'church' Tagged Posts (Page 6)
Podcast – 9:31 Growing the Church in Canada
Pastor Jon has been featured in the latest instalment of Heritage College and Seminary’s podcast: 9:31 Growing the Church in Canada. it is a 2-part interview with each lasting a little over 20 minutes. You can catch them on iTunes here.
From Kids to Adults – Compassion
Since it is Christmas time, our students are learning about Jesus birth. One of the themes is compassion. Compassion is something that speaks highly of Jesus’ life. Our theme verse for the month is John 3:16 which says 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”. This verse describes compassion to its fullest. God loved us so deeply that he…
What it Takes to Stand Strong in Today’s World – 3 Key Questions
Ever read something that left you inspired? Something so profound that it lifted you in unexpected ways. Happened to me recently, though I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit it. You see, as a pastor, I should not be taken aback by reading a book of the Bible, after-all, it’s profound teaching should be a continual source of inspiration. But recently I was especially struck by the book of 1 Peter. I was moved by the power of Peter’s arguments, especially in the…
2018 Canadian Church Leaders Conference – Highlights and Conference Notes
This year, along with two staff members from our church, I attended the Canadian Church Leaders Conference held June 14-16th at Connexus Church in Barrie, Ontario. This is the second year for this gathering and its primary attraction for me is its focus on the Canadian church. Though I appreciate the wealth of material and conferences that our friends south of the border provide, they have little to no understanding of the church dynamics in Canada. The Canadian focus, coupled…
The Main Reasons People Seek Out a Church
I continue to hear and read about the decline in church attendance. Even among the demographic of committed members, they are showing up less. It’s troublesome to say the least. Especially when church has a lot to offer. Considering the state of affairs I wondered, What would make a person or a family seek out a church? After-all, do we really have any idea what would drive a person to the doors of a church? Seekers are few and far…
The Enduring Power of Love
A lot has been written since the wedding of Prince Harry and Meagan Markle. Yes, I was one of the many who rose early in the day to watch the royal extravaganza. Whatever your reason for watching, the ceremony produced a number of surprises. The biggest surprise for me should not have been a surprise at all. It was the significant role that love played. This sounds strange considering it was a wedding after-all. If anything, love is the main…
Not Growing Spiritually? Here Are 6 Reasons Why You’re Likely Floundering.
Spiritual growth can be difficult. In our face-paced and media saturated culture we can find it difficult to experience peace, contentment, and deep connection with others. Add spiritual growth into the mix and chances are it finds little room in an otherwise hectic schedule. To complicate matters further, there is no one-size-fits-all formula for growth. We are all wired uniquely and have different ways of learning and growing. Regardless of how you best connect with God, there are some basics…