Sunwest Fc's Weekly Sermon Podcast

Jesus comes into Jerusalem on a donkey and then goes and disrupts the entire religious system. He calls out the religious leaders and tells them that the system has become a den of robbers instead of a house of prayer. That’s enough to get him killed! What does he mean by that and how does it relate to us 2000 years later? Tune in this Sunday to find out.

We live in a world that loves success, status, and honour. But sometimes as we pursue these things we are moving away from what is honoured in the Kingdom of God. This Sunday a blind guy named Bartimaeus will teach us what success really looks like.

Jesus has a certain affinity for kids. And it’s not just because they’re cute. It’s because they are most ready to receive the gifts that God wants to give them. Why is that? Join us this Sunday to find out what children have to teach us about entering the Kingdom of God and what a rich guy has to teach us about missing out on the Kingdom.

This week Pastor Matt takes a one-week break from our Mark series to speak specifically about vision. Since Alberta opened Phase 2, there are many questions about what this could mean for SunWest. Join in this Sunday to hear why Kodak and Instagram have something to teach us, and why trying to go back to the way things were may forfeit the very opportunity we have before us.

We are experiencing the domino effects of so many things in our world that have changed in a short amount of time. In Mark 9 we encounter a desperate father who gives us a picture of someone with honest faith in the midst of challenge. We also find that Jesus responds as someone of compassion, prayer, and action. In the midst of crisis, with a posture of faith, and a life of prayer, we have the rumblings of revival.

Have you ever had a mountain top experience that has changed your perspective and transformed you? It's human nature that we would want to live in that type of place forever. However, in Mark 9 we learn that the mountain top experience prepares us for the descent into the valley. Jesus is going down the mountain, will we have enough courage to follow him?

As we continue our journey through the book of Mark, we are challenged to ponder the question, "Who do we say Jesus is?" We realize that this question makes all the difference in our journey with Jesus. Is Jesus a wise teacher, a miracle worker, a prophet, or Christ? Discover the difference the answer makes in our lives as we learn from Jesus' surprising rebuke to Peter, "Get behind me Satan!"

Racism. Segregation. Prejudice. Scapegoating. Us and them. Sometimes we think, at this point in history, we should be beyond these things. But all it takes is a crisis to see that they are alive and well. As we look at the two feeding miracles of Jesus in Mark, it is easy to miss the simple profound truth in the midst of the miraculous. The kingdom table that Jesus invites you to eat at is an Open Table. It is a table for every tribe, tongue, and nation. Not only that, He is putting you in the middle of the story to serve and host the meal.

Have you ever been stranded and needing help only to have someone who was approaching you pass by? That can be heartbreaking. In Mark 6 the disciples are stuck in a storm at sea and we read that Jesus was intending to “pass them by”. That seems inconsiderate. But there is more going on than meets the eye. Join us Sunday to find out what it is.

“The safest place to be is in the centre of the will of God.” Have you ever heard this quote? Is it true? It wasn’t true for John the Baptist. It wasn’t true for the disciples. Could it be that the expectations we have on God create the breeding ground for a faith crisis? Jesus did not come to make us comfortable, he came to make us courageous. John had to learn this. The disciples had to learn this. We do too.

2020-04-26 Mark - Part 9: When God is Too Late, Matt Dyck by

2020-04-19 Mark - Part 8: Demons, Pigs & Humans, Matt Dyck by

Come! Celebrate! Join as we proclaim our Risen Lord. See what a great thing He has done!

2020-04-10 Good Friday, Matt Dyck by

2020-04-05 Mark - Part 7: Storms, Waves, Boats, and Fences, Matt Dyck by

Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah bringing the reign of God on earth, but the stories He uses to teach about this Kingdom are on poor crops and tiny seeds. What kind of Kingdom was Jesus bringing? Who is a part of this strange Kingdom? In Mark chapter 4, Jesus teaches four different parables to illustrate the intentional mystery of the slow-growing Kingdom, and welcomes people to discern if they are going to be a part of it.

Part 5 of our walk through the gospel of Mark.

In the famous book series The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis represents Jesus as the Lion named Aslan. At one point it is stated that this Lion is good, but not safe. In Mark chapter 2, we have a series of conflicts that centre around Jesus. It is clear that being and doing good does not result in safety but in conflict. Jesus, when He brings the kingdom of heaven to earth, steps into conflict, which will ultimately pave the way to His own crucifixion. The disciples will be called to follow Him but they (and we) must beware, although Jesus is truly good, He is not safe.

March is Missions Month! For the next few weeks we will be giving significant time to highlight the people and international places that SunWest is strategically partnering with. This Sunday is Compassion Sunday. Compassion is a ministry that SunWest has partnered with for over a decade. Randy Carter is our guest speaker. Be ready to be inspired and challenged to Go Beyond!

After Jesus calls four fisherman to himself to follow him, his public ministry begins to move rapidly. By the end of Chapter 1 we see Jesus teaching, driving out demons, healing, praying, preaching, and bringing in those who were previously excluded. As Jesus confronts the forces of religion, culture, and the spiritual realm, it will not come without challenge or consequence. Yet, there is nothing that can stop this Kingdom Pandemic.