Sermons on Isaac Newton:

The Journey Of Joy

Contributed by John Newton on Dec 17, 2023

Three perspectives on joy from Isaiah

As I was preparing to preach this week, I considered giving my sermon the title “Getting Serious About Joy”. Then I thought better of it and came up with “Joy Is No Laughing Matter”. All joking aside, were you aware that joy is currently the subject of a high-level academic examination? Nine years ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal

What’s In A Name?

Contributed by John Newton on Dec 28, 2023

The angel told Joseph to name Mary’s baby “Jesus” for a reason...

If you were expecting a baby—and you knew it was going to be a boy—what do you think you would name him? Well, in Canada apparently the most popular name for boys right now is Noah, followed closely by Liam and William. (And for the record, the top three girls’ names are Olivia, Emma and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Episcopal

Good News For All

Contributed by John Newton on Feb 3, 2025

The Galatians wanted to put restrictions on the new Gentile converts in their church. But Paul put his foot down...

The little churches in Galatia were facing a serious issue—and they didn’t know what to do about it. It may seem surprising, but their problem revolved around the fact that they were growing. And the new people (there seemed to be more and more of them all the time!) just weren’t fitting in. It ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal

Stand Firm

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Nov 22, 2021

Just as in sports, your Stance will affect your ability to defend.

Stand Firm The Resurrection of Christ 15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Great Grace Was Upon Them All

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 22, 2021

Three characteristics of the first Christian congregation

I want to begin by saying what a privilege I consider it, to be invited into this pulpit on the occasion of your anniversary. Karen and I have just been attending over the last five weeks and it are clear to both of us that God is doing great things in and through this church. Thirty-three years! ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-37

Denomination: Episcopal

Hosanna To The Lamb!

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 22, 2021

A call to worship with the saints

It was a dark, stormy and very windy night when disaster struck the cemetery. As a cold rain hammered against the sodden earth, a howling gale overturned tombstones, blew down branches and sent cobwebs flying into the dank night air. Lying in bed, Paul Hopkins heard the savage roar outside and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Episcopal

What Will We Wear?

Contributed by John Newton on Jan 15, 2022

Paul tells us about the spiritual wardrobe that the Holy Spirit provides for us

“What will we wear?” Back when I was first ordained, that was a question that many people asked themselves on a Sunday morning. In those days, people used to dress up for church. Tie straight, pants pressed, shoes polished… People would talk about putting on their Sunday best. By and large, that ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:11-17

Denomination: Episcopal

In The Mean Time...

Contributed by John Newton on Jan 15, 2022

God has promised us a new creation and empowers us to live it in the here and now, as it has already been purchased for us through Jesus’ death on the cross.

Years ago (in fact it was the first summer after we were married), Karen and I decided that we would spend our summer vacation visiting her relatives and my birthplace here in Nova Scotia. We didn’t have a large salary between us, and we were young and adventuresome, so we decided that it would be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21

Denomination: Episcopal

No Condemnation!

Contributed by John Newton on Jan 15, 2022

Through his Son Jesus Christ God has rescued us from both the penalty and the power of sin

Allow me to begin by saying what tremendous joy it gives me to be worshiping with you “at” Messiah once again. Even though we can’t be with one another physically, it has been a joy for Karen and me to be able to join with you virtually for your online services. At the same time, I have to say ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-11

Denomination: Episcopal

"Open Your Mouth Wide” Series

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 16, 2022

One of the joys that my wife and I share is that our house backs onto miles of forest. The result is that our back yard is almost constantly being visited by wildlife—even including a bear! But our most frequent visitors are the birds...

One of the joys that my wife and I share is not only that we live within a few minutes’ drive from three of our grandchildren, but that our house backs onto miles of forest. The result is that our back yard is almost constantly being visited by wildlife—even including a bear! But our most frequent ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

Remember Your Leaders Series

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 16, 2022

It seems to me that this concluding chapter is something of a catch-all. I can imagine that the author’s hand might be aching after all this writing. So now he is packing as much as he can into his concluding words.

Wow! We’ve been reading and making our way through Hebrews for a long time. It was way back in January that we started. Now it seems almost as though that is shrouded in the mists of history. And I want to express my gratitude to Pastor Marvin, who has steadfastly and faithfully been leading us ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-16

Denomination: Episcopal

An Everlasting Love

Contributed by John Newton on Dec 19, 2022

About a third of the way through the letter “J” in my dictionary you will come across the word “jeremiad”..

About a third of the way through the letter “J” in my dictionary you will come across the word “jeremiad”. And what, you ask, is a jeremiad? Well, a jeremiad is defined as (and I quote) “a long literary work, in which the author bitterly laments the state of society and its morals in a serious tone ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:2-6

Denomination: Episcopal

The Assurance Of Better Things Series

Contributed by John Newton on Apr 4, 2022

Some encouragement for believers who are finding discipleship challenging

Last Sunday those of you who were here or were watching on YouTube will recall that Pastor Doug Mott led us through the first eight verses of Hebrews 6. Early on in his sermon he quoted one biblical scholar who described those verses as “perhaps the most severe warning that occurs anywhere in the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:9-12

Denomination: Episcopal

If Stones Could Shout

Contributed by John Newton on Apr 10, 2022

As Jesus entered Jerusalem he told the Pharisees, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

For the next few moments I want you to try to imagine what it must have been like to be among those who stood on the streets of Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday. (I’ll even let you close your eyes if you like, as long as you promise not to go to sleep!) The city would have been bustling with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

Denomination: Episcopal

"A Well, A Woman And Living Water” Series

Contributed by John Newton on Mar 5, 2023

There is a lot to learn from Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman by the well

Just outside the city of Nablus on the Palestinian West Bank is the village of Balata. In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was the site of the major rioting that is now infamously known as the First Intifada. All told, that violence led to the deaths of more than a thousand people. Perhaps less ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Episcopal