South Abbotsford Church Podcast

Passage: Genesis 39. We're always blaming it on where. Where we are. What's happening to us. It's all wrong. If only the circumstance would change. But Joseph is there in the middle of all-wrong and still, strangely, YAHWEH is with him. Over and over this refrain, YAHWEH was with him. And with you. Do you believe this? Sermon Series: Joseph & Judah - See What God Can Do

Passage: Genesis 38. What do we do with the really weird parts of the Bible? Like this story that's hardly ever told (and certainly not in Sunday School). Turns out, we can zoom out and ask God what He's trying to say through it all. In this case, we learn that God's ability to redeem everything is so much greater than our realities. Sermon Series: Joseph & Judah - See What God Can Do

Passage: Genesis 37:12-36. Messes we can relate to. The Bible is full of this. Humans doing human things. But this isn't the moral of the story: just try harder. It's about the faithfulness of God to walk with us, even in the mess, and His promise to bring about something beautiful from our lives. Sermon Series: Joseph & Judah, See What God Can Do

Passage: Genesis 37:1-11. As we begin to explore the story of Joseph, we're taken beyond a morality tale from Sunday School. We experience God's redemptive plans to work for His glory in the midst of our mess. It's an epic story! It's also the Good News! Sermon Series: Joseph & Judah - See What God Can Do

Passage: Luke 24:1-11. We've been making the journey to this third day: the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. For the followers of Jesus, it came as a slow dawning reality. A process of stumbling toward this belief and conviction: Jesus is alive. But it will change everything for them. And it could change everything for us too!

Passage: Luke 19:28-44. It's a parade! Jesus enters Jerusalem. There's weird parts and sad parts. People praise God. Jesus cries. What's happening? Join Jeff Peters unpack Luke's story as Jesus leads us in judgment and mercy, and meets us there.  

Passage: Luke 6:46-49. The conclusion to one of Jesus' most famous sermons. So direct. So encouraging. So challenging. A house on a rock. A foolish builder. A storm. And the question: Why won't you do what I say? As usual, Jesus is raising the bar and calling us into the Kingdom Life. Sermon Series: The Dissident Manifesto

Passage: Luke 6:43-45. What does the Bible say about trees? And what about fruit? Is this important or maybe just a passing illustration about trying harder to be good. Am I the good tree? Am I the good human? What would it take to become a fruitful follower? So many good questions. All this and more... Sermon Series: The Dissident Manifesto

Passage: Luke 6:37-42. What's the boomerang principle? What's metrication? Why is Pastor Jon talking about his weight? Join us as we hear the challenge in Jesus' call to a Kingdom metric in our relationships with others. Can we change? What would it mean for us to exchange our stingy measures for generous ones...Sermon Series: The Dissident's Manifesto

Passage: Luke 6:27-36. Jesus is saying ridiculous and outlandish things. Like: Love your enemies. Or: Give to everyone who asks. Crazy stuff we could never do. Certainly not what anyone in the world expects from us. But Jesus is calling us to a Kingdom life that is only possible through Spirit-power. What would this mean for us? Sermon Series: The Dissident's Manifesto

This Sunday we heard from a few different voices all inviting us into this season of knowing God more intimately. Exploration of the Lent theme from Pastor Garth, and testimonies from Neil Klassen and Pete White round out this beautiful time of experiencing the invitation to draw near. 

Passage: Luke 6:20-26. Jesus walks around on mission. Setting people free and healing everyone. But what's His message? What would new creation people who live aligned with the coming Kingdom look like? Today is part one of Jesus' message about the dissident life. Prepare to be challenged. Sermon Series from Luke: Good News for Everyone

Passage: Luke 6:11-19. It's the in-between. Or maybe we should say in the in-between, we see Jesus ordering His life. His withdrawal to prayer, then assigning his inner-circle of community and then power going out to heal the masses. And if we followed His example, what would it mean for us? Sermon Series: Good News for Everyone

Passage: Luke 6:1-11. You're busy! We get it. Everyone is so busy. Maybe on your way right now, listening to this. And there is an invitation for you and me... from Jesus. You can enter into rest. Sabbath rest. Not through a system, but in the person of Jesus. He is Lord of the Sabbath!  Sermon Series: Good News for Everyone!

Passage: Luke 12:13-34. Jesus and Pastor Jon are talking money, but maybe it's not what you think. We're warned about the danger of greed and worry to derail you. A problem then, and now. But derailed from what? The Kingdom mandate is to invest in something you can't see. A safe, high-return investment: generosity! So many ways you could live this, and so much blessing and joy as we do! Sermon Series: House of the Stewards

Passage: John 1:1-4. What has God given us? The Word. Usually we mean the Bible, but John (and Garth) challenges us to think bigger. Jesus is the Word made flesh, so any talk about how we steward the Word stretches us beyond knowing the Bible. We encounter the Living Word who has been made visible. We become living vessels of His presence.  Sermon Series: House of the Stewards

Passage: Luke 19:11-27. What has God entrusted to you? And what are you doing with it? These are the questions we're wrestling as we take on stewardship in the biggest sense of the word. Today, we unpack a parable about a king and some stewards and their minas. What is God's business? And will we be about this until Jesus returns? The challenge is clear. Sermon Series: House of the Stewards

Passage: Romans 5:1-11. It's epiphany and we're still talking about peace. Today is a beautiful reminder of the simplest of all truths: Jesus has made peace for us. It's easy to point fingers at a world at war and forget the inner conflict we experienced as enemies of God. But Jesus has done what we couldn't and saved us! What a joy-filled reality we step into! 

Passage: Luke 1:57-80. Why is fire-and-brimstone John the Baptist part of the Christmas story? Does he have good news? Is this a love message? And what's all this about mercy? Mercy, mercy God came to show mercy. A baby, a song and a message about a God rich in mercy. Sermon Series: Unexpected People

Passage: Luke 1:37-57. We're up to our third story of unexpected people in the advent story. We're in a dramatic recap of all three stories as we hear it all in a fresh way. And of course, the shock is that it's ladies, babies and the humble who experience joy in the coming of this saviour Jesus. Advent Series: Unexpected People

Passage: Luke 1:26-38. Another angel with another message. This time equally surprising. A young girl. But less surprising if you read Matthew's geneology where he redeems the shame of several young women's stories. How is God healing our stories? How is He calling faithful followers? And will you respond? Advent Series: Unexpected People

Passage: Luke 1:5-25. Does God see me? Does He care? Can He change my situation? Zechariah's story is such a great one. Unexpected maybe as the start of the nativity story, but amazing nonetheless. We can hope because of who God is. He is always at work bringing new life from impossible situations. Advent Series: Unexpected People

Passage: Luke 5:33-39. It's really part two of the conversation Jesus is having about parties and people. He's thrown everyone off by being too fun and eating too much. His response is that this is a celebration! Jubilee has come! And the new Kingdom way is going to disrupt your old expectations. Get ready for it! The new wine and new garments come as good news for everyone. Sermon Series: Good News for Everyone

Passage: Luke 5:27-32. Nothing makes the message clear like inviting a tax collector to be your disciple. A weird move if you're trying to make an all-star team. But for us watching, we hear loud and clear that this is good news for everyone. And of course, when Levi throws a party for his degenerate friends, Jesus is there in the middle of it all, declaring the missional call for all His followers.Sermon Series: Good News for Everyone

Passage: Luke 5:17-26. Jesus is healing more people, but then things go weird. People break a roof to lower the guy and instead of, "Be healed" Jesus says "Your sins are forgiven". Enough chaos ensues for a movie scene. And our big question: Who is in charge? What's really going on? And what does it have to do with me? Sermon Series: Good News for Everyone

Passage: Luke 5:12-16. In one case study, we see a guy experience the reality that Jesus arrival is good news for everyone! Even lepers. Jesus is bringing healing, redemption and love to those who need it most. And this guy is supposed to keep all this a secret? But like most of us with secret good news, he just can't hold it in. Sermon Series: Good News for Everyone

Passage: Luke 5:1-12. Jesus shows up in Peter's work. An everyday place. And Jesus is calling him to a new way. Peter responds and nets brim with fish. People weep. And a new calling given: Fish for people. What about you? What is God inviting you try again in a new way, in His power? Sermon Series: Good News for Everyone 

Passage: Luke 4:31-44. Jesus moves on from Nazareth and starts demonstrating what this Kingdom Jubilee looks like. And people get set free. Others get healed. And no one wants to let Jesus go, it's so good. Clearly, ever so clearly, Jesus shows that He has authority over strongholds, sickness and sin. And this is good news! Such good news! Sermon Series: Luke - Good News For Everyone

Passage: Luke 4:14-30. We've begun the refrain: this is good news for everyone! Jesus comes to proclaim Jubilee is here - freedom and redemption. But not everyone will receive it. It isn't good news to everyone. The hometown crowd decide they'll join the stats on towns that try to kill their homegrown prophet. Sermon Series: Good News For EveryonePlease note this was our joint service and the message is being translated live into Punjabi by Pastor Ashish. 

Passage: Luke 4:1-13. We all know the feeling of being tempted and crossing the line. It's what draws us either to give up or go hard after systems and methods to beat temptation. When Jesus tells the story of His temptation to His disciples, and they record it in their accounts, we should be asking why? What difference does it make to every human alive that Jesus overcame the enemy? It's big. It's incredibly good news. Sermon Series: Luke - Good News for Everyone

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:3.Do you experience the reality of a hope-filled life? Do people ask you about your hope? Are you able to endure the difficulty that comes? The challenge to become people of endurance in hope could be daunting, if we weren't so focused on Jesus. He is our Living Hope! Sermon Series: Church Life 

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:3. So much of church life can feel like a labour. Actually so do a lot of other people's expectations. How do we navigate this? How do we serve one another (and God) out of love and not duty? With her gentle way, Lori leads us to Jesus and the Kingdom call of love. Sermon Series: Church Life

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:3. What does God want from us? What is the "work of faith" that our lives would demonstrate? Surprise! It isn't what you think. Sermon Series: Church Life

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3. We all need the refresher on exactly what we're doing in this whole "being church" together. Paul's encouragement to a church he planted feels like just the thing. Faith, love and hope to mark us and become the banner we use to cheer one another on as we pursue life with Jesus. Sermon Series: Church Life

Passage: Proverbs 31:10-31. Don't do it! Not another sermon on a Proverbs 31 woman! Or maybe a different take, with layers, to bring us to a deeper understanding of why the book ends here. Pursuing and praising the God-fearing woman. And what if the application is really, always, to pursue Jesus with all our hearts... could it be? Sermon Series: Proverbs

Passage: Proverbs 27:5-6. I love rebuke... said no one ever. How do we grow in the ability to give and receive trusted feedback? Because Proverbs counsels us that we would be wise to learn this. Even if it's hard. Even if we struggle. This is Christian. This is wisdom. Sermon Series: Proverbs

Passage: Proverbs 6:1-19. Why does work matter (beyond the paycheck)? In broad strokes, we undertake to follow the wisdom of a father to impart a value and meaning for work in the everyday. Should we care for others? How much? And why do you keep calling me "sluggard"? Sermon Series: Proverbs 

Passage: Proverbs 4:1-9. What's important? What should we spend our lives achieving or earning? What's worth giving everything for? The teacher says wisdom. And of course, how. This is the question. In characteristic style, Ron challenges us that wisdom can be found in those around us, through whom God chooses to speak. Sermon Series: Proverbs

Passage: Proverbs 16:1-9. What's my part and what's God's part? This is a huge human question. Is God a puppet-master holding the strings or can we just do whatever we want and God is helpless? Maybe it's a bit more in tension than we'd like, but God is in control and we are part of this! Please Note: This message includes an interview testimonySermon Series: Proverbs

Passage: Proverbs 18:10-11. There are so many things we rely on... trust in. The wisdom of proverbs counsels us that the most reliable and trustworthy one is God. His promise is that He won't let us down even when things seem grim. Sermon Series: Proverbs

Passage: Proverbs 2:1-8. If you... then... sigh. Conditionals. It's hard not to feel like all of Christianity is somehow conditional. But Proverbs leads us into a powerful why. Why would we pursue wisdom? To know God. To live in awe. To be shaped into a people resembling Him. And of course, all this is also gift... just like grace.  Sermon Series: Proverbs

Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6. Once we get to the heart of what proverbs are doing in the Bible, we can see a vision for the Kingdom life of character. And specifically, we hear the echo of all Scripture challenging us to trust and submit ourselves to the good Saviour. Sermon Series: Proverbs

Passage: Genesis 1:27. So we are made in the image of God, and God has beautiful plans and purposes for us. But we all know, this world isn't the way it started. Things are a mess. Our lives are a mess. How do we live into the image of God today? Is God still about the work of creation? This is part four of our Sermon Series: Imago Dei. 

Passage: Genesis 1:27. Why did God make humans male and female? What does any of that have to do with His image? We're tackling big questions as we step into potential divisive areas that culture expresses a lot of confusion about. What do we believe and why does it matter? Sermon Series: Imago Dei

Passage: Genesis 1:27. What makes humans special? Why does this matter? These fundamental questions are answered in the Bible. The reality of us being made in God's image has far reaching implications that put us at odds with culture at times. Our commitment to walk in both grace and truth guides us in our relationships with our friends and neighbours as well as our church community. Sermon Series: Imago Dei

Passage: Genesis 1:27. If we're made in God's image, then it's important to know, what is He like? What are qualities and characteristics that are part of the fabric of God? What things don't change or turn off or on? What is God really like and can we know Him? Sermon Series: Imago Dei

Passage: Ephesians 4:1-6. Some big part of this following Jesus thing involves others. People. And it can be so hard. How do we journey together? How do we keep unity? In the end, this is the mark of love and the biggest witness to the world - how we treat each other. Sermon Series: Ears to Hear

Passage: Ephesians 3:20-21. More. Kind of a big word. What do you want more of? This was the question we wrestled. And what is God offering? What if, in every layer, every situation, every challenge, every blessing, is really an invitation to enter into more of Jesus. We think small. He thinks big. Sermon Series: Ears to Hear

Passage: Hebrews 10:19-22. Does your heart burn to be near Him? Or maybe to approach the Holy One fills you with fear, guilt or shame. Or maybe you know deep down you are playing church but your heart is far away. The invitation today is to draw near with the confidence of a true heart because Jesus has made the way. Sermon Series: Ears to Hear

Passage: 1 Peter 2:9-10. What is Jesus saying to South Abbotsford? What grounds our mission and message and shapes us into a redemptive people? The Story of God! The Good News. The Gospel. If it doesn't change you, and how you relate with the people around you, then you haven't really understood it. It changes everything! Sermon Series: Ears to Hear