Author: Chris Evangelista

Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever - WSC
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Everything is God’s

Summary of my sermon, based on Colossians 1:15-17. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on January 12, 2025.

I once heard a story about a golf pro working at a prestigious course. His job was to help golfers improve their game, offering tips and instruction. One day, he was assigned to assist a Middle Eastern prince. The prince was so grateful for the help that, before leaving, he told the golf pro, “I am very grateful for your help, and I would like to give you a present. Please, tell me what you desire.”

The golf pro was used to receiving tips—usually a $5 bill, maybe a $20 if someone was feeling generous. But asking for money from a prince seemed tacky. Unsure of what to request, he blurted out, “Well, I guess a new golf club would be nice.” The prince nodded and left.

Days passed. Then weeks. The golf pro figured the prince had forgotten. Until one day, he received an unexpected invitation to dine with the prince. A limousine picked him up and took him to one of the finest restaurants in town. After an incredible meal, the prince handed him an envelope. Inside was the title deed to an entire golf club—Pine Valley Golf Club—with his name as the owner!

The prince hadn’t just given him a golf club; he had given him an entire golf course. This story illustrates how the generosity of the wealthy operates on a different level. But as believers, we know that God is far greater than any earthly prince. He is the Creator and owner of all things.

Colossians 1:15-17 tells us:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (ESV)

Jesus is supreme over all creation. The term “firstborn” here does not mean He was created, but rather, it signifies His rank and authority. He is before all things, and everything exists through Him and for Him.

Yet, despite knowing this, we often struggle with truly surrendering everything to God. We say we trust Him, but deep down, we try to maintain control over certain areas of our lives. This struggle can manifest in two ways: idolatry and negotiation.

Idolatry happens when we make anything more important than God. It can be obvious, like worshiping wealth, power, or fame. But sometimes, even good things like family, career, or ministry can become idols if they take God’s place in our hearts. As Isaiah 44:17 warns, “And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, ‘Deliver me, for you are my god!’” (ESV)

Negotiation, on the other hand, is when we try to manipulate God. Like Manoah in Judges 13, who wanted to learn the angel’s name to gain power, we sometimes try to bargain with God—offering something in exchange for blessings. But Romans 11:35 reminds us, “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” (ESV)

Instead of trying to control God, we should focus on stewardship. 1 Peter 4:10-11 encourages us to use our gifts wisely, serving others for God’s glory. Rather than seeking personal gain, we should be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us.

The golf pro expected a mere club, but he received an entire course. How much more will God, who owns everything, provide for those who fully trust in Him? Let’s lay down our idols, stop negotiating, and embrace the abundant blessings found in surrendering to Christ.

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Love One Another

Summary of my sermon, based on John 13:31-35. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on January 5, 2025.

Many who visit Japan often describe it as a friendly place. Having lived there for two years, I understand why. The Japanese are polite, respectful, and thoughtful. Countless tourists share stories of strangers going out of their way to help them, even walking them to their destination instead of just giving directions. I remember my own experience when a cashier ran after me, calling out, “Ohashi! Ohashi!” to hand me a pair of chopsticks I had left behind, even though I didn’t need them.

But does politeness equate to friendship? Not necessarily. Friendship is more than just being courteous; it involves affection, trust, and intimacy. This is something that Japan, despite its outward politeness, struggles with. Take, for example, the phenomenon of individual-booth dining—restaurants designed entirely for people to eat alone. My favorite ramen shop in Osaka, Ichiran Ramen, had multiple floors of individual booths where people could eat without interacting with anyone. While fascinating, it highlights a deeper issue: loneliness.

This isn’t just a Japanese problem. A 2024 survey revealed that 40% of people in Japan reported feeling lonely most of the time. One-third of Japanese households are single-person homes, and the country even has a tragic phenomenon called “Kodokushi”—lonely deaths, where individuals die alone and remain undiscovered for weeks. In Canada, the numbers are eerily similar. Statistics Canada found that in 2021, 40% of Canadians also reported feeling lonely. A loneliness epidemic is taking hold worldwide.

So where does the church fit into all this? Jesus gave us the answer in John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” This is not a suggestion—it’s a command. It’s also not a transactional love, the kind where we love only those who benefit us. Instead, it’s a sacrificial love, modeled after Christ’s love for us.

But why does Jesus call this a “new” commandment? After all, the command to love our neighbor isn’t new. It’s found in Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” The difference is the context. Jesus spoke these words just after Judas had left to betray Him. He was preparing for the cross, where He would demonstrate the ultimate act of love. This was no ordinary love—it was selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial.

In a world plagued by loneliness, the church has a unique opportunity to stand apart. We are called to be a community of radical, faithful, and genuine love. 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because he first loved us.” We don’t love because it benefits us or because people deserve it—we love because Jesus first loved us. And this love is what will draw people in. As one biblical scholar put it, “Nothing so astonishes a fractured world as a community in which radical, faithful, genuine love is shared among its members.”

The world is filled with isolated people dining alone, longing for connection. The church must be different. We are not just acquaintances, colleagues, or classmates. We are family. The love we show one another isn’t optional—it’s our testimony to the world. And when the world sees a church truly loving one another as Christ loved us, they will be drawn to the transformative power of the Gospel.

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The Escape of Jesus

Summary of my sermon, based on Matthew 2:13-23. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on December 29, 2024.

One of the hard truths about the Christian life is that we will face discrimination and persecution. It has been this way from the beginning, and it remains a reality today.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned Richard Dawkins and the New Atheist movement. Their so-called intellectual objections to Christianity often serve a deeper agenda—freeing people from what they see as the “repressive” nature of religion. Their campaign slogan, “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life,” reveals their true mission. They want people to pursue joy in worldly things—money, power, and pleasure—rather than in God. But does that really lead to fulfillment?

Take John D. Rockefeller, the first American billionaire. When asked how much money was enough, he replied, “Just a little more.” That’s the trap of worldly pursuits—they never satisfy. Yet, atheists like Dawkins would have people chase those things in the name of “enjoying life.”

But their efforts don’t stop at persuasion. Dawkins, in a speech at the Reason Rally, called for open ridicule of Christians, saying, “Mock them. Ridicule them. In public.” The persecution we face in the West may not be as severe as in other parts of the world, but it is real. According to OpenDoors’ World Watch List, 365 million Christians today suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination. In just one year, nearly 5,000 Christians were murdered, over 4,000 were detained, and more than 14,000 churches were attacked.

For example, in Burkina Faso, a Compassion center was recently forced to suspend operations because its staff, all working in a local church, had to go into hiding due to death threats from armed groups. Christianity is, without a doubt, the most persecuted religion in the world. Even secular sources like the BBC acknowledge this, with a 2019 report stating that Christian persecution was at “near genocide levels.”

But persecution is nothing new. Even from the first Christmas, Jesus himself was a target. In Matthew 2:13–23, we see how King Herod, upon hearing of the newborn “King of the Jews,” sought to destroy him. An angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt, fulfilling the prophecy in Hosea 11:1: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” When Herod realized he had been tricked by the wise men, he ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem under two years old. This fulfilled another prophecy, from Jeremiah 31:15, about Rachel weeping for her children.

Matthew repeatedly highlights how Jesus fulfilled scripture. Sometimes, this fulfillment is precise, as in Isaiah 7:14’s prophecy of the virgin birth. Other times, it is a pattern, like Jesus’ journey paralleling Israel’s Exodus. The key message is that Jesus is the long-promised Messiah, not just for Israel, but for the whole world.

Even in persecution, God’s sovereignty remains. Psalm 115:3 declares, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” Herod’s brutality could not stop God’s plan. Jesus, though despised as a Nazarene (John 1:46), fulfilled Isaiah 53:4–5, suffering for our salvation.

Christians today can take heart. Our Savior suffered before us, and He stands with us. As Titus 2:11–12 reminds us, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people… to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.” No matter what we face, we remain steadfast, knowing that God is in control and His purposes will stand.

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The Visitors of Jesus

Summary of my sermon, based on Matthew 2:1-12. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on December 15, 2024.

Last week, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who lives in Tokyo but is originally from Vietnam. He was curious about the idea of a pardon, particularly in light of recent news about Joe Biden pardoning his son, Hunter Biden. He asked me if something similar could happen in Canada. I wasn’t sure, so I looked it up and found out that yes, the Governor General can grant pardons in Canada. But rather than getting into the complexities of it, I simply told him, “The King can.”

That really confused him! He wasn’t aware that Canada has a King. So, I explained that King Charles is also the King of Canada, but his role is largely ceremonial. Even when the Governor General grants a pardon, it is merely a rubber stamp on decisions already made by the government. Unlike in the United States, where a presidential pardon is fully within the president’s power, the Canadian monarchy has no real political authority.

This conversation reminded me of how different the world is today compared to most of human history. Kings used to have real power. In Matthew 2, we see a contrast between different kings that teaches us how we should respond to Jesus.

The first king in our passage is Herod the Great. He was king of Judea but not from the line of David. Instead, he was appointed by the Romans, who were the actual rulers. Though he held the title of king, he was a vassal—his power only existed as long as he remained loyal to Rome. When the wise men came searching for “he who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2), Herod was troubled, along with the ruling elites of Jerusalem. They knew the prophecy about the Messiah, but instead of rejoicing, they feared the coming of the true King.

The second group in our passage is the wise men, often mistakenly called kings because of the Christmas carol, “We Three Kings.” The Bible never says they were kings, nor does it say there were only three of them—just that they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These wise men were likely astrologers from Persia who had studied the Hebrew Scriptures, possibly influenced by Jews who had lived there since the Babylonian captivity. When they saw the star, they understood it as a sign that the promised King had come. Unlike Herod and the Jewish leaders, they sought Jesus to worship Him.

Matthew 2:10-11 tells us their response: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

These wise men, who served the powerful kings of Persia, bowed before a baby in a manger. They were the first Gentiles to do what Paul describes in Philippians 2:10-11: “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

So, the question remains—how will you respond to Jesus? Will you reject Him like Herod and the Jewish leaders, or will you seek Him, worship Him, and offer your life to Him like the wise men?

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The Birth of Jesus

Summary of my sermon, based on Matthew 1:18-25. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on Deember 8, 2024.

Scandal. That’s the word that best describes the situation in Matthew 1:18–19.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:18-19, ESV)

To understand the full weight of this moment, we need to grasp what betrothal meant in the first century. Today, we think of engagement as a promise to marry, but it’s not legally binding. If a couple breaks off an engagement, there’s no legal action required. But in Joseph and Mary’s time, betrothal was much more serious. Families arranged marriages, often when the bride and groom were young. Once betrothed, they were legally bound as husband and wife, even before living together. To break a betrothal, one had to go through a formal divorce.

And this is why Joseph, upon discovering Mary was pregnant, resolved to divorce her. Legally, it was the only way to handle what appeared to be unfaithfulness. In that culture, Mary’s situation wasn’t just embarrassing—it was devastating. A woman found guilty of adultery could be ostracized, rejected, or worse. Even today, pregnancy outside of marriage can be a scandal in certain communities. I remember growing up in a church where “Family Meetings” were called to address situations of church discipline. Though meant for restoration, let’s be honest—some people were just there for the gossip.

Joseph, however, was different. He was both just and gracious. Justice required him to act—he could not simply overlook what seemed like unfaithfulness. Yet he chose to divorce Mary quietly, sparing her from public humiliation. Most of us, when wronged, demand justice. But when we are the ones in the wrong, we beg for mercy. Joseph displayed both justice and grace, reflecting the very character of God.

Romans 3:23 tells us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 6:23 follows with, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God is just—sin must be punished. But He is also gracious—through Jesus, He provides salvation. Joseph’s response mirrors God’s own justice and mercy.

But then, the revelation came.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20-21, ESV)

This was no ordinary pregnancy. This was the Incarnation—God becoming man. A mystery beyond human understanding. Joseph obeyed immediately, taking Mary as his wife and naming the child Jesus. Just as Joseph responded to God’s revelation, we, too, must obey God’s Word, for it is His revelation to us.