Sermons from Commons Church. Intellectually honest. Spiritually passionate. Jesus at the centre. Since 2014.
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In the first message of the Soapbox Sundays series, Scott makes the case for how an intellectual, reflective life is a spiritual life. Looking at the wisdom literature of Proverbs 4, this teaching explores how engaging our minds across generations, embracing curiosity, and asking hard questions helps us love God and serve our neighbours more deeply. Key Takeaways & Outline: Welcome & Fall Outlook:…
Psalm 7 is a song for anyone who has ever felt falsely accused, misunderstood, or desperate to be vindicated. But underneath David’s very reasonable words is something more volatile: anger, frustration, and the desire for God to feel exactly what he feels. In this sermon, Jeremy Duncan explores the poetry of Psalm 7—from Taylor Swift and ancient Hebrew wordplay to necks, noses, swords, and…
What can ancient prayers teach us about our own experience of chaos, confusion, or distress? In this week’s installment of our Summer Songs series, Yelena walks us through Psalm 86—a powerful "psalm of disorientation." Whether life feels stable or everything is falling apart, the Psalms provide a sacred space for profound honesty with the Divine. In this message, we explore: Asks and Reasons: Why…
What do you do when God feels far away? Psalm 13 is a song for those moments. In this message, we explore how naming our pain and shifting our perspective can help us move from lament to praise. Key topics covered: • The relationship between lament and praise: Why the "Book of Praises" is full of sorrow and how lament provides a place to stand while we grieve. • Challenging our categories:…
What do you do when the world feels unfair and you find yourself “fret-burning” with anger? In this message, we explore the wisdom of Psalm 37—not as a transactional set of rules, but as a roadmap for finding composure, delight, and hope in the midst of life's messiness. While many read the Psalms looking for guarantees, they are actually poetic invitations to engage with the world honestly. When…
What does it mean to trust God when there are still very real reasons to be afraid? Psalm 46 doesn’t promise a life without chaos. Instead, it points to the presence of God—our refuge and strength—within our complicated histories, uncertain futures, and present moments. In this message, Alexandra explores how remembering, hope, creativity, mindfulness, and nonviolence can make us more aware of the…
What if the greatest idols in our lives aren't statues—but fear, security, money, and the stories we tell to protect them? In Acts 19, Paul arrives in Ephesus and unintentionally sparks a city-wide riot. On the surface, it's a conflict over religion. But beneath the shouting lies something far more familiar: economic anxiety, fear of outsiders, and the temptation to use spiritual language to…
In this episode of our spring series, The Way Forward, we walk through Acts 17:16-34 to explore Paul’s encounter in Athens. As Paul engages with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers at the Areopagus, he provides a model for how we can navigate unfamiliar cultures and carry on thoughtful, faith-filled conversations in our own time. How do we move forward when our efforts seem to go unnoticed, or when…
In this message, we explore the story of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, examining how early believers navigated deep conflict and cultural shifts within the church.1 Key topics include: The Nature of Conflict: Why "certain people problems" are a normal, albeit challenging, part of community growth. Navigating Change: Understanding what to keep from the past and what to leave behind as the…
In Acts 13, the spotlight shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch—a diverse, unexpected community where the Holy Spirit is doing something entirely new. From former outsiders and unlikely leaders to the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas, this chapter reveals a church that chooses mission over comfort, creativity over control, and expansion over preservation. In this message, we explore how God's grace…
