Joseph - Jesus’ earthly father. What was his role in the story of Christmas? Why did God choose him? And what can we learn obedience to God from the life and example of Joseph? Text: Matthew 1:18-25

Jeff Hacket from Compassion Canada joins us today to share about the work of Compassion and the impact The Gathering has had in Guatemala through the Ottawa Compassion Collective.

Sermon Description:  We've heard a lot of great stories and learned a lot of things as we've worked our way through the book of Acts, but what does it all mean? And how do these stories and lessons apply to us as a people and as a church today? This Sunday, we will be wrapping up our journey through the book of Acts by reflecting on the three main themes in Acts, considering how they apply...

November 19 we gathered as the 4 local MB churches in the Ottawa area to share stories and encourage one another as the part of the household of God. Joining us this morning was Bytown Community Church, Southeast City Church, and Manotick Community Church.

Acts 28 tells the story of the "end of the beginning" of the church, as the story of the early church comes to a close. So what can we learn from Acts 28 about God's activity in the world? And what does it mean for us? What does it mean to be a church on mission today? Text: Acts 28

Storms' are a reality of life. So what can we do when they hit? How can we navigate the challenges of life in a God-honouring way? In Acts 27, the Apostle Paul was hit by a (literal) storm. So how did we respond? And what can we learn from his example? 

As Paul defends himself to King Agrippa in Acts 26, he bears witness to Christ. What can we learn from Paul’s example about sharing Jesus with others, even amidst animosity and opposition? Text: Acts 26

A lot of people think that the good new of Jesus is an easy-going, feel-good, happy-clappy kind of message. And while it is "good" news of great joy, it is also "frightening" to a certain extent as well. At least, this is how the Roman Governor Felix heard it when the Apostle Paul shared the Gospel with him in Acts 24. So, what is so 'frightening' about the message of J...

God has given the Church a specific message to share with the world, though sometimes the Church gets confused about what that message actually is. So what is the message of the church? Why is it important that we are clear about that message? And is that message to shape all that the Church is and does? Join us this Sunday as we conclude our “Life Together” series.” Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (N...

When do you feel most connected to God? For most of us, we probably think of moments of prayer, Bible study and corporate worship on a Sunday morning. But where does 'gratitude' fit in to the equation? How can expressing gratitude deepen our connection to God?

How does God feel about the poor and the needy in our world? What does the actually Bible say about this issue? And what is the role of the church in caring for the poor and the needy? How does it fit into the broader mission of God in the church? This Sunday's message is all about the call of God on the church to care for the poor and the needy, and why that matter. 

We all love a story. So what's the story of the church? And more importantly, what's the story God is wanting to tell through the church? Where do we fit? Text: Acts 2:42-47 + Various Passages

We live in a lonely and hurting world. A world filled with people who refuse to let people into their lives. But what if letting people in is the way to let God in? And what if kind of healing that Jesus longs to provide us can only really be found in loving community with one another? Text: 1 John 3:11-24

A lot of people think of ‘church’ as being a one or two hour event every Sunday and that’s about it. But what does God think about when he thinks about the Church? What’s his vision for Church? And what might that mean for us at The Gathering? Join us this fall as we talk about what it means to be God’s people (the Church!) who share in “Life Together”. Being a part of a church is so much more tha...

What if transformation was less about trying harder but about surrendering more? Romans 12:1-2 invites us into a life where our hearts and minds are shaped, not by the noise of the world, but by aligning ourselves with the way of Jesus. A renewed mind, a transformed life - it's closer than you think.

Do you ever feel like if you are being faithful to God and obedient that life should be easy? Often it is the case that life is smoother when we are obedient to have God has called us to live but what about when following Jesus is really hard? How do we interpret our sufferings and our trials? Join us as Dan unpacks how when we are faithful to God sometimes that means we face opposition and how to...

Guarding your heart and mind isn't just about protecting yourself; it's about preserving the essence of who you are meant to be and the path you walk. Join us for this week's sermon on Proverbs 4:20-27, where we'll explore how the heart is the wellspring of life, and why our influences echo in our actions, our relationships, and our outcomes. Let's discover how to cultivate a h...

Join our special guest, Pastor Dan Byrne, for this week’s message on how we can have a platform to do good works, and as a result, bring glory to God. Find how we can call on God for rest, for His yolk is easy and His burden is light. Text: Titus 3:1-8

In Exodus 34:14, God describes himself as "jealous". But what does that mean? Is God insecure? Is he worried about us 'cheating on him' or something, how a jealous boyfriend might be? What is God truly saying about himself when he describes himself as "jealous" in this passage? Listen here to find out…