The Centre Community Church

Author: Admin

  • The Gift of Sabbath

    The Gift of Sabbath

    Do you plan how you will rest? Do you work into your daily and weekly schedule times to rest/reflect/unplug/unwind? It is getting more and more difficult in our day and age to find time to be quiet and still. All too often our days are scheduled and full, and the moments we do have we spend checking up on our devices to see what’s going on in the world. We are plugged in, tuned in, giving 110% and all too often simply crashing at the end of the day. This lifestyle is not sustainable. And it also is not God-honouring.

    When God created everything He established a rhythm to life, and demonstrated it through the creation process. On the seventh day He rested from creating. God didn’t stop being God — He still sustained and upheld everything He had made, but He didn’t keep working. God rested (check out Genesis 2:1-3). God demonstrated the need to rest, to not always be doing work. Later on when He gave the Israelites the law (the 10 Commandments), God instructed those who follow Him to set aside the Sabbath to rest and worship (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5).

    Jesus, knowing the will of God perfectly, told the temple rulers and teachers of the law something similar as well. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (see Mark 2:23-3:6 for the whole story). The Sabbath is a gift from God to us! We are called to rest from our weekly activities, but not stop doing good.

    There has been a move away from setting aside one day a week for rest and worship, and it’s gotten to the point where Sunday doesn’t really look any different from any other day of the week. Perhaps it’s time to step back towards setting Sunday apart from the rest of the week, so that we can rest and reflect, unplug and unwind, and become more connected to our Creator.

    This Sunday we’re going to meet at our usual time at our usual place – 4pm at Bethel (70 William St. S.). I hope that you’ll plan to be there.

    Blessings, Pastor Mike

  • Spiritual Disciplines: Evangelism

    Spiritual Disciplines: Evangelism

    If you read through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) you’ll quickly see that Jesus expects quite a bit from those who follow Him. There are many expectations that we won’t just learn about what is good and right, but that we’ll actually do what is good and right and helpful for us to become more like Him. Repeatedly through this section Jesus uses the phrase, “So when you . . . [give, pray, fast],” to let us know that these actions aren’t options for followers of Christ. He didn’t say, “If you . . .” but rather, “When you . . .”  If we are calling ourselves Christians, then we’d better be doing what Christians are called to do.

    The final instruction that Jesus gave His disciples also still applies to us today. The Great Commission, found in Matthew 28, instructs us to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has taught us. There is no “if” included in the command. We are called to go! But we don’t go alone. I actually believe the Great Commission starts the verse before where Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me. Therefore go!” We go in God’s strength and power, in the authority that has been given to Jesus, and therefore God’s will will ultimately be accomplished. That means that it’s not up to us to save or convert anyone, that’s God’s role and responsibility. The only thing we have to worry about is to actually go and tell others about the Good News of Jesus! God will do the rest.

    This coming Sunday we’ll be continuing our series on Spiritual Disciplines as we look at evangelism. John L’Allier will be sharing about going and telling, and how we can grow in this area in our Christian lives. Our gathering starts at 4pm with a time of prayer before the service.

    Pastor Mike

  • Spiritual Disciplines: Service

    Spiritual Disciplines: Service

    Not all Spiritual Disciplines need to be done on your own in solitude and silence. As we discussed this past Sunday, reading Scripture and Bible study are good to do both on your own and in a small group setting, as well as individually. Another Spiritual Discipline that works best when done with others is serving. For Christians, we are called to serve one another, put the needs of others before our own, and care for those who are weak. James says that true religion is “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Jesus told His disciples after He had washed their feet that they should wash each other’s feet, that is to serve each other (John 13:1-17). He also said that for those who truly follow Him that they are to care for the hungry and thirsty, show hospitality to the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit those in prison (Matthew 25:31-46). He even said of Himself that the “Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

    There are many areas and ways in which we can serve others — there is no shortage of need in our culture! But as Christians we’re actually called to care for the needs of fellow believers first, and then move outward from there. In more than one location in Scripture we’re called to serve one another (Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10). This is a reminder that as we’re part of the same body we need to care for the body first before we can effectively care for others. As we care for, serve and love each other we will honour God. And the wonderful by-product of that is that those on the outside looking in will see how we care for one another and they will be drawn to us by God’s Spirit.

    On Sunday we gather to learn and grow and receive from God, but we also gather to serve — the two go hand in hand. This Sunday I encourage you to come with the mindset and purpose of serving others, of looking to the needs of others before your own. Our gathering will start at 4pm, but you are welcome to come earlier (3:15pm) for prayer. Hope to see you there.

    Blessings, Pastor Mike

  • Spiritual Disciplines: Silence and Solitude

    Spiritual Disciplines: Silence and Solitude

    This week we’re going to begin our look at Spiritual Disciplines and we’re going to start with one that many people struggle with, especially in our day and culture: silence and solitude. This discipline is one that is sorely lacking in our current lifestyle. We are constantly plugged in and tuned in, with our faces towards a screen (and you must be right now if you’re reading this!). We are busy running from one thing to another, and it seems that there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. And then there are the added pressures we put upon ourselves in how we present our lives to others, and how we believe they see us. It is exhausting to just think about!

    Christianity has always been counter-cultural, and practicing silence and solitude certainly goes against the current of our society. Slowing down, stopping, being still, and listening to God — these attitudes and practices do not come naturally! They take time to practice and cultivate. But they are so important for us to do if we are going to grow and mature in our faith. Jesus demonstrated this by routinely finding a solitary place to go to, away from crowds and pressures of ministry, to be silent before His Heavenly Father (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 4:42). God commanded the Psalmist to “Be still and know that I am God,” to stop and listen, and remember that it is not up to us to do everything. God knows what we need in order to be spiritually healthy and mature. Slow down, stop, wait upon the Lord and you will find strength (Isaiah 40).

    Blessings, Pastor Mike

  • Gift

    Gift

    Jesus the King, who came to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.

    If I am going to be perfectly honest, I like to be served. I enjoy going out for a nice meal and having people wait on me and ask if there’s anything else I need. I enjoy staying in nice hotels where you don’t have to worry about making beds or doing laundry, places that if you’ve forgotten something they will get it for you. I like dropping my car off at my mechanic and knowing that when I pick it up things are going to be fixed and working the way they should. I could go on and on listing ways in which others serve me and meet the needs of myself and family. But there is one catch that is common for everything I listed — each thing costs me. I have to pay for these services; they aren’t free! If I want to enjoy these services I need to hand over some money, and if I don’t, I won’t get what I want!

    When Jesus was on earth He came to serve. He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice to others, to meet their needs, and ultimately to die on the cross giving His life in place of ours. He came obediently but willingly, knowing that this was what had to be done. He came to set us free from the bonds of sin. He came to give us salvation, new life, abundant life, eternal life!

    All of this is free. We can’t earn this gift, and yet when we accept it we give up everything else. It’s not that we trade what we have for this new life, rather its that we recognize that what we had before was worth nothing compared to knowing Jesus as our Saviour. We step out of darkness into light. We step out of poverty into indescribable riches. We step out of isolation into God’s family. We step out of wanting to be the centre and put God as The Centre of our lives.

    This Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the Servant King. The One who came to serve and not be served. The One who came to give up His life so that we might have life. The One who came and emptied Himself of all that He was so that we could be filled with the overflowing riches of God’s love and mercy. I hope you’ll be able to join with us as we gather to honour our King.

    Blessings, Pastor Mike

  • Jesus the King!

    Jesus the King!

    “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
    When we think of royalty, the picture that most quickly comes to mind is one of pageantry and excess. Last year there was a royal wedding in Britain and it seemed as if the whole world was watching, discussing every aspect of the whole production (and it was a huge production!). The invited guests contained a “who’s who” of the entertainment and political worlds — people of power and prestige. This was no small affair! And this wedding will pale in comparison to when the next monarch is crowned.

    Compare this scene to how Jesus was welcomed as King in Jerusalem. He didn’t require much, only that a certain colt would be found for Him to ride. He didn’t send an itinerary forward with the parade route mapped out. There wasn’t a huge reception waiting for Him once they reached the temple. There were no discussions as to His pedigree. And yet people knew that He was the King! Those who were present welcomed Him with shouts of “Hosanna!” and laid their cloaks down on the road He was travelling. They cut palm branches as well and placed them on the road, a sign of victory and Jewish nationalism. There was no mistaking who Jesus was, and He didn’t fight it or tell people to stop. In fact, Jesus told the Pharisees that if the people were quiet “the stones will cry out!” In other words, all of creation knew that He was King!

    This coming Sunday at our gathering we’re going to celebrate Jesus as King, and discuss what that means for us. How does His triumphal entry into Jerusalem affect our lives today? If you are interested in coming for prayer before the service,  we will meet after 3pm to pray.

    Have a blessed week!

    Pastor Mike

  • Treasure

    Treasure

    What is something that you treasure? When I was a young boy I used to study the Canadian Tire catalogue when it came out, looking at the pages of bikes. I would jump at any chance to go with my dad up to the store so that I could wander over to sporting goods section and look at the bikes up close. I wanted a new bike so badly! I didn’t want to have anymore hand-me-down bikes — I wanted my own, brand new bike! The spring before my 11th birthday I got a job delivering newspapers and I started saving up. I kept watching the sales and watching my bank account, waiting for the two to finally meet, until one day almost a year later it happened! I had enough! My dad took me up to the store, I handed over my hard-earned cash, and took possession of my first set of wheels. And even though there were still snowbanks almost as high as me, and the streets were covered in potholes and puddles, I rode the bike home with a huge grin on my face!

    I don’t have the bike anymore. I sold it a few years later for $30. By that time I’d already moved on to my next bike, a mountain bike. And when I sold it I hadn’t ridden it for almost a year. It’s amazing how something that captivates and enthralls us, something that we can’t stop thinking about, can one day just be traded away or tossed aside. As people we are incredibly changeable, and our likes/dislikes or needs/wants seem to change with the seasons! What is one day our treasure is the next day our trash.

    Jesus spoke about what we value and treasure. Once when He was teaching on a mountainside He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). If our focus is on, and our joy is found in the things of this world we will never be satisfied. But if we find our satisfaction in Jesus alone then we will be truly satisfied and have peace — peace now and for eternity.

    This coming Sunday we’re going to finish our series on the Body of Christ looking at our inheritance, the promise of our future glory with God. For while we might enjoy God’s grace and peace and presence right now, we know that this is only a small taste of the joy that is to come.

    Pastor Mike

  • Come Home

    Come Home

    Coming home. For many it’s a wonderful feeling. The sense of returning to a place that is familiar and safe and welcoming. I know that when I have gone away, even for just one night, there is nothing better than coming home to friendly faces and warm embraces, and sleeping in my own bed! It is a wonderful thing!

    God calls us home. I’m not talking about eternity (although He will do that), but even now in this lifetime He calls us to return to Him. He invites us back into relationship and friendship, and to be a part of His family. He calls us to trust in Him, to find rest in Him, and to find our purpose in Him. And no matter how long you have traveled away, or how far you think you’ve strayed from Him, He is right there encouraging you to turn back to Him. It doesn’t matter how many walls you’ve put up, or the many awful things you think you’ve done, God is wanting to welcome you back and offer you a place at His table.

    Come home to God. You will find rest. You will find peace. You will find a warm embrace and a place for you.

    This Sunday at our gathering (4-5pm) we will be finishing off our series in Hosea, looking at chapter 14. We will also be celebrating communion. Our table is open to all who are following Jesus, and have put their hope and trust in Him. We look forward to seeing you!

    Blessings, Pastor Mike

  • Is there anything else?

    Is there anything else?

    “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”

    I’ve asked that question many times in my life; as a teacher, a youth pastor, a pastor, and as a parent. It generally comes after a confession of some sort in which the person lets me know about something they’ve done wrong. Quite often (but not always) the confession comes alongside an explanation for their behaviour. “I only acted this way because . . . .” There are all sorts of excuses and reasons that people give, and always with the aim of making themselves look better.

    I learned to ask the follow up question because most times people don’t share the whole story. They leave out the bits and pieces that don’t look good on their part. The problem is that when we leave parts out, or pass the blame and responsibility on to others, we aren’t being truthful and the parts that are unconfessed continue to weigh us down. We think we’ve gotten away with something, but it’s still there under the surface, and sooner or later it will trip us up.

    This was the problem the Israelites had (there really is nothing new under the sun!!). They “hid” things from God, lied to others and themselves, and thought that everything was working out just fine until it all came undone. They went from having everything they needed and more, to being exiled and having nothing. God gave them many warnings — “But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always” (Hosea 12:6) — but they didn’t listen. They continued to do things their way, “hiding” things from God and others, and lying to themselves that everything was fine. It wasn’t a good place to be, and eventually the truth caught up with them.

    “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?” Be honest with God. He already knows everything already, so you’re not going to surprise Him! Turn to Him and He will lift you up. Wait for Him and He will be there with you. Confess your sins and He will forgive you.

    Blessings, Pastor Mike

  • Don’t give up!

    Don’t give up!

    It’s the end of January. I’ve heard it a few times that if you’re in the market for fitness equipment now is the time to buy! New Year’s resolutions are no longer being kept, and the stationary bike is quickly gathering dust. People are looking to get rid of things that are making them feel guilty.

    It’s hard to change your lifestyle, especially when you try to do it on your own strength and on your own. Yet each year many people try to do just that. They convince themselves that this year will be different, that this year they’ll finally make it. But they don’t – – we don’t. We miss a day and say we’ll make it up later in the week. Sickness comes and messes with our schedule, and then we struggle to get back on track. And then, after all our good intentions, the gym membership goes to waste, or the juicer sits idle on our counter.

    Here’s some good news for you: you’re not alone! In fact, this is something that has been happening over and over again, ever since we left the Garden. We set goals and then miss the mark. We tell ourselves, “Never again!” but then all too soon hear our own voice say, “Just one won’t hurt. . . .” This is a regular occurrence, and something that is common to everyone. So where’s the good news? God knows us. He knows what we’re made of, what we’re capable of, what we’ve done and will do. And even though He knows all about us, He still loves us! Now this doesn’t give us a licence to sin all the more (just read Paul’s explanation in Romans 6-8), but it should give you hope. Even though you fail, and will fail in the future, God hasn’t given up on you. His love for you is perfect, and His grace covers over all our sins.

    So don’t give up. Confess your shortcomings and sins to God. Dust off the bike and hop back on! Phone a friend and go for a walk. Have a smoothie for breakfast, and give thanks to God whose mercies are new every morning!

    This Sunday we’re going to be looking at Hosea 6-8 (3 chapters!). It’ll help if you read through the passage beforehand. Our gathering starts at 4pm, and this week we will restart our prayer time before the service from 3-3:30pm. Hope you’re able to join with us.

    Blessings, Pastor Mike