Westminster Loving God & Neighbour

Latest Podcasts

• Is this the sermon demons don’t want you to hear? November 18, 2024
  This sermon was originally called “Closing doors to demons” and was delivered on November 17, 2024 at Westminster in Barrie. But Pastor Ruttan has changed the title to this: “Is this the sermon demons don’t want you to hear?” He explains why in a short introduction at the start of the message. Some strange things […]
  Westminster
• How do demons gain access to people? – a talk with Steve Dabbs November 17, 2024
  Demons are disembodied spirits who have rebelled against God. Yes, demons are real, and their work is alive and well. If you’re human, and especially if you’re a follower of Christ, they hate you. We sometimes hear about about demon “possession,” but mostly in movies or horror stories. A more accurate word is “demonization,” and […]
  Westminster
• How To Achieve World Peace: Step 1 (Sermon) November 11, 2024
  World peace. We all want it. But how do we get there? Is there even any hope when we have had so many wars, when nations (and peoples) continue to fight, and when individuals continue to experience so much anger, anxiety and pain? This sermon examines Philippians 4:2-9 and is about Step 1. We explore […]
  Westminster
• If you want to actually be like Jesus (Sermon) November 4, 2024
  Let’s pretend that we all get together and decide to imitate someone named Ischyros. Great! Let’s do it! But hold on, there’s a problem. We first need to know what Ischyros is like before we can we imitate him. Christians agree that we want to be “like Jesus.” But if we want to actually be […]
  Westminster
• Trust God and leave the results to him (Sermon) October 28, 2024
  What do we do when so much seems broken, uncertain or wrong? When things are not turning out like we want, frazzlement and frustration can take over. They make us doubt our decisions. This was something people faced in Jesus’ day too. In this sermon on Mark 4:21-34, we explore three short parables, and how […]
  Westminster
• How spiritual disciplines help you love others – a talk with Jeff Loach October 24, 2024
  Westminster
• Why was I born? (Sermon) October 21, 2024
  Are we here by chance, or is there a greater purpose? Many people have tried to answer this question. Some people aren’t sure, despair, or throw their hands up in resignation. Fortunately, Jesus isn’t one of them. The light of the world has things to say about who we are and why we’re here. This […]
  Westminster
• Our Big Brother Jesus (Sermon) October 14, 2024
  When I was in elementary school a kid kept pestering me—that is, until my big brother came to my defense. I felt… protected. There are a lot of titles for Jesus — like Son of God, Saviour, and Good Shepherd. Each one tells us something about him and the nature of our relationship. Another (frequently […]
  Westminster
• ‘He Paid Our Debt’ – An illustration to appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice October 10, 2024
  This short episode is the youth time from the service on October 6, 2024. Pastor Ruttan tells a story from Philip Yancey’s book ‘What’s so amazing about grace?’ It was used to help us appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice that we remember when we celebrate Communion.
  Westminster
• Salvation Before Reputation (Sermon) October 7, 2024
  Jesus’ own family called him crazy. “He’s out of his mind.” But why? He had gathered and led crowds, assembled twelve apostles, healed suffering people, expelled demons from the oppressed, preached about the kingdom of God, and challenged religious authorities. Even though some of those things sound pretty nice, when compared to expectations of ‘normal’ […]
  Westminster
• Defend your faith by knowing your faith (Sermon) September 29, 2024
  We live in a time when in North America fewer people identify as Christians. We have the stats to prove it. But people aren’t simply becoming apathetic, many are becoming increasingly hostile and antagonistic towards faith. Do you know what to say when someone challenges you? Jesus experienced challenges and confrontations on multiple occasions. This […]
  Westminster
•  Eden isn’t just in the past (Sermon) September 22, 2024
  Most people tend to think of miracles as some sort of break in the natural order. Jurgen Moltmann has a helpful corrective: “Miracles are not an interruption of the natural order but the restoration of the natural order.” In other words, when Jesus performs miracles he is showing us how things are truly meant to […]
  Westminster
• Clashing with the Kingdom of Darkness and Demons (Sermon) September 15, 2024
  When Jesus came to proclaim the Kingdom of God he was not doing so in neutral territory. In Satan’s view, Jesus was an intruder trying to encroach on his turf. A clash was inevitable. Some people think there’s a devil under every bush (not true). Others think the devil doesn’t exist (also not true). As […]
  Westminster
• ‘Think Bigger’ (Sermon) September 9, 2024
  We’ve seen it happen in movies and books over and over again. When all seems lost, a hero arrives, hope is rekindled, victory becomes possible, and everything changes for those who belong to the hero. This is a part of the reason why these movies or books are so interesting. We wonder, ‘If only we […]
  Westminster
• The Way Up is Down (Sermon) September 1, 2024
  What do you want to be successful at? It is something to do with your career, family, relationships or a personal goal? There are different understandings of “success.” Make no mistake about it: our society’s definition is certainly different from God’s. But which are you driving toward? This sermon looks at the direct and down-to-earth […]
  Westminster
• ‘Enjoy your streams’ (Sermon) August 27, 2024
  In Pastor Ruttan’s absence (he is away on vacation), Claude Cox led us in a message titled ‘Enjoy your streams’. The scripture focus was Psalm 1.
  Westminster
• R.O.L.A.I.D.S. (Sermon) August 19, 2024
  In Pastor Ruttan’s absence (he is away on vacation), Cathy Clark will led us in a message titled ‘R.O.L.A.I.D.S. – Timeless relief from anxiety for our contemporary age’. The scripture focus was Isaiah 43:1-4 & Mark 14:32-36.
  Westminster
• ‘The Narrow Path’ (Sermon) August 11, 2024
  In Pastor Ruttan’s absence (for his annual summer vacation), Jeff Walther led us in a message titled ‘The Narrow Path – ‘, with a focus on Matthew 7: 13-14.
  Westminster
• The Gateway to the Kingdom of God August 7, 2024
  In Pastor Ruttan’s absence (for his annual summer vacation), Paul Sakasov led us in a message titled ‘The Gateway to the Kingdom of God’, with a focus on the Beatitudes from Matthew’s Gospel.
  Westminster
• Giving up good things for great things (Sermon) July 29, 2024
  Following Jesus means making sacrifices — and that can be difficult, and sometimes painful. That is bound to happen when we make God’s kingdom our number one priority. But to truly understand sacrifice, we need to count not only the costs, but the benefits. When we think through not only what we’re giving up, but […]
  Westminster