You Have Nothing to be Embarrassed About

 

You Have Nothing to be Embarrassed About

This Little Light of Mine
Matthew 28, Romans 1
Kevin Makins & Eucharist Church

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Why is it so awkward and uncomfortable to talk about our faith? Especially with those who are not Christians! 

In this very interactive sermon we share reflections on this awkwardness, and what it might look like for us to own our faith in a genuine way.

ALSO it includes the tightest 5 minute comedy set by Eucharist Comedian-in-Residence (ok, he just is a part of the church and hilarious) Zak McDonald. It's seriously very funny and very good.

Everyone is getting into it!

Everyone is getting into it!

The Most Specific Resurrection

The Most Specific Resurrection

Easter 2016
Matthew 28
Kevin Makins

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The resurrection account is incredibly beautiful and compelling... but what can we know FOR SURE? What can KNOW happened that fateful Sunday, 2000 years ago?

Well here's a start: we know SOMETHING happened.

"He Was a Nutjob"

"He Was a Nutjob" (Good Friday)

Give 'Em Hell
Matthew 23
Kevin Makins

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2016.03.25 - Kevin Makins - Give 'Em Hell / Lent 2016

"He Was a Nutjob" (Good Friday)

Matthew 23

Every year we host a wake for Jesus where people dress in black, eat funeral food, and tell stories of the deceased. This year the wake was hosted by a Pharisee, who spoke some harsh words.

Whitewashed Religion

Whitewashed Religion

Give 'Em Hell
Matthew 23
Kevin Makins

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This Sunday we're talking about the strange Christian phenomenon of using religious language to whitewash our cultural fears, anxieties, and aggression.

If you've ever been on the receiving end of such hostility a) I'm so sorry, that isn't right, and b) this is an open invite for you to join us as we dig deeper into why bad religion happens and how we can find a humble, prayerful, way forward.

Show 'Em the Ropes: Apprenticing in the Way of Jesus

Show 'Em the Ropes: Apprenticing in the Way of Jesus

TrueCity Conference 2016
Kevin Makins

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TrueCity is a network of over twenty congregations in Hamilton who are committed to seeing God's Kingdom come in Hamilton as it is in Heaven.

This year Kevin got the honour of speaking at two of the plenary sessions of the conference. 

How to be Angry at Religious Insitutions, or, "Don't Woe Me If You Don't Know Me"

How to be Angry at Religious Insitutions, or, "Don't Woe Me If You Don't Know Me"

Give 'Em Hell
Matthew 23:1-14
Kevin Makins

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Ever been angry at bad religion? Ever felt like priorities in the church were misaligned or hypocritical? Ever wanted to protest and raise your voice about it?

Jesus shows us that our anger matters, and he shows us what to do with it.

Give 'em hell, Jesus!

Finding Hope in the Chaos of Mental Health

Finding Hope in the Chaos of Mental Health

Psalms for Epiphany
Psalm 42
Cindy Stover

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Cindy tells her own story of struggling with anxiety and depression and helps us see two things:

1) The Psalmist sounds like someone going through serious mental health challenges!

2) The Psalmist points us to a God of Hope, even when it feels like we're drowning in chaotic waters.

The River

The River

Psalm 14

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Leslie takes us on the journey of the psalms, which is a journey through trial and suffering.

Nap Sunday!

Nap Sunday

Matthew 6

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Here it is friends: the best sermon of the year! 

We take Nap Sunday very seriously! 

We take Nap Sunday very seriously! 

Relationships: Singleness, Marriage, and Training in Love

Relationships: Singleness, Marriage, and Training in Love

Advent 2015: Sexuality & Incarnation

Matthew 19, 22

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Is there anyone who can escape the inevitable question "when will you find a boyfriend?" or "when will you have kids?" or "when will you get married?"

When these questions are asked, there is often an undertone. The real question often seems to be "when will you take the next step in life?"

So what did Jesus say about these so-called "life stages," and how should we talk about singleness, marriage, and family as Christians?

Also, why did John Donne write such uncomfortably sexual poetry to God?

Also, thanks so much to Steve for the beautiful prayer read at the end of the sermon, and to Alex for reflections on John Donne's poetry.

Bodies: God Blessed Your Body

Bodies: God Blessed Your Body

Advent 2015: Sexuality & Incarnation

Genesis 1, John 1, Psalm 33, Isaiah 40 & 55 & 53

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When God entered into humanity, he did so in a body. A physical body that got sick, and did manual labour, and smelled bad sometimes. 

He had a real body.

We live in a world obsessed with image, and sex, and weight... but it's a world that is very "anti-body".

But what if God, in taking on a body, blessed all bodies? 

Your body is blessed.

Scandal: Why Start This Way?

Scandal: Why Start This Way?

Advent 2015: Sexuality & Incarnation

Matthew 1


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Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. A classic Christmas statement! 

But that's how we tell the story NOW. At the time the story was this:

A man and woman were engaged to be married, and she became pregnant... from someone who she was not engaged too...

And that wasn't viewed positively. 

Strong language warning, but in the eyes of their society: 

Mary was a slut, Joseph was a sucker, and Jesus was a bastard.

Knowing what we know, it can be hard to understand just how much of a SCANDAL the whole situation was. 

Which, for me, raises the question: 

God, was there no better way to begin the incarnation? Why begin in scandal? 

Turns out there are some VERY good reasons!

Purity: Glass of Wine, Glass of Urine

Purity: Glass of Wine, Glass of Urine

Advent 2015: Sexuality & Incarnation

Luke 8, Leviticus 15, Numbers 19

When you think of Advent and Christmas, what comes to mind?

Mangers? Sheep and oxen? Snow and hot chocolate? God with us?

All good answers. But we’ve talked about that stuff before! Let’s face it, after years and years (and years) of Advent, we could be tricked into thinking we’ve mined the depths of the season, and there is nothing left to discover.

But this, of course, would be a huge mistake… because there is always more to discover.

Advent is about the anticipation of GOD taking on FLESH. God coming entering into God’s creation, taking on our skin, purifying our world, and birthing something new in the midst of it.

And there’s something… deeply sexual about the whole thing!

So what if we explore that for Advent 2015? What might we learn about our relationship with God, with one another, with the creation and with our own bodies?

And how might it fill us again with wonder: Wonder at the Divine Mystery of the Incarnation!

This week we start with what it means to be pure and holy, and how it relates to sex, to God, and to Christmas!

Purity: Glass of Wine, Glass of Urine

2015.11.29 - Kevin Makins - Sexuality & Incarnation

Purity: Glass of Wine, Glass of Urine

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Luke 8, Leviticus 15, Numbers 19

When you think of Advent and Christmas, what comes to mind?

Mangers? Sheep and oxen? Snow and hot chocolate? God with us?

All good answers. But we’ve talked about that stuff before! Let’s face it, after years and years (and years) of Advent, we could be tricked into thinking we’ve mined the depths of the season, and there is nothing left to discover.

But this, of course, would be a huge mistake… because there is always more to discover.

Advent is about the anticipation of GOD taking on FLESH. God coming entering into God’s creation, taking on our skin, purifying our world, and birthing something new in the midst of it.

And there’s something… deeply sexual about the whole thing!

So what if we explore that for Advent 2015? What might we learn about our relationship with God, with one another, with the creation and with our own bodies?

And how might it fill us again with wonder: Wonder at the Divine Mystery of the Incarnation!

This week we start with what it means to be pure and holy, and how it relates to sex, to God, and to Christmas!

Exclusive: Opening Cans of Worms

2015.11.22 - Kevin Makins - Three Important (& Annoying) Parts of Discipleship

Exclusive: Opening Cans of Worms

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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!

Submissive: Freeing Ourselves

image

2015.11.15 - Alison Witt - Three Important (& Annoying) Parts of Discipleship

Submissive: Freeing Ourselves

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Philippians 2

Oooh. Submission! That’s not a word that is very popular in our culture. But what is the good news in submission?

Alison Witt shares her own story of discipleship, how submission has helped her become more like Christ, and clarifies what submission is, and is not.

Good stuff!