Does the word "judge" make you uncomfortable? Why?
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We all struggle with comparison. What does it look like to live a life of freedom, fully owning your story and your role to play, to become a part of something bigger than ourselves?
Plus a 15-point story consisting of 30 lives weaving together. It's epic.
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Moooooody Lights and Bunting
Potluck Prayers
Donut surprise by "Donut Monster," Hamilton's best donut shop run out of the Kitchen Collective, a group referenced in the sermon... and we didn't plan any of it!
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How can we be the reconciled body of Christ if parts of our body have been broken or cut off? Bernadette Arthur, who works for the Christian Reformed Church as a race and relations coordinator, preaches holy fire, and reminds us that reconciliation ALWAYS will cost something.
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(Oh boy, lots of bible in this one…) - Deuteronomy 7, Luke 6, Amos 3, 5, 9, Matthew 5, 1 Corinthians 5, Matthew 23
As we close off this sermon series we look at yet ANOTHER idea that is straight up offensive to us, and that we’ve all been hurt by: exclusion.
But the idea of exclusivity is actually a pretty robust theological theme in the bible. From beginning to end there is language that we would describe as… GASP!… exclusive?!
What do we do with this language? Is God for some, and not for others? Are all religions more or less the same? Should we ever be exclusive in our relationships or our commitments?
What does exclusivity have to do with the Christian faith?
Here is Kevin’s best attempt to kick off the conversation this week as we talk about how being a disciple is exclusive, and why that is both good and annoying!
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The church is called to be a diverse group of people, united across all the traditional tribal lines of age, gender, background, culture, status, etc.
It’s a lovely vision, isn’t it? Only one problem: it’s really, really friggen hard to feel like an outsider, or to feel like you’re just DIFFERENT from everyone else.
What does the gospel say to united groups of diverse people?
2014.06.15 - Kevin Makins - So What?
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Should Christians drink alcohol? If not, why? If so, how?
And is there a way to enjoy alcohol that doesn’t devolve into harsh judgements, or dumb decisions, or long lists of rules, or selfishness, or vomit-in-your-hair? What does the bible say about alcohol?
Well apparently a lot! (Seriously, look at all there verses up there)
This sermon is a fairly lengthy exploration of alcohol in the bible, but it’s ultimately asking one simple question: how did Jesus drink?
2014.05.25 - Kevin Makins - So What?
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Here it is: the most important (and awkward) topic on the list! We are surrounded by sex in our culture, but our culture fails to understand it. Our culture is sex OBSESSED, but is still as lonely and disconnected as ever. We are in desperate need of a better word on sex, and the church has tried to bring this word.
The problem is that sometimes, in trying to bring a good word, the church has heaped shame, judgement, and pain on people .
There must be a better way to talk about, and practice, sex as Jesus followers.
2013.05.12 - Kevin Makins - Back To The Future: Old Sermons That Shaped Us
1 Corinthians 8 and 10, Revelation 2 and 3, Daniel 7
This sermon got the most feedback (positive AND negative) of any sermon preached at Eucharist! It’s about one of the ways that spiritual warfare presents itself in our culture.
Reading by Terri Drumm is from her blog post “Our weird relationship with clothing”
Sandy Reynolds read for Mother’s Day from the blog “The Messy Middle”
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This sermon is a “re-preach” of an earlier sermon at Eucharist. You can re-listen to the original sermon (from March 2012) by clicking here!
2012.06.24 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 16, 2
We close off our year long study of a letter with another letter.
Music led by Joel Cumby, Jeff Wynands, and Justine Kormann - starts 20 minutes in.
2012.06.17 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:29-58
As Paul closes out the body of his letter he talks about the final hope of the world, and how we’re all like old tossed aside license plates.
Music led by Joel Cumby - starts 51 minutes in.
2012.06.03 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 14:26-40, Genesis 1
“The women should keep silent in the churches” - thanks for that gem, Paul. How in the world can this text be good news?
But like all texts we struggle to understand, when we get to the heart of it, it is actually very good news; and it all has to do with order & chaos.
Music led by Joel Cumby - starts 55 minutes in.
2012.05.27 - Dave Witt - Soma: 1 Corinthians
Desire Spiritual Gifts, or, Tongues, Prophecy, and Other Gifts That Can Freak Us Out
1 Corinthians 14:1-25, Romans 12
Speaking in tongues to God? Prophetically speaking to each other? Eagerly desire these gifts?!
Help! Dave Witt! Make sense of the text!
Dave looks at the charismatic gifts of the spirit, specifically speaking in tongues and prophecy, and how to God uses them to build up His church, and break the boxes we tend to put Him in.
Music led by Alex Drumm - starts 55 minutes in.
2012.05.20 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
Something That Is Already Ours In Christ
1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4
In 2006 a study was done to see what non-believers thought of Christians.
91% said that Christian’s were “anti-homosexual”. This was the predominant association in most of their minds. Other associations included “judgmental”, “hypocritical”, and “insensitive to others”.
The climax of 1 Corinthians also points to the engine of the entire Christian faith: love. Have we missed our primary calling?
Music led by Joel Cumby - starts 47 minutes in.
2012.05.13 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 12:12-26, 1 Samuel 17
The body (soma) has been a constant theme through Paul’s letter, but in chapter 12 he brings it into the forefront, working the metaphor to show how all the parts of the body are dependant on one another, and how the smallest things affect the biggest.
Music led by Jeff Wynands and Joel Cumby - starts 46 minutes in.
2012.05.07 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Kevin’s back from Uganda, and he brought with him a whole bunch of stories about how the Spirit works, and the gifts that have been so freely given to us!
Music led by Joel Cumby - starts 50 minutes in.
2012.04.29 - Leanne Friesen - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
We revisit the table for a third time and final time, as Leanne reflects on what it means to “join the story”, and how the table tells us about God’s relentless love for us.
Music led by Andrew Huang - starts 36 minutes in.
Special music by Derek Zanetti (Homeless Gospel Choir)
2012.04.22 - Jared Both - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
This week we revisit the breaking of the bread with a focus on what it means to lose your privilege to gain a full table.
Music led by Alex Drumm - starts 47 minutes in.
2012.04.15 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Matthew 22, Galatians 3
This week: traditions, prejudice, Communion, and Paul gets pissed.
Music led by Joel Cumby - starts 44 minutes in.
2012.04.08 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
Easter 2012 - Resurrection in Corinth
1 Corinthians 15:12-28, 58
For our Easter celebration we jump ahead a little bit in 1 Corinthians to chapter 15, where Paul explains why the resurrection changes EVERYTHING!
Music led by Joel Cumby and the Resurrection Band - starts 35 minutes in.
2012.04.01 - Bill Webb - Soma: 1 Corinthians
Head Coverings, or, The Head of Every Woman is Man?
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Paul reminds the Corinthian church that the head of every woman is man, that women should wear a head covering, and that for men to have long hair is a disgrace.
No… this isn’t an April Fools joke.
But there’s always more to the story. Digging into the text we begin to see how Paul’s teachings, which seem so backwards and regressive to us, were actually incredibly relevant and empowering in their time and place.
So how do we honour texts like these? Dr. William Webb, author of “Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals” and “Corporal Punishment in the Bible” walks us through these texts, and explains how they can help us understand the heart of God and worship today.
Music led by Alex Drumm, and a whack of other people - starts 1 hour and 12 minutes in.
Note: due to technical problems, the audio is a little weak until about half and hour into the sermon, where it improves.
