Recent
Sermons
Practice Gathering: Breaking of Bread (Communion)
Pastor Judd Nelson continues a new sermon series called, “Practice Gathering”. This series focuses on Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week focuses on how the early Christians in Acts devoted themselves to gathering together for the purpose of sharing meals with one another. Judd focuses on what it means to remember what God has done as we gather together and share in communion.
Sermon begins at about 17 minutes.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scripture References:
Things To Remember:
Other Sermon Notes and References:
Practice Gathering: Breaking of Bread (Sharing Meals)
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a new sermon series called, “Practice Gathering”. This series focuses on Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week focuses on how the early Christians in Acts devoted themselves to gathering together for the purpose of sharing meals with one another. Andrew focuses on what it means to have have “food in the name of Jesus”.
Sermon begins at about 22 minutes.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scripture References:
Luke 5:27-39, 7:36-50, 10:38-42, 11:37-52, 14:1-24, 19:1-27, 22:7-38, 24:28-49
Things To Remember:
When the church was birthed in Acts followers of Jesus met together every day to keep their relationship with God vibrant.
They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42) and this included eating together with glad and sincere hearts (Acts 2:46).
There are many ways that we can do "food in the Name of Jesus".
We can talk about God and his ways over food, just like Jesus did (see Luke 5:27-39, 7:36-50, 10:38-42, 11:37-52, 14:1-24, 19:1-27, 22:7-38, 24:28-49).
We can share life with people over food and help cultivate a sense of family with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We can share food with those who need it or as an act of love to those who are hurting.
We can pray before or after meals including in ways that would specifically bless those with us at the table.
We can do what the disciples did in the feeding of the 5000 story: offer what we have to Jesus, ask Him to bless it, then watch him multiply the blessing through us as we share it with others.
Other Sermon Notes and References:
Practice Gathering: Fellowship (Sharing Resources)
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a new sermon series called, “Practice Gathering”. This series focuses on Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week focuses on how the early Christians in Acts devoted themselves to gathering together for the purpose of sharing resources with one another. (See notes below for more)
Sermon begins at about 27 minutes.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scripture References:
Things To Remember:
When the church was birthed in Acts followers of Jesus met together every day to keep their relationship with God vibrant.
They devoted themselves to [the] fellowship. (Acts 2:42)
The Greek word koinonia can be both a noun and a verb so they committed themselves to fellowshiping (actively participating and sharing) in a fellowship (community bound by the common purpose of following Jesus).
Acts 2:44 shows that this including sharing financial/material resources.
Of the approximately 30 times a form of koina or koinonia is used in the New Testament at least 11 times it is connected to this kind of sharing financial resources (Acts 2:44, Acts 4:32, Romans 12:13, Romans 15:26, 2 Corinthians 8:4, 2 Corinthians 9:13, Galatians 6:6, Philippians 4:14 & 4:15, 1 Timothy 6:18, Hebrews 13:16).
The Bible promotes the contributing of financial resources to the ministry for the Lord in the Old and New Testament in principles that include:
Tithing: giving 10% of your income to God's kingdom work
Firstfruits: setting aside a portion of your income (perhaps your tithe) before spending
Offerings: additional giving beyond the tithe
Giving to the poor: Sharing financial with those in need
We are encouraged to excel in the grace of giving and operate in the same generous spirit of Jesus. (2 Corinthians 8:7-9)
God promises to bless our generosity by meeting our needs and in order to allow us to continue to be generous. (2 Corinthians 9:8-11)
Other Sermon Notes and References:
Practice Gathering: Fellowship (Sharing Life)
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a new sermon series called, “Practice Gathering”. This series focuses on Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week focuses on how the early Christians in Acts devoted themselves to gathering together for the purpose of sharing life with one another. (See notes below for more)
Sermon begins at about 29 minutes.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scripture References:
Things To Remember:
When the church was birthed in Acts followers of Jesus met together every day to keep their relationship with God vibrant. Do you regularly set aside times to meet with other believers and intentionally grow in your faith?
When we have a relationship (are in fellowship) with Jesus we become part of his Body and are called to have relationships (be in fellowship with) other Jesus followers.
The early devoted themselves to [the] fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia.
As a noun it means association, fellowship, community of people living life together with a common purpose (following Jesus).
As a verb it means sharing, participating, contributing in a community of people.
We are to be devoted to a fellowship or fellowships (koinonia) of committed Jesus followers. Are you?
We are to be devoted to fellowshiping with a fellowship of committed Jesus followers. Are you?
Other Sermon Notes and References:
“The Body of Christ is nothing other than a fellowship of persons. It is the ‘fellowship of Jesus Christ’ [1 Cor 1:9] or ‘fellowship of the Holy Spirit’ [2 Cor 13:14, Phil. 2:1] where fellowship or koinonia signifies a common participation, a togetherness, a community life.” -Emil Brunner
“The faithful are bound to each other through their common sharing in Christ and in the Holy Spirit…” -Emil Brunner
Practice Gathering: The Scriptures
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a new sermon series called, “Practice Gathering”. This series focuses on Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week focuses on how the early Christians in Acts devoted themselves to gathering together and listening to the Apostles teaching, with emphasis on The Scriptures.
Sermon begins at about 49 minutes (this Sunday we welcomed new elders, so the sermon started later in the service than usual).
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scripture References:
Things To Remember:
When the church was birthed in Acts followers of Jesus met together every day to keep their relationship with God vibrant. How often do you think you should meet with other believers with the intentional purpose of growing in your faith?
Followers devoted themselves to the Apostle's teaching which includes:
Listening to teaching from those who know Jesus well and can help us learn how to receive God's love and love others.
Learning from the Scriptures of the Bible which point us to Jesus
Studying the Scriptures together with others
In the coming weeks or months find a way to gather with others around the Scriptures for a season.
Other Sermon Notes and References:
Practice Gathering:The Gospel
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins a new sermon series called, “Practice Gathering”. This series will focus on Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week focuses on how the early Christians in Acts devoted themselves to gathering together and listening to the Apostles teaching, specifically the Gospel.
Sermon begins at about 15 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scripture References:
Things To Remember:
When the church was birthed in Acts followers of Jesus met together every day to keep their relationship with God vibrant. Why do we as Christians think we can meet together so much less often and still remain true to Him will all of our heart?
Followers devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching which was first and foremost 1) the good news of what Jesus had done for them through his life, death, resurrection and ascension 2) the call to repent or turn to Jesus to receive forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.
If we seek to get closer to Jesus others will follow.