Feeling overwhelmed by life's chaos? Feel like God would never call you to an adventurous calling? Just like Gideon, who was hiding and fearful, God often turns up in the mundane of our lives to give us a valiant calling. Gideon’s story challenges the lie that says we must be qualified to be used mightily by God. God’s calling of an individual is a calling of grace, and God’s equipping is an equipping of grace. This is the foundation upon which true, lasting leadership is built. Support...

Acts 4:32–37 reveals several features behind the radical unity enjoyed by the early church. Their 'oneness' was not a fluke, not vague, and not tribal. Acts reveals that people do not build unity by compromising doctrine or convictions. Instead, a shared, gutsy conviction in the risen Jesus builds unity that changes the world. Support the show

How do you respond to adversity? In Acts 4, the first action Peter and John took after being arrested and threatened for preaching Jesus was to gather with the church, and their second action was to pray. Why do we struggle with going to the church when we face adversity? Are churches filled with broken people really part of God’s plan for our healing and safety? The prayer of the believers in Acts 4, along with God’s immediate response, shows us just how integral the church is to God’s plan ...

Peter and John’s confrontation with the Jerusalem leaders in Acts 4 reveals how the early church clung to the exclusivity of Jesus (‘there is salvation in no one else’), yet did so with profound humility. This means Christians today can reject the modern cultural pressure toward ‘all paths lead to God’ by showing that true Christian confidence stems not from arrogance, but from a broken self-righteousness. Support the show

Control, status, and fear—those are the enemies Peter and John faced, and they're the same enemies fighting for your heart today. In this sermon on Acts 4, Joel Virgo looks at the deadly traits of a hard heart and asks a compelling question: Are you ready to let Jesus completely unravel your life and build something new? Support the show

Feeling annoyed, disturbed, or maybe even grieved? The Apostle Peter's bold preaching in Acts 4 wasn't met with polite applause—it was met with annoyance, anger and a strong desire to shut it down by people who allowed their emotions to rule over them. This sermon explores the incredible cost of proclaiming Jesus and the cost of letting our emotions go unchecked. Our emotions can serve as a warning sign, prompting us to humbly examine our hearts and run to the finished work of Jesus Chr...

Is there a sense of something missing in your life? While that feeling might lead you to seek God, it may not be the root of your deepest need. In this sermon on Acts 3, Joel Virgo breaks down Peter's powerful sermon after the healing of the lame man, revealing how Jesus is the ultimate mediator for our spiritual condition. He is the Prophet who brings truth to our ignorance, the King who brings order and purpose to our chaotic lives, and the Priest who offers forgiveness for our greatest fai...

In Acts 3, Peter tells a man who couldn't walk from birth, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" What is it about the name of Jesus that carries the power to heal, and can the name of Jesus still heal today? Names matter, and no name matters more than His. Support the show

What is your purpose in life? So much around us tells us to seek our own glory, but scripture cuts through the noise and reminds us of our true, ultimate purpose: to live for the glory of God. Drawing from Isaiah 43 as defining our purpose and Galatians 6 as the outworking, this sermon from Grace City Church in Ottawa explores the dangers of self-glorification and religious pride, and why we should only boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Support the show

We all have different ways of responding to what God says. In this sermon, Benjamin Johnmark examines what Jesus teaches us through the Parable of the Sower and how the grace of God is revealed to us through the perfect faith and obedience of Jesus Christ. Support the show

The healing of the lame man in Acts 3 highlights God's compassion towards those who suffer, including those who are overlooked and forgotten by others. Through Peter and John, we have a picture of the invitation God gives humanity to look to Him for healing and restoration, along with the immeasurable love God showed the world by reaching down into our darkness to lift us to Himself. Support the show

Peter's denial of Jesus is shocking, especially considering his deep friendship and loyal following of Jesus over the three years prior. But what is more astonishing is the magnitude of God's grace towards Peter. Have you ever denied Jesus? The grace that covered a repentant Peter following that first Easter is also available for us today. Support the show

We're overrun with chaotic news, and our response is often fleeting attempts at decompression. In this sermon, Rich looks at Acts to explore how God brought order through the powerful truth of Jesus Christ amidst the pandemonium of Pentecost. True peace isn't found in escapism but in acknowledging our responsibility for the chaos and embracing God's forgiveness. Support the show

If you've ever felt like you've fallen short, the Apostle Peter's story should serve as a potent reminder that we can never be too far from God's grace. In this sermon, Rich looks at how a man who once denied Jesus three times became the bold voice of Pentecost only a few weeks later. Peter's sermon in Acts 2 highlights God's boundless grace, the importance of grounding our lives in scripture, and how ancient prophecies connect to the earth-shattering events fulfilled in Jesus. Support ...

There are many opinions on what it means to be 'Spirit-filled,' but despite the differing perspectives and opinions, no Christian would want less of the power of God in their life. Without the Holy Spirit, God has shown none of us His power, including the power to repent and turn to Jesus. We can debate the terminology and timing all we want, but scripture is explicitly clear: we need the Holy Spirit. Support the show

Regarding the moving of the Holy Spirit, the first verses of Acts 2 show us that, in essence, we can respond in two ways. We can either look in with awe and wonder or foolishly mock. How will you respond to what you see the Holy Spirit doing, and how should we respond as a church? Support the show

The coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, with tongues as of fire and a roar like violent wind, seems a far cry from many Canadians' hyper-reserved and solemn experience with church gatherings. If church life in the New Testament shows us anything, the gospel's advancement is exciting work. It was true then, and if we're open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, including here in Canada, it can be true for us today. Support the show

New Year's resolutions often set us up for disappointment by focusing on our efforts. The same can be true for Christians resolving to be "better" through more prayer, Bible study, or church attendance. This year, instead of self-dependent resolutions, we need ones that rely on God. Using Psalm 135, Rich Crosby offers an alternative vision for spiritual growth: allowing, celebrating, and expecting God to be God. Support the show

Angels are a predictable feature of Christmas traditions, whether on a card or a tree. But when Jesus was born, the appearance of angels to shepherds in the field was both surprising and terrifying. Perhaps more surprising was that it was to shepherds, who would have been thought of as lowly and insignificant by society, whom God chose to have angels announce the birth of his son first. The good news of Jesus is for all, and the lowly and forgotten are often among the first to receive blessin...

There isn't a lot that we know about Joseph, the earthly adoptive father of Jesus, but we do know he was 'a just man.' What does Matthew, the gospel writer, mean by that, and what do the other brief details of Joseph's decisions show us about a biblical view of masculinity? In this sermon, Rich Crosby looks at how Joseph's determination to show mercy to Mary points ahead to the mercy shown to us by Jesus. Support the show