Advertise on podcast: Teachings from Unionville Alliance

What if generosity is measured not by how much we have, but by how freely we give ourselves away? The compassion of Jesus always moved Him toward people, especially those who were overlooked, hurting, vulnerable, or in need. Motivated by God’s love and generosity, we sacrificially give of our time, attention, skills, and resources to care for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized. We uphold the dignity and value of all people as we show compassion, give practical assistance, and bring hope to the hurting. Generous compassion is not simply a ministry of the church. It is meant to become a way of life for the people of God. Let’s consider what it means to see people the way Jesus sees them and to respond with open hands and open hearts. Who might experience the love of Christ because we were willing to notice, to stop, and to give?

What would change if we stopped trying to live the Christian life in our own strength? Jesus never intended His followers to rely on talent, personality, experience, or effort alone. We invite the Holy Spirit to transform every area of our lives, acknowledging our deep dependence on His presence, leading, and empowerment. We pray with expectation and use the gifts He gives to build His church, advance His mission, and reach the nations. As we walk closely with the Spirit, He produces the fruit of the Spirit in us. Spirit dependence means learning to listen, surrender, obey, and expect God to do what only God can do. It is not about chasing an experience, but living every day aware of His presence and responsive to His voice. What might God do in us and through us if dependence on the Holy Spirit became more than something we believe and became the way we actually live?

Every day, voices compete to shape what we believe, how we think, and the way we live. In a changing world, where do we find a foundation strong enough to build a life on? We shape our lives around God’s Living Word in order to know and love Him. We read, study, and obey Scripture together so it can transform our character, guide our decisions, nourish our lives, and strengthen our faith. We commit to Spirit-filled application of the Scriptures regardless of the cost. Biblical faithfulness is more than knowing what the Bible says. It is allowing God’s Word to search us, correct us, form us, and lead us into obedience. Together, we will explore what it means to become a people whose convictions and choices are shaped by Scripture, not simply by culture or convenience, and why faithfully living God’s Word may be one of the most powerful witnesses we can offer our world.

What kind of church is God calling us to become, and what would happen if every one of us embraced that calling together? At Unionville Alliance Church, we believe God has given us a clear mission: to lead people to know Jesus Christ and to follow Him passionately. Everything we do flows from that purpose. But our mission also points us toward a vision of the kind of community we long to become: a Spirit-empowered community who loves deeply, prays continually, and lives Biblically, to faithfully touch our world through Jesus, one life at a time. This is more than a statement on a page. It is a picture of who we believe God is shaping us to be. In this message, we will explore why our mission and vision matter, how they shape the life of our church, and the part each of us has to play in seeing this fulfilled. What might God do through us if we truly lived this out together?

What if the next chapter of God’s story is waiting on one courageous “yes”? This Sunday, Darren Herbold, President of The Alliance Canada, will take us into the story of a movement born through courageous faithfulness and a deep conviction that Jesus is worth everything. From the bold steps of A. B. Simpson to remarkable stories of what God is doing across Canada and around the world today, we will be reminded that the mission of Jesus is still advancing and that every one of us has a part to play. God is calling ordinary people to trust Him, step beyond what is comfortable, and join Him in making Jesus known wherever He leads. The question is not simply what God has done in the past, but what He may want to do through us now. What courageous step might the Holy Spirit be inviting you to take next? Come ready to be challenged, encouraged, and inspired to say yes!

What if following Jesus was never meant to be something we simply believe, but a way of life that shapes who we are and how we live? We will explore what it means for every one of us to take seriously the call of Jesus to be disciples, grow as disciples, and make disciples. We want to be people who are with Jesus, become like Him, and do what Jesus did. But discipleship does not stop with our own spiritual growth. Jesus invites each of us to participate in the mission of God by helping others know and follow Him. This is not the work of a select few: we can’t have anyone on the sidelines. Every follower of Jesus has a part to play. Imagine what God could do through our church if each of us embraced the call to become a disciple-making disciple. Come ready to discover where Jesus may be inviting you to take your next step.

What if the thing you regret most did not have to define you anymore? At the heart of the gospel is the incredible truth that God sees us fully, knows everything we have done, and still moves toward us with love! We will explore and discover why the cross stands at the very centre of the Christian faith. Jesus did not come simply to make us better people. He came to rescue us, forgive us, and bring us back into relationship with God. Because of what Jesus has done, our guilt does not have the final word, our past does not determine our future, and forgiveness is not something we have to earn. It is a gift of grace offered to us through Christ. Come and rediscover the wonder of the cross and the freedom that comes when we truly understand just how completely we are forgiven and how deeply we are loved.

What if prayer was not just one part of the life of the church, but the real work of the church? Jesus gives us a simple but powerful picture of what prayer can look like when he taught his disciples to pray. First, keep it simple. Prayer does not have to be complicated or impressive. Jesus invites us to come to our Father with honesty, dependence, and trust. Second, keep it real. God is not looking for polished words, but hearts that are open before Him, bringing our needs, struggles, hopes, and desires into His presence. Finally, keep it up. Jesus calls us to a life of persistent prayer, trusting that our Father is good and that He gives His Spirit to those who ask. Prayer is the real work of the church and our avenue to deeper life in Christ. What could change in us, our family, our church, and in our community if we truly became a people of prayer and a house of prayer for all nations?

What if peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God in the middle of it? YHWH Shalom means the Lord is peace, a name revealed to Gideon when fear, insecurity, and calling collide. Gideon feels weak and unqualified, yet God meets him with peace before sending him into purpose. This name shows us that God’s peace is not shallow comfort, but deep wholeness rooted in His presence. In Jesus, the peace of God comes near, as He reconciles us to the Father, calms troubled hearts, and makes peace through the blood of His cross. YHWH Shalom invites us to receive peace before we try to produce it. The Lord who calls us is also the peace that carries us.

What do you stand on when everything beneath you feels unstable? YHWH Tsuri means the Lord my rock, revealing God as the refuge, strength, stability, and saving foundation of His people. Throughout the Psalms, God is called the rock because He is dependable when enemies rise, emotions shake, and circumstances change. This name invites us to build our lives on something stronger than success, approval, comfort, or control. In the New Testament, Christ is revealed as the cornerstone, the spiritual rock, and the foundation that cannot be moved. YHWH Tsuri reminds us that faith does not deny life’s storms, but anchors us in the God who holds firm through them. When the ground gives way, the Rock remains.

Where do you find courage when you feel surrounded, outnumbered, or overwhelmed? YHWH Sabaoth means the Lord of hosts, the commander of heaven’s armies and the sovereign King over all powers. This name appears often in seasons of battle, fear, injustice, exile, and longing, reminding God’s people that unseen realities are greater than visible threats. The Lord is not powerless before evil, nor absent in the suffering of His people. In the New Testament, we see this authority gathered up in Jesus, who commands angels, confronts demons, conquers death, and will return in glory. YHWH Sabaoth teaches us that courage is not the absence of danger, but confidence in the Lord who reigns over every force. When we feel surrounded, we are held by the Lord of hosts.

Where do you turn when life exposes your limits? El Shaddai reveals God as the Almighty One, the God who is more than enough when His people are weak, waiting, or unable to bring His promises to pass on their own. He comes to Abraham and Sarah when the promise seems impossible, reminding them that the future rests not on human strength but on divine power. This name teaches us that God is not intimidated by barrenness, delay, age, weakness, or impossibility. In Christ, we see the power of God revealed not only through miracles, but through the cross and resurrection, where weakness becomes the place of victory. El Shaddai invites us to stop pretending we are sufficient and to rest in the God who is. The Almighty God is still able to do what only He can do.

Who is leading you, feeding you, and restoring your soul? YHWH Rohi means the Lord is my shepherd, the name David uses in Psalm 23 to describe God’s tender care and faithful guidance. This name reveals a God who does not merely rule from a distance, but walks with His people through green pastures, dark valleys, enemies, and homecomings. He provides, restores, leads, protects, and stays near. In the New Testament, Jesus takes this name into Himself when He says, “I am the Good Shepherd,” laying down His life for the sheep. YHWH Rohi reminds us that we are not abandoned wanderers, but beloved sheep under the care of a faithful Shepherd. The Shepherd who leads us through the valley will bring us all the way home.

What do you do when obedience leads you to a place where you cannot see the provision yet? YHWH Jireh means the Lord will provide, a name revealed in the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. At the very place of surrender, God provides what Abraham could not provide for himself. This name reminds us that God’s provision is not always early, not always obvious, and not always what we expected, but it is always rooted in His faithfulness. In the Gospel, we see the ultimate provision of God in Jesus, the beloved Son who was not spared but given for us. YHWH Jireh calls us to trust God not only for daily needs, but for our deepest need of salvation. On the mountain of surrender, we discover the God who provides.

What can hold you steady when everything around you keeps changing? El Olam reveals God as the Everlasting God, the One who was before all things, remains through all things, and will be faithful beyond all things. Our lives are marked by change, transition, uncertainty, and endings, but God is not fragile or temporary. His promises are not limited by time, and His faithfulness does not expire. In Jesus, the eternal God steps into time so that we might receive eternal life. This name invites us to anchor our short and changing lives in the unchanging character of God. When everything else passes away, El Olam remains.