In Milton as it is in Heaven | Practicing the ways of Jesus together As we’re formed by God’s presence we become God’s presence in Milton
Tue, February 25, 2025
This week, Pastor Andrew explored how wisdom and generosity emerge from bravely facing our mortality. He shows how these qualities open paths to joy when we understand life's limited nature. Drawing from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Andrew offers a chance to thoughtfully consider life's fragility and discover joy within that truth.
Wed, February 12, 2025
Pastor Andrew continues our journey through The Joy Refuge Series by exploring the Joy of blessing others this past Sunday! He's also joined by our friend Marcio Padovan, who shares some practical ways we can all bless and honour to those closest to us.
Tue, February 04, 2025
This Sunday, Pastor Andrew continues our discussion on joy with a brief teaching about finding joy in wisdom.
Tue, January 28, 2025
This week, we had the pleasure of having Woro (Aykay) Akara lead our Sunday teaching. With his passion for studying Scripture and gift for teaching, Woro explores the definition of joy and shares practical ways to experience it. His focus is on the enduring joy found in Christ. Drawing from Scripture, including John 16:33, he discusses how our joy transcends fleeting emotions and circumstances, rooted in Jesus' victory. Woro also examines Jesus' teachings on joy from John 14–16 and Paul's insights in Galatians 5:22, helping us reshape our understanding and experience the joy of salvation in our daily lives.
Thu, January 23, 2025
January 19th, 2025 | This Sunday, Pastor Andrew continues teaching on Joy in Generosity, and focuses the attention on relational generosity in Christian community. Alastair Sterne says in his book on Joy that “the space between us is sacred because Jesus dwells among us. We are made to behold him in each other”
Thu, August 15, 2024
Sunday August 11, 2024 This Sunday Pastor John Mah from Mississauga Chinese Alliance Church is coming to teach in our Milton.Church series. Pastor John is a friend of Southside and is coming to share some stories from his life, ministry, and God's Word about missional living alongside the body of Christ.
Tue, August 06, 2024
Sunday, August 4, 2024 Speaker: Rachel Ayala This Sunday we have the exciting opportunity to learn from Rachel Ayala. Rachel is an Elder at Southside and a Psychotherapist by vocation. Rachel is going to talk about identifying cracks in a relationship and what kind of tools God has given us to reconcile towards oneness and unity.
Tue, July 30, 2024
Sunday, July 28, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew is going to continue to teach about the fundamental goal throughout all of scripture: oneness. We'll see how the entire plot of the scriptures is to become one and unified under Christ. Starting at home then bleeding out to our communities and into the world.
Tue, July 23, 2024
Sunday, July 21, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood Over the next two Sundays, Pastor Andrew is going to teach about the fundamental goal throughout all of scripture: oneness. This Sunday we'll see how God, right from the start in Genesis 1-2, designed us for oneness. Starting with the male/female creation story, we'll see how the entire plot of the scriptures is to become one and unified under Christ. Starting at home then bleeding out to our communities and into the world.
Tue, July 09, 2024
Sunday, July 7, 2024 Speaker: Regan Neudorf Regan is the leader of New Ventures in the Canadian Central District of the Alliance Canada. New Ventures is the wing of the Alliance that empowers and equips new missional ventures (many of which are church plants) in our region. https://www.newventurescanada.com/ Regan will share some of his story and experience with churches working together to start new churches and invite us to consider our role in the future Church of Milton.
Thu, July 04, 2024
Sunday, June 30, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood The family service message focused on milton.church
Tue, June 25, 2024
Sunday, June 23, 2024 Speaker: Jim De Marsh This Sunday we have the privilege of having long time Milton Pastor of Milton Bible Church Jim DeMarsh coming to Southside to teach. Jim will be sharing his story of ministry in Milton, talk about unity in the church in Milton, and offer some thoughts on missional living alongside the broader church in the city. Jim has been serving Milton for over 30 years and has an immense amount of wisdom and love to share with our community at Southside.
Tue, June 18, 2024
Sunday, June 16, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew will transition us from the Practicing The Way teaching series to a new one called Milton.Church. In this talk Pastor Andrew will highlight the necessity of community in our Spiritual formation and invite us to broaden our involvement in the local Church to produce unity amongst the Body in Milton. Connected to this teaching series is an invitation to be involved with a new initiative in Milton called Milton.Church. This initiative is a missional strategy of spreading the practical love of Jesus in our neighbourhoods through hyper local partnerships and intentional missional living. Check out the website Milton.Church ahead of time for more familiarity.
Wed, June 12, 2024
Sunday, June 9, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew will continue the conversation about practicing the ways of Jesus. We’ll focus in on the reality that relationships form us because we are relational by nature. To be made in the image of a Triune God means that we are fundamentally driven towards and formed by loving relationships inconsistent, authentic community.
Tue, June 04, 2024
Sunday, June 2, 2024 Speaker: Erick Olazabal Erick and his wife Kayla are pastors at RedHill Church in Milton. Erick had a passion for teaching and leading communities in practicing the ways of Jesus. In his past time Erick plays and teaches soccer and has a passion for mentoring the next generation.
Wed, May 29, 2024
Sunday, May 26, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood If the primary aim in life is to become a person pervaded by God's love, then what is getting in the way of that? This week we’re going to look at the things that are unintentionally forming us then take a look at what scripture says about our formation and what to be intentional about in order to become what God intends us to become. 1 John 2 & Romans 12 will be the focus.
Wed, May 22, 2024
Sunday, May 19, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew is going to highlight 1 Timothy 4 as a call to spiritual formation and intentional training in the Christian life. This week we’ll start a multi-week conversation regarding the “HOW” to spiritual growth and formation and leave this Sunday with a practical step for us all to take this week in our apprenticeship to Jesus.
Tue, May 14, 2024
Sunday, May 12, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew will remind us of what the Gospel is and shine a light on the gospel we see lived out everyday; particularly by motherhood. This teaching will launch us into a season of teaching that follows our discipleship course that we’re doing in communities called Practicing The Way.
Tue, May 07, 2024
Sunday, May 5, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew will teach from Romans 8 about our identity in Christ and the subsequent freedom we have to live according to the Spirit of God. We’ll then celebrate by taking communion together remembering why and how we have the identity we have.
Tue, April 30, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 7.14-25 Two natures at war - is that the dynamic of the Christian life? Paul asks the provocative question "Who will set me free?" Does he answer the question? That's what we'll talk about.
Tue, April 23, 2024
Sunday April 21, 2024 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 6.15-23 in his poem "Invictus" William Henley reaches his climactic lines "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul" In Romans 6 the Apostle Paul takes this idea to task by proposing that we are all servants to someone - the choice is Who?
Tue, April 16, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday we start a 4-part teaching on Romans 6-8 that Pastor Ian has discerned for our church. Pastor Andrew will lead the teaching this Sunday on Romans 6:1-14 with a focus on positional righteousness and its relationship with experiential righteousness. The goal of this teaching series is to clarify what the Apostle Paul was teaching the church in Rome on their identity in Christ as already renewed people who have been saved for the purpose of bringing about God’s renewal project.
Thu, April 04, 2024
Follow up conversation to Sunday, March 24, 2024 Andrew Wood has a conversation with Julia Tarcisius on Spiritual formation and the presence of God.
Tue, March 12, 2024
Sunday, March 10, 2024 This Sunday we’ll get the opportunity to hear from Melissa & Curtis Miles about their experience of the presence of God. Curtis and Melissa have been serving the local church for over a decade in Milton and have a deep understanding of pursuing the presence of God. Melissa being a local therapist and Curtis working with Practicing The Way (the discipleship content we’re using as a church) give them a unique vantage point on spiritual formation in the local church.
Tue, March 05, 2024
Sunday March 3, 2024 Speaker: Ian Campbell "Experiencing the Presence of God" John 1 Pastor Ian will press further into the theology of John Chapter One and how John, the disciple, friend of Jesus, both experienced the Presence of God as he experienced Jesus close up, and explained how the Logos is the Presence of God in His Creation.
Tue, February 27, 2024
Sunday, February 25 Speaker: Daniel Amaral This Sunday Daniel will be speaking about his path towards working at RE:SOUL and what it means to have continued faith in a fundraising journey. Through this teaching he’ll also talk about what it looks like to be present with God in the process.
Wed, February 21, 2024
Sunday, February 18, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew will unpack the meaning of “logos” found in John’s gospel and explore the connection of the universal concept of Logos to our pursuit of God’s presence.
Tue, February 13, 2024
Sunday, February 11, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood The church is a people, but not just any people. The church is to be a family in a real and experiential way. We are to raise up one another in Christ like a father or mother parents a child. With love, discipline, support, training opportunities, we are to raise and send people who are formed in Christ to bring Christ to the world around them. Healthy families are often the result of orderly households. This Sunday we’ll talk about our household at Southside; both the physical home (200 Main St.) and the ministry/activity that happens in it and from it. We’ll talk about why we use our unique gifting, skills, abilities, passions, resources to bring order and structure to the household for the sake of formation and mission in the present and the future.
Tue, February 06, 2024
Sunday, February 4, 2024 Speaker: Ian Campbell Eph 4.11-12 How does the Church "work?" Pastor Ian will guide us through the Apostle Paul's genius answer to this question as we consider the APEPT model of ministry.
Tue, January 30, 2024
Sunday January 28, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood We explore the fourfold gospel and the history of the C&MA
Tue, January 23, 2024
Sunday, January 21, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood Andrew looks at the roots of the church in Canada with a focus on the C&MA.
Wed, January 17, 2024
Sunday, January 14, 2024 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday Pastor Andrew will lead us in answering two questions: What is the church and what does the church do? Join us this Sunday to explore our identity and function as an expression of the local church in Milton.
Tue, January 09, 2024
Sunday January 7, 2024 Speaker: Ian Campbell A message on one thought to have as we start the new year.
Wed, December 20, 2023
Sunday, December 17, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood A short message about holy moments that followed the kids pageant.
Tue, December 12, 2023
Sunday, December 10, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 1.26-45 The idea of Heaven and Earth intersecting is at the core of our faith. This intersection requires a different kind of mapping or history telling. We lean into the Celtic ideas of "thin places" and the lovely "wardrobe" images of C.S. Lewis to get our minds around what Joseph and Mary came to believe and example for all of humankind!
Wed, December 06, 2023
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday we’re starting our season of advent off with a teaching on Holy Moments: moments worth looking back on in order to look forward. Today we focus on Joseph's obedience.
Tue, November 28, 2023
Sunday, November 26, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood Join us this Sunday for Pastor Andrew's wrap up of our teaching on fasting including a time for question & response.
Tue, November 21, 2023
Sunday, November 19, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell God's Chosen Fast Isaiah 58.3-12 It seems that Israelites were fasting but not seeing any result or impact of the discipline. They complain through the prophet Isaiah and God hears their cry and answers with a poignant "here's why it isn't working" indictment. On the upside God challenges them to behave differently and gives them a guide for the "kind of fasting He has chosen." As we look at the fourth reason we fast: to stand with the poor, we'll seek to understand what the link is.
Tue, November 14, 2023
Sunday, November 12, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matt 17.17-21 It has been said that "we can pray without fasting, and we can fast without praying, but when we combine the two, it's like there's a chemical reaction that amplifies the power of prayer." In this provocative account of Jesus' disciples not mustering enough faith for a miracle we can see there is a synergistic relationship between the two that invites us to a new level in our effectiveness in break through prayer.
Wed, November 08, 2023
Sunday November 5, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood We continue unpacking how the practice of fasting helps in our pursuit of holiness; from good too Holy. The focus this week will be on the idea of consecration with references from Romans 6 and some more in 1 Peter.
Tue, October 24, 2023
Sunday, October 22, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Corinthians 15 Continuing from last Sunday we will see the continuity of our conscious physical existence as the major aspect of our hope for the afterlife. This will add significance to the disciplines of life in the body in the here and now.
Tue, October 17, 2023
Sunday, October 15, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Roman 12.1-2 As we have begun this chapter of teaching "Practicing the Way" and are embarking on the forgotten discipline of fasting we'll focus on the understanding that Christians need to have about the connection between the physical body and our spirituality.
Thu, October 12, 2023
Sunday, October 8, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood Fasting is arguably the most neglected spiritual discipline in the modern wester church. Over the next several weeks we’ll explore historical and biblical teachings on fasting and contemplate what God may have for us as a community through the practice of fasting. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5v23
Wed, October 04, 2023
Sunday, October 1, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood (NB - message recording starts part way through) Are we feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and burnt out because we’re serving one another with our gifts and practicing loving hospitality? Or in the words of Tom Wright, are we spending our margin on tasks and pursuits that "merely wastes the time you could have been growing as a human being, discovering more about how God’s love can transform your life and that of those around you.” This Sunday we’ll explore 1 Peter 4:1-11 and decidedly live into the calling to serve by stepping into serving our community with our gifts, rather than step back in a season of busyness.
Tue, September 26, 2023
Sunday, September 24, 2023 This Sunday our new District Superintendent Shane Gould will be joining us for the induction ceremony of Pastor Andrew as Lead Pastor of Southside. Shane will share some of his shared history with Southside, his experience in ministry with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and offer a charge to Pastor Andrew for the role he’s stepping into. The ceremonial service will be coupled by some worship and a time of prayer for Andrew and Ashton.
Tue, September 19, 2023
Sunday, September 17. 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood Spiritual formation is a relational process where we are loved into becoming loving. The primary space for that in the life of Southside (and all churches for that matter) is around the table in smaller communities of loving relationships that in this season we call Communities@Southside. This Sunday Pastor Andrew will teach on the necessity of consistent, intimate Christian community, and will introduce the three communities that we’re launching this fall, with whom we hope everyone is able to connect. (please note, this recording starts part-way through the message)
Tue, September 12, 2023
Sunday, September 10, 2023 Speaker: Mary Martin This Sunday longtime member and Elder at Southside, Mary Martin, will close out our teaching on Philemon by emphasizing the freedom to choose the right response by all three parties involved in the book of Philemon. Mary will highlight the fact that God by his grace, in the same way, gives us the freedom to choose the right way in his economy of love.
Thu, September 07, 2023
Sunday, September 3, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood In Today’s society there’s a lot of talk about equality. Equality is an assumed ethic, but should it be? A lot of people talk about equality, but it can often get misrepresented, misunderstood, and even abused by secularists who still operate in an economy of power. This Sunday we’ll look at Philemon from the angle of equality and trace the western ethic of equality back to the redemptive history of the Christian faith. We’ll learn that true equality can only be achieved through the lens of the gospel, and implemented in an economy of Love rather than an economy of power.
Tue, August 29, 2023
Sunday, August 27, 2023 Ian Campbell Psalm 46 Following from Pastor Andrew's message last week - the Biblical theme of "presence" as God's desire for His people will be this Sunday's theme.
Tue, August 22, 2023
Sunday, August 20, 2023 This Sunday Pastor Andrew will kick off a shorth teaching series from the New Testament letter to Philemon A saving relationship with Christ supersedes previous worldly relationships. Through their shared salvation in Jesus Christ, the relationships among Paul, Philemon and Onesimus are all changed. Instead of the usual power struggle that the world lives by, a new prescription for relationships involves love and care for one another as brothers. Looking at the changes in the relationships between these three men illuminates the difference that being in Christ makes.
Tue, August 08, 2023
Sunday, August 6, 2023 The primary goal of the Christian life is to become more like Jesus in order to better represent Him in the world we inhabit. Are our routines, choices, habits or calendars reflecting this primary goal? The other interesting reality in the Christian life is that the very becoming like Jesus happens as we actively choose to live like Jesus. We don’t wait until we’re “complete” before we get started with “living.” This Sunday we’ll talk about spiritual formation and the role that community and serving play in the process of being like Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what He would do if He were here in Milton.
Tue, August 01, 2023
Sunday, July 30, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 133; John 17 As we come to the end of our "starter" teaching series on Prayer - what should we conclude with? How about thinking about the matters that Jesus Himself prayed about. In John 17 we hear Jesus ask the Father twice for the same thing - unity and oneness. Why was this on Jesus' mind and heart?
Tue, July 18, 2023
Sunday, July 16, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood Small decisions lead to major outcomes. This week we’ll talk about the child-like faith that we grow in as we come back to God in prayer in order to stay on the right path towards the adventure God has for us.
Tue, July 11, 2023
Sunday, July 9, 2023 Speaker: Tommy Tsui Tommy Tsui is Director of Church Heath and Development in the Central Canadian District of the Alliance. We welcome him to Southside to speak to us this Sunday. Tommy is a gracious and warm hearted leader whose teaching is sure to be a blessing to us.
Tue, July 04, 2023
Sunday, July 2, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 130 Is there a log book in heaven that keeps track of our sins? Wouldn't that be a terrifying thought! In another of the Psalms of Ascent the songster raises that thought and immediately dismisses it with the declaration "But there is forgiveness with You." Let's let that grip our hearts!
Tue, June 27, 2023
Sunday, June 25, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 121 Where does my help come from? The Psalms have often been called the prayer book of Israel. In the section known as Psalms of Ascent a common theme is "help." in what areas of life do we need help? Where will it come from?
Tue, June 20, 2023
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood We talk about intercessory prayer for global justice and sit down with our Christian & Missionary Alliance President to learn about global missions with the C&MA.
Tue, June 13, 2023
Sunday, June 11, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood We continue our series on prayer, focusing on prayer as wonder.
Tue, June 06, 2023
Sunday, June 4, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Ephesians 1 The chapter of the Bible that is perhaps the most theologically dense and rich passage. It ends with a beautiful prayer that we can receive for ourselves. Let's dwell in that prayer.
Tue, May 30, 2023
Sunday, May 28, 2023 Speaker: Marcos Tiago Padovan This Sunday we have a special guest communicator! Tiago Padovan is a local Milton pastor who is passionate about intercessory prayer for our city, and specifically praying for local churches. Tiago and his wife Glaucia had been longtime ministry friends and partners with Pastor Andrew and they currently lead our Wednesday morning prayer every week at 7am @ 200 main. Tiago will be sharing with us about the power of consistent communal prayer.
Wed, May 24, 2023
Sunday, May 21, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Prayer as Dance John 17.20-24 We will seek to view prayer as a dance with 3 partners who dance as one. Is this what Jesus was alluding to in John 17?
Tue, May 16, 2023
Sunday, May 14, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood We ask the question "why do we struggle with prayer?"
Tue, May 09, 2023
Sunday, May 7, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood This week Pastor Andrew will be introducing the practice of Prayer. The invitation is to walk together in love towards growing in our prayer lives. Join us on Sundays at 10.30am and at one of our mid-week communities to learn more.
Tue, May 02, 2023
Sunday, April 30, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood Pastor Andrew wraps up the sabbath conversation in our Speed of Love season. There's been so much good said on Sundays and in communities while feeling like we've just scratched the surface.
Tue, April 18, 2023
Sunday, April 16, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 95; Hebrews 4 Is it possible to make God angry with us? Sabbath Rest seems to be the Biblical center of Sabbath teaching and there is a curious comment in Psalm 95 and Hebrews 4 that not entering this rest made God angry with Israel and they apparently are to serve as an example to the New Testament believers. What would not entering this rest look like? What does it mean to enter this rest? Let's talk!
Thu, April 13, 2023
Sunday, April 9, 2023 Speaker - Andrew Wood The message from Easter Sunday, 2023 following 3 baptisms.
Tue, April 04, 2023
Sunday, April 2, 2023 Speaker: Ian Cambell Colossians 1.15-20 What delights us? Over the history of the church we find the stories of saints who were overtaken by the joy of their faith. Joy seems to be elusive in our times. In the practice of sabbath can we rediscover what has been missing for us?
Tue, March 28, 2023
Sunday, March 26, 2023 Speaker: Ian Cambell Genesis 3:16-18; Exodus 20:8-10 Is work part of the curse or a blessing? We'll look at the symbiotic relationship between work and rest and ask if work is good.
Tue, March 21, 2023
Sunday March 19, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood This Sunday we’ll build on the concept of the Sabbath being for you by looking at the clear commandment in both Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 6. We’ll unpack how commands from God are always for our benefit, and how life in the kingdom is experienced in it’s greatest measure when we are obedient to the command, and live in the love that is the basis for the command.
Tue, March 14, 2023
Sunday, March 12, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell Speed of Love... Sabbath (1) Genesis 2:1-4 In our "Speed of Love" teaching season we are beginning a pause in which we'll learn about and be apprenticed into the habit of "Sabbath." Far from the onerous burden of some of our religious pasts we'll discover this rhythm as one of the Creator's most wonderful gifts.
Tue, February 28, 2023
Sunday, February 26, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood We continue the conversation about slowing down to the speed of love. Pastor Andrew reminds us of some of the principals and gives us some practical ways we can be slowing down.
Tue, February 14, 2023
Sunday, February 12, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood Ephesians 4:1-16 Talking more about the speed of community connected to our conversation about the speed of Love. Last Sunday we talked about the speed of family and looked at Jesus teaching on “who is my family” We’ll continue that this week
Tue, February 07, 2023
Sunday, January 29 2023 Speaker: Ian Trigg A Day in the Life of Jesus Mark 1:29-42 Our District Superintendent Ian Trigg has been a pastor for many years in Western Canada (Vernon B.C. and Calgary Alberta.) He has served our District as Superintendent for the past two years. Ian has a warm and engaging style and we're sure to be blessed. He is just returning from a speaking visit to Indonesia, and probably tired but enthused to join us at Southside.
Tue, February 07, 2023
Sunday, February 5 Speaker: Andrew Wood We continue our series on The Speed of Love, focusing in on the importance of community.
Tue, January 24, 2023
Sunday, January 22, 2023 Speaker: Andrew Wood This week we're going to explore Jesus' teaching about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 and focus in on the speed of life require to truly help the hurting neighbour.
Tue, January 17, 2023
Sunday, January 15, 2023 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 15 The Apostle John is probably my favourite writer in Scripture. This passage is at the heart of his devotional content and discloses the secret of his Chrisian discipleship. The disciplines we want to explore over the next season of Southside's growth are steps we can take to dive deep into how we "abide in Christ."
Wed, January 11, 2023
Sunday, January 8, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood Loving relationship takes time, and hurry simply doesn't have it. If we want to grow in our loving relationship with God and with others, we need the kind of time and attention that our current cultural moment is competing over every second for. The church in Milton is called to move at the speed of love while our community around us moves at the speed of success, achievement, consumerism, pleasure and activity. In order to do move at the speed of love, we will need reordered lives with counter-cultural rhythms and practices that center Jesus and deprioritize everything else. That's what it means to practice the ways of Jesus. That is how we build the Kingdom of God in Milton as it is in Heaven. Join us as we begin a new season of practicing the ways of Jesus.
Tue, December 20, 2022
Sunday, December 18, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood During Advent we celebrate the first coming of King Jesus, but the Christian hope is the future coming of King Jesus. This Sunday we’ll explore how we live into the anticipation of Jesus’s arrival as the King who came and the King who is still to come.
Tue, December 13, 2022
Sunday, December 11, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Revelation 1.8 Jesus' existence did not begin at conception in Mary's womb although we often seem to assume that in our understanding of the Bible's teaching about God. Our teaching on Sunday will be on the subject of His pre-existence and what the transition to humanness entailed. Our minds are indeed finite and a spoiler alert should be noted here: we can't understand that God always was in God's Trinity and we must accept by faith having enough reason to trust in God's self disclosure.
Tue, December 06, 2022
Sunday, December 4, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Rev 1.8; 21.6 I am the Alpha and Omega - says God. When I first came across this I was confused as to why it was, what I presumed to be, the a and o of the alphabet! Then came wonderful studies in Greek when I realized that they were the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Now that we're clear, what does this mean?
Tue, November 29, 2022
Sunday, November 27, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood Blessed are the Peacemakers
Tue, November 22, 2022
Sunday, November 20, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 5.10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted.. This Sunday is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. We are joining in heart and spirit with sisters and brothers who are facing unimaginable levels of hardship because of their faith. As we are attentive to the universal nature of the church we must pray into our unity and spiritual solidarity.
Tue, November 15, 2022
Sunday, November 13, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 5.7 Blessed are the Merciful - for they will receive Mercy.. So many of the Beatitudes are reciprocal - they adhere to Jesus' teaching that we should do to others as we hope they will do to us. What a priceless aspect of Christian wisdom! What a practical lesson!
Tue, October 25, 2022
Sunday, October 23, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood Matthew 5:5 - "Blessed are the meek"
Tue, October 18, 2022
Sunday, October 16, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 5 A rather shocking indictment of evangelicalism is that we simply accessorize our lives with our faith rather than become actual disciples of Jesus. This Sunday we’ll ask if we have understood how terribly radical the message of Jesus is. He concludes his teaching with an invitation to follow Him.
Wed, October 12, 2022
Sunday, October 9, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 5.1-11 What does it mean to be “blessed?” Is it the same as “happy?” We’re beginning a teaching series this Sunday called “the makarioi” in which we’ll look at Jesus’ teaching on the Beatitudes and try to discover what it means to be the makarioi 🙂
Tue, October 04, 2022
Sunday, September 25, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Ephesians 4.6-13 The so-called APEPT or APEST gifts have been the topic of conversation in the recent Missional movement in the church. We’ll review them and consider how we understand the theology of Ephesians 4 and how we might view these 5 as the general “trades” as we are employed to build the church.
Tue, September 20, 2022
Sunday, September 18, 2022 Speaker: Mike Burns What happens when deceptive ideas move beyond the lie and begin to shape the narratives of our life? From personal narratives to cultural narratives, these are the stories we tell ourselves about us, our neighbours, and the world around us. For many, these often go unexplored and remain in the realm of the subconscious, which makes discerning the truth that much harder. This Sunday we’ll just scratch the surface of understanding the power of narrative in our lives and then examine how we can be transformed by the truth of our faith and a better understanding of who we are, who are neighbour is, and who God is.
Wed, September 07, 2022
September 4, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell The root cause of our Anxiety Romans 1 is an explicit description of our separation form God, our embarking on a wild ride into the frontier of a wilderness in which we don’t belong. Let’s have a careful look at Paul’s claims here.
Tue, August 30, 2022
Sunday, August 28, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood Proverbs 1:7 We open up the conversation about fearing the Lord. In the West, we have softened this language to mean only respect and reverence, but biblically it means far more than that. We will discover the freedom and peace found in fearing the Lord without minimizing what that fear means and ought to look like for 21st century westerners.
Tue, August 23, 2022
August 21, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 6:25-34 We will follow up last Sunday’s conversation about the two rival masters by seeking wisdom about living in the world of money and wealth as Jesus followers. Remember the rich young ruler who had everything right about his morality, but when challenged to sell everything and give to the poor? He couldn’t do it and therefore wouldn’t get into the Kingdom. Harsh?
Tue, August 16, 2022
Sunday, August 14, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood Matthew 6:19-24 The Christian struggle is a unique one in the respect that we both live in the world, and are subsequently inundated with the same amount of competition for our attention, desires, and treasures as everyone else in our communities, while at the same time we are called to serve Jesus and Jesus alone. This deadly mix leaves us as anxious, if not more, than those around us. This Sunday we are going to talk about Jesus’ teaching on serving two masters and call out our fears about serving one and losing out on the benefit of serving the other.
Tue, August 09, 2022
Sunday, August 7, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up his cross, and follow me” We live in a culture that suggests meaning and purpose is not something to be found outside of ourselves, but within ourselves. Couple that with an attention economy that is always selling you something on the basis that there good life is achieved by fulfilling all your desires. This perfect storm has left us anxiously feeding fleshly desires for the sake of creating meaning in our lives. This Sunday we’ll talk about Jesus’s call to deny our fleshly desires, allow them to be properly reordered by taking up our cross, and finding meaning in God’s intended purposes for us rather than creating it for ourselves.
Wed, August 03, 2022
July 31, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 John 2.15-17 Which one could be your undoing? As we explore our relationship with the world we would be wise to know where we are vulnerable to the world system. Then we can be present in and for the world as we posture ourselves to be against it.
Tue, July 26, 2022
July 24, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 17.15-19 Have you ever found yourself rationalizing a behaviour because “everyone else is doing it”? Perhaps it was downloading or photocopying something that was copyrighted. A pastor friend of mine endorsed making photocopies of a book saying “copyright just means copy it right”! We are invited to swim upstream as followers of the Way. It’s key to our proper orientation to the world of people and the world system. Let’s get our orientation “trued.”
Tue, July 19, 2022
July 17, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood 1 Peter 2:9-22 This Sunday Pastor Andrew is going to continue the conversation we started last week on The Flesh. We’ll focus on the topic of freedom; what is true freedom and how do we get there. There will be another time for Q&A at the end of the talk, so bring your thoughts, feelings, questions and ponderings.
Tue, July 12, 2022
July 10, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood John 8:34-36 Galatians 5:13-17 Andrew will introduce the idea of “The Flesh” and how that can work against us becoming a non-anxious presence.
Tue, July 05, 2022
Sunday, July 2, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 John 2.13-17 Luke 4 What is wrong with me? Ever arrive at that anxious question? More broadly, what is wrong with us? As we gaze at our world we are perplexed with the mess up we are. Why? In response to the anxiety we feel Biblical teaching and Christ-following practices are actually clear answers and solutions to both questions and frustrations.
Tue, June 28, 2022
Sunday, June 26, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 4.8-10 Does anyone still believe there's an actual Satan or Devil these days? Is the devil more a subject for jokes and even comedy shows on TV? What if we are totally wrong in dismissing the idea as an old story or myth? What if there is a devil? What might such a being be up to?
Tue, June 14, 2022
Sunday, June 12, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 3.2; Mark 1.15; Luke 17.20-21 Today we begin a teaching series on the topic of "non-anxious presence." We're beginning by setting the stage for this way of being in the world by grounding ourselves in the Bible's teaching about the Kingdom of God. Is the Kingdom here? Or coming? Or both? Jesus said that the Kingdom was "among us." Presence is the operative term for our world view, as we will see throughout the series. And its presence may be well described as "non anxious." And yet we are being told that we are more anxious as society and even Christ followers that ever before. Let's settle down and settle in through this summer meditation :)
Wed, June 01, 2022
May 29, 2022 This Sunday we’re going to look at what happens we shine light on the idol of materialism and see the impact that Godly character can have on a person and their family.
Thu, May 26, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022 Have you ever asked God to tell you where to go and what to do and actually meant it? This Sunday we’re going to look at Paul’s missionary journey with Timothy to Macedonia all based on a dream that Paul had. We’ll see what God did with that act of faith and consider whether God is asking us today to be living with such selfless abandoned in our day.
Tue, May 17, 2022
Sunday, May 15, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 11.1-8 Have you ever been part of a merger? When two organizations or communities join together for a greater purpose it’s fun to watch. Sometimes there is a little friction! That’s what happened when Gentiles began following Jesus along with the already existing Jewish believers. But it was part of God’s amazing plan to show His love and grace to the whole world! Are there lessons for us about welcome and inclusion in this story?
Tue, May 10, 2022
May 8, 2022 Speaker: Andrew Wood Acts 9:36-43 What can we learn from the story of Dorcas/Tabitha?
Tue, May 03, 2022
Sunday May 1, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 9.1-18 The most dramatic conversion story is Saul’s. His is the account of God changing both one life and all the history of Christianity. Does someone come to mind that you know is presently going in the opposite direction and you are praying for their turnaround.
Tue, April 26, 2022
Sunday April 26, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 5.27-42 What effect did the resurrection of Jesus have on His followers? In following the lectionary readings from Acts in this season we will have glimpses of the “adventure” that his followers had embarked on. This time we hear the disciples being forbidden to speak any more in “this name.” What will they do?
Tue, April 12, 2022
Sunday, April 10, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Mark 11.1-11 Two processions entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. One was Pilate’s military procession – a demonstration of both Roman imperial power and Roman imperial theology. One was Jesus’ triumphal entry in a demonstration of Kingdom power and theology. As we understand both we find ourselves needing to decide which procession we will join.
Tue, April 05, 2022
Sunday April 3, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 23.34 In the midst of His agony dying on the cross Jesus spoke these astonishing words – “Father forgive them..” As one of the most evil perpetrators of crimes against humanity how should we pray for Vladimir Putin? Should we ask for forgiveness or pray one of the impreccatory psalms for his destruction. Or both?
Tue, March 29, 2022
Sunday, March 27, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 21 John recalls a breakfast that finished with an awkward conversation between friends that resulted in the full restoration of a friendship that had been compromised by one having disappointed the other. Simon knew the difficult subject of his denial would surely be raised but could not have expected the forgiveness that was generously granted.
Tue, March 22, 2022
March 20, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell The Prodigal Son One of the best known stories of the Bible as told by Jesus, a story of forgiveness and reconciliation – a father extends a welcome home to his wayward son in a heartwarming drama. This carries the authority of a Storyteller who is the actual protagonist!
Tue, March 15, 2022
Sunday, March 13, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Mephibosheth One of the most vivid illustrations of the kindness and love of God is in the story of Mephibosheth and David's kindness to him. In the setting of the king's table we see so many aspects of the covenant relationship God has established with humankind.
Tue, March 08, 2022
Sunday, March 6, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Jonah Our final Enneagram Biblical example is the infamous Jonah who sought to “avoid” as the characteristic that shows up in various ways through the drama of his life and faith. He didn’t want to upset the applecart and yet this brought him to desperate means to save his own life and that of everyone around him. Maybe not the type that is most attractive to you – and avoiding sea voyages might be wise!
Tue, March 01, 2022
Sunday, February 27, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 3.1-12 John the Baptist was a good example of the type 8 in the enneagram. His actual calling was to be “against” as a prophet. These types of personality are often characterized by speaking out against what they perceive to be wrong. As they understand themselves they can tune and tone their presence and input with positive results for all.
Wed, February 23, 2022
February 20, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Ecclesiastes 2 King Solomon was an example of the 7th enneagram type – the need to avoid pain. The book of Ecclesiastes is generally assigned to Solomon although he is not named. Kohelet is the self named author and reports his exploits and adventures in trying to find a life that avoids pain. This realist account seems all the more true in today’s world. Let’s see what he experienced.
Tue, February 15, 2022
Speaker: Ian Campbell Ruth 1.16-22 Do you enjoy a great love story? Tucked away in the Old Testament is the love story of Ruth. Both Ruth and her mother in law are examples of this enneagram type. Their loyalty in relationships exposes one of the areas in which this characteristic is found. Let's enjoy their story.
Tue, February 08, 2022
Sunday, February 6, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 1.1-4 Do you need to "see for yourself" before you believe what someone else tells you? The enneagram type 5 is exemplified by a few Bible characters, notably Thomas and Luke. Thomas said almost exactly the very thing: "unless I can touch and see" I won't believe. But Luke (a doctor?) has the diligence to sort through records and reports in order to present a convincing case. Let's see how he presents his writing project that we read as part of the New Testament.
Tue, February 01, 2022
Sunday, January 30, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Genesis 37 One of my favourite musicals is “Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat” where the dramatic life of a special person is featured. What makes you “you?” is a healthy question to try to answer and the way each of us accepts, resists or avoids our special characteristics can become the narrative of our life. Let’s see how that worked out in Joseph’s story.
Tue, January 25, 2022
Sunday, January 23, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Genesis 25.23-28 Type three of the enneagram is the need to succeed. In the bible Jacob is an example of this type. In his book The Enneagram – A Christian Perspective Richard Rohr says “Scarcely any biblical figure can be so unequivocally assigned to an Enneagram type as Jacob can.” He struggles with God and with man using every available trick. What are the ups and downs of this personality?
Tue, January 18, 2022
January 16, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 21.20 This week we will consider the Apostle John as an example of the 2nd enneagram type – someone who needs to be needed. Could the lovely instinct to be a helper possibly have a shadow side?
Tue, January 11, 2022
Sunday January 9, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Are you “in a box”? This teaching series is designed to explore that question and to discover the positive and negative answers that have to do with our Christian growth. We are going to look at several well known Bible characters and learn about the contributions their strengths make to their unique stories as well as how their shadow sides proved to be blind spots for them. Perhaps you’ll see yourself in some of the stories and even understand what makes some others tick. We’ll start with the Apostle Paul and allow his uniqueness in his particular box to guide us on the right path and avoid the boxiness of his still imperfect persona.
Tue, January 04, 2022
Sunday, January 2, 2022 Speaker: Ian Campbell Habakkuk 3
Wed, December 22, 2021
Sunday, December 19, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 1.50,56 The end result of the works of God and their focus on the coming of Immanuel is the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. Where do we fit in? Are we the descendants of Abraham? How is the Bible's story the story of Abraham?
Tue, December 14, 2021
Sunday, December 12, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 1.51-54 The weight of Mary’s Magnificat is placed on a list of the things that God has done. What has he done according to this servant? What litany of the works of God would form the lyrics of your song of praise?
Tue, December 07, 2021
Sunday, December 5, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 1.46-47 Mary sings about her soul and her spirit. Are these synonyms or a differentiation between two aspects of our humanness? How then do these aspects contribute to our religious or spiritual lives? Should we add body to the mix and learn to worship with all of our beings?
Tue, November 30, 2021
Sunday, November 28, 2010 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 1.46, 48-49 Ever since the life of Jesus Mary has been the fascination of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church and venerating her is central to their faith. The Protestant Church draws criticism and more because of indifference to Mary. Who was she and how do we understand her part in the drama of Christianity?
Tue, November 23, 2021
Sunday, November 21 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Col 2.1-3 The Apostle Paul expresses his concern for believers who "have not seen his face" or literally "in the flesh." Does that pique our interest in these days of not having experienced church in person? The same concerns are for those with whom we are together in person or virtually. What are they?
Tue, November 16, 2021
Sunday, November 14, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Ephesians 2.19-22; 4.1-16 We are called into service as followers of Christ and thoroughly equipped to fulfill our responsibilities. As we seek to re-set church what can we unlearn and relearn in these times?
Tue, November 09, 2021
Sunday November 7, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell November 7th Philippians 2.19-30 Leadership has failed us in the past generation of church. We have been hurt and grieved by leadership failures and sense that we have wandered from the New Testament model of leading. Celebrity has been the downfall of many and is far from what we have been taught from early times. Timothy and Epaphroditus are models to be shadowed.
Tue, November 02, 2021
Sunday, October 31, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell The story of Esther has the fascinating aspect of the "unseen Hand" as we realize that while absent from the plot God is active yet unseen. How is this true in our lives and the events of history? Whether in the story of Joseph who remembers the treachery of his brothers as God having "meant it all for good" or the many Bible stories this is a huge Biblical understanding!
Tue, October 26, 2021
Sunday, October 24, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 2, 5 Haman and Esther are contrasted in how they each plan to attend a banquet. For Haman it was an “all about me” celebration; for Esther it was “all about my people.” What can we learn about the celebration events of our lives?
Tue, October 19, 2021
Sunday, October 17, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 7-8 Courage is a powerful engine and leads us to do things we might not have thought possible in our humanness. Esther is a great example of an ordinary person who realizes that she was positioned for her time to do something great. Can you see yourself in her story?
Wed, October 13, 2021
Sunday, October 10, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 7 When you have "skeletons in your closet" there's a dread that drifts along all the time. The fear that your past will catch up needs to be addressed by an understanding of confession, forgiveness and grace.
Tue, October 05, 2021
Sunday, October 3rd, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 3 The bible describes the human heart as potentially deceitful and desperately wicked. Haman is a case study in that condition. How does a person become so hateful and vindictive? Is there a darkness in our own hearts that we need to discern and allow truth and love to penetrate it?
Sun, September 26, 2021
Sunday, September 26, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 8 Do you have friends and neighbours who are of the Jewish Faith? What relationship do we as Christians have with these friends? How do you think Israel has factored into world history and what is the future for Israel? Esther saved a nation from extinction!
Mon, September 20, 2021
Sunday, September 19, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 2 Mordecai challenged Esther to use her opportunity for God's plan and asked "Who knows but that you have attained royalty for such a time as this" Why am I where I am, doing what I do as far as God is concerned? We'll talk about discerning our place in this world as having been fixed for God to use for His plans.
Tue, September 14, 2021
Sunday September 12, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 2.5-7 Early in the story of Esther we meet Mordecai - one of the two heroes in the story. He is the target of the villain's wrath and his life is in constant jeopardy. However the tables are turned in a nail biting drama.
Wed, September 08, 2021
Sunday, September 5, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Esther 1 As we begin a new teaching series this week we will learn how Queen Esther realized that she found herself in a unique set of circumstances "for such a time as this." We'll have opportunity to meet the story's characters and the ways they relate to our time and circumstances. Ahasuerus (Xerxes) was handed celebrity that he allowed to "go to his head" and he lived in luxury and fame. We will talk about having open eyes to understand that the splendour of success in life should be handled with a strong grain of salt and that allowing
Tue, August 31, 2021
Sunday, August 29, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 1.17-18 God’s gifts. James has a lovely set of expressions about God, the Father of Lights and how every good and perfect gifts comes from Him. He also understands that we are one of the gifts God gives to the world so that we can be an example of His gifts – His first fruits.
Tue, August 24, 2021
August 22, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 4.18 When we know what the “right thing” is we should be determined to actually do it. The Bible (and specifically James) is very clear on some things we know are the right things to do and so not to do those things is a sinful way of living quite apart from not doing the “wrong thing. The talk will be about identifying some right things and making a plan to do them.
Tue, August 17, 2021
Sunday, August 15, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 5.4-6 One of the right things that James instructs us to do is to pay fair wages and treat employees well. That's not only for those who actually employ others but about respecting the jobs that people do and honouring them. The talk will be about noticing those around us who do the jobs we need done but aren't our primary responsibility and having lives of gratitude towards them all.
Tue, August 10, 2021
August 8, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 4.11-12 We’re not to judge or speak against one another says James. What does he mean by that in practice? He says that we speak against the law by speaking against one another. And since God is the lawgiver he warns us against this. Let’s try to figure out what he means!
Wed, August 04, 2021
Sunday August 1, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 5.14-18 Prayer for the sick. James gives the only specific instructions in the Bible for this kind of prayer. He goes back to Elijah of the Old Testament as an example of the faith that healing prayer requires - but what is it about Elijah that we should learn?
Tue, July 27, 2021
Sunday, July 25, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 5.12-13 "your yes is to be yes and your no, no" says James. Am I known as a person whose word is good? It's a high compliment when someone can readily assess me that way!
Tue, July 20, 2021
Sunday, July 18, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 4.1-17 “What’s really going on here?” is a question we should ask in the middle of quarrels. James says that we should look inside and be honest about what’s really at the heart of the matter.
Tue, July 13, 2021
Sunday, July 11, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 3.1-13 Where did that come from? Ever say something and you find yourself asking that question? James supplies the answer.
Tue, July 06, 2021
Sunday, July 4, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 2.14-26 Maurice Blondel said " The one who talks, especially if he talks to God, can affect a great deal, but the one who acts really means business and has more claim on our attention. If you want to know what a person really believes, don't listen to what he says but watch what he does." James presses this point powerfully as we shall see on Sunday!
Tue, June 29, 2021
Sunday, June 27, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 2.2; 1 Samuel 16.7 What kind of person impresses you, honestly? With the wisdom of Scripture in our hearts and on our minds, remember that humanly we see what's on the outside while God sees what's in the heart. "What do you see before you look?"
Tue, June 22, 2021
Sunday, June 20th 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 15 The most famous father in the Bible is perhaps that of what is called the prodigal son. Did you ever wonder what happened the next day after the celebrations were over?
Tue, June 15, 2021
June 13, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 1.19-26 Did you ever wish you could take back something you said? Here is one of James' practical applications in his "walk the talk" letter. How can we learn to hold our tongues when we should and yet know when not to be silent when we should not be reluctant to speak out?
Tue, June 08, 2021
June 6, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 1:13-18 One of the ways that testing comes our way is in the area of temptation. Starting with our great ancestor Eve we have all been the target of this strange desire. What tempts you? How do you respond to this .. we all face it, right?
Tue, June 01, 2021
May 30, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 1:2-1 & 5:7-11 There is perhaps no greater challenge to life and faith than very, very difficult circumstances. For some they are a threat to faith while for others they are the very reason to hold on to faith. James gives us detailed help for hard times.
Wed, May 26, 2021
Sunday, May 23, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell James 1 Who do you see when you look in the mirror? What do people see when they look at you? As we begin a study in James we'll have a look at how he saw himself as well as how other NT writers saw themselves. What is my identity?
Tue, May 18, 2021
Sunday, May 16, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 4:5 James 2:18 Faith or Works? Which is more important? We might like to put Paul and James in the same room and as flies on the wall listen to them argue this out. Martin Luther stepped up and declared James as a "strawy" letter (that's a negative review!) What do you think?
Tue, May 11, 2021
Sunday, May 9, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter.3.6 Romans 4.18,19 Let's turn our thoughts and attention away from Abraham on Mothers' Day and think about Sarah. Have you ever been caught in the middle of someone else's story over which you have no control? Let's see how she handled it.
Tue, May 04, 2021
Sunday, May 2, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 4:24-25 What does it mean to "believe in God?" That's what the Apostle Paul says gets us "righteousness," so what is that? What do we get by believing in God? Maybe a simple question, but obviously critical for humankind.
Tue, April 27, 2021
Sunday, April 25th 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 4.11-16 "Father Abraham" is called the father of us all as the Apostle tells us where it all begins for humankind to join in a faith that brings together all kinds of people in all kinds of places.
Tue, April 20, 2021
Sunday, April 18, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 4.1-5 Works or Faith? We'll see that Abraham is the prime example of a relationship with God that is Faith based. How easily we slip into being wrongheaded in our religion and turn it back into something we do or work at. How freeing it is to live by what has already been done.
Tue, April 13, 2021
Sunday, April 11, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 4.18 One of the most dramatic narratives of the Bible is the saga of Abraham and his exploits. The three words taken from Romans 4.18 are perhaps the best summary of his life. And he is the "father of us all" so his life is certainly worth knowing and being inspired to live the life of faith that these simple words capture.
Wed, April 07, 2021
Sunday, April 4, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 1.18-19 Was Jesus' death a ransom? Peter claims that Jesus was chosen as a ransom before the beginning of the world. What exactly was the ransom and to whom was it paid and by whom?
Tue, March 30, 2021
Sunday, March 28th Speaker: Ian Campbell John 13.1-5 On this Palm Sunday we'll remember one of Jesus' last days with his disciples when we're told that "He loved them to the very end." He gives the disciples a very dramatic demonstration of His love and a profound example for them to follow by washing their feet.
Tue, March 23, 2021
March 23, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 John 2.5 John 3.16 "Do not love the world.." "God so loved the world.." which is it? Can it be both? This Sunday we will conclude our short series about the travels of love.
Tue, March 16, 2021
March 14, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Mark 12.31 Luke 10.27-37 The beloved Mr. Rogers asked a lovely question of his audience - presumably made up mostly of children. As a Christian Fred Rogers exemplified Christian attitudes and set the bar for many of us. Here's the question: "Won't you be my neighbour?" What does this spin of neighbour love have to teach us?
Tue, March 09, 2021
March 7, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 13.34-35 1 Peter 1.21 Tertullian, an early Church Father, commented on Christians that even though they were persecuted and misunderstood their love for one another was compelling and was a great evidence of their faith.
Tue, March 02, 2021
Sunday, February 28, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Mark 12.31 1 John 3.1 Are we allowed to love self as Christians or is that not virtuous enough or self sacrificial enough? In a day of self harm let's have a fresh look at the question as we think of the love of self as one of the directions of love's travels.
Tue, February 23, 2021
Sunday, February 21, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 John In this Lenten series as we join the ARK project in which we will try to show love of neighbour in practical ways we will also explore the grand "love letter" written by the Apostle John. In which direction does love most often travel in your experience?
Wed, February 17, 2021
Sunday, February 14 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Deuteronomy 6.4-5 Luke 10.26-27 Have you ever been said to be "over the top?" Did you take that as a criticism or a compliment? This weekend's final session on the Shema invites us to be "over the top" Ready?
Tue, February 09, 2021
Sunday, February 7, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Deuteronomy 6 .4-5 Romans 12.1-2 A curious expression talks about having "skin in the game" Which means to be "all in." Loving God with all our Soul has that in mind. As we realize that God is "all in" for us and the Incarnation is a theological word for "skin in the game" we follow the Shema's call to us for reciprocate.
Tue, February 02, 2021
Sunday January 31, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Deuteronomy 6.4-5 Proverbs 4.23 Over the past several years I have often heard someone say "I know your heart" and it sometimes baffled me as to what was meant. When we are told to Love God with all our heart we are really being challenged with the question "what do you really want? what is in your heart?" It is in the heart that longings reside. let's have a look at that idea.
Tue, January 26, 2021
January 24, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Deuteronomy 6.5 We might understand the Shema to say Because the LORD our God is one we must love Him in "oneness." His love for us is single as is His being and so we must have a singleness in our response to Him - how has He loved us and how do we respond with our love for Him?
Tue, January 19, 2021
January 17, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Deuteronomy 6.3-4, Luke 10.27-28 As we continue to understand the Shema Israel we come to the phrase "The Lord is our God, the Lord is One" which is the heart of the creedal statement and also of Christian creeds though the years. What exactly does it mean? What is our relationship now with Israel as she is addressed in the Shema? Did the lawyer asking Jesus the question have any idea that the One he was asking was the One? The video referred to can be viewed at https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/yhwh-lord/
Tue, January 12, 2021
January 10, 2021 Speaker: Ian Campbell Deut 6.4-5; Luke 10.27 Shema Israel Does Christianity have a short version? That's essentially what a young lawyer asked Jesus. Jesus turned the question back to him and he gave the answer correctly. He quoted the Shema Israel, referring to Deuteronomy 6.4-5. He had apparently heard Jesus, the new rabbi in town, who had added a second half. Still within the scope of Jewish faith Jesus added the love of neighbour to the love of God. That's it. Love God, Love your neighbour. Thus Jesus summed up the whole story of faith. The video referred to can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KQLOuIKaRA&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=BibleProject
Tue, January 05, 2021
January 3, 2021 Speaker - Ian Campbell Num 6.22-27 An invocation for 2021. God gave instructions to the priestly family to pray a certain prayer over the Children of Israel. As we enter the New Year may I presume to pray the same prayer over you, the Southside Family? Let's receive the promises of the Blessing as we anticipate a good and different year to come.
Tue, December 22, 2020
December 20, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 2.29-32 "Nunc Dimittis" On this Christmas Sunday we come to our fourth Advent Candle - the candle of Peace. Perhaps the most elusive pursuit it still beckons to us. The old man Simeon is at peace. Am I? Will I be, when this mortal life is over? The answer lies in my actual, true understanding of Christmas.
Tue, December 15, 2020
December 13, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 2.8-14 In the angels' song: "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" the shepherds are told not to be afraid because they are brought good news of great joy. Joy and Peace, the final two candles of the Advent Wreath are indeed part of the great song for the weary heart.
Tue, December 08, 2020
December 6, 2020 Speaker : Ian Campbell The Magnificat (Luke 1.46-55) The second "canticle" of the New Testament is Mary's song. One of its beautiful lines is "He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." She predicts that all generations would call her Blessed. What does she mean that her "soul" exalts the Lord? How does her song help the weary soul?
Tue, December 01, 2020
November 29, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 1.67-80 In this time of heaviness of spirit we'll rekindle the message of Advent. The Gospel narrative of Luke describes the waiting and fulfillment of Messiah's first coming in Zechariah's "Benediction" along with Mary's "Magnificat," the Angels' "Gloria" and Simeon's "Nunc Dimittis."
Tue, November 24, 2020
November 22, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 1.1-5 Have you ever heard someone remark "well, that says it all?" As we consider the third New Testament hymn we come across something that does "say it all." The most important question a person could ever ponder is to ask "Who is Jesus?" Here is the answer. The final answer.
Tue, November 17, 2020
Sunday, November 15, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Colossians 1.15-20 The second New Testament hymn we'll study is the beautiful Colossian ode to Christ about the meaning of everything. We're told that folks today are searching for meaning. This hymn explains all!
Tue, November 10, 2020
November 8, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs Phil 2.1-11 The New Testament contains sections of text that were probably hymn quotes as the Christians used the familiar approach of writing and singing psalms to deities. We'll have a look at three of these excerpts in the next few Sundays. Have you ever asked someone "what were you thinking?" or had someone asked you the same question? The hymn segment Paul quotes in Philippians gives us a song for our minds and hearts as it celebrates what Christ was thinking.
Tue, November 03, 2020
November 1, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Ephesians 5.25 What does it mean to "fall in love?" As we think about the third kind of love in Greek we'll perhaps rush in as fools where angels fear to tread! Why is Christ's love for the church an example of this love?
Tue, October 27, 2020
Sunday October 25, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 16.26-27 The second word used in the New Testament for love is philei - which means brotherly love, and gives us the city name Philadelphia. In a remarkable statement Jesus tells his disciples that God loves them with this kind of love and mentions that they have loved Him with this kind of love. How is this different from the agape love we should show?
Tue, October 20, 2020
October 11, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Corinthians 3.3-13 "How do I love thee? let me count the ways" says Elizabeth Barrett Browning. As we consider the 3 kinds of love in the Bible we'll start with the famous agape term (which is the New Testament rendering of the Hebrew chesed from last Sunday,) and the classic Corinthian list of the ways that love is shown by our behaviour.
Wed, October 14, 2020
October 11, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 92.1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord! What a poignant statement this is in the midst of an unsettling time. How can we practice this incredibly pertinent encouragement from the psalms? How is it good? How can it echo our longings?
Tue, October 06, 2020
October 4, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 17.16-34 If we were looking for a situation in the Bible that most closely resembles our days and times we might be impressed by the striking parallels in Paul's lecture at a place called Mars Hill. We'll see how we can be guided in our understanding of our times by this classic talk.
Tue, September 29, 2020
September 27, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Ephesians 5.19; 1 Corinthians 14.15 One of the great challenges in CoVid times for worship is the prohibition of singing! We understand the reason but we find it hard not to sing, don't we? And there are those people we know who sing their way through life. The Apostle Paul encourages us to speak to one another, to communicate with one another and he cites psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. As we explore the broken signpost of spirituality let's try to figure out what makes a "spiritual" song distinct, and while we're at it what the Bible means by "sing with the spirit and sing with the mind."
Tue, September 22, 2020
September 20, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 9.1 “Law and Order will be right back.” was my favourite segue from commercials to a long running T.V. show. The two are indeed a pair and one without the other is incomplete. This is true in a grand scheme as we sort out our lives and deeper truths of what is beyond this life and this world. Power is one of the broken signposts that we will have a look at this Sunday.
Tue, September 15, 2020
September 13, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 18.38 "What is truth?" asked Pilate, a probing philosophical and religious question. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth?" asks the court, a question of facts and evidence. Another broken signpost in our assortment of longings that point us forward.
Wed, September 09, 2020
September 6, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 8.36 "Freedom" is a cry of humanity. But what exactly does it mean? Do we really long to be free? Free to do what? Free to be what? Jesus piques our interest by saying that if He sets us free we will be free indeed. Let's expose that longing.
Fri, August 28, 2020
August 30, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 65 Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Just so! But where does the beholding come from? Beauty is one of the human Longings that point forward as this one actually points in all directions.
Fri, August 28, 2020
August 23, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Micah 6.8 We're turning this week to signposts to the future that we find in the human experience. These longings are Creator placed and together point to some time future when we feel they must be realized. The first of these is the longing for justice. We hear it first from the Old Testament prophet Micah.
Tue, August 11, 2020
August 9, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 1.1-7 C.S. Lewis describes our longings as "not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.” We long for Good News. And this is the very theme of the Bible - it's called "Gospel." But is the Gospel what we thought? There's a provocative question. Let's see.
Wed, August 05, 2020
August 2, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Mark 2.23-28 As the days of the week typically go we have become familiar with this acronym: "Thank God it's Friday." Is it just about getting finished with work and enjoying the weekend to come or is there something human about the rhythm of work and rest that is one of the longing experiences that pull us forward? Let's look at the longing of Sabbath this weekend.
Tue, July 21, 2020
July 19 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 1.13-14 I don't suppose you have ever actually longed for a Tabernacle, have you? But tucked away in this story of camping old school is a lesson that changes everything for us. Honestly everything. We've often been saying for the past while that it's not about us going to heaven but about heaven coming to earth. This week's teaching should be the realization of what that means in the terms of Longing. But this time it's not our Longing.
Thu, July 16, 2020
July 12 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Genesis 2 Does something in us long for Eden and the unspoiled original Creation? What are we longing for then, and what story seems true to us while saddened? Is that a story that will come true? Will its sadness come untrue? How and When?
Fri, July 10, 2020
July 5 2020 Speaker" Ian Campbell To view the video referred to in the sermon watch to 9min 40 sec at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoAE15gtEzg&list=PLwVwXuskVqrMkS7RgQ8BhNQy7XYYqeYTZ&index=2&t=0s “I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue?” So asked Sam Gamgee (The Return of the King.) What a beautiful question. Ecclesiastes 3.11 tells us that God has put eternity in the human heart. In this study we will discover that the form eternity takes in our hearts is that of Longing. Do we dare believe that everything sad will come untrue and also that everything happy will come true? When and How will be the questions.
Fri, June 26, 2020
June 28 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 2 Peter 3.10 Is it.. the end of the world? Peter tells us that the end of the world will come spectacularly. What do we know about how and when the end will come? Will it be soon?
Thu, June 25, 2020
June 21 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 3.13-18 When we disagree.. As we embark on a study on “end times” we can acknowledge that we have some differences of opinion as in several areas of understanding of the Scriptures. What do we do about that? What is critical for us to agree on and what can we “agree to disagree” about? Let’s sort this out a bit as we get going.
Thu, June 18, 2020
June 14 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Before we take a deep dive into the broad Biblical themes of longing and hoping in the summer months we'll take a quick look at one more passage from Peter. This time it's his second letter and we'll get our feet wet on future things as we study chapter three. 2 Peter 3.1-2; 13 The end of the world as we know it? Peter reminds us that we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. What do we know about this future place and what will it feel like to have universal righteousness?
Thu, June 18, 2020
June 7 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 5.7-10 Is there a more appropriate term to use describing the spirit of our times than Peter's word "anxiety"? And his simple words for how we deal with this along with a powerful Biblical truth - he tells us to care our anxiety on God because He cares for us! Wouldn't this be a wonderful prayer for our brothers and sisters who, given even this week's events, are at a place of unprecedented anxiety?
Mon, June 01, 2020
May 31 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 19.1-7 On this Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Passover) we step aside from Peter for the moment and yet we stay with the subject "Living Hope." One of the critical aspects of our Christian faith and hope is the understanding that Jesus' presence and power is continued by the Holy Spirit. Paul encountered some Christians who responded to his questions about the Holy Spirit with the realization "that's news to us." What news! And have we heard it and understood it?
Thu, May 28, 2020
May 24 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 5.1-10 Shepherd the Flock Peter concludes his letter to Believers who are in difficult times by reminding their elders of their responsibility to shepherd the flock as he, a fellow elder, identifies with them. The role of elders is primary in the organized church and has been since the beginning. In his instruction to them all the quality of humility is of utmost priority. Why is it so important to them and us?
Thu, May 21, 2020
May 17 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 4.1-11 Has our personality changed because of the pandemic? Were we carefree and careless in some ways that have had a day of reckoning? Peter tells us that careless living has a "time's up" notice served. What he says must continue is fervent love for one another.
Thu, May 14, 2020
May 10, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 3.1-9 Well - here we are on Mothers' Day weekend and as we work our way through 1 Peter we come to a passage to and about women. Maybe it's good that I am speaking to an empty room so that I won't need to duck the rotten tomatoes hurled at me! But seriously, does this passage speak with a relevant message for today? What is it?
Thu, May 07, 2020
May 3, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 2.1-2 Do difficult times bring our the best or worst in us? Perhaps both? The Apostle Peter seems to worry that in very trying times his readers may need encouragement not to allow the worst of them to surface. Instead he has a strategy that will head them in the right direction - the sincere milk of the Word of God. If more time is possibly on our hands during these days Peter would suggest not allowing negative thoughts to dominate, but positive ones. And he says how!
Thu, April 30, 2020
April 26, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 1.17-25 Have you ever heard someone ask "Who are you and what have you done with ..?" It's usually occasioned by a striking change in something that pertains to the person in question. Maybe it's a physical appearance thing or a behaviour. In the middle of troubling time Peter discusses such a question about Christians. We will let him guide us into the answers - "who are you? what have you done with? or "what has happened to you?" Fundamental aspects of our Living Hope are found here.
Thu, April 23, 2020
April 19 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 1.3-9 During the Easter church calendar (until Pentecost Sunday May 31st) we will follow the Lectionary Epistle readings from the Book of Common Prayer. As we wait through the pandemic season this is one way we can join with the Church worldwide in the unity of Scripture. This may also direct your thoughts and prayers as you will find lots of resources on line in this vein. "Living Hope" is the way that Peter begins his letter to Christians who are going through a time of trial of some kind. This has both an objective and subjective meaning. We have a "living" hope and we also are called to "Live" out our hope. What a wonderful follow on from Resurrection Sunday!
Thu, April 16, 2020
April 12, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Corinthians 15.1-7 When everything around us seems to be changing or has changed the best thing to do is to find what has not changed and is not changing, nor will change. Let’s gather around the Gospel message that is that very thing in our lives and which we celebrate this weekend! The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed!
Thu, April 09, 2020
April 5, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Thessalonians 5:11 We should carry on encouraging one another and building up one another, says the Apostle, “just as you are doing.” These are to be our commitments in the midst of difficulties and trials. We must ask how we are doing these and how we can carry on doing these so that the same commendation would be made of us.
Thu, April 02, 2020
March 27, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Proverbs 14.31 Isn't it interesting that God has such strong feelings for the poor? We might moderate our concern for the poor but God identifies with them and is always "in their corner." They along with other groups in society, such as widows and orphans, have God's attention in a particular way. What can we do in these difficult times to pay attention to the poor?
Tue, March 24, 2020
March 20, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Proverbs 17.17 Can you think of someone you could phone at any time day or night? Someone who is there whenever needed, no questions asked? Someone who is loyal to the end? That is a good friend. In life with its ups and downs how wonderful good friends are. An important question is "are you that good friend?" We'll have a glimpse into the friendship between David and Jonathan and see the characteristics of loyal friends.
Wed, March 11, 2020
Sunday March 8 2020 Speaker: Mike Burns The video mentioned can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzmYV8GNAIM Proverbs urges us to resist the lure of worldly wisdom and resolutely seek out true wisdom. The biblical definition of wisdom is living in a way that honours and glorifies God. It is entirely unrelated to IQ, formal education or age, and it is given to anyone who seeks it: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5). Join us this Sunday as we look at the subject of wisdom, and more importantly, seek to apply it to our lives.
Tue, March 03, 2020
Sunday March 1, 2020 Speaker: Bryan O'Gorman As we put 40 Acts of generosity into operation through the Lenten Season we will take 7 deep dives into the book of Proverbs and along with many other churches in the 40 Acts movement will talk about Humility, Wisdom, Friendship, Charity, Words, Money and Reconciliation and check our “readiness” gauge. Undoubtedly we will get some opportunity to put these teachings into practice as we act out our commitments. This Sunday Pastor Bryan O’Gorman will review some of the greatest acts of humility in the Bible and how they relate to us today. Come ready for some interaction and discussion with your brothers and sisters. The video referred to can be viewed at https://youtu.be/9OXRThtSbbY
Tue, February 25, 2020
February 23, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Corinthians 15.50-57 As we wind up our series on the Pilgrim's Progress we see Christian off into the "Celestial City." Many of us have seen loved ones off and none of us has been able to go across the chasm of death along with them. The Apostle Paul gives us insight as he is inspired by the Spirit so that we can begin to imagine how we are changed and transformed in the "Celestial City."
Wed, February 19, 2020
February 16, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 John 2.15-17 Pilgrim encounters a town which is full of fun and excitement, rather like a carnival! But it has a strange undercurrent that troubles him. We will think about the ambivalence we should feel about our own "vanity fair" as we hear the Apostle John's warning about loving the world.
Tue, February 11, 2020
February 11, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 4.1-32 A few weeks ago we considered the experience of conviction and the various ways we are drawn through its versions towards Jesus. In the meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman we have a real life story of the struggles of religion and shame and meaning that prepared a woman to meet and trust in Jesus. This is one act of the drama of personal salvation.
Tue, February 04, 2020
Speaker: Ian Campbell John 17 The Great Dance we have been speaking about these few weeks is the living hope of Christians. We long to see the Kingdom come and heaven and earth be joined as one. In the meantime, however, as we wait and work we are invited into our part of the dance, that between the church and itself. In John 17 Jesus anticipates the way we will be one with the Trinity but prays for our oneness as the church. In Pilgrim's Progress we see the beauty of this in the "House Beautiful."
Tue, January 28, 2020
January 26, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 8.15 Early in Christian's journey he meets a character named "worldly wiseman" and the village of morality. He seems to give good and sensible advice. Possibly the greatest error we still make as followers of Christ is to try to meet the requirements of morality by climbing Mt Sinai. It doesn't work! It's not the way to a relationship with God nor is at a way to please God as His children.
Tue, January 21, 2020
Sunday, January 19 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 16.8-10 John Bunyan introduces the graphic term "slough of despond" as one of the first places and experiences of Pilgrim. What is your life's version of this place of need or desperation on your spiritual journey? Did you have a sense of guilt, need or conviction? What do our friends go through that intensifies their spiritual need and may be used by God to bring them to start following Jesus?
Wed, January 15, 2020
January 12, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Genesis 12.1-3 The Pilgrim's Progress is very reminiscent of the story of Abraham and also prompts us to think of the Christian life as a kind of a journey. It involves leaving and travelling and finally arriving. This is a better way to think of ourselves than being and staying somewhere in a static sense. Did you start? Where are you on the journey? What is your destination? What are you encountering along the way?
Tue, January 07, 2020
Sunday, January 5, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Philippians 3.13-14 Ringing the Changes is a lovely but perhaps passing expression that describes the pattern of chiming church bells. Then comes the encouragement to "ring out the old" and "ring in the new" at the change of year and, indeed, decade. This rhymes well with St. Paul's exhortation to forget what is behind and to straining forward to what is ahead. Let's each think about the particular change that we need to ring in our lives in 2020.
Thu, January 02, 2020
Sunday December 29, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 2.8-20 Shepherds have been brought into the limelight in nativity pageants worldwide. But notoriety would have been very surprising to the group referred to in Luke’s nativity account – the ones who were living out in the fields. Why were they the first to hear this news? Who were they anyway? What’s important about them for us?
Sun, December 29, 2019
Sunday December 22, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 41 As we walk through the journey of sorrow in our lives we face intense loneliness as a result of our losses and disappointment. Comfort is the severe mercy that we grasp perhaps tentatively. God is called the God of all comfort. We are comforted so that we can comfort others. As we emerge from the intensity of our sorrow we can look up and around.
Tue, December 17, 2019
December 15, 2019 Speaker - Ian Campbell Psalm 40 The pink candle in the midst of the purple/blue advent wreath is called “Gaudete,” a Latin word that means “rejoice” and specifically refers to a 16th Century carol with the exact exhortation in song. It is placed well into the season that has a growing sense of desperation amidst our sorrow as we long for Advent.
Tue, December 10, 2019
December 8, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 22 Lament is an uncommon term for today. It implies a mixture of sadness, complaint and helplessness. It speaks out of the depth of our sorrow with only the faintest hint of hope that we glimpse and need the power of Advent to manage.
Tue, December 03, 2019
December 1, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 39 Hope’s presence in the midst of sorrow has a subtle persistence to it. It has the character of resilience which allows us to take a “deep dive” into our sorrow. It is empowered by the strength of Advent’s promise.
Tue, November 26, 2019
November 24, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Rev 20.11-15 "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." So we find in Dante's Inferno from the 14th Century where he describes an inscription at the entrance to Hell. Is Hell a real place? Who is destined for Hell? Is it about conscious, eternal punishment as many doctrinal statements of evangelicalism state?
Tue, November 19, 2019
November 17, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 14.6 Jesus was very plain about His claim to be the only way to the Father. So is it just that plain and simple, come to Jesus and you're given a ticket to heaven and the Father? Or is it more complicated somehow? Do you find yourself with some "but.." questions that don't seem easily resolved? Are they "who.." questions that poke at the "us" and "them" sorting that we might have grown up with? Is there any other way? What if you don't know about Jesus?
Tue, November 12, 2019
November 10, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Genesis 50.20 Last week we established that God knows and loves us individually and personally. The follow up question is why then doesn’t He intervene in our lives when we are in trouble of some kind? Perhaps the greatest objection people raise is about the relationship between God and suffering. Is there a reasonable response?
Tue, November 05, 2019
November 3, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 139 This question might be followed by a "why" sort of question which is perhaps the harder one to figure out. But it's a very important one to ask first. Then we might be able to discuss possibilities for the "why" follow ups!
Tue, October 29, 2019
October 27, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 20.29 On the other end of our discussion about the value of questions and doubt we are faced with a statement Jesus made to Thomas calling those who believe without seeing "blessed." How do we make sense of this? Wouldn't it be better to know God's existence for sure and then deal with what implications that has? What is the added value of faith?
Tue, October 22, 2019
October 20, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell 2 Timothy 3.16 What kind of book is the Bible? How are we supposed to read it and understand it? The National Post posed that question a few years ago and proposed that there are four views on this question: 1. supernatural revelation of God's eternal will; 2. inspiring moral guide; 3. sacred literature like all sacred literature or 4. faithful confessions and family album. What does the Bible claim about itself? What has your experience of the Bible been?
Tue, October 15, 2019
October 13, 2019 Speaker: Mike Burns If anyone has ever read through the Bible – or even read parts of the Bible from both the Old & New Testament – a nagging question usually arises: How can the God of the Old Testament be the same as the God of the New Testament? A quick glance could leave us viewing the OT God as an angry father and the NT God as the hippie son. Are they different? Did God change? Do Christian’s have to reconcile the two or can we just ignore what we read in the Old Testament in favour of Jesus? Join us this Sunday as we wrestle with these questions together!
Tue, October 08, 2019
October 6, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 14.1-6 Is Heaven real? Is there really an afterlife? We will address this question this week as the gatekeeper of the rest of our doubts. Should we join John Lennon and imagine there’s no heaven? Would that solve our problems or create new ones?
Tue, October 01, 2019
September 30, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Job 19.25-27 In the midst of Job's great existential struggles for meaning and answers he has the profound clarity of the hope of life after life and certainty that he will see God in a physical existence. Can we hope in the midst of doubt?
Tue, September 24, 2019
September 22, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Each Sunday we are taking an "Alpha" approach to our teaching time as we explore our questions about life's meaning. Join us as we piece together some topics of discussion and instruction and feed in your great questions! Question #1 Is it OK to ask? (Ecclesiastes 1.3) I once asked a difficult theological question of a mentor as we were travelling together. He looked at me rather severely and in a rather stern voice said "Don't ever ask that sort of question." Is that right, that there are some questions we dare not ask? As we prepare our questions for this series we will assure ourselves that there is no question no allowed at the 200 Main table!
Tue, September 17, 2019
September 15, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 1:6-9 The classic introducer in the stories of the Bible is someone that we meet with the simple words that "there was a man sent from God whose name was John."Many of the Kingdom aspects of introduction are personified in this dramatic character. He was sent to bear witness of the Light. And his means of bearing witness was the public job of introduction. A good role model in many ways.
Tue, September 10, 2019
September 8, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 1:41-42 Last Sunday we dispensed with "Inviters" in favour of a better word to describe our role as Christ's Followers. As we continue to follow the example of Andrew we will find that this is precisely the role he assumed. Our role is not to invite people to something but to introduce them to someone. And we will see there is often a chain of introductions that has surprise and exciting endings in store.
Tue, August 27, 2019
August 25, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Exodus 20.5 Can God be jealous? Is it like an exclusive relationship that has God looking nervously or suspiciously at someone moving in on his lover? Is he insecure? We have a hard time with this adjective "jealous" don't we? What do we make of it?
Thu, August 22, 2019
January 7, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Proverbs 29.18 (msg) As we enter 2018 we do so with great excitement looking forward to a move to Main Street. In a different setting with different surroundings, different facilities and many different opportunities some of us will feel tremendously empowered and some will feel quite daunted! For all of us there needs to be a grounding in our understanding of who we are as a church and a movement. So we will spend the last teaching series here on Derry to be reminded of our calling as a church as we review and embed our vision, mission and discipleship values. This Sunday we will take counsel from the book of Proverbs where we are guided by the principle of vision directed activity. This will be important as we select ministry approaches in the near future through the lens of our vision. And it should warm our spiritual hearts to long towards the opportunity to join God in HIs great mission.
Thu, August 22, 2019
January 21, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Mark 1:15-17 As we enter 2018 we do so with great excitement looking forward to a move to Main Street. In a different setting with different surroundings, different facilities and many different opportunities some of us will feel tremendously empowered and some will feel quite daunted! For all of us there needs to be a grounding in our understanding of who we are as a church and a movement. So we will spend the last teaching series here on Derry to be reminded of our calling as a church as we review and embed our vision, mission and discipleship values. This Sunday we will explore the meaning of the semi-circle - the vine and branches lesson apart from which Jesus says we can do nothing! It seems quite obvious then, that we must understand this dynamic in our lives or we'll be bound to "do nothing" effectively as his followers.
Thu, August 22, 2019
January 14 2018 Speaker : Ian Campbell Mark 1:15-17 As we enter 2018 we do so with great excitement looking forward to a move to Main Street. In a different setting with different surroundings, different facilities and many different opportunities some of us will feel tremendously empowered and some will feel quite daunted! For all of us there needs to be a grounding in our understanding of who we are as a church and a movement. So we will spend the last teaching series here on Derry to be reminded of our calling as a church as we review and embed our vision, mission and discipleship values. This Sunday we will camp on the Kingdom Call of Jesus as we recall Mark's account of fishermen leaving their chronos nets to go "person" fishing. What is my version of the circle, kairos opportunities and seasons?
Thu, August 22, 2019
January 28, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell As we enter 2018 we do so with great excitement looking forward to a move to Main Street. In a different setting with different surroundings, different facilities and many different opportunities some of us will feel tremendously empowered and some will feel quite daunted! For all of us there needs to be a grounding in our understanding of who we are as a church and a movement. So we will spend the last teaching series here on Derry to be reminded of our calling as a church as we review and embed our vision, mission and discipleship values. This Sunday we will consider the triangle which represents "deeper relationships" At any given point in our Christian journey we may explore how we are balanced in three areas of priority. The "up" is our relationship with God; the "in" our relationships with one another in our networks of family and friends and the "out" our relationships with our "neighbours" - those we don't yet know as friends.
Tue, August 20, 2019
August 18, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalms 107 & 145 Are we ever beyond hope? Does anyone ever reach the limit and is found to be a write-off? If so it is a self imposed state and never can be ascribed to God. He is always ready to rescue.
Tue, August 13, 2019
August 11, 2019 Speaker: Mike Burns The wrath of God is not a popular subject these days. Though prominent in both the Old and New Testament, even Christians seem to want to play this subject down a little. Perhaps we find it difficult to reconcile God’s anger when we consider His message of love. Can the two be one in the same? Can a loving God also be angry? And how do we apply this to both ourselves and others?
Wed, August 07, 2019
August 4, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 5:22-24 Packer wonders if we believe in God as Judge and says “speak to people of God as a Father, a friend, a helper, one who loves us despite all our weakness and folly and sin, and their faces light up.. but speak to them of God as Judge and they frown and shake their heads.” What are our thoughts on this matter?
Tue, July 30, 2019
July 28, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell 2 Samuel 9 Perhaps the two most staggering doctrines of the Bible are the Love of God and then the Grace of God. Our journey is into a deeper experience of both. We may more easily grasp our need for the love of God than that for His grace. But we are in desperate need for this incredible provision in our lives and relationships.
Tue, July 23, 2019
July 21st 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Ephesians 3.14-19 When the Apostle Paul thinks of his friends and what to pray for he is powerfully drawn to the matter of God's love. In fact he calls it Christ's love making it even more personal and experiential. He prays that they will explore the dimensions of Christ's love and will know it although it is beyond knowledge. How do we experience God's love in our daily lives?
Tue, July 16, 2019
July 14 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell 2 Timothy 3:16 The Holy Bible is the most popular, most read, most purchased book in the world. What an amazing fact this is. What is there about this book that has gained it such notoriety? Let's have a fresh look at its value in our lives and faith with a look back at what an early apostle said about its source and effect for us.
Tue, July 02, 2019
June 30, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Hebrews 11.8-12 What is the role of faith in Knowing God? Perhaps a different take on this subject would be that faith is believing that only God knows, understands and works out the backstory to our lives. Hebrews 11 gives us a whole cast of characters, not many of whom got the e-mail that explained everything God was organizing and arranging! Have you received yours yet?
Tue, June 25, 2019
June 23, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 8.1 & Psalm 93.1-5 Have you ever been "lost in wonder, love and praise" as Charles Wesley penned in his hymn "Love Divine"? Against our attempts to understand and explain God we are often much more suited for admiration and awe than grasping. In the words of the Band Sleeping at Last "The universe was made just to be seen by my eyes." Is that the end purpose of our existence perhaps?
Tue, June 18, 2019
Sunday, June 16, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Psalm 102.26-27 Here is a profound idea - that God does not ever change. So the One presented in the Old Testament and New Testament is still as described. What does that mean for us? We have some theological questions and some practical questions about this. Is the Old Testament God really still the same? Today there is a great rejection of that God as characterized in the Scriptures. So do we have the accurate caricature or does it need updating?
Tue, June 11, 2019
June 9, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 14.26 A recent author has titled his book The Forgotten God, referring to the Holy Spirit. We cannot get very far on the path of knowing God if we don't develop our balcony and traveler knowledge of the Holy Spirit. This Sunday we will focus on the third person of the Trinity.
Wed, June 05, 2019
June 2, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Corinthians 15.47 Charles Wesley wonders "Tis mystery all! The Immortal Dies" in his hymn. As we gaze upon the Person of God and grasp that He is enormously beyond understanding or comparing but that He has indeed come close to His creation and creations so that the corrupting infection can be excised. Thus the incarnation is the most amazing of all theological notions.
Tue, May 28, 2019
May 26, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Isaiah 40.18 This chapter is a powerful expression of the incomparable Being that God is. We are left agreeing that God may not be compared, or explained by any human mind or attempt. Our failure is that we try to make a comparison or an image and thus insult our Creator. Rather we should find ourselves gazing with awe on His glorious works.
Wed, May 22, 2019
May 19, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 17.3; Jeremiah 9.23-24 Knowing God involves a two way relationship (or actually four plus ways - answer that riddle!) We will focus this weekend on the reality that God knows us. What does that mean for us? What does He think of us? What does He do with what He knows? What do we want Him to know, what would we rather He didn't know? Let's explore that.
Wed, May 15, 2019
May 12, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Daniel 11.32 On Mother's Day our thoughts are drawn to matters of the family. How many are the stories of those who look back upon the influence of moms who have raised, supported, prayed for and encouraged them over the distance of a lifetime. The Old Testament gives us the caricature of a young man who would be the envy of any prayerful, faithful mom. This young man was taken from his home and displaced into a whole new world. But he had been raised well and thus we have the story of heroic Daniel. Tucked away in the middle of the book is a verse that may well be his life motto: "the people who know their God will be strong and carry out great exploits"
Wed, May 08, 2019
May 5 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Proverbs 1:1-7 For many of us formal education consisted of classes, exams and required reading. We put aside reading for leisure in favour of the hundreds of pages that needed to be mastered in keeping with the calendar. We avoided our interest being captured by subjects and topics of interest that were calling to us like Odysseus' sirens because they would detract us from staying on course towards the completion of a diploma or degree or certification. But when the program was completed we were free to engage as we chose in matters of more interest! So a class taken for audit for pleasure was a treat. If you could choose a subject for study that was for personal profit and enjoyment - would you think of studying God? What would that be like? What would it yield? That's what's on offer for us in this study.
Tue, April 30, 2019
April 28, 2019, Speaker - Ian Campbell Knowing God This Sunday we commence a new study series called "Knowing God," based on the J.I. Packer book with the same title. We will track with the chapters and also encourage you to acquire the book and use the study questions personally or with some friends as weekly follow up discussions. Packer begins the book with the distinction between those on the path of life who are "balconeers" and those who are "travelers." The first are content with theory and observer status while the second - what we hope to be - are on the journey, needing to know what they need to know as a matter of daily direction and indeed survival. Let's join the journey. Knowing God: J. I. Packer is available for Kindle and as a published book, available from Amazon.ca Talking with God Exodus 33.11 In all of our study about who and how God is, one of the most startling statements of Scripture concerns the Ancient Moses that the Lord would talk to Moses face to face as a person does with a friend. Let this hope grow in our hearts that such could be our knowledge of God.
Wed, April 24, 2019
April 21 2019, Speaker - Ian Campbell Luke 24.5 Two angels at the tomb of Jesus on Resurrection Sunday asked a great question of the women "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?" It seems we could meditate on that angelic question with powerful insights yielded. How much of our thinking and behaviour is with a graveyard rather than empty tomb perspective?
Wed, April 17, 2019
Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 4:32-37 "What's yours is ours and what's mine is my own!" This variation on the saying "What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours" is perhaps more telling that we'd like to admit. Ask parents of youngsters about sharing toys and about how well that works out. Or take a field trip upstairs to the Nursery on Sunday morning to get a live view of little humans sharing. But this was a reality in the early church. They had everything in common and made sure no one was in need. How would that work for us in 2019?
Wed, April 10, 2019
Speaker: Ian Campbell Responsive Acts 8.26-40 A preacher was in an elevator and had his Bible in his hand. A person joined him in the lift and, noticing the Bible in his hand, asked "Is that a Bible?" "Yes", said the preacher, "have you read it?" "Of course," said the new friend. "What's your favourite part?" pressed the preacher. After some embarrassed hesitation the preacher pushed harder with "You've never read it have you?" "No" was the reply. "Why did you say you had read it then?" preacher persisted. "Because I guess I thought everybody should read the Bible at some time in their lifetime and I just haven't gotten around to it!" Acts 8 is the great story of an Ethiopian Royal official and his adventure in Bible reading.
Tue, April 02, 2019
Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 6:1-7 In the church there are often two groups of leaders - elders and deacons. Acts 6 is the story of how a group of leaders we call deacons originated. The original tells us how church organization grows and develops and is a perfect model for starts and initiatives for the church through the centuries. Let's see how it applies at Southside@Main
Wed, March 27, 2019
March 24, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 6:1-7 In the church there are often two groups of leaders - elders and deacons. Acts 6 is the story of how a group of leaders we call deacons originated. The original tells us how church organization grows and develops and is a perfect model for starts and initiatives for the church through the centuries. Let's see how it applies at Southside@Main
Wed, March 20, 2019
March 17, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 2.42-47 The early followers of Jesus took very seriously the prayer of Jesus that we would be "one." He prayed that this would be so in order that the world would believe. Indeed the unity of the Jerusalem believers had a great impact on their neighbours. They were described as having favour with all the people. Wouldn't this be a great goal for us as we settle in to 200 Main - to have favour with all our neighbours and passers-by?
Wed, March 13, 2019
March 13, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell We are joining over 100,000 individuals and 1000s of churches around the world to spend Lent generously. What if rather than only giving something up for Lent we went all out and added some generosity and gave out kindness? Every day we will have a thought supplied by e-mail and every Sunday we will keep step with a study about some characteristics of the Acts church, a church that lived out generosity and grace in the heady and terrifying early days of Christianity. A Brave church Acts 5.40-42 Is "brave" an adjective that would be used of you? In what area of your life would you be called that? I imagine that it wouldn't be used often of us when it comes to our Christian faith or witness. However, for many of our brothers and sisters worldwide, this is precisely the word that comes to mind. Well in so many ways we are thankful for our freedoms and privileges in living our Christian lives here in the West. So we are not called to be brave very often, or are we? Let's think about that.
Tue, February 26, 2019
Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 5.9 Canada has prided itself in being a peacekeeping people. While we may know what peacekeeping is do we know what peacemaking is? Are they the same thing? How can peace be made? And why would this qualify us to be children of God? Let's add this one to our set of extraordinary declarations Jesus made about the characteristics of life in His Kingdom!
Wed, February 20, 2019
February 17, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 5.8 How does something become pure? Usually by some kind of testing. All impurities, all foreign substances have been excised. How is my heart in this regard? Is there anything in there that needs to be removed? Tough question!
Sun, February 10, 2019
February 10, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Matthew 5.6 Desires. Humans have a set of them. They are often only satisfied temporarily. We are hungry and thirsty, we eat and drink and are satisfied only to become hungry and thirsty again. When Jesus says there is a kind of hunger and thirst for righteousness and that those who have those desires will be satisfied we wonder if the satisfaction is also temporary and we would be hungry and thirsty again. Or when he says they will be satisfied is it for longer? Makes us wonder, doesn't he?
Thu, February 07, 2019
February 3, 2019 Speaker: Mike Burns Matthew 5.7 As a young Christian, I remember learning the distinction between grace and mercy. The quote, which is still in popular use today, goes like this: Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve and mercy is when God doesn’t give us what we do deserve. While this is still a helpful notion, I have come to learn that both grace and mercy are so much bigger than any single sentence definition. As we look at the beatitude of blessed are the merciful are we simply to understand this as the withholding of power or consequence, or is God calling us to something more? What does it mean to be merciful? Join us Sunday as we continue to explore the beautiful message of the beatitudes.
Wed, January 30, 2019
January 27, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Through the season of Epiphany we are going to visit the teaching of Jesus called the Beatitudes. These eight "rights and responsibilities" have been called the constitution of the Kingdom of God. We have been talking about the Christian hope as the life after the life after death and we'll see how these principles are seated in the current dynamics of the Christian life in the world and how they will be seated in the new creation. Along the way we will explore theories on the unfolding of the future events of our world. Blessed are the Gentle Matthew 5.5 Traditionally this verse is translated "meek." How interesting that Moses was said to be the "meekest" person on earth. What is that quality? And how would that characteristic qualify someone to inherit the earth? How does a person become meek and how is the quality of meekness manifest in behaviour? Thoughts?
Wed, January 23, 2019
January 20, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Through the season of Epiphany we are going to visit the teaching of Jesus called the Beatitudes. These eight "rights and responsibilities" have been called the constitution of the Kingdom of God. We have been talking about the Christian hope as the life after the life after death and we'll see how these principles are seated in the current dynamics of the Christian life in the world and how they will be seated in the new creation. Along the way we will explore theories on the unfolding of the future events of our world. The Mourners Matthew 5.4 Of all the names and titles given to God in the Scriptures perhaps the most heartwarming is in 2 Corinthians 1.3 where the apostle calls Him the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Comfort is a grand theme in the Old and New Testaments and is featured in the second beatitude: Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Let's consider how we are comforted and why in this life and the next.
Tue, January 15, 2019
January 13, 2019 Speaker - Ian Campbell Postcards from the Future Through the season of Epiphany we are going to visit the teaching of Jesus called the Beatitudes. These eight "rights and responsibilities" have been called the constitution of the Kingdom of God. We have been talking about the Christian hope as the life after the life after death and we'll see how these principles are seated in the current dynamics of the Christin life in the world and how they will be seated in the new creation. Along the way we will explore theories on the unfolding of the future events of our world. Blessed are the poor.. Matthew 5.3 In what ways could this statement possibly be true? Do we have the right definition of terms? Let's begin our study by pressing in on that question and then see how the future hope in the new heaven and earth may be informed by this aspect of the new community.
Wed, January 09, 2019
January 6, 2019 Speaker: Ian Campbell Through the season of Epiphany we are going to visit the teaching of Jesus called the Beatitudes. These eight "rights and responsibilities" have been called the constitution of the Kingdom of God. We have been talking about the Christian hope as the life after the life after death and we'll see how these principles are seated in the current dynamics of the Christin life in the world and how they will be seated in the new creation. Along the way we will explore theories on the unfolding of the future events of our world. Blessed are the poor.. Matthew 5.3 In what ways could this statement possibly be true? Do we have the right definition of terms? Let's begin our study by pressing in on that question and then see how the future hope in the new heaven and earth may be informed by this aspect of the new community.
Tue, December 11, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 8.18-27 In our series "a Magic Deeper Still" we saw that the condition of "corruption" is a very important idea for us to grasp in trying to answer the "why" questions about Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Now as we peer into the future and ask questions about heaven we need to think about earth as we think about heaven - the two dance partners. While heaven is the guest house for us when we fall asleep what is the on-going state and hope for earth?
Wed, December 05, 2018
December 2, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 14 Where is Heaven and how do you get there? These are ordinary questions, but with extraordinary answers. Jesus' friends had the very same questions and His answers to them were packed with meaning. This Sunday we'll chat about the questions as well as we build a few spaceships in teams of adults and children together - we may be surprised by the answers that emerge!
Wed, November 28, 2018
November 25, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell "A magic deeper still..” In a moment that we might call an epiphany for the characters Susan and Lucy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Aslan, the Christ character, tells the children that although the Witch knew the deep magic, there is a magic deeper still that she didn’t know because her knowledge only went back to the beginning of time. And then the lion says that he feels like roaring and dashes off with the children for a grand romp through Narnia full of celebration, joy and recklessness! As we have listened to Jesus’ teachings - his parables - we have noticed that he subtly and overtly has made us realize that his coming was not only for the renovation of religion, although that seemed to be the purpose of many of his stories. He came to practice “the magic deeper still!” In this short teaching series we will explore that magic. And may we experience an epiphany like Susan and Lucy, and his first time followers and friends. And may there be a grand romp for us all! What's in it for me? John 20.16, John 20.25, Mark 16.7 We have seen the theological place and importance of the resurrection of Jesus and found some answers to our "why" questions about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Dare we ask this selfish personal question? We will check in with three of the early witnesses what was in it for them as we read the accounts of Mary, Thomas and Simon each of whose experiences was unique and perhaps one is just what we need to hear in 2018.
Tue, November 20, 2018
Sunday November 18, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Corinthians 15 Having asked "Why did God become mortal?" and "why did Jesus have to die?" the next question we are led to is "why did Jesus have to rise from the dead?" How did that factor into the decisions made in heaven's back room? Would sin and death not have been adequately dealt with by the incarnation and death of Jesus as we now understand some more of the magic deeper still? What was added by the resurrection?
Fri, November 16, 2018
November 11, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell "A magic deeper still..” In a moment that we might call an epiphany for the characters Susan and Lucy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Aslan, the Christ character, tells the children that although the Witch knew the deep magic, there is a magic deeper still that she didn’t know because her knowledge only went back to the beginning of time. And then the lion says that he feels like roaring and dashes off with the children for a grand romp through Narnia full of celebration, joy and recklessness! As we have listened to Jesus’ teachings - his parables - we have noticed that he subtly and overtly has made us realize that his coming was not only for the renovation of religion, although that seemed to be the purpose of many of his stories. He came to practice “the magic deeper still!” In this short teaching series we will explore that magic. And may we experience an epiphany like Susan and Lucy, and his first time followers and friends. And may there be a grand romp for us all! The Back Room Job 1.6-7 Matthew 4.1-11 What was the deal made in eternity’s back room? What access did Satan have to the back room discussions? What was his actual claim on humanity? What was the nature of the transaction made by God becoming human and dying on the cross then raised from the dead. The theological term is atonement. What happened to us?
Tue, November 06, 2018
November 4, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell In a moment that we might call an epiphany for the characters Susan and Lucy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Aslan, the Christ character, tells the children that although the Witch knew the deep magic, there is a magic deeper still that she didn’t know because her knowledge only went back to the beginning of time. And then the lion says that he feels like roaring and dashes off with the children for a grand romp through Narnia full of celebration, joy and recklessness! As we have listened to Jesus’ teachings - his parables - we have noticed that he subtly and overtly has made us realize that his coming was not only for the renovation of religion, although that seemed to be the purpose of many of his stories. He came to practice “the magic deeper still!” In this short teaching series we will explore that magic. And may we experience an epiphany like Susan and Lucy, and his first time followers and friends. And may there be a grand romp for us all! Philippians 2.6-8 Hebrews 4.15 If for C.S Lewis "magic" is simply the way things work and "deeper magic" is humanity's search for meaning, then "magic deeper still" is the behind the scenes, outside the world, before Creation mystery of the ways things work. This is the domain of the mind of God. Did Jesus come to make us privy to the mind of God? Is this the deep and mysterious realm of theology? Well then, let's press into Narnia. Let's wonder. We have asked why God had to become mortal. Dare we ask how God became mortal?
Tue, October 30, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell In a moment that we might call an epiphany for the characters Susan and Lucy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Aslan, the Christ character, tells the children that although the Witch knew the deep magic, there is a magic deeper still that she didn’t know because her knowledge only went back to the beginning of time. And then the lion says that he feels like roaring and dashes off with the children for a grand romp through Narnia full of celebration, joy and recklessness! As we have listened to Jesus’ teachings - his parables - we have noticed that he subtly and overtly has made us realize that his coming was not only for the renovation of religion, although that seemed to be the purpose of many of his stories. He came to practice “the magic deeper still!” In this short teaching series we will explore that magic. And may we experience an epiphany like Susan and Lucy, and his first time followers and friends. And may there be a grand romp for us all! Why did God have to become a mortal? Hebrews 10.5; John 1.14-18 The first of our questions about the “magic deeper still” has to do with the claim that Jesus was God in flesh. Why was it necessary for God to become mortal? Why did he not work out his plan for humankind and for creation by a decree from above? Next week we’ll wonder how God became mortal? Then we’ll ask Why Jesus had to die. And What good did Jesus’ death do? And finally, why is Jesus’ resurrection important, what did it accomplish?
Tue, October 23, 2018
Luke 5:36-39 In this, our last, unique parable of Jesus we come to the question of his purpose in the parables as retold by Luke as well as our previous work on the “I Am..” statements that John retold us. Do we have enough gathered memory now to ask about Jesus’ fundamental purpose in his life? Was it the renovation of religion with the corrections about what a religious life is really like from the “I am..” accounts as well as the corrections about what the Father is really like from the stories? And is it the new wine needing new wineskins that is the final key to the life of Jesus? Are we done here in the Gospels with our marching orders having to do with the renewal of religion? Or is there more? Much more?
Tue, October 16, 2018
October 14, 2018 Speaker: Bryan O'Gorman Luke 19. 11-27 Luke shares Jesus story of the Ten Minas which is a companion story to that of the Ten Talents shared in Matthew 25.14-30. Here Jesus shows us the Father’s loving heart, the misunderstanding of people’s perceptions and the responsibility of believers as good stewards until he comes again. Should we see God’s love and justice as a call to action?
Tue, October 09, 2018
October 7, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 18.9-14 Luke gives us life lessons as he recounts stories that Jesus told. In this case he is particularly poignant. He presents two men who go to the temple to pray and Luke tells us that the reason for the story is to warn us against self-righteousness and a smug approach to religion. He comes again to his favourite story theme of humility. Should we have some kind of righteousness scan before we are allowed to board for worship?
Tue, October 02, 2018
September 30, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Paradise Luke 16.19-31 Is the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man a parable or an actual account students have regularly asked? In the lineup of Jesus stories this one is complicated and veers into a topic that is difficult and one we'd rather avoid. But what is the point? What do we learn?
Tue, September 25, 2018
September 23, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Is the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man a parable or an actual account students have regularly asked? In the lineup of Jesus stories this one is complicated and veers into a topic that is difficult and one we'd rather avoid. But what is the point? What do we learn?
Tue, September 11, 2018
September 9, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Luke 15.11-32; 2 Corinthians 7.10 Third in the "lost" trilogy this story has captured imaginations through the centuries. And this particular parable departs from our usual understanding of a story to tell a single lesson to one that is full of character exploration and rich meanings. The older brother is "lost" while still at home and the younger brother is "lost" in a more traditional sense. And the younger one seems to be the one who becomes "found." What was the difference?
Sun, September 02, 2018
August 26, 2018 Speaker - Ian Campbell Luke 14.28-33 count the cost Well it seems that for Jesus followers were easy to come by! A charismatic personality; just enough "bad guy" but religious as well; a new community to join; an escape from the mundane.. maybe worth trying out then. But Jesus notices all this and calls on the crowds to press "pause." Count the cost before you sign up, he says. It's not going to be as easy as you think! Surely he has given enough hints about this, but now he needs to thin the ranks. What would he say today?
Sun, September 02, 2018
September 2, 2018 - Ian Campbell Luke 15.4-32 Jesus told three stories about lost things - a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. In all three situations we might understand the shepherd, owner or father finally taking the loss and writing it off as unfortunate or even a great painful experience. However, the point of each story is hard to miss - in each case the one suffering the loss did not stop searching. What or who is lost in your experience? Who is still looking?
Sun, August 12, 2018
August 12, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Jesus' main communication style was storytelling. The great truths he wanted us to understand were wrapped in story, sometimes delighting, sometimes baffling, but always capturing the attention and imagination of his audience. Just as we saw that John picked out Jesus' "I am.." statements so we see that Luke was particularly interested in Jesus' stories. He actually recorded 19 that are unique to him which we will ponder over the summer months. What was the individual and collective meaning of these tales? "Wedding Reception Embarrassment" Luke 14.7-14 Jesus told stories that had not only great kingdom significance but also poignant practical application. Like how to behave at a wedding :) Presumption is an awkward disposition that gets us in trouble - what is its opposite we wonder? So Jesus gives us a case study where presumption would get a person into a sticky situation and would cause public embarrassment. And somewhere tucked away in the red-faced story is a lesson about how to behave in the kingdom.
Sun, August 05, 2018
Luke 11.5-8 the pestering neighbour: How long should we keep asking God for the same thing? Is it okay to pester him? Is it okay to pester one another? Does God get bothered or annoyed with us because we don't let up? Jesus has a story about this as well!
Sun, July 29, 2018
Luke 10.30-37 Perhaps one of the most familiar stories there is - a great plot, imaginative character development and a great hero of the tale. It's hard to miss the point or points that Jesus was making in this parable. But his application is perhaps the most direct we hear from him: "Go, Thou and do likewise."
Tue, July 10, 2018
July 8, 2018 Speaker: Ian Campbell Jesus' main communication style was storytelling. The great truths he wanted us to understand were wrapped in story, sometimes delighting, sometimes baffling, but always capturing the attention and imagination of his audience. Just as we saw that John picked out Jesus' "I am.." statements so we see that Luke was particularly interested in Jesus' stories. He actually recorded 19 that are unique to him which we will ponder over the summer months. What was the individual and collective meaning of these tales? “Paying life forward” Luke 12.41-48, 2 Cor 5.10 Having considered the two great Jesus “game changers” - mortality and Jesus’ return - we are instructed now by Jesus’ further expansion to his stories about readiness and we’ll also jump forward again to the writings of the apostle about living lives that pay forward into the Kingdom.
Wed, July 04, 2018
July 1 2018, Ian Campbell - Jesus' main communication style was storytelling. The great truths he wanted us to understand were wrapped in story, sometimes delighting, sometimes baffling, but always capturing the attention and imagination of his audience. Just as we saw that John picked out Jesus' "I am.." statements so we see that Luke was particularly interested in Jesus' stories. He actually recorded 19 that are unique to him which we will ponder over the summer months. What was the individual and collective meaning of these tales? Luke 12.35-40 Jesus touches on a familiar situation both in His day and in many places in our world today. The homeowner returns late into the night and expects that the watchman will be awake and vigilant and ready to spring into action. In this story we can imagine ourselves the watchmen and Jesus the returning homeowner. In what ways should we be vigilant?
Tue, June 26, 2018
June 24 2018, Ian Campbell - Jesus' main communication style was storytelling. The great truths he wanted us to understand were wrapped in story, sometimes delighting, sometimes baffling, but always capturing the attention and imagination of his audience. Just as we saw that John picked out Jesus' "I am.." statements so we see that Luke was particularly interested in Jesus' stories. He actually recorded 19 that are unique to him which we will ponder over the summer months. What was the individual and collective meaning of these tales? Luke 12.16-21 The foolishness of mortality as an afterthought may be the focus of Jesus' story about a farmer who had a good business plan but a poor life plan.
Wed, June 20, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell June 17, 2018 "The Stories He told!" Jesus' main communication style was storytelling. The great truths he wanted us to understand were wrapped in story, sometimes delighting, sometimes baffling, but always capturing the attention and imagination of his audience. Just as we saw that John picked out Jesus' "I am.." statements so we see that Luke was particularly interested in Jesus' stories. He actually recorded 19 that are unique to him which we will ponder over the summer months. What was the individual and collective meaning of these tales? Luke 7.41-43 In a family we sometimes engage in the fun debate of "who loves you most?" back and forth. Here is a simple story in which Jesus asks the "who loves most?" question.
Thu, June 14, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell June 10 2018 Meeting Jesus again, for the first time How would you introduce yourself with the words "My name is.. I am.."? Jesus introduced himself using nine different ideas. His good friend John remembered these and tells us how and when Jesus spoke about them. As we begin to dig deep into the eyewitness stories about the life of Jesus this may be a good way for us to begin to meet Jesus again, for the first time. John 14.6 "I am the way, the truth and the life" As we conclude our study on the ways that Jesus identified himself as John has recorded his statements we will look at the classic passage in John chapter 14 in which Jesus makes a sweeping claim about his identity and purpose.
Wed, May 30, 2018
Speaker: Mike Burns Sunday, May 27 2018 For the last several weeks we have been looking at some of the great “I am” statements of Jesus. As I’ve reflected on these self-declarations, I’ve been reminded that each and every person must at some point answer the question that Jesus first asked Simon Peter: Who do you say I am? This is the single greatest question that everyone must answer! There is a problem though: Many people genuinely do not know who Jesus is and therefore cannot answer this question. They do, however, know us and our lives need to reflect our great I AM. This Sunday we will intentionally pause, reflect on the “I am” statements of Jesus, and then ask ourselves an honest question: Who do people say I am?
Wed, May 23, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell Sunday, May 20 2018 Meeting Jesus again, for the first time How would you introduce yourself with the words "My name is.. I am.."? Jesus introduced himself using nine different ideas. His good friend John remembered these and tells us how and when Jesus spoke about them. As we begin to dig deep into the eyewitness stories about the life of Jesus this may be a good way for us to begin to meet Jesus again, for the first time. "I am the first and the last, and the living one." Rev 1.18 John heard Jesus make statements about his identity in a new way when he had a vision of the risen Jesus while he was an exile on the prisoner island of Patmos. Now we see a very full caricature of Jesus as we are transported with John into a heavenly setting. This great statement gives full meaning to Jesus' claims that he is the "I am" and the "resurrection and the life."
Wed, March 14, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell As we enter 2018 we do so with great excitement looking forward to a move to Main Street. In a different setting with different surroundings, different facilities and many different opportunities some of us will feel tremendously empowered and some will feel quite daunted! For all of us there needs to be a grounding in our understanding of who we are as a church and a movement. So we will spend the last teaching series here on Derry to be reminded of our calling as a church as we review and embed our vision, mission and discipleship values. Each aspect of the Lord's Prayer is full of meaning and direction for us as we learn to pray from Jesus' model for us. But sometimes the most challenging part to pray is "forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us." Forgiveness is a huge challenge in our lives and world. What is the Biblical teaching on this important topic?
Sun, February 25, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell. As we enter 2018 we do so with great excitement looking forward to a move to Main Street. In a different setting with different surroundings, different facilities and many different opportunities some of us will feel tremendously empowered and some will feel quite daunted! For all of us there needs to be a grounding in our understanding of who we are as a church and a movement. So we will spend the last teaching series here on Derry to be reminded of our calling as a church as we review and embed our vision, mission and discipleship values.The result of our knowing and using our God given "trade" is that the whole body works together and grows up. Do we each understand our contribution and how is the body growing or perhaps not growing because of our participation?
Sun, February 11, 2018
Speaker: Ian Campbell. As we enter 2018 we do so with great excitement looking forward to a move to Main Street. In a different setting with different surroundings, different facilities and many different opportunities some of us will feel tremendously empowered and some will feel quite daunted! For all of us there needs to be a grounding in our understanding of who we are as a church and a movement. So we will spend the last teaching series here on Derry to be reminded of our calling as a church as we review and embed our vision, mission and discipleship values.Each of us has been given a particular "trade" by which we engage in building God's kingdom on earth. Knowing our particular orientation is tremendously valuable in finding our place and purpose in life. The Apostle Paul sets out these five trades in his teaching to the early church at Ephesus.
Sun, March 11, 2012
Speaker: Ian Campbell The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in Heaven May Your Name be kept holy; May Your Kingdom come soon; May Your will be done on earth As it is in Heaven; Give us today the food we need; Forgive us our sins As we have forgiven those who sin against us; Don’t let us yield to temptation, But rescue us from the evil one; The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Belong to You for ever. Amen Often someone will ask me if we can pray the "Our Father". This gives away the person's Catholic religious background, and sometimes is the only leftover of faith in the person's adult life. While others might call the prayer "the Lord's Prayer" the other title is not at all inappropriate, because it is precisely the way Jesus began the prayer and it is certainly at the heart of the power of the prayer. So indeed, let us pray the "Our Father" as we begin our Lenten meditation in this teaching of our Lord about prayer.
Sun, December 18, 2011
Speaker: Ian Campbell Scripture Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-6 Today, we continue the Advent teaching series based on the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) distinctive. The logo of the C&MA represents the concept of the Fourfold Gospel, the core theme of the teaching of our founder A.B. Simpson. He believed that the church in his day was not experiencing the fullness of what Christ has done for us, and referred to a "half salvation". His idea was that as we fix our attention and life on Christ as Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King we will find ourselves entering greater levels of joy and blessing. Our Advent teaching has explored these powerful aspects of the life and provision of Christ as celebrate His first coming and long towards His second. Jesus is our Coming King. Advent is our season of expectation, the season of longing for our King to come. We live as "in-between" people, between the first and second comings of our King Jesus. And we live as "in-between" people, between the Kingdom which is and which is also not yet. Are we confused? Sometimes. Are we full of joy and excitement as we imagine the world under the righteous reign of the One whose "origins are from of old, from ancient times." Yes. Amen, Come King Jesus!
Sun, December 11, 2011
Speaker: Mike Burns. Today, we continue the Advent teaching series based on the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) distinctive. The logo of the C&MA represents the concept of the Fourfold Gospel, the core theme of the teaching of our founder A.B. Simpson. He believed that the church in his day was not experiencing the fullness of what Christ has done for us, and referred to a "half salvation". His idea was that as we fix our attention and life on Christ as Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King we will find ourselves entering greater levels of joy and blessing. Our Advent teaching will explore these powerful aspects of the life and provision of Christ as celebrate His first coming and long towards His second. Healing: For some, just the word raises strong emotion. And for many, if not most, the topic of healing raises more questions than it does answers. Does healing really exist today? If it does, why doesn’t God heal people more often? Is it just a matter of faith or getting enough people to pray? Why would a loving God allow good people to suffer? The questions go on and on! As a fellow “question asker” I invite you to join me this third week of advent as we consider the reality of Christ our Healer. To prepare, I’d ask you to consider the following question: How has Christ healed you?
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