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Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week. This is going to be my last update for a few weeks. More details of my time away are below.
I was going to start looking at the power of the resurrection as part of the “Thought for the Day” but instead I went back into my archives to share with you a post from the very first week back in March 2020. I was interested in reading what I wrote back then, hope you are too. Time Away As I mentioned on Sunday, I’m taking some time off. I won’t be speaking the next three weeks as we have our mission-focused mini series. In relation to that, I’m also taking two weeks of holidays. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’ll be doing since I can’t really go anywhere! Regardless, I will be unplugging from church-related activities which means I will not be doing my weekly updates for the next two weeks. In my absence, the leadership team will be covering for me (thank you!!) so look for likely a different flavor but still the same pertinent content. Concerts of Prayer Coming "The measure of believing, continued prayer will be the measure of the Spirit’s working in the Church. Direct, definite, determined prayer is what we need." (Andrew Murray) The GBC Elder Team calls all to participate in TWO Concerts of Prayer scheduled for Thursday, April 22 @ 7pm-8pm and Thursday, April 29 @ 7pm-8pm. We encourage each Small Group to consider participating in this opportunity for church-wide prayer in lieu of meeting, or as an additional element for these two weeks. Two options will be made available each Thursday – In-Person Concert of Prayer in the GBC Sanctuary and Online Concert of Prayer via Zoom. Zoom details to follow. The content is similar in both options. Thursday, April 22 Content
Join us Sunday! This Sunday we begin our mission-focused mini-series. Patrick will be kicking things off. These next 3 weeks are not just about mission reports! They’re practical looks at applying the words of Jesus we’ve been looking at the past few months in a variety of contexts. I think it’s going to be powerful. Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE A thought for the day: A look back: Focus on what’s unchanging not what is changing. I thought I’d take a look back at what I wrote when this all began in March of 2020. Here’s what I shared: There’ve been a lot of changes to your world and to our community and there will likely be more in the coming weeks. It’s safe to say we don’t even know all the changes this pandemic will have on us. These are all things we never dreamed of a year ago. Be flexible, but remember what hasn’t changed. The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). In the midst of all this change, you can count on that truth. You can also know that God’s love for you has never changed. God’s call on your life hasn’t changed. Don’t let all the changes make you lose sight of everything that is still the same. So, with that in mind, let’s enter into this weekend with a smile on our face as we look to Almighty God who’s in control. He’s got this. How true this is! I’d say nothing has changed in terms of what I shared other than this has gone on longer than I’d expected. Thankfully, God isn’t surprised and he’s still working things out. That’s unchanging and something to carry us through the days ahead no matter how long it takes or what it holds. We can still count on to that truth since Jesus is THE truth. In His grip, Pastor Chris
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Good afternoon! Every Sunday afternoon I check the comments in the chat from our livestream and like to see how many of you are not just watching but starting to engage. I’m so thankful for this vehicle of ministry. I also noticed a new person had connected as well so we continue to see broader engagement from the community. I’d encourage you to pray for those who tune in who don’t know Jesus or don’t know us that God would use this to further His kingdom.
I’m finishing my thoughts for today on the evidence for the resurrection but will be looking Thursday at the power of the resurrection. I hope it continues to be a challenge and encouragement for you. Levi Tamminga Baby Celebration Moved Due to the current regulations, we’re pushing back the celebration for Levi Tamminga. The new date is Sunday May 16 and will be held after the 11am service. More details will come as we get closer. GBC Prayer Gathering Has Moved too! GBC Prayer has MOVED! Going forward, the GBC Prayer Group will meet in the side auditorium on TUESDAY AFTERNOONS at 3:30pm. We continue to pray as prompted by God’s Word, intercede for our church family and city, and enjoy the encouragement of God’s presence. Please join us! Thought for the Day: Who’s Got the Body? Part 3 …an examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection. Last week we spent some time looking at the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. As a reminder, things like this are used to strengthen our faith and answer questions that may arise. So here’s the last one, and perhaps the most powerful: The Appearances of the Risen Christ For 40 days after His death, Jesus was reported to be seen alive on earth. It was reported in the scriptures and also in extra-biblical sources like Josephus who I mentioned in my Easter message. How do we explain this? Some say these were hallucinations, but do the accounts show that? Only certain high-strung and imaginative types of people usually have such psychic experiences. Yet a woman, a tax collector, several fishermen and more than 500 people at one time claimed they saw Him. Hallucinations are very individualistic–contrasting with the fact that over 500 people saw the same thing at the same time and place. Two other facts undermine the hallucination idea. Such imaginations are usually of expected events, yet the disciples had lost hope after the crucifixion. Also, psychic phenomena usually occur in cycles, but the appearances came in no set pattern. Attempts to explain away the appearances run into a brick wall of facts. The facts point to one conclusion: Jesus is risen. Of course, the above is not exhaustive proof, but rather a reasoned examination of the evidence. For us now, we must each consider and evaluate the evidence ourselves to determine the truth of the resurrection claim. If the facts support the claim, then we can conclude that He arose. In any case, a mere intellectual assent to the facts does nothing for one’s life, we need to do something with it. So yes, we take this on faith but its also supported by facts. I believe this, do you? In His grip, Pastor Chris Good afternoon. I hope you’re making this a great week, despite all the distractions we’re facing! Yes, we will be open again on Sunday, just like Easter. Details are below.
For my thought for the day, I’m continuing to look at evidence of the resurrection. I apologize for the length of this one but I got carried away with the research! I hope you find it encouraging though! Responding to the New Government Orders I have to confess the new government orders announced yesterday were a bit confusing. But with the new directives, churches are allowed to continue under the same terms of the “Emergency Brake” despite the “Stay at Home” order. With that in mind, we will be continuing on with in-person services as allowed by the government based on the protocols from last week. The elders will be monitoring on a weekly basis the situation as well as reconsidering our programming. If you have any questions about this please let me know. Join us on Sunday This Sunday I will be finishing our Easter series: Jesus love lived out. This week I’ll be looking at the restoration of Peter and Jesus call to “follow me”. It’s a powerful, intimate look at God’s love which has a clear call for us as well. Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE Thought for the Day: Who’s Got the Body? Part 2 …an examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection. On Tuesday I began to share with you some thoughts and evidence for the resurrection. The resurrection is a critical element of our faith so having certainty of the validity for this is key. So, I wanted to expand a bit on the evidence we find for the truth of Jesus rising from the dead. Thanks to those who shared with me after Tuesday that this was an encouragement. The other day I shared the number of respected scholars who believe it as well as the explosive growth of the early church. Let’s look at another: The Changed Lives of the Disciples After Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, most of the disciples were frightened. Peter, for instance, denied Christ three times. Yet 10 out of the 11 disciples were martyred for their faith. Peter was crucified, Thomas was skewered; John was boiled in oil but survived. Something had happened to revolutionize these men’s lives. Each believed he had seen the risen Christ. As I said on Easter Sunday- no one dies for a lie. How about this: the empty tomb itself. Jesus’ dead body was removed from the cross, wrapped in graveclothes like a mummy and placed in a tomb. An extremely large stone was rolled into a slightly depressed groove at the tomb’s entrance. Some have conservatively estimated the weight of the stone at one-and-a-half to two tons. A guard of Roman soldiers was placed out front to guard the grave. The military discipline of the Romans was so strict that severe corporal and often capital punishment awaited the soldier who left his post or failed in his duty. Sunday morning, the stone was found rolled away, the body was gone, but the graveclothes were still in place. What happened? Some say that Jesus’ friends stole the body. This means that either one of the women sweet-talked the guards while the other two moved the stone and tip-toed off with the body, or else guys like Peter (remember how brave he was) and Thomas (how easily convinced he was) overpowered the guards, stole the body, and fabricated a myth. These theories hardly seem plausible. The guard was too powerful, the stone too heavy, and the disciples, not yet experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit were too spineless to attempt such a feat. Others say that Jesus’ enemies stole the body. Yet if the religious leaders had the body, they would have exposed it publicly and Christianity would have died out. They didn’t and it didn’t. The Romans had no reason to steal it, so that doesn’t stand up either. A popular alternative is called the “swoon theory.” In it, Jesus didn’t really die but was only unconscious. The expert Roman executioners merely thought He was dead. After a few days in the tomb, without food or medicine, the cool air revived Him. Then, according to this theory, He burst from the graveclothes, rolled away the stone with His nail-pierced hands, scared the daylights out of the Roman soldiers, walked kilometers on wounded feet, and convinced His disciples that He’d been raised from the dead. This one is harder to believe than the resurrection itself! As you’ve heard me say, I don’t have enough faith for that theory! In other words, if Jesus was put to death, who’s got the body? All that we do have is an empty tomb. More to come next week! In His grip, Pastor Chris GBC Community Update: Who’s Got the Body? …looking at the evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.4/6/2021 Good morning! It was great to share Easter together. I know many had their plans changed by the new government order but it was still nice to gather and worship our risen savior. Easter is never cancelled!
I spoke on Sunday about the evidence for the resurrection and I’m going to continue on with that in my thought for the day. It’ll take on a bit of an apologetics feel but I think will still be an encouragement and strengthening of all our faith. Youth@GBC Surge returns! Our youth service and community outreach project known as “SURGE” is returning this Sunday. While more details are coming out to the youth and parents (don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything!) I wanted to share this with all of you to let you know about ministry going on within the GBC family and ask that you pray for the youth and leaders as they let the light of Jesus shine within our community. This month they’ll be doing a park clean up. Join us in Prayer On Wednesday afternoons at 3pm a small group of people gather here at GBC for prayer. We’re focusing on the themes in the 40 Days of Prayer for March. Feel free to join us! Thought for the Day: Who’s Got the Body? …an examination of evidences for Jesus’ resurrection. I referenced this a bit at the beginning of my message on Easter Sunday, about the proof for the resurrection of Jesus. I’d like to go a bit more in depth on this topic. Why is this important? It makes all the difference in the world. If Christ did not rise, then thousands of Christians have lived and died for a hoax. You may say, ‘but Chris, I believe’. Great! But lots of others don’t. So, as we seek to let our light shine, and engage with the world around us with the Good News of life in Jesus, I’d like to share more evidence for the resurrection. This is very important in the days we’re in since if He did rise, then He is still alive and can act now to straighten out our chaotic world. Let’s take a look. Facts always speak louder than opinions. Let’s take a look at some of the historical evidence for the resurrection and see where the facts lead. One preliminary consideration: countless scholars–among them, the apostle Paul, Augustine, Sir Isaac Newton and C. S. Lewis–believed in the resurrection. We need not fear committing intellectual suicide by accepting it as well since we’re in great company. Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians that “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He was raised on the third day. He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now.” I mentioned Sunday how that was written 20 years after the event so could have been researched and refuted then, yet it wasn’t. That’s what we’d call contemporary historical evidence. Speaking of evidence, consider this: the explosive growth of the Christian church Within a few weeks after the crucifixion a movement arose which, by the later admission of its enemies, “upset the world.” Something happened to ignite this movement a very short time after its leader had been executed and its been going ever since. Things like that don’t happen, and more importantly last, without a lasting, tangible stimulus. I’ll look at this further on Thursday. Until then, we can be confident that what we believe on faith has a solid foundation in fact and history. I hope that’s an encouragement to you today. In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week. There is much anticipation about what the government will announce this afternoon. As I write this I don’t know what will happen but I know God is still on the throne, Easter can’t be cancelled. In terms of what that looks like, we’ll wait and see. Let’s continue to find our hope in an empty cross and an empty tomb.
Good Friday Service On 10:30am here at GBC, and our livestream, we will be reflecting on the cross and the payment Jesus made for our sins at our annual God Friday service. Join us for this thoughtful time, with includes communion, as we consider what Jesus did for us and how his death sets us free. Join us as we celebrate the empty tomb! We’re not sure at this point what Easter Sunday will look like. If there any changes that impact those who come I’ll let you know with a special update. Regardless, I will be continuing our series as we now celebrate Easter and Jesus love lived out. This week I’ll be looking at the time right after Jesus rose from the dead. It was a confusing time for many (not surprising!) so we’ll be looking at Jesus words: “stop doubting and believe.” Remember, you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE Outreach Workshop Coming Up Our next outreach workshop will be held on Sunday April 11 at around 12:30. It’ll last about 20 minutes and will be focused on practical ways to engage the world around you with the gospel. I’ll be again leading this so I hope you can make it out! Thought for the Day: Why the need for the Easter sacrifice of Jesus? Pt.2 On Tuesday I looked at the idea of why Jesus had to go to the cross from the position of our legal standing. Understand that what happened at the cross was a legal proceeding like no other. God is victim, judge and defense counsel. It may seem a bit strange to us, but this is the way it must be. God is judge by right of creation. He made it all. He owns it all. He sets the rules in place for the governance of it all. God is also the victim here because, in spite of His right to require obedience, I have spurned Him. I have refused to live according to the decrees of the Owner of all. He is the injured party in this proceeding. But that verse I shared in Micah on Tuesday also tells me that God is the defense counsel. I discover that God is not simply the moral policeman of the universe. He is exactly as He describes Himself in Exodus 34:6 – compassionate and full of mercy. God steps in to plead my case when there is absolutely no excuse for my actions. So, what does pleading mean when I am a confessed criminal? From my perspective, it can only mean one thing – a cry for a merciful verdict. In these circumstances, that’s all I could come up with. That, however, is not God’s way. God’s way is amazingly controversial, completely unanticipated and absolutely unique. The victim voluntarily dies in the place of the guilty. This is the whole creation turned upside-down. Nothing could have prepared us for this solution. The law is upheld. The judge is satisfied. The guilty are forgiven. Mercy triumphs over wrath without compromising justice. That’s why we call it Good Friday and why we praise the God who died in our place. It’s the only reason we are free, that’s why there needed to be a cross, that’s why there needed to be an Easter sacrifice. Pretty amazing, huh? In His grip, Pastor Chris |
Pastor Chris"At GBC we're serious about the Bible, serious about the truths that are found in it and living in Him but also like to laugh, cry and experience life together." Archives
January 2024
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