The Word At Westminster

Welcome to our (new!) podcast called The Word at Westminster. It’s all about learning and living God’s word.

It includes talks, studies, interviews, sermons and more from Westminster Church in Barrie, Canada.

You can listen and subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts: iTunes (Apple), Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music or Audible.

We’d like to thank Kristin Stouffer for the logo design!

Here are the most recent episodes:

RSS Latest Podcasts

  • Holiness is Readiness (Sermon) September 24, 2023
    We don’t talk about it a lot but Jesus is coming back. That’s a big deal. So how do you personally prepare? In addition to trusting him, we are told that when he comes we should be living holy lives.We urgently need to re-claim (and better understand) the word “holy.” It’s been trampled. “Holier than […]
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  • The Importance of Bible Study (reposted) September 19, 2023
    In case you missed Michelle’s message on the importance of Bible Study. Michelle Boston is our Small Groups (Vine Groups) Coordinator. Take a listen to her message and reach out to her anytime to join in on a study. All groups are now back in session for the Fall season! Michelle – mishkagirl3@gmail.com
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  • Hope lifts you forward (Sermon) September 11, 2023
    Is it possible to experience joy in the midst of affliction? Yes it is. This isn’t a message you hear very often, but it’s true. But how? The answer has to do with hope. Not naive wishful thinking, but actual hope. The early followers of Jesus in Thessalonica found this out first hand. They were […]
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  • I have calmed and quieted my soul (Sermon) September 4, 2023
    The battle is waged from a place of stillness. If an army is in chaos, it’s not going to respond very well when the enemy strikes. If a soldier is always fatigued and confused about what to do, he’s not going to face the enemy with power. There are times when we all have a […]
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  • Oneness with God (Sermon) August 21, 2023
    This past Sunday, as Pastor Ruttan continues his vacation, special guest Claude Cox led our service and shared a message inspired by Psalm 85:10. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
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  • The Importance of Bible Study (Message from Michelle Boston) August 7, 2023
    On Sunday Aug.6, Pastor Ruttan led us through service, which included this special talk from Michelle Boston, our Small Groups Coordinator. At Westminster we call our Small Groups, Vine Groups. Michelle detailed the importance of Bible Study in our lives as Christians, and shared the faithful benefits of being a part of our Vine Groups […]
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  • As Iron Sharpens Iron: The Most Famous Proverbs, Part 2 (Sermon) August 2, 2023
    A college student was struggling. She was stressed and homesick. As she walked around the campus some words popped into her head: cast all your cares on him because he cares for you. It was a key moment. She sought out some help and started the journey to getting re-connected with God. Where did those […]
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  • Helpful Study Bibles July 28, 2023
    Pastor Ruttan In this podcast and blog, I’m going to highlight some helpful Study Bibles. Perhaps you are wondering what makes a Study Bible different from a regular Bible. A regular Bible includes the text and no more. A Study Bible is meant to help you go deeper with your study. It provides introductions to […]
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  • Memorable is Portable: The Most Famous Proverbs, Part 1 (Sermon) July 23, 2023
    We’ve seen it play out a hundred times in movies or books. A village is under attack. The people need to flee. “Only take what is necessary! Leave everything else behind!” Forget furniture, food or extra clothes. The villagers can only take what is accessible and portable. Andy Stanley says that “memorable is portable.” If […]
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  • Prayers of the People – July 16, 2023 July 18, 2023
    Join in with this pastoral prayer from Sunday which touches on issues of personal and global concern
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  • Q&A Forum Recording – June 25 June 28, 2023
    Pastor Ruttan responds to previously submitted questions about why we have to live through life on earth before heaven, and various theories about the end times. 
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  • Follow your head (Sermon) June 26, 2023
    “Follow your heart!” We hear that a lot. I’m sure it’s well-intentioned. Our instincts and feelings are important. But our hearts can often lead us astray since (a) we are sinful by nature and (b) our hearts are heavily influenced by the non-stop negativity around us. Wouldn’t it be better to “follow your head” when […]
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  • Doing what’s right with the time you have left (Sermon) June 19, 2023
    “Life is short.” “Seize the day.” For thousands of years people have known that their lives have an end date. But knowing your priorities and living by them are two different things. When Harry Chapin sang “Cats in the Cradle” about a father who never made time for his son, it hit a chord. But […]
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  •  The Lord does battle for you (Sermon) June 14, 2023
    It’s a psalm for approaching danger, fear, pestilence, and battle. Soldiers are known to keep it in their pockets. Others have kept the words in lockets around their necks to ward off evil. Psalm 91 calls on the God who provides shelter, fortress, deliverance, refuge, and rescue. William Gurnall joins in: “castle me in the […]
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  • Good news travels fast. But it needs a little help. Gospel Starts With Go (Sermon) June 4, 2023
    On June 4th we gathered to sing, pray, learn and worship together. While Pastor Ruttan was away at the annual meeting of the General Assembly in Halifax, Jeff Walther, a good friend of the congregation, led a teaching on the Great Commission, titled “Good news travels fast. But it needs a little help. Gospel Starts […]
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  • 45 QUOTES BY TIM KELLER June 2, 2023
    On May 19, 2023 Tim Keller died. In the Salvation Army they would say he was “promoted to glory.” Keller was a best-selling author, pastor, apologist, co-founder of The Gospel Coalition, and fellow Presbyterian. He spoke to millions, met with Presidents, but was ever down-to-earth. On the occasion of his death I wanted to share […]
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  • When you feel like God has let you down (Sermon) May 31, 2023
    Afflicted. Alone. Despairing. Disappointed. That’s what Heman felt. He was the author of Psalm 88, sometimes called the darkest of the psalms. Other psalms end on a upswing, but not this one. Not only does he feel alone, but as if the only One who can help is also against him. Do you want to […]
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  • True Repentance: Create in me a clean heart (Sermon) May 21, 2023
    A methodist pastor was once asked to stop speaking about sin so plainly. He replied: “Would you like me to replace the label on a poison jar to say its peppermint?” In other words, it’s not loving to lie. I’ve preached over 600 sermons in 15 years. Generally speaking, people respond well to sermons about […]
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  • Be still and know that I am God (Sermon) May 14, 2023
    It’s easy to lose perspective when facing uncertainty, fear or dread. Our brains can zero-in exclusively on our problems. That’s why regaining perspective is so important. Perspective is about seeing the bigger picture and right-sizing our problems.  Psalm 46 is about regaining perspective when it feels like your world is coming undone. Perhaps that is […]
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  • The Lord is my Shepherd. What does Psalm 23 mean for us today? (Sermon) May 8, 2023
    “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…” These words begin the world’s most famous psalm. It is said at funerals. It is memorized, tattooed on arms, and underlined in Bibles. Drawing from his own experience tending sheep, David penned a song to teach us about God as a perfect shepherd. He provides for […]
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