Shows
Newmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 13: "Get up, Tabitha"Amazing things happen in the Book of Acts. Things Jesus modeled in the Gospels and then actually told His followers to go and do likewise, or in fact go and do even GREATER things.Most Christians are on board with these works of the Apostles being available to us in 2025, UNTIL, that is, we get to passages of raising the dead. That's just a bridge too far.Of course that raises all kinds of questions. Why are we skeptical of this? Why are there reports of this worldwide but not so much in "Western" countries like...2025-02-0900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 12: Blinded by the LightWe are now entering a whole new phase of Acts, and for that matter Christianity in general.We are moving out of the Jerusalem epicentre. This may not have been by choice, but God has a way of redeeming the bad stuff for our good and His glory AND to fulfill his mission... to spread the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and even to the ends of the earth.But before this mass missionary expansion, God had to transform the heart of an enemy of Jesus, and when he dramatically did so, the world was about...2025-02-0200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 11: Martyrs for the MissionYou just knew that "poking the bear" (the religious elite) couldn't last forever. The keepers of the "old way" had too much at stake.I want to tell you about Stephen, who as you may remember from last week, just got appointed as a Deacon. But far from only working behind the scenes with ministry logistics, Stephen is someone "filled with God's grace and power" and "performed great wonders and signs". Whether or not he was gifted this way before the filling of the Holy Spirit, he is an incredibly gifted orator and defender of the faith. So...2025-01-2600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 10: Good Problems!What if our Church just... oh, I don't know... quadrupled attendance overnight? No transfer growth... all NEW Christians. Praise God!Now, picture some of the logistics around that. Do we have to move? Go to four services? What kind of volunteer crisis would that create?You think we have parking issues now?Plus these would be new Christians who need discipleship, still living in all kinds of worldly ways, and not yet in a mature place to contribute financially or in ministry.Growth is a good thing but the first Church...2025-01-1900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church: The Church Under Attack!Back to our series on the Book of Acts: "How to BE the Church"In our last "episode" of our Acts series, we saw that following the miraculous early growth of the first Church, some opposition starts to appear.It appears from the INSIDE (see Ananias and Saphira) and the attack is really starting to amp up from the religious OUTSIDE.Shouldn't the religious types all be on "Team Messiah"? Turns out there are many other conflicting loyalties and agendas at work. But as one of the most "religious of the religious" wisely says...2025-01-1200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThe Path AheadYou might already be sick of any talk of "resolutions" or "New Year's goals". You find the January 1 date an arbitrary timeline to make life changes. Why not make life changes in November or December if they're that important?
The problem is that most of us don't spend the time in intentional reflection to even assess what changes need to happen... particularly in terms of character and spiritual growth.
This Sunday will be an opportunity to consider just ONE facet from a list of 9 that may just make your path in 2025 a blessed one.2025-01-0500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastChristmas Unfiltered - Part 3: The ResponseThe birth of Jesus prompted some extreme responses.
On one hand, there was an outpouring of worship, adoration and celebration... all to a baby boy.
On the other hand, there was a narcissistic, genocidal, resentful response.
Some may ask "Surely there's a third way? Some sort of measured response?"
Maybe that's been part of our issue around Christmas: thinking of it as a nice, safe, innocuous story that doesn't have much of an effect on our day to day lives.
So how are WE going to respond to this "first noel"?2024-12-2200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastChristmas Unfiltered - Part 2: The BirthThis was NOT an "Instagram moment"
Our nativity scenes have such a lovely Hallmark Christmas Card feel to them, one might forget (or never have heard) how desperate, dark and dismal the whole situation was.
Don't get me wrong. The birth of Jesus was truly "good news of great joy" but the circumstances surrounding his birth were not "fit for a King"... quite the opposite. But all of this "mess" tells us something very important about the character of God.2024-12-1500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastChristmas Unfiltered - Part 1: "No crying He makes" Seriously???I realize it's nice to picture baby Jesus as He is in our pristine Nativity sets: Jesus smiling with a little halo behind him. Lambs cuddling up to the baby in a well-lit, rustic but sterile setting. Mary and Joseph looking like a typical young adult couple hosting guests of mystics and shepherds, oblivious that a genocidal monster is in the process of hunting them down.
In truth, the entire Christmas narrative was stark, bleak and fraught with drama and even danger.
Come to think of it, OUR Christmases are often not "the most wonderful time of the year".
But...2024-12-0800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 8: An Awestruck and Generous ChurchOur Study in Acts continues...
Last Sunday we ended our narrative with an earthquake at a prayer meeting. The Church was experiencing unprecedented growth with miracles, power, sharing life together, and an incredible outpouring of generosity among the multitude of believers and beyond. But a dark cloud soon emerged, threatening to derail the growth of the early Church.
What God does about this is shocking, but sets the Church on a clear course until Jesus returns.
We do well in the 21st century to remember and pay heed!2024-12-0100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 7: The Church BOLDLY PRAYSOur Study in Acts continues...
Peter and John were just jailed and berated, all for the "misdeed" of healing a man and proclaiming the good news of Jesus.
Clearly, these two never felt alone amid this bullying: Jesus was with them, giving them courage and even the words to say to the authorities.
They're about to be reminded that they are not alone in another significant way.
The Church of Jesus Christ has their back!!2024-11-2400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 6: The Church Must Be COURAGEOUSOur Study in Acts continues...
Peter and John have just healed a lame man through the name and power of Jesus. The man is obviously ecstatic and the gathering crowd is curious now and open to the gospel.
You'd think EVERYONE would want to carry these two disciples on their shoulders in a heroes' parade, but wouldn't you know it, there are powerful people who want them silenced and punished.
You may have heard the expression "no good deed goes unpunished" and it starts to really apply to the first-century Church. Of course, we should expect some form of pushback...2024-11-1700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 5: There is Power in the Name of JesusOur Study in Acts continues...
As we've seen in the first few months of the Church's origin story, the Holy Spirit comes with wind and fire. It comes with the supernatural gift of speaking in other known languages for the purpose of proclaiming Jesus.
The Holy Spirit comes with a new boldness to recently fearful disciples and a clear articulation of the gospel. The Holy Spirit comes with a harvest of souls. It comes with unity, fellowship, devotion, generosity and worship.
The stakes keep getting higher. Now in Chapter 3 the Holy Spirit comes with POWER, and the whole city is...2024-11-1000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 4: This is What it Looks LikeOur Study in Acts continues with guest speaker Tony Wong.
If you have ever read the brief verses describing this early Church in Acts 2:42-47, perhaps your heart has sped up as mine has. THIS sounds like the Church we all long to be a part of...
Deep community.
Breaking bread together.
Praying together.
Sharing possessions and money for those among them in need.
There was JOY. There was generosity. There was goodwill towards them from the city AND people were getting saved daily.
That kind of Church IS possible.
You'll be richly ministered to by Tony, who is looking...2024-11-0300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 3: The Church: Day OneOur Study in Acts continues...
Remember that blustery fisherman dude with a temper, who 50 days prior had fearfully denied the Lord three times?
He is beautifully forgiven and restored by Jesus over breakfast following His resurrection, and then before Jesus ascended to heaven, told him and the other disciples to WAIT... something exciting is going to happen that will fill you with courage and empower you for ministry.
That same blustery fisherman - Peter - then stands up in front of thousands and ... well... it's the beginning of an unstoppable force called the Church of Jesus.2024-10-2700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the Church - Part 2: This Changes Everything!This following proposition may be controversial but here goes...
Without the events of Acts 2, there is no Christianity.
There. I said it.
The Incarnation of Jesus proved He was a missionary to the world He created.
The Cross proved His great sacrificial love and plan for salvation.
The Resurrection proves the hope we have of eternal life and our enemy of death being ultimately defeated.
The Ascension proves Jesus is truly Lord and King
BUT I would submit without PENTECOST all of these events would be lost as footnotes of history if the good news didn't get OUT.
It DID...2024-10-2000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow to BE the ChurchThere might be as many opinions as there are people as to what it means to BE the Church and BE a true disciple
Sometimes in the business world, when the organization begins to drift or lose their core values, there is a strategic effort to return to the founder's vision and template.
I can't help but think our "Founder's" vision and values for The Church and for true discipleship can best be found in the unique book of Acts
There isn't a boring page to be found and some of the narratives are so radical, one might ask "could...2024-10-1300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastFight the Real Enemy - Part 4: The WorldContext is everything...
Think of a simple word like "ball"
1. A cylindrical toy or sporting apparatus that most often bounces (noun)
2. A dance party where you dress in formal attire (noun)
3. To have a good time, as in, "we had a ball" (idiom)
That's just one example, and we are typically adept at parsing out words depending on their context; but in a theological context what does it mean that both THE WORLD is an enemy of our soul AND that God so loved THE WORLD He gave His only son?
How can it be something we are to both...2024-10-0600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastFight the Real Enemy - Part 3: The FleshPastor Glenn is only partly right. I (Jonathan) only hate MOST country music. There's one cowboy I hold in hallowed esteem... The "man in black"... Johnny Cash.
A committed Christian, who had previously done some "hard livin’ ”, Johnny wrote nuanced songs of faith AND of struggle. This is one of my favourites:
The beast in me is caged by frail and fragile bars
Restless by day and by night rants and rages at the stars
God help the beast in me
Sometimes it tries to kid me that it's just a teddy bear
And even somehow manage to vanish in the...2024-09-2900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastFight the Real Enemy - Part 2: The DevilAs much as our inclination is to make PEOPLE our enemy, we actually remember that our battle is not against "flesh and blood" (Eph. 6:12). The first of our real enemies is Satan.
I realize in our modern world there are many - even Christians - who put as much credence in the Devil as they would in mythological villains like Medusa, Loki or "the Boogey Man".
Unfortunately, Satan is very much real and at work in our world. Sometimes we may overestimate his power, but he is quite effective in one particular way.
Learn how Jesus Himself combated the one...2024-09-2200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastFight the Real Enemy - Part 1: Who is the Enemy?Some are uncomfortable with equating the Christian walk with "war" or "battle" imagery (while others are perhaps a little too comfortable with it). I assure you our Church forefathers had no such reservations.
Make no mistake, we are in a FIGHT... a fight for souls! Unfortunately many are directing their resistance at the wrong foe... namely PEOPLE!
Join us in the 4-week series to learn who the real enemies of our souls are and how to fight them!2024-09-1500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHealing to WholenessThere are many of you in our Church family living with long-term illness. Many of you live with, or love someone, suffering in this way.
One thing is true for ALL of us. Everyone will be afflicted at some point in their life with an area of brokenness that needs healing. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. The secular sciences are finally recognizing that these aspects of our whole selves do not operate in silos. Body, mind and spirit are deeply interconnected. In fact, Scripture has always alluded to this interdependency.
NAC's own Rachel Van Halteren understands the link between these aspects...2024-09-0800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastMental Health - Anxiety & DepressionWe have never seen this kind of widespread cultural affliction of Anxiety & Depression.
It is no respecter of age, race, gender or even whether you are a Christian or not. You may not struggle with it personally but you definitely know and love someone who does. Brett Ullman is part of the "walking wounded" and his story is both raw and hopeful.2024-08-2500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGet in the Game - Your Gifts"Yes, YOU!"
In this brief wrap-up of our summer series "Get in the Game" we will talk about the last spiritual gift (and it's a doozy) and then I suppose the onus is on you...
How has God uniquely wired you?
What is your role in "the body"?
What will it take for you to get off the sidelines and into the game?2024-08-1800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGet in the Game - Childlike Faith"Get the FAMILY in the game"
This long weekend we will have a short and engaging service for the whole family (children will be remaining in the service) which will include some games, some laughs, some prizes and an opportunity to receive Communion together with all the generations represented... the whole Church FAMILY!
We'll also address one spiritual gift that maybe the kids could teach us a thing or two about...2024-08-0400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThe Power Gifts Part Two"Get in the game"
Power Gifts (part 2)
Are you up for some more (as we referred to it last week) "weird stuff"?
Do you believe that the prophecy of Joel and of Pentecost is being fulfilled in our day and generation?
Do you believe that miracles can happen in 2024... not just theoretically, but that miracles could happen at NAC... even at any given moment?
Do you have the kind of faith that truly believes - in our day - God can do increasingly more than we can even ask or IMAGINE, according to His POWER at work within US!
Come...2024-07-2800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThe Power GiftsPower Gifts
Lately, have you heard people speak colloquially of someone's "superpower"? As in, "that's Jenny's superpower... staying calm in a crisis".
It can even be used as a bit of a back-handed compliment;
"That's just like Tony. His superpower is to turn the centre of attention back to him"
What if I told you the Holy Spirit may, at times, give you real supernatural giftings? Things that can only be explained as an act of God.
We are now getting into areas of this series that might make some uncomfortable or suspicious, and granted not all of these "Power...2024-07-2100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThe Word Gifts Part Two"Get in the game"
Part 2 of the "WORD" Gifts
Somebody asked me (Jonathan) at our Alliance General Assembly this week what my favourite thing about being a pastor is. I thought for a second - and I realize the spiritual gifts series is kind of “on the brain” - but what I said is spiritual gifts have got to be in the top three.
I love seeing people discover the unique way God has wired and gifted them, and the joy that comes with putting that calling to kingdom work.
At the General Assembly, there was even a session with a pa...2024-07-1400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGet in the Game - Part 3: The Word Gifts"There are two great moments in a person's life:
the moment you were born and the moment you realize why you were born."
—Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwel
For the purposes of this series, you'll remember we've divided up the Spiritual Gifts into 3 categories.
If the LOVE gifts (which we talked about last week) are more about the DOING, then the WORD gifts are more about the SAYING. Not just in terms of public giftings (preaching etc). Often these WORD gifts are happening in one-on-one relationships.
In short, the WORD gifts clarify the nature, action and purposes of God.
May this be an...2024-07-0700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGet in the Game - Part 2: The love giftsThe place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.
- Frederick Buechner
As we said, all-y'all have been blessed through the Holy Spirit with unique spiritual gifts.
For the purposes of this series, we've divided them up into 3 categories.
This Sunday we start with the LOVE GIFTS
These are the wonderful and necessary gifts in the Church that allow believers to express their love for God and for others in practical and sometimes overlooked ways. They are supportive gifts in the sense that they often build up what God is...2024-06-3000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGet in the Game - Part 1: Spiritual GiftsA New Summer Series!
It is not the critic who counts; not the one who points out how the strong one stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena.
- Theodore Rosevelt
There will always be those who sit on the sidelines. Those who fancy themselves as armchair quarterbacks. They offer critiques or appreciation but they are ultimately spectators. They are missing this joy of actually "getting in the game"
This summer we're excited to see YOU discover the unique ways God has gifted...2024-06-2300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastOne Hit Wonders - Part 5: JudeHey Jude!
Here we are with ANOTHER letter that seems to be addressing yet another messed-up Church.
In fact it seems A LOT of the New Testament is responding to messed-up churches...
It makes you wonder if the whole enterprise is worth the effort, or if it should be abandoned (as many people that you probably know have decided).
But in fact, that's WHY so much ink in the Bible is given to maintaining a healthy church. It's just that important! It's Jesus' plans for changing the world and He doesn't need a backup plan.
Jude tells us to CONTEND...2024-06-1600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastOne Hit Wonders - Part 4: 3rd JohnWalking in the Truth
John continues to lay out the three things that form the core of the identity of a true believer, obedience-truth-love, in his third letter to his friend Gaius. In the midst of a culture hostile to the early Christian churches, John stresses over and over how important it is for followers of Jesus to know and walk out the Truth. He compares and contrasts the behaviour of those who live out the truth and those who do not. He also speaks to some troubles in the church in his day that are still relevant today.2024-06-0900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastOne Hit Wonders - Part 3: JohnIn his first letter, John emphasizes LOVE and in this second one he expounds on it. Love is a measurable action - not sentimental emotion or some theological theory.
But there's something that goes hand in hand with love, and that's TRUTH.
It's why - maybe more so than ever - we need to be vigilant in knowing Jesus and not being influenced by false teachers2024-06-0200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastOne Hit Wonders - Part 1: Obadiah"My Sharona"...
"Funkytown"...
"Achy Breaky Heart"
We all know what a "one-hit wonder" song is but the Bible has some "one-hit wonders" as well. Five, to be exact.
There are five books in the Bible that consist of only one chapter. But they are still so good, so important, so full of significance, that even that single chapter of writing was given a title and included among the Bible's 66 books.
This is the kind of series where you can prepare for Sunday by reading an entire book of the Bible in about 3 minutes.
We are starting with Obadiah2024-05-1900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThe laugh you DON'T want to hear (audio)Up until now, in this series, we've studied the Biblical laughs we would likely aspire to.... the laugh of fearless confidence, the laugh of heaven etc.
On this final message of the series, it's important that we look at the laugh you DON'T want to hear.
It's a sobering gut-check on something we are ALL susceptible to.2024-05-1200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWhen God Makes Us Laugh - Part 4When God Makes Us Laugh (part 4)
When you hear the phrase "getting the last laugh" or the old axiom "he who laughs last, laughs best" there's something that sounds a little nefarious about it all.
Is this the laugh of revenge? The laugh of comeuppance?
Can you picture Snidely Whiplash twisting his moustache or Dr. Evil with his pinky to his mouth giving a "muwhahaha" villainous laugh?
That's NOT the Jesus way. He never felt vindictive towards ANYONE.
But, Jesus does talk about the pain of this life... how those who weep today are actually blessed because one day that...2024-05-0500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWhen God makes us laugh - part 3April 28, 2024
THE LAUGH OF FEARLESS CONFIDENCE
(** Podcast begins after the sermon had already started, simply setting up the Biblical context of David and Goliath **)
When God Makes Us Laugh (part 3)
Want to know what bullies absolutely cannot stand?
Laughing at them.
Bullies thrive off fear and intimidation.
Do you realize how Satan wants to bully you with lies and fear?
With the God of angel armies standing behind you, sometimes the best thing you can do is look directly at your enemy, throw your head back and laugh in defiance.2024-04-2800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWhen God Makes Us Laugh - Part 2A sincere laugh, by its very nature, is from something that catches us off guard. A punchline should be surprising in that way.
But sometimes the laugh comes not from having your funny bone tickled, but from sheer audacity.
Those "you gotta be kidding me" moments. The laugh when someone predicts or even pulls off the seemingly impossible.
Turns out God LOVES pulling off those "you gotta be kidding me" moments.
Join us for the Laugh of Disbelief2024-04-2100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWhen God Makes Us Laugh - Part 1: Do You Think God Has A Sense Of Humour?We don't typically associate "laughter" with God, Jesus and the Bible.
Maybe that's our first blindspot - ascribing maximum solemnity to the God who created joy, humour and ROFL moments.
We'll look at the humour of Jesus (even when you might not have known He was telling jokes). It might radically change the way you view Jesus and His teaching.
We’ll dive into every instance and mention of the word "laughter" in the Bible. Even the laugh you definitely don't want to hear.2024-04-1400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThe Persecuted ChurchWe may notice subtle shifts in the acceptance of Christianity in Canada, but it's not the same category of what the majority-world Christian faces.
317 million Christians worldwide currently face "very high" or "extreme" levels of persecution.
Tomorrow we have a unique service planned for you as our friends from Open Doors Canada, the organization begun by Brother Lawrence, will be presenting the incredible stories of faithful believers in North Korea and around the world who are choosing to follow Jesus no matter the cost.
You won't want to miss it!
opendoorscanada.org2024-04-0700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHereditary - Part 6: Breaking Generational Patterns of DysfunctionWelcome to the Family.
As we come to the finale of this series, there's one more piece that might just be game-changer for you.
Indeed "God sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6) and He does this in various ways, but the most significant is the adoption of His Children into a new Spiritual Family.
You are not an orphan. You are not alone. You are not un-parented.
You. Are. Adopted!2024-03-2400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHereditary - Part 5: Breaking Generational Patterns of DysfunctionTHE POWER OF A BLESSING
The subtitle of this series has been "Breaking generational patterns of dysfunction" but another way of putting it might be "Breaking the generational curse"
I'm not necessarily talking about witchcraft or that sort of thing, but many of you have in essence had curses spoken over you in your upbringing. Lies about your identity and destiny.
What is the antidote to a curse?
It's the power of a BLESSING!2024-03-1700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHereditary - Part 4: Breaking Generational Patterns of DysfunctionThe Way Forward
It's time in this series to get serious about breaking the patterns of generational dysfunction.
I believe God is asking us to play a role in our own healing.
There are steps forward - steps AWAY from our unhealthy past that we can take, but it will require some courage.
Courage to LEAVE, to OWN, and to CREATE2024-03-1000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHereditary - Part 3: Breaking Generational Patterns of Dysfunction"I can forgive my Mom for what she did, but I will NEVER forget the hurt she caused"
That sentiment sounds about right to me.
It sounds righteous and just.
There are even times in our history when it has been noble to say "Never Forget"
What IF there are times when it is MOST healing... MOST righteous to actually forget?
Are there times when even the God of the universe - the one who promises that He will not forget us - actually CHOOSES to forget?
Are there times we ought to as well?2024-03-0300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHereditary - Part 2: Breaking Generational Patterns of DysfunctionThe Bible speaks about the "sins of the fathers" being visited upon their children.
What has our family of origin done to us?
Are we doomed to repeat those same "sins"?
How can we break generational patterns of dysfunction?
This week begins the HOW part of the series..
You may not like the prescription the Bible offers, but it's one we all need to hear!
#siblings #parenting #parents #forgiveness2024-02-2500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHereditary - Part 1: Breaking Generational Patterns of DysfunctionA New Series Begins!
You're talking to your son and realize you just said that triggering thing your mom always said to you as a child...
When thinking about getting married, fear paralyzes you because you see how your parents ended up...
The words spoken to you as a child continue to echo through your spirit, affecting your self-esteem and relationships with others...
The dark, unspoken abuse, the pain of abandonment, the substance abuse...
The Bible speaks about the "sins of the fathers" being visited upon their children.
What has our family of origin done to us?
Are we doomed...2024-02-1800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastStrapped - Part 2: God's Wisdom For The Broke, Busted & BankruptWe promised a Part 2 that included some practical, wise steps to begin getting our finances under control - and those will certainly be part of this Sunday's presentation - but practical steps without a realignment of mindset... without a restructuring of our PRIORITIES won't be enough for the kind of financial freedom we're talking about.
So be prepared to be challenged, and God-willing, be prepared to be set free from a toxic relationship with money.2024-02-1100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastStrapped - Part 1: God's Wisdom For The Broke, Busted & BankruptThe most recent Canadian stats say that 47% of you who open this email are living paycheque to paycheque AND a great deal of your disposable income is going to consumer debt.
That means for half of you, if for some reason you lose your job, you're facing real trouble.
Whether we got this way from our bad decisions or circumstances beyond our control, we want you to know there is hope and there is help, and in this practical series you may just find both.2024-02-0400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWhat Is The Condition Of Your Heart Today?We all have ups and downs in life and this is also true of our love for Jesus. There are times we love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, and other times we love Him as an afterthought.
How can we cultivate a habit of the heart where we regularly and joyfully live in obedience and worship of Jesus? I believe we can learn from the saints and spiritual fathers in the contemplative tradition.
We will look at two sisters in the Bible who are often pitted against each other as one being better than the other; but...2024-01-2800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHow Do We Disciple The Next Generation?If you’re a follower of Jesus and have kids or grandkids, or even nieces and nephews, I bet that one of your biggest hopes for these kids’ lives is that they too would choose to give their life to Jesus.
Unfortunately the stats are revealing the opposite – that more and more of the next generation are choosing to walk AWAY from their faith as they become adults.
Is there anything we can do to reverse the trends? To help the next generation in their journey with Jesus?
While there’s no guarantees, I do believe that the Bible offers us hope...2024-01-2100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastSo What's The Difference? - Part 6: The Jesus WayAs we wrap up this series on the differences between the major religions it only makes sense that we would give the final say to the case for Christianity.
There are so many ways we could present this; Showing how historically, scientifically and logically that (in my humble opinion) Christianity is the faith that just makes sense. We could present a Biblical overview and show God's redeeming work from the beginning of history or a book of Romans study on the path to salvation.
Instead, let's give the last word(s) to Jesus Himself as he lays out the simple...2024-01-1400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastSo What's The Difference? - Part 5: Mormonism & Jehovah's Witness.Some of the nicest, kindest, most right-living people you've ever met might be Jehovah's Witnesses (Watchtower) or Mormons (LDS: Church of the latter day Saints). They may have the unique ability to show up at your door at the most inopportune time, but it's hard to slam the door on them when they're so darn nice.
So why do they seem so intent on making converts? Isn't that a GOOD thing?
Are they just like a different Christian denomination (like Baptists or Pentecostals or Presbyterians) wherein they do things a little different than us but ultimately worship the same God?
...2024-01-0700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Counter-Cultural Christmas - Part 3: Counter-Cultural GivingFor some of you reading this, your "love language" is giving and receiving gifts. This is a beautiful and legitimate expression of love that actually reflects a God who LOVES giving good gifts.
Christmas itself is really the story of God giving the ULTIMATE gift - the gift of HIMSELF to the world.
So this won't be some message on making anyone feel shame about the Christmas tradition of gift-giving. We're not about to "throw the baby out with the bathwater".
But I'll bet many of you are feeling the same discomfort that I am. This growing sense that Christmas...2023-12-1700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Counter-Cultural Christmas - Part 2: Counter-Cultural GatheringThis season you will most certainly have more gatherings than you're used to.
Family gatherings, work parties, in-laws, socials...
In other words, there's no shortage of opportunities for relational tension, conflict and outright annoyance.
Would you be surprised to know there is Biblical wisdom on how to navigate these tricky relationship scenarios?
This will be a particularly practical teaching that will hopefully make for more PEACEFUL and LOVING Christmas gatherings (and all the interactions that follow)2023-12-1000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Counter-Cultural Christmas - Part 1: Reclaiming our Reason for the SeasonDoes it feel like the beautiful, life-changing origin story of this Christmas season keeps getting increasingly watered down by our culture?
Is Christmas really about gift-giving? Sneaky elves hiding on shelves? Even some nebulous, ill-defined "spirit of Christmas"? How about 3 ghosts helping us to become a better all-around person?
Nothing inherently bad about any of those narratives EXCEPT when held in contrast to the greatest story ever told. Immanuel. God WITH us. This very practical series will share ideas on how to keep Christ in our Celebrating, our Gathering and our Giving2023-12-0300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastSo What's The Difference? - Part 4: CatholicismThis is a division that has some ugly historical precedence and depending on where you live in the world, may depend on how intense the division is.
But is there a good reason to be this divided?
Does the question "Are you Catholic or Christian?" even make sense?
Why does a NAC Sunday service and a Sunday Catholic Mass seem like they are not only from two different religions but two different worlds?
Where (and why) did the simple Acts 2 Church get split up?
In short.. what's the difference?2023-11-2600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastSo What's The Difference? - Part 3: IslamThe second largest religion in the world - second only to Christianity - again shares some of our historical pedigree. People like Abraham, Noah, Adam, Jonah, David etc. are highly esteemed in Islam. They too believe in one God and one God only.
5% of Canadians - almost 2 million - are Muslims. There is a good chance you are neighbours with, work with, study with or interact with Muslims on a daily basis.
And while we stand against Islamaphobia in all it's forms - hurtful stereotypes and misconceptions - there are significant differences in our understandings of the nature of God...2023-11-1200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastSo What's The Difference? - Part 2: JudaismIsrael and the Jewish people are back in the news in a BIG way lately.
They comprise just 0.2% of the world's population and yet it's hard to argue that the Jewish faith and people have an outsized influence on faith and culture.
Even with just a cursory understanding of Christianity, one can't help but immediately notice shared aspects of our faith. Many of their Biblical "heroes" are our "heroes". Their Jehovah is our Jehovah. Much of our sacred Scripture is shared.
Come discover at least one crucial difference that makes ALL the difference.2023-11-0500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastSo What's The Difference? - Part 1: Eastern ReligionsIf you say "religion isn't good", I wouldn't disagree with you. In fact, if you read the gospels… The biography of Jesus, you'll see how critical He was of religious institutions of the time.
Nowadays, people are more apt to define themselves as "not religious but spiritual"
It's exciting that there is an openness to "spiritual things" these days, but when you dig just a little deeper often the person will express a belief system - if you can even call it that - which resembles a hodgepodge of various religious tenets and loose "spiritual" practices... maybe even horoscopes, manifesting or...2023-10-2900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWe Are Exiles - Part 6: Exiles Are Going To Face LionsAs we wrap up this biography of Daniel (the remainder of the book of Daniel is his prophecies) and how it relates to us as "modern exiles", it ends with Daniel's most distinguished moment in a life of distinguished moments.
Christian exile you too will face lions! Don't be caught off guard or tempted to think that because your particular "Lion" moment doesn't have the same life or death stakes or existential clarity as Daniel's. In fact our temptation may be to minimize the cultural concession we are making.
Dare to be a Daniel and learn from a lifetime of...2023-10-2200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWe Are Exiles - Part 5: The Writing Is On The WallWe talk a lot at NAC about the grace of God... the forgiveness of God... a God who actually pursues us... and rightly so. Grace is really what separates us from all other small "g" gods and belief systems.
But what makes grace so amazing is that we CAN be rescued from the very real results of our sin and rebelliousness. If there are no consequences for sin, there is no justice and that is not God's way.
So when we receive rebukes about our current direction, God's warnings are actually proof of God's love. If he did not care...2023-10-1500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWe Are Exiles - Part 4: Humility & Respect - How Credibility Is EarnedIf you were taken captive, held against your will, and forced to take occultic classes in an evil regime, you would have every right to treat your oppressor as an enemy. I would even long for humiliating revenge!
The model of Daniel and the words of Jesus some six centuries later challenge us to a different response, which goes against everything in our human nature.
It comes down to difficult questions like: "Would you rather see your enemies SAVED or JUDGED?" "Would you rather ISOLATE in Babylon or INFILTRATE"
Oh, make no mistake. We are at war. We're just NOT...2023-10-0800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWe Are Exiles - Part 3: Faith In The FurnaceThree God-fearing exiles, living in Babylon, who along with all the indignities of being a defeated, captured and enslaved people, also have the indignity of a forced name change. Their slave names if you will. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. If you’ve been raised in the church, you know the highlights of their story. They made the Hebrews 11 “Faith Hall of Fame”. But I wonder if many of us took away the wrong application from this amazing story.
For those whose ultimate prayer is a rescue from your circumstances, I believe there’s an even greater gift God wants to give you...2023-10-0100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWe Are Exiles - Part 2: When The Bottom Falls OutSometimes things can actually go from bad to worse. It may in fact be the most profound crisis of your life. When that happens we have some choices.
I'm sure you know those who got bitter, cynical... some who even abandoned their church community and their faith altogether.
In Chapter 2, Daniel is faced with one of those "bottom falling out" moments and he actually provides us a template of sorts on how to respond. It actually ends up being for our good and God's glory.2023-09-2400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWe Are Exiles - Part 1: God Is Bigger Than Our BabylonIt's our Fall Kick-off and with that is a new Fall series which is in fact the foundational theme for our year.
What does it mean to live as spiritual exiles? To live with a minority philosophy and worldview in a majority culture that is either ambivalent, unaware or sometimes outright hostile to the life Jesus has called us to.
By walking through the book of Daniel, a template is laid out as to how to live with integrity and faithfulness as an exile.2023-09-1700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastNAC Fall Preview: A RemnantWhat Pastor Jonathan really wants to share is more like a vulnerable diary entry of where God seems to be speaking to him about the future of the big and small "c" Church. A theme keeps emerging. It's come up in various words, verses and ideas but it has one commonality and it will direct us this year at NAC. It's not necessarily a popular idea. It's not without controversy. There may even be those who have to decide if this is indeed the church for them.2023-09-1000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThis is My Story: God's Pathway to Children's MinistryPastor Kris shares some invaluable insights for parents in particular but really, for EVERYONE! We are excited as well to hear aspects of Kris's OWN story and testimony that may be new to most of us, as we get to see God's providence and calling in her life.2023-09-0300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon Podcast"Invited to the Table"In this Summer Series called "This is my Story", Jonathan is excited to tell you one of the lesser-known stories from a lesser-known character of the Old Testament. It's a story of tragedy, battle, royalty and bloodlines that sounds right out of "Game of Thrones".
What's amazing though is how plainly applicable this story is to each and every one of us in 2023.2023-08-2800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastExile: How do we handle it? (AUDIO)Jeremiah is a prophet during a time when God's people are not only a minority but living as persecuted exiles.
And while Jeremiah 29 is mostly known for its inspiring verse, the context around Jeremiah 29:11 - the verses before and after it - give an even richer context and instruction on how to live in these hostile times.2023-08-2000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastCan I have meaning in an otherwise meaningless world?Crosslands Church and NAC joined together for a great service at Fairy Lake Amphitheatre
Are you searching for purpose and meaning in all the wrong places? In places that can never truly scratch that "soul itch"?
Pastors Fred and Jonathan - Pastors from their respective churches - believe true meaning CAN be found in an otherwise meaningless world.2023-08-1300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThis is My Story- Part 5: Faithful Footnote (AUDIO)As we spend this summer in a series called "This is my Story" it is only human nature to think of ourselves as the main player in the story - the "hero" if you will. So when we read Biblical accounts of Daniel or Paul or David or Ruth, we might be tempted to most relate to the protagonist. Nothing wrong with that.
Recently though I've been interested in the "bit players"... the "cameos" or "footnotes" in a story whose influence may not be obvious on first glance but whose role - no matter how small - is vital to...2023-08-0600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThis is my Story: STEVE BRIGGS** (due to Sunday's technical issues, we are missing the first 5 minutes of this great testimony) **
"THINGS I'VE COME TO BELIEVE AND LESSONS I'VE SORTA, KINDA LEARNED"
We believe that for the Jesus-follower, the stories that happen in our lives aren't just a random, meaningless string of events.
We believe there is an author at work in our story. That's where we get words like "providence" and verses like Jeremiah 29:11
But lest you think that's a promise of a comfortable or easy life, think again.
In fact, even if God is not the cause of many of the trials and hard...2023-07-3000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThis is My Story- Part 4: Your Story Matters (AUDIO)YOUR Story Matters!
I can't think of too many times someone has been argued into the Kingdom of God...
I've never heard of anyone being bullied or shamed into God's Kingdom.
And I don't think it's very effective to rationalize, debate, shame or pester anyone into making the most important decision of their life.
Here's what I DO see happening a lot though;
A neighbour, co-worker, family member, barista... someone who you have built some relational capital with... opens up a faith conversation. Perhaps they even ask you; "Hey, why is this God-thing so important to you"?
What they are...2023-07-2300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThis is My Story- Part 2: Water in the Wilderness (AUDIO)WATER IN THE WILDERNESS
This summer we're hearing portions of people's true life stories... the good, the bad and the ugly... but in each I think you'll see the authorship of Jesus all over them.
Tomorrow our own Don Wallar shares a painful, vulnerable part of his life that everyone will relate with in one way or another.
Be encouraged! Even in the midst of being "in the wilderness", God gave Don streams of refreshing, living water.2023-07-0900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThis is My Story- Part 1: A Story Worth Telling (AUDIO)The Start of a NEW Summer Series
Our brains are literally wired for STORY. It might be one of the reasons Jesus primarily spoke in parables, illustrations and stories.
Each and every one of you has a STORY.
Whether you know it or not, Jesus' fingerprints are all over your story. He is the AUTHOR and perfector of our faith story.
Jesus asks us to partner in this narrative called "our life story". He will not coerce, cajole, or manipulate, which means WE have some decisions about how our story plays out.
So, I guess the question is, are we...2023-07-0200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 11: The Power of PRAYERAs we wrap up our James study tomorrow, James himself wraps up his letter... a letter that primarily addresses how Christians ought to live and interact with each other... by encouraging us to put our FAITH in action via radically expectant prayer!
In fact, we invite you to step out in faith and receive prayer in community through the means James lays out in this last section: The anointing of oil and laying on of hands.
Whether it is physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, financial (etc.) healing that needs to take place, God is more than able to bring healing.2023-06-2500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 10: The end of MAYBEThere were all kinds of ways as a kid I tried to communicate that THIS TIME,
I really MEANT it.
"cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye"
"I swear on a stack of Bibles"
"I swear on my Mother's grave"
We have grown-up versions of these. Air-tight contracts, NDA's, threats of legal recourse.
James says our Christian character compels us to be people of unvarnished truth.
But it seems there's even more going on here in this deceptively simple verse. Hope you'll join us.2023-06-1800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 9: The "HAVES" and the "HAVE NOTS"It's interesting to notice the subtle and not-so-subtle barriers that are constructed between the rich and the poor... the "haves" and the "have-nots".
There's even a dating app that promises to weed out the financially meager (put that in the not-so-subtle category). The "Occupy Wallstreet" demonstrations were another stark illustration.
But you can see it in things from gated communities to airline first class (or "business class"). Seinfeld had a great bit about the shame of having them close the curtain to first class.
There's clubs and resorts and golf courses that make a point of only serving a certain...2023-06-1100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 8: Seize the dayWhen I was a kid our car radio had basically nothing but the Christian radio station on, coming in on the airwaves from Detroit. One time I heard a song in the car that I sat enraptured by.
The next day when they were counting down the top Christian songs of the week (think Petra, Amy Grant..) I spoke up and said, "I hope that dust song is #1". My sister was like; "What are you talking about?"
I said: "You know.... that 'dust in the wind' song"
She said: "That's not a Christian song dum-dum" ( may have added the dum-dum...2023-06-0400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 7: Take the world... give me JesusJames starts this section by giving an unconventional take on why humans always seem to be bickering, fighting and at odds with each other.
Then he really gets all up in our business and links that issue to us being (my words, not James) fence-sitters. A little too enamoured with the world to be fully devoted to Christ.
Ouch!
If you're not up for getting a little personally challenged, tomorrow's service might NOT be for you. You've been warned.2023-05-2800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastWisdom Defined: A Faith that Works (part 6)James keeps circling back to this idea, that the God-life is more than "orthodoxy" (right thinking) but ultimately "orthopraxy" (right LIVING). In fact, I'll bet you know some near-geniuses... some genuinely book-smart people who seem to make such appallingly dumb life decisions.
Wisdom... the very thing that Solomon asked for above ALL else... the thing that God says can be made available to all of us if we'd only ask... it's more than reading your Bible every day, it's actually APPLYING all that good knowledge into a lifestyle. But James has some definitions of wisdom that you would NOT expect...2023-05-2100 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 5: Me And My Big MouthWhat tastes better than it smells? Your tongue!
They can’t be seen with the naked eye, but you have up to 4,000 taste buds by the time you’re an adult, each with up to 150 taste receptors. You have less when you’re a child which are more sensitive to sweet tastes which might explain why you preferred candy to cabbage.
Your tongue is as unique to you as your fingerprints. It’s a combination of eight muscles intertwined like an elephant’s trunk so it can move in any direction. They are the only muscles in the body that move indep...2023-05-1400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 4: Faith or WorksWell, this passage tomorrow is really the thesis statement of the entire book of James. A theme that he keeps circling back to.
Are you Spiritual? Great. But is it spirituality with substance?
You've got lots of "God-talk". Sure. But how about your "God-Acts"?
I can almost hear a slight tinge of sarcasm as James says;
"You say believe there is one God? Good for you! Even the demons believe this and tremble"
Not exactly a high spiritual bar.
Not faith OR works... that's a false dichotomy.
It's BOTH. Faith AND works. Two sides of the same coin.
If whatever...2023-05-0700 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 3: Loving Without PrejudiceThe Book of James continues...
Let me ask you something. Be honest.
What kind of snob are you?
Because we're all snobs somewhere.
Maybe you're a wine snob. You're like the guy from the movie "Sideways":
"If anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving"
You may be a coffee snob. Even Starbucks is too pedestrian. You need Kenyan AA beans using purified water.
Movie snobs, Music snobs, burger snobs, car snobs, book snobs (Kindle? How gauche!)
One kind of snobbery we'd never own? Being a PEOPLE snob.
Yet James has a way of calling out the implicit favouritism that we can be...2023-04-3000 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 2: Authentic FaithYou know how you can buy vinyl flooring that looks a lot like walnut? Thing is, even to the non-carpenters and arborists in the group, when you get up close you can tell it's not real.
I suppose the same thing could be said about people who claim to be "spiritual" or "a person of faith" or those who are Christian-in-name-only. Once you get up real close to their lives... well... it's a little like that vinyl flooring.
It's yet another reason why James is so challenging and applicable today as when it was written, it challenges us not just...2023-04-2300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastA Faith That Works - Part 1: EndureThere is no other book in the Bible quite like the Letter of James, written by the half-brother of Jesus.
In direct, even blunt style, James details what it means to not simply listen to what God says but to actually act on it.
If you want a primer on living out the "Christ life" in the midst of living out your real life, this is it: trials, patience, getting along with others, self-control, God's will... it's all here. Five chapters, 108 verses, 1,742 words... countless life lessons.
As applicable today as when it was written, it challenges us not just to...2023-04-1600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastEaster Changes EverythingEaster Sunday!
It's Christianity's "Superbowl"... Our faith's 7th game of the Stanley Cup...
I'm actually UNDERSTATING the impact of this day! That first Easter was an historical, spiritual, eternal game-changer and the world has never been the same since.
If you're not sure what Easter even means, we invite you to come.
If you have heard it all before but need a reminder of the difference Easter makes... the real-world tangible hope that it offers... we sure hope you will come as well.2023-04-0900 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGetting Grace Right - Part 3: Cheap GraceInterestingly, the New Testament gives us some good examples of churches who didn't quite "get" grace yet.
The Church in Galatia, you could say were “Jesus-plus” people.
This is where they say "All you need is Jesus (PLUS these 193 other rules)
That’s legalism. Not Grace
On the other hand, the people of Corinth, you could say, were “Jesus-minus” people.
They were like; “All you need is Jesus” (MINUS any real-life transformation or holiness or repentance or the Cross or...")
That’s called “cheap grace” which is no Grace at all.
Lord may we understand that grace is free but came at the ultimate2023-04-0300 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGetting Grace Right (part 2) Grace Givers & Stone ThrowersGrace.
It’s what I crave most when my own guilt is exposed.
Ironically it's also the very thing I’m hesitant to extend when I’m confronted with the guilt of others (especially if I'm hurt or offended in some way)
Interestingly, when you read the New Testament, the main thing Jesus stood against consistently was graceless religion.
The only group he was consistently indignant with were graceless religious leaders. So, we should not be surprised when we get to the end of the Gospels and discover that the people who crucified him were those who claimed to know God bu...2023-03-2600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThat's Why We Pray - Part 8: Why Does God Seem To Delay Answering My Prayer?Wasn’t it the great poet Tom Petty who said: “The waiting is the hardest part”
Ain’t that the truth.
We typically don’t do well with waiting. Less and less it seems.
For those who think God is ignoring your prayers (He isn’t) or saying ‘no’ to your prayers (He might be) there is also a possibility He’s delaying answering your prayers and there may be all kinds of good reasons, that in His love and perfect wisdom the wait will actually be worth it.2023-03-1200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThat's Why We Pray - Part 7: Praying TogetherIs there anything that strikes fear into many Christians more than being asked to pray out loud? To pray in a group? Even in the refuge of marriage, it can be deeply vulnerable.
So we'd like to present a case, theologically and intellectually, that something transcendent, supernatural and powerful happens when God's people gather and pray together (interestingly, something that has to be experienced rather than explained theologically and intellectually).
Yet one more example of how we are "better together" and what our vision to "Grow in authentic community" looks like.2023-03-0500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThat's Why We Pray - Part 5: Healing PrayerThe religious system in Jesus’ day was built on rules and regulations. Following them determined whether you were accepted into the community. There were some ‘untouchables’ that the church and the world stayed away from. When Jesus came, He was not afraid of them making him unclean, instead He leaned in and made them clean.
As we look at the encounter of Jesus with the lepers, what do we learn about Jesus’ heart for those that we consider unacceptable?2023-02-1200 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastThat Sinking Feeling: INADEQUACY (Audio)We get into part 6 of our series "That Sinking Feeling"
A lot of folks are advised to "Fake it 'till you make it"
The only problem is they feel like they're continually "fakin' it" (in some area of their life) without ever "makin' it".
Whether it's vocationally, relationally, financially, or even spiritually there is a feeling of deep inadequacy among so many people; A feeling that they'll soon be exposed for the phony they are.
Psychologists call this "impostor syndrome" and recent studies report it is a feeling that is on the rise in our culture.
It may be a...2022-06-0500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon Podcast"DEAR Church... Let Me IN!he Final Letter from our "Dear NAC: 7 Letters From Jesus" series.
The seventh letter is to the church in Laodecia
This is my (Jonathan's) favourite of the 7 letters (Is that weird to have favourites?)
It's an iconic letter that includes phrases you've definitely heard before. It includes perhaps the most dramatic rebuke... your "lukewarmness" makes me want to spew you from my mouth.
But it also includes Jesus' most tender invitation... "Behold, I stand at your door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as...2022-04-2400 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastGeneroUS: Your Capacity!Today Jonathan would like to pose a question to you.
Have you already decided what your limitations are?
Have you got a fixed idea of what your capacity is?
How do you know what your capacity is if you never challenge it?
How do you know what you’re capable of if you never get beyond what you're comfortable with.
There is a God who is able to do “Immeasurably more than what we hoped or imagined”2022-02-0600 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastAugust 8th Sermon Podcast - ElijahToday’s service was presented in a different kind of format. As Jonathan delves into the “Cabin Fever” that the prophet Elijah experienced, he separates it into 3 sections followed by an opportunity to respond in song (which for copyright reasons we won’t be including in this podcast, but feel free to seek out these songs)
Something is being formed in Elijah as he goes through seasons of extreme isolation, extreme dependence and extreme obedience.
Songs from today include: “Here” (elevation worship)
“Sparrows” (Bethel music)
“So will I - 100 billion x (hillsong music)
“Egypt” (Bethel music)2021-08-0800 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastJuly 25th Sermon Podcast - JonahTalk about "Cabin Fever"
In fact, talk about hitting "rock bottom".
But there are some Jonah's in our church here at NAC who have encountered the grace and saving work of God as they cried out to him from the depths...
From rock bottom.
Along with this message that Jonathan is excited to share, today is chock-full of good stuff including...
- A very special surprise announcement you won't want to miss!
- Some great worship with Glenn & Brittany and company
- Hearing the testimony and celebrating the calling of someone at NAC who is truly using her gifts to "...2021-07-2500 minNewmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHOW to hear from God. An interview with Keith GonyouIn this special teaching segment, I put my Dad on the spot (literally... no warning... no prep) and have a conversation about the HOW'S of hearing from God. What kinds of habits and actions should a believer incorporate into their life to better hear the "voice of the Shepherd". Keith Gonyou is someone with years of ministry experience, but more importantly, one who has a vital and daily reciprocal relationship with the Holy Spirit.2020-08-0300 min/uploads/7DDLqkY75zKMrku19VQRb9cB00cjGrsqphfGHpzv.png)
Newmarket Alliance Sermon PodcastHOW to hear from God. An interview with Keith GonyouIn this special teaching segment, I put my Dad on the spot (literally... no warning... no prep) and have a conversation about the HOW'S of hearing from God. What kinds of habits and actions should a believer incorporate into their life to better hear the "voice of the Shepherd". Keith Gonyou is someone with years of ministry experience, but more importantly, one who has a vital and daily reciprocal relationship with the Holy Spirit.2020-08-0300 min