Cities of God: The Christian Calling to Urban Life

The biblical story begins in a garden and culminates in a city. Through the course of Summer Fellowship 2010, we will reflect on God’s plan of redemption for humankind and for society. When people come together to build and work, to live and love, we see both the best that comes from our being made in God’s image as well as the worst examples of the evil which flows from our rejection of divine guidance and truth. Throughout scripture, God is determined to love people in their urban life together and, for his part, Jesus calls us to make peace, to be open to our neighbour, to welcome the stranger, to share our faith, to contribute our gifts, to do justice, to creatively renew and to work for the prosperity of the city. Join us from June to August, as we ask “how are we as disciples of Jesus Christ being called to follow Him in the city?"

Title	Speaker	Date	Text
(1) Creation, Violence, and the First City	Glenn Smith	June 23, 2010	Genesis 1-4
(2) Babel: towers, traffic, and ambition in the city	Donna Dong	June 30, 2010	Genesis 11
(3) God's blessing on the city	Rick Tobias	July 7, 2010	Proverbs 11
(4) Exile in Babylon: a surprising commitment to the city	Connie denBok	July 14, 2010	Jeremiah 29.4-14
(5) Nineveh: perspectives on urban renewal	Ray Bakke	July 21, 2010	Jonah 1-4
(6) Jesus and the City	Geoff Ryan	July 28, 2010	Matthew 5.13-14
(7) Athens: the Gospel in the cltural marketplace	John Bowen	August 4, 2010	Acts 17.16-34
(8) Paul, slavery, and our African-Canadian neighbours	Victor Shepherd	August 11, 2010	Philemon
(9) Far away, so close: The coming city of God	A. Donald MacLeod	August 18, 2010	Revelation 21

During the summer friends sometimes travel far and wide, visiting exotic locations that seem like a different world from the one in which we live. They send us postcards with beautiful pictures covering one side, and on the other they write happy notes describing their experiences in these interesting places.

Our friend John the Apostle had occasion to visit a truly different world, God’s new heaven and new earth where he toured the capital city, New Jerusalem. John tells us all about it in Revelation 21.

In a series of four sermons called “POSTCARDS FROM PARADISE” we’ll get a glimpse of God’s new creation through John’s eyes. And although we’ll see a world exotically different from our own, we should also find some familiar details right here in our own church!

Title	Speaker	Date	Text
(1) Something new and different	Jack Archibald	July 4, 2010 (am)	Isaiah 65.17-25 Revelation 21.1-4
(2) Wish You Were Here!	Jack Archibald	July 11, 2010 (am)	Isaiah 35.1-10 Revelation 21.5-8
(3) You Should See This!!	Jack Archibald	July 18, 2010 (am)	Isaiah 54.11-17 Revelation 21.9-21
(4) Invite Your Friends!	Jack Archibald	July 25, 2010 (am)	Isaiah 60.15-22 Revelation 21.22-27

Many of us are no longer satisfied taking summer vacations that are merely safe and comfortable. We like to go on holidays filled with adventure, junkets that challenge and stretch us and bring us home weary but fulfilled and energized. Some people seem to live their whole lives that way. They climb mountains, leap from airplanes and hike in remote forests. They work in dangerous jobs, take huge financial risks and are always seeking new thrills. They are the people who tell us, “If you’re not living on the edge you’re taking up too much room!”

Have you thought of the Christian life this way, as an adventure to pursue? Or are you comfortable in being a complacent Christian? Jesus does not bribe us with promises of safety and ease to follow Him, but rather He challenges us to leave everything and follow Him, to deny ourselves and take up a cross, and to be willing to die in order to really live.

Jesus calls His disciples to join Him on the edge. Jesus invites us to live our Christian life as THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE. This is the them we are chasing in four studies from the Gospel of Luke.

Title	Speaker	Date	Text
(1) The Right Stuff	Jack Archibald	July 4, 2010 (pm)	Genesis 12.1-5 Luke 5.1-11
(2) Of Turkeys and Eagles	Jack Archibald	July 11, 2010 (pm)	Genesis 18.1-15 Luke 5.17-26
(3) Jump at the Chance	Jack Archibald	July 18, 2010 (pm)	Genesis 18.20-33 Luke 9.1-6
(4) The Regrettable Refusal to Rish	Jack Archibald	July 25, 2010 (pm)	Genesis 18.20-33 Luke 9.1-6

Title	Speaker	Date	Text
An Inconvenient Passion	Craig S.	March 28, 2010	Isaiah 10, Hebrews 5	*See below
True Confessions	Glen Soderholm	March 21, 2010	Psalm 32, James 5.13-18
The Pain of Injury and the Precept of Pardon: Where Does Forgiveness Begin?	Victor Shepherd	March 14, 2010 (am)	Mark 11.25
Doing Church in Fresh Ways - And Why It Matters	John Bowen	March 14, 2010 (pm)	Isaiah 43.14-21
Four Things That Will Change Your Life	John Vissers	March 7, 2010 (am)	John 21.15-23
From Jerusalem to Mars	Connie denBok	March 7, 2010 (pm)	Acts 16.17-33

*Recordings of this sermon are not available online. Please contact the church office if you would like a copy of this sermon (416.921.8993).

January 2010

Title	Speaker	Date	Text
What is God Like? (1)	Geoff Ryan	January 31, 2010 (pm)	Luke 15
The Extraordinary Church: Can It Happen Today?	Geri Rodman	January 31, 2010 (am)	Acts 2.37-47
Choices	Sandra Ryan	January 24, 2010 (pm)	James 4
Has the Church a Future?	Victor Shepherd	January 24, 2010 (am)	Deuteronomy 8.1-10, Matthew 4.1-4, Matthew 16.13-20
The Rhythm of Grace	Alex MacLeod	January 17, 2010	James 4
The God Who Seeks	Wayne Hancock	January 10, 2010	Luke 15
Feed My Sheep	Don Pollock	January 3, 2010	Ezekiel 34.11-16, 23-24, John 21.15-19

Advent Series 2009: The Songs of Christmas

Luke, alone of all the gospel writers, includes various 'songs' at the beginning of his account of the early days of Jesus' life, and they have been sung by Christians ever since. Luke deliberately ties the story of Jesus to Israel, for it is Jesus who fulfills the promises made by God to his people long ago.

At the 5 pm service we will also be looking at two other 'songs' of the season - the magnificent prologue to John's gospel that declares the awesome mystery of the divine Word becoming a human being and making his home among us; and the words that begin the letter to the Hebrews, exalting Jesus Christ as the very image (icon) of God, who is God's greatest and final word to humankind.

Title	Date	Text
(1) Mary's Song	December 6, 2009	Luke 1.39-56
(2) Zechariah's Song	December 13, 2009	Like 1.57-80
(3) John's Song	December 13, 2009 (5pm)	John 1.1-18
(4) The Song of Philippians	December 20, 2009 (5pm)	Philippians 2.5-11
(5) The Angels' Song	December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve	Luke 2.1-20	Not available
(6) Simeon's Song	December 27, 2009	Luke 2.21-35	Not available

God's New Community: The Message of Ephesians
Racial and ethnic divisions, war between nations, broken marriages, shattered friendships - we live in a fractured world. How can the pieces be put back together? In the New Testament book of Ephesians Paul lifts the veil from the future to allow us to see God's eternal plan to unite everyone and everything in Christ. God is forming a new community, a people who are being reconciled to God and to one another. Studying this book will renew our hope! (All sermons preached by Kevin Livingston.)

Title	Date	Text
(1) Blessed By God	September 13, 2009	Ephesians 1.1-14
(2) Opened Eyes	September 20, 2009	Ephesians 1.15-23
(3) Amazing Grace	September 27, 2009	Ephesians 2.1-10
(4) The New Community	October 4, 2009	Ephesians 2.11-22
(5) The Open Secret	October 11, 2009	Ephesians 3.1-13
(6) The Path to Fullness	October 18, 2009	Ephesians 3.14-21
(7) Unity and Diversity in the Church	November 8, 2009	Ephesians 4.1-16
(8) A New Set of Clothes	November 15, 2009	Ephesians 4.17-5.21
(9) Harmonious Relationships	November 22, 2009	Ephesians 5.22-6.9
(10) Spiritual Warfare and the Armour of God	November 29, 2009	Ephesians 6.10-20

Missions Conference 2009 theme: The Sacrifice of Christ

Title	Speaker	Date	Text
The Sacrifice of Christ and God's Global Mission	Glenn Smith	October 25, 2009 (11am)	Titus 2.11 - 3.8
The Sacrifice of Christ and God's Urban Mission	Glenn Smith	October 25, 2009 (5pm)	Titus 1.10 - 2.10
The Sacrifice of Christ's People	Geoff Ryan	November 1, 2009 (11am)	Matthew 25.31-46
The Sacrifice of Christ and the Dynamic of the Church's Mission	Charles Price	November 1, 2009 (5pm)	1 Corinthians 2.1-5

Many voices in our culture attempt to tell us who we are, but deep down what we most need to know is what God thinks of us. Our prayer is that these studies will reveal who we really are in Jesus Christ, and how by his spirit we are being restored to wholeness.

Speaker	Topic	Text
John Vissers	(1) Wonderfully Made	Psalm 139
Victor Shepherd	(2) Eternally Loved	Romans 8:28-39
Bryn MacPhail	(3) Fully Forgiven	Hebrews 10.1-18
John Bowen	(4) Deeply Fallen	Romans 3.9-20
Greg Scharf	(5) Greatly Blessed	Ephesians 1.3-14
Kevin Livingston	(6) Old Yet New	Ephesians 4.17-32	*See below
Donald Carson	(7) Weak Yet Strong	2 Corinthians 12.1-10
Don MacLeod	(8) Poor Yet Rich	1 Corinthians 4.8-13 2 Corinthians 6.3-10
Glen Taylor	(9) Dying Yet Alive	1 Corinthians 15.35-58

*Unfortunately due to technical problems during recording this sermon is unavailable.

Remembering the Faith is an in-depth study of the Apostles' Creed, an early Christian statement of faith. The series explores the scriptural basis for each statement in the Creed and reconnects us with the fundamental principles of Christianity. (All sermons preached by Kevin Livingston.)

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into haven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Title	Text	Date
(1) Credo	Hebrews 11.1-16 Mark 5.25-34	February 8, 2009
(2) How Do We Come to Know God?	Psalm 19 Acts 17.16-34 Romans 8.15-16	February 15, 2009
(3) God the Father Almighty	Psalm 103 1 Corinthians 1.18-25	February 22, 2009
(4) Creator of Heaven and Earth	Psalm 148 Genesis 1.1-5 Revelation 21.1-7	March 1, 2009
(5) The Simplest Creed of All	John 1.1-18 Hebrews 1.1-4	March 8, 2009	Not available
(6) Crown Him Lord of All	John 20.24-29 Philippians 2.1-11	March 22, 2009
(7) The Holy Spirit and the Virgin Birth	Isaiah 7.10-14 Luke 2	March 29, 2009	*See below
(8) Suffered Under Pontius Pilate	Mark 11.1-10 15.1-15	April 5, 2009
(9) Crucified, Died, Buried, Descended	John 19.17-42 Matthew 27.45-54	April 10, 2009
(10) On the Third Day, He Rose Again	1 Corinthians 15.1-11 John 20.1-18	April 12, 2009
(11) Jesus Now Ascended and Seated	Luke 24.44-53 Ephesians 1.15-23	May 3, 2009
(12) Jesus Our Judge	John 5.16-30 Hebrews 9.23-28	May 10, 2009
(13) I Believe in the Holy Spirit	Romans 8.1-17	May 17, 2009
(14) The Holy Catholic Church	Hosea 2.19-23 1 Peter 2.4-10	May 24, 2009
(15) A Community of Saints / Sinners	Psalm 34 Colossians 3.12-7	June 14, 2009
(16) The Resurrection of the Body	Job 19.25-27 Luke 24.36-44 1 Corinthians 15.35-44	June 21, 2009
(17) The Life Everlasting	Revelation 21.1-11; 21.22 - 22.5	July 5, 2009

*Unfortunately due to technical problems during recording this sermon is unavailable.