Today, Jacqueline Lo lead us deeper into the book of Proverbs by encouraging us to connect our bodies and our minds in our quest for wisdom.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. Describe a time during your childhood when your downstairs brain (survival brain/big feelings) got you in trouble.

2. What stood out to you from Sunday's teaching? Do you have any questions about it?

3. Read Proverbs 16:32, 19:11, and James 1:19. What stands out to you from these verses?

4. How does slowing down and being patient relate to wisdom?

5. How does slowing down impact others? How does it impact ourselves?

6. J Lo shared about how God can speak to us through our bodies and emotions. She shared that our emotions are like a trail head—the start of a path that leads us to more understanding about ourselves. How has God used your body or feelings to reveal something to you?

7. Read Genesis 1:26-31. What stands out to you from this passage?

8. How does being created in the image of God and as part of a creation that God deemed “very good” inform how we deal with others and ourselves?

9. How does J Lo’s teaching impact your understanding of wisdom? Is there something that you will take with you this week?

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

This morning, Sarah Lyew continues in the book of Proverbs with a teaching on the the fear of the Lord. What does it mean? Why does it matter? How can it make us more wise?

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. If you had coffee with someone who is wise, how would you describe them? What do they look like? What would they talk about?

2. What stood out to you from Sunday's teaching? Do you have any lingering questions?

3. Read Proverbs 3:5-12 and Matthew 7:24-27. What stands out to you from this passage?

4. How does the book of Proverbs talk about wisdom that differs from your expectations? 

5. How does a wisdom that has its foundation based on God invite you to live?

6. What does fearing God look like for you?

7. What role does the the Spirit have in how you pursue wisdom?

8. What does it mean to grow in wisdom with Jesus for you?

9. Pray with and for one another.

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

Today, we kick off 2025 with a four-week series on the book of Proverbs. Sarah Lyew begins with a look at the nature of wisdom and how we can both seek to have it and grow within it. Just a reminder that, if you would like to join the WhatsApp group for Proverbs in January, you can do so here.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What mental image to do you have when you think of someone who is wise?

2. What’s your favourite proverb? (from the Bible or elsewhere)

3. How would you define 'wisdom'? Does it change when you’re looking at biblical wisdom?

4. Read Proverbs 1:1-7 and 2:1-11. What stands out to you from these passages? Do you have any questions or anything that didn’t make sense?

5. What are the qualities of someone who is wise?

6. What role does discernment play in wisdom?

7. What does pursing wisdom look like in your life?

8. Think of someone who’s wisdom “spills over” into your life. How does that impact you?

9. Pray with and for one another.

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

This morning, we enjoyed our children's Christmas Pageant. As a result, Sarah Lyew's teaching on Joseph is a bit abbreviated to make space for the kids and their dramatic production.

Three brief programming notes prior to the slide deck link and Home Church questions: 

1. Our final Advent meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 24th at 4:30PM in the Bethel CRC building (333 Davis Drive). For a number of reasons, the brief devotional offered by Sarah Lyew that day will not be recorded or published in this podcast feed. All are welcome to join us live and in-person on that day. 
2. Our final meeting of 2024 on Sunday, December 29th will take place at Riverwalk Commons in Historic Downtown Newmarket. There will be no teaching that morning as we will be enjoying some warm drinks and sweet treats while those who wish to skate are welcome to bring their skates to enjoy the ice pad found there. Once again, all are welcome.
3. As a result, the podcast will resume regular publication on Sunday, January 5th, 2025 as we embark on a month-long teaching series through the book of Proverbs.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What is your biggest fear?

2. Read Matthew 1:18-25. What stands out to you from this passage?

3. When you think of someone who is courageous, who do you think of? What makes them courageous?

4. Is there a place or a situation where Jesus is inviting you to step past your fear and into a moment of courage?

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

Today we welcome the senior pastor of the Be In Christ Church Collective, Judith McCartney, as she shares on Mary's hope in the unexpected. You may notice that the first part of the recording has little to do with Mary. That's alright! Judith begins the formal part of her teaching at around the 9:00 mark. Prior to that point, she has some kind words of affirmation for our community, many of which in reference to Dennis's announcement regarding the Start-Up Campaign (which he offered prior to the beginning of the recording).

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What is a situation that you found yourself in that was unexpected?

2. Read Luke 1:26-38, 46-56. What stands out to you from this passage?

3. Where do you most see yourself in Mary's story? Do you empathize most with Mary's vulnerability? With Joseph's awkward situation? With the parents' sense of scandal? With the community members who might judge and ostracize Mary?

4. Judith mentioned ways that Mary responded to her situation that can be a model for us and the way that we respond to situations in our own lives. What inspiration do you draw from Mary, the mother of Christ?

5. Take time to pray with and for one another.

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

This morning, Dave Blow considers the story of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, and the hope that can be found within our doubt. This builds upon the story of Elizabeth from last week. Please excuse the brief moments at 5:39 and 26:01 where the mic cuts out temporarily. Don't panic! Dave returns shortly. We apprecaite your patience with us as we figure everything out.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. Thinking back, what is a Christmas memory where you found it just so hard to wait? Was there a special present that you just had to have?

2. What stood out to you from Sunday's teaching?

3. Read Luke 1:5-25. What stands out to you from this passage? 

4. Was there a time on your personal journey that you really needed to hear from God? Did it happen? How did it impact your faith journey?

5. As a community of faith, we sometimes choose not to believe in God's promises or, at least, to be skeptical about them. Did any of the potential reasons for our unbelief resonate with you? (eg, the preacher DB often likes to run ahead of God thinking he can figure life out on his own. Sometimes he hears God Say ”How’s that working for you?”)

6. Can we balance the act of placing our order with God to achieve a desired outcome with the concept that we belong to God and that he wants the best for his children?

7. Please take a moment to pray for our community and each other. I sometimes feel overwhelmed when I open my emails each morning and see the need around us. I know that God is bigger than all of this. Let’s claim this together as a community of faith.

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

Today, Sarah Lyew helps us start the Advent season by sharing about the hope in the disappointment found in the story of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. Please excuse the brief moment at 19:38 where the mic cuts out. Don't panic! Sarah returns 10 seconds later.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What’s the most disappointing meal or trip you’ve had?

2. What stood out to you from Sunday's teaching?

3. Read Luke 1:5-28, 24-25, 39-45. What stands out to you from this passage?

4. Can you identify other stories from the Bible that are similar to this story?

5. Reread verse 6 (if possible, in a few different translations). What do you think Elizabeth was like to sit down with?

6. Often barrenness carried a lot of shame with it, especially for the woman. How do you think this may have affected how people saw her? How she saw herself?

7. How could not only becoming pregnant but becoming pregnant in a way similar to stories like Sarah's and Hannah's have impacted Elizabeth?

8. Have you had a bonding experience like Elizabeth and Mary? What was the impact for you?

9. Pray for and with one another.

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

This morning, Sarah Lyew concludes (for now) our series on the Gospel of Mark by taking a look at the account of Jesus's transfiguration. This event obviously has much to say about Jesus's divinity, but what we can learn about his humanity through this story?

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Just a quick programming note: we will begin our Advent series next week and for the month of December. Following the holidays, we will be taking a look at the book of Proverbs while reading through each chapter, one per day during January, as a community. We will come back to the remaining chapters of the Gospel of Mark during Lent and concluding on Easter weekend.

Home Church Questions:

1. Who is someone in your life that is your “cheerleader” or who helps you gather courage?

2. Read Mark 9:2-13. What stands out to you from this passage? Is there a word or phrase that stands out?

3. If you had heard this story before, what was your impression of it then? Was there anything new in rereading it now or in what Sarah shared?

4. Sarah talked about the mountains where Moses and Elijah both met God when they were stepping into a new season. She pointed to this perhaps being a similar experience for Jesus. How does it change the story for you that this was a moment of not only Jesus’s divinity but also his humanity?

5. Have you ever had a mountain moment of your own, where you were in a trying season and God met you? If you’re comfortable, please share with the group.

6. Think of your “gather courage” moments. Who stepped into that moment with you? What helped?

This week, take time to reflect on what it takes to be more vulnerable in your relationship with Jesus. Does that feel easy or a bit overwhelming? What about with your inner circle?

Is there someone in your life who you notice may need a “courage encouragement”? What does it look like for you to come alongside them to be their encouragement?

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

Today, Will Dyer teaches on the parable of The Workers in the Vineyard as we take a break from our on-going Mark series (which will return after our Town Hall meeting next week).

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What stood out to you from Sunday’s teaching?

2. Read Matthew 20:1-16 (in multiple translations, if possible). What stands out to you in this passage?

3. Why do you think would Jesus teach in ways that are intentionally unclear? Can you think of other ways in which the kingdom of God is upside-down and counterintuitive?

4. If a rights-oriented perspective is antithetical to the kingdom of God, then what sort of orientation should our perspective have?

5. We live in a society and a country that is premised on individual rights and freedoms. How should we, as followers of Christ, conceive of our role in that society (especially in light of the expectations that come with observances such as Remembrance Day)?

6. What are some practical ways that we (or you) can make our church more of a community garden and less of a grocery store? Are you willing to roll up your sleeves to make these suggestions reality?

7. Consider praying through the Prayer of St. Francis together:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

8. Pray for and with one another.

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

This morning, Dave Blow revisits Mark 10 to focus on the story of Jesus speaking with the Rich Young Ruler and the cost of discipleship. How are we to understand material wealth in light of the Kingdom of God? Many thanks to Brooklyn for reading our scripture today!

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. How are you navigating the AI world? Do you find it useful? Are there
dangers in becoming too dependant on it?

2. In Sunday’s teaching, Dave said, “We’ve been taught to read it [the Bible] as
a hierarchical text through the centuries by powers and authorities that
wanted it read as a narrative of divine subservience.” What are the dangers
of reading the scriptures with this 'top down' approach?

3. Read Mark 10:17-27. What themes in this passage stand out to you?

4. Money Money Money. How do we sort it all out? Can material wealth and
following Jesus coexist? Why or why not? What does that look like in this
day of such need?

5. Can you share an example of material blessing being used to further the
agenda of Jesus?

Be in touch. Send us a text here.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]