Thanks, 14 September 2025
14 09 25 Filed in: Sermons | Philippians
Thanks
Kirk Schneemann
Joy: Book of Philippians
College First Church of God
September 14, 2025
Philippians 1:1-11
Series Big Idea: Philippians reminds us we can experience joy no matter the circumstances.
Big Idea: Paul expresses his gratitude and love for the church he started years earlier.
Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:1-6
Thank you. Few words are more powerful. Few words are more important. Echoing today’s scripture reading, I want to begin by saying College First Church of God, I thank my God every time I remember you.
Today we’re beginning a new series on the book of Philippians. It’s a letter written by Paul to early Christians in the city of Philippi in modern day Greece. Heather and I were privileged to visit Philippi in 2016. The ruins they have uncovered are amazing, and new discoveries continue to be made.
Before diving in, let me set the scene. Philippi was the first European place to hear about Jesus the Messiah. Acts 16 tells us about Paul’s first visit to Philippi and as we’ll see, the people there brought him great joy, arguably the central theme of the book. This letter was written by Paul while a prisoner in what is probably Ephesus in modern day Turkey. This church has sent him money which was essential since captors rarely provided food to prisoners.
Writing about joy from prison—an ancient prison without cable TV and air conditioning, mind you—seems unbelievable. How can you have joy in the midst of such suffering? It truly is a God-thing. As someone once said, it is well with my soul, but not my circumstances. If you can relate, you’re going to love this short book.
Let’s begin:
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)
Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church between 56 and 62 AD. His disciple, Timothy, is a co-author and had a relationship with this congregation. Philippi at this time was a Roman colony and most of its citizens were Romans.
This church began during the second missionary journey of Paul. Typically, he begin planting a church by preaching in the synagogue, but there were so few Jews in Philippi that they had no synagogue. There were, however, a group of godly women who would gather on the Sabbath by the banks of the river Gangites to recite prayers. Paul joined them and met Lydia, a successful businesswoman who traded purple cloth.
When Paul performed an exorcism on a fortune-telling slave girl, her owners had Paul and Silas thrown into jail when they realized she could no longer make them money. They have a hymn sing that night, an earthquake opens the jail, the jailer and his family become Christians, and they’re released the next day when it is discovered Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. There’s much more to the story in Acts 16 and beyond, but that’s a bit about the founding of this Philippian church.
Years later now, Paul is in another prison, though the location is up for debate since he was in at least four prisons for boldly preaching the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. His friend, Epaphroditus, visits Paul with a gift, and Paul sends this letter back to the Philippian church.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2)
This is Paul’s standard greeting in his letters, found in 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and others. Grace is unmerited favor. It’s a gift. It’s amazing!
Peace is…peace, quietness, rest.
Jesus Christ, of course, is the center of this book, of Paul, of College First Church of God, of the universe! There’s a poem in Philippians 2:6-11 which is at the core of Philippians, a passage about Jesus the Messiah which we’ll cover later in our sermon series.
I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3)
I said this last Sunday and I’ll say it again…College First, I thank God for you. Fortunately, I’m not telling you through a letter written in prison! It’s a joy to be in Findlay, to do life together, to be on mission together to love, equip, and send in the name of Jesus.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:4-6)
Paul prays with joy. He always prays with joy when he prays for them. If you know anything about Paul’s other writings, he’s not always pleased with his recipients! This church, though, is special as they have been generous to him and faithful to the LORD.
It’s important to note the day of Christ Jesus is coming. It seemed like it would happen any day, and 2000 years later we’re about 750,000 days closer!
Don’t miss this: God will finish what He starts…but it usually takes time…and He’s got all the time in the world! I’ve been impatient so many times in my life, wondering if God will answer prayer, come through, fulfill His promises. He always does. God can be trusted…completely. He sees you. He loves you. He wants to do life with you.
I know some of you have experience church hurt. I’ve heard stories about abuse, neglect, injustice, and suffering. Your story is not over. Seek help. Get connected in a small group. You’re not the only one. But be encouraged, the best is yet to come.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:7-8)
We often downplay emotions in our western society, but Paul not only has deep feelings for his readers, he defends his feelings. God gave us emotions. Jesus wept. He sweated drops of blood. He knows pain and suffering. He also knows deep love.
Likewise, Paul is following in the footsteps of Jesus. We can’t always trust our emotions, especially if we are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). Make a note of that. That’s when you’re most likely to be tempted to sin.
But Paul’s expressing his love and longing for them.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)
Paul prays three things. First, that their love will overflow in knowledge and wisdom. Love should always be the first characteristic of a Jesus follower. If we’re known more for anything other than love, we have some work to do. Rather, we have some surrender to do to receive and experience God’s love and then share it. I alluded to this last week.
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NLT)
Paul prays for discernment. When people ask how they can pray for me, when there’s nothing urgent, I ask for wisdom and discernment. I don’t know what I’m doing as a lead pastor! I don’t know what I’m doing as a husband or dad or even friend! I need discernment…for myself and those I lead. When our Elders and other leaders gather, I often say, “We’re not here to decide anything, but rather to discern what God is saying and how He is directing.”
Our Elders have our monthly meeting this week and I would be grateful for your prayers.
Finally, Paul prays that they would be filled with righteousness…right living. That’s a great prayer. Imagine if all Christians were known for their love, discernment, and right living.
So What?
It’s possible to have joy…even in prison.
It is good to offer thanks to God for others.
Christ is coming soon and we need to be ready…and help others get ready.
In closing, let me personalize these final verses from the New Living Translation.
College First, I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (NLT)
Kirk Schneemann
Joy: Book of Philippians
College First Church of God
September 14, 2025
Philippians 1:1-11
Series Big Idea: Philippians reminds us we can experience joy no matter the circumstances.
Big Idea: Paul expresses his gratitude and love for the church he started years earlier.
Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:1-6
Thank you. Few words are more powerful. Few words are more important. Echoing today’s scripture reading, I want to begin by saying College First Church of God, I thank my God every time I remember you.
Today we’re beginning a new series on the book of Philippians. It’s a letter written by Paul to early Christians in the city of Philippi in modern day Greece. Heather and I were privileged to visit Philippi in 2016. The ruins they have uncovered are amazing, and new discoveries continue to be made.
Before diving in, let me set the scene. Philippi was the first European place to hear about Jesus the Messiah. Acts 16 tells us about Paul’s first visit to Philippi and as we’ll see, the people there brought him great joy, arguably the central theme of the book. This letter was written by Paul while a prisoner in what is probably Ephesus in modern day Turkey. This church has sent him money which was essential since captors rarely provided food to prisoners.
Writing about joy from prison—an ancient prison without cable TV and air conditioning, mind you—seems unbelievable. How can you have joy in the midst of such suffering? It truly is a God-thing. As someone once said, it is well with my soul, but not my circumstances. If you can relate, you’re going to love this short book.
Let’s begin:
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)
Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church between 56 and 62 AD. His disciple, Timothy, is a co-author and had a relationship with this congregation. Philippi at this time was a Roman colony and most of its citizens were Romans.
This church began during the second missionary journey of Paul. Typically, he begin planting a church by preaching in the synagogue, but there were so few Jews in Philippi that they had no synagogue. There were, however, a group of godly women who would gather on the Sabbath by the banks of the river Gangites to recite prayers. Paul joined them and met Lydia, a successful businesswoman who traded purple cloth.
When Paul performed an exorcism on a fortune-telling slave girl, her owners had Paul and Silas thrown into jail when they realized she could no longer make them money. They have a hymn sing that night, an earthquake opens the jail, the jailer and his family become Christians, and they’re released the next day when it is discovered Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. There’s much more to the story in Acts 16 and beyond, but that’s a bit about the founding of this Philippian church.
Years later now, Paul is in another prison, though the location is up for debate since he was in at least four prisons for boldly preaching the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. His friend, Epaphroditus, visits Paul with a gift, and Paul sends this letter back to the Philippian church.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2)
This is Paul’s standard greeting in his letters, found in 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and others. Grace is unmerited favor. It’s a gift. It’s amazing!
Peace is…peace, quietness, rest.
Jesus Christ, of course, is the center of this book, of Paul, of College First Church of God, of the universe! There’s a poem in Philippians 2:6-11 which is at the core of Philippians, a passage about Jesus the Messiah which we’ll cover later in our sermon series.
I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3)
I said this last Sunday and I’ll say it again…College First, I thank God for you. Fortunately, I’m not telling you through a letter written in prison! It’s a joy to be in Findlay, to do life together, to be on mission together to love, equip, and send in the name of Jesus.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:4-6)
Paul prays with joy. He always prays with joy when he prays for them. If you know anything about Paul’s other writings, he’s not always pleased with his recipients! This church, though, is special as they have been generous to him and faithful to the LORD.
It’s important to note the day of Christ Jesus is coming. It seemed like it would happen any day, and 2000 years later we’re about 750,000 days closer!
Don’t miss this: God will finish what He starts…but it usually takes time…and He’s got all the time in the world! I’ve been impatient so many times in my life, wondering if God will answer prayer, come through, fulfill His promises. He always does. God can be trusted…completely. He sees you. He loves you. He wants to do life with you.
I know some of you have experience church hurt. I’ve heard stories about abuse, neglect, injustice, and suffering. Your story is not over. Seek help. Get connected in a small group. You’re not the only one. But be encouraged, the best is yet to come.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:7-8)
We often downplay emotions in our western society, but Paul not only has deep feelings for his readers, he defends his feelings. God gave us emotions. Jesus wept. He sweated drops of blood. He knows pain and suffering. He also knows deep love.
Likewise, Paul is following in the footsteps of Jesus. We can’t always trust our emotions, especially if we are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT). Make a note of that. That’s when you’re most likely to be tempted to sin.
But Paul’s expressing his love and longing for them.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)
Paul prays three things. First, that their love will overflow in knowledge and wisdom. Love should always be the first characteristic of a Jesus follower. If we’re known more for anything other than love, we have some work to do. Rather, we have some surrender to do to receive and experience God’s love and then share it. I alluded to this last week.
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NLT)
Paul prays for discernment. When people ask how they can pray for me, when there’s nothing urgent, I ask for wisdom and discernment. I don’t know what I’m doing as a lead pastor! I don’t know what I’m doing as a husband or dad or even friend! I need discernment…for myself and those I lead. When our Elders and other leaders gather, I often say, “We’re not here to decide anything, but rather to discern what God is saying and how He is directing.”
Our Elders have our monthly meeting this week and I would be grateful for your prayers.
Finally, Paul prays that they would be filled with righteousness…right living. That’s a great prayer. Imagine if all Christians were known for their love, discernment, and right living.
So What?
It’s possible to have joy…even in prison.
It is good to offer thanks to God for others.
Christ is coming soon and we need to be ready…and help others get ready.
In closing, let me personalize these final verses from the New Living Translation.
College First, I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (NLT)
Vision Sunday, 7 September 2025
Vision Sunday
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 7, 2025
Matthew 28:18-20
Big Idea: We’re on a mission from God to go and make disciples of all nations.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:18-20
At the beginning of training camp each year, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”
I mention this for two reasons. First, this is our fall kickoff. Michigan and Ohio State have begun their seasons. The Browns and Lions and Bengals have their first football game today. The Labor Day holiday has passed, and kids are back in school. The university is alive and kicking, and we are days away from the official start of autumn.
The second reason I mention the “gentlemen, this is a football” quote is the back-to-basics approach Lombardi took with his players. It’s easy to get sophisticated, fancy, and drift from our purpose, our mission. About a year ago my first words as your lead pastor were…”Why are you here?” Why are we here?
A year is hardly enough time to become an expert on a congregation whose roots began 172 years ago in 1853, but I’ve at least gotten my feet wet in these first 14 months!
So why are we here? Where are we going?
Imagine you are about to say goodbye to someone knowing you will never see them again. In fact, you will not be able to reach them via phone, letter, or even text. You have one opportunity to share your heart, your passion, your burden. What would you say?
In today’s scripture reading, we hear what may be Jesus’ final words to his friends before ascending into heaven. This is a passage known as the Great Commission. We looked at it briefly last Sunday.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
This text is loaded!
First, Jesus has all authority, on heaven and on earth. He is why we are here. He is our source, our power, our purpose, our Savior, our LORD, our King. It’s all about Jesus. If College First ever becomes about me, please fire me! If it ever becomes about our building, let’s sell it! If it ever becomes about consumerism or religion or politics or fundraising or religion or anything but Jesus, it’s time to hit the brakes!
It's because Jesus is fully God and fully human and has all authority that he can say second—and this is the heart of the commission—therefore go and make disciples. What’s a disciple? It’s an apprentice, a student, a protégé. A disciple of Jesus is someone who acts like Jesus. It’s different than calling yourself a Christian. Throughout history many have claimed to be a Christian without any resemblance to Christ.
Are you a disciple of Jesus? Are you a “little Christ?” Do your words, actions, finances, and calendar declare your allegiance to Jesus? You can’t be a disciple for an hour or two a week. Discipleship is a lifestyle. This afternoon, dozens of NFL players will play a game, but they won’t forget football tomorrow morning. Being a professional athlete is a 24/7/365 lifestyle. They don’t just show up at the stadium, play for a few hours and go home. It impacts every meal they eat…or don’t eat. It consumes their time with training and exercise. They do everything possible to ensure good sleep habits. Countless hours are spent with coaches and specialists who develop not only their body but also their mind. Football is a lifestyle. Discipleship is a lifestyle, too.
What would happen if I wandered onto the University of Findlay football team practice field outside my office and said, “Put me in, coach! I’m here to play football?” I would be laughed off the field. I’m no NCAA football player. I haven’t devoted my life to conditioning and athletics. A t-shirt that says Oilers doesn’t make me a member of the team.
In the same way wearing a Jesus t-shirt and stepping into this room and calling yourself a Christian doesn’t make you a disciple of Jesus. It might be a good start—and any of our staff, Elders, and leaders would love to talk with you about next steps—but an hour or two on Sunday doesn’t make you a disciple. Jesus said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
…and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27b)
That’s a disciple. A disciple is someone fully devoted to loving God and loving others. Are you a disciple? Do you want to become a disciple?
A disciple is not perfect. I’m certainly not perfect. But I’m in the process of becoming like Jesus, and it is my life mission to help others become like Jesus. That’s discipleship.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)
We are to make disciples of all nations. This is why I’m so passionate about international students and immigrants in our community. We can reach the world without a passport! The Internet is a tool for global discipleship, too. We live in a day in which we can get a passport and a plane ticket and make disciples in other nations. I’ve been privileged to train pastors in Burundi in central Africa twice and I’ve been invited by the Great Lakes Conference to train pastors in Kenya in January. All nations. The movement of Jesus is not just a USAmerican thing. In fact, it began in the Middle East! We are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and giving them an opportunity to publicly declare their faith and allegiance to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God who exists in three Persons, the blessed Trinity.
There’s more.
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
The journey does not end with baptism. It’s really the beginning. Then we must obey! We must follow Jesus. We must surrender our will, our wallet, and our ways. We must die to ourselves—symbolized by the water grave of baptism—in order to truly live the abundant life Jesus promised. It’s not the American Dream. In many ways it’s the opposite of the American Dream, but it’s the path to true freedom, peace, purpose, and joy.
There are three words which describe our mission here at College First: love, equip, send.
Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. It is a verb. Do you love well? Do we love well?
Equip is the essence of discipleship, providing examples and tools for living like Jesus. It may look like a Sunday sermon, but it can be done through RightNow Media videos, a retreat, studying the Bible through the Bible Recap tools (the NT starts next month!), serving the needy, spending time in prayer, engaging in a small group, or simply spending time with a disciple of Jesus, doing life with them and hanging out.
Send is the true fruit of our labor, the fulfillment of our mission. Who have we sent? We’ve sent people like Katie Crabtree to become a missionary in Thailand. We’ve sent people like Giorgio Ferrario to become the campus minister at the University of Findlay. We’ve sent some of you into our parking lot to serve food through Chopin Hall, others to serve future moms at the Women’s Resource Center, and still others to help children read through Literacy Lions.
There’s a lot of emphasis in church world about how many people show up on Sunday morning, but what matters most is our sending capacity, not our seating capacity.
Our mission is not to distribute religious goods and services. We’re not here to entertain you with great music and lectures. Our purpose is not to babysit kids for an hour on Sunday. We are here to make disciples, fully devoted followers of Jesus and we do that by loving, equipping, and sending in the name of Jesus Christ.
So What?
The future is bright!
Monthly Senior Fun Dinners return this Tuesday at 5:30 PM. Our special guest speaker, Beth Yoder, will share about Night to Shine, an unforgettable worldwide celebration event, centered on God's love, honoring and valuing people with special needs. We are one of three Findlay congregations involved in this February 13 experience.
We have begun to livestream Winebrenner Worship on Sundays at 10 AM.
Our relationship with the University is stronger than it has been in many years, especially with Campus Ministry.
Next Sunday we’re having a fundraiser lunch for the Berachah Prayer Hall in India. This church was started by the father of Simeon, our ministry resident. Speaking of Simeon, he’s starting The Dwelling, a church plant in the Toledo area for people from India. And speaking of church planting, we are exploring the support of two other church plants, one in Ann Arbor and another in Kenton, with the desire to launch daughter congregations in the coming years. We are planning on doing a lot of sending!
Psalm 102:18 says
Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19 “The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
In 2022, Pastor Brandon Kelly noted the following about this text:
1. We live for others, not ourselves
2. We aim for the future, not the past
3. We all take responsibility, not just a few
Our vision is to become a future-oriented church by 2028 that will see 33% of our congregation made up of kids, students, and young adults. Two weeks ago on Youth Sunday, you saw examples of how this vision is becoming a reality. We are creating an endowment to fund interns and ministry leaders. Stay tuned for details. We’re also purchasing a van for our students…and the rest of the College First family.
I want to talk about our plans for Alpha, the Refocus on Purpose Workshop, next Easter, mission trips, the Habitat for Humanity Apostle Build, and other things slated for 2026, but I’m running out of time so let me close by saying I thank God for you, College First family. Thank you for your generosity and stewardship of your time, talents, and treasures. You have made a tremendous impact already in the lives of Heather and me and for 172 years you’ve been making and sending disciples. I love you and I’m humbled and honored to be a part of this family that God is using for His glory. College First has a great history, but I truly believe the best is yet to come. Let’s love, equip, and send! Let’s go!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 7, 2025
Matthew 28:18-20
Big Idea: We’re on a mission from God to go and make disciples of all nations.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:18-20
At the beginning of training camp each year, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”
I mention this for two reasons. First, this is our fall kickoff. Michigan and Ohio State have begun their seasons. The Browns and Lions and Bengals have their first football game today. The Labor Day holiday has passed, and kids are back in school. The university is alive and kicking, and we are days away from the official start of autumn.
The second reason I mention the “gentlemen, this is a football” quote is the back-to-basics approach Lombardi took with his players. It’s easy to get sophisticated, fancy, and drift from our purpose, our mission. About a year ago my first words as your lead pastor were…”Why are you here?” Why are we here?
A year is hardly enough time to become an expert on a congregation whose roots began 172 years ago in 1853, but I’ve at least gotten my feet wet in these first 14 months!
So why are we here? Where are we going?
Imagine you are about to say goodbye to someone knowing you will never see them again. In fact, you will not be able to reach them via phone, letter, or even text. You have one opportunity to share your heart, your passion, your burden. What would you say?
In today’s scripture reading, we hear what may be Jesus’ final words to his friends before ascending into heaven. This is a passage known as the Great Commission. We looked at it briefly last Sunday.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
This text is loaded!
First, Jesus has all authority, on heaven and on earth. He is why we are here. He is our source, our power, our purpose, our Savior, our LORD, our King. It’s all about Jesus. If College First ever becomes about me, please fire me! If it ever becomes about our building, let’s sell it! If it ever becomes about consumerism or religion or politics or fundraising or religion or anything but Jesus, it’s time to hit the brakes!
It's because Jesus is fully God and fully human and has all authority that he can say second—and this is the heart of the commission—therefore go and make disciples. What’s a disciple? It’s an apprentice, a student, a protégé. A disciple of Jesus is someone who acts like Jesus. It’s different than calling yourself a Christian. Throughout history many have claimed to be a Christian without any resemblance to Christ.
Are you a disciple of Jesus? Are you a “little Christ?” Do your words, actions, finances, and calendar declare your allegiance to Jesus? You can’t be a disciple for an hour or two a week. Discipleship is a lifestyle. This afternoon, dozens of NFL players will play a game, but they won’t forget football tomorrow morning. Being a professional athlete is a 24/7/365 lifestyle. They don’t just show up at the stadium, play for a few hours and go home. It impacts every meal they eat…or don’t eat. It consumes their time with training and exercise. They do everything possible to ensure good sleep habits. Countless hours are spent with coaches and specialists who develop not only their body but also their mind. Football is a lifestyle. Discipleship is a lifestyle, too.
What would happen if I wandered onto the University of Findlay football team practice field outside my office and said, “Put me in, coach! I’m here to play football?” I would be laughed off the field. I’m no NCAA football player. I haven’t devoted my life to conditioning and athletics. A t-shirt that says Oilers doesn’t make me a member of the team.
In the same way wearing a Jesus t-shirt and stepping into this room and calling yourself a Christian doesn’t make you a disciple of Jesus. It might be a good start—and any of our staff, Elders, and leaders would love to talk with you about next steps—but an hour or two on Sunday doesn’t make you a disciple. Jesus said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
…and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27b)
That’s a disciple. A disciple is someone fully devoted to loving God and loving others. Are you a disciple? Do you want to become a disciple?
A disciple is not perfect. I’m certainly not perfect. But I’m in the process of becoming like Jesus, and it is my life mission to help others become like Jesus. That’s discipleship.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)
We are to make disciples of all nations. This is why I’m so passionate about international students and immigrants in our community. We can reach the world without a passport! The Internet is a tool for global discipleship, too. We live in a day in which we can get a passport and a plane ticket and make disciples in other nations. I’ve been privileged to train pastors in Burundi in central Africa twice and I’ve been invited by the Great Lakes Conference to train pastors in Kenya in January. All nations. The movement of Jesus is not just a USAmerican thing. In fact, it began in the Middle East! We are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and giving them an opportunity to publicly declare their faith and allegiance to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God who exists in three Persons, the blessed Trinity.
There’s more.
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
The journey does not end with baptism. It’s really the beginning. Then we must obey! We must follow Jesus. We must surrender our will, our wallet, and our ways. We must die to ourselves—symbolized by the water grave of baptism—in order to truly live the abundant life Jesus promised. It’s not the American Dream. In many ways it’s the opposite of the American Dream, but it’s the path to true freedom, peace, purpose, and joy.
There are three words which describe our mission here at College First: love, equip, send.
Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. It is a verb. Do you love well? Do we love well?
Equip is the essence of discipleship, providing examples and tools for living like Jesus. It may look like a Sunday sermon, but it can be done through RightNow Media videos, a retreat, studying the Bible through the Bible Recap tools (the NT starts next month!), serving the needy, spending time in prayer, engaging in a small group, or simply spending time with a disciple of Jesus, doing life with them and hanging out.
Send is the true fruit of our labor, the fulfillment of our mission. Who have we sent? We’ve sent people like Katie Crabtree to become a missionary in Thailand. We’ve sent people like Giorgio Ferrario to become the campus minister at the University of Findlay. We’ve sent some of you into our parking lot to serve food through Chopin Hall, others to serve future moms at the Women’s Resource Center, and still others to help children read through Literacy Lions.
There’s a lot of emphasis in church world about how many people show up on Sunday morning, but what matters most is our sending capacity, not our seating capacity.
Our mission is not to distribute religious goods and services. We’re not here to entertain you with great music and lectures. Our purpose is not to babysit kids for an hour on Sunday. We are here to make disciples, fully devoted followers of Jesus and we do that by loving, equipping, and sending in the name of Jesus Christ.
So What?
The future is bright!
Monthly Senior Fun Dinners return this Tuesday at 5:30 PM. Our special guest speaker, Beth Yoder, will share about Night to Shine, an unforgettable worldwide celebration event, centered on God's love, honoring and valuing people with special needs. We are one of three Findlay congregations involved in this February 13 experience.
We have begun to livestream Winebrenner Worship on Sundays at 10 AM.
Our relationship with the University is stronger than it has been in many years, especially with Campus Ministry.
Next Sunday we’re having a fundraiser lunch for the Berachah Prayer Hall in India. This church was started by the father of Simeon, our ministry resident. Speaking of Simeon, he’s starting The Dwelling, a church plant in the Toledo area for people from India. And speaking of church planting, we are exploring the support of two other church plants, one in Ann Arbor and another in Kenton, with the desire to launch daughter congregations in the coming years. We are planning on doing a lot of sending!
Psalm 102:18 says
Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19 “The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
In 2022, Pastor Brandon Kelly noted the following about this text:
1. We live for others, not ourselves
2. We aim for the future, not the past
3. We all take responsibility, not just a few
Our vision is to become a future-oriented church by 2028 that will see 33% of our congregation made up of kids, students, and young adults. Two weeks ago on Youth Sunday, you saw examples of how this vision is becoming a reality. We are creating an endowment to fund interns and ministry leaders. Stay tuned for details. We’re also purchasing a van for our students…and the rest of the College First family.
I want to talk about our plans for Alpha, the Refocus on Purpose Workshop, next Easter, mission trips, the Habitat for Humanity Apostle Build, and other things slated for 2026, but I’m running out of time so let me close by saying I thank God for you, College First family. Thank you for your generosity and stewardship of your time, talents, and treasures. You have made a tremendous impact already in the lives of Heather and me and for 172 years you’ve been making and sending disciples. I love you and I’m humbled and honored to be a part of this family that God is using for His glory. College First has a great history, but I truly believe the best is yet to come. Let’s love, equip, and send! Let’s go!
Get to Work, 31 August 2025
02 09 25 Filed in: Sermons
Get to Work!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
August 31, 2025
Colossians 3:23-24
Big Idea: Work was created by God to be an act of worship.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23-24
Happy Labor Day Weekend…to all of you who don’t have a cabin in Michigan!
I know we’re not supposed to use four-letter words—especially in church—but today we’re talking about a word that causes many to shudder…work! Get to work!
On this Labor Day weekend, I want to share a few passages of scripture concerning labor.
1. Work was God’s idea from the beginning.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)
Work was a part of our world before Adam and Eve sinned and brought suffering to our world. The Hebrew word in the original language, avad, means “to work!” In this and other contexts, it referred to the ground, tending to the garden.
The thought of working a garden sounds miserable to me, honestly. As a boy, we had a fairly large garden in the back of our suburban house. I generally enjoyed harvesting the vegetables and didn’t even mind tip-and-tailing the green beans and shucking the corn, but there was one thing I despised…weeds!
My parents did their best to incentivize the task. I remember they bought Tarzan rings for our play structure and if I filled a certain number of 5 gallon buckets full of weeds, they would be mine (and my sister’s). I don’t have the greatest memory in the world, but I’m pretty sure I worked 32 hours every day during the summer in 130 degree heat in order to get those rings! What made it worse was watching the neighbors swim in the pool while I agonized in the back-breaking work. I thought I devised a shortcut and fluffed up the weeds in the bucket to make it appear full, but mom caught on and changed the expectation to push-down full!
As I think about it, if I could garden without weeds, I think I’d like gardening! It’s fun to plant seeds and even water the crops. Of course, the best part is biting into a freshly-picked, home-grown vegetable.
We often think of work as toil because…it often is as a result of what we call The Fall, Adam and Eve disobeying God by eating of the one forbidden tree in the Garden. One tree, Adam! When God announced punishments,
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:17)
Work is good. Toil is hard. Needless to say, the Hebrew for toil here is not the same as work in chapter two. In fact, one definition for the word itstsabon is “a pain.” Pulling weeds is a pain, indeed! This is why I’m grateful for grocery stores!
There was work before The Fall and I believe there will be work in the next life, too, but not toil.
2. How we work matters.
Paul wrote to the church in Colossi,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)
We all work. Your labor may be studying for exams, working in an office, caring for your yard, changing diapers, teaching a class, or preparing a meal in your home. Retirees may not work for a pay check, but there is labor in all of our lives, and as I said, that’s by design by God. You may enjoy your labor or despise it, but how we do it matters.
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory. That means you need to work for the glory of God. This includes our attitude, our effort, and the quality of what we do. I know we are often motivated by paychecks or report cards, but this text shows us more is at stake…a reward from the Lord. Think about that on Tuesday!
3. Life is more than work.
This is obvious to most of us, especially after the pandemic. Nevertheless, a writer in The Atlantic several years ago devised the term “workism” which is “the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production, but also the centerpiece of one’s identity and life’s purpose, calling it a “king of religion, promising identity, transcendence, and community.” We’ve all heard about workaholics. I used to tell friends I would’ve been a workaholic except my wife would let me become one! Although it created conflict, I’m grateful she lovingly reminded me life is more than work…especially when there were three little people in our home that needed love and attention…to say nothing of their mom!
Work/life balance is a myth! It’s a tension to manage rather than a problem to solve.
Jesus famously said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
He didn’t say love your work with your whole self but love Him. We can love God by doing good work and we can love our family by providing for them, but work must never become an idol.
4. Work matters…for eternity
If you are a follower of Jesus, you are a minister. You are called to
…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
This is not a text for pastors, but for all of us. One Barna study in 2018 showed 72% of Christians in the workforce view their work as having little or no connection to their faith or sense of calling.
Family, wherever you go, you represent Jesus. Some have said you are the only Bible many will ever read. How you love, serve, encourage, care, listen, show patience, kindness, hope, joy, peace, patience, goodness, and self-control as you are filled with the Holy Spirit matters. How you proclaim good news in word and deed to others in the classroom, marketplace, senior center, or field is not only a calling, it’s a privilege.
Growing up in a small church in Brighton, Michigan I used to think we paid the pastor to do the ministry. I now realize his role was to be the ad-minister and equip the congregation to be the ministers. This is often known as the priesthood of all believers.
Peter wrote,
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)
This was not written to professional clergy. This is all of our callings. Each day you interact with people I don’t know. You have access to men, women, and children I may never meet. You can invite them to join us on Sundays, of course, which would be great, but even if they’re here an hour a week, you may spend as many as 40 hours a week with them, showing them what it means to follow Jesus.
The late Tim Keller concluded 80% or more of evangelism in the early church was done not by ministers or evangelists” but by Christians working as mothers, tentmakers, and farmers. Many of those you know will never “go to church,” but we are all called to be missionaries wherever we are.
Today I commission you as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ at…fill in the blank of wherever you will find yourself this week…the office, hospital, neighborhood, park, school, wherever. Good news needs to be shared. People need to be loved. Offer a smile, a kind word, ask someone out for a cup of coffee and ask where they are on their spiritual journey. Don’t’ worry about having all the answers. Just engage people in conversations and listen. People today are so lonely and anxious. It doesn’t take much to show love.
5. Rest matters. Just do it!
Like the video said, we need to rest from our work…or more accurately work from our rest. At creation, humans were created on day six. What happened on day seven? Rest. That’s what they did on their first full day of life, meaning they began with rest and then worked rather than the other way around. God designed us to rest…and commanded it. Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments and the penalty for breaking it was…death by stoning! We were not made to work seven days a week. Our minds, bodies, and souls need rhythms of rest, weekly days of joy and delight in addition to daily, monthly, and annual breaks for recovery, recalibration, and focused time with God.
So What?
As we prepare to celebrate labor tomorrow, remember these ancient words:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Eat and drink for God’s glory.
Work for God’s glory. It is to be an act of worship.
Rest for God’s glory. He commanded it. He created it for our benefit.
Work was created by God to be an act of worship. Enjoy your holiday and remember on Tuesday…you get to work!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
August 31, 2025
Colossians 3:23-24
Big Idea: Work was created by God to be an act of worship.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23-24
Happy Labor Day Weekend…to all of you who don’t have a cabin in Michigan!
I know we’re not supposed to use four-letter words—especially in church—but today we’re talking about a word that causes many to shudder…work! Get to work!
On this Labor Day weekend, I want to share a few passages of scripture concerning labor.
1. Work was God’s idea from the beginning.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)
Work was a part of our world before Adam and Eve sinned and brought suffering to our world. The Hebrew word in the original language, avad, means “to work!” In this and other contexts, it referred to the ground, tending to the garden.
The thought of working a garden sounds miserable to me, honestly. As a boy, we had a fairly large garden in the back of our suburban house. I generally enjoyed harvesting the vegetables and didn’t even mind tip-and-tailing the green beans and shucking the corn, but there was one thing I despised…weeds!
My parents did their best to incentivize the task. I remember they bought Tarzan rings for our play structure and if I filled a certain number of 5 gallon buckets full of weeds, they would be mine (and my sister’s). I don’t have the greatest memory in the world, but I’m pretty sure I worked 32 hours every day during the summer in 130 degree heat in order to get those rings! What made it worse was watching the neighbors swim in the pool while I agonized in the back-breaking work. I thought I devised a shortcut and fluffed up the weeds in the bucket to make it appear full, but mom caught on and changed the expectation to push-down full!
As I think about it, if I could garden without weeds, I think I’d like gardening! It’s fun to plant seeds and even water the crops. Of course, the best part is biting into a freshly-picked, home-grown vegetable.
We often think of work as toil because…it often is as a result of what we call The Fall, Adam and Eve disobeying God by eating of the one forbidden tree in the Garden. One tree, Adam! When God announced punishments,
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:17)
Work is good. Toil is hard. Needless to say, the Hebrew for toil here is not the same as work in chapter two. In fact, one definition for the word itstsabon is “a pain.” Pulling weeds is a pain, indeed! This is why I’m grateful for grocery stores!
There was work before The Fall and I believe there will be work in the next life, too, but not toil.
2. How we work matters.
Paul wrote to the church in Colossi,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)
We all work. Your labor may be studying for exams, working in an office, caring for your yard, changing diapers, teaching a class, or preparing a meal in your home. Retirees may not work for a pay check, but there is labor in all of our lives, and as I said, that’s by design by God. You may enjoy your labor or despise it, but how we do it matters.
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory. That means you need to work for the glory of God. This includes our attitude, our effort, and the quality of what we do. I know we are often motivated by paychecks or report cards, but this text shows us more is at stake…a reward from the Lord. Think about that on Tuesday!
3. Life is more than work.
This is obvious to most of us, especially after the pandemic. Nevertheless, a writer in The Atlantic several years ago devised the term “workism” which is “the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production, but also the centerpiece of one’s identity and life’s purpose, calling it a “king of religion, promising identity, transcendence, and community.” We’ve all heard about workaholics. I used to tell friends I would’ve been a workaholic except my wife would let me become one! Although it created conflict, I’m grateful she lovingly reminded me life is more than work…especially when there were three little people in our home that needed love and attention…to say nothing of their mom!
Work/life balance is a myth! It’s a tension to manage rather than a problem to solve.
Jesus famously said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
He didn’t say love your work with your whole self but love Him. We can love God by doing good work and we can love our family by providing for them, but work must never become an idol.
4. Work matters…for eternity
If you are a follower of Jesus, you are a minister. You are called to
…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
This is not a text for pastors, but for all of us. One Barna study in 2018 showed 72% of Christians in the workforce view their work as having little or no connection to their faith or sense of calling.
Family, wherever you go, you represent Jesus. Some have said you are the only Bible many will ever read. How you love, serve, encourage, care, listen, show patience, kindness, hope, joy, peace, patience, goodness, and self-control as you are filled with the Holy Spirit matters. How you proclaim good news in word and deed to others in the classroom, marketplace, senior center, or field is not only a calling, it’s a privilege.
Growing up in a small church in Brighton, Michigan I used to think we paid the pastor to do the ministry. I now realize his role was to be the ad-minister and equip the congregation to be the ministers. This is often known as the priesthood of all believers.
Peter wrote,
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)
This was not written to professional clergy. This is all of our callings. Each day you interact with people I don’t know. You have access to men, women, and children I may never meet. You can invite them to join us on Sundays, of course, which would be great, but even if they’re here an hour a week, you may spend as many as 40 hours a week with them, showing them what it means to follow Jesus.
The late Tim Keller concluded 80% or more of evangelism in the early church was done not by ministers or evangelists” but by Christians working as mothers, tentmakers, and farmers. Many of those you know will never “go to church,” but we are all called to be missionaries wherever we are.
Today I commission you as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ at…fill in the blank of wherever you will find yourself this week…the office, hospital, neighborhood, park, school, wherever. Good news needs to be shared. People need to be loved. Offer a smile, a kind word, ask someone out for a cup of coffee and ask where they are on their spiritual journey. Don’t’ worry about having all the answers. Just engage people in conversations and listen. People today are so lonely and anxious. It doesn’t take much to show love.
5. Rest matters. Just do it!
Like the video said, we need to rest from our work…or more accurately work from our rest. At creation, humans were created on day six. What happened on day seven? Rest. That’s what they did on their first full day of life, meaning they began with rest and then worked rather than the other way around. God designed us to rest…and commanded it. Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments and the penalty for breaking it was…death by stoning! We were not made to work seven days a week. Our minds, bodies, and souls need rhythms of rest, weekly days of joy and delight in addition to daily, monthly, and annual breaks for recovery, recalibration, and focused time with God.
So What?
As we prepare to celebrate labor tomorrow, remember these ancient words:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Eat and drink for God’s glory.
Work for God’s glory. It is to be an act of worship.
Rest for God’s glory. He commanded it. He created it for our benefit.
Work was created by God to be an act of worship. Enjoy your holiday and remember on Tuesday…you get to work!
God Shows Compassion, 17 August 2025
God Shows Compassion
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
August 17, 2025
Jonah 4
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: God’s love is available to all, Jew and Gentile alike.
We’ve been studying the book of Jonah for the past few weeks and today we conclude with chapter four. The most famous part of the story was obviously Jonah being swallowed by—and later vomited by—a large fish. But why was Jonah in the fish? He disobeyed God when told to go to Nineveh. But why didn’t Jonah want to go to Nineveh?
Throughout this series, we’ve noted how the life of a prophet was not an easy one. They were given messages by God to deliver to people who were often enemies of God. The message was typically, “Repent! Turn! Say ‘yes’ to God! Surrender! Get on your knees!
In chapter 3, Jonah finally goes to Nineveh, tells the people to repent, and they do! I used to think Jonah avoided Nineveh because he was afraid of failure, wasting his breath on people uninterested in God. The opposite was true. The people—led by the king—not only repented, they put on sackcloth and fasted to show their sincerity and desperation. God
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10)
God shows compassion and the Ninevites are spared of God’s wrath. This is wonderful news!
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. (Jonah 4:1)
What? He was a successful prophet. The people repented. Revival broke out. What’s the problem?
He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. (Jonah 4:2)
He didn’t want God to love Nineveh. He hated this city, as many Jews did. He hated these people and didn’t want God to show love, grace, and compassion. He wanted to see his enemies destroyed!
Have you ever felt that way? Are there people you hate? Be honest. It might be a particular person or group. Who are “those people” in your life? It could be people with different race, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Maybe it’s our president, the last one, Putin, or Elon Musk. Do they deserve God’s grace and love more than you?
Maybe it was Osama bin Ladin or Saddam Hussein, Hitler,…or that person responsible for that huge loss in your life…they killed your loved one, caused you to lose your job, or stole your innocence. Do they deserve God’s grace and love more than you?
Jonah is so angry about God loving “those people,” he says,
Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3)
He’d rather die than see the Ninevites live! This is serious hatred. Before we move on, perhaps you can relate.
But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4)
Who is the object of Jonah’s anger, the Ninevites or God? Jonah is angry because God is slow to anger! He wants to die because God lets the Ninevites live.
It’s ok to be real with God, but don’t be surprised if He responds with truth. God is God and we’re not. We may struggle to love or forgive, but that’s what He does. That’s who He is. That’s great news for us…and “the world” that God so loved. We are all “better than we deserve.” But we should never hoard God’s love. We are to share it with others.
I have a friend who told me he struggled to pray for a particular government leader. I thought if God gripped the heart of this leader, they would make God-honoring decisions and make the world a better place. Everyone wins when someone surrenders to Jesus. Right?
Now we come to one of the strangest stories in the Bible.
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. (Jonah 4:5)
He delivered his message, the people repented, and he sticks around to see what’s next.
Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. (Jonah 4:6)
God still loves Jonah after his bad attitude. The LORD provides a plant for shade…and Jonah was “very happy” about the plant.
But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. (Jonah 4:7)
The LORD gives, the LORD takes away. The text doesn’t just tell us about the hungry worm. It says God provided it. Can you imagine Jonah’s anger now? The one thing in his life that makes him happy, the plant, is now eaten by this stupid worm!
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:8)
This is the second time Jonah makes this declaration. He’s not the only person in the Bible who had suicidal ideation.
If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who does, there’s a new simple hotline number: 988. Make a note of it, and if you are struggling, people tell someone. No matter the reason, help is available, and you matter to us and you matter to God.
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” (Jonah 4:9)
I appreciate Jonah’s honesty, but doesn’t he sound like a child? What an attitude!
But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. (Jonah 4:10)
True! Now for the grand finale of the book. Are you ready? God says to Jonah,
And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11)
That’s it! The book of Jonah ends with a question mark! The book of Nahum is the only other book of the Bible that ends with a question mark. What’s the answer to the question? Should God love the people of Nineveh? Yes! Should God love the people of Findlay? Yes! Should God so love the world? He does!
So What?
When all is said and done, this book is not about a fish. It’s not even about Jonah. It’s about a God who a loving, gracious, forgiving, compassionate God.
The context of the book of Jonah is the tension between Jews and Gentiles. When Jesus arrives hundreds of years later, he declared good news for not only Jews but also us Gentiles, too. We’re grafted in. Jesus died for us, too! Hallelujah! In the book of Acts,
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. (Acts 10:34-35)
Fear here is not spooky, but awe and reverence. God doesn’t have favorites. We’re all entitled to receive His love, and we should celebrate that. There is nothing in this world greater than God’s transforming love, and history is filled with examples of people repenting of their evil deeds, surrendering to Jesus, and being used for God’s glory, including Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9), King Manasseh of Judah (2 Chronicles 33), John Newton (1725-1807), and former gang leader Nicky Cruz.
God’s love is available to all, Jew and Gentile alike.
One commentator wrote,
“It’s not as if we should never desire justice. It is good news when an oppressor is toppled, the terrorist caught, the torturer brought to justice. The great danger is that instead of simply rejoicing at the vindication of the oppressed, we self-righteously identify ourselves as the oppressed, taking pity on ourselves and not on the others. In our imaginations, Yahweh becomes a weapon in our campaign to destroy our enemies, an instrument of our own revenge rather than the righteous judge of the earth.”
Are you ok with God loving your enemies? Jesus died for them, too.
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
August 17, 2025
Jonah 4
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: God’s love is available to all, Jew and Gentile alike.
We’ve been studying the book of Jonah for the past few weeks and today we conclude with chapter four. The most famous part of the story was obviously Jonah being swallowed by—and later vomited by—a large fish. But why was Jonah in the fish? He disobeyed God when told to go to Nineveh. But why didn’t Jonah want to go to Nineveh?
Throughout this series, we’ve noted how the life of a prophet was not an easy one. They were given messages by God to deliver to people who were often enemies of God. The message was typically, “Repent! Turn! Say ‘yes’ to God! Surrender! Get on your knees!
In chapter 3, Jonah finally goes to Nineveh, tells the people to repent, and they do! I used to think Jonah avoided Nineveh because he was afraid of failure, wasting his breath on people uninterested in God. The opposite was true. The people—led by the king—not only repented, they put on sackcloth and fasted to show their sincerity and desperation. God
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10)
God shows compassion and the Ninevites are spared of God’s wrath. This is wonderful news!
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. (Jonah 4:1)
What? He was a successful prophet. The people repented. Revival broke out. What’s the problem?
He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. (Jonah 4:2)
He didn’t want God to love Nineveh. He hated this city, as many Jews did. He hated these people and didn’t want God to show love, grace, and compassion. He wanted to see his enemies destroyed!
Have you ever felt that way? Are there people you hate? Be honest. It might be a particular person or group. Who are “those people” in your life? It could be people with different race, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Maybe it’s our president, the last one, Putin, or Elon Musk. Do they deserve God’s grace and love more than you?
Maybe it was Osama bin Ladin or Saddam Hussein, Hitler,…or that person responsible for that huge loss in your life…they killed your loved one, caused you to lose your job, or stole your innocence. Do they deserve God’s grace and love more than you?
Jonah is so angry about God loving “those people,” he says,
Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3)
He’d rather die than see the Ninevites live! This is serious hatred. Before we move on, perhaps you can relate.
But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4)
Who is the object of Jonah’s anger, the Ninevites or God? Jonah is angry because God is slow to anger! He wants to die because God lets the Ninevites live.
It’s ok to be real with God, but don’t be surprised if He responds with truth. God is God and we’re not. We may struggle to love or forgive, but that’s what He does. That’s who He is. That’s great news for us…and “the world” that God so loved. We are all “better than we deserve.” But we should never hoard God’s love. We are to share it with others.
I have a friend who told me he struggled to pray for a particular government leader. I thought if God gripped the heart of this leader, they would make God-honoring decisions and make the world a better place. Everyone wins when someone surrenders to Jesus. Right?
Now we come to one of the strangest stories in the Bible.
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. (Jonah 4:5)
He delivered his message, the people repented, and he sticks around to see what’s next.
Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. (Jonah 4:6)
God still loves Jonah after his bad attitude. The LORD provides a plant for shade…and Jonah was “very happy” about the plant.
But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. (Jonah 4:7)
The LORD gives, the LORD takes away. The text doesn’t just tell us about the hungry worm. It says God provided it. Can you imagine Jonah’s anger now? The one thing in his life that makes him happy, the plant, is now eaten by this stupid worm!
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:8)
This is the second time Jonah makes this declaration. He’s not the only person in the Bible who had suicidal ideation.
If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who does, there’s a new simple hotline number: 988. Make a note of it, and if you are struggling, people tell someone. No matter the reason, help is available, and you matter to us and you matter to God.
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” (Jonah 4:9)
I appreciate Jonah’s honesty, but doesn’t he sound like a child? What an attitude!
But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. (Jonah 4:10)
True! Now for the grand finale of the book. Are you ready? God says to Jonah,
And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11)
That’s it! The book of Jonah ends with a question mark! The book of Nahum is the only other book of the Bible that ends with a question mark. What’s the answer to the question? Should God love the people of Nineveh? Yes! Should God love the people of Findlay? Yes! Should God so love the world? He does!
So What?
When all is said and done, this book is not about a fish. It’s not even about Jonah. It’s about a God who a loving, gracious, forgiving, compassionate God.
The context of the book of Jonah is the tension between Jews and Gentiles. When Jesus arrives hundreds of years later, he declared good news for not only Jews but also us Gentiles, too. We’re grafted in. Jesus died for us, too! Hallelujah! In the book of Acts,
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. (Acts 10:34-35)
Fear here is not spooky, but awe and reverence. God doesn’t have favorites. We’re all entitled to receive His love, and we should celebrate that. There is nothing in this world greater than God’s transforming love, and history is filled with examples of people repenting of their evil deeds, surrendering to Jesus, and being used for God’s glory, including Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9), King Manasseh of Judah (2 Chronicles 33), John Newton (1725-1807), and former gang leader Nicky Cruz.
God’s love is available to all, Jew and Gentile alike.
One commentator wrote,
“It’s not as if we should never desire justice. It is good news when an oppressor is toppled, the terrorist caught, the torturer brought to justice. The great danger is that instead of simply rejoicing at the vindication of the oppressed, we self-righteously identify ourselves as the oppressed, taking pity on ourselves and not on the others. In our imaginations, Yahweh becomes a weapon in our campaign to destroy our enemies, an instrument of our own revenge rather than the righteous judge of the earth.”
Are you ok with God loving your enemies? Jesus died for them, too.
God Forgives the Repentant, 10 August 2025
God Forgives the Repentant
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
August 10, 2025
Jonah 3:1-10
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: God demonstrates His love for sinners like Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and us.
Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:1-5
The most famous verse of the Bible says,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Who does that exclude?
From the opening pages of the Bible, humans have had a remarkable habit of identifying differences, identifying enemies, and creating “us versus them” scenarios. We’ll see it in a few weeks at football stadiums across the country. We tragically see it on more deadly battlefields.
The Kingdom of God is the result of God so loving the world, and that includes…everyone. We can choose whether to accept or reject God’s love, but Jesus died for USAmericans and Russians, blacks and whites, gays and straights, legal and illegals, rich and poor, elephants and donkeys.
But what happens when “those people” are offered God’s love? Do they deserve it? Do we?
We’re in the third week of our series on Jonah and while the big fish grabs all the headlines, the real story is God’s love…for sailors, for Ninevites, and for Jonah. We like to think of ourselves as the good guys in every story, but the truth is we have more in common with Jonah than we’d like to admit.
Have you ever run from God? Have you ever procrastinated a spiritual assignment? Have you ever failed to share God’s good news with someone out of fear or embarrassment? Have you ever failed to love “those people?”
Jonah chapter 3 begins…
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:1-2)
If you missed it, the first time Jonah ran away from God and Nineveh. God said, “Go” and Jonah said, “No.” We don’t know when or where God came to Jonah this second time. Hopefully it was after Jonah bathed! It’s amazing that God gives Jonah a second chance. That gives me hope when I fail. I love—and need—God’s amazing grace and mercy and forgiveness.
God called Nineveh a great city, and by that He did not mean good, but rather large. It was the capital of the Assyrian Empire in what we know as Mosul, Iraq today. Assyrians were not only enemies of Israel, but they were also known for brutality against their foes. They were not nice people, and Jonah wanted nothing to do with them.
But now he wanted nothing to do with living in the sea again, so, this time, he does the right thing.
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. (Jonah 3:3a)
God said, “Go” and Jonah said, “O…k”
Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:3b-4)
This is not good news for the Ninevites. Then again, prophets rarely delivered good news. Their most common message was, “Repent! Turn! Stop what you’re doing and do the opposite!” Often their message was ignored, and people suffered the consequences. But in this case
The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. (Jonah 3:5)
The people responded to Jonah’s proclamation and repented. Amazing!
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. (Jonah 3:3-6)
This is remarkable. It’s one thing for commoners to cry out to God, but quite another for the king to humble himself before the LORD. Oh that we would have leaders in our government today who would humble themselves and pray and turn from the wicked ways. It reminds me of God’s promise to His people in the book of 2 Chronicles:
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
This is our God. He does not hold grudges. He does not become bitter. He is slow to anger and abounding in love as noted at least eight times in the Bible. And that love is available to all. For God so loved…the world. That includes North Korea, Iran, Russia, and even us Wolverine fans! Back to the king…
This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. (Jonah 3:7)
He’s calling for a season of fasting.
Have you ever fasted from food? Fasting is one of the classic spiritual disciples or practices or habits. I’m hardly an expert, but I engage in fasting. Like jogging on the treadmill, I don’t always like the experience but appreciate the results.
Fasting can draw us to God. It can recalibrate not only our digestive system but also our souls. Fasting reminds us of our dependency on God for daily bread, helps us identify with those unable to obtain food, humbles us before God, serves as obedience to Jesus, helps us overcome temptation, strengthens our prayers, expresses our love and worship to God, and helps us in decision-making, among other things. It’s also a sign of repentance, which is clearly the case here. These people don’t just pay lip service to God. They enter a season of mourning and repentance. The king continued,
But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. (Jonah 3:8)
Sackcloth is a rough material made from goat or camel’s hair. It’s like burlap and was worn as a sign of sorrow, repentance, humility, or mourning. It’s a visual expression of brokenness. I’m not aware of anything similar in our culture. It was often done with fasting. I’m fascinated by the king’s decree to cover the animals with sackcloth, too. Clearly he is serious about his remorse and repentance. Notice his four commands: fast, wear sackcloth, pray, and give up their evil ways.
Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 3:9)
As long as we have breath, it’s never too late to repent, to turn and run to God. This king understood this.
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10)
Mission accomplished! Missions accomplished!
Jonah proclaimed God’s message.
The king and the people repented.
God was able to spare Nineveh of destruction.
It’s amazing that God gives the Ninevites a second chance.
And everyone lived happily ever after! Well, not quite, as we’ll see next week.
So What?
To summarize this chapter, after God forgives Jonah for his disobedience, God forgives Israel’s enemies because they repent.
Who are you in the story? Are you Jonah, eager to proclaim God’s truth to a broken world, courageously sharing the reason for your hope? Are you a Ninevite, living in sin, yet eager to repent and receive forgiveness? Are you in a position to forgive like God, eager to see a broken relationship restored?
I know we can all relate to the Ninevites. We’ve all sinned…against God and others. We all need forgiveness. God demonstrates His love for sinners like Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and us.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Although a different context, the prophet Ezekiel was told,
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!” (Ezekiel 33:11a)
This is the heart of God. When we turn from our sins, God is always ready to start again with us. God demonstrates His love for sinners like Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and us. Hallelujah!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
August 10, 2025
Jonah 3:1-10
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: God demonstrates His love for sinners like Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and us.
Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:1-5
The most famous verse of the Bible says,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Who does that exclude?
From the opening pages of the Bible, humans have had a remarkable habit of identifying differences, identifying enemies, and creating “us versus them” scenarios. We’ll see it in a few weeks at football stadiums across the country. We tragically see it on more deadly battlefields.
The Kingdom of God is the result of God so loving the world, and that includes…everyone. We can choose whether to accept or reject God’s love, but Jesus died for USAmericans and Russians, blacks and whites, gays and straights, legal and illegals, rich and poor, elephants and donkeys.
But what happens when “those people” are offered God’s love? Do they deserve it? Do we?
We’re in the third week of our series on Jonah and while the big fish grabs all the headlines, the real story is God’s love…for sailors, for Ninevites, and for Jonah. We like to think of ourselves as the good guys in every story, but the truth is we have more in common with Jonah than we’d like to admit.
Have you ever run from God? Have you ever procrastinated a spiritual assignment? Have you ever failed to share God’s good news with someone out of fear or embarrassment? Have you ever failed to love “those people?”
Jonah chapter 3 begins…
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:1-2)
If you missed it, the first time Jonah ran away from God and Nineveh. God said, “Go” and Jonah said, “No.” We don’t know when or where God came to Jonah this second time. Hopefully it was after Jonah bathed! It’s amazing that God gives Jonah a second chance. That gives me hope when I fail. I love—and need—God’s amazing grace and mercy and forgiveness.
God called Nineveh a great city, and by that He did not mean good, but rather large. It was the capital of the Assyrian Empire in what we know as Mosul, Iraq today. Assyrians were not only enemies of Israel, but they were also known for brutality against their foes. They were not nice people, and Jonah wanted nothing to do with them.
But now he wanted nothing to do with living in the sea again, so, this time, he does the right thing.
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. (Jonah 3:3a)
God said, “Go” and Jonah said, “O…k”
Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:3b-4)
This is not good news for the Ninevites. Then again, prophets rarely delivered good news. Their most common message was, “Repent! Turn! Stop what you’re doing and do the opposite!” Often their message was ignored, and people suffered the consequences. But in this case
The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. (Jonah 3:5)
The people responded to Jonah’s proclamation and repented. Amazing!
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. (Jonah 3:3-6)
This is remarkable. It’s one thing for commoners to cry out to God, but quite another for the king to humble himself before the LORD. Oh that we would have leaders in our government today who would humble themselves and pray and turn from the wicked ways. It reminds me of God’s promise to His people in the book of 2 Chronicles:
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
This is our God. He does not hold grudges. He does not become bitter. He is slow to anger and abounding in love as noted at least eight times in the Bible. And that love is available to all. For God so loved…the world. That includes North Korea, Iran, Russia, and even us Wolverine fans! Back to the king…
This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. (Jonah 3:7)
He’s calling for a season of fasting.
Have you ever fasted from food? Fasting is one of the classic spiritual disciples or practices or habits. I’m hardly an expert, but I engage in fasting. Like jogging on the treadmill, I don’t always like the experience but appreciate the results.
Fasting can draw us to God. It can recalibrate not only our digestive system but also our souls. Fasting reminds us of our dependency on God for daily bread, helps us identify with those unable to obtain food, humbles us before God, serves as obedience to Jesus, helps us overcome temptation, strengthens our prayers, expresses our love and worship to God, and helps us in decision-making, among other things. It’s also a sign of repentance, which is clearly the case here. These people don’t just pay lip service to God. They enter a season of mourning and repentance. The king continued,
But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. (Jonah 3:8)
Sackcloth is a rough material made from goat or camel’s hair. It’s like burlap and was worn as a sign of sorrow, repentance, humility, or mourning. It’s a visual expression of brokenness. I’m not aware of anything similar in our culture. It was often done with fasting. I’m fascinated by the king’s decree to cover the animals with sackcloth, too. Clearly he is serious about his remorse and repentance. Notice his four commands: fast, wear sackcloth, pray, and give up their evil ways.
Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 3:9)
As long as we have breath, it’s never too late to repent, to turn and run to God. This king understood this.
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10)
Mission accomplished! Missions accomplished!
Jonah proclaimed God’s message.
The king and the people repented.
God was able to spare Nineveh of destruction.
It’s amazing that God gives the Ninevites a second chance.
And everyone lived happily ever after! Well, not quite, as we’ll see next week.
So What?
To summarize this chapter, after God forgives Jonah for his disobedience, God forgives Israel’s enemies because they repent.
Who are you in the story? Are you Jonah, eager to proclaim God’s truth to a broken world, courageously sharing the reason for your hope? Are you a Ninevite, living in sin, yet eager to repent and receive forgiveness? Are you in a position to forgive like God, eager to see a broken relationship restored?
I know we can all relate to the Ninevites. We’ve all sinned…against God and others. We all need forgiveness. God demonstrates His love for sinners like Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and us.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Although a different context, the prophet Ezekiel was told,
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!” (Ezekiel 33:11a)
This is the heart of God. When we turn from our sins, God is always ready to start again with us. God demonstrates His love for sinners like Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and us. Hallelujah!