Sunday Sermons

In 1 Corinthians 12 verses 1-11, we learn that we are each given a spiritual gift that is special for us based on how we like to worship.  These are gifts that are assigned by the holy spirit and are used for worshiping God in the ways that are most natural for us.

Our lead pastor dives into the unique gifts that we are assigned by the holy spirit using examples from the Avengers (Captain America, the Hulk, Black widow) X-men, and other examples from television to make more sense of gifts and spiritual gifts.

The spiritual gifts that we receive may be based on our current circumstances of the stage of life.  God wants us to use these gifts to help each other serve God to the best of our abilities.  When Jesus put together his team of disciples it consisted of people that come from very different stages of life.

Our pastor talks about why people are leaving the church because they feel like they aren't being cared for or we aren't in fact using our gifts to bless others within the church.  Whether you have been to our church or not, if you are reading or listening to this podcast God is connecting us for a reason.  Please reach out to us because we would love to reach out and serve you wherever you are at.

God calls us all together as Christians throughout the world so that we can be a superhero for loving and blessing others throughout the world.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

If you would like to join our church family today we'd love to have you.

1 Corinthians 12- 1-11:

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers, and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Dr. Cyril Guerette talks about what it truly means to have one mind when we pray together in a community.  The book of Acts talks about the supernatural special union that takes place that is so unique to the church.  The Holy Spirit is like a musical conductor who creates a union of our hearts like the musical conductor guides all the instruments in unison.

Jesus said that we should be praying and seeking the Lord daily but also pray with others.  Make sure that you have time during your week to pray with other Christians in communal prayer as this is very important to make it a priority in your lives.  It can also be done over Zoom or another video platform you don't have to be physically together.

The prayers don't have to belong, many of the Pharisees were criticized by Jesus for saying long great prayers in public but not praying when alone.  When you hear bad news or things come up pray over it with your partner.

This doesn't have to be a romantic partner.  You can call up a friend to pray about stuff that is going on in the world.  Many people are terrified about praying in groups, but when you do pray even short prayers Jesus is honored even more by prayers from these people.

An example of a quick prayer for someone who recently got laid-off from their job:  God, please help Joe.

Let your prayer life show others how much Jesus loves them.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

If you would like to join our church family today we'd love to have you.

Pastor Cyril Guerette asks the question of why is it so hard to rejoice with those who rejoice?

God calls us to:

Empathy- which is being able to look with other people's eyes and to allow us to work and experience the trials of others.

To Mourn with those who mourn even during compassion fatigue when there is a lot of loss in a short period of time.

Roman's 12:15 rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.

1.  If one part is suffering we are all suffering with it.

2.  If one part is honoured we all rejoice along with it.

3.  Rejoice with those who rejoice  - as Christian's we need to have more party's with the community to rejoice and celebrate the little things.  This could be a kid's graduation, promotion, special day, getting a puppy, or any other accomplishment.  Show and use these moments and gatherings to bless God.  You can gather even to appreciate and celebrate all the great people in your life that you're thankful for.

I.e. So that even if your team didn't win the Superbowl this year you can still rejoice for being able to gather with friends to watch the game without worrying about COVID-19.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is an excellent book our pastor recommends by peter & Geri Scazzero which talks about how it is impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

If you would like to join our church family today we'd love to have you.

 

If you have a friend who is willing to look out for a stranger is someone you will want in your circle of friends.

Jesus taught in Israel to take care of the outsiders and oppressed.

It is important to have wisdom and character to take care of everyone that is around you.

Proverbs 27 Scripture Teaching:

Proverbs 27:17: The idea of this verse is that you are a piece of iron and other people are the hammers.  Depending on who you have in your life they can shape you in a positive or negative way.

Proverbs27:12:  The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs27:14- Think about who you have around you.  15-16 is the constant negativity of your relationships wearing you down and causing you suffering?

Verse 20:  Death and destruction are never satisfied and neither are human eyes.  What do your friends watch or look at?  Verse 21:  people are tested by how they respond to praise.

Verse 22:  Don't look at people as projects in friendships there has to be a desire in a person's heart to change and then God will change them not yourself.

How can I gain wisdom?

Wisdom calls us to focus on who is influencing us.  As humans it is impossible to not be influenced by those around us but are we influenced by satan, social media, inappropriate TV shows, coworkers.

As a second step to determine if they are a good influence on you think about who is influencing them?

Think instead of the Jesus' followers in your life and the influence they have on you.  Or the neighbor who is eager to help out anyone that is in need.

Boundaries are also really important in your relationships to protect yourself from the negativity that can damage your mental health.    If something is going to have a damaging effect on your mental health make sure you address it.

You may also need to place boundaries on the media you choose to watch if it has a bad influence on you.

Lead Pastor Cyril Guerette challenges us to spend more time with people the pour goodness into our lives to help shape us.  As others shape you in a positive way it becomes easier for Jesus to use you to shape others as well.

We pray that each one of you would have around you others that can shape you to be more and more like Jesus each day.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

If you would like to join our church family today we'd love to have you.

Before we even existed God was our family, and at times a family can hurt.  The closeness we have with God and our church family can lead to a lot of hurt within our family.  Although there are dangers to being a part of a family, loneliness is much more destructive in our society.  Spiritual family gives us access to God himself ephesians2:19.  Also, the opportunity and potential to grow with a family are far more likely than growing alone.

We are able to approach our God in a way we never have before in history, he loves it when we approach him like a child running it's his father's arms.   Jesus said whoever does the will of God in heaven is my mother, brother, and sisters.  Jesus emphasized that spiritual family is more important to him than blood family. Jesus still loved his earth family very much and even when he was on the cross about to die he made sure his mother Mary was taken care of.

Hebrews2:11- Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

If you would like to join our church family today we'd love to have you.

Lead pastor Cyril Guerette speaks on how Jesus loves forgiveness and how we as Christians can repent (experience forgiveness) and live out forgiveness in our lives to remain spiritually aligned.  Cyril speaks about the issues many of us have with condemnation (feeling like we cannot be forgiven for our mistakes).

God looks at our sin like he is our parents and we are young children.  God wants us to acknowledge what we are doing wrong and help us move into the truth knowing that nothing that we do will make God love us any less.

Jesus says that repentance is a 180-degree return (look back, admit what you were done and move forward) you repent and move forward.

Luke6:37-  Do not judge and you won't be judged, don't condemn and you won't be condemned, forgive and you'll be forgiven.

God still won't judge us and will forgive us either way.  If we don't forgive others we become bitter and it damages our soul leading to self-condemnation.  It also interferes with the life-long process of sanctification and hurts our souls making them less aligned with God's.  Instead, let's listen to the conviction of the holy spirit and forgive those so their and your hearts may be healed.

Romans8:1 - There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

To purchase the soul care book by Bill Reimer Cyril mentioned throughout this sermon click here:

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

Is there someone that you need to forgive today?  We challenge you to reach out to this individual this week.

To watch part 1 of our series on community click here:

Humanity is meant for community and family, just like animals have others Adam the original human needed Eve because God saw that Adam would be stronger with a helper so would Eve.  Even if God calls you to singleness outside of a marital relationship, God still wants you to be in community with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The apostle Paul discerns the words of Jesus about marriage, that God doesn't approve of divorce which was often misunderstood during a period of time where men would take advantage of what marriage stands for.

Jesus loves it when we gather which has been difficult during Covid-19 but it is still important to prioritize online community so we can come together and worship together.  God himself is never alone being 3 in 1 person, being the source of everything.

God wants us to gather and support one another.  As small groups are formed and bonds are built we are living out how God wants us to be in a relationship with each other.  It is really important to have people in our lives that are there to support our spiritual needs.

Psychologists say that it is impossible to be in a community with more than 150 people at any given time.  This may not sound like a big number, but some of us may have thousands of people on Facebook who we care about but just aren't able to keep up a relationship with.  For many of us, 150 people don't even account for 50% of our high school's graduating class.

How do you maintain and love our inner circle and not take them for granted?  How can you focus on who God wants your scope to be in terms of who your pour into?

The answer's to these questions will lead you to be a better servant for God.

Genesis2:18-  The Lord said it is not good for man to be alone, I will make a helper for him.  (God always said when he created stuff that it was good, but when he created man he said it was very good, emphasizing his plans for humans).

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

How can you serve the people that need you the most?  Who are these people?

This boxing day our lead pastor Cyril Guerette talks about how we are made to honour baby Jesus who will one day reign over the entire world.

God has asked us to be stewards for him to take care of the world and all of his creation.  Some examples of this include Joshua being tasked by God to look after the sun and moon, Daniel in the lion's den.  Jonah when he was swallowed by the sea for 3 days and in the way Sampson fed by ravens.

God's name is majestic and we are made in the image of God reflecting who he is.  Humanity in the future is going to be very interesting.  All of creation is for us to take care of it in his name.

We are God's most important creation and we, we are lifted about the angels as the species that God entrusts to bring in the end times through us.  God's fingerprints are on everything around us, Cyril challenges us to look for these fingerprints as we go about our week.

As we go for walks and travel our in the world, everything we see has God's fingerprints on it.  For example, despite the cold, ice, and snow God's laid all the snow like he wipes our blood white like snow as well.

God may call you to be a bright light and show the love of God in a rainforest halfway across the world or in your own backyard.  It's important that like the prophets we trust God and respond faithfully like Daniel in the lion's den.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

What can you do this week to serve God's creation?  Let us know below.

Introduction to God's Love:

The love of God is the most profound experience we will ever have.  The ability to experience and give love you others. Advent is about waiting patiently and being hopeful waiting for the presence of Christ.  Psalms are a collection of ancient songs dedicated to worshipping God with hope and confidence.

King David talks to his people about how God works for righteousness and justice for the oppressed.  How he makes clear his ways through his word and various examples.  He spoke to Moses famously through the burning bush, Noah with clear instructions, Nehemiah, Elijah, and every single person called of God in a unique way that'll reach us in a way that calls us to respond.

David was able to speak with so much wisdom about God's intentions and heart because he got to understand God's heart and we need to do this too.  God sees the big picture for the world and by understanding his corrections, heart, and instruction we can understand the love and feel God's love this Christmas.

How can we give God's Love to others?

In 1967 there was a story about a boy who stole a bike and the owners found out where the bike was taken.  When the Dad and the boy found where the bike was taken they knocked on the door.  They noticed that they had no light, no food, and the boy wasn't going to have anything for Christmas so he took the bike.

They returned home and after the Dad talked to his wife they gathered a turkey dinner into a container, a bag of coal, an older bike they were not using, and the monetary equivalent of a $100 bill for the grandfather that was caring for the boy so they could have a nice Christmas.

Christmas is literally a cyclical reminder of the energy of love.  It is not meant to just be received but also to be given to others.  He bent all of creation to his love, forgiveness, mercy, and justice.  Everything, God acts on is centered around God before he acts.

How do we receive and give the love of God in our lives?

By first loving God.

Pay it forward.

Love those who hurt us.

Keep our eyes open to where he is active, his love is with those who fear him.

Psalm 103: 2-3 bless the lord o my soul and forget not all his benefits.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

We hope you enjoyed our Advent Series:

Listen to Part 1 of our Christmas Psalms Advent Series (Hope):

Listen to Part 2 of our Christmas Psalms Advent Series (Peace):

Listen to Part 3 of our Christmas Psalms Advent Series (Joy):

How can we give God's love to others during the holidays?  Comment below!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Ian Trigg joined Groundswell Church to talk about the truth and joy of the Incarnation, theology, and the truth about Importance of the Virgin Mary in the resurrection this advent season.  The two miracles (virgin birth and resurrection) fulfilled everything that we need as humans.

Advent is about waiting patiently and being hopeful waiting for the presence of Christ.  Psalms are a collection of ancient songs dedicated to worshipping God with hope and confidence.

In Luke 1 verse 35 the angel answered Mary when asked how she could be pregnant, said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God.

Because the Virgin Mary was obedient to the calling of God and allowed God to come as an infant through her the original great miracle was possible.  When Mary's life was completely flipped upside down her response in scripture was that she was a servant of God.

This is the response that God calls each of us to have when he calls us in similar fashions, calling ourselves out of our comfort zones.  Ian Trigg challenges us to seek joy through scripture and the stories he shared to be the best version of disciples of Christ.

The Bible Isn't good advice it is the good news that launches us to respond with a servant's heart and the Virgin Mary plays a huge role in showing us the example of devotion that God wants from each one of us.  We must continue to respond, and listen for what God is telling us to do.

Connect With Us:

If you have not been out to Groundswell Church before we want to meet you.  Let’s meet for coffee.  Contact us Here:

At Groundswell, we know that personal connection is vital in connecting with a spiritual community. Our pastors love people and would be excited to meet you for a coffee, phone call, or meal to answer any questions you might have and get to know you better.

If you would like to meet one of our pastors, please send a quick note to [email protected] and we will try to arrange a meeting asap.

Conclusion:

Listen to Part 1 of our Christmas Psalms Advent Series (Hope):

Listen to Part 2 of our Christmas Psalms Advent Series (Peace):

How do you seek Joy during the Holidays?  Comment below!

How has God called you out of your comfort zone in the past?