The Word at Westminster

Rejection is fun, right? Wrong. And yet, it’s something that many of us have to deal with at some point or another, including those who try to follow Jesus. Anthony was a monk who lived into the fourth century. He said: “A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, ‘You are mad, you are not like us.'” Do you relate with that? Jesus faced considerable rejection. This sermon on Mark 6:1-13 is an opportunity for us to re-frame how we think about this topic. Being rejected—and being different because of your beliefs or lifestyle—can be so upsetting that we forget that there is something more important than being rejected. When we keep that more important thing in view—and when we hold certain worldly things “loosely”—the arrows of others start to lose their sting.

Faith isn’t just about pursuing life after death, but life before death. Or, put another way, it’s not just about the after-life, but the during-life. When we think of Jesus as “Saviour” we tend to think about his role after our time on earth. He saves us from the consequence of sin and from being on the wrong side of eternal judgment. As (very!) important as those things are, we can forget certain aspects of his role as Saviour in the here and now. We can miss some of the ways he can be powerfully present, especially in moments of desperation and pain. This sermon explores Mark 5:21-43 and is an invitation to honestly consider Jesus’ role as Saviour in your life before death.

This sermon was originally called “Closing doors to demons” and was delivered on November 17, 2024 at Westminster in Barrie. But Pastor Ruttan has changed the title to this: “Is this the sermon demons don’t want you to hear?” He explains why in a short introduction at the start of the message. Some strange things happened on and around it’s delivery. Okay, to the sermon itself. Jon Thompson says: “The demonic hates anything that reminds them of hope.” If you belong to Jesus, that’s you. But be at peace and do not be afraid. This sermon unpacks one of the most intriguing (and confusing) parts of the Bible: Mark 5:1-20. It’s when Jesus casts out a legion of demons from a man. They go into a herd of pigs who quickly drown. People are both afraid and amazed. The sermon presents some big picture ideas about spiritual warfare, takes us through the text, warns against major “doorways” which give the demonic permission to function in our lives, and encourages practices to help us live freely and victoriously in Christ. There is a companion podcast to this sermon which Pastor Ruttan references. It is an interview he has with Steve Dabbs, author of “When Demons Surface.” You can access that here, or by searching on our podcast, The Word at Westminster. In Romans 16:19-21 Paul said: “I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” It was a good word then, and it’s a wise word now. Let’s open our eyes, and be not afraid. Is this the sermon demons don’t want you to hear?

Demons are disembodied spirits who have rebelled against God. Yes, demons are real, and their work is alive and well. If you’re human, and especially if you’re a follower of Christ, they hate you. We sometimes hear about about demon “possession,” but mostly in movies or horror stories. A more accurate word is “demonization,” and it can happen to varying degrees. But how do they gain access to people? And how can we demon-proof our lives? This episode is a talk with Steve Dabbs, author of “When Demons Surface: True Stories of Spiritual Warfare and what the Bible Says about Confronting the Darkness.” It is hosted by Pastor Ruttan. They talk about demons and spiritual warfare, the “doorways” people open which give permission for the demonic to function in their lives, and how to live free and victoriously with Christ. Steve is a retired senior military chaplain with over 35 years of expertise in pastoral care and leadership. He talks about his own supernatural experiences, including personal attacks. He also has years of experiencing helping people be delivered from demonization. “We’re all experiencing spiritual warfare whether we realize it or not,” he says. You can listen to the conversation below. You can also watch our talk on Pastor Ruttan’s YouTube channel here. Underneath you can find links to Steve’s book and website. Here are the main questions that guide their talk:-Dealing with demons doesn’t seem to be something people eagerly sign up for. Can you explain how you got involved in this?-Some/many of our listeners haven’t been taught much about the demonic realm. Many will be quite skeptical. As Christians today, why should we be more open to this?-How do demons gain access to people? Can you explain some of the “doorways”?-If something is going on in your life, how...

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World peace. We all want it. But how do we get there? Is there even any hope when we have had so many wars, when nations (and peoples) continue to fight, and when individuals continue to experience so much anger, anxiety and pain? This sermon examines Philippians 4:2-9 and is about Step 1. We explore three practical takeaways. Oh, and they all begin with you. Plus, your soul will thank you.

Let’s pretend that we all get together and decide to imitate someone named Ischyros. Great! Let’s do it! But hold on, there’s a problem. We first need to know what Ischyros is like before we can we imitate him. Christians agree that we want to be “like Jesus.” But if we want to actually be like Jesus, we have to know what Jesus is actually like. Many of us have blind spots. We emphasis certain parts of him, downplay others, or have a limited understanding. This sermon explores Mark 4:35-41 and the stilling of the storm. It’s an opportunity to answer the question posed by the baffled disciples in the boat: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” It’s a story which is meant to make us ponder who Jesus is on a deeper level. Four specific questions are suggested to help you be honest about where you’re at. Who you think Jesus is influences you are becoming.

What do we do when so much seems broken, uncertain or wrong? When things are not turning out like we want, frazzlement and frustration can take over. They make us doubt our decisions. This was something people faced in Jesus’ day too. In this sermon on Mark 4:21-34, we explore three short parables, and how Jesus clarified the nature of God’s kingdom, and how he encouraged his followers forward in a world where so much seems broken, uncertain or wrong. What he said to them then continues to be instructive for us today as we seek to worship and serve God the unchanging.

Are we here by chance, or is there a greater purpose? Many people have tried to answer this question. Some people aren’t sure, despair, or throw their hands up in resignation. Fortunately, Jesus isn’t one of them. The light of the world has things to say about who we are and why we’re here. This sermon explores the parable of the sower in Mark 4:1-20, what it means to be “good soil,” and how this influences your life. Jesus’ instruction is eternally relevant (whether the apocalypse is near or not). You and I carry forward the goodness of God to a hurting world. We were born to bless.

When I was in elementary school a kid kept pestering me—that is, until my big brother came to my defense. I felt… protected. There are a lot of titles for Jesus — like Son of God, Saviour, and Good Shepherd. Each one tells us something about him and the nature of our relationship. Another (frequently neglected) title is brother. What does it tell us about him and about the nature of our relationship? This sermon unpacks Mark 3:22-35, how you become Jesus’ sibling, and six words that teach us about the kind of big brother he is: Loyalty, love, intercession, guidance, correction, protection. Do you want less fear and more confidence? Listen in.