Grassroots Church | Thunder Bay, Ontario

Revealing the Jesus of the Centre Part 5: Whose Side is Jesus on?

In this message, Pastor Steve looks at how Jesus stands with the "least of these", who are people who recognize their profound need for Jesus. As Christians, we are to model ourselves after Jesus and  care for the poor, the sick, and the oppressed. We also need to make sure that, like the "least of these", we never lose sight of our need to have Jesus move in our lives. Finally, we seek to be radically inclusive like Jesus and be on everyone's side.

Pastor Steve references this article by Michael Pahl on a Jesus-centered response to the conflict in Gaza.

If you'd like to listen to "Poke You in the Eyes" by the band Humans on the Floor you can follow this link.

This message was originally delivered on May 26, 2024. There was no podcast last week because our church spent Sunday picking up litter around Thunder Bay.

Revealing the Jesus of the Centre Part 4: Jesus Loves Me...?

Pastor Steve looks at the unconditional and profound love that Jesus reveals. God loves the whole world, that love looks like Jesus laying down his life on the cross, and there is nothing we need to do to earn that love.

Pastor Steve references this podcast with Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries that is worth checking out.

We kept the final song as it related so well to the message. It sounds pretty good but not quite as good as it did live.

This message was originally delivered on Mother's Day, May 12, 2024.

Revealing the Jesus of the Centre Part 3: A New Kind of Power

Pastor Steve resumes the series on revealing the Jesus of the Centre by looking at the means in which the work of Jesus is done on earth - How does Jesus do what he does? In other words, what does Jesus' power look like? We find out that Jesus is never coercive and that the form of power Jesus uses looks entirely unlike what we know to be power. This is a power that works "with" us... not "over" us. 

David Fitch's new book, "Reconciling with Power" helped inform Pastor Steve's thoughts on this topic.

Lifewater Canada special presentation

In this special presentation, Lifewater Canada president Lynda Gehrels speaks to the Grassroots congregation. Lifewater Canada is a charity based out of Thunder Bay that provides drinking water to communities in Africa and Haiti. It is regularly recognized as one of the most effective charities in Canada. Grassroots Church is proud to support Lifewater Canada.

You can find out more about Lifewater on their website www.lifewater.ca.

This message was originally delivered April 28, 2024.

Revealing the Jesus of the Centre Part 2: What Enemy Love Reveals

Pastor Steve resumes the series on Revealing the Jesus of the Centre by exploring one of Jesus' most distinctive teachings: Enemy Love. Why does Jesus seem to care more about grace and forgiveness than he does about tit-for-tat sense of justice? And what does this mean for followers of Jesus? Listen and find out!

Resting in God's Love - A Message from Vincent Ng

Using the baptism of Jesus and the following 40 days in the desert in which Jesus was tempted by Satan, Vincent shares on the need to find our identity in God's love, resting in that truth rather than having to "hustle" in order to find approval from those around us.

Revealing the Jesus of the Centre Part 1: Which Jesus?

Grassroots Church joined Jesus Collective in 2023 with a goal of making Jesus the centre of everything. But what does that even look like? Exactly who is the Jesus of the centre? In this first message of our new series, Pastor Steve demonstrates how talk of being "Jesus centred" is futile if we don't have a clear understanding of exactly who that Jesus is. He establishes 3 assumptions that we need to hold in our pursuit of discovering the Jesus of the centre:

1. Proceed with much grace and humility

2. Hold the "whaddabouts" in tension

3. Recognize our biases and move on.

Tune in to listen to more as we begin this journey together!

Easter Sunday: Living Out the Resurrection

In this Easter Sunday sermon, Pastor Steve Bill looks at what it means to live our lives knowing that Christ is risen, and that resurrection is part of the plan for all of us.

This message was originally delivered March 31, 2024.

Palm Sunday: Donkey Power!

In a special Palm Sunday sermon, Pastor Steve Bill preaches on how Jesus demonstrates an alternative to the violent, conquest-focused type of power that dominates our world.

Scripture readings are Matthew 22:1 - 11 and Philippians 2:8. 

You can view the Brian Zahnd tweet about muscular Jesus here. 

This message was originally delivered March 24, 2024.

We had a few technical issues this week which we tried to edit around, but some remnants of them may still remain. Everything should be better next week!

Renewed Rhythms Part 10: Fasting

Pastor Steve Bill explores fasting in the tenth and final installment of our series on Spiritual Disciplines. He explores how fasting can be a practice that allows us to bring our "fleshly" desires into better balance.

For additional resources on spiritual disciplines, go to www.practicingtheway.org. 

This message was originally delivered on March 17, 2024.