Approximately 17,700,000 women have reported a sexual assault since 1998. If that's not sad enough, there's still countless others who have felt the need to stay silent. Thankfully, the #MeToo movement is changing that, empowering the once voiceless to speak up against sexual harassment, abuse and violence. So what role can the church play? How can we be agents of dignity and respect in all our relationships?
Is God a man? Not according to the Bible... So in an historically male-dominated environment like the church, how we can learn to tap into the maternal nature of God? How can we empower women to be all they've been created to be? Rather than discouraging female empowerment, what if we could inspire a generation of BRAVE women?
In the church, "single" often feels like "second class." But the truth is, many, if not most people, will spend more of their lives single than coupled. So how can we embrace and elevate single life in the church? What unique and necessary role does singleness play? Rather than making singles feel forgotten, how can we grow in single mindedness together?
Some have said "all roads lead up the mountain," and when you look at religions today, they can feel pretty much the same. All seem to be mixed with a bit of good, a bit of bad, and maybe a dose of boring; a mixture of "whatever works for you." But is that true? How are major religions the same and how are they different? What makes faith in Jesus unique from faith in anything else?
If Jesus has really been raised from the dead, then that really changes everything. Not just for us, but for everyone; for the whole world. What if the end of Jesus' story is just the beginning of ours? What does it look like to extend the resurrection?
This much we know: dead people don't become alive again. Yet, the entire Christian faith rests on this single claim. What do you do with that? How can someone believe in Jesus if that means believing in resurrection? What if you could explore for yourself?
That moment that changes everything. When it seemed like it was all over. And then suddenly... astonishing news. A turning point, the beginning of an era where everything is brand new. What if that's exactly what Jesus' death is all about? What if the end is just the beginning?
Easter Sunday is a high point for the church: a day to celebrate our hope and faith in resurrection. But is this just an ancient tradition? Is it anything more than a fairy tale of life after death? What about the here and now? How could Easter create a fresh start in the places we need it most?
Good Friday can be a bit perplexing. To some, it's nothing more than a strange tradition marking the death of a religious figure. To others, it seems a powerful symbol of forgiveness and salvation. So how should we respond to the death of Jesus? Is it nothing more than a mockable failure? Or does it say something astounding about the reality of God?
We're constantly being influenced. When we're aware of it and when we're not, the powers and pressures of culture, relationships, and responsibilities shape our lives. So what will be our greatest influence? Where will we put our loyalty? How will we respond to the power of the cross?
We've all been there; on the verge of hopelessness; when it seems like there's nowhere to turn, nowhere to run, and no way out. Because of mistakes we've made or steps we can't retrace, we find ourselves at the end of our rope. But what if the end doesn't have to be that way? Where can we find hope in our greatest agony?
We've all done it. Wanting to be the hero. Wanting to make the grade. Wanting to live up to the highest expectations. Our own. But we've all dropped the ball a time or two. So what can we learn from one of Jesus' closest friends who felt the weight of failing when it mattered most?
At the centre of every great story is a protagonist. But the greatest stories are about the heart and not just the who. So why did Jesus really end up on the cross? What was at the heart of his heart in his final days? And how did his agony become the "protagony" of the story?
The night before he died, Jesus shared a meal with his closest followers. Ever since then, billions of people over thousands of years have looked to this meal for significance. But why? What did it mean to them and what could it mean to us?
An unlikely character fulfilling an unlikely act that was mostly un-liked by the people around her. What can we learn from her story and where might it connect with ours? What if it's the most unlikely that matters most?
Interest in organized religion is decreasing while interest in spirituality seems as common as ever. It begs the question: if I'm spiritual, do I really need religion? Or more specifically, if I'm spiritual, why would I bother with church? Besides, it's easy to like Jesus, but church feels like another conversation. So what's the point of church anyway and could it really be a place for me?
Faith and parties; opposing forces or a perfect match? How can parties change the way we think about God? And what does God think of parties? At the end of the day, where can God be found in the midst of the party?
There can be lots of reasons to celebrate: a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation or a milestone achievement. But is there such a thing as a party for "no good reason?" When it comes to following Jesus, what's the point of a party?
What’s the best way to share the love of Jesus? Invite someone to church? Give them a Bible? What about throwing a party? Maybe more than anything else, Jesus was known for partying. So what does that mean for his followers? What if we start the party and find out?
At the outset of a new year, we tend to think of resolutions, goals and fresh starts. From diets to habits to relationships, we consider how life might be better in the year ahead. But what about our spiritual lives? What about the health of our soul? What about the condition of our faith? As we kick off 2018, how can we grow spiritually?
We hope you'll join us on New Year's Eve as we host a morning service at 10:00am in each of our locations. As we get ready to turn the calendar, we look forward to celebrating God's faithfulness, reflecting on his presence in our lives and looking to the new year with hope and anticipation!
You're invited to celebrate Christmas at Southridge. Whether you've been to church before or are new to the idea, we hope you'll join us for a fun and meaningful experience. Come and celebrate the gift of a bigger and better love and life than you could ever imagine.
We're constantly faced with choices and sometimes it's hard to know how to make the right one. So how do we choose hope? How do we choose kindness and love? Where do we go from here? What next deed can change the world?
Ghandi, Mandela, Theresa... Those are the names of difference-makers. But what about me? How does one seemingly insignificant person make any difference in a world of hurt? Is there hope for me to be part of hope for the world?
In his 1937 novel The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien is famously quoted as writing: "It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." But in 2017, it can seem like the world is too hopeless for kindness and love to prevail. Could Tolkien's ideal still be true? In a world that's crumbling, what will it take to build hope?
Starting Point are services with topics for anyone who may be new to church and faith, specifically in mind. Each time we plan these, we consider: what topic could we address that people outside the church wish the church was talking about? An issue that has recently come to mind is race relations. In America these days, it seems race equals tension. From #blacklivesmatter to #charlottesville to #takeaknee, the tensions are rising, the poles are dividing, and human beings seem to be evaluated as...
The "bucket list": the goals, dreams, and experiences we want to cross off before we kick the bucket. These are the things that define us. These are the things we spend our life on. But what is on Jesus' bucket list? If Jesus wanted to add one thing to your bucket list, what would it be?
From real estate to RRSP's, we all want a good return on our investment. But how can we invest our time, talents and treasures to ensure the best return when the time comes?
For anyone who has planned or helped plan a wedding, the details are endless and the deadlines can be stressful. But the anticipation is thrilling. What if life was more like that; prepping for an event and anticipating the big day? How can we live ready, rather than not?
From billboards to movies, some seem to think that the end is near and apocalypse is now. But is the end really in sight? Can anyone know when and how it will all go down? And how should we live in the meantime?
