Sermons from Harvest Bible Chapel

It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

When was the last time you had something slip away that you wished you could have held on to? It happens far more than we’d like to admit. Even as children, humans hold on tightest to the things that make us happy. We do it instinctively because we know that in this world, the day is coming when seasons will change and we’ll lose what we wanted to keep. That’s not new. It’s how the Ephesian elders felt in Acts 20, as we’ve seen. The Apostle Paul says his farewell to them and “they were sorrowful most of all because … they would not see his face again.” As sad as it is that losing things, people, and moments is not a new experience, it can also be helpful. We can learn from others. As Luke wrote Acts 20:32-38, I think he wanted us to ask the question: What truth should I cling to when the circumstances I like slip away? As we prepare to get into God’s word together on Sunday, please pray that he would show us truths that transcend circumstances and ground us in hope. Series: The Book of Acts Message: 57 – It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive Text: Acts 20:32-38 Julian Freeman Harvest Bible Chapel September 28, 2025 I can cling to these truths when what I love slips away: 1. God’s grace will still save (v. 32) 2. My giving is still blessed (v. 33-35) 3. This world is still in need (v. 36-38)

Substitution

Substitution means to replace someone or something with another person or thing. For example, if you’re baking some fresh cookies and you run out of butter, some will gasp in horror at this, but margarine can usually do the job. Or, if you’re at the restaurant and you ask for a Coke, but they only carry Pepsi, some might refuse and choose something else, while others would go along with it. Or if you’re the boss at work and you find out that Nancy can’t come in for her shift, you might call Pam to cover for her instead. These are simple substitutions. But in order for a substitution to work out fine, you need to make sure that the thing you’re replacing, or the person stepping in, is just as good or better than what was there before. This Sunday, we’re going to look at Romans 5:6-11 and see a substitution far more important than any of the examples I just gave. We’re not just talking about a small swap. We’re talking about Jesus stepping into our place, carrying our guilt, and taking the punishment we deserve for our sin. He gave of himself fully for us on the cross to become our rescue. In this third message of our series, Could God Be the Answer?, we’re going to see Jesus, who is our perfect substitution and what it means for us. Series: Could God Be The Answer? Message: 3 - SUBSTITUTION Text: Romans 5:6-11 Patrice Charade Harvest Alliston Sep 21, 2025 When I see the extent of my despair, I will turn to Jesus who… …stepped in for me (v. 6-7) 1 John 3:5 …showing me real love (v. 8) The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. – Tim Keller John 3:16a …appeasing God’s wrath (v. 9) 1 John 4:10 If Christ had not gone to the cross and suffered in our stead, the just for the unjust, there would not have been a spark of hope for us. There would have been a mighty gulf between ourselves and God, which no man ever could have passed. – J.C. Ryle …reconciling me to him (v. 10–11) Ephesians 2:12-14

Pay Careful Attention

As soon as we start walking as toddlers, we hear the words, “pay attention” and “be careful.” Over and over again. Usually from our moms. Dads are more likely to let us smash into the wall or trip over the dog in order to learn our lessons. There’s an argument to be made for moms’ methods, but even dads would agree that when the danger is real, cautionary words are the more prudent way. In Acts 20:28-31, Paul is continuing his conversation with the elders from Ephesus. This is to be the last earthly meeting of dear friends and beloved brothers in Christ. Paul is heading into danger with his planned trip to Jerusalem. They’ve warned him, but he’s determined. For his part, Paul also warns them about false teachers and other threats to their personal walks with Christ and the overall health of the church. He tells them to “pay careful attention” and to “be alert.” And that need for attentiveness and caution is as real today as it was in the 1st century when these men spoke together. Series: The Book of Acts Message: 56 – Pay Careful Attention Text: Acts 20:28-31 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel September 21, 2025 I must pay careful attention to myself and the church. Why? Because that’s the calling (v. 28a) Ephesians 4:11-12 Ephesians 4:15b-16 These elders/overseers…must keep watch over themselves, taking care of their own theological, spiritual, and ethical integrity. If they do not nurture themselves, they cannot take care of others. — Eckhard J. Schnabel Why? Because Jesus paid dearly for her (v. 28b) Luke 22:20 Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 9:22b 1 John 1:7 Why? Because the threats against her are fierce (v. 29-30) Matthew 7:15 Why? Because the Word compels it (v. 31) My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes—many times—my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens—and it happens every day in some measure—I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth. — John Piper, Finally Alive. Psalms 119:105

Sin

Evil is undeniably rampant across our world. I think we can all agree. Corruption, immorality, and heinous crimes have plagued humanity since the dawn of time, and it only seems to get worse by the day. If you’ve paid attention to the news this week, I am certain that you have been reminded of this, and it has become quite clear that evil is not a distant problem. It doesn’t only happen in far-off countries, big cities, or other people’s homes and lives. Wickedness is a full-blown reality within each of us, and it has a name: sin. As we have been seeing since last Sunday, there is only one answer to this widespread problem, and that answer is God. As believers and followers of Jesus, evil reminds us how desperately this shattered, sin-enraged world needs the gospel. For others, it raises pressing questions: Where can I turn? Who can I trust? Is there any real hope for humanity? This Sunday, we’ll look through Romans 3:10–18, along with other passages of Scripture, and consider our hopelessness and helplessness without Jesus as we continue our series Could God Be the Answer? Series: Could God be the answer? Message: 2 - SIN Text: Romans 3:10-18, 5:12, 3:20 Patrice Charade Harvest Alliston Sep 14, 2025 As I face the reality of sin, I must recognize… …I am guilty (Romans 3:10-18) Romans 3:23 …I am condemned (Romans 5:12) Romans 6:23a …I am helpless (Romans 3:20) A saint is an ordinary sinner made holy by an extraordinary Saviour. – Derwin L. Gray The reality of evil is unavoidable. But evil doesn’t have the last word in eternity. Jesus has made sure of that, through his sacrifice on the cross. – Collin Hansen Where Is King Jesus When Violence Reigns? https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/king-jesus-violence-reigns/

Constrained by the Spirit

We got a great re-start into the Book of Acts last Sunday. Be sure to watch that message if you happened to miss it. As we see the narrative progressing, Paul is in Miletus on his way to Jerusalem, and he calls for the Ephesian elders to come meet him at the boat for a farewell. He knows and they know, this is the last time they’ll be seeing each other on this side of eternity. But Paul feels constrained to go. Constrained by the Holy Spirit. He can’t not go. This passage has had an impact in the life of our family in that it was how God led us to Barrie. We too felt “constrained by the Spirit.” Cheryl and I knew at the time that, “We can’t not go.” That compulsion to love, to serve, to follow his will and live in his grace is something we should all feel as Christians. We should all be “constrained by the Spirit” even when we don’t know the outcome. Acts 20:17-27 is the kind of passage that can be a turning point in a person’s life. Maybe in your life. Series: The Book of Acts Message: 55 – Constrained by the Spirit Text: Acts 20:17-27 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel September 14, 2025 When the Spirit is at work in me, I am constrained… …to love others (v. 17-18a) John 15:12-13 John 13:35 …to serve the Lord (v. 18b-21) Our life here, as saints, is no aimless life. We know the true way of living. We have found an object worthy of our living for. In all we speak and do we serve the Lord Christ. We do not live at random. Each hour, each word, each action, has its aim… Our desire is, not to kill time, but to use it; to gather up all its fragments, to lay out every moment well, to lose nothing of so precious a benefit. All that we have of it is too little to be trifled with, too precious to be thrown away. —Horatius Bonar …to follow his will (v. 22-23) …to live in his grace (v. 24-27) James 1:17a 2 Timothy 4:6-7 2 Timothy 4:8