Sanctus Church Audio Sermons

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 12 - The Sower

We listen to others all the time but how often do we realize later that we never really heard?  Pastor Ange takes us through the parable of The Sower and uses it to guide us in examining if we are listening intently to God and learning to hear His voice. 

Speaker: Angela Mason
Publication: August 25, 2024

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Building Legacies - Cody Martin: ZJ7BYITH9PVH2XCQ

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 10 - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

How easily do we see the problems in the behaviour of others, as opposed to the behaviours of our own that are sinful.  Pastor Robin looks at the parable of the arrogant pharisee and the humble tax collector to examine how we should approach the most high and holy God with humility in prayer. 

Speaker: Robin Djokoto
Publication: August 11, 2024

Luke 18 9-14

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 9 - The Unmerciful Servant

How many points of cruelty or merciless do you witness or commit in a single day? Pastor Angela walks us through the parable of the unmerciful servant to expose how Jesus wants us to treat others with forgiveness and mercy because Jesus has blessed us with His abundant mercy when we least deserved it. 

Speaker: Angela Mason
Publication: August 4, 2024

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 8 - The Grumpy Neighbour

What expectations do you have when you pray? Guest Pastor Laurie Hartshorn uses the parable of the grumpy neighbour to explore how un-grumpy God is when we come to Him with all our needs, and how He wants to give us what we need most.

Speaker: Laurie Hartshorn
Publication: July 28, 2024

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 7 - The Servants & The Talents

You were created a certain way with gifts and limitations. Guest Speaker G Andrew Beresford from ServeCity Church in Pickering uses the parable of the servants and the talents to help us reflect on our stewardship responsibilities based on that with which God has entrusted us. 

Speaker: G Andrew Beresford
Publication: July 21, 2024

Matthew 25

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Building Legacies - Cody Martin: ZJ7BYITH9PVH2XCQ

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 6 - The Two Builders

How are you building your life today in a way that it makes a better life tomorrow? Pastor Sam examines Jesus's parable of the two builders and how it encourages us to continue to build our lives on the firm foundation of Christ, rather than the shifting stands and storms of the world. 

Speaker: Sam Mills
Publication: July 14, 2024

Matthew 7

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 5 - The Shrewd Servant

How would you feel if your credit card statement was made public? How about your online purchase history? Guest Pastor Dwayne Cline uses the parable of the shrewd servant to explore how our use of money is an expression of our relationship to God.

Speaker: Dwayne Cline
Publication: July 7, 2024

Luke 16

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 4 - The Persistent Woman

How we respond to others who ask for need over and over again says a lot about our love for others. Pastor Lucas looks at the parable of the persistent woman to explore Jesus's compassion for us when we express on our complete dependence upon Him through prayer.  

Speaker: Lucas Prado
Publication: July 30, 2024

Luke 18

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Building Legacies - Cody Martin: ZJ7BYITH9PVH2XCQ

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 3 - The Rich Man and Lazarus

Money can be a delicate subject in some circles, but for Christians it should be easy to talk about. Pastor Sam looks at the parable of the rich man and Lazarus and explores how we are simply steward's of God's generous gifts and need to use them to help others. 

Speaker: Sam Mills
Publication: June 23, 2024

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 2 - The Good Samaritan

It's easy to find ourselves in the heroes of a story. This week, Pastor Ange challenges us to find ourselves in all the characters in the story of the good Samaritan -- even the victim -- and to examine what we can learn afresh about Jesus and His love for us through the compassion of the Samaritan.

Speaker: Ange Mason
Publication: June 16, 2024

Luke 10:25-37

It's Like This: The Parables - Week 1 - The Prodigal Son

The Parables of Jesus - Week 1 - The Prodigal Son

The parable of the prodigal son is well known, but Pastor Jon shows how it can refresh our  understanding of God's love as one of culture-shattering strength. It supersedes human expectations and limitations, and will not be withheld when we repent and and return to our Father's kingdom. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: June 9, 2024

Luke 15

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Building Legacies - Cody Martin: ZJ7BYITH9PVH2XCQ

Vision Sunday - Ajax's 25th Anniversary

In recognition of our Ajax site's 25th anniversary, Jon takes time to look at the past, present, and future of Sanctus Church's journey.

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: June 2, 2024

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Building Legacies - Cody Martin: ZJ7BYITH9PVH2XCQ

The Book of Acts - Week 20 - Saying Yes

We all like to be comfortable. We limit our expectations to what we assume we can handle on our own. But Pastor Jon uses the end of Paul's journey in Acts to show how God's power cannot be limited and very often wants to challenge those assumptions that we use to pad our too comfortable lives. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: May 26, 2024

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Building Legacies - Cody Martin: ZJ7BYITH9PVH2XCQ

The Book of Acts - Week 20 - Table Talk
https://youtu.be/hrJarPRoKPQ

The Book of Acts - Week 19 - Radical Submission

It is very uncommon for anyone to joyfully submit to any one or any thing. These days, fierce independence and self-dependence are touted as virtues. Pastor Jon looks at Paul's obedience and submission to the direction of the Holy Spirit even when it meant his persecution and even death, all for the glory of God.

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: May 17, 2024

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Building Legacies - Cody Martin: ZJ7BYITH9PVH2XCQ

The Book of Acts - Week 19 - Table Talk
https://youtu.be/FVJsTnKww6s

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 6 - Forgiveness and Reconciliation

One of the hardest things we may ever need to do is forgive someone else after they have hurt us. Pastor Ange uses Joseph's life to examine the difference between forgiveness as releasing the offence back to God, and reconciliation as restoration of relationship, the way God pulls us back into reconciliation through Christ. 

Speaker: Angela Mason
Publication: May 12, 2024

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 6 - Table Talk
https://youtu.be/7g1M2ShEfRE

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 5 - Planning for Hope

When you plan a trip, you take time and care to plan out the nicest routes, the best rest stops, and the most exciting destinations. Pastor Sam explores how a young Joseph never would have planned for the suffering he had to endure through his earlier life, but reinforced by hope in God, he persevered until he was given great things later in life. 

Speaker: Sam Mills
Publication: May 5, 2024

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 4 - Strength in Weakness

The world encourages us towards striving ambition; to make more of ourselves and rely on nothing else. Pastor Jon speaks about God's provision and blessing in Jacob's life, even after a life of deceitful self-sufficiency, illuminating how weakness is the true place where the power is found.

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: April 28, 2024

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 4 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/-3lh6j94kmI

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 3 - God's Mercy Alone

Humans have a desire to control outcomes in our lives, but we ignore our inability to know what the wise decision is from a heavenly perspective. Pastor Jon looks at the struggle between Jacob and his twin Esau to explore how  we can trust in God's divine mercy alone to administer justice, so it's to God we have to go for answers to our prayers. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: April 21, 2024

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 3 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/5WXrHW_Wt0g

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 2 - Guaranteed

Humans make and break promises all the time. Pastor Jon continues our look at Abraham and Sarah and the promise of a son to them to remind us that God's promises are sure and eternal, and encourage us to have faith in God's guarantees. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: April 14, 2024

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week  (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/jLZgqrU32b4

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 1 - Called Righteous

What does righteousness look like? The world tells us we are righteous when we are kind or religious. Pastor Jon starts the new series by looking at God's sovereign choice to call Abram and declare him righteous even when Abram didn't deserve it.

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: April 7, 2024

In The Waiting: Formed Over Time - Week 1 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/uRHCq7X24Rk

Easter at Sanctus '24 - Easter Sunday

He is Risen - He is Risen, Indeed! Happy Easter! Join Pastor Jon as he examines the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and the eternal hope we have in Jesus's resurrection. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: March 31, 2024

Easter at Sanctus '24 - Good Friday

Fear is a powerful reason we avoid doing things that we know we really should. Pastor Sam looks at how Jesus suffered to fulfil the Father's plans out of obedience and His love for us. 

Speaker: Samuel Mills
Publication: March 29, 2024

Easter at Sanctus '24 - Week 1

As we enter the final stretch of the lenten season, Pastor Jon focuses Jesus's declaration about the foundation of His church, and who Jesus himself is.

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: March 17, 2024

Matthew 16

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Resurrection - Cody Martin: WAK08OU0SPZYCV1Y

Easter at Sanctus - Week 1 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/SrUrEwuDHxM

The Book of Acts - Week 18 - Legacy

What do you imagine your legacy will be? For how many generations do you think you will be remembered? Pastor Jon looks at the end of Paul's ministry to explore how legacy for Christians is not found in the here and  now, but in eternity as remembered by God. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: March 10, 2024

The Book of Acts - Week 18 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/7yhJfPYGRIE

The Book of Acts - Week 17 - Crossing Bridges

Sanctus Church is located in one of the most multi-cultural centres of the world, the Greater Toronto Area. What does that mean for a Christian looking to share the Gospel? Pastor Jon looks to Acts and uses Paul's behaviour in Athens as a model for us in the modern era.

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: March 3, 2024

The Book of Acts - Week 17 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/L3CEjaQOAzo

The Book of Acts - Week 16 - Freedom

The pathway to freedom from our sins can sometimes feel so far away from where we are. Pastor Jon speaks about the ways Jesus uses prayer, worship, and the scriptures to reach us a draw us towards His gift of life-giving freedom. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: February 25, 2024

The Book of Acts - Week 16 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/-wrBo0PpC5c

The Book of Acts - Week 15 - Unity in Christ

There is nothing so obvious in the rest of the world than the polarization and disunity that runs rampant through our politics, our workplaces, and even our families. Pastor Sam looks closely at the real plan for Christian unity in Christ, rooted in our identity in Jesus. 

Speaker: Sam Mills
Publication: February 18, 2024

The Book of Acts - Week 14 - Turf Wars

Miracles happen all the time and people from all walks expect the spiritual real to affect them in one way or the other. Pastor Jon acknowledges this and explores how deeply we need prayer and discernment to identify the source of the powers we interact with so we are not deceived. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: February 11, 2024

The Book of Acts - Week 14 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/FWxTIHpuW3w 

The Book of Acts - Week 13 - God Always Wins

The troubles and tensions of everyday life can be overwhelming, and it can hard to have hope. Pastor Jon looks at the different stories of the lives of James and Peter and uncomfortable truth that when God moves, there will be resistance and insecurity in the now. But also that we are assured that God will always win.

Speaker: Jon Thompson
Publication: February 4, 2024

Firm Faith - Week 3 - Many Voices

This week, Pastor Jon hosts a special panel of voices from around Sanctus who have experienced transitions through different life stages. Each member speaks about how it has impacted their walk with Jesus and where they found joy and hope in the transition.

Speaker: Jon Thompson, Efuaye Abu, Angela Mason, Bill Lippman, Robin Djokoto, Adam Hoskins
Publication: January 28, 2024

Firm Faith - Week 2 - Marriage & Singleness

What do we think we know about the "rules" of marriage, divorce, and singleness for a Christian? What is Biblical and what is cultural? Pastor Angela gets to the heart of the matter, clearly describing God's plan for marriage and singleness, and discusses how we as Christians can hold fast to our faith in any circumstance.

Speaker: Angela Mason 
Publication: January 21, 2024

Firm Faith - Week 2 (Table Talk)
https://youtu.be/g9OadliWOnU

Firm Faith - Week 1 - Passing on the Faith

What does it mean that God has no grandchildren? How do we pass on the faith to the next generation? Pastor Jon looks at biblical representations of multi-generational faithfulness and how we can live it out practically. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: January 14, 2024

The Book of Acts - Week 12 - Looking Back, Looking Forward

It's common for us to look back over our pasts as we turn the page on a new year. Pastor Jon's first message for Sanctus in 2024 looks far back into the early years of the Christian church at how we can use the early model of the church at Antioch in our work to build Sanctus church. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: January 7, 2024

Mary: God’s Indwelling - Week 4 - Be A Worshipper

What is the right way to respond to God in times of rejection, loss, and disappointment? Pastor Sam uses the example of Mary and her response to trouble with genuine worship as a model for us to follow. 

Speaker: Samuel Mills 
Publication: December 31, 2023

Mary: God’s Indwelling - Week 3 - The Two Eves

Christmas can be about so much more than presents and food. Pastor Jon connects the entrance of sin into the world through the first Eve to the death of sin through the son of the second Eve, Jesus, and how the gift of life is freely given to all who believe.

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: December 24, 2023

Mary: God’s Indwelling - Week 2 - Joseph’s Obedience

The Christmas story is so familiar to us we can forget that Mary and Joseph really lived through it without knowing the ending. Pastor Jon takes us through Joseph's experience of Mary's pregnancy and how he chose to be obedient to God and respond to Mary with trust and acceptance. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: December 17, 2023

Mary: God’s Indwelling - Week 1 - What About Mary

What should Mary the mother of Jesus mean to us? Pastor Jon works through the role of Mary as an example to Christians, beginning with Mary's experience with the angel Gabriel and how she responded to God's calling. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: December 10, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 11 - Unexpected and Uncomfortable

Most of the time, we'd probably say we look forward to new things, and new experiences. But Pastor Jon takes us to Peter's experience of God's new movement, that of including all nations of the earth in His salvation plan, and explores how sometimes what God asks us to do is both unexpected and uncomfortable. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: December 3, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 10 - Radical Gospel Love

We all know people that, if we're being honest, we don't think are worth any effort. But Pastor Jon reminds us that Jesus can redeem anyone, even the worst sinner, and that we are all sinners in need of the radical forgiving redemption of Jesus. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: November 26, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 9 - Baptism Sunday

Baptism is an outward sign of the inward commitment we have made to follow Jesus. Pastor Jon looks at Philip's baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch, and how it had rippling effects even into the present day. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: November 19, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 8 - Persecution, Progression, Poison, and Proclamation

Everyone experiences difficult periods in their lives, times when the struggle increases and we feel the pressure of this broken world. Pastor Sam offers a perspective that encourages us to see the joy of God's mercy even then while proclaiming God's faithfulness and spreading the news of His kingdom. 

Speaker: Sam Mills 
Publication: November 12, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 7 - Stephen’s Faithfulness and Freedom

Where are our Biblical role models of today? It can feel impossible to find people who demonstrate the patterns of a faithful Christian life. Pastor Jon turns to the life and death of Stephen who modelled the common faithfulness and fearless walk of a Christian who truly knows Jesus as their saviour.

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: November 05, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 6 - Gift-Based Ministry

All churches go through repeated times of change, but it doesn't need to cause traumatic upheaval. Pastor Jon looks at the implementation of Biblical gift-based ministry -- grounding one's work in the gifts given by the Holy Spirit -- and how it can provide strength and continuity throughout the life of the church. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: October 29, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 5 - Trouble Inside

Appearances can be deceiving. Even when something appears to be working well, it might be hiding some nasty surprises inside. Pastor Jon uses the example of Ananias and Sapphira to illustrate how even Christians are capable of harbouring darkness, even while we are owned by Christ.

Speaker: Jon Thompson 
Publication: October 22, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 4 - Boldness

What controls you? Are you truly empowered to talk about your Saviour, Jesus Christ? Pastor Angela looks at the prayers of early Christians who asked for boldness in their sharing of the truth of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection and asks if we have the same desire to share the Gospel. 

Speaker: Angela Mason  
Publication: October 15, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 3 - Trouble Will Come

Living as a Christian in even relatively peaceful places like Canada is not without its challenges. Pastor Jon continues exploring the book of Acts and discusses how the example of Peter and John's empowerment by the Holy Spirit can help us discern how to live as Christians today. 

Speaker: Jon Thompson  
Publication: October 8, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 2 - Call on the Name of the Lord

Jesus is more than just a nice story; Jesus, along with His earthly life and resurrection for our deliverance, was real. Pastor Jon continues our study of the book of Acts and explores how the actual historical Jesus is the answer to all our everlasting troubles.

Speaker: Jon Thompson  
Publication: October 1, 2023

The Book of Acts - Week 1 - Jesus Alone

We start our new major series for this year with Pastor Jon opening up the first chapter of the book of Acts. We begin the journey through the incredible, world-changing age that saw the death and resurrection of Jesus and the growth of His church across all nations.

Speaker: Jon Thompson  
Publication: September 24, 2023

Vision Sunday 2023 - Week 2

Have you ever had an experience where you know something is there but you can't find it? Pastor Jon explores the guaranteed places of encounter with Jesus that we can miss because we're not looking properly, we're distracted, or we're looking for the wrong thing entirely.   

Speaker: Jon Thompson  
Publication: September 17, 2023

Esther: Glimpses of God - Week 7