Good Shepherd Barrhaven Sermon Stream

What is the point in thinking about heaven, if it's just something coming in the future? This sermon reflects on how famous, well-known saints and unknown, everyday saints point us to the reality and value of heaven. Fr. Stephen also reflects on how we see heaven revealed in those places of beauty in our daily lives. What we see now only partially, will be revealed fully when Christ returns

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This sermon examines the way money and possessions exert unhealthy influence on us. In this passage from Mark, Jesus gives a rich young man a very difficult task: to sell his possessions and give them to the poor. This command rightly shocks us, because most of us live with many possessions. Money and possessions can warp our priorities, and make us forget the things which are of greater value. Jesus' challenge here should make us rethink our priorities and ask whether the way we spend our time and money really reflect who Jesus wants us to be.

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This sermon deals with the challenging topic of divorce. Fr. Stephen explains here how we are to look at divorce, and then challenges us to ask why God created marriage. How do we live up to the purpose for which marriage was made?

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Fr. Stephen gives some background on the letter, and explains that it was written to a group of Jewish Christians who are experiencing persecution. Under these circumstances, it was tempting to "fight fire with fire" and respond by using the same methods as those who are attacking. James reminds his readers that their existence as a body of believers only came about through God's action. Their continued growth and protection can only rest on this, not by mimicking the world's methods.

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In this sermon, Fr. Stephen argues that by dismissing supernatural evil, we are in danger of being surprised by evil when it attacks. We also run the risk of ignoring it because it doesn't seem so evil on the surface. The sermon concludes with St. Paul's advice on how to protect ourselves from evil by putting on the armour of God.

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Today many feel the legacy of the church's suspicion of pleasure and sexuality. Many still feel a sense of shame from bad interactions with the church. So how do Paul's words on sexuality apply to us today, without shame? Fr. Stephen speaks to the importance of vulnerability and intimacy in our lives, encouraging us to consider how we can better shape our intimate relationships to allow them to take on a Christ-like character.

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In today's passage from Ephesians, St. Paul reminds us that we are to help each other grow more fully to resemble Jesus. His particular focus is on the sacrificial character of Jesus' ministry, and calls his readers to imitate this. They can do this through letting go of old, self-focused ways and embracing the way of service which Christ embraced. Paul supplies some examples of how these ways contrast.

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In this section of his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul continues the theme he started in chapter 2: the church experiences unity because of Christ's work in reconciling different groups. But what does this unity really look like, and what are we supposed to do about it? This sermon reflects on how unity is a gift for us to appreciate, but also a challenge for us to maintain. It includes practical ways for us to contribute to unity in our local church while appreciating our differences.

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In this section of his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul tells us that we should focus on unity in the Church, if we want to show the world what Jesus' ministry is all about. His power in bringing separated groups together is one of the most attractive features of church life. However, this power is only shown when we actually live out that unity in our own congregations. This sermon also deals with the way we talk to and about God. St. Paul here addresses God as Father, and this is how we usually talk about Him in church. But is this appropriate? God isn't a man is He? Fr. Stephen shares some of the ways this language is can be overcome, and some of the reasons why we might want to keep it as part of the language of public worship.

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Loving your enemies is a core Christian teaching, but sometimes this seems impossible. At best, we usually just end up tolerating those we dislike. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen reveals that St. Paul shows us Jesus does much more than tolerate enemies: he reconciles them.

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