Wbc Podcast

Lonely Planet has become the leader in travel guides, with 40 years experience, 500 titles, and 120 million books in print; not counting their digital platform. Lonely Planet guides are known to improve the destination-experience. The Bible can be considered the guidebook for life's journey. It holds the knowledge and the map to keep us on the right path, and it will certainly improve the experience of our journey.

We live in a world of "I think..." and "I feel..." when it comes to eternity. Western culture promotes this idea that, "we're all on different roads that lead to the same place" and that, "we'll all make it in the end." This inclusivity mindset works as long as we don't go looking for absolute truth. This works as long as we ignore what the Bible offers; a very exclusive plan where Jesus is the only way into eternal life.

According to the Canadian Bible Forum, in 1996, 21% of the Canadian population engaged with the Bible on a weekly basis. In 2013, their research showed this weekly Bible engagement in Canada had sunk to 11%. This fits with the trend that Canada is moving from a Christian to a post-Christian culture. As we begin a new series titled “#TheGreatestBOOK”, we start with one foundational question: “Why Trust The Bible?”

Too often we spend far more time talking about change then actually making changes. At some point, we need to be honest with each other about where we’re at. At some point, a line has to be drawn and a decision has to be made. Church and ministry leaders need to champion this process in order to keep our churches moving forward with Gospel focus. In the last passage of Acts, the Apostle Paul does just that; ending the conversation and drawing a line.

We’ve noted earlier in this series, that our culture is changing rapidly! Canada, like most Western countries is moving toward a post-Christian society. Upcoming generations have been jaded by the tradition of institutional church. And with a rising immigrant population, Western Christianity is being challenged to adjust it’s techniques to reach the lost. Thankfully, the Apostle Paul was a cultural chameleon, giving us some great instruction on how to shift as our culture shifts.

According to research, 40-50% of Millennials connected to the church in their teens will walk away after their senior year of high school. This trend has been happening for almost a decade and it’s time to ask why? Today we look at Acts 20, getting a fly-on-the-wall perspective into Paul’s final message for the Ephesian Elders. And in Paul’s instruction, we find the clues to address our Millennial crisis.

Volunteerism is an essential component to fulfilling the mission of the church. Unfortunately, too often we volunteer without considering our gifting and calling. Soon our good intentions turn to feelings of obligation, then lack of fulfilment sets in, which always causes problems. In Acts 16, Paul finds a young man named Timothy who had significant leadership gifts. Timothy answer God’s call to lead and became one of the youngest leader of leaders the church has ever seen.

There was a time in Canada when businesses were closed on Sundays, clubs and sports were sensitive when scheduling Sunday activities and church was the only place to be on a Sunday morning. Those days are gone. We have entered into a time of post-Christian culture. Church attendance throughout every denominations has given evidence to this trend. How do we respond? Is it an obstacle or an opportunity?

“Church growth can bring out a beast in some of us. We can over focus on it. It can also distort our perception of ourselves. When our church is growing, it’s easy to think we can do nothing wrong. And when we’re not growing, it’s easy to feel as if we do nothing right. Neither is Healthy.” (C. Nieuwhof, Lasting Impact) Today, we begin our first powerful conversation, “Why Are We Not Growing Faster?” We’ll dive into Acts 6, learning from the Apostles, how to structure bigger to grow bigger. So look out; we might have to discuss church governance!

Fall Kick-Off Sunday: (1) Community Groups & Vision2020 - Harrison Kwok and (2) Encouraging Boldness In Our Youth (1 Timothy 4:6-16) - Adam Barrett

Fall Kick-Off Sunday: (1) Community Groups & Vision2020 - Harrison Kwok and (2) Encouraging Boldness In Our Youth (1 Timothy 4:6-16) - Adam Barrett

In the first century, the Apostle Paul needed resources to further the Gospel. Thankfully, the Philippian Church was willing to partner with him. The mission of the Gospel hasn't changed; we still resources to send missionaries and plant churches. How should we be supporting Gospel-work in our city and beyond? How should we be entering into partnership with local churches, to see the Gospel spread?

Last week, Pastor Hyeon Son Lim was released from a North Korean labour camp, imprisoned for his faith. He stated on Sunday, “I learned to fully accept all of this as a form of God's love and discipline to make me stronger.” Pastor Lim found contentment, even under terrible circumstances. What does this say about us and our trivial discontentment? How should we look at our finances, time and relationships, as content Christians?

Philippians 4:8-9

Philippians 4:4-7

Conflict in the church is not new. In fact, church conflicts are as old as the church itself. Where’s the proof? Check out the book of Philippians, chapter 4. Paul addresses a conflict between two women in the Philippian church. He moves their focus away from each other and onto to Jesus, eventually pointing them to eternity and the Lamb's Book of Life.