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Sermons
MARKed By Good News- Week 2
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a new sermon series called, “MARKed by Good News”. This is part of our MARKed: A Year in the Gospel of Mark, which began on April 20th. This week’s passage centers on Mark 1:1-13. Camille Schmidt begins this sermon by reading the scripture passage for this week.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Notes:
Mark 1:1-13
In Jesus baptism, we see the mystery of the trinity: one God in three persons (Mark 1:10-11)
Voice of the Father
Descent of the Spirit
Jesus, the Son
Why does Jesus get baptized by John, when John offered a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4-5)?
Because Jesus was identifying with sinful humanity completely even in the depths of our sin, darkness and evil. In doing so, he was willingly taking on one we deserve.
When we get baptized or confirm our baptism through public profession of faith we are identifying completely with Jesus taking on his life and in the end will get what he deserves.
We respond to Jesus by:
Receiving God’s grace he loved us before we ever loved or reached out to him (while we were still in the depths).
Acknowledging what’s true about God/Jesus and about ourselves including where we miss the mark.
Taking steps to change and actually making decision(s) to follow Jesus way and what he wants.
Rely on God’s grace including the Holy Spirit with whom we are baptized when we give our life to Jesus.
Resources:
Lectio Davina Approach to Scripture PDF
Free Online Bible: BibleGateway
Free SmartPhone Bible App: YouVersion
MARKed By Good News- Week 1
Pastor Andrew Schmidt begins a new sermon series called, “MARKed by Good News”. This is part of our MARKed: A Year in the Gospel of Mark, which began on April 20th. This week’s passage centers on Mark 1:1.
There were two sermons on Easter Sunday, April 20th. The first service is available to watch above. The second service sermon is the audio version you will find below or on our podcast.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Mark’s Gospel starts “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah the Son of God.” As we spend a year in this Gospel we note that it will be all about Jesus and it will be good news.
God’s people at the time Jesus lived needed to be prepared in order to receive the Messiah.
John the Baptist is the one who prepared them. Three aspects of John’s preparation:
They confessed their sins (1:5) that is they acknowledged what’s true about their life in relation to God and his ways.
He preached a baptism of repentance (1:4) that is they were to take steps to change.
This baptism was for the forgiveness of sins (1:4) that is they receive God’s grace to do for them what they could not do for themselves.
Story after story in Mark’s gospel presents people, both religious and irreligious, being called to respond to Jesus. They are described in such a way as to invite us to decide how we will respond to Jesus.
If we are to receive Jesus we need to respond in the same ways as those who were prepared by John the Baptist that is with:
Confession: Acknowledging what’s true
Repentance: Taking steps to change
Forgiveness of sins: Receiving God’s grace
Possible Action Steps are:
Baptism (Sign up for Faith Commitment class if you have not been baptized or confirmed your child baptism as an adult through public profession of faith)
Bible (Read the Gospel of Mark during the coming weeks and months)
Resources:
Lectio Davina Approach to Scripture PDF
Free Online Bible: BibleGateway
Free SmartPhone Bible App: YouVersion
The Call- Week 15: The Call to Holiness
Pastor Andrew Schmidt concludes a sermon series (week 15) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passage centers on Nehemiah 13:1-31, with emphasis on the Call to Holiness.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 14: The Call to Worship
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series (week 14) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passage centers on Nehemiah 11:1-12:47, with emphasis on the Call to Worship.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 13: The Call to Give
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series (week 13) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passage centers on Nehemiah 10:1-39, with emphasis on the Call to Give.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 10: The Call to Scripture and Celebration
Sermon begins at about 38 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series (week 10) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passage centers on Nehemiah 8:1-18, with emphasis on the Call to Scripture and Celebration.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 9: The Call to Persevere
Sermon begins at about 22 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series (week 9) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passage centers on Nehemiah 8:1-18, with emphasis on the Call to Persevere
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 8: The Call to Justice
Sermon begins at about 10 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series (week 8) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passages center on Nehemiah 5:1-19 and Zechariah 7-8:23, with emphasis on the Call to Justice.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 7: The Call to Work and Protect
Sermon begins at about 10 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series (week 7) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passages center on Nehemiah 4:1-23, with emphasis on the Call to Work and Protect.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 6: The Call to Rebuild
Sermon begins at about 25 minutes
Pastor Andrew Schmidt continues a sermon series (week 5) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passages center on Nehemiah 2:11-3:32, with emphasis on the Call to Rebuild.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 4: The Call to Renewal
Sermon begins at about 30 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues a sermon series (week 4) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passages center on Ezra 7:1-8:36, with emphasis on the Call to renewal.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Sermon Slide Notes:
Ezra lead God’s people into renewal. His example can move us toward renewal today.
Ezra 7:6-10
Ezra knew, obeyed, and taught God’s Word
Ezra relied on God’s gracious hand to be with him
Ezra 7:7-26
Ezra was committed to the worship of God
Ezra 7:27-8:1; 8:15-20
Ezra was committed to the people of God
Ezra gathered, assembled, summoned leaders for God’s purposes
Ezra 8:21-23; 31-32
Ezra fasted & prayed for protection
Ezra proceeded with courage
Ezra 8:24-29; 33-34
Ezra raised funds and stewarded them with integrity
Ezra 9:1-15
Ezra humbles himself and confesses sin
Ezra 10:1-16
Ezra led people to repentance
The Call to God’s people:
God’s Word
Rely on God’s grace
Worship & pray
Commit to community
Assemble for God’s purposes
Fast & pray
Proceed with courage
Steward $ with integrity
Confess sin
Repentance
Ezra 8:35
The Old Covenant required sacrifice of animals for relationship with God
12 bulls, 96 rams, 77 male lambs, 12 male goats
The New Covenant Jesus is the once for all sacrifice for our sins providing the opportunity for relationship with God
Resources:
The Call- Week 3: The Call To Prioritize
Sermon begins at about 30 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues a new sermon series (week 3) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passages center on Ezra 4:24-5:2; Haggai 1:1-2:9.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 2: The Call To Prayer
Sermon begins at about 14 minutes
Pastor Andrew continues a new sermon series (week 2) called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passages center on Ezra 3:1-13.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
The Call- Week 1
Sermon begins at about 30 minutes
Pastor Andrew begins a new sermon series called, “The Call”. The Big Theme of this series centers on the call of committing to be a covenant community when the surrounding culture seeks to eliminate your identity as the people of God. This week’s passages center on Ezra 1:1-6 and Ezra 2:67-70. As we are celebrating the 25th Anniversary as a church, In this sermon Pastor Andrew also talks with founding Pastor Gary Roozeboom about God’s call on his life and the beginning of Celebrate Church.
You can listen to the sermon below, or you can subscribe to our Celebrators Podcast wherever you listen.
Resources:
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 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 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.