Messages From Christian Fellowship Chapel

As we begin a series on the book of Hebrews, Pastor John provides an overview of the book - who wrote it, when, to whom, and major themes.  Join us for a look at this most unique book.

New Years Resolutions. It is the phenomenon where we resolve in the coming year to do something or more than one thing to “improve” ourselves. Then, when we get to the end of the year, we can share with each other the satisfaction of not having achieved one single resolution. What are your New Years Resolution?  Join Pastor John as he offers some suggestions, rooted in the Bible, about what we might choose to do differently in 2020.

Love, apparently, is a many-splendoured thing, an elusive thing, the goal of all things. It is the driving force of knights in shining armour and the sighing aspiration of fair maidens. Love is a puppy licking your face, but love is also holding hands as you rock together on the porch in the twilight of life. The fact is, we human beings are desperate for love. That great love for which we search, is God.  Pastor John shares in the fourth week of Advent - Love.

Why is it that so many Christians have gained a reputation of being dour and joyless? Why do unbelievers looking into the church too often see no room for joyous expression? Is it because we don’t practice expressing our joy? Or perhaps we wrongly associate joyful expression only with the things of this world? Have we come to believe that expressions of joy are inappropriate when worshipping together? Are we so overcome by our sinfulness we forget our salvation? It may be a combination of these things, or many other reasons, but whatever the explanation, Christians actually have the greatest reason for rejoicing. Join us for the second week of Advent, to hear more about Joy.

Every Christmas, a visitor arrives to share with us his perspective on events surrounding the birth of Christ.  Join us to hear the tale told by one of the fathers in Bethlehem during Herod's terrible holocaust.

The first week of Advent centers on Hope.  To mark this festive time, Pastor John takes us through Psalm 14 and Romans 3 to show just how hopeful we can be, even in light of the words, "All have sinned."

Nehemiah has convinced the people to get on with repairing the walls and gates of the city of Jerusalem damaged a century before when the people of Judah were taken captive and led into exile by Nebuchadnezzar.  While the work continued, the people faced scorn and ridicule by those outside the city who wanted them to fail.  Join us as Pastor John completes the series in Nehemiah to learn more about how this prophet moved the people, and succeeded in rebuilding Jerusalem's wall, even in the midst of opposition.

Nehemiah faced a massive task in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.  How did he accomplish such a task, being a relative newcomer to the city?  Join us as Pastor John shares a few helpful lessons in leadership and faith by looking at Nehemiah's life.

The story of the return of the Israelites to Jerusalem that began in Ezra, continues uninterrupted in Nehemiah. When the book of Nehemiah opens, about thirteen years have passed since the issue of intermarrying was dealt with. Three distinct phases of the people’s return are covered by Ezra and Nehemiah. The first is the rebuilding of the temple. The second is the rebuilding of the spiritual community, and the third—which Nehemiah will chronicle—is the rebuilding of the city walls. In all three of theses phases, God’s grace is evident.

When we are into the Word of God and dedicated to living according to what God commands and expects, then we cannot help but have we character shaped by it. When we character is shaped in that manner, then we thoughts and deeds reflect it. Not only that, but when we are committed to living out the Word of God, then the Lord is pleased with that. If we commit to living out the Word of God, like Ezra did, we will be shaped by it and others will notice it shaping our character. 

538 B.C. A monumental year for the Jews. It was the year that Cyrus proclaimed permission for them to return to the Promised Land. But, the trap that they fell into quite quickly was taking care of themselves and neglecting the main purpose for returning home.  Sometimes, just like this remnant, we need to be reminded to get on with the things of the church. The work the remnant was doing was very practical in nature, yet they had to be prodded to get on with it. Congregations require the occasional prodding and reminding that, besides our main focus of making disciples, there are practical duties that need to be done.  

God is faithful to his word. What he says he will do, he does. What he says will come to pass, always comes to pass. It is his nature. He is truth, and He does not lie. He is faithful and his promises and his warnings will be fulfilled exactly as he states them. Just as the people of Judah could not be surprised, neither should we be surprised when the Lord takes action in response to our sinful ways. God doesn’t spare his own people. He is as just with them as he is with those who do not know him. We fool only ourselves if we believe that God will go easier on us because we believe in his Son. Pastor John begins a series on the book of Ezra

Upon first reading, it seems bold to us that Habakkuk would demand an answer from the Lord in such strong words, but we should keep in mind that this is part of an authorized oracle from the Lord. It is the structure that the Lord is using to get His message across, because even though it is a conversation between Habakkuk and God, we are listening in and learning about God’s ways.

The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the best-known of Jesus' parables. Each of the characters in it represents some deeper aspects of the kingdom of God. So, we will look at each of the three main characters—the younger son, the father, and the brother—to see what lessons we can learn in the telling. 

If you are running a 1500 metre race, or a marathon, or a cross-country steeple chase, you must run the same course. You cannot make up your own race route, because if you want to win at the end, you must run the designated course. The same is true with our lives.  So, how will your race be run?

“If I could ask God one thing, I would ask...." Why did you create the world if you knew it would turn out to be a fallen world; that sin and sickness and death would come? Does God need me/us? Why does he use me/us if he does not need me/us?

“Who do people say I am?” was the question that Jesus asked his disciples as they were visiting in the region of Caesarea Philippi. He wasn’t asking what people thought about his personality; was he a nice guy?, was he impatient?, was he hard to get along with? was he a good teacher?, and so forth. He was interested in how people perceived his identity. Concealing one’s identity, or lying about who you really are, is nothing new in our world. Today, identity theft has become a widespread problem aided by the world-wide web. The caution we must exercise as a result is to not take someone’s word for who they are if there are doubts about his or her truthfulness.

Summarizing a presentation by Dr Rich McCarrell, Pastor John uses a story in Acts to help us better resolve conflicts when they arise between believers.