Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:26:59 -0500 https://thetmppodcast.buzzsprout.com en-ca © 2026 The TMP Podcast yes The Meeting Place, Smith Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada 06f0c829-b16d-5fd6-b768-6f4689c2e3e8 The Meeting Place Church serial false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) church, The Meeting Place, mennonite, downtown, Winnipeg, Manitoba, service, gathering, worship, serving, Christian The Meeting Place Church https://storage.buzzsprout.com/s35rfehjyx6hp89a8d8dxzdp7cgg?.jpg Speak | Ken Esau | Mozaek: Called These four strange chapters from Leviticus help us understand what it looked like for ancient Israel to embrace God's gift of being a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Living on the other side of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension means that disciples of Jesus from every tribe and nation are gifted with this same identity and mission.

]]> These four strange chapters from Leviticus help us understand what it looked like for ancient Israel to embrace God's gift of being a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Living on the other side of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension means that disciples of Jesus from every tribe and nation are gifted with this same identity and mission.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18816695 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 2106 full false Holy Ones | Brian Kauste | Mozaek: Called Leviticus 19 opens with a breathtaking call: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” But the way holiness is described may surprise us. It is not just about ritual—it is about parents and neighbours, business and sexuality, fields and festivals. Holiness is presence-shaped life in ordinary places. What does it look like to live as "holy ones" because God lives among us?

]]> Leviticus 19 opens with a breathtaking call: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” But the way holiness is described may surprise us. It is not just about ritual—it is about parents and neighbours, business and sexuality, fields and festivals. Holiness is presence-shaped life in ordinary places. What does it look like to live as "holy ones" because God lives among us?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18784492 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0600 2368 full false After the Death | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Mozaek: Called Leviticus now pauses over a national wound—“after the death of the two sons of Aaron.” In the shadow of Nadab and Abihu’s judgment, God reveals the Day of Atonement, a yearly path back into His presence for the whole people. Isaiah shows a king on the brink, crying out for rescue. Luke shows a woman with a broken past drawing near to Jesus with tears and perfume. When failure and death are close at hand, is there really a way back?

]]> Leviticus now pauses over a national wound—“after the death of the two sons of Aaron.” In the shadow of Nadab and Abihu’s judgment, God reveals the Day of Atonement, a yearly path back into His presence for the whole people. Isaiah shows a king on the brink, crying out for rescue. Luke shows a woman with a broken past drawing near to Jesus with tears and perfume. When failure and death are close at hand, is there really a way back?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18740629 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0600 2253 full false Infected One | Joel Jolly | Mozaek: Called Leviticus lingers over what we would rather avoid—lingering disease, ongoing discharge, what feels out of control in our own bodies. Isaiah shows a city surrounded by an invading empire and taunted into despair. John the Baptist wrestles with doubt from prison. In all of it, the question is the same: when uncleanness or threat seems to spread, can we still trust that God is truly present?

]]> Leviticus lingers over what we would rather avoid—lingering disease, ongoing discharge, what feels out of control in our own bodies. Isaiah shows a city surrounded by an invading empire and taunted into despair. John the Baptist wrestles with doubt from prison. In all of it, the question is the same: when uncleanness or threat seems to spread, can we still trust that God is truly present?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18701507 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0600 1858 full false She Bears Seed | Precious Abiodun | Mozaek: Called Leviticus turns to the most ordinary and vulnerable places of human life—birth, blood, and skin. These laws about childbirth and skin disease are not about shame, but about living honestly before a holy God in bodies that are fragile and finite. How does God’s presence meet us in our weakness, and what do we do with the places that feel "unclean"?

]]> Leviticus turns to the most ordinary and vulnerable places of human life—birth, blood, and skin. These laws about childbirth and skin disease are not about shame, but about living honestly before a holy God in bodies that are fragile and finite. How does God’s presence meet us in our weakness, and what do we do with the places that feel "unclean"?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18651456 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0600 2286 full false Eighth | Ryan Murray | Mozaek: Called After days of preparation, the tabernacle service begins. It is the "eighth day"—a day of new beginnings in God’s presence. Fire falls, glory appears, and joy erupts… but so does tragedy when God’s holiness is treated lightly. What does it mean to rejoice in God’s nearness without becoming casual about it?

]]> After days of preparation, the tabernacle service begins. It is the "eighth day"—a day of new beginnings in God’s presence. Fire falls, glory appears, and joy erupts… but so does tragedy when God’s holiness is treated lightly. What does it mean to rejoice in God’s nearness without becoming casual about it?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18611691 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0600 2331 full false Command | Bob Marsch | Mozaek: Called Leviticus now turns from offerings themselves to the priests who will handle them. God doesn’t just provide a way to come near—He appoints people to serve in that nearness. Aaron and his sons are commanded, clothed, and consecrated. What does it mean to be set apart for service in the presence of God?

]]> Leviticus now turns from offerings themselves to the priests who will handle them. God doesn’t just provide a way to come near—He appoints people to serve in that nearness. Aaron and his sons are commanded, clothed, and consecrated. What does it mean to be set apart for service in the presence of God?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18573237 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0600 2167 full false And He Called | Precious Abiodun | Mozaek: Called Leviticus opens not with action, but with a call. From the newly filled tabernacle, God calls to Moses and begins to teach Israel how to live near His presence. Sacrifice, confession, and daily life are now shaped by this nearness. What does it mean to be called close to God—and to stay there?

]]> Leviticus opens not with action, but with a call. From the newly filled tabernacle, God calls to Moses and begins to teach Israel how to live near His presence. Sacrifice, confession, and daily life are now shaped by this nearness. What does it mean to be called close to God—and to stay there?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18535798 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:00:00 -0600 2543 full false Fasting | Nasser Al'Qahtani Nasser explains fasting.

]]> Nasser explains fasting.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18495726 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0600 2367 full false Vision Sunday | Bob Marsch Listen as Pastor Bob casts the vision of The Meeting Place for the upcoming season.

]]> Listen as Pastor Bob casts the vision of The Meeting Place for the upcoming season.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18458174 Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0600 2477 full false Youth Takeover | Ryan Murray The youth have taken over the service this morning!

]]> The youth have taken over the service this morning!

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18433131 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0600 936 full false Growth | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Present To grow is part of the human experience. We measure growth in pencil marks on door frames, in academic and professional achievements, and in our pleasure when we see our own emotional and spiritual development. His neighbours saw Jesus grow from a boy into a man. It is easy to understand why people reacted so strongly when Jesus in response to their challenge uttered these words, “before Abraham was born, I am!”.

]]> To grow is part of the human experience. We measure growth in pencil marks on door frames, in academic and professional achievements, and in our pleasure when we see our own emotional and spiritual development. His neighbours saw Jesus grow from a boy into a man. It is easy to understand why people reacted so strongly when Jesus in response to their challenge uttered these words, “before Abraham was born, I am!”.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18400924 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0600 1842 full false Pain | Carolyn Klassen | Present Pain is part of the human experience. We experience this at all stages of life. We have lasting memories of injuries we received as children, and familiar with the complaints of chronic pain as people get older. In a dramatic intervention Jesus turns the deep pain of a mother and the death of a son into a celebration. This event carries deeper meaning when we then consider the pain His own mother and He endured leading up to and including His death. He gets it!

]]> Pain is part of the human experience. We experience this at all stages of life. We have lasting memories of injuries we received as children, and familiar with the complaints of chronic pain as people get older. In a dramatic intervention Jesus turns the deep pain of a mother and the death of a son into a celebration. This event carries deeper meaning when we then consider the pain His own mother and He endured leading up to and including His death. He gets it!

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18367910 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0600 2245 full false Rest | Lorelle Perry | Present Rest is part of the human experience. We prefer Jesus to be tireless and yet in His humanity he too needed to take a break. When He does finally get to sit down, it doesn’t last long. Curiously His rest is interrupted by yet another conversation with a person in desperate need of hope. Nice to know that Jesus understands the relentlessness of the pace of our lives and invites us to “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

]]> Rest is part of the human experience. We prefer Jesus to be tireless and yet in His humanity he too needed to take a break. When He does finally get to sit down, it doesn’t last long. Curiously His rest is interrupted by yet another conversation with a person in desperate need of hope. Nice to know that Jesus understands the relentlessness of the pace of our lives and invites us to “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18318608 Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0600 2132 full false Prayer | Brian Kauste | Present Prayer is part of the human experience. This is true for people of faith and those who cry out to God only in their most desperate circumstances. There are several instances where Jesus prays. The prayer recorded in the gospel of John is powerful because here we find that He prays for us. In yet another powerful moment Jesus hears and responds to a man who in every sense had only one option left – to pray. To pray to Jesus who He acknowledged to be God.

]]> Prayer is part of the human experience. This is true for people of faith and those who cry out to God only in their most desperate circumstances. There are several instances where Jesus prays. The prayer recorded in the gospel of John is powerful because here we find that He prays for us. In yet another powerful moment Jesus hears and responds to a man who in every sense had only one option left – to pray. To pray to Jesus who He acknowledged to be God.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18286401 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0600 2638 full false Accountings | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Mozaek: Names With the tabernacle nearly complete, Moses pauses to give an accounting. Every offering, every piece of gold and thread is recorded. This is not bureaucracy—it’s worship. Transparency honours God. The result is not pride, but presence. What does it mean to live and serve with nothing hidden?

]]> With the tabernacle nearly complete, Moses pauses to give an accounting. Every offering, every piece of gold and thread is recorded. This is not bureaucracy—it’s worship. Transparency honours God. The result is not pride, but presence. What does it mean to live and serve with nothing hidden?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18252356 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0600 2361 full false And He Assembled | Joel Jolly | Mozaek: Names After failure and forgiveness, the work begins again. God invites His people to build the tabernacle—not just as an act of obedience, but as a restoration of relationship. Their giving is voluntary, their labor joyful. The sanctuary becomes a place of remembered presence. How do we respond to grace by joining God in His work?

]]> After failure and forgiveness, the work begins again. God invites His people to build the tabernacle—not just as an act of obedience, but as a restoration of relationship. Their giving is voluntary, their labor joyful. The sanctuary becomes a place of remembered presence. How do we respond to grace by joining God in His work?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18204943 Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0600 2048 full false When You Elevate | Precious Abiodun | Mozaek: Names As Moses remains on the mountain, the people below grow restless. They craft a golden calf—not to replace God, but to replace Moses, the visible leader they credit with their deliverance. In their fear, they reach for control. Yet even in betrayal, God remembers His covenant. Moses intercedes—not on merit, but on memory.

]]> As Moses remains on the mountain, the people below grow restless. They craft a golden calf—not to replace God, but to replace Moses, the visible leader they credit with their deliverance. In their fear, they reach for control. Yet even in betrayal, God remembers His covenant. Moses intercedes—not on merit, but on memory.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18167674 Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:00:00 -0600 2619 full false You Shall Command | Ryan Murray | Mozaek: Names Worship is not improvised—it is instructed. As God continues to give detailed commands for the tabernacle, He focuses not only on space, but on people. Priests are clothed, anointed, and consecrated. The garments, oil, and incense speak of a holy calling. How do we remember that worship isn’t about performance—but presence prepared with reverence?

]]> Worship is not improvised—it is instructed. As God continues to give detailed commands for the tabernacle, He focuses not only on space, but on people. Priests are clothed, anointed, and consecrated. The garments, oil, and incense speak of a holy calling. How do we remember that worship isn’t about performance—but presence prepared with reverence?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18125447 Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0600 2290 full false Offering | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Mozaek: Names With freedom established and covenant confirmed, God invites His people to build a space where He will dwell. But first, they must offer. The tabernacle begins not with architecture, but with generosity. How does what we give shape what we carry—and how do we remember that presence is the goal?

]]> With freedom established and covenant confirmed, God invites His people to build a space where He will dwell. But first, they must offer. The tabernacle begins not with architecture, but with generosity. How does what we give shape what we carry—and how do we remember that presence is the goal?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18083928 Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2199 full false Judgements | Brian Kauste | Mozaek: Names After Sinai’s fire and voice, Israel receives something unexpected: case law. Yet these judgments are not cold—they are concrete expressions of God’s holy love. They form a people who remember both where they came from and who they belong to. How does justice shaped by remembrance form us today?

]]> After Sinai’s fire and voice, Israel receives something unexpected: case law. Yet these judgments are not cold—they are concrete expressions of God’s holy love. They form a people who remember both where they came from and who they belong to. How does justice shaped by remembrance form us today?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18042810 Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0500 2369 full false Jethro (Overflow) | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Mozaek: Names Before Israel reaches Sinai, God provides something quieter than thunder: the voice of wisdom through a foreign priest. But wisdom must be tested. Jethro’s advice appears helpful—like the serpent’s in the garden—yet it introduces a leadership structure God did not command. Are we listening for God’s voice, or only for what seems practical?

]]> Before Israel reaches Sinai, God provides something quieter than thunder: the voice of wisdom through a foreign priest. But wisdom must be tested. Jethro’s advice appears helpful—like the serpent’s in the garden—yet it introduces a leadership structure God did not command. Are we listening for God’s voice, or only for what seems practical?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-18010084 Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0500 2239 full false When He Let Go | Bob Marsch | Mozaek: Names With Egypt behind and the wilderness ahead, Israel takes its first steps into freedom—and into testing. God delivers with power, but disciples through hunger and thirst. How do we remember God’s faithfulness when the path ahead looks uncertain?

]]> With Egypt behind and the wilderness ahead, Israel takes its first steps into freedom—and into testing. God delivers with power, but disciples through hunger and thirst. How do we remember God’s faithfulness when the path ahead looks uncertain?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17965545 Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2346 full false Enter | Precious Abiodun | Mozaek: Names God sends plagues not just to free His people, but to awaken hearts—to reveal His power over everything Egypt trusts. Exodus is not only escape; it’s confrontation. How does God confront the idols of a culture? And how do we discern His hand when He disrupts what is comfortable?

]]> God sends plagues not just to free His people, but to awaken hearts—to reveal His power over everything Egypt trusts. Exodus is not only escape; it’s confrontation. How does God confront the idols of a culture? And how do we discern His hand when He disrupts what is comfortable?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17947519 Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0500 2719 full false God Has Come! (And I Appeared) | Doug Heidebrecht | Mozaek: Names Listen as Doug talks about Exodus 6-9.

]]> Listen as Doug talks about Exodus 6-9.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17888216 Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:00:00 -0500 2053 full false Names | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Mozaek: Names Listen as Nasser talks about Exodus 1-6.

]]> Listen as Nasser talks about Exodus 1-6.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17847587 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0500 2475 full false Follow | Bob Marsch | Vision Sunday Listen as Pastor Bob casts the vision of The Meeting Place for the upcoming ministry year.

]]> Listen as Pastor Bob casts the vision of The Meeting Place for the upcoming ministry year.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17816129 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0500 2022 full false And He Lived | Ryan Murray | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Ryan talks about Genesis 47-50.

]]> Listen as Ryan talks about Genesis 47-50.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17773798 Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0500 2395 full false And He Drew Near | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Nasser talks about Genesis 44-47.

]]> Listen as Nasser talks about Genesis 44-47.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17731227 Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2452 full false At The End | Bob Marsch | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Bob talks about Genesis 41-44.

]]> Listen as Bob talks about Genesis 41-44.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17690898 Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2301 full false Transformation (And He Settled) | Lorelle Perry | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Lorelle talks about Genesis 37-40.

]]> Listen as Lorelle talks about Genesis 37-40.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17661704 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:00:00 -0500 2243 full false Jacob Wrestles (And He Sent) | Carolyn Klassen | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Carolyn talks about Genesis 32-36.

]]> Listen as Carolyn talks about Genesis 32-36.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17621461 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:00:00 -0500 2346 full false And He Went Out | Precious Abiodun | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Precious talks about Genesis 28-32.

]]> Listen as Precious talks about Genesis 28-32.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17595470 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2195 full false Generations | Scott Gerbrandt | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Scott talks about Genesis 25-28.

]]> Listen as Scott talks about Genesis 25-28.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17541994 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:00:00 -0500 2216 full false Life of Sarah | Lloyd Letkeman | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Lloyd talks about Genesis 23-25.

]]> Listen as Lloyd talks about Genesis 23-25.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17503629 Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0500 1919 full false And He Appeared | Adrian Enns | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Adrian talks about Genesis 18-22.

]]> Listen as Adrian talks about Genesis 18-22.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17471769 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2233 full false Hagar and the God Who Sees (Go Forth, Yourself) | Carolyn Klassen | Mozaek: Origin The center of the story. The middle of the chiasm of “The Patriarch of Abraham” is Hagar. The story of God’s chosen people starts with Abram, Isaac and Jacob to create the nation of the Israelites. With Hagar’s story in the middle, the Torah is  saying that God’s whole purpose of this story of the chosen people is to say God comes for those that struggle, are marginalized—those that aren’t considered important. 

The plan to create a chosen people to deliver the Good News is, and always has been, intended to choose us all. 

God, who called the earth into being and called Abram to be the father of Israel, also called the single mom/slave to be an incredibly important part of the plan.

Hagar was thoughtlessly and needlessly was exploited to became pregnant because of Sarai’s lack of faith and impatience had the pain of this tragedy composted to create a nation of God.

A servant of the household who wasn’t even addressed by name by those she served, gave God a name in conversation with God.

]]> The center of the story. The middle of the chiasm of “The Patriarch of Abraham” is Hagar. The story of God’s chosen people starts with Abram, Isaac and Jacob to create the nation of the Israelites. With Hagar’s story in the middle, the Torah is  saying that God’s whole purpose of this story of the chosen people is to say God comes for those that struggle, are marginalized—those that aren’t considered important. 

The plan to create a chosen people to deliver the Good News is, and always has been, intended to choose us all. 

God, who called the earth into being and called Abram to be the father of Israel, also called the single mom/slave to be an incredibly important part of the plan.

Hagar was thoughtlessly and needlessly was exploited to became pregnant because of Sarai’s lack of faith and impatience had the pain of this tragedy composted to create a nation of God.

A servant of the household who wasn’t even addressed by name by those she served, gave God a name in conversation with God.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17471112 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0500 2276 full false Seeing (Noah) | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Nasser talks about Noah, from Genesis 6-11.

]]> Listen as Nasser talks about Noah, from Genesis 6-11.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17384431 Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0500 2383 full false In The Beginning | Brian Kauste | Mozaek: Origin Listen as Pastor Brian talks about Genesis 1-6.

]]> Listen as Pastor Brian talks about Genesis 1-6.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17351769 Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0500 2272 full false Follow | Bob Marsch | Vision Sunday Listen as Pastor Bob casts the vision of the Meeting Place for the next season.

]]> Listen as Pastor Bob casts the vision of the Meeting Place for the next season.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17308321 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0500 1660 full false Daniel 10 to 12 | Nicole Marble | Culture Clash Listen as Nicole talks about Daniel 10 through 12.

]]> Listen as Nicole talks about Daniel 10 through 12.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17268534 Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2294 full false Daniel 8 and 9 | Ryan Murray | Culture Clash Listen as Ryan talks about Daniel 8 and 9.

]]> Listen as Ryan talks about Daniel 8 and 9.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17229375 Mon, 26 May 2025 16:00:00 -0500 2208 full false Daniel 7 | Scott Gerbrandt | Culture Clash Listen as Scott talks about Daniel 7.

]]> Listen as Scott talks about Daniel 7.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17198263 Tue, 20 May 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2144 full false Daniel 5 and 6 | Bob Marsch | Culture Clash Listen as Pastor Bob talks about Daniel 5 and 6.

]]> Listen as Pastor Bob talks about Daniel 5 and 6.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17145881 Mon, 12 May 2025 12:00:00 -0500 2099 full false Daniel 3 and 4 | Brian Kauste | Culture Clash Listen as Pastor Brian talks about Daniel 3 and 4.

]]> Listen as Pastor Brian talks about Daniel 3 and 4.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17103780 Mon, 05 May 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2256 full false Daniel 1 and 2 | Scott Marble | Culture Clash Listen as Scott talks about Daniel 1 and 2.

]]> Listen as Scott talks about Daniel 1 and 2.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17060127 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:00:00 -0500 2074 full false BONUS EPISODE | Good Friday Evening | Nasser Al'Qahtani Listen as Nasser talks about what was happening the evening after Jesus' death.

]]> Listen as Nasser talks about what was happening the evening after Jesus' death.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17038646 Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2348 full false Resurrection Sunday | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Crowned He has risen! Hear Nasser retell the story of Jesus' resurrection.

]]> He has risen! Hear Nasser retell the story of Jesus' resurrection.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17015701 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0500 1536 full false Good Friday | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Crowned Listen as Nasser tells the story of Jesus' death from a different perspective.

]]> Listen as Nasser tells the story of Jesus' death from a different perspective.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-17015676 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0500 1678 full false Sexuality | Ryan Murray | All: The Heart Of Surrender Ryan teaches us to understand the spiritual significance of sexuality and make decisions to experience the best version of this gift.

]]> Ryan teaches us to understand the spiritual significance of sexuality and make decisions to experience the best version of this gift.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16975891 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0500 2204 full false Stewardship | Jenny MacVicar | All: The Heart Of Surrender Jenny teaches us to experience the deep joy of generosity and learn to trust God for provision.

]]> Jenny teaches us to experience the deep joy of generosity and learn to trust God for provision.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16932979 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0500 2121 full false Peace/Forgiveness | Brian Kauste | All: The Heart Of Surrender Pastor Brian teaches us that because Jesus loves and forgives us, we can do the same for ourself and others.

]]> Pastor Brian teaches us that because Jesus loves and forgives us, we can do the same for ourself and others.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16890603 Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0500 2215 full false Repentance | Lorelle Perry | ALL: The Heart Of Surrender Lorelle Perry teaches us to be overwhelmed by the grace of second chances and the freedom of a clear conscience.

]]> Lorelle Perry teaches us to be overwhelmed by the grace of second chances and the freedom of a clear conscience.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16857122 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500 2132 full false Healing | Bob Marsch | ALL: The Heart Of Surrender Pastor Bob teaches us to follow the promptings of the Spirit and boldly ask for God's healing, trusting Him for the outcome.

]]> Pastor Bob teaches us to follow the promptings of the Spirit and boldly ask for God's healing, trusting Him for the outcome.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16806954 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0500 2689 full false Sacrificial Living | Melissa MacDonald | ALL: The Heart of Surrender Guest teacher Melissa MacDonald teaches us to better understand the extraordinary Spirit-filled life that God had in mind for us.

]]> Guest teacher Melissa MacDonald teaches us to better understand the extraordinary Spirit-filled life that God had in mind for us.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16772480 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500 2537 full false God The Holy Spirit | Carol Letkeman | Viva Voce Carol teaches us about the third voice of the Holy Trinity: God the Holy Spirit.

]]> Carol teaches us about the third voice of the Holy Trinity: God the Holy Spirit.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16728266 Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0600 2315 full false God The Son | Nicole Marble | Viva Voce Nicole teaches us about the second voice of the Holy Trinity: God the Son

]]> Nicole teaches us about the second voice of the Holy Trinity: God the Son

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16691469 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600 2136 full false God The Father | Ryan Murray | Viva Voce Ryan teaches us about the first voice of the Holy Trinity: God the Father

]]> Ryan teaches us about the first voice of the Holy Trinity: God the Father

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16646688 Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0600 2660 full false Sitting With Jesus | Brad Huebert Guest teacher Brad Huebert talks about how to sit with Jesus.

]]> Guest teacher Brad Huebert talks about how to sit with Jesus.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16596605 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0600 2472 full false NOT - I Come From A Long Line Of Powerful People | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Power Struggle This week, we discuss that to be known by and linked to Jesus is all that we need.

]]> This week, we discuss that to be known by and linked to Jesus is all that we need.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16565032 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0600 2255 full false NOT - Find Your Power Within Yourself | Precious Abiodun | Power Struggle This week, we discuss how Jesus is our source of power.

]]> This week, we discuss how Jesus is our source of power.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16511623 Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0600 2378 full false NOT - Look How Powerful I Am | Joel Jolly | Power Struggle This week, we discuss how when we submit to Jesus, He can move powerfully through us.

]]> This week, we discuss how when we submit to Jesus, He can move powerfully through us.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16476183 Tue, 21 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0600 1599 full false NOT - Abuse of Power | Carolyn Klassen | Power Struggle This week, we discuss how Jesus modelled a way of leading defined by love and challenged those who abused their power.

]]> This week, we discuss how Jesus modelled a way of leading defined by love and challenged those who abused their power.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16431659 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:00:00 -0600 2406 full false Thank God For The Meeting Place | Bob Marsch This week, we had a special service for Vision Sunday about SHARING our story.

]]> This week, we had a special service for Vision Sunday about SHARING our story.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16390652 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0600 2512 full false In Living Contrast | Brian Kauste As 2024 comes to a close,  we’ll look at God’s story and see how the design principle of contrast affects our lives.

]]> As 2024 comes to a close,  we’ll look at God’s story and see how the design principle of contrast affects our lives.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16359449 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0600 2337 full false Birth | Nicole Marble | Foretold This week, we will be revisiting the events surrounding His birth and we are encouraged to know His LOVE for us.

]]> This week, we will be revisiting the events surrounding His birth and we are encouraged to know His LOVE for us.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16331417 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:00 -0600 2189 full false Early Years | Lorelle Perry | Foretold This week, we will witness and experience again the JOY that Jesus brought and continues to bring to those who truly understand the significance of who He is.

]]> This week, we will witness and experience again the JOY that Jesus brought and continues to bring to those who truly understand the significance of who He is.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16290151 Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:00:00 -0600 2456 full false Ministry | Scott Gerbrandt | Foretold This week, we will experience the PEACE that Jesus offers to those who follow Him, as we revisit His ministry on earth, and His ongoing ministry to us now.

]]> This week, we will experience the PEACE that Jesus offers to those who follow Him, as we revisit His ministry on earth, and His ongoing ministry to us now.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16249568 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 15:00:00 -0600 2138 full false Cross, Preparing A Place For Us, Coming Again | Bob Marsch | Foretold This week, we are reminded of the HOPE we can have in Jesus who died for us, rose again, returned to His Father, and will come again.

]]> This week, we are reminded of the HOPE we can have in Jesus who died for us, rose again, returned to His Father, and will come again.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16210157 Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:00:00 -0600 2619 full false Worship | Joel Jolly | You Are Here In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we enter into the “Holy of Hollies”, where there's nothing - and no one - but God.

]]> In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we enter into the “Holy of Hollies”, where there's nothing - and no one - but God.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16173668 Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0600 1375 full false Revelation & Prayer | Adrian Enns | You Are Here In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we remain in the "Holy Place" and experience the power of Spirit-led prayer.

]]> In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we remain in the "Holy Place" and experience the power of Spirit-led prayer.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16129275 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:00:00 -0600 2108 full false Revelation | Precious Abiodun | You Are Here In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Holy Place" expecting that He will reveal of Himself to us.

]]> In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Holy Place" expecting that He will reveal of Himself to us.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16095289 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0600 2198 full false Heart Check/Confession & Grace | Ryan Murray | You Are Here In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Court of Priests" and doing a heart check by confessing and receiving grace.

]]> In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Court of Priests" and doing a heart check by confessing and receiving grace.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16046730 Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0600 2197 full false Thanksgiving & Praise | Lloyd Letkeman | You Are Here In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Outer Courts" and compelled to express thanksgiving and praise.

]]> In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Outer Courts" and compelled to express thanksgiving and praise.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-16004498 Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0500 1842 full false Be Yourself | Bob Marsch | You Are Here In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Ascent" and allowing ourselves to be ourselves.

]]> In this series, with the assistance of the image of the "tabernacle", we will discover the true nature of our relationship with God. On this Sunday we're in the "Ascent" and allowing ourselves to be ourselves.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15970589 Tue, 22 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2415 full false FOLLOW | Nasser al'Qahtani | You Are Here Nasser talks about following Jesus.

]]> Nasser talks about following Jesus.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15931493 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0500 2380 full false WORSHIP | Joel Jolly | On Mission Joel talks about what it means to worship.

]]> Joel talks about what it means to worship.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15883620 Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2029 full false SERVE | Bob Marsch | On Mission Pastor Bob talks about serving our community.

]]> Pastor Bob talks about serving our community.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15852115 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0500 2191 full false GATHER | Carolyn Klassen | On Mission Carolyn talks about the importance of gathering.

]]> Carolyn talks about the importance of gathering.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15802289 Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:00:00 -0500 2492 full false SHARE | Doug Heidebrecht | On Mission Doug talks about sharing the good news of Jesus.

]]> Doug talks about sharing the good news of Jesus.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15762262 Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0500 2224 full false To Gather Together | Bob Marsch | Vision Sunday Pastor Bob leads us through TMP's vision for the upcoming ministry year.

]]> Pastor Bob leads us through TMP's vision for the upcoming ministry year.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15723491 Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:00:00 -0500 2228 full false Jesus in the Letters of the Bible | Nicole Marble | Summer of 66 Nicole talks about Jesus in the letters of the Bible.

]]> Nicole talks about Jesus in the letters of the Bible.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15690180 Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:00:00 -0500 2139 full false How to Read the Letters of the Bible | Brian Kauste | Summer of 66 Brian talks about how to read the letters of the Bible.

]]> Brian talks about how to read the letters of the Bible.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15643881 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2456 full false Jesus in the Books of the Gospel | Bob Marsch | Summer of 66 Bob talks about the books of the gospel.

]]> Bob talks about the books of the gospel.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15608676 Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:00:00 -0500 2355 full false How to Read Books of the Gospel | Ryan Murray | Summer of 66 Ryan teaches us how to read books of the gospel.

]]> Ryan teaches us how to read books of the gospel.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15578956 Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:00:00 -0500 2315 full false Jesus in the Books of Prophecy | Precious Abiodun Precious walks us through Jesus in the books of prophecy in the bible.

]]> Precious walks us through Jesus in the books of prophecy in the bible.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15540012 Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2313 full false How to Read Books of Prophecy | Joel Jolly | Summer of 66 In this series we are addressing each of the six genres of scripture and how to approach them. This week, Joel is teaching on the books of prophecy.

]]> In this series we are addressing each of the six genres of scripture and how to approach them. This week, Joel is teaching on the books of prophecy.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15494547 Mon, 29 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2359 full false Jesus in the Wisdom and Poetry Books | Lorelle Perry | Summer of 66 Using Psalm 22, Lorelle helps us understand that sometimes the power of written words is larger than the author ever imagined.

]]> Using Psalm 22, Lorelle helps us understand that sometimes the power of written words is larger than the author ever imagined.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15454899 Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:00:00 -0500 2431 full false How To Read Wisdom and Poetry Books | Scott Gerbrandt | Summer of 66 Scott helps us see the place of wisdom in life and how these writings have insights that transcend time, location, people and their culture. The Psalms were the well known prayer book of the Jewish people and familiar to and used by Jesus Himself.

]]> Scott helps us see the place of wisdom in life and how these writings have insights that transcend time, location, people and their culture. The Psalms were the well known prayer book of the Jewish people and familiar to and used by Jesus Himself.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15418486 Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0500 2205 full false Jesus in the Books of History | Nicole Marble | Summer of 66 Nicole reminds us who Jesus is, how His story is the continuing story of God and human interaction, and how His story is unique in all of history.

]]> Nicole reminds us who Jesus is, how His story is the continuing story of God and human interaction, and how His story is unique in all of history.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15380369 Mon, 08 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1975 full false How to Read the Book of History | Ryan Murray | Summer of 66 What we read in the bible is the story of one people and their interactions of God. We learn from their mistakes, we grow in our understanding of the nature of God. We should practice caution when applying these words.

]]> What we read in the bible is the story of one people and their interactions of God. We learn from their mistakes, we grow in our understanding of the nature of God. We should practice caution when applying these words.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15352510 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0500 2107 full false Jesus in the Books of the Law | Precious Abiodun | Summer of 66 We encourage people to read their bibles - we have a responsibility to teach them how. In this series we will adress each of the six genres of scripture and how to approach them. This series will serve as a foundation to future teaching. 2 Timothy 3: 14 says, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The more we know about the ancient, sacred texts, about their social, cultural and political environment, about their literary-rhetorical texture, and not least about our self-conscious reading of these great texts, the more likely we are to enter into meaningful dialogue with the texts, and thus able to grasp creatively and responsibly their intended sense and significance.

]]> We encourage people to read their bibles - we have a responsibility to teach them how. In this series we will adress each of the six genres of scripture and how to approach them. This series will serve as a foundation to future teaching. 2 Timothy 3: 14 says, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The more we know about the ancient, sacred texts, about their social, cultural and political environment, about their literary-rhetorical texture, and not least about our self-conscious reading of these great texts, the more likely we are to enter into meaningful dialogue with the texts, and thus able to grasp creatively and responsibly their intended sense and significance.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15303908 Mon, 24 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0500 2308 full false How to Read the Books of the Law Scripture that falls into the "law" (Genesis to Deuteronomy) category was given by God to the people of Israel at a time when they had lost their identity in their slavery and had lost sight of God who now needs to introduce Himself to them all over again. He does this by providing instructions for how they are to live in relationship with each other and how they are to  live in relationship with Him.  These instructions are summarized in the Ten Commandments.

]]> Scripture that falls into the "law" (Genesis to Deuteronomy) category was given by God to the people of Israel at a time when they had lost their identity in their slavery and had lost sight of God who now needs to introduce Himself to them all over again. He does this by providing instructions for how they are to live in relationship with each other and how they are to  live in relationship with Him.  These instructions are summarized in the Ten Commandments.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15264561 Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0500 2490 full false The House of the Lord | Lorelle Perry | The Good Shepherd The last verse of the Psalm focuses on a big picture of where our Good Shepherd is leading us. The life with our Good Shepherd is a life where God is with us and we “dwell in the house of the Lord forever”. God’s house is the place of refuge, blessing, and wholeness. God’s house is abiding in reconciliation and relationship with our Good Shepherd. It is not only a future reality but something we can encounter in our experience by faith today. Our challenge is to stay with our Good Shepherd in the increasing belief that God truly desires to be with us. This is why David tells us that goodness and mercy (or love) chase us down. Goodness and mercy pursue us like a predator might pursue prey! It’s not something we have to earn, but a gift we receive by grace. Jesus has promised us that his “Father’s house has many rooms”. There is room for all who respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow after him. The question we all must ask is will we surrender to the goodness and mercy that is chasing us down?

]]> The last verse of the Psalm focuses on a big picture of where our Good Shepherd is leading us. The life with our Good Shepherd is a life where God is with us and we “dwell in the house of the Lord forever”. God’s house is the place of refuge, blessing, and wholeness. God’s house is abiding in reconciliation and relationship with our Good Shepherd. It is not only a future reality but something we can encounter in our experience by faith today. Our challenge is to stay with our Good Shepherd in the increasing belief that God truly desires to be with us. This is why David tells us that goodness and mercy (or love) chase us down. Goodness and mercy pursue us like a predator might pursue prey! It’s not something we have to earn, but a gift we receive by grace. Jesus has promised us that his “Father’s house has many rooms”. There is room for all who respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow after him. The question we all must ask is will we surrender to the goodness and mercy that is chasing us down?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15185814 Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0500 2094 full false The Table Before Me | Precious Abiodun | The Good Shepherd In the last section of the psalm, the basic metaphor changes to that of a banquet host. We are given three images: A table, anointing with oil, and an overflowing cup. All three images communicate a blessing given from the banquet host to the guests. The guests receive from the host blessings of abundance, satisfaction, joy, and everlasting love. The curious place of banquet blessing occurs in the presence of our enemies and not in the absence of them. This psalm imagines the enemies outside our camp able to see us within it, joyful and enjoying our meal, but they are unable to get access to us, like animals on the edge of a clearing unable to get to the sheepfold. In the same way, Jesus has prepared the Kingdom table that transforms enemies into friends. This Kingdom table also blesses us in the presence of the great enemies of sin, death, and the grave . As the Apostle Paul writes, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”  Grace is the announcement of blessing in the presence of our enemies of sin, death, and the grave. This is the blessing God longs to pour out to all to all who would join him at his table.

]]> In the last section of the psalm, the basic metaphor changes to that of a banquet host. We are given three images: A table, anointing with oil, and an overflowing cup. All three images communicate a blessing given from the banquet host to the guests. The guests receive from the host blessings of abundance, satisfaction, joy, and everlasting love. The curious place of banquet blessing occurs in the presence of our enemies and not in the absence of them. This psalm imagines the enemies outside our camp able to see us within it, joyful and enjoying our meal, but they are unable to get access to us, like animals on the edge of a clearing unable to get to the sheepfold. In the same way, Jesus has prepared the Kingdom table that transforms enemies into friends. This Kingdom table also blesses us in the presence of the great enemies of sin, death, and the grave . As the Apostle Paul writes, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”  Grace is the announcement of blessing in the presence of our enemies of sin, death, and the grave. This is the blessing God longs to pour out to all to all who would join him at his table.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15151805 Tue, 28 May 2024 14:00:00 -0500 2252 full false Valleys and Shadows | Nicole Marble | The Good Shepherd From time to time, shepherds would need to take their flocks beyond the safe confines of familiar pasture and towards valleys and mountains in search of fresh food. This was a yearly practice done towards the end of the summer months to help the sheep prepare for winter. The shepherd would journey with his flock as they faced unfamiliar terrain. In this journey, the sheep would find their deepest security in their close relationship to the shepherd. The shepherd would be fully prepared to safeguard his flock and tend to them with skill under ever circumstance. Nothing would take the shepherd by surprise. Never would a shepherd take his flock where he had not already been before. In the same way, Jesus our Good Shepherd has gone before us into the valley of death and overcome it through resurrection. We do not serve a shepherd that is distant and removed from the valleys and shadows. No, our Good Shepherd joins us in the valley of the shadow of death so that “now [we] sheep who have gone astray, have returned to the Shepherd". This Good Shepherd is with us in the valleys and shadows and wants to guide us into his way of life.

]]> From time to time, shepherds would need to take their flocks beyond the safe confines of familiar pasture and towards valleys and mountains in search of fresh food. This was a yearly practice done towards the end of the summer months to help the sheep prepare for winter. The shepherd would journey with his flock as they faced unfamiliar terrain. In this journey, the sheep would find their deepest security in their close relationship to the shepherd. The shepherd would be fully prepared to safeguard his flock and tend to them with skill under ever circumstance. Nothing would take the shepherd by surprise. Never would a shepherd take his flock where he had not already been before. In the same way, Jesus our Good Shepherd has gone before us into the valley of death and overcome it through resurrection. We do not serve a shepherd that is distant and removed from the valleys and shadows. No, our Good Shepherd joins us in the valley of the shadow of death so that “now [we] sheep who have gone astray, have returned to the Shepherd". This Good Shepherd is with us in the valleys and shadows and wants to guide us into his way of life.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15109383 Tue, 21 May 2024 12:00:00 -0500 1974 full false Restoration and Repair | Carolyn Klassen | The Good Shepherd Sheep are timid animals. The strangest thing about sheep is that because of their very makeup it is almost impossible for them to lie down unless they are free of fear, unrest, and hunger. As anxious creatures, sheep do not naturally want to lie down. Yet the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 is skilled at causing his sheep to experience peace, rest, and fulfillment. We know as Jesus followers that he is our Good Shepherd and we are “God’s flock”, yet so many us today suffer from anxiety, worry, and fear. We live in an anxious age. We are hurried and rushed. We don’t know how to rest. Jesus invites us to “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” To take Jesus’ “yoke” is to pattern our lives after his life. It is to be people who sabbath. It is to be people who pray, fast, trust, worship, and love deeply. The Jesus way is the narrow path away from unrest and towards rest for our souls. What would it mean for us to follow our Good Shepherd towards restoration and repair? What would it mean for us to lie down in green pastures?

]]> Sheep are timid animals. The strangest thing about sheep is that because of their very makeup it is almost impossible for them to lie down unless they are free of fear, unrest, and hunger. As anxious creatures, sheep do not naturally want to lie down. Yet the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 is skilled at causing his sheep to experience peace, rest, and fulfillment. We know as Jesus followers that he is our Good Shepherd and we are “God’s flock”, yet so many us today suffer from anxiety, worry, and fear. We live in an anxious age. We are hurried and rushed. We don’t know how to rest. Jesus invites us to “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” To take Jesus’ “yoke” is to pattern our lives after his life. It is to be people who sabbath. It is to be people who pray, fast, trust, worship, and love deeply. The Jesus way is the narrow path away from unrest and towards rest for our souls. What would it mean for us to follow our Good Shepherd towards restoration and repair? What would it mean for us to lie down in green pastures?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15062306 Mon, 13 May 2024 16:00:00 -0500 2104 full false Who Is My Shepherd? | Paul Walker | The Good Shepherd “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing” 

We might imagine a shepherd only as a sentimental caretaker of sheep. We might picture a Precious Moments bible story where all that shepherds seem to do is lovingly cradle their sheep. The image of a shepherd in the bible, however, is far more encompassing and demanding. A shepherd is “a manager, an owner, a protector, and a provider.” In other words, to say that the LORD is my shepherd is to say that we are in the care of someone else. We are not the ones in charge. We have taken our small kingdoms and surrendered it to the Kingdom of God. It is only when the LORD is our shepherd that we can truly say, I shall not be in want or lack anything. There are, however, false shepherds and hired hands who do not seek our good, but seek to “abandon the sheep” (Jn 10:12) into trouble. So it really matters who or what we are entrusting the care of our lives too. Do we know who our shepherd is? Is it money? Is it fame? Is it our material possessions? Is it ourselves? Many of us go through life experiencing the disappointments of false shepherds who leave us wanting. It is to a people who have gone astray that Jesus says that he alone is “the good shepherd”(Jn 10:11). He alone is the shepherd that can provide a life without lack. What would it mean to follow this Good Shepherd today?

]]> “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing” 

We might imagine a shepherd only as a sentimental caretaker of sheep. We might picture a Precious Moments bible story where all that shepherds seem to do is lovingly cradle their sheep. The image of a shepherd in the bible, however, is far more encompassing and demanding. A shepherd is “a manager, an owner, a protector, and a provider.” In other words, to say that the LORD is my shepherd is to say that we are in the care of someone else. We are not the ones in charge. We have taken our small kingdoms and surrendered it to the Kingdom of God. It is only when the LORD is our shepherd that we can truly say, I shall not be in want or lack anything. There are, however, false shepherds and hired hands who do not seek our good, but seek to “abandon the sheep” (Jn 10:12) into trouble. So it really matters who or what we are entrusting the care of our lives too. Do we know who our shepherd is? Is it money? Is it fame? Is it our material possessions? Is it ourselves? Many of us go through life experiencing the disappointments of false shepherds who leave us wanting. It is to a people who have gone astray that Jesus says that he alone is “the good shepherd”(Jn 10:11). He alone is the shepherd that can provide a life without lack. What would it mean to follow this Good Shepherd today?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-15019764 Mon, 06 May 2024 14:00:00 -0500 2349 full false New Creation Is Here! | Scott Gerbrandt | Beholding The Risen Christ Easter is the beginning of God’s new creation. We don’t have to wait. It has already burst in. And the whole point of Gospel’s accounts of the resurrection is that we who believe in Jesus are to become, in the power of his spirit, not only beneficiaries of that new creation but also agents. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15.58 “So, my dear family, be firmly unshakable, always full to overflowing with the Lord’s work. In the Lord, as you know, the work you’re doing will not be worthless.” If we were to take the normal Western view of life after death, a long chapter on resurrection might end with something like this: “Therefore, my beloved, lift up your head and wait for the wonderful hope that is coming to you eventually.” But for the Apostle Paul, as is clear throughout 1 Corinthians, the resurrection means that what you do in the present matters into God’s future. The resurrection of Jesus is the reaffirmation of the goodness of creation, and the gift of the Spirit is there to make us the full human beings we were supposed to be, precisely so that we can fulfill our Kingdom mandate at last. What are we waiting for? Jesus is coming. Let’s go and plant some trees, work for justice, and creatively announce and enact that God’s new creation is here.

]]> Easter is the beginning of God’s new creation. We don’t have to wait. It has already burst in. And the whole point of Gospel’s accounts of the resurrection is that we who believe in Jesus are to become, in the power of his spirit, not only beneficiaries of that new creation but also agents. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15.58 “So, my dear family, be firmly unshakable, always full to overflowing with the Lord’s work. In the Lord, as you know, the work you’re doing will not be worthless.” If we were to take the normal Western view of life after death, a long chapter on resurrection might end with something like this: “Therefore, my beloved, lift up your head and wait for the wonderful hope that is coming to you eventually.” But for the Apostle Paul, as is clear throughout 1 Corinthians, the resurrection means that what you do in the present matters into God’s future. The resurrection of Jesus is the reaffirmation of the goodness of creation, and the gift of the Spirit is there to make us the full human beings we were supposed to be, precisely so that we can fulfill our Kingdom mandate at last. What are we waiting for? Jesus is coming. Let’s go and plant some trees, work for justice, and creatively announce and enact that God’s new creation is here.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14977659 Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0500 2133 full false A Fire Of Burning Coals | Paul Walker | Beholding The Risen Christ The disciples found themselves going back to their old occupations even after they had interacted with the Risen One. In fact, right after a kind of ghostly upper room encounter, Simon, who had been given a new identity as Peter, declared “I’m going fishing…” to which a good number of them said, “We’ll go with you.” This was their old job. They were Fishermen before they became disciples. This is what they knew how to do, which must have felt so comforting in light of the falling apart of their entire understanding of what they were following. And yet they found themselves fishing all night and catching nothing, which must have been so disheartening. Perhaps even more disheartening is the mixed emotions that Peter carried after the resurrection. Of course Peter was glad that Jesus was alive, but don’t forget that on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, Peter had failed miserably. Peter denied Christ, not once, not twice, but three times. Now in the morning there’s a man on the shore asking if they have any fish. No. He gives some advise and they catch 153 big ones! John says, “It’s the Lord!” And Peter swims to Jesus. When they had hauled the catch ashore, Jesus called them to breakfast and when they came they found a fire of coals. (ἀνθρακιά) In that bed of coals Jesus had recreated the scene of the crime of Peter’s denial. After breakfast, Jesus has a heart to heart conversation with Peter. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?”. And this was enough. Peter’s threefold denial of Christ is now matched by his threefold announcement of love. Jesus restored Peter and than repeated His original call: “Follow Me.” The call remains the same…even when we fail.

]]> The disciples found themselves going back to their old occupations even after they had interacted with the Risen One. In fact, right after a kind of ghostly upper room encounter, Simon, who had been given a new identity as Peter, declared “I’m going fishing…” to which a good number of them said, “We’ll go with you.” This was their old job. They were Fishermen before they became disciples. This is what they knew how to do, which must have felt so comforting in light of the falling apart of their entire understanding of what they were following. And yet they found themselves fishing all night and catching nothing, which must have been so disheartening. Perhaps even more disheartening is the mixed emotions that Peter carried after the resurrection. Of course Peter was glad that Jesus was alive, but don’t forget that on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, Peter had failed miserably. Peter denied Christ, not once, not twice, but three times. Now in the morning there’s a man on the shore asking if they have any fish. No. He gives some advise and they catch 153 big ones! John says, “It’s the Lord!” And Peter swims to Jesus. When they had hauled the catch ashore, Jesus called them to breakfast and when they came they found a fire of coals. (ἀνθρακιά) In that bed of coals Jesus had recreated the scene of the crime of Peter’s denial. After breakfast, Jesus has a heart to heart conversation with Peter. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?”. And this was enough. Peter’s threefold denial of Christ is now matched by his threefold announcement of love. Jesus restored Peter and than repeated His original call: “Follow Me.” The call remains the same…even when we fail.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14942153 Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2388 full false We're All Thomas Now | Paul Walker | Beholding the Risen Christ Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in the upper room. Whereas the other disciples exclaimed that Jesus was risen from the dead, Thomas is not so sure. Instead Thomas says, ““Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week passes by where Thomas remains skeptical about the resurrection. And who could blame Thomas? Nobody thought the Messiah would die, let alone be risen from the dead. In a secular age we’ve all encountered the same roadblock to belief as Thomas. As sons of the Enlightenment and daughters of Modernity, we’re all Thomas now. But Jesus is not discouraged or upset by Thomas. Jesus appears to Thomas and allows him to touch the wounds of crucifixion. “Place your finger here” Thomas then exclaims, “My Lord, and My God.” Jesus does not scold Thomas for doubting. If Thomas goes from belief, doubt, and re-belief—- perhaps we are allowed to as well? What if doubt is not the enemy of faith but the evidence that we have a faith that is seeking understanding? (Fides quaerens intellectum) What if doubt is a companion on the journey of understanding as we pursue Endless Mystery? What if doubt is the doorway to each new way of knowing, each new perspective?

]]> Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in the upper room. Whereas the other disciples exclaimed that Jesus was risen from the dead, Thomas is not so sure. Instead Thomas says, ““Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week passes by where Thomas remains skeptical about the resurrection. And who could blame Thomas? Nobody thought the Messiah would die, let alone be risen from the dead. In a secular age we’ve all encountered the same roadblock to belief as Thomas. As sons of the Enlightenment and daughters of Modernity, we’re all Thomas now. But Jesus is not discouraged or upset by Thomas. Jesus appears to Thomas and allows him to touch the wounds of crucifixion. “Place your finger here” Thomas then exclaims, “My Lord, and My God.” Jesus does not scold Thomas for doubting. If Thomas goes from belief, doubt, and re-belief—- perhaps we are allowed to as well? What if doubt is not the enemy of faith but the evidence that we have a faith that is seeking understanding? (Fides quaerens intellectum) What if doubt is a companion on the journey of understanding as we pursue Endless Mystery? What if doubt is the doorway to each new way of knowing, each new perspective?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14892088 Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2322 full false The Road Away From God | Bob Marsch | Beholding the Risen Christ Luke tells a story of two disillusioned disciples walking the Emmaus road away from the holy city, where they had watched their hope die a gruesome death right before their eyes. These two disciples were a part of a reformed movement within Judaism. They believed that Jesus was the one who was going to restore the glory of Israel, mostly by kicking out the Romans and restoring the majesty of a King leading Israel. But then, to the follower’s horror, they witnessed the religious leaders of Israel torture and execute their hope for change. Jerusalem, which was once a symbol of a safe place for them, has now become a haunted place. But the resurrected Christ is profoundly present with these two disciples —and present with all who walk in disillusionment. So often the story God is telling with our lives is not the story we are telling about ourselves. Sometimes the story of disillusionment and despair, a story of walking away, becomes a story of resurrection. These two on the road to Emmas are simply having a candid and honest conversation about their vulnerable sorrow. What they hoped for. What they believed in. What they witnessed died. What stopped working for them. It was in the midst of this conversation that the Risen One shows up and asks to join their conversation. “What are you talking about?” The Risen One walks with us in our vulnerable and sorrowful conversations. God is available everywhere, but God is especially present when people get vulnerable. Whether it be in a temple, a roadside tavern, or simply walking down a street discussing their pain.

]]> Luke tells a story of two disillusioned disciples walking the Emmaus road away from the holy city, where they had watched their hope die a gruesome death right before their eyes. These two disciples were a part of a reformed movement within Judaism. They believed that Jesus was the one who was going to restore the glory of Israel, mostly by kicking out the Romans and restoring the majesty of a King leading Israel. But then, to the follower’s horror, they witnessed the religious leaders of Israel torture and execute their hope for change. Jerusalem, which was once a symbol of a safe place for them, has now become a haunted place. But the resurrected Christ is profoundly present with these two disciples —and present with all who walk in disillusionment. So often the story God is telling with our lives is not the story we are telling about ourselves. Sometimes the story of disillusionment and despair, a story of walking away, becomes a story of resurrection. These two on the road to Emmas are simply having a candid and honest conversation about their vulnerable sorrow. What they hoped for. What they believed in. What they witnessed died. What stopped working for them. It was in the midst of this conversation that the Risen One shows up and asks to join their conversation. “What are you talking about?” The Risen One walks with us in our vulnerable and sorrowful conversations. God is available everywhere, but God is especially present when people get vulnerable. Whether it be in a temple, a roadside tavern, or simply walking down a street discussing their pain.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14851581 Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0500 2230 full false Resurrection Sunday: The Risen King The opening verses of Luke’s account of Resurrection Sunday are full of surprise, astonishment, fear and confusion. There is the shock of the empty tomb. There is  astonishment of the announcement from the angels who proclaim to the women, “He is not here. He is risen.” There is the woman running to tell the others of this good news that Christ is risen. All of this reaches a climax when the Risen King stands among the disciples and proclaims over them, "‘Peace be with you.’ That the first word the disciples hear from the Risen King is “peace”is no accident. Yes, the first word of “peace” calms the disciples fear and confusion but it also says so much more. It says to us that peace and deep shalom of the new creation is now in-breaking within this present broken age because our Risen King has triumph over sin, death, and the grave. His wounds on his hands, feet, and side bear witness to his victory. The prophet Isaiah glimpsed the in-breaking of shalom in the resurrection. Isaiah tells us that our Risen King has “swallowed up death for ever” Our Risen King will “create a new heavens and a new earth” where “no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.”. This is the announcement of peace & shalom by our Risen King Jesus. And this is the announcement that we bear witness to this day.

]]> The opening verses of Luke’s account of Resurrection Sunday are full of surprise, astonishment, fear and confusion. There is the shock of the empty tomb. There is  astonishment of the announcement from the angels who proclaim to the women, “He is not here. He is risen.” There is the woman running to tell the others of this good news that Christ is risen. All of this reaches a climax when the Risen King stands among the disciples and proclaims over them, "‘Peace be with you.’ That the first word the disciples hear from the Risen King is “peace”is no accident. Yes, the first word of “peace” calms the disciples fear and confusion but it also says so much more. It says to us that peace and deep shalom of the new creation is now in-breaking within this present broken age because our Risen King has triumph over sin, death, and the grave. His wounds on his hands, feet, and side bear witness to his victory. The prophet Isaiah glimpsed the in-breaking of shalom in the resurrection. Isaiah tells us that our Risen King has “swallowed up death for ever” Our Risen King will “create a new heavens and a new earth” where “no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.”. This is the announcement of peace & shalom by our Risen King Jesus. And this is the announcement that we bear witness to this day.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14808070 Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:00:00 -0500 1399 full false Good Friday: Son of Suffering | Bob Marsch, Lorelle Perry, and Paul Walker Jesus, the Suffering Servant, has called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” With this last cry, Jesus breathes his last and dies upon the cross. Both Isaiah & Luke have repeatedly told us that the Suffering Servant is innocent. He has done no wrong. So why is it then that “it was the Lord’s will to cause him to suffer?” We know that God finds no pleasure in the punishment of the wicked, much less his Suffering Servant. So what is going on here? Isaiah tells us. “Lord makes his life an offering for sin”, “For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Here Isaiah reminds us that God’s pleasure is found in the suffering servants heart of humility, his willingness to identify with the exiles, the joy of the foreknown outcome and good fruit of Christ’s suffering. What is that fruit? That our sin is washed away because “his life is an offering for sin”. That our sin is defeated because “he bore our sin” and broke its power over us. All those sheep who have gone astray have been chased down and offered redemption, rescue, and restoration through Jesus. The Suffering Servant has joined us here in our brokenness, and broken its power over us. Though on Good Friday, we can scarcely imagine how any suffering is good— we wait for the light of Resurrection to reveal the victory already won on the Cross.

]]> Jesus, the Suffering Servant, has called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” With this last cry, Jesus breathes his last and dies upon the cross. Both Isaiah & Luke have repeatedly told us that the Suffering Servant is innocent. He has done no wrong. So why is it then that “it was the Lord’s will to cause him to suffer?” We know that God finds no pleasure in the punishment of the wicked, much less his Suffering Servant. So what is going on here? Isaiah tells us. “Lord makes his life an offering for sin”, “For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Here Isaiah reminds us that God’s pleasure is found in the suffering servants heart of humility, his willingness to identify with the exiles, the joy of the foreknown outcome and good fruit of Christ’s suffering. What is that fruit? That our sin is washed away because “his life is an offering for sin”. That our sin is defeated because “he bore our sin” and broke its power over us. All those sheep who have gone astray have been chased down and offered redemption, rescue, and restoration through Jesus. The Suffering Servant has joined us here in our brokenness, and broken its power over us. Though on Good Friday, we can scarcely imagine how any suffering is good— we wait for the light of Resurrection to reveal the victory already won on the Cross.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14808065 Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:00:00 -0500 2437 full false The Parable of Palm Sunday | Carolyn Klassen | Stories of Surrender Jesus begins the week of his passion and death with a series of enacted parables. The first is his Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. Unlike Pilate who entered the city from the west riding a warhorse, Jesus entered the city from the east riding a lowly donkey in a deliberate embrace of Zechariah’s prophecy about a humble king who would come to teach peace to the nations. As he enters the city, the people lay their cloaks and palm branches on the ground in an act of reverence. The people proclaim "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” It is a public declaration that Jesus is the King— the Messiah. This of course upsets some of the observant Pharisees who were in the crowd. They attempt to rebuke Jesus by asking him to tell the crowds to stop their Kingly proclamations. Jesus’ answer is to say, ""I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Then in the culmination of the Triumphant entry Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, a city that has killed the prophets of God and now cannot see its own demise on the horizon. We see in this enacted parable a testimony to the way the Kingdom comes in our own lives. Jesus comes to all of us not with domination and force, but with lowly humility. Jesus reveals a God who does not delight in punishment, but weeps at our rejection of him.  Do we find ourselves surrendering to worship, or rejecting this lowly King? Are we ready to spread out our cloaks and follow him into trouble, trial, and death? Or will we find ourselves—like the Pharisees— asking Jesus to be silent?

]]> Jesus begins the week of his passion and death with a series of enacted parables. The first is his Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. Unlike Pilate who entered the city from the west riding a warhorse, Jesus entered the city from the east riding a lowly donkey in a deliberate embrace of Zechariah’s prophecy about a humble king who would come to teach peace to the nations. As he enters the city, the people lay their cloaks and palm branches on the ground in an act of reverence. The people proclaim "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” It is a public declaration that Jesus is the King— the Messiah. This of course upsets some of the observant Pharisees who were in the crowd. They attempt to rebuke Jesus by asking him to tell the crowds to stop their Kingly proclamations. Jesus’ answer is to say, ""I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Then in the culmination of the Triumphant entry Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, a city that has killed the prophets of God and now cannot see its own demise on the horizon. We see in this enacted parable a testimony to the way the Kingdom comes in our own lives. Jesus comes to all of us not with domination and force, but with lowly humility. Jesus reveals a God who does not delight in punishment, but weeps at our rejection of him.  Do we find ourselves surrendering to worship, or rejecting this lowly King? Are we ready to spread out our cloaks and follow him into trouble, trial, and death? Or will we find ourselves—like the Pharisees— asking Jesus to be silent?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14763598 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0500 1973 full false The Vineyard Tenants and the Cross | Paul Walker | Stories of Surrender In the passion week leading to his betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner renting out his land to some tenants. Jesus is drawing from the prophet Isaiah, who had also compared God’s creation of Israel to a landowner who planted a vineyard. The vineyard owner eventually sends messengers to collect on what is due. The tenants reject each messenger and send them way. The climax of the story is when the vineyard owner plays his final card, sending his son. He believes they will respect the authority his heir. But the tenants see the chance to secure the vineyard for themselves and kill the son. The parable makes it clear that Jesus sees his own death and ministry in this story. Jesus would be rejected by his own people and put on the Cross so that, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone". In this parable we discover a window into Jesus’ own interpretation of his death and ministry. His life and death are an act of surrender to the Father who wants to plead with the tenants to return to right relationship with the vineyard owner. They may reject him, but the vineyard owner will have the last word over the matter. What is that last word? At the Cross we discover that the last word is not retribution, but forgiveness. When God should have been pouring out punishment on humanity for the murder of Jesus, God instead absorbs the blow of injustice and responds in forgiveness.

]]> In the passion week leading to his betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner renting out his land to some tenants. Jesus is drawing from the prophet Isaiah, who had also compared God’s creation of Israel to a landowner who planted a vineyard. The vineyard owner eventually sends messengers to collect on what is due. The tenants reject each messenger and send them way. The climax of the story is when the vineyard owner plays his final card, sending his son. He believes they will respect the authority his heir. But the tenants see the chance to secure the vineyard for themselves and kill the son. The parable makes it clear that Jesus sees his own death and ministry in this story. Jesus would be rejected by his own people and put on the Cross so that, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone". In this parable we discover a window into Jesus’ own interpretation of his death and ministry. His life and death are an act of surrender to the Father who wants to plead with the tenants to return to right relationship with the vineyard owner. They may reject him, but the vineyard owner will have the last word over the matter. What is that last word? At the Cross we discover that the last word is not retribution, but forgiveness. When God should have been pouring out punishment on humanity for the murder of Jesus, God instead absorbs the blow of injustice and responds in forgiveness.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14712055 Mon, 18 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0500 2100 full false Surrendering To Mercy | Lorelle Perry | Stories of Surrender In the parable of the Tax Collector & the Pharisee, Jesus tells the story of two different people who go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee is a good man. He is not a crook, not a womanizer, or a drunk. He faithful to his wife, patient with his children, and steadfast with his friends. He fasts twice a week and tithes on everything. The tax collector on the other hand was one of the most despised people of his day. The tax collector was like a Mafia hit man getting rich on the exploitation of others. He is the opposite of the Pharisee. Both men go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanks God he’s not like the all those sinners and lists all his accomplishments. The tax collector, on the other hand, called out to God for mercy as a sinner. In a shocking reversal of cultural expectations, Jesus says the Tax Collector, “went home justified before God“. The shock of the parable is found in the reason Jesus told it. “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else.” Jesus is saying that the Pharisee’s ability to win a game of justification with God is no better than the Tax Collector. The point of the parable is that they are both dead, and their only hope is someone who can raise the dead. In the same way, many people today think that they are not good enough to be Christians. This is a tragic thought. It is precisely because we are not good enough that Christ died for us. Jesus came for the sick and not the healthy. This parable reminds us that until we surrender to mercy, we are like the Pharisee who thinks they are well because of their own merit. The truth is that only those who realize their need for the Great Physician will be “justified before God”.

]]> In the parable of the Tax Collector & the Pharisee, Jesus tells the story of two different people who go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee is a good man. He is not a crook, not a womanizer, or a drunk. He faithful to his wife, patient with his children, and steadfast with his friends. He fasts twice a week and tithes on everything. The tax collector on the other hand was one of the most despised people of his day. The tax collector was like a Mafia hit man getting rich on the exploitation of others. He is the opposite of the Pharisee. Both men go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanks God he’s not like the all those sinners and lists all his accomplishments. The tax collector, on the other hand, called out to God for mercy as a sinner. In a shocking reversal of cultural expectations, Jesus says the Tax Collector, “went home justified before God“. The shock of the parable is found in the reason Jesus told it. “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else.” Jesus is saying that the Pharisee’s ability to win a game of justification with God is no better than the Tax Collector. The point of the parable is that they are both dead, and their only hope is someone who can raise the dead. In the same way, many people today think that they are not good enough to be Christians. This is a tragic thought. It is precisely because we are not good enough that Christ died for us. Jesus came for the sick and not the healthy. This parable reminds us that until we surrender to mercy, we are like the Pharisee who thinks they are well because of their own merit. The truth is that only those who realize their need for the Great Physician will be “justified before God”.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14670258 Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0500 2087 full false The Lazarus At Your Gate | Nasser Al'Qahtani | Stories of Surrender The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is story about a wealthy man who has a beggar outside his gates. The beggar is named Lazarus. He is covered in sores and longs to eat what falls from the rich mans table. Both men die. Lazarus is taken to Abraham’s side and the rich man is in Hades in torment. We should not think that Jesus’ purpose in this parable was to bring a definitive revelation on the nature of hades or the afterlife. Jesus is re-telling a popular folk tale of his day with a subversive reinterpretation. In the usual story, when someone asks permission to send a message back to the people who are still alive on earth, the permission is granted. Here in Jesus’ re-telling, the permission is not granted. It was a shocking telling of a popular folk story with a targeted audience. In this parable, Jesus is specifically addressing some sneering Pharisees who, we’re told, loved money. When he tells them the parable, Jesus is not spiritualizing riches and poverty here. He quite literally means that the rich and poor in this age will see a reversal of fortunes in the arrival of the Kingdom come. In light of this sobering revelation, Jesus is not asking, “So, are you rich or poor?” No, he is saying, rather, “You are rich. Period. Now ask yourself, who is the Lazarus at your gate? This is why Jesus was being criticized by the Pharisees for welcoming outcasts and sinners. He was putting into practice in the present world, what many thought would only happen in the future one. To us in the Western World that consumes four times more than the global average, we are often the rich man who is tempted to ignore and turn a blind eye to the injustice around us. Part of the point of this parable is that people are capable of disbelief in the face of what seems the most convincing evidence—- whether it is Moses and the prophets or even a resurrection. Jesus is asking his followers to see things differently: To learn to see the Lazarus at our gates.

]]> The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is story about a wealthy man who has a beggar outside his gates. The beggar is named Lazarus. He is covered in sores and longs to eat what falls from the rich mans table. Both men die. Lazarus is taken to Abraham’s side and the rich man is in Hades in torment. We should not think that Jesus’ purpose in this parable was to bring a definitive revelation on the nature of hades or the afterlife. Jesus is re-telling a popular folk tale of his day with a subversive reinterpretation. In the usual story, when someone asks permission to send a message back to the people who are still alive on earth, the permission is granted. Here in Jesus’ re-telling, the permission is not granted. It was a shocking telling of a popular folk story with a targeted audience. In this parable, Jesus is specifically addressing some sneering Pharisees who, we’re told, loved money. When he tells them the parable, Jesus is not spiritualizing riches and poverty here. He quite literally means that the rich and poor in this age will see a reversal of fortunes in the arrival of the Kingdom come. In light of this sobering revelation, Jesus is not asking, “So, are you rich or poor?” No, he is saying, rather, “You are rich. Period. Now ask yourself, who is the Lazarus at your gate? This is why Jesus was being criticized by the Pharisees for welcoming outcasts and sinners. He was putting into practice in the present world, what many thought would only happen in the future one. To us in the Western World that consumes four times more than the global average, we are often the rich man who is tempted to ignore and turn a blind eye to the injustice around us. Part of the point of this parable is that people are capable of disbelief in the face of what seems the most convincing evidence—- whether it is Moses and the prophets or even a resurrection. Jesus is asking his followers to see things differently: To learn to see the Lazarus at our gates.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14625142 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0600 2858 full false The Cost of Following Jesus | Bob Marsch | Stories of Surrender Jesus speaks a shocking message to a large crowd that was travelling with him. He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” This is hardly the way to win friends and influence people. It’s a shocking message that would have left many in the crowds perplexed. Jesus explains his shocking statement by telling two parables: The Parable of Building a Tower and The Parable of a King going to war. Both parables emphasize the dangers of undertaking projects that are too costly— in terms or money or life— and the need for realistic forward planning. What is the cost? It is a willingness to have nothing else above Jesus — even father, mother, wife, and children. Jesus is not denying the importance of a close family or asking his disciples to literally hate them. He is calling his apprentices to not have divided loyalties. Jesus calls his followers to count the cost, to follow in his footsteps, and to not be distracted or have two masters. This can be difficult for us in North America because to many in the West, a Christian is just someone who mentally ascribes to the bare bones of a belief system. We have created a cultural milieu where you can be a Christian but not an apprentice of Jesus. Tragically, this has created a bifurcated church, where a large swath of people who believe in God and even regularly attend church have not re-architected their daily lives on the foundation of apprenticeship to Jesus. Jesus says that such a person cannot be his apprentice. So, what would it mean for us to consider this cost? What would it mean to surrender the entire architecture of our lives in imitation of Jesus?

]]> Jesus speaks a shocking message to a large crowd that was travelling with him. He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” This is hardly the way to win friends and influence people. It’s a shocking message that would have left many in the crowds perplexed. Jesus explains his shocking statement by telling two parables: The Parable of Building a Tower and The Parable of a King going to war. Both parables emphasize the dangers of undertaking projects that are too costly— in terms or money or life— and the need for realistic forward planning. What is the cost? It is a willingness to have nothing else above Jesus — even father, mother, wife, and children. Jesus is not denying the importance of a close family or asking his disciples to literally hate them. He is calling his apprentices to not have divided loyalties. Jesus calls his followers to count the cost, to follow in his footsteps, and to not be distracted or have two masters. This can be difficult for us in North America because to many in the West, a Christian is just someone who mentally ascribes to the bare bones of a belief system. We have created a cultural milieu where you can be a Christian but not an apprentice of Jesus. Tragically, this has created a bifurcated church, where a large swath of people who believe in God and even regularly attend church have not re-architected their daily lives on the foundation of apprenticeship to Jesus. Jesus says that such a person cannot be his apprentice. So, what would it mean for us to consider this cost? What would it mean to surrender the entire architecture of our lives in imitation of Jesus?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14587624 Tue, 27 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0600 2308 full false Soil of Surrender | Paul Walker | Stories of Surrender God is sowing. Are we fertile soil?

The seed of the Kingdom message (logos v19) is generously sown on all types of soil. God extravagantly spreads his love. This seed is representative of what Jesus taught us through his teachings, life, death, and resurrection. It is the Good news! But this Good news is not always equally received. It lands on paths (v4), rocky places (v5), thorns (v7), and finally on good soil.  How we choose to respond is the difference between being a crowd member and a disciple. In this season of Lent, we contend with the questions of: How are we responding to God’s love that is freely sown into the soil of our lives? How are we hearing? What type of soil are we? Is our hearing leading to multiplication? These are important questions of evaluation, but not the solution to infertile soil. The disciples are fertile soil because the disciples are not afraid to ask Jesus to explain why he teaches in parables. This reminds us that surrender is not so much “giving up,” as we tend to think, nearly as much as it is a “giving to” the moment, the event, the person, and the situation. Just like the disciples, we too need to till the soil of surrender by taking the next step towards following Jesus.

]]> God is sowing. Are we fertile soil?

The seed of the Kingdom message (logos v19) is generously sown on all types of soil. God extravagantly spreads his love. This seed is representative of what Jesus taught us through his teachings, life, death, and resurrection. It is the Good news! But this Good news is not always equally received. It lands on paths (v4), rocky places (v5), thorns (v7), and finally on good soil.  How we choose to respond is the difference between being a crowd member and a disciple. In this season of Lent, we contend with the questions of: How are we responding to God’s love that is freely sown into the soil of our lives? How are we hearing? What type of soil are we? Is our hearing leading to multiplication? These are important questions of evaluation, but not the solution to infertile soil. The disciples are fertile soil because the disciples are not afraid to ask Jesus to explain why he teaches in parables. This reminds us that surrender is not so much “giving up,” as we tend to think, nearly as much as it is a “giving to” the moment, the event, the person, and the situation. Just like the disciples, we too need to till the soil of surrender by taking the next step towards following Jesus.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14540096 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0600 2441 full false Faith, Works, and the Promise of God | Hannah Guerrero | Galatians The Apostle Paul begins addressing the Galatians directly and pulls no punches: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” Paul is expressing his deep concern about what is taking place in Galatia, including: enslavement to religion, failure to live out the truth of the gospel, and threats to the unity of the community. The heart of matter that Paul is addressing is the bounded set approach on the “works of the law”—-actions like circumcision and dietary rules that the agitators used to draw boundary lines. Through Paul’s rhetorical questions, he communicates, again, that they do not need to take up the Jewish customs suggested by the other missionaries in order to be worthy of God’s grace or to truly belong to God’s people. They have already experienced the reality of the Spirit and God has worked miracles without them complying with the “works of the law.” God’s actions were not conditional on them being circumcised or living like Jews. God was always working by faith as evidenced through Abraham the man of faith. The promise of God came to fulfillment in Jesus the “seed” of Abraham. “ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law” and thus made it possible for all of us to “receive the promise of the Spirit”. Here in this section of Galatians, we are again reminded that we cannot earn our belonging to God’s family. Our ethnic-racial distinctions , cultural- social distinctions, nationalism, and all other forms of belonging do not take precedent over our identity in Christ. God welcomes us because of Jesus — and we need to learn to understand the long story of Scripture as culminating in the promise of Jesus.

]]> The Apostle Paul begins addressing the Galatians directly and pulls no punches: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” Paul is expressing his deep concern about what is taking place in Galatia, including: enslavement to religion, failure to live out the truth of the gospel, and threats to the unity of the community. The heart of matter that Paul is addressing is the bounded set approach on the “works of the law”—-actions like circumcision and dietary rules that the agitators used to draw boundary lines. Through Paul’s rhetorical questions, he communicates, again, that they do not need to take up the Jewish customs suggested by the other missionaries in order to be worthy of God’s grace or to truly belong to God’s people. They have already experienced the reality of the Spirit and God has worked miracles without them complying with the “works of the law.” God’s actions were not conditional on them being circumcised or living like Jews. God was always working by faith as evidenced through Abraham the man of faith. The promise of God came to fulfillment in Jesus the “seed” of Abraham. “ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law” and thus made it possible for all of us to “receive the promise of the Spirit”. Here in this section of Galatians, we are again reminded that we cannot earn our belonging to God’s family. Our ethnic-racial distinctions , cultural- social distinctions, nationalism, and all other forms of belonging do not take precedent over our identity in Christ. God welcomes us because of Jesus — and we need to learn to understand the long story of Scripture as culminating in the promise of Jesus.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14496084 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0600 2405 full false Belonging By Faith Alone | Paul Walker | Galatians The Apostle Paul tells a story of confronting Peter (Cephas) in Antioch about his hypocrisy. Some Jewish Christians have arrived from Jerusalem, the mother church. Unable to overcome years of drawing lines of separation through their actions, they cannot eat with Gentiles. Instead, they sit at a separate table. This is a bigger issue than seating arrangements. Whether through explicit statements or the nonverbal implication of dining at a separate table, these emissaries from the Jerusalem church draw a line that communicates to the Gentile Christians that they are inferior. They not only stopped eating with the Gentile Christians, they also ceased celebrating the Lord’s Supper together. In an honour-shame culture, the Gentiles and anyone who joined them were shamed and excluded from the life of the church. This is why the Apostle Paul describes the situation as “not acting in line with the truth of the gospel.” This asks the bigger question of how the Gospel bring us together when we are not the same. The Apostle Paul answers this by discussing how we are justified. This word “justification" is bigger than settling a legal case, but speaks to how we belong to the family of God. As N.T. Wright puts it, “Justification is all about being declared to be a member of God’s people; and this people is defined in relation to the Messiah himself. When we are justified we are “declared to be in the right” and thus members of God’s covenant community.” When Peter and the men from James broke table fellowship they were saying justification is through the works of the law —which referred to observing circumcision, food laws and Sabbath. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our justification is not something we earn. We receive it by faith alone, in Christ alone. We belong by faith alone so that we "live within the faithfulness of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” In our modern day of perplexing polarization, we too need to re-learn that our shared centred is Christ alone.

]]> The Apostle Paul tells a story of confronting Peter (Cephas) in Antioch about his hypocrisy. Some Jewish Christians have arrived from Jerusalem, the mother church. Unable to overcome years of drawing lines of separation through their actions, they cannot eat with Gentiles. Instead, they sit at a separate table. This is a bigger issue than seating arrangements. Whether through explicit statements or the nonverbal implication of dining at a separate table, these emissaries from the Jerusalem church draw a line that communicates to the Gentile Christians that they are inferior. They not only stopped eating with the Gentile Christians, they also ceased celebrating the Lord’s Supper together. In an honour-shame culture, the Gentiles and anyone who joined them were shamed and excluded from the life of the church. This is why the Apostle Paul describes the situation as “not acting in line with the truth of the gospel.” This asks the bigger question of how the Gospel bring us together when we are not the same. The Apostle Paul answers this by discussing how we are justified. This word “justification" is bigger than settling a legal case, but speaks to how we belong to the family of God. As N.T. Wright puts it, “Justification is all about being declared to be a member of God’s people; and this people is defined in relation to the Messiah himself. When we are justified we are “declared to be in the right” and thus members of God’s covenant community.” When Peter and the men from James broke table fellowship they were saying justification is through the works of the law —which referred to observing circumcision, food laws and Sabbath. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our justification is not something we earn. We receive it by faith alone, in Christ alone. We belong by faith alone so that we "live within the faithfulness of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” In our modern day of perplexing polarization, we too need to re-learn that our shared centred is Christ alone.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14444338 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0600 2360 full false A Life Reordered | Nicole Marble | Galatians Listening in on Galatians is like hearing one side of the telephone call. We get a picture of what is happening by looking closely at the mirror side of what the Apostle Paul is saying. Here in this section of Galatians—- we can gather that some where spreading false messages about the Apostle Paul. Paul mentions these other missionaries various times in the letter (1:6-9; 3:1-2, 5; 4:17; 5:7-12; 6:12-14). Throughout the letter Paul uses “you” to refer to the Galatians and “they” to refer to the missionaries. Therefore, we know they are not members of the Galatian churches. What were they saying? They were likely saying he was a not a real apostle or a delusional junior member of the Jerusalem Apostles. The detractors might have even suggested that they were true representatives of Christianity and that the Apostle Paul was a rogue independent. The Apostle Paul’s response is to tell the Galatians about the story of his encounter with Jesus, his calling, his accountability, and the way the pillars of the church extended “the right hand of fellowship”(2:9) towards him. The Apostle Paul responds to the doubts of his apostleship and the completeness of the Gospel he preached with pointing to how Jesus has reordered his life and how others have seen it. In the same way, knowing who we are in Jesus, knowing our calling, and being known by the community around us—-can help us counter the doubts and deceptions that may come our way. 

]]> Listening in on Galatians is like hearing one side of the telephone call. We get a picture of what is happening by looking closely at the mirror side of what the Apostle Paul is saying. Here in this section of Galatians—- we can gather that some where spreading false messages about the Apostle Paul. Paul mentions these other missionaries various times in the letter (1:6-9; 3:1-2, 5; 4:17; 5:7-12; 6:12-14). Throughout the letter Paul uses “you” to refer to the Galatians and “they” to refer to the missionaries. Therefore, we know they are not members of the Galatian churches. What were they saying? They were likely saying he was a not a real apostle or a delusional junior member of the Jerusalem Apostles. The detractors might have even suggested that they were true representatives of Christianity and that the Apostle Paul was a rogue independent. The Apostle Paul’s response is to tell the Galatians about the story of his encounter with Jesus, his calling, his accountability, and the way the pillars of the church extended “the right hand of fellowship”(2:9) towards him. The Apostle Paul responds to the doubts of his apostleship and the completeness of the Gospel he preached with pointing to how Jesus has reordered his life and how others have seen it. In the same way, knowing who we are in Jesus, knowing our calling, and being known by the community around us—-can help us counter the doubts and deceptions that may come our way. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14410371 Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:00:00 -0600 2124 full false No Other Gospel | Paul Walker | Galatians The churches in Galatia are in “confusion”(1.7). There are brewing conflicts that are revealing the deeper problem at the heart of the matter: a distorted view of the Gospel. This has huge implications because the Gospel we live in, is the Gospel we live out. Some in the Galatian church were trying to make the Gospel a matter of circumcision and other works of the law. This was at odds with “the Gospel of Christ.”(1.7)  The Apostle Paul’s big point in the opening lines of Galatians is that there is no other Gospel. This reminds us all today that we need to have clarity about “what is the Gospel?” Misalignment on the Gospel, will create misalignment everywhere. So what is the Gospel? In these opening words in Galatians, the Apostle Paul doesn’t give a simple summary statement— as he does in 1 Corinthians 15—- but weaves his explanation throughout these opening words. In one word, the Gospel is “Christ”(1.7). In many other words, the Gospel is “the grace of Christ” (1.6) “ who gave himself for our sins”(1.4) “was raised from the dead”(1.2) to “rescue us from the present evil age”(1.4). This is all to say that the Gospel is the good news of Jesus— and we desperately need to capture this today. 

]]> The churches in Galatia are in “confusion”(1.7). There are brewing conflicts that are revealing the deeper problem at the heart of the matter: a distorted view of the Gospel. This has huge implications because the Gospel we live in, is the Gospel we live out. Some in the Galatian church were trying to make the Gospel a matter of circumcision and other works of the law. This was at odds with “the Gospel of Christ.”(1.7)  The Apostle Paul’s big point in the opening lines of Galatians is that there is no other Gospel. This reminds us all today that we need to have clarity about “what is the Gospel?” Misalignment on the Gospel, will create misalignment everywhere. So what is the Gospel? In these opening words in Galatians, the Apostle Paul doesn’t give a simple summary statement— as he does in 1 Corinthians 15—- but weaves his explanation throughout these opening words. In one word, the Gospel is “Christ”(1.7). In many other words, the Gospel is “the grace of Christ” (1.6) “ who gave himself for our sins”(1.4) “was raised from the dead”(1.2) to “rescue us from the present evil age”(1.4). This is all to say that the Gospel is the good news of Jesus— and we desperately need to capture this today. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14356433 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:00:00 -0600 2230 full false The Why Of Galatians | Paul Walker | Galatians In the ancient world, writing and sending of a letter was an expensive and arduous task. There was no stationery store. There was no UPS, Fedex, or Canada Post. There was no guarantee that the people who received a letter would be able to understand it, as only twenty precent of the ancient world was literate. All this required the use of scribes, readers, and couriers. This is all to say: letter writing in the ancient world was not a frivolous lighthearted activity. Letters were sent with a reason and purpose. What is the purpose of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians? He is writing to a church that is deeply fractured, divided, and experiencing conflict. Some Christians in the Galatian churches were so concerned about these tensions that they sent a messenger to the Apostle Paul and he has responded with this letter we call Galatians. The Apostle Paul names that the divisions at work in Galatia are bigger than table practices, the works of the law, and circumcision— they are “not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel.”  Why did the Apostle Paul write Galatians? Ultimately…. to announce that the Gospel breaks apart our divisions, broken tables, judgementalism, and religious systems.

]]> In the ancient world, writing and sending of a letter was an expensive and arduous task. There was no stationery store. There was no UPS, Fedex, or Canada Post. There was no guarantee that the people who received a letter would be able to understand it, as only twenty precent of the ancient world was literate. All this required the use of scribes, readers, and couriers. This is all to say: letter writing in the ancient world was not a frivolous lighthearted activity. Letters were sent with a reason and purpose. What is the purpose of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians? He is writing to a church that is deeply fractured, divided, and experiencing conflict. Some Christians in the Galatian churches were so concerned about these tensions that they sent a messenger to the Apostle Paul and he has responded with this letter we call Galatians. The Apostle Paul names that the divisions at work in Galatia are bigger than table practices, the works of the law, and circumcision— they are “not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel.”  Why did the Apostle Paul write Galatians? Ultimately…. to announce that the Gospel breaks apart our divisions, broken tables, judgementalism, and religious systems.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14313734 Mon, 15 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0600 2448 full false Vision Sunday | Bob Marsch The message often sent and often received is that the church desperately needs volunteers – so you should sign up and do what is needed to serve the purpose of the church / ministry team. This is a message of guilt and the focus is entirely on how a volunteer can benefit the church. Instead we should return to what scripture says about serving. That it’s a grand invitation to experience the very best of what God had in mind for each person in the community that He imagined for us.

]]> The message often sent and often received is that the church desperately needs volunteers – so you should sign up and do what is needed to serve the purpose of the church / ministry team. This is a message of guilt and the focus is entirely on how a volunteer can benefit the church. Instead we should return to what scripture says about serving. That it’s a grand invitation to experience the very best of what God had in mind for each person in the community that He imagined for us.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14271846 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0600 2337 full false Now and Not Yet | Brian Kauste Throughout scripture, we read stories of God’s faithfulness in times of challenge, sorrow and joy. Simeon and Anna experienced this first hand when, in their old age, they were blessed to see Jesus, the promised Messiah, with their own eyes. As we look back on the year that was and anticpate the one to come, we can be confident that Jesus goes with us and his faithfulness remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

]]> Throughout scripture, we read stories of God’s faithfulness in times of challenge, sorrow and joy. Simeon and Anna experienced this first hand when, in their old age, they were blessed to see Jesus, the promised Messiah, with their own eyes. As we look back on the year that was and anticpate the one to come, we can be confident that Jesus goes with us and his faithfulness remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14237181 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0600 2063 full false Give More | Bob Marsch | Prepare the Way God is calling us to give more intentionally and relationally. That means giving more of our time, our energy, our memories, our talents, and our presence. It’s a both/and. Spend less money and give more of yourself to the ones you love. It sounds obvious, yet we seem to have drifted away from this liberating, straightforward truth: The Father gave his one and only Son.  God’s answer for the world’s problems has never been material things. God did not give us more stuff – even good stuff like work, food, or health. He gave us himself. The most priceless and personal gift of all. When we give relationally during the Advent season, this is what we remember: it’s an opportunity to worship as we remind each other of the gift that was given for our sake. 

]]> God is calling us to give more intentionally and relationally. That means giving more of our time, our energy, our memories, our talents, and our presence. It’s a both/and. Spend less money and give more of yourself to the ones you love. It sounds obvious, yet we seem to have drifted away from this liberating, straightforward truth: The Father gave his one and only Son.  God’s answer for the world’s problems has never been material things. God did not give us more stuff – even good stuff like work, food, or health. He gave us himself. The most priceless and personal gift of all. When we give relationally during the Advent season, this is what we remember: it’s an opportunity to worship as we remind each other of the gift that was given for our sake. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14167243 Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0600 2321 full false Spend Less | Paul Walker | Prepare the Way When we allow Christmas to revolve around possessions, we raise barriers between our true selves and God’s command to love him above all things. This can make Advent more about the busy schedules and expectations we’re carrying than about preparing for Jesus. When our hearts are searching for something that can’t be bought in a store, we feel dissatisfied. So, what if we spent less? Instead of mindlessly shopping and spending more than we can afford, we can take the time to think about our purchases. We can resist the empire of more and declare that Jesus is worthy of our praise. By conserving some of the resources we would spend on material gifts, we can make a bigger impact by giving to someone in need or making memories with those we love. This is more than just an invitation to stop overspending, this is an invitation to celebrate in a new way. This year we can start a new tradition of spending compassionately and responsibly.

]]> When we allow Christmas to revolve around possessions, we raise barriers between our true selves and God’s command to love him above all things. This can make Advent more about the busy schedules and expectations we’re carrying than about preparing for Jesus. When our hearts are searching for something that can’t be bought in a store, we feel dissatisfied. So, what if we spent less? Instead of mindlessly shopping and spending more than we can afford, we can take the time to think about our purchases. We can resist the empire of more and declare that Jesus is worthy of our praise. By conserving some of the resources we would spend on material gifts, we can make a bigger impact by giving to someone in need or making memories with those we love. This is more than just an invitation to stop overspending, this is an invitation to celebrate in a new way. This year we can start a new tradition of spending compassionately and responsibly.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14121781 Sun, 10 Dec 2023 15:00:00 -0600 2310 full false Worship Fully | Lorelle Perry | Prepare the Way Worship is not just something that happens at church. Worship is a state of your heart— which is expressed in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Look at the Christmas narrative and see how the central characters expressed their worship in a variety of ways: Mary was moved to sing a song of gratitude to God. Joseph obeyed and followed God’s plan. The shepherds stopped their work to go find and worship the Christ-child. Magi confronted anything that stood in the way of worshiping the one true God. Elizabeth opened her home in an act of hospitality. If we don’t begin the Advent season with a heart of worship, everything else will fall apart. The way we spend, give, and love will radically change when it comes from a place of true worship. This is not something you should do out of obligation. It is the opportunity to get back to the heart of the Christmas narrative. So what might it look like for us to fully enter into worship this advent season? 

]]> Worship is not just something that happens at church. Worship is a state of your heart— which is expressed in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Look at the Christmas narrative and see how the central characters expressed their worship in a variety of ways: Mary was moved to sing a song of gratitude to God. Joseph obeyed and followed God’s plan. The shepherds stopped their work to go find and worship the Christ-child. Magi confronted anything that stood in the way of worshiping the one true God. Elizabeth opened her home in an act of hospitality. If we don’t begin the Advent season with a heart of worship, everything else will fall apart. The way we spend, give, and love will radically change when it comes from a place of true worship. This is not something you should do out of obligation. It is the opportunity to get back to the heart of the Christmas narrative. So what might it look like for us to fully enter into worship this advent season? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14079898 Sun, 03 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0600 2627 full false A New Approach to Disagreement | Paul Walker | Reconstruction with Jesus As our churches have wrestled with cultural disruption, injustice, global pandemics, and deconstruction, we’ve found ourselves ideologically and theologically separated from the folks we once joyfully worshipped beside. Small groups, families, and friends are experiencing division and disunity in their faith like never before. Many are wondering “What holds the centre? Is there something that can sustain our shared life together? Is there something big enough to unite us even when so much seems set to tear us apart?” Similarly, the early church wrestled with disagreements and divisions along ethnic, cultural, and theological divides. We encounter one such division in Romans 14. The Apostle Paul is writing to two groups of Christians: Those who are “strong” and can partake in any food. Those who are “weak” and only eat vegetables (verse one). These dietary restrictions may seem strange to us, but for first-century Jewish Christians, they were important markers of identity and the means of preserving a God-given way of life. We might expect that the Apostle Paul would render a judgement to which group is obviously right. But shockingly, the Apostle Paul asks both groups to learn to accept and love one another despite their differences because their unity is “in Christ” who has already accepted them both. This curious discussion in Romans 14 and 15 about the “weak” and “strong” reminds us that the of unity church is defined by our shared centre, not by the lines we draw. Could it be that when we are moving apart we are forgetting about our shared centre in Christ? What would it mean for our church to imagine a way centring on Jesus that could bring unity without conformity?

]]> As our churches have wrestled with cultural disruption, injustice, global pandemics, and deconstruction, we’ve found ourselves ideologically and theologically separated from the folks we once joyfully worshipped beside. Small groups, families, and friends are experiencing division and disunity in their faith like never before. Many are wondering “What holds the centre? Is there something that can sustain our shared life together? Is there something big enough to unite us even when so much seems set to tear us apart?” Similarly, the early church wrestled with disagreements and divisions along ethnic, cultural, and theological divides. We encounter one such division in Romans 14. The Apostle Paul is writing to two groups of Christians: Those who are “strong” and can partake in any food. Those who are “weak” and only eat vegetables (verse one). These dietary restrictions may seem strange to us, but for first-century Jewish Christians, they were important markers of identity and the means of preserving a God-given way of life. We might expect that the Apostle Paul would render a judgement to which group is obviously right. But shockingly, the Apostle Paul asks both groups to learn to accept and love one another despite their differences because their unity is “in Christ” who has already accepted them both. This curious discussion in Romans 14 and 15 about the “weak” and “strong” reminds us that the of unity church is defined by our shared centre, not by the lines we draw. Could it be that when we are moving apart we are forgetting about our shared centre in Christ? What would it mean for our church to imagine a way centring on Jesus that could bring unity without conformity?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14035578 Sun, 26 Nov 2023 14:00:00 -0600 2362 full false A Clarified Purpose and a Fresh Empowerment | Paul Walker | Reconstructing With Jesus We know the Holy Spirit is God, a distinct and equal member of the Trinity. We know about the fruit of the Spirit and can recount the Pentecost story from Acts 2. But there’s a difference between knowing right things about the Spirit and experiencing the Holy Spirit. We need to experience the Holy Spirit, not merely talk about it. But the Holy Spirit’s activity is a challenge to our sense of control, management, and know-how. It’s hard to give up control; this process can produce legitimate fear and anxiety. It will feel like a risk because it is. The question for us is this: Will we risk trusting in and following the Spirit? In Acts 1:5 Jesus tells the disciples: “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” In response, the disciples ask Jesus: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6). Jesus doesn’t correct his disciples when they ask this. Instead, he tells them to wait in Jerusalem. They understand something we often miss: the Spirit is here to continue Jesus’ work, to bring God’s kingdom. But they don’t understand everything. So, Jesus says, “wait and soon you’ll start to understand.” In the same way, if the church is to thrive and succeed in her mission, we will need to welcome and embrace of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commands us to venture courageous, countercultural, demanding lives. He orders us to love one another, to pray for our enemies, to take up the cross and follow. But he does not expect us to do these demanding tasks or to live and to die by ourselves. Thus, we wait for the Holy Spirit. 

]]> We know the Holy Spirit is God, a distinct and equal member of the Trinity. We know about the fruit of the Spirit and can recount the Pentecost story from Acts 2. But there’s a difference between knowing right things about the Spirit and experiencing the Holy Spirit. We need to experience the Holy Spirit, not merely talk about it. But the Holy Spirit’s activity is a challenge to our sense of control, management, and know-how. It’s hard to give up control; this process can produce legitimate fear and anxiety. It will feel like a risk because it is. The question for us is this: Will we risk trusting in and following the Spirit? In Acts 1:5 Jesus tells the disciples: “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” In response, the disciples ask Jesus: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6). Jesus doesn’t correct his disciples when they ask this. Instead, he tells them to wait in Jerusalem. They understand something we often miss: the Spirit is here to continue Jesus’ work, to bring God’s kingdom. But they don’t understand everything. So, Jesus says, “wait and soon you’ll start to understand.” In the same way, if the church is to thrive and succeed in her mission, we will need to welcome and embrace of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commands us to venture courageous, countercultural, demanding lives. He orders us to love one another, to pray for our enemies, to take up the cross and follow. But he does not expect us to do these demanding tasks or to live and to die by ourselves. Thus, we wait for the Holy Spirit. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-14005708 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0600 2385 full false A New Relationship With Power | Meghan Larissa Good | Reconstructing With Jesus We are excited to have Meghan Larissa Good teaching us this week.

Our age is characterized by intensifying polarization. Largely because of theinternet, increasing numbers of people have fallen into echo-chambers where their beliefs are continually affirmed and radicalized and where their capacity to empathetically understand opposing perspectives, even their desire to correctly understand opposing perspectives, is greatly diminished. As a result, westerners are quickly losing what once was a shared trust in foundational institutions, norms, values and practices. The question we must ask is: In a social context in which everyone clamours for the power to get their way at the expense of others and/or the earth and animal kingdom, what would it look like for the church to model a radically different and altogether beautiful kind of power, in the process of pointing people to a radically different and altogether beautiful God? The Apostle Paul teaches along these lines when he writes: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Rom 12:14). We are never to “repay anyone evil for evil” and never to retaliate against an evil-doer (Rom 12:17-18), which is to say, we must “not be overcome by evil” but are instead to “overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). Hence, Paul concludes, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads” (Rom 12:20). The image of burning coals being placed on someone’s head is a reference to coming under conviction. Paul is suggesting that by responding to aggression with love rather than violently defending ourselves, we expose the wrongfulness of the action being perpetrated against us. As we saw was true with Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:38-48), this opens up the possibility that our aggressor will wake up to, and turn away from, the wrongfulness of their action against us. This is the power of Cross-like suffering love. The “natural mind” can’t see the power of the cross, but we who follow Jesus are called to trust that this kind of power is the strongest force in the universe. 

]]> We are excited to have Meghan Larissa Good teaching us this week.

Our age is characterized by intensifying polarization. Largely because of theinternet, increasing numbers of people have fallen into echo-chambers where their beliefs are continually affirmed and radicalized and where their capacity to empathetically understand opposing perspectives, even their desire to correctly understand opposing perspectives, is greatly diminished. As a result, westerners are quickly losing what once was a shared trust in foundational institutions, norms, values and practices. The question we must ask is: In a social context in which everyone clamours for the power to get their way at the expense of others and/or the earth and animal kingdom, what would it look like for the church to model a radically different and altogether beautiful kind of power, in the process of pointing people to a radically different and altogether beautiful God? The Apostle Paul teaches along these lines when he writes: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Rom 12:14). We are never to “repay anyone evil for evil” and never to retaliate against an evil-doer (Rom 12:17-18), which is to say, we must “not be overcome by evil” but are instead to “overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). Hence, Paul concludes, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads” (Rom 12:20). The image of burning coals being placed on someone’s head is a reference to coming under conviction. Paul is suggesting that by responding to aggression with love rather than violently defending ourselves, we expose the wrongfulness of the action being perpetrated against us. As we saw was true with Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:38-48), this opens up the possibility that our aggressor will wake up to, and turn away from, the wrongfulness of their action against us. This is the power of Cross-like suffering love. The “natural mind” can’t see the power of the cross, but we who follow Jesus are called to trust that this kind of power is the strongest force in the universe. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13988869 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 23:00:00 -0600 2247 full false A Bigger Gospel | Bob Marsch | Reconstruction With Jesus We live in an individualistic world. We live in a time when we are more connected than ever and yet when loneliness is an epidemic. We live in an era where we have access to almost infinite information and people and news, all in an instant, and yet where community is crumbling, violence is increasing, and the world is becoming more polarized. Our rugged individualism has also reached into our faith and theology. We read John chapter three not as “God so loving the world that Jesus left radiance to take on skin and save the world” but as “God so loved me that Jesus came to die for me.” We read 1st Corinthians chapter three not as “we collectively are the temple where God’s Spirit dwells,” but as “I am the temple where God’s Holy Spirit dwells.” Jesus, and the writers of the Scripture knew that the way of Jesus was beyond any individual. Even Jesus lived it out in community. Community with God as Trinity but also community with his disciples. We are invited into relationship. We live out this kingdom in community. We bring about this kingdom one act of love at a time—a truth that necessitates human connection, interaction, communion, and love. Our faith is not meant to be so privately hidden that we forget to be light and blessing to the world. Our faith is not mostly about consenting to right ideas but submitting to Jesus as revealer of God and as model for true humanity. Our faith should increasingly be less about me and more about we – and we are helped in all of this by the Holy Spirit, who is “building us together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” We are not created to live individualistic lives. We are created for community. And community is at the heart of our Gospel, and at the heart of what salvation looks like.

]]> We live in an individualistic world. We live in a time when we are more connected than ever and yet when loneliness is an epidemic. We live in an era where we have access to almost infinite information and people and news, all in an instant, and yet where community is crumbling, violence is increasing, and the world is becoming more polarized. Our rugged individualism has also reached into our faith and theology. We read John chapter three not as “God so loving the world that Jesus left radiance to take on skin and save the world” but as “God so loved me that Jesus came to die for me.” We read 1st Corinthians chapter three not as “we collectively are the temple where God’s Spirit dwells,” but as “I am the temple where God’s Holy Spirit dwells.” Jesus, and the writers of the Scripture knew that the way of Jesus was beyond any individual. Even Jesus lived it out in community. Community with God as Trinity but also community with his disciples. We are invited into relationship. We live out this kingdom in community. We bring about this kingdom one act of love at a time—a truth that necessitates human connection, interaction, communion, and love. Our faith is not meant to be so privately hidden that we forget to be light and blessing to the world. Our faith is not mostly about consenting to right ideas but submitting to Jesus as revealer of God and as model for true humanity. Our faith should increasingly be less about me and more about we – and we are helped in all of this by the Holy Spirit, who is “building us together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” We are not created to live individualistic lives. We are created for community. And community is at the heart of our Gospel, and at the heart of what salvation looks like.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13914326 Sun, 05 Nov 2023 18:00:00 -0600 2289 full false A More Christlike God | Ryan Murray | Reconstruction With Jesus We all carry around ideas, images, and experiences of God. It is important to unearth these stories, experiences, and pictures of God because the God we imagine is the God we become like. So what is God like? Some folks may have an image of God that resembles a deadbeat dad, a prosecuting attorney, or a master of puppets who secretly has some anger management issues. Ancient peoples imagined that the gods were like Zeus, Molech, or Loki. But really…. What is God like? The witness of Scripture is that God is like Jesus. Jesus is what God has to say! Instead of viewing Jesus as the "pleasant side of God,” we should look at Jesus as the accurate picture of what God looks like. And this radical truth reshapes everything. This means God is NOT a distant deadbeat dad, an accuser of sin, or an almighty smiter. God is like Jesus! The Jesus who dwells with us forgives sinners, heals the sick, sets up the Kingdom, and shows us a better way. The Jesus who lived, died, rose on the third day, and will come again. This Jesus is God with skin on. Once Jesus’ disciples grasped these important paradigm shifts produced by Jesus, they never viewed the Bible the same way again. The disciple's views of God were permanently changed because Jesus became their primary way to understand God. And Scripture became all about God as they understood how Jesus explained and modelled him. 

]]> We all carry around ideas, images, and experiences of God. It is important to unearth these stories, experiences, and pictures of God because the God we imagine is the God we become like. So what is God like? Some folks may have an image of God that resembles a deadbeat dad, a prosecuting attorney, or a master of puppets who secretly has some anger management issues. Ancient peoples imagined that the gods were like Zeus, Molech, or Loki. But really…. What is God like? The witness of Scripture is that God is like Jesus. Jesus is what God has to say! Instead of viewing Jesus as the "pleasant side of God,” we should look at Jesus as the accurate picture of what God looks like. And this radical truth reshapes everything. This means God is NOT a distant deadbeat dad, an accuser of sin, or an almighty smiter. God is like Jesus! The Jesus who dwells with us forgives sinners, heals the sick, sets up the Kingdom, and shows us a better way. The Jesus who lived, died, rose on the third day, and will come again. This Jesus is God with skin on. Once Jesus’ disciples grasped these important paradigm shifts produced by Jesus, they never viewed the Bible the same way again. The disciple's views of God were permanently changed because Jesus became their primary way to understand God. And Scripture became all about God as they understood how Jesus explained and modelled him. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13885253 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 18:00:00 -0500 2238 full false I Am Nothing Less Than My Best Moment | Paul Walker | Identity Theft We often believe that we are defined by our successes. While failure is an event, success is a process, not a destination. Our culture tells us that we have the power to create ourselves, and that puts the emphasis on independence and self-reliance. Success is seen as the individual’s responsibility alone. This creates a pressure to keep succeeding and base our self worth and self understanding on continued success. But when productivity, success, and achievement is our main way of finding identity, we are extremely vulnerable to rejection and criticism and prone to inner anxiety and depression. Our best moments can never give the deep sense of belonging we crave. The more we produce, the more we realize that successes and results cannot give us the experience of “at homeness.” In fact, basing our identity on our productivity reveals to us that we are driven by fear, envy, and comparison. To the degree that we embrace the truth that our identity is not rooted in our success, we can let go of our need to judge, compare, and fear.  In Jesus’ parable in Luke 15, we discover an elder brother who refuses to join the celebration of the return of his younger brother. The elder brother cannot pardon his younger brother for the way he has weakened their family’s place in society, disgraced their name, and diminished their wealth. It leaves him outside the party and separated from his Father. This is because the elder brother tried to earn his relational standing with his father through his successes rather than the reality of his belovedness as a child of his father. God loved us before we ever loved him, not because of what we achieved but because of who God is. So, we are invited by Jesus to come home to the celebration that is the discovery of the grace and love of God. Will we join the party?

]]> We often believe that we are defined by our successes. While failure is an event, success is a process, not a destination. Our culture tells us that we have the power to create ourselves, and that puts the emphasis on independence and self-reliance. Success is seen as the individual’s responsibility alone. This creates a pressure to keep succeeding and base our self worth and self understanding on continued success. But when productivity, success, and achievement is our main way of finding identity, we are extremely vulnerable to rejection and criticism and prone to inner anxiety and depression. Our best moments can never give the deep sense of belonging we crave. The more we produce, the more we realize that successes and results cannot give us the experience of “at homeness.” In fact, basing our identity on our productivity reveals to us that we are driven by fear, envy, and comparison. To the degree that we embrace the truth that our identity is not rooted in our success, we can let go of our need to judge, compare, and fear.  In Jesus’ parable in Luke 15, we discover an elder brother who refuses to join the celebration of the return of his younger brother. The elder brother cannot pardon his younger brother for the way he has weakened their family’s place in society, disgraced their name, and diminished their wealth. It leaves him outside the party and separated from his Father. This is because the elder brother tried to earn his relational standing with his father through his successes rather than the reality of his belovedness as a child of his father. God loved us before we ever loved him, not because of what we achieved but because of who God is. So, we are invited by Jesus to come home to the celebration that is the discovery of the grace and love of God. Will we join the party?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13825446 Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:00:00 -0500 2480 full false I Am Nothing More Than My Worst Moment | Brian Kauste | Identity Theft Jesus tells a parable about two sons in Luke 15. The younger son decides he wants his share of the father’s inheritance so that he can go off to the far country.  This was a huge social taboo, as an inheritance is not meant to be divide until your parents passed away. The younger son in demanding his share and turning it into cash was flouting convention, ignoring his God given responsibility to care for his father and mother and, more than that insulting his father saying in effect: I wish you were dead. To compound this failure, the younger son parties away all his money and falls into hard times. His actions lead him into hunger and desperation due to a famine. It is tempting to think that the identity of the younger son is nothing more than his worst moment. But we must remember that failure is an event, never a person. The great temptation is to use our obvious failures and disappointments in our lives to convince ourselves that we are really not worth being loved. But for a person of faith the opposite is true. The many failures may open that place in us where we have nothing to brag about but everything to be loved for. The Good News of Jesus is that our identity is not bound to our worst moments. We are God’s children. And like the younger son— it is never too late to come home. 

]]> Jesus tells a parable about two sons in Luke 15. The younger son decides he wants his share of the father’s inheritance so that he can go off to the far country.  This was a huge social taboo, as an inheritance is not meant to be divide until your parents passed away. The younger son in demanding his share and turning it into cash was flouting convention, ignoring his God given responsibility to care for his father and mother and, more than that insulting his father saying in effect: I wish you were dead. To compound this failure, the younger son parties away all his money and falls into hard times. His actions lead him into hunger and desperation due to a famine. It is tempting to think that the identity of the younger son is nothing more than his worst moment. But we must remember that failure is an event, never a person. The great temptation is to use our obvious failures and disappointments in our lives to convince ourselves that we are really not worth being loved. But for a person of faith the opposite is true. The many failures may open that place in us where we have nothing to brag about but everything to be loved for. The Good News of Jesus is that our identity is not bound to our worst moments. We are God’s children. And like the younger son— it is never too late to come home. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13783024 Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:00:00 -0500 2303 full false I Am What Others Say Or Think About Me | Carolyn Klassen | Identity Theft One of the ways we can search out our identity is by basing it on what others say about us. We base our sense of self on what people think of us, or rather what we think they think of us. That sense of self exerts control over us, and so it affects how we live, and it influences whether we feel we have worth and value. If we do well in the eyes of others, we can feel good about ourselves. But if we do badly, our sense of identity can come crashing down.  This has become amplified in the age of social media.  The “like” button can tell us in real time what people think about us — and this has led to a serious increase in allowing others to decide our identity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at the well. She is a person who has experienced the negative side of what others have thought about her. The normal time for women to visit the well, set as it was at some distance from the town, would be at a cooler time of day, most likely first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. This woman has come at the time when she is least likely to meet anyone. The likely reason for her non-social behaviour is because she has had five husbands and the man she is with now is not her husband. While we might jump to the assumption that this woman is a salacious provocateur—- it is important to note that in Jesus’ day, a woman could not leave, she could only be left. The woman at the well has had every man run out on her. Her life is a mess and she likely lives under the weight of the opinions of others. But Jesus does not see her as others do. Like the woman at the well, we are offered to drink of living water and not thirst again. With Jesus, we learn we can either live for the approval of others or live from the deep identity as a child of God. 

]]> One of the ways we can search out our identity is by basing it on what others say about us. We base our sense of self on what people think of us, or rather what we think they think of us. That sense of self exerts control over us, and so it affects how we live, and it influences whether we feel we have worth and value. If we do well in the eyes of others, we can feel good about ourselves. But if we do badly, our sense of identity can come crashing down.  This has become amplified in the age of social media.  The “like” button can tell us in real time what people think about us — and this has led to a serious increase in allowing others to decide our identity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at the well. She is a person who has experienced the negative side of what others have thought about her. The normal time for women to visit the well, set as it was at some distance from the town, would be at a cooler time of day, most likely first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. This woman has come at the time when she is least likely to meet anyone. The likely reason for her non-social behaviour is because she has had five husbands and the man she is with now is not her husband. While we might jump to the assumption that this woman is a salacious provocateur—- it is important to note that in Jesus’ day, a woman could not leave, she could only be left. The woman at the well has had every man run out on her. Her life is a mess and she likely lives under the weight of the opinions of others. But Jesus does not see her as others do. Like the woman at the well, we are offered to drink of living water and not thirst again. With Jesus, we learn we can either live for the approval of others or live from the deep identity as a child of God. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13745550 Mon, 09 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0500 2651 full false I Am What I Do | Paul Walker | Identity Theft One recent Harvard study found that one of the most asked questions in new social interactions is: What do you do?” The study found that “What do you do” has become synonymous with “Who are you?” Without thinking about it, many of us can attempt to find our identity through our work, relationships, productivity, and achievements. If we do well, or at least make it look as if we’re doing well, we receive a healthy identity as someone whom others recognize is successful, and that will make us feel good about ourselves. But if we do badly, that identity can come crashing down and be replaced by an identity of someone who is a failure. Our work and our achievements are good things, but they are a poor foundation for our self worth & self understanding. We need to rediscover th truth that you are not what you do because what you do can always be taken away or lost. But who you are is the source of all you do. When what we do becomes an expression of who we are, not an effort to secure who we are, we find a new level of freedom and confidence. After completing the work of creating the heavens and earth, God rested on the seventh day, and tells his image bearers to do the same. In the Sabbath, God is calling us out of a world trying to prove its worth and value by what it does or possesses. We are deeply loved by God for who we are, not for what we do.

]]> One recent Harvard study found that one of the most asked questions in new social interactions is: What do you do?” The study found that “What do you do” has become synonymous with “Who are you?” Without thinking about it, many of us can attempt to find our identity through our work, relationships, productivity, and achievements. If we do well, or at least make it look as if we’re doing well, we receive a healthy identity as someone whom others recognize is successful, and that will make us feel good about ourselves. But if we do badly, that identity can come crashing down and be replaced by an identity of someone who is a failure. Our work and our achievements are good things, but they are a poor foundation for our self worth & self understanding. We need to rediscover th truth that you are not what you do because what you do can always be taken away or lost. But who you are is the source of all you do. When what we do becomes an expression of who we are, not an effort to secure who we are, we find a new level of freedom and confidence. After completing the work of creating the heavens and earth, God rested on the seventh day, and tells his image bearers to do the same. In the Sabbath, God is calling us out of a world trying to prove its worth and value by what it does or possesses. We are deeply loved by God for who we are, not for what we do.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13696179 Sun, 01 Oct 2023 19:00:00 -0500 2137 full false I Am What I Have | Paul Walker | Identity Theft In our consumeristic age, is it any surprise that we try to build our identity through our possessions? “I am what I have”is a central statement of our consumeristic society.  We have been shaped to be consumers and to consume. Each one of us is told through thousands of daily advertisements that self worth and self understanding are found at end of the checkout aisle. This has led us to often measuring significance and social standing based on ability to acquire stuff. But the truth is that no product or material possession can make us feel secure in our identity. The things we buy make great tools but terrible masters. Our possessions and wealth are a poor container for the ache of identity because it is not a firm foundation for our identity. We can easily lose our wealth and possessions in the next recession or loss of employment. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us not to “set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God” (1 Tim 6:18a) When we pursue security and identity in a product, we’ll always end up disappointed. Instead, we need a fresh reminder that who God says we are is the truest thing about us—- and the greatest gift you can receive too. We are loved by God regardless of what we have! 

]]> In our consumeristic age, is it any surprise that we try to build our identity through our possessions? “I am what I have”is a central statement of our consumeristic society.  We have been shaped to be consumers and to consume. Each one of us is told through thousands of daily advertisements that self worth and self understanding are found at end of the checkout aisle. This has led us to often measuring significance and social standing based on ability to acquire stuff. But the truth is that no product or material possession can make us feel secure in our identity. The things we buy make great tools but terrible masters. Our possessions and wealth are a poor container for the ache of identity because it is not a firm foundation for our identity. We can easily lose our wealth and possessions in the next recession or loss of employment. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us not to “set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God” (1 Tim 6:18a) When we pursue security and identity in a product, we’ll always end up disappointed. Instead, we need a fresh reminder that who God says we are is the truest thing about us—- and the greatest gift you can receive too. We are loved by God regardless of what we have! 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13649034 Sun, 24 Sep 2023 15:00:00 -0500 2162 full false Who Am I? | Paul Walker | Identity Theft Who am I? It seems that we all are seeking the answer to this question. We are all trying to find security and worth. There are some who find their identity from the outward opinions of others. Some search for their identity by searching inwardly and deciding for themselves who they are. We often find our identities from what we do, what we have, what we want, or even what others think about us. These approaches tend to leave us either crushed by other’s expectations, or endlessly searching within ourselves. But unlike these other approaches, the unique Christian claim is that our identity is not achieved but received. We see this most clearly in Jesus’ own understanding of his identity. In his baptism, Jesus’ identity is received from the Father in the announcement that “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’. In the same way, we receive our identity from God “when we believe in him.” Our identity rooted in Jesus and what He did on the Cross, but it is also rooted in our future with Him, rather than our past or present reality. And as we discover who we are in Jesus — we discover an unchanging firm foundation that is true of us beyond the shifting sands of circumstance and culture. 

]]> Who am I? It seems that we all are seeking the answer to this question. We are all trying to find security and worth. There are some who find their identity from the outward opinions of others. Some search for their identity by searching inwardly and deciding for themselves who they are. We often find our identities from what we do, what we have, what we want, or even what others think about us. These approaches tend to leave us either crushed by other’s expectations, or endlessly searching within ourselves. But unlike these other approaches, the unique Christian claim is that our identity is not achieved but received. We see this most clearly in Jesus’ own understanding of his identity. In his baptism, Jesus’ identity is received from the Father in the announcement that “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’. In the same way, we receive our identity from God “when we believe in him.” Our identity rooted in Jesus and what He did on the Cross, but it is also rooted in our future with Him, rather than our past or present reality. And as we discover who we are in Jesus — we discover an unchanging firm foundation that is true of us beyond the shifting sands of circumstance and culture. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13611831 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0500 2628 full false Foundation Check | Bob Marsch | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 So often people think the important thing is to have the right ideas about Jesus. Jesus flips the script on this sort of thinking when he closes his Sermon on the Mount with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Jesus says, “Anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” The central question of this parable is this; what kind of foundation are we building our lives on? Is it shifting sand? Is it the rock of Jesus’ teaching? The answer to this question determines if our house stands when the storm comes. One thing is sure, Jesus’ own brother challenges those who thought they could have the right beliefs without the right actions when he writes, “faith without works is dead”.

]]> So often people think the important thing is to have the right ideas about Jesus. Jesus flips the script on this sort of thinking when he closes his Sermon on the Mount with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Jesus says, “Anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” The central question of this parable is this; what kind of foundation are we building our lives on? Is it shifting sand? Is it the rock of Jesus’ teaching? The answer to this question determines if our house stands when the storm comes. One thing is sure, Jesus’ own brother challenges those who thought they could have the right beliefs without the right actions when he writes, “faith without works is dead”.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13566323 Sun, 10 Sep 2023 19:00:00 -0500 2296 full false It's More Than Just Words | Joel Jolly | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 In our day, we sometimes conflate appearance and reality. If someone tweets the right things, or has the right appearance on Instagram— we might assume a reality that is true of that person. But curiously Jesus says, ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus is saying that faithfulness is about more than words or mere appearances. Instead we will recognized falseness by the fruit it produces. True followers must not be like those who give lip service to God (saying “Lord, Lord”). Even doing great deeds of power guarantees nothing. What matters is hearing and acting upon the message Jesus proclaims (“these words of mine”); anything less is foolish—building a house on shifting sand. In an age of disinformation, we need to understand that Jesus warned of false prophets, but also gave us some tools to discern the truth. 

]]> In our day, we sometimes conflate appearance and reality. If someone tweets the right things, or has the right appearance on Instagram— we might assume a reality that is true of that person. But curiously Jesus says, ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus is saying that faithfulness is about more than words or mere appearances. Instead we will recognized falseness by the fruit it produces. True followers must not be like those who give lip service to God (saying “Lord, Lord”). Even doing great deeds of power guarantees nothing. What matters is hearing and acting upon the message Jesus proclaims (“these words of mine”); anything less is foolish—building a house on shifting sand. In an age of disinformation, we need to understand that Jesus warned of false prophets, but also gave us some tools to discern the truth. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13521240 Sun, 03 Sep 2023 15:00:00 -0500 2047 full false The Two Paths | Bob Marsch | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 Jesus is nearing the end of his Sermon on the Mount. And as all good preachers do— Jesus begins to describe what is at stake if we choose to not to put into practice his teaching. There are two paths, one that is wide and easy and the other difficult. The narrow way is the way of walking with the person of Jesus. Jesus is the only way, truth and life. However, if all other roads lead to destruction, then this sounds profoundly unfair and unloving. What is important to note is that Jesus is primarily talking about how we live in the here and now to emphasize the gravity of our consequences. Jesus is saying the way to find eternal life, here and now, is narrow and hard because it involves following Jesus and striving to develop a Christ-like character. The golden rule is the narrow way. But most people, would rather live life with the goal of having their best and most convenient life, rather than arduously striving to develop a loving character. This road leads to destruction because whatever about us that is inconsistent with God’s love and truth has got to be destroyed so that we can live for Christ and reflect his love in the eternal Kingdom. 

]]> Jesus is nearing the end of his Sermon on the Mount. And as all good preachers do— Jesus begins to describe what is at stake if we choose to not to put into practice his teaching. There are two paths, one that is wide and easy and the other difficult. The narrow way is the way of walking with the person of Jesus. Jesus is the only way, truth and life. However, if all other roads lead to destruction, then this sounds profoundly unfair and unloving. What is important to note is that Jesus is primarily talking about how we live in the here and now to emphasize the gravity of our consequences. Jesus is saying the way to find eternal life, here and now, is narrow and hard because it involves following Jesus and striving to develop a Christ-like character. The golden rule is the narrow way. But most people, would rather live life with the goal of having their best and most convenient life, rather than arduously striving to develop a loving character. This road leads to destruction because whatever about us that is inconsistent with God’s love and truth has got to be destroyed so that we can live for Christ and reflect his love in the eternal Kingdom. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13478326 Sun, 27 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0500 2269 full false The Golden Rule | Paul Walker | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 The Golden Rule sums up the whole ethic of Jesus: our calling as followers of Jesus, from morning to night, is to do to others what you would have them do to you. Jesus tells us that this sums up— it fulfills— the purpose and intention of the Law & Prophets. Jesus does not abolish the law, but establishes it: loving God and loving others. But how do we we do this well? Though it may seem odd, we actually need to listen to ourselves in order do unto others well. All of us need things like food, water, shelter, and security. (Eg. Maslow’s Hierarchy) But it goes deeper than that. We need love, friendship, care, hope, justice, and vision to sustain us in life. As we begin to name what we personally need, Jesus then invites us to do that to others. Which begs the question, are we actually doing that? 

]]> The Golden Rule sums up the whole ethic of Jesus: our calling as followers of Jesus, from morning to night, is to do to others what you would have them do to you. Jesus tells us that this sums up— it fulfills— the purpose and intention of the Law & Prophets. Jesus does not abolish the law, but establishes it: loving God and loving others. But how do we we do this well? Though it may seem odd, we actually need to listen to ourselves in order do unto others well. All of us need things like food, water, shelter, and security. (Eg. Maslow’s Hierarchy) But it goes deeper than that. We need love, friendship, care, hope, justice, and vision to sustain us in life. As we begin to name what we personally need, Jesus then invites us to do that to others. Which begs the question, are we actually doing that? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13446849 Mon, 21 Aug 2023 19:00:00 -0500 2265 full false Ask, Seek, Knock + the Visio Dei | Hannah Guerrero | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 In the Gentile world, the gods were seen as distant and indifferent to the needs of humanity. Pagan practices of prayer largely centred around a quid pro quo approach to deity management. The thought was if you said enough words or did the right ritual the gods would be appeased and compelled to move on your behalf. Jesus has previously said, “do not keep on babbling like pagans”. But now Jesus is talking again about asking in prayer through a positive framework. Jesus wants us to imagine our asking in the context of a good Heavenly Father who desires to give us good things. Our vision of what God is like is really important! Unlike the pagan gods, our Heavenly Father is near, cares about our needs, and desires to give us good things. The point of our asking is not to inform or persuade God to do what we think God should do. Nor is this a formula to get what we want. Prayer is more about cultivating our relationship with God as God’s own children. We need to learn to pray and ask from the perspective of children who understand the goodness of God, our Heavenly Father. And once we understand the goodness of God, we know better to ask for the right things, with the right heart.

]]> In the Gentile world, the gods were seen as distant and indifferent to the needs of humanity. Pagan practices of prayer largely centred around a quid pro quo approach to deity management. The thought was if you said enough words or did the right ritual the gods would be appeased and compelled to move on your behalf. Jesus has previously said, “do not keep on babbling like pagans”. But now Jesus is talking again about asking in prayer through a positive framework. Jesus wants us to imagine our asking in the context of a good Heavenly Father who desires to give us good things. Our vision of what God is like is really important! Unlike the pagan gods, our Heavenly Father is near, cares about our needs, and desires to give us good things. The point of our asking is not to inform or persuade God to do what we think God should do. Nor is this a formula to get what we want. Prayer is more about cultivating our relationship with God as God’s own children. We need to learn to pray and ask from the perspective of children who understand the goodness of God, our Heavenly Father. And once we understand the goodness of God, we know better to ask for the right things, with the right heart.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13410700 Tue, 15 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2161 full false Pearls Before Swine | Lorelle Perry | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 We tend to think that if we have life changing information, it should be shouted from the rooftops or be trending on Twitter. This is especially the case when have formed a judgement about an issue or topic. But curiously, Jesus says “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” What does he mean by this? Firstly, Jesus assumes that there are things that are “sacred” or holy. “Do not give dogs what is sacred” had an original connection to sacrificial meat or to leaven. Thus, Leviticus reads: “No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering.” The later rabbis said something quite like this statement by Jesus: “For they do not redeem Holy Things to feed them to the dogs”. Jesus has obviously adapted a typical expression and applied it to his own sense of the sacred. Secondly, the animals chosen by Jesus were among the most despised, and historically connected with the Gentile world. Dogs and pigs have no sense of value, so dogs will rip apart a precious item and pigs will trample on items of immense worth. So what is Jesus teaching us in this passage? Firstly, in connection the previous section on judgement, we understand Jesus teaching us to not engage in a plank eye process of moral discernment with those who are not ready to hear. We should refrain from forcing sacred Kingdom treasure onto the wider culture. Secondly, we need practice discernment about whether people are ready to hear to the Gospel. We should not assume that everyone is listening with ears to hear. Finally, we need to hold sacred things with care. In the same way that we value a fine wine, or fine china, we need to hold a reverence about the things of God. We seek to hold the Kingdom message with honour so that our witness brings glory to Jesus. Ultimately, we need to remember that how the Kingdom comes is what the Kingdom is.

]]> We tend to think that if we have life changing information, it should be shouted from the rooftops or be trending on Twitter. This is especially the case when have formed a judgement about an issue or topic. But curiously, Jesus says “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” What does he mean by this? Firstly, Jesus assumes that there are things that are “sacred” or holy. “Do not give dogs what is sacred” had an original connection to sacrificial meat or to leaven. Thus, Leviticus reads: “No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering.” The later rabbis said something quite like this statement by Jesus: “For they do not redeem Holy Things to feed them to the dogs”. Jesus has obviously adapted a typical expression and applied it to his own sense of the sacred. Secondly, the animals chosen by Jesus were among the most despised, and historically connected with the Gentile world. Dogs and pigs have no sense of value, so dogs will rip apart a precious item and pigs will trample on items of immense worth. So what is Jesus teaching us in this passage? Firstly, in connection the previous section on judgement, we understand Jesus teaching us to not engage in a plank eye process of moral discernment with those who are not ready to hear. We should refrain from forcing sacred Kingdom treasure onto the wider culture. Secondly, we need practice discernment about whether people are ready to hear to the Gospel. We should not assume that everyone is listening with ears to hear. Finally, we need to hold sacred things with care. In the same way that we value a fine wine, or fine china, we need to hold a reverence about the things of God. We seek to hold the Kingdom message with honour so that our witness brings glory to Jesus. Ultimately, we need to remember that how the Kingdom comes is what the Kingdom is.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13358138 Sun, 06 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0500 2142 full false Quitting the Judgement Game | Bob Marsch | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 If there is one thing we do as humans, it is judge others. Research tells us that it takes just one-tenth of a second for people to judge someone and make a first impression. We then use our judgements to form how we engage a person. We live in a system in which everyone judges themselves and each other and creates a hierarchy of those above and below them. To judge another person is to ascribe worth to yourself at the expense of others. This minimizes your sins and faults, while maximizing the sins and faults of others. If you’ve ever said to yourself, “At least, I’m not as bad as that person (or group)” then you were likely playing the judgement game. Jesus says to us, “ ‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.”(7:1) Jesus is not talking about moral discernment of behaviours, but about how we view other people. As John Wesley said of this text, “The judging that Jesus condemns here is thinking about another person in a way that is contrary to love.” Ultimately, Jesus is inviting us to see people the way God’s sees people: with infinite love. This doesn’t mean we don’t discern behaviours as good or bad. It means we learn to go through the “plank-eye process” in which we view our own sin and failings as worse than others, which creates a humility that treats other sinners with mercy (cf. Gal. 6:1; Jas 2:13). Jesus is inviting his followers to quit the judgement game and live into a Kingdom society shaped not by condemnation but humility, love, and forgiveness. 

]]> If there is one thing we do as humans, it is judge others. Research tells us that it takes just one-tenth of a second for people to judge someone and make a first impression. We then use our judgements to form how we engage a person. We live in a system in which everyone judges themselves and each other and creates a hierarchy of those above and below them. To judge another person is to ascribe worth to yourself at the expense of others. This minimizes your sins and faults, while maximizing the sins and faults of others. If you’ve ever said to yourself, “At least, I’m not as bad as that person (or group)” then you were likely playing the judgement game. Jesus says to us, “ ‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.”(7:1) Jesus is not talking about moral discernment of behaviours, but about how we view other people. As John Wesley said of this text, “The judging that Jesus condemns here is thinking about another person in a way that is contrary to love.” Ultimately, Jesus is inviting us to see people the way God’s sees people: with infinite love. This doesn’t mean we don’t discern behaviours as good or bad. It means we learn to go through the “plank-eye process” in which we view our own sin and failings as worse than others, which creates a humility that treats other sinners with mercy (cf. Gal. 6:1; Jas 2:13). Jesus is inviting his followers to quit the judgement game and live into a Kingdom society shaped not by condemnation but humility, love, and forgiveness. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13324176 Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0500 1951 full false O Worrier, Consider the Lilies | Adrian Enns | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 We live in an age of worry. Studies from Statistics Canada tell us that 1 in 4 Canadians report to have moderate to severe anxiety. Gen Z and Millennial Canadians between 18 and 39 years old reported the highest levels of anxiety, loneliness, depression and stress of any age group (33.5 per cent for anxiety, 43.2 per cent for stress, 29.1 per cent for loneliness and 27.7 per cent for feelings of depression). We are in an epidemic of worry, anxiety, and stress.  We face so many issues in day-to-day life that worry and anxiety are par for the course. To not worry seems to be something that only those who do not live in reality can do. What does it mean then to follow Christ’s teaching in this passage regarding worry? Jesus seems to think that we need to change our mindset about the value of worry (v27), change our relationship to possessions (v28), and to trust in the abundance of our Heavenly Father who “knows that you need all these things”(v32). We can abandon our scarcity mindsets because of the one who announces the abundance of God. Abundance, not scarcity, is the mark of God’s Kingdom. But that abundance must be made real through the lives of a people who have discovered that they can trust God and one another. Such trust is not an irrational gesture against the chaos of life, but rather a witness to the very character of God’s care of creation. So it is no wonder that Jesus directs our attention to the lilies to help us see how it is possible to live in joyful recognition that God has given us more than we need.

]]> We live in an age of worry. Studies from Statistics Canada tell us that 1 in 4 Canadians report to have moderate to severe anxiety. Gen Z and Millennial Canadians between 18 and 39 years old reported the highest levels of anxiety, loneliness, depression and stress of any age group (33.5 per cent for anxiety, 43.2 per cent for stress, 29.1 per cent for loneliness and 27.7 per cent for feelings of depression). We are in an epidemic of worry, anxiety, and stress.  We face so many issues in day-to-day life that worry and anxiety are par for the course. To not worry seems to be something that only those who do not live in reality can do. What does it mean then to follow Christ’s teaching in this passage regarding worry? Jesus seems to think that we need to change our mindset about the value of worry (v27), change our relationship to possessions (v28), and to trust in the abundance of our Heavenly Father who “knows that you need all these things”(v32). We can abandon our scarcity mindsets because of the one who announces the abundance of God. Abundance, not scarcity, is the mark of God’s Kingdom. But that abundance must be made real through the lives of a people who have discovered that they can trust God and one another. Such trust is not an irrational gesture against the chaos of life, but rather a witness to the very character of God’s care of creation. So it is no wonder that Jesus directs our attention to the lilies to help us see how it is possible to live in joyful recognition that God has given us more than we need.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13287207 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2375 full false Two Masters | Brian Kauste | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 We who live in consumeristic cultures must remain aware that we live in a context that is perpetually trying to get us to be discontent with what we have. We are conditioned to chase after more. We are trained to get our value from money, possessions, and material gains. Jesus tells us that “You cannot serve both God and money (Mammon).”(v24) Historically, “mammon” is the name of a powerful deity who uses wealth to destroy people. It has the power to create hunger and discontentment in us, to get us to perpetually want more. Ultimately mammon competes with God for our heart’s devotion. So what does it mean for us to serve only one master? What are we giving ultimate allegiance to in our lives? Can we trust that Jesus is a better Lord than Mammon? 

]]> We who live in consumeristic cultures must remain aware that we live in a context that is perpetually trying to get us to be discontent with what we have. We are conditioned to chase after more. We are trained to get our value from money, possessions, and material gains. Jesus tells us that “You cannot serve both God and money (Mammon).”(v24) Historically, “mammon” is the name of a powerful deity who uses wealth to destroy people. It has the power to create hunger and discontentment in us, to get us to perpetually want more. Ultimately mammon competes with God for our heart’s devotion. So what does it mean for us to serve only one master? What are we giving ultimate allegiance to in our lives? Can we trust that Jesus is a better Lord than Mammon? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13239426 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0500 2105 full false What Do You See? | Carolyn Klassen | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 Jesus taught us that what we see is shaped by how our eyes are trained to see the world. If our eye is bad, our sight will be corrupted. We need good eyes to see the world rightly. When we see things, we project our own biases upon what we are seeing. What we see out there is interpreted through our own personal filter. Jesus here is challenging his listeners to think about the kind of eye that they are developing. Do they have an evil eye or a good eye? Is their eye able to see what is true and good or is it tainted by greed and malice? We rarely examine the lens in which we see the world around us. And if we do —we may be shocked at how much our sight needs to be healed. But the good news is that just like the two blind men who called out for mercy and healing (Mt 9:27-31)— we too can call out to Jesus our Great Physician to heal our distorted lenses. 

]]> Jesus taught us that what we see is shaped by how our eyes are trained to see the world. If our eye is bad, our sight will be corrupted. We need good eyes to see the world rightly. When we see things, we project our own biases upon what we are seeing. What we see out there is interpreted through our own personal filter. Jesus here is challenging his listeners to think about the kind of eye that they are developing. Do they have an evil eye or a good eye? Is their eye able to see what is true and good or is it tainted by greed and malice? We rarely examine the lens in which we see the world around us. And if we do —we may be shocked at how much our sight needs to be healed. But the good news is that just like the two blind men who called out for mercy and healing (Mt 9:27-31)— we too can call out to Jesus our Great Physician to heal our distorted lenses. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13205316 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0500 2024 full false The Heart of the Matter | Precious Abiodun | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 One of the ingrained messages we receive in our culture is to do all you can do to get rich and stay rich. We spend a majority of our lives in the workforce earning and storing up wealth in the hope of an eventual retirement. Into our modern day consumeristic context we hear an invitation from Jesus to store up treasures that last. “Treasure” moves from things we value that are temporary— to things we value that are moral and eternal. It’s not that Jesus has a problem with using our days to work and earn. We need to pay our bills and provide for ourselves and others. (2 Thess. 3) Jesus is asking us: what do we value? Where is our treasure? We will know what it is based on what we spend our energies on and what is the driving force of our life. If we are not careful, our possessions will possess us. Instead, Jesus invites his disciples to let God’s reign take centre stage.

]]> One of the ingrained messages we receive in our culture is to do all you can do to get rich and stay rich. We spend a majority of our lives in the workforce earning and storing up wealth in the hope of an eventual retirement. Into our modern day consumeristic context we hear an invitation from Jesus to store up treasures that last. “Treasure” moves from things we value that are temporary— to things we value that are moral and eternal. It’s not that Jesus has a problem with using our days to work and earn. We need to pay our bills and provide for ourselves and others. (2 Thess. 3) Jesus is asking us: what do we value? Where is our treasure? We will know what it is based on what we spend our energies on and what is the driving force of our life. If we are not careful, our possessions will possess us. Instead, Jesus invites his disciples to let God’s reign take centre stage.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13159655 Tue, 04 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0500 2097 full false And When You Fast | Lorelle Perry | Sermon on the Mount pt. 2 Jesus comes out of teaching on prayer and begins to talk about another spiritual practice. “When you fast…”. Jesus doesn’t say, “IF you fast”but rather he assumes that people will be regularly fasting. This might strike us as odd in our modern North American context that tends to disparage the idea of self-denial. What is fasting? Fasting is abstaining—often from food and water. This abstaining creates a longing for more of God and can paradoxically be a feast of spiritual encounter. Fasting can even have medical benefits. But we don’t fast for what we can get out it. Fasting is firstly an expression of worship to God that reminds us we are sustained by God alone. In this practice of fasting Jesus wants us not to be like “the hypocrites” who do things for the sake of public display and fame. The only way to fast, or pray or engage in any other spiritual activity that brings about a heavenly reward is to do it “in secret.” Whatever discomfort or pain we are experiencing is to be kept hidden as much as possible. The “reward” that we are storing up when we pray and fast in secret is simply the beauty of the character that we develop when we learn how to be singularly motivated by God’s will and thus not motivated by social applause.

]]> Jesus comes out of teaching on prayer and begins to talk about another spiritual practice. “When you fast…”. Jesus doesn’t say, “IF you fast”but rather he assumes that people will be regularly fasting. This might strike us as odd in our modern North American context that tends to disparage the idea of self-denial. What is fasting? Fasting is abstaining—often from food and water. This abstaining creates a longing for more of God and can paradoxically be a feast of spiritual encounter. Fasting can even have medical benefits. But we don’t fast for what we can get out it. Fasting is firstly an expression of worship to God that reminds us we are sustained by God alone. In this practice of fasting Jesus wants us not to be like “the hypocrites” who do things for the sake of public display and fame. The only way to fast, or pray or engage in any other spiritual activity that brings about a heavenly reward is to do it “in secret.” Whatever discomfort or pain we are experiencing is to be kept hidden as much as possible. The “reward” that we are storing up when we pray and fast in secret is simply the beauty of the character that we develop when we learn how to be singularly motivated by God’s will and thus not motivated by social applause.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13069600 Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0500 2361 full false Deliver Us | Paul Walker | And When You Pray This last line of Jesus’ prayer reminds us of our own frailty and the reality that evil is a force from which we need deliverance. We live in a broken world and have an enemy —the satan—which tempts us to fall. God does not tempt (James 1:12-13), but God does allow us to be tested and go through trials to refine our faith (James 1:1-3). When the satan or anyone else tempts us, they’re hoping we will fall and be more enslaved because of it. So we need to be lead in such a way that we do not fall into temptation. The heart of this petition is about God protecting and rescuing us from temptation and the work of the evil —and the evil one. To pray “deliver us from evil” is to acknowledge that we are on the front lines of a cosmic conflict (Eph 6:10-12) which we need to resist in prayer. As N.T. Wright suggests, “it is a prayer that the forces of destruction, of dehumanization, of anti-creation, of anti-redemption, may be bound and gagged, and that God’s good world may escape from being sucked down into their morass.” This petition also acknowledges that we need a Saviour to deliver us. We can’t defeat evil on our own. And so, the prayer to “deliver us” is a prayer that trusts in the work of Jesus to deliver us out of all captivity. 

]]> This last line of Jesus’ prayer reminds us of our own frailty and the reality that evil is a force from which we need deliverance. We live in a broken world and have an enemy —the satan—which tempts us to fall. God does not tempt (James 1:12-13), but God does allow us to be tested and go through trials to refine our faith (James 1:1-3). When the satan or anyone else tempts us, they’re hoping we will fall and be more enslaved because of it. So we need to be lead in such a way that we do not fall into temptation. The heart of this petition is about God protecting and rescuing us from temptation and the work of the evil —and the evil one. To pray “deliver us from evil” is to acknowledge that we are on the front lines of a cosmic conflict (Eph 6:10-12) which we need to resist in prayer. As N.T. Wright suggests, “it is a prayer that the forces of destruction, of dehumanization, of anti-creation, of anti-redemption, may be bound and gagged, and that God’s good world may escape from being sucked down into their morass.” This petition also acknowledges that we need a Saviour to deliver us. We can’t defeat evil on our own. And so, the prayer to “deliver us” is a prayer that trusts in the work of Jesus to deliver us out of all captivity. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-13026079 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:00:00 -0500 2231 full false Forgive Us | Paul Walker | And When You Pray The Lord’s Prayer contains, at this point, a most unusual thing: a clause which commits the prayer to actions which back up the petition just offered. ‘Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ Prayer and life are here locked indissolubly together. This isn’t saying that we do this in order to earn God’s forgiveness. It’s a further statement of our loyalty to Jesus and his Kingdom. Claiming this central blessing of the Kingdom only makes sense if we are living by that same central blessing ourselves. Failure to forgive one another wasn’t a matter of failing to live up to a new bit of moral teaching. It was cutting off the branch you were sitting on. The only reason for being Kingdom-people, for being Jesus’ people, was that the forgiveness of sins was happening; so if you didn’t live forgiveness, you were denying the very basis of your own new existence. On the cross, all is forgiven on God’s side. But this forgiveness only reaches us and benefits us when we acknowledge that we need to be forgiven and accept that we are forgiven, which is part of what it means to place your faith in Jesus Christ. Even as Christians, there are things we can do and attitudes we can cultivate that hinder our ability to receive God’s love and forgiveness. So this section of the Lord’s prayer reminds us of our own agency and need to willingly participate in the Kingdom arriving in our lives. 

]]> The Lord’s Prayer contains, at this point, a most unusual thing: a clause which commits the prayer to actions which back up the petition just offered. ‘Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ Prayer and life are here locked indissolubly together. This isn’t saying that we do this in order to earn God’s forgiveness. It’s a further statement of our loyalty to Jesus and his Kingdom. Claiming this central blessing of the Kingdom only makes sense if we are living by that same central blessing ourselves. Failure to forgive one another wasn’t a matter of failing to live up to a new bit of moral teaching. It was cutting off the branch you were sitting on. The only reason for being Kingdom-people, for being Jesus’ people, was that the forgiveness of sins was happening; so if you didn’t live forgiveness, you were denying the very basis of your own new existence. On the cross, all is forgiven on God’s side. But this forgiveness only reaches us and benefits us when we acknowledge that we need to be forgiven and accept that we are forgiven, which is part of what it means to place your faith in Jesus Christ. Even as Christians, there are things we can do and attitudes we can cultivate that hinder our ability to receive God’s love and forgiveness. So this section of the Lord’s prayer reminds us of our own agency and need to willingly participate in the Kingdom arriving in our lives. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12982758 Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:00:00 -0500 2510 full false Give Us | Lorelle Perry | And When You Pray There many ways you can focus your prayer i.e., worship, thanksgiving, confession, consecration. Jesus teaches us that we should focus at least a part of our prayer time in petitioning or asking God to meet our needs, referring to the phrase ”daily bread.” In the historical context of this passage, the people to whom Jesus was speaking would have been poor, with no safety net. Less than 10% of the population had the economic standing to have the luxury of surplus. ‘Give us this day our daily bread’; reminds us that our natural longings, for bread and all that it symbolizes, are not to be shunned as though they were of themselves less important. It also reminds us that our prayers of petition move beyond the individual and towards the communal needs as the prayer is rendered in the plural of “us” and “our”. Finally, this prayer for daily bread points us beyond only physical hunger to the spiritual hunger that afflicts many in our modern day. Jesus said he is “the bread of life”(Jn 6:35)— and in his body broken we discover the place where we can come with our physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs, and lay them before the God to whom all desires are known.

]]> There many ways you can focus your prayer i.e., worship, thanksgiving, confession, consecration. Jesus teaches us that we should focus at least a part of our prayer time in petitioning or asking God to meet our needs, referring to the phrase ”daily bread.” In the historical context of this passage, the people to whom Jesus was speaking would have been poor, with no safety net. Less than 10% of the population had the economic standing to have the luxury of surplus. ‘Give us this day our daily bread’; reminds us that our natural longings, for bread and all that it symbolizes, are not to be shunned as though they were of themselves less important. It also reminds us that our prayers of petition move beyond the individual and towards the communal needs as the prayer is rendered in the plural of “us” and “our”. Finally, this prayer for daily bread points us beyond only physical hunger to the spiritual hunger that afflicts many in our modern day. Jesus said he is “the bread of life”(Jn 6:35)— and in his body broken we discover the place where we can come with our physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs, and lay them before the God to whom all desires are known.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12939211 Mon, 29 May 2023 10:00:00 -0500 2426 full false Your Kingdom Come | Paul Walker | And When You Pray Jesus came announcing and enacting the Kingdom of God. Every parable, every teaching, and every personal encounter recorded in the Gospel’s ultimately tells us about King Jesus and his arriving Kingdom. It is perhaps surprising that Jesus asks his disciples to pray for the Kingdom to come, and the will of God to be done. This tells us that the Kingdom of God comes not through force, but through prayer, consent, and petition. We have a part to play! It also tells us that the Kingdom and the will of God have not yet fully arrived on earth as it is in heaven. This raises many questions of how God’s sovereignty is at work in the world. While we may not have the full answer to those questions, Jesus’ prayer teaches that us that we stand in the time between the now and the not yet full arrival of the Kingdom. When we pray these second and third petitions — we pray for God to act AND confess our alignment to that activity. To pray that God’s will be done is to pray that our wills be trained to desire that God’s will be done. This means our prayers matter, even when we cannot see the tangible results or what the will of God is for a specific situation. We must trust that prayer always accomplishes much, whether we can see it or not.

]]> Jesus came announcing and enacting the Kingdom of God. Every parable, every teaching, and every personal encounter recorded in the Gospel’s ultimately tells us about King Jesus and his arriving Kingdom. It is perhaps surprising that Jesus asks his disciples to pray for the Kingdom to come, and the will of God to be done. This tells us that the Kingdom of God comes not through force, but through prayer, consent, and petition. We have a part to play! It also tells us that the Kingdom and the will of God have not yet fully arrived on earth as it is in heaven. This raises many questions of how God’s sovereignty is at work in the world. While we may not have the full answer to those questions, Jesus’ prayer teaches that us that we stand in the time between the now and the not yet full arrival of the Kingdom. When we pray these second and third petitions — we pray for God to act AND confess our alignment to that activity. To pray that God’s will be done is to pray that our wills be trained to desire that God’s will be done. This means our prayers matter, even when we cannot see the tangible results or what the will of God is for a specific situation. We must trust that prayer always accomplishes much, whether we can see it or not.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12897846 Mon, 22 May 2023 15:00:00 -0500 2542 full false Hallowed Be Your Name | Paul Walker | And When You Pray Of all the lines in the Lord’s prayer, the phrase “Hallowed be Your Name” is one of the more confusing statements. We rarely use the word “hallowed” in our common day vocabulary— which means to honour, sanctify, set apart, and treat with the highest of respect. And even if we do, we might misinterpret this section of the prayer as directed first at our actions. The first three petitions of the Lord’s prayer are directed toward’s God’s activity. Jesus here petitions God to hallow God’s Name. To be sure, if God acts to honour God’s Name, then surely the followers of Jesus will too, but this text actually speaks first of a Divine action. This means all worship, adoration, and hallow-ing of God’s name is less of a request— and more of a confession about what is already true because of who God is and what God has done. It is an orientation of our hearts and lives to that supreme reality that refuses to make the Lord’s name vanity. (Ex 20:7) When we say "hallowed be thy name," we are making the adoration of God the ultimate concern of our lives. We are confessing what matters most to us and what we will give our ultimate allegiance. 

]]> Of all the lines in the Lord’s prayer, the phrase “Hallowed be Your Name” is one of the more confusing statements. We rarely use the word “hallowed” in our common day vocabulary— which means to honour, sanctify, set apart, and treat with the highest of respect. And even if we do, we might misinterpret this section of the prayer as directed first at our actions. The first three petitions of the Lord’s prayer are directed toward’s God’s activity. Jesus here petitions God to hallow God’s Name. To be sure, if God acts to honour God’s Name, then surely the followers of Jesus will too, but this text actually speaks first of a Divine action. This means all worship, adoration, and hallow-ing of God’s name is less of a request— and more of a confession about what is already true because of who God is and what God has done. It is an orientation of our hearts and lives to that supreme reality that refuses to make the Lord’s name vanity. (Ex 20:7) When we say "hallowed be thy name," we are making the adoration of God the ultimate concern of our lives. We are confessing what matters most to us and what we will give our ultimate allegiance. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12852899 Mon, 15 May 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2061 full false Our Father | Bradley Jersak | And When You Pray Jesus opens his prayer with the words “our Father who is in heaven”. “Our” reminds us that we pray not as isolated individuals but with the communion of the saints. Curiously, all of Jesus’ prayers, except his cry of dereliction (Mt 27:46), begin with “Father.” Of all the titles we use to refer to God, Jesus invites his disciples into his own familial relationship with the Father. However, the word “father” is a loaded term for those who have had broken relationships with their earthly fathers. We can tend to project our meaning of what fatherhood is onto Jesus’ understanding of the Heavenly Father. But how are we to understand our Father in Heaven?  And how might our view of Jesus’ Heavenly Father shape how we pray?

]]> Jesus opens his prayer with the words “our Father who is in heaven”. “Our” reminds us that we pray not as isolated individuals but with the communion of the saints. Curiously, all of Jesus’ prayers, except his cry of dereliction (Mt 27:46), begin with “Father.” Of all the titles we use to refer to God, Jesus invites his disciples into his own familial relationship with the Father. However, the word “father” is a loaded term for those who have had broken relationships with their earthly fathers. We can tend to project our meaning of what fatherhood is onto Jesus’ understanding of the Heavenly Father. But how are we to understand our Father in Heaven?  And how might our view of Jesus’ Heavenly Father shape how we pray?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12802809 Sun, 07 May 2023 19:00:00 -0500 2217 full false When You Pray | Paul Walker | Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that prayer was essential to our life with God, and the very heart of how we move through the world. He said to his disciples “When you pray…” Jesus didn’t say “If you pray…” or “On those occasions you happen to think about prayer…” He wanted his followers to know that the practice of prayer is indispensable, not a nice add-on. Yet, many of us struggle to incorporate prayer as a meaningful rhythm and practice in our day to day lives. We may even feel frustration, guilt, or burdened by the whole practice. In the next few weeks, we want to slow down our pace in the Sermon on the Mount to hear from Jesus how to pray. In this opening section on prayer, we want to zoom out and ask what prayer is, why we do it, and explore the various forms of prayer throughout Scripture. 

]]> Jesus taught that prayer was essential to our life with God, and the very heart of how we move through the world. He said to his disciples “When you pray…” Jesus didn’t say “If you pray…” or “On those occasions you happen to think about prayer…” He wanted his followers to know that the practice of prayer is indispensable, not a nice add-on. Yet, many of us struggle to incorporate prayer as a meaningful rhythm and practice in our day to day lives. We may even feel frustration, guilt, or burdened by the whole practice. In the next few weeks, we want to slow down our pace in the Sermon on the Mount to hear from Jesus how to pray. In this opening section on prayer, we want to zoom out and ask what prayer is, why we do it, and explore the various forms of prayer throughout Scripture. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12759373 Mon, 01 May 2023 13:00:00 -0500 2531 full false Motive Check | Precious Abiodun | Sermon on the Mount Few things frustrate us more than a person who is all show and no substance, and Jesus had quite a few things to say about the hypocrites of his day. Jesus called the religious leaders hypocrites because they hid behind meaningless performances of self-righteousness. Their public displays of spirituality were really about judgment of others and approval for themselves, and not about the pursuit of an authentic relationship with God. In response, Jesus invited them to step out from behind their masks and get real before God. Jesus invites us to do the same. We are invited to move beyond outward approval seeking, virtue signalling, and putting ourselves at the centre of our world. So many of us live under the suffocating weight of the approval (or disapproval) of other people. Draining our already-low energy reserves in an attempt to look good, rather than be good. Jesus invites us to an other-oriented self-forgetful spirituality of the ‘secret place’ that is motivated by devotion and love to our Heavenly Father. That is our great reward. 

]]> Few things frustrate us more than a person who is all show and no substance, and Jesus had quite a few things to say about the hypocrites of his day. Jesus called the religious leaders hypocrites because they hid behind meaningless performances of self-righteousness. Their public displays of spirituality were really about judgment of others and approval for themselves, and not about the pursuit of an authentic relationship with God. In response, Jesus invited them to step out from behind their masks and get real before God. Jesus invites us to do the same. We are invited to move beyond outward approval seeking, virtue signalling, and putting ourselves at the centre of our world. So many of us live under the suffocating weight of the approval (or disapproval) of other people. Draining our already-low energy reserves in an attempt to look good, rather than be good. Jesus invites us to an other-oriented self-forgetful spirituality of the ‘secret place’ that is motivated by devotion and love to our Heavenly Father. That is our great reward. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12714003 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0500 2215 full false The Perfect Church | Paul Walker + Dr. Jeromey Martini | Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells his disciples to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”(5.48) This can sound like an impossible ideal from Jesus. Really, how can anyone be perfect? The key to understanding this passage is “therefore,” because it shows us that this verse is the conclusion of the previous verses. This verse is a calling to live in perfect unity, as the previous verses focus on how Jesus wants us to treat one another. The perfection that we are called to live is discovered in our relationships. Thus, Jesus is urging his followers to be “perfect in love” or to “love completely” in the sense that they are to love not only fellow Jewish neighbours but also enemy neighbours. This is why in the parallel passage in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”(Lk 6:36) This challenges us to form different sorts of communities in which love is lavished indiscriminately. Yet, so much of how we form community is through a “bounded set”sense of belonging—- in which we love those who believe and behave as we do. Jesus invites us to flip the script and love without boundaries.

]]> Jesus tells his disciples to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”(5.48) This can sound like an impossible ideal from Jesus. Really, how can anyone be perfect? The key to understanding this passage is “therefore,” because it shows us that this verse is the conclusion of the previous verses. This verse is a calling to live in perfect unity, as the previous verses focus on how Jesus wants us to treat one another. The perfection that we are called to live is discovered in our relationships. Thus, Jesus is urging his followers to be “perfect in love” or to “love completely” in the sense that they are to love not only fellow Jewish neighbours but also enemy neighbours. This is why in the parallel passage in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”(Lk 6:36) This challenges us to form different sorts of communities in which love is lavished indiscriminately. Yet, so much of how we form community is through a “bounded set”sense of belonging—- in which we love those who believe and behave as we do. Jesus invites us to flip the script and love without boundaries.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12660549 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:00:00 -0500 2336 full false The Words of Resurrection | Resurrection Sunday 2023 With the announcement of resurrection ringing in their ears, the disciples make their way to Galilee and “to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.”(28.16) This is no accidental location. In the Gospel of Matthew, mountains are associated with revelation as a symbolic place where heaven meets earth. Jesus is tested on a mountain (4:8), teaches a sermon on a mountain (5:1), is transfigured on a mountain (17:1), and now meets his bewildered disciples on a mountain. The final mountain is in Galilee, symbolically on the border of the wild “sea” of the nations. It is on this mountain that the disciples will discover that resurrection means nothing will ever be the same again. New creation has burst out of the tomb. Jesus has received all authority and will commission his disciples to “go make disciples of all nations” (28:19). In this great commission, we learn that we are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection—- that we are risen. And if we are risen— people of new creation— then we have work to do. 

]]> With the announcement of resurrection ringing in their ears, the disciples make their way to Galilee and “to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.”(28.16) This is no accidental location. In the Gospel of Matthew, mountains are associated with revelation as a symbolic place where heaven meets earth. Jesus is tested on a mountain (4:8), teaches a sermon on a mountain (5:1), is transfigured on a mountain (17:1), and now meets his bewildered disciples on a mountain. The final mountain is in Galilee, symbolically on the border of the wild “sea” of the nations. It is on this mountain that the disciples will discover that resurrection means nothing will ever be the same again. New creation has burst out of the tomb. Jesus has received all authority and will commission his disciples to “go make disciples of all nations” (28:19). In this great commission, we learn that we are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection—- that we are risen. And if we are risen— people of new creation— then we have work to do. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12623151 Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0500 1510 full false The Words of the Cross | Good Friday 2023 Today you are invited to bear witness to the Words of the Cross. Jesus’ journey to the Cross culminates in the actions of men to put him there. As Peter will later say, "with the help of wicked men, you put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”(Acts 2:23) The Cross is first something that is done to Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew bears witness to the words and actions that placed Perfect Love upon the tree. Today, you are invited to bear witness to Words of the Cross: the betrayal of Judas, the rejection of the high priest, the condemnation by Pilate, the mocking of the soldiers, and finally Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial. Jesus bears these words of the Cross spoken over him. And in entering into our accusation, Jesus reveals the height, depth, and length of just how far God would go to save us. 

]]> Today you are invited to bear witness to the Words of the Cross. Jesus’ journey to the Cross culminates in the actions of men to put him there. As Peter will later say, "with the help of wicked men, you put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”(Acts 2:23) The Cross is first something that is done to Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew bears witness to the words and actions that placed Perfect Love upon the tree. Today, you are invited to bear witness to Words of the Cross: the betrayal of Judas, the rejection of the high priest, the condemnation by Pilate, the mocking of the soldiers, and finally Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial. Jesus bears these words of the Cross spoken over him. And in entering into our accusation, Jesus reveals the height, depth, and length of just how far God would go to save us. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12609852 Fri, 07 Apr 2023 16:00:00 -0500 4261 full false Revolution | Katrine Marcoux | Dust and Ashes Jesus is making his Triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As he enters the city, the people lay their cloaks and palm branches on the ground in an act of reverence. The people proclaim “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”(v9) It is a public declaration that Jesus is the King— the Messiah. The whole city was stirred at this proclamation asking, “who is this?” Jesus then immediately clears the temple as a prophetic announcement of his identity as Messiah. Jesus heals the lame and blind, and the children sing out “Hosanna to the Son of David”. In these acts, Jesus is bringing a revolution, but not through some wild show of force. Jesus is reordering the temple to work against the nationalistic impulse that had caused the money changers to set up shop in the outer court — the only place reserved for Gentiles to gather in worship. Similarly, the blind and lame were not allowed to enter the Temple. (Lev 21:18) But to everyone’s surprise, Jesus’ revolution causes those who previously were unwelcome in the temple to now be welcomed in. But not all are cheering the arrival of this revolution. The chief priests and teachers of the law are left “indignant”(v15) at the sight of Jesus’ Messianic announcement. Jesus’ shutting down of the Temple assumed that he had the authority to do so. This was not welcomed by those who had a stake in the ethnic and nationalistic divisions in Israel. 

In this season of Lent, we raise our voices in welcome of the Son of David. And we ask Jesus to challenge our systems of othering and division so that we can more faithfully live into his Kingdom revolution. 

]]> Jesus is making his Triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As he enters the city, the people lay their cloaks and palm branches on the ground in an act of reverence. The people proclaim “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”(v9) It is a public declaration that Jesus is the King— the Messiah. The whole city was stirred at this proclamation asking, “who is this?” Jesus then immediately clears the temple as a prophetic announcement of his identity as Messiah. Jesus heals the lame and blind, and the children sing out “Hosanna to the Son of David”. In these acts, Jesus is bringing a revolution, but not through some wild show of force. Jesus is reordering the temple to work against the nationalistic impulse that had caused the money changers to set up shop in the outer court — the only place reserved for Gentiles to gather in worship. Similarly, the blind and lame were not allowed to enter the Temple. (Lev 21:18) But to everyone’s surprise, Jesus’ revolution causes those who previously were unwelcome in the temple to now be welcomed in. But not all are cheering the arrival of this revolution. The chief priests and teachers of the law are left “indignant”(v15) at the sight of Jesus’ Messianic announcement. Jesus’ shutting down of the Temple assumed that he had the authority to do so. This was not welcomed by those who had a stake in the ethnic and nationalistic divisions in Israel. 

In this season of Lent, we raise our voices in welcome of the Son of David. And we ask Jesus to challenge our systems of othering and division so that we can more faithfully live into his Kingdom revolution. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12579161 Mon, 03 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2502 full false Mercy | Carolyn Klassen | Dust and Ashes Jesus has left Jericho and set out on his journey towards Jerusalem. Ahead of him is a confrontation with the religious and political authorities. Ahead of him is the long vertical ascent along the pilgrim paths and towards the city of Zion. A large crowd follows Jesus as he sets out from Jericho. Sitting by the roadside are two blind men who hear Jesus passing by. They cry out, “Lord, have mercy on us, son of David.”(v30) The crowds attempt to silence the blind men— perhaps assuming that they are merely wanting a monetary offering. But Jesus sees these two blind men through the cacophony of the crowd. Jesus see what the crowd is tempted to silence. He asks what they want of him and they reply, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”(v33) Jesus is moved with compassion. He touches their eyes, and heals them. 

We, like the two blind men, often need healing for our vision. We can fail to see clearly. We have the capacity to close our eyes, and harden our hearts. We too can be beggars on the wayside wondering if our cries are heard through the noise of the crowd. And so in this season of Lent, we learn to call out, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.” The good news is that Jesus always hears our cries for mercy.

]]> Jesus has left Jericho and set out on his journey towards Jerusalem. Ahead of him is a confrontation with the religious and political authorities. Ahead of him is the long vertical ascent along the pilgrim paths and towards the city of Zion. A large crowd follows Jesus as he sets out from Jericho. Sitting by the roadside are two blind men who hear Jesus passing by. They cry out, “Lord, have mercy on us, son of David.”(v30) The crowds attempt to silence the blind men— perhaps assuming that they are merely wanting a monetary offering. But Jesus sees these two blind men through the cacophony of the crowd. Jesus see what the crowd is tempted to silence. He asks what they want of him and they reply, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”(v33) Jesus is moved with compassion. He touches their eyes, and heals them. 

We, like the two blind men, often need healing for our vision. We can fail to see clearly. We have the capacity to close our eyes, and harden our hearts. We too can be beggars on the wayside wondering if our cries are heard through the noise of the crowd. And so in this season of Lent, we learn to call out, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.” The good news is that Jesus always hears our cries for mercy.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12525152 Mon, 27 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2452 full false The Forgiveness Question | Carolyn Klassen | Dust and Ashes In Jesus’ day, there was a tradition taught by some Rabbi’s that a person is only obligated to forgive someone three times. It was commonly understood that forgiveness came with limitations. Peter approaches his Rabbi Jesus with a question about the limitations of forgiveness. “How many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”(v21) Peter was exceeding generous in his application of forgiveness as he has more than doubled the number of times one should forgive! Peter’s question presupposes that he is the one who has sinned against him. He assumes that he is in a position of power against the one who has wronged him.
Jesus’ reply reorients the whole conversation. Peter must learn that he has first been forgiven not seven times, but seventy—seven times. Or in other words, there is no limitation on the forgiveness offered by the Father through the Son. Jesus then tells a subversive parable in which un-forgiveness is likened to an unmerciful servant who harshly collects on his debts, even though he has been forgiven an impossible amount. The point of the parable is that we must learn to forgive as we have been forgiven. 

In this season of Lent, we learn that forgiveness is the name of love practised among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day. That is the great work of love shown to us by Jesus. 

]]> In Jesus’ day, there was a tradition taught by some Rabbi’s that a person is only obligated to forgive someone three times. It was commonly understood that forgiveness came with limitations. Peter approaches his Rabbi Jesus with a question about the limitations of forgiveness. “How many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”(v21) Peter was exceeding generous in his application of forgiveness as he has more than doubled the number of times one should forgive! Peter’s question presupposes that he is the one who has sinned against him. He assumes that he is in a position of power against the one who has wronged him.
Jesus’ reply reorients the whole conversation. Peter must learn that he has first been forgiven not seven times, but seventy—seven times. Or in other words, there is no limitation on the forgiveness offered by the Father through the Son. Jesus then tells a subversive parable in which un-forgiveness is likened to an unmerciful servant who harshly collects on his debts, even though he has been forgiven an impossible amount. The point of the parable is that we must learn to forgive as we have been forgiven. 

In this season of Lent, we learn that forgiveness is the name of love practised among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day. That is the great work of love shown to us by Jesus. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12479760 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:00:00 -0500 2787 full false The Way of Suffering | Christie Penner Worden | Dust and Ashes In Matthew 16, Jesus and his disciples enter the region of Caesarea Philippi— a city on the border between the Gentile world and Israel. Jesus uses the opportunity to ask a probing question: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”(v13) There were all sorts of replies to that question, but Peter is one who dares to say what the other disciples only think. Peter says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”(v16) Jesus confirms this heaven sent confession of Peter’s as revealed from his Heavenly Father. It’s on this confession that he will build his church. Jesus then describes how the Messiah’s Kingdom will come. “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”(v21) This was not what the disciples expected. They thought the Messiah was going to kick the Gentiles out, not die at their hands. Peter can’t bear the thought of a suffering and dying Messiah, and so he cries out, “never Lord!” Jesus rebukes Peter’s objection as the word of the accuser— the satan— who does not have in mind the things of heaven. Peter doesn’t realize that how the Kingdom comes, is what the Kingdom is.

We, like Peter, often struggle to imagine that any good can come through a suffering and dying Messiah. We want the Kingdom to come like all the other kingdoms and empires of the world. We want the upward path of success, power, and achievement. 

In this season of Lent, we learn that whoever wants to be a disciple of Jesus must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow him in our own the way of suffering. This may sound like foolishness, but the promise of Jesus is that when we give up our lives, we find them. 

]]> In Matthew 16, Jesus and his disciples enter the region of Caesarea Philippi— a city on the border between the Gentile world and Israel. Jesus uses the opportunity to ask a probing question: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”(v13) There were all sorts of replies to that question, but Peter is one who dares to say what the other disciples only think. Peter says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”(v16) Jesus confirms this heaven sent confession of Peter’s as revealed from his Heavenly Father. It’s on this confession that he will build his church. Jesus then describes how the Messiah’s Kingdom will come. “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”(v21) This was not what the disciples expected. They thought the Messiah was going to kick the Gentiles out, not die at their hands. Peter can’t bear the thought of a suffering and dying Messiah, and so he cries out, “never Lord!” Jesus rebukes Peter’s objection as the word of the accuser— the satan— who does not have in mind the things of heaven. Peter doesn’t realize that how the Kingdom comes, is what the Kingdom is.

We, like Peter, often struggle to imagine that any good can come through a suffering and dying Messiah. We want the Kingdom to come like all the other kingdoms and empires of the world. We want the upward path of success, power, and achievement. 

In this season of Lent, we learn that whoever wants to be a disciple of Jesus must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow him in our own the way of suffering. This may sound like foolishness, but the promise of Jesus is that when we give up our lives, we find them. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12439741 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0500 2478 full false Rejection + Offence | Hannah Guerrero | Dust and Ashes Jesus begins Matthew 13 with a parable of the sower. It’s a parable about a farmer who sowed seed into four kinds of soil: the path, the rocky soil, the thorns and weeds, and finally the good soil. This parable serves as an analogy about how people receive the message of the Kingdom.(v.19) Not everyone who hears the Kingdom message will accept it. “For the people’s hearts have become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”(v.15) At the end of Matthew 13, the parable becomes embodied in the reception of Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth. They are amazed and shocked that this mere carpenters son is teaching and healing with miraculous powers. And so “they took offence at him.”(v.57) Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth foreshadows the wider rejection of his message and ministry by his Jewish contemporaries. Their challenge to his prophetic and healing powers is a distant sign of the violent challenge that would come from the chief priests, and the Roman soldiers, right at the end.

We are reminded in the parable of the sower and Jesus’ hometown rejection, that the message of the Kingdom is not something that is always joyfully received. As N.T. Wright suggests, “If new creation and new life are going forward, those who have invested heavily in the old creation, the old ways of life, are bound to be offended.” As we journey through the season of Lent, we want to name that following Jesus will sometimes come with rejection from without —-and from within our own hearts. And so we need to ask ourselves: Where are our hearts calloused? Where might we be resistant to the message of Jesus? What is the condition of our own soil? 

]]> Jesus begins Matthew 13 with a parable of the sower. It’s a parable about a farmer who sowed seed into four kinds of soil: the path, the rocky soil, the thorns and weeds, and finally the good soil. This parable serves as an analogy about how people receive the message of the Kingdom.(v.19) Not everyone who hears the Kingdom message will accept it. “For the people’s hearts have become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”(v.15) At the end of Matthew 13, the parable becomes embodied in the reception of Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth. They are amazed and shocked that this mere carpenters son is teaching and healing with miraculous powers. And so “they took offence at him.”(v.57) Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth foreshadows the wider rejection of his message and ministry by his Jewish contemporaries. Their challenge to his prophetic and healing powers is a distant sign of the violent challenge that would come from the chief priests, and the Roman soldiers, right at the end.

We are reminded in the parable of the sower and Jesus’ hometown rejection, that the message of the Kingdom is not something that is always joyfully received. As N.T. Wright suggests, “If new creation and new life are going forward, those who have invested heavily in the old creation, the old ways of life, are bound to be offended.” As we journey through the season of Lent, we want to name that following Jesus will sometimes come with rejection from without —-and from within our own hearts. And so we need to ask ourselves: Where are our hearts calloused? Where might we be resistant to the message of Jesus? What is the condition of our own soil? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12385582 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0600 2597 full false The Wilderness | Paul Walker | Dust and Ashes In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus’ ministry begins not with the roar of the crowds, but with the invitation of the Holy Spirit into the Wilderness. Out of the wilderness, Jesus will launch his public ministry, call his first disciples, and announce and enact the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, before all this takes place Jesus is first called into the wilderness. The wilderness is a place of lacking, and longing. It is emblematic of a season of testing, and refinement. In the wilderness, Jesus is tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread, to seize control of the kingdoms of this world, and to jump off the temple to make a clear display of God’s power by the public rescue of angels. The devil tries to bring Jesus over to his side, by grasping the right goal but through the wrong means. 

As we journey through this season of Lent, we begin not with a shout but with a time of self-examination and testing, because we also are guilty of grasping the right goal with the wrong means. We often fail to see our inward motivations. So the invitation of the Holy Spirit is towards the wilderness— the season of examination, testing, and refinement. This invitation can feel like losing. But in Jesus we learn true spiritual growth is not found in the acclaim of victorious self-assent, but in the self-emptying dependency that is indicative of the wilderness season. 

]]> In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus’ ministry begins not with the roar of the crowds, but with the invitation of the Holy Spirit into the Wilderness. Out of the wilderness, Jesus will launch his public ministry, call his first disciples, and announce and enact the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, before all this takes place Jesus is first called into the wilderness. The wilderness is a place of lacking, and longing. It is emblematic of a season of testing, and refinement. In the wilderness, Jesus is tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread, to seize control of the kingdoms of this world, and to jump off the temple to make a clear display of God’s power by the public rescue of angels. The devil tries to bring Jesus over to his side, by grasping the right goal but through the wrong means. 

As we journey through this season of Lent, we begin not with a shout but with a time of self-examination and testing, because we also are guilty of grasping the right goal with the wrong means. We often fail to see our inward motivations. So the invitation of the Holy Spirit is towards the wilderness— the season of examination, testing, and refinement. This invitation can feel like losing. But in Jesus we learn true spiritual growth is not found in the acclaim of victorious self-assent, but in the self-emptying dependency that is indicative of the wilderness season. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12338015 Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0600 3058 full false Learning to Love Your Enemies | Jon Hand | Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us to love our enemies. He doesn’t mean a hypothetical imagined enemy either. When Jesus said ‘love your enemies’, everyone listening in could identify an enemy in the Roman occupation of Israel. So on the surface, this teaching goes against all reason. It is a love that goes beyond common sense. This teaching reflects the love revealed at the Cross, and this goes against our instincts of self-preservation which we have all been enculturated to believe. We are trained to operate within the logic of the myth of redemptive violence, which assumes that violence solves problems. Jesus enters into our binary world of retributive violence or inaction and asks his followers to consider third-way creative responses. Jesus wants his disciples to go further than the law which only tried to minimize and restrain retributive violence (Eg. An eye for an eye) by overcoming evil with good and loving those who are not like us. To live out this teaching is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot will our way or easily make ourselves love our enemies. We can only love our enemies when we have been deeply loved by God. We can only love our enemies when we realize that “while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son”. (Rom 5:10)

]]> Jesus tells us to love our enemies. He doesn’t mean a hypothetical imagined enemy either. When Jesus said ‘love your enemies’, everyone listening in could identify an enemy in the Roman occupation of Israel. So on the surface, this teaching goes against all reason. It is a love that goes beyond common sense. This teaching reflects the love revealed at the Cross, and this goes against our instincts of self-preservation which we have all been enculturated to believe. We are trained to operate within the logic of the myth of redemptive violence, which assumes that violence solves problems. Jesus enters into our binary world of retributive violence or inaction and asks his followers to consider third-way creative responses. Jesus wants his disciples to go further than the law which only tried to minimize and restrain retributive violence (Eg. An eye for an eye) by overcoming evil with good and loving those who are not like us. To live out this teaching is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot will our way or easily make ourselves love our enemies. We can only love our enemies when we have been deeply loved by God. We can only love our enemies when we realize that “while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son”. (Rom 5:10)

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12285227 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0600 2858 full false Jesus Shaped Speech | Bob Marsch | Sermon on the Mount Israelites took oaths that made their statements legally obligating because they implored the presence of God in the commitment—but this only happened because half-truths, deceptions, and lies were all too common. To take oaths was to assume that honest speech was not always present. Jesus speaks to a culture of legal oath-taking and calls his disciples to go further into truthful and honest speech. Jesus desires a Kingdom reality where people can let their ‘yes’ be a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ be a ‘no’. We might view the practice of open honesty as naive and unwise in our culture of false advertising and legal loopholes. However, Jesus is imagining a future Kingdom reality where honest and truthful speech is a given — and is calling his disciples to live in this future now. We live Jesus-shaped speech into our world when we live with utter honesty and work against systems where dishonesty has become systemic. We live into Jesus-shaped speech when we refuse to use legal means as a basis to control a narrative. We live into Jesus-shaped speech when our words refuse to be co-opted by false narratives and half-truths to benefit ourselves. Jesus blesses those who long for righteousness and justice— and that justice extends to our speech. 

]]> Israelites took oaths that made their statements legally obligating because they implored the presence of God in the commitment—but this only happened because half-truths, deceptions, and lies were all too common. To take oaths was to assume that honest speech was not always present. Jesus speaks to a culture of legal oath-taking and calls his disciples to go further into truthful and honest speech. Jesus desires a Kingdom reality where people can let their ‘yes’ be a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ be a ‘no’. We might view the practice of open honesty as naive and unwise in our culture of false advertising and legal loopholes. However, Jesus is imagining a future Kingdom reality where honest and truthful speech is a given — and is calling his disciples to live in this future now. We live Jesus-shaped speech into our world when we live with utter honesty and work against systems where dishonesty has become systemic. We live into Jesus-shaped speech when we refuse to use legal means as a basis to control a narrative. We live into Jesus-shaped speech when our words refuse to be co-opted by false narratives and half-truths to benefit ourselves. Jesus blesses those who long for righteousness and justice— and that justice extends to our speech. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12251953 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0600 2584 full false Re-Humanizing Objectified People | Paul Walker | Sermon on the Mount Jesus continues his antitheses statements by addressing adultery and divorce. The Law prohibited adultery, which is having sex with anyone other than your spouse. Jesus goes further than the law by speaking against the root cause of adultery: lust. Lust is when we look to desire and intentionally foster sexual temptation and arousal through the imagination. Jesus is against lust because it causes us to dehumanize others and treat them like objects. Similarly, Jesus speaks against the dehumanizing practice of men writing certificates of divorce to their wives for "any reason”(19.3). The relaxed practices of divorce in Jesus’ day empowered patriarchal structures and disempowered mutuality in marriage. Jesus has in mind a view of sexuality that is grounded in covenant faithfulness, mutuality, love, and goodness. When our sexuality is grounded in merely gratifying personal desires, we run the risk of going down the path of destruction. Jesus is teaching that when you treat people as objects for your gratification you are moving in a direction that is absolutely contrary to the direction of the Kingdom of God. This is a road that moves away from life and love toward destruction and the fires of Gehenna. So as TMP seeks to follow the Jesus way— how might we ground our view of sexuality that is life-giving and not destructive? What does it look like to live into a sexuality that is grounded in covenant faithfulness, mutuality, goodness, and love? 

]]> Jesus continues his antitheses statements by addressing adultery and divorce. The Law prohibited adultery, which is having sex with anyone other than your spouse. Jesus goes further than the law by speaking against the root cause of adultery: lust. Lust is when we look to desire and intentionally foster sexual temptation and arousal through the imagination. Jesus is against lust because it causes us to dehumanize others and treat them like objects. Similarly, Jesus speaks against the dehumanizing practice of men writing certificates of divorce to their wives for "any reason”(19.3). The relaxed practices of divorce in Jesus’ day empowered patriarchal structures and disempowered mutuality in marriage. Jesus has in mind a view of sexuality that is grounded in covenant faithfulness, mutuality, love, and goodness. When our sexuality is grounded in merely gratifying personal desires, we run the risk of going down the path of destruction. Jesus is teaching that when you treat people as objects for your gratification you are moving in a direction that is absolutely contrary to the direction of the Kingdom of God. This is a road that moves away from life and love toward destruction and the fires of Gehenna. So as TMP seeks to follow the Jesus way— how might we ground our view of sexuality that is life-giving and not destructive? What does it look like to live into a sexuality that is grounded in covenant faithfulness, mutuality, goodness, and love? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12189374 Sun, 05 Feb 2023 17:00:00 -0600 2665 full false Murdering Our Hostilities | Lorelle Perry | Sermon on the Mount Murder was a serious offence in the Torah. (Numb.35:16-28) To deliberately kill another human was punishable by death. Even if the killing was unintentional, the guilty person would need to flee to a city of refuge to escape retaliation. Simply put, the Law tried to limit murder from getting out of hand by addressing the act of murder. Jesus enters into this discussion about murder with the first of his antitheses statements. “You’ve heard it said.. but I say to you”. Jesus reveals a fuller expression of God’s will for God’s people. In Jesus, we discover that the prohibition of murder is the surface expression of a deeper divine intent: Anger is counterintuitive to being people of reconciliation. If one master's anger, murder will never occur. Jesus is telling his followers that right-relationships matter even more than a sacrifice offered on the altar (V23-24). To follow Jesus is to be quick to reconcile with those who “have something against us”(v23). As we at TMP seek to follow Jesus— what might it mean to put to death our hostilities? What might it look like to be active agents in reconciliation?

]]> Murder was a serious offence in the Torah. (Numb.35:16-28) To deliberately kill another human was punishable by death. Even if the killing was unintentional, the guilty person would need to flee to a city of refuge to escape retaliation. Simply put, the Law tried to limit murder from getting out of hand by addressing the act of murder. Jesus enters into this discussion about murder with the first of his antitheses statements. “You’ve heard it said.. but I say to you”. Jesus reveals a fuller expression of God’s will for God’s people. In Jesus, we discover that the prohibition of murder is the surface expression of a deeper divine intent: Anger is counterintuitive to being people of reconciliation. If one master's anger, murder will never occur. Jesus is telling his followers that right-relationships matter even more than a sacrifice offered on the altar (V23-24). To follow Jesus is to be quick to reconcile with those who “have something against us”(v23). As we at TMP seek to follow Jesus— what might it mean to put to death our hostilities? What might it look like to be active agents in reconciliation?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12148667 Mon, 30 Jan 2023 13:00:00 -0600 2573 full false Laying Down the Law? | Paul Walker | Sermon on the Mount Jesus insists he’s come to fulfill the Old Testament, and fulfill it completely. He hyperbolically says “not one letter or stroke of the pen will pass away until I fulfill it.” He’s going to fulfill the law in a way that goes beyond the righteousness of the Pharisees, not by literally adhering to every letter or stroke of the pen—something Jesus obviously didn’t do. Jesus fulfilled the law by embodying the ultimate intention of the law. Jesus assumes God’s ultimate goal in giving the law wasn’t to simply get people to comply with behavioural rules. The ultimate goal behind the law was to establish people in “righteousness,” which means being people of justice and right-relatedness, or love. In his life, death and resurrection, Jesus illustrates a love for us so that we can live in it. (1 Jn 3:16-17) Our most central job is to receive this love, yield to this love, be transformed by this love, and then imitate this love. It is only through becoming people of Jesus-shaped love do we fulfill the intention of the law. 

]]> Jesus insists he’s come to fulfill the Old Testament, and fulfill it completely. He hyperbolically says “not one letter or stroke of the pen will pass away until I fulfill it.” He’s going to fulfill the law in a way that goes beyond the righteousness of the Pharisees, not by literally adhering to every letter or stroke of the pen—something Jesus obviously didn’t do. Jesus fulfilled the law by embodying the ultimate intention of the law. Jesus assumes God’s ultimate goal in giving the law wasn’t to simply get people to comply with behavioural rules. The ultimate goal behind the law was to establish people in “righteousness,” which means being people of justice and right-relatedness, or love. In his life, death and resurrection, Jesus illustrates a love for us so that we can live in it. (1 Jn 3:16-17) Our most central job is to receive this love, yield to this love, be transformed by this love, and then imitate this love. It is only through becoming people of Jesus-shaped love do we fulfill the intention of the law. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12102419 Mon, 23 Jan 2023 13:00:00 -0600 2458 full false Salty Jesus People | Hannah Guerrero | Sermon on the Mount The Sermon on the Mount begins with a list of counterintuitive blessings on an unlikely group of personalities. This list of blessings is a Kingdom manifesto called the Beatitudes, and it describes the sort of people through whom God is starting to bring wise and healing order to this world. After giving us the Beatitudes, Jesus then immediately begins talking about being salt and light. Salt & light people inhabit the way of Jesus to be a radical alternative to a darkened world. Both salt and light are images for impact on something else: salt impacts, for instance, meats, while light impacts darkness. It is important to understand that for Jesus, to be salt & light is to inhabit the blessings and characteristics of the Beatitudes. Too often, in the history of God’s people, the church has redefined salt & light through things like nationalism, partisan politics, culture wars, individualism, consumerism, and militarism. As a result, the church just looks like the rest of the world instead of a people who have something distinctive to offer the world. Our call is to embrace the salty & light-filled way of the Kingdom as an alternative to a world bitter with hate, sickness, disease and strife. This is our call.

]]> The Sermon on the Mount begins with a list of counterintuitive blessings on an unlikely group of personalities. This list of blessings is a Kingdom manifesto called the Beatitudes, and it describes the sort of people through whom God is starting to bring wise and healing order to this world. After giving us the Beatitudes, Jesus then immediately begins talking about being salt and light. Salt & light people inhabit the way of Jesus to be a radical alternative to a darkened world. Both salt and light are images for impact on something else: salt impacts, for instance, meats, while light impacts darkness. It is important to understand that for Jesus, to be salt & light is to inhabit the blessings and characteristics of the Beatitudes. Too often, in the history of God’s people, the church has redefined salt & light through things like nationalism, partisan politics, culture wars, individualism, consumerism, and militarism. As a result, the church just looks like the rest of the world instead of a people who have something distinctive to offer the world. Our call is to embrace the salty & light-filled way of the Kingdom as an alternative to a world bitter with hate, sickness, disease and strife. This is our call.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12047047 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 13:00:00 -0600 2793 full false The Best Sermon You Ever Heard! | Paul Walker | Sermon on the Mount We are kicking off our teaching series on the Sermon on the Mount by taking the time to hear the best sermon ever preached: The Sermon on the Mount. Our TMP Scripture Reading Team will read through the entire text of Jesus’ sermon as a way to prime us for this next series. 

We will then take some time to ask what it means for our community of The Meeting Place to engage in this call to follow the Jesus way. For some, this sermon only applies to a category of super-saints and extra-holy people. For others, this sermon is designed to function like the Law and show us that we can never be good enough— and cause us to call out for grace. And for others— Jesus’ teaching may apply in some future heaven, but it is not practical to live out now. Jesus does not seem to agree with any of the above approaches. The Sermon on the Mount begins with disciples leaving the crowd and sitting at his feet to learn and imitate him (5:1). Then when Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount, he finishes with the example of the wise and foolish builders. The wise builder is the one who "hears Jesus' words (meaning the previous body of teaching) and puts them into practice”. At TMP, we want to be a church that follows Jesus. So what might it mean for us to take the posture of disciple and not a member of the crowd? What might it mean for us to wisely build on the rock of Jesus’ teaching? 

Desired Outcome: To increase our Biblical literacy by reading the Sermon on the Mount—- and to ask questions of our readiness to be disciples and wise builders. 

Quotable Quote: “The difference between those who admire Jesus and those who would be his disciples is indicated by his disciple's willingness to “come to him” on the mountain. Jesus has seen the crowds. Matthew will tell us often that Jesus had compassion for the crowds or that he felt sorrow for them, but before he delivers the sermon we are told that he simply “saw the crowds”. He goes up on the mountain and the disciples follow him.” - Stanley Hauerwas 

]]> We are kicking off our teaching series on the Sermon on the Mount by taking the time to hear the best sermon ever preached: The Sermon on the Mount. Our TMP Scripture Reading Team will read through the entire text of Jesus’ sermon as a way to prime us for this next series. 

We will then take some time to ask what it means for our community of The Meeting Place to engage in this call to follow the Jesus way. For some, this sermon only applies to a category of super-saints and extra-holy people. For others, this sermon is designed to function like the Law and show us that we can never be good enough— and cause us to call out for grace. And for others— Jesus’ teaching may apply in some future heaven, but it is not practical to live out now. Jesus does not seem to agree with any of the above approaches. The Sermon on the Mount begins with disciples leaving the crowd and sitting at his feet to learn and imitate him (5:1). Then when Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount, he finishes with the example of the wise and foolish builders. The wise builder is the one who "hears Jesus' words (meaning the previous body of teaching) and puts them into practice”. At TMP, we want to be a church that follows Jesus. So what might it mean for us to take the posture of disciple and not a member of the crowd? What might it mean for us to wisely build on the rock of Jesus’ teaching? 

Desired Outcome: To increase our Biblical literacy by reading the Sermon on the Mount—- and to ask questions of our readiness to be disciples and wise builders. 

Quotable Quote: “The difference between those who admire Jesus and those who would be his disciples is indicated by his disciple's willingness to “come to him” on the mountain. Jesus has seen the crowds. Matthew will tell us often that Jesus had compassion for the crowds or that he felt sorrow for them, but before he delivers the sermon we are told that he simply “saw the crowds”. He goes up on the mountain and the disciples follow him.” - Stanley Hauerwas 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-12003947 Sun, 08 Jan 2023 17:00:00 -0600 2064 full false Prepare The Way | Brian Kauste | Do You See What I See? In Matthew 3 we meet Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. John the Baptist’s role was to prepare the way for Jesus. He was the embodiment of Isaiah’s vision of a “voice calling in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord”. (Is 40:3) John called the people of Israel to repentance and enacted this through baptism. The Church has a role that is similar to John’s. Just as he prepared the way for Christ 2000 years ago, we too are to prepare our lives to encounter Jesus, both now, and in expectation of his second coming. We are to live today as though Jesus is coming back at any time. We don’t live the way the world lives. We are a part of a revolution. We invest in the Kingdom. We revolt against the status quo. We work to bring about the Kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven. And as we do this, we hasten the Lord’s return. On New Years Day of 2023, what might it mean to prepare the way of the Lord in our own lives? 

]]> In Matthew 3 we meet Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. John the Baptist’s role was to prepare the way for Jesus. He was the embodiment of Isaiah’s vision of a “voice calling in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord”. (Is 40:3) John called the people of Israel to repentance and enacted this through baptism. The Church has a role that is similar to John’s. Just as he prepared the way for Christ 2000 years ago, we too are to prepare our lives to encounter Jesus, both now, and in expectation of his second coming. We are to live today as though Jesus is coming back at any time. We don’t live the way the world lives. We are a part of a revolution. We invest in the Kingdom. We revolt against the status quo. We work to bring about the Kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven. And as we do this, we hasten the Lord’s return. On New Years Day of 2023, what might it mean to prepare the way of the Lord in our own lives? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11960295 Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0600 2333 full false Far As The Curse Is Found | Paul Walker | Do You See What I See? The Magi do not return to Herod. The response from Herod is to eliminate any possible challenge to his power-hold over Israel. Herod commands that all male baby boys under two years old be put to death. It is a tragedy. Perhaps no event in the gospels challenges our sentimental depiction of Christmas than the slaughter of these innocents. Most North American Christians don’t like to sully their sentimental version of Christmas with the account of King Herod’s collateral damage. But Matthew gives a prophetic witness to truth that becomes good news for all those on the underside of empire and evil. God is not distant to the suffering of our world. God is like Jesus — born into a dark world of trouble, trial, violence, and fear. Jesus comes to shine his light far as the curse is found. Jesus comes to heal us of the curse and darkness that sin has wrought upon us. 

]]> The Magi do not return to Herod. The response from Herod is to eliminate any possible challenge to his power-hold over Israel. Herod commands that all male baby boys under two years old be put to death. It is a tragedy. Perhaps no event in the gospels challenges our sentimental depiction of Christmas than the slaughter of these innocents. Most North American Christians don’t like to sully their sentimental version of Christmas with the account of King Herod’s collateral damage. But Matthew gives a prophetic witness to truth that becomes good news for all those on the underside of empire and evil. God is not distant to the suffering of our world. God is like Jesus — born into a dark world of trouble, trial, violence, and fear. Jesus comes to shine his light far as the curse is found. Jesus comes to heal us of the curse and darkness that sin has wrought upon us. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11893238 Sun, 18 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0600 3221 full false The Unexpected Worshippers | Bob Marsch | Do You See What I See? We often picture the Magi as three Kings or three wise men who arrive alongside the shepherds in an epic Nativity evening of worship on an O Holy Night. The story that Scripture tells us is far more complicated. For starters, the Magi arrive on the scene after the birth of Jesus— likely years after the shepherds. (Mt 2:1) Secondly, the Magi were not kings, they were Persian astronomers, astrologers, magicians who discerned an auspicious sign in the stars and made a thousand mile journey to worship the Christ child in Bethlehem. In other words, the Magi are the last people you’d expect to show up in a story about the Jewish Messiah. And yet, the appearance of the Magi tells us that those on the outside and the fringes can find themselves at the centre of what God is doing. We learn in the story of the Magi that Jesus is calling all people to himself to worship and be transformed. And when we dare do this— we discover the journey home is by “another way”(2:12). 

]]> We often picture the Magi as three Kings or three wise men who arrive alongside the shepherds in an epic Nativity evening of worship on an O Holy Night. The story that Scripture tells us is far more complicated. For starters, the Magi arrive on the scene after the birth of Jesus— likely years after the shepherds. (Mt 2:1) Secondly, the Magi were not kings, they were Persian astronomers, astrologers, magicians who discerned an auspicious sign in the stars and made a thousand mile journey to worship the Christ child in Bethlehem. In other words, the Magi are the last people you’d expect to show up in a story about the Jewish Messiah. And yet, the appearance of the Magi tells us that those on the outside and the fringes can find themselves at the centre of what God is doing. We learn in the story of the Magi that Jesus is calling all people to himself to worship and be transformed. And when we dare do this— we discover the journey home is by “another way”(2:12). 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11859638 Mon, 12 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0600 2877 full false A Life Interrupted | Carolyn Klassen | Do You See What I See? Joseph was pledged to be married to Mary. As was the Jewish custom during the betrothal period, Joseph was probably away building a home and preparing for his marriage to Mary. Joseph surely had plans and dreams about what his future would look like. However, God had other plans for Joseph. Joseph’s life turned upside-down. Mary became pregnant. The child was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but Joseph did not believe this story. His future wife was pregnant and the child was not his. This was considered very scandalous, and his reputation within the community was probably at stake. Joseph first thought about divorcing Mary quietly, but then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him what to do. He could have not believed this, ignored the dream and said “no”. However, he listened and obeyed God, and the birth of the saviour of the world, Jesus, took place. In the same way that God spoke to Joseph, God is speaking to us. Jesus is looking for those who will listen to His voice and follow Him, even if that means giving up our own plans and dreams. 

]]> Joseph was pledged to be married to Mary. As was the Jewish custom during the betrothal period, Joseph was probably away building a home and preparing for his marriage to Mary. Joseph surely had plans and dreams about what his future would look like. However, God had other plans for Joseph. Joseph’s life turned upside-down. Mary became pregnant. The child was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but Joseph did not believe this story. His future wife was pregnant and the child was not his. This was considered very scandalous, and his reputation within the community was probably at stake. Joseph first thought about divorcing Mary quietly, but then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him what to do. He could have not believed this, ignored the dream and said “no”. However, he listened and obeyed God, and the birth of the saviour of the world, Jesus, took place. In the same way that God spoke to Joseph, God is speaking to us. Jesus is looking for those who will listen to His voice and follow Him, even if that means giving up our own plans and dreams. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11818609 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0600 2850 full false Bad Blood? | Paul Walker | Do You See What I See The Gospel of Matthew opens with a genealogy— or a family tree— of Jesus the Messiah. In our modern day, we tend not to care too much about genealogies and long family trees. We might even view genealogies as incidental information, but this list of Jesus’ family tree tells a story about Israel, a story about us, and even a story about God. In mentioning Jesus as “the son David, the son Abraham”(1:1) Matthew’s audience would be clued in about a story of royal lineage and covenant promises. They might expect that the Messiah and Saviour of the world would come from a long line of faultless heroes and notable dignitaries. The opposite is true of Jesus’ family record. You have the scandalous stories of Judah treating his daughter-in-law Tamar as a prostitute (1:3), Boaz being the son of the Jericho prostitute Rahab (1:5), David committing adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite (1:6), and even the recounting of exile (1:11,17). Matthew does not try to hide away the faults or sins of the past—and that is the point! Jesus willingly chose to unite himself to a broken family story in order to heal all our family stories. 

]]> The Gospel of Matthew opens with a genealogy— or a family tree— of Jesus the Messiah. In our modern day, we tend not to care too much about genealogies and long family trees. We might even view genealogies as incidental information, but this list of Jesus’ family tree tells a story about Israel, a story about us, and even a story about God. In mentioning Jesus as “the son David, the son Abraham”(1:1) Matthew’s audience would be clued in about a story of royal lineage and covenant promises. They might expect that the Messiah and Saviour of the world would come from a long line of faultless heroes and notable dignitaries. The opposite is true of Jesus’ family record. You have the scandalous stories of Judah treating his daughter-in-law Tamar as a prostitute (1:3), Boaz being the son of the Jericho prostitute Rahab (1:5), David committing adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite (1:6), and even the recounting of exile (1:11,17). Matthew does not try to hide away the faults or sins of the past—and that is the point! Jesus willingly chose to unite himself to a broken family story in order to heal all our family stories. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11782910 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0600 3109 full false Exile Suffering | Bob Marsch | Exiles There are some folks that like to suggest that the Christian life is one of endless prosperity and victory. Peter challenges this thinking by pointing to Jesus’ suffering and asking the church to “arm herself also with the same attitude.”(4:1) Peter is writing to a church who was experiencing persecution from the dominant culture. By publicly shaming them, the Greco-Roman culture was trying to pressure the believers to conform to the values and behaviours of the larger society.(4:4) Peter’s words serve as encouragement to keep his readers from becoming demoralized and possibly even giving up on their faith. Christians are not immune to suffering, and when it comes it should not be surprising.(4:12) Peter suggests that all Christians do not suffer alone, but should rejoice at their participation with Christ in their suffering (4:13). Paradoxically, insults become blessings when we suffer in the name of Jesus. (4:14) What might it mean for us to reframe suffering in such a way? 

Cultural Context:

Our cultural context is obsessed with avoiding pain, loss, and suffering. We do not want to suffer. Yet life brings its share of suffering. Suffering happens. Sometimes by happenstance, and sometimes as a result of the choices we’ve made. Peter is addressing a whole community who are suffering because of the choice to follow Jesus. While the temptation may be to give up and avoid pain, Peter is helping these churches— and us —to reframe suffering in light of Jesus’ example. This sort of suffering is counterintuitive to our culture, but to followers of Jesus this way of suffering — this way of the cross— is a new way of living in the world. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “When Christ calls a person, he bids them come and die”. 

]]> There are some folks that like to suggest that the Christian life is one of endless prosperity and victory. Peter challenges this thinking by pointing to Jesus’ suffering and asking the church to “arm herself also with the same attitude.”(4:1) Peter is writing to a church who was experiencing persecution from the dominant culture. By publicly shaming them, the Greco-Roman culture was trying to pressure the believers to conform to the values and behaviours of the larger society.(4:4) Peter’s words serve as encouragement to keep his readers from becoming demoralized and possibly even giving up on their faith. Christians are not immune to suffering, and when it comes it should not be surprising.(4:12) Peter suggests that all Christians do not suffer alone, but should rejoice at their participation with Christ in their suffering (4:13). Paradoxically, insults become blessings when we suffer in the name of Jesus. (4:14) What might it mean for us to reframe suffering in such a way? 

Cultural Context:

Our cultural context is obsessed with avoiding pain, loss, and suffering. We do not want to suffer. Yet life brings its share of suffering. Suffering happens. Sometimes by happenstance, and sometimes as a result of the choices we’ve made. Peter is addressing a whole community who are suffering because of the choice to follow Jesus. While the temptation may be to give up and avoid pain, Peter is helping these churches— and us —to reframe suffering in light of Jesus’ example. This sort of suffering is counterintuitive to our culture, but to followers of Jesus this way of suffering — this way of the cross— is a new way of living in the world. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “When Christ calls a person, he bids them come and die”. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11732426 Sun, 20 Nov 2022 17:00:00 -0600 2622 full false Exile People | Carolyn Klassen | Exiles Jesus saves us and calls us to be holy— but Jesus does not expect us to do this by ourselves. We are called to be in a relationship with other followers of Jesus. This is not just a hoped for outcome, but is what is ultimately true of all who confess Jesus as Lord. Those who follow Jesus are “being built into a spiritual house”(2:5) so that they are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”(2:9) Peter and the other NT authors never describe salvation in privatized terms. When we belong to Jesus, we belong to the church— a new people group. This group of foreigners and exiles (2:11) together exist as a counter culture who make their good deeds known to the culture around them (2:12). In doing good— by respecting, serving, honouring— the church can be a witness to the world around them.

Cultural Context:

Our default setting in our culture is that of individualism. There are some benefits to the individual self, there are also significant detriments when it comes to following Jesus. Community is at the very core of the Christian life. The early Church had a saying, “unus Christianus, nullus Christianus”: One Christian, no Christian. The very fabric of our faith is experienced in community. We gather to celebrate communion, marriage, baptism, and so on. And so in a world of “you do you” and “don’t tread on me” we must choose— of our own free will—- to belong to Jesus and each other. We desperately need deep, vulnerable, interdependent relationships that stand in sharp contrast to the superficiality and autonomy of our day. It is through such relationships that we are formed into a people who can offer an alternative way of being. Ultimately, we become like the relationships we cultivate and the culture to which we belong.

]]> Jesus saves us and calls us to be holy— but Jesus does not expect us to do this by ourselves. We are called to be in a relationship with other followers of Jesus. This is not just a hoped for outcome, but is what is ultimately true of all who confess Jesus as Lord. Those who follow Jesus are “being built into a spiritual house”(2:5) so that they are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.”(2:9) Peter and the other NT authors never describe salvation in privatized terms. When we belong to Jesus, we belong to the church— a new people group. This group of foreigners and exiles (2:11) together exist as a counter culture who make their good deeds known to the culture around them (2:12). In doing good— by respecting, serving, honouring— the church can be a witness to the world around them.

Cultural Context:

Our default setting in our culture is that of individualism. There are some benefits to the individual self, there are also significant detriments when it comes to following Jesus. Community is at the very core of the Christian life. The early Church had a saying, “unus Christianus, nullus Christianus”: One Christian, no Christian. The very fabric of our faith is experienced in community. We gather to celebrate communion, marriage, baptism, and so on. And so in a world of “you do you” and “don’t tread on me” we must choose— of our own free will—- to belong to Jesus and each other. We desperately need deep, vulnerable, interdependent relationships that stand in sharp contrast to the superficiality and autonomy of our day. It is through such relationships that we are formed into a people who can offer an alternative way of being. Ultimately, we become like the relationships we cultivate and the culture to which we belong.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11692881 Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0600 2463 full false Exile Ethics | Paul Walker | Exiles Peter uses some curious terms in the opening words of his first letter. He calls the churches in the eastern provinces “exiles” who are “scattered” throughout the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. This is a curious word choice because there is no historical evidence of an exile among these people. This is not a mistake by the Apostle Peter. The reason Peter uses the terms exile (parepidēmos ) and scattered (diaspora) rhetorically to emphasize how his readers are socially disconnected from the dominant culture. How did this exodus happen? Peter points us to the grand story of what the Triune God has done for us that culminates in Jesus our living hope (1:3). When we follow Jesus we are sanctified (1:2), forgiven (1:2) , given new birth (1:3), receive an imperishable inheritance (1:4) — all as we await the salvation that is revealed in the last days (1:5). When we follow Jesus we have a different way of existing in the world. We are exiles— and this changes how we relate to the world around us. 

Cultural Context: 

In 2022 there exists among various Christian groups different understandings of what it means to engage our world and culture. There is the nationalistic approach of trying to get a country to become a Christian nation. There is also the relativistic approach of conceding to the identity of the culture around us. Finally there is the escapist approach of trying to establish a Christian community that barriers itself off from the world. 1 Peter does not subscribe to any of these options. Rather, Peter borrows from the language of “exile” to formulate a way of being in the world but not of the world. This resonates with our current cultural climate in the global church.  We are entering a post-Christendom age in which Christianity is distanced from state and cultural power, and where Christians are now in exile in a strange land. Some may lament this change as a loss and tragedy, but what if the church does her best work from the margins as the salt and light of the world? What if in these rapidly changing and complex times we discover the sort of faithfulness that was present in the early church? 

]]> Peter uses some curious terms in the opening words of his first letter. He calls the churches in the eastern provinces “exiles” who are “scattered” throughout the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. This is a curious word choice because there is no historical evidence of an exile among these people. This is not a mistake by the Apostle Peter. The reason Peter uses the terms exile (parepidēmos ) and scattered (diaspora) rhetorically to emphasize how his readers are socially disconnected from the dominant culture. How did this exodus happen? Peter points us to the grand story of what the Triune God has done for us that culminates in Jesus our living hope (1:3). When we follow Jesus we are sanctified (1:2), forgiven (1:2) , given new birth (1:3), receive an imperishable inheritance (1:4) — all as we await the salvation that is revealed in the last days (1:5). When we follow Jesus we have a different way of existing in the world. We are exiles— and this changes how we relate to the world around us. 

Cultural Context: 

In 2022 there exists among various Christian groups different understandings of what it means to engage our world and culture. There is the nationalistic approach of trying to get a country to become a Christian nation. There is also the relativistic approach of conceding to the identity of the culture around us. Finally there is the escapist approach of trying to establish a Christian community that barriers itself off from the world. 1 Peter does not subscribe to any of these options. Rather, Peter borrows from the language of “exile” to formulate a way of being in the world but not of the world. This resonates with our current cultural climate in the global church.  We are entering a post-Christendom age in which Christianity is distanced from state and cultural power, and where Christians are now in exile in a strange land. Some may lament this change as a loss and tragedy, but what if the church does her best work from the margins as the salt and light of the world? What if in these rapidly changing and complex times we discover the sort of faithfulness that was present in the early church? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11641991 Sun, 06 Nov 2022 17:00:00 -0600 2169 full false A New Exodus? | Paul Walker | Exiles Peter uses some curious terms in the opening words of his first letter. He calls the churches in the eastern provinces “exiles” who are “scattered” throughout the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. This is a curious word choice because there is no historical evidence of an exile among these people. This is not a mistake by the Apostle Peter. The reason Peter uses the terms exile (parepidēmos ) and scattered (diaspora) rhetorically to emphasize how his readers are socially disconnected from the dominant culture. How did this exodus happen? Peter points us to the grand story of what the Triune God has done for us that culminates in Jesus our living hope (1:3). When we follow Jesus we are sanctified (1:2), forgiven (1:2) , given new birth (1:3), receive an imperishable inheritance (1:4) — all as we await the salvation that is revealed in the last days (1:5). When we follow Jesus we have a different way of existing in the world. We are exiles— and this changes how we relate to the world around us. 
Cultural Context: 

In 2022 there exists among various Christian groups different understandings of what it means to engage our world and culture. There is the nationalistic approach of trying to get a country to become a Christian nation. There is also the relativistic approach of conceding to the identity of the culture around us. Finally there is the escapist approach of trying to establish a Christian community that barriers itself off from the world. 1 Peter does not subscribe to any of these options. Rather, Peter borrows from the language of “exile” to formulate a way of being in the world but not of the world. This resonates with our current cultural climate in the global church.  We are entering a post-Christendom age in which Christianity is distanced from state and cultural power, and where Christians are now in exile in a strange land. Some may lament this change as a loss and tragedy, but what if the church does her best work from the margins as the salt and light of the world? What if in these rapidly changing and complex times we discover the sort of faithfulness that was present in the early church? 

]]> Peter uses some curious terms in the opening words of his first letter. He calls the churches in the eastern provinces “exiles” who are “scattered” throughout the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. This is a curious word choice because there is no historical evidence of an exile among these people. This is not a mistake by the Apostle Peter. The reason Peter uses the terms exile (parepidēmos ) and scattered (diaspora) rhetorically to emphasize how his readers are socially disconnected from the dominant culture. How did this exodus happen? Peter points us to the grand story of what the Triune God has done for us that culminates in Jesus our living hope (1:3). When we follow Jesus we are sanctified (1:2), forgiven (1:2) , given new birth (1:3), receive an imperishable inheritance (1:4) — all as we await the salvation that is revealed in the last days (1:5). When we follow Jesus we have a different way of existing in the world. We are exiles— and this changes how we relate to the world around us. 
Cultural Context: 

In 2022 there exists among various Christian groups different understandings of what it means to engage our world and culture. There is the nationalistic approach of trying to get a country to become a Christian nation. There is also the relativistic approach of conceding to the identity of the culture around us. Finally there is the escapist approach of trying to establish a Christian community that barriers itself off from the world. 1 Peter does not subscribe to any of these options. Rather, Peter borrows from the language of “exile” to formulate a way of being in the world but not of the world. This resonates with our current cultural climate in the global church.  We are entering a post-Christendom age in which Christianity is distanced from state and cultural power, and where Christians are now in exile in a strange land. Some may lament this change as a loss and tragedy, but what if the church does her best work from the margins as the salt and light of the world? What if in these rapidly changing and complex times we discover the sort of faithfulness that was present in the early church? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11595815 Sun, 30 Oct 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2392 full false God Does the Same Work Through Us and In Us | Precious Abiodun | Visio Dei Our culture is all about hustle. We want to get results and better our lives through hard work. This can be helpful to some extent, but unhelpful when we begin to believe that God cares more about what we do rather than the person we are becoming. It is totally possible to lead, teach, stack chairs, and do a lot of work for God, but have a deep disconnection to our inner lives. But the good news is that God does the same work through us and in us.  Jesus wants us to abide in him (John 15) and produce good fruit. This means that our doing for God should not exceed our being with God. What might it mean for us to pay attention to the inner work as much as our outer world?

]]> Our culture is all about hustle. We want to get results and better our lives through hard work. This can be helpful to some extent, but unhelpful when we begin to believe that God cares more about what we do rather than the person we are becoming. It is totally possible to lead, teach, stack chairs, and do a lot of work for God, but have a deep disconnection to our inner lives. But the good news is that God does the same work through us and in us.  Jesus wants us to abide in him (John 15) and produce good fruit. This means that our doing for God should not exceed our being with God. What might it mean for us to pay attention to the inner work as much as our outer world?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11552744 Sun, 23 Oct 2022 16:00:00 -0500 1879 full false God's Love Always Reckons With Power | Paul Walker | Visio Dei Jesus was born under Roman rule that saw the Jews as colonized people. He lived far away from religious, economic, and political power in the backwards town of Nazareth. In his ministry in ancient Israel, Jesus saw power better than anyone who has ever lived. He did that because in order to love people well he had to discern how power was at work in their lives. Throughout his ministry, Jesus will enact and announce a Kingdom that has a different approach to power structures. So in Mark 10, Jesus addresses divorce (10:1-10), children (10:13-16), and assumptions about the rich (10:17-31). In each of these cases, Jesus works against the assumed power structures at play by recognizing, redistributing, and redefining power. Jesus cares about how we love our neighbours, and that ultimately affects the way we think about power.

]]> Jesus was born under Roman rule that saw the Jews as colonized people. He lived far away from religious, economic, and political power in the backwards town of Nazareth. In his ministry in ancient Israel, Jesus saw power better than anyone who has ever lived. He did that because in order to love people well he had to discern how power was at work in their lives. Throughout his ministry, Jesus will enact and announce a Kingdom that has a different approach to power structures. So in Mark 10, Jesus addresses divorce (10:1-10), children (10:13-16), and assumptions about the rich (10:17-31). In each of these cases, Jesus works against the assumed power structures at play by recognizing, redistributing, and redefining power. Jesus cares about how we love our neighbours, and that ultimately affects the way we think about power.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11516373 Mon, 17 Oct 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2523 full false God Meets Us In Our Messy Reality | Katrine Marcoux | Visio Dei One of the unhelpful things we can sometimes believe is that God’s holiness causes God to keep a distance from broken people. We may even unconsciously believe that God is only present to our lives when we have it all together. To shield ourselves from this lie, we develop self-coping strategies that numb, deflect, distract, and bypass what is true.  But the good news is that God always meets us where we really are. God finds us in the mess of reality, and not the false realities and false selfs we create. The scandal of the incarnation is that God in Christ dwells with sinners. This means that we need to make the choice to name reality. God is powerfully at work when we name our messy reality and need of God. And just like Peter naming himself as “a sinful man”, we discover time and time again that confession leads to greater breakthrough. Jesus is not intimidated by Peter’s brokenness or ours. So what if we could trust Jesus with everything, and not just our manufactured false selves? 

]]> One of the unhelpful things we can sometimes believe is that God’s holiness causes God to keep a distance from broken people. We may even unconsciously believe that God is only present to our lives when we have it all together. To shield ourselves from this lie, we develop self-coping strategies that numb, deflect, distract, and bypass what is true.  But the good news is that God always meets us where we really are. God finds us in the mess of reality, and not the false realities and false selfs we create. The scandal of the incarnation is that God in Christ dwells with sinners. This means that we need to make the choice to name reality. God is powerfully at work when we name our messy reality and need of God. And just like Peter naming himself as “a sinful man”, we discover time and time again that confession leads to greater breakthrough. Jesus is not intimidated by Peter’s brokenness or ours. So what if we could trust Jesus with everything, and not just our manufactured false selves? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11466667 Sun, 09 Oct 2022 14:00:00 -0500 1817 full false God Is Just Like Jesus | Paul Walker | Visio Dei We all carry around ideas, images, and experiences of God. It is important to unearth these stories, these experiences, and pictures of God because the God we imagine is the God we become like. So what is God like? Some folks may have an image of God that resembles a deadbeat dad, a prosecuting attorney, or a master of puppets who secretly has some anger management issues. Ancient peoples imagined that the gods were like Zeus, Molech, or Loki. But really…. What is God like? The witness of Scripture is that God is like Jesus. Jesus is what God has to say! And this radical truth, reshapes everything. This means God is NOT a distant dead beat dad, an accuser of sin, or an almighty smiter. God is like Jesus! The Jesus who dwells with us, forgives sinners, heals the sick, sets up the Kingdom, and shows us a better way. The Jesus who lived, died, rose on the third day, and will come again. This Jesus is God with skin on. 

]]> We all carry around ideas, images, and experiences of God. It is important to unearth these stories, these experiences, and pictures of God because the God we imagine is the God we become like. So what is God like? Some folks may have an image of God that resembles a deadbeat dad, a prosecuting attorney, or a master of puppets who secretly has some anger management issues. Ancient peoples imagined that the gods were like Zeus, Molech, or Loki. But really…. What is God like? The witness of Scripture is that God is like Jesus. Jesus is what God has to say! And this radical truth, reshapes everything. This means God is NOT a distant dead beat dad, an accuser of sin, or an almighty smiter. God is like Jesus! The Jesus who dwells with us, forgives sinners, heals the sick, sets up the Kingdom, and shows us a better way. The Jesus who lived, died, rose on the third day, and will come again. This Jesus is God with skin on. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11437325 Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2013 full false God Is Always Present and at Work | Paul Walker | Visio Dei God’s design from the very beginning was that God would be with us and we would be with God. This design was resisted by the first humans when they chose to go their own way and welcome chaos and sin into God’s good creation. Did this stop God from being with us? Sometimes we may believe this to be the case. We can feel like God is somewhere else, out there in the universe. This is especially the case when we face the cruel vagaries of a broken world. But the good news is that God went with us out of the Garden. God is with us in Jesus. God is in us through the Holy Spirit. Just because it feels like God is absent does not mean it is true. The reality is that God is always at work, even if we don’t feel it. What would it mean for us to grasp the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God? What it mean for us to trust that God is at work long before you or I enter a situation? 

]]> God’s design from the very beginning was that God would be with us and we would be with God. This design was resisted by the first humans when they chose to go their own way and welcome chaos and sin into God’s good creation. Did this stop God from being with us? Sometimes we may believe this to be the case. We can feel like God is somewhere else, out there in the universe. This is especially the case when we face the cruel vagaries of a broken world. But the good news is that God went with us out of the Garden. God is with us in Jesus. God is in us through the Holy Spirit. Just because it feels like God is absent does not mean it is true. The reality is that God is always at work, even if we don’t feel it. What would it mean for us to grasp the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God? What it mean for us to trust that God is at work long before you or I enter a situation? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11396018 Tue, 27 Sep 2022 15:00:00 -0500 1932 full false God Is Love (So It's All About Love) | Lorelle Perry When you ask some folks about what God is like, you might get a discussion about words like omnipresent (all-present) , omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing). These categories may be helpful to some extent, but they tend to be a poor description when you consider that we need to become like God. Knowledge and power may be impressive and can get things done, but according to the Apostle Paul, “if I do not have love, I am nothing.”( 1 Cor 13:2) Christians can sometimes privilege knowledge and power at the expense of love—- and the fruit is not good. This why our vision of God needs to be shaped first by cruciform, self giving love. According to the Apostle John, God is love. (1 John 4:16) This means as we discover what love is, we will discover what God is like. This can come as a shock to those who have differing pictures of God. God is not just loving, among a whole host of other things. God is love, plus nothing. All of God’s characteristics — like judgment, sovereignty, holiness— are expressed through God’s essence which is love. That means our highest goal in any relationship is to embody love.

]]> When you ask some folks about what God is like, you might get a discussion about words like omnipresent (all-present) , omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing). These categories may be helpful to some extent, but they tend to be a poor description when you consider that we need to become like God. Knowledge and power may be impressive and can get things done, but according to the Apostle Paul, “if I do not have love, I am nothing.”( 1 Cor 13:2) Christians can sometimes privilege knowledge and power at the expense of love—- and the fruit is not good. This why our vision of God needs to be shaped first by cruciform, self giving love. According to the Apostle John, God is love. (1 John 4:16) This means as we discover what love is, we will discover what God is like. This can come as a shock to those who have differing pictures of God. God is not just loving, among a whole host of other things. God is love, plus nothing. All of God’s characteristics — like judgment, sovereignty, holiness— are expressed through God’s essence which is love. That means our highest goal in any relationship is to embody love.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11346660 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2313 full false God Finds Us | Paul Walker | Visio Dei We spend so much of our lives looking for wholeness. We search for the right career, relationship, friendship, or hobby to give us a sense that we’ve got it all together. We tell ourselves that things will be better on the other side of our search for enough. Many of us feel crushed that we can never find enough, and often resign ourselves to quiet desperation or nihilism. We can even do this with our vision of God. We can believe that God will be found on the other side of our efforts to search God out. Jesus corrects this sort of thinking in his two parables of a lost sheep, and a lost coin. In both parables, that which is lost does not find itself. As Robert Capon notes, “Neither the lost sheep nor the lost coin does a blessed thing except hang around in its lostness.”  The Good News is that God finds us. God chases us down and demonstrates that we are loved before we even know how to love. In the fall of 2022, many of us are searching for “something” after years of disorientation. What if our sense of lostness encountered the truth that God finds us? 

]]> We spend so much of our lives looking for wholeness. We search for the right career, relationship, friendship, or hobby to give us a sense that we’ve got it all together. We tell ourselves that things will be better on the other side of our search for enough. Many of us feel crushed that we can never find enough, and often resign ourselves to quiet desperation or nihilism. We can even do this with our vision of God. We can believe that God will be found on the other side of our efforts to search God out. Jesus corrects this sort of thinking in his two parables of a lost sheep, and a lost coin. In both parables, that which is lost does not find itself. As Robert Capon notes, “Neither the lost sheep nor the lost coin does a blessed thing except hang around in its lostness.”  The Good News is that God finds us. God chases us down and demonstrates that we are loved before we even know how to love. In the fall of 2022, many of us are searching for “something” after years of disorientation. What if our sense of lostness encountered the truth that God finds us? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11306293 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 15:00:00 -0500 1769 full false All Roads Lead to Rome | Lorelle Perry | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 The journey to Rome is finally complete. Jesus has sent his witnesses to the very ends of the earth. At the end of this story, Paul the disciple of Jesus, is under house arrest. This should not be imagined as though Paul was living in the suburbs, enjoying the peace and quiet of sequestered living. He is in prison with a soldier guarding him. Yet the Spirit is with him, present to guide and instruct. Luke has shown us that to be a disciple is to be bound to the Spirit and to be bound to the prison. Paul, like Peter and John and the many other disciples who found themselves in prison, learned that their lives were inextricably bound up with those placed behind bars and in chains. Paul is under the condition of incarceration, but even here we see the possibilities of an alternative space where the Kingdom of Jesus is advancing in the capital city of the Roman Empire. Paul welcomed all—Jew and Gentile alike, rich and poor—into his living space for the sake of the Gospel. We see the boldness born of the Holy Spirit displayed in preaching, teaching, and hospitality. Paul waits for his day in the court of the emperor, but while he waits, he serves. His prison will not keep him from being a disciple of Jesus. Instead, the one in chains is actually “without hinderance”. (v31)

]]> The journey to Rome is finally complete. Jesus has sent his witnesses to the very ends of the earth. At the end of this story, Paul the disciple of Jesus, is under house arrest. This should not be imagined as though Paul was living in the suburbs, enjoying the peace and quiet of sequestered living. He is in prison with a soldier guarding him. Yet the Spirit is with him, present to guide and instruct. Luke has shown us that to be a disciple is to be bound to the Spirit and to be bound to the prison. Paul, like Peter and John and the many other disciples who found themselves in prison, learned that their lives were inextricably bound up with those placed behind bars and in chains. Paul is under the condition of incarceration, but even here we see the possibilities of an alternative space where the Kingdom of Jesus is advancing in the capital city of the Roman Empire. Paul welcomed all—Jew and Gentile alike, rich and poor—into his living space for the sake of the Gospel. We see the boldness born of the Holy Spirit displayed in preaching, teaching, and hospitality. Paul waits for his day in the court of the emperor, but while he waits, he serves. His prison will not keep him from being a disciple of Jesus. Instead, the one in chains is actually “without hinderance”. (v31)

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11270907 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2294 full false How to Survive a Shipwreck | Paul Walker | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 Paul is not in control of his life now. He is placed on a ship sailing to Italy. He is a prisoner being transferred to a different prison. In this regard, Paul is nothing more than cargo. That is until a moment of crisis. Winds of hurricane force batter the ship and blow it off course. The sailors makes every attempt to rescue the ship to no avail, and thus they “give up all hope of being saved.”(27:20) Paul the prisoner is compelled to raise his voice for all to hear. He proclaims a message of hope to those about to be lost. God will rescue them but the ship will be lost. The prophetic word always comes at the times when hope is drained, because God will not allow hope to die in this world. Paul then prepares the crew of 276 people by breaking bread and giving thanks (eucharisteō v. 35). The ship is run aground and passengers make it to shore on planks and pieces of the shipwreck. While Paul is literally shipwrecked on the island of Malta, we should not ignore that the same Paul will use this imagery to speak of the spiritual life (1 Tim 1:19). Shipwrecks are serious business, especially the kind that challenge our faith. It’s easy to believe the goal of life is to escape unscathed—without failure, pain, or wreckage. And it’s easy to believe that the goal of spirituality is to skate through with a perfect report card—no major errors or screwups. But shipwrecks sometimes happen. And this story of Paul surviving a shipwreck points to our own need to hear a message of hope amongst those who have given up hope. 

]]> Paul is not in control of his life now. He is placed on a ship sailing to Italy. He is a prisoner being transferred to a different prison. In this regard, Paul is nothing more than cargo. That is until a moment of crisis. Winds of hurricane force batter the ship and blow it off course. The sailors makes every attempt to rescue the ship to no avail, and thus they “give up all hope of being saved.”(27:20) Paul the prisoner is compelled to raise his voice for all to hear. He proclaims a message of hope to those about to be lost. God will rescue them but the ship will be lost. The prophetic word always comes at the times when hope is drained, because God will not allow hope to die in this world. Paul then prepares the crew of 276 people by breaking bread and giving thanks (eucharisteō v. 35). The ship is run aground and passengers make it to shore on planks and pieces of the shipwreck. While Paul is literally shipwrecked on the island of Malta, we should not ignore that the same Paul will use this imagery to speak of the spiritual life (1 Tim 1:19). Shipwrecks are serious business, especially the kind that challenge our faith. It’s easy to believe the goal of life is to escape unscathed—without failure, pain, or wreckage. And it’s easy to believe that the goal of spirituality is to skate through with a perfect report card—no major errors or screwups. But shipwrecks sometimes happen. And this story of Paul surviving a shipwreck points to our own need to hear a message of hope amongst those who have given up hope. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11223711 Mon, 29 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2301 full false On Trial | Bob Marsch | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 Paul is in Jerusalem at the temple when a group of Jews from the province Asia stir up a mob against him. To quell this uproar in the temple courts, the Roman commander and his troops arrest Paul and prevent the mob from killing him. Paul addresses the crowd and shares his story of being “zealous”(22:3) and a “persecutor of followers of the Way”(22:4) until he is blinded by the Light. The crowd is indignant and they yell out, "Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”(22:22) The Roman Commander is not sure why the Jews are so upset at Paul, and so he orders the chief priests and Sanhedrin to assemble. This is the beginning of several trials for the Apostle Paul. Paul will appear before the Sanhedrin (23:1-10), before the governor Felix (24:1-27), before Festus (25:1-12), and before King Agrippa (26:1-31). In the process of his trials, Paul appeals to have his case heard by Caesar (25:11), and eventually his request is granted. In this lengthy trial section of Acts, the Apostle Paul is a witness of Jesus the Messiah and an ambassador in chains. He will give testimony of Jesus and share his story. During these trials Paul is made to stand alone, but he is never alone. Jesus appears to Paul and says, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (23:11) As Paul gave witness to Jesus in the tough circumstances of accusation, hardship, and confinement in Jerusalem, he could do so because he knew Jesus stood next to him. In the same way, when we go through trials (both literal and metaphorical) we need to ‘take courage’. Jesus is with us until the end of the age.

]]> Paul is in Jerusalem at the temple when a group of Jews from the province Asia stir up a mob against him. To quell this uproar in the temple courts, the Roman commander and his troops arrest Paul and prevent the mob from killing him. Paul addresses the crowd and shares his story of being “zealous”(22:3) and a “persecutor of followers of the Way”(22:4) until he is blinded by the Light. The crowd is indignant and they yell out, "Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”(22:22) The Roman Commander is not sure why the Jews are so upset at Paul, and so he orders the chief priests and Sanhedrin to assemble. This is the beginning of several trials for the Apostle Paul. Paul will appear before the Sanhedrin (23:1-10), before the governor Felix (24:1-27), before Festus (25:1-12), and before King Agrippa (26:1-31). In the process of his trials, Paul appeals to have his case heard by Caesar (25:11), and eventually his request is granted. In this lengthy trial section of Acts, the Apostle Paul is a witness of Jesus the Messiah and an ambassador in chains. He will give testimony of Jesus and share his story. During these trials Paul is made to stand alone, but he is never alone. Jesus appears to Paul and says, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (23:11) As Paul gave witness to Jesus in the tough circumstances of accusation, hardship, and confinement in Jerusalem, he could do so because he knew Jesus stood next to him. In the same way, when we go through trials (both literal and metaphorical) we need to ‘take courage’. Jesus is with us until the end of the age.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11181260 Mon, 22 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2357 full false Compelled To Go | Doug Heidebrecht | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 Paul feels compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem (v22). He does not know fully what will happen to him, but he knows there is “prison and hardships” ahead (v23). Paul takes some time in his hurried journey to Jerusalem to give a farewell speech to the Ephesian elders. It is not only a fitting goodbye to this group of friends, it is also an appropriate conclusion to his missionary journeys. His speech to the Ephesian elders is full of humility and humanity, tears and trials, service and suffering. Paul’s farewell speech captures what it means to be sent out by Jesus to the ends of the earth and serve in ministry. Paul will leave the docks of Miletus and set sail towards Jerusalem, where the prophet Agabus will share a word about his future imprisonment. Still, Paul feels compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul was near the end, with a lot of adventure and accomplishment behind him. But instead of sitting back, he set sail. And, in doing so, he set an example for all of us. In the life of Paul we discover that the Holy Spirit is always leading us on and compelling us to go. For each and every one of us, the Christian life is apostolic, which means to be sent. God is sending us to reach others with the Gospel, sometimes at great distances geographically or emotionally. What might it mean for you and I to be sent by the Holy Spirit today? What might it mean for the church to be compelled to go —even if there is hardship ahead?

]]> Paul feels compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem (v22). He does not know fully what will happen to him, but he knows there is “prison and hardships” ahead (v23). Paul takes some time in his hurried journey to Jerusalem to give a farewell speech to the Ephesian elders. It is not only a fitting goodbye to this group of friends, it is also an appropriate conclusion to his missionary journeys. His speech to the Ephesian elders is full of humility and humanity, tears and trials, service and suffering. Paul’s farewell speech captures what it means to be sent out by Jesus to the ends of the earth and serve in ministry. Paul will leave the docks of Miletus and set sail towards Jerusalem, where the prophet Agabus will share a word about his future imprisonment. Still, Paul feels compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul was near the end, with a lot of adventure and accomplishment behind him. But instead of sitting back, he set sail. And, in doing so, he set an example for all of us. In the life of Paul we discover that the Holy Spirit is always leading us on and compelling us to go. For each and every one of us, the Christian life is apostolic, which means to be sent. God is sending us to reach others with the Gospel, sometimes at great distances geographically or emotionally. What might it mean for you and I to be sent by the Holy Spirit today? What might it mean for the church to be compelled to go —even if there is hardship ahead?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11142432 Mon, 15 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2170 full false The Move of God and the Mobs of Men | Joel Jolly | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 Paul’s missionary journey continues on to Ephesus. God is on the move in some powerful ways. We read of men being filled with the Holy Spirit (v1-7), extraordinary miracles (v11-12), and a great number of people were leaving idols and following Jesus (v17-20). God was on the move in Ephesus, so much so, that it was having a financial impact. And where the Gospel has a financial impact, trouble will be just around the corner. This sets the stage for a great riot in the city of Ephesus. Demetrius, an artisan and a businessman, clearly sees the ramifications of the Gospel Paul is preaching. It will not be good for business, in fact, if taken seriously it will destroy their source of livelihood. A mob of fellow disgruntled Ephesians rise up and seize Gaius and Aristarchus who are fellow travelling companions of Paul. The mob continues shouting “Great is Artemis of Ephesus” for over two hours. It is only when the City Clerk addresses the crowd do we see the mob transformed. The City Clerk appeals to the mob to respect the rule of law and the court systems. Yet his ultimate success in disbanding the mob is through reminding them that the Roman Empire responds harshly to civic riots, even ones in important cities like Ephesus. The mob should not invoke the wrath of Rome. The rioting crowd is then dismissed formally as a civil “assembly” (ekklēsia; v. 40). As we consider what it means for the church to be on mission, we should not be surprised when the Gospel of peace upsets and challenges the social economic structures. The Gospel cannot be compartmentalized into “personal faith” that has no impact on the broader implications of economics or politics. Like Paul and companions, we need to be definite in our witness to Jesus’s Kingdom so that people will find their vested interests challenged —and yet in our behaviour we must be innocent so that we cannot be accused in the courts. 

]]> Paul’s missionary journey continues on to Ephesus. God is on the move in some powerful ways. We read of men being filled with the Holy Spirit (v1-7), extraordinary miracles (v11-12), and a great number of people were leaving idols and following Jesus (v17-20). God was on the move in Ephesus, so much so, that it was having a financial impact. And where the Gospel has a financial impact, trouble will be just around the corner. This sets the stage for a great riot in the city of Ephesus. Demetrius, an artisan and a businessman, clearly sees the ramifications of the Gospel Paul is preaching. It will not be good for business, in fact, if taken seriously it will destroy their source of livelihood. A mob of fellow disgruntled Ephesians rise up and seize Gaius and Aristarchus who are fellow travelling companions of Paul. The mob continues shouting “Great is Artemis of Ephesus” for over two hours. It is only when the City Clerk addresses the crowd do we see the mob transformed. The City Clerk appeals to the mob to respect the rule of law and the court systems. Yet his ultimate success in disbanding the mob is through reminding them that the Roman Empire responds harshly to civic riots, even ones in important cities like Ephesus. The mob should not invoke the wrath of Rome. The rioting crowd is then dismissed formally as a civil “assembly” (ekklēsia; v. 40). As we consider what it means for the church to be on mission, we should not be surprised when the Gospel of peace upsets and challenges the social economic structures. The Gospel cannot be compartmentalized into “personal faith” that has no impact on the broader implications of economics or politics. Like Paul and companions, we need to be definite in our witness to Jesus’s Kingdom so that people will find their vested interests challenged —and yet in our behaviour we must be innocent so that we cannot be accused in the courts. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11101768 Mon, 08 Aug 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2336 full false Do Not Be Afraid | Katrine Marcoux | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 Paul is on the road again. He finds himself in the Greek city of Corinth. It was a city of affluence, influence, and an important trade route. In Corinth, Paul finds new friends in Pricilla & Aquila— a couple who were escaping the persecution of Jews in Rome by Emperor Claudius. Paul joins them in their business of tent making. Paul continues his practice of speaking about Jesus in the local synagogues every Sabbath. The Jewish community in Corinth eventually becomes hostile toward Paul. He is forced to shift his focus to the Gentile community, as the hostility of the Jewish community remains ignited against him. It is during this opposition that Paul receives a vision from the Lord: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:9-10) Perhaps, Paul was tempted to pack up and leave for the next city? Perhaps, Paul was afraid of what the Jewish community might do toward him? We cannot know for sure. What we do know is that Paul needed to hear this message of comfort —- and so do we. Our own shortcomings, circumstances, and challenges often make us feel alone and ashamed. Yet in those moments of doubt, the voice of Jesus tells us “I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20) What will it mean for our church to together welcome the voice of the Comforter today? What will it mean for TMP to walk unafraid? 

]]> Paul is on the road again. He finds himself in the Greek city of Corinth. It was a city of affluence, influence, and an important trade route. In Corinth, Paul finds new friends in Pricilla & Aquila— a couple who were escaping the persecution of Jews in Rome by Emperor Claudius. Paul joins them in their business of tent making. Paul continues his practice of speaking about Jesus in the local synagogues every Sabbath. The Jewish community in Corinth eventually becomes hostile toward Paul. He is forced to shift his focus to the Gentile community, as the hostility of the Jewish community remains ignited against him. It is during this opposition that Paul receives a vision from the Lord: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:9-10) Perhaps, Paul was tempted to pack up and leave for the next city? Perhaps, Paul was afraid of what the Jewish community might do toward him? We cannot know for sure. What we do know is that Paul needed to hear this message of comfort —- and so do we. Our own shortcomings, circumstances, and challenges often make us feel alone and ashamed. Yet in those moments of doubt, the voice of Jesus tells us “I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20) What will it mean for our church to together welcome the voice of the Comforter today? What will it mean for TMP to walk unafraid? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11063901 Mon, 01 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2163 full false Proclaiming the Unknown God | Brad Jersak | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 Paul is in the city of Athens, which is one of the cultural and religious hubs of the Greco-Roman world. Paul is distressed at the many idols found within the city of Athens. He begins to reason with Jews and God-fearing Greeks, but in the process, he attracts the attention of two schools of thought: the Epicureans and the Stoics.  Together, the concerted Epicurean-Stoic opposition against Paul focuses on his message that he is introducing foreign gods (v. 18), new teaching (v. 19), and strange ideas (v. 20). Importantly, these charges represent more than simply points of philosophical disagreement; they are serious charges. Athens is known for enforcing the death penalty on those who proclaim “new gods” and “strange ideas”, as in the case of Socrates. How does Paul proclaim the Gospel to this new cultural context? On Mars Hill, Paul appeals to two sayings by Greek poets that were well known to both the Epicureans and the Stoics. Although Paul cites Greek sources his argument is deeply committed to the Scriptures. Paul employs his audience’s own insights and authors in such a manner that his argument encompasses the Greek world within his larger Biblical framework. The fruit of this approach is that some believed (v34.) As we consider what it means to be the church on mission, what will it mean for us to engage our culture? What does it look like for our church to proclaim Good News to our secular post-christendom context?

]]> Paul is in the city of Athens, which is one of the cultural and religious hubs of the Greco-Roman world. Paul is distressed at the many idols found within the city of Athens. He begins to reason with Jews and God-fearing Greeks, but in the process, he attracts the attention of two schools of thought: the Epicureans and the Stoics.  Together, the concerted Epicurean-Stoic opposition against Paul focuses on his message that he is introducing foreign gods (v. 18), new teaching (v. 19), and strange ideas (v. 20). Importantly, these charges represent more than simply points of philosophical disagreement; they are serious charges. Athens is known for enforcing the death penalty on those who proclaim “new gods” and “strange ideas”, as in the case of Socrates. How does Paul proclaim the Gospel to this new cultural context? On Mars Hill, Paul appeals to two sayings by Greek poets that were well known to both the Epicureans and the Stoics. Although Paul cites Greek sources his argument is deeply committed to the Scriptures. Paul employs his audience’s own insights and authors in such a manner that his argument encompasses the Greek world within his larger Biblical framework. The fruit of this approach is that some believed (v34.) As we consider what it means to be the church on mission, what will it mean for us to engage our culture? What does it look like for our church to proclaim Good News to our secular post-christendom context?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-11024991 Mon, 25 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2675 full false Good Trouble and the Prison Break | Bob Marsch | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 Paul and Silas encounter a slave girl who is inflicted by a spirit. (16:16–18). She goes around the village yelling, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”(v18) You’d think that this would be great publicity for Paul & Silas? Perhaps they could have utilized this slave girl who was announcing the truth about them? Instead, Paul gets into some “good trouble” and rebukes the spirit from this slave girl. This has economic repercussions for the business that has been built around this slave girl’s fortune telling. The slave girl’s owners confront Paul and Silas and drag them before the local political authorities (16:19–21). The local authorities order the beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas (16:22–24). Paul & Silas suffer for their act of good trouble. When Paul and Silas are afforded the opportunity to escape in the night, they instead get up to more good trouble by stopping the jailer (16:25–28 from self-harm. The jailer, with trembling gratitude, receives the good news of salvation from Paul and Silas (16:29–34). In the morning Paul and Silas confront the officers and magistrates with news that alarms them (16:35–38); the officials attempt to appease Paul and Silas and escort them out of the prison, requesting them to leave the city (v. 39). This whole story is a series of events in which Paul & Silas choose to disrupt the powers by trusting God to “shake the prison’s foundations”(v26). Exploitation is shaken. The wrongful sentence to prison is shaken. The so-called wisdom of the officials is shaken. As we consider our own call to follow to Jesus, are we willing to get into some good trouble? Are we willing to suffer for the good? Are we willing to confront the powers that seek to keep people in bondage?

]]> Paul and Silas encounter a slave girl who is inflicted by a spirit. (16:16–18). She goes around the village yelling, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”(v18) You’d think that this would be great publicity for Paul & Silas? Perhaps they could have utilized this slave girl who was announcing the truth about them? Instead, Paul gets into some “good trouble” and rebukes the spirit from this slave girl. This has economic repercussions for the business that has been built around this slave girl’s fortune telling. The slave girl’s owners confront Paul and Silas and drag them before the local political authorities (16:19–21). The local authorities order the beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas (16:22–24). Paul & Silas suffer for their act of good trouble. When Paul and Silas are afforded the opportunity to escape in the night, they instead get up to more good trouble by stopping the jailer (16:25–28 from self-harm. The jailer, with trembling gratitude, receives the good news of salvation from Paul and Silas (16:29–34). In the morning Paul and Silas confront the officers and magistrates with news that alarms them (16:35–38); the officials attempt to appease Paul and Silas and escort them out of the prison, requesting them to leave the city (v. 39). This whole story is a series of events in which Paul & Silas choose to disrupt the powers by trusting God to “shake the prison’s foundations”(v26). Exploitation is shaken. The wrongful sentence to prison is shaken. The so-called wisdom of the officials is shaken. As we consider our own call to follow to Jesus, are we willing to get into some good trouble? Are we willing to suffer for the good? Are we willing to confront the powers that seek to keep people in bondage?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10980873 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2261 full false Conflict Happens | Paul Walker | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 The Apostle Paul desires to go back to the cities he and Barnabas have preached in to see how those churches are doing. Barnabas is determined to take John Mark with them on this journey. John Mark had gone with Paul and Barnabas on the first journey but returned to Jerusalem early in the trip (Acts 13:13). It is Barnabas’ expectation to take John Mark on the journey with them again. But Paul insisted that they should not take John Mark with them because he had left them before. Verse 39 tells us that the dispute became a sharp disagreement. The disagreement ends in Paul and Barnabas deciding to part ways. It may shock us that leaders in the early church were in conflict with each other, but conflict and disagreements should never surprise us. Wisdom is knowing that conflict will eventually happen, and that we should prepare ourselves to do conflict well. So how do we do conflict well? What are some tools and practices that can equip us to work through conflict? And how can we work towards reconciliation when conflict has driven us apart?

]]> The Apostle Paul desires to go back to the cities he and Barnabas have preached in to see how those churches are doing. Barnabas is determined to take John Mark with them on this journey. John Mark had gone with Paul and Barnabas on the first journey but returned to Jerusalem early in the trip (Acts 13:13). It is Barnabas’ expectation to take John Mark on the journey with them again. But Paul insisted that they should not take John Mark with them because he had left them before. Verse 39 tells us that the dispute became a sharp disagreement. The disagreement ends in Paul and Barnabas deciding to part ways. It may shock us that leaders in the early church were in conflict with each other, but conflict and disagreements should never surprise us. Wisdom is knowing that conflict will eventually happen, and that we should prepare ourselves to do conflict well. So how do we do conflict well? What are some tools and practices that can equip us to work through conflict? And how can we work towards reconciliation when conflict has driven us apart?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10936450 Sun, 10 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0500 2074 full false Our Unity of Difference | Paul Walker | To the Ends of the Earth pt. 3 A cultural and theological crisis was brewing in the early church. Some Jewish followers
of the Messiah were insisting that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to receive
salvation. (15.1) Others— like Paul and Barnabas—- believe that Gentile believers are
welcomed into the church as Gentiles. The resulting discussion leads to the Jerusalem
Council where important questions are being raised around salvation, ethnicity, culture,
Torah, and how the church will be faithful on its mission into the Gentile world. In 2022
we may not struggle with the idea of Gentile inclusion, but the question of how the
church can be unified through our differences has not gone away. So… how can we
experience unity in diversity? How can the church make space for a unity that
transcends and includes our differences? How can we make possible the vision of unity
that includes every tribe, tongue, and nation? 

]]> A cultural and theological crisis was brewing in the early church. Some Jewish followers
of the Messiah were insisting that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to receive
salvation. (15.1) Others— like Paul and Barnabas—- believe that Gentile believers are
welcomed into the church as Gentiles. The resulting discussion leads to the Jerusalem
Council where important questions are being raised around salvation, ethnicity, culture,
Torah, and how the church will be faithful on its mission into the Gentile world. In 2022
we may not struggle with the idea of Gentile inclusion, but the question of how the
church can be unified through our differences has not gone away. So… how can we
experience unity in diversity? How can the church make space for a unity that
transcends and includes our differences? How can we make possible the vision of unity
that includes every tribe, tongue, and nation? 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10898108 Sun, 03 Jul 2022 15:00:00 -0500 2389 full false A Conversation With Keith Smith Our Teaching Pastor Paul Walker sits down with Pastor Keith to discuss the implications of Acts 15 as it relates to the gospel, race, polarization, and the third way of Jesus. Keith shares his own experience of walking through the polarization of USA political landscape and the racial tensions that ensued. 

]]> Our Teaching Pastor Paul Walker sits down with Pastor Keith to discuss the implications of Acts 15 as it relates to the gospel, race, polarization, and the third way of Jesus. Keith shares his own experience of walking through the polarization of USA political landscape and the racial tensions that ensued. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10897872 Sun, 03 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0500 3852 full false Give All You Can | Carolyn Klassen | Earn Save Give Generosity is at the heart of the character of God. As the famous Bible passage says, “For God so loved the world that he GAVE….” (John 3:16) When we give, we emulate the very generosity of God towards us. Being generous with our money now forms our character in a Christ-like direction and there are inherent rewards that result from it. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “what we reap is what we sow”.  Yet so often walking in generosity confronts our fears about security, and worth. We can hold back because of the hold money can have on us. But God wants to break the power that money has over us, we need only offer him our open hands and God will direct us. This will change us. Think about what generosity could do for you! Think about the person you can become because of generosity. Giving is a chance to ask “who am I in relationship to money?” This is not a question of how much we give in comparison to others. The widow in giving two copper coins in the offering gave more than everyone else. (Mk 12) Jesus sees her heart and knows that she gave more than anyone else in giving all she had. In the same way, how might our practices of generosity form us in the image of our generous God?

]]> Generosity is at the heart of the character of God. As the famous Bible passage says, “For God so loved the world that he GAVE….” (John 3:16) When we give, we emulate the very generosity of God towards us. Being generous with our money now forms our character in a Christ-like direction and there are inherent rewards that result from it. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “what we reap is what we sow”.  Yet so often walking in generosity confronts our fears about security, and worth. We can hold back because of the hold money can have on us. But God wants to break the power that money has over us, we need only offer him our open hands and God will direct us. This will change us. Think about what generosity could do for you! Think about the person you can become because of generosity. Giving is a chance to ask “who am I in relationship to money?” This is not a question of how much we give in comparison to others. The widow in giving two copper coins in the offering gave more than everyone else. (Mk 12) Jesus sees her heart and knows that she gave more than anyone else in giving all she had. In the same way, how might our practices of generosity form us in the image of our generous God?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10858199 Sun, 26 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0500 2174 full false Save All You Can | Bob Marsch | Earn Save Give Everyday we are confronted with advertising that is trying to sell us something. We are told that our happiness and wholeness is found on the other side of a shopping spree. Curiously Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal.” (Mt 6:19) This is a call to consider how we spend our money. It is a call to simplicity and saving all we can. Simplicity is about learning to be content with less (Philippians 4:12). This practice is a direct affront to the basis of advertisements that remind us that we never have enough and are always lacking. The practice of simplicity is based in the truth that the most important question in our financial life is, “does Jesus want me to have it?”. When we live as people of simplicity we make possible a new kind of living from the place of “enough”. We even discover that we have margin to serve others and worship Jesus in all we do. 

]]> Everyday we are confronted with advertising that is trying to sell us something. We are told that our happiness and wholeness is found on the other side of a shopping spree. Curiously Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal.” (Mt 6:19) This is a call to consider how we spend our money. It is a call to simplicity and saving all we can. Simplicity is about learning to be content with less (Philippians 4:12). This practice is a direct affront to the basis of advertisements that remind us that we never have enough and are always lacking. The practice of simplicity is based in the truth that the most important question in our financial life is, “does Jesus want me to have it?”. When we live as people of simplicity we make possible a new kind of living from the place of “enough”. We even discover that we have margin to serve others and worship Jesus in all we do. 

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10818018 Sun, 19 Jun 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2048 full false Earn All You Can | Paul Walker | Earn Save Give God is not some cosmic do-nothing deity. God is a creator, a worker— and we are created in this image. This is why the first human Adam is given a vocation and an assignment in Creation. Our reflection and our likeness of God will be expressed in our working lives and not apart from them. Work is a gift of God, not a punishment for sin. This means every worker is called to serve God in his or her profession or trade— not outside of it. The Apostle Paul will commend to us the posture of  “working with all our heart, as working for the Lord”(Col 3:23) “Earning all we can” should not be understood as aggressive acquisitiveness or justification for greed. “Earning all we can” is reaching our own potential so that we have “something to share with those in need.” (Eph. 4:28)

]]> God is not some cosmic do-nothing deity. God is a creator, a worker— and we are created in this image. This is why the first human Adam is given a vocation and an assignment in Creation. Our reflection and our likeness of God will be expressed in our working lives and not apart from them. Work is a gift of God, not a punishment for sin. This means every worker is called to serve God in his or her profession or trade— not outside of it. The Apostle Paul will commend to us the posture of  “working with all our heart, as working for the Lord”(Col 3:23) “Earning all we can” should not be understood as aggressive acquisitiveness or justification for greed. “Earning all we can” is reaching our own potential so that we have “something to share with those in need.” (Eph. 4:28)

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10785574 Mon, 13 Jun 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2421 full false Be Filled With The Holy Spirit | Paul Walker, Lloyd + Carol Letkeman | All About The Holy Spirit On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the upper room like a rushing violent wind and filled all those who were gathered. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not merely an idea, a concept, an ethic, or a feeling.The Holy Spirit — who is a person of the Godhead/ Trinity, makes God’s presence real to us. This is why the Apostle Paul will tell us to “be filled with the Spirit.”(Eph. 5:18) The Greek verb appears in the present tense, which signifies an ongoing action, not something that happens once and for all. In English we might represent this sense with “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” By implication, the filling of the Spirit is something that can happen again and again in the life of the believer. We were meant to have ongoing connection and encounters with the living God.

]]> On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the upper room like a rushing violent wind and filled all those who were gathered. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not merely an idea, a concept, an ethic, or a feeling.The Holy Spirit — who is a person of the Godhead/ Trinity, makes God’s presence real to us. This is why the Apostle Paul will tell us to “be filled with the Spirit.”(Eph. 5:18) The Greek verb appears in the present tense, which signifies an ongoing action, not something that happens once and for all. In English we might represent this sense with “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” By implication, the filling of the Spirit is something that can happen again and again in the life of the believer. We were meant to have ongoing connection and encounters with the living God.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10747708 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0500 1769 full false "The Spirituals" And "The Gifts" | Paul Walker | All About The Holy Spirit Throughout Scripture we find reference to the Holy Spirit empowering people for Kingdom work. It’s important to note that the Apostle Paul did not create a technical category, limited list, or box, called “spiritual gifts.” Rather, when the Apostle Paul talks about “the spirituals” (πνευματικός) or “gifts” (χάρισμα) in 1 Corinthians 12 and elsewhere, he is simply offering a number of examples of ways that the Spirit uses and enables all believers to minister. What the Apostle Paul is not doing, is creating a bunch of exclusive categories of gifting that are held by few people in the church. So all of who follow Jesus may experience the Holy Spirit flowing through us in multiple ways. There are several examples or “lists “found in the New Testament, and none of them are exhaustive. The encouragement by Scripture is that we need to be eager (12.31) to welcome this move of the Holy Spirit, and to not be ignorant of the ways the Spirit is working in the church. (12.1)

]]> Throughout Scripture we find reference to the Holy Spirit empowering people for Kingdom work. It’s important to note that the Apostle Paul did not create a technical category, limited list, or box, called “spiritual gifts.” Rather, when the Apostle Paul talks about “the spirituals” (πνευματικός) or “gifts” (χάρισμα) in 1 Corinthians 12 and elsewhere, he is simply offering a number of examples of ways that the Spirit uses and enables all believers to minister. What the Apostle Paul is not doing, is creating a bunch of exclusive categories of gifting that are held by few people in the church. So all of who follow Jesus may experience the Holy Spirit flowing through us in multiple ways. There are several examples or “lists “found in the New Testament, and none of them are exhaustive. The encouragement by Scripture is that we need to be eager (12.31) to welcome this move of the Holy Spirit, and to not be ignorant of the ways the Spirit is working in the church. (12.1)

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10711277 Tue, 31 May 2022 08:00:00 -0500 2514 full false How We Change | Paul Walker | All About The Holy Spirit We live in the age of self-help, therapy, and technique-obsession. Deep down, we all know we’re broken and need to change. The question is, How? In North American Christianity, the most common approach to this process is one of intellectual ascent. If we can know enough, learn enough, be smart enough, get inspired enough… we’ll change. Another approach is through strengthening our emotional health. If we process our negative emotions and focus on the positive… we’ll change. And while all those approaches have value, none of them can bring about the complete change we actually need: to be like Jesus. Jesus, in the middle of teaching about the Holy Spirit, tells us he is the vine and we are the branches. And apart from "abiding in the vine” we can do nothing. In the same way, the Apostle Paul will describes this abiding process as “living and walking by the Spirit.” So, how do we really change? We partner with the work of the Holy Spirit who is transforming us into the image of Christ. When we spend time with the Holy Spirit we will bear the fruit and virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

]]> We live in the age of self-help, therapy, and technique-obsession. Deep down, we all know we’re broken and need to change. The question is, How? In North American Christianity, the most common approach to this process is one of intellectual ascent. If we can know enough, learn enough, be smart enough, get inspired enough… we’ll change. Another approach is through strengthening our emotional health. If we process our negative emotions and focus on the positive… we’ll change. And while all those approaches have value, none of them can bring about the complete change we actually need: to be like Jesus. Jesus, in the middle of teaching about the Holy Spirit, tells us he is the vine and we are the branches. And apart from "abiding in the vine” we can do nothing. In the same way, the Apostle Paul will describes this abiding process as “living and walking by the Spirit.” So, how do we really change? We partner with the work of the Holy Spirit who is transforming us into the image of Christ. When we spend time with the Holy Spirit we will bear the fruit and virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10688127 Thu, 26 May 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2115 full false People of the Spirit | John Johnstone & Paul Walker | All About the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit falls on a group of Gentiles for the first time. The implications are mind blowing. Peter realizes for the first time that, “God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34) God does NOT show favouritism but accepts from EVERY NATION—the Anishinaabeg, The Cree , The Dakota nation , The Dene, The Métis, The Oji-Cree  ….. and many, many more nations. 

As we gather for Heart Shift, we gather under the Spirit of the Creator — who brings together every nation, and tribe into the new people of God. To be people of the Spirit  is to be formed into the multinational, multicultural, new humanity where are all the walls of hostility are torn down. 

Yet in 2022, we have a fresh understanding of where the church has failed to follow the Holy Spirit into a multinational and multicultural Kingdom of God. We live in the shadow of colonialism, racism, and ethnic genocide towards our indigenous brothers and sisters in Canada. It is in this context we need a fresh work of the Holy Spirit to transform us into people who receive and give love.  (1 Cor 13)

]]> The Holy Spirit falls on a group of Gentiles for the first time. The implications are mind blowing. Peter realizes for the first time that, “God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34) God does NOT show favouritism but accepts from EVERY NATION—the Anishinaabeg, The Cree , The Dakota nation , The Dene, The Métis, The Oji-Cree  ….. and many, many more nations. 

As we gather for Heart Shift, we gather under the Spirit of the Creator — who brings together every nation, and tribe into the new people of God. To be people of the Spirit  is to be formed into the multinational, multicultural, new humanity where are all the walls of hostility are torn down. 

Yet in 2022, we have a fresh understanding of where the church has failed to follow the Holy Spirit into a multinational and multicultural Kingdom of God. We live in the shadow of colonialism, racism, and ethnic genocide towards our indigenous brothers and sisters in Canada. It is in this context we need a fresh work of the Holy Spirit to transform us into people who receive and give love.  (1 Cor 13)

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10640840 Wed, 18 May 2022 11:00:00 -0500 2847 full false Born of the Spirit | Lorelle Perry | All About The Holy Spirit Under the cover of night, Jesus has an extended conversation with Nicodemus about the coming kingdom of God. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, and as such, likely assumed that God’s kingdom had a lot to do with your birth right as a child of Abraham. Jesus turns the tables on Nicodemus by saying, “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”(Jn 3.5)  This points us to the important work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. To be born of the Spirit is to have a complete upgrade into a new operating system. The Holy Spirit “re-births us and renews us” (Titus 3.5) so that we can perceive the kingdom of God and experience “eternal life”. (Jn 3.16)  This is more than just a one time decision, but an event and a process. Just like Nicodemus, it’s easy to be confused by all this born again language. Yet if we press into this mystery, we will discover the new world that the Holy Spirit wants to birth into our lives today.

]]> Under the cover of night, Jesus has an extended conversation with Nicodemus about the coming kingdom of God. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, and as such, likely assumed that God’s kingdom had a lot to do with your birth right as a child of Abraham. Jesus turns the tables on Nicodemus by saying, “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”(Jn 3.5)  This points us to the important work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. To be born of the Spirit is to have a complete upgrade into a new operating system. The Holy Spirit “re-births us and renews us” (Titus 3.5) so that we can perceive the kingdom of God and experience “eternal life”. (Jn 3.16)  This is more than just a one time decision, but an event and a process. Just like Nicodemus, it’s easy to be confused by all this born again language. Yet if we press into this mystery, we will discover the new world that the Holy Spirit wants to birth into our lives today.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10592270 Tue, 10 May 2022 08:00:00 -0500 1960 full false The God Who Speaks | Brad Jersak | All About The Holy Spirit Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit will “speak to us” and “guide us into all truth”. (Jn 16:13) But how exactly does this work? There are some who believe that Jesus is only talking about the formation of the Bible— after that, it is said that God ceases to speak. Curiously, the Bible itself never tells us that the Triune God’s speaking is limited to the Bible—rather the promise is that Jesus— by the Holy Spirit— is with us until the end of the age. What we find in Scripture is a way of living that is dependant on the Holy Spirit speaking to us, leading us, and guiding us. Jesus expects that his “sheep will hear his voice”. This promise is for everyone, and not just special people. So, how do we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit today?

]]> Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit will “speak to us” and “guide us into all truth”. (Jn 16:13) But how exactly does this work? There are some who believe that Jesus is only talking about the formation of the Bible— after that, it is said that God ceases to speak. Curiously, the Bible itself never tells us that the Triune God’s speaking is limited to the Bible—rather the promise is that Jesus— by the Holy Spirit— is with us until the end of the age. What we find in Scripture is a way of living that is dependant on the Holy Spirit speaking to us, leading us, and guiding us. Jesus expects that his “sheep will hear his voice”. This promise is for everyone, and not just special people. So, how do we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit today?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10545619 Mon, 02 May 2022 17:00:00 -0500 3977 full false Who is the Holy Spirit? | Paul Walker | All About The Holy Spirit Before his death, Jesus taught at length to his disciples about the importance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was to lead them, guide them, instruct them, empower them and so much more. After the resurrection, Jesus again reiterates the importance of the Holy Spirit by breathing on his disciples and saying “receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22) and telling them to “wait for the gift the Father has promised”. (Acts 1:4)  To follow Jesus is to be open to receive from the Holy Spirit. Yet so often some folks find themselves confused or weirded out by the idea of the Holy Spirit. We can sometimes treat the Holy Spirit as an optional extra to the Christian faith, or forget to talk about the Holy Spirit at all. So as we seek to be a church who follows Jesus we need to ask: who is the Holy Spirit and why does this matter for followers of Jesus today?

]]> Before his death, Jesus taught at length to his disciples about the importance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was to lead them, guide them, instruct them, empower them and so much more. After the resurrection, Jesus again reiterates the importance of the Holy Spirit by breathing on his disciples and saying “receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22) and telling them to “wait for the gift the Father has promised”. (Acts 1:4)  To follow Jesus is to be open to receive from the Holy Spirit. Yet so often some folks find themselves confused or weirded out by the idea of the Holy Spirit. We can sometimes treat the Holy Spirit as an optional extra to the Christian faith, or forget to talk about the Holy Spirit at all. So as we seek to be a church who follows Jesus we need to ask: who is the Holy Spirit and why does this matter for followers of Jesus today?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10500164 Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0500 2535 full false Graves To Gardens | Paul Walker | Resurrection Sunday 2022 The first person to see the risen Christ was Mary Magdalene. It happened in a garden. At first Mary thought Jesus was the gardener. A logical mistake. Or a prophetic mistake. Or perhaps not a mistake at all? When Mary Magdalene “supposed him to be the gardener,” she was exactly right! Jesus is now the gardener of resurrection, cultivating new life in all who believe. The first Adam was a gardener who failed in his task and the world became a wasteland of war and sin. But the second Adam will succeed in his task — Christ will restore the ruined garden. With Christ as the gardener of new creation we have a hope.

]]> The first person to see the risen Christ was Mary Magdalene. It happened in a garden. At first Mary thought Jesus was the gardener. A logical mistake. Or a prophetic mistake. Or perhaps not a mistake at all? When Mary Magdalene “supposed him to be the gardener,” she was exactly right! Jesus is now the gardener of resurrection, cultivating new life in all who believe. The first Adam was a gardener who failed in his task and the world became a wasteland of war and sin. But the second Adam will succeed in his task — Christ will restore the ruined garden. With Christ as the gardener of new creation we have a hope.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10462926 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:00:00 -0500 1275 full false Gardens To Graves | Paul Walker | Good Friday 2022 In John 18, Jesus is arrested and betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus will be put on trial by the High Priest, Pilate, and Herod. The crowds will shout “crucify him.” Jesus will be mocked, beaten, whipped, receive a crown of thorns, and ultimately be crucified. From the garden, we follow Jesus into death and the grave. Though we might see these events as a series of tragedies, this is the way of the Cross that Jesus has chosen. A few days before his crucifixion Jesus said, “Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24) Jesus has willingly joined all of humanity in our journey away from the paradise the garden and into our desolation of the grave. On this Good Friday we reflect on the truth that Jesus has entered the grave “so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death”(Hebrews 2:14).

]]> In John 18, Jesus is arrested and betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus will be put on trial by the High Priest, Pilate, and Herod. The crowds will shout “crucify him.” Jesus will be mocked, beaten, whipped, receive a crown of thorns, and ultimately be crucified. From the garden, we follow Jesus into death and the grave. Though we might see these events as a series of tragedies, this is the way of the Cross that Jesus has chosen. A few days before his crucifixion Jesus said, “Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24) Jesus has willingly joined all of humanity in our journey away from the paradise the garden and into our desolation of the grave. On this Good Friday we reflect on the truth that Jesus has entered the grave “so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death”(Hebrews 2:14).

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10462919 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:00:00 -0500 3500 full false Now What? | Paul Walker | Re:Vision Jesus is making his Triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As he enters the city, the people lay their cloaks and palm branches on the ground in an act of reverence. The people proclaim "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk 19:38) It is a public declaration that Jesus is the King— the Messiah. This of course upsets some of the observant Pharisees who were in the crowd. They attempt to rebuke Jesus by asking him to tell the crowds to stop their Kingly proclamations. Jesus’ answer is to say, ""I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”(Lk 19:40) This scene from Palm Sunday reminds us that reactions to Jesus were mixed from celebration to condemnation. As we look ahead to what Jesus has in store for the future of The Meeting Place—- what might be the posture of our hearts to Jesus? Are we joyfully welcoming his Kingdom into our lives? Or are we distantly observing?

]]> Jesus is making his Triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As he enters the city, the people lay their cloaks and palm branches on the ground in an act of reverence. The people proclaim "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk 19:38) It is a public declaration that Jesus is the King— the Messiah. This of course upsets some of the observant Pharisees who were in the crowd. They attempt to rebuke Jesus by asking him to tell the crowds to stop their Kingly proclamations. Jesus’ answer is to say, ""I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”(Lk 19:40) This scene from Palm Sunday reminds us that reactions to Jesus were mixed from celebration to condemnation. As we look ahead to what Jesus has in store for the future of The Meeting Place—- what might be the posture of our hearts to Jesus? Are we joyfully welcoming his Kingdom into our lives? Or are we distantly observing?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10420480 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 17:00:00 -0500 2762 full false Worship Him In All We Do | Joel Jolly | Re:Vision All four Gospels give an account of Jesus being anointed by a woman as an act of worship. In Matthew and Mark, Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus’ head in Bethany following the Triumphal Entry. In Luke an unnamed woman who was a notorious sinner anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair in the home of Simon the Pharisee in Galilee. In John these two anointing’s are combined. Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair just before the Triumphal Entry. But in all four accounts the woman is criticized by someone for her extravagant worship. Mary risks it all in her expensive act of anointing Jesus for his death. She risks receiving scorn and shame from her undignified actions. Mary breaks numerous cultural taboos all in the cause of worshiping Jesus. Yet surprisingly, to those who were gathered in the house, Jesus sides with Mary. She has done the beautiful thing. Mary shows us that worship is a genuine and deliberate choice to align ourself with Jesus—even when its costly. So, what does it mean for our church to worship Jesus in all that we do?

]]> All four Gospels give an account of Jesus being anointed by a woman as an act of worship. In Matthew and Mark, Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus’ head in Bethany following the Triumphal Entry. In Luke an unnamed woman who was a notorious sinner anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair in the home of Simon the Pharisee in Galilee. In John these two anointing’s are combined. Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair just before the Triumphal Entry. But in all four accounts the woman is criticized by someone for her extravagant worship. Mary risks it all in her expensive act of anointing Jesus for his death. She risks receiving scorn and shame from her undignified actions. Mary breaks numerous cultural taboos all in the cause of worshiping Jesus. Yet surprisingly, to those who were gathered in the house, Jesus sides with Mary. She has done the beautiful thing. Mary shows us that worship is a genuine and deliberate choice to align ourself with Jesus—even when its costly. So, what does it mean for our church to worship Jesus in all that we do?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10378242 Mon, 04 Apr 2022 16:00:00 -0500 2652 full false Serve Where Needed | Paul Walker | Re:Vision When God works in our world, God often looks for a partner. We see this most clearly in the story of Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary is invited to partner with God in bringing forth the Messiah Jesus. Her response is to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:38) Mary’s posture of serving make space for Jesus to be born into our world. In the same way, we are invited by Jesus to join him in his work in this world. This is more than just volunteering a few hours a month. We have been commissioned to be “ministers of reconciliation”. (2 Cor 5:18) This is a whole vocation of using the gifts that God has given us for the building of the Kingdom. When we do this, we make space for Jesus to show up in this world through acts of “new creation.”

]]> When God works in our world, God often looks for a partner. We see this most clearly in the story of Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary is invited to partner with God in bringing forth the Messiah Jesus. Her response is to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:38) Mary’s posture of serving make space for Jesus to be born into our world. In the same way, we are invited by Jesus to join him in his work in this world. This is more than just volunteering a few hours a month. We have been commissioned to be “ministers of reconciliation”. (2 Cor 5:18) This is a whole vocation of using the gifts that God has given us for the building of the Kingdom. When we do this, we make space for Jesus to show up in this world through acts of “new creation.”

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10362032 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2832 full false Gather In Our Place And Yours | Bob Marsch | Re:Vision Gathering together for community is at the heart of what it means to be the people of God. But this is not limited to one particular location. The Psalmist will seek God “in the sanctuary”(Ps 63:2) and remember God “as they go to bed”. (Ps 63:6) This is speaks of the daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms of worship in the temple, and in their homes. Gathering together in community is essential for followers of Jesus. Which is why in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus goes from table to table, and party to party. It is during one of these table times that Jesus takes the opportunity to talk about the uniqueness of how Kingdom people will gather. Jesus will speak to some of the barriers that prevent community. And in this, we discover that followers of Jesus are called to a community of  humility (v10-11), that invites the uninvited and makes space for ‘the other’. (v12-14) As we look ahead to the future of The Meeting Place, what will it look like for us to gather as the people of Jesus?

]]> Gathering together for community is at the heart of what it means to be the people of God. But this is not limited to one particular location. The Psalmist will seek God “in the sanctuary”(Ps 63:2) and remember God “as they go to bed”. (Ps 63:6) This is speaks of the daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms of worship in the temple, and in their homes. Gathering together in community is essential for followers of Jesus. Which is why in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus goes from table to table, and party to party. It is during one of these table times that Jesus takes the opportunity to talk about the uniqueness of how Kingdom people will gather. Jesus will speak to some of the barriers that prevent community. And in this, we discover that followers of Jesus are called to a community of  humility (v10-11), that invites the uninvited and makes space for ‘the other’. (v12-14) As we look ahead to the future of The Meeting Place, what will it look like for us to gather as the people of Jesus?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10362028 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2270 full false Share His Story | Christie Penner Worden | Re:Vision “…and share His Story”

Jesus takes three disciples (Peter, John, and James) to the top of a Mount Tabor. While the disciples are asleep somethings mysterious happens. Moses and Elijah — these two giant figures from the Old Testament — conversing with a glorified Christ. Of course Moses the Lawgiver and Elijah the Prophet are representative figures signifying the Law and the Prophets. When Peter awakes his first impulse is to suggest that they build three memorial tabernacles on Tabor, treating Moses, Elijah, and Jesus as approximate equals. While Peter is still speaking, a cloud covers them and voice thunders, ““This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”v35 This moment  on the mountain is where Moses and Elijah find their great successor, Jesus. The whole story of the Bible has been leading to this point: the story of Jesus. Jesus is what God has to say! 

In the same way, to be the church is to live into the truth of Mount of Transfiguration: that Jesus is what God has to say. We are called and commissioned to share his story! So what does it mean to share the story Jesus? How do we do this? How can we — like Moses and Elijah— find our story pointing to the story of Jesus?

]]> “…and share His Story”

Jesus takes three disciples (Peter, John, and James) to the top of a Mount Tabor. While the disciples are asleep somethings mysterious happens. Moses and Elijah — these two giant figures from the Old Testament — conversing with a glorified Christ. Of course Moses the Lawgiver and Elijah the Prophet are representative figures signifying the Law and the Prophets. When Peter awakes his first impulse is to suggest that they build three memorial tabernacles on Tabor, treating Moses, Elijah, and Jesus as approximate equals. While Peter is still speaking, a cloud covers them and voice thunders, ““This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”v35 This moment  on the mountain is where Moses and Elijah find their great successor, Jesus. The whole story of the Bible has been leading to this point: the story of Jesus. Jesus is what God has to say! 

In the same way, to be the church is to live into the truth of Mount of Transfiguration: that Jesus is what God has to say. We are called and commissioned to share his story! So what does it mean to share the story Jesus? How do we do this? How can we — like Moses and Elijah— find our story pointing to the story of Jesus?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10362022 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2669 full false Follow Jesus | Paul Walker | Re:Vision “We follow Jesus”…

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus begins his ministry by being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for a time of testing. Jesus is tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread,   to seize control of the kingdoms of this world, and to jump off the temple to make a clear display of God’s power by the public rescue of angels. The devil tries to bring Jesus over to his side, by grasping the right goal but through the wrong means. Jesus is tempted by the devil to establish the Kingdom of God through the illicit use of power for comfort, control, and coercion. Jesus rejects all of these temptations and instead demonstrates that how the Kingdom comes is what the Kingdom is. 
In the same way, we as a church are invited to courageously follow Jesus and his narrow way. In doing so, we become a radical alternative to every other path that could be followed.

]]> “We follow Jesus”…

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus begins his ministry by being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for a time of testing. Jesus is tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread,   to seize control of the kingdoms of this world, and to jump off the temple to make a clear display of God’s power by the public rescue of angels. The devil tries to bring Jesus over to his side, by grasping the right goal but through the wrong means. Jesus is tempted by the devil to establish the Kingdom of God through the illicit use of power for comfort, control, and coercion. Jesus rejects all of these temptations and instead demonstrates that how the Kingdom comes is what the Kingdom is. 
In the same way, we as a church are invited to courageously follow Jesus and his narrow way. In doing so, we become a radical alternative to every other path that could be followed.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10362008 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2483 full false Blood Is Thicker Than Water? | Paul Walker | Loneliness In the ancient world, nothing mattered more than your family. Your identity was grounded in the identity of your family of origin. This is why is it so shocking for Jesus ask the crowd, “who are my brothers and sisters”? Jesus was scandalizing his listeners by declaring that his mother and brother and sisters were not merely his biological kin, but included all those who did the will of God. He revolutionized our concept of the “neighbour” whom we are to love as we love ourselves to include not just those who are ethnically, religiously, or geographically close to us but even those who are our enemies. Many people were offended by these teachings because they believed that Jesus was devaluing the relationships between parents and children, or between people of the same nation or religion. Those people didn’t understand him. He was actually telling us that we owe that same level of committed care and compassion to whoever is in need of it, whether they’re biological family or not.

As we consider what it means for the church to respond to loneliness, we need to understand that Jesus created the church to be a different kind of community. To be apart of the church is to think differently about family and belonging. It’s a community that tears down divisions to make space for the other. We have put on the ‘new self’ where there is no Gentile or Jew, slave nor free (Col 3:11) and where we live out compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness patience and forgiveness. (Col 3:12-14)  The church is to be a chosen family for those longing for belonging.

]]> In the ancient world, nothing mattered more than your family. Your identity was grounded in the identity of your family of origin. This is why is it so shocking for Jesus ask the crowd, “who are my brothers and sisters”? Jesus was scandalizing his listeners by declaring that his mother and brother and sisters were not merely his biological kin, but included all those who did the will of God. He revolutionized our concept of the “neighbour” whom we are to love as we love ourselves to include not just those who are ethnically, religiously, or geographically close to us but even those who are our enemies. Many people were offended by these teachings because they believed that Jesus was devaluing the relationships between parents and children, or between people of the same nation or religion. Those people didn’t understand him. He was actually telling us that we owe that same level of committed care and compassion to whoever is in need of it, whether they’re biological family or not.

As we consider what it means for the church to respond to loneliness, we need to understand that Jesus created the church to be a different kind of community. To be apart of the church is to think differently about family and belonging. It’s a community that tears down divisions to make space for the other. We have put on the ‘new self’ where there is no Gentile or Jew, slave nor free (Col 3:11) and where we live out compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness patience and forgiveness. (Col 3:12-14)  The church is to be a chosen family for those longing for belonging.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10362003 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2523 full false Rewiring Our Relational Circuits | Carolyn Klassen | Loneliness Jesus is on his way to heal the daughter of Jarius when something unexpected occurs. A women who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, secretly touches Jesus’ cloak and she receives physical healing. Jesus seems to be aware of the secret miracle. Jesus stops walking and begins to ask, “Who touched me”. This is an odd question as there are crowds pushing around him on all sides. Still, Jesus asks, “Who touched me?” 

Why is it so important that Jesus interrupt his journey to Jarius’ house? Why must the ‘secret miracle’ be made known before everyone? Because Jesus is keenly aware the healing is not yet complete for this unnamed woman. 

Who is this woman? She was a social outcast due to her illness causing her to become unclean. (Lev 15:25-30) For twelve years she languished in isolation as one who was alone and poor. Jesus knows she has suffered more than just physically, and so he calls the women out not to rebuke her, but to continue her healing. Jesus refers to this otherwise anonymous outcast as “daughter” before the crowd. By doing so, Jesus ensures that she knows that he has restored her to the community, and also that the community recognizes that Jesus has restored her to it.

In the same way, Jesus desires to holistically heal us in his work of salvation. This includes the dysfunctions we can experience in our relationships. Jesus wants to restore us to community! This involves the work of Jesus calling us to bravely step out from our isolation into being fully known and fully loved.

 As we consider the journey from loneliness to belonging, what might it mean to ‘step out’? What barriers might be causing us to shrink back?  How can we rewire our relational circuits? How can we take that step towards what Jesus has for us?

]]> Jesus is on his way to heal the daughter of Jarius when something unexpected occurs. A women who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, secretly touches Jesus’ cloak and she receives physical healing. Jesus seems to be aware of the secret miracle. Jesus stops walking and begins to ask, “Who touched me”. This is an odd question as there are crowds pushing around him on all sides. Still, Jesus asks, “Who touched me?” 

Why is it so important that Jesus interrupt his journey to Jarius’ house? Why must the ‘secret miracle’ be made known before everyone? Because Jesus is keenly aware the healing is not yet complete for this unnamed woman. 

Who is this woman? She was a social outcast due to her illness causing her to become unclean. (Lev 15:25-30) For twelve years she languished in isolation as one who was alone and poor. Jesus knows she has suffered more than just physically, and so he calls the women out not to rebuke her, but to continue her healing. Jesus refers to this otherwise anonymous outcast as “daughter” before the crowd. By doing so, Jesus ensures that she knows that he has restored her to the community, and also that the community recognizes that Jesus has restored her to it.

In the same way, Jesus desires to holistically heal us in his work of salvation. This includes the dysfunctions we can experience in our relationships. Jesus wants to restore us to community! This involves the work of Jesus calling us to bravely step out from our isolation into being fully known and fully loved.

 As we consider the journey from loneliness to belonging, what might it mean to ‘step out’? What barriers might be causing us to shrink back?  How can we rewire our relational circuits? How can we take that step towards what Jesus has for us?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361994 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2659 full false The Problem Of Loneliness | Paul Walker + Carolyn Klassen | Loneliness God, who IS Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Trinity: Unity in multiplicity, multiplicity in unity. 

This God creates humanity. God says, “Let US create humankind in our image”-Gen 1.26

We were created by the God of love for love. We were created by the Eternal Divine community for community.  Which is why it is such a problem when the first image bearer Adam does not have a suitable partner. God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone” Gen 2:18. We humans need community, relationships, and connection. It’s not good for us to be alone! God desires for us to be in relationship. This is what makes the problem of loneliness so tragic. Loneliness is not the design of our loving Creator. In our age of growing disconnection we desperately need to capture a vision of the relational God who made us for relationship. We need to partner with the God who “sets the lonely in families, and leads out the prisoners with singing.” (Ps 68:6)

]]> God, who IS Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Trinity: Unity in multiplicity, multiplicity in unity. 

This God creates humanity. God says, “Let US create humankind in our image”-Gen 1.26

We were created by the God of love for love. We were created by the Eternal Divine community for community.  Which is why it is such a problem when the first image bearer Adam does not have a suitable partner. God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone” Gen 2:18. We humans need community, relationships, and connection. It’s not good for us to be alone! God desires for us to be in relationship. This is what makes the problem of loneliness so tragic. Loneliness is not the design of our loving Creator. In our age of growing disconnection we desperately need to capture a vision of the relational God who made us for relationship. We need to partner with the God who “sets the lonely in families, and leads out the prisoners with singing.” (Ps 68:6)

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361975 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 3025 full false Jesus The Soon Coming King | Bob Marsch | Gospel 101 When the Apostle Paul mentions in the Gospel he received in 1 Corinthians 15 he goes on a rabbit trail after verse 5. Many scholars believe that Paul actually continues his gospel statement at verse 20 and that the “gospel” Paul received and Paul preached and the Corinthians received did not end with  15:5, but continued to the end of all ends in paragraph C (vv. 20 – 28). In other words, there are reasons to think the Gospel of Paul included the ascension of Jesus, the second coming of Christ, and the full consummation of the kingdom when God becomes all in all. This is good news to a world underneath the reign of death and decay.  God will be God and we will be God’s people — and the whole Story will be about God.

]]> When the Apostle Paul mentions in the Gospel he received in 1 Corinthians 15 he goes on a rabbit trail after verse 5. Many scholars believe that Paul actually continues his gospel statement at verse 20 and that the “gospel” Paul received and Paul preached and the Corinthians received did not end with  15:5, but continued to the end of all ends in paragraph C (vv. 20 – 28). In other words, there are reasons to think the Gospel of Paul included the ascension of Jesus, the second coming of Christ, and the full consummation of the kingdom when God becomes all in all. This is good news to a world underneath the reign of death and decay.  God will be God and we will be God’s people — and the whole Story will be about God.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361971 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500 2640 full false Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life | Paul Walker | Gospel 101 A central meaning of the Gospel — as announced in the New Testament—is that Jesus is risen from the dead. As the Apostle Paul writes when he shares the gospel, “he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”. (1 Cor 15:4) Resurrection is more than just good news about Jesus being alive. Resurrection is a seismic shift in all the fabric of the universe. Resurrection is the vindication of Christ Jesus, the death of death, the inauguration a new age, and a new creation. This means that for all who are in Christ, there is a new creation—- a new way of ordering the world. The early church will take this good news of new creation and begin to pattern their lives in ways that will give their kingdom allegiance to Christ. This will have radical social, political, and cosmic implications. Jesus is risen, therefore God’s new world has begun. Jesus is risen, therefore Israel and the world have been redeemed. Jesus is risen, therefore his followers have a new job to do. And what is that new job? To bring the life of heaven to birth in actual, physical, earthly reality.

]]> A central meaning of the Gospel — as announced in the New Testament—is that Jesus is risen from the dead. As the Apostle Paul writes when he shares the gospel, “he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”. (1 Cor 15:4) Resurrection is more than just good news about Jesus being alive. Resurrection is a seismic shift in all the fabric of the universe. Resurrection is the vindication of Christ Jesus, the death of death, the inauguration a new age, and a new creation. This means that for all who are in Christ, there is a new creation—- a new way of ordering the world. The early church will take this good news of new creation and begin to pattern their lives in ways that will give their kingdom allegiance to Christ. This will have radical social, political, and cosmic implications. Jesus is risen, therefore God’s new world has begun. Jesus is risen, therefore Israel and the world have been redeemed. Jesus is risen, therefore his followers have a new job to do. And what is that new job? To bring the life of heaven to birth in actual, physical, earthly reality.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361963 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2807 full false Jesus Our Saviour | Ryan Murray | Gospel 101 When the Apostle Paul describes the Gospel he received, he writes, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” The Christ— Jesus our King— died to rescue us from sin. What is sin? Well the English word “sin” translates the Greek word hamartia, which means to miss the mark, to fail to hit the bull’s-eye, to be off target. Sin refers to any ways we fail to live the life of love for which we were created. Sin is being off-centre, out of sync, less than loving. Knowing that, you should be able to see that sin is the human dilemma. We are fractured and broken beings. The Good News is that Jesus the King came to save us from all that separates us from God and separates us from our complete healed and whole selves. This is good news!

]]> When the Apostle Paul describes the Gospel he received, he writes, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” The Christ— Jesus our King— died to rescue us from sin. What is sin? Well the English word “sin” translates the Greek word hamartia, which means to miss the mark, to fail to hit the bull’s-eye, to be off target. Sin refers to any ways we fail to live the life of love for which we were created. Sin is being off-centre, out of sync, less than loving. Knowing that, you should be able to see that sin is the human dilemma. We are fractured and broken beings. The Good News is that Jesus the King came to save us from all that separates us from God and separates us from our complete healed and whole selves. This is good news!

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361959 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2577 full false Jesus Our King | Paul Walker | Gospel 101 One of the most consistent themes in the New Testament is that Jesus is the Christ or King. Jesus is King and he proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus often said things like, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). For Jesus, the “good news” is the proclamation of the coming kingdom of God. In fact, the Bible summarizes the entire message of Jesus as “the good news of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:43; Acts 8:12; 28:31). The word kingdom isn’t used frequently anymore. Today we talk about nations and countries more than kingdoms. But king- dom (Greek: basileia) still has value when talking about the gospel, because it includes the word king (basileus): the one who shapes the vision and values of the kingdom. So what does Jesus’ kingdom look like? And why is this good news?

]]> One of the most consistent themes in the New Testament is that Jesus is the Christ or King. Jesus is King and he proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus often said things like, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). For Jesus, the “good news” is the proclamation of the coming kingdom of God. In fact, the Bible summarizes the entire message of Jesus as “the good news of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:43; Acts 8:12; 28:31). The word kingdom isn’t used frequently anymore. Today we talk about nations and countries more than kingdoms. But king- dom (Greek: basileia) still has value when talking about the gospel, because it includes the word king (basileus): the one who shapes the vision and values of the kingdom. So what does Jesus’ kingdom look like? And why is this good news?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361947 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2232 full false Will The Real Gospel Please Stand Up? | Paul Walker | Gospel 101 What is the good news? What is the gospel? For some folks the good news is only about how to get saved. For others the good news is about obtaining a ticket to heaven, or a strategy for health and wealth. There are all sorts of false gospels that try to lead us astray, much like the Galatians were led astray to a “different gospel.” Yet as we look to the Scriptures, we discover that the good news is so much more than a singular decision moment. The good news is a beautiful and expansive vision for the shalom of all creation that culminates in Jesus. So what is the good news? Jesus is the good news!

]]> What is the good news? What is the gospel? For some folks the good news is only about how to get saved. For others the good news is about obtaining a ticket to heaven, or a strategy for health and wealth. There are all sorts of false gospels that try to lead us astray, much like the Galatians were led astray to a “different gospel.” Yet as we look to the Scriptures, we discover that the good news is so much more than a singular decision moment. The good news is a beautiful and expansive vision for the shalom of all creation that culminates in Jesus. So what is the good news? Jesus is the good news!

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361942 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2317 full false The Time You Have Left | Paul Walker The Psalmist writes….Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

To be wise is to number your days, count your steps, and consider your ways. The only alternative is that we waste the time we have left. And time is a precious commodity. You can’t buy more of it. One life to live, and it will soon pass

What are you going to with the time you have left?

Are you making the most of each day? Are you using the time you have or are you letting life pass you by? What do you need to START doing today?  What do you need to STOP doing today?

]]> The Psalmist writes….Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

To be wise is to number your days, count your steps, and consider your ways. The only alternative is that we waste the time we have left. And time is a precious commodity. You can’t buy more of it. One life to live, and it will soon pass

What are you going to with the time you have left?

Are you making the most of each day? Are you using the time you have or are you letting life pass you by? What do you need to START doing today?  What do you need to STOP doing today?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361938 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 1520 full false You Are The Light | Cam Priebe | Light Up The Night In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples that they are the light of the world. It’s a shocking statement when you consider that Jesus calls himself the light of the world in John 8:12. How could imperfect people like us ever be called the light? John Chrysostom, a fourth-century Jesus follower explained it like this: “Jesus’ disciples are called the light of the world because they illuminated by One who is the true and eternal light” Like the moon illuminating the darkness , those who have been “lit” by the light of the Son, should carry that light out into the world by following his example. We are not ourselves the origin of light, but we reflect the light we have received.  This is to say that salt & light people inhabit the way of Jesus to be a radical alternative to a darkened world. Both salt and light are images for impact on something else: salt impacts, for instance, meats, while light impacts darkness. On the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we will consider what it means for the church to be salt & light.

]]> In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples that they are the light of the world. It’s a shocking statement when you consider that Jesus calls himself the light of the world in John 8:12. How could imperfect people like us ever be called the light? John Chrysostom, a fourth-century Jesus follower explained it like this: “Jesus’ disciples are called the light of the world because they illuminated by One who is the true and eternal light” Like the moon illuminating the darkness , those who have been “lit” by the light of the Son, should carry that light out into the world by following his example. We are not ourselves the origin of light, but we reflect the light we have received.  This is to say that salt & light people inhabit the way of Jesus to be a radical alternative to a darkened world. Both salt and light are images for impact on something else: salt impacts, for instance, meats, while light impacts darkness. On the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we will consider what it means for the church to be salt & light.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361931 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2568 full false Jesus the Light of the World | Bob Marsch | Light Up The Night John opens his Gospel with ‘In the beginning…’a clear reference to the creation account in Genesis, and then John moves quickly to describe the life in Jesus as “the light of all humankind” (John 1:4). This light shines in the darkness and does not overcome it. John continues to weave this metaphor of light throughout his gospel— a metaphor that is found prominently in the Old Testament prophets. Jesus in John’s Gospel is revealed to be the essence of enlightenment itself revealing truth that had once been hidden under a veil of darkness. Jesus comes to show us a better way. This comes to the forefront in John 8, where Jesus declares on the Feast of Tabernacles that he is the light of the world. In the dark, we grope and grasp to understand, but in the light, we see as things are revealed to us. On the third Sunday of Advent, we will consider what it means for Jesus to be the promised light of the world.

]]> John opens his Gospel with ‘In the beginning…’a clear reference to the creation account in Genesis, and then John moves quickly to describe the life in Jesus as “the light of all humankind” (John 1:4). This light shines in the darkness and does not overcome it. John continues to weave this metaphor of light throughout his gospel— a metaphor that is found prominently in the Old Testament prophets. Jesus in John’s Gospel is revealed to be the essence of enlightenment itself revealing truth that had once been hidden under a veil of darkness. Jesus comes to show us a better way. This comes to the forefront in John 8, where Jesus declares on the Feast of Tabernacles that he is the light of the world. In the dark, we grope and grasp to understand, but in the light, we see as things are revealed to us. On the third Sunday of Advent, we will consider what it means for Jesus to be the promised light of the world.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361926 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2398 full false A Witness to the Light | Lorelle Perry | Light Up The Night In the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus simply appears as a full-grown adult in the middle of the wilderness. But before Jesus can appear, someone has to prepare the way for him. So Mark begins his story, not with Mary and Joseph, but with a prophet, the first one anyone has heard in more than 400 years. Mark’s good news story begins with John the Baptist. Mark connects what John the Baptist is about to do through the prophetic cry of Isaiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God!” Mark isn’t just telling his listeners to hop on the road grader and smooth out the bumps. He’s saying, “Build a whole new road through this wilderness! A new thing is about to happen among you. God is coming.” How will this road get built? How will we prepare the way? Through the “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” On the second Sunday of Advent, how might we ‘prepare the way’ for Jesus in our lives? How might we be a witness to the coming of Jesus?

]]> In the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus simply appears as a full-grown adult in the middle of the wilderness. But before Jesus can appear, someone has to prepare the way for him. So Mark begins his story, not with Mary and Joseph, but with a prophet, the first one anyone has heard in more than 400 years. Mark’s good news story begins with John the Baptist. Mark connects what John the Baptist is about to do through the prophetic cry of Isaiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God!” Mark isn’t just telling his listeners to hop on the road grader and smooth out the bumps. He’s saying, “Build a whole new road through this wilderness! A new thing is about to happen among you. God is coming.” How will this road get built? How will we prepare the way? Through the “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” On the second Sunday of Advent, how might we ‘prepare the way’ for Jesus in our lives? How might we be a witness to the coming of Jesus?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361914 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2618 full false Waiting in the Darkness | Carolyn Klassen | Light Up The Night In the beginning, the earth was formless and void  (TOHU wa BOHU). This was a chaotic and negative scene. In the ancient world, it was the type of land that was desolate and could not have order. God steps in and creates order. God speaks light to the chaotic darknesses and the result is peace (shalom) and the thriving of all creation. It was good and very good. But in an instant, all that changed as Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s good instruction. They took of the fruit and ate, and sin entered the world. Fellowship broken. Peace shattered. Creation thrown into chaos. Darkness, depravity, fear, shame, and selfishness flooded the human heart, and plunged us back into the darkness and towards a TOHU wa BOHU. The situation was dire. But, God promises that we would not be left alone in the dark. A rescuer would come who would speak order to our chaos. On the first Sunday of Advent 2021, we join the longing of all those waiting in the darkness for light to come.

]]> In the beginning, the earth was formless and void  (TOHU wa BOHU). This was a chaotic and negative scene. In the ancient world, it was the type of land that was desolate and could not have order. God steps in and creates order. God speaks light to the chaotic darknesses and the result is peace (shalom) and the thriving of all creation. It was good and very good. But in an instant, all that changed as Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s good instruction. They took of the fruit and ate, and sin entered the world. Fellowship broken. Peace shattered. Creation thrown into chaos. Darkness, depravity, fear, shame, and selfishness flooded the human heart, and plunged us back into the darkness and towards a TOHU wa BOHU. The situation was dire. But, God promises that we would not be left alone in the dark. A rescuer would come who would speak order to our chaos. On the first Sunday of Advent 2021, we join the longing of all those waiting in the darkness for light to come.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361906 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2363 full false Peace With The Earth | Scott Gerbrandt | Mixtapes Psalm 104 is a song capturing the heart of the two creation narratives we read in Genesis 1 +2. In this song we hear the repeated themes: (1) God is Creator of ALL things (including humans); (2) God, with grace, mercy and wonder has created an abundant and generous home for ALL things and (3) ALL things look to God for life! This psalm beautifully captures the “shalom” – the fullness of right, good and mature relationships between God and Creation (including humans). This is the way it was created to be AND is what God is about in God’s “rescue plan” for ALL things (Colossians 1:15-20) – there is nothing outside of God’s redemptive plan – God intends to bring back Shalom  (including humans). It matters how we treat the earth because it matters to God! God's call and hope for humanity's role in creation is to "tend & keep" (Gen 2)... Let's get to it!

]]> Psalm 104 is a song capturing the heart of the two creation narratives we read in Genesis 1 +2. In this song we hear the repeated themes: (1) God is Creator of ALL things (including humans); (2) God, with grace, mercy and wonder has created an abundant and generous home for ALL things and (3) ALL things look to God for life! This psalm beautifully captures the “shalom” – the fullness of right, good and mature relationships between God and Creation (including humans). This is the way it was created to be AND is what God is about in God’s “rescue plan” for ALL things (Colossians 1:15-20) – there is nothing outside of God’s redemptive plan – God intends to bring back Shalom  (including humans). It matters how we treat the earth because it matters to God! God's call and hope for humanity's role in creation is to "tend & keep" (Gen 2)... Let's get to it!

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361896 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2284 full false Great Is Thy Faithfulness | Paul Walker | Mixtapes The Psalmist praises the faithfulness of God. It’s a faithfulness that “endures forever”v2. For the Psalmist, God’s love is shown through God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful people. Yet for many people, the picture they have of God that is anything but faithful. For some folks, God is only furious and angry at them. They believe the lie that God abandons sinners, and that they must earn their way back into God’s good graces. To this lie, we counter with the story of Peter. Peter is a deeply flawed man, and God in Christ is faithful to him. Even when Peter three times denies Jesus, we discover a God whose faithfulness is revealed in the midst of our deepest failures.

]]> The Psalmist praises the faithfulness of God. It’s a faithfulness that “endures forever”v2. For the Psalmist, God’s love is shown through God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful people. Yet for many people, the picture they have of God that is anything but faithful. For some folks, God is only furious and angry at them. They believe the lie that God abandons sinners, and that they must earn their way back into God’s good graces. To this lie, we counter with the story of Peter. Peter is a deeply flawed man, and God in Christ is faithful to him. Even when Peter three times denies Jesus, we discover a God whose faithfulness is revealed in the midst of our deepest failures.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361890 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2274 full false Knowing Reconciliation | Howard Jolly | Mixtapes David asks in Psalm 24, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” Rather than leave the question unanswered, David replies in the next verse, “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart”. The call to a pure heart is the call to being people of Jesus. Yet, as we consider the church’s legacy in Canada— especially in connection with Indigenous peoples— we must name the reality that church has not always hand clean hands and pure hearts. Howard Jolly is joining us this morning to help us understand the need for reconciliation through his own story and others. To be people reconciliation requires us to know God intimately, and to be people of clean hands and pure heart. These sort of people whom God is using as minister’s of reconciliation.

]]> David asks in Psalm 24, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” Rather than leave the question unanswered, David replies in the next verse, “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart”. The call to a pure heart is the call to being people of Jesus. Yet, as we consider the church’s legacy in Canada— especially in connection with Indigenous peoples— we must name the reality that church has not always hand clean hands and pure hearts. Howard Jolly is joining us this morning to help us understand the need for reconciliation through his own story and others. To be people reconciliation requires us to know God intimately, and to be people of clean hands and pure heart. These sort of people whom God is using as minister’s of reconciliation.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361879 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2809 full false The Church Deconstructed | Paul Walker | Deconstruction With Jesus October 31… Halloween or All Hallows Eve. While most people think of pumpkins, costumes, and candy— there is another meaning of this calendar holiday: reformation. 504 year ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis statements to the Wittenberg door and unknowingly launched a reformation in the Western Church. While this was a seminal event for Protestant Christians, it is just one example of how the church has experienced moments of decisive re-examination. In the positive sense, reformation has taken the form of renewal moments, monastic orders, and social changes. In the negative sense, it has led to schisms, division, and a fracturing of unity in the church. In the year 2021, some (like Phyllis Tickle) , have suggested we are on the verge of some major changes in the church. Certainly the usage of the #exvangelical & #deconstruction hashtags across social media have been persistent since 2016, garnering more than 300 million views on TikTok, 54,000 posts on Instagram and routinely getting more than 100,000 daily impressions on Twitter. In the age of deconstruction— what might it mean to be the church in our time? What might Jesus be asking the church to healthily deconstruct today? What might the church say to those who have walked away from faith?

]]> October 31… Halloween or All Hallows Eve. While most people think of pumpkins, costumes, and candy— there is another meaning of this calendar holiday: reformation. 504 year ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis statements to the Wittenberg door and unknowingly launched a reformation in the Western Church. While this was a seminal event for Protestant Christians, it is just one example of how the church has experienced moments of decisive re-examination. In the positive sense, reformation has taken the form of renewal moments, monastic orders, and social changes. In the negative sense, it has led to schisms, division, and a fracturing of unity in the church. In the year 2021, some (like Phyllis Tickle) , have suggested we are on the verge of some major changes in the church. Certainly the usage of the #exvangelical & #deconstruction hashtags across social media have been persistent since 2016, garnering more than 300 million views on TikTok, 54,000 posts on Instagram and routinely getting more than 100,000 daily impressions on Twitter. In the age of deconstruction— what might it mean to be the church in our time? What might Jesus be asking the church to healthily deconstruct today? What might the church say to those who have walked away from faith?

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361869 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2451 full false The Benefit of the Doubt | Paul Walker | Deconstruction With Jesus Sociologists tells us that 43-45% of people will go through a major faith transition at some point in their life. And that’s any faith transition. So that can be from one Christian denomination to another denomination; that can be from belief to atheism; that can also be from secularism to some form of faith. 44% is a huge number. It has some folks raising the alarm against those who would begin a process of doubt or healthy deconstruction. Doubt is considered by some to be the enemy of faith.  In this teach we will discover that viewing doubt in this way is both unhelpful and un-scriptural. Furthermore, it perpetuates the myth is that when we go through the process of doubt and deconstruction, we have somehow lost our faith. The fact is that if you doubt, it means that you do have faith. Throughout the ancient history of the church, faith has been defined as a combination of knowing and not knowing. Of a willingness and readiness by the grace of God to live with a certain degree of unknowing— or what the mystics call darkness.

]]> Sociologists tells us that 43-45% of people will go through a major faith transition at some point in their life. And that’s any faith transition. So that can be from one Christian denomination to another denomination; that can be from belief to atheism; that can also be from secularism to some form of faith. 44% is a huge number. It has some folks raising the alarm against those who would begin a process of doubt or healthy deconstruction. Doubt is considered by some to be the enemy of faith.  In this teach we will discover that viewing doubt in this way is both unhelpful and un-scriptural. Furthermore, it perpetuates the myth is that when we go through the process of doubt and deconstruction, we have somehow lost our faith. The fact is that if you doubt, it means that you do have faith. Throughout the ancient history of the church, faith has been defined as a combination of knowing and not knowing. Of a willingness and readiness by the grace of God to live with a certain degree of unknowing— or what the mystics call darkness.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361805 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2530 full false What Is Deconstruction | Paul Walker | Deconstruction With Jesus Deconstruction was a term first coined by the philosopher Jacques Derrida in the 1960’s. Derrida’s use of the term was not about tearing down and building. Rather it meant becoming more mindful of the way we use words. Words themselves can privilege power, and we need to attend to the way words can shape narratives. In this teach we will deconstruct what we mean by the term deconstruction and discover that it is not a singular term or static experience. Rather, there are various dynamic ways— both helpful and unhelpful— of going through deconstruction. And ultimately, there is way of understanding deconstruction that sees Jesus at the centre of this journey.

]]> Deconstruction was a term first coined by the philosopher Jacques Derrida in the 1960’s. Derrida’s use of the term was not about tearing down and building. Rather it meant becoming more mindful of the way we use words. Words themselves can privilege power, and we need to attend to the way words can shape narratives. In this teach we will deconstruct what we mean by the term deconstruction and discover that it is not a singular term or static experience. Rather, there are various dynamic ways— both helpful and unhelpful— of going through deconstruction. And ultimately, there is way of understanding deconstruction that sees Jesus at the centre of this journey.

]]> The Meeting Place Church Buzzsprout-10361784 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0500 2758 full false