Do we savor Jesus, or do we just use him? From Luke 5:1–11, this sermon traces four movements of Peter’s heart — from empty nets and disappointment to full surrender — and challenges us to see Jesus not merely as miracle-worker, but as Lord.
Non-denominational Christian Church in Ottawa
Sermons by Christopher Patterson
In the final hours before the cross, an unexpected character takes center stage—a rooster. While Peter wrestles with fear and denial, God uses something as ordinary as a bird’s crow to reveal truth, expose the heart, and remind us that He is present even in life’s most ordinary moments. In John 21 we discover how…
Whenever God wants to do something new, he begins with his Word. Jesus, the eternal Word, brings life, light, and a new beginning for all who turn toward God.
Jesus constantly found Himself surrounded by crowds—people with mixed motives, questions, needs, and expectations. Yet He never lost His mission, His character, or His compassion. This message explores how His purpose, faith, truth, and mercy guide us to live with the same clarity and impact in the crowds we face every day.
We join Peter on his profound journey with Christ — from his bold confession that Jesus is the Messiah to his moments of misunderstanding and his witness of the transfiguration. Through Peter’s story, we are reminded that while our understanding of God is often partial and imperfect, we are fully known and loved by Him.
The opening chapters of Matthew remind us that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David. His genealogy shows God’s faithfulness, His life reflects obedience where Israel failed, and His ministry calls us to let go of the old and embrace the new life He offers.
When we are attentive to what God is asking us to build—whether that’s a physical ministry, a spiritual culture, or a renewed commitment to His mission, even the shortest message, if Spirit-led, can change everything.
In Christ, we have been gifted with a lifetime of opportunities that if grasped, help us find our place in God’s story. We will look at David who grasped his opportunities and subsequently was described as one who fulfilled God’s purpose for his life. We will look to see what we can learn from David’s life to help us find our place in God’s story.
Like Jesus, we need to choose to pardon – not punish, – and to focus on God, not ourselves. If we do this, and, ultimately, follow God in faith, we can trust Him to do the rest.
Endurance is closely tied to the ability to overcome. We all have a part to play in God’s plan but answering our call requires us to overcome the challenges placed before us. The life of Job is held up as an example of endurance through hard times by holding to the truths we know about God and holding on to the promises of God given to us through his Word. In the end, we are reminded that staying within and trusting the word of God is what helps is to endure in our faith.