Good Shepherd Barrhaven Sermon Stream

Most Christians are used to hearing the term "born again", but how many of us think through what it means for us? How are we born again, and what does it look like to be born again? Fr. Stephen's sermon today confronts the challenge of rebirths which don't seem to take. We sometimes want rebirth, but don't end up with the lasting change the rebirth implies. Christ offers us a rebirth which is eternal, and which has effects in our lives today.

Sermon Passage: John 3:1-17

Preached on March 8, 2020, the 2nd Sunday in Lent, by the Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Terms like born again should be re-examined because they are too familiar
• True rebirth is a genuine new start, and something undertaken by God
• Israel, Church and Individuals often attempt a new start, without lasting results
• Jesus' death and resurrection are a true rebirth
• We enjoy a true rebirth by casting ourselves on Jesus

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Temptation is part of human life. We know we should say no, but it's very tough. What do we do when we want to do something which seems fine, but God says no? In today's sermon, we see Jesus himself being tempted with things that aren't bad in themselves. Yet, he says no. Listen as Fr. Stephen explains how the core temptation isn't to do something bad, but instead to doubt God's love for us.

Scripture Passages: Genesis 3:1-7; Psalm 32:6-7; Matthew 4:1-11

Preached on the First Sunday in Lent, March 1st, 2020 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Temptation is most difficult when we are tempted with something good
• Jesus is tempted with things he has the right to enjoy
• Jesus says no because God said the time is wrong
• We are tempted in the same way
• God tells us no for our own good
• We must ask if we trust God
• We must ask if it is something which helps us become more like God wants us to be

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Worship is enjoyable for many, but for many others, it seems pointless. Why spend time praising God when you could be out doing good in the world? In today's sermon, Fr. Stephen reflects on the transfiguration of Jesus and what it says to us about the value of worship today.

Scripture Passage: Matthew 17:1-8

Preached on Transfiguration Sunday, February 23, 2020 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Worship can seem pointless
• The Transfiguration reveals that worship transforms people
• True worship orients worshippers to service
• Our worship is made complete when we reflect God's love in the world

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We all know there are rules to follow in life. Yet, we aren't always very good in following them. This can make Christian life seem impossible: we can't live up to what God asks of us. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen walks us through a very difficult passage with rules we cannot possibly keep. Jesus says these things to encourage us to seek the purpose of the law--not just to obey it but to embrace it as something good. The result isn't more obedient slaves, but more virtuous children.

Scripture Passage: Matthew 5:21-37

Preached on the 6th Sunday after Epiphany, February 16th, 2020 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Jesus' hard teachings are meant to surprise and shock
• But they are given by a Lord who loves and understands us
• Jesus calls us to embrace the purpose of the law
• Law's purpose is to make us more godly
• Godliness comes with attacking sin at its root
• Deal with motivations for sin by working on relationships
• Divorce is a broken relationship
• Jesus calls us to lean into marriage, not look for a loophole to get out of it

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The great Christians of old can seem like giants of faith. Yet, Jesus shows us that his most faithful followers may actually be the ones you don't notice. In his sermon today, Fr. Stephen reveals how Jesus' disciples are called to be like salt and light. Neither of these draw attention to themselves, but instead help bring out the best in the world around them.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:13-20

Preached on the 5th Sunday after Epiphany, February 9, 2020 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Salt and light don't draw attention to themselves
• Both make their surroundings better
• We are called to make our surroundings better
• Jesus fulfils the law
• He shows that the law is meant to bring out the best in us
• We can't do this ourselves
• We must rely on Jesus' grace to love the law and accomplish its purposes

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The church often celebrates milestones in Jesus' life and ministry, like his birth, his death and his resurrection. Yet, we don't always understand why they matter. In the church today, we celebrated the Presentation of the Lord. This recalls when Jesus was brought to the temple for the first time as an infant. But so what? What does it tell us about Christian life? In today's sermon, Fr. Stephen explains how this event shows us the importance of our relationship with Jesus as a real person. It also shows how everyday people have important parts to play in God's plans for the world

Scripture Reference: Luke 2:22-40

Preached on the Presentation of the Lord, February 2, 2020 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Jesus is presented in obedience to law of Moses
• Law was a reminder that God saved Israel's firstborn in Egypt
• Luke emphasis the person and body of Jesus
• Jesus is valued as a person, not just for his teachings
• We are challenged to trust him as a person, not just his teachings
• Simeon and Anna are not famous, yet are important
• We don't need to be famous to be important to God
• We too have important roles to play, chosen for us by God

Candlemas. Some information on the festival, its origins, and how it is celebrated

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Youth are at a challenging stage in life. They are drawn to adult tasks but aren't always mentored and equipped to take them on. In this reflection, representatives from the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa's Youth Internship Program speak to us about the ways our diocese is helping young adults grow in maturity and in confidence.

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

Preached on the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, January 26, 2020 by Donna Rourke and Alex Rogers

• Information on the Youth Internship Program
• Reflection on Scripture passages
• Personal reflection by a youth intern

Youth Internship Program. Information about the program on the Diocese's website

L'Arche Canada. Information on this compassionate program for the disabled.

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Humility is challenging, and not just because we think we're perfect in every way. It requires us to ignore our desire for praise, and instead desire to do what is right and good. This is especially important in Christian life, where we are called to seek Christ's honour above our own. So, how do we overcome our natural aversion to humility? In this sermon, Fr. Stephen points to John the Baptist as an example of what humility looks like, and how it works in Christian life today.

Scripture Reference: John 1:29-43

Preached on the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, January 19, 2020 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Humility requires putting a goal above your own needs
• John's ministry was powerful and high-profile
• He is great because he gave glory to Jesus above himself
• We crave praise because we need to feel important
• Following Jesus means trusting he finds us important
• Thus, we don't need to seek praise
• We glorify Jesus by spending time with him
• Spending time helps us absorb his light
• This light helps people see Jesus in us

1917 directed by Sam Mendes. Powerful film showing soldiers on a mission in WW1

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Christian life can sometimes confuse us. We hear that we are beloved daughters and sons of God, but we also hear that we are supposed to behave well. That means sometimes when we haven't behaved well, we can wonder if we really are loved. In today's sermon on Jesus' baptism, Fr. Stephen explains how this tells us something important about our own baptism. We are fully loved because we are fully part of God's family. Yet, just as a parent trains a child to grow into maturity, God's direction trains us to show the world what God is like. Tune in to learn more.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 3:13-17

Preached on the Baptism of the Lord, January 12, 2020 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Jesus' baptism is affirmation and commissioning
• Our baptism affirms us as adopted children
• Our baptism gives us a mission
• We follow Jesus' mission in our own context
• Jesus' mission was to comfort the hurting and bring light to darkness
• This is our mission too

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Everyone today seems anxious and fearful. Yet, we live in a time of unprecedented prosperity, peace, and stability. Why don't we feel better, when there are so many things going right? In this sermon, Fr. Stephen suggests that a key reason is that we don't appreciate what the Epiphany story tells us. It tells us that even when bad actors take the stage, there is a Divine director who is in control. This Divine director brought us Jesus, and is the One we can trust to see us through to a bright future.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:1-12

Preached on January 5, 2020, the Feast of the Epiphany by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

Sermon Highlights

• Chaos and lack of control leave us anxious
• The story of the magi reveals that God is in control
• Despite modern prosperity, we are anxious
• This anxiety comes because we realize we don't have much control
• We are freed from anxiety when we learn to let God take control
• Trust in God's control of things we cannot change lets us focus on the things we can

Further Reference

The Second Coming. A poem by W.B. Yeats.

Apocalypse Now. A film by Francis Ford Coppola, set during the Vietnam War.

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