Fr. David Barker sermon links
Simply click on the links below (in blue) to go to the YouTube video of the sermon
Jan. 5, 2020 — Jesus Goes Supernova
A star, a supernova, a comet … some celestial event drew the Magi to see the newborn Jesus. Like that star, Jesus' life and light go into all the world. Hear the Rev. Canon Dr. David G. Barker speaking at St George's Anglican Church,, celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany.
Sept. 8, 2019 — The Cost of the Call of God
This is the third and last of a series on the Call of God. Jesus talks about the weighing the costs before we commit to being his disciples. Scripture readings: Jeremiah 18:1-11 (the potter and the clay); Philemon 1:1-21 (Onesimus, the runaway slave); and Luke 14:25-33 (count the cost).
Sept. 1, 2019 — What is God calling us to do?
If God calls us to salvation by grace, is there anything we need to do as Christians, or has Christ already done it all for us? Fr. David also explores how to make God laugh. Scripture readings: Jer. 2:4-13; Heb. 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14
Aug. 25, 2019 — Whom does God call? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Looking at how God calls the great prophets and leaders in the Bible, how can we imagine that God might call someone as ordinary as we are? Well, imagine it! Here David encourages us to be open to God’s call.
July 28, 2019 — Three-Legged Stool Theology, by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
What happens if you overhear just a bit of scripture—as some people did in Monty Python’s Life of Brian: ‘Blessed are the Cheesemakers’? That’s how some theology can go astray! Here Fr. Barker talks about the importance of the three legs of Anglican theology: scripture, tradition and reason. Scripture readings for the day are Hosea 1:2-10; Col. 2:6-19; and Luke 11:1-13.
July 21, 2019 — Martha and Mary, by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Martha made all the preparations for the visit from Jesus. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and soaked up all the good words that he spoke. Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better part. Should we, then, be like Martha or Mary? Which is more important? To care for others, or to meditate and pray?
March 17, 2019 — Vows, by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Beginning with Abram’s (Abraham’s) sacrifice of animals for God to make a covenant about Abram receiving the promises of God, and ending with our own relationship with God, Fr. David looks at how vows play a pivotal role in the depth of our commitment as disciples of Christ.
Feb. 3, 2019 — The Presentation of Christ in the Temple ((also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary) by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Anna the Prophetess was in the temple and recognized Jesus as the Messiah. How did she know? What brought her to the immediate recognition of the one for whom she had waited so many decades?
July 29, 2018 — David and Bathsheba by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
David and Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite, and Nathan the Prophet. King David commits two great sins. He was not the first, or the last, to take power and misuse it. Looking at today’s readings (2 Sam. 11:1-15; 2 Sam. 11:26-12:13a and John 6:1-21) and finding common ground with the MeToo movement, Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, and Woody Allen’s Match Point, Fr. David invites us to see how we influence others in our society.
July 22, 2018 — God is in Residence by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
King David wanted to build a temple, a dwelling place for God. But Nathan told him that God had other plans. In fact, centuries later, the apostle Paul tells us that we are the dwelling place of the Spirit of God. What does that do for us? Reflecting on the readings for Sunday July 22, 2018: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Eph. 2:11-22 and Mark 6:30-34, 53-56.
July 15, 2018 — Awefully Close to Holy by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
The Ark of the Covenant, John the Baptist, Michal, Herod, and a host of characters all come close to that which is Holy, and each reacts differently! (based on the readings for the day: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Eph. 1:3-14; and Mark 6:14-29)
July 8, 2018 — In Strength or in Weakness . . . which shows God’s presence? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
David conquers Jerusalem and becomes King of Israel. The Scripture says he became more powerful because God was with him. And yet, the Apostle Paul saw his own weakness as a sign of God’s presence. How do we reconcile those two opposing ideas?
July 1, 2018 — How can we pray for healing? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Is there a pattern to prayer that works? Is there a way that we can be sure God will answer? What if we pray and our prayers are not answered? How do we find faith? How can we believe? Reflecting on Mark 5: 21-43, where Jesus heals a woman in the crowd who touched the hem of his garment, and later the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, and telling stories of those who had prayed in our own time, David wrestles with some of our most difficult questions about prayer and faith.
June 24, 2018 — The Prophet Calls by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Celebrating the Birth of St John the Baptist. How do prophets affect us? Do they challenge us? Call us to repent? Tell us that we are doing it all wrong?
June 17, 2018 — Miracle of the Sown Seed by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Sometimes we have no idea of what great worth is in another person. And other times, years later, we see what God has done for us and through us.
June 3, 2018 — Jesus Breaks the Fourth Commandment by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Jesus knowingly broke a tradition adhered to for generations, the fourth commandment: “Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy” (Gen. 8). Why would he do that? Why would he let his disciples do that? In this sermon Fr. David digs into the different attitude to the commandments that Jesus had. Once again, the congregation had a few good laughs! Readings for the day are Deut. 5:12-15, Psalm 81:1-10, 2 Cor. 4:5-12 and Mark 2:23-3:6.
May 27, 2018 — The Holy Trinity by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Embracing God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and finding God the Father, through the Son, by the energizing work of the Holy Spirit. Understanding the Trinity with inspiration from Dorothy Sayers.
May 20, 2018, Feast of Pentecost — The Holy Spirit working through you, even when you don’t know it by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
We are sometimes touched by the Spirit of God, and sometimes used by the Spirit of God, even when we are totally unaware. If we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we may find God’s grace flowing through us.
May 13, 2018 — A Time of Completion by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter. Like the 40 days of Lent, the 40 days of Jesus fasting in the wilderness, the 40 days for Ninevah and the 40 years to the Promised Land, all are times of preparation and fulfillment. What are the 40 days until Ascension Day preparing us for?
May 6, 2018 — Six Steps to Everyone . . . the Vine and the Branches by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
The disciple Even though we have so many differences that seem important to us, we are all very closely connected. The image that Jesus gave us, “I am the vine and you are the branches,” describes how close we are to one another.
April 22, 2018 — Three Fears Answered by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
The disciples huddled together for fear . . . we are afraid we don’t measure up . . . many are afraid they won’t fit into the church. These fears are all addressed by Jesus.
April 15, 2018 — Sadly, due to an ice storm, we had to cancel services. But we do have a link to a sermon preached by Fr. David on the same liturgical day (Easter 3, year B) back in 2012. Enjoy and be edified!
Who Gets the Credit? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
From Adam and Eve until today the question of who gets the credit often motivates us for both good and ill. Knowing where our strength and power comes from helps us to know where to give the credit. Based on Acts 3.12-19, 1 John 3.1-7 and Luke 24.36-48.
April 8, 2018 — Room at the Table by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
After the Resurrection of Jesus, the church all gathered together, and everyone was welcome. They all treated each other equally. They had all been redeemed by the same Saviour, and now were truly one with one another.
April 1, 2018 — What is Truth? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
The question Pilate asked is still a pertinent question today. What is the Truth about the Resurrection? How can we tell? Fr. David speaks from the perspective of both logic and experience.
March 25, 2018 — What Motivates You? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
What is behind what people say? What do they mean by what they say? What about Pilate, Judas, the high priest, the soldiers, the disciples and the crowds? What motivated them? What motivated Jesus?
March 18, 2018 — Covenant or Contract? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
God promises in Jeremiah 31 that we will be given a new covenant. Is this different from a contract? Is this different from the covenant that Jesus gave us? And what does that covenant mean for us?
March 11, 2018 — Signs—of Spring, of Forgiveness, of Resurrection by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
So many signs are all around us. There are things that comfort us; there are things that frighten us. Yet, in all those signs, God is there, proclaiming the love of Christ who died for us.
March 4, 2018 — Ten Commandments to #MeToo: What would Jesus do? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Can the Ten Commandments prevent the kind of abuse that the #MeToo movement stands up against? What is our role as the church? And what was Jesus doing when he ‘cleansed’ the temple? Yes, Jesus would have supported #MeToo and no, he did not chase people with a whip!
Feb. 18, 2018 — Starting over—today! by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Noah in the Ark was a new beginning. So was the Exodus from Egypt by the Israelites. These new beginnings were a Baptism. How about considering Lent as an opportunity to re-evaluate, think about our lives, and begin again?
Feb. 11, 2018 — Where now is the God of Elijah? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Elisha, after seeing the Chariot of Fire, and seeing Elijah taken up to heaven, comes to the Jordan River and makes a daring claim on the power of God. Dare we put our faith on the line as Elisha did?
Feb. 4, 2018 — How We Portray God by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
What images do we use when we talk about God to others? What images are important to us? In this video David talks about some of his early church memories: in St Paul's, Anglican Church in Norval, Ontario; in the Salvation Army Citadel; in an evangelical rally at the Opera House in Orillia; and in the Hamilton stadium with Leighton Ford, Billy Graham's brother-in-law. He also talks about how we use our images of God to affect others.
Jan. 29, 2018 — How close should we get to God? by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Is it OK to be cautious, or even just a little bit afraid of God? During the time of Moses people were afraid of God. How has that changed, and just how familiar can we be with God? Fr. Barker talks about our relationship with God, and how God’s presence in us is stronger than any other spiritual power.
Jan. 21, 2018 — Context Matters by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
To be Christians in this world we need to know and understand the scriptures. The context in which they were written, and the context in which they were received. Further, we need to know the context of our current world, so that we might put together the message of the scripture and the needs of the world.
Jan. 14, 2018 — The Right Place at the Right Time by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
Being at the right place at the right time depends a great deal on the personal preparation that goes on before.
Jan. 7, 2018: — Baptism and Quantum Entanglement by the Rev. Canon Dr. David Barker
At our baptism, we are joined to Christ: we are buried with him, we are raised with him. As the Spirit of God hovered over the water of creation, inspired the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost and came to Jesus at the Jordan River, so the Spirit of God can touch us and inspire us in each day.
If you would like to visit Fr. David's YouTube channel and listen to some of his sermons from the past, you can do so by clicking here: FrDavidBarker.
