Sermons from Harvest Bible Chapel - Barrie

Every workplace has one. Every team, every club, every family — written down or not, they all have a code of conduct. It’s a clear sense of what’s expected if you belong: how you treat people, what you show up for (and when), what you allow and what you don’t. When that code is clear, everyone knows where they stand. When it isn’t, things drift. People start making up their own rules, and before long that group stops feeling like it belongs together at all. The Philippians lived under one of the clearest codes in the ancient world. Their city held Roman citizenship, and Rome expected a whole way of life in return for everything it gave them. They knew the code, and they defended it fiercely. Paul uses that same instinct in Philippians 1 to show this young church what it means to hold a heavenly citizenship — one received through Christ, not through birth. And he doesn’t leave its code vague, either. He tells them plainly what a life worthy of that citizenship looks like. We all live with codes today, spoken or not, shaping who we are and what we’re becoming. If there’s one truth I would hope to leave ringing in your ears, it’s this: the code of conduct for citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven is the only one worth building our entire lives on. Message: A Life Worthy of the Gospel Text: Philippians 1:27-30 Jordan Coros Harvest Bible Chapel July 26, 2026 We live worthy of the gospel as we… …stand firm (v. 27a) They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. – Anonymous, Epistle to Diognetus Ephesians 4:3 James 5:16 Matthew 5:23-24 …strive together (v. 27b) Nothing is so [out of place] in a Christian, and foreign to his character as to seek ease and rest. – John Chrysostom, Homilies on Philippians …suffer courageously (v. 28-30) John 15:18 Acts 5:41

As I write this, we’re a day or so into the thick, orange-tinted, smoky clouds shrouding our city. Wildfires have made doing anything outdoors hazardous. What we need is relief. That same theme hits in Genesis 5, our passage for this coming Sunday. This comes in the wake of the murder of Abel by Cain and his exile from Eden. It is a tragic moment that flowed out of the decision Adam and Eve had made in the garden. The section we looked at last week gave us only the faintest hope that anything would change. “At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26b). And God heard their cry. In the chapter that follows, God documents the birth and death of the next ten generations: Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, and his three sons. And it was Lamech who was told concerning Noah, “This one shall bring us relief.” Not so much Noah, but the descendant of Noah, who would provide a way of escape, a rescue from sin. Not an ark to survive a flood, but a cross and an empty tomb to give eternal life. An answer for those who began to call out to the LORD. It will be a great time together as we look at this passage and stir up that hope once again in our own hearts. Series: Genesis – The Things That Are Revealed Message: 9 – This One Shall Bring Us Relief Text: Genesis 5:1-32 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel July 19, 2026 Despite my disobedience, God never abandons the plan… …concerning creation (v. 1-2) …and establishment of a godly line (v. 3-20) Romans 5:12 Genealogy from Adam to Noah Adam > Seth > Enosh > Kenan > Mahalalel > Jared > Enoch > Methuselah > Lamech > Noah > Shem, Ham, Japheth The greatest mission field today is not in some far-off country, but in the pews of our churches. - attributed to Billy Graham …of those who walk with him (v. 21-27) Hebrews 11:5 Hebrews 11:6 Micah 6:8 1 Corinthians 15:26 …pointing to the offer of rest in Christ (v. 28-32) Matthew 11:28-30 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Resources How Did Noah Point to Christ? https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/how-did-noah-point-to-christ For resources relating to the Genesis series, go to https://www.harvestbible.ca/resources/ and scroll down to "Genesis".

Well, High Five 2026 is now in the rearview mirror. It was another incredible week! God has once again blessed us with his evident presence and work in the lives of so many. We’re grateful to him. As we gather, I’m going to set aside our series in Genesis and celebrate with you what God has done through our day camp. Things will look a little more like they did during High Five, and I’m going to preach a message on Hebrews 4:11-13, with the focus being on verse 12, “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” Maybe I’ll actually have a sword with me. So whether you’re exhausted from serving all week or curious to hear how everything went, we hope you’ll join us to discover the reasons for the joy experienced by campers and leaders this week. We’ll give God our hallelujah with worship songs from camp and a video with highlights from the best week of the summer. Message: Sharper Than Any Two-edged Sword Text: Hebrews 4:11-13 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel July 12, 2026 If I’m to rest in Christ… (v. 11) …the Bible must be (v. 12) …like nothing else to me Psalm 19:10 John 1:1 John 5:39-40 …cutting through the nonsense If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it. — Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head by believing the Word of God when all about you are losing theirs and buying into the nonsense…yours is the earth and everything that’s in it. — Todd Dugard Matthew 5:5 Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth 'thrown in': aim at Earth and you will get neither. ― C.S. Lewis, The Joyful Christian …and speaking into all aspects of my life Spiritual growth depends on two things: first a willingness to live according to the Word of God; second, a willingness to take whatever consequences emerge as a result. — Sinclair B. Ferguson …because nothing escapes his notice (v. 13) Psalm 139:1

There’s a reason that the story of Cain and Abel is one of the most well-known, well-read, and often replicated in all of human history. It’s not because it’s ancient, but because it’s familiar. The jealousy that burns quietly before it acts. The anger that looks for somewhere to go. The moment we know we’ve gone too far and look for someone else to blame. We’ve all been closer to Cain than we’d like to admit. What’s sobering about this account is that sin didn’t ambush him out of nowhere; God warned him directly. He had every opportunity to turn back, but he didn’t. What follows is Moses tracing that trajectory outward—from one man’s heart to an entire civilization that denied the God who made them. It’s an uncomfortable chapter, but Genesis 4 has something to say to all of us, about ourselves, about our world, and about the mercy of God that has a longer reach than sin’s destruction. Series: The Things That Are Revealed Message 8 - Sin Is Crouching At The Door Text: Genesis 4:1-26 Jordan Coros Harvest Bible Chapel July 5, 2026 Because sin runs deep in my heart… …crouching at my door (v. 1-7) Hebrews 11:4 1 Peter 5:8 …driving me from God (v. 8-16) The way God’s judgement works in our lives is very often to leave us to the judgement we have made of ourselves. If you live without God, you will live without God. — David Atkinson, The Message of Genesis 1-11, The Bible Speaks Today …consuming everything it touches (v. 17-24) Matthew 5:45 Cain’s family is a microcosm: its pattern of technical prowess and moral failure is that of humanity. — Derek Kidner, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Genesis I must… …rule over it (v. 7) Romans 6:14 Romans 7:19 …own what I’ve done (v. 9) 1 John 1:9 Hebrews 12:24 …call upon the name of the LORD (v. 25-26) Romans 10:13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For resources relating to the Genesis series, go to harvestbible.ca/resources and scroll down to "Genesis".

As Christians living in this fallen world, you and I already know about the effects of sin in the world around us, the people we know, and of course, in ourselves. With the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we have an acute sense of what’s evil. We have built-in enmity with the Evil One. That said, we also have this eternal hope in Jesus Christ and are seeking to live our lives as God has ordained. Not always an easy task! As we look at Genesis 3:14-24 this Sunday, we’ll see that play out for Adam and Eve as God pronounces the consequences of their decision to sin against him. You and I experience these consequences to this day, though with the great hope of the gospel having been revealed to us in much greater detail than it was for them. Join us Sunday to look at this together. We’ll be observing the Lord’s Table as well. If you’ll be watching the livestream, be prepared with bread or a cracker and juice or wine. Series: Genesis – The Things That Are Revealed Message: 7 – Because You Have Done This Text: Genesis 3:14-24 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel June 28, 2026 As a Christian living in this fallen world… …I know the effects of sin (v. 14, 16-19) …I hate what’s evil (v. 15a) Enmity — a deep-rooted hatred; irreconcilable hostility; animosity; antagonism; being an enemy of Simul justus et peccator; both saint and sinner – Martin Luther Romans 7:15 Romans 7:18-19 Romans 7:24 What sort of freak, then, is man! How novel, how monstrous, how chaotic, how paradoxical, how prodigious! Judge of all things, feeble earthworm, repository of truth, sink of doubt and error, glory and refuse of the universe! – Blaise Pascal, Pensées V Ephesians 2:13-14 James 4:1-2 James 4:4a Romans 8:31-32, 37 …I have hope in Jesus Christ alone (v. 15b) Protevangelium — the first form in which the gospel appears …I live my life as God ordained it (v. 20-24) The first act of redemption was God’s stooping to cover the shame of His creatures. – R.C. Sproul John 1:29 Hebrews 10:10 ————— For resources relating to the Genesis series, go to harvestbible.ca/resources and scroll down to "Genesis."

There’s no way around it. This Sunday is going to be rough. Adam and Eve set in motion an event that altered the trajectory that God had offered to humanity. Perfection. Forever. Face-to-face fellowship with God in an indescribably beautiful and lush garden that provided everything anyone would ever need. But it wasn’t to be. Eve caved first. Then Adam. They believed the lie, succumbed to pride, and crossed the one boundary God had set. Sin entered. Death too. And that was that. You and I are suffering the consequences to this day. Every day. Now, the reason it will be rough is because there’s no way to avoid the hard message for us. We can’t blame Eve because we would have done the same had it been us. And we gladly give ourselves up to temptation and sin on a regular basis. Even those of us who have confessed our sin and found forgiveness in Christ. That’s the rough. We’re going to take a hard look at ourselves and see what still needs to be done to not abuse the grace of God. That is, to deal with the remaining sin in our lives. Best not listen if you’re not up for this. But I’d counsel you to listen anyway and let the Holy Spirit do his work in you. Series: Genesis – The Things that are Revealed Message: 6 – Did God actually say? Text: Genesis 3:1-13 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel June 21, 2026 Sin against God happens when I… …underestimate the power of temptation (v. 1a) John 8:44 Matthew 16:23 Romans 16:20a Revelation 12:9 …fail to grasp his Word (v. 1b-5) Ephesians 6:11 Ephesians 6:17b Psalm 119:11 …succumb to my own unbridled passions (v. 6) …the desire for pleasure …the desire for possessions …the pride in having power The way of rebellion puts immediate pleasure in front of possible consequences and sets our own perceptions of what is good for us against what God has told us about ourselves and his world. - David J. Atkinson …forfeit his goodness, choosing instead …shame (v. 7) …fear (v. 8-10) …guilt (v. 11-13) To gloss over the losses sustained in the fall of man and its reverberations would be to deny the cost of the rescue, the worth of our ransom, and the surpassing joy Christ saw that made him scorn the shame of the cross. And it would cause us to miss entirely what’s coming. - Amy Baik Lee, This Homeward Ache And God asks, “Where are you?” (v. 9) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For resources relating to the Genesis series, go to harvestbible.ca/resources and scroll down to "Genesis".

What if I told you that everything related to experiencing freedom, security, beauty, having a sense of purpose and completeness as a person, being at peace, as well as having healthy and fulfilling relationships is all found in just 22 verses of the Bible? Would you believe it? In fact, Genesis 2:4-25 has all of that and more. As we look at what the LORD God has done for humanity in this week’s message, we’ll find more than a few principles that will help us navigate the world we live in now. In creating man and woman, planting a garden for them to live in, filling the world with beautiful things, establishing boundaries, and giving us the opportunity for both human and divine relationships, God reveals to us everything we could ever need. Series: Genesis – The Things That Are Revealed Message: 5 – A Garden In Eden Text: Genesis 2:4-25 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel June 14, 2026 What the LORD God has done… …his very life in me. (v. 4-7) Simple Outline of History: • God’s gives us the perfect creation (Genesis 1-2) • Humanity ruins it (Genesis 3) • The long struggle to return to Eden (Genesis 4-Revelation 20) • God restores what was lost (Revelation 21-22) If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. – C. S. Lewis We all long for [Eden], and we are constantly glimpsing it: our whole nature at its best and least corrupted, its gentlest and most humane, is still soaked with the sense of exile. – J. R. R. Tolkien …his incredible beauty around me. (v. 8-15) …his loving boundaries for me. (v. 16-17) The destiny of the human creation is to live in God’s world, with God’s other creatures, on God’s terms. – W. Brueggemann When God says, “Don’t,” he means, “Don’t hurt yourself.” Genesis 4:7 …his perfect provision completing me. (v. 18-25) For resources relating to the Genesis series, go to harvestbible.ca/resources and scroll down to "Genesis."

First, God wasn’t tired. How could he be? He’s God! Creating everything didn’t leave him out of breath. He wasn’t weary from the workweek and eager for the weekend. He wasn’t telling everyone, “Thank Me It’s Friday!” When Genesis 2:2 says, “…and he rested” it simply means that he ceased. He ended his work of creating. He was done everything he wanted to do, so he stopped doing it. Somehow, we have associated the seventh day, the Sabbath, with being tired. Makes sense since we’re human, and we get tired. We’ve also made Sabbath-keeping a rule to keep rather than a blessing to be enjoyed. We codified it in a way that God never intended, and Jesus addressed the nonsense religious rite that it became. In Genesis 2:1-3, God inaugurates the first Sabbath day. He blessed the day and “called it holy,” setting it apart from the other six. The manufacturer’s specifications for humanity were, “you need to stop the work I’ve given you to do after every six days. Take a day off from work. Every week.” We ignore this loving instruction and gift to our own peril. But there’s far more going on than what appears. The rest, the ceasing, speaks to a different striving. A deeper one. One that has everything to do with what Jesus did. A Sabbath that comes at the end of his work, not ours. A Sabbath that is ours to enjoy for eternity. I’m looking forward to working through all of that with you on Sunday. And then I’ll take a rest day on Monday. Series: Genesis – The Things That are Revealed Message: 4 – And He Rested Text: Genesis 2:1-3 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel June 7, 2026 When I see the Sabbath as God sees the Sabbath, I come to realize that… …time is precious (v. 1) Ecclesiastes 3:11 Psalm 90:12 Ephesians 5:15-16 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 chronos – sequence of events; time as linear kairos – a significant time; moments of crisis and opportunity Biblical time, then, is not so much a matter of one thing after another, as it is the story of God’s interactions with his world; a story in which God gives moments of opportunity, moments of decision, times of repentance, a day of grace. - David J. Atkinson …work is positive (v. 2a) …rest is required (v. 2b) …being still is blessed and holy (v. 3) In a culture where busyness is a fetish and stillness is laziness, rest is sloth. But without rest, we miss the rest of God: the rest he invites us to enter more fully so that we might know him more deeply. - Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God Hebrews 4:9-11 Psalm 46:10a For resources relating to the Genesis series, go to harvestbible.ca/resources and scroll down to "Genesis".

It is not an exaggeration to say that these words, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” define exactly what it means to be human. So much has been written in the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, and sociology that seek to answer the questions we have about our origin, our purpose, our identity, and our relationships as human beings. And yet, in Genesis 1-2, we have the Creator’s own words about who we are, why we’re here, and what we’re to be doing. As we look at the first account of the creation of Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:26-31 this Sunday (Genesis 2 is a second telling of the creation narrative from a different perspective), we’ll see that as God’s special and unique creation, each of us is stamped with his image, bound to his purpose, and should be overwhelmed by his goodness. I’ll see you in person at 7 George Street in Barrie or on Harvest Online. Series: Genesis – The Things that are Revealed Message: 3 – Let Us Make Man Text: Genesis 1:26-31 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel May 31, 2026 It’s all in your head. You have the power to make things seem hard or easy or even amusing. The choice is yours. - Seneca As God’s special and unique creation, I am… …stamped with his image (v. 26a, 27) Humanity made in the image and likeness of God was (and is) the most important aspect of creation. In fact, we can think of every other aspect of creation as preparatory for the creation of humanity as the crowning climax. - Ian J. Vaillancourt, The Dawning of Redemption As image bearers, all people have the same inherent dignity—regardless of their age, sex, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. - Phillip Bethancourt, Exalting Jesus in Genesis 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, 18 …bound to his purpose (v. 26b, 28) God says, “My purpose for you is to…" (1) Rule in my place. (2) Procreate as I have created. (3) Represent me in the world. 2 Corinthians 5:19b-20a 2 Corinthians 5:21 …overwhelmed by his goodness (v. 29-31) Psalm 8:4 Find relevant books and podcasts at harvestbible.ca/resources. (Scroll to "Genesis".)

I read this quote while studying for the current series we’re in. “It is always dangerous to shout where God has whispered” (Sproul and Wolgemuth). That is to say, don’t get too worked up about things on which the Bible is not clear. Another way of saying it would be to not elevate secondary and tertiary doctrinal issues to the level of primary ones, trying to make something that is personal preference a biblical conviction. As we look at the days of creation in Genesis 1:3-25 this Sunday, we’ll be challenged to hear what God says and be struck by that alone, rather than by the endless speculations about the mechanics and processes of the creation. We’ll focus on the who, what, and why of our origins rather than the how. And in it all we’ll see the LORD at work in his world and in our lives. We are not to miss that when God said, “Let there be light…”, he meant that not only in the creation of the sun but in the eventual giving of his Son as the true “light of the world." Series: Genesis – The Things That Are Revealed Message: 2 – Let There Be Light Text: Genesis 1:3-25 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel May 24, 2026 What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. — A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy Seeing the creation unfold… …I am sure of the one who did it—"And God said” The assertion that God created the physical universe is of paramount importance. It answers the question, why is there something rather than nothing? [SLIDE 7] It implies that this universe cannot explain itself, as secular atheism, by definition, must maintain. It tells us that this material universe is not the ultimate reality. God is. — John C. Lennox, Seven Days That Divide the World …I am blessed by what he did—“Let there be…” John 1:1-5 Hebrews 1:1-3 Revelation 4:11 Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the right conditions required to permit life, and one which has an underlying, one might say, “supernatural” plan. — Arno Penzias, Nobel prize-winning physicist (as quoted in John C. Lennox) …I am untroubled by how he did it—“And it was so.” The essentials in the Genesis narrative: (1) God created (2) That creation is ex nihilo (3) Adam and Eve were created by God (4) This a literal not figurative account It is always dangerous to shout where God has whispered. — R. C. Sproul and Robert Wolgemuth Both views are possible, but neither one is certain. And we must say very clearly that the age of the earth is a matter that is not directly taught in Scripture but is something we can think about only by drawing more or less probable inferences from Scripture.—Wayne Grudem …I am humbled by why he did it—“It is good.” Psalm 19:1 God’s creative activity in history is not only the preservation of what he has made; it is a continuous, creative engagement with his world, leading forward to its future glory. — David J. Atkinson

Beginnings matter. The origin of the cosmos and of humanity is not insignificant. It is in roots, histories, and ancestries that identity, culture, and meaning are found. So much energy is spent seeking answers for questions that stretch back to that mysterious time when everything began, because humanity’s search for significance is indeed found at the genesis of all things. Thankfully, the Creator provided humanity with a record of that time in the book of Genesis, revealing just what we needed to know. In this 16-week series, The Things that are Revealed, we will find all that we need to satisfy the deep longing in our hearts to know who God is, who we are, and why it all matters. It is the story of the good creation, humanity’s descent into sin and death, and God’s plan, through Christ, to redeem it all. It is recorded that, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). That is to say, God has revealed the story of the origin for our good and to lay the foundation for everything we are and believe. As we prepare to gather this Sunday, remember to pray for Brad Ellis, our elder candidate. You can find info on Brad and on the elder candidate process here. We also have Christine Carruthers, Oluwaseun Toyo, and Meg Eisbrenner, who are in the process of becoming church members. Part of the membership process at Harvest includes publishing the names of the applicants to ensure there are no outstanding issues within the church. In keeping with the spirit of Matthew 18:15-17, we ask you to resolve any personal matters that may exist between you and the applicants, which, if ignored, would hinder their fruitful service to Christ among us. And our month of Sign Up to Serve continues with a focus this week on Harvest Helps and Hospitality. If your happy place is behind the scenes, if you have experience in the food industry, if you’re talented in light home repair or could give someone a ride to an appointment, or if you love to cook and serve others, then we need you on these teams. Drop by the tables in the lobby on Sunday to get all the details. Series: Genesis – The Things that are Revealed Message: 1 – In the beginning, God Text: Genesis 1: 1-2 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel May 17, 2026 I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. - The Apostles' Creed Deuteronomy 29: 29 In God’s world… …I bow to the Creator (v. 1) Romans 1: 19-20 Colossians 1: 16-17 There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened. - C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 Philippians 2: 9-10 …I see the temporal and eternal (v. 2a) To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age. ‘Tis much better to do a little with certainty and leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of anything. - Sir Isaac Newton God is the sort of God who comes into confusion and makes things new. He hovers over your darkness and says, “Let there be light!.” - David Atkinson …I await his greater work (v. 2b) It cost God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things, but to convert rebellious wills cost him crucifixion. - C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Revelation 21: 1 The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The truth of who God is and the story of the gospel has always travelled the same road, from one life to another, one generation to another, carried by those who received it, were changed by it, and refused to stay silent about it. That’s how it got to you and me, and that’s the way it will get to the generation coming behind us. In Psalm 78, Asaph, a leader of Israel in the worship of God, calls the people together with a message as urgent today as it was three thousand years ago. Throughout history and to today, God has chosen to move his story forward through his people. Through lives shaped by his Word, through voices that speak openly of what he has done, and through a hope that we can count on. This Sunday, as we close our Imitators of God series, we’ll ask the question that underlies the whole of the Christian life: what am I doing with what I’ve been given? Because the faith that was entrusted to us was never meant to stop with us. It was meant to travel, through our words, our lives, our hope, to the generations we will never live to see. I’m looking forward to going through that with you. See you Sunday! Series: Imitators of God Message: 5 - Through the Generations Text: Psalm 78:1-8 Jordan Coros Harvest Bible Chapel May 10, 2026 The church isn’t a collection of age-based silos. It is a Spirit-wrought community of young and old, redeemed by Christ and bound together in covenant love. The church’s beauty isn’t in its sameness but in its holy diversity. And one of the clearest demonstrations of that kingdom diversity is when generations walk together in Christ. – Drew Daniels, Generations Together for the Glory of Christ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/generations-together-glory-christ/ I will imitate God in shaping future generations when I… …don’t ignore the Word of God (v. 1-3) …don’t hide the works of God (v. 4-6) 2 Timothy 2:2 Tell it out, Christian friends, tell it out. The world must hear of a Saviour’s love. You are the only Bible some people will ever read. Your life is the only sermon some will ever hear. – Charles Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 10, 1864 …don’t forget the hope of God (v. 7-8) Colossians 1:27 Psalm 145:4 The grace of God excludes your earning, but it doesn’t exclude your effort. – Ray and Jani Ortlund, To the Tenth Generation Resource: To the Tenth Generation: God’s Heart for Your Family, Far into the Future Ray and Jani Ortlund https://a.co/d/0dIE4QqX  

The family is in trouble. As part of our current series, Imitators of God, we looked at marriage last Sunday and will be examining parenting this week. We must go into messages like these understanding how critical the situation is. I was reading recently that at no time in history have things been so dire. Many sources are citing that the total fertility rate across Western Europe and Canada is now less than 1.5 children per woman. This is well below the population replacement rate of 2.1 (e.g. Canada: 1.44, Germany: 1.36, South Korea: 0.72). There are powerful societal forces at play, including the prosperity of the Western civilization and liberalism, which calls for ever-expanding government social programs. Government (the state) expands to fill every vacuum left by family, community, and the church. With this happening, there is an unavoidable slide: culture collapses → chaos ensues → authoritarianism jumps in to fix the problem. For those who believe the Word of God, we know that the first assault on marriage and the family happened with the very first family, the first couple who brought sin into the home. Since then, nothing has been as it was intended by God. We chose that. We continue to choose that, despite all the evident heartbreak associated with that choice. The only remedy to achieve any measure of marriage and parenting as it was intended is submission to Jesus Christ and attentiveness to his Word. We must imitate God if we’re to push back against the prevailing culture, not only for our own sakes but as a light to the world. If you missed last week’s message, Marriage That Works, find it here. I look forward to seeing you in person or online this Sunday to look at Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Parenting That Pleases Everyone. Series: Imitators of God Message: 4 – Parenting That Pleases Everyone Text: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel May 3, 2026 If I am to imitate God in my parenting, I must… …live the Word (v. 1-3) …love the LORD (v. 4-6) Isaiah 45:5a To hear God without putting into effect the command is not to hear him at all. – Eugene H. Merrill James 1:22 [The Great Commandment] ties love tightly together with the sense of obedience and loyalty. – Earl S. Kalland, Expositor’s Bible Commentary …teach my kids (v. 7-9) Seven ways that you may not have thought of to teach your kids the Word and to love the Lord: (1) Give them your undivided time and attention (2) Set up the guardrails (3) Present a united front as mom and dad (4) Be clear when disciplining (5) Admit it when you fail (6) Listen to the Word, not the world (7) Keep Jesus at the centre Only one life, will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last. – C. T. Studd

In Revelation 5:9, we have that scene in eternity where, “They sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation…’” That worship gathering is the culmination of the mission that God has been on to redeem people to himself. To save the lost. Because the Lord has invited us to be part of what he’s doing in the world, we work strategically with other believers to see to the fulfillment of that mission. With that in mind, March is Partnership Month at Harvest! This Sunday, I’ll be walking us through various Scriptures and laying out 7 priorities for partners in the gospel work.Then, over the next three Sundays, we’ll have some of those partners with us to report on their work and preach the Word. On March 8, we’ll have Vlad Oara from Adulum Church in Timisoara, Romania. On March 15, it will be Dwight Bernier from Acts 29 Canada. And on March 22, Harrison Kwok will be with us from Northern Collective Church in Whitehorse, Yukon. We’re excited to hear from each of them as they share their story and the ministry God has called them to lead. It's going to be a great month! Single: Partnership Emphasis Month Message: Let It Be Known Text: Acts 28:28 and Various Scriptures Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel March 1, 2026 Seven priorities for partners in the gospel work… 1. See the need (John 4:31-38) Acts 1:8 2. Pray without ceasing (Ephesians 6:18-19a) Pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on you. 3. Prepare leaders (Ephesians 4:11-12) 4. Send out workers (Acts 13:1-3) 5. Support the mission (2 Corinthians 9:5-9) The biblical principles of giving: (1) Regular; (2) Intentional; (3) Generous; (4) Sacrificial; (5) Proportionate to income; (6) Willing; and (7) Cheerfully given. 6. Proclaim the message (Ephesians 6:19-20) 7. Make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Revelation 5:9) Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. - John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad! ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions by John Piper http://bit.ly/4shLbcJ Send by Jim Essian https://a.co/d/0evO2Xuv Teaching series: This Act of Grace https://www.harvestbible.ca/sermons/?wpfc_sermon_series=this-act-of-grace

Todd Dugard Message: I am doing a new thing Harvest Bible Chapel Text: Isaiah 43:18-19 December 29, 2024 Isaiah 43:19a Isaiah 43:18-19 As a new year begins, I will listen to what God says is important. 1 – I’ll look for God’s power in my life. 2 – I’ll put the past behind me. The past can teach, but it must not bind. The gaze must ever be forward to what God will yet do—J. Alec Motyer 3 – I’ll trust the promise God makes. 4 – I’ll be who God wants me to be. John 1:12 5 – I’ll do what God wants me to do. Soli Deo Gloria "I am doing a new thing" Text: Isaiah 43: 16-21 September 8, 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdK_y20CpAA&list=PLAplAsoIqsL4f1CsahnyF6qB0DpGwFzXm&index=3