Following Together (Central Baptist Edmonton)

God has graciously given us every resource we need to live with courage. His provision stirs our gratitude, his promises form our vision, and his presence powers our courage. In Joshua, God tells his people to be strong and courageous—not because the path is easy, but because he will be with them wherever they go. The same is true for us today.

Jesus performed public signs that demand a response. He made bold, unmistakable claims about who he is—claims that either offend or transform. And now, he invites us to trust him, not just with our minds, but with our lives. Faith is about more than mental ascent—it’s about surrender, and the transformed life that follows.

John’s gospel concludes with a striking parallel moment for Peter - after his shocking denial of Jesus leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus now reinstates Peter into his inner circle of beloved and trusted disciples, not only offering him grace over his prior betrayal, but expanding his role in God’s Kingdom work to include the shepherding of the early church. It’s a powerful story of redemption brought on not by Peter’s work, but by the work of Jesus.

There are so many reasons for you and for me to believe that there is no possible way for us to make a difference in our world today. The problem is that Jesus tells us that our primary call is to go and do just that! In this conversation between Peter and Jesus, Jesus addresses 3 major lies Peter and many of us can believe that keep us from experiencing God's desire, willingness and ability to transform lives and change the world through us as we follow Him and go.

This passage is a beautiful reminder that failure isn’t the end of the story. Peter had really messed up, but Jesus meets him with grace, restores him, and gives him a new purpose. It’s the same with us when we fail, Jesus doesn’t give up on us. He calls us to follow Him, even when it’s costly, and to disciple the people He’s placed around us. We’re reminded not to get caught up in comparing our path with someone else’s. Jesus simply says, “You follow me.” Jesus is still writing His story in the world today and He’s chosen to do some of that work through you.

Sometimes we give our all and still feel like the nets are coming up empty. But Jesus shows up, invites us to listen again, and calls us to cast the net where we hadn’t thought to try. When we follow his lead—especially in unfamiliar ways—we experience power, joy, and real impact. And in the end, he’s not just after the tasks… he’s after relationship with us.

Are you living the life you were made for—or just the life you stumbled into? So many of us are searching for purpose, but we’re looking in the wrong place: within ourselves. What if the key to joy, freedom, and direction isn’t found in chasing your own truth—but in responding to God’s calling? This talk will help you rediscover what that calling looks like, and how to start walking in it.

We all struggle with doubt at times, and in our society, “deconstruction” has become a common way to describe the process of re-examining and sometimes dismantling inherited beliefs. Thomas embodies this tension as he refuses to believe in Jesus’ resurrection without tangible proof. His journey of discovery leads him back into the community in a sincere search for truth. When Jesus meets Thomas in his doubt, it doesn’t lead to shame but to a deeper, more personal faith, reminding us that questioning can be a pathway to genuine belief and worship.

Thomas and the disciples had reason to doubt or to be skeptical of a risen Messiah; there had been a few failed ones before Jesus. This prompted Thomas, despite the witness of his companions, to ask for evidence absolutely no one could give him except Jesus himself. Have you ever been in a position where someone, whether due to skepticism, doubt, or past experience, asked you questions about your faith and about Jesus you couldn't answer? Do you have questions and doubts that you wrestle with? What do we do when we don't have an answer? This passage shows us what we can do, what only Jesus can do, and the opportunity we have in the midst of those who doubt.

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything- how we understand the world, God and our own lives. When we look deeply at the truth of the resurrection of Jesus we can see that it transforms our lives in various ways, while also sending us out to tell the world about the Good News of the risen Jesus.

Have you ever found yourself in a moment that completely knocked the wind out of you—grieving, confused, and unsure where to turn next? You’re not alone. This talk explores how Jesus meets us in those moments—and why he never leaves us where he finds us. If you’ve ever wondered how to move forward when life doesn’t make sense, this is for you.

Changing the world starts with changing our hearts—and that’s where following Jesus comes in. The real work of transformation begins when we turn away from our old ways, choose to live with Him at the center, and surrender our personal ambitions to His mission. Jesus invites us to follow Him into new life, a life that’s focused on loving God and loving others. When we choose to follow Him, we become part of His mission to bring healing and hope to the world.

Ever feel like faith should come faster or make more sense by now? You’re not alone. For a lot of us, belief doesn’t show up in a single moment—it rises slowly, like the sun breaking through fog. If you're in the middle of questions or waiting for clarity, this talk might be exactly what you need.

In the darkest hour of Jesus’ life, something unexpected shines through—not weakness, but strength. This message invites you to the foot of the cross, where mockery and true worship stand side by side. Through Jesus’ suffering, the curtain separating humanity from God is torn, and the way is opened for you to walk a new road. Will you keep going down the same path—or will you surrender and follow the one who made a way for your freedom? This isn’t just a story of sacrifice. It’s an invitation to live differently.

“You will all fall away.” With these haunting words, Jesus invites us into the Good Friday story—not just as observers, but as participants. This message walks through the painful unraveling of loyalty and faith in Jesus’ final hours: betrayal, denial, abandonment. But it’s not just their story—it’s ours too. If you've ever felt distant from Jesus or wrestled with your own failures, this Good Friday reflection invites you to come face to face with the truth of who we are… and the greater truth of who Jesus is: the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his scattered sheep. Come and see. Come and confess. Come and remember the one who was mocked as king—and truly is.

Ever wish someone would just understand what you need and make a way for you—especially when life gets hard? That’s exactly what Jesus does. This Good Friday reflection explores how Christ endured suffering not in weakness, but in strength—so that you don’t have to carry the weight alone. He knows betrayal, abandonment, pain, and shame firsthand… and still, he won. And now? He meets you in your Good Friday moments—not just as a distant Savior, but as the one who walks with you and gives you rest. If you're weary, this message is for you.

Jesus was humiliated and stripped of everything, yet lifted up as a King for the whole world to see. Even as he suffered, he showed love, fulfilled Scripture, and finished the work only he could do. Blood and water flowed from his side—the beginning of new life. And as he died, hearts were drawn to believe—including some who had followed him in secret until that very moment.

When Jesus first called his disciples to share the message of the gospel with others, he also initiated the movement of the Christian church. Since that moment of commissioning those initial disciples to share their faith, the church has continued to grow. As those who follow Jesus today, we are called to share our faith with others as well, partnering with the Holy Spirit and relying on his power to help us share our faith generously and with joy.

Every believer is called to step forward in sharing their faith because Jesus’ mission to save the world includes us. When we are empowered by the Spirit and strengthened through prayer, we can boldly share the gospel that saves. With wisdom and grace, we must communicate His truth in a way that reaches people where they are, from their worldview. We need the Spirit’s help to guide us in discovering the most fitting context for sharing our faith.

As we get closer to the Easter weekend, it's natural and good that we take time to remember and celebrate the incredible, sacrificial work Jesus did on our behalf. So many of us can tell and retell stories of how life changing the decision to follow Jesus has been for us. The Easter season also reminds us of the great responsibility and opportunity we have to share this good work of Jesus with the people in our lives who don't yet know about the love, hope, and grace of Jesus. How do we do this? Whether through word or deed, the call for us as Christians is to be delicious: to believe and live in a way others take notice of, recognize their hunger and thirst for something more, and that would lead them to taste and see that the Lord is indeed good.