Sermons on John Newton:

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

Faithful Series

Contributed by John Newton on Feb 13, 2022

Jesus is faithful to us—and calls us to be faithful to him

For six weeks we have been looking at the Letter to the Hebrews. If you hadn’t noticed before, you are probably aware by now that it is far from the easiest book of the New Testament to understand, with its frequent quotations from what often seem obscure passages from the Old Testament, and with ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-6

Denomination: Episcopal

Consider Jesus

Contributed by John Newton on Feb 13, 2022

A look at Jesus, as High Priest, Son Of God and “Sent One”

As he drew to the conclusion of his gospel the aged apostle John reflected, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” It was a common characteristic of those early ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-6

Denomination: Episcopal

"The Wind Blows Where It Wills”

Contributed by John Newton on May 24, 2021

The wind that blew through the upper room at Pentecost still blows today

It’s probably been a long time since you were in a room with a hundred and twenty people. But I want you to do your best to imagine it anyway. You might even need to close your eyes for a moment—as long as you promise not to fall asleep! The scene I want you to form in your minds is, of course, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Episcopal

The Real Miracle Of Pentecost

Contributed by John Newton on May 24, 2021

A focus on what happened after the events in the Upper Room

I wonder how many people had their TV sets switched on yesterday morning at 5 o’clock. That’s when the CBC coverage of the royal wedding began and for the next five hours I can only imagine that millions of viewers were glued to their screens, trying to catch a glimpse of this or that celebrity ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Episcopal

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

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

"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

Paul’s Vision For The Church

Contributed by John Newton on Sep 1, 2025

Paul shares his vision for the church with the believers in Ephesus

Many years ago (I’m embarrassed to admit how many!) a wise friend passed on to me a little book entitled The Gospel Blimp. Maybe some of you are old enough to have heard of it. Perhaps some have even read it! The story opens with a group of friends from church gathered for a barbecue in the back ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:8-21

Denomination: Episcopal