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| 02/19/12 | “Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them.” (Goethe) While some of us may be guilty of such errors, our Heavenly Father is not. He allows us all to face suffering, as Paul did in Philippians 1:12-21. Steve challenges us to accept and even embrace suffering in a message called, “A Fully-Developed Theology of Suffering”.
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| 02/12/12 | This sermon reminds you that you are loved and that God’s Word is His love letter to you. Listen in as we begin a new study on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. Our text is Philippians 1:1-11. Steve’s message is called, “A Love Letter from God” (or “Paul’s Heart for His Peeps”) . |
| 02/05/12 | In preparation for our study of Philippians, we see how the church in Philippi was born. It wasn’t a man-made thing or a programatic thing. It was a God-Thing. Our church (and our lives!) should be too. Open to Acts 16 to see, “The Anatomy of a God-Thing”. |
| 01/29/12 | This is the first of two sermons giving us background to the Letter to the Philippians. On this Sunday, we meet a violent young man who killed in the name of God. Acts 9:1-19 tells the story of how Saul of Tarsus met his Maker, met his match…and found his calling. Steve’s sermon is called,”Stop Fighting God” (or, “Prepare to Meet Your Mission”). |
| 01/22/12 | Did your Dad ever sit you down for a “Family Council”? Those meetings often meant: a) Dad or Mom is mad, b) someone is in trouble, and c) it could be you. In this fireside chat-type sermon, Steve suggests a better agenda: celebration, communication, and caring. Your family, roommates, or staff can get some practical tips from: “Time for a Family Council” (or, “A Fatherly Talk with Steve”). |
| 01/15/12 | This talk took place just prior to the launch of our Wednesday night gatherings called, “Conversations: Thinking Biblically about Sexuality”. On this unforgettable morning, our very own Roger Jones, Director of Where Grace Abounds, shared his story and reflections on subjects such as sexual abuse, same-sex attraction, and pornography. This is a must-hear message. |
| 01/08/12 | What gets in the way of you worshipping God freely and with abandon? Criticism can do it. In 2 Samuel 6:12-23, David sang and danced for joy before God — and his embarrassed wife heckled him. To help us focus on the One audience who matters, Pastor Jill Jones brings a message called, “Adventures in Missing the Point” (Or, “Practicing Gratitude”). |
| 01/01/12 | What was your favorite movie of 2012? What made it great? Chances are, it had a good story with compelling characters facing huge obstacles. On New Year’s Day 2012, we enjoyed three such stories. One was set in the days of Jesus, the other two are set in our times. Brett Swiggle, Lex Smith, and Dan Berv share in a message Steve called, “Three Great Stories”. |
| 12/24/11 | Christmas Eve at Celebration Community Church. |
| 12/18/11 | Joseph’s Journey is a story of divine interruption, human obedience, and life-threatening danger. But it can’t end without a final word from God: “It’s time to go home”. This message is a call to come home to our families and to God. In it we enjoy two great Monk video clips, explore Matthew 2:19-23, and write a Christmas in July letter. Steve’s message is called, “The Hero Comes Home”. |
| 12/11/11 | As Joseph’s Journey unfolds, it becomes clear that all was neither calm, nor bright for him. Amidst a roller coaster of good news and bad news, the one constant is Joseph’s obedience.After a light-hearted montage from “Home Alone” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=90FR8m-zEH4), we turn up the heat, looking at Matthew 2:13-18. Steve’s sermon is called, “Your Family is in Danger” or “Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths about Christmas”. |
| 12/04/11 | On this 2nd Sunday of Advent 2011, we discussed the concept of “a Rule for Life” — a personal compass, level, or metronome which gives your life direction, balance, and rhythm. Joseph’s obedience to the Word of God was his Rule for Life and paved the way for him to experience God. So turn to Luke 2:22-44 as Steve shares a message called, “Crafting a Rule for Life”. |
| 11/27/11 | John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” If you find this difficult, you’re not alone. For Joseph, the first Christmas was one big interruption. In Matthew 1:18-25, you can see how God’s epic story and one man’s personal story come together. Steve’s message is called, “Life Interrupted” and is the first in our 2011 Advent Series called, “Joseph’s Journey”. |
| 11/20/11 | Someone has said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” Often we feel grateful for our parents, teachers, friends, and family…but fail to express it. As a corrective to this, Steve brings this practical message on the importance of gratitude. This sermon took place on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, 2011. It’s called, “Thankful People” or “Thanksgiving is Something You Do”. |
| 11/13/11 | This was our annual Vision Sunday. Picture a table with four grocery sacks on it. In each were items that illustrate our ministry priorities for 2012. After framing our mission, vision, and values, Steve charted a course for the next season of ministry at Celebration Community Church. Our ministry plan for 2012 focuses on four priorities: Getting into God’s Word, Inviting & Including, Creating a Mentoring Culture, and Doing Diaper Ministry. Steve’s message is called, “A Vision in Four Sacks”. |
| 11/06/11 | Don’t you love movie mentors? They are wise, demanding teachers who enter the life of a hard-headed student and transform it. Think Obi Wan, Mr Miyagi, Morpheus, or Gandalf. At Celebration, our vision is to create a mentoring culture. This message was a Celebration Essential, called, “The Reluctant Mentor” or “What You’re Feeling is Perfectly Normal”. It features a very cool Monk video clip too. |
| 10/30/11 | Several years ago, our Leadership Team sculpted a mission statement for Celebration Community Church: “to create a life-giving, life-changing missional-mentoring community for people in need of grace.” The theological term for offering grace to people who need it is redemption.This Sunday, in Ruth chapter 4, you will hear God’s call to people like us in a world like ours. Steve’s sermon is called, “Two Sides of Redemption” (or “People in Need of Grace”). |
| 10/23/11 | Have you ever made snap judgments about someone else, only to realize that you were wrong? Or, have you ever had someone judge you and completely miss who you are?Well, in Sunday’s passage, we’ll see just that in 1 Samuel 1 when Hannah is misunderstood or judged by everyone around her, including her priest. This Sunday, Jill will bring a message called “What’s Your Problem?” or “The Spiritual Practice of Encountering Others.” |
| 10/16/11 | When we left our story, Ruth was primped and perfumed to meet Boaz on the threshing room floor. Why? What did she want and what made her think that was the place to find it? And what would a man like Boaz do when he awoke to find a young woman at his feet?Find out this Sunday in a message Steve calls, “I Know What You Did on the Threshing Room Floor” (Or,“You Make Me Want to Be a Better Man”). Note to Parents: This message is rated “R” for “Real”. |
| 10/9/11 | Everyone loves a good love story…at least God does. In fact, He is a romantic at heart. Why else would he have placed the love story of Ruth & Boaz in the Bible?This Sunday, you will see how nothing is too big or too small for God…including your search for love. Steve’s message is called, “I’m Not a Witch, I’m Your Wife.” (or “You Make Me Want to Be a Better Man”).Special Bonus: This sermon includes a rare video clip double-feature. Don’t miss it! |
| 10/2/11 | Last week, we left Ruth in the barley field of Boaz, where her proactive job hunt met God’s providential care. When her mother-in-law Naomi woke up that morning, she was paralyzed with hopelessness; when she went to bed that same night, she had an entirely new outlook.What happened? What made a dead hope rise up and walk …And how can it happen for us? Find out this Sunday in the Book of Ruth 2:14-23. Steve’s message is called, “How to Give Hope to the Hopeless” (or, “The Power of Groceries & Good News”). |
| 9/25/11 | Do you operate more by faith or by wisdom? That is, which comes most naturally to you—reliance or responsibility?For many of us, it can be hard to strike a balance, but if you read Ruth 2:1-18, you will see how a desperate young woman steps out into a scary, chaotic world and finds the security and community of God. Steve’s message is called, “Providence & the Proactive Woman” (or, “The Savior is in the Details”). Don’t miss it! |
| 9/18/11 | Someone once said, “When you’re going through hell, keep going.” Some of us are going through some pretty hellish times these days.Such was the case for Naomi and Ruth in Ruth, chapter 1. In this Sunday’s story, these two common women deal with uncommon loss in remarkable ways.Steve’s message is called, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” (or “Decision-Making in Dark Times.”). This will be a good word for people in pain and for those called to walk with people through hard places. |
| 9/11/11 | This Sunday marks 10 years since that unforgettable morning. Painful though it may be, it is good to remember the tragedy and heroism surrounding the day forever etched on our national memory.This Sunday, we will begin a study of the Book of Ruth — the story of two common women facing hardship with uncommon courage and resourcefulness. It is one of Steve’s favorite Old Testament books. Perhaps over the next few Sundays it will become one of yours as well. |
| 9/4/11 | Steve is back sharing a message about what it means to follow Jesus in spite of our failures in the past…or the future. His text is found in 1 Timothy 1:12-17. His message is called, “I Was Shown Mercy.” |
| 8/28/11 | We tell ourselves (and others) that we’re aiming to be successful in the various things we do • in our jobs, in our relationships, in our hobbies, in our ministries. Sometimes though, it feels like what we are really doing is trying to avoid failure. Why? Because that would mean that we are failures. And we just can’t have that. And of course, God doesn’t want us to be failures. Just look at all those great Biblical heroes … I mean, they were successful … sort of … well, a lot of the time…okay, some of the time…um, er…hmmm. God does want us to be successful in life, doesn’t he?Mike Sares will be exploring the answer to this question at Celebration this Sunday in his message titled, “Failure is Not An Option.” |
| 8/21/11 | Our Associate Pastor, Jill Woosley Jones, will be preaching. Our journey through Nehemiah continues this Sunday as she brings us a message from Nehemiah 9. |
| 8/14/11 | This Sunday, August 14: Jeff Johnsen, Director of Mile High Ministries, will be preaching. Jeff will be talking with us about three characteristics of the Kingdom: hidden, universal, and scandalous. Jeff’s message is called “Dragnet Church,” and comes from Matthew 13:31-33, 45-51. |
| 8/7/11 | In Nehemiah 8, the people get serious…too serious. They weep at the long-neglected reading of God’s Law. There is certainly a time for weeping and for getting serious about God, but in an unexpected turn of events, Nehemiah says, “Stop your weeping, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”. Wow. Is there a better Scripture to describe our outlook at Celebration Community Church? We think not. |
| 7/31/11 | This Sunday, we will reach the climactic moment in the book of Nehemiah. After lying in ruins for 100 years, the walls of Jerusalem will be completed…in just 52 days. But things will get much worse before they get better.As a follow-up to Vince’s message last Sunday, Steve will share a Celebration Essential called, “Begin with the End in Mind” (or “Later Stage Temptations”). |
| 7/24/11 | The legendary coach John Wooden once said “For an athlete to function properly, he must be intent. There has to be a definite purpose and goal if you are to progress. If you are not intent about what you are doing, you aren’t able to resist the temptation to do something else that might be more fun at the moment.”Not only athletes experience temptation, this is an experience common to all. We are all susceptible and we are all called to a definite purpose and goal.This Sunday, we are privileged to have our Summer Servant, Vince Crespin share his heart, his story, and a message from Matthew 16:21-28, called “Something We All Have in Common.” |
| 7/17/11 | Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Imagine what a testimony we could have, what influence in our culture, if Christians were known as the most sincere, honest, ethical people on earth.Unfortunately, people who name the name of God are capable of gross injustices toward their fellow man. An example of this can be found in Nehemiah chapter 5. There we see how mistreatment of the poor angered Nehemiah…and how he dealt with it spiritually, relationally, and managerially.Our next Celebration Essential is called, “Do the Right Thing” (or “3 Kinds of Problems Part 2″). |
| 7/10/11 | When the going gets tough, the tough get praying. In Nehemiah 4, our hero meets an onslaught of conflicts with a combination of prayer and problem-solving. Threat after threat rears its ugly head and time after time Nehemiah must meet them head-on.How effectively do you deal with enemies and obstacles? What can you do when people attack you and your tasks seem impossible? Find out this Sunday as Steve unpacks Celebration Essential # 6 in a sermon called, “Difficult Conversations.” |
| 7/3/11 | How do you get connected at Celebration? In 12 years we have seen two things our happiest congregants seem to do: sign-up and show-up.In Nehemiah 3, we become acquainted with some really faithful folks–and a few no-show slackers. This Sunday, Steve will bring #5 of our summer sermon series on “Celebration Essentials.” It’s called, “Sign-up and Show-up” (or “The Declaration of Inter-Dependence”). |
| 6/26/11 | What is it with Americans? All these songs about love, all the romantic comedies in theaters, all the television shows depicting relationship after relationship … and finding true, lasting love seems to be the hardest thing for people to find.This Sunday’s message, brought to us by Mike Sares, pastor of Scum of the Earth Church, will explore our culture’s confusion about LOVE, and how light from God’s word can guide us to the love we truly seek. Mike’s sermon is called “Eros and Agape”. |
| 6/19/11 | After Lebron James and his new team lost the NBA Finals, his former boss tweeted: “Old Lesson for all: There are NO SHORTCUTS. NONE.”Earning respect comes at a price and Nehemiah was willing to pay it. On Sunday, you will learn how to earn trust, inspire hope, and rally people to a cause. Here’s a hint: you don’t achieve such things by taking short-cuts.Steve’s message is called, “Earning the Right to Be Heard.” It’s from Nehemiah 2:11-20 and is Part 4 of our summer sermon series on “Celebration Essentials.” |
| 6/12/11 | Character is who you are when no one is looking. In Nehemiah 1, the character of Nehemiah was revealed by his broken heart and his passionate, knowledge-rich prayer.This Sunday, in Nehemiah 2:1-10, we will see how preparation meets opportunity and how dreams become reality. Steve will share another “Celebration Essential,” the leadership principle that “Private Victory Precedes Public Victory.” |
| 6/5/11 | Last Sunday, we talked about the power of a broken heart. A broken heart can be your ally if you let it drive you to prayer. There is nothing like pain to get us back on our knees, crying out to God.But what should you say when your heart is crushed? Along with your tears, what kind of issues does someone serious about prayer address?This Sunday, we will take a look at how Nehemiah poured out his heart to God and how you can do the same. Steve’s message is called, “The Stressed and Significant Prayer” from Nehemiah 1:5-11. |
| 5/29/11 | It’s a Celebration Sunday! One service at 10 am with lots of special features, such as celebrating our high school graduates and praying for Kelsey Messer’s summer mission.Steve will begin a summer sermon series on mission, vision, calling, and community called “The Heart of Celebration” (from the book of Nehemiah)… and we’ll finish with a barbecue. Don’t miss it!! |
| 5/22/11 | Everybody is a leader in some way or another. All of us have influence whether we know it or not; whether we want it or not. All of us have ideas on how people should lead, on what is a good leader and what is not. Jesus has given very clear instructions on the kind of influence we are to be in other’s lives.This Sunday, Andy Millar, pastor of Light of the Nations Church, which meets at Celebration on Sunday evenings, will be preaching. His message called, “The Kind of Leader Jesus Wants you to Be,” explores what that influence should look like, and leaves us not only with instructions, but an example to follow. |
| 5/15/11 | Did you ever change schools as a kid? What does it feel like to be the new kid on the block?Many people in our city feel like the outsider in American society. But God has a heart for them and we should too.This Sunday we will explore God’s heart for the stranger, the alien, the outsider. This is an important conversation for Celebration as a church with a heart for the city. Steve’s message is called, “The Stranger Who is Among You.” |
| 5/8/11 | At Celebration Church, we love Moms. They do so much for so many with so little recognition–but not this Sunday! We’re going to celebrate moms with some fun surprises and special moments (…but you must be present to win:)In addition, Steve will share a message from the story of Hannah and Samuel that will encourage every mom’s heart. So call your Mom or adopt a grandma and bring her to Celebration for a service she won’t forget! |
| 5/1/11 | Our good friend, Les Avery, will be preaching from Philippians 4:8-9. His sermon, “What do You See When You Look?,” is based on the numerous times in the Gospels where Jesus says “He who has eyes to see let him see.When we wipe away the scales on our eyes to see what God has done for us in Jesus, life becomes beautiful . . . in the midst of the evil and darkness. Thanks be to God! |
| 4/24/11 | Do you remember the “Johari Window?” It’s a problem-solving and self-discovery tool. It can help you share your true feelings with others. And it can reveal things which others may know about you which you might not know about yourself. Yikes!Mark 16:1-8 tells the story of three women in a time of crisis and stress. Their broken hearts and troubled minds were gripped by doubts, fears, and shame too deep for anyone to understand. Anyone but God, that is.This Sunday, we will complete the Gospel of Mark and worship the risen Christ who knows, loves, mends, and sends the broken hearted. Steve’s message is called, “Stuff God Knows” (or, “Dude, Fear Not!”). |
| 4/17/11 | Though we hate to recall them, we all have episodes in our lives which make us wince. Times when we said, did, or failed to do certain things can haunt us for years to come.This Sunday, in Mark 14:43-72, we will uncover the lies which lead to guilt and shame – and the path that leads us home. Don’t miss Steve’s message, called, “Escape from Guilt and Shame” (or “Lies the Liar told Me”). |
| 4/10/11 | Many of us know what it is like to be betrayed and abandoned. In Mark 14:12-42, Jesus shocks his friends by predicting that one of them will betray him and that all of them will abandon him. Then Jesus does something remarkable: he makes a covenant with the very ones who will stab him in the back.Steve’s message is called, “Surviving a Sinkhole of Dreadful Agony.” |
| 4/3/11 | As our time in the Gospel of Mark draws to a close, it’s remarkable to note the stories and events considered worthy of inclusion in the gospel narrative.In Mark 14:1-11, an unnamed woman performs an audacious act of worship and gets criticized for it. But the One who matters most stood up for her, as He will for us when we do the right thing from the right heart.Steve’s message is called “The Undignified Worshipper”. |
| 3/27/11 | Mike Sares, pastor of Scum of the Earth Church, will be preaching from Mark 13:14-37. His sermon is called, “Twirlin’ the Whistle while Sittin’ in the Chair.” |
| 3/20/11 | As we enter the Lenten season, our time in the Gospel of Mark reaches its climax. It’s interesting how in Jesus’s last days he warned us about the last days. Jesus said, “Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”Are you ready to get serious about following Jesus? Then don’t miss Steve’s message from Mark 13 called, “False Hopes and False Fears.” |
| 3/13/11 | Steve will preach from Mark 12:41-44. In that story, Jesus is impressed with how an impoverished woman demonstrates generosity and faith.It’s a call, a gut-check about who we really are, what we really believe in, and our identity in the world. All this from the life of a nameless woman who inspired Jesus in a time of weariness.Steve’s message is called, “The Widow’s Might.” Invite a friend who might be weary to worship with us this Sunday at Celebration. |
| 3/6/11 | Can you think of people who spend their time, money, and energy on stupid stuff? We can get so worked up about things that seem so big today, but may not interest us tomorrow.This Sunday, we will take stock of what matters most to us…and to God. Steve’s message is called, “Why Major on Minor Issues?” and comes from Mark 12: 18-34. |
| 2/6/11 | This Sunday, we will explore a central issue for all serious believers: worship. Worship is about both passion and practice, but possessing both can prove elusive.Our text is Mark 11:1-11 and Steve’s sermon is called “Worshipping God on His Terms.” |
| 1/30/11 | Steve will speak about how you should pray for both your immediate and ultimate desires. His message is called, “The Prayer of Blind Bartimaeus” (or “The Fog-Lifting Question of Jesus”). Our text is Mark 10:46-52. |
| 1/23/11 | Money is a matter of the heart. It exposes what we love and what we believe, no matter what we claim.But how do we bring our finances into alignment with the things that are most precious to us? Find out this Sunday as Steve brings Part 2 of “Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is.” |
| 1/16/11 | What we do with our money says a lot about us.This Sunday, Steve will attempt a sermon he’s planned to preach since October. It’s called, “Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is.” Let’s pray he succeeds or finally gives up  |
| 1/9/11 | Mike Sares, pastor of Scum of the Earth Church, will be preaching. His sermon called, “Read the Fine Print,” comes from Mark 10:32-45.We ask God for stuff all the time, don’t we? And like a good parent, he loves to bless us. But he has an agenda for our churches and for the world that includes us. We need to read the fine print about the very thing we are asking for.Join us for Mike’s message and a great time of worship together this Sunday. |
| 1/2/11 | Last Sunday, we talked about an important question every sermon must address: “Yes, But How?” This Sunday, we will explore that question in the important area of knowing God’s Word. |
| 12/26/10 | This Sunday is Tree Sprig Sunday. That means that you are invited to bring a sprig from your Christmas tree to church. Steve will share a brief, hodge-podgy message (his description, not ours) wrapping up our Advent season, then we will have an ‘open mic’ for sharing reflections on the joys, heartaches, and highlights of 2010. |
| 12/24/10 | Join us for Christmas Eve Worship in Allen Hall. Carols, candles, readings, and a brief message from Steve will make the season bright for you and your guests. Our theme will be the “The Heart of God for Hearts Like Ours.” |
| 12/19/10 | When Jesus was born, the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy.” Likewise, when the birth of baby John was announced, the angel told his father, “He will be a joy and delight to you.”Joy is a huge part of the Christmas story…and the Christian gospel. So, this Sunday, Steve will preach about the beauty and power of joy.His message is called, “John and the Leaping Heart” (or, “The Role of Joy in God’s Call on Your Life”). |
| 12/12/10 | Have you ever been scared? Really scared? It’s one thing when we see a scary movie or have a bad dream; it’s another when God scares us.In Luke 1:26-38, God scares a teenage girl. He doesn’t do it heartlessly or carelessly, but He frightens and upsets her. A big challenge will do that.This Sunday, Steve will preach a sermon called, “Mary & the Troubled Heart” (or, “The Role of Fear in Faithfulness”)…if God agrees. Join us for worship this Sunday as we celebrate the season of Advent together. |
| 12/5/10 | Although he was a faithful priest, Zechariah had a conflict in his heart. He believed the Scriptures which told of the LORD who could give a child to Sarah and Abraham in their old age. But when God told him he would do the same for him, he flinched. He asked for proof — and got it, in the form of a nine- month quiet time!Have you had times of doubt and questioning? This Sunday, Steve’s message is from Luke 1 and is called, “Zechariah, the Conflicted Heart.” |
| 11/28/10 | You never know what a day will bring, but if God agrees, Steve will be back in the pulpit this Sunday. He will take a break from the gospel of Mark and start a new series of talks to prepare our hearts for worship in the holiday season. |
| 11/14/10 | In times like these we may ask the questions: Does God see what’s going on? Is he doing anything about it? Does he know what’s happening to me and to you? Does he care?That’s what we need to know. That’s what we all need to know, because sometimes it feels like, and sometimes it really is, a matter of life or death, as in the case of the story we will look at this Sunday. In times like these it is always good to remember that there have always been times like these.This Sunday, Wes Scheu, Celebration’s Pastor of Worship & Youth, will be preaching. Wes’ sermon comes from Daniel, chapter 2, and is called “Crisis, Comfort & Calling.” |
| 11/7/10 | We are blessed again this week to have Steve’s friend, Karl Wheeler, to speak to us. Karl serves as co-pastor of The Refuge, a small faith community in north Denver. His message for us this Sunday comes from Luke 18:35-4 and is called “Desperate.” Let’s pray for Karl and welcome him back to Celebration. |
| 10/31/10 | Karl Wheeler brings the message this week. |
| 10/24/10 | Steve’s message comes from Mark 10: 13-16 and is called “God’s Heart for Kids.”Bring the kid in you to worship with us this Sunday. |
| 10/17/10 | Have you ever been pleasantly surprised when a difficult conversation becomes a thing of beauty?In Mark 10:1-12, Jesus turns a doctrinal examination into a moment of inspiring reflection. Join us this Sunday as we follow Jesus to the Garden of Eden to remember God’s heart for men and women in love.Steve’s message is called “Matters of the Heart, Part 3″ (or “Something Beautiful for God”). |
| 10/10/10 | John Lennon wrote “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” How true this is when it comes to marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Few who fall in love and say, “I do,” thought they would stand in front of a judge and say, “I don’t.” Jesus identified a core reason for why this happens: hardness of heart.This Sunday, we will explore the real, the ideal, and how to heal, in Part Two of “Matters of the Heart” from Mark 10:1-12. Invite a friend who needs hope and healing. |
| 10/3/10 | Steve is away this week at EPC denominational meetings but he will be “large and in-charge” this Sunday! Pray for him as he tackles the difficult subjects of marriage, divorce, and remarriage in a multi-part “sermonic conversation” called “Jesus, Toto, and Matters of the Heart.” His passage is Mark 10:1-12. |
| 9/26/10 | Celebration is a fun place to get serious about God. This Sunday, we’ll get very serious. In our passage, Mark 9:42-50, Jesus lays down words of warning about our impact on others and the consequences of hurting the weak among us. Please pray and prepare yourselves to get serious about holy living. Steve’s message is called, “A Fearless Self-Inventory”. |
| 9/19/10 | Jeff Johnsen will be speaking on Mark 9: 38-41. His message is titled, “Jesus, Glen Beck and the Unnamed Exorcist”. |
| 9/12/10 | Jill will be preaching on Mark 9:33-37 in a message called, “Who’s the Greatest?” |
| 9/5/10 | 9/5 Sermon |
| 8/29/10 | Have you ever climbed a 14er? Driven to the top of Mt Evans? Or ridden a ski lift above the tree tops? If so, you know the breathtaking beauty of a mountain-top experience. From the top of a mountain, the view is clearer, God seems nearer, and problems seem worlds away.But what goes up must come down, as the disciples learned in Mark 9:2-13. Like them, we need a faith that works as well on city streets as on mountainsides.This Sunday Steve will speak about walking with Christ in the real world. His message is called, “The Trouble with Mountain Tops” (or “What Goes Up must Come Down”). |
| 8/22/10 | Steve’s sermon will come from Mark 8:34-38 and will focus on taking up our cross and losing our life to find it. |
| 8/15/10 | Has it occurred to you how long healing and recovery can take? If you’ve had to do physical therapy or another kind of rehab, you know how slow and painstaking recovery can be.That is true physically, emotionally and spiritually. Healing comes by degrees.Do you need healing? Is someone you love in need of a healing touch by the Great Physician? Invite a friend to come to church with you and learn how Jesus can help us with stubborn issues, the kind that take a long time to overcome. Steve’s message is from Mark 8:22-30, and it’s called “When Healing Comes Slowly.” |
| 8/8/10 | Mike Sares, pastor of Scum of the Earth Church, will be preaching. |
| 8/1/10 | Jesus restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and voice to the mute.We should see two things from this: 1) Jesus the Healer cares for the physical wholeness of the unfortunate, and 2) Jesus cares about their spiritual, emotional, and psychological wholeness as well.Last Sunday, we talked about the need to go out of our way to hear the voice of the Father apart from the demands of the crowds. This Sunday, Steve will discuss how to find our own unique voice. Come hear Part 2 of our discussion of Mark 7:31-37 called, “Hearing God’s Voice and Finding Your Own.” |
| 7/25/10 | According to a recent article in Fast Company, the average consumer will hear 1,000,000 marketing messages a year…almost 3,000 per day! In addition to that, we receive email, texts, Tweets, Facebook messages, phone calls, voice mail, and paper mail. That’s the recipe for information overload!In the face of such a bombardment, we can get out of range of God’s voice and find ours falling upon deaf ears. In Mark 7:31-37, Jesus restores a man’s hearing and voice. He can restore ours as well.Steve’s message this Sunday is called, “Hearing God’s Voice and Finding Yours.” |
| 7/18/10 | Steve tackles one of the gnarly passages in the Bible. Its Mark 7:24-31, where Jesus meets the Syrophoenician Woman and calls her and her people “dogs.”Dang!?! What do we do when Jesus doesn’t act like Jesus? Steve’s message is called, “When Jesus is Mean to You” (or “Despicable Him”). |
| 7/11/10 | Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly. But there are other people whose goals are the opposite. Frequently, they are controlling people who use all manner of methods to get you to do what they want or what they think you should do. This happens in families, friendships, dating, marriage, work, and even in church. This Sunday, Steve will show us how to deal with such people and especially, how to avoid becoming such a person. Our text is Mark 7:1-23 and Steve’s message is “Controlling People” or “Don’t Be That Guy”. |
| 7/4/10 | Jesus said that certain kinds of people will see God. Are you such a person? Are you in a good place to see God? Steve’s sermon is called, “Good Places for God Things” from Mark 6:45-56. |
| 6/27/10 | Albus Brooks, Director of Mile High Ministries’ Issachar Community and member of Celebration, will be preaching. |
| 6/20/10 | How is your summer going? Are you getting a much needed break or are things more hectic than ever?In Mark 6:20-44, the disciples are once again run ragged by the demands and needs of others and they finally have had enough. Ever feel that way? If so, you’ll want to hear Steve’s message, called, “The Fed Up Followers of Jesus.” |
| 6/13/10 | This Sunday, Steve will be back and picking up our study of the Gospel of Mark. While he has soaked up the sun on a beach in Mexico, he has pondered this Sunday’s text, Mark 6:14-29. There we read of the violent death which John the Baptist suffered. It’s not always easy to reconcile a nice summer vacation with the sufferings, even martyrdoms, of others, is it? Life is unfair…sometimes in one’s own favor.This Sunday, we will reflect on how to be a thinking, feeling, committed follower of Jesus in the face of both blessing and brutality. Steve’s message is called, “Pondering Beaches and Beheadings”. (Yikes.) |
| 6/6/10 | Jeff Johnsen, Celebration member and Director of Mile High Ministries, will be preaching. |
Older sermons are archived and available. Please email
us with the date(s) you would like.
