Sermon Series September 7th to October 5th
Patience
Our Fall is all about how we share the Good News of Jesus. One of the words we often use is Evangelism. This is the work of actively sharing the story of Jesus with others. This may feel like a nervous move for some as we imagine ourselves preaching in the street corner or cornering a co-worker with an awkward conversation. But I want to begin to both ease those fears (we won’t be handing out loud-speakers), and also challenge us to see our work in Jesus’s world as so much more beautiful and life giving. Our work is to share the Good News, but HOW we do this is also Good News, Jesus has a way. He offers a posture that transforms us and the world around us, and in Jesus-style, it’s a grand paradox. The Way to help people grow in Jesus is: Patience.
The Slowness of God: The Bible reveals the character of God as one who is patient with creation. God, it seems, moves so slowly that all things are made, and sustained, with this kind of grand patience. Let’s first just take a look at some of the things God made, things that are so slow that they might as well be part of something eternal and other-worldly.
Go Deeper: Resources
Our intention is to create or share resources to help people explore these topics in further depth. Here are a few resources you might find meaningful during this sermon series.
Sermon Audio Files
Fall Kick Off
Sometimes we think that God isn’t coming through for us. God, why isn’t the healing coming, or the money there, or the thoughts in my head gone, or the relationship fixed, or the call coming. We are often crying out to God for the speedy result. And here, Jesus’ friend Peter says that God’s slowness is a gift to you. He’s not slow in his promises, he’s holding up the story so that you can be close to him. He’s holding the door open so that you can get in. The world he made has been long in making so that you can thrive here and be with him now and forever.
Patience Part 2
When we follow Jesus we are welcome to receive patience as a gift from him. It’s called a Fruit of the Spirit. It’s something for us to have, carry, and use. You have it as a follower of Jesus. You can be patient. Try it on! Patience is powerful. When your kids are driving you crazy, try on patience. Not a thing you have to muster up, but a gift Jesus offers you. Are you full of feelings that something isn’t going well? Try on patience. Think of it as a fruit you eat, or a special power you have. Weird, but true. You can use it everywhere. You will be more alert to Jesus as you do, he’s showing us how.
Patient Fervency
We’ve been on a journey to explore the gift of patience. This is more than a virtue, it’s a gift from God’s Spirit to us to move where Jesus invites us to go, in the way that Jesus shows us. Jesus was full of truth, he had a mission, and deep patience. He endured with people, sometimes foolish, sometimes cruel, sometimes broken, he loved them with a kind of alert tenderness.
I’d call it a patient fervency. He would wait, and be ready to move, all at the same time.
Guest Speaker David Guretzki
We’re pleased to welcome as our guest speaker Dr. David Guretzki. David is the President of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, where he serves churches and ministries across our nation. At the same time, he carries the heart of a pastor and teacher, encouraging people to follow Jesus with courage, clarity, and hope.
Guest Speaker Joel Thiessen
Joel is a leading sociologist of religion who studies congregations, religious nones, millennials, and faith in Canada. He also serves as the Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute. Since joining the Ambrose faculty in 2008, Joel has authored or co-authored five books and numerous articles that help churches and leaders better understand the shifting landscape of faith today.
We’re excited to welcome him and invite you to join us for this encouraging and insightful message.