In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 27

Living In A Far From Perfect World

Contributed by John Newton on Mar 18, 2024

Peter’s words to slaves in the first century are relevant to our world in the twenty-first.

I suspect that a number of you have heard the old story of the young man who was desperately seeking God’s guidance for some crucial issue in his life. For some reason he decided that the best way forward might be simply to allow his Bible to fall open randomly and then follow the wisdom of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18, Luke 6:27-28, John 18:10-11, Acts 2:36-38, 1 Peter 2:18-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Episcopal

What’s In A Name?

Contributed by John Newton on Dec 28, 2023

The angel told Joseph to name Mary’s baby “Jesus” for a reason...

If you were expecting a baby—and you knew it was going to be a boy—what do you think you would name him? Well, in Canada apparently the most popular name for boys right now is Noah, followed closely by Liam and William. (And for the record, the top three girls’ names are Olivia, Emma and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Episcopal

The Journey Of Joy

Contributed by John Newton on Dec 17, 2023

Three perspectives on joy from Isaiah

As I was preparing to preach this week, I considered giving my sermon the title “Getting Serious About Joy”. Then I thought better of it and came up with “Joy Is No Laughing Matter”. All joking aside, were you aware that joy is currently the subject of a high-level academic examination? Nine years ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal

There’s More To The Story

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 19, 2023

It seems that John has finished writing his gospel. But no! He adds another chapter.

For the last couple of Sundays we’ve been reading from John 20—the beloved disciple’s dramatic account of Jesus’ resurrection. We’ve stood with Mary Magdalene weeping outside the empty tomb as she mistook the risen Jesus for the gardener. And we’ve been with the disciples in the upper room as they ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-25

Denomination: Episcopal

It Didn’t Just Happen

Contributed by John Newton on Jun 4, 2023

The crucifixion of Jesus was not a random incident: it was part of God’s plan from eternity

It was a journey of some two thousand kilometers—from Jerusalem all the way back to what is modern-day Sudan. The lone traveler had come to worship at the Temple. And I can only imagine that it was for him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As his horse plodded along, he occupied his time by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Episcopal

"Before Abraham Was” Series

Contributed by John Newton on Jun 4, 2023

Jesus’ controversy with the Pharisees concludes with the most amazing claim.

For those of you who are old enough to have watched the Seinfeld show on TV, you may recall an episode from twenty-five years ago entitled “The Comeback”. It all revolved around a conversation in the opening scene between George Costanza and a co-worker named Reilly. The two are taking a snack ...read more

Scripture: John 8:48-59

Denomination: Episcopal

"A Well, A Woman And Living Water” Series

Contributed by John Newton on Mar 5, 2023

There is a lot to learn from Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman by the well

Just outside the city of Nablus on the Palestinian West Bank is the village of Balata. In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was the site of the major rioting that is now infamously known as the First Intifada. All told, that violence led to the deaths of more than a thousand people. Perhaps less ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Episcopal

An Everlasting Love

Contributed by John Newton on Dec 19, 2022

About a third of the way through the letter “J” in my dictionary you will come across the word “jeremiad”..

About a third of the way through the letter “J” in my dictionary you will come across the word “jeremiad”. And what, you ask, is a jeremiad? Well, a jeremiad is defined as (and I quote) “a long literary work, in which the author bitterly laments the state of society and its morals in a serious tone ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:2-6

Denomination: Episcopal

Remember Your Leaders Series

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 16, 2022

It seems to me that this concluding chapter is something of a catch-all. I can imagine that the author’s hand might be aching after all this writing. So now he is packing as much as he can into his concluding words.

Wow! We’ve been reading and making our way through Hebrews for a long time. It was way back in January that we started. Now it seems almost as though that is shrouded in the mists of history. And I want to express my gratitude to Pastor Marvin, who has steadfastly and faithfully been leading us ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-16

Denomination: Episcopal

"Open Your Mouth Wide” Series

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 16, 2022

One of the joys that my wife and I share is that our house backs onto miles of forest. The result is that our back yard is almost constantly being visited by wildlife—even including a bear! But our most frequent visitors are the birds...

One of the joys that my wife and I share is not only that we live within a few minutes’ drive from three of our grandchildren, but that our house backs onto miles of forest. The result is that our back yard is almost constantly being visited by wildlife—even including a bear! But our most frequent ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

Let Your Face Shine Series

Contributed by John Newton on Aug 14, 2022

This sermon focuses on a psalm of lament and offers it as a pattern for prayer

One of the great strengths of our Anglican worship is the continuous repetition of the psalms. If you turn to the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Alternative Services, you will see that there is a provision there to recite at least one psalm every morning and every evening of the year. That ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

A Sermon I’ve Never Wanted To Preach

Contributed by John Newton on Aug 8, 2022

There are few (if any!) passages in the Bible more challenging than Hebrews 10:26-31...

Aside from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I wonder if anyone here this morning can tell me what may have been the most famous sermon ever preached… I don’t have any statistics to back me up, but I am certain that one of the top contenders has to be a sermon delivered to a congregation in Enfield, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:26-31

Denomination: Episcopal

The Original International Man Of Mystery Series

Contributed by John Newton on May 1, 2022

Who was Melchizedek? And how does he relate to Jesus?

I wonder if anyone can tell me what is the Old Testament passage most frequently quoted in the New Testament… You might think it’s something like Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” If you’re really into the writings of the minor prophets, you might come up with an ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 7:1-3

Denomination: Episcopal

If Stones Could Shout

Contributed by John Newton on Apr 10, 2022

As Jesus entered Jerusalem he told the Pharisees, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

For the next few moments I want you to try to imagine what it must have been like to be among those who stood on the streets of Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday. (I’ll even let you close your eyes if you like, as long as you promise not to go to sleep!) The city would have been bustling with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

Denomination: Episcopal

The Assurance Of Better Things Series

Contributed by John Newton on Apr 4, 2022

Some encouragement for believers who are finding discipleship challenging

Last Sunday those of you who were here or were watching on YouTube will recall that Pastor Doug Mott led us through the first eight verses of Hebrews 6. Early on in his sermon he quoted one biblical scholar who described those verses as “perhaps the most severe warning that occurs anywhere in the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:9-12

Denomination: Episcopal