Jubilee Sermons

Passage: Proverbs 27:5-6. Most of us don't take correction well. We don't give feedback or receive it without serious reservations. But wisdom tells us this is the way we grow and we need to learn to value it. 

Passage: Matthew 14:22-32. It's likely our last official sermon. What should we say? What's important to remind each other? How about: Do not be afraid. A common Bible refrain. Yes, sometimes we end up in scary unknowns. Sometimes Jesus leads us there himself. But we are not to fear. This is the journey of faith and the choice we have to trust and follow, especially when it's hard! 

Disclaimer: this sermon has borrowed from material in "Three Levels of Faith" a very great message by John Mark Comer.  

Passage: Luke 24:13-35. As Jubilee continues to take steps toward our final commissioning, we resonate with disciples on Emmaus Road. Feeling as if all is lost, with many questions, we desire the presence of Jesus to illuminate our way and reorient us to His purposes and big story. 

Passage: Genesis 22:1-18. Following our sad news that Jubilee will be taking steps to close in the coming months, Jonathan led us in remembering the unchanging character of God, demonstrated in the stories of people like Abraham who trusted even when he couldn't understand. 

This is the difficult public announcement that Jubilee will be taking steps over the coming months to close our church community. We are grieving but choosing to follow Jesus in the midst of it all! 

Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6. What if Trust is what this is all about? The case can be made that this is our part in the thru-story of God's activity: learning to trust. Wisdom will counsel us that things will be better if we choose this road! But why doesn't my road look very straight? 

Passage: Ephesians 4:1-6. It really isn't enough for someone to believe that God loves them and has imparted every spiritual blessing possible. There eventually comes the moment when people might ask, yes but does it change your life? And the answer is that it should. It is fitting. It makes sense. This kind of earth shattering news (that Jesus came to change everything) must eventually result in resounding life transformation. 


This is part of the Beautiful Resistance sermon series on Ephesians. 

Passage: Ephesians 3:1-11. If you know what our mission is, then don't be surprised that things are hard for us. Not because we're trying to be controversial, but because grace runs counter to the world's philosophy. As Christians, we've been entrusted with a message of hope and there will be resistance.

This message is part of our Beautiful Resistance series on Ephesians. 

Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22. How many ways do we need to hear the Good News? Answer: a lot of ways. Paul challenges us to remember the things that used to divide us and then rejoice that Jesus has removed the barriers. Jesus brings in the outsiders and then we join Him in proclaiming this radical welcome. And, of course, don't forget we become part of the never-ending building project!

This message is part of our Beautiful Resistance sermon series on Ephesians. 

Passage: Hebrews 11. Ever wonder if what you're doing matters? Are you seeing fruit? Do you struggle with understanding God's purposes? With characteristic authenticity, Madi shares about her big lessons from her recent YWAM DTS experience. We can't help but hear our own questions and learn along with her! 

Passage: Ephesians 2:4-10. Grace. A name for a girl and also a thought that changed the world (says Bono). We're allowing the vast beautiful implications of God's lavish grace to wash over us. God didn't just save us for niceness but so we could become something world-changing! 



This is part of our Beautiful Resistance sermon series on the book of Ephesians. 

Passage: Ephesians 1:22-23. It's Easter Sunday and we couldn't think of more fitting celebration message than that Jesus has changed everything by rising from death. There is nothing He doesn't rule over, fill or transform in His redemption plan for all humanity! What joyous Good News! 

Passage: Ephesians 1:15-21. Paul prays a long run-on prayer... and Jon preaches his longest sermon ever. Fitting. There is so much packed in to this prayer that teaches us both how we can form our prayers and also what kind of stuff Paul would pray for people immersed in an anti-Christ culture.  Turn on the lights and have an apocalypse!


This message is part of our Beautiful Resistance sermon series. 

Passage: Ephesians 1:11-14. In part three of our mini series on the incredible spiritual blessings available to all Christians, we are reminded again of our kingdom wealth. We have access to exactly what we need at every moment. The covenant language of inheritance applies to us and of course, the wild implications of the Spirit alive in us!

This is part of our Beautiful Resistance sermon series of Ephesians. 

Passage: Ephesians 1:7-10. Welcome to part 2 of our mini series. We're breaking down one of the longest run-on sentences in ancient literature. It's an exclamation of praise for all our incredible spiritual blessings. Today we tackle redemption and revelation and see it all neatly summarized in Jesus.  We are richer than we think! 

This is part of our Beautiful Resistance series on the book of Ephesians. 

Passage: Ephesians 1:3-7. Paul's opening run-on sentence was just too good to lump into one sermon, so we made it three. Christians are spiritual billionaires (according to Paul) with access to every spiritual blessing imaginable. So what are some of these blessings and what difference do they make in our day-to-day lives?

Part of The Beautiful Resistance sermon series. 

Passage: Ephesians 1:1-3.We're starting a new sermon series on the book of Ephesians. A letter about identity and formation. A how-to for the new Christian on what it means to follow Jesus in a world that doesn't know Him. And, as always, we should understand who and why Paul writes this letter. Once we do, we'll see how it speaks to us more than 2,000 years later.

Part of our Beautiful Resistance sermon series. 

Passage: Psalm 84. At some point, we all experience the sense that something is missing. Even those who know Jesus and have been satisfied on some level. That's because we are creatures of longing. Made for something complete. Something else.  

Passage: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. We could try a lot of things to change our lives. And we do. But self-help and will power only go so far. They'll shift little stuff, but how on earth will we change the big stuff. As in, becoming like Jesus. For this, we'll need outside help. Someone who stands alongside. With and in us. Accessing the full power of the godhead. The Holy Spirit. 

This is part of our ongoingPracticing the Waysermon series. 
With credits to John Mark Comer and Bridgetown Church. 

Passage: 1 John 1:7. As a culture, we are lonely. Alone. We think we're connected by technology but feel more alone than ever. But this idea of community feels so hard in real life. How do we do it? Why? And what does Jesus think about all this?

Part of our Practicing the Way series on How We Change. 
Credits to Bridgetown Church and John Mark Comer. 

Passage: Mark 1:14-15.New Year's resolutions abound and we want a silver bullet solution to our problem. Our problem being that we want to change but don't know how. Shifting the direction of our loves, not just our minds, might be a starting point! 


This is part of our ongoingPracticing the Waysermon series. 
With credits to John Mark Comer and Bridgetown Church. 

Passage: Matthew 1:18-27. What kind of season is this for you? Difficult? Beautiful? The Christmas story holds something for us all, if we are willing to take a piece and taste and see. There is a miracle here for all of us! 

Passage: James 5:7-11. This is a story about waiting, so why do we have such a tough time with this? A wise Bible writer will counsel us on how to develop patience. A few good analogies and some encouragement for those who are feeling the long road.

This is the second message in our Advent series (but third advent) 

Passage: Matthew 3:1-12. John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness. What does this have to do with Christmas? Advent means anticipation and we prepare our hearts. This message is a how-to.

This is our first sermon in the Advent series (but second advent).  

Passage: 1 John 4:16-17. We want to be invitational... but do we even like people? Do we know what community looks like? It's possible Jesus was laying out a life worth imitating when he was here living in community! 

Passage: Hebrews 12:1-3. A famous piece of the Bible. But what does it mean? How do we become these people who finish with endurance? Maybe the running picture can help us get a handle on the disciplined life of a Jesus-follower. 

Passage: Luke 5:1-11.Jesus is calling His followers to mission. But what if it's both easier and harder than we think. Mmmmaybe like fishing? 

Passage: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. Maybe we're all stunned or experiencing PTSD, but it seems like Church has changed. Maybe how we see Church has changed. This message is a call to intention and commitment. Maybe the Church could do with some of that intense focus the armed forces shows toward mission. And what a mission we have!  

Passage: Philippians 4:11-13. We're all searching for that elusive feeling of being content. But can you keep it when you find it? How do we lay hold of it permanently? 

There is a secret. And I'll spill the beans. But it won't be enough. You'll have to apply it. 

Passage: Matthew 7:7-8. What happens when you combine an infectious love for the Good News of Jesus with a genuine person? Overflow. Maybe you're jaded by talk of evangelism or maybe you've been the target, but either way, this message is a refreshing invitation to live and share Good News with everyone around us. We can do this. 

This message is part of the Church Life series. 

Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. Why are we here? What's our church about? What does it mean to be a new creation? A famous Bible passage gives us direction into living lives that show the world a hope! Jubilee is on about Good News for every heart! 

Passage: Jeremiah 17:5-8. We have a choice. Even in the drought and the challenge of this season. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. You can still choose trust. You choice leads to curse or to blessing. The road of trusting Jesus leads us to a full and flourishing life. To vibrant never-fail-fruit bearing.

This is part of our September Church Life Series. 

Passage: Romans 8:28. God is working all things for my good. Thank you evangelical Christianity for making this verse into a trite and annoying slogan. Is there more to it? Can we take it down and unpack it? Maybe there is something beautiful to discover in the great hope that God is always working for His eternal purposes and glory in us. 

This sermon is part of the Summer Baggage Series.

Passage: Matthew 11:28-30. How many times can we preach a sermon on one passage? This summer, the answer is: at least three. Amazingly, each preacher brings a fresh and unique perspective to what Jesus promises. Today, Dennis connects us to his own story and the beautiful promise of an unforced rhythm of grace. 

Passage: Luke 7:36-50.  What happens if you ask a lawyer to preach? This sounds like the start of a joke.But seriously, ours started talking about liability, bankruptcy, debt and yes, redemption.  You'll be surprised how he puts it all together. 

Passage: Luke 7:18-23. If you've been around awhile, then you've probably experienced disappointment. And let's not get started about the last two years... definitely disappointing. So we can take encouragement that a famous Bible character came to Jesus with his disappointment and maybe, just maybe, Jesus has a response for ours too.

This sermon is part of the Summer Baggage Series. 

Passage: Matthew 11:28-30. One of the ways we push back against our heaviness and weariness is to worship. This is the call and invitation of Jesus to come. Connection with God in worship brings refreshing and vitality. We can choose this! 

This sermon is part of the Summer Baggage Series.

Passage: Matthew 11:28-30. Most of us are still feeling worn out. Burdened. There is a lot going on in the world. A lot to weigh us down. This summer we are unpacking some of our burdens and looking at what Jesus offers us in exchange.

This message is part of the Summer Baggage series. 

Passage: Genesis 1:27.  There's a lot our world is concerned about. Most of our issues are connected to this one question: What makes us human?And What makes us valued? In our Better Way series, our goal is to question the story our culture is peddling. To remind each other that Christians believe everyone matters because of one commonality. You should listen to find out. 

Passage: 1 Corinthians 7. Our Better Way series seeks to poke a stick at the story culture sells about all sorts of things. Today we unpack marriage and singleness. Which one is better? How can we live out a life of holiness and devotion to Jesus? It turns out, Paul was talking about all this stuff a long time ago, to people just like us. 

Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.  Where did you learn what you believe about sex?  Netflix. News. Social media. Psychologists. Politicians. TikTok.

Today, Pastor Jon dives into the taboo subject of sex and God's heart for us in our sexuality. Will this message offend you? Maybe.But how many sermons have you heard on the topic of sex? Should the Church be talking about all this stuff? Yes, without doubt. 

Passage: Matthew 18-23-35. Forgive. This is what we're supposed to do. We know that. Everyone knows that. But why? And how much? And have you seen this world? What are the parameters? Please explain. 

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. 

Passage: 1 Corinthians 9:23-27. Why are we doing all this stuff? Maybe we forget. Maybe we get confused. Maybe other reasons start to drown out the one thing, the one reason we began  this Jesus-pursuit. I'd venture to say, it was love. 

Passage: Matthew 6:33.Why are we here? How do we find happiness? Yes we all want to know. With disarming humour and humility, Madeleine leads us to Jesus as the source of fulfillment as the embodiment of the Kingdom here and coming. 

Passage: 2 Timothy 2:8-9. Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead. This in itself is pretty wild, but even crazier is the idea that this resurrection life spills over into our whole existence. So what are these resurrection people like? 

Passage: Psalm 118:21-29. Jesus enters Jerusalem and everyone is waving branches and shouting Hosanna. Why? What on earth does this mean? And what does hosanna have to do with me? 

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12. How does Church even work? How is it meant to be? What's my part? Springing from Paul's illustrations, we see that finding our place and participating is a beautiful expression of practicing the way. 

Part of the Practicing the Way Series. 

Passage:  Colossians 3:9-21 . Guest preacher Tim challenges us giving and generosity. But where does it start? How do we approach this subject without getting bogged down in stereotypes and pressure tactics? We're part of an eternal Kingdom and this causes us to abound. 

Passage: 1 John 2: 15-17. Are we supposed to love the world or not? What about TickTok? Or Baby Shark? And what does John mean when he uses the word "world"? How on earth can we stand up to the constant barrage and clamour of a system opposed to God? WARNING: this message will challenge you.

This message is based on the bookLive No Liesby John Mark Comer and is partthree of three. 

Passage: Galatians 5:13, 16-17.  We want what we want. And what do we do about that? Should we restrain our desires, or give in? How are we meant to live so we end up the most happy? Jesus and New Testament writers counsel us to use our freedom for restraint. Warning: a part of you won't like this message at all.

This message is based on the bookLive No Liesby John Mark Comer and is parttwo of three. 

Passage: John 8:32. Red cape. Twin horns. Pitchfork. Is there really a devil? If so, what's he doing and how does it affect me? And maybe most importantly, how do we resist his schemes? As we imitate Jesus, we learn some apprenticeship practices for spiritual warfare. 

This message is based on the bookLive No Liesby John Mark Comer and is partone of three. 

Passage: Acts 2. Have you ever wondered what is 'Church' exactly? What is it supposed to be... or mean? Is it a building? An organization? A charity? A people? We're wrestling all this and more as we talk about why Church is important. 

Passage: Matthew 6:9-13. What words come to mind when you think about prayer? Maybe a variety of things - not all Sunday School answers. Overall, prayer is one of those areas that followers of Jesus struggle with. There is tremendous vitality in learning from Jesus about prayer! 

Passage: John 13:34-35. Our new series focuses us on what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Many of us wrestle with the real world application of our faith in daily life.  Practicing the Way of Jesus means practicing a commitment of love to those around us. 

Passage: Micah 4:6-5:6. Hundreds of years before hand, prophetic promises put Bethlehem on the map in the Messianic story. And for us, today, we see that in the midst of hardships, waiting, and small beginnings, God is at work. 

Passage: Zephaniah 3:16-18. Joy can be so elusive. Especially when we're supposed to have it... like at Christmas time. But what would it mean to us that God sings? Exuberant. Jubilant. With joy. Over us. Yes, hard to believe. 

Passage: Luke 3:1-6. Sometimes we need a wake up call. Prophet words should do this to us. Wake us. And John the Baptist is one of those. Will we heed to the call to prepare our hearts this Christmas season? 

Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. Why are we here? What are we supposed to be doing? If we don't have an answer to these questions, it's easy to lose heart. But what if the call to follow Jesus is also a call to live intentional meaningful lives. Full of heart. Find out what kind of people we were made to be. 

Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Ever feel like this world and its problems are wearing thin? It groans and we do for something more. Guest preacher Tim reminds us that this deep longing in us is reminding us of a better world to come. We have hope! 

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18. Things might feel hard. Overwhelming. Pressure inside and out. There is encouragement for you and me in Paul's letter. He doesn't say that our trials don't matter, but he does challenge us to shift perspectives. And then... everything changes. 

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12. Do you ever feel weak? Join the crowd. Something about Paul's message is reassuring for those of us who feel this way. It's okay. Because this is how God shows His glory and power... in our weakness. 

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. Today, Pastor Jon opens up about his own recent struggles in what he terms 'losing heart'. Maybe it isn't just him. Maybe many of us feel the weight of the last year and a half with a kind of worn-out exhaustion. With his trademark honesty, Pastor Jon invites us to journey together to find our why again.  

Passage: Hebrews 12:28-29. Yes, it's Thanksgiving. But that doesn't make you grateful. Sometimes we need to hear a reason again. A good reason for why we choose gratitude. Some reasons are here and now, and some are still to come. Those kind are unshakeable. 

Passage: Mark 4:35-41. Fear is a big deal right now. Everyone's dealing with it on some level. And Jesus asks His followers: Why are you so afraid?It's an important question. Especially if it feels like we're following God and we still end up in the storm. Maybe you need to realize, like they did, that Jesus is right here with you. 

Passage: Ephesians 4:11-16. Lots of division right now. Lots of people at odds. So what is Church supposed to be about. We believe and value a journey toward maturity together that happens only because of Jesus. 

Passage: 1 Peter 2: 9-10. What if there was a message so incredible that it changed everything? For you. For others. For our church. This is what we believe. We are ambassadors of an appeal unlike anything you've ever heard. 

Passage: Psalm 42. There's a lot to get us down. If you're human, this happens. We get down. But we were made to pursue and find God. So how do we live in this world? How do we quench our thirst for meaning? What do we do with the heaviness? Psalmists can relate. 

Passage: Psalm 62. Vaccine passports. Feeling afraid, yet? Or maybe you're afraid of the pandemic? Either way, this message is for you. A rock. A refuge. A resting place. This is what we need. This is what He is. 

Passage: Psalm 145. What makes us praise or worship? What changes our perspective? Seeing Him. Guest preacher David Hildebrandt encourages us to encounter this Jesus whose Kingdom we participate in.  His grace and love draws us to praise! 

Passage: Psalm 72(ESV). What kind of King is Jesus? How does He measure up to our hopes and dreams for a king and leader? Even in a David song, we hear the prophetic echoes of the true anointed King to come. 

Passage: Psalm 25. Do you trust me? It's what someone says right before they do something crazy or you are required to put your confidence in them. But should you? Our Psalmist David declares his trust in Yahweh and follows it up with a Psalm that all humans can connect with. 

Passage: Psalm 139. Asking God to search you seems scary if you don't know Him. But the invitation is to know Him. To be searched and known by a good God who loves you. Jubilee Elder Brian unpacks, with humour and honesty, what it means to trust our good God. 

Passage: John 17:1-5.It's father's day and Jesus is praying to His Father. So it fits. He's asking for glory and explaining eternal life. What a prayer! This heavenly Father is knowable, in fact, this is what eternity is all about! 

Passage: John 16:16-33. Now Jesus is speaking clearly... so why is it still hard to understand? Does he mean now, or then, or now and then? Ben with trademark honesty, unpacks Jesus final encouragement. Our hope is in a joy for now, and a joy to come. 

Passage: John 16:1-15. Weird that Jesus needs to leave. Why not stay? Why not start the Kingdom with a king here? Someone we can see. And what's all this about leaving being better? Jesus explain. Or someone explain... 

Passage: John 15:18-16:4. Do we know what it feels like to be hated? Why would the world hate us, anyway? And if they did, how would we respond. Thankfully, we have some examples to go from. 

Passage: John 15:9-17. Jesus calls us friends. What does it mean to obey from love? Can we? Will we? Maybe this is where we find the joy we're looking for. 

Passage: John 15:1-8. Jesus is telling his followers how to make it in this world.  Ben brings home the challenge for us to abide in Jesus. This is the way we grow to become fruit bearing followers. 

Passage: John 14:15-31. Today is almost like two mini sermons. One is about how we didn't get left alone. Jesus send His very Spirit to stand alongside us, to dwell with and in us. And then there is all this love and obedience and commands talk. They are connected, and so is this Spirit meant to enable us to live it all. 

Passage: John 14:7-14. What is God really like? Is He angry, judgmental, vindictive? Jesus makes the claim that we can know exactly what God is like by looking at Him. If we believe this, our lives will be transformed to action. 

Passage: John 14:1-7. Jesus is talking weird again. At least Thomas will ask the question. And for us, weighed down and uncertain, the claim of Jesus to being the way and truth and life, resonates. 

Passage: John 13:18-32. People fail Jesus. Judas, Peter, and of course, us. Jesus commands his disciples and us, to love. He showed us by loving everyone, even those who failed him. And He calls His followers to the same kind of extravagant love. 

Passage: John 13:1-17. As we begin a new series called "A Few Last Things", we find Jesus in the upper room with his disciples. It's hard to find a modern equivalent to the discomfort of experiencing footwashing, but we'll try our best. The challenge rings out across the ages: a call to radical humility! 

Passage: John 20:24-29. The resurrection story of Thomas gives us great comfort. He struggled, encountered Jesus and moved to belief. And this is our journey as well. A doubter turned willing! Oh, let this also be our story! 

Guest preacher Rob Thiessen unpacks the Triumphal entry as a timely reminder that although things are uncomfortable, usually we don't understand all that God is doing in the moment. 

Feel free to join in on our Family Meeting. We're talking about steps we're taking toward being our own grown-up church now that the term "Church-Plant" doesn't seem to fit. We're talking about membership and what it means in the Jubilee context.

This is Part 2 to the January 19, 2020 podcast on Membership. 

Passage: Ruth chapter 4. We're a lot like these Bible people. Ordinary. Needy. And like them we'll need a redeemer. Someone willing to pay what's needed. These are the lessons Ruth holds for us. And a reminder we can't always see what He's doing. This faithful God, always at work, through the generations. 

Passage: Ruth 1:6-22. Life can be hard. Especially right now. It's hard to see in the moment what God is doing. Our hope is in His faithfulness to be working out His plans and purposes all the time. 

We apologize that part 1 in the sermon series was not recorded due to a technical error. 

Passage: John 17:3."You deserve to be happy"they all say. Everyone. All over. Somehow we've bought into the story that we all deserve to be happy. But what if this belief is driving us to despair and unhappiness? What if there's more to our lives? What does Jesus say about our life purpose? 

Passage: Ephesians 4:15-21. Think you can isolate and still grow as a Christian? Think again. We hear the case for why decapitated and amputated things die. Trust me, it's compelling! 

Passage: Luke 9:23. People often come to faith because they heard God is here to help make everything better. Many of us believe (or at least secretly hope) that this includes a long life of health and wealth. But what about when things are hard? What about in the challenge? What does Jesus say about all this? 

Passage: James 5:7-11. Maybe you were told things move quickly for Christians. Maybe things even did for awhile... but what about when things slow down? What happens in the waiting? Maybe waiting is more Christian than we'd like to admit. It would help to know what to expect. 

Passage: Philippians 2:3-7.Real people just like us. That's who's in the nativity story. People who doubted and struggled... and were willing. There's joy in obedience!

Warning: This podcast contains video segments that may seem really weird without the video! 

Passage: John 3:16-17. It's hard to understand why shepherds would be the first to be invited to the manger scene. Until maybe, we begin to grasp just how much God loves us just as we are. This invitation changes everything! A God who loves! A God who gave!

Warning: This podcast contains video segments that may seem really weird without the video!

Passage: Ephesians 2:18-20.Maybe you've ever felt like an outside, or a stranger. Maybe your current reality makes you feel alone and separated. During our second Sunday of advent we hear about foreigners in the nativity story. Grace welcomes them and us!

Warning: this podcast contains audio sections of video that will not be as exciting without the video. 

Philippians 4:10-20. Whaaaaat? Seriously? Someone is claiming to know the secret to being content in every circumstance. Get out! Impossible... but... what if it were true? You're really, really going to want to hear this!

Passage: Philippians 4:4-9. New restrictions. Mounting cases. More isolation. How do we experience joy? Paul's letter has a formula... not quite, but pretty close. If you're desperate enough, you might find the answers you seek. 

Passage: Philippians 3:15-16. Maturity isn't perfection. In fact, it's willing to admit you don't know everything. But maturity is a goal for every Christian. To get to completeness. What does that look like?