Forward Church Kitchener Sermons

In Revelation 4–5, John is given a glimpse into the throne room of heaven where all creation gathers around the throne in endless worship of God and the Lamb. These chapters pull back the curtain on ultimate reality and remind us that worship is not fundamentally about us, our preferences, or our emotions. Worship begins with seeing God rightly. In this section of scripture we are given three reasons why God is worthy of our worship: He’s worthy because He is Creator. (Revelation 4:11) God alone is the source of all life, existence, beauty, and breath. Everything exists by His will and for His glory. Worship begins when we recognize that we are created beings living in God’s world, dependent on Him for everything. He’s worthy because He is Redeemer (Revelation 5:9–10) Jesus, the slain Lamb, is worthy because through His death He has purchased a people for God from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. The cross is not merely an act of love; it is the ultimate declaration of Christ’s worthiness. He’s worthy because He reigns forever (Revelation 5:13) The throne of God is not temporary, fragile, or threatened. God reigns now and forever. Every ruler, kingdom, power, and authority will ultimately bow before Him. True worship flows from recognizing who is truly on the throne. The aim of this week is to move people beyond casual, routine, or consumeristic worship into awe-filled worship rooted in the greatness and glory of God Himself.

As the disciples argue about which of them is the greatest, Jesus responds by placing a child beside Him. In the ancient world, children possessed little social status or influence. By pointing to a child, Jesus overturns the disciples’ assumptions about leadership and importance. In the Kingdom of God, greatness is measured not by power or recognition but by humility and service. Jesus shapes His followers by reshaping their understanding of what truly matters.

Jairus and the bleeding woman approach Jesus from positions of desperation, one publicly pleading, the other secretly reaching. Jesus responds to both with compassion and power. Even when delays seem to jeopardize hope, Jesus brings healing and resurrection. This passage invites us to bring our desperate needs to Jesus, trusting that His timing and power are always sufficient.

Jesus’ authority over the storm reveals both His divine power and the disciples’ fragile faith. The crisis exposes what they trust and what they fear. This passage invites us to bring our fear to the One who rules over every storm we face.

Jesus’ Word exposes the reality of our hearts and calls us to hear Him with obedience. Overview: Jesus’ parables expose the hidden realities within each listener, showing that the problem isn’t the seed but the soil. Hearing God’s Word is not the same as receiving it and receiving it is not the same as obeying it. This message invites people to honestly examine how they are responding to Jesus’ voice.

In Simon the Pharisee’s home, Jesus contrasts the self-righteous coldness of a religious leader with the humble, love-filled response of a forgiven woman. Jesus exposes Simon’s lack of hospitality and declares the woman’s sins forgiven, revealing His divine authority to pardon. This passage invites us to abandon pride, receive Jesus’ grace, and respond with the kind of love that only forgiveness can produce.

As Jesus approaches the town of Nain, He encounters a funeral procession and is moved with compassion for a grieving mother. Without being asked, He commands the dead son to rise, revealing His authority over death itself. This passage invites us to trust that Jesus sees our pain and has the power to meet us in places of deep loss and hopelessness. That with Jesus even death doesn’t get the final say.

Waiting in Hope (Simeon)