Sunday School

Main Service

Sunday School

Main Service

CGC Church Service Livestream

CGC Church Service Livestream - Sunday School

CGC Church Service Livestream - Sunday School

CGC Church Service Livestream

CGC Church Service Livestream

Sunday School: Living as the Church

CGC Church Sunday School Livestream

CGC Church Service Livestream

Sunday School: Living as the Church

CGC Church Service Livestream

CGC Church Service Livestream

CGC Church Service Livestream

CGC Church Service Livestream

Doctrine of man, sin, covenant

Hebrews 7

Who is In and Who is Out?

Sunday School

Questions and answers with the elders

The Invincible Kingdom

Sunday School: Charles Simeon

Ethics: Case Studies for the Modern Workplace

CGC Sunday School

CGC Church Main Service

Matthew 1:18-25, Christmas Eve Service, 2022

Not of This World: The Kingdom of Christ and the Politics of Man

The Joy of Reconciled Enemies

Men's Breakfast Series: The Maleficent Seven

Praying For Power

CGC Church Service Livestream

CGC Church Service Livestream

Communion, Lord's Supper, remembrance, covenant

TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL

Priorities in the Polluted Public Square

The Meekness of Wisdom

TAMING THE TONGUE: THE MARK OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY

Orders Remain Unchanged

Thursday Noontime Chapel

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Christ’s Counsel for Anxious and Agitated Activists

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Suffering Smyrna: Courageous and Faithful

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Humble and Mounted on a Colt

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

Thursday Noontime Chapel

The Divided Church

Parable of the Workers

The Most Important Things We Need to See: A Throne, a Scroll, a Lion, a Lamb

Disciplines Of Grace - Prayer

All Kinds of Covetousness: The Tenth Commandment Then and Npw

Transgenderism

The Goodness and Blessing of Unity

Dreaming of Bumper Crops

The House That God Builds

The Sanctity of Life: The Sixth Commandment

How do you end the greatest letter ever written? In this concluding study, the 54th message on the book of Romans we'll find out.

Co-Workers and Converts

Shared Hope

How do we relate to other people in the church who have different convictions about cases of conscience?

No False Identification: The Third Commandment

The Kindness and Severity of God

Not Making For Yourself: The Second Commandment

The End of Self Justification

The Guarantee of Glory

The Spirit Helps The Weak

The Groaning of Creation and New Creation

The Spirit of Adoption

Are we obligated to keep on sinning after we believe in Jesus Christ?

No Condemnation

Inside Out

The Confused Self

The New Way of the Spirit

The Sanctified Service of the Slave

Five images of union with Christ.

The Reign of Grace - Part 2

The Reign of Grace - Part I: How is Adam connected to Jesus Christ? What is typology? Part one looks at the reign of sin as a result of Adam's "transgression".

The King's Own Love

Peace with God, suffering that cultivates hope, and some Robert Murray M'Cheyne at the end.

The Accounting of God

Do you boast in your religious experience, or your religious background or your tribe?

Easter Sunday Service

Good Friday Service

The Whole World is Accountable to God

Defeater Beliefs

Hope or Hypocrisy?

Palm Sunday Service

How People Suppress the Truth

5 Reformations

Nine Wrong Views of Justification and One Correct View of Justification

The Revelation of the Gospel

The Beloved Saints of God

The Obedience of Faith

The Powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ

Background to the Greatest Letter Ever Written

Don't Be Deceived

Calvary Grace Sermon

Calvary Grace Sermon

Cast to the Lions

Union with Christ

God Verses The Blasphemy Party

God Versus The Blasphemy Party

A Warning to the Awakened

Who is the God Who Will Deliver You?

Perils of The Listener's Itch

Sexuality, Gender & Christian Witness

Sexuality, Gender & Christian Witness

Sexuality, Gender & Christian Witness

The Beatitudes

Pleading with God for the joy of the nations and the honor of His Name

Christian Character

The Greatest Speech Ever

He will Hold Us Fast

Seeking a Better Country

Confronted With the Risen Christ

The Cry of the Rockies

When Jesus was near death he prayed for the forgiveness of sinners. Is there any greater need in our lost world today than the forgiveness of sin and guilt?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once made this true statement, "We must consider marriage in terms of the doctrine of the atonement." Marriage is, at its heart, doctrinal. So when we see the connection between marriage, the gospel, and the glory of God, the roles of husband and wife take on far higher meaning and have far more powerful motivation.

What is Calvinism? What does it mean for God to be sovereign over us? Why should we care? In this first sermon in the series we will explore a foundational doctrine that produces humility in all those who confess it, the first petal of the TULIP: Total Depravityt

God's Gift For Growth

Anticipating the Miracle

Philippians 4:14-23 - Gospel Partnership

How do you tell the difference between something that is living and something that is not? In other words, what is the essence of something that is alive? When it comes to spiritual life, what do you look for in making an assessment of whether there is new life in the believer?

In the chaos of our fallen world, Christians are to think and act in well ordered ways, following the orderly rule of their Lord, Jesus Christ.

The exhortation in Jude 3 " to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" is still relevant 2000 years later. And as in Jude's day some of the contentions have to do with professing Christians within the church. Therefore, this epistle provides us with some vital lessons.

As people talk about immigration, nationalities, and borders, many forget that a passport to the city of God is the most important possession anyone can have. Only disciples of Jesus Christ are welcomed within the gates of that city.

The Imitation Gene

A certain buzz word gaining influence in our society today is stigma. Stigma is understood as a feeling of shame that is associated with a particular circumstance. In previous generations there was a stigma attached with needing help. Evidence for this evaluation lies in the slogan, "God helps those who help themselves." What's more, the rising development of books in the category of "self help." A positive feature in contemporary society is the attempt at breaking down the stigma associated with needing help. The weakness is that the help on offer either leaves God out of the equation or presents God in a way that is inconsistent with Scripture. On Sunday morning we will be reminded of how God's Word breaks the stigma attached with needing help and offers real help for our lives.

This Sunday as we look at Psalm 90, we'll take time to consider the power of God's anger, why it is that we die, and the need for a heart of wisdom. Along the way we will explore the surprising reality that we can have joy in the midst of the trials and afflictions of life as we turn our hearts towards God.

In a world filled with unfairness and wicked leadership, how can we find justice? In Psalm 82, Asaph shows us how we can know what true justice is, why it is so absent here on earth, what the concequences will be for evil rulers and judges, and what we are to do in the face of injustice.

After the horrors of two world wars, Martyn Lloyd-Jones described the experience of many people in his congregation as a spiritual depression. As a medical doctor, he made a diagnosis and offered a cure. Both diagnosis and cure are found in Psalm 42. This psalm's solution to spiritual depression has helped saints throughout the centuries.

The world is in pursuit of happiness yet cannot seem to find it. But as we enter the book of Psalms we are given wisdom in the description of the truly happy man and where and how he finds his delight.

For all his greatness as a man of God Paul knew he was a man of dust, with a nature and passions and needs like us. He feels his loneliness, his physical discomfort and his mental boredom: his need for the company of friends, for the warmth of a cloak, and for the spiritual stimulation of theological books. So his last words are very personal words from which we can find some valuable wisdom to help us persevere in the Christian life.

The Apostle Paul’s last words to Timothy setting forth his church growth strategy: “Preach the Word!”. Which means the primacy of preaching and the centrality of God’s Word are critical to the future of Christianity and the life of a healthy church.

When there has been a spiritual renewal we are tempted to take it easy. Isn’t it the case in your life? In Philippians, Paul urged a mature church to keep pressing on. Don’t sit back. Don't coast. Don't drift. If Christ owns you, seize the prize and hold true. It's a message which our church needs to hear today: press on.

What is your motivation in pursuing holiness? Anything other than what the apostle Paul instructs the Corinthian church will leave you tired, discouraged and burned out.

Could there be, in an ancient poem by an anonymous, long-dead singer about a temple destroyed now for two millennia, a way of hope for desperate, thirsty, insecure, and impoverished travellers through the dangers and anxieties of life in a messed-up world? Psalm 84 not only records one worshiper’s passionate poem of longing to be in God’s presence but also points forward to an even better, and eternal, dwelling for pilgrims in every age.

Why are you here? What should be the aim of every Christian believer? Addressing a divided and confused church, Paul reminds them--and us--what the measure and aim of Christian maturity actually is.

One day we will die and we will see the Lord. The way we live now has direct bearing on our enjoyment of that day.

It is often said that the Holy Spirit is the forgotten member of the Holy Trinity. But perhaps it is better to say that he is the least known. And many Christians are missing out on deeper communion with God and kingdom usefulness because of this. However, Jesus says to his disciples, “You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17b).

The problem of a “troubled heart” is common. Fear, anxiety and concern about certain present circumstances and the future consequences are something that is not unfamiliar to any of us. So what’s the cure for a troubled heart? Jesus tells us.

It is a blessing to lose all confidence in pedigree, position and power. In their place must be Christ. To gain him is better than all of the false confidence that the world esteems.

If you follow social media, you could get the impression that pastors are mostly charlatans, predators, narcissists or dictators. But according to Scripture, faithful pastors are gifts given to the church by God for its good. Paul reminds the Philippians of two faithful pastors and encourages them to "honour such men." How can Paul's view of faithful pastors in the 1st century be adopted by the church in the 21st century?

The challenge for mature Christian believers is that they can tend to rely on their developed theological knowledge, but fail to apply it consistently. They can easily grumble when things don’t fit their convenience or dispute over things that don’t matter. Paul reminds the Philippians that holding fast to the word of life is the key to having counter-cultural unity and joy.

Every false religion offers hopeless ladders on crumbling walls. If you were to trace most of the bad teaching in the church, most of it would come back to a misunderstanding of Phil 2:12-13. When the pursuit of piety is not grounded in the promise of God, it brings glory to sinful people alone, and not to God. Where is your promise? Where is your pursuit? When these are rightly ordered, God is pleased

How does a list of names from thousands of years ago provide any comfort, or encouragement, or practical lessons for wise living? What on earth do biblical genealogies have to do with you and your life? Though many modern Christians struggle to see the value of biblical genealogies, Luke, in his Gospel, presents Jesus’ lineage as something that’s not only vital to know, but that will change the lives of his readers forever.

How does a list of names from thousands of years ago provide any comfort, or encouragement, or practical lessons for wise living? What on earth do biblical genealogies have to do with you and your life? Though many modern Christians struggle to see the value of biblical genealogies, Matthew, in his Gospel, presents Jesus’ lineage as something that’s not only vital to know, but that will change the lives of his readers forever.

The history defining event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord compels us to surrender to his victory, submit to his rights and celebrate him with all glory and honor.

Voddie Baucham QA

Guest Dr. Voddie Baucham's message at Calvary Grace Church

In a world where people are bent on exploiting every possible platform for personal advancement the thought of anyone refusing that seems otherworldly. That’s why the self-humbling of Jesus Christ is such a great mystery: He is God Incarnate. Come and explore this mystery as we hear from Philippians 2:6-8.

All people are summoned to look to Jesus Christ for salvation. The believer doesn’t stop looking to Jesus either. In this introduction to Philippians 2:5-11, Paul encourages us to consider Jesus-- the call to gospel thinking.

With so many churches suffering from dysfunction, and even good churches finding it hard not to splinter into pieces, it is good to remember what Paul told the Philippians in this passage. These are practical essentials for a happy church built on gratuity, unity and humility.

The sins and sorrows of the world can seem overwhelming at times. We can think that they will never end. But by God’s grace he has saved a merry band of gospel revolutionaries. They conquer in weakness by faith in their Saviour. Paul rallies gospel revolutionaries to stand firm on the message of Jesus Christ, heralding the establishment of his coming kingdom. Are you a part of this revolutionary movement?

In Philippians 1:21-26 we are reminded that the great joy of the Christian is to honour God, by serving those whom God loves. Are you living for the "progress and joy in the faith" of others?

Q&A with our Guest speaker Paul Martin and Clint Humfrey

Exodus 14 is unpacked with Pastor Paul Martin

Belief, Jesus, Mercy

In a time of dread about the future, we need to be reminded of the goodness of God and the sureness of his promises. When we hold on to his promises, we have a buoyant expectancy that says, 'to live is Christ and to die is gain'. In the first of a two part series, we'll see the promise of the believer's resurrection as a source of great expectation today.

Are you tired of trying to be zealous for good works? Are spiritual acts of obedience overwhelming you? Perhaps you are like me and need to be reminded of the grace of God found in the gospel. Have you ever thought of where this grace comes from? How does it work? Find out as we turn in our Bibles to Titus 2:11-14.

In light of the beginning of a new year, believers should be challenged to not abandon the best for the good, and to see what God sees as necessary.

The call of the church in every age is to spiritually discern the activity of the enemy, a demonic parody of the Trinity, as he seeks to deceive and destroy believers.This calls for wisdom.

Jesus told his disciples, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). How does Jesus build churches? And how do people respond to him when he does so? In Acts 17:1-14, we see how the Spirit of Christ used the Apostle Paul and how people reacted to his ministry. And as we approach another New Year, this passage presents a crucial "resolution" that everyone needs to make.

Many people are looking for a sign, which means that they are lost. Others are lost yet don't think they need a sign. In the gift of the gospel a sign has been given. The sign is Jesus Christ. The shepherds were told that the baby in a manger was a sign that God had provided a glorious Saviour. And it is only this sign from the manger to the cross that directs and delivers from our lostness.

People may go through Christmas with the general idea that it is a season of peace and goodwill, of love and Joy. It is a season of family and gift giving. Every year you hear people ponder the meaning of Christmas. For the believer, however, there is nothing general or vague about Christmas. For the believer it is staggeringly personal.

At Christmas we celebrate Christ’s first advent. But sinful and suffering Christians must have their hopes set on his second advent, where all of history find its focal point in the person of Jesus. There will be a great divide, but for the church the end is just the beginning.

It's been said that truly some may preach Christ better, but they can't preach a better Christ. If this is the case then God can work through imperfect instruments. Someone can be saved through faith in Christ, in spite of the ministry motives of the minister. But how should Christians view each others' ministries? And what does it mean to rejoice in the face of rivalry. Paul tells us in this passage given for our instruction.

During the Advent season, people are in a reflective, year-in-review attitude. Some are filled thanksgiving, others are filled with regret. But what if our circumstances didn't reflect what was really going on in God's purposes? That is the point Paul makes in his letter to the young Greek Christians. God was able to use Paul's restricted movement in prison, to advance the mission of Jesus further than it have ever gone before. Is it possible that God is wanting you to ask, "Why did this happen?" so that you can see God's good purposes behind it?

Everything God has ever done has ultimately been for his glory and the fame of his name - especially in his actions towards his people. Therefore, this must be the central motivation for the Christian in all things.

What are the things that influence you? What are the things that you are willing to stand up for? It is the things that are most important that will affect us, and we will defend them with all of our passion. In Paul's letter to the Philippian church, he prayerfully reminds them of how the grace of God has affected them causing their love for Jesus to grow, along with their desire to defend his gospel. Are you passionately taking a stand?

What do you say to a good church that could be better? The letter to the Philippians says it. This is not a church with major doctrinal dysfunction, like Galatia. It not a church harbouring immorality like Corinth. It’s a gospel advancing church. Although it still has some issues, Paul shows his gratitude to God for this church. Are you thankful for your church?

What is a servant of Jesus? The idea can be surprisingly difficult to pin down. Is it to be a reclusive monk or nun? Or is it to be an over-worked people-pleaser always ready to be someone else’s doormat? Paul instructs us in the kind of servanthood that Christians should model, by pointing us to our master, Jesus Christ.

From the sixteenth century to the twenty first, there has been a protest against false gospels that deny the finished work of Jesus Christ. As Protestants we reject false gospels, whether Roman Catholic or otherwise. Today we must be vigilant to reform our faith in the gospel, so that we are believing what is true.

Today there continues to be a lot of talk about worship in the church. Often it is refers to the musical style that a church has. But worship is more basically about the object of our devotion. Whom shall we worship? Now, as in every age of the church, we need a reformation of worship, so that we worship the true God and worship him acceptably.

The Protestant Reformation was a struggle of authorities. The authority of Scripture was pitted against the authority of the pope and councils of the church of Rome. Today we are in a crisis of authority as well. Where does the authority in your life come from? Is it from sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) as the Reformers taught? Or is it from somewhere else?

As Christians, if we want real reformation, it must start with the things we really want even the things we crave. We must seek Christ so that he would reform us as we put off the old self and put on the new self. In Colossians 3, Paul leads us in seeking this reformation--- a reformation of desire.

If Medieval Roman Catholicism was dominated by images, our Modern world is filled with them also. In the contemporary church we need a new gospel-driven reformation that will reform our desires for images too. We need to be radical in removing immoral lusts from our lives. We need to reform our desires according to Christ's command.

How does transformation happen in the believer's life? Are we saved by the gospel to move on to supposedly bigger and better ways for sanctification? Or does transformation happen by simply looking to ourselves and our own ingenuity for fighting sin. As we look at chapter 3 of 2 Corinthians, we'll find that the answer to those questions is powerfully refreshing and encouraging.

Is this life all there is? Or is there something beyond us that gives meaning to our brief life now? In the ancient letter of Paul to the fledgling church at Philippi, he encourages them to know Jesus Christ in such a way that it gives meaning to their lives and more. To live is Christ and to die is gain. Only life in Christ produces the rarest commodity in the world: joy.

It is a false understanding of joy to think that you can only have it when things are going well in your life. In fact, joy is known most often in times of great difficulty. Are you going through a hard season? Then remember along with Habakkuk’s prayer that the hope of God’s mercy can revive you, strengthen you and save you.

God derisively mocked the Babylonians after he did it to Israel. In Habakkuk chapter 2, the prophet is told of five putdowns which God mocked Babylon with. If our God is scoffing at the nations and their idols in our day too, then why should we conform to their impotent and passing ways? The meek may be a minority, but they should be confident in God.

We can expect things to work out in the same way that they always have. We say, “same old, same old.” But God calls us to trust in him alone. That means looking to him in expectancy to see what he will do. Because God is God he is free to do the unexpected. So we must silently listen and watch to see his glorious gospel plans unfold.

Many people say they don’t believe in God because they see all that is wrong in the world. Sadly they give up instead of seeking God. The prophecy of Habakkuk is a reminder that even when things look bad, God is able to do unexpected things which show his great glory. What we are called to do is watch and wait in faith alone.

The Christian life is one of self denial and self mortification. It is not for us to lift ourselves up, it is for the Lord and he will exalt us indeed. This kind of life is something the world finds foolish. While they seek to make themselves significant, our significance is found in another.

The gospel of grace is unlike the world in who it targets and how it transforms. Christ alone is sufficient for the best of men or the worst of sinners because the cross is a leveler for all. Apprehending the forgiveness God offers is the key to salvation and to counter cultural love.

The gospel of grace is unlike the world in who it targets and how it transforms. Christ alone is sufficient for the best of men or the worst of sinners because the cross is a leveler for all. Apprehending the forgiveness God offers is the key to salvation and to counter cultural love.

What are you doing with your life? If you’re a Millenial or in a Mid-Life Crisis you may have asked yourself this question. Maybe a concerned parent or friend dropped that bomb on you. But if we know that our life is not our own, but belongs to Christ, bought with a price, then we can wisely steward the talents that God has given to us. More than that, we’ll recognize the generosity, rights and happiness of our Lord God.

As we struggle with discerning hypocrisy and credibility in the church, we are often puzzled. Why doesn’t everyone believe? People can hear the same sermon, or read the same bible, yet one believes and another does not. Why is this so? Jesus’ parable of the sower and the soils will tell us why.

When Cecilia Wessel took the picture of her husband mowing the grass in front of a tornado, nobody would have known that the photo would go viral. Like a mustard seed it started out insignificant but became shockingly huge. Jesus kingdom is even more viral. It came in humble circumstances like a mustard seed, yet it will demand that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.”

Why did God tell his people to build him a golden table? And how can this possibly matter to you today, with all your problems? Exodus 25 and Leviticus 24 aren't just dusty, irrelevant historical trivia, but even now offer a feast to a desperately hungry world.

In a dark world it can seem as if evil prevails. Or it seems like we are living in a Marvel comic when evil is only defeated until the next sequel. But the kingdom of Jesus Christ has broken into the present, to bind the strong man Satan and lay siege to his kingdom.

When Jesus came on the scene he upset the status quo. But his intention wasn't to promote anarchy or discard authority. He came to bring a new way of life, the life of his kingdom. The scandal of this new life was that it was filled with an ordered freedom and no longer submitted to man-made religion. Like the scenes of a wedding party, the new life of the kingdom is filled with celebration in Jesus Christ alone.

In a world of darkness and shame is it appropriate to keep the blessing of gospel enlightenment for ourselves and not others? Should we enjoy the benefit of salvation in Christ and become hoarders of blessing rather than sharers? Jesus’ illustration of the lamp and the basket reminds us of what our purpose in life really is.

How many water bottles have you thrown away? No matter how many we consume, we can't ever seem to satisfy our thirst. How much more is the thirst of our souls. All around us there are promises offered that will supposedly satisfy us. But we are thirsty at this modern feast. Jesus came to offer something that would truly satisfy, himself. With the promise of faith in him comes a soul satisfying irrigation of our souls producing great fruitfulness. It is the soul irrigation of the Holy Spirit. Come, all who are thirsty!

Distraction is the mark of our age. We are distracted by the digital demands on our attention with every notification, ringtone, ping and pop-up. In all of our distraction we miss the gravity of God's will for us, which he has revealed in his Word. But when someone hears that Word and heeds it, they pay attention to it like nothing else matters in the world. When at the same time a mass of people are attentive to the Word, rather than the world, we call that an awakening, a revival of attention to Word of God in the gospel of Christ. May it be so in our dark, distracted city.

Into the realism of our difficult world, people are in need of hope. Like the Israelites who were threatened with exile, our view of life before our eyes can seem bleak. ‘Now hope that is seen is not hope’ as Paul said. Yet this prophecy, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, offers us a reviving hope. It is the beauty of hope for the hopeless no more.

The great question of revival is put before us because as a human race, we are 'dead in trespasses and sins'. The old question is put to us by God, "Can these bones live?" Can new birth beat old death? And can God do it? So we are challenged today with the call to believe. Do we believe God is able to bring life to what is dead? The message of Ezekiel reminds us of the hope of the gospel of life over death.

The good news which the Christian faith broadcasts informs us that there is hope for those who are hopeless. This revolutionary message is grounded in the fact that God revives the lowly and gives comfort to the beaten down. Because of our sin, we are all under the oppression of a metaphysical principle of sin that enflamed by a spiritual enemy, Satan. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, we can find hope in him. Through the Spirit of the Son, God revives the lowly and oppressed. Nothing else can give you peace like he can.

All of us might wish for a euphoric spiritual experience. But we can have a hard time obeying what God has already said. Too often, we prefer to keep our regular, secret sins. So, revival in our lives sounds exciting, but reformation sounds painful. Thankfully the experience of reformation and revival frequently go together. As we look at the life of the young king Josiah, we will see that often God blesses real reformation with the retrieval of truth and a revival of believing, loving obedience.

In seasons of revival God intensifies his regular working among his people. This is what happened when the omnipresent God made himself manifest in a special way to his people in the days of Moses. He prayed to God that if God's special presence didn't go with the people they had no wish to move forward. It should be the prayer of the church today--- a plea for the reviving presence of God.

Are you feeling hopeless these days? Social media is anti-social. Relationships are brittle and prickly. So much is hostile and dark. Our cynicism expands as things we used to hope in become broken and false: traditions, communities, leaders and friends. Into this disintegrating world, there is true hope. But it only comes through death and resurrection. And that hope is embodied in Jesus Christ, who guaranteed that hope through His own Easter experience for us.

A perennial question among Christians is this: "If God is sovereign, why pray?" In this last message from our series in 1 Thessalonians, we will see Paul's exhortations to pray that are grounded in God's active, personal and ever-present sovereignty. If God is present in his sovereignty, will you pray that he would act in your life through this message for his glory?

In the social upheaval which we face, it seems that whatever is good, beautiful and true is being despised and rejected. However, the Word of God has the power to make and keep promises that will outlast the current despisers. Such a Word puts pressure on them, but on those who believe in Christ, that Word will purify people as they hold fast what is good.

The Holy Spirit can be grieved and his work can be quenched. The Holy Spirit aims to glorify the Son and to make us holy. How do we quench this work?

Godly gratitude is powerful. In this Lord's Day message, we will look at five truths about godly gratitude that will reorient us to give thanks to God, which is what we are made for.

One of the great daily essentials of the Christian's life and joy is prayer. As well as having good doctrine, if we are to see a reformation in the church we must also see reformation in prayer.

Churches splitting and pastors failing remind us of what happens when we forsake God's plan for peace in the church. In the first century, the apostle Paul was so concerned about the new church in Northern Greece that he outlined this plan for them. It is a simple plan which holds promise for creating peace in our church even today. God's plan is the abiding call for pastor appreciation, peacemaking and person-to-person ministry.

Guest Pastor Steve Bray will be preaching a message from John 1:19-28

Deuteronomy 34

The times and seasons of today are uncertain. We need reminders like Paul gave to the Greeks, that Christians shouldn’t live in fear of sudden destruction or the Day of the Lord. Believers don’t need to fear the Day because we are children of the day. Our brilliant radiance comes, not from ourselves, but from Jesus Christ, the Light shining in the darkness.

Christ is coming! What does that mean for those who have died in Christ and those who will be alive at his return? How does a Christian grieve with hope in the face of death and how does one deal with the death of non-believers?

Love is not simply one virtue amongst many in the Christian life; it is the preeminent thing. However, it is worked out in surprisingly ordinary ways.

As we reflect upon 2016 and anticipate a new year, we ought to look up to the One who rules over from the throne in Heaven. Whatever happens in our world, country or our individual lives, we are safe and secure when we are in Christ. God will reset our perspective on life and eternity as we worship our Triune God.

We talk of a merry, joyful and peaceful Christmas. But really we live in a world of darkness and conflict. So what, or rather who, is anyone's only hope?

In Matthew's account of the visit of the Magi, we are confronted with a striking reversal of expectations. Who will God call to be his faithful people? What might stand in our way as we seek to worship the One True King?

The arrival of the messiah was predicted by the prophets and was anticipated by many. The messiah has come, but has been taken from us with his resurrection. We are now in a new period of waiting, but what does anticipation look like on this side of the cross?

In the sexual revolution of our time, there is nothing more important for Christians to know than the will of God for their lives.

Paul teaches the Thessalonians how to pray by linking simple requests to a profound purpose of holy preparation for the return of Jesus Christ.

In a day when people are looking for leaders who can fix this broken world, there is One who has already accomplished the guarantee of that. To do that He has dealt decisively with the problem of sin. As the Church, are we waiting for the day of His power or is it the day of His power right now?

If approximately 4000 churches close their doors each year, is the local church more fragile than we realize? In 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul shows both his fear for fragile churches and his joy in their growing faith.

In the face of opposition Paul has defended his ministry and now he reveals the fiery warmth of his heart for the church in Thessalonica.

Perhaps the hardest of all Jesus' teachings is the command to 'take up his cross'

If Christians are called to be witnesses in this world, then they will face opposition. Even what the ancients called a witness was similar to a martyr. The church that confesses Jesus Christ will do so with this witness mindset in prayer, in power and even in persecution.

Effective gospel ministry is hard work. The context of this ministry is the family of God in the local church. The result of this hard work is glorious and eternal.

The Thessalonian revival gave birth to a thriving local church. In chapter 2 of his first Thessalonian letter, the apostle Paul reviewed what his ministry had been like in those brief but dramatic days. When he did this, he left an enduring description of what faithful pastoral ministry looks like.

God has made patterns everywhere, from DNA codes to light particles to sound waves and more. He has also made supernatural patterns of His glory seen in the gospel of Jesus Christ and expressed through Christian believers. Those patterns of Christian faith have remained the same since the first century. And today we can spot those patterns in our church with the hope that they will continue to multiply to every tribe, tongue and nation.

On a Sunday when we will see people profess their faith in Jesus Christ publicly through baptism, we can ask the question, how can a person be changed to go from not believing in Jesus to believing? This change comes only from the reviving, saving work of the Holy Spirit through the gospel of Jesus Christ believed and owned. Revived lives show the change that can only come from God alone, which is reason to thank God and celebrate His great love!

When Paul the apostle responded to the vision of the Macedonian man, it lead to the miraculous birth of the church in Europe and beyond. The newly planted Thessalonian Christians belonged to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, governed by the Word of God, and awaiting the impending return of their King. As we begin our series in 1 Thessalonians, we will learn from the example of that early Greek church which Paul loved so much. It is the example of a waiting church, walking worthy of Christ.

We have a great salvation in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And it becomes increasingly fresh and precious as you grow as a Christian. Therefore, deepening our understanding of this necessary atonement is the key to enjoying its glory and realizing its transforming power.

Are you worried? Are you struggling? From physical afflictions to emotional dilemmas, we are all faced with difficulty in the Christian life. But this psalm reminds us where help comes from - not from the world, but from the One who made the world. This is what gives weary pilgrims

What is money for? As Christians, we need to see stewardship of money as an opportunity to glorify God and serve others - for our joy!

Most Christians believe God has a particular plan for their life and want to live wisely, but many Christians struggle to discern God's will. So either presumption or paralysis follows when it comes to decision making and stewarding opportunities. Proverbs 3 gives us great help.

The world is full of unrest at the moment but this is simply a reflection of the restlessness of the human soul. We all need physical rest but ultimately we need the soul rest Jesus offers.

We are made with a purpose and time well spent fulfills that purpose. Time well spent goes beyond Christian activity and ministry and is consistent with our purpose. But beware…..we have a sinful heart.

It seems like the world is out of control and filled with extreme reactions everywhere. Yet Peter told the early Christians that the end of all things is at hand, so be "self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers'.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about the initiative of God to pursue sinners, enslaved in their sin and to save them. Without God's pursuit, there would be no salvation. Yet in our world sinners wish to be left alone in their darkness. They don't want missionaries to pursue them with the gospel. They don't want a God that tells them they are in danger and need to be saved out of their lostness. Even in the church, we can subtly step back and let wanders go unpursued. A fresh reminder of God's gospel in the saving work of Jesus Christ will show us that we were pursued and we ought to pursue wanders and lost ones with gospel love.

Prayer is something that every Christian knows they ought to do, but don't do enough. We all feel guilty about our prayerlessness. And what happens when we feel guilty about something? We tend to not want to think about it. So our prayerlessness continues. What we need is to be reminded of what it means to be a Christian at prayer, praying with one another as a Church at prayer. So, remembering we are redeemed sinners, let us pray.

Patience is in short supply in an instant world. Every lineup, queue or traffic jam makes us impatient. But the Christian believer is exhorted to remember the soon coming of the Lord. That return brings both judgement for the lost, and vindication for the saved. Therefore, like a hardworking farmer, or even like the prophet Job, Christians are called to have enduring hearts in impatient times.

In Canada, 'end of life' issues are at the centre of political debate. Both the bible and our experience remind us that we will all die. But have we presumed to take control of our lives to such an extent that we can control our dying? Is such arrogance seen in the way our society is filled with exploitation of the weak? James confronts this arrogance with warnings about what tomorrow brings.

For Christian believers, they are in a strange position. They still live in a world that demands their loyalty. Yet Jesus Christ, who has redeemed them through his own blood, also demands their loyalty. Since God will not permit competitors, for there is no god like him, he summons us all to exclusive devotion to him. James shows us what that exclusivity looks like. It is a practical explanation of Christian loyalty to God, and how to eliminate from our lives all of the worldly competitors to our affections.

What is going on with you? Are you upset? How could this happen? What went wrong? These are the questions we ask each other every day. And each of these questions finds its source in our hearts. The problems of the heart are the problems of the world. Yet God knows our hearts, and gives us a 'user's guide' for keeping our hearts before him in James 4.1-6.

Politicians can be pragmatic. And pastors can be politicians. Paul says that all people can have 'the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion (Col 2.23). Yet all of these kinds of wisdom are not the wisdom that is 'from above'. Like Bunyan's character, Mr. Worldly-Wiseman, we can act like we are purveyors of wisdom, yet be strangers to God-given truth that re-orders our lives in the midst of a horribly disordered world. The Letter of James asks us what kind of wisdom are we seeking? Is it the horizontal kind or the heavenly? Only wisdom 'from above' can bring order to the madness of our disordered world. In James 3.13-18 we will search together for this 'heavenly wisdom'.

As Christians, we are to pursue unity and maturity, but where do we get the strength to do these things? Ephesians 4 tells us that Christ is a Victorious King who gives his beloved subjects all that they need to be successful and pleasing to him.

We have all said things that we wish we could take back. Why is it that we so easily say things that are so destructive? James offers a timeless observation of how our speech is an indicator of our heart. When we see how easily we sin in our speech, we are shown explicitly how needy we are for the good news of Jesus Christ. Only the blood of Christ can pardon our sins of speech.

There are many claims to faith in our world. People will specifically claim to believe in God. But how do we know if their claim means anything? How is it clear that the object of their faith is able to change their lives? We can only know this if we see their faith-claim 'staked out'. We have to see how their faith is expressed in deeds. Good works are the visible proof of a true spiritual claim to faith in Jesus Christ. On this matter, James does not disagree with Paul. True faith always works.

Mark continues to present a series of confrontations with the Jewish religious establishment, as he tells the story of Jesus' fellowship with the outcasts of Jewish society. Jesus came to save sinners, and three types of sinner are displayed in this text. Chillingly, the kind that should understand their need most is blind to it. Christians today, especially Reformed Christians, need to take heed of the danger of self-righteousness, as well as the mandate to preach salvation to all the lost regardless of sinful condition.

If there ever was a man that could say he had a human advantage related to righteousness it would be the Apostle Paul. Yet for all his ancestral benefits and spiritual achievements he counted all things as loss for the sake of Christ. Most Christians today are capable of exposing unrighteousness in others, and even themselves. The silent killer however, is to consider any act of spiritual devotion as grounds of access before a holy God. Looking forward to joining you as we reflect on the righteousness of God that depends: on faith alone, in Christ alone.

There is a great difference between how a Christian believer dies and how a non-Christian dies. And there is a great difference between the person with a faith that works, one who claims to have a faith, a spirituality, or a religion that doesn't. If faith shows no consistency, no practical effect, no eternal significance then it is in fact a dead thing. So the Holy Scriptures say, "Faith without works is dead. Living faith in the Risen Christ will always produce change in a person's life.

John 3:16 is the most famous bible reference in the world. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Yet this good news, or 'gospel' can only make sense if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is true. On Easter Sunday morning we are reminded of the reality of the resurrection of Christ. And that is why the good news of John 3:16 is so good.

Genocide, Racism, Dhimmitude, Segregation, and Xenophobia. Our world is filled with prejudice, 'far as the curse is found'. Our sinful fears and pride make us ever susceptible to think of others as worse than ourselves. Or we elevate mere mortals to the status of gods, idolizing celebrity, heeding their words because of their wealth, beauty or fame. In many ways our prejudices are evident. But the church ought not to be like the world. Under Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, there can only be one posture, every knee bending, every tongue confessing the Lordship of Jesus alone. Then the church can live without worldly partiality.

Is having faith in God like cautiously making an investment where, at the end of the day, you just don't know what the return will be. You don't want to put all your eggs in one basket, just in case it doesn't work out? The picture the Bible paints about faith is quite different. We're told in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Our world is like a carnival house of mirrors. Everywhere around us human identity is distorted: fat, thin, boring, exciting, gender-bent, gender-oppressive, conservative, liberal, fascist, racist, and more. One minute these mirrors are showing us as giants of significance, god-like in deserving worship, and the next minute the mirrors tell us we are subhuman and a waste of precious oxygen. Into this dark distortion is the crystal clarity of the mirror of God's Word. As the Christian looks into it intently, they are re-oriented towards their true identity in Christ, and that will make them active in doing God's will for God's name and fame. Then Christian believers will be like so many reflectors of God's glory, like a gospel-born solar farm covering the globe.

hristians are being watched all the time. What do they say? How do they react? Do they get upset? Every moment of every day Christians are engaged in a struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil. And every moment is a turning point. Will they turn from sin and turn to God. Such turnings from sin to God are what the Scriptures call repentance. And it is the lifestyle of every believer in Jesus Christ.

Are you feeling trapped? Trapped in sin or situations? Or maybe you are simply frustrated with the way things are going? Does it seem as if the economy, or the internet, or even your relationships are stacked against you? If you have ever felt this way, you need to consider the fundamental question, 'where does sin come from?' James 1:13-18 tells us, but the answer may surprise you.

In the storms of life it is easy for us to panic. We get anxious about our problems and wonder how we will escape them. But the Christian believer trusts God to lead them through the storms. They know that the storm is part of God's plan to produce virtue in the Christian. So that even trials can be cause for us to have joy in God's attentive care for us. We can look at our storm-tossed lives and know the Lord leads us on; 'steady as she goes'!

To round out our conference on Holiness, the end of the book of Revelation reminds us of the forward expectation that all people ought to have--- that Jesus is coming again. If he is coming again in judgment, then 'what sort of people ought you be in lives of holiness and godliness' (2 Peter 3.11). The book of Revelation reminds us of our need for a Holy Saviour, and the plight of those who reject him.