May 21, 2017
Preacher: Erik deLange
Scripture: Philippians 2
Sermon: “Descending to be with the Lord”
The Kingdom of heaven is not about "ascending" spiritual rungs like the gnostics and platonists, but about "descending" alongside Jesus in the power of the spirit to see ourselves among the poor, and recognize our own poverty of spirit.
July 24, 2016
Guest Speaker: Melissa VanDyk
July 17, 2016
Guest Speaker: Rev. David McLauren
Text: Acts 17: 26,27
Reaching our Neighbours
April 03, 2016
Guest Speaker: Andrew Porter
Text: Psalm 121 and Luke 18:1-8
The God Who Never Sleeps
February 7, 2016
Guest Speaker: Bill Tuininga
January 24, 2016
Guest Speaker: Walt Brouer
Text: Galatians 5:13-25, and Philippians 4:4-9.
The Fruit of Joy
October 25, 2015
Guest Speaker: Jeremy Vanderveer
Text: Joshua 1:1-9
The Moment and the Road Ahead
God's presence with us opens up a reality. Have we been given the means to recognize this future reality?
August 30, 2015
Guest Speaker: Kevin Lobert
Text: Luke 18:9-14
Prayerable
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. We will be looking into the relationships these two characters have: their relationship with God, their relationship with other people, and their relationship with themselves. Through this, how we are to live, not simply pray, will become more evident to us.
July 19, 2015
Guest Speaker: Mark Glanville
The Ten Commandments: God's Economics
Traditionally the Ten Commandments have been read for personal piety. In their original context however their concern is broader: in the biblical story the commandments are given in light of the oppression of slavery in Egypt. The Ten Commandments shaped Israelite society to be a place where every person could thrive, in contrast to the oppression and exploitation that the nation had experienced. At their heart, these laws challenge our attitude to possessions and our attitude toward others. In a nutshell the 10 Commandments teach us that, “God owns it all, and he wants everybody to be able to enjoy some of it!” These laws compel Christians to work for a society in which every human being is dignified, and has the means to live a full and joyful life. And they shape the church to live as a contrast community, a place where the most vulnerable among us are at the centre of the community.
July 5, 2015
Guest Speaker: Jeremy Vandermeer
Seeing God Seeing Us
1 Samuel 1:1-20. The sermon will be about calling on God at all times, but especially in our emptiness. Prayer gives us a vision for this life, allows us to see things from a different perspective, and to see that God is always with us
June 28, 2015
Guest Speaker: Kevin Lobert
Are You Able?
This sermon focuses on James and John's request to sit at Jesus' right hand in glory. When the disciples ask this of Jesus, He responds with a question: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? We will look at James and Johns request and pose the question "are you able to drink the cup" to us today.
April 19, 2015
Guest Speaker: Walt Brower
God Doesn't Waste a Hurt
Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
March 29, 2015
Guest Speaker: Hans Boersma
A Certain Place
Text: Genesis 28:11
The sermon reflects on the importance of place, in particular the place of the ‘house of God” (Bethel) where God reveals himself to Jacob. The sermon makes the point that God encourages us in this passage to stay with Jesus, and as we do so, we will see heaven open. In the process God will transform us from ‘Jacobs’ (deceivers) into ‘Nathaniels’ (in whom there is no deceit (John 1:47).
January 11, 2015
Guest Speaker: Alvin Beukema
Text: Ephesians 5:8-20
November 9, 2014
Guest Speaker: CRC Candidate Dan Meyer
Home is Where the Heart Is
Text: Mark 3:13-35
This message plays off the metaphor of house and home. Jesus calls his disciples on the mountainside – calling them to BE with him – to be his house and home (and him theirs of course). It is a mutual blessing. Obviously it is a blessing to be called by Christ and to BE with him, but we often do not consider that Jesus wanted their fellowship and support as well. The clear positioning of Jesus’ true followers being inside the house with him eating, with the crowds all around them, and his own family on the outside, along with the Pharisees, is significant. This bears more meaning in light of the fact that Jesus’ own family was embarrassed by him and wanted to whisk him “home” and out of public sight. What they do not understand, is that Christ is home, with his followers, amongst the crowds of people who are drawn in by his presence and power.
August 24, 2014
Guest Speaker: Margaret Hummelman
Beyond Forgiveness
Text: Psalm 25
Did Jesus die on the cross only to save us from our sins or is there more?
August 31, 2014
Guest Speaker: Arnold Alec
Being Transformed from Glory to Glory
Text: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (especially verses 17 and 18)
By God's Spirit, through the eyes of faith, our vision of God's glory in the face of Jesus surpasses anything natural eyes could gaze upon this side of heaven. In contemplating him, we are being transformed into his very image, and so prepare ourselves to see him face-to-face. 1 Jn 3:2 also summarizes my main point: "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure."