Blog Posts

Sermon: The Foundation of forgiveness: The Cross of Christ. — by Athaliah Shakeel, on Sunday November 23rd, 2025 @ St Aidan’s Anglican Church Winnipeg

11/25/2025

Introduction
Forgiveness challenges us whether we are seeking it or offering it. Admitting fault feels heavy, while forgiving someone who hurt us can feel even harder. Yet Scripture shows that forgiveness is at the very heart of God.
God’s Example of Forgiveness
From Eden onward, God revealed His mercy. Adam and Eve disobeyed—but God still cared for them. Israel rebelled repeatedly, yet God was patient and compassionate. Forgiveness is not natural to us; it flows from God’s divine character.
Jesus, the Model of Mercy
Jesus forgave sinners, His disciples, and even the people who crucified Him. His words from the cross—“Father, forgive them”—prove that forgiveness is strength, not weakness. The cross shows us grace in action.
Life Application:
1. Release Revenge. How do we achieve this?

2.Remember the Cross. How do we do this on a daily basis as individuals, Families, Church and Nation???

"Carrying Each Other's Burdens" by Rev Ruemu

11/19/2025

A sermon on the topic "Carrying Each Other's Burdens," by Rev Ruemu
@ St Aidan’s Church Sunday 16th November 2025 - Real Lives Service

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you bore the cross, the ultimate burden, for our sake. Give us your eyes to see the burdens around us, your humility to kneel down, and your strength to help carry them. Make us a church known not for its lightness, but for its love, a people who bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill your law. In your mighty name we pray, Amen.

TEXT: Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:2-5 (NIV)
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks they are something when they are nothing, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load."

INTRODUCTION:
Oxford Dictionary—Noun meaning of Burden- a load, typically a heavy one., so the load can be physical, mental, or spiritual. --It could also be financial burden, Marital burden, Emotional burden, Work related burden. Any load that seem too heavy for you to carry or bear.

CONTEXT: This morning, let’s look at three things this call to burden-bearing requires of us.

First, It Requires Proximity. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS?

Second, It Requires Humility. You Have to Bend Down to Lift. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS?

Third, It Requires Empathy, Not Just Sympathy.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS?

APPLICATION; So, where do we begin?

1. Be Burden-Aware: Look around you. Where and How?
2. Have the courage to say, “I’m struggling. To Whom, Where and how?
3. Be Practical: In what ways can I or we offer help?

For this is how the world will know we are His disciples—not by our perfect lives, but by our love that is willing to bear a sacred weight, to share in a holy struggle, and to fulfill the law of Christ by carrying one another’s burdens. Amen.

Lest We Forget

11/13/2025

This blog is based on the sermon "Lest We Forget", preached by Rev. Kim Salo on Nov. 9, 2025.

1. In Deuteronomy 6, name some of the most important things that Israel needed to remember as they entered the promised land of Israel. Why would they need constant reminding?

2. In Luke 6:27-30, why does Jesus command us to love our enemies? In this passage, what actions will show that we do not seek revenge on our enemies, but their good? Would you consider such action toward an enemy as “peacemaking”, or something else?

3. In Luke 6:31, often known as the Golden Rule, the context suggests that “do to others as you would have them do to you” applies more to enemies than friends. Do you agree? Why or why not?

4. In James 4:1-3 and 11-12, list the behaviors and attitudes that lead to “fights and quarrels.” Do these behaviors and attitudes also lead to conflict on a wider scale, such as between nations?

5. Read James 3:17-18, and James 4:7-10. Which of these “remedies” do you find easy to apply to yourself? Which remedy do you find hard to apply?

6. Do you believe that sin is primarily something that only individuals do, or is sin something that groups like tribes or nations do? State your reasons for why you think so.

The Problem We Can't Ignore: Understanding Sin

11/5/2025

These blog questions are based on Stewart Wakeman's sermon from Nov. 2nd, titled "The Problem We Can't Ignore: Understanding Sin".

1.What does our Canadian culture consider to be sin? How does this differ from the Bible?

2. If sin is just "missing the mark," or "making mistakes," do we need God's help? Can we "fix" sin by ourselves?

3. READ Galatians 5:16-21
This passage names numerous expressions of sin:
A. "Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality." How does our Canadian culture deal with sexual sin? According to the Bible, what is more important for sexual morality: personal fulfilment, or commitment?
B. "Enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, envy." These are some of the outcomes of struggles for power or control. Do you think that we are living today in a more than usually severe expression of these sins? Why?
C. "Drunkenness, orgies, and things like these." Why has the 1960's idea of "do your own thing...as long as you aren't hurting anybody" been so damaging to so many people?

4. READ Galatians 5:22-26. Why isn't it enough for Christians to simply know that our sins are forgiven? Is it possible to be a loveless, joyless, unkind, unfaithful, and harsh Christian, with no self-control? Why?

5. READ Matthew 18:15-20. This is Jesus' procedure for dealing with sin by one person in the church against you.
Why does Jesus say step one is "just between the two of you"? What does he mean by "if they listen to you, you have won them over"? Why is step one not public accusation? Why would the church decide to "treat them as you would a pagan or tax collector"?

6. Have you ever used Jesus' procedure for reconciliation with another person who has sinned against you?

SERMON BY REV RUEMU ON OCTOBER 26TH, 2025 Title of the Sermon -The Consummation of the Kingdom.

10/29/2025

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV)
The word Consummation- means the fact of making something complete or perfect, according to Oxford Advanced Learner's

So what are we waiting for? What is the final chapter? The Christian hope is not a vague, spiritual sentiment. It is a concrete and glorious event: the Consummation of the Kingdom.
Verses about God's judgment
2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad".
Hebrews 9:27: "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment".
1 Peter 4:17: "For the time is coming when judgment begins with the household of God".
Revelation 20:12: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done".

First, at the consummation, we will see the Restoration of All Things.

Second, at the consummation, we will experience the End of All Sorrow.

Third, and most profoundly, at the consummation, we will enjoy the Communion of All Peoples with God.

So what does this mean for us today? How do we live in light of this blessed consummation?

1. How do we live with Hope, not Hype. ?
2. How do we live with Purpose, not Passivity. ?
3. How do we live with Endurance, not Escape. ?

The consummation is the solid promise of the God who cannot lie. It is the destination toward which all of history is rushing.

And the great prayer of the ages—"Your kingdom come"—will have found its everlasting, resounding, “Amen.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Mission of the Kingdom

10/22/2025

This blog is based on Rev Kim Salo's sermon on "The Mission of the Kingdom," Oct. 19.

Read Luke 10:1-20

1. In verse 2, Jesus says "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest." What is so urgent about his mission? What awaits Jesus?

2. Why does Jesus say, in v. 3, that they are sent out like lambs among wolves?

3. In v. 4, why are they to travel so light? And why are they to greet no one on the road?

4. In v.7, why are they told by Jesus to stay in the first house to welcome them? Why are they to eat and drink what is provided?

5. In v.10-11, why are they told by Jesus to leave a town that would not welcome them? What is the significance of wiping its dust off their feet?

6. Jesus lived for a time in Capernaum, and knew well other towns like Chorazin and Bethsaida there. Why does he pronounce woes on them in verses 13-15? Hint: read the parallel at Mt.11:20-24

7. What was the result of the mission, in verses 17-20? Is there a warning here for us?

8. What qualified the pairs of workers to go before Jesus as advance teams? Why pairs? Why not one by one?

The Values of the Kingdom by Rev Ruemu

10/15/2025

Sermon: The Values of the Kingdom of God (Sunday, October 12th 2025)
Text: Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)
The values of this Kingdom as laid out in -The Beatitudes are not a list of rules to follow, but a description of a heart that has been transformed by grace.
1. The Foundation: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
What does it mean to be poor in Spirit?

2. The Posture: Mourning, Meekness, and Hunger
From that foundation of need, a new posture toward life emerges.
"Blessed are those who mourn...Who are those who mourn?
"Blessed are the meek..." What does it mean to be meek?

3. The Outcome: Mercy, Purity, Peace
"Blessed are the merciful..." What does it mean to be merciful?
"Blessed are the pure in heart..." How do I become pure in heart?
"Blessed are the peacemakers..." What does it mean to be a peacemaker?

4. The Cost: Persecution
Finally, Jesus gets brutally honest. Living by these values will put you at odds with the world's system. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. Does it still happen?

Conclusion: The King and the Kingdom

The Beatitudes are not a new law. They are, first and foremost, a portrait of the King Himself.
· Jesus was poor in spirit—relying completely on the Father.
· He mourned over Jerusalem and at the tomb of Lazarus.
· He was meek—"a lamb led to the slaughter."
· He hungered and thirsted for righteousness—zeal for God's house consumed Him.
· He was merciful—"Father, forgive them."
· He was pure in heart—without sin.
· He was the ultimate peacemaker, making peace through His blood on the cross.
· And He was persecuted for righteousness.

The values of the Kingdom are the character of Christ, reproduced in us by the Holy Spirit. We don't achieve them; we receive them. We come to Him, poor in spirit, and He gives us the Kingdom. He fills our hunger, He comforts our mourning, He empowers our meekness.

Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever-by Rev Ruemu on Sunday 28th, September, 2025

10/1/2025

Sermon: The Unchanging Christ in a Changing World
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."
Introduction:
Look around. What do you see? Change. Constant, relentless, sometimes dizzying change. Seasons change—technology changes. Our bodies change. Our circumstances change. We change our minds, our jobs, our addresses.
And into this chaos, the writer of Hebrews speaks a word that is both a profound theological truth and a deep personal comfort: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
This morning, let’s explore what this means for us by looking at the three tenses of Christ’s unchanging nature.
1. What is the faithful work of Jesus Yesterday as recorded in the Bible?
2. How can Jesus help us today according to the Bible?
3. What is Jesus' Eternal Promise for Christians??
Finally, we look ahead.
Conclusion: What Do We Do with This Truth?

So, what does this mean for us on Wednesday morning? How does the unchanging Christ change us?

1. In what ways does Jesus Steady Our Hearts?
2. How does Jesus deepen our Trust?
3. How does Jesus inspire our Worship?

In a world that offers you endless options, upgrades, and fleeting trends, God offers you something infinitely better: His Son. The same. Unchanging. Forever.
You can build your life on Him.

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our unchanging Lord. In our moments of fear and uncertainty, fix our eyes on Him. When we are tempted to doubt your love, remind us of the cross. When we feel weak, remind us of His present power. When we fear the future, remind us of His eternal promise. Steady our hearts on the rock of Christ, in whose strong and unchanging name we pray. Amen

Compassion for Others

9/24/2025

By Rev. Susan Salo, based on Sermon from Sunday, September 21, 2025

1. Compassion for others: we have compassion for others because the Bible tells us to love one another as ourself, giving the example of the Good Samaritan. Also, we have compassion for others because it is God's own character to do this, and when we have him 'living in our heart' we want to be like him. (Check out Psalm 145, which is full of examples of God's character.)

2. "God is really real and Jesus really lived and died on the cross, he is really going to come again to judge the living and the dead. Jesus and the Father really sent the Holy Spirit, which you can experience today, although people experience this in different ways.
Q. How much of this true for you?
Q. How did this become true for you?

3. Telling others about how we have experienced God (answered prayers, dreams, visions, etc.), is both faith building for other Christians, but can also be helpful in spreading the faith to pre-Christians.
Q. Have you heard other people's testimonies that were meaningful for yours, or were helpful in your situation?

4. The way we live illustrates what we believe more than what we say. Discuss.

5. One way to think about our relationship with God is to ask, "who is sitting on the throne of my heart?" Or who's in charge of me?
Q. What competes for the throne of your heart?
Q. What steers you back to Him?

Going Outside

9/17/2025

This blog is based on Rev. Kim Salo's sermon on September 14.

1. When did you realize that your entire life, not just parts of it, are "under new management" by God?

2. When do you feel most strongly that you are still a "trainee" in the Kingdom of God?

3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-19. When Paul says, "If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation," what does he mean?

4. Read Leviticus 19:18, and Luke 10:27. Has the command to "love your neighbour as yourself" ever directly led you to talk to or help a stranger or an enemy? What happened?

5. Read 1 Peter 3:8-17. How are we to act or react when we are insulted or "picked on" because we are Christians? Name 2 things you will say if, as in verse 15, someone asks you to " give the reason for the hope you have"?
What does this passage say to us about our attitude to possibly hostile "outsiders"?

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