Figures from Statistics Canada show that
in 2010, about three in 10 Canadians
went to a service at least monthly.
A similar number attend less frequently.
Four in 10 never go.
Research by the Environics Institute for Survey Research suggests a majority
of Canadians are indeed looking for something beyond themselves, even
if they don't go to a religious service to find it.
According to Environics' Focus Canada 2011 project, 79 per cent of Canadians
say they believe in God or a universal spirit. Seventeen per cent said they did not, and three per cent weren't quite
sure.
Province/Territory Unaffiliated Yukon 37.4% British Columbia 35.1% Alberta 23.1% Manitoba 18.3%
Northwest Territories 17.4%
Canada 16.2% Ontario 16.1% Saskatchewan 15.4% Nova Scotia 11.6% New Brunswick 7.8%
Prince Edward Island 6.5%
Nunavut 6.0% Quebec 5.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador 2.5%
“... I wouldn't say that we're post-religious at all. I think what we see
actually is more a restructuring of religion.“
Religious privatization“...it's a privatizing of religion — not in
an economic sense, but in the sense that it's not on such public display as it used
to be. And it's a privatization that is unique to the individual.”
We believe in one GodDt. 6:4; 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!Mk. 12:29, 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Creator of all things Gen. 1:1; 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.Ps. 33:6; 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. Jn. 1:3; 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
SOF Article 1 - God’s gospel originates in and expresses the wondrous perfection of the eternal, triune God
1. God’s gospel originates in and
expresses the wondrous perfections
of the eternal, triune God
We believe in one God, Creator of
all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and
eternally existing in a loving unity of
three equally divine Persons: the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Artwork by Barukh Shoham
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through Him all things were made; without
Him nothing was made that has been made.John 1:1
Artwork by Barukh Shoham
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was
hovering over the face of the waters.Genesis 1:1
LIFE AFTER BAPTISMWe are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”• not continuing our previous way of living• living so that sin is not the ruler of our
lives
Baptism?And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love
God,
to those who are the called
according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Having limitless knowledge and
sovereign power, God has graciously
purposed from eternity to redeem
a people for Himself and to make all
things new
for His own glory.
LIFE AFTER BAPTISMWe are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”• not continuing our previous way of living• living so that sin is not the ruler of our
lives
Baptism?
Who has saved us and called us with
a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own
purpose and grace which was given to
us
in Christ Jesus before time began,
2 Tim. 1:9
God had created human beings in His own image, so that the eternal Son of
God would be able to enter into our world and become incarnate as a human being
like us. This was part of His eternal purpose.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
“Behold the Lamb of God,Who takes away the sin of the world”
John 1:13-15;29
Having limitless knowledge and
sovereign power, God has graciously
purposed from eternity to
redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new
for His own glory.
In His grace and in His power, He is both
willing and able to save what has been
lost and to restore what has been spoiled
At the climax of human history as we
know it, He will remove the barrier
between
heaven and earth, and all His creatures
will proclaim Him the King of all creation.
Gospel Truths: EFCC; 2011
LIFE AFTER BAPTISMWe are to live “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”• not continuing our previous way of living• living so that sin is not the ruler of our
lives
Baptism?...the mystery of Christ, 5 which in
other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been
revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the
Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His
promise in Christ through the gospel...
Ephesians 3:4(b)-6
Having limitless knowledge and
sovereign power, God has graciously
purposed from eternity to redeem a
people
for Himself and to
make all things new
for His own glory.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things
have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away. 4 And God will wipe
away every tear from their eyes; there shall be
no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Revelation 1:1,4,5
13 And every creature which is in
heaven
and on the earth and under the earth
and such as are in the sea, and all
that are in them, I heard saying:
“ Blessing and honor and
glory and power
be to Him who sits on the
throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and
ever!”
Revelation 5:13
What Next?
If we think theology is dull and
irrelevant, we would rather get on with
life without dragging God into the
discussion.
What Next?
Perhaps we think He is distant and unconcerned, or harsh and angry, or even that He doesn’t exist. We make
choices in life thinking God doesn’t care one way or the other.
What Next?
Perhaps we think He is distant and unconcerned, or harsh and angry, or even that He doesn’t exist. We make
choices in life thinking God doesn’t care one way or the other.
Our confidence in God’s power and love affects the way we respond to life.
What Next?
35 Do you not say,
‘There are still four months
and then comes the harvest’?
Behold, I say to you,
lift up your eyes and look at the
fields, for they are already white
for harvest!
John 4:35
What Next?
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who
believes, for the Jew first and also for the
Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God
is revealed from faith to faith; Romans 1:16-17
Top Related