Recent
Sermons
Let’s Go: Eagerly Examine
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues our sermon series at Celebrate called “Let’s Go”. This series is based on the book of Acts. The message is: LET'S GO strengthen and encourage people! This week’s focus is Acts 17:1-15 (Thess/Bereans & Scripture), and how we are called to eagerly examine God’s word. See sermon notes and resources linked below.
This sermon series also highlights people who are going in our own communities. This week’s interview was with the Bender family. You can see this interview here.
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.
Things To Remember:
Paul and Silas continue to go through Macedonia to proclaim the gospel. Traveling about 95 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica and then about 35 miles from Thessalonica to Berea.
The time of ministry is meant to be compared. In both Thessalonica (vs. 4) and Berea (vs. 12) many Greeks and quite a few prominent women were persuaded by Paul's message and believed. But only some of the Thessalonian Jews were persuaded compared to the many Berean Jews who believed.
Acts 17:11 clearly and explicitly contrasts the character and actions of the Berean Jews from those of the Thessalonian Jews (which can be seen in more detail from the previous verses).
Thessalonian Jews
Jealous
Rejected Jesus as Messiah
Appeal to human authority
Scripture once a week
Someone else teaching
Berean Jews
Noble (well-pleased)
Received Jesus as Messiah
Appealed to Scripture as authority
Scripture every day
Examining for themselves
Which list above is more true of you?
Let's Go...
examine the Scriptures...
...and eagerly receive Jesus.
Scripture References:
Other Links and References:
Maps
Find Jennie’s Google Maps Presentation of Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey HERE.
(You may have to be logged into your Google Maps account to see it.)
People of Presence: Intimacy
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins a new sermon series called, “People of Presence”. Intimacy and intercession are two key ingredients for being People of Presence as God intends. So this fall we are going to explore different ways of drawing close to God and praying for others. Each week we will focus on either Intimacy with God, or Intercession on behalf of others. This week, Andrew is joined by Skip Jackson, who leads us into the sermon, and Camille Schmidt, who teaches on intimacy with God.
Sermon begins at 37:23
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scripture References:
John 15:1-9
Things To Remember:
Intimacy is closeness in relationship that builds over time
Intimacy is costly
Intimacy is exclusive
Intimacy is experience
Sermon Notes and References:
“I feel simply carried along each hour, doing my part in a plan which is far beyond myself. This
sense of cooperation with God in the little things is what so astonishes me, for I never have felt
it this way before. I need something, and turn around to find it waiting for me. I must work, to be
sure, but there is God working along with me.”
“The core task of remaining in Christ is talking to Jesus. I often exchange the phrase “remain in Me” for the phrase “talk to Me” - I use them interchangeably. The Christian life is an ongoing dialogue with a real person. In fact, the essence of Christianity is living in an ongoing dialogue with the most Glorious Man who ever walked the earth. He is fully
God and fully man, and we get to talk to Him! Jesus has much to say to us, but He allows us to set the pace of the conversation. If we start, He will continue the conversation as long as we do. When we stop, He stops and waits until we begin again. He responds in the degree to which we communicate with Him.”