Benediction Church, #HamOnt

May 25, 2025Mike and Heather MileskiWhile not yet "old" Mike and Heather have definitely learned a few things about aging, and wrestling with the implications. What's the hardest part of getting older? What are the blessings of aging? Should Christians retire and collect shells, or is there some other way we should look at our senior years? #aging #retirement #thegospel #newlife #resurrection #church

Can a Christian's anxiety or depression be cured by trusting God more? Should we go to therapy, or is that dangerous? Isn't it true that our mental and emotional problems are really just spiritual warfare? This week, Mike and Heather share candidly about their own journey as a couple navigating diagnosed mental illnesses - what it's meant for their family, their marriage, and their faith. #mentalhealth #mentalillness #depression #ptsd #BDP #trauma #anxiety #thegospel #jesus #church

May 11, 2025Mike and Heather MileskiWhat are the signs of a healthy church? How can we know if it's time to leave a church? Is there really such thing as a "good" church, and what's our responsibility?In this session, Mike and Heather discuss some of their best and most painful church experiences, and what they've learned from it all. #church #membership #jesus #thegospel #religion

Sunday May 4, 2025Mike and Heather MileskiHow is practicing our faith in Hamilton different from other contexts, like the country? What are the challenges that come with being a Christian in the city? What are some unique advantages or opportunities?In this recording, Mike and Heather kick off our Life Lessons 2025 series with a conversation about what it's like to practice the way of Jesus in the city. #Hamont #Hamilton #YMCC #church #thegospel #jesus

Sunday, April 27, 2025Teacher: Mike MileskiThis morning we concluded our Passion series with some review and reflection on the meaning of the Cross. By creating space and time this contemplative prayer exercise, we hope you'll invite God's Spirit to internalize all these beautiful truths about what happened when Jesus died.#prayer #contemplativeprayer #scripture #church #thegospel #visodivina

Sunday April 20, 2025Scripture:  Acts 2:22-36Teacher: Mike MileskiPeter explained how when Jesus died, death couldn't hold Him. It was impossible for Him to stay dead. In that case what was the point of the Cross? Jesus went down into Death and blew it up from the inside, freeing those who'd been trapped there. And in case there was any doubt, He proved it by rising from the dead on Easter Sunday morning! The Cross is a picture of the end of death!#easter #resurrection #heisrisen #harrowingofhades #sheol #hades #death #newlife #thepassion

Sunday April 13, 2025Scripture:  Rom 5:12-21Teacher: Mike MileskiWhen Adam disobeyed God in the Garden, all humanity was brought under a curse and God's image in us was distorted. God has sent a second Adam: His Son Jesus. Where the first Adam failed and disobeyed, Jesus has succeeded by obeying all the way to the cross. The Cross is a picture of a new start, and the decision each of us must make. We will follow one Adam or the other - which Adam are you following?#AdamandEve #Eden #curse #fall #sin #obedience #jesus #recapitulation #thepassion

Sunday April 6, 2025Scripture:  Col. 2:9-15Teacher: Mike MileskiSince the beginning of time, we've been tempted, deceived, and shamed by Satan, our accuser. He uses the Powers against us, and his schemes leave us feeling defeated. But at the Cross, Satan was disarmed of his greatest weapon and utterly defeated by Jesus. The Cross may not have looked like a victory, but it was! This what the defeat of Satan looks like! #jesus #satan #thecross #thepowers #christusvictor #thepassion #gospel

Sunday March 30, 2025Scripture:  Eph.2:11-22Teacher: Lane FusilierOur culture is divided across all sorts of lines: Race and religion. Liberals vs conservatives. The wealthy vs the poor. Traditional vs modern. As often as we participate in these divisions, we are rebuilding the very walls that Jesus died to destroy. On the Cross, Jesus died to make peace and tear down all the walls between us.#peace #peacemaking #gospel #jesus #racism #classism #poverty #wealth #liberals #conservatives #division #unity #church #thepassion

Sunday March 16, 2025Scripture: Romans 6:15-23Teacher: Mike MileskiIn Scripture, slavery is a metaphor for sin. And from the beginning, God has made provision for slaves to find freedom, through a ransom. Once we realize the price that's been paid for our freedom from sin, it transforms us. We'd never go back to our old masters. Or would we?#slavery #gospel #redeemer #ransomtheory #atonement #devil #sin #jesus #Christianity #church

Sunday March 16, 2025Scripture: Isaiah 53Teacher: Danielle VisserThe image of Jesus on a cross strikes some of us as an overreaction - like "surely there's nothing I could have done to deserve THAT". Others assume that as horrible as the Cross is, it's not enough - like "My sins are too serious; I'm unforgivable. THAT would never work for me." In this message, Danielle goes to the Scripture to show how it corrects both assumptions: The Cross is good news: Yes, there's a penalty we all deserved, but it's been borne by Jesus. And yes, we all deserve to be separated from God, but a substitute has settled it for us!#Gospel #Jesus #church #PSA #atonement #cross #lambofGod #passover

Sunday, March 9, 2025Scripture: Romans 3:21-26Teacher: Mike MileskiThe Cross means different things to different people. And yet, the Scriptures tell us many reasons why it was necessary for Christ to die. In this message, we study what some have called "the most important paragraph in the Bible" to understand how Jesus solved the most serious problem facing the world.#gospel #righteousness #atonement #cross #jesus

Date: Mar 2, 2025Scripture: Matt. 5:10-12Speaker: Mike MileskiIn our culture, it's hard to imagine having to endure opposition on account of our faith, but there have been times when identifying as a Christ follower resulted in terrible, painful persecution. In this message we wrap up our study of the Beatitudes by exploring the reasons for persecution, its roots, and its results for the Church and our witness. #persecution #peace #powers #spiritualwarfare #gospel #church #jesus

Date: February 23, 2025Scripture: Matt 5:1-9Speaker: Mike MileskiAnyone who has spent time in a church community knows that Christians are not immune to conflict. When it comes, some will go on the attack; others will run and hide from it, and some will try and ignore it and pretend everything is okay. The choices we make about how to resolve conflict show whose we are - and in this beatitude, Jesus says that it's the peacemakers who'll be called God's children!#peace #conflict #reconciliation #forgiveness #gospel #shalom #unity #jesus

Date: February 16, 2025Scripture: Matt 5:1-8Speaker: Mike MileskiPeople wear masks for all kinds of reasons - we want to appear different than we are because we fear rejection, or because we crave acceptance. In this study, we learn that our greatest problem is the problem of a divided heart - we anchor our hearts to too many different, unhelpful things, instead of one glorious, beautiful thing: Christ. Jesus' promise for us is that it's those with undivided hearts who'll see God!#hypocrites #hypocrisy #masks #augustine #heart #religiousaffections #gospel #jesus

Date: February 9, 2025Scripture: Matt 5:1-7Speaker: Mike MileskiMany of us divide the world into good guys and bad guys; safe and unsafe, lawbreakers and law abiders. And on that basis, we'll make all our decisions about who deserves our friendship, our time, and our kindness. In this beatitude, we learn how mercy - according to Jesus - upends all of that. Mercy is a challenge, and choice, and a crisis. But it's the merciful who'll be shown mercy!#lesmiserables #jeanvaljean #24601 #mercy #merciful #gospel #church

Date: February 2, 2025Scripture: Matt 5:1-6Speaker: Mike MileskiThere are people who hunger and thirst for righteousness - they long to know that they're been forgiven, seen, and loved by God. Assurance can seem elusive, and many will struggle to find it. In this study, we learn that the struggle for righteousness IS our assurance! And those who hunger and thirst for it will be satisfied!#assurance #salvation #justification #sanctification #HolySpirit #gospel #jesus #luther #martinluther #church

Series: Beatitudes (part 3) Date: January 26, 2025 Teacher: Mike Mileski Who are the "meek"? This might be the most counter-cultural of all the Beatitudes! Jesus embodied meekness, yet He wasn't weak. How do we know whether we're meek?What will it look like for His people to follow His example, and inherit the earth? #beatitudes, #gospel, #jesus, #beatitudes, #meekness, #Kingdom, #vangogh, #lotr, #frodo

Series: Beatitudes (part 2) Date: January 19, 2025 Teacher: Mike Mileski The pain and suffering we face cause people to react differently: we escape it, we numb ourselves to it, or we may lose our faith. Yet we have a God who can handle our questions, our doubts, and our pain. He welcomes it, and says "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." We hope this message will be a comfort to you. #beatitudes, #gospel, #jesus, #beatitudes, #grief, #lament, #mourning, #Kingdom

Series: Beatitudes (part 1) Date: January 12, 2025 Teacher: Mike Mileski The Sermon on the Mount is regarded by many as one of the greatest, if not the greatest collection of teachings ever shared. In it, Jesus shares many of His most important, counter-cultural ideas. This week, we're introduced to the Sermon on the Mount, and the first of Jesus' Beatitudes. What's Jesus' goal in the Beatitudes, and what could He possibly mean by this first one: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven"? #beatitudes, #SermonontheMount, #deconstruction, #happiness, #blessed, #theGospel, #jesus

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 6) Date: December 29, 2024 Teacher: Mike Mileski It's so easy to rush ahead to thoughts about the new year ahead, and forget to reflect on what's happened in the year gone by. So this week's recording is a prayerful reflection exercise: We review each of the themes of Advent (hope, peace, joy, love, and Christ) and created quiet space in which to examine, and hear God speak. We hope this recording might help you unpack and appreciate the ways God blessed you over Advent this year. #prayer, #Advent, #reflection, #contemplation, #ContemplativePrayer, #ListeningPrayer, #Rest, #NewYear2025, #HappyNewYear

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 5) Date: December 24, 2024 Scripture: (John 1:1-13) Teacher: Mike Mileski At this time of year, Jews celebrate Hanukkah, or as a reminder that when things seemed darkest, a miracle occurred, and the light was restored. It points the way to God's true and greater light: Christ who is God incarnate. He said so while celebrating Hanukkah. There is a lot of darkness, but Christ has come - He proves that God is not done doing miracles; His light still shines in the darkness. #light, #Advent, #Christ, #incarnation, #theGospel, #Hanukkah, #FeastofDedication

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 4) Date: December 22, 2024 Scripture: (Matthew 1:18-24; 2:13-23) Teacher: Mike Mileski It turns out that a lot of what we call "love" in our culture really isn't. It's often self-serving, fragile, and conditional. God's love is not, and we see it demonstrated in the choices of Joseph, who married Mary, and served as father to Jesus. If you struggle to know what real love looks like, this message should encourage and challenge you. #love, #Joseph, #Advent, #theGospel

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 3) Date: December 15, 2024 Scripture: (Luke 1:26-56) Teacher: Nathan Tomes When Mary of Nazareth received the news that she'd be mother to the Messiah, it would have been easy for her to react with self pity over the disruption of her plans and goals. Instead, she bursts out in one of the most beautiful, joyful, important, and disruptive prophetic songs ever recorded. Where does her joy come from? How can this joy be ours? #joy, #Mary, #theGospel, #advent

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 2) Date: December 8, 2024 Scripture: (Luke 1:57-79) Teacher: Mike Mileski Often, what passes for "peace" really isn't - like in the Pax Romana, when Rome conquered and destroyed and enslaved, and the world called it "peace". John's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth weren't deceived because because they'd been praying for God's TRUE peace: His Shalom. Advent is their story too - the story of prayers answered, and a son who would prepare the way for Messiah, who'd teach us all the "path of peace". #peace, #shalom, #pax, #paxromana, #violence, #paxamericana, #paxeuropa, #ukraine #gaza #war

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 1) Date: December 1, 2024 Scripture: (Luke 2:22-39) Teacher: Mike Lewis The years before the arrival of Jesus were dark, difficult ones for God's people. As an oppressed, conquered people, many in Israel had given up hope that things could get better. Two important exceptions were Simeon and Anna. Their hope - in spite of appearances - is a powerful testimony to all of us that Jesus is God's perfect gift for people who struggle to trust that God CAN and DOES keep His promises.

Series: Formed (Part 9) Date: November 24, Scripture: 2Corinthians 3:12-18 Teacher: Mike Mileski Over the last several weeks we've learned about spiritual disciplines by which God forms us - like a potter with clay - into the image of Jesus. In this final message, we review and reflect on what we've heard and invite God to speak to us. This guided listening prayer creates space for us to slow down, quiet our hearts, and listen for the Spirit's voice. We trust it'll be helpful for you! #prayer #listeningprayer #contemplativeprayer #spiritualformation #formed

Series: Formed (Part 8) Date: November 17, 2024 Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 Teacher: Mike Mileski Many of us have cringey evangelism stories to tell. Somehow we learned that evangelism is about proving Christianity is the best religion, and those who reject it are fools. In this message, Philip's conversation with the Ethiopian Eunuch gives us helpful lessons about what Gospel proclamation is and isn't. And, we saw why anyone who believes this Gospel - literally anyone - is qualified to announce it to others. #evangelism #gospel #jesus #witnessing #defeaters #apologetics #conversion #sexualminorities #holyspirit #church

Series: Formed (Part 7) Date: November 10, 2024 Scripture: Psalm 96 Teacher: Mike Mileski Everyone is a worshipper, and everyone worships. What happens when Christians gather for corporate worship? In this message, we learn to see the regular gathering of God's people for worship as one more spiritual discipline that God will use to make us more like Jesus. It's not about "going to church" - it's about being the Church by showing up to celebrate the one who formed the Church, and become more like Him!

Series: Formed (Part 56) Date: November 3, 2024 Scripture: Luke 12:13-21 Teachers: Mike Mileski Jesus had more to say about money than virtually any other subject. He knew that sometimes, what we own actually owns US. In this message, we're challenged to relate to our wealth and possessions as stewards - managing what God has entrusted to us - in order to find freedom from greed, materialism, coveting, consumerism, etc. #wealth, #money, #greed, #thegospel, #covetousness, #materialism, #consumerism, #hamont, #thegospel, #jesus

Series: Formed (Part 5) Date: October 27, 2024 Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14 Teachers: Lane Fusilier and Mike Mileski This week is a special one on one conversation on suffering between Pastor Mike and retired pastor Lane Fusilier. Lane's stories of personal loss and suffering make him a powerful voice for those of us wrestling with how to go through suffering in a way that makes us more like Jesus, not less. It's true that suffering isn't like other spiritual disciplines - because it's not something we choose; on the other hand, it's just as much a tool that God will use to form us, if we're aware of His presence with us while we're in it. #suffering, #theGospel, #thecross, #jesus, #theChurch, #loss, #grief, #sorrow

Series: Formed (Part 4) Date: October 20, 2024 Scripture: Psalm 119:97-106 Teacher: Mike Mileski The aim of reading Scripture isn't just to add more Bible knowledge to our brains, but to internalize God's Word. What method(s) of study will help us do so? How do we know we can trust the Bible? What do we do when we find apparent mistakes in there? This message sets out to show why and how the regular reading of Scripture is an essential practice for followers of Jesus. #theBible, #scripture, #authority, #inerrancy, #sufficiency, #GodsWord, #spiritualdisciplines, #practicingtheway #formed

Series: Formed (Part 3) Date: October 13, 2024 Scripture: Luke 11:1-13 Teacher: Mike Mileski Corrie Ten Boom said "When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.” More recently, Catholic theologian Henri Nouwen said "The only way to pray is to pray, and the way to pray well is to pray much.” Prayer is central to the Christian life, and we cannot become more like Jesus without spending time with Him, and contemplating Him in prayer. In this message we set out to answer common questions about prayer, and to introduce several different kinds or forms of prayer. #prayer, #contemplativeprayer, #lectiodivina, #visiodivina, #examen, #walkingprayer, #journalling

Series: Formed (Part 2) Date: October 6, 2024 Scripture: Mark 2:23-3:5; Luke 13:10-17 Teacher: Mike Mileski By nearly every available measure, we live in an Anxiety Culture. Like the Ancient Hebrews, we live in fear of we know not what or whom. To that culture, and to ours, God calls us to practice Sabbath. It's perhaps the greatest tool in our anxiety toolbox, and the most ancient spiritual discipline. We ought to Sabbath for all sorts of reasons, and if we do, we can start to believe and live like our time is holy; who can trust God with all the things on our 'to-do' list that didn't get done, and whose decisions are no longer made from fear, but faith. #anxiety, #sabbath, #exodus, #moses, #jesus, #thegospel, #sunday, #lordsday, #genesis, #miracles

Series: Formed (Part 1) Date: September 29, 2024 Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13 Teacher: Mike Mileski We make choices every day about the kind of people we'll be. We pattern our lives after rabbis who (rightly or wrongly) form our thinking, our loves, our practices, and send us out to make more disciples of them. In this message we're introduced to Jesus not as a head of a world religion, but as a Jewish rabbi followed by His apprentices. He invites us to do the same - because whether it's Him or another, SOMEone is our rabbi. #Discipleship, #TheGospel, #RabbiJesus, #TheDustoftheRabbi, #Disciples, #TheChurch, #Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 17:24-27; Mark 10:13-16 Date: September 22, 2024 Teacher: Mike Mileski In the conclusion to this series, we ask what it really looks like to "carry our cross" and follow Jesus. We need to be really honest: the Christian life isn't usually a choice between A and B, where A is clearly God's will and B is clearly not. We need to learn the NORMAL rhythm of preaching the Gospel to our hearts. There really is no substitute or alternative. This is how we become like Jesus, or it doesn't happen. #discipleship, #theChurch, #carryyourcross, #jesus, #theGospel

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 Date: Sunday September 15, 2024 Teacher: Mike Mileski Of course Jesus' followers want others to hear about Him, to be saved, and to follow Him their whole lives long. But the HOW matters. In this message we learn what it should look like when the Ekklesia - Jesus' "called out" people - are on Mission. #mission, #evangelism, #church, #ekklesia, #Jesus, #theGospel

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 Date: Sunday September 8, 2024 Teacher: Mike Mileski There are all sorts of reasons (some good, some bad) why people are leaving the Church.

Date: September 1, 2024 (Labour Day) Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 Teacher: Mike Mileski Most of us spend our days feeling crazy busy, like our schedules are out of control, and we can't get done the things we need to. Interestingly, all the studies show that we're less busy than any previous generation. In this study of Jesus' visit with Mary and Martha, we learn that we probably have a lot more in common with Martha than we think. And Jesus' command for her is the same one He has for us. If we obey Him, it doesn't have to be this way. We really can un-busy our lives!

Date: August 25, 2024 Scripture: John 11:1-44 Teacher: Dwayne Cline Death is the ultimate enemy. When His good friend Lazarus died, Jesus' pained and angry reaction show us just how much He hates death. In this message, our friend Dwayne Cline shows us that this miracle is a signpost of a new world where there's no death, no dying, no goodbyes.

Date: August 18, 2024 Scripture: Mark 5:21-43 Teacher: Nathan Scott Sometimes we feel sure we know how God should work, and when He doesn't, it's easy to get frustrated with Him. Imagine being Jairus, who pleaded with Jesus to heal his dying daughter, and on the way to do so, He stops instead and heals someone else. In this message, Nathan Shares how stories like this don't weaken our faith; they strengthen it.

Date: August 11, 2024 Scripture: Luke 5:17-26 (ESV) Teacher: Rony Mikhael Though one paralyzed man was healed, this is also a story of how three communities view Jesus: the religious leaders, the crowds, and the ones who carried this man into the presence of Jesus. In this message, our friend Rony Mikhael shows that Jesus isn't only about meeting physical needs; He's building a community that loves each other, bears one another's burdens, and trusts in Him.

Date: August 4, 2024 Scripture: Mark 8:22-26 Teacher: Rolf Nanninga This miracle raises a lot of good questions because Jesus doesn't heal the man born blind in the way that we might have. That's the way of Jesus - sometimes He doesn't behave the way we expect Him to, or answer our prayers the ways we wish He did. In this message, our friend Rolf Nanninga challenges us with the question: Will we trust Him still?

Date: July 28, 2024 Scripture: John 21:1-14 Teacher: Lane Fusilier It's hard to say which was the greater miracle: the restoration of Peter (after his betrayal of Jesus on the night of His arrest), or, this miraculous catch of fish. In this message, Pastor Lane Fusilier helps us to reflect on what the Lord has done for us, and thank Him.

Date: July 21, 2028 Scripture: Luke 5:1-11 Teacher: Scott McIntosh Imagine Peter and his brothers' dismay at being instructed by Jesus to put out their nets for one more cast. Imagine Peter's amazement at knowing he's face to face with the world's true Lord and King. In this message, our friend Scott McIntosh reminds us that what Peter and his brothers walked away from in order to follow Jesus fully, is no greater than what the Lord asks us to set aside.

Date: July 14, 2024 Scripture: John 4 Teacher: Nathan Tomes We don't typically think of this as a miracle story, but when Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, He showed an impossible, miraculous knowledge of the details of her life. Not only does Jesus NOT use those details to condemn her, He causes her to feel known, seen, and loved - as He means to for all of us.

Date: July 7, 2024 Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 Teacher: John Hilber When Jesus calmed the storm, it was more than a flex of His power over nature. Ancient cultures claimed their gods to be the ones who brought order from chaos, but when he calmed the storm, Jesus showed that He is truly Lord over every storm.

Date: June 30, 2024 Scripture: Mark 5:1-20 Teacher: Mike Mileski This story reveals Jesus' heart for personal and societal justice. When He set this poor, forgotten, expendable, demon-possessed man free, it forced all the people in the region to question whether they were part of the problem. Today it forces us face an uncomfortable truth - especially those of us who live in the city - that sometimes, the MOST demonic problems in the city don't look very demonic.

Date: June 23, 2024 Scripture: John 2:1-12 Teacher: Mike Mileski This is the first of a series of studies into the miracles of Jesus. His miracles had a purpose, and it was NOT to show off His Son-of-God powers. Jesus' miracles show us what God and His Kingdom are like. And at the wedding in Cana (John 2), Jesus performed His very first miracle - turning water into wine and showing us what God's glory is really about!

In this final part of the Life Lessons series, Mike and Heather talk about the subject Jesus said more about than almost any other: money. Is money evil? What baggage do Mike and Heather bring into a conversation about money? How does one keep money from dividing us - as couples, families, churches, etc.? Are Christians responsible to tithe to their churches? What does it look like to be “generous” towards others with one's money? 

In this conversation, Mike and Heather shared about some of the helpful and unhelpful approaches to handling conflict that they witnessed, and how those lessons shaped their approach to conflict later in life. Are all conflicts resolvable? Do we always have to forgive someone who hurts us? What's the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? What's my responsibility if I've hurt someone? What can a faith community do to prevent conflicts from getting worse?