Sermons from Harvest Bible Chapel Barrie Pastor Todd Dugard • Harvest Bible Chapel Barrie

We’re back to our summer series this week, continuing to look at the parables of Jesus, simple stories that change everything. That’s most certainly the case as we come to one of the most well-known stories in all of Scripture. Even non-believers know this story, whether they know the exact origin of it, or not. If anyone helps someone in need, especially if they don’t know them, then we say that they are a Good Samaritan.

But the familiarity of this story cannot lead us away from the fact that what Jesus says in Luke 10 absolutely rattles the cage of a lawyer who, in seeking to justify himself, questioned Jesus. As commentator Daniel Emery Price wrote, “Self-justifying is a dangerous game to play with God in the flesh. Because he has stories. Scandalous, self-justifying, heart-seeking missile type stories. This is one of them.” The parable of the Good Samaritan is so much more than just being good to people, Jesus assaults our preconceived notions about what the Kingdom looks like, how to receive it, and how to live in light of it.

Series: Simple Stories: How the parables of Jesus change everything
Jordan Coros
Message 4 - The Good Samaritan
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Luke 10:25-37
July 21, 2024

The magic of parables is that they give us a glimpse of the transcendent through the lens of ordinary existence.
David Garland

If I’m going to inherit eternal life, I must… (v. 25-28)

Galatians 2:16

There remains a massive difference between answering correctly theologically and living perfectly practically.
Thabiti Anyabwile

…let Jesus be the good Samaritan for me… (v. 29-37a)

Romans 5:8

Don’t first conjure up the character of the good samaritan. First be the fallen man. First experience the compassion of this loving Outsider. Then go and do likewise. This is not a simple morality tale. The centre is not our resolve to be good samaritans. The centre is Christ himself.
Glen Scrivener

…so he can be the good Samaritan through me. (v. 37b)

1 John 4:19

Our love for our neighbour, especially the neighbour who is very different than us, is proof of our love for God. Our theology, no matter how good, becomes irrelevant and idolatrous when it’s not used in service of loving God and neighbour.
Rich Villodas

Galatians 6:10

1. Am I willing to give of my money?
2. Am I willing to give of my time?
3. Am I willing to be interrupted?
4. Am I willing to put myself on the line?
5. Am I eager to show mercy, or eager to limit who deserves mercy?

He shows mercy to us because of his own goodness, while we show mercy to one another because of God’s goodness. He has compassion on us so that we may enjoy him completely, while we have compassion on another that we may completely enjoy him.
Augustine, Christian Instruction

We’re going to celebrate all that God did this past week with family-oriented services at 9 and 11 a.m. There will be Harvest Kids provided only for ages 0-3 years old. All other kids are to be in the worship centre with their families. We’ll have some camp worship, a highlight video, a shorter message on Psalm 103 from Jordan and some more big people worship. It’s going to be a great time together on Sunday. Campers and leaders, wear your High Five t-shirts! Please wash them first, though. It’s been a long week!

Jordan Coros
Message: Bless The Lord
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Psalm 103
July 14, 2024

I will rightly bless the Lord when I…

1. Remember his gracious benefits (v. 1-5)

Psalm 25:11

1 John 1:9

God invites sinners to repent and find immediate forgiveness. But while sinners may fast and pray for healing, they aren’t necessarily granted it. The timing for healing is up to God, and sometimes that means healing is delayed until the life to come.
Michael Wilcock

Colossians 1:13-14

Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?
Martyn Lloyd Jones, Spiritual Depression

2. Rejoice in the glory of his character (v. 6-19)

This matchless sovereignty is the pledge of our security, the pillar upon which our confidence may safely lean.
Charles Spurgeon

3. Respond in wholehearted praise (v. 20-22)

Throughout history there have been significant events that have truly defined a generation—the world wars, moon landing, civil rights movement, the end of the Cold War, 9/11, the tech revolution and the global pandemic more recently. But nothing has truly changed the world like the coming of Jesus Christ. Whether people know it and believe it or not, Jesus’ coming truly changes everything, for everyone.

In our passage this weekend Jesus challenges the preconceived notions of those who came to confront him on the issue of fasting, or lack thereof. In it we see him explode the little boxes that they tried to put him in, declaring powerfully that his message and ministry are unique and truly unlike anything else. This has massive implications for us as we consider our lives today and what we, like those who challenged Jesus, might be holding onto to our own detriment. Jesus has brought about his new way to bring joy, purpose and peace…will you fully surrender to him and the good thing he wants to do in your life?

It’s been a great start to our summer preaching series. So grateful to Julian and Pastor Nathan for their faithful proclamation of the Word! For those who are interested, here’s where we’re headed for the rest of the series:

Series: Simple Stories: How the parables of Jesus change everything
Jordan Coros
Message: 3 - New cloth on old coat, new wine in old wineskins
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Matthew 9:14-17
July 7, 2024

Jesus’ coming changes everything, so I can…

...live with joy now and forevermore. (v. 14-15)

Matthew 28:19–20

2 Corinthians 6:10

What the world needs from the church – from us – is our indomitable joy in Jesus in the midst of suffering and sorrow.
John Piper

...leave behind my old loyalties. (v. 16-17a)

Matthew 5:17

Why do Christians fast?
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-do-christians-fast

Fasting for beginners
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fasting-for-beginners

...cling to him to preserve me. (v. 17b)

Remember, sinner, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee – it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee – It is Christ; it is not even thy faith in Christ, though that is the instrument – it is Christ’s blood and merits.
Charles Spurgeon

Join us this week as we continue our summer series, Simple Stories: How the Parables of Jesus change everything, as we look at the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. This is one of the most well-known parables of Jesus within the church, but also in our culture at large. We often see the major themes reflected in literature, songs and movies; movies such as old classics from Quo Vadis to the Lion King. However, as familiar as people might be with this story, there is a lot more going on than many would realize. As we look into the context and try to put ourselves into the culture of first century Palestine, we gain a better understanding of what Jesus was saying. In this parable, Jesus offers some essential teaching on what it means to be saved, to be lost and found, to be spiritually dead and alive in Christ. While these truths may have hit hard for those who were self-righteous, at the same time they brought hope to repentant sinners who were given a glimpse of the overwhelming love of God.

Series: Simple Stories: How the parables of Jesus change everything
Nathan Hooper
Message: 2 - The prodigal son
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Luke 15:11-32
June 30, 2024

In order for us to be made alive in Christ, we must…

… recognize that we are dead in our sin (v. 11-20)

If you are aware of your sin, you are aware of it only because you have been visited by amazing grace. Don’t resist that awareness. Silence your inner lawyer and all the self-defending arguments for your righteousness. Quit relieving your guilt by pointing a finger of blame at someone else. And stop telling yourself in the middle of a sermon that you know someone who really needs to hear it.
Paul David Tripp – Journey to the Cross

… understand that we can do nothing to bring this about (v. 25-30)

Recognizing a Pharisee
1. Pharisees know what to say, but do not do what they say.
2. Pharisees practice their faith to be seen by others.
3. Pharisees keep people from Jesus and his grace.
4. Pharisees add their convictions and traditions to the word of God.
5. Pharisees lack love for people in need.
6. Pharisees cover sin instead of confessing and repenting.
The Making of a Modern Day Pharisee
Marshall Segal, Desiring God

Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn't mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness.
Tim Keller, The Prodigal God

… humbly receive his grace and be restored by him (v. 21-24, 28, 31-32)

Romans 5:8
1 John 4:10
Galatians 2:20

We love a good story. From the earliest years of our development, we’re captivated by fairy tales and storybooks, and as we grow older, we regularly come back to movies and TV shows that once captured our imagination and interest. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is itself a story, summarized in one of the most well-known verses in all of Scripture, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” We love hearing stories, telling stories, reading stories, and it’s this love of story that Jesus capitalized on as he taught throughout his earthly ministry in parables.

As one author wrote: “The parables are like hand grenades. Jesus took them out and set them before his hearers. Then...he pulled the pin out. Listen carefully because the parable explodes. If you miss the blast of the story, you have missed the power of the parable.” Jesus’ parables open our minds and hearts to hear and receive the profound truths of the kingdom of heaven. Through this series we’ll look at ten of these stories to grow in our walk with Christ. May the Lord explode our hearts and our minds as the simple stories of Jesus change everything for us.

This 10-week series will be taught by four different preachers from our staff and membership through the summer with the specific parables chosen through the survey you completed in the spring.

Series: Simple Stories: How the parables of Jesus change everything
Julian Freeman
Message: The secret of the Kingdom of God
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Mark 4:1-20
June 23, 2024

We all remain outsiders to the Kingdom unless God’s grace brings us in. This
grace comes to me as I…

…come to hear the Word for what it is (v. 1-13)

Matthew 13:33
Matthew 13:44
Matthew 13:47-50
Mark 10:42-44
Matthew 21:45-46

…come to Christ with empty hands (v. 14-19)

…come to treasure the Word like my life depends on it (v. 20)

A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love
https://a.co/d/03RbPUZx

Nothing like a good riot to get people engaged and thinking! That’s what happened in the city of Ephesus when the gospel started to affect not only the worship of the local goddess, Artemis, but also the local artisan industry that was tied to it. Nothing like an economic/religious crisis to provoke people to action. Just another day at the office for the Apostle Paul and his entourage of church planters, evangelists and missionaries. As we look at Acts 19:21-41 on Sunday, we’ll be challenged to see what kind of person we are in light of the people we see in the passage. Are we “resolved in the Spirit,” no matter what, to live for Jesus Christ no matter where that takes us, what that means for us, and how it changes things for us?

Series: The Acts of the Apostles
Todd Dugard
Message: 53 – No little disturbance
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Acts 19:21-41
June 16, 2024

There are four kinds of people in the world...

…those who are all about the money (v. 23-31)

Acts 17:29

The gospel is always at its most controversial when it comes into conflict with economic interests.
John B. Polhill

Matthew 6:19–21

Matthew 6:24

…those who have no clue (v. 32-34)

…those who live and let live (v. 35-41)

…and those who are “resolved in the Spirit” (v. 21-22)

Which kind am I?