Elevation Sermons

This week we begin our new series on theories of Atonement. Our first week we will be looking at an overview of this important and controversial topic. Most importantly we will be talking about how we as a community deal learn and live together when wrestling with different beliefs and understanding, and how we live out our vision and values together.

This week, we're taking some time to explore some of the contemplative prayer practices that we have talked about during our recent series around prayer. We'll be walking through practices together as a community, as well as providing a space to explore some prayer practices on our own. Additional resources can be found on out website at https://elevationwaterloo.org/contemplative-prayer-practices/

Holy Week began this past Sunday with our Palm Sunday celebration—a time that marks Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Today, as we continue this sacred journey together, we invite you to join us in reflecting on Christ's path to the cross and rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection.

We're wrapping up our Reimagining Prayer series this week by taking some time to consider the beauty of reflecting on the words of prayers that have been written by others, and the gift of borrowing language to express words that may resonate with our own hearts and minds. From contemplative prayer practices to sharing in Prayers of the People, from more ancient liturgy to modern litanies – we'll be exploring the ways that these practices can invite us into a deeper expression as a community, as well as noticing the ways that God is communing with us in all things.

This week we continue our series “What If: Reimagining Prayer.” This Sunday Devon will share several forms of prayer that he has found meaningful over the years. Together we will explore the connection between prayer and the physical world around us, including ourselves.

Prayers that Hurt, Prayers that Heal: Building Consent into Interpersonal Prayer.Praying for each other is one of the powerful and intimate parts of Christian community. This week Brian and Grace will lead a discussion on how to be mindful of how we use the power of prayer in ways that make everyone feel safe and included.

Whether prayer feels like a sanctuary or a struggle, a familiar rhythm or a distant mystery—whether you approach it with confidence, doubt, or not at all—you're not alone. This Sunday, we're stepping into an honest, open-handed exploration of prayer—one that welcomes our doubts, questions and curiosity.Together, we'll consider prayer through the lenses of theology, science, personal experience, and deconstruction, as we're invited to rediscover, rethink, reconstruct, or simply rest in the mystery of prayer.

A powerless and desperate widow reaches out to connect with the prophet Elisha.  Together, they offer what they have and do what they can,  and with God's blessing there is a miraculous outcome.  Their story provides a compelling lesson as to how God participates with His people to provide justice and restore dignity to the most marginalized.Discussion QuestionsSunday, December March 2nd, 2025Consider/share some ways you might connect  and become an ally to those in need. What are some things or reasons  that may hold you back ?If you were asked “what do you have to offer?”  how might you answer?  Consider the resources, areas of influence, skills, talents, personal attributes that may be uniquely yours.  (Don't be modest!) Open Relational Theology posits that we have real choice with real consequences and the outcomes are “open” or undetermined  to both us and God. A more traditional view would say that “God is in control” and will bring about the desired outcome.  Discuss the implications of both views:Open view:  outcome is at risk. What we observe may not be what God desires, but he gives true free choice to people and experiences the outcomes with us.Traditional view: God is in full control of everything; therefore what we observe must reflect what God desires. Everything happens for a purpose.Discuss the following quote  from  The Divine Conspiracy (Dallas Willard) may apply to the modern context and current political climate:  “Our union with Jesus allows us now to be a part of His conspiracy to undermine the structures of evil, which continue to dominate human history, with the forces of truth, freedom and love.  We can quietly and relentlessly align with these forces because we know what is cosmically afoot.  To “overcome evil with good” is not just something for an individual effort here and there , it will actually come to pass on this earth”. 

What do we do with our deepest longings? What does Jesus do? Let's explore through an underrated story as we continue our Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included series.

Back in November we introduced the Elevation community to the Peace in Action Team (PiAT),  inviting our community to participate in building the branches of this team.  We are thrilled to further this important work of education, reflection, service, giving and advocacy, rooted in our faith and commitment to justice,  compassion and re-imagined church. For this special Service & Learning Gathering, we invite you to be part of this transformative journey.Together, we'll:Introduce our theme for the next few years, and reflect on why this theme matters in our communityLearn through regional stories, stats, and lived experiencesTake first steps toward advocacy and meaningful actionShape the vision of PiATYour voice, presence, and passion matter. Let's step forward in peace and action—together.

This week we will be continuing our Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included series with a look at perhaps a lesser-known individual from scripture - Rhoda. We may not hear a lot about Rhoda, but her story is not unfamiliar. The mention of her name in scripture, and her experience within the early church community, invites us to reflect about the ways that voices from within our own communities may be dismissed or disregarded. In what ways will Rhoda's story invite us to think about more intentionally listening to the voices in the margins?

Learning from the Book of Esther: Laughing in the Face of Uncertainty and Times of Trouble. This week we will be taking a closer look at the book and person of Esther. There are lots of messy topics that this book touches on but like most great cultural events, it may actually be best read as a comedy. Sometimes one of  the greatest gifts God gives us may actually be Their sense of humour. Humour allows us to view things in a different light and breathe a little easier when it feels like our breath has been taken away.

Fierce, witty, and unapologetically bold—the Syrophoenician woman didn't submit or resign to passivity. She was persistent and courageous in challenging the status quo, refusing to take "no" as an answer, and in so doing she partnered with God in creating a more just world. Join us this Sunday as we explore her powerful story, and discover how her example (among others) invites us to challenge our assumptions, reimagining our own role in partnering with God in our journeys of transformation and the pursuit of justice and healing of our world.

This week we begin the year with a new series looking at different characters from scripture. To start us off Devon explores the story of Jesus healing a blind man, and how his personal connection to this story has changed and grown over the years. We attempt to journey through the many influences this story has on us today.

Advent hope is beautiful—but it's also messy. It's the radiant glow of light on the horizon, but it's also the ache of waiting, the weight of “not yet.” It's the tension between the promise of what could be and the pain of what isn't. Advent doesn't shy away from this tension. Instead, it calls us to hold on anyway. To risk hoping for a world transformed, for a love that doesn't let go, for a God who shows up—not just in a manger, but in the mess of life right now. Join us as we explore what it means to hope boldly, even in the face of uncertainty. How Advent hope is not passive optimism but an active, transformative force. Together, let's discover how hope anchors us, even when we're “just hanging on.” What are you hoping for? And how might Advent reshape your answer?

What does it mean to have joy? Is it possible to have joy even if you aren't happy? Join us as we explore what it means to have joy during the Christmas season.

December 1st is the first day of  Advent, the season that we anticipate the coming of Jesus, our Saviour. In the teaching time this week, we will be looking into the Advent theme of "Peace".  Prophecies about Jesus call him the "Prince of Peace" and angels heralded his birth with the declaration of "Peace on Earth".  Clearly, the kingdom of God is a kingdom of peace.  But in 2024, our world is filled with conflict, war and the pain and destruction they bring and we see that the promise of "peace on earth" is not fully realized in our time. What can we do and say as followers of Jesus to advance the cause of peace?    In our teaching time we will reflect on the call to followers of Jesus to be travellers and guides along the path of peace.

After the excitement of June's Youth Takeover, our incredible youth stepped up again this past Sunday! The service kicked off with a fun and interactive game, followed by heartfelt worship. The podcast recorded here was a thoughtful panel discussion, hosted by Benji Spee and Jess Niemi, featuring Elevation members Shane Bauman, Tessa Martin, Caleb Conley, and Marian Wiens. A big thank-you to all the youth who helped make this service so engaging and meaningful.

On November 17th, we took some time to hear from our Mission and Journey teams about the work they have been doing over the last few months to dream and strategize about next steps for continuing to align those ministry areas with our affirmed values, vision and mission. Then, during our discussion time, our Children's Ministry Exploration Team invited our community into some discussion and sharing around how we approach the formation of faith with the youngest members of our community.

Join us this Sunday as we explore the final lines of the Apostles' Creed: “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.” How does God's relational love transform these ancient words into a living invitation for us? What if forgiveness is more than wiping the slate clean—what if it's an invitation to healing and liberation? How does affirming the resurrection of the body shape how we view our physical lives and the sacredness of creation? And what if life everlasting is not just about the future, but an invitation to live fully in the present? How might these beliefs shape the way we live and love in our world right now?

I believe in the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to believe in the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit can be the most challenging part of the Trinity to wrap your head around and is often reduced to simply being a power source…like a spiritual battery. On the other hands some of the worst moments of Christian history have used the supposed inspiration of the Holy Spirit as cover and justification. Join us as we wrestle through what believing in the Holy Spirit means for us as a church, and what difference it make in our lives. 

This Sunday we continue our journey through the Apostle's Creed. Devon explores the articles of “the holy worldwide church, and the communion of Christ followers,” centering on ideas around the family of God, and what it means to belong to something far from perfect.

Descending, Ascending, Returning: Christ's Love in the CreedsIn this message, we explore one of the most perplexing passages of the Apostles' Creed, which includes: He descended to the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. What if far from the fear-driven images of fire and brimstone, the judgment of Christ isn't about exclusion or eternal punishment; but about a love that will not rest until ALL is made whole, healed, reconciled and alive. Join us as we reconsider what it means for Christ to descend, ascend and come again, bringing refining love to every corner of our lives and the world.

This Sunday, we're continuing our series Living the Creed: A Fresh Perspective. We'll dive into the second line of the Creed: “I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord.” We will take some time to explore the significance of Jesus' divinity. What does it mean for us today? Does it shape how we understand justice, and our calling to love? What does it look like to discover or rediscover Jesus as our Lord? Together, we'll reflect on how this foundational belief invites us into a deeper relationship with God and a renewed vision of hope, compassion, and transformation for the world.

This Sunday we are beginning a new series titled “Living the Creed: A fresh perspective.” We will look at how the ancient creeds came to be and examine how the statement of beliefs that form the Apostles Creed can positively influence how we live out our faith. This week we begin with “I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth”. 

We live in a culture obsessed with youth, yet aging is a universal reality. Ecclesiastes talks about youth as being "meaningless" but also implores us to remember God in the days of our youth. This week end our Summer series on Ecclesiastes while we explore the value of youth and aging and what it means to follow Jesus in every stage of our lives.

This Sunday, join us as we continue in our series on Ecclesiastes, exploring the theme of confronting death—not only physical death, but the death of ideas, relationships, organizations, and aspects of our lives that no longer serve us. We'll reflect on what it means to be resurrection people, finding hope and renewal in the very act of letting go. Together, we'll confront the struggle to release what is familiar and comfortable, understanding that true growth and new life arise from our willingness to embrace endings. This journey through Ecclesiastes invites us to discover the transformative power of surrender, and to find strength and inspiration in the promise of resurrection. Discussion Questions: How does the promise of resurrection shape your approach to life and death? What fears do I have about confronting and accepting death, both literally and metaphorical? How does embracing the death of old ideas or structures lead to social justice and positive change? How can we foster a community that supports each other in times of transition and loss, through endings and new beginnings?

Relationships and community are important.  Much of our personal happiness (or unhappiness) arises from the health of our relationships with others and sense of belonging. This week, Mark Dettweiler will be examining  how the “cord of three strands” in Ecclesiastes can inform our understanding of healthy relationships and supportive communities.

We are in the sixth week of our Summer Series, digging into the book and themes of Ecclesiastes. This week we'll be continuing to ask questions about what we do with the very real, seemingly pessimistic and hopeless nature of the words that the author presents. In light of the meaningless nature of everything around us, how do we go on? If life is a vapour, what do we hang on to? How does the life of Jesus and the presence of the Spirit continue to invite us into the gift of imagination and hope? References: The Bible for Normal People (Podcast): https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/podcast/ The Bible for Normal People (Ecclesiastes with Pete Enns): https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/ecclesiastes-with-pete-enns/ The Lord's Prayer, Adapted For Our Times: https://shop.themanyarehere.com/blogs/news/the-lords-prayer-an-adaptation-for-our-times The Porters Gate - The Kingdom of Jesus: https://open.spotify.com/track/52wm2PN4DkFcXpZg72DsoA

This week, join Devon as he explores the theme of work (toil and labour) in the book of Ecclesiastes. Together, we will discuss what work can and cannot contribute to our lives today. 

This Sunday, we continue our study of Ecclesiastes, exploring the raw honesty of its author. We'll reflect on how this ancient text invites us to confront the world's suffering with open eyes and compassionate hearts, and grants us liberating permission to be honest about our own struggles, suffering, doubts, despair and disillusionment as a path to healing and growth. Together, we'll consider the transformative power of lament, authenticity and vulnerability within community as gifts of hope and strength amidst life's struggles, tragedies and uncertainties. Discussion Questions: Question 1: What do you imagine the author may be facing and/or wrestling with? Question 2: Reflect on a time when someone else's honesty about their struggles helped you feel less alone. How can you offer that same gift to others? Question 3: Reflect on a time when you felt supported by others in your struggles. How did that experience shape your understanding of community and God's presence in your life? Question 4: How can we cultivate authenticity and vulnerability within our relationships and create brave space in our community? Cathleen references an earlier sermon where Shane, Mel and Sophie shared their stories, that can be listened to here.

Summertime, and the living is … meaningless?!?  The Teacher of Ecclesiastes contends that everything in life is ultimately in vain and therefore meaningless. Is the Teacher completely correct or could there be something more?  What might Jesus have to say to the Teacher? Join Mark Dettweiler as he explores these questions.  

We are told that moderation is a virtue, but it is easy to call for moderation when you are in a place of comfort and privilege. This week we will look at a number of passages of scripture and consider how they could be used to both help and to harm and discern together what it means to listen to the Spirit as a community.  Please note that due to a technical glitch, the first portion of the sermon was unrecorded. It picks up again after Brian leads us in the opening verse (slides are added with these for you to read through).

This Sunday we open up our nine-part series on one of the most difficult books of the Old Testament. Devon explores how the uncomfortable and abstract nature of Ecclesiastes is intentionally present, and also an essential aspect of the teaching of this book. 

The Youth took over our regular Sunday gathering! This week, our Youth commandeered over pretty much the whole service, including the welcome and greetings, worship, communion, announcements, kids dismissal, and teaching. Tessa (and Parker) spoke about Jesus as the embodiment of God living a life to the fullest through humility and surrender, capturing the essence of Philippians 2:5-11. 

This Sunday, we're continuing our 2-week ‘Church as a Common Collective' series with a look at how God can bring beauty out of brokenness. Join us as Mel, Shane, and Sophie each share their personal stories about God's providence in times of despair. Please note that this week's message contains sensitive content, including discussions on health crises, homophobia, loss, and miscarriage.

This week, join us as we explore the theme of God's miraculous intervention throughout the Old Testament and its profound connection to Pentecost. Together, we'll ponder the intriguing question: Why does goodness often seems chaotic in this world?

Understanding our own belovedness transforms us, and in doing so transforms our understanding of others. When we see others through the eyes of Jesus' love we realize that even our enemies are beloved. But belovedness does not mean we lack boundaries, but instead belovedness calls us into transformed living.  This week, Brian will be rounding off the current series with his topic on how Belovedness Transforms Enemies.  He will be looking at the story of Paul and Ananias, with scripture taken from Acts 9:9-19 and Galatians 1:15-20.

As we continue our series on Belovedness, Cathleen will guide us through “Breaking the Binary of Belovedness.” We'll explore how everyone, from the prodigal to the powerful, from the marginalized to the magnified, is deeply cherished. Join us as we embark on a journey beyond the constraints of binary thinking to recognizing, celebrating and embracing the belovedness of all, paving the way for individual and communal healing.

This Sunday we will begin a sermon series on Belovedness. Mark Dettweiler will speak about the positive changes that arise as we embrace God's love for us and live each day as His beloved.  

In the accounts of the Resurrection recorded in the varied Gospels a strange theme occurs: when Jesus shows up after the his resurrection even the people who knew Him most intimately fail to recognize Him! Join us this Easter morning as we look at these puzzling stories and unpack the ways that we too can fail to recognize Jesus and the work of Resurrection in own lives. 

Join us on Palm Sunday as we explore repentance as a radical reimagining of a better world beyond our current constructs. Discover how the crowds lining the streets on Palm Sunday struggled to envision a better way, and how Jesus' entrance was inviting both them and us to imagine and partner with Him in ushering in the new KINdom.

As we continue in our series on repentance and repair, we will look at the Galatian church to see how fear often prevents us from living  out the full freedom of following Jesus.