Southside Community Church - Milton

August 9, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Romans 1.1-7 C.S. Lewis describes our longings as "not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.” We long for Good News. And this is the very theme of the Bible - it's called "Gospel." But is the Gospel what we thought? There's a provocative question. Let's see.

August 2, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Mark 2.23-28 As the days of the week typically go we have become familiar with this acronym: "Thank God it's Friday." Is it just about getting finished with work and enjoying the weekend to come or is there something human about the rhythm of work and rest that is one of the longing experiences that pull us forward? Let's look at the longing of Sabbath this weekend.

July 19 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell John 1.13-14 I don't suppose you have ever actually longed for a Tabernacle, have you? But tucked away in this story of camping old school is a lesson that changes everything for us. Honestly everything. We've often been saying for the past while that it's not about us going to heaven but about heaven coming to earth. This week's teaching should be the realization of what that means in the terms of Longing. But this time it's not our Longing.

July 12 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Genesis 2 Does something in us long for Eden and the unspoiled original Creation? What are we longing for then, and what story seems true to us while saddened? Is that a story that will come true? Will its sadness come untrue? How and When?

July 5 2020 Speaker" Ian Campbell To view the video referred to in the sermon watch to 9min 40 sec at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoAE15gtEzg&list=PLwVwXuskVqrMkS7RgQ8BhNQy7XYYqeYTZ&index=2&t=0s “I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue?” So asked Sam Gamgee (The Return of the King.) What a beautiful question. Ecclesiastes 3.11 tells us that God has put eternity in the human heart. In this study we will discover that the form eternity takes in our hearts is that of Longing. Do we dare believe that everything sad will come untrue and also that everything happy will come true? When and How will be the questions.

June 28 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 2 Peter 3.10 Is it.. the end of the world? Peter tells us that the end of the world will come spectacularly. What do we know about how and when the end will come? Will it be soon?

June 21 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 3.13-18 When we disagree.. As we embark on a study on “end times” we can acknowledge that we have some differences of opinion as in several areas of understanding of the Scriptures. What do we do about that? What is critical for us to agree on and what can we “agree to disagree” about? Let’s sort this out a bit as we get going.

June 14 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Before we take a deep dive into the broad Biblical themes of longing and hoping in the summer months we'll take a quick look at one more passage from Peter. This time it's his second letter and we'll get our feet wet on future things as we study chapter three. 2 Peter 3.1-2; 13 The end of the world as we know it? Peter reminds us that we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. What do we know about this future place and what will it feel like to have universal righteousness?

June 7 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 5.7-10 Is there a more appropriate term to use describing the spirit of our times than Peter's word "anxiety"? And his simple words for how we deal with this along with a powerful Biblical truth - he tells us to care our anxiety on God because He cares for us! Wouldn't this be a wonderful prayer for our brothers and sisters who, given even this week's events, are at a place of unprecedented anxiety?

May 31 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Acts 19.1-7 On this Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Passover) we step aside from Peter for the moment and yet we stay with the subject "Living Hope." One of the critical aspects of our Christian faith and hope is the understanding that Jesus' presence and power is continued by the Holy Spirit. Paul encountered some Christians who responded to his questions about the Holy Spirit with the realization "that's news to us." What news! And have we heard it and understood it?

May 24 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 5.1-10 Shepherd the Flock Peter concludes his letter to Believers who are in difficult times by reminding their elders of their responsibility to shepherd the flock as he, a fellow elder, identifies with them. The role of elders is primary in the organized church and has been since the beginning. In his instruction to them all the quality of humility is of utmost priority. Why is it so important to them and us?

May 17 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 4.1-11 Has our personality changed because of the pandemic? Were we carefree and careless in some ways that have had a day of reckoning? Peter tells us that careless living has a "time's up" notice served. What he says must continue is fervent love for one another.

May 10, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 3.1-9 Well - here we are on Mothers' Day weekend and as we work our way through 1 Peter we come to a passage to and about women. Maybe it's good that I am speaking to an empty room so that I won't need to duck the rotten tomatoes hurled at me! But seriously, does this passage speak with a relevant message for today? What is it?

May 3, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 2.1-2 Do difficult times bring our the best or worst in us? Perhaps both? The Apostle Peter seems to worry that in very trying times his readers may need encouragement not to allow the worst of them to surface. Instead he has a strategy that will head them in the right direction - the sincere milk of the Word of God. If more time is possibly on our hands during these days Peter would suggest not allowing negative thoughts to dominate, but positive ones. And he says how!

April 26, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 1.17-25 Have you ever heard someone ask "Who are you and what have you done with ..?" It's usually occasioned by a striking change in something that pertains to the person in question. Maybe it's a physical appearance thing or a behaviour. In the middle of troubling time Peter discusses such a question about Christians. We will let him guide us into the answers - "who are you? what have you done with? or "what has happened to you?" Fundamental aspects of our Living Hope are found here.

April 19 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Peter 1.3-9 During the Easter church calendar (until Pentecost Sunday May 31st) we will follow the Lectionary Epistle readings from the Book of Common Prayer. As we wait through the pandemic season this is one way we can join with the Church worldwide in the unity of Scripture. This may also direct your thoughts and prayers as you will find lots of resources on line in this vein. "Living Hope" is the way that Peter begins his letter to Christians who are going through a time of trial of some kind. This has both an objective and subjective meaning. We have a "living" hope and we also are called to "Live" out our hope. What a wonderful follow on from Resurrection Sunday!

April 12, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Corinthians 15.1-7 When everything around us seems to be changing or has changed the best thing to do is to find what has not changed and is not changing, nor will change. Let’s gather around the Gospel message that is that very thing in our lives and which we celebrate this weekend! The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed!

April 5, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell 1 Thessalonians 5:11 We should carry on encouraging one another and building up one another, says the Apostle, “just as you are doing.” These are to be our commitments in the midst of difficulties and trials. We must ask how we are doing these and how we can carry on doing these so that the same commendation would be made of us.

March 27, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Proverbs 14.31 Isn't it interesting that God has such strong feelings for the poor? We might moderate our concern for the poor but God identifies with them and is always "in their corner." They along with other groups in society, such as widows and orphans, have God's attention in a particular way. What can we do in these difficult times to pay attention to the poor?

March 20, 2020 Speaker: Ian Campbell Proverbs 17.17 Can you think of someone you could phone at any time day or night? Someone who is there whenever needed, no questions asked? Someone who is loyal to the end? That is a good friend. In life with its ups and downs how wonderful good friends are. An important question is "are you that good friend?" We'll have a glimpse into the friendship between David and Jonathan and see the characteristics of loyal friends.