December 27, 2020
John 14:2-3
Guest Speaker: Paul Racine
December 20, 2020
Luke 1:26-38
Surprising words, a dangerous and life-threatening invitation, what is Mary's response? Mary’s consent was grounded in trust - knowing that she was favoured and deeply loved. Join us for the fourth Sunday of Advent as we celebrate Christmas and cling to the same hope as Mary, that God is with us.
Response:
“The angel said, “Don’t be afraid.'”
In what areas of life are we being directed by a spirit of fear? Is it the economy? Our health? Our relationships? Our future? Can we hear the angel saying to us, “Do not be afraid. The things you fear are not at all the direction this is going”?
(from Rob Des Cotes’ devotional)
Is God pulling you to consider something in your life, something that deserves a response like Mary’s? What would help you respond to God’s unexpected surprises with that same submission, trust and faith?
Take some time to ponder the idea that you are a child of God. That God invites you into union with Him. What do you think about the idea that we as humans don’t have to ‘find’ God, we only have to be willing to stop hiding from the One who relentlessly pursues us?
December 13, 2020
John 1:1-8, 19-28
This third week of Advent is known as rejoice Sunday. The gospel of John proclaims a new beginning, a humble witness who would tell about the humble king - the true light, who would give light to everyone. What does it mean to live in the reality of all that is broken yet trust that there is a future where everything will be made whole?
Response:
As we await the hope of Christ’s second Advent, are we overwhelmed by darkness and prone to cynicism/despair? Or are we so future-focused that we fail to engage with the needs around me here and now?
The innermost mind and heart of Jesus was grounded in humility. John the baptist did all he could to decrease so that he could point others to know Jesus for themselves.
This advent season, are you willing to decrease so that Christ can increase? To surrender everything so that He can truly be your everything?
When Jesus declares, “I am the True Vine,” the statement implies there are false vines that people can find themselves rooted in.
What vine(s) are you making yourself at home in?
Jesus speaks of a good tree being unable to bear bad fruit, and a good person bringing good things out of the good stored up in him/her. Listen for the Spirit’s voice and conviction, what fruit are you bearing this season?
December 6, 2020
Isaiah 40:1-11
This week is the second week of Advent. The prophet Isaiah invites us to find comfort in the unsettling place of longing, to cling to the promise of highways in the wastelands of our lives where God will be present with us to comfort and rescue his people.
Response:
Culture is captivated by the ‘movers and shakers’ in Forbes.
Are you more captivated by those who are great according to worldly standards? Do you find yourself wishing to emulate their lives and habits more than the life of Jesus?
Advent is a season all about waiting and emptiness. It is a time set apart to help us realize that we need rescue. What if we turned to God with these yearnings?
The ‘heroes’ of Scripture didn’t see the end of the wilderness. They endured the wilderness.
What do you sense God is teaching you in this season of your life? In what ways is God’s refining fire shaping you in the wilderness?
November 29, 2020
Mark 13:24-37
This week we enter into the first Sunday of Advent. Perhaps more than ever, this year has birthed in us a heart that aches for things to be new, for things to be better. In advent we wait, knowing that both the baby born in a manger and the King who comes in glory changes everything in the past, present and future. In Mark 13, we see that when things appear to be darkest, when all hope seems lost, we can watch with active expectation for the God who comes to be with us.
Response:
Advent calls us to lean into these three “comings” of Christ: his incarnation at Bethlehem, his final coming as reigning King and his presence here and now. Which of these comings gives you the deepest hope today?
Covid has revealed a lot about our own anxiety. In what tangible ways does the reminder of Who sits on the throne instills your current story with hope?
Part of how we cultivate a deeper faith in God is by immersing ourselves in the stories of the Bible, to familiarize ourselves with their trials, their trust and their rescue. Which biblical characters’ story resonates most with your life?
We can also cultivate deeper faith by surrounding ourselves with sisters and brothers who will wait patiently with us - who are the people that come to mind for you?
Jesus himself warns of false Messiah’s who will offer false hope. What false gospels might be shaping our perspective and influencing the way we live?
November 22, 2020
Leviticus 19:33-34
When you browse the news, do you find yourself feeling superior to people in the stories you read? With self-searching honesty do you love people who differ from your political view, your ethnic group, your education level, your abilities and passions? When God calls us to love our neighbour as ourselves, we must ask: “Who is my neighbour?”
Response:
Is your religiosity actually hindering your ability to love your neighbour as Christ did? Is your posture similar to Jesus’ when you build relationships with people who differ in sexual orientation, religious tradition, immigrants/refugees, or those who are hostile to Christianity?
Are our social and political views governed primarily by what benefits our own wealth and circumstance? Am I primarily motivated by my own self-interest rather than the love I am called to have for others?
Have you ever thought of yourself as the helpless victim in the story of the Good Samaritan? Many of God’s commands on how to treat ‘the other’ are based on remembering that they were once slaves in Egypt. How might this perspective shape your heart towards others?
November 15, 2020
Leviticus 19:17-18
Jesus pulls this one verse out of the entire law as the conclusion to the most important commandment that we are to live by. He goes even further by telling the religious leader that the whole law hangs on Loving God with all that we are and Loving our neighbour as ourself. What does that mean for us today? How is this truly supposed to be practiced in my daily walk by faith? We need to explore the depth of this command!
Guest Speaker: Paul Racine
November 8, 2020
Leviticus 19:15-16
It’s been said that Leviticus is the heart of Torah, and holiness is the heart of Leviticus. In light of God's big hearted love for humanity, our text asks some difficult questions: are we standing idly by when our neighbour's (or group of neighbours) lives are threatened? Do we treat others impartially, with love and respect? Let's look to the One who broke down the dividing wall and created in Himself a new people.
Response:
God’s people are called to look through their biases in their daily social interactions.
In your experience, how do social biases affect your workplace, educational institutions, churches, politics, law enforcement, courtrooms/jury?
Do you gossip? Have you ever slandered a colleague in order to get an edge? Have you ever stood by when you knew that an injustice was being committed?
Ask the Spirit for wisdom to learn from those mistakes and a new heart.
Practices for daily life:
Remember Christ, the One through whom all ethnic, socio-economic, and gender barriers are broken. (Galatians 3:28)
Remember Christ, the One who has not only saved us from our sins but made peace between hostile groups by means of his death on the cross. (Ephesians 2:14-16)
November 1, 2020
Leviticus 19:9-10
The writings of Leviticus come to a people who have been abused over 430 years of enslavement to Egypt. Yet, the holiness code shows that God's heart has a better way for humanity. As we continue this “Holy” series, we will see that God calls his people to never forget the liberation they have experienced and to always extend that grace to others.
Response:
The heart of the law is the intention that all people (truly all people) have access to the means to support themselves and their families. What creative ways can we practice in our individual and communal lives to help make that a reality in our city?
Do you have edges and margins to your wealth? Do you consider the needs of others with the wealth that you have?
In particular, how can we provide opportunities for people to gain access to the means of productive work in order to prevent dependency or exploitation?
If you work in government policy, or business, how do our practices affect those who are vulnerable? Are we part of the solution or part of the problem?
October 25, 2020
Leviticus 19:1-4
This week we will begin a series entitled ‘Holy’ which focuses on the holiness code from the book of Leviticus. In the past, Leviticus was the first book that Jewish children studied in the synagogue, today those pages often remain perfectly gilded at the edges. Over the next five weeks we will discover how Leviticus speaks directly to the issues that divide our culture today and contains the heartbeat of faith for those who would follow Jesus.
Response:
Is your current pace of life a problem? If so, how does it impact your spiritual and emotional well being? What would life look like if you were to practice Sabbath and reduce hurry in your life?
Take time to reflect on what practices you find to be life-giving and soul-restoring. Schedule your Sabbath (mark it in calendar, turn off phone) to rest, worship and practice these habits.
God calls those who would follow him to be holy, to be consecrated. That is, your being, your time, your giftings are to be set apart for Him. Is your schedule aligned with your values?
October 18, 2020
Psalm 119:33-40
I long for your commandments! Renew my life with Your goodness!” asks the Psalmist. We take some time again in the Psalms this week as we draw into the prayers of Psalm 119:33-40. We listen closely to the Psalmist’s words as he works through his desire to long for, follow and obey the living God. The Psalmist’s answers are our prayers as well as we work these out in our own lives before the living God!
Guest Speaker: Jonathan Lam
October 11, 2020
Psalm 23
This psalm is immensely helpful to help us understand what it means to live here and now in midst of anxiety and fear. As we meditate on the psalm, we hope to develop habits that help increase our attentiveness to God's loving presence and movements in and through us.
October 4, 2020
Ezra (9:1-5, 11-15; 10:1-7, 10-15)
God is Holy. His Word is Holy. In our desire to please God we must learn to differentiate between the letter of the Law and the Heart that wrote the Law. We must learn to follow the Heart.
Guest Speaker: Paul Racine
September 27, 2020
Ezra (7:8-13, 25-28; 8:21-25, 31-36)
If we trust that God is in control, why are we still called to act? Most events that transpire in the universe are completely out of our control, but we know that our actions produce tangible results. When we are called to trust that God is in control, what is our responsibility in our daily lives?
Response:
The full effect of this pandemic is yet to be seen. We will never truly be able to answer all the questions about why this is causing so much suffering. As followers of Jesus, what new thing might God want to come out of this? What new thing will be birthed in the midst of this collective pain and loss?
In what ways have your limits and weaknesses showcased how God is at work in your life?
How can your everyday work (what you are trained and equipped to do) be empowered by God and used for His purposes? (ie. as public servant, a medical professional, in procurement, in education etc.) Do you recognize God’s gracious hand upon you?
When have you felt most purposeful and alive? Can you bring that element into Renewal church, into your work, into your neighbourhood?
September 20, 2020
Ezra (4:1-6, 23; 5:1-10, 17; 6:6-8, 13-15)
Pain presents a powerful emotional barrier to belief. The psalmist expresses it well: ‘you walked off and left us. God how could you do that?’ Sometimes it seems like God is silent and not intervening in any visible way. What hope do we have when we don’t have all the answers? Join us as we dive deeper into the story of Ezra.
Response:
Has your suffering shaped you to be more understanding, more empathetic, more gracious and patient?
As you look back on the hardships you have encountered in life, can you see how God has used some of these instances for meaningful formation in your life?
Has God used your story to help others encounter Christ?
C.S. Lewis has described pain as God’s megaphone that alerts us to our dependence on Him. “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains.” How might God be speaking to you in the current challenges you are facing?
September 13, 2020
Ezra 3
Frederick Buechner once said “The Kingdom of God is where we belong. It is home, and whether we realize it or not, I think we are all of us homesick for it.” The Israelites found their return to Jerusalem was bittersweet. Both joy and weeping filled their hearts as they still longed for true wholeness. Ezra 3 paints a portrait of what faithfulness looks like when we anticipate God’s work in the renewal of all things.
Response:
“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God, your functional savior.” - Martin Luther
Where does your heart and mind effortlessly gravitate towards?
Christians no longer offer the sacrifices described in Ezra. Instead, the New Testament calls us to offer our lives as our spiritual act of worship. How might God be calling you to prioritize offering your entire being, your character, relationships and daily activities as a living sacrifice?
How can you take steps towards finding richer satisfaction in God’s presence?
Enjoying walks in God’s creation
Silence and solitude
Being immersed in artistic expression
Deep friendships
Rest and retreat
September 6, 2020
Ezra 1
God’s power is often showcased in strange and surprising places. In the time of Ezra, the Jews are trying to figure out how to live into a new future that is very different from the past. They were facing uncertainty around every corner, they needed support from a corrupt empire and had endless questions about who to trust. The only constant between the past, present and future is faithfulness of God.
Response:
Amidst the uncertainties we face in the world, do you have eyes to see that we live in a God saturated world? Do you believe that God can accomplish his desires through any means possible? (ie. scientific discoveries, policies, the weak, the strong, the foolish, the poor, the powerful, those who know Him and those who don’t)
What has God been stirring up in your heart recently? What visions of the future make your pulse race and set your heart on fire? What steps can you take at working toward that reality?
Has the gospel captivated you in a way that you can give your life to Jesus and His mission? Do you have faith that God is as good and as active as you would hope He would be?
August 30, 2020
Daniel 11:40 - 12:4
What are your deepest longings when you dream of a better world? What vision of the future would reflect everything you’ve yearned to be good and true? Armed with that hope, how would you live in the world here and now? Join us as we conclude our series in Daniel.
Response:
What you hope for shapes the way you live here and now.
God is with us, working through Covid, hardships, oppression in ways we cannot see. What does it mean to you to be written in the book? To share citizenship in the kingdom of God?
When we look at the legacy of beasts, what does it look like to stand for (demonstrate) Jesus’ character by our words and by our lives? (ie. healing presence, steadfast, non-violence)
The resurrection was the beginning of new creation, how can you live in the reality of new creation today? (ie. if they are forgiven in new creation, forgive them today. If there is racial harmony in new creation, work towards it today.)
August 23, 2020
Daniel 9
Is your heart pierced when you see the effects of evil and injustice today? Are there situations in our families, our culture, or our individual lives that demand a time to grieve and demonstrate humble hearts? We don’t often see sackcloth and ashes today. How does outward action demonstrate the inward condition? Join us as we walk through Daniel 9.
Response:
Is your heart pierced when you see the effects of evil and injustice today?
Are there situations in our families, our culture, or our individual lives that demand a time to grieve and demonstrate humble hearts?
Sackcloth was coarse fabric made of goat’s hair and was extremely uncomfortable to wear. It was an outward sign of an inward condition of humility and awareness of sin. What can we practice today that can accomplish the same?
August 16, 2020
Daniel 7
What could a two thousand and five hundred year old nightmare that is stranger than fiction teach us about the human condition? Throughout the centuries, how does this dream inspire hope, a new imagination, and a better way to live? Join us as we continue our journey in the book of Daniel.
Response:
Daniel finds comfort in knowing that the Ancient One will be on the throne at the end of all things, and this gives hope in the midst of oppression.
Does this give you comfort in the midst of oppression, pain and loss?
Is this difficult to hear, knowing that God will bring things into peace and healing, but perhaps not in your lifetime? Why or why not?
August 9, 2020
Daniel 6
Guest Speaker: Paul Racine
Has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you...?
- Daniel 6:20
In today’s culture, and in our current situation facing the world, the true reality of our faith and how it impacts our lives is of great importance!!"
August 2, 2020
Daniel 5
Every life tells a story. What lessons can we learn by paying attention to the writing on the wall? The gospel frees us to a new way of life. While our days are numbered, how can we live in a way that is meaningful and faithful?
Response:
We have a finite time on earth, are we living in a way that is meaningful and faithful?
Our lives tell a story, has it been gracious, has it been others-centered? What story does your life tell? If God were to weigh our lives, what would he find?
There are times where the wisdom of God seems like foolishness to the world and as followers of Jesus how do we discern those instances?
How often do you exhaust every possible resource and expert prior to seeking wisdom and character from God and the Scriptures?
July 26, 2020
Daniel 4
Social researchers have documented many of the dangers of "Generation Me." A trajectory where people appear to be more fame obsessed, more entitled, and more likely to exaggerate our wealth and wellbeing. What is the antidote for self-obsession? How do we lead lives that are more gracious and others-focused? Join us as we hear what God has to say to us through the prophet Daniel.
Response:
Daniel seems to model a care for people in power, even the evil ones; to appeal to their image of God rather than their ego and shadow side.
How might the story of Daniel inform the posture, language and methods in which modern followers of Jesus should speak truth to elected officials and powerful leaders?
In what ways might your hubristic pride act as an iron and bronze band in your life?
Until the sin is addressed, there may be areas of life that are restrained from growing and maturation.
Is your relationship with Christ (personal & in community) leading you to become less prideful, less envious, less greedy, less malicious, less lustful?
The step to beginning that journey is to acknowledge that a part of you is all of the above.
In a positive light, are you becoming more self-controlled, more loving, more long-suffering, more sacrificial et cetera?
July 19, 2020
Daniel 3
Daniel's friends survived the fiery furnace, but maintaining faithfulness when oppressed has claimed countless lives. God didn’t spare them from the fire but God entered into the fire. He was present with them. This story reminds us that followers of Jesus are still called to the labor of faithful resistance.
Response:
What happens when followers of YHWH are called to seek the flourishing of the city (Babylon, Jeremiah 29) but the rule(r) is heading down a dangerous trajectory?
Daniel and his friends were sentenced to death because they were a threat to power, they refused to conform to the pattern of the world.
In what ways are followers of Jesus called to the labor of faithful resistance? What are the right things to resist?
In what ways might North American followers of Jesus equate our culture and country’s values with Kingdom values?
July 12, 2020
Daniel 2
Guest Speaker: Paul Racine
How can followers of Jesus maintain faithfulness and preserve identity when pushed to the margins? Daniel explores the challenge of living in the world but not conforming to the patterns of it. The prophet teaches us how to live wisely as we attempt to follow Jesus in the post-Christian world.
July 5, 2020
Daniel 1
How can followers of Jesus maintain faithfulness and preserve identity when pushed to the margins? Daniel explores the challenge of living in the world but not conforming to the patterns of it. The prophet teaches us how to live wisely as we attempt to follow Jesus in the post-Christian world.
Response:
If Jesus is not Lord over us, our hearts will gravitate towards something to worship. The human heart was created to worship, what we worship determines our trajectory. Judah turned away from God and worshipped idols, this led to evil and oppression.
What is your heart captivated by? What (even good things) is being elevated and exalted in your heart?
Giving Daniel and his friends new names was a sign of new ownership and new destiny.
How does a follower of Jesus remain rooted in their identity, and committed to Christ in a culture that opposes Christ?
Daniel often found himself in situations where it would have been easier to compromise or remain silent but he was determined not to dishonour God.
Our challenge is to determine in our hearts and minds the answer to the question: Is Jesus Lord of my life?
God gave Daniel and his friends an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. They did not shelter from the world but they engaged it.
What are some of the ways followers of Jesus can engage the literature and influences of culture through the lens of Christ?
June 28, 2020
Jeremiah 28:1-10
When culture seems to be increasingly polarized, the Bible can be life giving; creating bridges and streams of forgiveness and peace. Other times, the Bible has been used to erect barriers, and even actively harm others. This bizarre text from Jeremiah forces us to go beyond the surface and challenges us to exercise greater discernment in what is true and what is false. What do we learn as we look to Jesus and get to know his heart?
Response:
Hananiah’s language and sign matched the traditional form of prophets, his message similar to prophets who preceded him and appealed to their common hope. The original audience would have had a challenge to discern which prophet to trust.
In light of Jesus and the Holy Spirit how can we be more discerning of which voices to trust and which actions to take?
As Christians, how do we discern whether it is appropriate to actively partner and come alongside the efforts of the wider culture and when is it appropriate to live as a minority counter-culture? Recognizing those circumstances requires wisdom, discernment, and ignoring the voice in our head that tells us what we want to hear. When do we resist and throw off the shackles of what is unjust?
Some guiding principles, feel free to discuss other possibilities.
Constantly look to the person and character of Jesus Christ.
Ask the Holy Spirit (for help, guidance, wisdom, power etc.)
Respond to the Holy Spirit.
June 21, 2020
Jeremiah 20:7-13
Have you ever felt like your voice was relegated to the margins? Jeremiah had a fire in his bones, a resolve to speak truth to power, and advocate for the oppressed. His deep lament models an openness in expressing unthinkable anger and even our deepest fears to God. The weeping prophet testifies to God’s enduring presence in the midst of it all.
Response:
The prophets and Jesus were deeply committed to justice. Fighting against racism, breaking down dividing walls and inequality takes place over a long period of time. How has God equipped you to live in this way?
What have we left undone? Whether consciously or unconsciously?
There is a pattern of brutal honesty throughout the wisdom literature and the prophets. Jeremiah even voices out what seem to be unthinkable emotions (ie. God misled me), he questions and doubts God. Have you discovered how God can use this process of vulnerability to move you from complaint to praise?
Suffering can lead to deeper resentment, callousness and anger. Suffering can also lead to greater empathy, a deeper longing and commitment towards justice. How has God used suffering in your life to shape you for the better. How did the prophets move beyond righteous anger to justice in the streets?
June 14, 2020
Psalm 100
The Israelites made a habit of remembering - remembering the God who split the seas, who rescued them from slavery, the one who is close to the brokenhearted. The psalmist calls us to sing a new song to the true King.
Response:
The Israelites made a habit of remembering.
Take time to remember the God:
who has given you countless second chances,
who granted you freedom from addiction & despair,
who uproots sin, racism and pride,
who brought healing from sickness, mourning and devastating loss.
who restored a broken relationship, health, etc.
How does the act of remembering shape your ‘knowledge’ of God?
Allegiance to the King / Kingdom
Are you more concerned about conforming to the values of the world or the values of the Kingdom?
If Jesus ran for office, with kingdom values like jubilee - would you support Him? Even if it meant re-imagining all the systems and structures that may have benefitted you?
Is your allegiance to the right, the left or above?
June 7, 2020
Trinity Sunday - Matthew 28:16-20
Limitless, infinite authority. What does Jesus do with all authority in heaven and on earth?
Response:
Train everyone in this way of life
A disciple is more than a believer but one who is a student under authority to Jesus.
To follow Jesus is to be more like Him, to break down dividing walls, to care for the oppressed, to love justice and to walk humbly with God. What might that look like in light of what is happening in the world today?
Every Christian is a missionary, every profession is a mission field. How does this shape your view of life in the home/marketplace/healthcare/government etc.?
Abiding connection with the Triune God
Jesus’ way of being in the world was an abiding connection with God. This is a life-encompassing task. Are you abiding with Christ in the everyday activities of life?
How aware are you of God's presence today? Do you cling to his promise of presence when life gets overwhelming? What practices help you to know that God is with you?
God gives the Spirit without limit
In what ways might we be limiting the Spirit’s fullness and activity in our lives?
If you really believed, at a deep level; that God gives the Spirit without limit, what might you do/how might you live differently?
May 31, 2020
Day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-13,42-47; John 14:25-27
Guest Speaker: Paul Racine
How cruel would God be if He simply laid down guidelines for how we should reflect lives of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control without any ability for us to actually do so?
How sad it would be for Him to promise to be with us always and yet leave us isolated?
God is not cruel and His intentions towards us are always good. He made a way for us to live supernaturally and naturally at the same time through the Spirit filled life.
May 24, 2020
Ascension Sunday - John 17:1-11
As we celebrate Ascension Sunday, we see that our work on earth is not finished. Jesus says that eternal life is to know God. His ascension is not leaving us behind but drawing even closer.
Response:
Prioritize abiding with God
Even when facing death, Jesus’ priority was an abiding connection to God. How would our lives change if we prioritized prayer and connection with God in all the surprises that life sends our way?
Trust that the Triune God is at work in you
If salvation is to intimately know God, then spiritual formation is a natural process of being in relationship with the Triune God. Make effort to be in connection with God through prayer, Scripture, community. Take comfort in the knowledge that God will produce Christlikeness in you.
Take up the cross
The cross becomes a symbol of the self-giving love that has no limit. Have I embraced the cross in my own life as the way to follow Christ and glorify the Father?
May 17, 2020
Sixth Sunday of Easter - John 14:15-21
In the gospel of John, faith is a relationship with the living God - a God who is not missing, but fully present. God has given us His Spirit so we can experience growing intimacy and joy with Him.
Response:
Are you willing to surrender control?
Am I willing to surrender the throne of my life to be led by the Holy Spirit?
Do I live in such a way that I am trying to produce holiness on my own human ability?
Two opposite forces at work
The sinful nature and what the Spirit wants are in constant battle, are you willing to turn away from the sinful nature and follow the Spirit’s leading as a lifestyle?
Create space to be filled.
In the new testament we are instructed not to be filled by what ruins our lives, but to be filled with the Spirit. You cannot be filled by the Spirit when you are filled with yourself, what needs to die in your life to create space for the Spirit to fill us?
Where are you in the journey of life/faith?
The Holy Spirit is our guide on the journey of Christian life. Ask yourself: where am I on the journey? Are there barriers that have prevented me from moving forward in my relationship with Christ? Are there personal habits that have stopped me in my tracks?
May 10, 2020
Fifth Sunday of Easter - John 14:1-14
When you sincerely follow Jesus the process can raise even more questions than answers. Jesus goes beyond offering answers but gives us his whole self - which opens up a world of ‘ever greater things’ for his followers.
Response:
“Our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee.”
Have you found it to be true that the heart is always yearning for rest? What sources have you been turning to in order to find peace? Ask Jesus to reveal this to your heart and engage with the invitation to find rest in trusting God.
Ask the Spirit to take up residence in your life
What does it look like to abide (make your home in God) in God and to allow God to make His home in you? Invite the Holy Spirit to make his home in you.
Know God personally
Spend time with God this week, open yourself to a personal relationship with God, one that involves vulnerability, transformation, sacrifice, and all that comes with authentic relationship.
God is sending
What do you hear God teaching you? Who can you encourage to know God personally?
May 3, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Easter - John 10:1-10
If there is any universal craving and longing, it is the pursuit of “the good life.” Are there many good but insufficient things that we turn to in order to find life? Is this you? Have you found yourself settling for something less than abundant and overflowing?
Response:
Know and be known by Jesus
“Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.”
Have you opened yourself to the One who desires to know you and to be known by you? How intimately do you want to be known?
Discern thieves and robbers in your life
Are there voices that persist in your life that whisper the good life and greener pastures can be found apart from Christ, apart from seeking the kingdom?
Are there any corners of your heart that you resist being known?
God knows your name and calls you by name
God has created you and knows your true and whole self.
Take time this week to listen for God’s voice and discover your belonging and identity in Christ.
God is sending
While checking in with one another, remind one another of the Good Shepherd.
April 26, 2020
Third Sunday of Easter - Luke 24:13-35
Join the disciples on their journey to Emmaus. Jesus invites us into conversation, into naming our disappointments and into experiencing our hearts burn in his loving presence.
Response:
God listens to us - Take time to speak to Him. Journal to God, speak casually to Him, speak in reverence, speak to God throughout the day.
God speaks through the Bible - Hear His voice through the Scriptures, find truth, life and wisdom in its pages.
God is present - He is waiting (as he did on Emmaus) for us to notice his presence, he is willing to give us all the resources we need to face Covid with hope and courage.
God is sending - Check in with one another, hold space for people to express their pain and disappointment, but also help them move to resurrection. pray for those around you.
April 19, 2020
Second Sunday of Easter - John 20:19-31
On the evening of Easter, Jesus’ followers had already heard the news that Christ is risen, yet they found themselves locked inside, sheltering in place out of fear. The breath of God gives life.
April 12, 2020
Easter Sunday - Matthew 28:1-10
Christ is risen! Resurrection is not the end of the story, it's the beginning of a whole new adventure.
April 10, 2020
Good Friday - John 19:1-37
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are he who took me out of the womb and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.
He who hung the earth upon the waters: today he is hung upon the cross.
Psalm 22:1-2, 9-11
April 5, 2020
Palm Sunday - Matthew 27:11-54
Pontius Pilate asks "what shall I do, then, with Jesus?" The crowds went wherever Jesus went - some people were captivated by him, a few were devoted, some wanted him killed, still others didn't know what to think. Here and now, the answer to that question can deeply shape every choice and encounter we have in life.
Reflection:
Jesus tells a parable about a house built on two different foundations. Covid-19 provides us an opportunity to meaningfully discern: where do I find my security and hope? What foundation do I build my life upon?
Lament may be the most effective way in which God shapes our life and character. God laments. What new hope, peace, wisdom, and possibilities is God trying to produce in you - for his glory and the benefit of others?
The example of Pilate’s wife might cause us to wonder: Are you open hearted to see who Jesus truly is, are you open to a greater imagination, are you open to being deeply unsettled by Jesus? What will you do with Jesus?
What do you make of the mystery of the holy people being raised to life and appearing to people in Jerusalem following the resurrection of Jesus?
March 29, 2020
Lent - A Season of Renewal - John 9:1-45
When Jesus walked the earth, there were oppressors who abused power, leaving most people in suffering and poverty, evil seemed to be everywhere. Despite the chaos, Jesus’ life, his teachings were centred around a deeper reality - that the kingdom of God was breaking into our world.
Reflection:
There is this common shared experience in humanity right now - people are beginning to recognize how connected we all are. How is the Holy Spirit leading the church in this time? How can we be the church in season of physical distancing?
In what ways is the Spirit reorienting church and culture and making everything new?
How is Jesus entering into the depth of your emotions and experience this week?
Covid-19 may be consuming our story recently, but how does the Kingdom of God (the greater narrative) inform our story as we live in the reality of this moment?
March 22, 2020
Lent - A Season of Renewal - John 9:1-41
On the fourth Sunday of Lent, we read in John 9:1-41 the story of Jesus healing the man born blind on the Sabbath. This story reveals how religion, at its worst; can miss the heart of God and harm the people around us. Jesus is the better way.
March 15, 2020
Lent - A Season of Renewal - John 4:5-42
Jesus always challenges our assumptions and lavishes us with grace. Watch this week’s message as Pastor Josh explores Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in the third week of Lent.
Here are some links to worship songs and a prayer for you to engage with as you take this time to listen to God’s Word and be in His presence:
March 8, 2020
Lent - A Season of Renewal - John 3:1-17
Guest Speaker: Paul Racine
Not rules, but relationship; not a stagnant relationship but one that leads to life; not just life, but life that is transformational; discovering all of this because we are truly loved. And it is ours to begin in a broken world.
March 1, 2020
Lent - A Season of Renewal - Matthew 4:1-11
Reflection:
The serpent undermines Adam and Eve’s confidence in God, then invites them to craft their own identity that is independent of their relationship with God. Is this you?
Has the adversary ever used your circumstances to undermine God’s faithfulness and goodness in the past?
What do you trust? Do you trust who God the Father says you are?
Do you trust the Holy Spirit to lead you where you need to be?
Do you trust the Father with your life?
What are some subtle ways in which Scripture has been/is twisted that have actually caused great harm to people presently/throughout history?
To follow Jesus is to go into the wilderness repeatedly. It is to encounter even more tension because Satan will challenge your identity, your trust, twist, your appetites. What idol does Satan repeatedly appeal to in your life?
Try adopting the strategies of Jesus. Can you speak Scripture to the evil in your mind and hearts? Can you hold to the promises of Scripture over the allure of the tempter?
February 23, 2020
Transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-9
Reflection:
Think of times where you experienced God’s presence in a supernatural way that shaped your perspective and way of life. Thank God for it and treasure those moments.
Are there habits/methods that you have found helpful that increased your intimacy and awareness of God? (ie. silence, solitude, lectio divina: meditation on the Scriptures, fasting etc.)
How have you encountered God? Are you an eyewitness of his majesty? Have you ever wished you could linger in those holy moments?
Jesus calls us back down the mountain and into the world. How will your encounters with God shape the way you live your life?
February 16, 2020
God is Faithful - 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Reflection:
The world has its own script and its own tendencies. Do you hold yourself up to the standards of maturity that the NT outlines?
How have you experienced meaningful vulnerability, rebuke/correction, and support in community? Do you regularly afford that same blessing to the people around you?
At what level of maturity would you view yourself “in Christ”? (ie. infant, toddler, adolescent, adult) At what level of maturity would the people around you describe you as?
Are we willing to take notice of the ways in which our own division and quarreling is evidence of immaturity rather than always viewing ourselves as right?
Which narrative and wisdom will you choose to live into? Are we willing to use the economy of the kingdom as our measure of “the good life” rather than living into the economy of the world?
When people are divided, are we willing to (like Paul and Apollos) fight for gospel unity in the name of Christ so that everyone can look at the other as "sister & brother” co-workers in the kingdom?
February 9, 2020
God is Faithful - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Reflection:
Which messages (which wisdom ie. this age or God’s wisdom) will you allow to form your character and guide your choices, your speech, thoughts and actions?
Do you see the world through a gospel lens? Think of examples that showcase the difference between a worldly perspective an gospel clarity.
From the teachings of Jesus and the wisdom of the Spirit, how do you imagine and envision new creation? How does that vision affect the way in which you live and work (with Jesus) towards the renewal and restoration of all things?
February 2, 2020
God is Faithful - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Reflection:
What are some compelling messages preached by the wisdom of culture/society that may draw us away from God’s primary desires and purposes for us?
Can you think of moments in your life where God has used the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak to shame the strong?
In what ways might this gospel reality come to fruition in daily life?
How does knowing that the power of God is at work in the process of those being saved changed your life?
How does it change your perspective on being someone who makes mistakes?
In what way does it challenge you to make every effort to grow in the character of Jesus Christ?
Do you find yourself correlating your social position with your position in the kingdom of heaven?
In what ways can you use your influence, resources and giftings to bless the people around you at home, the marketplace, at church and the city?
January 26, 2020
God is Faithful - 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Reflection:
Consider the ways in which tribal allegiances lead to many sins and prevent us from solving many of the world’s problems.
Do you view your home as God’s tool to further his kingdom?
Do you regularly interact with people who look, think and act differently from you?
How might you see “gospeling” as a whole way of life?
How does the work of Christ on the cross transform your perspective, your understanding of everything in life and your posture towards your neighbour (and the other)?
January 19, 2020
God is Faithful - 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Reflection:
How does being called into a relationship with Jesus differ than the demands of a religion?
In what ways does a personal intimacy and shared life with God overflow into every role and responsibility of daily life?
Do you know the spiritual gifts God has given to you? How might you use these gifts for the building up of Renewal Church, the larger Body of Christ? How might you use them to share Christ with the world?
Is your prayer life more of a monologue than a dialogue? Have you found methods that have helped develop deeper awareness of God’s presence and recognition of God’s voice?
What do you envision being set apart (holy) for God looks like in your daily life (your home, workplace, school, neighbourhood)? What are the idols that you have placed above Jesus?
What are some tangible ways in which you can ‘make your home’ in Jesus and allow him to make his home (abide) in you?
January 5, 2020
The Psalms - Psalm 147
Reflection:
If God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, how should those who follow him respond to those around us?
Since God is not distant but active in creation, how should those who follow him care for what God has made?
Have you received Jesus and believed in His name?
Cultivate gratitude this year. How have you seen God’s power and provision demonstrated in your life?