Teachings from Unionville Alliance
Unionville Alliance Church
Teachings from Unionville Alliance
Episodes
A Vision of Mission
What if the next chapter of God’s story is waiting on one courageous “yes”? This Sunday, Darren Herbold, President of The Alliance Canada, will take us into the story of a movement born through courageous faithfulness and a deep conviction that Jesus is worth everything. From the bold steps of A. B. Simpson to remarkable stories of what God is doing across Canada and around the world today, we will be reminded that the mission of Jesus is still advancing and that every one of us has a part to play. God is calling ordinary people to trust Him, step beyond what is comfortable, and join Him in making Jesus known wherever He leads. The question is not simply what God has done in the past, but what He may want to do through us now. What courageous step might the Holy Spirit be inviting you to take next? Come ready to be challenged, encouraged, and inspired to say yes!
A Vision of Discipleship
What if following Jesus was never meant to be something we simply believe, but a way of life that shapes who we are and how we live? We will explore what it means for every one of us to take seriously the call of Jesus to be disciples, grow as disciples, and make disciples. We want to be people who are with Jesus, become like Him, and do what Jesus did. But discipleship does not stop with our own spiritual growth. Jesus invites each of us to participate in the mission of God by helping others know and follow Him. This is not the work of a select few: we can’t have anyone on the sidelines. Every follower of Jesus has a part to play. Imagine what God could do through our church if each of us embraced the call to become a disciple-making disciple. Come ready to discover where Jesus may be inviting you to take your next step.
A Vision of Gospel
What if the thing you regret most did not have to define you anymore? At the heart of the gospel is the incredible truth that God sees us fully, knows everything we have done, and still moves toward us with love! We will explore and discover why the cross stands at the very centre of the Christian faith. Jesus did not come simply to make us better people. He came to rescue us, forgive us, and bring us back into relationship with God. Because of what Jesus has done, our guilt does not have the final word, our past does not determine our future, and forgiveness is not something we have to earn. It is a gift of grace offered to us through Christ. Come and rediscover the wonder of the cross and the freedom that comes when we truly understand just how completely we are forgiven and how deeply we are loved.
A Vision of Prayer
What if prayer was not just one part of the life of the church, but the real work of the church? Jesus gives us a simple but powerful picture of what prayer can look like when he taught his disciples to pray. First, keep it simple. Prayer does not have to be complicated or impressive. Jesus invites us to come to our Father with honesty, dependence, and trust. Second, keep it real. God is not looking for polished words, but hearts that are open before Him, bringing our needs, struggles, hopes, and desires into His presence. Finally, keep it up. Jesus calls us to a life of persistent prayer, trusting that our Father is good and that He gives His Spirit to those who ask. Prayer is the real work of the church and our avenue to deeper life in Christ. What could change in us, our family, our church, and in our community if we truly became a people of prayer and a house of prayer for all nations?
The Lord is Peace
What if peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God in the middle of it? YHWH Shalom means the Lord is peace, a name revealed to Gideon when fear, insecurity, and calling collide. Gideon feels weak and unqualified, yet God meets him with peace before sending him into purpose. This name shows us that God’s peace is not shallow comfort, but deep wholeness rooted in His presence. In Jesus, the peace of God comes near, as He reconciles us to the Father, calms troubled hearts, and makes peace through the blood of His cross. YHWH Shalom invites us to receive peace before we try to produce it. The Lord who calls us is also the peace that carries us.
The Lord My Rock
What do you stand on when everything beneath you feels unstable? YHWH Tsuri means the Lord my rock, revealing God as the refuge, strength, stability, and saving foundation of His people. Throughout the Psalms, God is called the rock because He is dependable when enemies rise, emotions shake, and circumstances change. This name invites us to build our lives on something stronger than success, approval, comfort, or control. In the New Testament, Christ is revealed as the cornerstone, the spiritual rock, and the foundation that cannot be moved. YHWH Tsuri reminds us that faith does not deny life’s storms, but anchors us in the God who holds firm through them. When the ground gives way, the Rock remains.
The God of Heaven's Armies
Where do you find courage when you feel surrounded, outnumbered, or overwhelmed? YHWH Sabaoth means the Lord of hosts, the commander of heaven’s armies and the sovereign King over all powers. This name appears often in seasons of battle, fear, injustice, exile, and longing, reminding God’s people that unseen realities are greater than visible threats. The Lord is not powerless before evil, nor absent in the suffering of His people. In the New Testament, we see this authority gathered up in Jesus, who commands angels, confronts demons, conquers death, and will return in glory. YHWH Sabaoth teaches us that courage is not the absence of danger, but confidence in the Lord who reigns over every force. When we feel surrounded, we are held by the Lord of hosts.
God Almighty
Where do you turn when life exposes your limits? El Shaddai reveals God as the Almighty One, the God who is more than enough when His people are weak, waiting, or unable to bring His promises to pass on their own. He comes to Abraham and Sarah when the promise seems impossible, reminding them that the future rests not on human strength but on divine power. This name teaches us that God is not intimidated by barrenness, delay, age, weakness, or impossibility. In Christ, we see the power of God revealed not only through miracles, but through the cross and resurrection, where weakness becomes the place of victory. El Shaddai invites us to stop pretending we are sufficient and to rest in the God who is. The Almighty God is still able to do what only He can do.
The Lord is Our Shepherd
Who is leading you, feeding you, and restoring your soul? YHWH Rohi means the Lord is my shepherd, the name David uses in Psalm 23 to describe God’s tender care and faithful guidance. This name reveals a God who does not merely rule from a distance, but walks with His people through green pastures, dark valleys, enemies, and homecomings. He provides, restores, leads, protects, and stays near. In the New Testament, Jesus takes this name into Himself when He says, “I am the Good Shepherd,” laying down His life for the sheep. YHWH Rohi reminds us that we are not abandoned wanderers, but beloved sheep under the care of a faithful Shepherd. The Shepherd who leads us through the valley will bring us all the way home.
The Lord Will Provide
What do you do when obedience leads you to a place where you cannot see the provision yet? YHWH Jireh means the Lord will provide, a name revealed in the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. At the very place of surrender, God provides what Abraham could not provide for himself. This name reminds us that God’s provision is not always early, not always obvious, and not always what we expected, but it is always rooted in His faithfulness. In the Gospel, we see the ultimate provision of God in Jesus, the beloved Son who was not spared but given for us. YHWH Jireh calls us to trust God not only for daily needs, but for our deepest need of salvation. On the mountain of surrender, we discover the God who provides.
When Everything Shifts
What can hold you steady when everything around you keeps changing? El Olam reveals God as the Everlasting God, the One who was before all things, remains through all things, and will be faithful beyond all things. Our lives are marked by change, transition, uncertainty, and endings, but God is not fragile or temporary. His promises are not limited by time, and His faithfulness does not expire. In Jesus, the eternal God steps into time so that we might receive eternal life. This name invites us to anchor our short and changing lives in the unchanging character of God. When everything else passes away, El Olam remains.
The Proclamation of Himself
What would God say if He introduced Himself in His own words? In Exodus 34, God passes before Moses and proclaims His name, revealing Himself as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving sin, yet perfectly just. This is not humanity reaching up to define God, but God coming down to make Himself known. At the heart of His name is the wonder of a God who is both holy and compassionate, both just and merciful, both faithful and forgiving. This passage becomes one of the most important self-revelations of God in the entire Bible, echoed again and again throughout Scripture. It shows us the God we meet fully in Jesus, where justice and mercy come together at the cross. When God proclaims His name, He reveals the heart that saves us.
What's In A Name?
What if God’s names are not just titles to learn, but invitations to know Him more deeply? Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself by name so that His people would know His character, trust His promises, and recognize His salvation. Elohim shows us the Creator who made all things, YHWH reveals the covenant Lord who comes near, Adonai reminds us that He is worthy of our surrender, and the name of Jesus brings the fullness of God’s saving love into focus. This opening message introduces the beauty, depth, and power of the names of God across the story of Scripture. We will see that God does not remain distant, vague, or unknowable. He makes Himself known so that we can worship Him, trust Him, and follow Him. The God who reveals His name is inviting us to know His heart.
It's Time to Hustle
Members of the Church should take a more active role in sharing their faith. Drawing from Acts 17 and Paul’s ministry in Athens, Jason Persaud from Alpha Canada explores how believers can effectively connect with different kinds of people—spiritual, everyday, and intellectual—by communicating the hope of Jesus in ways they can understand. Once you are aware of the reality that most people attend church because of a personal invitation, you’ll be encouraged to move beyond passive faith and embrace intentional evangelism through genuine relationships, personal testimony, prayer, kindness, and invitations to opportunities like Alpha. Ultimately, it is a call for the Church to recognize the eternal impact of every transformed life and to courageously engage the people around them with the love and truth of Christ.
Prayer that Restores
What if the most powerful thing we could do in every season of life is often the thing we neglect the most? James closes his letter by bringing us back to the foundation of a vibrant, living faith: prayer. Not just in moments of crisis, but in every circumstance. When we suffer, we pray. When we rejoice, we praise. When we are weak, we invite others to stand with us. This is not a picture of isolated faith, but a deeply connected community where people are honest about their struggles, humble to confess, and committed to praying for one another. James reminds us that prayer is not passive. It is powerful and effective because it connects us to a God who moves. Even Elijah, a person like us, saw God work in extraordinary ways through persistent prayer. And then the focus shifts outward. Faith is not only about personal growth, but about pursuing others. When someone begins to wander, the call is not to ignore them, but to lovingly bring them back. This is a community shaped by grace, truth, love and restoration.
Slow Hope
What do you do when God does not move as quickly as you hoped? James speaks into the tension of waiting, especially in seasons of hardship and injustice. The call is not to rush, complain, or give up, but to endure with a steady and rooted hope. Like a farmer waiting for the harvest, we are invited to trust that something is happening beneath the surface even when we cannot yet see it. James points us to those who have gone before us, the prophets who remained faithful in suffering and Job who wrestled deeply yet ultimately encountered the compassion and mercy of God. Their lives remind us that waiting is not wasted. It is a space where faith is strengthened and where God’s purposes are unfolding. In the middle of uncertainty, James also calls for integrity. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. A life anchored in hope is also marked by truthfulness and consistency. This is a slow, steady hope rooted not in circumstances, but in the nearness and faithfulness of God.
The Illusion of Control
What if the plans you are most confident in are built on something far more fragile than you realize? James confronts the illusion of control that so easily shapes our lives. We make plans, set goals, and speak with certainty about tomorrow, yet James reminds us that our lives are like a mist, here for a moment and then gone. The issue is not planning, but pride. It is living as though God is not part of the equation. But James does not stop there. He turns to the misuse of wealth and the quiet ways injustice can take root when success becomes our security. Hoarded resources, withheld wages, and self-indulgence reveal hearts that have drifted from God’s purposes. What looks like prosperity on the surface can actually be spiritual decay underneath. This passage calls us back to humble dependence, reminding us that everything we have and every day we are given is held in the hands of God. Life is brief, but what we do with it carries eternal weight.
The Way Back to God
What if the conflicts around you are actually revealing something deeper within you? James pulls back the curtain on our struggles and exposes a hard truth. The conflicts we experience externally often begin internally. Our desires, when they take center place in our hearts, begin to compete with God and with others. What starts as a longing can quickly become a demand, and when that demand is not met, it leads to frustration, division, and even destruction. James does not soften the language. He calls it what it is: spiritual adultery. A divided heart that tries to hold onto God while also clinging to the values of the world. But right in the middle of this strong rebuke is a greater promise: God gives more grace. The invitation is clear. Humble yourself. Submit to God. Resist the devil. Draw near to Him. This is not about behavior modification, but heart transformation. The path to peace is not found in getting what we want, but in surrendering to the One who gives us what we truly need.
Wisdom From Above
What if the way we define wisdom is completely off? In a world that prizes influence, intelligence, and self-advancement, James invites us to look deeper. True wisdom is not measured by what we know or how persuasive we are, but by how we live. It is revealed in humility, gentleness, and a life that reflects the character of God. James draws a sharp contrast between two kinds of wisdom. One is driven by envy and selfish ambition, producing disorder and broken relationships. It may look impressive on the surface, but it leads to chaos beneath. The other comes from above. It is pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and sincere. This kind of wisdom does not just inform decisions, it transforms relationships. In the end, wisdom is not about winning arguments or gaining status. It is about becoming the kind of person who brings peace wherever they go, planting seeds of righteousness that reflect the heart of God.
The Fire in the Mouth
What if one of the most powerful forces shaping your life is something you use every day without thinking? James turns our attention to the tongue, a small part of the body with enormous influence. With just a few words, we can build up or tear down, bring healing or cause lasting damage. James gives a sobering warning, especially to those who teach or lead. Words carry weight. They shape people, influence direction, and reveal what is truly happening beneath the surface of our hearts. The issue is not just what we say, but what our words expose. A life that praises God on Sunday but tears people down during the week reveals a deeper inconsistency that cannot be ignored. True spiritual maturity is seen in our speech. While no one can tame the tongue on their own, this passage drives us to a deeper dependence on God, inviting Him to transform our hearts so that our words begin to reflect His character.
Faith that Breathes
What if the faith we claim is not the faith we actually live? James confronts one of the most misunderstood and confronting truths in the Christian life. Faith that stays in words alone is not real faith. It may sound right, it may look convincing, but if it does not move into action, it is lifeless. James is not arguing against salvation by grace. He is exposing the kind of faith that never truly takes root. Real faith breathes. It moves. It responds. It shows up in how we live, how we serve, and how we trust God in costly ways. Using the examples of Abraham and Rahab, James shows that genuine faith is always accompanied by obedience. It is not that works save us, but that saving faith always produces works. This passage calls us to examine our lives, not just our beliefs. Because in the end, faith is not proven by what we say, but by what we do.
No Favourites in the Family
Who gets your attention, your time, and your honor and why? James brings the gospel into one of the most visible and uncomfortable areas of our lives: how we treat people. In a culture that elevates status, wealth, influence, and appearance, it is easy to unknowingly adopt the same values within the church. But James is clear. Favoritism has no place in the family of God. When we show preference to some and neglect others, we are not just being impolite, we are contradicting the very heart of the gospel. God has chosen those the world often overlooks, and His kingdom operates on a completely different set of values. The call is to live by the royal law of love, to love our neighbor as ourselves, not selectively, but consistently. This passage exposes the subtle ways we categorize people and calls us back to a mercy shaped life. Because in the end, those who have received mercy are meant to extend it. Mercy is not weakness. It is the evidence of a transformed heart.
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
Living our lives and spending our time in ways that invest in heavenly treasures is Jesus’ plan and mission for us. The world would have us believe otherwise, but God wants us to guard our hearts against corruption and be transformed so that our hearts would be filled with the fruit of God’s Kingdom.
Desire, Deception, Doing
Why do we so often blame God for things He never authored? James confronts one of the deepest human tendencies: shifting responsibility for our struggles onto God, others, or circumstances. But temptation does not begin out there, it begins within. Our desires, when left unchecked, can quietly lead us down a path that ends in destruction. Yet in contrast to our instability stands a God who never changes, who only gives what is good, and who has given us new life through His Word. The question then becomes: what will we do with that Word? It is possible to sit in church, hear truth, even agree with it, and yet remain unchanged. James calls us beyond passive listening into active obedience. Real faith does not stop at hearing, it moves into doing. And the evidence of that kind of faith is seen in how we speak, how we care for the vulnerable, and how we live with integrity in a compromised world. This is not about religious performance, but a transformed life that reflects the heart of God.
Enduring Faith
What if the pressures you want removed are actually the very places God is doing His deepest work? James opens his letter not with comfort, but with a challenge that reshapes how we see hardship. Trials are not interruptions to our faith, they are instruments of formation. In a world that avoids pain and pursues comfort, James calls us to a radical perspective: to consider it joy when life presses in. Not because suffering is good, but because God is at work through it, producing endurance and shaping a mature, steady faith. Yet this kind of perspective does not come naturally. We need wisdom. God invites us to ask, promising to give generously without finding fault. The danger is not the trial itself, but a divided heart that wavers between trust and doubt. As James lifts our eyes, he reminds us that God’s kingdom reverses worldly values and rewards those who remain steadfast. This is not about surviving trials, but being transformed through them.
THE EMPTY TOMB
On Easter Sunday, everyone saw an empty tomb and a community startled into hope. Yet what no one saw coming was that God would answer the cross with resurrection, not as a private comfort but as a public turning point in history. The first witnesses came expecting death to have the final word and they left carrying news that the crucified Jesus is alive. Paul later reminds the church that this resurrection proclamation was received and passed on as verifiable truth, rooted in eyewitness testimony and announced as gospel. The resurrection does not merely reverse Good Friday, it reveals what Good Friday accomplished, and it declares that new creation through God’s kingdom has begun. It reframes suffering with hope, guilt with forgiveness, and fear with peace under the reign of the risen King. What no one saw coming was a worldwide revolution through a completely new worldview and Kingdom principles that would change the course of humanity. The story is uniquely Christian because it insists that God saves not through force, but through life out of death, and invites every skeptic and seeker to consider the risen Jesus and receive his promised new life.
THE BLOOD
On Good Friday, everyone saw blood, shame, and a public execution. It looked like the end of hope, the triumph of evil, and the collapse of a movement. Yet what no one could see with natural eyes was that God was accomplishing eternal redemption through sacrifice. Isaiah promised a Servant who would be pierced for our transgressions and bring us peace through his wounds, and at the cross that prophecy takes flesh and makes history. Hebrews proclaims that Jesus entered the true holy place by his own blood, obtaining eternal redemption, not through repeated offerings but through a decisive act of saving love. The blood is not a symbol of defeat, it is the cost of forgiveness, the cleansing of guilt, and the making of a covenant people. Like the Passover deliverance, God rescues through the blood of a lamb, and Jesus is that Lamb for us.
THE KING
Palm Sunday, everyone saw Jesus enter the city to shouts of “Hosanna,” but no one saw coming the kind of King He claimed to be. “Hosanna” wasn’t just celebration. It was a desperate plea: “Save, please!” and Jesus answers it, but on God’s terms, not ours. He deliberately rides in on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah’s vision of a righteous, humble King who comes in peace, not conquest by redefining power as self-giving love. Palm Sunday exposes the paradox of the Kingdom: God’s victory doesn’t arrive through force, but through humility. The crowd can see the parade, but miss the purpose. And yet the invitation is clear: don’t merely admire Jesus, but receive Him as the true King who saves deeper than politics, deeper than circumstances, and all the way to the heart.
A Broken House & A Future King
What do you do when the consequences of past decisions collide with the pain of the present? In the final chapters of David’s story, we witness family fracture, rebellion, deep grief, and the heavy cost of leadership as his house begins to shake. Yet even in sorrow and transition God remains faithful to His promise and continues to move His purposes forward. Through lament, worship, and intentional preparation for the next generation David models how to lead when life is painful and unfinished. This closing chapter points us beyond David to Jesus, the greater Son of David, whose kingdom is not built on human perfection but on divine faithfulness and eternal power. As this journey concludes, we are invited to trust deeply, sow generously into the future, and fix our hope on the unshakable kingdom that Christ is still building.
When Kings Fall: Sin, Conviction, Repentance
What happens when the hero of the story becomes the cautionary tale? In 2 Samuel 11 and 12 we are confronted with one of the most sobering moments in David’s life as temptation leads to compromise and hidden sin gives way to devastating consequences. This message reveals how sin slowly deforms the heart, how truth inevitably exposes what is concealed, and how God’s grace invites genuine repentance rather than denial or despair. Psalm 51 gives us a window into David’s broken and contrite heart as he confesses his sin and pleads for inner renewal. This moment points us to Jesus, who bears our iniquity and makes it possible for clean hearts and restored lives through His sacrifice. We are invited to walk humbly, practice honest confession, rebuild rhythms of purity and presence, and trust that forgiveness and restoration are found in Christ alone.
The Kindness of the King
What if the kindness that could change your life is already searching for you? In 2 Samuel 9 we encounter a powerful moment where King David seeks out Mephibosheth, a forgotten and broken descendant of Saul, not to judge him but to show covenant kindness. What Mephibosheth expects to be a summons of fear becomes an invitation of grace, restoring his identity and giving him a permanent place at the king’s table. This story reveals a God whose grace is not earned by strength or status, but given freely because of covenant love. It points us to Jesus, the greater Son of David, who seeks us out in our brokenness and welcomes us into His family by grace alone. We are invited to receive God’s kindness without shame, live from a restored identity, and reflect the heart of the King by extending grace to others who feel overlooked and undeserving.
The Promise of an Eternal King
What if the plans you are most excited about are not nearly as big as what God has in mind? David desires to build a house for God, only to discover that God is building a house for him that will last forever. This moment reveals a covenant keeping God whose grace rewrites human ambition and turns faithful obedience into future hope. God’s promise to David stretches far beyond his lifetime and points to a King whose throne will never end. These words ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus, the promised Son of David who reigns forever and secures redemption for the world. We are invited to surrender our good plans to God’s better promise and worship with confidence that He is writing an eternal story that reaches far beyond us.
The Mission of God is a Multigenerational Endeavour
God’s calling is never meant to stop with one generation—He invites us into a shared mission where each generation experiences Jesus personally and joins the unfolding story of redemption. But what does it look like to steward our faith and invest in the next generations of children and disciples so that they are equipped to shine like stars in their times and spaces? Join Dan and Jenica as they share from the Bible, their own wrestle as parents, and their stories as international workers focused on the spiritual formation of the next generation.
The Beauty of His Presence
What if the greatest treasure God wants to give His people is not success, security, or strength but His presence? King David reorders the life of the nation around the presence of God as the ark is brought into Jerusalem with reverence and overflowing joy. This moment reveals a God who is both holy and near, inviting His people to approach Him with purity of heart and wholehearted worship. David’s unrestrained praise reminds us that worship is not about performance, but about delighting in the presence of the King of glory. This story points us to Jesus, the true meeting place between God and humanity, who fills us with His Spirit so that we carry God’s presence wherever we go. We are invited to draw close to Jesus, serve Him with humility, and rediscover the joy of a life centered on His presence.
Living in Your Calling
As we strive towards being accomplished in life, we often forget to put aside our selfish ambitions and listen to the Lord’s calling. Perhaps you have some major personal goals you want to reach, or perhaps you don’t feel like you are eligible or equipped to answer God’s call. Regardless of the reason, we are never able to achieve our full potential until we accept and answer God’s call and allow God to be the one to empower us in everything we do. Join us this week as we continue exploring the life of David in 2 Samuel 5:1-10, and see how even though God’s promises often take longer than we would like, the Lord is always faithful to deliver, and will always equip and empower us to be well positioned to fulfill His calling on our lives.
Integrity Under Pressure
What do you do when you finally have the power to strike back and everyone around you says you should? David is given two clear opportunities to end his suffering by taking Saul’s life, yet he chooses restraint over revenge and worships God by waiting on His timing. This message reveals that true integrity is not proven in moments of ease, but in seasons of injustice and prolonged pressure. David leaves room for God’s justice and refuses to take into his own hands what God has promised to do. His posture points us to Jesus, who entrusted Himself to the Father, absorbed insult without retaliation, and opened the way for forgiveness and reconciliation at the cross. We are invited to pause and pray when wronged, bless those who oppose us, and trust that God is at work even when justice feels delayed.
The Wilderness School & The God Who Sustains
What if the season you are trying to escape is the very place God is using to shape you? During David’s fugitive years, we find him running from danger, hiding in caves, and learning to trust God in ways a throne could never teach. Far from being abandoned, David discovers that the wilderness becomes a classroom where prayer deepens, character is refined, and mercy is chosen over revenge. The Psalms written from these caves give voice to honest fear, desperate hope, and growing confidence in a sustaining God. This moment in David’s story points us to Jesus, who also entered the wilderness, chose obedience, and trusted the Father for the sake of our salvation. We are invited to turn our own caves into altars, develop spiritual disciplines that anchors our faith, and become places of refuge for others while we wait on God’s timing, promises, and purposes.
Covenant Friendship & Costly Loyalty
We often celebrate individual success, but Scripture reminds us that God rarely works in isolation. In 1 Samuel 18 to 20 we encounter the powerful friendship of David and Jonathan, a relationship marked by covenant love, costly loyalty, and deep spiritual unity. Jonathan chooses faithfulness over self-interest, laying aside his own future so that God’s purposes might advance through David. This message invites us to see that spiritual formation and calling are nurtured in community, not in solitude. God delights in unity and integrity among His people as we cultivate meaningful relationships. Ultimately this story points us to Jesus, who calls us friends and demonstrates the greatest love by laying down His life for us. We are challenged to build intentional relationships that encourage, protect, and propel one another toward the calling God has placed on our lives.
Facing Your Giants
What do you do when something stands in front of you that feels bigger, louder, and stronger than you? In 1 Samuel 17 we encounter a familiar story, not about the size of a giant, but about the strength of a trust rooted in God’s faithfulness. While fear paralyzes an entire army, David steps forward with covenant confidence shaped by years of walking with God in hidden places. This message reminds us that victory does not come from denying the threat, but from believing the promises of a God who is always with us. The sweet Psalmist of Israel gives language to this kind of faith, a confidence that rests in the Shepherd even in the valley. Ultimately this story points us to Jesus, who crushed the enemy on our behalf and invites us to live in the freedom of His victory. As we continue this journey, we are challenged to name our giants, rehearse God’s faithfulness, and step forward with a faith that is rooted in the promises and purposes of God for us.
God Sees the Heart
What if the very place you feel overlooked is the place where God is doing His deepest work? In 1 Samuel 16 we are invited into a quiet moment in Bethlehem where God passes over the obvious choices and sets His heart on a shepherd no one expected. This opening message reminds us that God sees beyond appearances and chooses people not for their platform but for their heart. Long before David wore a crown, God was forming him in obscurity and empowering him with His Spirit for a future he could not yet see. Encounter the God who knows us fully, shapes us intentionally, and calls us faithfully. Ultimately this moment points us to Jesus, the greater Son of David, who was also overlooked, anointed by the Spirit, and sent to accomplish the redemption of the world. As this series begins, we are invited to rethink how we measure worth, embrace faithfulness before visibility, and lean into a story God is still writing.
Sozo
What if healing is more than getting better and salvation is more than going to heaven? In Mark 5, we meet a woman whose life was marked by twelve years of chronic brokenness, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually, until one desperate act of faith brought her face to face with Jesus. In this message, we explore the powerful Greek word sozo, where salvation and healing are inseparably woven together, revealing Jesus as the One who does not just fix what is broken, but restores what is lost. Whether you are carrying physical pain, emotional wounds, or spiritual weariness, this story invites you to discover the kind of healing that makes us whole. Come and encounter Jesus who still saves, heals, and restores today.
The Greatest Story Ever Told, Volume 5: Emmanuel on the Road
Every story Jesus told revealed a glimpse of His heart, but this one reveals His very mission. The parable of the Good Samaritan is not just a moral lesson about kindness; it is the story of Christmas itself. We are the ones left wounded on the side of the road, and Jesus is the One who comes near. He is the true Good Samaritan who crosses the distance of heaven to reach us in our brokenness. The greatest storyteller tells the greatest story ever told: the unmerited, unconditional, and unreserved love of God revealed to humanity in the birth of Jesus. On this holy night, the storyteller becomes the Savior. The Word becomes flesh. The Healer bends low to make us whole. If you are broken, weary, lonely, or hurting, take heart. Jesus has come near. This Christmas, discover the One who will never pass you by.
The Greatest Story Ever Told, Volume 4: Incarnational Love
Love is never content to stay on the other side of the road. In Jesus’ story, a Samaritan sees a wounded stranger and moves toward him with compassion that costs something. He binds the man’s wounds, lifts him up, and pays the price for his recovery. That is the kind of love Advent calls us to remember. God saw our brokenness and did not turn away. He crossed the greatest distance of all when He sent His Son into our world. The incarnation is love in motion, love that stoops low to lift others up. When we encounter people in need, we have the chance to reflect that same love. Let’s see how the Samaritan’s compassion points us to the heart of God and how Christ’s love moves us to cross barriers, take risks, and bring healing to a world waiting for mercy.
The Greatest Story Ever Told, Volume 3: A House of Peace
Every traveler longs for a place to rest during a difficult journey. For the wounded man, that place was an inn: a space for comfort, care, and peace. In the story Jesus told, the innkeeper quietly receives the broken stranger and tends to his healing. What if that is what the church is meant to be? A refuge for the weary, a hospital for the hurting, a community for the broken. Advent reminds us that Jesus came to bring peace on earth and that His body, the church, carries that peace into every life it touches. Here we find rest from our striving, healing for our wounds, and hope for tomorrow. Let’s step inside the inn to discover how Christ still invites the broken to find peace and how we can become keepers of that peace in our world.
The Greatest Story Ever Told, Volume 2: The Day Religion Passed By
In this Advent season when heaven came close to earth, how often do we still keep our distance? The priest and the Levite both saw the wounded man but kept their distance. They hurried past, too busy or too proud to stop. They didn’t cross the road or cross their prejudices, barriers, or stigmas to help the needy. Advent invites us to trade our religious routines for a faith that moves, a joy that reaches out, and a love that acts. When true joy fills our hearts, it overflows in mercy. True repentance restores joy; the kind of joy that moves us toward the hurting and mirrors the compassion of Christ. Jesus came not to avoid the broken, but to bind up their wounds and bring good news to the poor. When His joy fills our hearts, we cannot stay still. Come discover how Advent joy awakens compassion and turns cold religion into life-giving faith.
The Greatest Story Ever Told, Volume 1: Hope for the Broken
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was steep, dangerous, and lonely. In Jesus’ story, a man lies beaten and half-dead on that road, stripped of dignity and left with nothing but fading breath and a desperate hope that someone might stop. That’s our story too. Humanity lies wounded by sin and separated from God, longing for rescue we can’t achieve ourselves. But Advent reminds us that Hope Himself came down that road. In the incarnation, God became our neighbour and our Hope. He found us in our brokenness, bandaged our wounds with grace, and carried us to safety. Jesus still places us in His inn, the church, for healing and restoration until He returns. Discover how the story of a beaten man reveals the greatest rescue ever told and the hope still reaching for you today.
Made to Connect with God
Why does one person feel closest to God in nature while another thrives in study or service? God has given His people different pathways to connect with Him, and each one is sacred. Some draw near through creation, others through celebration, others through stillness, service, or study. The psalmist declared, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you,” yet the way that longing is expressed looks different from person to person. The goal is not to copy someone else’s devotional life, but to discover how God has wired you to experience His presence. This message will open your eyes to the unique ways you can walk closely with the Lord through wonder, contemplation, and action. What if the key to deeper intimacy with God was already built into the way He created you?
Made for a Redemptive Story
Sometimes life is amazing and sometimes things just go our way, but have you ever had a moment in your life when nothing makes sense? A moment when life is putting you through the wringer and you just can’t figure out why any of it is happening? Join us this Sunday as we continue in our Made For More series and explore how God is faithful in our times of suffering, and how the Lord can use the experiences in our lives to shape, build, and transform us, all for His purpose and His glory. Come and hear how the Apostle Paul’s perspective on life experience and suffering pushed Him to live for Jesus and hear the redemptive story of Pastor Justin’s life as God helped him overcome some of the darkest moments in his life.
Made with a Unique Personality
Why do you respond to life differently than the people around you? The truth is that God designed your personality intentionally, shaping the way you relate, lead, and serve. Scripture says that the Lord does not look at the outward appearance but at the heart, and your heart is expressed through the temperament God gave you. Some are energized by people, others by projects, some prefer leading, others thrive in supporting roles. None of these ways are better than another, for the body of Christ needs them all to function as one. This message will affirm the way God made you and help you embrace your personality as a vital part of your service to Him. What if instead of resisting your wiring you began to rejoice in it as a reflection of God’s creative design?
Made with God-Given Abilities
Why do certain tasks feel almost effortless for you while others seem exhausting? The answer is that God has given you natural abilities that reveal His intention for your life. From the skilled artisans who built the tabernacle in Exodus to the servants in Jesus’ parable of the talents, Scripture shows us that God delights in using the skills He has placed in His people. These strengths are not just for career success but for kingdom service. When you dedicate your talents to God, what once seemed ordinary can become extraordinary in His hands. This message will help you recognize the abilities that come naturally to you and challenge you to see them as gifts from God. What might change if you stopped burying your abilities and started investing them for His kingdom, glory, and purpose?