Comments on: Sermons

Buckle up. Hold on. Jesus, the teacher, the rabbi, the Messiah is gathering his followers and class is in session. Up until now, it was preaching to many. From here, preparing the few. Up until now, it was healing through the gospel. From here, suffering for those who believe. Up until now, it was inviting sinners in for free. From here, it will cost you everything.

At the end of our last section, Jesus says something puzzling: “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” (Mark 9:1) We pick up the story as Jesus goes to the top of a mountain with a few disciples who witness an awesome transformation. What does this mean? Are they witnessing "the kingdom of God after it has come with power"? Who is this Jesus?

These days, to 'follow' someone is as easy as a click. Instantly we see pictures and stories of our favourite celebrities and personalities. We know them...we think. Jesus is also after followers. In Mark 8 we hear that he invites anyone and everyone, but the entrance is much greater than a swipe or a clip. He asks people to deny themselves, to lay down their lives and to treasure him above all. Are you a follower of Jesus?

Welcome the second and final installment in our DNA series! City Gates is all about Helping People Find and Follow Jesus. It's City Gates' manifesto and mission; it is our raison d'être. The thrust behind the DNA series is to articulate the values that are embedded in our manifesto. We believe that clarifying common language and expectations around these values will serve us as a church and ultimately serve our neighbours, co-workers and community as we show and share the good news of Jesus. In part 1 we covered the values (in bold) under HELPING and PEOPLE: HELPING: We are Holy Spirit empowered servants like Jesus. PEOPLE: We are the hospitable family of Jesus. In part 2 we cover FIND and FOLLOW: FIND: We are strategic missionaries for Jesus. FOLLOW: We are disciples devoted to Jesus. (A booklet was handed out prior to the sermon which summarizes the values and includes the assessment tools and suggested growth opportunities that are made reference to. Extra copies will be made available on Sunday.)

At City Gates we're all about helping people find and follow Jesus. That phrase, "Helping People Find and Follow Jesus",  is our manifesto, our mission; it drives us forward. Far from being original, it's simply how we've articulated Jesus' great commission and great commandment. Although we've repeated our manifesto often, we want to go deeper. In reflecting and re-evaluating where we are as a church, we want to uncover the values that will shape a culture that underpins our manifesto. Values are so much more than rules to follow but have a major impact on the actions we take. The good news is that as we reflected on our top values they were already embedded into our manifesto! So join us as we articulate who we are and the kind of community we are hoping to be as we find a common script around our values. In part 1 we cover the values (in bold) under HELPING and PEOPLE: HELPING: We are Holy Spirit empowered servants like Jesus. PEOPLE: We are the hospitable family of Jesus. In part 2 we will cover FIND and FOLLOW: FIND: We are strategic missionaries for Jesus. FOLLOW: We are disciples devoted to Jesus.

Lightning doesn't strike twice. Or so they say. The disciples of Jesus experienced firsthand the jaw-draw-dropping, stomach-filling feeding of five thousand people. What could have been more exhilarating? In chapter eight of the Gospel of Mark a second miraculous feeding happens, this time for about four thousand. The disciples' interaction with Jesus and the subsequent sequence of events shows that even an event of this magnitude (x2) may not be enough to change their understanding, and ours, of who this Jesus really is.

We are a people addicted to appearances. On the one hand, there is some logic behind it; cleaning ourselves up for an occasion shows our respect for the place and people who receive us. On the other hand, if we are simply a collection of our external actions and attitudes we will quickly miss the point. In chapter seven of the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus confronts the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees. The Pharisees loved cleaning – washing hands, pots and pans, and couches! – following rules and adding more rules to follow. But they are missing it. It then no small irony the interaction Jesus will have an "unclean" woman beyond the borders of Israel.

What are your resolutions for 2019? What are the habits, practices and choices you want to integrate, not just for this year, but for a lifetime and beyond? We find Jesus and his disciples in Mark 6 absolutely exhausted and gutted. (Maybe that's how you ended 2018!) The disciples are keen to send the crowds away but Jesus, who may still have been mourning the loss of his friend and forerunner John the Baptist, sees the crowds and has compassion. What follows is these verses is nothing short of miraculous: feeding thousands from a boys lunch, followed by Jesus walking on water. How did Jesus do this and what habit and practice can we learn from him as we start a new year? ***Spoiler Alert*** The answer is prayer and communion with the Father. After the message, we spent time praying and hearing from one another, which is included at the end of the recording.

A beheading. A striptease. Not your typical Christmas reading. We continue in the Gospel of Mark in what feels like a bit of an interlude – the beheading of John the Baptist. What does this have to with Christmas? What does the conflicted, perverted King Herod have to do with you? And what does the birth of Jesus have anything to do with our society today.

Hometown heroes: from musicians to athletes to politicians who 'make it', returning home is usually surrounded with fanfare, a large mural, or even a street name. As Jesus returns home to Nazareth, this definitely was NOT the case. Why? Do we take offence at Jesus like those who thought they knew him all too well? Undeterred in his mission, Jesus finally sends out the twelve disciples to do as he called them to when he first met them. What will they bring? Will they be received? What implications does this have for us today?

God doesn't drive an ambulance, it's been said. He's never surprised by a call in the night. He's never in a rush. He's never late. Oh, you agree – he's no paramedic dashing through an intersection. But is he really in control? Will he really come through? Can you put your faith in him? As a religious leader and a chronic sufferer find out, Jesus takes the little faith we have and gives us more than we could ever ask for – even when he's caught up in traffic.

The power of nature has a way of reminding us how small we are. We report the weather as it is – we don't tell it how to be (though we would love to in months like December!). When the disciples find themselves in a fierce storm, they fear for their lives. But even greater fear strikes them when Jesus awakes from his slumber to tell the storm to shut it. They know Jesus: the healer, the teacher...the storm tamer? Do they really know him? Do you?

What if I told you on Dec. 23rd, 2018, our Sunday gathering right before Christmas – typically full of visitors and non-believers – it was your turn to preach? Nervous? Jesus has some wise counsel for us. As we've been journeying with Jesus and the Disciples in the Gospel of Mark, we continue in chapter 4, one of the few extended records of Jesus' teaching. The pace of Mark is otherwise a face paced, action-packed story. Soon enough (chapter 6) it will be the disciples time to transform from passive observers to active participants in Jesus' mission.

[This was preached during a power outage, which is why Vic sounds like he's yelling and why the audio quality is a little low] The parable of the sower is probably one of the most memorable stories Jesus told to illustrate spiritual truth. It's simplicity can easily fool us into thinking that this message is for others and not ourselves. But before you write yourself out of this story, take a moment to examine your own heart...

Want to have an awkward conversation with someone? Just have a chat about demon possession and spirits. And yet, as we've been journeying through the Gospel of Mark the issue is unavoidable. Jesus is casting out demons and silencing unclean spirits, so much so that the religious leaders accuse him of being Satan himself. Meanwhile, Jesus' own family thinks he is "out of his mind." Listen in as Mike addresses these two questions: How do we process the role of the demonic in and around our lives and the lives of those that we interact with? How do we process Jesus words about family? ***In the recording we pick up mid-sermon where Mike begins to address the question of the unpardonable sin – blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

It's not uncommon to see groups of friends reflect each other in dress, style and speech. Friendships often develop around common interests and shared perspectives. So what was Jesus thinking when he called the twelve disciples? Continuing in the Gospel of Mark at a breakneck speed, we see Jesus' popularity continue to grow. We also see how he releases this pressure and calls together a motley crew of disciples. We take a deep dive into the twelve named disciples and the implication for us today.

When it comes to conflict, do you fight, flight, or freeze? As Jesus continues his ministry we see a consistent theme of conflict. He's forgiving sins, calling outcasts in, and reforming Sabbath rest. The religious establishment will have none of it. Are you ready to meet the real Jesus head-on, face to face?

The first verses of Mark (1-20) are bursting with anticipation and expectation for this Jesus of Nazareth. Is he all he is chalked up to be? Find out as Mark recalls the first days in his ministry in the city of Capernaum.

The opening scene of a great movie is never accidental. Just like the first pages of a great book, they are deliberate, carefully crafted and set the course for the story ahead. As we launch into a series of sermons based on the Gospel of Mark, what are the words, phrases, and pictures that we are to understand Mark to be communicating to us about this man Jesus from Nazareth?

How do we begin to talk about anxiety, depression and mental health as Christ followers? We are thankful to have hosted Ajax based speaker Brett Ullman as he gave his talk "The Walking Wounded". For more resources see Brett's website here (www.brettullman.com) and his resources on mental health here. *NB We had an unfortunate recording failure during Brett's talk. We have uploaded a recording of the same talk given by Brett one year previous at The Bridge Church in Markham. If you were present on Sunday, you will hear some subtle differences but the substance of the talk is nearly identical.