Following Together (Central Baptist Edmonton)

Growth sounds exciting—until it gets complicated. Why does progress so often bring tension, misunderstanding, or even opposition? And what does God actually do when things start to feel messy inside the church… or hostile outside of it? In this talk, we explore what happens when faithfulness creates friction—and how God turns even resistance into something that advances his mission.

In this passage we can see multiple instances where the apostles and believers would understandably face a difficult time being obedient. There were internal and external realities that would make it easier to choose fear over obedience yet we see courage to remain obedient despite those pressures. Today, many believers still face many kinds of pressures that make it hard to choose obedience over fear. What drove the believers in this passage to choose obedience over fear and how can that help us today?

The disciples went boldly to the temple because they loved their people and were compelled to proclaim the reign of King Jesus where the lost were. Though filled with fear, awe, and opposition, they obeyed God's command, showing that obedience, not emotion, drives gospel mission. Their courage flowed from real encounters with the risen Christ. So, because Jesus is exalted as Prince and Savior, we too are called to live as His witnesses and speak of Him no matter the cost.

As the early church professed the gospel of Jesus, we see this message upend the established religious order and confront worldly ideas of authority and control — provoking a strong response from those who felt threatened. Yet the apostles remained faithful, choosing obedience over fear, even in suffering. Like them, when we follow Jesus faithfully today, we discover true joy, purpose, and the power of Christ at work in our lives.

What if the greatest threat to the church isn't pressure from the outside, but something quieter on the inside? Acts 4–5 shows a breathtaking picture of unity, generosity, and bold faith—and then tells a shocking story that forces us to slow down and pay attention. Why does God respond so strongly, and what does that mean for us today? This talk invites you to wrestle honestly with fear, hypocrisy, and the kind of honesty that leads to real life.

What do you do when following Jesus brings applause—or opposition? In Acts 3–4, the early church faces both success and pressure, and their response might surprise you. This talk explores where real courage comes from and why silence and aggression both miss the point. If you've ever struggled to speak about your faith in public, this is for you.

God's power was poured out at Pentecost, but the real story is what happened afterward. Ordinary people devoted themselves to learning, prayer, shared life, and generosity—and God used those simple commitments to build something far bigger than they imagined. When faith moves from a personal response into shared community, God continues to draw people in. This is how a powerful encounter becomes a lasting movement.#Acts2 #Acts242 #Pentecost #EarlyChurch #HolySpirit #BookOfActs #ChristianDiscipleship #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianCommunity #ChurchLife #FaithInAction #FollowingJesus #ChristianLiving #BibleTeaching #SundaySermon

There are moments you can't repeat, but you're meant to live from them—and Pentecost is one of those moments. God poured out his Spirit, Peter stood up and proclaimed Jesus, and the church was born as people responded in faith. That day didn't just change history; it launched the world we're still living in. And if Pentecost has happened, then none of us gets to live the same way again.

Acts isn't just ancient history—it's the beginning of the church, the ongoing work of Jesus through his people, empowered by his Spirit. Jesus didn't stop working when he ascended; he expanded his ministry through the church. He calls ordinary believers to receive power, bear witness, and move outward—from where they are to the ends of the earth. And it all starts in a surprisingly simple place: people gathered together in prayer, ready to get to work.

You were never meant to follow Jesus, reach others, or carry God's mission on your own. From the beginning, God has chosen to work through ordinary people who pray together and depend on him. When we make room for God in prayer, he releases wisdom, courage, and power we don't have on our own.

There are so many amazing reasons that people need to know about the Good News of Jesus!  From the angel's declaration to the shepherds in Luke 2 that God had good news for all people that would bring them great joy, the coming of Jesus fundamentally changes how we understand the nature and character of God, what Christ can do in our lives & our eternal destiny.  For all of these reasons Jesus commands each and every one of his followers to go out with power and love in telling others about him.

If you were to look at the life of Jesus, from manger to mountain, you'll notice the contrast between a powerful God who is healing, speaking, providing, dying and resurrecting and a powerless people who either turn away from Him or come to grips with their powerlessness to receive Him and reorientate their lives around Him. No one wants to be confronted with their powerlessness but what if that's where our hope is found? You don't have to look any further than a child to see this.

The Christmas manger is one of the first places we encounter God's gift of love—a love that finds its ultimate fulfillment at the cross, where God's Son, Jesus, gives Himself for the world. Today, we are invited to view the manger and the cross together, seeing them as one unfolding story of God stepping into our world and making room for us through Christ's life and death. As we reflect on this, may we remember that the greatest gift of Christmas is the life-giving, costly love of Christ.

Around tables, Jesus welcomed tax collectors, sinners, and the left out. He turned ordinary meals into moments of grace and belonging. His way teaches us that love always has room for one more.

Jesus begins his story in a manger, choosing the lowest place so he could come near to us. He doesn't wait for us to climb our way to him—he comes down to our level, showing that God's welcome always starts with humility. And the same is true for us: mission grows when we show up simply, listen well, and see ourselves as fellow travellers in need of grace. God has made room for you—and now invites you to make room for others.

What do you really want, and how far are you willing to go to get it? Our desires can lead us toward life or quietly pull us away from it, especially when comparison gets a grip on our hearts. If you've ever found yourself wishing for someone else's life, circumstances, or blessings—has that ever actually satisfied you? Join in as we look for a better way to live with desire, joy, and contentment.

God commands His people to live truthfully, protecting one another's reputation and relationships. False witness destroys trust and divides communities. The ninth word leads us to preserving the Body of Christ by carefully and justly guarding how we speak about one another.

In God's 9th Word, we are reminded that our words have the power to build up or destroy. God commands us to avoid false testimony, which is shallow and destructive, and to wield truth, which puts both God and others first.

In the 9th Word, we are commanded to stop practicing something that has the power to oppress and destroy people, relationships, and communities: do not bear false witness. To bear false witness of our neighbours bears false witness to who God is, to who others are, and to who you are.

You might not think of yourself as a thief—but what if “Do not steal” goes deeper than taking stuff? What if it's about trust, control, and the kind of person you're becoming? This talk will challenge how you see your money, your possessions, and your faith—and show how freedom comes when you stop grasping and start trusting.

Our culture talks about sex constantly—but seems more confused about it than ever. We're told to follow our desires, yet that path so often leads to disappointment, pain, and regret. What if God's design for sex was never about restriction, but about joy, intimacy, and freedom? This talk cuts through the noise and invites you to see sex as one of God's most powerful and life-giving gifts.

God treasures every human life because each one bears his image. But murder doesn't start with weapons—it starts with anger, contempt, and the quiet wish that someone would just disappear from our world. Jesus exposes that in us, not to shame us, but to set us free. When we forgive, make peace, and protect life, we live out his heart in a world that desperately needs it.

God calls us to honour our parents—not because they're perfect, but because honour is the posture of a healthy heart. It's how we treat, speak about, and care for them, especially as they age. In learning to honour our parents, we're also learning to honour God and those he's placed in authority. It's not always easy, but it's right, and it leads to blessing in our families and in our world.

The Sabbath is so much more than just another rule to follow. It's God's gift of rest built right into creation. It's meant to help us slow down, re-centre our hearts on Jesus, and remember that life is about more than just getting things done. Sabbath is about learning a whole way of life that rests in Him. And every time we practice it, we get a little glimpse of the eternal rest God has promised us in His new creation.

The 4th commandment God gave his people moved into some new territory — shifting from commands that defined their allegiance to God, to one that shaped their rhythm of life with him. This Sabbath command continues to remind us today of our true identity, that we were created with a need to rest - and that in that rest, we receive blessing. As we embrace this Sabbath call, we not only find holy rest for ourselves but are able to extend that rest into the lives of others as well.

Busy. Tired. Swamped. Hurried. Troubled. We were never meant to live at the edge of our strength but to experience peace and even joy in the midst of all that life brings to us. The kind of rhythm that allows us to experience that peace and joy comes right from Creation and repeated throughout Scripture. It is the subject of the 4th commandment given to the people of God; it's "Sabbath" or, "Rest". We need it but we often don't live in it. Why? And how do we enter its power to transform us? Sabbath can be found by the thankful.

We all carry names — our own, our family's, even our reputations. But what happens when God gives us his name to carry? Join us as we explore one of the most misunderstood of the Ten Commandments and discover why this word is more relevant than ever.

We often crop God down to size — making him safer, smaller, more manageable. It's easy to edit out the parts that feel uncomfortable, just like we edit a photo. But the result is always less than the real thing. This talk shows how to leave those lesser versions behind and encounter the God who is bigger, more beautiful, and more powerful than we imagined.

Why did God give us the Ten Commandments? Are they outdated rules, or could they actually be the path to real freedom? These Ten Words show us who God is, who we are, and how life works best—and it all begins with one foundation: worship God alone.

Paul paints a picture of what life together in the church is meant to look like, full of genuine love that embodies the heart and actions of Jesus' covenant love. He calls us to serve each other with joy and perseverance, not out of duty but as worship to Jesus. We learn to celebrate each other's joys, carry one another's burdens, and even respond with kindness when it's hard. This is the kind of community the gospel ought to create, one of radical love.

As the first Christians made room for sincere love and hospitality inside the community of faith, the New Testament reveals that Christ brought them into new places of spiritual maturity. In his letter to the church in Romans, Paul helps the early church to see that it is from that maturity that they are equipped and sent to bring the same grace and courage into a riskier, less inviting world.

Overcome evil with good: that's God's vision for His people; for His Church. In Romans 12, we begin to see that God is calling us to something bigger, simpler, and broader than we could imagine. In response to His sacrificial mercy and love, we're called to be a gathered people who overcome evil with good.

What if God wants to bring more people into his family than you've ever imagined? What if he's asking you to actually make room in your life—for faith to grow deeper, for joy to overflow, and for others to be welcomed in? Join us as we step into a new season with courage and discover what it means to stretch wider and dig deeper with God's help.

Jesus began His ministry by calling ordinary fishermen, showing that God doesn't call the qualified but qualifies the called. He invites us to walk in courage and serve faithfully in the unique places He has planted us, whether that means sharing the gospel or discipling others. True discipleship happens through deep, intentional relationships that help us grow together in Christ.

When Jesus calls, He calls us personally, gives us purpose, and asks us to make Him our highest priority.

There are countless reasons to support our decision to follow Jesus. Much like when He calls the fishermen in Matthew 4, we follow Jesus because He fulfills Old Testament prophecy about being the Messiah and He shows us the way out of darkness, teaching us to love the light. As we are discipled by Him, He transforms us and we can't help but share the joy and hope we have with the people around us.

This passage in Acts takes us into a deeper understanding of what it means to love our enemies. What is sometimes called the "Gentile Pentecost" is an opportunity for us to see the vast love of God and why He calls us to love others like he does, especially if the "other" happens to be our enemy. We all need the courage to love our enemies because it is our only hope.

Some of the greatest moments of faith occur not when life is shifting, but when nothing is changing — when we're still waiting on God.Joseph's story is one of the Bible's clearest portraits of faith. In today's passage, it moves in two parts: first, Joseph is in a difficult place but still speaks God's truth; second, even after his faithful obedience, nothing changes — reminding us that even when our hardship does not resolve, our call is to keep courageously waiting on God.

Where will you find the vision to break out beyond what you can now see into God's purpose for your life? “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus went to a lonely place to pray.” In Christ, we are invited by grace, into profound communion with God that transforms us into people of grace and vision.

It is in the most desperate times of our lives that courage is most needed.  Here in this passage we see the 3 faceted nature of a spirit of courage on display: that of power, love & self-discipline.  Even when our courage fails, God is still with us.

Paul and his friends experience the pain of leaving a beloved church family, showing that deep love often comes with deep cost. Along the way, believers, through the Spirit, warn Paul of the suffering ahead, but he courageously stays the course. His response shows that true obedience doesn't avoid hardship but embraces God's will, whatever the cost. These verses invite us to live with the same courage: to love deeply, listen carefully, and follow Jesus boldly.

Taking a courageous step can be exciting. But it can also be frustrating especially when things get worse. Today, we're going to follow an account of Moses who took a courageous step in God only to see things get worse. We will see three hard realities that can come with a step of faith and four promises from God that can help us keep going in spite of these difficulties.

Naaman was a powerful military leader brought low by a physical affliction and asked to take a humbling, simple step of obedience to receive healing from God. His story reminds us that godly courage often begins where we feel the most powerless and that courage grows best in places of humility, often through the simplest of actions. God invites us to take those simple steps of courage — and often, to let others help us along the way.

As we look this summer at all these stories that include great acts of courage, it can leave us wondering if we would be the kind of person who would respond like them in moments we face that require a great act of courage. The story of David and Goliath isn't really about David and Goliath as much as it being a story about David's journey up to that point that had made God bigger and Goliath smaller that allowed him to have the courage he needed. Great courage is developed and the training happens in everyday moments that often seem uninspiring, unimportant, and even unnoticed.

God has placed a calling on your life—but fear can easily keep you stuck. Maybe you're just beginning to sense that calling, or maybe you felt it long ago and it's grown cold. In this passage, Paul reminds us that the Spirit gives us everything we need to move forward with courage. Discover how to rekindle your calling and step boldly into what God has for you.

God has graciously given us every resource we need to live with courage. His provision stirs our gratitude, his promises form our vision, and his presence powers our courage. In Joshua, God tells his people to be strong and courageous—not because the path is easy, but because he will be with them wherever they go. The same is true for us today.

Jesus performed public signs that demand a response. He made bold, unmistakable claims about who he is—claims that either offend or transform. And now, he invites us to trust him, not just with our minds, but with our lives. Faith is about more than mental ascent—it's about surrender, and the transformed life that follows.

This passage is a beautiful reminder that failure isn't the end of the story. Peter had really messed up, but Jesus meets him with grace, restores him, and gives him a new purpose. It's the same with us when we fail, Jesus doesn't give up on us. He calls us to follow Him, even when it's costly, and to disciple the people He's placed around us. We're reminded not to get caught up in comparing our path with someone else's. Jesus simply says, “You follow me.” Jesus is still writing His story in the world today and He's chosen to do some of that work through you.

There are so many reasons for you and for me to believe that there is no possible way for us to make a difference in our world today. The problem is that Jesus tells us that our primary call is to go and do just that! In this conversation between Peter and Jesus, Jesus addresses 3 major lies Peter and many of us can believe that keep us from experiencing God's desire, willingness and ability to transform lives and change the world through us as we follow Him and go.

John's gospel concludes with a striking parallel moment for Peter - after his shocking denial of Jesus leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus now reinstates Peter into his inner circle of beloved and trusted disciples, not only offering him grace over his prior betrayal, but expanding his role in God's Kingdom work to include the shepherding of the early church. It's a powerful story of redemption brought on not by Peter's work, but by the work of Jesus.

Sometimes we give our all and still feel like the nets are coming up empty. But Jesus shows up, invites us to listen again, and calls us to cast the net where we hadn't thought to try. When we follow his lead—especially in unfamiliar ways—we experience power, joy, and real impact. And in the end, he's not just after the tasks… he's after relationship with us.