The Bible is full of commandments; hundreds of pages of hundreds of instructions about life, faith, right, and wrong. But what if it could all be boiled down into one single idea? What would Jesus say is the greatest command?
Every generation has wrestled with the question: what happens 10 seconds after you die? This was no less true in Jesus's day. So what would Jesus say? And what about all the seconds between now and then?
They say there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. The latter is never more true than this time of year. But what do taxes have to do with faith? What did Jesus say when he was asked whether it's right to pay taxes?
Our Starting Point services are intended to be just that: a starting point for a conversation about faith. In these services we explore topics, questions, and current events that could help someone start a journey of faith. On Sunday, February 26th, we'll address the question: Why is there so much pain in the world? Especially if God is supposed to be good, loving, and sovereign, why is there so much brokenness? How can I put my faith in God when I experience so much pain? Why would God allow it...
We’re not all married. We don’t all have kids. So what about family life for the rest of us? How does faith play a role around the dinner table in unique stages and situations?
No matter how many books you read or seminars you attend, any would-be or long-time parent will tell you there's no secret formula to parenting. But what if there are simple ways we shoot ourselves in the foot? Wouldn't it be nice to avoid them? How can faith keep us from falling into a common parenting trap?
Online dating, romantic comedies, and love at first sight have made us believe the perfect person must be out there. But if they are, why are they so hard to find? Could there be a different approach? Have you ever considered whether you're the person the person you're looking for is looking for? What do we do if we're afraid we will (or already did) marry the wrong person?
Our Starting Point services are intended to be just that: the starting point in a conversation about faith. On January 29th, we’ll explore the question: "Can I be good without God?" We'll consider what it means to be good and whether God is a necessary component for someone's goodness. We'll also beg the question, why would someone need Jesus? We expect it to be an intriguing and in-depth conversation. Plan to join us and invite your friends
If you haven't grown up in faith or church, you might feel like you're an outsider (stranger?) at the party. But how do really you get "in" with God? Who's invited to the party and what does it look like to RSVP?
How can you tell if someone's a Christian? Better yet, how do you know if you're a Christian? Is it by knowing the right things or checking off religious boxes? What does God actually expect from Jesus followers?
When it's all said and done, with some Christians a lot more seems to get said than done. Why is that? Is that what God wants: lots of lip service, but very little actual service? Is that all faith is about?
Join us to celebrate Christmas at Southridge to embrace the gift of the season together.
Life in the kingdom means service to the king. But it doesn't always seem like everyone agrees on what loyal service looks like. So if God's kingdom is real, what does it mean to live within it? How can we make his magic kingdom a reality?
A kingdom is made of its subjects, those under the authority and influence of its rule and reign. But who are the subjects in the kingdom of God? Who's in and who's out? And what does a king do when not everything is going according to plan?
"Once upon a time in a land far, far away..." Sometimes God and faith feel like nothing more than a fairy tale. But with so much chaos and confusion in the world, especially among leaders and authorities, shouldn't there be a better way? Could there be a new kind of king and new kind of kingdom? Not just one reserved for fairy tales? Could life with Jesus be more than a magic kingdom?
Our Starting Point services are intended to be just that: the starting point in a conversation about faith. On November 20th, we’ll explore the topic of church and state. It’s been quite a year on the political scene and so we’ll consider how we make sense of it all and what role Jesus could play in the midst of it.
Sometimes it feels like the most obvious imbalance between rich and poor is seen globally. But what if we can bring hope to global poverty? How can we extend love and compassion to change lives, families, and communities in other parts of the world?
Rights, privilege, and injustice create no shortage of controversy and polarization. So where do should fit in the mix? How does Jesus want to bring hope to such challenges? What if the greatest obstacle and greatest opportunity is closer than we think?
Why would someone have faith in God? Is there really anything out there to believe in? Doesn't religion seem to do more harm than good? Bring along your friends for Starting Point as we explore these questions in a conversation with local newspaper columnist and self-proclaimed atheist, Grant Lafleche. A chance for us all to consider, "Why believe?"
We all want our lives to be great, to be welcomed into positions of significance and honour. But what does greatness mean in God's kingdom? What does it look like to live a life of spiritual success? What does it take to win in God's eyes?
Nothing in life is free. If you want it, you have to work for it. You deserve what you get and you get what you deserve. But is that true in our spiritual lives? How hard do you have to work to earn God's approval? How does Jesus measure our value?
In our culture, winning equals wealth. Net worth is the measure of significance and importance. The one who dies with the most toys wins. But do dollars and cents mean anything in God's economy? Does the pursuit of wealth help or hurt spiritual health? Where does Jesus rank the rich?
In faith, religion, or church, it's easy to see who's in and who's out. Some people know all the right things to say, do, and believe, others don't. Some people make an enormous difference, others don't. But what does Jesus think about all that? What would he say to the "innies" and the "outies"?
There are many ways to define status and rank in society, not the least of which is our "relationship status." But how does it work in God's eyes? Are the marrieds really more important than the singles? Do the singles matter more than the divorced? Who matters most to God?
September marks the end of summer, but it also marks the beginning of a new season at Southridge. You won't want to miss Vision Sunday on September 11th as we come together to be inspired and ignited around God's vision for our church. We'll also celebrate with a community lunch after the service. Everyone is invited!
The deepest fulfilment in life comes through our connections with others. But more often than not we feel isolated, lonely, and like we have to go it alone. So what would it take to improve our friendships? How can we experience the fullness of true community?
One of the top regrets of the dying is not having the courage to truly live; to take risks, to try new things, to deal with pain or discomfort. So how do we overcome our fears and anxieties, our baggage and brokenness, to truly live life to the full?
"Keep up with the Jones's", "make equal monthly payments", and "all this can be yours": messages promising fulfillment but leaving us out of control and unsatisfied. So what if there's a better way to manage our stuff? How can we find joy within our means?
The only thing worse than being lost is not knowing where you're going in the first place, especially on the road of life. So how do we find a grander purpose and clearer direction?
Over-scheduled, exhausted, and burnt out. Does this sound familiar? Too familiar? Is life intended to run on fumes? What's the one change you could make to keep your tank full?
