Canaan Fellowship
A christian fellowship attempting to follow Jesus faithfully
30 episodes
latest
weekly cadence
English language
https://www.canaanf.org/feed/podcast/canaan-fellowship/
Episodes
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A christian fellowship attempting to follow Jesus faithfully
Reading the feed…
Bruce Hempel speaks on the theme of comfort and faith, drawing primarily from 2 Corinthians. He emphasizes that God is a God of abundance who provides increased comfort and grace proportionate to our trials, using both Paul’s experiences and the Old Testament story of Elijah as examples. Introduction: Bruce opens by explaining his decision to revisit 2 Corinthians after previously covering it quickly. He notes that Chris Sickler prompted this message by highlighting comfort as a key theme in the book, which Bruce connects directly to faith. Key Points: [01:01] God’s comfort is tied to our tria
Bill Teubl, a physician, opens by introducing the topic of specific habits that can be nurtured to open one’s life to the work of the Holy Spirit. He clarifies that while much teaching focuses on the Spirit’s work enabling our actions, there are also proactive habits that serve as “pedagogues” – guides that lead us to Jesus, who then gives us the Spirit. He outlines seven specific disciplines, grounded in scripture, that can be formed to nurture spiritual life. Intro to the Concept of Spiritual Habits [00:00] Introduces the sermon’s focus: habits that nurture life in the Spirit. [00:26] Explai
Bill Teubl introduces Psalm 127 and reflects on what it means to build a house that is bigger than just a family, emphasizing that the household is meant to be a place of worship and generational fruitfulness. He addresses fathers, mothers, children, and singles, encouraging each to consider their role in building a godly household. [00:00] Opens with Psalm 127, noting he has spoken on it before but returns to it for Father’s Day to explore the idea of “house” as more than a family. [01:30] Defines “house” as a name and legacy (e.g., House of David), larger than the nuclear family, and key to
Bruce provides an overview of 1st and 2nd Corinthians, explaining the pagan background of Corinth and why Paul wrote such corrective letters. He emphasizes that teaching and training in truth is better than correcting faults after they occur, and applies the lessons from these letters to the modern church. Background on Corinth and Paul’s letters: [00:01:26] Corinth was a deeply pagan Roman culture; calling someone a “Corinthian” was an insult implying sexual immorality and self-indulgence. [00:02:26] Paul wrote three letters to the Corinthians (we have two); he lived with them for 18 months o
Bill Teubl introduces a sermon from 2 Timothy 3, explaining that Paul describes both the difficulties of the end times and how Timothy (and believers) should live in response. He emphasizes that evil unfolds as part of God’s redemptive plan, and believers are called to remain faithful to what they have been taught by trustworthy teachers. [00:00] Reads 2 Timothy 3 from the New Living Translation, noting the passage describes “very difficult times” in the last days characterized by selfishness, betrayal, and religious hypocrisy. [03:02] Outlines the two-part structure: verses 1-9 describe end-t
Randy Losee begins by recounting a hiking trip where a green backpack nobody wanted to carry became a lesson in serving others. He connects this to the biblical command to bear one another’s burdens and emphasizes that Christians should willingly sacrifice their own comfort to lighten someone else’s load, using Christ as the ultimate example of service. [00:01] Introduces the green backpack from a hike on Mount Mansfield – no one wanted to carry it, but everyone was able; his son Leland initially complained but eventually carried it with a better attitude. [00:02] The main principle is Galatia
Bruce Hempel delivers a follow-up sermon on living an actively seeking God lifestyle, focusing on the biblical analogy of believers as a royal priesthood. He draws on the Old Testament tabernacle and priesthood as types and shadows that find their fulfillment in Christ and the New Covenant. The message encourages believers to embrace their identity as priests unto God, drawing near to Him with confidence and serving as intercessors and ambassadors for Christ. Introduction and Review The sermon is a follow-up on having an “actively seeking God lifestyle” with reasons to seek God. Reasons to see
Bill Teubl begins by reading Isaiah 54:1-10, with a focus on verses 4-10, introducing the theme of overcoming shame as one of the blessings of redemption. He emphasizes that this chapter follows Isaiah 53, where Jesus bore our shame, and that the specific blessings of redemption come because of what Jesus suffered. [00:03:09] Introduces the passage from Isaiah 54 as being about the benefits or blessings of redemption and notes it follows the suffering of Jesus in Isaiah 53. [00:03:51] The specific blessing of overcoming shame is possible because Jesus himself was shamed on the cross and took o
Bruce opens with a Mother's Day reflection, honoring mothers and exploring Eve's example as "the mother of all living." He transitions into the main topic about actively seeking God, explaining why it matters and how believers can do it individually and corporately. [00:00] Honored mothers present and those who have gone before, sharing how his mother's faith influenced him and his siblings [00:51] Read Genesis 3:20: Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all living; the Hebrew word Eve resembles the word for living [01:14] Mothers carried us for nine months and endured pain in
Bill introduces a talk on life examination through the lens of relationships, offering a caveat that he finds this area personally challenging and that the goal is not to feel pressured by a checklist but to connect with the Lord. He outlines a series of relational questions: how you view yourself, relate to God, your spouse, parents, children, brothers/sisters, unsaved family, and neighbors. [00:07] Begins with a caution: plans can be discouraging to those who need comfort, so the talk is direction-oriented but should not be taken as a pass/fail test. [01:43] We are like a two-year-old in spi
Nathan Hepworth delivers a message on the importance of actively pursuing the Lord and walking with God. He emphasizes that this is something every believer needs but can easily lose sight of, with special attention given to the heart attitudes that truly define close fellowship with God. [00:00:44] The talk is about pursuing the Lord, which is something we all need to be doing, but it’s easy to lose track of. [00:01:10] The emphasis is on the end bits—the culmination—because it’s what people forget. [00:01:25] Isaiah 55:6-7 gives reasons to seek the Lord: He is merciful and will abundantly pa
Bill Teubl introduces the parable of the dishonest manager from Luke 16, describing it as one of Jesus’ most difficult parables to grasp. He connects it to the theme of wealth, noting that the Bible discusses wealth as much as other major themes like marriage and repentance. The speaker emphasizes that wealth is a primary way God teaches us about spiritual realities. [00:00:05] The parable is introduced from Luke 16 as a difficult passage about a manager wasting his master’s possessions. [00:08:40] Luke 16 follows the story of the prodigal son in chapter 15; both parables feature a wealthy per
Casey and Joanna Losee share practical wisdom on strengthening marriage by prioritizing intentional time together, avoiding overwork, and deepening understanding of one’s spouse. They speak from personal experience, addressing threats like technology, work, and children that can erode marital connection. Preserving Intentional Time Together [00:33] Threats to marriage time include technology, work, entertainment temptations, and children — none of which will prioritize investing in your marriage on their own [01:08] Children will not spontaneously give you space; they are focused on their own
Randy Losee presents a sermon on the biblical principles of work, rest, and wealth, emphasizing that a healthy balance between work and rest is key to feeling wealthy. He explores how work was created by God before the Fall but became difficult due to sin, and how trusting the Lord with our work can relieve anxiety. Throughout the sermon, he uses personal anecdotes from his work as a mechanic and references multiple scriptures to illustrate the importance of committing our work to God, avoiding dishonest gain, and observing a rhythm of rest. Introduction & Key Themes [00:00] Having a healthy b
Bill Teubl introduces the evening’s focus on prophecy as speaking forth a word from God to edify others, based on 1 Corinthians 14. He encourages attendees to consider what they have heard from the Lord this week that they could share with someone else. [00:40] Prophecy is speaking forth a word God has given you that can edify or help someone else. [01:28] Reading 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, emphasizing that all things should be done for building up. [03:06] The key verse (verse 26) lists a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation — and these are all ways to prophesy. [05:21] A
This session brings practical parenting advice from God’s Word. Bruce Hempel, Muriel Hempel, and Sabine Schnackenberg share biblical principles, personal lessons, and hands-on training tips to help parents nurture, lead, and disciple their children with love, authority, and wisdom. Bruce Hempel opens the meeting with a song for parents, emphasizing the precious, fleeting opportunity to nurture children in a godly home. He then presents a structured framework of essential lessons children should learn, correlating parental goals with spiritual goals from God. [00:00] Bruce sings Have You Heard
Philip Schnackenberg teaches on the three irreducible, God-given purposes of work that apply to everyone, including children. He explains that these categories—provision, creative work, and stewardship—form a framework for a balanced Christian life that glorifies God. [00:00:57] The three irreducible categories of work are provision, creative work (as originally intended before the Fall), and stewardship. [00:02:27] Provision is a biblical necessity, heavily emphasized for fathers and husbands, with failure to provide being worse than unbelief. [00:03:23] Provision encompasses more than a mode
Bruce Hempel introduces the topic of prayer and prophecy, beginning with two short Old Testament stories about individuals who cried out to the Lord. He encourages the audience to pour out their hearts to God, expect His answer, and trust that He is good and generous. The Story of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) [00:01:40] Jabez is described as “more honorable than his brothers,” but his background was painful—his mother named him “Jabez” because she bore him in pain. [00:02:27] Jabez prayed: “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, so that you would
Naveen Katam opens with a song and a visual illustration he made with his daughter, representing believers clinging to the cross. He transitions to his main message, which focuses on the call to cling to God in every area of life, not just for salvation, using the analogy from Jeremiah 13. Introduction [00:00:00] Begins by requesting we sing “Rock of Ages” and and audience member explains the hymn was inspired by Luther’s experience seeking shelter from a thunderstorm [00:02:31] Shows a craft made with his daughter: a red cross representing how all believers must cling to the cross for salvati
This sermon by Bill Teubl revisits and expands on his previous sermon on 1 Corinthians 14, focusing on how to speak for the Lord (prophesy) within the church. The central themes are that our speech must be motivated by love and delivered in a language others can understand. The talk provides practical guidance on testing one’s motives, the purpose of prophetic words and tongues, and encourages the congregation to practice these gifts to build one another up. [00:00:00] The sermon revisits 1 Corinthians 14 to discuss how to speak for the Lord, focusing on two overarching themes: speaking with a
Bruce Hempel’s sermon focuses on the biblical exhortation to continually seek the Lord, contrasting superficial faith with a deep, personal pursuit of God. He traces this theme from early Genesis through the kings of Israel, highlighting that seeking God involves humility, prayer, repentance, and a daily commitment beyond just church attendance. The call is to be Christians who earnestly seek God with all their heart, both privately and corporately, especially in times of trouble. [00:00:00] The sermon centers on the repeated scriptural command to continually seek the Lord, not as a one-time o
Bill Teubl teaches on 1 Corinthians 14, focusing on the nature and purpose of prophecy within the church. He explains that prophecy is God speaking to individuals so they can share His word with others for their upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation. The sermon contrasts prophecy with speaking in tongues, emphasizing that prophecy is for the corporate benefit of the church and should be pursued within the foundational context of love. [00:00:00] The sermon is based on 1 Corinthians 14:1-19, which contrasts speaking in tongues and prophecy. [00:02:54] Bill notes two controversial parts in
Bill Teubl examines John 20, focusing on the nature of genuine faith and how it is developed. He contrasts mere intellectual acknowledgment of truth with a faith that provides assurance and substance to unseen, eternal realities, and that results in a changed life. The sermon explores the personal journeys of Mary, Peter, and John toward faith after the resurrection, highlighting Jesus’s patient and tender approach to each individual. [00:00:00] The speaker introduces John 20 as the passage for the communion message, noting it was not planned but should be taken as from the Lord. [00:01:03] En
Eric Schnackenberg explores the internal tension between faith and works in the Christian life, prompted by the story of the thief on the cross. He argues that while salvation is by grace through faith alone, genuine faith will naturally produce good works as evidence. The sermon encourages self-reflection to avoid the ditches of complacent laziness or self-reliant moralism. [00:01:05] The sermon begins by setting the context of Good Friday and reading Luke 23:39-43, focusing on the thief who placed his faith in Jesus. [00:03:09] The thief on the cross demonstrates salvation by grace alone, as
Bruce Hempel’s Palm Sunday sermon connects the themes of faith in adversity to Jesus’s Triumphal Entry. He encourages believers to respond to life’s challenges with trust in God’s goodness and control, rather than despair, using personal anecdotes and the story of a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander’s conversion to illustrate profound faith. The sermon culminates in a call to surrender to Christ as King, regardless of the cost. [00:00:00] The sermon begins by tying a previous message on “life and death in the power of the tongue” to how we react to life’s difficulties—with faith or
