Recent
Sermons
Easter Sunday- The Lord of the Sabbath- Week 1
Sermon begins at about 20 min
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues this year’s theme of “The Year of the Lord” as he begins a new sermon series “The Lord of the Sabbath”. In this Easter Sunday sermon, Andrew teaches about the meaning of “The Lord’s Day” and Sabbath. He points us to Jesus and encourages us to begin thinking about the kind of rest that God commands us to take. He emphasizes the importance of this being a command, not a request, and how we often do not take this command as the gift it truly is. The first sermon can be watched as video above. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast (audio is posted on Tuesdays)
Audio: (posted on Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scriptures:
Resources and In-Sermon Material References:
The Anxious Generation: Jonathan Haidt
Full Sermon Notes:
March 31, 2024
The theme for our sermons in 2024 is ‘The year of the Lord’.
The Lord is the term used most often of God in the Old Testament and of Jesus. So we are viewing different ways we can think about Jesus as Lord.
The New Testament emphasizes viewing and publicly confessing “Jesus as Lord” in order to be saved (Romans 10:9-13). To make Jesus Lord of our life, means that he is in charge. We seek to do what He wants us to do. We can trust Him in this because He wants and knows what’s best for us.
In the Resurrection accounts of Jesus we see that the early disciples used the term for Jesus as Lord immediately and often after He rose from the dead (John 20:2, 13, 18, 20, 25, 28; 21:7, 12, 15-17).
Since Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, the early followers of Jesus came to call the first day of the week “The Lord’s Day”. This is a day when the community gathered to worship Jesus. It was a day in which they scheduled to prioritize The Lord. Eventually, for some, it became the day when they observed The Sabbath Day.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” is one of the 10 commandments.
It states that on six days you should do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you should not do any work. (Exodus 20:8-10, Deuteronomy 5:12-14)
This commandment is one many Christians don’t even realize is one of the commandments. Even if they do, in our time many have not intention of keeping it. And many don’t even think that the commandment still applies as they consider it to be part of the Old Testament law which was fulfilled by Jesus and thus no longer binding on us (such as dietary restrictions, the priestly sacrificial system, and circumcision all of which the New Testament indicate no longer apply to Jesus’ followers).
The rest of the 10 commandments (at least most of them) are seen as the universal moral law and still relevant for us. Christians don’t say that now it doesn’t matter whether or not we murder or steal, because Jesus fulfilled the law.
The commandment itself is the longest of all the commandments listed. It is talked about and commanded more in the Torah (the first five books in the Old Testament) than any other commandment. In the Exodus listing it starts with “Remember” as if God knows we are likely to forget about this one. And in the Deuteronomy listing it states “as the LORD your God has commanded you”, twice, unlike the other commandments. It’s as if in this commandment God is saying “no really, I am commanding you to do this”.
In the newly released (and quickly #1 NY Times best seller) The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt shows alarming data about mental health for the youngest generation (13-30 year olds). These negative trends started between 2010-2015 and have continued. Haidt argues that the data indicates a “phone based life” and particularly social media (especially for girls) and video games and pornography (especially for boys) is causing this mental health crisis.
Interestly, this atheist social scientist includes a chapter on spirituality. He encourages people of all ages to engage in six spiritual practices that will lift people up rather than pull people down. In number one on his list he uses ‘Sabbath” multiple times. Five out of the six on the list include aspects of sabbath that we will be talking about in this series.
This series is not to try and prescribe for everyone to take a Sabbath day on a certain day and exactly what to do (or not do on it). Rather we are going to explore what Sabbath is and consider what aspects of sabbath we might want to incorporate in our life.
Below are aspects of what can be included in entering Sabbath reality:
(Remember &) Stop:
Break from getting stuff
Break from getting stuff done
Worship (& Wonder):
Worship services/prayer
Celebration of Creation
Rest (& Enjoy):
Silence, Stillness, Solitude, Sleep
Eating & Playing together
In thinking through Sabbath, it may be helpful to consider the Lord’s Day. Is there any time which we regularly set aside as the Lord’s time. Time in which we keep devoted to the Lord and schedule around. If Jesus is Lord he should be the master over all of our time. But if we don’t set any time aside to be devoted to Him, it is worth questioning the extent to which He is actually Lord of our lives. Exploring Sabbath will be an opportunity to consider how we can set aside time for the Lord. How we can observe The Lord’s Day.
Q&R: Week 4
Sermon begins at about 18 min
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series called “Q&R”. This series focuses on the questions people asked and how Jesus responded to them. Rather than Question and Answer, Jesus would often respond in a way that caused the listener to think deeper, and in that that find answers being revealed. The first sermon can be watched as video above. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast (audio is posted on Tuesdays)
Audio: (posted on Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Q&R: Week 3
Sermon begins at about 24 min
Pastor Judd Nelson continues a sermon series called “Q&R”. This series focuses on the questions people asked and how Jesus responded to them. Rather than Question and Answer, Jesus would often respond in a way that caused the listener to think deeper, and in that that find answers being revealed. The first sermon can be watched as video above. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast (audio is posted on Tuesdays)
Audio: (posted on Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Q&R: Week 2
Sermon begins at about 24 min
Aubrey Schneider continues a sermon series called “Q&R”. This series focuses on the questions people asked and how Jesus responded to them. Rather than Question and Answer, Jesus would often respond in a way that caused the listener to think deeper, and in that that find answers being revealed. The first sermon can be watched as video above. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast (audio is posted on Tuesdays)
Audio: (posted on Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Q&R: Week 1
Sermon begins at about 22 min
Worship Ministry Leader Matt Van Sant kicks off a sermon series called “Q&R”. This series focuses on the questions people asked and how Jesus responded to them. Rather than Question and Answer, Jesus would often respond in a way that caused the listener to think deeper, and in that that find answers being revealed. The first sermon can be watched as video above. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast (audio is posted on Tuesdays)
Audio: (posted on Tuesdays)
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Fear of the Lord: Week 6
Sermon begins at about 17 min
Pastor Andrew Schmidt concludes a sermon series called “The Fear of the Lord”, which is part of our theme for this year, “Year of the Lord”. Andrew and used different scripture in each sermon. The first sermon can be watched as video below. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Fear of the Lord: Week 5
Sermon begins at about 30 min
Hospitality Pastor Ali Cranmer (first service) and Pastor Andrew Schmidt (second service) continue a sermon series called “The Fear of the Lord”, which is part of our theme for this year, “Year of the Lord”. Andrew and Ali used different scripture in each sermon. The first sermon can be watched as video below. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast.
Note: In Ali’s message, she used a clip from The Chosen. Youtube cut the audio during that portion. You can watch that video here!
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Fear of the Lord: Week 4
Sermon begins at about 20min
Pastor Andrew Schmidt (first service) and Pastor Judd Nelson (second service) continue a sermon series called “The Fear of the Lord”, which is part of our theme for this year, “Year of the Lord”. Andrew and Judd used different scripture in each sermon. The first sermon can be watched as video below. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Fear of the Lord: Week 3
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series called “The Fear of the Lord”, which is part of our theme for this year, “Year of the Lord”. Andrew used different scripture in each sermon. The first sermon can be watched as video below. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast. NOTE: We had an issue with our audio during our livestream on Sunday. We are currently uploading the videos of both of these services and will post the video links as soon as they are ready. In the meantime, both sermons can be listened to as audio only below. We will update as soon as possible!
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Fear of the Lord: Week 2
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series called “The Fear of the Lord”, which is part of our theme for this year, “Year of the Lord”. Andrew used different scripture in each sermon. The first sermon can be watched as video below. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast.
Sermon begins at about 25 minutes. This sermon is from our 9am service.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Fear of the Lord: Week 1
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins a sermon series called “The Fear of the Lord”, which is part of our theme for this year, “Year of the Lord”. Andrew used different scripture in each sermon. The first sermon can be watched as video below. The second can be listened to below or on our podcast.
Sermon begins at about 21 minutes. This sermon is from our 9am service.
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Epiphany
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins 2024 with a sermon focusing on Epiphany. On this day we are called to remember that Jesus came for ALL people.
Sermon begins at about 24 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scriptures:
Things To Remember:
Year of the Lord
Pastor Andrew Schmidt finishes 2023 with a sermon that calls us to look toward 2024 in such a way that makes Jesus Lord of our life. What does Lord mean to us today? What does it mean to call Jesus Lord? He covers this in this message!
Sermon begins at about 24 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Get Ready for Relating Well
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues our Advent 2023 series “Get Ready!”. This series focuses on the life and ministry of John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for Jesus. This week we focus on what it means to prepare the way for the Lord (GET READY!) by lovingly relating to others while also doing the right thing in a gracious way. We are encouraged to ask ourselves: How am I responding to the messengers God is sending me? How am I responding to the reality that He wants me to be His messenger?
Sermon begins at about 24 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Scriptures:
Things To Remember:
Action Steps
Get ready (what does that mean for you personally)Get ready to share teh good news with others
Get ready by owning your decisions before the Lord and being gentle with others
Would you like to be baptized?
Get Ready for the Holy Spirit!
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins our Advent 2023 series “Get Ready!”. This series focuses on the life and ministry of John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for Jesus. This week we focus on what it means to prepare the way for the Lord (GET READY!) by being baptized, and the joy that comes with being immersed in the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to consider how we can get ready in a personal way, by sharing the Good News, by being baptized/professing our faith and asking the Holy Spirit to fill us.
Sermon begins at about 23 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Get Ready for Fire!
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins our Advent 2023 series “Get Ready!”. This series focuses on the life and ministry of John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for Jesus. This week we focus on what it means to prepare the way for the Lord (GET READY!), and the hope of good news that God’s salvation is available to all. Repeated themes this week include calls to repentance and the peace that comes through the message of fire. We are encouraged to consider how we can get ready in a personal way, get ready to share the good news, and to get ready by fasting during Advent.
Sermon begins at about 35 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Get Ready!
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins our Advent 2023 series “Get Ready!”. This series focuses on the life and ministry of John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for Jesus. This week we focus on what it means to prepare the way for the Lord (GET READY!), and the hope of good news that God’s salvation is available to all. We are encouraged to consider how we can get ready in a personal way, get ready to share the good news, and to get ready by fasting during Advent.
Sermon begins at about 20 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Jesus Story: Daniel and the Scary Sleepover
Pastor Andrew Schmidt is back from sabbatical! He continues the sermon series called, “Jesus Story”. This series will take us through scripture with the help of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This children’s Bible tells the Story in a beautiful way for both children and adults. This week we read the story “Daniel and the Scary Sleepover” which covers the story of Daniel. Andrew teaches on this story and shows us how we can see Jesus’ life within it. As the Jesus Storybook Bible says, “every story whispers His name”, even from the very first book of the Bible.
Sermon begins at about 20 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Jesus Story: The Teeny, Weenie, True King
Pastor Andrew Schmidt is back from sabbatical! He continues the sermon series called, “Jesus Story”. This series will take us through scripture with the help of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This children’s Bible tells the Story in a beautiful way for both children and adults. This week we read the story “The Teenie, Weenie, True King” which covers the story of David. Andrew teaches on this story and shows us how we can see Jesus’ life within it. As the Jesus Storybook Bible says, “every story whispers His name”, even from the very first book of the Bible.
Sermon begins at about 20 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Things To Remember:
Jesus Story: “God’s Messenger”
Pastor Marty Schmidt joins us from The Bridge Church in Ottumwa. He continues the sermon series called, “Jesus Story”. This series will take us through scripture with the help of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This children’s Bible tells the Story in a beautiful way for both children and adults. This week we read the story “God’s Messenger”, which covers the story of Jonah. Marty teaches on this story and shows us how we can see Jesus’ life within it. As the Jesus Storybook Bible says, “every story whispers His name”, even from the very first book of the Bible.
Sermon begins at about 42 minutes
Audio:
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.