Church of The Messiah

12/23/2025

Looking for a church service this Christmas season? Check out our Christmas and New Year's services in downtown Ottawa here. We would love to welcome you!

You're invited! Join us for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day services in downtown Ottawa at Church of the Messiah.

12/20/2025

I love the wise biblical balance that the gospel teaches us about flourishing as we read the nativity story.

On one hand, many people try to spend their time only focusing on the positive and on what is right with the world. On the other hand, many people end up spending their time only thinking about what is unjust, evil, and wrong with the world.

The “what is right with the world” crowd can easily slip into living in a fantasy. The “what is wrong with the world” crowd ends up getting warped and bitter.

Biblical Christmas shows the wisdom of following Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in three simple ways. Please note that I am mashing together the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), the Benedictus (Luke 1:68–79), and the Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14).

First, Christmas is not just another story about a birth. Christmas is about the Triune God, in his grace, providing Jesus as Saviour, Messiah, and Lord. When you accept him and the news about him, you will find yourself saved by Jesus and made a member of his covenant family forever. As these truths become more real to your heart, you will find an emotionally strong and safe place to consider who you are, what you have done, what you are doing, and what you are seeking.

Second, knowing that Jesus is Saviour teaches you that you do need to look at the evil in your own life and the evil in the world around you. You are called to really know yourself and to live in the real world with a real God and a real Saviour. So the Lord desires to deliver you from seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses.

Third, the emphasis at Christmas is on “the positive.” “My soul magnifies the Lord” (and by implication, so should yours). “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!” “Glory to God in the highest!” In the context of salvation by grace, you are taught to examine your life and repent; but the real work, the bigger and more enduring work, is to fill your mind with the glory, beauty, mercy, and goodness of the Triune God in what he has done and who he is.

So, have a blessed Christmas, and magnify, bless, and glory in the Lord for what he did in the nativity of Jesus our Lord and Saviour.

Merry Christmas!

- Pastor George

12/19/2025

Looking for Christmas services in Ottawa? Check out details for our Lessons and Carols service, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day ⬇️

www.messiahchurch.ca/christmas-services

12/19/2025

"I love the wise biblical balance that the gospel teaches us about flourishing as we read the nativity story." Check out Pastor George's newest blog on three ways the nativity story points us to the wisdom of following Jesus.

Biblical Christmas shows the wisdom of following Jesus in three simple ways through the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), the Benedictus (Luke 1:68–79), and the Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14).

12/15/2025

"Remember that Scrooge-likeness is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit! Smile along with your Canadian neighbours as they celebrate Canadian Christmas. Pray that you will be given an opportunity to share with them the truth and beauty of biblical Christmas."

“Remember that you do no one a favour if you confuse biblical and Canadian Christmas.”

12/11/2025

"Only God's words in the Bible are described as being from Him."

You can find the whole sermon, "Remember your Creator" from Ecclesiastes 11:1–12:8 on our YouTube, website, or podcast platforms.

12/09/2025

When it comes to the Bible, sometimes you need to think your way to clarity. Other times, you need to obey your way to clarity.

You can find the whole sermon, "Remember your Creator" from Ecclesiastes 11:1–12:8 on our YouTube, website, or podcast platforms.

12/07/2025

"If you meet a Christian who doesn't value thinking... they might sound very pious, but they're not being Biblical."

You can find the whole sermon, "Remember your Creator" from Ecclesiastes 11:1–12:8 on our YouTube, website, or podcast platforms.

12/05/2025

How is the "fear of God" the beginning of wisdom?

You can find the whole sermon, "Remember your Creator" from Ecclesiastes 11:1–12:8 on our YouTube, website, or podcast platforms.

12/03/2025

What does it mean for the Bible to be "like nails firmly fixed?" (Ecclesiastes 12:11).

You can find the whole sermon, "Remember your Creator" from Ecclesiastes 11:1–12:8 on our YouTube, website, or podcast platforms.

12/01/2025

Save the date! The children's Christmas Pageant will be on Sunday, Dec. 14, during the 10:00 AM service.

Luke 2:10-11: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."

11/29/2025

Goodness "ennobles" you! Who wouldn't want that for their life?

You can find the whole sermon, "Remember your Creator" from Ecclesiastes 11:1–12:8 on our YouTube, website, or podcast platforms.