December 27, 2009 Quiet Transitions  (33 minutes)

Times of transition can seem quiet - even lonely - as we look to God to change our circumstances or prespare us for an exciting opportunity He is leading us into.

Something to Think About: We tend to underestimate God and overestimate ourselves.

Something to Think About: "A person does not need to be anything other or greater than his own little faltering preface - in the confidence that at some point in eternity God will surely bring order out of the individual's divided and piecemeal tale and write an emphatic postscript."  Joakim Garth

December 20, 2009 Joy  (24 minutes)

In this final instalment of our Advent series, we discuss something that is becoming more difficult to find over time. We easily recognize it when someone has it, and wonder how we can get more of it into our lives.

Something to Think About: Joy is the ability to unmask our brokenness in light of the extravagant promises of God, where we live by claiming that bad things can turn into good, good things can never be lost, and that the best is yet to come.

December 13, 2009 Love  (33 minutes)

It's a story that has been told countless times, but one that continues to resonate throughout the generations; a simple teenager chosen to bear the greatest gift ever given to humanity. In this message we look at Mary's initial response to the angel's news, and what that teaches us about God.

Something to Think About: There is a great mystery to love: The more you give, the more you keep. Love that does not understand the language of sacrifice is not love at all.

December 6, 2009 Peace  (25 minutes)

We are all longing for a sense of inner peace. How do we attain it and how do we achieve that lasting sense of inner serenity? In this message, we'll see that true peace is found somewhere else and is a central part of the Christmas story.

November 29, 2009 Hope  (29 minutes)

This message begins a four-part series on Advent. In this first message, we learn one of the greatest truths about God. This one thing has the power to carry us through every circumstance of life.

Something to Think About: Hope is shaped by experiencing God's purpose and trusting His promises.

November 22, 2009 The Power of Words  (23 minutes)

Over and over again we are reminded of the power of our words. In the concluding message of this 9-part series, we learn the language that best communicates the words of Jesus.

Something to Think About: The answer is Jesus. It doesn't matter what the question is.

November 15, 2009 It's Personal  (35 minutes)

Our faith in Jesus has a significant impact on the key relationships in our life ... our spouse, our children and our work.

Something to Think About: Submission is a willing invitation for someone else to lead. Love is a sacrificial and selfless act. Jesus is the epitome of both.

Something to Think About: Our highest reward for our work is not what we get from it, but what we become by it. An ounce of performance is worth a ton of excuses, because an excuse is the first cousin of a lie.

November 8, 2009 Brand New You  (35 minutes)

When we become believers in Jesus Christ, we are invited into a whole new way of thinking, acting and relating.

Something to Think About: "Whenever God touches sin, it is independence that is touched, and that awakens resentment in the human heart. Freedom is the ability not to insist on my rights, but to see that God gets His." O. Chambers

Something to Think About: The definition of a Christian is someone who has a sign over them that says, "Under New Management".

November 1, 2009 Don't  (25 minutes)

When we think about "church", we often think about religious activity. But any religious activity that does not present Jesus as the core of that activity is nothing buy empty ritual.

Something to Think About: Jesus is the centre of worship. Surrender is the act of worship. 'In spirit and truth' is the mode of worship.

October 25, 2009 What's The Problem?  (36 minutes)

What is it that shapes your life? What is it that guides your priorities and your decisions and how do they influence the direction of your life? In this message, Jon looks at the heart of these questions.

Something to Think About: The deeper you go, the stronger you grow, the more you overflow.

Something to Think About: "Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of your desire." Thomas Merton

Something to Think About: Jesus did not come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive!

October 18, 2009 Secret  (34 minutes)

This week, we heard about a mystery that is now history, fully revealed for all to understand: If you want to thrive, Jesus must be first and foremost, living in your heart.

Something to Think About: When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible person, and crushes them.

October 11, 2009 Supreme  (36 minutes)

This sermon emphasizes the supremacy of Christ over all things and reminds us that we can thrive and live holy as God is holy if we humble ourselves and let Christ reign supreme in our lives.

October 4, 2009 Rescued  (23 minutes)

Mention church in a crowd and you'll get all kinds of responses. Though no church is perfect, there is evidence of God working amidst its imperfections.

Something to Think About: Jesus said, "I will build my church." And He is doing exactly that, both here at Village Green and around the world.

September 27, 2009 Start-up  (28 min)

This was the first of a 9-week series on the letter to the Colossians. In the introductory verses, the apostle Paul sets the tone for what is to unfold: a rich tapestry of teaching that takes the mystery out of living life to the fullest.

Something to Think About: Being "in Christ" is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, anger and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

September 20, 2009 TXT MSSG  (30 min)

This is the week we officially launch a new season of Life Groups. What is it that we devote so much time studying and why is it important?

Something to Think About: God is an author. And one of the nicest things you can say to God is, "I read your book."

Life Groups are starting up soon. In this message we look at the benefits of being part of a Life Group, both to you as an individual and to the church as a whole.

Something to Think About: "Some things that are definitely better together. Like waterskiing, getting engaged, teeter-tottering ... and growing spiritually."

September 6, 2009 Boldly Going ...

Brent, Peggy, Joshua and Jennifer dialogue about sharing the good news; about boldness, consistent living, listening to God and kairos (the opportune time).

Something to Think About: "Is it more boldness we need, or more obedience?"

This message is about everyday encounters - simple, ordinary ways to make connections with people by listening, engaging, and taking a genuine interest. Always be prepared to give an answer ..."

Something to Think About: "People change their minds about life not just because they get the correct information, but because they trust their conversation partners."

We have just concluded our week of Day Camp where we enjoyed the privilege of serving the children of this community. In this message Jon looks at what the Bible says about children, and the lessons they can teach us all.

David Griffiths give a moving testimony about his 40-year ministry - and the transforming power of God - among the tribal people of Laos and northern Thailand.

In this message we look into the life of a King who found he was struggling with a common problem. Even though this Psalm is hundreds of years old and the situation dramatically different, the situation is all too familiar.

The Psalms are the most widely read part of the Bible. That's because they are songs from the heart of God's people, expressing and exposing emotions that have resonated with readers throughout the centuries.

July 26, 2009 Walking With Blisters

What does it mean to walk with blisters? In the New Testament, suffering is hardly ever mentioned without also mentioning the blessing or privilege of suffering. Is it possible that joy and suffering can co-exist?

How do we know when a church is alive and growing? What are the signs of life? Today we celebrate one of those signs; the baptism of three individuals.

The second Lifesign is a full mailbox ... a full and fruitful life. It is a result of an attitude of gratitude, a commitment to care, and an openness to growth.

The heartbeat of Jesus leads us into a life of heart smart food. And the first Lifesign is that of intimacy. Pick up your figurative stethoscopes and listen in order to discover how to be connected and how to belong. What heartbeat are you listening to?

What is often the greatest stumbling block for people who are given the invitation to follow Jesus?

"Whatever gets your attention sets in motion a direction that determines your destination." The more men develop the character qualities of Jesus, the better they become in every arena of their lives.

Over time, we can be guilty of complicating the message of Jesus. We need to be reminded from time to time to keep the first things first.

There is a relationship between building the church and being a fisher of men because fishing was never intended to be a solo mission. The church was meant to partner with us in the fishing process.

Sometimes our fears keep us from sharing the message of Christ with those who have never heard. If we are to be fishers of men, we must ask God to give us the courage to say something when an opportunity arises. He is in control, and we have been invited to participate in what He is up to.

Why do we even bother to try to convince people to accept Christ? As followers of Christ, we have to fish, because the message of salvation is not something that is intuitive; it must be shared (Acts 4:13-22).

Jesus called twelve men to follow Him, and the promise He made to those who responded (Mark 1:14-20) was one which would transform their lives from ordinary to extraordinary.

Confident women come in varying ages, personalities, backgrounds and life circumstances. But what they share is this: integrity, humility, a sense of humour and a desire to guard their hearts as they serve others and love God.

What is the wise thing to do? If we simply asked ourselves this question (based on James 3:13-17) before we made any decision, it would take us a long way toward living the life we really want to live.

In today's round table, Jon, Brent and Ernest look at 1 Peter 5:1-4 and continue their discussion on biblical leadership and how Jesus intended it to shape the life of the local church.

As we learn from John 13:1-17, lessons can be powerful. Before going to the cross, Jesus took the opportunity to teach His disciples one final lesson; one which transformed the way they thought about power, authority and leadership.

Emptiness is not always a bad thing. In this message we celebrate one of the most profound moments in human history; the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As we learn from Hebrews 10:1-10, the great truth that comes out of the story of Jesus is that He accomplished the plan of God "once and for all!"

In John 14:1-7, Jesus talked to his disciples about two questions that many have asked: What is heaven like? And how do I get there?

It is one of the most intimate pictures of Jesus that we have; that of a suffering saviour, one who willingly sacrificed himself so that we can be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God. This beautiful portrait of Jesus was not painted by a contemporary, but by a prophet centuries before Jesus even walked this earth.

Centuries before Jesus walked this earth; God initiated an amazing plan through one man named Abraham; one whereby God would be able to reach out to the entire world.

In this final sermon, we learn some important lessons about the role of encouragement as it relates to freedom. Freedom is often thought to be the ability to choose and act as we please, but today we learn that freedom is so much more.

Acts 2:41-47 has been used by many to describe the essential functions of a church. Certainly, doing these things is important. But it is important to do them with the right attitude, the right heart, and right relationships.

It has the power to help us overcome some of the most difficult moments in our lives. And even though it costs nothing to give, it is often forgotten and neglected. What is this powerful tool and how can we better utilize it?

It comes in all shapes and sizes and configurations. In recent times it has come under criticism. Its common name is the Family, but for many it is anything but common let alone normal! In this sermon based on Deuteronomy 6:1-9, we hear about God's intent for the family and what lessons can we learn to help us today.

The fourth anchor is our need for justice. Some view the world with cynicism and hopelessness because of the lack of justice throughout the centuries. But our God is a just God; He will eventually make all things right.

The third anchor is central to all human life. Some have found it, some have reclaimed it, others have felt it and watched it fade, while others never truly experience it. It has been the central theme of songsters and poets throughout the ages, serving to remind us that it is a deeply-rooted need in everyone of us.

The world is full of it, yet by itself it leaves us incomplete and unsatisfied. In the face of it we stand in awe and wonder at its meaning. Why does it evoke the kind of feeling and emotion that it does? In the second part of this series we delve into the second anchor and how it serves as an echo of something much greater.

The first anchor is the quest for spirituality. Everyone longs to be connected with God. As Matthew 16:26 says: What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?

In this sermon based on Psalm 46, Jon encourages us to "be still and know that I am God", to overcome our fears, reignite our passion, rediscover our purpose and release our potential in serving God. "Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered ... and no one was there."