Advertise on podcast: Living Faith Anglican Church

"Wisdom requires the practical skill of applying the truth you know and then achieving the good you understand. If someone seems wise in knowledge and understanding but doesn’t apply their wisdom, then they’re not actually wise. Wisdom is godly understanding applied." Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: Think of the wisest person you know: what about him/her makes you think of them as wise?“Wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her” (Prov. 8:11).  How and why is that true?If wisdom is godly understanding applied to life, in what ways do you need more understanding?  In what ways do you need more courage to apply what you’ve come to understand?

"Every church is called to bear its particular witness in its particular time and place to the universal reality that Jesus Christ is Lord over every time and place.” Sermon by Fr. Robert Polen 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: What does it look like to be a witness to the kingdom in a particular time and place without being loyal to that particular time and place?Discuss examples of times in which the particular faithfulness of one church in its time and place was an encouragement to you in the particular witness you are called to exercise.Take time to give thanks to God for the particular ways in which you are seeing the work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the community of Living Faith.

"There is nothing you’re anxious about that you should not pray about. God, your heavenly Father, has a compassionate heart toward your anxiety. He cares for you with an always good and ever-faithful love. The way that you express your belief in that truth is by actually talking to him as if he does in fact do so." Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: Would you say that anxiety and worry impact your life at present? How so?Prayer (supplication with thanksgiving) is an essential practice to resolve our anxiety. Have you ever experienced the peace of God through prayer?In what ways do the environments you inhabit, and the stimuli you take in, contribute to anxious (or other negative) thoughts?God would have us learn to direct our anxiety up to him through prayer and to guard our minds from anxiety entering in the first place. What change/s do you think God is calling you to?

"On the pages of the book of Acts, we find that the earliest name for Christianity was: “the Way.” The salvation that Christ gives to us in the Gospel comes in the form of a journey. Thus, when Jesus calls us, he says, “Follow me. “Following Jesus” implies movement. Are you moving forward?" Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: Do you resonate with the idea of the Christian life as a journey? Why or why not?In what ways can “forgetting what lies behind” be a challenge for you in your life?In what ways can “straining forward” be a challenge?How would you describe God’s good purposes for your life and your eternal future?What strength could you ask Christ to provide you with in order to help you continue moving forward?

"Work out your salvation does not mean work for your salvation. It means taking seriously the work God is already doing in you, and letting it reshape the way you live." Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: What does Paul mean by “work out your salvation,” and how is that different from working for your salvation?Where is the life of Christ most visible in you right now?Why do you think Paul connects spiritual maturity with the way Christians handle grumbling, disagreement, and conflict?How does remembering that “God is at work in you” change the way you approach difficult relationships or situations?If our faith is personal but not private, what is one area of your life this week where Christ needs to be made more visible through you?

Sermon by Fr. Robert Polen 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: How does the parable of the workers in the vineyard challenge our understanding of fairness in God's kingdom?In what ways do we find ourselves resisting God’s generosity towards those we believe do not deserve it?What does it mean to die to our deserving in order to fully embrace the generosity of God?How can we apply the principle of God’s generosity in our relationships with others?

Fr. Bob and Amy Fabey recap their most recent visit to Rwanda and share about single moms, Mitego Parish, and Kigeme Diocese.  Questions about our partnerships in Rwanda? Reach out to [email protected]

Sermon by Fr. Robert Polen 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: Why does the call to exercise genuine love create a responsibility to seek reconciliation with and restoration of a brother or sister who has sinned against us?Why is it so important that addressing sin happens in the context of a community that also honors the good?What do Ezekiel 33 and Matthew 18 teach us about our responsibility for each other in our community?Based on Ezekiel 33:11, why should we have the hope and confidence to address the sin we encounter in our community?

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: The world will squeeze us into its mold. What does it look like to “not be conformed to this world”?God will transform us through the “renewal of our minds.” How is it that our minds are renewed?Describe a time that you put the will of God into practice and found out how good it is.

Sermon by Fr. Robert Polen 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: Isaiah speaks to a people described as walking in darkness. What does it mean for Israel to be walking in darkness (see Isa 51:3 for other images that picture Israel’s desperate condition)? In what ways is our situation different from and similar to what Israel is experiencing?Isaiah is giving his audience encouragement and instructions for seeking the Lord while walking in darkness. Why would Isaiah warn the people against kindling their own light in the darkness? Can you think of examples of counterfeit light that we settle for in seasons of darkness?What reasons does Isaiah give for confidence and hope while we walk in darkness?

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: If you've read it before, what ways has this passage caused you confusion or concern?How does the fact that Jesus was retreating to a Gentile region help us better understand this exchange between the Canaanite woman and Jesus?More than just stubbornness, why did the woman continue to press Jesus to answer her request?How does the woman exemplify the spiritual principle that those who humble themselves will be exalted (Mt. 23:12)?Think of an area of need in your life: what would it look like for you to imitate this woman’s dogged yet humble faith?

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: Have you ever experienced what it’s like to wait on God’s deliverance until the “fourth watch”?  If so, what was that like?Christ wants our faith in him to grow.  How does that happen?When Christ increases the faith of others, how is it possible to learn and take encouragement from that (like the disciples did from Peter)?Where would you say your faith is now?  In the boat, out on the water, or next to Jesus?

Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 9th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: What does it look like to make Jesus your most valued possession?In what way is joy central to what Jesus is teaching through these parables?How and why ought the Christian life to be marked by joy?

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time Discussion Questions: How does it feel to be sabotaged? According to Jesus, why does evil exist and persist in his good creation?Why doesn’t God go ahead and get rid of evil people now, or give his followers permission to do some weeding?We often question God’s goodness or power in the face of evil. How is Jesus teaching us that it is actually God’s wisdom and expertise on display?Of the three instructions in Jesus’ “Simple Manual on Redeeming Sabotage in the Field”, which one do you think you needed to hear most today?