Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.
! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and you're listening to the sermon podcast for December 28th, 2025.
This is a special Sunday, as it is the last Sunday in the year 2025.
Today, we are looking at Ephesians 2, verses 13-22, with the sermon titled, Building Bridges to Peace.
Looking back at 2025, this year the theme was Building Bridges.
And as we come to the close of the end of this year, we find ourselves in a unique moment.
We are standing on this bridge between two years, 2025 and 2026.
We're right after Christmas, right before the new year.
It is a time where we are in between these two years,
and we reflect with gratitude with how God has been faithful in the past,
we live in the present, and we look forward, trusting in God for what He has in store for us in the next year, 2026.
In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul writes about how Christ is our peace.
He is not just a teacher of peace, but Christ is peace Himself.
Through His blood, through His sacrifice, those who were far off have been brought near.
The dividing wall of hostility has been broken down.
We who were once strangers and aliens are now fellow citizens and members of God's household,
built on Christ as the cornerstone.
This message also connects with 1 Samuel 7, verse 12,
where Samuel raises up this stone called an Ebenezer stone, saying,
Thus far the Lord has helped us.
It's both a remembrance and a reminder of God's faithfulness,
as well as a declaration of continued trust in Him for what is about to come next.
I always found that so interesting, this Ebenezer stone,
because it is connected with what we find in that famous hymn, Come Thou Fount.
You may know the lyric in verse 2,
Here I raise my Ebenezer.
Many people, we don't know what that word or that lyric even means,
but I found it so interesting how it's connected with 1 Samuel 7.
As we listen to this message, we will explore the observation,
the interpretation, and the application.
Let us stand on the bridge and remember that God has been there with us the entire way.
May we boldly cross the bridge faithfully.
May we trust in Him,
and may we be moved to be a peacemaker with Christ beside us.
Let us dive into God's word together.
This is one of the very few times you'll see me actually sitting down.
I've been, I was sick this week and I've been recovering.
I am recovered, but I don't want to move around and have a disaster go on.
So I hope you can forgive me with that.
But with that in mind, we're, you know, we're at the last Sunday of this year, of 2025,
and it's been really remarkable seeing how much time has been flying by.
You know, there's a famous saying that time flies when you're having fun,
and I hope that a lot of us are having a lot of fun here in the process, right?
You know, when we look back at 2025 and we think of just all of the things that have happened,
I am amazed at how fast the year has gone by.
Have you felt that way?
The year has just completely just gone by, you know?
I titled this sermon, Building Bridges to Peace.
Kind of as a, we're going to open our Bibles together.
We're going to go to Ephesians chapter 2, if you want to go ahead and open there.
It's going to be from page 1160.
Feel free to turn there.
The theme for this year, for 2025, was building bridges.
And the reason why that was the theme was considering how important it is for us as Christians
to know that there is no dividing wall.
There's nothing that separates us from the love of Christ.
And just as Christ has loved each and every one of us,
we are called to build bridges with other people.
Those even in our own family.
Those within our community.
And just how to really think of how God has been working in this place
has just been something that's been remarkable.
And so, let's pray.
And then we will read from the Word of God.
And we'll go into it.
And Father God, we thank you for this time and for this opportunity for us to gather
on the last Sunday of 2025.
I really hope and pray that each and every one of us who are here in person
or here online,
that they know that they are loved by you.
And I hope that we've had a lot more good than bad.
You know, as I was mentioning, Father, that time flies when you're having fun.
I hope that we've had good experiences.
But even if we've had bad or ugly experiences,
may we turn to you.
May we take this Sunday, this time,
to reflect not only on our own personal walk with you,
but how you have worked in and through our personal lives
and in and through this church.
We're so grateful for your love.
We're grateful for you sending your son, Jesus,
who is our peace.
We love you.
We praise you.
We glorify you.
And we honor you.
It's in the name of Jesus that we pray and we all say together, amen.
So, from Ephesians chapter 2,
it's going to be from verses 13 through 22.
We can actually start from verse 11, right,
where it says,
one in Christ.
Therefore, remember that at one time,
you Gentiles in the flesh,
called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, right?
So, it's talking about circumcision versus uncircumcision,
which is made in the flesh by hands.
Remember that you were at the time separated from Christ,
alienated from the commonwealth of Israel
and strangers to the covenant,
the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.
So, we're thinking of the Gentiles, right?
The idea that they were outside of salvation.
They were outside of the fold of God.
But it goes on in verse 13,
but now, right?
Don't you love when verses say,
but then or but now, right?
That's a very important thing we see.
But now in Christ Jesus,
what does it say?
You who were once far off
have been brought near by what?
By the blood of Christ.
That's very important, right?
Verse 14,
For he himself is our what?
Our peace.
Who has made us both one
and has broken down in his flesh the what?
The dividing wall of hostility.
That's very important, right?
Nothing that will separate us from Christ.
By abolishing the law of commandments
expressed in ordinances
that he might create in himself,
one new man in place of the two,
so making peace.
And might reconcile us both to God
in one body through the cross,
thereby killing the hostility.
And he came and preached peace to you
who were far off
and peace to those who were near.
So, it's the same message, right?
You see here that peace was being preached
to those who were far off,
those who were outside of the fold,
and those who were near.
Verse 18,
For through him,
we both have access in one spirit to the Father.
What interesting language we see here, right?
To have access to the Father, right?
I always love giving this example
where when we think of prayer,
we can think of how we have a direct line to God.
You know how difficult it is
to have a direct line to a CEO, right?
The boss, the administrator.
We think of how difficult it is
in our own everyday life
to get in touch with somebody,
and then if you get in touch with them,
do they have the time, right?
Usually, they're busy.
They've got appointments and meetings.
But when it comes to God,
having that direct line
and that direct access,
as this text is saying,
is something that is astonishing.
So, it goes into verse 19.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,
but you are what, church?
Fellow citizens.
With the saints and members
of the household of God.
That kind of reminds,
should remind us of how
when Christ says that in his,
there are many rooms, right?
We know of that verse.
In the house, there are many rooms.
And so, it goes on, verse 20.
But the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus himself being the what?
The cornerstone, right?
The most important stone, right?
The one that sustains everything together.
That's very powerful.
Verse 21.
In whom the whole structure,
being joined together,
grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Verse 22.
In him, you also are being built together
into a dwelling place
for God by the Spirit.
And so, this is very interesting.
We're going to piece all of this together, right?
We're thinking about it.
We celebrated the Advent season,
the Christmas season, right?
We were talking about Emmanuel,
God being, God coming near to us.
And we have this verse,
and you'll see it later on.
It was in our interactive reading,
where it said,
thus far, the Lord has helped us.
And this is connected to what we have in Ephesians
and what we have for today.
In moments when you're between,
we're basically between two seasons here.
As a church body,
we celebrated our 80th anniversary.
For many of us,
we had all of the things happening in 2025,
and we're about to go into 2026.
We're in that little middle space.
And it's a very interesting space to be in, isn't it?
Right after Christmas,
right before the new year.
But we can think to ourself
how the Lord has helped us
and been there for us.
A bridge between two years,
looking back at last year
and stepping forward into the new year.
And how important it is for us
to celebrate the past victories
that have happened through Christ.
And how we humbly come before the Lord
for direction and for guidance.
And when we look at this Ephesians passage, right?
The language is mentioning those that were far off,
those that were distant,
and they are brought near by the blood of Christ.
Mentioning the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
We think of the Christian faith.
We think of how the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, right?
When we talk about the Advent season, right?
Emmanuel, God with us.
How we still have our nativity scene, right?
The representation.
The story of how Jesus is coming into the earth
in such humble beginnings as a child.
And we think all of this happens
so that we can be included into salvation.
That God gives us the opportunity
for us to respond to that salvation.
That we can have security in Him.
Newness of life in Him.
Ephesians is also saying
that through the cross,
Jesus creates one new humanity.
Just like how Scripture says
that we are a new creation
and how important it is for us
to lay aside
the former things of the former life
and to seek the things that are higher,
the things that are nobler,
to grow in Christ,
not to just remain a spiritual child
all of your life.
But to mature
and to grow
just as a fruit tree
will produce fruit,
we are called to do the same thing.
And the very notion
that we have access to the Father
by one Spirit
is a remarkable thing.
It should give us comfort
when we hear
that we have access to God.
It always saddens me
when I hear about people saying,
well, God is distant.
He is far away
and He doesn't care.
How wrong can you be
knowing that we have access to God?
We can pray to Him.
And even in moments
where we don't think He's there
or in moments
we don't feel He is there,
He is still there with us.
Just think of how
in our own life
here on the earth,
God's going to be there
with you
in every season of your life,
in every moment.
That's a very comforting thing.
And I, as a pastor,
I speak very much against this notion
that God is far away.
we can see
in the Christmas season
and even in these passages
the nearness of God
and how He desires
to be with us
and how in the same way
we should desire
to be in the presence
of the Lord,
to be close to Him,
to grow in Him
as it were.
And the language
when it talks about
no longer being strangers
but being welcome
in the household,
it's just like how I
preached previously
about
all of these parables
that talk about
being ready for the feast
or the great banquet
as it were
and having the proper clothes
for the banquet.
There's so many different
parallels that we can see here.
in this verse,
to no longer be a stranger
but to be part
of God's household.
That's a sense of closeness, right?
Imagine for,
in your own story,
if you invited someone,
a stranger,
into your own home,
at what point
do they become
a member of the family?
It takes a lot of intention.
And I'm not saying
you all should do that
and I'm not saying
it's all going to happen
in our own circumstance
but just think
of the amount
of trust,
love,
and intentionality
that takes
and for God
to
welcome us in.
That's powerful.
That's an amazing
kind of love
that God has for us.
We are known to God.
Scripture talks about
how we are given
new names,
new identities,
and even new clothes.
Just like how we've been
taking a break
from our Revelation series
but how in Revelation
it says,
blessed is the one
who washes his robes.
How that's so connected
with going from filthy rags
into new clothes.
Isn't that powerful?
How we see all these
connections here.
And it's a reminder for us
that Christ is the cornerstone
and we are being built
together
into a dwelling place
for God.
Christ being the cornerstone,
being the most important stone
that holds everything together.
I love thinking of the famous
children's song,
He's Got the Whole World
in His Hands.
Right?
Talking about the sustenance,
the sustaining power of God,
that He's got this.
To have the whole world
in His hands,
that's a lot of care
and intentionality, right?
That kind of imagery.
If you,
some of you,
you may have worked
with model toys
or model houses.
I have a friend of mine
who works with model tanks
and the amount of work
that it takes
to make sure things are correct
and things don't break
is a lot of work
and that's just a little tank.
Imagine how God
is sustaining the world.
How powerful that is.
And so,
I have
the slide here.
What we can observe
from that entire set of passages,
if there's anything
you can take away from that,
is that Christ is our peace.
And I have this image of,
how many of you have experienced
or you've seen something like this, right?
You're at a very serene kind of lake
and there's like that one drop
and you see the ripple effects, right?
It's very calming.
It's very satisfying.
And that's just one,
a smaller example,
but we can think of how Christ,
in all of these verses,
being our peace
and breaking down that dividing wall.
And we think how very often
the text describes
not only what the wall is,
but that the wall is dividing
and that it's hostile.
And that's,
I don't want that kind of wall.
And to know that God is
removing
that kind of wall
and offering peace instead
is just something that is,
it can be very hard for us
to wrap our mind around.
And it's something that can be
very above our understanding
and that's okay.
But I just thought that image,
nonetheless,
you can think of how
in your own context,
in your own life,
something that is calming
and peaceful.
And think of how Christ
is much greater
than just a drop on a lake
or a, you know,
whatever you have.
I mentioned about 2025
how we were focusing
on building bridges.
And by the grace of God,
we have had
10 children
dedicated to the Lord.
By the grace of God,
we have had four baptisms.
And from what I understand,
we're looking at two
beginning next year.
Isn't that showing
how God is working
in this place?
God is doing a new thing.
And we are blessed by
not just the 10 children
in the four baptisms,
but the families
that are involved in it.
And we think about how
powerful
evidence of God's grace.
We are blessed that
these families are dedicating
their children to their Lord
and that lives
are being transformed.
Making that public statement,
saying,
I believe
in Jesus.
Let us remember
to believe in Christ
is very personal.
To be baptized then,
that's very public.
And it's very remarkable.
It's something we should
all celebrate together.
You know,
I always get a little,
I get a little jealous
sometime when I
see videos of people
getting baptized
in the River Jordan.
I think that's so cool.
You know,
I couldn't afford a flight.
You know,
I didn't get baptized
in the River Jordan
and not many of us can.
But,
in any sense,
to show
that
sense of
celebration,
that public
proclamation.
We've seen
in this course
of this year
that
God has been
allowing for us
to partner
with other
organizations.
My wife,
myself,
we've talked about
our partnership
with Building Healthy Families
to help strengthen
families
and by us
being present,
that builds
relationships.
And,
not to mention
our STEAM Nights.
Do you know
our STEAM Nights
are hosted
by this church,
our own church,
and we have
an average
of 40 people
who attend
every single time?
That's something
that is for families,
for communities,
to be exposed
to something
that,
to be exposed
to the church,
but also to be
exposed to community.
And that's something
that the church
has to offer.
And,
look,
we're not a,
we're not a big church.
You know,
what matters
is building
and cultivating
those kind
of relationships.
Knowing someone
by name,
not knowing them
by a number.
And I certainly hope
big churches
don't go by numbers.
Right?
I know,
you're all laughing,
right?
How many of you guys
have seen that,
that show,
Cheers?
Right?
You,
you probably know
the theme song.
You want to know
where everybody
knows your name.
Now,
that's talking
about a bar.
Let's be honest here.
That's probably
how a church
should be
operating,
though.
The same concept,
okay?
So,
I'll tell you,
go listen to
the Cheers theme song
and think of a church.
Okay?
The notion of that,
I think,
is very powerful.
Right?
Where you know people
and you have those,
those kind of relationships.
And so,
I bring all of that
kind of,
as we,
we now go into
Christ being our peace,
Christ tearing down
the walls,
let's go into
the interpretation,
then,
of what we can,
we've gone over
the observation,
what can we observe
directly in the text
and the interpretation,
then,
is what we can
learn from this.
The first thing,
then,
is that,
let's read it together,
church,
peace begins with Christ,
not with us,
right?
Christ does not
merely teach peace,
right?
That's very important.
There's a lot of people
that teach peace,
but we're talking about
how Christ
is our peace.
It's a subtle difference,
but it's a pretty
significant difference here.
And we think of how
reconciliation,
then,
it flows from the cross.
In other words,
we have to factor in
what Christ
has done
for us,
not what we
can do.
We think about that
when it comes
to our salvation
and how
the Lord
encourages us
and equips us
to do great things
in his name.
we think about
how in these verses
it was talking about
these walls,
these dividing walls
of hostility.
It didn't just say
walls were being destroyed.
It didn't say
unifying walls
were being destroyed.
Unifying walls of love.
It's talking about
dividing walls
of hostility
being destroyed,
being torn down.
And that is why
for 2025,
we focus so much
on building bridges
with other people.
These walls
are being torn down
of hostility
when we are called
to live and love
like Christ.
And when we think
of peace then,
well,
it begins with Christ.
True peace.
peace comes from Christ.
How many of you
have met someone
who,
they were so
peaceful
and no matter
what happened
in their life,
there was something
about them.
They had a peace,
right?
Scripture talks about
the peace
that surpasses
all understanding.
talk about peace
there.
I mean,
when we think
of peace,
we think of
peace and quiet,
you know?
Can I get a moment
of peace away
from the boss
who's nagging
on me
or whatever,
you know?
Can I,
it's too loud,
these kids are
rambunctious.
Not that I've
ever experienced
that,
you know?
I admit,
I'm human,
I've got five kids
and there's a lot
more loud moments
than quiet ones.
And to be very honest,
I get a little more
freaked out
when it's quiet
than when it's loud,
you know?
So I gotta be careful
what I ask for,
right?
But anyways,
with this,
as we receive
this true peace
from Christ,
we are called
to share
in the peace
of Christ
with other people.
The second thing
then is
peace
forms.
I have a typo there.
It forms us
or forms a us,
right?
It forms us
individually
and collectively,
right?
I'm human.
I have,
I put typos
every so often.
Were they intentional
or not?
I don't know.
I'll have to find out.
We think about this
that
God
not only
saves
individual people,
but he forms
people groups,
forming a people,
the body of Christ,
transforming
marriages
or relationships
with
mother and
mother and father,
mother and child,
father.
I mean,
you can go on
with families
and these kind of things.
It is God's desire
to make all things new.
It is God's desire
to transform
each and every one of us
and it doesn't stop
in the individual though.
It continues
with others.
Think about it.
If I'm the only
Christian
in
a completely
evil
and worldly family,
you don't think
that how God
is transforming me
is going to affect
my family
and everyone
that I know?
That's the transforming
power of God.
It affects
a multitude
of people.
And we think about that,
God's desire
to make all things new.
Christ being
the transformer
of all of us.
And it should be
our desire
to want to be
molded by the Lord,
to journey with Him.
And
we think
about that.
To think that
we're no longer
strangers
but members
of God's household,
that's a very
intimate kind of setting.
thinking about
how
Christ being
the cornerstone,
right?
This
peace
forms us.
We are
transformed
as we are
transformed.
We are to
transform
by living
and loving
like Christ.
Christ.
It is not
our power,
but it is
the power
that comes
through us
from Christ.
It's just
like how
many of you
have seen,
I think
it's the mummy,
Tim.
It might be
the mummy,
where
they're trying
to light
a very dark
room
and they
get a mirror
to shine
the light
of the sun
and they get
all these
mirrors
to keep
reflecting
and to
light this
entire
dark
room
up.
I think
that's a
really
great
imagery.
Right?
The mirror
is not
the sun.
It is
reflecting
the sun
though
to light
up that
room.
In a
very similar
way,
we have
the light
of Christ
and we
are to
reflect,
radiate,
share in
that kind
of light
of Christ
with other
people.
A couple
questions I
want you to
think about.
Have you
ever thought
of the
church
as a
household?
You've
probably
thought of
the church
as,
well,
this is
the
dwelling
place of
God,
right?
This is
God's
house.
I know
my parents
used to
tell me
that all
the time.
You don't
want to be
rambunctious
because this
is God's
house.
But have
you ever
thought of
the church
being part
of God's
household?
It's kind
of an
interesting
thought,
isn't it?
And then
the other
question is
how often
do we
try to
create peace
on our
own
when we
need that
peace that
surpasses
all
understanding?
The third
thing then
is peace
shapes us
as witnesses
and peacemakers.
That's
where we
had this
idea of
the
ministry
of
reconciliation,
right?
Where peace
is not
passive,
it moves
outward
towards
other
people.
Just as
we receive
the greatest
gift of
salvation,
why would
you not
want to
share that
with other
people?
I've
always been
so confused
by that.
Why would
you not
want to
tell everyone
what you
believe in?
why would
you not
want to
share how
God's
working in
your life?
Why would
you not
want to
share the
peace of
Christ or
share the
simple fact
that Christ
is your
peace?
It's a
call for
you to
share because
this kind
of peace
is an
active kind
of peace.
And I'm
reminded how
Christ calls
us to be
peacemakers
and not
peacekeepers.
We'll go
more into
that next
week.
Blessed
are the
peacemakers.
Very
interesting
when we
think about
the difference
between a
peacekeeper
and a
peacemaker.
So let's
keep that
in mind.
And so
in all of
this then
let us go
to our
application
then.
What do
we do
about this?
Right?
We have the
observation where
we read the
text.
we have
the
interpretation
is what
are the
underlying
lessons
here.
And the
application
then is
what we
do about
it.
You know,
it's very
important for
us to
go over
all of
these because
as we
learn,
as we
grow,
we need
to live
it out.
Right?
It's kind
of, I
always think
it's interesting
how, how
many of you
have ever
bought a
self-help
book before,
you can be
honest here,
right?
And they
always say
you need to
apply what
you've learned.
I mean, this
can apply to
life skills
or training
or whatever
it is.
It doesn't have
to be just
self-help.
It can be
any sort
of thing.
You have
to apply
the skills
that you
learn.
That's no
different than
when it
comes to
scripture.
When we
read the
text and
we learn
the lessons,
we have
to apply
it to
our very
lives.
And so
we have
the question
then,
how should
we live,
right?
The first
thing is,
I've used
this in
connection
with this
idea of
bridge
building,
is to
stand on
the bridge.
Remember
God's
help.
Now, I
want you to
think of
a bridge
just like
how the
text is
talking about
the dividing
wall of
hostility being
gone.
Think of
the image
of a
bridge
to God.
That you
now have
that access.
And so,
as you
stand on
the bridge
or as
you're
journeying
in the
bridge,
remember
God's
help.
Know that
God has
been there
for you.
Right?
That he's
calling for
each and
every one
of you
into a
relationship
with him.
And maybe
it's a
possibility
for you
to think
of one
way that
God has
brought you
near to
him.
Think of
that.
God is
with us.
He's
calling for
you to
draw near
to him.
Maybe you
can reflect
on one
instance
that God
has brought
you near.
And I
also encourage
for you
to thank
God
intentionally
for his
faithfulness.
God
doesn't
give up
on us.
Now,
nobody
here has
to raise
their hand,
but it's
the most
disheartening
thing when
someone gives
up on
someone,
right?
Very
disheartening.
But when
it comes
to God,
he is
beyond our
human
understanding
and our
human
reasoning.
God
doesn't
abandon
us.
He's
always there
for us.
when we
read so
much
scripture
talking
about
the
Lord
being
patient,
kind,
and
merciful,
how the
Lord is
faithful.
We should
thank God
for that.
Just say,
Lord God,
I'm glad
you're
faithful in
my life.
And you're
the same
yesterday,
today,
and forever.
And maybe
this is a
call for you
to share
in one
story of
God's
faithfulness.
The second
thing,
then,
is to
cross the
bridge
trusting in
God,
right?
Be on
this
journey
in the
Lord.
You can
think of
the imagery
of a
bridge,
you can
think of
just
journeying
in life,
right?
You can
think of
sheep going
to green
pastures
with the
shepherd,
you can
think of
many
different
types of
imagery
about
journeying
with the
Lord.
And I
always love
going back
to the
Psalms,
where it
says,
even though
I walk
through the
valley of
the shadow
of death,
I will
fear no
evil.
Why?
Because he
trusts that
God is
with him.
That's some
amazing
faith.
When you
read that,
that should
give you
great comfort.
I mean,
that's a
lot of
trust in
the Lord.
So I
want you
to think
about one
relationship
or friendship.
How can
you represent
Christ with
a friend?
Maybe it's
a friend that
has been
marked by
tension or
distance.
How can
you represent
Christ with
others?
And you
can also,
as you
cross the
bridge,
trust that
the Lord
knows what
he's doing.
Trust in
him.
Take one
step,
right?
I love
that Christmas,
there's a
Christmas movie,
it's the
clay animation
kind of thing,
where it's,
you may know
the song,
put one foot
in front of
the other.
Do you
guys know
that song?
It's the,
what is it,
the abominable
snowman?
Right?
He's trying to
walk and
he's just a
big scary
monster,
but he learns
how to
walk,
right?
But I
love that.
You put
one foot
in front
of the
other.
I think,
I know
that's not
the heart
of that
movie,
but just
like how,
you know,
going where
everyone knows
your name is
not the
heart of
Cheers,
but we can
take little
pieces of it
nonetheless.
us.
And so,
take one
step towards
peace,
conversation,
prayer,
invitation,
even forgiveness.
And the
third thing
then,
is to be a
peacemaker
with Christ
beside you.
And I want
you to think
about one
way that
you can be
a peacemaker
and you'll
see there's
a connection
with being
a peacemaker
and a
bridge builder.
Prayer and
discipleship,
hospitality and
welcome,
community
partnership,
there's many
ways,
but in
any sense,
let this
be a call
for you
to faithfully
step forward
to be a
peacemaker
with Christ
by your
side.
And in
closing,
I want to
take to
this next
slide here.
You know,
we sang that
song,
Come Thou
Fount,
and there's
this verse
here,
which I
think is
such a
strange verse,
right?
Thus far
the Lord
has helped
us.
It's kind
of like,
well,
God has
helped us
so far,
right,
kind of
thing.
Well,
and first,
and we're not
going to turn
there,
but in
1 Samuel
chapter 7,
God is
giving the
people of
God
victory.
And it's
in this
moment in
victory where
they're saying,
God has
helped us
so far,
and because
of this,
I'm going
to raise
up an
Ebenezer
stone.
And so I
put this as
kind of a
representation.
I have no
idea what it
looked like,
okay?
But in
this,
this stone
was a
representation,
it was a
remembrance
of marking
what God
had done
for the
people.
Not only
was it a
sense of
remembrance
though,
but it was
also the
people of
God
trusting
in the
Lord for
what he
would do
next.
It's a
moment in
time.
And so
when we
think of
that hymn,
Come Thou
Fount,
we think
of that
lyric,
Here I
raise my
Ebenezer,
right?
It's raising
that stone
in victory
and continuing
to trust
in God.
And I
think about
that,
it's such
an unusual
wording for
a lyric of
a hymn,
but it's
actually
beautifully
tied in
with
scripture
and tied
in with
where we
are at,
not only
in Ephesians,
but where
we are
today at
the end
of 2025.
That in
the same
way that
the people
of God
raised up
their stone,
knowing what
God had
done,
they were
going to
continue to
trust in
him,
not knowing
what
tomorrow
was going
to hold.
And I
think about
that.
2025 is
coming to
a close
and we're
going to
enter in
2026.
And quite
frankly,
we have no
idea what
that year is
going to be
like.
And that
can be
very
disheartening,
it can be
encouraging,
who knows.
But let's
not worry
about tomorrow
just as
Christ has
told us
not to
worry about
tomorrow.
let us
put
2026
into the
hands of
God,
trusting in
him,
just as
God
knows
what he
is doing.
So let us
look back on
God's
faithfulness
and let us
step forward
into this
new year
much as
we cross
the bridge,
much as
we know
that Christ
is our
peace,
may we
step boldly
in faith.
Let us
pray together.
And
Father God,
we thank
you for
this time
and this
opportunity
for us
to go
through
these
verses
in
Ephesians,
learning a
little bit
about
the
Ebenezer
stone,
but also
importantly,
knowing about
how your
son Christ
is our
peace and
how we
are to
receive this
peace and
to share
this peace.
The language,
Father,
of removing
the wall,
the dividing
wall of
hostility,
just goes to
show us
the love
that you
have for
each and
every one
of us.
I pray
for every
person here
today in
person and
every person
who is
watching online,
whether it's
YouTube,
TikTok,
Rumble,
Facebook,
or whether
they're listening
online to
the sermon
podcast.
Christ,
I pray
that everyone
will know
that they
are loved
by you
and they
are called
to receive
salvation.
They are
called into
transformation
and they
are called
to live
and love
like you.
We love
you so much
and we
know that
this is our
last Sunday
in 2025.
May we
take these
last few
days in
the remainder
of the year
seeking you
and
may we
trust in
you to
lead and
guide us
into next
year.
It is in
the name
of Jesus
that we
pray and
we all
say together.
Amen,
church.
Amen.
Thank you
for joining
us for this
message from
Ontario Community
Church.
As we
close out
this sermon
and close
out this
year,
I want to
leave you
with this.
Jesus
Christ is
our peace.
He has
broken down
the dividing
wall of
hostility
through the
cross.
Those who
were far
off have
been brought
near.
We are
no longer
strangers,
but we
are welcomed.
We are
members of
God's
household,
being built
together into
a dwelling
place for
God by
the Spirit.
And we
are standing
on a bridge
between
2025 and
2026.
As we
look back,
let us
raise our
Ebenezer
stone and
say with
Samuel,
thus far,
the Lord
has helped
us.
God has
been faithful,
but that
stone isn't
just about
the past.
It's about
continue trusting
God for
what's ahead.
And here's
the truth.
We have no
idea what
next year will
bring.
that can
make us
feel anxious
or uncertain
or we
may not
know even
what we
feel.
But Jesus
tells us
to not
worry about
tomorrow.
Let us
put this
new year
into the
hands of
God,
trusting in
Him because
He knows
what He
is doing.
You can
find all
of today's
resources at
OntarioCommunityChurch.org
including
congregational
notes,
Bible studies,
sermon slides,
and interactive
readings.
We're also
on YouTube,
Rumble,
Facebook,
or wherever
you listen
to your
podcasts.
May the
Lord bless
you and
keep you.
May the
Lord make
His face
shine upon
you and
be gracious
to you.
May the
Lord lift
up His
countenance
upon you
and give
you peace.
As we
step boldly
into 2026,
may we live
and love
like Christ.
Christ is
our peace,
and may we
cross bridges
with confidence
because Jesus
first built
the bridge
to us.
May you
have a
happy new
year,
friends,
and may
God bless
you in
2026.
Bye-bye.
God bless
Thank you.