Sermons from Harvest Bible Chapel - Barrie

AND HE RESTED

First, God wasn’t tired. How could he be? He’s God! Creating everything didn’t leave him out of breath. He wasn’t weary from the workweek and eager for the weekend. He wasn’t telling everyone, “Thank Me It’s Friday!” When Genesis 2:2 says, “…and he rested” it simply means that he ceased. He ended his work of creating. He was done everything he wanted to do, so he stopped doing it. Somehow, we have associated the seventh day, the Sabbath, with being tired. Makes sense since we’re human, and we get tired. We’ve also made Sabbath-keeping a rule to keep rather than a blessing to be enjoyed. We codified it in a way that God never intended, and Jesus addressed the nonsense religious rite that it became. In Genesis 2:1-3 [https://biblia.com/bible/esv/genesis/2/1-3], God inaugurates the first Sabbath day. He blessed the day and “called it holy,” setting it apart from the other six. The manufacturer’s specifications for humanity were, “you need to stop the work I’ve given you to do after every six days. Take a day off from work. Every week.” We ignore this loving instruction and gift to our own peril. But there’s far more going on than what appears. The rest, the ceasing, speaks to a different striving. A deeper one. One that has everything to do with what Jesus did. A Sabbath that comes at the end of his work, not ours. A Sabbath that is ours to enjoy for eternity. I’m looking forward to working through all of that with you on Sunday. And then I’ll take a rest day on Monday. Series: Genesis – The Things That are Revealed Message: 4 – And He Rested Text: Genesis 2:1-3 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel June 7, 2026 When I see the Sabbath as God sees the Sabbath, I come to realize that… …time is precious (v. 1) Ecclesiastes 3:11 Psalm 90:12 Ephesians 5:15-16 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 chronos – sequence of events; time as linear kairos – a significant time; moments of crisis and opportunity Biblical time, then, is not so much a matter of one thing after another, as it is the story of God’s interactions with his world; a story in which God gives moments of opportunity, moments of decision, times of repentance, a day of grace. - David J. Atkinson …work is positive (v. 2a) …rest is required (v. 2b) …being still is blessed and holy (v. 3) In a culture where busyness is a fetish and stillness is laziness, rest is sloth. But without rest, we miss the rest of God: the rest he invites us to enter more fully so that we might know him more deeply. - Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God Hebrews 4:9-11 Psalm 46:10a For resources relating to the Genesis series, go to harvestbible.ca/resources [https://www.harvestbible.ca/resources/] and scroll down to "Genesis".

LET US MAKE MAN

It is not an exaggeration to say that these words, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” define exactly what it means to be human. So much has been written in the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, and sociology that seek to answer the questions we have about our origin, our purpose, our identity, and our relationships as human beings. And yet, in Genesis 1-2, we have the Creator’s own words about who we are, why we’re here, and what we’re to be doing. As we look at the first account of the creation of Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:26-31 [https://biblia.com/bible/esv/genesis/1/26-31] this Sunday (Genesis 2 is a second telling of the creation narrative from a different perspective), we’ll see that as God’s special and unique creation, each of us is stamped with his image, bound to his purpose, and should be overwhelmed by his goodness. I’ll see you in person at 7 George Street in Barrie or on Harvest Online [https://hbc.info/]. Series: Genesis – The Things that are Revealed Message: 3 – Let Us Make Man Text: Genesis 1:26-31 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel May 31, 2026 It’s all in your head. You have the power to make things seem hard or easy or even amusing. The choice is yours. - Seneca As God’s special and unique creation, I am… …stamped with his image (v. 26a, 27) Humanity made in the image and likeness of God was (and is) the most important aspect of creation. In fact, we can think of every other aspect of creation as preparatory for the creation of humanity as the crowning climax. - Ian J. Vaillancourt, The Dawning of Redemption As image bearers, all people have the same inherent dignity—regardless of their age, sex, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. - Phillip Bethancourt, Exalting Jesus in Genesis 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, 18 …bound to his purpose (v. 26b, 28) God says, “My purpose for you is to…" (1) Rule in my place. (2) Procreate as I have created. (3) Represent me in the world. 2 Corinthians 5:19b-20a 2 Corinthians 5:21 …overwhelmed by his goodness (v. 29-31) Psalm 8:4 Find relevant books and podcasts at harvestbible.ca/resources. (Scroll to "Genesis".)

LET THERE BE LIGHT

I read this quote while studying for the current series we’re in. “It is always dangerous to shout where God has whispered” (Sproul and Wolgemuth). That is to say, don’t get too worked up about things on which the Bible is not clear. Another way of saying it would be to not elevate secondary and tertiary doctrinal issues to the level of primary ones, trying to make something that is personal preference a biblical conviction. As we look at the days of creation in Genesis 1:3-25 [https://biblia.com/bible/esv/genesis/1/3-25] this Sunday, we’ll be challenged to hear what God says and be struck by that alone, rather than by the endless speculations about the mechanics and processes of the creation. We’ll focus on the who, what, and why of our origins rather than the how. And in it all we’ll see the LORD at work in his world and in our lives. We are not to miss that when God said, “Let there be light…”, he meant that not only in the creation of the sun but in the eventual giving of his Son as the true “light of the world." Series: Genesis – The Things That Are Revealed Message: 2 – Let There Be Light Text: Genesis 1:3-25 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel May 24, 2026 What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. — A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy Seeing the creation unfold… …I am sure of the one who did it—"And God said” The assertion that God created the physical universe is of paramount importance. It answers the question, why is there something rather than nothing? [SLIDE 7] It implies that this universe cannot explain itself, as secular atheism, by definition, must maintain. It tells us that this material universe is not the ultimate reality. God is. — John C. Lennox, Seven Days That Divide the World …I am blessed by what he did—“Let there be…” John 1:1-5 Hebrews 1:1-3 Revelation 4:11 Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the right conditions required to permit life, and one which has an underlying, one might say, “supernatural” plan. — Arno Penzias, Nobel prize-winning physicist (as quoted in John C. Lennox) …I am untroubled by how he did it—“And it was so.” The essentials in the Genesis narrative: (1) God created (2) That creation is ex nihilo (3) Adam and Eve were created by God (4) This a literal not figurative account It is always dangerous to shout where God has whispered. — R. C. Sproul and Robert Wolgemuth Both views are possible, but neither one is certain. And we must say very clearly that the age of the earth is a matter that is not directly taught in Scripture but is something we can think about only by drawing more or less probable inferences from Scripture.—Wayne Grudem …I am humbled by why he did it—“It is good.” Psalm 19:1 God’s creative activity in history is not only the preservation of what he has made; it is a continuous, creative engagement with his world, leading forward to its future glory. — David J. Atkinson

In The Beginning, God

Beginnings matter. The origin of the cosmos and of humanity is not insignificant. It is in roots, histories, and ancestries that identity, culture, and meaning are found. So much energy is spent seeking answers for questions that stretch back to that mysterious time when everything began, because humanity’s search for significance is indeed found at the genesis of all things. Thankfully, the Creator provided humanity with a record of that time in the book of Genesis, revealing just what we needed to know. In this 16-week series, The Things that are Revealed, we will find all that we need to satisfy the deep longing in our hearts to know who God is, who we are, and why it all matters. It is the story of the good creation, humanity’s descent into sin and death, and God’s plan, through Christ, to redeem it all. It is recorded that, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). That is to say, God has revealed the story of the origin for our good and to lay the foundation for everything we are and believe. As we prepare to gather this Sunday, remember to pray for Brad Ellis, our elder candidate. You can find info on Brad and on the elder candidate process here [https://www.harvestbible.ca/elders/]. We also have Christine Carruthers, Oluwaseun Toyo, and Meg Eisbrenner, who are in the process of becoming church members. Part of the membership process at Harvest includes publishing the names of the applicants to ensure there are no outstanding issues within the church. In keeping with the spirit of Matthew 18:15-17 [https://biblia.com/bible/esv/matthew/18/15-17], we ask you to resolve any personal matters that may exist between you and the applicants, which, if ignored, would hinder their fruitful service to Christ among us. And our month of Sign Up to Serve continues with a focus this week on Harvest Helps and Hospitality. If your happy place is behind the scenes, if you have experience in the food industry, if you’re talented in light home repair or could give someone a ride to an appointment, or if you love to cook and serve others, then we need you on these teams. Drop by the tables in the lobby on Sunday to get all the details. Series: Genesis – The Things that are Revealed Message: 1 – In the beginning, God Text: Genesis 1: 1-2 Todd Dugard Harvest Bible Chapel May 17, 2026 I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. - The Apostles' Creed Deuteronomy 29: 29 In God’s world… …I bow to the Creator (v. 1) Romans 1: 19-20 Colossians 1: 16-17 There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened. - C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 Philippians 2: 9-10 …I see the temporal and eternal (v. 2a) To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age. ‘Tis much better to do a little with certainty and leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of anything. - Sir Isaac Newton God is the sort of God who comes into confusion and makes things new. He hovers over your darkness and says, “Let there be light!.” - David Atkinson …I await his greater work (v. 2b) It cost God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things, but to convert rebellious wills cost him crucifixion. - C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Revelation 21: 1 The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Through The Generations

The truth of who God is and the story of the gospel has always travelled the same road, from one life to another, one generation to another, carried by those who received it, were changed by it, and refused to stay silent about it. That’s how it got to you and me, and that’s the way it will get to the generation coming behind us. In Psalm 78 [https://biblia.com/bible/esv/psalm/78/1-8], Asaph, a leader of Israel in the worship of God, calls the people together with a message as urgent today as it was three thousand years ago. Throughout history and to today, God has chosen to move his story forward through his people. Through lives shaped by his Word, through voices that speak openly of what he has done, and through a hope that we can count on. This Sunday, as we close our Imitators of God [https://www.harvestbible.ca/series/imitators-of-god/] series, we’ll ask the question that underlies the whole of the Christian life: what am I doing with what I’ve been given? Because the faith that was entrusted to us was never meant to stop with us. It was meant to travel, through our words, our lives, our hope, to the generations we will never live to see. I’m looking forward to going through that with you. See you Sunday! Series: Imitators of God Message: 5 - Through the Generations Text: Psalm 78:1-8 Jordan Coros Harvest Bible Chapel May 10, 2026 The church isn’t a collection of age-based silos. It is a Spirit-wrought community of young and old, redeemed by Christ and bound together in covenant love. The church’s beauty isn’t in its sameness but in its holy diversity. And one of the clearest demonstrations of that kingdom diversity is when generations walk together in Christ. – Drew Daniels, Generations Together for the Glory of Christ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/generations-together-glory-christ/ I will imitate God in shaping future generations when I… …don’t ignore the Word of God (v. 1-3) …don’t hide the works of God (v. 4-6) 2 Timothy 2:2 Tell it out, Christian friends, tell it out. The world must hear of a Saviour’s love. You are the only Bible some people will ever read. Your life is the only sermon some will ever hear. – Charles Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 10, 1864 …don’t forget the hope of God (v. 7-8) Colossians 1:27 Psalm 145:4 The grace of God excludes your earning, but it doesn’t exclude your effort. – Ray and Jani Ortlund, To the Tenth Generation Resource: To the Tenth Generation: God’s Heart for Your Family, Far into the Future Ray and Jani Ortlund https://a.co/d/0dIE4QqX [https://a.co/d/0dIE4QqX]