Digging into Romans doesn't just teach us about Christian belief, but it also challenges us to ask God to change us in our thinking, our worldview, and our daily life.
Rooted - Week 19 - Don't Give Up
March 12, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans 16
When we feel overlooked, underappreciated, and even unseen by others, we need to remember that we are always seen by the One that matters, Jesus. Pastor Jon finishes up our time in Romans with assurances that God will carry us to the finish as we remain faithful in our service to Him.
Rooted - Week 18 - Unity Not Uniformity
March 5, 2023 • Joel Penney • Romans 14
Generosity should come more easily from those who have experienced it first-hand. Pastor Joel discusses how the gift of Jesus's Grace is one that needs to be passed on from Christian to Christian so that we can find unity as a body even when we don't have uniformity.
Rooted - Week 17 - Joyful Allegiance
February 26, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans
Recent years have seen Christians engaging with the political in ways that do not represent their responsibilities well. Pastor Jon tackles the difficult subject of how Christians are to be loyal and enthusiastic citizens of our temporal government and how we are to love our neighbours -- regardless of their political or social opinions -- with acts of horizontal grace.
Rooted - Week 16 - Through Heaven's Eyes
February 19, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans 16
Do you sometimes wonder if people see you the same way you see yourself? Many times we judge others to be less than ourselves while making excuses for all our faults. Pastor Jon steps through the incredible Chapter 12 of the book of Romans and reflects back to us how God sees us, and how we are to humble ourselves in full sacrifice to the only eternal judge, Jesus.
Rooted - Week 14 - Surrendering Into Rest
February 5, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans 9
Daily we hear the wrong messages: you have to do more, you have to do better, you have to find the strength within yourself, by yourself, to do better for yourself. When the truth is, we can't -- not by ourselves. Pastor Jon gets into the details of Romans 9 and points us to the words of God that show us how surrendering our efforts and instead relying on the power of the Holy Spirit can bring the rest and freedom we need.
Rooted - Week 13 - Un-lose-able
January 29, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans 8
Sometimes it feels as if each day is harder than the last, and wonder for how long we will be able to keep going. But for those of us who are children of God, we have been given His absolute and un-lose-able gift of Hope. Pastor Jon works through Romans 8 and its promises that God, as our perfect Father, has never and will never abandon us, and instead has given to His children incredible power and security that we deeply need.
Rooted - Week 12 - Stronger than Sin
January 22, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans 8
Most Christians are comfortable with the idea that we will receive the gift of freedom from sin in an eternal afterlife. What we struggle with more is the idea that God has given us the Holy Spirit in this life, and that the Spirit lives in us right now, and grants us power that we don't have on our own. Pastor Jon digs into Romans 8 and expounds on the liberation from a dark, desperate life that is only possible with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rooted - Week 11 - Love Without Excuses
January 15, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans 7
We all make bad choices, even when we are trying our best to make good ones. Why? Because we can't escape the worst bits of ourselves without outside help. Pastor Jon dives in and explains what role the law plays in exposing our sins, and how our love for Jesus leads us to the place where we find our very desires change so that we can, with His help, do what we are called to do, no matter the struggle.
Rooted - Week 10 - Who's Your Master
January 8, 2023 • Jon Thompson • Romans 6
We like to think of ourselves as strong, independent people, in control of our own destinies. We don't like to admit that everything we do either submits to the mastery of sin or in obedience to our loving saviour, Jesus. Pastor Jon wades into the idea of spiritual slavery, and discusses how we are all committed to a master but only one master offers rest and resurrection -- Jesus.
Rooted - Week 9 - Grace over Guilt
November 27, 2022 • Jon Thompson • Romans
Our culture is at war with the Biblical truth that people are born sinful. We want so badly to believe that cute babies are perfect and it's the horrible world that corrupts them. But Pastor Jon gives us insight into the reality of original sin and the incredible, Earth-shattering gift of grace through Jesus - the Second Adam - that God has given us.
Rooted: The Book of Romans - Week 8 - Deep Relief and Rest
November 20, 2022 • Jon Thompson • Romans
We are all walking through lives that encounter so much difficulty and suffering. It can be difficult to see the hope of Christ when we're in the midst of so much struggle. But Pastor Jon Thompson takes us on the journey that sees suffering turn into hope, fueled by the persistent love of God in which we can find the rest and relief we need.
Rooted: The Book of Romans - Week 7 - The Everyday Faith
November 13, 2022 • Joel Penney • Romans
Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that if we just try harder, do better, say the right things or follow the right traditions, that it will make us right. And when time after time we fail ourselves, it can be hard to have hope that things will ever get better. Pastor Joel Penney explores how faith in God's promises - realized through Jesus - is the only thing that will ever give us what we need to keep going. And as we walk in faith, we'll find Him guide us to where we are meant to be.
Rooted - Week 6 - Life-giving, Hope-stirring
November 6, 2022 • Jon Thompson • Romans
We may know perfection is impossible, but we keep trying. We keep seeking solutions in things around us, like our jobs, our social lives, or our families, but none of it works. This week, Pastor Jon Thompson delivers the good news of Jesus's ultimate gift to us: complete atonement, redemption, and true liberation.
Rooted - Week 5 - No Excuses Left
October 30, 2022 • Jon Thompson • Romans
What is it that we truly need to be good? Money? Education? Time? Pastor Jon Thompson discusses the uncomfortable truth of the fundamental brokenness of all humans and the perfect salvation we can only find through Jesus.
Rooted - Week 4 - Throwing Out Spiritual Junk
October 2, 2022 • Samuel Mills • Romans 2:17–29
It's easy to look around and judge others -- and ourselves -- by superficial standards, and think we're doing alright and don't need God. Even for those who call themselves Christians. But when we don't look deeper, we risk pasting a fake veneer of proper living over a whole pile of spiritual junk. We end up self-congratulating and self-satisfied. Pastor Sam Mills illuminates how a genuine love and desire for God prompts us to clean out the spiritual junk of pride and hypocrisy that keeps us from walking in humility and compassion.
