Clyde Christian Bible Church

Across four different words in two different languages, from the prophets to the Book of Revelation, the process of refining is important for God's people to have a baseline understanding of.  Together we RE:examine tough questions revolving around suffering and purification... while also learning how the Canadian govt refines gold.  Thank goodness for hydrochloric acid and titanium cathodes!  And thank God for the sacred purposes behind our faith-refining process.

When a dear friend wandered in the wrong direction, he inadvertently gave Chris a sermon-long illustration for today's RE:word: REPENTANCE.  More than just a word of judgment and wrath, repentance has several different connotations depending on the Scriptural language you are referring to.  So grab a thali lunch plate from Puspa and get your map of NW Calgary ready, because we're going to turn to the crucial Bible concept of repentance: our first role in the process of salvation.Apologies in advance to my best friend Matthew.  But he's a PhD.  He's fine.

The word reconciliation is rare in Scripture, but the principle of it is alive throughout its pages.  In this RE:examination, we dig into three different stories of Scripture (beginning, middle, and NT), looking for ways to apply reconciliation's beautiful principles to our faith and our mission as ambassadors for Christ.  Get ready to be embraced by a Loved One we have long estranged ourselves from.PS: for a fun game, try and guess how many times Chris stumbles over the pronunciation of the word "reconciliation"!  Better guess a high number!

While most of the RE words in this series are mega-themes across the entirety of Scripture, today's word is mostly condensed into one conversation Jesus has in one chapter of the Bible.  But since it's such an important chapter, and because understanding is so lopsided, we will examine reBIRTH, with an eye towards reclaiming it from stereotypical "born again" usages.More importantly, we will compare our spiritual rebirth to physical birth and see how we can grow in faith and understanding.  And Chris will bring the ice water!

The resurrection stories of Scripture (both Old Testament and New) are... weird.  But in them we can RE:examine a few beautiful truths: namely, WHO resurrection is for, and WHEN resurrection takes place.  Prepare yourself for lots of zombie talk.  And if you're planning to fall asleep during this sermon, make sure you aren't in a windowsill.

In Part 4 of our RE:examination of our place in the story of Scripture, Marnie takes us on a wonderfully instructive journey through the acts, costs, and persons of redemption throughout the Bible, from the Exodus to Ruth to the Exile to the Resurrection.Also, hear how Paul redeems himself by finally finding his coupon to redeem for treats.  Well done Paul!*Notice: apologies for sound quality- we had a small technical difficulty!

What do Jr High crushes have in common with religious systems in the Bible?  Both are filled with the fear of rejection.  In this sermon, we examine several of the foundational covenant items between God and His chosen people, Israel... and then we examine how God rejected each of them, one by one.  But does this mean He has rejected His people?  How does rejection fit into the story of humanity wrestling with God?  And would Chris ever find a wife after his Jr High romantic rejection?

As we get into our RE:examination series, we begin with the problem.  Namely, us.  Our human desire to rebel doesn't make us charming underdogs.  It makes us susceptible to sin, suffering, and death.Using Adam & Eve, the exodus, the law, the Psalms, the Prophets, and the Gospels, we RE:examine the human tendency to rebel.  We also briefly examine the proper method for executing teenagers with attitude.

This is the first part of a 12-part series, RE:examining the stories of Scripture through a variety of words that begin with 'RE'.  We begin with Revelation, the means through which our Creator God connects with His creatures.  We examine a variety of ways that He accomplishes this task, both through General Revelation and Specific Revelation, while touching on the 'dangers' of each.Also, Chris compares everyone to two different kinds of insects, and accidentally denies that the earth revolves around the sun.  Now THAT's a revelation.

Paul finally gets to his initial purpose for writing Philippians: to say thank you to his friends for the generous financial gift.  But his way of saying thank you for the treasure seems strange, even rude, to our western ears.  Why is this?  Could it be he's disassembling local customs?  Could it be he's got a deeper purpose?  Could it be that there's a greater treasure to be thankful for?Stay towards the end to hear two valuable partners in the Gospel receive a portion of the honour they deserve: Walter and Cindy Selke, long-time missionaries to First Nations individuals in Saskatchewan; and Madison St. Louis, our excellent summer student.You will also hear our friend Shane get publicly eviscerated... for a good cause???

It's time to reclaim a hugely popular, but largely misunderstood, Bible verse from the mouths of championship athletes and Olympians.  Today's passage is for everyone.  But it's really for Christ Himself.  It's about strength, contentment, suffering, victory, and my man: Jake Dalton.Big shout out to memorizing Bible verses.  Including two-word verses that get memorized incorrectly.  (Bigger shout out to wrapping yourself up in the wisdom of the entire story of Scripture, of course!)

Having spent all summer catching up on Marvel movies and then visiting Mt. Terry Fox with 30 teens, Chris had heroes on his brain for the Church's annual Jasper Camp youth group trip.  In this sermon, Chris rehashes the messages he gave the youth, centered on the idea that Christ exhibits all the characteristics of the Greatest Hero.  Jesus is a hero worth following.Unlike Superman.  That dude's super overrated

Our friend Jon Kramer delivers a beautiful examination of questions regarding the character of God.  What is He really like?  Is He cruel?  Angry?  Indifferent?  As the story of Scripture unfolds, we need only look as far as Jesus to get the fullest answer.

A brief testimony about a very meaningful day Chris had in July.  Or should that be Jluly?

It doesn't make any sense to identify yourself with what you DON'T do.  And yet that's a trap the Church often falls into.  It makes much more sense to be identified by what you DO: what you exemplify, what you value, and what you represent.  In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul reminds a suffering group of faithful followers what it is they are supposed to be doing.Can't wait to read Dale's next exciting and enticing medieval romance novel!

Come for a stroll through the vegetable patch with our friend Marnie, and she will point out to you some of the ways that weeds, roots, patience, pruning, and wonder can lead us to deeper discipleship.She will also celebrate manure, like a good Alberta girl.Click here to listen to the song that was edited out of the sermon:"I'll Be a Child", by Laughing Sally

As Paul begins to wrap up his letter, he offers some practical application regarding everything he's been teaching for three entire chapters.  And it all centers on two prominent women having a high profile disagreement.  Paul is willing to "name names", as in the McCarthy Communist hunts of the 40's and 50's, but Paul's purposes are much more sacred and uplifting... because they are carried out "in the Lord".Communism; feminism; heavy criticism of the King James Version; plus two mega-themes in Philippians: this sermon's got it all.

In the last sermon we examined enemies of the cross; people who have their eyes set on earthly things.  Their destiny is destruction, their gods are their stomachs, and their glory is in their shame.  And the church often is guilty of these things, falling into the worldly traps of consumption and individualism.But in Part 2, we examine the other side of that contrast.  What does it mean to have a heavenly citizenship?  We examine stories of faith that demonstrate how God's people have always been exiles in this world.  As exiles, our destiny and our glory are found in the God Who calls us home.Apologies in advance to the good people of Barrhead.  Again.

What is our destiny?  What is our God?  What is our glory?  These questions will fuel the next two sermons, beginning with Part I, as hot dogs, climate change, and red grapes will all be used to have us confront our allegiances; either to the cross, or to ourselves.

Kristy Fraser is an excellent servant of God who happens to call CCBC her home church.  She will be venturing to South Sudan in the coming months to serve among the Lopit people.  Hear her goals, concerns, plans, hopes, and prayers as she serves as an ambassador for Christ amongst a people group largely neglected by the world at large (and the church as well).Also, hear her enthusiasm for cows.  And her distaste for cabbage.