Good Shepherd Barrhaven Sermon Stream

Churches can have a reputation for judgy behaviour. Folks with a past, folks who don't have it all together, and folks who have doubts can sometimes feel like church isn't for them. Yet, the gospel passage for today tells us this isn't the case at all. In fact, Jesus welcomes those who have messed up in big ways. He isn't surprised by our weaknesses. Instead, he simply asks if we want to follow him, even if we can't follow through as we would like. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen tells us how Jesus' interaction with his disciples can give hope to everyone who struggles with being a good follower of Jesus.Scripture reference: John 21:1-19Preached by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne on the Third Sunday of Easter, May 5, 2019Sermon HighlightsClose attention to detail helps us understand this passageThe details highlight the failures of the disciplesThey also highlight the graciousness of JesusHe restores those who denied himHe gives them a place of leadershipHe challenges them to evangelizeJesus welcomes us when we failWe

The phrase "Doubting Thomas" now part of the English language, as way of describing a person who is unable to believe the truth. Yet, the bible doesn't present the original Thomas in so negative a way. Instead, it invites us to identify with him because he resembles our situation in life. Like him, we find it hard to believe because we haven't seen Jesus face to face. This sermon points us to the lessons Thomas can teach us about dealing with doubts and how we can help others see Jesus for themselves.Scripture reference: John 20:19-31Preached by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 28, 2019Sermon HighlightsThomas is an example to usHe teaches us that Jesus is gentle with the doubtingHe teaches us that Jesus gives us what we need to overcome doubtsWe can get an even better knowledge of Christ than the disciplesJesus is present in the churchBy sticking with the church we learn new things about himWe are challenged to present Jesus faithfully to the worldFurther ReadingLook Homeward, A

Easter celebrates a great miracle, where God raises Jesus from the dead. However, we don't celebrate this just as a chance to look back at a great event. We celebrate the fact that in his death and resurrection Jesus enjoyed a victory over death which brings hope for us when facing our own death.Scripture reference: John 20:1-18Preached on Easter morning, April 21, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsWe all know what it is like to live without powerHoly Week is physically hard on us, leaving us feeling low in powerThe events of Holy Week are spiritually draining tooThis gives us a sense what Mary Magdalene felt on the first Easter morningHer experience on this morning is relatable for us allShe is powerless as she approaches the tombWe are powerless in front of the graveEaster morning makes us confront this powerlessnessBut also it makes us confront God's powerWe cannot defeat death, but Christ hasEaster challenges us to put faith in him as our championWe can trust our champion because he loves

The resurrection of Jesus is a world-changing event, but it can be hard sometimes to know why it should matter to us. This sermon argues that the resurrection is only understood rightly when we see it as part of God's ongoing mission of rescue from oppression. It's a mission which continues today and inspires us to faithful service in that same cause of freedom.Scripture reference: Luke 24:1-12Preached on the Easter Vigil, April 20, 2019 by the Rev. Lisa PacarynukSermon HighlightsGod has been at work saving creation from the beginningHe continues working at this nowWe remember how the resurrection promises freedom to usBaptism is the promise that we have an ongoing relationship with the one who was raisedIt also challenges us to walk with this one to cooperate in his mission of grace See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Palm Sunday is the commemoration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, surrounded by shouts of joy from the people. They believed he was their long-awaited Messiah and King, who would usher in a new kingdom of freedom. Yet, they didn't realize that this kingdom is not of this world. Within days, the crowds turned against him to demand he be crucified. Palm Sunday encourages us to consider this rapid change in public attitude: from joyful acceptance to enraged rejection. In today's meditation Fr. Stephen encourages us to consider the significance of this changing public opinion, and to examine our own attitudes to Christ in the present day.Scripture references: Luke 19:28-40 & Luke 22:14-23:56 Preached on the Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsThe quick change in the crowd's attitude warn us against just following popular opinionJesus doesn't put his trust in crowds but in GodJesus still comes to crowds, despite knowing what was in their hearts See acast.com/privacy for

Faith is less understood today than it was in past generations. Today, many people are convinced that faith is a waste of time. Yet, this isn't a new situation. In today's sermon, we learn that sometimes the people in Jesus' day were just as critical. Mary shows special devotion to Jesus, but is criticized for it too. The story helps us understand how best to worship God in an indifferent world, and reminds us that what matters most is to serve Him regardless of what it looks like to othersScripture references: John 12:1-8Preached on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, April 7, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsWesterners increasingly live without GodFaith seems like a waste of time to many peopleMary gives an appropriate response to Jesus' goodnessShe doesn't care what people thinkWe worship to give an appropriate response to Jesus' goodnessWe shouldn't care what people thinkChurch helps us serve our neighbour betterThere is room for different personalities to serve JesusBy serving Jesus we bring brigh

Some stories in the bible are so well known, they have a tendency to lose their power from over-hearing. The story of the prodigal son is one of those stories. Yet, when we read it with fresh eyes we start to see why it has become so popular. It is a story of profound challenge and profound hope. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen explores why the story of the prodigal son should shock us into a greater trust in God and a greater love for people who wander far from the right path.Scripture references: Luke 15:11-32Preached on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 31, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsThe prodigal son's ruin brought shame to his familyThe father's acceptance shows he doesn't care how his love looks to othersGod is more concerned with saving His children than with obeying our idea of fairnessBoth sons failed to trust that they were beloved childrenWe can trust we are children because God says we areThe story teaches patience to parents with wayward kidsFurther ReadingThe Road to Wigan Pier

Superheroes are now a staple of movie entertainment, and continue to be popular because they take action to overcome injustice. We forget sometimes that God empowers us to be heroes as well, through honestly facing up to where we have become comfortable with injustice. How do we grow out of condemning others, and instead start asking where we need to change? Where do we find courage to act for the benefit of others? This sermon addresses these challenges and encourages us to grow into the kind of people who bring justice wherever we are.Scripture references: Luke 13:1-9; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13Preached on the Third Sunday in Lent, March 24, 2019 by Ed MontanoSermon HighlightsOscar Romero is a great example of Christian faithHe is an example of speaking truth to the powerfulWe sometimes ignore injustice because of dual loyaltiesOur first loyalty is to Christ, not to the powerful of our worldChrist frees us from the idols of our ageChrist also challenges us to look at our own livesRather than blaming others, what

Nobody likes judgment, yet there are many parts of the Bible which talk about it. In this week's Gospel, Jesus talks about a judgment on Jerusalem and its temple. What benefit do we get from hearing these difficult words? How can we find words of judgment to be good news? This sermon explores what Jesus meant to his original audience, but also what he is saying to us today about God's challenge to our way of life.Scripture references: Luke 13:31-35; Jeremiah 7:1-20Preached on the Second Sunday in Lent, March 17, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsJesus' statements in the Gospel rely on the prophet JeremiahJeremiah's judgment on the temple is that it would not allow God inGod was pushed out by their faithlessnessSo, God will come to judge the templeJesus similarly is pushed out by leaders' faithlessnessSo, Jesus comes to judge the templeJesus invites us to ask, where have we pushed him out?Must ask if our church faithfully reflects God's mercyMust ask if I faithfully reflect God's mercyGod's cha

Most people who were raised in an Anglican, Lutheran or Catholic tradition know a bit about the season of Lent. It's a time for self-reflection, repentance and self-denial. The reasons for repentance and reflection may seem obvious to us, because everyone could stand to improve some things in their lives. But why self-denial? This sermon examines Jesus' temptation in the wilderness to answer this question. Jesus' 40 days of temptation is the model for the 40 days of Lent we celebrate in the church, and it shows us that self-denial helps us on the road to more patience and self-control. These are things we benefit from throughout the year.Scripture references: Luke 4:1-13; Genesis 3Preached on the First Sunday in Lent, March 10, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsJesus' temptation reminds us we all will be temptedJesus' temptations are temptations to impatienceThe things the devil offered were good, but the means and timing were badWe practice self-denial to teach us patience with GodGod gives g

Probably all of us have had what we would call Mountaintop Experiences in our lives. Yet, these experiences don't always mean much to us in the long run. This sermon was delivered on a church festival called the Transfiguration. It highlights a great mountaintop experience of for Jesus' disciples. On the top of a mountain, they see Jesus unveiled as the divine Son of God. Yet, what difference should this great experience make for us? So what if they had a mountaintop experience? This sermon delves into what this experience shows us: that we should learn to Jesus in the everyday experiences of life, and that we should let our own mountaintop experiences with God transform us into people who provide those experiences for others.Scripture Reference: Luke 9:28-43; Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2Preached on the Feast of Transfiguration, March 3, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsThe transfiguration shows the divine nature of JesusDisciples found it easy to see him as Messiah when he was glo

Loving some people is easy. Others, not so much. That fact is what makes today's Gospel passage so difficult. Jesus tells his disciples to love their enemies, bless those who curse them, and even turn the other cheek when someone slaps them. How can we do this? And doesn't this way of life just turn us into doormats, vulnerable to being abused? In this sermon our student intern, Ed Montano, tackles this challenging passage by reminding us that it's through God's grace that these actions become an agent to change the world for the better.Scripture Reference: Luke 6:27-38; 1 Corinthians 15:35-50Preached on the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, February 24, 2019 by Ed MontanoSermon HighlightsWe all face situations which make us angryThis makes it very hard to do what Jesus tells usWe often don't want to have our hatreds or angers challengedJesus challenges us in the Gospel anywayHe asks more of us than to do what comes easyDisciples are asked to trust that Jesus' way is betterWe are asked to trust that he knows wha

Some passages in the bible are just strange. They don't tell us what we expect to hear. In today's sermon, Fr. Stephen tackles a part of the Gospel called the beatitudes. They tell us that wealth, food, happiness and reputation can sometimes be bad things. Poverty, hunger, sorrow and insult can be good. These things don't naturally make sense to us, but Jesus' words show us that his grace and love can be found in unexpected places--even in places we really would rather avoid.Scripture Reference: Luke 6:17-26Preached on the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 17, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsThe beatitudes are stranger than we thinkJesus tells us the things we usually strive for are wrongJesus also says the things we usually avoid are rightThis challenges us to stop just asking Jesus to give us what we wantInstead, we should ask him to show us what we really needPoverty, hunger, and other can highlight our dependence on ChristWhen we depend on him we realize how trustworthy he isFurther

SummaryEveryday life often seems to carry a shadow with it. The news brings sorrow, and we get frustrated by the daily setbacks, challenges and fears which life brings. This sermon challenges us to see the light of Christ in our regular life, finding Jesus' comfort, help and love in unexpected places.Scripture Reference: Luke 2:22-40Preached on the Feast of the Presentation, February 3, 2019 by Ed MontanoSermon HighlightsWe often find ourselves frightened by darknessThe danger posed by darkness is a common theme in life & artScripture shows God as being full of light and truthSimeon & Anna are prophets in this storyThey recognize that Jesus is God's light come to earthJesus came to bring his light to us, in the middle of our darknessLike Simeon, we should open our eyes in faith to see God's goodness in daily lifeFurther ReadingInformation on the Sacred Heart of Jesus image See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Faith can be difficult at the best of times, but can be especially tough when we feel God is leading us to do something we don't want to do. This sermon challenges us to examine the hardest question to answer: do we trust Jesus when he tells us he has our well-being at heart? When we are able to answer yes, our whole approach to life and its challenges will be transformed.Scripture Reference: Luke 4:14-21Preached on the Third Sunday after Epiphany, January 27, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsJesus begins his ministry by proclaiming his good intentionsThis passage challenges us to believe he has our well-being at heartWe can be naturally distrustfulWe grow when we trust his voice will lead us rightlyJesus sees the ways we are enslavedHe has the power to free us from slavery to bad habitsHe gives us to the courage to see what needs changing in our livesMake a habit of trusting him with the things which shame and break you See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine is one of many miracles Jesus performs in his ministry. At first, it doesn't seem to be his most significant miracle. Yet, this tells us a lot about who Jesus is and how we relate to him. This sermon reflects on 3 ways the water turned to wine enlightens our daily Christian life.Scripture Reference: John 2:1-11Preached on the Second Sunday after Epiphany, January 20, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsWater to wine shows Jesus' care for our everyday concernsWater to wine shows Jesus brings joy and abundanceWater to wine shows Jesus came to take away our shameFurther ReadingGeoffrey Corbis & his public shamingThe Bose Monastic Community See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Baptism is part of most Christian traditions, and in today's Gospel reading, we see Jesus himself being baptized. So what does this episode tell us about Jesus, and what does it tell us about the meaning of baptism? In this sermon, Fr. Stephen explains how this episode reveals important aspects of who Jesus is, and what Jesus brings to us through baptism.Scripture Reference: Isaiah 10:33-11:3; Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 3:15-22Preached on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 13, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsJesus' baptism tells us a lot about who he isJesus is the Divine Messiah, who can be trustedJesus is the Warrior to breaks oppressionJesus is the Saviour who dies to save his peopleJesus baptism tells us a lot about our own baptismBaptism is an act of trust in ChristBaptism is a promise that Christ will break our chainsBaptism is an invitation to live our whole lives for Christ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Epiphany is the last official day of the Christmas season in the Church. Yet, by this point every year most of us have left Christmas far behind. Why make a big deal out of the 12 days of Christmas, and why make a big deal out of Epiphany. This sermon explains why the Church insists on celebrating Christmas for 12 whole days and not just on Christmas Day itself. Fr. Stephen goes on to explain why Epiphany itself continues to speak to us and our daily lives, despite having happened 2,000 years ago.Scripture Reference: Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12Preached on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2019 by Rev. Stephen SilverthorneSermon HighlightsThe Church calendar teaches us different aspects of what it means to be a fully rounded humanThe length of the Christmas season teaches us to value joy and the good gifts God gives usThe Epiphany bible readings show us how God wants us to reflect His lightWe reflect the light of God when we spend time soaking in His lightWe soak in His light by spending time where God i

Christmas is a busy season, and Christmas Day is particularly full. Yet, Christmas is worth reflecting on because it tells more than a charming story which happened long ago. It tells us that God is near to us, and that His salvation is always close. This reality is easy to forget throughout the year, as the world moves on to other things. Reflecting on the story of Christmas helps us to hold onto this truth when other things try to lead us elsewhere.Scripture reference: Luke 2:1-20Sermon HighlightsWe are busy every ChristmasReflecting on the Christmas story encourages us to invite God into our livesFurther ReadingThe life and legacy of St. Ignatius of LoyolaCome Sunday See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A sermon about the dignity God gives to the weak.Our world is preoccupied with the rich and famous. They are the ones we follow on social media, and the ones we write stories about. Yet, Christmas every year introduces us to a small family which seems insignificant. By being born into a poor, humble family, God shows us the worth he places on those who are weak. This sermon challenges us to let go of the contempt and frustration we feel for the weaknesses of others, and for the weaknesses we see in ourselvesScripture Reference: Luke 2:1-20Sermon HighlightsThe familiar Christmas story strangely endures in a world craving noveltyThe people in the story are unremarkable, and weakWhat makes the story meaningful is that God finds it meaningfulBy choosing a humble family to be born into, God shows His regard for the weakThis encourages us to have regard for those we see as weakThis also encourages us to have regard for our own weaknesses See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.