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Free Grace Vernon

Free Grace Vernon

Free Grace is a Presbyterian Church located in Vernon, British Columbia. We believe it is the Gospel of Christ that has power to transform people’s lives. To learn more about Free Grace Church www.freegracevernon.ca

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 28 min
  • English
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  • #200
    August 25 · 34 min

    Matthew 21:23-46 - By What authority

    By what authority does Jesus do these things? In By What Authority?, we explore Matthew 21:23–46, where the religious leaders challenge Jesus and demand to know who gave Him the authority to teach, confront, and act as He does. Jesus responds not simply by defending His authority, but by exposing the hearts of those who question Him. Through His response and the parable of the wicked tenants, this passage reveals the rejection of God's rightful King and the seriousness of refusing to listen to Him. This sermon challenges us to consider an important question: Who has the authority in our lives? Jesus does not come merely as a teacher offering advice. He comes with the authority of the Son of God, calling us to repentance, faith, and obedience. 📖 Passage: Matthew 21:23–46 🎙️ Sermon Title: By What Authority? 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you're exploring who Jesus is, wrestling with questions about His authority, or seeking to follow Him more faithfully, this passage points us toward the rightful King and demands a response. #Matthew21 #ByWhatAuthority #Jesus #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #Gospel #Faith #JesusIsLord #Christianity

  • #199
    August 25 · 35 min

    Matthew 21:12-22 - Empty Religion

    What happens when our outward religion looks right, but our hearts are far from God? In Empty Religion, we explore Matthew 21:12–22, where Jesus confronts the religious leaders, cleanses the temple, curses a fruitless fig tree, and exposes the danger of a faith that looks impressive on the outside but produces no spiritual fruit. This passage challenges us to consider whether our faith is genuine or merely external. Jesus calls His people to more than religious activity, appearances, and tradition. He calls us to a living faith that bears fruit, trusts God, and produces real transformation. 📖 Passage: Matthew 21:12–22 🎙️ Sermon Title: Empty Religion 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you've grown up in church, are exploring Christianity, or simply want to examine the state of your own faith, this message is a powerful reminder that God is not looking for empty religion—but hearts that truly belong to Him. #Matthew21 #EmptyReligion #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #Jesus #Faith #Gospel #Christianity #SpiritualFruit

  • #198
    July 15 · 30 min

    Enough? - Exodus 20:17

    What if the greatest battle isn't over what we have—but what we want? In Enough, Pastor Ian Crooks explores Exodus 20:17 and the tenth commandment, exposing the heart issue behind coveting. Unlike the other commandments, this one addresses our inward desires. Coveting reveals a restless heart that looks to possessions, relationships, success, or status for satisfaction instead of trusting in God's good provision. This sermon examines the danger of discontentment, the freedom found in gratitude, and how the gospel leads us to find our deepest satisfaction in Christ alone. 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:17 🎙️ Sermon Title: Enough 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you're wrestling with comparison, materialism, or the constant pressure to want more, this message offers a biblical vision of contentment rooted in God's grace. #Exodus20 #Enough #TenCommandments #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #IanCrooks #Contentment #Coveting #JesusChrist #Faith

  • #197
    July 14 · 28 min

    The Sanctity of Truth - Exodus 20:16

    What does God require of us when it comes to truth? In this sermon, Pastor Ian Crooks explores Exodus 20:16 and the ninth commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” While this commandment originally addressed false testimony in court, its application reaches into every area of life. God calls His people to be marked by truthfulness, integrity, and love for their neighbor. This sermon examines the destructive power of lies, gossip, slander, and deception, while pointing us to the God who never lies and to Jesus Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life." 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:16 🎙️ Sermon Title: Bearing True Witness 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you're considering the importance of honesty in your relationships or seeking to grow in Christlike integrity, this message challenges us to speak truth in love and reflect the character of our faithful God. #Exodus20 #Truth #TenCommandments #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #IanCrooks #Integrity #Truthfulness #JesusChrist #Faith

  • #196
    July 1 · 28 min

    Stop Thief! - Exodus 20:15

    What does the command, “You shall not steal,” reveal about God, our possessions, and the way we live? In this sermon, Pastor Ian Crooks explores Exodus 20:15 and the eighth commandment. Stealing is about far more than taking what belongs to someone else. This commandment challenges our attitudes toward work, generosity, honesty, and contentment. It reminds us that everything we have ultimately belongs to God and calls us to live as faithful stewards rather than selfish owners. Through the gospel, we are transformed from taking for ourselves to giving for the good of others. 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:15 🎙️ Sermon Title: Stop Thief! 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you're considering what biblical integrity looks like or seeking to understand God's design for work and generosity, this message offers practical wisdom rooted in God's Word. #Exodus20 #YouShallNotSteal #TenCommandments #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #IanCrooks #Integrity #Generosity #Stewardship #JesusChrist

  • #195
    June 24 · 28 min

    The sanctity of marriage - Exodus 20:14

    What does God’s command against adultery reveal about marriage, sexuality, and the human heart? In this sermon, Pastor Ian Crooks explores Exodus 20:14 alongside Genesis 2:18–24 and Matthew 5:27–32. Far from being a restrictive rule, the seventh commandment points us to God’s beautiful design for marriage as a lifelong covenant between a husband and wife. This sermon examines the goodness of God's design, the seriousness of sexual sin, and Jesus’ teaching that purity involves not only our actions but also the desires of our hearts. Through these passages, we see both God’s standard and His grace for broken sinners. 📖 Passages: Exodus 20:14 Genesis 2:18–24 Matthew 5:27–32 🎙️ Sermon Title: Faithful Love 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you are single, married, or navigating past failures, this message points us to God's good design for relationships and the hope found in Christ. #Exodus20 #Marriage #FaithfulLove #TenCommandments #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #IanCrooks #Matthew5 #Genesis2 #JesusChrist

  • #194
    June 17 · 29 min

    The sanctity of life - Exodus 20:13

    Why does God command, “You shall not murder”? In The Sanctity of Life, Pastor Ian Crooks explores Exodus 20:13 and the profound value God places on every human life. Far from being a simple prohibition against taking life, this commandment reveals the dignity, worth, and sacredness of every person as one made in the image of God. This sermon examines God’s heart for human life, the deeper attitudes of the heart that lead to hatred and violence, and how the gospel calls us to be people who protect, cherish, and uphold life. 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:13 🎙️ Sermon Title: The Sanctity of Life 🗓️ Preached June 14, 2026 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon

  • #193
    June 9 · 22 min

    Why the law? - Galatians 3:19-26

    Why the Law? | Galatians 3:19–26 If salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, what purpose does God's law serve? In this message from Galatians 3:19–26, we explore Paul's question: "Why then the law?" Far from being opposed to God's promises, the law serves a vital role in God's redemptive plan. Drawing on the historic "threefold use of the law," we see how God's law functions as a curb to restrain evil, a mirror to expose our sin and drive us to Christ, and a guidefor those who have been redeemed by grace. Discover why the law cannot save us, how it reveals our desperate need for a Savior, and why Christians still delight in God's commandments today. The law is not the road to salvation—but it is God's gracious instrument that points us to Christ and teaches us how to live for His glory. Passage: Galatians 3:19–26 Speaker: Pastor Ian Crooks Date: May 31, 2026 "Why then the law?" The curb to restrain sin, the mirror to reveal sin, and the guide to direct believers—God's law serves as an on-ramp to the gospel highway.

  • #192
    June 3 · 26 min

    Honouring our parents - Exodus 20:12

    What does it mean to honour your father and mother? In Honouring Our Parents, Pastor Ian Crooks explores Exodus 20:12 and the first commandment that governs our relationships with others. In a culture that often prizes independence and self-determination, God calls His people to honor the parents He has placed in their lives. This sermon examines the meaning of biblical honor, the blessing attached to this commandment, and how it applies not only to children, but to adults as well. It also considers how we can faithfully obey this command in difficult family situations while ultimately honoring God above all. 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:12 🎙️ Sermon Title: Honouring Our Parents 📍 Free Grace Vernon Whether you are a parent, a child, or somewhere in between, this message offers practical wisdom and gospel-centered encouragement for family relationships. #Exodus20 #HonourYourFatherAndMother #TenCommandments #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #IanCrooks #Family #Parenting #Faith #JesusChrist

  • #191
    May 26 · 29 min

    Sabbath - Exodus 20:8-11

    What is the purpose of Sabbath — and does it still matter today? In Sabbath, Pastor Ian Crooks explores Exodus 20:8–11 and God’s command to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. In a culture driven by busyness, productivity, and exhaustion, this commandment reminds us that rest is not weakness — it is part of God’s design. This sermon examines the rhythm of work and rest established in creation, the spiritual significance of Sabbath, and how true rest ultimately points us to Christ. 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:8–11 🎙️ Sermon Title: Sabbath 🗓️ Preached May 24, 2025 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you feel overwhelmed, spiritually dry, or simply curious about the meaning of Sabbath, this message offers both challenge and encouragement from God’s Word. #Exodus20 #Sabbath #TenCommandments #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #IanCrooks #Rest #JesusChrist #Faith

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  • #190
    May 18 · 25 min

    The Name - Exodus 20:7

    What does it really mean to take the name of the Lord in vain? Pastor Ian Crooks walks through Exodus 20:7 and reveals that this commandment reaches far deeper than profanity or careless speech. God’s name represents His character, holiness, authority, and reputation. This sermon explores how we can misuse His name not only with our words, but with our worship, witness, and the way we live while claiming to belong to Him. At the same time, it points us to the beauty, weight, and goodness of God’s name — the name above every name. 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:7 🎙️ Sermon Title: The Name 🗓️ Preached May 17, 2026 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you’re new to Christianity or have followed Jesus for years, this message invites us to consider how we speak about God, represent Him to the world, and respond to His holiness. #Exodus20 #TheName #TenCommandments #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #FreeGraceVernon #IanCrooks #Faith #JesusChrist #ExodusSeries

  • #189
    May 13 · 29 min

    Exodus 20:4-6 - Beyond the Image

    What happens when we try to make God manageable, visible, or shaped in our own image? In this sermon, Beyond the Image, we explore Exodus 20:4–6 and the second commandment — uncovering how idols are far more than carved statues. They can be anything that distorts who God truly is. Pastor Ian Crooks explores humanity’s tendency to reshape God according to our preferences, emotions, culture, and comfort, while calling us back to worship the living God as He has revealed Himself. This passage confronts counterfeit worship, exposes the danger of reducing God to something controllable, and points us toward the beauty of knowing Him rightly. 📖 Passage: Exodus 20:4–6 🎙️ Sermon Title: Beyond the Image 📍 Preached at Free Grace Vernon Whether you’re exploring Christianity, wrestling with questions about worship, or wanting a deeper understanding of the Ten Commandments, we hope this message encourages and challenges you.

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  • May 4 · 27 min

    Exodus 20:3 - No other gods

    What does it really mean to have “no other gods” in a world full of distractions, ambitions, and competing priorities? In this message on Exodus 20:3, Pastor Ian Crooks unpacks the first commandment and reveals how it speaks directly into our everyday liv

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  • April 27 · 28 min

    Exodus 20:1-17 - The Ten Words

    The Ten Words | Exodus 20:1–17 | Ian Crooks What are the Ten Commandments really about—and why do they still matter today? In this sermon, Pastor Ian Crooks walks through Exodus 20:1–17, often called “The Ten Words,” revealing that these commands are not merely rules to follow but a reflection of God’s character and His desire for a relationship with His people. Rather than a checklist for moral performance, they expose our need for grace and point us to the freedom found in Him. Whether you’re familiar with the commandments or exploring them for the first time, this message invites you to see them in a deeper, more transformative way. 📍 Free Grace Vernon 🔔 Subscribe for weekly sermons and teaching 🎧 Also available on all major podcast platforms #TenCommandments #Exodus20 #BibleTeaching #FreeGrace #Sermon #Christianity #Faith #GospelCentered

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  • April 24 · 32 min

    How can a loving God send people to hell?

    How can a loving God send people to hell? It’s one of the most honest—and difficult—questions people ask about the Christian faith. In this seminar, Pastor David Bootsma walks through what the Bible actually teaches about God’s love, justice, and the real

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  • April 21 · 29 min

    Exodus 19:1-25 - Smoke on the mountain

    Smoke on the Mountain | Exodus 19:1–25 Pastor Ian Crooks | April 19, 2026 | Free Grace Vernon What happens when a holy God draws near to sinful people? In Exodus 19, Israel arrives at Mount Sinai—and the mountain erupts in smoke, fire, thunder, and trembling. This isn’t just a dramatic scene; it’s a powerful revelation of who God is. His holiness isn’t safe, manageable, or casual. And yet… He invites His people into relationship. ▶️ Watch, listen, and share If this message encouraged you, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who needs to hear it. 📍 Join us in person Free Grace Vernon meets weekly in Vernon, BC. We’d love to welcome you. 🌐 Learn more: freegracevernon.ca 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform Search Free Grace Vernon

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  • April 13 · 24 min

    Colossians 1:15-20 - Jesus Christ Super-Superior

    Pastor David Bootsma preaching on Colossians 1:15-20. April 12, 2026. In Colossians 1:15–20, we’re given a powerful picture of who Jesus truly is. This passage reveals that Jesus is not just a teacher or moral example—He is supreme over all creation, the head of the Church, and the one through whom all things are reconciled. At Free Grace Vernon, we exist to help people know Jesus and understand the good news of the gospel. 👉 Subscribe for weekly sermons & bible teaching 👉 Join us Sundays in Vernon, BC or live on our YouTube channel 👉 Visit: freegracevernon.ca

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  • April 6 · 25 min

    1 Corinthians 15:20-28 - The last enemy

    He Is Risen… and Death Is Defeated In this message from Free Grace Vernon, we explore 1 Corinthians 15:20–28. What does it mean that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death”? This passage pulls back the curtain on God’s ultimate plan: a coming day when every enemy—sin, suffering, and even death itself—will be fully and finally defeated under the reign of Christ. Because Jesus lives, our future is secure, our hope is alive, and death no longer has the final word. This sermon invites you to see the bigger story you’re part of—one where Christ reigns now and will one day make all things new. Whether you’re exploring faith or have followed Jesus for years, this message points us to a living hope rooted in the resurrection. 📍 Join us Sundays in Vernon, BC 🌐 Learn more: freegracevernon.ca

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  • March 29 · 28 min

    Matthew 21:1–11 - The Triumphal Entry

    The Triumphal Entry | Matthew 21:1–11 | Pastor Ian Crooks On Palm Sunday, we remember the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem—not as the conquering king people expected, but as the humble King we desperately need. In this sermon from Free Grace Vernon, Pastor Ian Crooks walks through Matthew 21:1–11 and unpacks the significance of the triumphal entry. The crowds shouted “Hosanna,” laying down palm branches and cloaks in celebration—but many misunderstood the kind of King Jesus truly is. Join us as we prepare our hearts for Easter and see the beauty of a King who saves. Free Grace Vernon (PCA) 1802 45th Avenue, Vernon, BC Sundays at 10:30am | freegracevernon.ca

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  • March 22 · 28 min

    Matthew 20:29-34 - What the blind men saw

    Pastor Ian Crooks preaching on Matthew 20:29-34. March 22, 2026. When two blind men cry out to Jesus for mercy, the crowd tries to silence them—but they refuse to be quiet. In Matthew 20:29–34, we see a powerful picture of persistent faith, the compassion of Christ, and the kind of sight we all truly need. This sermon invites us to consider: are we crying out to Jesus with that same boldness—and do we recognize our need for Him to open our eyes? 📖 Passage: Matthew 20:29-34 📍 Free Grace Church – Vernon, BC If this message encouraged you, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who needs this reminder. Free Grace is Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Vernon, BC Canada. Join us for our Sunday service at 10:30 AM at 802 45th Ave, or tune in online through our Facebook or YouTube livestream.

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