Not Built in a Day – Romans 8:1-4: Guilt.  It's a constant companion for many and it's not much of a friend.  It routinely robs us of peace, joy, hope and passion.  What do we do with those past hurts and present struggles that seem to creep into our souls and deposit this unwanted gift?  Jesus came to bring us freedom in life ... including freedom from a past that dictates and dominates our present realities and future hopes.  Romans 8 is viewed by many as the grandest and greatest of all chapters in our bible.  It's so critical and foundational that we're going to spend four weekends here and we begin this weekend!  Come and discover the wonder and the hope of the truth that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus!  It's a fantastic text - an amazing truth - and a remarkable source of hope for all of us in the  journey.  Hope to see you here this weekend!

Not Built in a Day – Romans 7:14-25: I like books.  They've become great companions for me along the journey.  In my office library, I have one shelf that holds my very favorite books.  Included on that shelf are several by John Ortberg.  Probably my favorite Ortberg book is entitled, "The Life You've Always Wanted."  It's a fantastic read but it's the title I love most.  Most of us have a pretty clear picture of the life we want ... but we're not always quite as sure how to attain it.  We're left with the great dilemma Paul speaks of in Romans 7:  "the things I don't want to do - those are the things I do and the things I do want to do - they're the ones I'm not doing!"  It's a reality that shows up in all of our lives some of the time and for some of us, it shows up almost all the time.  This weekend we'll consider this internal battle that we all face along the way.  We'll also hear from a remarkable young man named Adam who has faced this battle but  found amazing grace in Jesus.  His story is incredibly compelling ... your life will be blessed by reflecting upon it!  I hope you can  be here and if you are away, take a look at our livestream at Foothillsalliance.com.  Much love and grace to you in the journey as we pursue together the life we've always wanted!

Youth Ministry - 2 Timothy 4:9-13: What's it like to be a teenager in 2014?

Not Built in a Day – Romans 6:5-13: Preoccupied!  Apparently many of us have found ourselves preoccupied with watching the Olympics this week!  It's a great season to be a Canadian with so many of our teams and athletes stepping up at just the right times.  Our women's gold medal over the Americans will be  a match many of  us will long remember!  I often wonder as I watch these athletes compete and battle ... what are the commitments and passions that have preoccupied their lives and made it possible for them to compete at Sochi?  In so many ways - our lives and destinies are shaped and fashioned by what we love.  In what appears to have been the "Christian chapter" of his life, Bob Dylan gained a lot of fans with his classic, "You've Got to Serve Somebody" and reminded us all that "it might be the devil, or it might be the Lord - but you gotta serve somebody."  From Romans 6, Paul invites us to a life with Jesus at the centre that is marked by freedom and grace and hope.  I hope you can join us this weekend as we'll consider that and celebrate a bunch more baptisms and other special things!  It will be a fantastic weekend!

Not Built in a Day – Romans 6:1-4: It's Valentine's Day - a sentimental day no doubt created (or at least exploited!) by makers of flowers and candy and all restaurant owners around the nation!  It's a day to proclaim our love for those in our lives and even the most cynical of us must admit that's not a bad thing!  This weekend we are entering Romans 6 and we'll consider some ways in which we can express our love for Jesus in light of His love for us.  High on that list will be the wonder of believer's baptism.  So if you've been baptized, come and be encouraged by the life-changing grace of Jesus as you will remember your baptism.  If you've never taken this step of faith, come with an open heart and a searching soul to consider what the Bible has to say about this amazing experience and expression of faith. It will be a great weekend!  Much love and grace to you!

Not Built in a Day – Romans 5:1-8: Part of our text from Romans 5 this weekend includes the admonition, "we glory in our sufferings".  Is Paul a crazy man!?  I don't know about you, but I'm not overly fond of suffering!  I love the first part of this chapter that focuses on finding peace with God.  I'm all in on that!  But suffering?  Not so much!  This weekend we'll shift from Paul's theological treatise of our position in Christ to what this state of being looks like in everyday life.  And we'll discover a remarkable truth-- that the only way to be at peace with the realities of daily life is to view them from our position as believers, reconciled with God.  When our lives are right with God - we find courage, grace, strength and hope that somehow enables us to be right with life - no matter what life serves up for us.  I  hope you'll be able to be with us this weekend as we'll consider again the amazing demonstration of God's love for us in Jesus and how it changes everything about ... well, about everything!

Not Built in a Day – Romans 4:1-25: Faith.  It's no small task to make sense of the journey. Dreams go sideways. People can disappoint us. God appears to be silent. Yet in the midst of it all, there is still a spark of hope and joy in each of our hearts!  How do we fan that into flame?!  Of all the potential heroes of the faith that the writer to the Hebrews gave us in chapter 11 ... he gave the most attention to Abraham. This weekend we will continue to unpack justification from Romans 4. How can we be made "right with God"? And Abraham will be front and centre!  It will be a great celebration of faith and motivation, to continue to believe and trust God for more. Hope you'll be able to join us! Have a fantastic weekend.

Not Built in a Day – Romans 3:9-26: Anyone who's been in a court room knows that it can be an intense and even life-changing experience.  But what do you do when the evidence is stacked up against you?  A good judge can't just dismiss the case and gloss over our guilt.  Our crimes need to punished.  This weekend as we look at Romans chapter 3, we're going to find ourselves in court before the Judge of the Universe.  An intense experience to be sure...But it could also be life-altering.  Join us for what could be a significant turning point, not only in the book of Romans, but in your life as well.

Not Built in a Day – Romans 2:1-16: Judgment. We're far better extending it than receiving it. Jesus taught us to deal with the "plank in [our] own eye" before trying to extract "speck[s] of sawdust" from others. Yet we're so skilled at pointing fingers ... extending criticism ... nodding our heads in disapproval ... pointing out sawdust ... thinking we're just a little better than others. The kindness of God is intended to lead us to Jesus. And when that happens, how we view others changes radically. Hope you can be with us this weekend as we celebrate the kindness of Jesus!

Not Built in a Day – Romans 1:18-32: I'm quite fond of good news ... actually, I'm a big fan of good news!  Bring it on!  Bad news?  Not so much. But sometimes we can't fully understand good news without recognizing bad news. That certainly is the case when it comes to the gospel.  The price Jesus paid for this good news to be available to us implies a bad news scenario.  There was a reason he died brutally on the cross.  Paul helps us to understand that plight a little more in Romans 1:18-32.  It certainly is one of the more challenging passages of our amazing Bible.  I invite you to read it prayerfully before coming to church this weekend ... and then come with an expectant heart, longing for Jesus to open our eyes to his transforming truth.  Please pray that our hearts will be open to his grace and truth.  See you this weekend!