Dec. 13, 2020 Welcome to New Glasgow Christian Church in PEI, Canada. This is the third message by Tim Edwards looking at the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. This week’s service is virtual as the province has reimposed restrictions on meeting. We pray that this message will be a blessing to you. Merry Christmas!

Welcome to the final virtual service. We pray that this service will be a blessing to you. We are returning to services at the church on September 20, 2020 at 10:45 AM. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

We are limited to 50 people. With social distancing between groups of chairs, space is limited. We need to know who is coming and how many in each group to be able to create a seating plan to fit 50 people.

Please email or call Dale Harman to reserve a seat. VIDEO

Thank you for joining in. May you be blessed as you participate today.
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https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF9iwP3qf4QfecNWmTDRpy_D1fP4CSeqE

Since we are unable to meet due to Covid-19 restrictions, several people from the congregation have live recorded their contributions to this service. We hope that you are blessed as you join us in worship.

Because we know that there is no threat of condemnation once we are in Christ, we can be free to be vulnerable and authentic in addressing the concealed sins of the heart.

Our culture is consumed with individual rights and their preservation. Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard indicates that the Kingdom is quite different in this regard.

The disciples were caught up with wanting to have status in the Kingdom of God and asked Jesus, “Who will be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”. Jesus’ answer was quite a surprise.

This week in preparation for communion Tim reminds us that Jesus taught us to pray that His kingdom would come on earth.

The author of Hebrews encourages his readers to love each other as “brothers and sisters”. The church in Thessalonica was a model of love so we look to them for what it takes to be a loving church.

This week Tim asks about your Facebook status.  Is yours “living with God every day”?  Jesus’ mission was to die for us so that whether we live or die we can live with Him.

After laying the theological foundation of Christ’s redemptive mission, the author of Hebrews pivots to exploring the many practical implications for those who believe. 

This week in preparation for communion Tim discusses what our conscience is and how it is cleansed.

In Hebrews 8, the author describes the new covenant ushered in by Jesus Christ as superior to the old covenant. His description points to a relationship enabled by the blood of Christ, not a new religion.

After warning his readers of the ultimate threat of repeating the errors of their ancestors, the author of Hebrews qualifies the threat of never entering God’s rest. 

This week Tim discusses Matthew 12.  Jesus performed miracles in response to need, not to impress people or to prove who He was.  He has proven himself over and over again.

The writer of Hebrews begins his encouraging letter to “the remnant” by assuring them of the certainty of their investment in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He does this by reviewing the matchless credentials of the author and finisher of their faith, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

How could God keep His promise to Abraham that He would bless all the earth through his offspring? Of course God is reliable but it would seem that Abraham’s offspring would also have to be reliable for God’s promise to be fulfilled and we know humanity is far from reliable. The answer is found in God’s gracious maintenance of a “remnant”.

Our covenant, the New Covenant, is the final covenant that God will make with humanity before His triumphant return. It is perfect in its completeness and effectiveness because it was executed by a perfect mediator with a perfect sacrifice. What a perfect gift for Christmas!

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week Tim shares about the peace that Jesus came to this world to bring.

God’s covenant with King David initiated a long period of anticipation. A time when Israel longed for its fulfillment in a King who would sit on David’s throne and return Israel to its former glory. When Christ came as the fulfillment, there was great consternation concerning the actual role of the Messiah.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week Tim shares that Jesus come as a servant to live amongst us, to die and pay the price for our sin, and to overcome the grave for us.

The covenant that God made with Moses included not just His prescription for holy living but a means for addressing transgressions which were inevitable given humanity’s sin nature. The sacrificial system and the Day of Atonement foreshadowed the coming mission of Jesus Christ.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week Tim discusses why Jesus Christ had to die.

This week’s “Breaking Bread” is a touching presentation by Ken Doiron.  In preparation for communion Ken shares two stories of young men who were seeking to serve God and how their lives were impacted.

In Galatians 3 Paul writes that the Law served as a “Guardian” until Christ came. The Law is the centerpiece of God’s covenant with Moses. It taught Israel and the world God’s expectations for righteousness. But clearly and intentionally it was impossible to fulfill all of its requirements. As such, it left the world looking for help beyond itself.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  Jesus invites the weary and heavy laden to come to Him for rest.  This Sunday Tim talks about the greatest angst that wearies our soul.

The next major covenant God made with “man” was given through Moses on Mount Sinai. This was made possible by God choosing and sending Moses to deliver His people, Abraham’s expansive family, after 400 years of slavery in Egypt. As we look back on this great deliverance, we can see that Moses was “an evolutionary prototype” of a much greater deliverer who served an even higher calling.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This Sunday we remember that Jesus broke the power of sin and death over us.  We can have victory over those sins that so easily beset us.

We consider the role that Israel, Abraham’s descendant nation, was to play in blessing the whole world and present the quandary of whether or not Israel is still to expect the realization of God’s promises to Abraham.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This Sunday we remember Jesus’ gracious treatment of Thomas when He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection.

God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) continues to reveal His ultimate plan of redemption in Jesus Christ. A descendant of Abraham would bring blessing to the entire race.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This Thanksgiving Sunday we remember that Jesus, in giving us the ordinance of communion, took the bread and the wine and gave thanks.

As we continue to see God’s unfolding plan of redemption through His covenants, we are challenged to understand the justification for Noah’s salvation from the flood and introduced to the key concept in the gospel of Jesus Christ…righteousness by faith

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week is about the great exchange.  Jesus was imputed our sin and we were imputed His righteousness.  God made Him who had no sin to be sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God

After Adam and Eve broke God’s first covenant with them, a new covenant was required, the terms of which recognized that paradise was lost. Despite the devastating consequences brought on by their disobedience, we still see a gracious God giving hope for the eventual redemption of humanity

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week is how we tend to trivialize and even celebrate and be entertained by sin.  Jesus left us with a reminder of how much it cost to pay the penalty for our sin, His very life.

This covenant between God and Man occurred before the fall of man and reveals God’s desire to lavish His creation with all that he could ever need. It was a conditional covenant that required man to submit to His authority or pay the ultimate penalty of death. We all know how that went! Even in the judgement of death we begin to see God’s ultimate plan of redemption through Christ.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week is about Jesus Christ as the High Priest, who entered the most holy place, once and for all, by his own blood shed as the perfect sacrifice to cleanse us from our sin.

Having spent the summer considering the depths and heights of God’s great love for us, we will now consider God’s great plan of bringing to fruition His great plan of salvation through His covenants. 

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week is about the old covenant of works and the new covenant of grace.

As a follow up to this summer’s series of lessons on God’s love, the congregation were challenged to share the implications of God’s love for them. Some of those comments are shared here

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion. This week is about righteousness and righteous acts.

Think of the implications of God’s love for you existing before time began and extending beyond the it will cease to exist.

As we mature, we realize that loving requires responsibility, not just pleasing. God’s love for us is not meant to win our favour but to help us become more like him. This is why He teaches us discipline and disciplines us

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week is about being on death row and how we are condemned to die but Jesus came to give us life and life eternal.

By the grace of God, Joseph Toma brought his family out of war-torn Iraq just ahead of the ISIS takeover of his city. Joseph shares how God has been faithful in many ways, one of which was their sponsorship to move to Canada to begin a new life.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion. This week is about the legacy that we leave behind. Jesus asks us to remember His death until He comes again.

Just as many of the survivors of “Near Death Experiences” report a radically new perspective on life, those of us who daily encounter God’s profound love for us, are no longer bound by fear. If God is for us, who or what can pose a viable threat to us?

The words of God through the prophet Jeremiah, telling Israel of His plans to prosper her, were given during a dark period in which Judah was being held captive in Babylon. This predicted captivity was God’s way of getting Israel to repent and return to the one true God. Those hopeful words are words that God has for us too. Unfortunately, we get in the way of them being realized when we pursue our own plans. It is wonderful to know that God’s love for us is patient!

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week is about celebrating great events, in this case celebrating the triumph of Jesus over sin and death.

This Sunday morning Bonnie Gardiner shares her faith journey.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion. This week is about the blood of Christ and how his ultimate sacrifice brings us salvation and freedom.

If you suffer with self esteem issues you need to listen to this encouraging message!  God’s delight in you is not based on what you have done.   It is based on what He has done for you and how you recognize your need for it.

Not being able to fully appreciate the magnitude of God’s greatness, It is hard for us to understand the extent of Christ’s sacrifice in coming to save us. Looking at the surrender of His prerogatives gives us some understanding as to the lengths to which He was willing to go in loving each one of us. “His grace has no measure.”

Psalm 23 employs the imagery of ancient shepherding and hospitality practices to describe the exhaustive provision of our Lord. Truly we “lack nothing”.

In our world of limited warranties and voluminous fine print it is only natural to expect limits to commitment. Wonderfully, this does not apply to God’s love. His love for you is not limited by who you are, what you have done or even what He knows you will do. It is truly limitless!

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.  This week is about the Samaritan woman at the well and living water.  This also leads into this week’s message “God’s Love For You Is Limitless”.

Breaking Bread is a touching weekly presentation by Tim Edwards in preparation for communion.

This week is a reminder of the tender reunion of the disciples with Jesus, His third appearance to them following the resurrection.

Psalm 139 presents David’s thoughts about his God. The degree to which David felt God’s love is unique to each one of us chaĺlenges the notion that God’s love is generic. This is the beauty of the new covenant in Christ.

God does not call His followers to a life of discipline, sacrifice and self-denial because they are virtuous pursuits in and of themselves. No, He knows better than anyone that pursuing holiness results in His best for us. Only a God who loves us would care enough to do everything that we need to enable us to become the people He designed us to be.

We conclude our study of Acts with Paul, under house arrest, still trying to help his people, devout Jews, recognize that Jesus Christ is their long anticipated Messiah. He tells them that the reason he is in chains is because of “the hope of Israel”. Israel’s only hope is our only hope…the redeeming work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Despite the opposition of most of his friends and colleagues, Paul finally makes it to Jerusalem committed to sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His experiences there could be described as a litany of seemingly fruitless distractions and yet he is not deterred and does not react out of frustration. He simply responds with integrity and grace. 

Honoring our parents is a critical foundation of God’s perfect blueprint for a good life. There are implications for not just each observant family but for society as a whole.

Tom Marshall teaches that success and failure are not measured by how busy we are.  Our mission needs to be the same as Jesus’ was.

The varying responses of the Ephesians to the gospel speaks to the different valuations they ascribed to it. Paul’s valuation was clear…”I consider my life worth nothing to me” compared to the gospel. 

New Glasgow Christian Church has reached a place in its growth and development that requires planning for a gradual transition of leadership to the next generation. What better to place to look than God’s plan as He prepared Israel to enter its land of promise under new leadership.

The angels questioned the women who had come early to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ dead body, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Of course they weren’t expecting Christ to be alive. They went to the tomb to find the dead. There is a larger question that comes to mind, one that speaks to the human condition, “Why do we look for life in death.” It was that instinctive orientation that Christ came to reverse. Since the Fall humanity has tried to find life in that which leads to death. Easter has the power to change all of that!

Is there a difference between John’s Baptism and Christian Baptism? Both are symbolic but of very different things as Acts 19 illustrates.

The literal translation for “orthodox” is “right belief”. The idea that there could be an absolute truth is clearly at odds with out postmodern culture which advocates equality of belief and ideas. The early church was very concerned about maintaining orthodoxy as was demonstrated in Acts 8 by Priscilla and Aquila.

Paul’s experience in Corinth should challenge us to see evangelism in a different way. Although its seems our western culture has moved on from the gospel, we need not think that our efforts to spread the gospel are in vain. We need to remember that God is still at work in people’s lives. Our calling is to be faithful and give those thirsty for the Truth what they need to become children of God

As Paul did some sightseeing in Athens he was distressed to see how lost in religions, superstitions, and philosophies the residents were. He couldn’t help but speak the simple truth of the gospel into this complex mosaic of ideas. His presentation to the philosophers is an excellent template for us as we seek to present truth within our own lost, pluralistic culture. 

Jesus said that he was TRUTH. When we accept the TRUTH, we are given the Spirit of TRUTH. The Spirit of TRUTH transforms us, making us like Christ. All of this is, of course, contingent on our response to TRUTH. In Acts 17, we have a record of the very different responses of those exposed to the TRUTH in Thessalonica and Berea. Oh that we would be like the Bereans! 

A Rolling Stone article recently suggested that even though we are living  in the safest time in human history we are living in an age of fear. God does not want His children to live this way and He has done everything to free us from that fear. In Philippi, Paul and Silas demonstrate the difference that this freedom can make.

In Acts 16 we see  that Paul’s plans to spread the gospel in “Asia” were prevented by “the Spirit of Jesus”. He must have wondered why he was not being allowed to do what he figured he was called to do. How are we to respond when our plans are replaced by God’s Plan B? 

Paul’s guidance around the question of circumcision seems puzzling until we consider it in the light of the paradox of Christian freedom.

On this Fellowship Sunday John & Timea Patterson share their journey from pastoring in Christian Missionary Alliance church in Saskatchewan to becoming a part of the family at New Glasgow Christian Church.

In this life, there will be disagreements, as was evident in the early church. Our aversion to confrontation and our natural propensity to react by employing “fight or flight” can be overcome as we learn how to manage disagreements in a Godly and constructive manner. 

In Acts 15 we read of a conflict that would ultimately result in a clear defining of two distinct covenant communities, the old covenant community of the Jews and the new covenant community of Christians. The question that arose was whether or not Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and be part of the old covenant community. The decision that resulted from the Council of Jerusalem would be the defining moment of the church.

John’s words about Jesus…”I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”, are indicative of the vast difference between those awaiting the arrival of the Messiah in the first Advent and those of us living in the second Advent. The incredible effects of Christ’s baptism make our experience so much more purposeful.

The last prophet of the Old Testament declared that the coming of the Messiah would be preceded by the return of Elijah. Jesus was unequivocal in identifying John the Baptist as an Elijah figure. Both “Elijah’s” had a very clear message for their lost generation…REPENT AND BE SAVED! How do we perpetuate this message to our lost generation? 

Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, was God’s last voice to Israel before a period of silence that lasted over 400 years. God’s “silent treatment” showed His displeasure and desire to get Israel’s attention. We celebrate the end of the silence at Christmas but would do well to see if the reasons for His displeasure can be instructive to us as we look forward to the second coming of Christ.

After being stoned to the edge of death in Lystra, Paul, accompanied by Barnabus, moved on to Derbe to continue their work of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Then, at great risk of being attacked again, they decided to go back to Lystra to encourage those who had responded to the gospel. Their message, “we must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God” is in stark contrast to the attractive false gospel of health and wealth promoted by many today. Which gospel did you sign up for?

I doubt any of us have been mistaken for gods like Paul and Barnabus were in Lystra. Their visceral and demonstrative disavowal of any such notion is a powerful reminder to us of the dangers of giving pride a foothold and emphasizes the essential nature of humility in our relationship to God and man.

This Remembrance Day we commemorate the 100th anniversary of one of Canada’s most gruesome battles, The Battle of Passchendaele. This WW1 battle in Belgium has come to symbolize the brutality of that horrific war and has been characterized as an exercise in futility. It would be easy for Christians today to look around at the many fronts on which we are battling against the evil one and wonder if we too are engaged in an exercise in futility. We need to be reminded of the words of Jesus, who said to His disciples shortly before being crucified and three days later conquering the grave, that “I have overcome the world”.

2017-11-05 As  Paul and Barnabus travelled around the Roman Empire spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, they were met with fierce opposition from the Jewish leadership who refused to embrace change even when it had all of the hallmarks of being rooted in truth. This posture of “digging in our heels” can be found in the church today in individuals who refuse to embrace an orthodoxy of change. Being a committed Christian requires spiritual agility as we seek to “keep in step with the Spirit”

Luke records the reactions of the recipients of Paul’s persuasive presentation of the gospel in Pisidian Antioch. Their responses to the gospel are instructive for today’s church as it continues the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ.

2017-10-22 Paul delivers a persuasive speech in a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch that beautifully presents Jesus Christ as the long-awaited Messiah. He does this by referencing Hebrew scriptures and reshaping many of his recipients’ understanding of who the Messiah was always intended to be.

On this Family Sunday, “Body Speaks”, the monthly sharing of a personal testimony to God’s redemptive work, featured Dale Seely. Dale shared how God brought him along on his faith journey, guiding his path to becoming a part of the family at New Glasgow Christian Church.

Clearly the war was won by Christ on the cross when He defeated sin, death and Satan. Until He returns, the battle rages on for people’s hearts and minds. Our passage today gives an example for us to follow as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission

In our passage this week, Paul and Barnabas are called by the Holy Spirit to go on a mission together to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. The concept of “calling” raises so many questions…Does every Christian have a calling? How specific is a “call”? Is “calling” only related to full-time ministry?

This week, we address these questions by using the scriptural witness as our guide

2017-08-20  As the first church transitioned from its earliest Jewish roots to a church for people from a wide array of backgrounds, Paul held up a standard to guide religious practice…the laws of Christ…the law of love. The new freedom the disciples found in Christ was never to be used as a license but when appropriate surrendered for the sake of the gospel and the good of others

Ken Doiron shares his recent experience of peace and purpose on a difficult journey

Every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we here Jesus’ words; this cup is a new covenant in my blood. We explore the meaning and significance of this familiar yet puzzling phrase

2017-07-30 Why did Peter successfully pray for Dorcas to be raised from the dead? Jesus didn’t come to eliminate the death of our mortal bodies. Unless Christ returns in our lifetime we will all eventually die, but Dorcas’ resurrection does speak to the greater victory over eternal death that Christ provides!

2017-07-23  Paul’s conversion and commitment to The Truth serves as an excellent example of what responding to God’s call involves

Acts 8:4-25 is an unusual account of the Deacon, Phillip fleeing the persecution in Jerusalem and preaching the gospel in Samaria. It is a profound lesson in the unorthodox acceptance of the good news and serves as a strong warning to us today

The measure of a threat is the perceived ability of the one threatening to deliver on their threat. As the disciples gathered together to process the threats of the religious leaders who demanded that they refrain from spreading the gospel, they were consoled by thoughts of the sovereignty of God. Instead of retreating or changing the message, they were emboldened to carry on under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. The threats of the Sadducees held no terror for them! What can today’s, marginalized church learn from the first church?

Peter and John used the healing of the lame beggar to validate the gospel message. In so doing, Peter referenced Old Testament scripture that employed the concept of a cornerstone as a metaphor. He accused the Jewish leaders as builders who had rejected Christ as their cornerstone. Peter contrasts the builders, the buildings and the cornerstones used by the Sadducees and by God

Contrary to growing sentiment, Christianity is not against women. Scriptures are clear that in every respect men and women are equal before their creator, God. Divinely created gender roles do not diminish this equality but rather provide opportunity for both men and women to serve each other as Christ has served the church…selflessly

Peter and John had every opportunity to emphasize the positive as folks gathered around to celebrate the miraculous healing of the lame beggar in Acts 3. Instead, they used the opportunity to confront the people for their complicity in crucifying the man’s true healer, Jesus Christ. The gospel requires such a confrontation. The good news is that, as Paul writes in Corinthians, Godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation.

Awkward…you bet! Necessary…absolutely!

2017-04-30  Not getting what you expected from your relationship with God?  Perhaps He is exceeding your expectations…you just haven’t recognized it yet.  A study of Acts 3.

23-Apr-2017  Guest speaker Paul Stevenson presents a biblical perspective on money from the parables of Jesus, about the opposites worry and trust, and about how we should view possessions

16-April-2017  The two disheartened disciples who encountered the risen Lord on the first Easter were not able to recognize him. Why was that? It was only when Jesus broke bread with them that they had their eyes open. Fallen humanity suffers from spiritual myopia, the inability to see reality as God does. The Risen Christ has the power to open the eyes of our hearts so that we can see the things of God

2017-03-13 Peter’s explanation of the extraordinary experiences of Pentecost, found in Acts 2:14-21, centers on the ancient and somewhat puzzling prophecy of Joel. Part of God’s message through Joel is the foretelling of a coming “Day of the Lord”. Joel indicates that in preparation for this final reckoning, God will distribute His Holy Spirit indiscriminately on all believers for the purpose of spreading the gospel. This gifting of the Holy Spirit was a call to activism…a call to spread the good news. This remains the call for each possessor of the Holy Spirit

2017-01-22  In Christ and through the infilling of each believer with the Holy Spirit, worship services changed from being led by an exclusive priestly class to being led by the Spirit- guided Body of Christ. Why does it seem we have returned to the former?    Website:  http://ngcc.ca/

2017-01-29  Receiving a gift is usually seen as a thrill. Why do so many Christians leave their gifts wrapped and unopened? It’s probably because the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us, but they are not for us as much for the good of the church. But when they are accepted and put to use, the ultimate response is praise to God.    Website:  http://ngcc.ca/

2017-02-05  As we begin our study of the book of Acts, we need to look at the concept of baptism and how the Holy Spirit is involved. Tim discusses water baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and what it means to be filled with the Spirit.    Website:  http://ngcc.ca/

2017-01-15  On this Family Sunday, “Body Speaks”, the monthly sharing of a personal testimony to God’s redemptive work”, featured our Pastor, Tim. He shared how God led him from a place of slavery to performance to the wonderful freedom of God’s grace.    Website:  http://ngcc.ca/