The Gathering Ottawa's Message Podcast

Many people think of God as being eager to punish them for their sin. This is not true! And yet, in Exodus 34:7, God is clear that He “does not leave the guilty unpunished... laying the sins of the parents on the children... to the third and fourth generation.” So what on earth does that mean?! Is God really going to punish our kids for our sin? Is this to be believed? And how can God still be goo...

Many people assume God doesn’t care about them or what happens to them in this life, and yet this is not how God describes himself. What does God being “abounding in love & faithfulness” mean? And why should we care? Text: Exodus 34:6-7 (NLT)

A lot of people think that God is quick tempered and eager to unleash his anger on people, but God described himself as “Slow to Anger”. What does it mean for God to be slow to anger, and how should we respond? Exodus 34:5-7

Many people assume that God is harsh and judgmental, but this is not how God describes himself. What does God being “compassionate & gracious” mean? And why should we care? Text: Exodus 34:6-7

Who is God? Is God a he, a she, a they, or an it? Is God a force or a person? Is God good or evil? Strong or weak? Close or far away? What is God like? The fact is that everyone has a picture of God, whether right or wrong. However, to answer the question of who God is, we have to go to the source. Join us this summer as we reflect on Exodus 34:6-7, which is God’s self-disclosure of Himself. These...

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (John 10:1-10): Through the image of the shepherd, we are reminded of God's love, protection and guidance for us. Jesus invites us to a life that is so full and whole that when taken hold of, anything less would be tragic. In John 10:1-10, we are invited to consider our own identity and to question whether we hear and follow the voice of Jesus.

As Paul finally makes it to Jerusalem (in Acts 21), trouble finds him very quickly. What does this passage/story teach us about the Gospel and perseverance through difficulties in life? Text: Acts 21:17-22:29

"God willing." It's something we sometimes say or pray, but what does it mean? And what do we do when God's will seems incompatible with ours? In Acts 21:1-14, we see people wrestle with God's plan for Paul's life - a plan that included pain and suffering. What can we learn about surrendering to God's will from this story, come what may? Text: Acts 21:1-14

If you could gather everyone that you love into the same room and share some parting words with them, knowing that you are likely to never see these people again, what would you say? In Acts 20:13-36, we find the Apostle Paul's "Farewell Speech" to leaders of the church in Ephesus - a church and people that he loved dearly. So what did he say? And might his words mean for us today? T...

Have you ever prayed the Lord's Prayer? If you memorized it as a child it could have fond memories or it could have negative memories and be associated with empty religion. Is there any value in praying these ancient words today? Join us as Dan unpacks this powerful text from Matthew 6 and teaches on the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. Passage: Matthew 6:9-13

In Acts 20, we find this miraculous story about a young man who was raised to life after falling asleep in church and falling out a window to his death. Some of us may be in danger of falling asleep not just in church, but on God himself. What does it look like to be awake to God and his presence in our world? Passage: Acts 20:1-12

In Acts 19, we find three stories about Paul's time in Ephesus. Stories that point us towards the power of Jesus in our lives. What do these stories reveal to us about the greatness of Jesus and his power for us today?

It's not unusual to experience fear in response to God's call in our lives. The Apostle Paul did while in Corinth in Acts. But how did he respond in the face of fear? And how did Jesus encourage him to keep going? Pastor Jeff teaches through Acts 18:1-17 as the Apostle Paul ministers in Corinth.

When God became human and lived among us, he showcased generous love to all social classes. Jesus habitually broke down walls of ethnic division and socio-economic class. James, once again holds up a mirror of self-examination for us: what are the ways in which we duplicate worldly values in judging others? What are the ways in which we, often unaware; tear at the fabric of the people of God? Jame...

Many people think that it’s not possible to know God. That he’s unknowable. But the Apostle Paul tells us differently in Acts 17. How can we know this ‘unknowable God’ and help others to know Him too? Acts 17:16-34

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. We'll be hearing a few 'resurrection stories' from people within our church and Pastor Jeff will also be sharing about how "the resurrection of Jesus changes everything."

Join us for a reflective Good Friday service as we remember the price Jesus paid for our salvation and share some reflections on the seven sayings of Jesus from the cross.

In today's passage, one city rejected the Paul's message about Jesus while the other embraced it. How can we become more like City #2?

What would you do if you were stuck in a prison, with your feet clamped in stocks, after having been beaten with wooden rods? Well, Paul and Silas sang hymns! What can we learn from their example in this story? Text: Acts 16:16-40

Abraham was called by God from out of where he lived to come to a special place. Right in the middle from that moment to today, we see Jesus standing at the crossroads of history, and we are also called, like Abraham, to partner with God in His continuous plan to rescue humanity. In today's message, which originally aired on March 19, 2023, Doug Valerio digs into Genesis 12:1-3.

The Book of Acts tells an amazing story - it tells the story of how God began the movement known as The Church. And it tells the story of all the amazing things that God, by His Spirit, did through this movement as His people committed to following Jesus together and to reclaiming God’s vision for the world, even as they faced some extraordinary challenges together. In today's message, which origi...

The Book of Acts tells an amazing story - it tells the story of how God began the movement known as The Church. And it tells the story of all the amazing things that God, by His Spirit, did through this movement as His people committed to following Jesus together and to reclaiming God’s vision for the world, even as they faced some extraordinary challenges together. In today's message, which origi...

Today at The Gathering, we welcome Dan Byrne!! After serving a local church in Ottawa for over a decade, Dan stepped out as a local missionary to the city because he believes the mission field is HERE. Dan graduated from Cedarville University in Ohio and holds advanced degrees from Providence Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada and a Certifie...

The Book of Acts tells an amazing story - it tells the story of how God began the movement known as The Church. And it tells the story of all the amazing things that God, by His Spirit, did through this movement as His people committed to following Jesus together and to reclaiming God’s vision for the world, even as they faced some extraordinary challenges together. In today's message, which origi...

The Book of Acts tells an amazing story - it tells the story of how God began the movement known as The Church. And it tells the story of all the amazing things that God, by His Spirit, did through this movement as His people committed to following Jesus together and to reclaiming God’s vision for the world, even as they faced some extraordinary challenges together. In today's message, which origi...