Living in Truth & Love

2024 May - Present

Scriptures: Epistles of John

Theme: John’s New Testament Letters (1-3 John) address congregations unsettled by the recent defection of prominent members who denied the Person of Christ, thereby disrupting the community's harmony. These letters reassure the remaining believers of their salvation in Christ, affirm the truth of the original teachings they received, and the value of the mutual love they practiced. John counters the opponents’ boastful claims by exposing the inconsistency between their words and actions.

1 John is often seen as presenting ‘tests of eternal life’ for Christians to evaluate their own salvation. Commentators suggest anywhere from three to eleven self-administered tests of assurance. But this approach is often counterproductive, as ambiguous results increase anxiety rather than provide certainty. We propose that these ‘tests’ are intended to evaluate the believer’s fellowship with God, rather than their ultimate salvation.

John’s primary goal is encouragement, not testing. He offers direct statements of reassurance that are independent of subjective self-evaluation. His ‘tests’ are aimed at identifying opponents, rather than evaluating believers; they helped early Christians distinguish between true and false prophets and teachers. Ultimately, John seeks to ensure that his community continues to walk in truth and love. Rightly applied the ‘tests’ are aids; wrongly applied they are hazards.

Believe

2023 January - 2024 May

Scriptures: Gospel of John

Theme: The first three ‘Synoptic’ Gospels adopt a common viewpoint. The 4th Gospel-John-is ‘maverick,’ unconventional, not repeating, but breaking new ground. Importantly, John emphasizes individualism. Contrary to the collective culture of his day, Jesus repeatedly calls for decisive individual belief. Statements like, ‘the one who believes…,’ abound; response to Jesus has to be personal to be real. Here, Jesus engages in extended conversations with individuals.

The term ‘church’ (ekklesia) never appears in John; his corporate symbols-the Flock & the Vine-prioritize the individual’s relation-as ‘sheep’ or ‘branch’ to Jesus-over intra-community relationships. For John, the Church is vacuous without the believer’s personal relationship with Christ.

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to think John ignores the Church. With the introduction of “the disciple Jesus loved” (the ‘Beloved Disciple’) this Gospel depicts an alternative way of doing church. As the last Gospel written, John was aware of the trend towards hierarchy and uniformity among churches planted by Peter and Paul. The Beloved Disciple depicts an alterative egalitarian paradigm, a ‘family model’ for the church, validated by the risen Christ in John’s epilogue (John 21).

Let’s use this study of John to cultivate our personal, intimate relationships with Christ. Let’s also consider what kind of church community the risen Christ desires today.

A Life Worth Living

2022 April - 2022 December

Scriptures: Book of Philippians

Theme: The Church in Philippi held a special place in Paul’s heart, as evidenced by his letter to this congregation. The book of Acts provides a detailed account of Paul’s founding of this church, which was multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and socially diverse from the outset. Its founding members included Lydia, an immigrant entrepreneur, and the Philippian jailer with his family.

If the apostle Paul had a favorite church, it was likely Philippi. Unlike many of his other letters, which were problem-solving treatises addressing urgent church issues, Paul’s letter to the Philippians reflects a healthy and supportive community. The Thessalonians were troubled by end-time anxieties, Corinth faced factionalism and moral issues addressed in multiple letters, and the Galatian churches were exhorted to resist the incursions of Judaism. In contrast, Philippi was not a problem church; it consistently supported Paul’s gospel mission, allowing him to focus on mutual encouragement rather than asserting his apostleship.

The New Testament book of Philippians offers a glimpse of Paul’s relationship with a normal, healthy church. Its contents are not dominated by dispute resolution or problem-solving. Paul’s letter has been described as a family letter, a letter of consolation, and one of friendship. It is all these and more, providing a unique portrait of normal, healthy church life in a first-century Greco-Roman setting. There is much for us to appreciate and replicate as we study it together.

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Mission of God

2020 September - 2021 September

Scriptures: Book of Ephesians

Theme: The book of Acts recounts how the Gospel first reached Ephesus, a bustling metropolis situated at the crossroads of what is now Turkey and Greece. Paul and his team brought the message of Jesus' salvation to this vibrant city, and Luke’s account in Acts captures both the triumphs and challenges of this endeavor. The Gospel spread from the dusty streets, crowded marketplaces, and academic halls of Ephesus to the entire province of Asia, drawing many to the faith. However, it also provoked fierce opposition, culminating in a riot led by devotees of the local pagan deity, who filled the city’s stadium in protest. To many, it seemed as if Jesus’ ambassadors were indeed "turning the world upside down."

Yet there is more to this story than Luke’s action-packed narrative reveals. The fierce opposition encountered by Paul’s team reflects a cosmic struggle between God’s mission and the dark powers of evil furthering the Devil’s schemes. The New Testament Letter to the Ephesians pulls back the curtain to offer a divine perspective on these earthly events. Behind the efforts of Christ’s messengers stands the eternal Trinity, whose plans were formed before time began. Ephesians unveils the divine drama of the Father’s love, choice, and purpose, conceived before creation itself. It also highlights the Son and the Holy Spirit, who were commissioned to bring this plan to fruition. This is "the Mission of God" - purposed in eternity, accomplished in time, and destined to be fulfilled in God’s eternal future. The Church, as God’s people, does not create its own mission; rather, it participates in God's Mission which is destined to triumph over the forces of Evil.

Let us study Ephesians together so we can fully engage in the Mission of God, appropriate what’s been accomplished by the Trinitarian God, and be equipped to resist the cosmic powers of evil.

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Minor Prophets | Major Message

2014 November - 2015 June

Scriptures: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Theme: While the Minor Prophets are usually the least read books in the Bible, the truth is that they are filled with Major Messages that call God’s people back to His glorious purpose and will. Injustice and cruelty, nationalism and prejudice, selfishness and improper community living are all addressed in the Minor Prophets. In the midst of this black backdrop comes the striking descriptions of a loving God, Jesus the coming Saviour and the empowering Holy Spirit who call God’s people to live a life that displays Him to others.

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Essentials

2012 April - 2012 July

Scriptures: Various

Theme: This series helps us understand what items are essential for our faith and from which we should not deviate from the proper scriptural presentation.

This is in contrast to the items (such as the gifts) in which we can be flexible with how they are practiced or understood.

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Believe

2023 January - 2024 May

Scriptures: Gospel of John

Theme: The first three ‘Synoptic’ Gospels adopt a common viewpoint. The 4th Gospel-John-is ‘maverick,’ unconventional, not repeating, but breaking new ground. Importantly, John emphasizes individualism. Contrary to the collective culture of his day, Jesus repeatedly calls for decisive individual belief. Statements like, ‘the one who believes…,’ abound; response to Jesus has to be personal to be real. Here, Jesus engages in extended conversations with individuals.

The term ‘church’ (ekklesia) never appears in John; his corporate symbols-the Flock & the Vine-prioritize the individual’s relation-as ‘sheep’ or ‘branch’ to Jesus-over intra-community relationships. For John, the Church is vacuous without the believer’s personal relationship with Christ.

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to think John ignores the Church. With the introduction of “the disciple Jesus loved” (the ‘Beloved Disciple’) this Gospel depicts an alternative way of doing church. As the last Gospel written, John was aware of the trend towards hierarchy and uniformity among churches planted by Peter and Paul. The Beloved Disciple depicts an alterative egalitarian paradigm, a ‘family model’ for the church, validated by the risen Christ in John’s epilogue (John 21).

Let’s use this study of John to cultivate our personal, intimate relationships with Christ. Let’s also consider what kind of church community the risen Christ desires today.

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A Life Worth Living

2022 April - 2022 December

Scriptures: Book of Philippians

Theme: The Church in Philippi held a special place in Paul’s heart, as evidenced by his letter to this congregation. The book of Acts provides a detailed account of Paul’s founding of this church, which was multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and socially diverse from the outset. Its founding members included Lydia, an immigrant entrepreneur, and the Philippian jailer with his family.

If the apostle Paul had a favorite church, it was likely Philippi. Unlike many of his other letters, which were problem-solving treatises addressing urgent church issues, Paul’s letter to the Philippians reflects a healthy and supportive community. The Thessalonians were troubled by end-time anxieties, Corinth faced factionalism and moral issues addressed in multiple letters, and the Galatian churches were exhorted to resist the incursions of Judaism. In contrast, Philippi was not a problem church; it consistently supported Paul’s gospel mission, allowing him to focus on mutual encouragement rather than asserting his apostleship.

The New Testament book of Philippians offers a glimpse of Paul’s relationship with a normal, healthy church. Its contents are not dominated by dispute resolution or problem-solving. Paul’s letter has been described as a family letter, a letter of consolation, and one of friendship. It is all these and more, providing a unique portrait of normal, healthy church life in a first-century Greco-Roman setting. There is much for us to appreciate and replicate as we study it together.

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No Other Gospel

2021 September - 2022 March

Scriptures: Book of Galatians

Theme: watch-this-space

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Mission of God

2020 September - 2021 September

Scriptures: Book of Ephesians

Theme: The book of Acts recounts how the Gospel first reached Ephesus, a bustling metropolis situated at the crossroads of what is now Turkey and Greece. Paul and his team brought the message of Jesus' salvation to this vibrant city, and Luke’s account in Acts captures both the triumphs and challenges of this endeavor. The Gospel spread from the dusty streets, crowded marketplaces, and academic halls of Ephesus to the entire province of Asia, drawing many to the faith. However, it also provoked fierce opposition, culminating in a riot led by devotees of the local pagan deity, who filled the city’s stadium in protest. To many, it seemed as if Jesus’ ambassadors were indeed "turning the world upside down."

Yet there is more to this story than Luke’s action-packed narrative reveals. The fierce opposition encountered by Paul’s team reflects a cosmic struggle between God’s mission and the dark powers of evil furthering the Devil’s schemes. The New Testament Letter to the Ephesians pulls back the curtain to offer a divine perspective on these earthly events. Behind the efforts of Christ’s messengers stands the eternal Trinity, whose plans were formed before time began. Ephesians unveils the divine drama of the Father’s love, choice, and purpose, conceived before creation itself. It also highlights the Son and the Holy Spirit, who were commissioned to bring this plan to fruition. This is "the Mission of God" - purposed in eternity, accomplished in time, and destined to be fulfilled in God’s eternal future. The Church, as God’s people, does not create its own mission; rather, it participates in God's Mission which is destined to triumph over the forces of Evil.

Let us study Ephesians together so we can fully engage in the Mission of God, appropriate what’s been accomplished by the Trinitarian God, and be equipped to resist the cosmic powers of evil.

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Follow Me

2020 January - 2020 September

Scriptures: Book of Mark

Theme: Each of the 4 Gospels has its own emphasis. Mark’s account of Jesus’ life, death & resurrection emphasizes discipleship. With the short, sharp command to “Follow Me,� Jesus challenged people to accompany him. Those who obeyed had a life-changing experience. Today Jesus still calls people to walk the way of discipleship — to be changed and help change the world. Let’s follow Him!

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Thriving in a Hostile Culture

2019 September - 2019 November

Scriptures: Various

Theme: We’ll explore how Daniel and his three friends dealt with life as a minority culture in Babylon. Christians in Canada are also a minority culture living in a Post-Christian society. God asks both Daniel and us to not merely live, but thrive as a minority. Join us as we explore what that looks like.

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Echoes of Eden

2019 July - 2019 September

Scriptures: Various

Theme: Echoes of Eden is a reminder that God wants real and significant relationship with humans. It was lost in Eden, but never forgotten by God. Even though his people Israel were in captivity in Egypt, God still pursued the Edenic relationship with them. He rescued them from slavery, intimately cared for them and gave them a new way to relate to Him and each other. The final scene in Exodus is of a dwelling place filled with God’s presence right in the midst of his people. God will always fight to have a sacred place with us.

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She-ology

2019 June

Scriptures: Various

Theme: In this new series, She-ology, we will explore the role of women in the ministry of Jesus and the early church. Some say women had a more hidden role, and that they carried out a secondary or second level service. But in this first message we will see from the Gospels that the women who followed and served Jesus were as much his disciples as the more well known male disciples.

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Remade - Redeeming Our Relationships

2019 May - 2019 June

Scriptures: Various

Theme: A vibrant relationship with Jesus leads to a radical change in all our relationships but especially in our marriages. The evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives will be seen in redeemed relationships.

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Counter Cultural

2019 Febuary - 2019 April

Scriptures: 1st Corinthians

Theme: Corinth was a bustling capital city filled with entrepreneurs, sports stars, and people from all over the globe who wanted to get ahead. It had so much going for it. But morally, well let’s just say it was known as the city where “anything goes!� If you were a Christian living there, how would you remain faithful to who you are in Jesus without being influenced to be something you’re not? God called the Corinthians and he calls us today to live counter-cultural lives so our friends, family and colleagues can know the freedom in Jesus Christ!

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New Beginnings Slide

2019 January

Scriptures: Various Passages

Theme: New beginnings are something everyone experiences at some point, but more often they happen as the New Year begins. People want a new start, to turn the page from the previous year, and even possibly head in a new direction. Well, new beginnings with God have all of those same characteristics and more. Often we are tired of living the way we have been, or we don’t like the person we are becoming and want new direction in our life. Whatever the reason you have for a new beginning, God wants to be a big part of that. This three week series looks at Joshua, Abraham, and Moses in their new beginnings with God.

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Hope for All

2018 December

Scriptures: Various Passages

Theme: Whether we feel like we’re on top of the world or we’re in a dark depression, we all need hope. We will learn how God meets his people wherever they are and gives them hope that endures. This was true in Biblical times and continues to be true today.

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Uncommon Community

2018 October - 2018 November

Scriptures: The Book of Acts

Theme: Uncommon Community—it’s an ideal admired by many, replicated by a few; a diverse multicultural community characterized by radical generosity, unselfish sharing, heartfelt hospitality, and compassion for the needy. Yet they also courageously proclaimed their message and challenged the injustice of governing elites, whether religious or political. It’s the kind of movement each of us, at some point, has desired to join—it’s the Jesus movement that became the ekklesia, the church. At CIT, we believe that the same Person (Jesus) and Power (God’s Holy Spirit) can produce & sustain an equivalent uncommon community in our city today.

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Navigating Change

2018 September

Scriptures: The Book of Acts

Theme: How to live in a volatile culture .....

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Messiah

2018 January - 2018 September

Scriptures: The Book of Matthew

Theme: Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as the Messiah, Israel’s promised and long-awaited Saviour and King. Jesus, the Messiah-King came to save his people, not merely from foreign oppression as many expected, but more fundamentally from their sins–both national and personal sins. As Immanuel –‘God with us’– Jesus also does for us what we cannot do for ourselves–live a righteous, God-satisfying life. This very same Messiah-King also establishes God’s kingdom on earth. A kingdom not based on earthly power, wealth and prestige, but one based on love for God and love for others. Ultimately Jesus, the Messiah-King, died on the cross and resurrected, thereby empowering his followers to live out his kingdom values, both collectively as his church and personally as his disciples.

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Psalms For All Seasons

2017 July - 2017 December

Scriptures: The Book of Psalms

Theme: No matter what your situation, your condition, or the current emotion you are experiencing, someone has been there before you. The 150 psalms reflect the prayers, songs and praise to God as His people passed through the many seasons of life. Psalms winds its way through experiences of despair, sickness, joy, complaint, thankfulness, frustration, exultation, disappointment, and as it does, it provides words for us to speak to God as we pass through all seasons of life.

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Anchored – Truth in Changing Times

2017 January - 2017 July

Scriptures: Topical

Theme: This series explores the truths of the Christian faith and addresses common objections and challenges to that faith. We will make a distinction between critical truths which are essential to all Christians, and issues on which Christians can have legitimate differences of opinion.

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Visions in the Dark

2016 April - 2016 December

Scriptures: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel & Revelation

Theme: Have you ever felt discouraged or depressed? Has your situation ever felt “dark,� that prospects have dimmed and things may get worse? The Bible records times when God’s people faced this type of scenario. On such occasions God sent His people prophets and gave those prophets visions–heavenly visions of God & His throne & the way God sees things. Daniel saw heavenly scenes in his “night visions;� that view, from another perspective, from a heavenly dimension, affected the way he viewed his current, dark, situation. It is just the same with us today. We will look at the visions given to the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel & John’s Apocalypse to derive lessons applicable to us as God’s people today.

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Exodus – God Reveals, God Rescues

2015 October - 2016 April

Scriptures: Exodus

Theme: This message series focuses on God revealing who He is, and on His continual work of rescuing people from their slavery and oppression. When people feel as though they are hemmed in on every side with no way forward, God shows Himself to be more than capable of delivering them from whatever is holding them. In this series, be prepared to see God in ways that will encourage you to look to Him for the rescue you are longing for.

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Kingdom Sight

2015 June - 2015 September

Scriptures: Matthew 12-24

Theme: This series covers the Kingdom parables in the Gospel of Matthew. While Jesus walked the earth, He endeavoured to show His disciples and the Pharisees how wrong they were in their expectations of what the Kingdom of God was like. While they expected a physical kingdom led by a restored Israel, Jesus helped them to see how His Kingdom was on an altogether different plane. This resulted in many being challenged and needing to make adjustments in order for them to enter into God’s Kingdom.

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Minor Prophets | Major Message

2014 November - 2015 June

Scriptures: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Theme: While the Minor Prophets are usually the least read books in the Bible, the truth is that they are filled with Major Messages that call God’s people back to His glorious purpose and will. Injustice and cruelty, nationalism and prejudice, selfishness and improper community living are all addressed in the Minor Prophets. In the midst of this black backdrop comes the striking descriptions of a loving God, Jesus the coming Saviour and the empowering Holy Spirit who call God’s people to live a life that displays Him to others.

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A Great Cloud of Witnesses

2014 April - 2014 November

Scriptures: Acts 14–30

Theme: The Bible begins with accounts of lives of patriarchs like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Joseph, narrated in Genesis. These men, accompanied by their wives (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, etc) are examples of people who lived in relationship with the Creator-God. Like us, they experienced troubles and challenges—temptation & testing, disaster & deliverance, love & hatred, relocation & reunion. Yet through it all they testified the benefits of living by faith in the God they got to know personally and whom they believed worked all things for their ultimate good. Today we can be inspired and learn valuable lessons from this 'cloud of witnesses.'

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Peter

2013 September - 2014 April

Scriptures: 1st & 2nd Peter

Theme: This series covers the books of Peter.

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Philippians

2013 July - 2013 September

Scriptures: Philippians

Theme: This series covers the book of Philippians.

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Jesus is:

2013 January - 2013 June

Scriptures: Various

Theme: This series presents the important aspects of who Jesus is.

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Galatians

2012 August - 2012 December

Scriptures: Galatians

Theme: Our faith as shown in Galatians is examined.

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Essentials

2012 April - 2012 July

Scriptures: Various

Theme: This series helps us understand what items are essential for our faith and from which we should not deviate from the proper scriptural presentation.

This is in contrast to the items (such as the gifts) in which we can be flexible with how they are practiced or understood.

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Stand-alone Messages

Special Messages

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Christmas Messages

Annual Christmas Messages

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Easter Messages

Annual Easter Messages