COG Moose Jaw

When someone dies, we ask, "Will I ever see them again? Will we know each other?" The Apostle Paul answers many of our questions about the end times and about life after death in his epistles to the Thessalonians. As Christians, our faith and hope of eternal life is rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that when Jesus returns, we will be united with Him, whether dead or still alive!

The Apostle Paul's ministry was extraordinary - but what kept him committed to sharing the gospel and ministering to people despite the struggles? Love and trust. A love for people where they're at, and trust in God's providence above everything, regardless of the results. And effective, life-transforming ministry still requires these same things today.

Jonathan Heppner is a poet, farmer and entrepreneur now living on the Greek island of Lesvos. Along with his wife Tracey, Jonathan has ministered in multiple countries - including crisis and underprivileged areas - as a church planter and pastor for 30 years. Together they founded the nonprofit organization Hope Renews four years ago as a tangible response to the global refugee crisis. They grow, source, and provide fresh food using sustainable practices in connection with local and international partners. For more info visit hoperenewsinc.ca, and listen in as Jonathan shares God's Word with us!

How do we navigate these complex and turbulent times we live in? For one, we can study the life of Daniel during the Babylonian captivity. Though Babylon had a strategy, Daniel also had a strategy - one that required wisdom and courage to walk out. Listen in as President Michael Pawelke from Briercrest College & Seminary unpacks these strategies and encourages us with lessons from Daniel.

What qualities make a truly effective leader? One who says all the right things, or who leads by example? The effectiveness of the Apostle Paul's ministry during his short three weeks spent with the Thessalonians is incredible, and it was due to his integrity, gentleness, and personal demeanor while speaking the truth in love. May we also rely on God's strength to lead others to Him in the same manner.

Though no church is perfect, the church at Thessalonica was considered a model church. The Apostle Paul himself commends them in his opening greeting for their faith, hope, and love. At COG, we feature these same qualities in our mission statement; inward qualities meant to be a catalyst for an outward expression. Therefore may we also be known as a people who do work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and have endurance inspired by hope.

The fall is full of new beginnings. A new season lets us reset and refocus. Sometimes, as the seasons change, we are able to break old habits and embrace a new perspective. This Sunday, in the beautiful setting of Crescent Park, AJ Crocker talks about finding true joy during the hard busyness of our lives. As we walk through John 15:1-17, Jesus' words will show us the secret to lasting happiness.

How do you deal with anger? Do you let it explode or push it down inside? While neither of these are healthy, the Bible gives great insight into understanding and dealing with our anger in a Christlike way. Only when we examine the underlying cause, diffuse our emotions respectfully, and learn to forgive will we begin to emulate Christ in this area of our lives.

Do you know the secret to being content? The Apostle Paul did, and lived a contented life even in the midst of extreme adversity. He rested in the deep understanding that no matter what happened, Christ would be enough, and cultivated this belief daily through practicing gratitude and generosity. That's the secret.

We know we're called to forgive as Christ has forgiven us, and forgiving the small hurts or offenses isn't usually a big deal. But we're also called to forgive the deep or recurring betrayals we experience, which are much more difficult. Yet by remembering how much we've been forgiven by God and that forgiveness is based on grace, not justice, we can allow forgiveness to flow through us and prevent the venom of unforgiveness from taking its deadly hold on our soul.