The Renew Church Canada Podcast

Spiritual Growth Church Leaders & Building on Christ the Foundation | Keeping Up with the Corinthians / Week 3

In this message from 1 Corinthians 3, Pastor Bartley unpacks why some believers stay “spiritually dim” and how we can grow from infants in Christ to mature disciples who can handle the “solid food” of God’s Word. He challenges our tendency to idolize church leaders and reminds us that we are all merely servants in God’s field and building. We’ll see that Christ alone is the foundation of the church, that our work will be tested by fire, and that what we build on Him must endure in an increasingly hostile culture. Ultimately, the question is not what or who you identify with, but whether your life is truly built on belonging to Christ.

ABOUT THE SERIES
What does it look like to follow Jesus in a culture that pulls us in every direction? This 16-week journey through 1 Corinthians explores everything from spiritual gifts and the nature of love to the reality of the resurrection. Discover how God builds a unified, holy people out of a collection of beautifully imperfect lives.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

The Cross is the Heart of the Christian Faith | Keeping Up with the Corinthians / Week 2

Elder Darcy MacCallum unpacks 1 Corinthians 2 to show that the cross is not just how we are forgiven, but the very shape of the Christian life—meant to confront our ideas of power, success, politics, justice, and spirituality. He warns that, like the Corinthians, we often want resurrection without the cross and may have domesticated the cross into a safe ornament instead of a defining reality, pressing us to ask whether the crucified Christ is truly determining the form of our existence.

ABOUT THE SERIES
What does it look like to follow Jesus in a culture that pulls us in every direction? This 16-week journey through 1 Corinthians explores everything from spiritual gifts and the nature of love to the reality of the resurrection. Discover how God builds a unified, holy people out of a collection of beautifully imperfect lives.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

Church Division, Spiritual Pride, and the Message of the Cross | Keeping Up with the Corinthians / Week 1

Keeping Up With the Corinthians WEEK 1: Pastor Bartley Sawatsky opens 1 Corinthians by showing how church division and spiritual pride were ripping the Corinthian church apart—and how the same issues threaten believers today. He calls us back to the simple, powerful message of “Christ crucified” as the only true basis for Christian unity and spiritual maturity.

ABOUT THE SERIES
What does it look like to follow Jesus in a culture that pulls us in every direction? This 16-week journey through 1 Corinthians explores everything from spiritual gifts and the nature of love to the reality of the resurrection. Discover how God builds a unified, holy people out of a collection of beautifully imperfect lives.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

Youth Takeover | Be A Loser | January 25th, 2026 | Youth Director Jake Troughton

Join Jake Troughton, youth director at Renew Church, for a captivating Youth Takeover service with the message "Be A Loser." Through engaging skits and compelling stories, Jake explores the concept of selflessness and humility, drawing from the historic journeys of mountaineers, missionaries, and modern-day influencers. Discover how true victory lies in putting others first and living out a faith-centered life. Embrace the upside-down kingdom where losing becomes the path to ultimate freedom and joy.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

Persistence in Prayer | Teach Us to Pray - Week 3 | January 18th, 2026

In the final message of the "Teach Us to Pray" series, Pastor Bartley Sawatsky explores the vital role of persistence in our prayer lives. Using parables and examples from Scripture, he contrasts the human nature of an unjust judge with God's loving character, emphasizing that our prayers are cherished and never a burden to Him. Pastor Sawatsky encourages believers to persist in prayer despite spiritual battles, assuring us that persistence can lead either to the answer we seek or to peace about our circumstances. Discover how you can deepen your faith and strengthen your communication with God in this insightful conclusion to the series.

ABOUT THE SERIES
In our "Teach Us to Pray" series, we delve into the foundational aspects of prayer and its role in our spiritual lives. Each message aims to make prayer more prominent and meaningful, encouraging us to deepen our communication and relationship with God. Join us as we learn not just how to pray, but how to embrace prayer as a vital, life-giving connection with our Heavenly Father.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

Roadblocks to Prayer | Teach Us to Pray - Week 2 | January 11th, 2026

In week 2 of our series "Teach Us to Pray" with Pastor Bartley Sawatsky, we uncover "Roadblocks to Prayer." In this insightful message, Pastor Bartley breaks down common obstacles that hinder our prayer life, from comfort and complacency to fear and distractions. Discover practical ways to overcome these roadblocks and deepen your connection with God. Whether you're a seasoned prayer warrior or just beginning your spiritual journey, this message is packed with valuable insights to enhance your communication with the Divine. Don't miss this opportunity to strengthen your prayer practice!

ABOUT THE SERIES
In our "Teach Us to Pray" series, we delve into the foundational aspects of prayer and its role in our spiritual lives. Each message aims to make prayer more prominent and meaningful, encouraging us to deepen our communication and relationship with God. Join us as we learn not just how to pray, but how to embrace prayer as a vital, life-giving connection with our Heavenly Father.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

What is prayer? Teach Us to Pray - Week 1 | January 4th, 2026

Join Pastor Bartley Sawatsky for the first week of our "Teach Us to Pray" series as he explores the profound significance of prayer in our lives. Using the P-R-A-Y acronym—Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield—Pastor Bartley emphasizes the importance of approaching prayer as a privilege and a natural expression of dependence on God. Delve into Jesus' model prayer in Luke 11, gain practical insights on how to deepen your communication with God, and discover the transformative power of aligning your prayers with His kingdom purposes.

ABOUT THE SERIES
In our "Teach Us to Pray" series, we delve into the foundational aspects of prayer and its role in our spiritual lives. Each message aims to make prayer more prominent and meaningful, encouraging us to deepen our communication and relationship with God. Join us as we learn not just how to pray, but how to embrace prayer as a vital, life-giving connection with our Heavenly Father.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

So You Survived Christmas | New Year's Message | Sunday, December 28th, 2025

In this New Year's message, Pastor Bartley Sawatsky reflects on the past year and encourages us to embrace the opportunities of 2026 with hearts full of gratitude and purpose. Journey with him through key moments from the Christmas story in Matthew and Luke, and discover lessons on patience during trials, the importance of establishing godly routines, and living fully for God's business. Whether you're a parent, single, or seeking to grow in grace and favour, this message will inspire you to prioritize what truly matters as you step into the new year.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

Simeon & Anna / Gather Round / Week 4

In the concluding message of the "Gather Round" series, Pastor Bartley Sawatsky explores how Simeon and Anna's encounters with baby Jesus reveal profound truths. He invites us to ponder the light that Jesus brings into the world and challenges us to consider our response to it. With a call to embrace hope and transformation, Pastor Bartley extends an invitation to discover the light of Christ this holiday season.

ABOUT THE SERIES
Gather Round invites us into God’s bigger story through the arrival of Jesus. We’ll celebrate the season together as we explore how his birth brought people from diverse backgrounds together, forming a unique community connected through him.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!

The Wisemen / Gather Round / Week 3

In the third installment of the "Gather Round" series, Pastor Bartley Sawatsky delves into the intriguing historical and biblical connections between Daniel and the Magi. Venturing beyond the typical Christmas narrative, this message uncovers the profound influence of Daniel's prophecies on the wise men from the East. As these devoted scholars embark on a journey to meet the newborn King, we are challenged to reflect on our own dedication to seeking and worshiping Jesus. Join us as we explore the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and their deeper significance in the story of Christ's birth.

ABOUT THE SERIES
Gather Round invites us into God’s bigger story through the arrival of Jesus. We’ll celebrate the season together as we explore how his birth brought people from diverse backgrounds together, forming a unique community connected through him.

We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings at Cineplex Cinemas, 1175 Maple Ave, Milton. We'd love to meet you and invite you to join us there!