Sermons by Darryl G. Klassen

WHO NEEDS THE LAW?   If I say “don’t,” does that make you want to do it? When the waitress comes by with your food and says, “Be careful, the plate is hot,” don’t you want to touch it more? I usually do.             The prohibition makes you want to test the limits. Laws tend to incite desires you wouldn’t otherwise have. As some have said, if there were no laws…no crime. Smart, eh?             I found this on the web: “ Despite decades of prohibition and the use of criminal sanctions to deter cannabis use, prohibition failed to prevent a number of negative public health and safety outcomes. ” Cannabis is one of the most popular controlled substances in Canada. Crime involving cannabis was on the rise. The article states several negative outcomes of its effects; one being that criminals have trouble finding jobs and housing after their release.  ( https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada )             What do you do when the law doesn’t solve the problem of drug addiction and crime? On O

WHAT IT TAKES TO BELONG   As a young person, I struggled with feeling like I belonged in Christian groups. I felt like I stood apart from the other youth in my youth group because I was too committed. But I really felt awkward among my fellow counselors at Red Rock Bible Camp. I just didn’t feel like I belonged among them. They were tanned. They wore name-brand summer clothes. They were confident in themselves. They played volleyball like it was a religion and heaven help you if you screwed up. Do you know where these young men and women were from?  (Rosenort) .              What did it take to belong? What did I need to do? Exchange my long pants for shorts? Practice more volleyball drills? Would this kid from Winnipeg fit in then?              What does it take to belong to the people of God? What did you need  to do  to belong in the fellowship of believers?              Lyle Schaller writes that every congregation can be described in terms of two concentric circles. The outer circl

“THIS IS MY STORY”   What’s your story?             If I told you my story, how I came to follow Christ, it would not be very dramatic. A lot of people struggle to tell their stories because they feel it’s not much of a story. They grew up in Christian homes, went to church all their lives, and at some point, accepted the faith of their parents as their own. Not much to tell. I fall into that box except for a few personally impactful moments that mean something to me.              Sharon and I know a fellow from the other side of the river that has one of those dramatic stories. Donald’s life was one of darkness. He was classically wicked. Don had been a drug dealer, a pimp, and the muscle for a loan shark. He told of beating guys up for late payments on those high interest loans. Donald was from Quebec, a Francophone, but he looks Italian, like a Guido or a Tony. Talks like one too. His bosses (mafia types) sent him all across Canada (to hear the stories strains belief at times), and

NO OTHER GOSPEL   Good news!              As an expression, “good news” has been overused. It is applied so broadly that “good news” can mean anything.               Recently, I was searching online for nightstands to match our bedframe. The virtual salesperson popped up and asked if “she” could help. Sure. I told “her” what I was looking for and she did her thing. “She” came back and texted, “Good news! It’s in stock right now! Earliest delivery date is looking at next Tuesday if ordered now.”               Good news, my materialistic desire to spend can be satisfied. Good news, I can have what I want. Good news, shopping is made easy online.               Is this good news? I was struck by the absurdity of this announcement in contrast to my study in Galatians. I was also convicted: What is good news? There are many variations of “good news” in our world; “good news” that offers relief from suffering; “good news” that promises an easier life, a prosperous life; “good news” that frees