WELCOME
Good morning First Baptist. We welcome you to worship this morning. Be sure to remember your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the week as you pray for them, and as the Holy Spirit brings their faces to your mind. Be sure to also connect with them in the ways that are possible. And if you have any questions or would like to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to contact the church through the church telephone and leave a message. (519-733-4144)
Call to Worship
Gracious and Loving God,
We gather in Your presence this morning with hearts open to Your Spirit and lives ready to be shaped by Your Word. On this Solidarity Sunday, we are reminded that we are part of a global Body united by the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We thank You for the gift of community, for the freedom to worship, and for the peace that comes not from this world, but from Your Son, Jesus—the Prince of Peace. As we lift up our partners around the world through CBM, we pray that we may we feel their burdens as our own.
Stir in us, Lord, a deep compassion, a holy discontent with the way things are, and a bold desire to become the peacemakers You have called us to be. Help us not to cling to comfort, but to be open to Your transforming presence.
Teach us today what it means to walk in the way of Jesus—faithfully, humbly, and courageously. In the name of the One who said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”, we pray.
Prayer
CONFESSION:
God,
We want to start by saying—we’re sorry. We know there have been times we’ve been so wrapped up in our own lives that we’ve forgotten the bigger picture. You’ve called us to love people, to care for others, to be part of what You’re doing in the world—and sometimes we’ve just… missed it.We’ve stayed quiet when we should’ve spoken up. We’ve held back when we should’ve been generous. We’ve ignored needs because it felt too overwhelming or inconvenient.
But we don’t want to stay stuck in that. We want to be people who are open, available, and ready to say “yes” to You—wherever You’re calling us to go, whatever You’re calling us to give, whoever You’re asking us to love.
Forgive us, Lord. Change us from the inside out. Make our hearts more like Yours.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Here’s the good news:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9
So, hear this—In Jesus, we are completely forgiven. We are made new. And we are invited to get back up and be part of God’s mission in the world, not out of guilt, but out of love.
Thanks be to God!
Secret Sauce – A Recipe for Fullness of Life
Goodness in Action: Partners in Peacemaking
Today's Message: Pastor David Page
Good morning, church family. Welcome to worship this morning on this special occasion: Solidarity Sunday, a time where Canadian Baptist churches across the country come together to affirm our unity in Christ, and our shared mission through the work of Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM).
So today we celebrate not only what God is doing in our local church, but what He is doing around the world—through us and through our global partners.
Let me begin with a thought: Have you ever believed that following Jesus was some kind of hidden formula—only accessible to super-Christians or spiritual elites? Kind of like McDonald’s “special sauce”—closely guarded, locked away, only available to a chosen few?
This morning, the other opportunity we are taking is to begin a brand-new series called ‘Not So Secret Sauce’. We want to walk with you through understanding how the life God wants for you is more accessible than you think. After all, God is not trying to keep you in the dark, God wants His best for you.
I used the example of McDonald’s special sauce a moment ago. There are few fast food meals that are as iconic as McDonald’s Big Mac. That sandwich has been around more than 50 years – I know!! and is still one of the most popular items on the menu. In fact, the sandwich had its own jingle. Sing it with me if you know it… two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions — on a sesame seed bun.
The truth is that the burger itself is not that much different than any other burger at the Golden Arches. What sets it apart however is its famous Special Sauce. Originally the sauce was called “secret sauce” before being changed to “Special Sauce” in 1974. To this day, this “special sauce” is kept hidden from public knowledge. In fact, to prevent employees from stealing the recipe, there is a non-disclosure agreement that must be signed, and the sauce is delivered in sealed containers to each restaurant location. Needless to say, McDonald’s is serious about keeping their sauce to themselves.
Like the Big Mac “special sauce”, sometimes, being an apprentice of Jesus can seem elusive and mysterious. Many of us believe that the full life of God must be some kind of highly technical and closely guarded secret that only the most holy and the most Godly individuals are privileged to know. Like a famous chef might keep their recipes from the world and ensure that they stay locked in a vault somewhere, we sometimes suppose that God has the same kind of attitude toward His blessings in our lives.
Church, this could not be further from the truth. Instead, God has given us clear instruction for living a life that is connected to Him and empowered by Him. In fact, the Bible is full of instruction around that, and a very good example of what I mean here is given in a passage in 2 Peter that lays it all out for us. Peter is writing to the early church as a way of helping them grow in their faith and become all God wants for them to be.
READ 2 Peter 1:3-8
Scripture Reading: John 14:25–27, 2 Peter 1:3–8, Matthew 5:9
John 14:25–27
The Gift of His Peace
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
2 Peter 1:3–8
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Fruitful Growth in the Faith
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Peter tells his readers… Do not spend your time feeling like you have somehow missed some kind of secret that others received. Do not be tricked into believing that you are not equipped to live a Godly life. Peter makes a bold statement by saying that we have everything we need for life and godliness. God’s divine power has been placed inside of us and all we have to do is awaken to it.
God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
It’s not some elite mystery. It’s practical, powerful, and it’s meant to be lived out in community.
At the heart of this “recipe” for Christian living is the Fruit of the Spirit—Pastor Marlee talked about this during our Galatians Study. Simply put, the Fruit of the Spirit are the qualities the Holy Spirit cultivates in us so we can live out God’s purposes in the world.
What do you notice about the way Peter teaches in this passage?
It sounds like a recipe, doesn’t it. Add to your bowl melted butter, two eggs, flour, sugar, etc. Similar to following a recipe for how to make chocolate chip cookies or some kind of cake, there are a number of items that we are invited to add to our faith in increasing measure in order to be effective in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.
So, what is our first ingredient to this not so secret sauce?
Peter says, “Add to your faith, goodness.” This word goodness comes from the Greek word “arete.”
Arete is an active word that means more than just being someone who avoids doing anything wrong. In fact, arete describes someone with moral excellence. This person is someone who does gracious things and acts of good will unapologetically for all to see. Peter calls us to add to our faith real and intentional acts of pure goodness that are a blessing to others around us. This is the first ingredient to the full life of God. It’s no secret, but many people never make the effort to do good in the world.
The foundational theme for Solidarity Sunday this year is ‘Peacemaking’ , and one of the clearest expressions of that goodness is peacemaking.
The Peace of Christ: A Different Kind of Peace
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…”
Jesus speaks these words on the night before His crucifixion. His disciples are anxious. The world around them is dangerous. And into that fear, Jesus gives them a promise: His peace.
But this isn’t a surface-level peace. It’s not the temporary calm we get from a vacation, a quiet morning, or a distraction. No, Jesus offers shalom—wholeness, restoration, harmony with God, others, creation, and self. This peace doesn’t ignore the pain of the world—it transforms it. CBM, who we partner with through the focus of our Missions Team, and your generosity in Giving to our missions initiatives, is offering shalom where it is needed most in the world today.
Jesus’ peace is a gift—and a mission. He gives it to us not just for our own comfort, but so that we can become peacemakers. People who bring reconciliation where there is division, hope where there is despair, and healing where there is brokenness those are real peacemakers!
YOU WERE CREATED TO DO GOOD
The Apostle Paul picks up on this idea of goodness as he explains why God went to such great lengths to save us through Jesus Christ.
READ Ephesians 2:8-10
Paul wants to remind us that these good works are not the way in which we earn salvation. These good works are a response to the free gift of salvation that is offered in Jesus Christ. Jesus paid this price for our sin and won our freedom for us because we are his workmanship. Some translations say that we are His handiwork. God made us and He designed us in such a way that we can fulfill plans He has for us to do good in the world.
Illustration: When all you have is natural light, productivity is limited to daylight hours. Light bulbs changed the world by allowing us to be active at night. According to historians, two dozen people were instrumental in inventing incandescent lamps throughout the 1800s; Thomas Edison is credited as the primary inventor because he created a completely functional lighting system, including a generator and wiring as well as a carbon-filament bulb, in 1879.
The light bulb was the handiwork of Mr. Edison, and there have been countless benefits and endless good that has come from that one creation.
Like the lightbulb, God created you with endless opportunities to bless the world around you. God planned these opportunities long ago, and our job is simply to be available to be used. People like our good friend Patty Nacho have made themselves available to being used by God in this way.
But, how do I find these opportunities for good you might ask?
Theologian Frederick Buechner once said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
How has God wired you? What are you passionate about? What are you good at? What do you have to offer the world? When you can answer these questions, then all you need to do is look for ways that the design of God within you can be used to bring good into the world.
CBM: Partners in Peacemaking
This is where our partnership with CBM can be really important. Through CBM, we are not only supporting missions projects randomly—we are participating in God’s mission of peace and restoration.
- In the Democratic Republic of Congo, CBM is training pastors in trauma care and conflict resolution, helping communities heal after years of violence.
- In Latin America, CBM supports youth escaping gang violence through spiritual mentoring and vocational training—replacing despair with hope.
- In Canada, CBM’s Indigenous Peace and Friendship Initiative walks alongside Indigenous leaders to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding between settler and Indigenous churches.
These are not just “projects.” They are expressions of Holy Spirit-empowered goodness in action. And we get to be part of it.
A Tangible Way to Be a Peacemaker: Food Security & Active in Mission
Peacemaking is not just about war and reconciliation—it’s also about meeting human needs.
On this Solidarity Sunday, we want to invite you our FBK family into how CBM is challenging churches to engage with a critical issue: food security. Over 800 million people worldwide face hunger, and millions more live with the anxiety of not knowing where their next meal will come from.
Through CBM’s Active in Mission initiative, we can demonstrate our Goodness by choosing to be part of the solution.
- In East Africa, CBM is helping farmers learn sustainable agricultural techniques.
- In crisis zones, food relief is being provided through local churches.
- And here in Canada, in Kingsville, we are invited to organize drives that support food banks, and advocate for policies that reduce hunger.
Matthew 25:35 – “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…”
Luke 3:11 – “Anyone who has food should share with the one who has none…”
Food security is still a big problem in the world, even in 2025. You might see people around you who don’t have enough to eat. But what’s harder to notice is that problems like wars in some countries, changes in the economy, and extreme weather are also making it harder for many people to get the food they need.
Over the past two years, throughout the Active in Mission Campaign, CBM has helped to raise over $155,000 to help feed people locally and globally! Half these funds stay right here in Canada, supporting local initiatives, while the other half helps provide food programming through CBM’s partners around the world. FBK, you have a rich history in supporting this initiative and you were even an award winner last year by raising the most $ of any CBOQ church.
This year, we’re stepping up to get active again!
- Join the FBK team of people who will help feed hope in local and global communities. (click here to sign up)
- Choose a Date – We’re dedicating the entire summer to this! Your team can choose a timeframe from June – August that works best for you!
- Get ACTIVE! – Walk, run, dance, bike, swim, rollerblade, horseback ride, kayak, etc. Take photos and videos and post on social media using #ActiveinMission
This is the goodness of God in action. This is a very tangible way to be a peacemaker.
Conclusion: From Receivers to Reflectors
Church, we are not just saved from something—we are saved for something.
We are not just receivers of peace—we are reflectors of it.
We are not just called to admire the Fruit of the Spirit—we are called to cultivate it…and to use it!
Many years ago now, I found myself kind of stagnant in my spiritual life. I had started to feel restless and sometimes even bored with the things of God and wondered myself surely there must be more to my faith than this. I met with my Pastor one day for coffee, and he told me something that changed my life. He looked at me after I had shared some of my recent frustrations. He told me that I knew all the right things there were to know about the Christian faith. The problem was it had all gotten stuck in my head and wasn’t making it to my heart and my hands in perhaps the way God was calling me. He encouraged me to offer God my whole life and to pray for God to use me. He told to consider that maybe I was being called into Ministry. It was not long after that prayer that I began to see a new spark in my faith and a desire to want to serve God by serving others in a new way.
Sometimes we need someone who loves us to point us in the right direction, or an example to follow. Jesus has set the example as one who knew the reason for which He had come into the world. He lived His life with incredible intention because of it. He fed the hungry. He healed the sick. He preached the good news of the coming Kingdom. Jesus says it this way…
READ John 6:38
Jesus came to do the will of His father and to accomplish the good He was sent to do.
Begin here in your recipe for a Godly faith – with Goodness. What is one thing this week that you can do to bring some good into the world? Perhaps it’s participating in this years’ Active In Mission Campaign but maybe God has something else in mind for you. Ask Him!! Pray for God to give you opportunities and then take full advantage of them. It is not a secret sauce, and it is available to everyone if they are willing to bring good into the world.
Prayer
Lord of Compassion and Justice, we come to You now in prayer—not only with our own concerns, but with the concerns of the world heavy on our hearts. We remember those living in the shadows of conflict and oppression—those who wake each day to the sound of bombs, to the fear of violence, and to the ache of hunger. We hold before You our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and so many other corners of the earth where Your peace feels far away. God, we pray for Your presence in those places. Raise up peacemakers, strengthen communities, protect the innocent, and guide leaders toward justice. We pray too for the church around the world—that we may be known not for preserving comfort, but for embodying the radical love of Jesus.
Forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have settled for a false peace—a peace built on silence, indifference, or self-interest. Open our eyes to the systems we benefit from that hurt others. Convict us when we are more interested in stability than in righteousness. Holy Spirit, give us the courage to become troublemakers for the sake of Your Kingdom—to speak truth in love, to challenge injustice, and to walk alongside those who suffer. Empower us to be more than observers—to be agents of healing, generosity, and change.
And for those among us who are weary, grieving, or struggling, bring comfort. For those in need of direction, bring wisdom. For those who feel forgotten, bring assurance that they are seen and deeply loved by You. We pray all of this in the name of Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, and Peacemaker.
Amen.
Benediction
As you go from this place, may you carry the peace of Christ—a peace not as the world gives, but one that transcends fear and overcomes injustice. May the Holy Spirit disturb your comfort where comfort hinders compassion. May God give you eyes to see the unseen, ears to hear the cry of the oppressed, and a heart willing to be moved.
Go now as peacemakers, even if it means being troublemakers—rooted in love, driven by grace, and empowered by the Spirit to live out God’s Shalom in a world desperate for hope. And may the peace of Christ be with you, and go before you, now and always.
Amen.