Sunwest Fc's Weekly Sermon Podcast

Our world is full of examples right now of how people or groups are using power to control, manipulate, and dominate. The pain we experience as humans is often linked to how power is used or abused. Jesus both demonstrates how to use power and how to respond when you feel powerless. The truth is, we are never powerless, and the Kingdom of God can be most powerful when it looks most powerless.

Justice has turned into a "buzz" word in recent years. We cry out for justice and we cry out about injustice, and rightfully so. The God of the Bible is a God of justice. But justice is not the ultimate end point. Join us this week as we discover how, when we stop at justice, we stop short of experiencing the fullness of God's life for us.

This week we move from talking about Shalom with Self to talking about Shalom with others. As we’ve noted throughout the Shalom Project, the word Shalom doesn’t simply mean peace or the absence of conflict; it is the experience of deep life and fulfillment when our relationships function in the way God intended. When we look at the world around us, we don’t have to look very far to see that there is significant conflict between humans. God’s vision for our lives and the world is one where we re-image God, his presence, his grace and his forgiveness to one another. Sometimes we can’t even imagine that. But if we experience Shalom with God and Self, then Shalom with others begins to be possible.

The world’s definition of freedom is vastly different than the Bible’s definition of freedom. Many people think freedom is about being able to do whatever you want. Yet the choices we make eventually make us. When we pursue this idea of freedom we ironically become increasingly enslaved. Listen in as we rediscover the upside down freeing invitation of Jesus.

Jesus, Paul, Peter and others all spoke of war going on inside our body. This is a war within ourself. Paul described it as a war between the flesh and the spirit. It is often the case that our deepest desires are not the same as our strongest desires. Every choice we make contributes to the person we are becoming. The choices we make will eventually make us. So, who are you becoming, and who do you want to become?

We have spent the last three weeks looking at the importance of our relationship with God. We now shift to looking out our relationship with ourselves. Our understanding of our identity anchors on the voices we give authority to. Our world is obsessed with the idea of identity and being our true selves. Yet it seems the more we try to determine who we are for ourselves, the more lost we become. Join us this week as we kick off a 3-week series on identity.

"Don’t do anything you don’t want to do” is a bit of a mantra in our culture. If it doesn’t feel "authentic" we don’t do it. Yet the very language of worship in the Bible is posture language. We are taught to do things regardless of how we might feel. In fact it is often through our actions that we begin to bring our heart into alignment. Join us this week as we unpack how worship is more than heart posture.

Throughout history, there have been unique places where the presence of God dwelt more intensely than others. These spaces were cause for both excitement and fear. In God’s ongoing plan to bring Shalom to the world, there has been an increasing invasion of this sacred space. In fact we know that there is a divine takeover in the works and we are right in the middle of it all! This has significant implications for our role as worshipers in the present. Join us for week two of the Shalom Project.

This week we begin a sequence of four series called the Shalom Project. These series’ will help us dive deeply into our vision statement, which is "To see Shalom breakers becoming Shalom makers". There is so much to unpack as we scratch the surface of what it means to live in Shalom with God, self, others, and the world.

The last few years we have kicked off the beginning of each year with a Vision Sunday and 2022 will be no different. With a world that is in constant change it is critical that we keep our eyes on the bigger picture. Today Pastor Matt will bring us back to the patterns and practices of Jesus and the early church, that saw God's Kingdom expand in the volatile world of the first century. Perhaps it's time that we revisit them.

Listen as this Christmas Eve we explore what it really means to be home. Home in and with God the Father through the miraculous birth of His Son, Jesus.

Well this is the week we finally wrap up our Reunion series. We’ve spent 10 weeks doing a deep dive into what we mean by the Gospel or Good News. In order for the Good News to make a difference in our personal lives and the lives of those around us it needs to be met by us in a particular way. This way can be summarized in one word that begins with “F”.

So far in our Reunion series we’ve looked at the gospel in one word, three words, and thirty words, and broken down the grounds and the gifts of the gospel within that. But what’s it all for? Why did Jesus, God with us, come to show us God’s love, save us from sin, set up God’s Kingdom, and shut down religion? This week we are going to explore together what it means to share in God’s life, and it might not be what you’ve always understood it to be.

This Sunday we will continue to break down the Good News in 30 words. We are currently unpacking the gifts of the Gospel. These gifts are what God has done for us that we cannot do for ourselves. This week we are going to look at how Jesus shut down religion. You might be asking yourself; didn’t Jesus start one of the world’s largest religions, what do you mean he shut it down? Discover this Sunday the gift of grace and the freedom that comes from a relationship with God.

This week we continue to unpack the gifts of the gospel. Jesus not only came to reveal God’s love and save us from sin, he also came to set up his Kingdom. This kingdom is not of this world, although it is all around us. It cannot be contained by geographical boundaries and it is open to all.

This Sunday we continue to break down the Good News in 30 words. We are currently unpacking the gifts of the Gospel. These gifts are what God has done for us that we cannot do for ourselves. This week we are going to look at how God has saved us from sin. Even though this phrase is really common in church circles, it is not un-common that many have misunderstood what this means and the beautiful implications of this gift.

We’ve begun to breakdown the Good News in 30 words. Last week we looked at the ground of the gospel and this week we will start to unpack the gifts of the gospel. The apostle John said that “God is love”. These words have profound implications on who God “is”, not just what God is like. God is not just loving, his very essence is love. What this gift means for you is nothing short of life changing.

As we know, the Good News of Jesus (or the Gospel) is simple enough for a child to understand and complex enough to ponder for our entire lives. The last two weeks we looked at the Gospel in its most simplistic forms, summarizing it in one word and three words respectively. This week we will begin moving deeper into its beauty and complexity. Join us for the rest of the series as we explore the gospel in thirty words.

Many religions or belief systems have what is called a creed. No, we’re not talking about your favourite 90’s rock band, we’re talking about a summary (creed) of what a group of people believe. A creed can help people think through what they really believe, how they really want to live, and what they are really willing to die for. For example, Islam has one called the Shahada and it says: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” Does Christianity have a similar creed? Actually, it does. The earliest creed of the church was summed up in a simple, beautiful, world-changing, three-word statement. Join us this week as we cover the Good News in three words.

There is a board game called Othello, and it’s tagline is “A minute to learn, a lifetime to master.” We could apply this phrase to the Good News of Jesus. It is simple enough for children to understand, yet complex enough to ponder for your entire life. As we look at fully understanding the good news of Jesus for seekers, saints, and sinners we will begin with the good news in its most simplest form. This week we will learn the Good News in one word.