The early church finds themselves in danger of severe violence and persecution. How do they respond? How would we respond?
Jeff Jantzi
Jeff is the Lead Pastor at The Gathering Ottawa and preaches most Sunday mornings.
Acts of the Apostles: Peter and John on Trial
Peter and John find themselves in some hot water after healing a disabled man. What does this story show us about faithfulness to God in the face of opposition?
First Things First: Seeking the Kingdom
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructed us to “Seek the Kingdom above all else” (Matt 6:33), meaning that as we seek God’s will and God’s ways for our daily lives and for our world, He will take care us. But how exactly do we do this? What does it mean to “seek the Kingdom” and to live a “Kingdom focused life”? And why is it that so often we miss this, and seek to build our own kingdoms instead?
Join us today as we talk about the God-honouring value and decision of “Seeking the Kingdom first” in 2022.
First Things First: Love People
The second most important commandment that Jesus gave, essentially, was to “love others”. But what, in practical terms, does it mean to “love others”? What does this kind of love look like? How do we know when we are living into it? And how do we know when we aren’t? For us today, what makes “loving others” such a critical “first things first” priority in our lives?
This Sunday we're talking about the God-honouring value and decision of “Loving Others” above ourselves in 2022.
First Things First: Love God
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment in all the Scriptures was, he said very clearly: “Love God.” But what, in practical terms, does it mean to “love God”? What does this kind of love look like in our lives? How do we know when we are living into it? And how do we know when we aren’t? For us today, what makes “loving God” such a critical “first things first” priority in our lives?
Today we talk about the God-honouring value and decision of “Loving God” above and before all else in 2022.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Steve Brown
To kick of the 2022, Jeff and guest speaker and friend of The Gathering, Dr. Steve Brown (President of Arrow Leadership) team up with a special New Years message!
Christmas Eve 2021: White Christmas
Most of us want to have a White Christmas every year. Even if we don’t like snow the rest of winter, we like it at Christmas. Why is that? Is it because of the nostalgia? Or is it because the sense of peace & calm that the snow brings (1 day a year)? Whatever the case, a “White Christmas” sounds great to most of us.
From a Christian perspective though, “White Christmas” is more than a dream. It’s actually why Jesus came that first Christmas some 2000 years ago. Not for snow, of course, but so that we could be forgiven and made as “white as snow” in Him (Isaiah 1:18).
This is what we celebrate each and every Christmas; That because God came near, we can be forgiven and made clean. And that because Jesus came as a baby, we can be made new (and as white as snow!).
Join us now, for Christmas Eve at The Gathering, and let's experience a White Christmas, together.
Advent: The LOVE of Jesus
The weeks leading up to Christmas are always busy. There are presents to be purchased, trees to be decorated, cards to be written, food to be prepared and parties to be planned. We put a lot of energy and effort into making sure that Christmas is a wonderful time for our family and friends. But what do we do to get ourselves ready for Christmas? How do we prepare ourselves mentally, emotionally and spiritually to experience the wonder of God coming to be with us? If we aren’t internally prepared for Christmas, we can miss the moment and Christmas can become just another holiday on the calendar.
Join us at The Gathering on this fourth Sunday of Advent as we prepare for Christmas together by focusing in on the Love of Jesus! What motivated God to send Jesus that first Christmas? How can knowing this change the way we experience Christmas today? Tune in to find out!
Advent: The PEACE of Jesus
What would it look like for us to experience the peace of Jesus in our lives this Christmas?
Advent: The HOPE of Jesus
The weeks leading up to Christmas are always busy. There are presents to be purchased, trees to be decorated, cards to be written, food to be prepared and parties to be planned. We put a lot of energy and effort into making sure that Christmas is a wonderful time for our family and friends. But what do we do to get ourselves ready for Christmas? How do we prepare ourselves mentally, emotionally and spiritually to experience the wonder of God coming to be with us? If we aren’t internally prepared for Christmas, we can miss the moment and Christmas can become just another holiday on the calendar. This week, Jeff talks about Hope...What are some things that we can do to prepare for Christmas and to live into the hope of Jesus during this Advent season? Let's find out!
