Grassroots Church | Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Bible: More than Classical Literature; Less than 4th Member of Trinity Part 1: The Window

Christians are people of the book. We are meant to use the Bible to guide us in becoming more like Jesus and restoring all things. But the Bible is a dangerous book. It has been used in the past to support evil things. In this sermon, Pastor Steve Bill starts a series on how we should relate to this ancient, human, and divine collection of writings.

This sermon was originally delivered on January 5, 2025.

A Look Back While Moving Forward: Grassroots 2024 into 2025

Pastor Steve takes a look back at the year that was at Grassroots via a slideshow (you can view the slideshow here: https://youtu.be/PTLMN3tkDlQ and shows how God has been faithful to our community.... yet again before talking about what's in store for 2025 and giving a charge to the community out of Philippians 2. 

A Weary World Rejoices Part 4: The Vulnerability of the Incarnation

Pastor Steve explores the form of love revealed in the circumstances of Jesus' birth. It is a love of incredible vulnerability which, it is suggested, is exactly how God wishes to reveal himself first and foremost. The implications for what this means for his followers is to follow into this same way of loving others - particularly those deemed most difficult to love.

A Weary World Rejoices Part 3: The Joy Paradox

As we continue the journey toward Bethlehem, Pastor Steve shares >one< way that joy might become a more sustained reality in the life of the Christian through looking at the theme of joy in the New Testament and two traits that are often associated with it: 1. beleagueredness and 2. hope of deliverance. 

A Weary World Rejoices Part 2: Empire to Emmanuel

The second week of Advent offers the gift of peace - but it's not the peace the world offers. At least, it's not the WAY of peace the world offers. Immanuel, God with Us, offers an everlasting peace through his presence and through forgiveness. Rather than using the tactics used by Caesar to attain peace--intimidation, violence, domination, fear, etc.--we're asked to follow in the way of Jesus in order to be agents of peace to a tumultuous world. 

A Weary World Rejoices Part 1: Holding Hope & Despair

Pastor Steve opens the 1st Sunday of Advent by exploring how Christians are able to hold the reality of the world's despair while simultaneously putting our hope in a God who promises restoration. Both are realities and the Christian is asked, against all odds, to uphold hope because of the faithfulness and trustworthiness of the God who makes the promise in the first place.

Sharing Faith, Sparing Cringe Part 2: Panel on Evangelism

Pastor Steve facilitates a conversation with 3 Grassrooters (Matt Denis, Robin Peace and Bill Ulrich), discussing some practical, real-world experience and perspective on the topic of sharing faith. This is a rich and, at times, vulnerable discussion you won't want to miss.

Sharing Faith, Sparing Cringe Part 1: It's as Simple as Your Story

Many of us cringe when we think about evangelism. That's because many of our experiences with evangelism have been full of cringe. That sucks because you'd think the greatest hope we have and the source of our joy would be something we'd share freely and generously. But what if it doesn't have to be cringe? What if evangelism was as simple as our story? In a post-church, post-truth, cynical world, our story's intersection with the gospel may just be the most effective and authentic tool we could use to share our faith.

Hey! Come for Dinner Tonight Part 7: The Gospel in Chairs

Pastor Steve ends the series on rediscovering the gospel using a "tool" called "The Gospel in Chairs" in which 2 versions of the gospel are presented - a legal gospel and a restorative gospel. This presentation was developed by Orthodox priest Anthony Carbo and made popular by pastor/theologian Brad Jersak among others. You can check out Brad's version of the Gospel in Chairs here: The Gospel in Chairs with Brad Jersak

Why am I Still Here? with Scott Wiebe

Scott Wiebe shares an honest and vulnerable take on why he's still a committed follower of Jesus and why the life of the church is so valuable to him.