Pilgrim Church

Join us as we hear from one of the larger church networks we are a part of, The North American Baptist BC Conference's Executive Minister, Bob Krahn. In 2005 Bob came to BC to be the Executive Minister after serving in a similar capacity in Saskatchewan and Manitoba for the previous five and a half years. He holds a BA from the University of Alberta with a major in psychology and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Bob was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba and had several work experiences including work as an underground miner, heavy equipment operator, a big game guide, and plumber’s helper. Following a dramatic conversion experience, he began to study for ministry and after graduation, became a solo pastor, church planter and the senior pastor of a multi-staff congregation. His greatest joy is to help churches grow healthy and to rekindle their passion for evangelism. Bob is married to Dawn, a teacher and they have two married children and six grandchildren.

Adjust Your Settings for Real Living, 3:1-4 Michelle Obama paraphrased the Apostle Paul when she said, “When they go low, we go high”; and CS Lewis wrote, "Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next... Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither." The ability to be more present in the moment is possible when you also have the scope of eternity in your sights.

NOTES: https://www.pilgrimchurch.ca/uploads/1/1/1/2/111299251/2020-09-27_notesdiscussion.pdf

Justice is a key theme throughout the Bible. The ultimate shape and final justice is placed in God's hands. In the meantime, we are called to "do good" but with some crucial differences from the secular crusaders of justice in our world. One author put it this way, "...The Kingdom (of God) activist protests with the hope of seeing both the oppressed and the oppressor set free and she knows that hatred and vengeance only intensify the bondage of both."  We're wrapping up our Church + State series this Sunday and tucking a short Q&A conversation at the end. "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

NOTES: https://www.pilgrimchurch.ca/uploads/1/1/1/2/111299251/2020-09-20_notesdiscussion.pdf

What happens when the church and state are brought together? What could possibly go wrong? A lot, it turns out from history. We are STILL recovering from the damage of this collusion and co-option in the West. We've already explored Big Idea #1: too much centralization/concentration of power is not good for humanity, and Big Idea #2: the church is to be an alternative politics by its very life. The church must remain in peaceful tension with governments and other powers, while we as individuals may be engaged with both. When a politician utters the words, "God bless Canada" which god is being invoked, is it Jesus? Revelation 13:4; Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 10:35-45

Matthew 5:13-16 Decentering Power and Civil Religion. Followers of Jesus are called to be first, ambassadors of His way of living and being community in the midst of the states, families, etc. around us. Our nationality, family of origin, etc. are important, but that importance is tempered by a greater love and purpose. This Sunday we dig in again to Biblical challenges to power and identity claims and some steps to take to be a different kind of political person.

At Pilgrim, we know God can handle our questions and that we don't get the full picture until the end. Four times a year we use our teaching/proclaiming time for live questions. This week, Pastor Shel and Andrés enter a conversation with the questions from the larger group. Always enlightening, entertaining, and sometimes life-changing. Send questions anytime, we'll get to as many as we can!

In Canada, our government has been hit by several scandals, is shoveling money out the door (both in relief and to secure favour), and this week prorogued Parliament to pause investigations and reset the agenda. In the US, the regular presidential and lower elections are happening this fall. Policies of states affect our lives. What does the Bible and Christian teaching have to say about governments? It turns out a lot. In part, the church is to be a kind of alternative "politics" on earth. This week we ask some Spirit-inspired questions of what we are told to assume is just fine.

"Just Tell Me What To Do!" Rules can be important, but what is more important is understanding what lies behind the rules. When that happens we know when rules are to followed or discarded. We can find comfort in easy rules, but maturity calls us into deeper thinking and living. Beyond rules religion to Jesus-shaped living. Do not, do not, do not - is not the way to happiness.

“How do we get into this place?!” Ever struggle to find the entrance to a building or home? Paul encourages the Colossians to remember the doorway into a new way of life. They don’t make the doorway, but crossing over the threshold puts them into a new reality. The old way of living is trying to sell hope based on the old ways, but it’s fake news. Join us as we explore the meaning of baptism and what Jesus has done for us.

Jesus vs. Everybody? Paul tells the early believers, “Jesus is alive” and they can hang their whole life on it. This changes ALL power dynamics for EVERYBODY everywhere. Even today powers try to censor this message because it challenges ultimate authority. You can get caught up in fake news about Jesus because powers that want to control you don’t give up easily.