Recent
Sermons
The Lord’s Servant: Week 5
Sermon begins at about 16 minutes
Pastor Judd Nelson concludes our Advent series “The Lord’s Servant”, which is part of our “Year of the Lord” focus for 2024. In this sermon series, we will hear about people like Mary who chose to be the Lord’s servant. We’ll ask ourselves, “Am I the Lord’s Servant”? These week we focus on Simeon and Anna as well.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Christmas Eve 2024
Sermon begins at about 21 minutes
Pastor Andrew shares a Christmas Eve message with us. He touches on historical descriptions of Caesar Agustus, and compares them with the account of Jesus’ birth recorded in Luke. He encourages us to see that Jesus’ birth was truly good news for all people.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Lord’s Servant: Week 4
Sermon begins at about 29 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues our Advent series “The Lord’s Servant”, which is part of our “Year of the Lord” focus for 2024. In this sermon series, we will hear about people like Mary who chose to be the Lord’s servant. We’ll ask ourselves, “Am I the Lord’s Servant”? These week we focus on Joseph as well.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Review of series
Being the Lord’s servant starts with God’s grace
“Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you”
Being the Lord’s servant includes our response
“May your word to me be fulfilled”
Mary is the Lord’s servant
Elizabeth is the Lord’s servant
Gabriel is the Lord’s servant
Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph is the Lord’s servant
Joseph lived according to God’s Word by being faithful to God’s law (Matthew 1:19)
Joseph lived according to God’s Word by doing what the angel said in taking Mary to be his wife and in naming the baby Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)
Joseph did not consummate the marriage until after the baby was born.
It is easy to do the opposite and choose inconvenient commitment over immediate gratification.
Joseph, though seemingly betrayed by Mary, did not want to expose her but rather do things quietly.
It is easy to do the opposite and build a case against someone who has hurt us rather than put energy into doing what’s best for them.
Joseph sought to avoid publicly disgracing Mary and ended up show grace by sharing her disgrace.
It is easy to put other people down (disgrace them) as a way of making ourselves look better.
Are you the Lord’s servant?
When considering that we often live opposite than Joseph, we need to embrace the good news that Jesus saves his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
To be the Lord’s servant we need to embrace the grace Jesus offers us again and again.
Resources:
The Lord’s Servant: Week 3
Sermon begins at about 17 minutes
Aubrey Schneider continues our Advent series “The Lord’s Servant”, which is part of our “Year of the Lord” focus for 2024. In this sermon series, we will hear about people like Mary who chose to be the Lord’s servant. We’ll ask ourselves, “Am I the Lord’s Servant”?
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Overall passage: Luke 1:46-55
How do I respond to God? How do I respond to others? How do I respond when I'm facing something difficult in my life?
To be a faithful servant is to be a devoted and helpful follower, to be humble before God, to be ready to act as God nudges and inspires us, to help meet the needs of other people, and to remember that it is not about money or reward.
(Application Questions)
Am I the Lord's Servant?:
How well do I know the Word?
Am I humble before the Lord?
Am I ready to act how God prompts me?
Is worship my first response?
Resources:
The Lord’s Servant: Week 2
Sermon begins at about 20 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues our Advent series “The Lord’s Servant”, which is part of our “Year of the Lord” focus for 2024. In this sermon series, we will hear about people like Mary who chose to be the Lord’s servant. We’ll ask ourselves, “Am I the Lord’s Servant”?
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Luke 1:39-45, 56
Review from December 1
Being the Lord’s servant starts with God’s grace
“Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you”
Being the Lord’s servant includes our response
“May your word to me be fulfilled”
Luke 1:28
“Greetings”: Rejoice, joy, good news
“Highly favored”: full of grace, blessed, favored
Luke 1:39-41 [note: greeted, greeting, leaped]
Luke 1:44 [note: greeting, leaped for joy]
God filled greeting: there is potential power in our greetings if we are intentional and if God is involved.
Luke 1:42-45 [note Blessed (3x), and favored]
Spirit inspired blessing Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit which allows her to see and bless Mary and the Lord within her womb.
Luke 1:38
Luke 1:24-25
One who was disgraced is able to recognize grace in another thought to be disgraced and to bless her.
Mary is the Lord’s servant
Elizabeth is the Lord’s servant
Are you the Lord’s servant?
Are you the Lord’s servant?
Receive God’s grace for you
Spend time with God & with godly people
Give God filled greetings & Spirit inspired blessings
Resources:
The Lord’s Servant: Week 1
Sermon begins at about 20 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins our Advent series “The Lord’s Servant”, which is part of our “Year of the Lord” focus for 2024. In this sermon series, we will hear about people like Mary who chose to be the Lord’s servant. We’ll ask ourselves, “Am I the Lord’s Servant”? See notes from this Sunday’s message below.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:28 - key words “Greetings” & “Highly Favored”
“Greetings”: Rejoice
“highly favored”: full of grace
Joy = chara
Grace - charis
“Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you”
Being the Lord’s servant starts with God’s grace
Luke 1:29 - 37
Mary is to rejoice:
She has found favor, has been blessed, is full of grace
The Lord is with her, she need not be afraid
God is going to conceive and birth greatness in her, establishing God’s kingdom on the earth in her time
The Holy Spirit will rest on her, the power of the Most High will overshadow her
God’s Word for her will not fail, nothing is too hard for Him
Being the Lord’s servant includes Mary’s response
Luke 1:29, 34, 38
Mary is the Lord’s servant
Gabriel is the Lord’s servant
Are you the Lord’s servant?
What if God has favor for you?
What if God has a word for You?
What if God wants to birth something significant through you?
Zephaniah 3:14-17 “Rejoice, Daughter of Zion…be glad and rejoice..The Lord, the King is with you.” [The Lord is in your midst…literally in your womb]
“...his glorious grace, which he has freely given us” (Ephesians 1:6)
“Bestowed” = drenched
“Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you”
Are you the Lord’s servant?
Ready to receive His Word of grace for you?
Pondering over what His Word means to you?
Willing to have His Word be fulfilled through you?
Resources:
Lord of the Nations: Week 4
Sermon begins at about 27 minutes
Tim Brands, Founder and CEO of Many Hands for Haiti, shares with us about the work the organization is doing in Haiti even as unrest and violence are prevalent in the country. Building on Pastor Samuel’s message from the previous week, Tim continues teaching from Nehemiah. He asks us to “stay on the wall”, no matter what distractions, interruptions, or accusations come our way. During this service, we also encouraged people to give toward our Thanksgiving Offering which will be split between Uganda and Haiti. You can still donate to that cause through the end of the year here. Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Resources:
Learn more about Many Hand’s for Haiti here.
Series Notes:
The Lord of the nations:
Rules over the nations
Brings salvation to the nations
Receives worship from the nations
Rules over the nations
Psalm 22:28
Romans 15:12
Brings salvation to the nations
Isaiah 49:6
Luke 24:46-47
Receives worship from the nations
Isaiah 66:18-21
Revelation 7:9-10
Resources:
Lord of the Nations: Week 3
Sermon begins at about 27 minutes
Bishop Samuel MacGeorge Kawalya, Founder of Bethel Community Outreach Ministries in Uganda, preaches the word as part of our Lord of the Nations series. Pastor Samuel encourages us that we are “Called to the Wall”, teaching from Nehemiah. Pastor Samuel reminded us that we are planted in this time and place for a purpose. His message was a powerful reminder that we are here for a reason, and that reason is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Resources:
Learn more about Pastor Samuel’s ministry in Uganda here.
Series Notes:
The Lord of the nations:
Rules over the nations
Brings salvation to the nations
Receives worship from the nations
Rules over the nations
Psalm 22:28
Romans 15:12
Brings salvation to the nations
Isaiah 49:6
Luke 24:46-47
Receives worship from the nations
Isaiah 66:18-21
Revelation 7:9-10
Resources:
Lord of the Nations: Week 2
Sermon begins at about 27 minutes
Pastor Judd Nelson continues our new sermon series, “Lord of the Nations”.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Notes:
“The Angel didn’t move the stone to let Jesus out. He moved the stone to let us in.”
Matthew 28:17: They worshiped him; but some doubted
Matthew 28:18-20: The Great Commission
Come, See, Go, Teach (or Tell)
Do not be afraid > afraid yet filled with joy
Series Notes:
The Lord of the nations:
Rules over the nations
Brings salvation to the nations
Receives worship from the nations
Rules over the nations
Psalm 22:28
Romans 15:12
Brings salvation to the nations
Isaiah 49:6
Luke 24:46-47
Receives worship from the nations
Isaiah 66:18-21
Revelation 7:9-10
Resources:
Lord of the Nations: Week 1
Sermon begins at about 19 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins our new sermon series, “Lord of the Nations”.
Main points of this series are:
Jesus is the Lord of the Nations and He:
Rules over the nations
Brings salvation to the nations
Receives worship from the nations
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
The Lord of the nations:
Rules over the nations
Brings salvation to the nations
Receives worship from the nations
Rules over the nations
Psalm 22:28
Romans 15:12
Brings salvation to the nations
Isaiah 49:6
Luke 24:46-47
Receives worship from the nations
Isaiah 66:18-21
Revelation 7:9-10
Our primary allegiance is to the Lord Jesus
Romans 10:9
Philiippians 3:20
Romans 14:7-9
We are not of the world, but we are to be for the world
John 18:33-36
John 19:7-11
John 19:12-16
John 17:15-18
We are to foster reconciliation now as much as ever
2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2
We have a hope not from this world that allows us to be people of hope in this world
1 Peter 3:15
Resources:
The Word of the Lord: Week 7
Sermon begins at about 29 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt concludes a sermon series called, “The Word of the Lord”. The primary goal of this series is that we all would come to know God’s personal words for our lives through the practice of meditating on well known Bible passages. For week 7 the focus is on declaring scripture in song.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
The Word of the Lord: Week 6
Sermon begins at about 22 minutes
Camille Schmidt continues a sermon series called, “The Word of the Lord”. The primary goal of this series is that we all would come to know God’s personal words for our lives through the practice of meditating on well known Bible passages. For week 6 the focus is on an approach to scripture called Lectio Devina. Camille guides shares her personal experience with listening to God in this way, and leads us through a scripture and prayer using the Lectio Devina approach.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
The Word of the Lord: Week 5
Sermon begins at about 15 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues a sermon series called, “The Word of the Lord”. The primary goal of this series is that we all would come to know God’s personal words for our lives through the practice of meditating on well known Bible passages. For week 5 the focus is on the prophetic way in which God’s word speaks to us and through us. Ali Cranmer opens by leading us in a time of confession. Fran Vander Hart shares a scripture reading as the sermon begins.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
The Word of the Lord: Week 4
Sermon begins at about 15 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues a sermon series called, “The Word of the Lord”. The primary goal of this series is that we all would come to know God’s personal words for our lives through the practice of meditating on well known Bible passages. For week 4 the focus is on the authority of Scripture. Pastor Judd opens by leading us in a time of confession. Terri Gotta shares a scripture reading as the sermon begins.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
The Scripture of the Lord:
We are to give the Bible authority in our lives so that we can know Jesus and the life He
offers us.
Application:
Meditate on Scripture daily
Memorize weekly/monthly
Make Bible intake a priority in your life
2 Timothy 3:14-4:3
Highest authority isn’t what we want, what we think we need, what we are feeling. Highest
authority is the Lord who communicates through the Scripture for our good.
John 5:37-40
Knowing the Bible really well for information and inspiration isn’t the point. The Bible by God’s
Spirit puts us connects us to Jesus who gives us life.
Luke 24:25–27
Luke 24:30-32
Luke 24:44-49
Jesus by the Spirit opens the Scriptures to us so we can see and know him clearly and our
hearts can come alive.
The Word of the Lord: Week 3
Sermon begins at about 20 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues a new series called, “The Word of the Lord”. The primary goal of this series is that we all would come to know God’s personal words for our lives through the practice of meditating on well known Bible passages. For week two the focus is The Gospel. Ali Cranmer opens with scripture meditation and confession. Geoff Wheelock shares a scripture reading and Andrew asks him questions related to his military service, and how that informs his views as he reads scripture.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
The Word of the Lord: Week 2
Sermon begins at about 20 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues a new series called, “The Word of the Lord”. The primary goal of this series is that we all would come to know God’s personal words for our lives through the practice of meditating on well known Bible passages. For week two the focus is The Gospel. Camille Schmidt opens with scripture meditation and confession. Bob Bingham and Jared Lee Rietveld share scripture readings along with their thoughts as well!
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
All Scriptures from This Sermon
Sermon Slide Notes:
The Gospel of the Lord
We are to embrace and proclaim the good news of salvation from God
gospel = good news
Mark 1:1
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…
The ‘Gospels’: accounts of Jesus life, death & resurrection
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Good news (Mark 1:14-15):
The availability of God’s Presence & Action through Jesus
Good news (Mark 4:23-25):
Healing and deliverance from evil are available in Jesus Name
Good news (Luke 4:18-19):
God is for the poor, oppressed and marginalized
Good news (John 3:16-17; Mark 2:13-17):
God comes to sinners not to condemn but to save
Good news (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 2:8-9):
God through Jesus did for us what we can’t do for ourselves
Good news (Romans 4:23-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21):
Jesus sacrifice justified me ‘just as if I had not sinned’
Jesus act of atonement made me ‘at-one with God’
Good news (1 John 3:1, Hebrews 2:10-11, Galatians 3:26-28):
In Christ we are God’s people, members of his family
Good news (1 Corinthians 15:12-26; 35-58 The Message version):
We have life after death through Jesus resurrection
Good news (Romans 8:18-21):
The curse of creation will be reversed
We are destined for glory
Good news (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Revelation 21:1-4):
No matter how hard life is it can’t compare to life with God in eternity
Good news (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:28-39):
If you say yes to Jesus God will be with you always
We are to embrace and proclaim the good news of salvation from God
Application:
Meditate on Scripture daily
Memorize weekly/monthly
Practice confession & assurance
The Word of the Lord: Week 1
Sermon begins at about 24 minutes
Pastor Andrew begins a new series called, “The Word of the Lord”. The primary goal of this series is that we all would come to know God’s personal words for our lives through the practice of meditating on well known Bible passages. For week one the focus is The Law of the Lord. Aubrey Schneider opens with scripture meditation, and Issac Short shares a scripture reading as well.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Notes:
Psalm 1
Psalm 1:2
We are to memorize and meditate on God’s law (God’s teaching/instruction)
Psalm 119:9-11
Psalm 19:7-14
Threefold purpose of the law:
Mirror: shows our sin & need for a Savior
Curb: restrain from sin
Guide: shows us how to please God
Matthew 5:17-20
Matthew 22:34-39
We are to memorize and meditate on God’s Word (God’s teaching)
Application:
Meditate on Scripture daily
Memorize weekly/monthly
Resources:
Lord Of The Harvest: Week 4
Sermon begins at about 19 minutes
Pastor Andrew concludes our sermon series called “Lord of the Harvest”, which is part of our Year of the Lord theme in 2024. In this series we are encouraged to pray for the harvest, be a worker for the harvest, and support the work(ers) for the harvest.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Matthew 9:37-38
Pray for the harvest
Be a worker for the harvest
Support work(ers) for the harvest
The Parable of the Great Banquet: Luke 14:15-24
You are invited into a conversational relationship with God.
You are invited to be a servant/worker for the harvest.
Many are invited, now
Excuses, not now
Anger into grace
Go and bring in, now
Will you come/go, now
Even our family (whether it’s investing in them in good ways or being in a broken, hurting situation) isn’t to be an excuse for not giving Jesus the highest place in our life. (see Luke 14:25-27 & Matthew 10:37-39)
Now is the time will you make excuses or respond to the invitations:
To grow in a conversational relationship with God
To be a servant/worker for the harvest
Lord Of The Harvest: Week 3
Sermon begins at about 19 minutes
Scot and Becky Dykstra join us this Sunday to share about their calling to be full time missionaries in Japan. Listen to their story and join us as we pray over them. Celebrate is committed to supporting their work for the next 5 years! Scot also teaches in our sermon series called “Lord of the Harvest”, which is part of our Year of the Lord theme in 2024. In this series we are encouraged to pray for the harvest, be a worker for the harvest, and support the work(ers) for the harvest.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Links:
TEAM: The organization the Dykstra’s are working with in their mission work to Japan.
The Joshua Project: Joshua Project highlights peoples and places with the least access or response to the gospel so the Body of Christ can prioritize its prayer and mission efforts.
Lord Of The Harvest: Week 2
Sermon begins at about 19 minutes
Guest Speaker Robert Leitheiser teaches in our sermon series called “Lord of the Harvest”, which is part of our Year of the Lord theme in 2024. Robert is Senior Church Advisor at World Vision USA and we were honored to have him share a message with us this Sunday! In this series we are encouraged to pray for the harvest, be a worker for the harvest, and support the work(ers) for the harvest.
Audio: (will be posted Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
To Evangelize we have to remember these three things:
Prayer
Compassionate Listening
Radical Hospitality