Music in the Wilderness

2015.02.22 - Kevin Makins, Alex Drumm, Jeff Wynands & Nimal Agalawatte - The Church Calendar

Music in the Wilderness

Mark 1:9-15

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Most sermons start with information, and then move from your brain to your gut. We had a question: what if we had a sermon that started with your emotions and then worked to your brain?

This lead to an experiment: a musical sermon!

What exactly is a musical sermon? Give it a listen and you’ll hear.

The text:

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.“

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The Shadow Side of Faith

2014.02.16 - Prayer 2014 - Leshia Knopf

The Shadow Side of Faith

Habakkuk, Romans 8

Leshia Knopf shares an honest and reflective sermon on suffering, lament, trust, and being angry with God. Leshia is a part of the Eucharist Church “Preaching Guild”, a student of theology at McMaster Divinity College, and has spent the last few months driving her mother back and forth to her cancer appointments.

Suffice to say, this is not an intellectual exercise.

Leshia draws from the (little preached on) prophet Habakkuk to present a way of wrestling with God that is both faithful and raw.

Jeff Wynands also lead us in songs of lament, including a remixed version of Psalm 137.

The music starts at 32 minutes.

The lyrics to the song are below:

If I sing it wouldn’t mean a thing

If I dance it wouldn’t prove a chance

If I shout it wouldn’t lift the doubt

But I will if just to trust

We sit in endless sorrow at this river of defeat

We hang our songs in sadness on this tree of memory

Our joys are shapeless shadows these foreign city streets

We’ve fallen prey to mockers and their morbid mockeries

These hands surrender function and this heart it stutters beats

Were I to forget mount Zion my lips would surely seize

The wreck and rubble of a promise now dust upon our feet

We pray the same for the infant of these wretched godless deeds

If I sing it wouldn’t mean a thing

If I dance it wouldn’t prove a chance

If I shout it wouldn’t lift the doubt

But I will if just to trust…

Your will is enough oh God

Father this city’s cursed but you bless it with your name

Oh son this home is exile but you make it all the same

Resonance of Christ

2014.02.02 - Resonance of Christ - Stephen Edwards

Titus 2, Luke 19

Click here to read the sermon (that’s right… READ! No recording, it’s just written out!)

The text: 

But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds,with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

These things speak and exhort and reprove with all [i]authority. Let no one disregard you.

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - SING

2013.11.24 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Justine Lodder

SING

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 3: 15-17

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Targum written and read by Cath Craig

Soma: 1 Corinthians - Corporate Demons

2012.03.18 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians

Corporate Demons

1 Corinthians 10:14-22, Ephesians 6, Revelation 2

This has quickly become one of the most debated and controversial topics we’ve ever had as a church! 

Paul makes a connection between Corinth’s idols, and demons, which leads us to ask “what are the demons today?” and “how should we engage with the powers?”

There are no simple answers, but it is a conversation we all need to have, and one that will require us to take action! 

Additionally, because of all the conversation this sermon started, we’ve added a B-Sides BonusCast to the end of the episode, with some further reflections.

This should be fun…

Music led by Tim Selles and Jeff Wynands - starts 51 minutes in.

B-Sides BonusCast starts 61 minutes in.