Following Together (Central Baptist Edmonton)

Summer interruptions, travel, gatherings, and ordinary conversations can become unexpected opportunities to encounter Jesus and share his good news. In John 4, Jesus shows us that what we might sometimes see as inconveniences could actually be divine appointments. As we learn to see interruptions through the eyes of Jesus, the Holy Spirit can transform everyday moments into opportunities for mission.

Don't want to sound crazy but if I were your enemy, I think my tactic would be to make sure that you were living your life always in a hurry and never in rest. I would take something neutral and not even sinful like work, family, stress, success, and technology and let a hurried pace steal, kill, or even destroy your soul; a soul that requires rest. Our hurried pace is affecting our spiritual vitality and it's affecting our witness to a culture who is looking for and needing rest. This summer, we can either escape or we can learn to get away and find rest because when God's people are at rest, other weary souls can find rest in Him too.

As we allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts and the word of Christ to dwell richly within us, our everyday lives become opportunities to reflect the reign of King Jesus. Whether in our relationships, conversations, work, or service, we are called to do everything in His name. Living on mission begins with a heart surrendered to Christ's rule, allowing His Kingdom values to shape how we think, act, and engage with the people around us each day.

What does it mean to be saved by Jesus—and then sent by Him? Paul's life was completely interrupted by the risen Christ, but his conversion was never meant to end with him. As Acts comes to its final chapter, we see that Jesus is still moving His mission forward through ordinary people in unexpected places. Could the places and people already in your life be part of where Jesus is sending you?

God calls for costly faithfulness, and making room means surrendering our lives to his purposes. In Acts 20, Paul instructs the church to look back on a life marked by costly faithfulness, look ahead to the reality of future suffering, and make the bold declaration that the cost of following Jesus is worth it.

Paul reminds the Ephesian elders that his life among them was a display of humility through proclaiming the truth and investing deeply in people's lives, even through hardship and opposition. Though he knows suffering and danger await him in Jerusalem, he remains surrendered to the Spirit's leading and refuses to let fear or uncertainty determine his path. The mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus is worth any sacrifice, and costly faithfulness leaves a legacy of transformed lives and deep Christ-centred love.

When you read Paul's bio at this point in his ministry and what follows, it's easy to see how costly faithfulness was for Paul. Yes, he accomplished so much but he also paid a heavy cost and, in light of his life, it can feel like our faithfulness seems pretty cheap and our part in God's mission small and almost insignificant. How can a stay at home parent, a nurse, student, or lawyer feel in comparison to Paul, the early church, and even missionaries today? In chapter 20, Paul calls everyone together and, using his own example, reminds them and us that God's mission includes all of us and we all play a unique part in it.

How should followers of Jesus live in a city that does not share their beliefs? Acts 17 takes us into the streets, marketplaces, and intellectual centre of ancient Athens, where Paul encounters a culture both impressive and spiritually lost. Join us as we explore what faithful Christian witness can look like in our own changing city.OnMission,Acts17,PaulInAthens,ChristianMission,ShareTheGospel,Evangelism,FaithInCulture,GospelWitness,CityMission,Jesus,BibleTeaching,BookOfActs,ChristianLiving,CentralBaptist,EdmontonChurch,FollowingtogetherYEG

Sometimes our plans are good, but God's mission is bigger. In Acts 16, the gospel moves beyond Paul's expectations and reaches people in completely different places: a seeking woman, a trapped servant girl, a shaken jailer, and a city that does not know what to do with the kingdom of God. God is still calling us to hold our plans loosely, watch for people he is reaching, press into worship when resistance comes, and love the people Jesus brings into his family.

Karsten Broten speaks from Connors Hill on Acts 10:44-48.

Persevering in the mission and having lasting kingdom impact requires a posture that is rooted in dependence on the Holy Spirit. When God moves, you must resist the temptation to absorb the platform and remain steady through both praise and persecution. Over time, real impact comes as you faithfully multiply what God has done in you into others.

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas experience misunderstanding, suffering, perseverance, and ultimately the strengthening of the church — reminding us that God works through both miracles and hardships to shape a story worth sharing, and that the gospel most powerfully moves forward through ordinary people who faithfully point others to Jesus.

Chased. Opposed. Misunderstood. Beaten. These are the realities Paul, Barnabus, and the early church faced as they went on mission with Jesus, spreading the Gospel. Their call and courage to face all they faced came from hearts that were captured by Jesus, and because of that, people were transformed. It makes me wonder if I have too much to lose to be on mission with Jesus. Am I treasuring something more than I treasure the Gospel? What has my heart, really? How can I ensure my heart is capture by Christ more than anything else?

Jonah 4 invites us to look beneath the surface of our anger, frustration, and comfort-seeking. It asks a question most of us would rather avoid: are we more concerned about what makes life easier for us, or about the people God loves? This final chapter of Jonah draws us toward the heart of God's mission — and toward the kind of heart God wants to form in us.

Some places feel too broken to change. Some people seem too far gone. In Jonah 3, we're invited to see what happens when God sends his word into the places we've almost given up on.#Jonah #Jonah3 #CanGodChangeACity #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #Hope #GodsMercy #Repentance #Faith #Jesus #BibleStudy #Christianity #SecondChances #SpiritualGrowth #Transformation

What if the hardest moments in your life aren't random—or even just setbacks? What if God is actually at work in them? When you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or in over your head, it's easy to assume you've gone too far or waited too long. But what if those “deep waters” are where God meets you, hears you, and begins to bring you back to life?

Have you ever felt like you're avoiding something God is asking you to do? The story of Jonah isn't just about a storm or a fish—it's about what happens when we run, why we run, and how God responds when we do. What if the tension in your life isn't random… but connected to something deeper? And what if God isn't trying to punish you—but pursue you? #WhyWeRunFromGod #Jonah #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #FaithInRealLife #TrustGod #FollowingJesus #ChristianLiving #SpiritualGrowth #GodsCall #Mission #ChurchOnline #SermonClip #JesusChangesEverything #HopeInGod

A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, not at a distance but with their whole life. As we follow Him, He does the deep work of transforming us from the inside out. And He doesn't stop there—He sends us to help others follow Him, too. So trust Him with your life, let Him change your heart, and step into the mission He's already calling you to.

What if there's more to your life than what you're currently experiencing? More clarity, more purpose, more freedom. This is an invitation to pause, pay attention, and take a step toward something deeper. You don't have to stay where you are.#wakeup #lifechange #jesus #faith #christianity #easter #resurrection #newlife #abundantlife #purpose #hope #spiritualgrowth #biblestudy #sermon #church

What do you do when life doesn't go the way you hoped—even when you're following God? Is real faith believing things will turn out well, or trusting God no matter what happens? In this passage, we see both incredible rescue and deep loss—and a kind of faith that holds steady through it all. This might challenge how you think about prayer, miracles, and what it really means to follow Jesus.#FaithfulWhateverHappens #ChristianFaith #TrustGod #PrayerLife #FollowingJesus #FaithInTrials #BibleTeaching #Acts12 #GodIsSovereign #SpiritualGrowth #Perseverance #FaithOverFeelings #ChristianLiving #Sermon #HopeInGod

The church is called to be a sending community, supporting and sending out believers for the purpose of spreading the Gospel and serving others. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to make disciples. We encourage, love and care for them with the understanding that they may be set apart to be sent. All of this is empowered by the Holy Spirit through prayer, the power of community, and the necessity of obedience in fulfilling God's call.

In these passages it becomes clear that, despite persecution, prejudices, circumstances, and past, this community now labelled, "Christian", understood their call to be in community, to be matured within the community, and then to be sent into the world to show and tell about Jesus by the community. We see a pattern that has been repeated since then and that the Spirit has chosen to expand His kingdom across the world: God is always on the move, calling people to himself, and he has chosen us to go because if we don't, who will?

God advances his mission by dissolving boundaries, moving his church outward to reach people who were once excluded from the gospel. As new believers are discipled in Christ, the church then releases them—and its resources—so the gospel continues to spread to new people and new places. Today, God continues to call us to take part—to reach out, to nurture faith in others, and to step into the places he is calling us to go.

What if the biggest thing blocking the gospel isn't the world—but us? In Acts 10–11, God begins opening the door to the nations, but first he has to change the heart of one of his own leaders. Could it be that some of the barriers holding the gospel back today are inside the church? Join us as we explore how God prepares hearts, breaks barriers, and expands our vision for his mission.TAGS: #Acts10 #Acts11 #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #Gospel #ChurchMission #Evangelism #ChristianFaith #FollowingJesus #NewTestament #BibleStudy #ChristianLife #Preaching #FaithAndCulture #JesusSaves

What actually happens when someone becomes a Christian? Is conversion just a decision, or does something deeper take place? In Acts 9, Saul's dramatic encounter with Jesus shows us that real conversion is far more powerful and life-altering than many people realize. If you've ever wondered how God changes a life—or what true faith really looks like—this talk explores one of the most remarkable transformations in the Bible.

When persecution scattered the early church in Acts 8, it looked like the mission was falling apart. Instead, the gospel spread further than ever — into Samaria, toward Africa, and beyond every barrier people thought couldn't be crossed. In this message, we explore how God advances his mission through opposition, how ordinary believers participate, and how faith becomes visible even when the results are mixed. If you've ever wondered how to stay faithful when pressure rises, this passage offers clarity, courage, and hope.#Acts8 #WhenOppositionExpandsTheMission #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #ChurchUnderPressure #Faithfulness #GospelMovement #HolySpirit #GreatCommission #Persecution #ChristianLeadership #BiblicalPreaching #MissionOfGod #ChristianGrowth #BookOfActs

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.