Good Shepherd Barrhaven Sermon Stream

We live in a distracted age. There is always something more to do. For many of us, life can seem like an endless set of tasks. Sometimes, we get disappointed with Jesus because we don't think he's giving us enough help in getting the tasks done. Yet, the bible makes it clear that this isn't what Jesus came to do. Jesus invites us to follow his priorities, rather than inviting his help to fulfill our priorities. In today's sermon, Fr. Stephen reflects on the story of Mary & Martha from the Gospel of Luke. These two sisters are examples of the right way to set priorities and the wrong way to set them. They provide a good challenge for us to look to Jesus to put our priorities right.

Scripture Reference: Luke 10:38-42

Preached on the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 21, 2019 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• This story is the second half of Jesus' answer to the question asked last week
• Good Samaritan showed us what loving neighbour looks like
• This story shows us what love of God looks like
• Not a story about clergy being better than others
• A story about making time in life to ask Jesus what is important
• A story about responding to this even when it means setting aside things we value

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. A play and movie about two minor characters caught up in a bigger story

Hamlet by William Shakespeare. A famous play about a Danish prince obsessed with his father's death.

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We are all scared of evangelism. Few people seem to enjoy sharing their faith, even though Jesus tells us it's a priority for his disciples to do so. So how can we overcome our fear? What does it look like to share our faith? How can we avoid the cliches and manipulation that the word sometimes brings with it? In this sermon, Fr. Stephen shares how faith-sharing really boils down to being a good neighbour and loving as Jesus does. The specifics of our faith can start shining through only when we have shown genuine love for those we live with and next to.

Scripture reference: Luke 10:1-20

Preached by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne on the 4th Sunday after Pentecost, July 7, 2019

• Sharing faith scares us
• Jesus expects us to do it
• We share faith effectively when we live out our faith
• We show who Jesus is by loving our neighbours
• This practical love is the only thing which will break through people's cynicism
• God does the real work in preparing the harvest
• We are not responsible for bringing people to Jesus
• We are only responsible for loving them like Jesus does
• We will fail to connect with some people
• We can't let it bother us
• Handling rejection is easier when you know God loves you

The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak & Dave Runyon.  Through compelling true stories of lives impacted, the authors show readers how to create genuine friendships with the people who live in closest proximity to them

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We all long for vengeance sometimes. The desire to crush our enemies, and make them suffer for what they have done for us, is hard to overcome. Here, Jesus' disciples indulge in this desire to crush their enemies, but Jesus shows them a better way. The fire of the Holy Spirit comes to transform our enemies, not to crush them. This sermon encourages us to look for the redemption of those caught up in evil, and challenges us to be instruments of that transformation.

Scripture references: 2 Kings 1:1-18; Luke 9:51-62

Preached on the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, June 30th, by the Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Vengeance is a natural desire
• Vengeance rarely solves anything
• Jesus is rejected by Samaritans
• Disciples want to follow Elijah's example and burn up enemies
• Jesus rebukes them
• Jesus instead points them to work for Samaria's redemption
• Fire of Pentecost doesn't destroy but transforms
• We are called to work for transformation of enemies
• This is difficult work which costs us a lot
• It is worth doing because Jesus' way is our highest calling

Vengeance by George Jonas. Tells the story of Israel's spy agency tracking down and punishing those responsible for the murder of Israeli athletes at the Olympics in 1972

Making Friends of Trolls by Caitrin Keiper. The story of how a nasty internet comment led to an angry hateful man being transformed into a more decent human being.

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Pentecost is one of the most important festivals in the church year. Yet, the meaning of this important festival is sometimes lost on us. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen shows how Pentecost reveals that God's promises are trustworthy even when their fulfillment takes longer than we hope. It also shows us that God empowers us to do tasks we couldn't do on our own.

Scripture reference: Acts 2:1-21

Preached by the Rev. Stephen Silverthorne on June 9, 2019, Pentecost Sunday

• Pentecost shows us we are wrapped up in God's bigger plans
• The Spirit's coming is the fulfillment of a promise from God made centuries before
• God's promise was fulfilled in God's time-frame, not ours
• This encourages us to trust in God's promises
• This challenges us to accept God's timing is different than ours
• Pentecost shows us God can empower people to do what they can't normally do
• We have been given difficult tasks by God
• We can do them if we open ourselves to God's Spirit

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Ascension is a principal feast in the Anglican Church, celebrating Jesus' ascension into heaven. However, this can seem like an odd thing to celebrate. Why be happy at Jesus' absence? This sermon explores why Jesus' ascension is important, even if it causes real challenges for us.

Scripture reference: Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24:44-53

Preached by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne on the Sunday after Ascension, June 2, 2019

Sermon Highlights

• Jesus' ascension is ascension into God's glory
• Symbolism of cloud, angels points to God's presence
• Jesus' absence makes our doubts understandable
• Jesus' absence puts responsibility on us as witnesses
• Jesus gives the church to help shape us into good witnesses
• Jesus gives the Spirit to empower us to put witness into action

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Pictures of heaven can sometimes seem boring and cliche. Yet, we get many pictures in the Bible, especially in the Book of Revelation. So why are they important, and how do they speak to us today? In this sermon, Fr. Stephen addresses the picture of the New Jerusalem which appears in the last chapters of Revelation. This picture of a perfect city is a sign of hope for the imperfect people who follow Jesus because it shows God can make very flawed people and things right.

Scripture Reference: Revelation 21:9-22:5

Preached on the 6th Sunday of Easter, May 26 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Revelation written after the destruction of Jerusalem
• This failed city appeared dead and broken
• God shows a vision of it renewed and perfected
• We see our flaws and grow discouraged
• God can perfect us like He will perfect Jerusalem
• God challenges us with a vision of peace
• How can we allow God to use us as instruments of peace?

• Some information on the destruction of Jerusalem

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Sometimes, it can be hard to care much about the world we live in. Disasters, wars, crime, and environmental degradation can make us feel like giving up and simply living for ourselves. Yet, God loves this world and calls us to love it too. So how can we love it without being discouraged by its problems? This sermon argues that the world is destined for renewal, when the things we cannot change will be changed by God. This gives us hope to do our part, even when it may seem small.

Scripture reference: Revelation 21:1-6

Preached on the 5th Sunday of Easter, May 19, by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• The book of Revelation reveals how the world's story finishes
• God doesn't destroy the world but renews it
• Like God, we should learn to love the world as it is
• We can undertake small local efforts because we know God is taking care of the big things

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Belief comes difficult to most of us, at least some of the time. Yet, Jesus often seems to demand we follow him out of our comfort zones even in the midst of our doubts. How do we follow, even when we doubt? In this sermon, Fr. Stephen suggests that we grow out of our doubts only when we lean in and follow. It's through following through on what Jesus asks us to do, that we find him to be a trustworthy shepherd. It's a leap of faith which leads us out of our faithlessness.

Scripture Reference: John 10:22-30

Preached on the 4th Sunday of Easter, May 12th, by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Jesus says we can't believe unless we're one of his sheep
• This seems like a paradox
• Yet, shows a truth: you can't know if someone is trustworthy until you take the risk of trusting them
• Jesus points to his actions as an example of his trustworthiness
• We know this when we obey his call
• Jesus' call is personal, and tailored to our needs
• Jesus' call is communal, making us part of a flock

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Churches can have a reputation for judgy behaviour. Folks with a past, folks who don't have it all together, and folks who have doubts can sometimes feel like church isn't for them. Yet, the gospel passage for today tells us this isn't the case at all. In fact, Jesus welcomes those who have messed up in big ways. He isn't surprised by our weaknesses. Instead, he simply asks if we want to follow him, even if we can't follow through as we would like. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen tells us how Jesus' interaction with his disciples can give hope to everyone who struggles with being a good follower of Jesus.

Scripture reference: John 21:1-19

Preached by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne on the Third Sunday of Easter, May 5, 2019

• Close attention to detail helps us understand this passage
• The details highlight the failures of the disciples
• They also highlight the graciousness of Jesus
• He restores those who denied him
• He gives them a place of leadership
• He challenges them to evangelize
• Jesus welcomes us when we fail
• We should try to follow him even when we have doubts
• Jesus knows we will mess up but calls anyway
• We are challenged to evangelize like the disciples
• Start by simply praying for opportunity

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The phrase "Doubting Thomas" now part of the English language, as way of describing a person who is unable to believe the truth. Yet, the bible doesn't present the original Thomas in so negative a way. Instead, it invites us to identify with him because he resembles our situation in life. Like him, we find it hard to believe because we haven't seen Jesus face to face. This sermon points us to the lessons Thomas can teach us about dealing with doubts and how we can help others see Jesus for themselves.

Scripture reference: John 20:19-31

Preached by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 28, 2019

• Thomas is an example to us
• He teaches us that Jesus is gentle with the doubting
• He teaches us that Jesus gives us what we need to overcome doubts
• We can get an even better knowledge of Christ than the disciples
• Jesus is present in the church
• By sticking with the church we learn new things about him
• We are challenged to present Jesus faithfully to the world

• Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
• Information on the author, Thomas Wolfe
• The movie Genuis

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