One Holy Church, 8 February 2026
08 02 26 Filed in: Sermons | The Nicene Creed
One Holy Church
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 8, 2026
Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: Followers of Jesus are part of one, universal, global Church, the Bride of Christ.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Once upon a time, about 2000 years ago, where were two types of people: Jews and Gentiles. One day, a rabbi invited a dozen men to leave everything and follow him on a three-year journey, one that would change the world. After performing the ultimate miracle—resurrecting from the dead—he said he would leave again with the promise to return…soon. He sent the Holy Spirit—our subject last week—who initiated what is arguably the most powerful movement in the history of the world…the Church.
Throughout this new year, we’ve been examining one of the most important documents in the history of Christianity, the Nicene Creed. This five-paragraph summary of our faith understandably begins with God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Today we are looking at the Church.
What in the world is the Church? Some use the word to describe a building. Others think of a weekend gathering of people. The original Greek word, ekklesia, means simply assembly, meeting, or congregation. By this definition, you could make an argument that online church isn’t! Of course, virtual gatherings have legitimacy, especially when physical proximity is impossible.
The Nicene Creed states,
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
There may be a few words there that raise an eyebrow, so let’s unpack this 1701 year-old statement.
We believe. This may not include you, and if not, we don’t want you to feel excluded. We love spiritual seekers investigating the Christian faith. Welcome. For the rest of us, we believe…in one. That means one! Holy means set apart, distinct. As you can see in the brackets, small-c catholic is not a reference to Roman Catholic with a capital-C but universal. Apostolic refers to following the teachings and authority of the apostles, those who were with Jesus. Church, of course, is our subject. Notice it is capitalized to denote the assembly or gathering of all followers of Jesus, not referring to a local congregation such as College First.
We are part of a diverse, global family. I hope I don’t need to say the Church is not just a white or western or USAmerican experience, but a multi-ethnic population. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the future of the Church:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)
There’s one more sentence in today’s statement.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Baptism is a public expression of an inward faith, a symbolic water grave that we enter to show our death to our selfish sins and that we exit to demonstrate being resurrected, made a new creation, forgiven of our sins not from our works but the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Unfortunately, the Church does not have a stellar history of one…of unity.
Are you ready for a crash course in Church history?
Jesus invested in twelve disciples and many others who were gathered together in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit arrived.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
This was the reversal of the Tower of Babel. We’ll dive into this on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, but suffice it to say what began with a Jewish rabbi quickly spread to Gentiles. Jesus did not come to start a new religion, but the movement now known as Christianity has spread around the world. Where two or more are gathered, there is conflict! Church history is tragically filled with divisions and splits. As churches spread throughout the Roman Empire, language, culture, and leadership led to key centers in Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. For the first thousand years or so, there was one Church with many cultures.
In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, a split between the western Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox Church based in Constantinople. We mentioned the filoque last week, the understanding of the Holy Spirit, and papal authority and cultural and political divisions led to this separation, splitting the Church in two.
In the 1500s, abuses and corruption in the Catholic Church and theological issues led to the Protestant Reformation. These “Protestant” churches emphasized the authority of Scripture over church tradition and salvation by grace through faith alone, not works. Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in Switzerland, and Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich were among the primary Reformers that led to new congregations and a 66-book Bible following the Hebrew Old Testament.
I wish we could simply say there are Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches, but over the years a number of Protestant denominations have emerged following theological and cultural differences. In fact, according to the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton, Illinois, there are more than 42,000 Christian denominations around the world…Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist, Church of God, and others.
Ironically, two of the things that have divided churches over the years have been communion and baptism, specifically the meaning of the bread and wine and how much water is used in baptism.
Jesus prayed that we would be one in John 17.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
I can’t imagine who much worse the divisions would be if he wasn’t praying for our unity!
Unity is one of the five prayers that I pray for College First Church of God. I pray for direction, protection, passion, good fruit, and unity.
I’ll never forget my wedding day, that thrilling moment Heather and her dad rounded the corner of the back of the sanctuary and headed toward me. She was—and is—the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I was thinking, “Come on down!” As beautiful as she was—and is—if she came down the aisle dismembered—arms flailing, eyeballs rolling, feet hopping, torso wiggling—I would’ve probably screamed in horror. I didn’t want Mrs. Potato Head! Beautiful parts alone don’t make a beautiful bride. There must be unity!
It’s always a challenge for any family to get along given our own preferences, opinions, and desires. When our focus is on Jesus rather than our selfish rights and views, we become unified, not around our agendas but his.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:2-6)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
A lot of people talk trash about the church because it’s filled with imperfect people. Duh! I’ve been brutally hurt by the church, by church people, by sinners…just like me! We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. It’s His Church, not mine or yours. In the midst of disillusionment with scandal, idolatry, and pure sin in the church, I’ve decided to try to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. The church is called the Bride of Christ and you can’t love Jesus and hate his wife!
The Church exists to glorify God. It’s really not about us, though we’re privileged to be invited into God’s family. We’ve been sent on a mission…to go and make disciples.
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 28:19-20)
So What?
The church is not a building or even a service, but a family. There is one church in Findlay with multiple congregations. Followers of Jesus are part of a global community of believers here to bring glory to God, love one another, and offer faith, hope, and love to our world as we go and make disciples of all nations. We are all different. We bring different gifts and resources together to serve one another and fulfill the mission, the Great Commission.
I want the Church to grow stronger, healthier, and larger. I long for every person on the planet to be invited into the family…about 8 billion people, billions of whom have never even heard about Jesus! I love it when we gather together, but it’s ultimately to equip you to scatter, to go, to share the gospel, the good news.
As a practical next-step, I want to challenge you to pray for three people you can invite to our Easter celebration, April 5 which will be…at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. We’re taking the Church to the community. We’ll have one 10:30 AM gathering, bringing our congregation together while welcoming our friends and neighbors to experience the Church…and Jesus!
College First family, I love you. We’re going to equip you with invite cards beginning next week, and we want to send you into the world to be salt and light, to spread good news, to invite your friends and neighbors to “come and see.” Let’s throw Findlay the biggest party it’s ever seen! Let the Church celebrate the bridegroom…Jesus Christ!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 8, 2026
Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: Followers of Jesus are part of one, universal, global Church, the Bride of Christ.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Once upon a time, about 2000 years ago, where were two types of people: Jews and Gentiles. One day, a rabbi invited a dozen men to leave everything and follow him on a three-year journey, one that would change the world. After performing the ultimate miracle—resurrecting from the dead—he said he would leave again with the promise to return…soon. He sent the Holy Spirit—our subject last week—who initiated what is arguably the most powerful movement in the history of the world…the Church.
Throughout this new year, we’ve been examining one of the most important documents in the history of Christianity, the Nicene Creed. This five-paragraph summary of our faith understandably begins with God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Today we are looking at the Church.
What in the world is the Church? Some use the word to describe a building. Others think of a weekend gathering of people. The original Greek word, ekklesia, means simply assembly, meeting, or congregation. By this definition, you could make an argument that online church isn’t! Of course, virtual gatherings have legitimacy, especially when physical proximity is impossible.
The Nicene Creed states,
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
There may be a few words there that raise an eyebrow, so let’s unpack this 1701 year-old statement.
We believe. This may not include you, and if not, we don’t want you to feel excluded. We love spiritual seekers investigating the Christian faith. Welcome. For the rest of us, we believe…in one. That means one! Holy means set apart, distinct. As you can see in the brackets, small-c catholic is not a reference to Roman Catholic with a capital-C but universal. Apostolic refers to following the teachings and authority of the apostles, those who were with Jesus. Church, of course, is our subject. Notice it is capitalized to denote the assembly or gathering of all followers of Jesus, not referring to a local congregation such as College First.
We are part of a diverse, global family. I hope I don’t need to say the Church is not just a white or western or USAmerican experience, but a multi-ethnic population. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the future of the Church:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)
There’s one more sentence in today’s statement.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Baptism is a public expression of an inward faith, a symbolic water grave that we enter to show our death to our selfish sins and that we exit to demonstrate being resurrected, made a new creation, forgiven of our sins not from our works but the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Unfortunately, the Church does not have a stellar history of one…of unity.
Are you ready for a crash course in Church history?
Jesus invested in twelve disciples and many others who were gathered together in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit arrived.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
This was the reversal of the Tower of Babel. We’ll dive into this on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, but suffice it to say what began with a Jewish rabbi quickly spread to Gentiles. Jesus did not come to start a new religion, but the movement now known as Christianity has spread around the world. Where two or more are gathered, there is conflict! Church history is tragically filled with divisions and splits. As churches spread throughout the Roman Empire, language, culture, and leadership led to key centers in Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. For the first thousand years or so, there was one Church with many cultures.
In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, a split between the western Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox Church based in Constantinople. We mentioned the filoque last week, the understanding of the Holy Spirit, and papal authority and cultural and political divisions led to this separation, splitting the Church in two.
In the 1500s, abuses and corruption in the Catholic Church and theological issues led to the Protestant Reformation. These “Protestant” churches emphasized the authority of Scripture over church tradition and salvation by grace through faith alone, not works. Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in Switzerland, and Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich were among the primary Reformers that led to new congregations and a 66-book Bible following the Hebrew Old Testament.
I wish we could simply say there are Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches, but over the years a number of Protestant denominations have emerged following theological and cultural differences. In fact, according to the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton, Illinois, there are more than 42,000 Christian denominations around the world…Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist, Church of God, and others.
Ironically, two of the things that have divided churches over the years have been communion and baptism, specifically the meaning of the bread and wine and how much water is used in baptism.
Jesus prayed that we would be one in John 17.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
I can’t imagine who much worse the divisions would be if he wasn’t praying for our unity!
Unity is one of the five prayers that I pray for College First Church of God. I pray for direction, protection, passion, good fruit, and unity.
I’ll never forget my wedding day, that thrilling moment Heather and her dad rounded the corner of the back of the sanctuary and headed toward me. She was—and is—the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I was thinking, “Come on down!” As beautiful as she was—and is—if she came down the aisle dismembered—arms flailing, eyeballs rolling, feet hopping, torso wiggling—I would’ve probably screamed in horror. I didn’t want Mrs. Potato Head! Beautiful parts alone don’t make a beautiful bride. There must be unity!
It’s always a challenge for any family to get along given our own preferences, opinions, and desires. When our focus is on Jesus rather than our selfish rights and views, we become unified, not around our agendas but his.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:2-6)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
A lot of people talk trash about the church because it’s filled with imperfect people. Duh! I’ve been brutally hurt by the church, by church people, by sinners…just like me! We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. It’s His Church, not mine or yours. In the midst of disillusionment with scandal, idolatry, and pure sin in the church, I’ve decided to try to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. The church is called the Bride of Christ and you can’t love Jesus and hate his wife!
The Church exists to glorify God. It’s really not about us, though we’re privileged to be invited into God’s family. We’ve been sent on a mission…to go and make disciples.
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 28:19-20)
So What?
The church is not a building or even a service, but a family. There is one church in Findlay with multiple congregations. Followers of Jesus are part of a global community of believers here to bring glory to God, love one another, and offer faith, hope, and love to our world as we go and make disciples of all nations. We are all different. We bring different gifts and resources together to serve one another and fulfill the mission, the Great Commission.
I want the Church to grow stronger, healthier, and larger. I long for every person on the planet to be invited into the family…about 8 billion people, billions of whom have never even heard about Jesus! I love it when we gather together, but it’s ultimately to equip you to scatter, to go, to share the gospel, the good news.
As a practical next-step, I want to challenge you to pray for three people you can invite to our Easter celebration, April 5 which will be…at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. We’re taking the Church to the community. We’ll have one 10:30 AM gathering, bringing our congregation together while welcoming our friends and neighbors to experience the Church…and Jesus!
College First family, I love you. We’re going to equip you with invite cards beginning next week, and we want to send you into the world to be salt and light, to spread good news, to invite your friends and neighbors to “come and see.” Let’s throw Findlay the biggest party it’s ever seen! Let the Church celebrate the bridegroom…Jesus Christ!
Holy Spirit, 1 February 2026
01 02 26 Filed in: Sermons | The Nicene Creed
The Holy Spirit
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 1, 2026
Acts 1:6-8
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is a vital member of the Trinity seeking to make us like Christ.
Scripture Reading: Acts 1:6-8
In 1977, an emerging filmmaker created a science fiction movie that featured a line that has been quoted for decades, even leading to its own pseudo holiday on May 4:
May the force be with you.
As we continue our series on the Nicene Creed—an ancient statement of faith supported by Christians of all denominations—we turn from the Father and the Son to the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
My name is Kirk and it’s great to be back after being in Kenya training pastors. It was a fruitful trip, though it was a shock to the system to experience weather 80 degrees cooler when we arrived home! Thank you for your prayers.
Lance Finley and Alex Miller spoke the past two weeks about Jesus, the second member of the Trinity. Today we turn to the Holy Spirit.
There’s a lot of mystery and even fear concerning the Holy Spirit. Some think the Spirit is a force, as in Star Wars. This is not true. A force is ambiguous or nebulous, but the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a feeling, not an indifference or ambivalent element.
The Holy Spirit is not a ghost. The original Hebrew word, ruach, can be translated breath or wind. Visually, the Spirit is sometimes depicted as a dove, a reference to Jesus’ baptism.
We first see the Spirit mentioned in the second verse of the Bible.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2)
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—do life together, not unlike the biblical model of the family—mom, dad, and child. There is a synergy that exists when relationships are healthy, a mutual satisfaction resulting in the flourishing of all.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
If you will allow me to nerd out for just a moment, I’ve been saying the Nicene Creed has been embraced by all Christians—Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant—with one exception. Here it is! Notice the brackets. Does the Spirit proceed from the Father or from the Father and the Son? Listen to this from the Colson Center:
The word filioque is Latin for “and the Son,” as in, “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This is from the Nicene Creed, a widely accepted summary of Christian doctrine, which emerged from the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and was finalized at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. The original text read only “who proceeds from the Father.” However, over subsequent generations, Christians in Western Europe included “... and the Son.” Eastern Christians did not.
Those three words in English, (and just one in Latin) carry enormous theological weight. Though other issues were at play, this was the final straw that led the Pope in Rome and the Patriarch in Constantinople to mutual excommunicate each other in 1054. For Western Christians, at issue is preserving the unity of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, who always works in the Name of Christ. For Eastern Christians, it’s a question of authority. For both, at stake is how best to understand the inner workings of the Godhead. Though certainly an issue of theological precision, the filioque is a matter of no small theological importance.
In other words, Orthodox Christians have a slightly different understanding of the Holy Spirit than Catholics and Protestants. You could spend days researching the ramifications of those three bracketed words. They don’t impact our salvation or practice, but it’s worth noting the theological difference it presents.
Theologian Michael Bird writes,
The divine persons have distinct operations or works appropriate to who they are, that is, the Father is the Creator, the Son is the redeemer, and the Spirit is renewer. But even then, their operations are inseparable, namely, the Father involves the Son and the Spirit in what he does, the Son is the Son of the Father and the bearer and dispenser of the Spirit, and the Spirit is sent by the Father through the Son.
The Holy Spirit is visible throughout the Old Testament, from the second verse of the Bible to helping Joseph interpret dreams in Egypt to giving builders skill to craft the tabernacle and its furniture to encounters with Balaam, Samson, King Saul, and the prophet Micaiah.
It’s not until Acts 2 that the Spirit is simultaneously present in every follower of Jesus. In our text for today, Jesus predicts the coming of the Holy Spirit.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is a fantastic verse revealing the spread of the gospel from its epicenter in Jerusalem to eventually the ends of the earth. It forms a great metaphor for our mission to love, equip, and send as our Jerusalem is obviously Findlay and Hancock County, it includes the Great Lakes Conference covering Ohio and Michigan, moves throughout our nation, and encompasses the world, including Haiti, Kenya, and Thailand.
You can read about the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost in the next chapter, Acts 2. It describes the birth of the Church which we will celebrate on May 24. So what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
1. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to the world. (John 16:8-11)
2. The Holy Spirit glorifies and reveals Jesus. (John 16:12-15)
3. The Holy Spirit enables us to confess Jesus is Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:3b)
4. The Holy Spirit gives us new birth. (John 3:5-6)
5. The Holy Spirit gives us a new life and a new status as children of God. (Romans 8:10-17)
6. The Holy Spirit brings comfort, helps us to pray, reveals truth, inspires and illuminates scripture.
7. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to serve the Church, witness to the world, and glorify God.
8. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I want to highlight one aspect of the fruit today: love. Followers of Jesus are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are commanded to love our enemy. This means if you call yourself a Christian, you are to love Republicans, Democrats, atheists, members of ICE, immigrants, Jews, Palestinians, Asians, LGBTQIA persons, Muslims, addicts, …and let’s not forget Wolverines!
I can hardly believe some of the things so-called Christians are saying and posting online. We are not going to all agree on every political candidate or issue. We are going to have different opinions about what to do with legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. We are going to see economics, government, and the second amendment differently.
But we are always called to love—to look out for the best interest of the other person—even when in the flesh you might want to hurt, harm, or hate. That’s the way of the world. The fruit of the Holy Spirit begins with love, and Jesus modeled it perfectly, praying for Roman guards nailing him to a cross.
It’s not easy to love…some people. It’s certainly not easy to love one’s enemies, whoever they may be. But that’s the litmus test of our faith—love. Don’t believe me? Read 1 Corinthians 13. College First, we must be a people of love, first and foremost. It’s about Jesus. He is our example. Don’t get sucked into political idolatry, worldly reactions, or selfish living. Remember the Golden Rule. We love God by loving others.
So What?
We need the Holy Spirit! We can’t love my enemies on my own power. We can’t experience peace by trying harder. We can’t produce joy on our own. One of the oldest prayers of the church is, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Pray it regularly. Seek the fruit. Surrender your will. Make space for the Holy Spirit in your heart.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)
This is not a one-and-done filling, but a continuous filling, like if I say, “Breathe!” We are to breathe constantly and be filled with the Spirit constantly. We make space by confessing our sins (exhale) and welcome the Holy Spirit (inhale), surrendering to the Spirit and receiving the fruit and gifts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
The Holy Spirit is not a force, a ghost, or feeling, but a Person, God, one third of the Trinity. We need the Holy Spirit to know Jesus and become like Jesus. There is life and power and fruit and gifts that the Holy Spirit offers. We simply need to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 1, 2026
Acts 1:6-8
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is a vital member of the Trinity seeking to make us like Christ.
Scripture Reading: Acts 1:6-8
In 1977, an emerging filmmaker created a science fiction movie that featured a line that has been quoted for decades, even leading to its own pseudo holiday on May 4:
May the force be with you.
As we continue our series on the Nicene Creed—an ancient statement of faith supported by Christians of all denominations—we turn from the Father and the Son to the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
My name is Kirk and it’s great to be back after being in Kenya training pastors. It was a fruitful trip, though it was a shock to the system to experience weather 80 degrees cooler when we arrived home! Thank you for your prayers.
Lance Finley and Alex Miller spoke the past two weeks about Jesus, the second member of the Trinity. Today we turn to the Holy Spirit.
There’s a lot of mystery and even fear concerning the Holy Spirit. Some think the Spirit is a force, as in Star Wars. This is not true. A force is ambiguous or nebulous, but the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a feeling, not an indifference or ambivalent element.
The Holy Spirit is not a ghost. The original Hebrew word, ruach, can be translated breath or wind. Visually, the Spirit is sometimes depicted as a dove, a reference to Jesus’ baptism.
We first see the Spirit mentioned in the second verse of the Bible.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2)
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—do life together, not unlike the biblical model of the family—mom, dad, and child. There is a synergy that exists when relationships are healthy, a mutual satisfaction resulting in the flourishing of all.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
If you will allow me to nerd out for just a moment, I’ve been saying the Nicene Creed has been embraced by all Christians—Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant—with one exception. Here it is! Notice the brackets. Does the Spirit proceed from the Father or from the Father and the Son? Listen to this from the Colson Center:
The word filioque is Latin for “and the Son,” as in, “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This is from the Nicene Creed, a widely accepted summary of Christian doctrine, which emerged from the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and was finalized at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. The original text read only “who proceeds from the Father.” However, over subsequent generations, Christians in Western Europe included “... and the Son.” Eastern Christians did not.
Those three words in English, (and just one in Latin) carry enormous theological weight. Though other issues were at play, this was the final straw that led the Pope in Rome and the Patriarch in Constantinople to mutual excommunicate each other in 1054. For Western Christians, at issue is preserving the unity of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, who always works in the Name of Christ. For Eastern Christians, it’s a question of authority. For both, at stake is how best to understand the inner workings of the Godhead. Though certainly an issue of theological precision, the filioque is a matter of no small theological importance.
In other words, Orthodox Christians have a slightly different understanding of the Holy Spirit than Catholics and Protestants. You could spend days researching the ramifications of those three bracketed words. They don’t impact our salvation or practice, but it’s worth noting the theological difference it presents.
Theologian Michael Bird writes,
The divine persons have distinct operations or works appropriate to who they are, that is, the Father is the Creator, the Son is the redeemer, and the Spirit is renewer. But even then, their operations are inseparable, namely, the Father involves the Son and the Spirit in what he does, the Son is the Son of the Father and the bearer and dispenser of the Spirit, and the Spirit is sent by the Father through the Son.
The Holy Spirit is visible throughout the Old Testament, from the second verse of the Bible to helping Joseph interpret dreams in Egypt to giving builders skill to craft the tabernacle and its furniture to encounters with Balaam, Samson, King Saul, and the prophet Micaiah.
It’s not until Acts 2 that the Spirit is simultaneously present in every follower of Jesus. In our text for today, Jesus predicts the coming of the Holy Spirit.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is a fantastic verse revealing the spread of the gospel from its epicenter in Jerusalem to eventually the ends of the earth. It forms a great metaphor for our mission to love, equip, and send as our Jerusalem is obviously Findlay and Hancock County, it includes the Great Lakes Conference covering Ohio and Michigan, moves throughout our nation, and encompasses the world, including Haiti, Kenya, and Thailand.
You can read about the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost in the next chapter, Acts 2. It describes the birth of the Church which we will celebrate on May 24. So what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
1. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to the world. (John 16:8-11)
2. The Holy Spirit glorifies and reveals Jesus. (John 16:12-15)
3. The Holy Spirit enables us to confess Jesus is Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:3b)
4. The Holy Spirit gives us new birth. (John 3:5-6)
5. The Holy Spirit gives us a new life and a new status as children of God. (Romans 8:10-17)
6. The Holy Spirit brings comfort, helps us to pray, reveals truth, inspires and illuminates scripture.
7. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to serve the Church, witness to the world, and glorify God.
8. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I want to highlight one aspect of the fruit today: love. Followers of Jesus are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are commanded to love our enemy. This means if you call yourself a Christian, you are to love Republicans, Democrats, atheists, members of ICE, immigrants, Jews, Palestinians, Asians, LGBTQIA persons, Muslims, addicts, …and let’s not forget Wolverines!
I can hardly believe some of the things so-called Christians are saying and posting online. We are not going to all agree on every political candidate or issue. We are going to have different opinions about what to do with legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. We are going to see economics, government, and the second amendment differently.
But we are always called to love—to look out for the best interest of the other person—even when in the flesh you might want to hurt, harm, or hate. That’s the way of the world. The fruit of the Holy Spirit begins with love, and Jesus modeled it perfectly, praying for Roman guards nailing him to a cross.
It’s not easy to love…some people. It’s certainly not easy to love one’s enemies, whoever they may be. But that’s the litmus test of our faith—love. Don’t believe me? Read 1 Corinthians 13. College First, we must be a people of love, first and foremost. It’s about Jesus. He is our example. Don’t get sucked into political idolatry, worldly reactions, or selfish living. Remember the Golden Rule. We love God by loving others.
So What?
We need the Holy Spirit! We can’t love my enemies on my own power. We can’t experience peace by trying harder. We can’t produce joy on our own. One of the oldest prayers of the church is, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Pray it regularly. Seek the fruit. Surrender your will. Make space for the Holy Spirit in your heart.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)
This is not a one-and-done filling, but a continuous filling, like if I say, “Breathe!” We are to breathe constantly and be filled with the Spirit constantly. We make space by confessing our sins (exhale) and welcome the Holy Spirit (inhale), surrendering to the Spirit and receiving the fruit and gifts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
The Holy Spirit is not a force, a ghost, or feeling, but a Person, God, one third of the Trinity. We need the Holy Spirit to know Jesus and become like Jesus. There is life and power and fruit and gifts that the Holy Spirit offers. We simply need to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Father, 11 January 2026
11 01 26 Filed in: Sermons | The Nicene Creed
One God, the Father, the Almighty
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
January 11, 2026
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 42:5-7
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: God the Father is good, faithful, and one Person of the Trinity.
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 42:5-7
What’s the greatest thing you’ve ever made? Perhaps it was a song, a painting, or a poem. Maybe it was cookies, a gourmet meal, a shed, or a pinewood derby car. When considering the question, I thought of our children, though technically I co-created them!
The first verse of the Bible states,
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
After an introduction last Sunday, today we dive into the text of the Nicene Creed, a summary of the Christian faith assembled 1701 years ago in a city in modern day Turkey designed to clarify the teachings of the Bible and unify Christians. Today, it is a statement affirmed by Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians (with one small exception we’ll discuss later). The creed begins,
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
I realize some of you might not believe this—or any part of the Nicene Creed—and that’s fine. We’re glad you’re here and we invite you to explore what 2.3 billion people around the world believe. This is a safe place to bring doubts and questions.
The statement itself has several parts we will explore. First, we believe in one God. This may not sound radical, but throughout human history there have been atheists who do not believe in God, polytheists who believe in multiple Gods, and monotheists who believe in one God. The Greeks had many gods and temples that were the backdrop for much of the writing of the New Testament. Obviously, Christians are monotheists, though some have questioned whether we believe in three Gods. We do not.
For thousands of years, Jews have recited a prayer known as the Shema, a declaration of faith. It begins,
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
We believe in one God who exists in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There have been many metaphors to explain what we call the Trinity. We’re describing God, so we shouldn’t be surprised it’s mysterious or overwhelming. Someone said if we could fully understand God, we would be God!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
When we look at this verse in the original Hebrew, the word for God is Elohim. It refers to one God but is grammatically plural. We don’t have time to explore the details, but this is one of about 2600 times elohim is used as a singular noun.
My favorite metaphor for the Trinity is my son, grandson, and myself. We are three different people, but we are all 100% Mr. Schneemann. If the three of us were together and someone said, “Mr. Schneemann!” we would all respond. I’m not more or less Mr. Schneemann than the others. We have distinct personhood, but we’re all one family. This is not a perfect metaphor, but it’s my favorite. To clarify, we are NOT God!
Our theme today focuses on God the Father.
We believe in one God, the Father…
We believe in one God, the Father. Tragically, the word Father has negative connotations for some based upon their biological dad. As a result, some have replaced the noun with mother, but the scriptures consistently use the male word.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty. The Hebrew word for Almighty is Shaddai.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. (Genesis 17:1)
Almighty—Shaddai—is a title for God. He appeared to Abram to announce he would become a dad…at nearly one hundred years of age! Only God Almighty could accomplish this!
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible. I think that covers everything!
This is what God the LORD says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: (Isaiah 42:5)
Potters create with clay.
Baristas create with coffee.
Musicians create with instruments.
Legoists create with…Legos!
God creates with…His voice! From nothing!
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
Some of the rabbis believe God sung creation into existence, which gives me the chills!
The rest of our text from the prophet Isaiah says,
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:6-7)
Here’s where this gets exciting: Almighty God, Creator of the universe, uniquely created you and me for—wait for it—a relationship with Himself. I’ve heard this for more than five decades, but it never ceases to amaze me. The One who put the stars in the sky, created the giraffe, made the redwood trees, spoke into existence the sun, moon, and planets…He wants a relationship with you! And me!
If that’s not enough, Isaiah says He has work for us to do. We’re on a mission from God! I love how one writer describes this: invitation and challenge. God invites us into relationship—to sit on His lap, so to speak—and then gives us an assignment.
“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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)
Don’t miss that last sentence. He is with us. Always. That’s relationship. He goes with you when you leave today. He’ll be at the office, rec center, or classroom tomorrow. He’s always available, always listening, always eager to hear your voice, always good, always faithful, always loving…and He’s all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing.
And He knows your name! He knows my name! Can I get a witness up in here?!
Last week I challenged you to seek to understand who God uniquely created you to be with the homework to describe yourself in ten words or less. We are exploring who is God? in this series, and if you can answer who are you, clarity will emerge about meaning, purpose, and joy.
To assist you, we are hosting a powerful four-week workshop entitled Refocus on Purpose. There’s info in your bulletin and in the lobby. This is a perfect next-step for you as you not only step into this new year but literally the rest of your life.
So What?
Whenever we talk about God, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. As I said on Christmas Eve, God is truly awesome, arguably the only One worthy of such a description. It’s incredible that the Creator of heaven and earth would tolerate us, much less embrace us. I can barely conceive of the reality that a holy God would want to have a relationship with a broken, sinful, ragamuffin like me. But the good news gets even greater!
Three of the four gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—record a miraculous event that occurred the moment Jesus died. Matthew wrote,
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:50-51a)
This curtain separated an area called the Holy of Holies from the people. Only the high priest could enter this space, and only once a year. This was the most special place on earth where God’s presence dwelt. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can go there, into the presence of Almighty God.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
We are invited in, to know the Creator of the universe, to do life with Him. That’s why we were created, to know God and glorify Him.
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
Followers of Jesus are related by blood—the blood of Jesus. We have a good, good Father who knows us by name, knows the number of hairs on our heads, knew us before the foundation of the world, and who will welcome us into His presence for eternity.
Do you know Him? If not, today can be the day you say “yes” to Jesus, the one whose death and resurrection reconcile us—reconnect us—to our Creator. No matter what words you use to describe yourself, your greatest identity will always be “child of the most high God, the Almighty, creator of the universe.”!
What’s the greatest thing God ever made? It’s you…and me. Unlike trees, angels, or dolphins, we were created in His image with dignity, value, and worth…and He invites us into His throne room, into a relationship with Him now and forever. He’s a good, good Father.
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
January 11, 2026
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 42:5-7
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: God the Father is good, faithful, and one Person of the Trinity.
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 42:5-7
What’s the greatest thing you’ve ever made? Perhaps it was a song, a painting, or a poem. Maybe it was cookies, a gourmet meal, a shed, or a pinewood derby car. When considering the question, I thought of our children, though technically I co-created them!
The first verse of the Bible states,
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
After an introduction last Sunday, today we dive into the text of the Nicene Creed, a summary of the Christian faith assembled 1701 years ago in a city in modern day Turkey designed to clarify the teachings of the Bible and unify Christians. Today, it is a statement affirmed by Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians (with one small exception we’ll discuss later). The creed begins,
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
I realize some of you might not believe this—or any part of the Nicene Creed—and that’s fine. We’re glad you’re here and we invite you to explore what 2.3 billion people around the world believe. This is a safe place to bring doubts and questions.
The statement itself has several parts we will explore. First, we believe in one God. This may not sound radical, but throughout human history there have been atheists who do not believe in God, polytheists who believe in multiple Gods, and monotheists who believe in one God. The Greeks had many gods and temples that were the backdrop for much of the writing of the New Testament. Obviously, Christians are monotheists, though some have questioned whether we believe in three Gods. We do not.
For thousands of years, Jews have recited a prayer known as the Shema, a declaration of faith. It begins,
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
We believe in one God who exists in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There have been many metaphors to explain what we call the Trinity. We’re describing God, so we shouldn’t be surprised it’s mysterious or overwhelming. Someone said if we could fully understand God, we would be God!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
When we look at this verse in the original Hebrew, the word for God is Elohim. It refers to one God but is grammatically plural. We don’t have time to explore the details, but this is one of about 2600 times elohim is used as a singular noun.
My favorite metaphor for the Trinity is my son, grandson, and myself. We are three different people, but we are all 100% Mr. Schneemann. If the three of us were together and someone said, “Mr. Schneemann!” we would all respond. I’m not more or less Mr. Schneemann than the others. We have distinct personhood, but we’re all one family. This is not a perfect metaphor, but it’s my favorite. To clarify, we are NOT God!
Our theme today focuses on God the Father.
We believe in one God, the Father…
We believe in one God, the Father. Tragically, the word Father has negative connotations for some based upon their biological dad. As a result, some have replaced the noun with mother, but the scriptures consistently use the male word.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty. The Hebrew word for Almighty is Shaddai.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. (Genesis 17:1)
Almighty—Shaddai—is a title for God. He appeared to Abram to announce he would become a dad…at nearly one hundred years of age! Only God Almighty could accomplish this!
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible. I think that covers everything!
This is what God the LORD says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: (Isaiah 42:5)
Potters create with clay.
Baristas create with coffee.
Musicians create with instruments.
Legoists create with…Legos!
God creates with…His voice! From nothing!
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
Some of the rabbis believe God sung creation into existence, which gives me the chills!
The rest of our text from the prophet Isaiah says,
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:6-7)
Here’s where this gets exciting: Almighty God, Creator of the universe, uniquely created you and me for—wait for it—a relationship with Himself. I’ve heard this for more than five decades, but it never ceases to amaze me. The One who put the stars in the sky, created the giraffe, made the redwood trees, spoke into existence the sun, moon, and planets…He wants a relationship with you! And me!
If that’s not enough, Isaiah says He has work for us to do. We’re on a mission from God! I love how one writer describes this: invitation and challenge. God invites us into relationship—to sit on His lap, so to speak—and then gives us an assignment.
“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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)
Don’t miss that last sentence. He is with us. Always. That’s relationship. He goes with you when you leave today. He’ll be at the office, rec center, or classroom tomorrow. He’s always available, always listening, always eager to hear your voice, always good, always faithful, always loving…and He’s all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing.
And He knows your name! He knows my name! Can I get a witness up in here?!
Last week I challenged you to seek to understand who God uniquely created you to be with the homework to describe yourself in ten words or less. We are exploring who is God? in this series, and if you can answer who are you, clarity will emerge about meaning, purpose, and joy.
To assist you, we are hosting a powerful four-week workshop entitled Refocus on Purpose. There’s info in your bulletin and in the lobby. This is a perfect next-step for you as you not only step into this new year but literally the rest of your life.
So What?
Whenever we talk about God, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. As I said on Christmas Eve, God is truly awesome, arguably the only One worthy of such a description. It’s incredible that the Creator of heaven and earth would tolerate us, much less embrace us. I can barely conceive of the reality that a holy God would want to have a relationship with a broken, sinful, ragamuffin like me. But the good news gets even greater!
Three of the four gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—record a miraculous event that occurred the moment Jesus died. Matthew wrote,
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:50-51a)
This curtain separated an area called the Holy of Holies from the people. Only the high priest could enter this space, and only once a year. This was the most special place on earth where God’s presence dwelt. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can go there, into the presence of Almighty God.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
We are invited in, to know the Creator of the universe, to do life with Him. That’s why we were created, to know God and glorify Him.
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
Followers of Jesus are related by blood—the blood of Jesus. We have a good, good Father who knows us by name, knows the number of hairs on our heads, knew us before the foundation of the world, and who will welcome us into His presence for eternity.
Do you know Him? If not, today can be the day you say “yes” to Jesus, the one whose death and resurrection reconcile us—reconnect us—to our Creator. No matter what words you use to describe yourself, your greatest identity will always be “child of the most high God, the Almighty, creator of the universe.”!
What’s the greatest thing God ever made? It’s you…and me. Unlike trees, angels, or dolphins, we were created in His image with dignity, value, and worth…and He invites us into His throne room, into a relationship with Him now and forever. He’s a good, good Father.
We Believe in…4 January 2026
05 01 26 Filed in: Sermons | The Nicene Creed
We Believe in…
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
January 4, 2026
Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: We become what we behold…and believe.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Happy new year! There’s nothing like new beginnings, and today we begin a new day, a new week, a new year…and a new sermon series. As I prayed about how to start 2026, I learned about an ancient creed that celebrated 1700 years…last year. The Nicene Creed is 1701 years old and whether you have it memorized or have no idea what a creed is, I believe this exploration of the basics of our faith will ground us in the good, beautiful, and true and equip us for a great year ahead.
Who are you? Years ago, I tried to summarize myself in as few words as possible. I think I can adequately describe myself as a spiritual pilgrim, artist, and entrepreneur. Upon further reflection, one additional word is necessary to convey my identity: papa!
Take a few moments to describe yourself. PAUSE
Who is God? What do you believe?
Tragically, many don’t really know, which has led to cults and false teachers through the centuries. It’s not uncommon to hitch your wagon to your favorite author, theologian, preacher, or online influencer. There are many myths about Christianity and fictitious scripture verses such as, “God helps those who help themselves” which is not in the Bible!
Although some call it a book, the Bible is really a library, a collection of 66 books. Despite Jesus’ prayers for unity in John 17, there are now over 40,000 Christian denominations in our world, most of whom would say the Bible is their authority, yet the interpretation and application of its timeless truths have created tremendous divisions, not the least of which is the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant camps.
A creed is “a summary statement of beliefs that unites Christians from all denominations and all generations.” It’s an overview of the Christian faith, coming from “credo” in Latin meaning “I believe.” Much like my summary of myself, a creed offers the highlights of the holy scriptures. Creeds connect us to the ancient roots of our faith. Some creeds are believed to date back to the apostles after Pentecost about two thousand years ago. Many of you know the Apostle’s Creed. Creeds that followed sought to clarify aspects of their predecessors. Describing God and summarizing thousands of pages is a daunting task, after all!
Last year, Pope Leo said,
In the unity of faith, proclaimed since the beginning of the Church, Christians have been called to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy. This is expressed in the words of the Creed, “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven,” that were formulated 1700 years ago by the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical gathering in the history of Christianity.
All Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians believe the Nicene Creed…with one small exception, which we’ll address later in the series. So what does it say? What could all Christians possibly agree about?!
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Right about now you may be thinking, “Who cares about five paragraphs written 1701 years ago? How will that help me pay my Visa bill, get me a promotion at work, help me raise my kids, or ensure I don’t get the flu this winter?”
At our Christmas Eve services, I said we become what we behold. If we don’t know God, we can’t become like Him. If we don’t understand the basics of the faith, we don’t possess a reliable, useful, relevant faith.
One of the things that excites me about the Nicene Creed is how it clarifies closed-hand issues that are non-negotiable for anyone calling themselves a Christian. It illuminates what we have in common with followers of Jesus from other traditions. The family of God is quite diverse, not only in age and ethnicity but also in worship practices and what I like to call open-handed issues that are important but not essential to our faith. Some of those issues—the things which sadly divide Christians—include modes of baptism, the meaning of communion, and spiritual gifts.
For a bit of history, I want to take you back 1701 years to the town of Nicaea in modern-day Turkey. Between May and June 19, 325 AD, a council—a gathering of Christian leaders—was assembled Christians were wrestling with differences about the nature of Jesus, among other things, specifically the question was he created, a believe known as Arianism. That belief was condemned by the phrase
…true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father
There were other things clarified such as determining the date for Easter and various church laws called canons (not the war weapon!).
One of the influential members at the Council of Nicaea was an African from Alexandria, Egypt named Athanasius who was an outspoken critic of Arianism, that Jesus was created and, therefore, was not fully God. Based upon these scriptures (Isaiah 9:6, John 5-6, Philippians 2:5-13, Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:3), it was determined that
• Jesus Christ is “begotten, not made”
• He is “of the same essence” (homoousias) with the Father
• The Son is eternal, not created
As scholars and historians celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed last year, many lamented the fact that the town of Iznik, Turkey where the council occurred has no church today. Maybe it would be a good place to plant a new church!
About 2000 years ago, Paul wrote these words to a church in modern day Turkey:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
This is a portrait of every follower of Jesus, regardless of the church or denomination. We are all masterpieces, created in Jesus to do the good things God prepared for us to do before the foundation of the earth!
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4a)
A few verses later, Paul says of Jesus,
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-18)
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, (Ephesians 2:17-18)
We are one in Christ Jesus, brothers and sisters in a global family of approximately 2.3 billion people on our planet of 8 billion souls.
So What?
As we begin the new year, I want to challenge you to reflect upon two questions:
Who are you? Who is God?
We will address the second question throughout this series, grounding you in the holy scriptures that have united Christians for two thousand years. We become what we behold…and believe.
Your task, then, is to determine who you are, who God has uniquely created you to be, and discover the good works He has created you to do. In a broad sense, this is clearly to love God and love others as yourself. But as we behold the LORD, we will gain clarity on how we are created in His image and the masterpiece we see in the mirror.
Theologian and author Leonard Sweet recently spoke of “a creed not just to recite, but to live. A confession not just of what we believe, but of who we are becoming.”
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
Amen.
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
January 4, 2026
Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: We become what we behold…and believe.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Happy new year! There’s nothing like new beginnings, and today we begin a new day, a new week, a new year…and a new sermon series. As I prayed about how to start 2026, I learned about an ancient creed that celebrated 1700 years…last year. The Nicene Creed is 1701 years old and whether you have it memorized or have no idea what a creed is, I believe this exploration of the basics of our faith will ground us in the good, beautiful, and true and equip us for a great year ahead.
Who are you? Years ago, I tried to summarize myself in as few words as possible. I think I can adequately describe myself as a spiritual pilgrim, artist, and entrepreneur. Upon further reflection, one additional word is necessary to convey my identity: papa!
Take a few moments to describe yourself. PAUSE
Who is God? What do you believe?
Tragically, many don’t really know, which has led to cults and false teachers through the centuries. It’s not uncommon to hitch your wagon to your favorite author, theologian, preacher, or online influencer. There are many myths about Christianity and fictitious scripture verses such as, “God helps those who help themselves” which is not in the Bible!
Although some call it a book, the Bible is really a library, a collection of 66 books. Despite Jesus’ prayers for unity in John 17, there are now over 40,000 Christian denominations in our world, most of whom would say the Bible is their authority, yet the interpretation and application of its timeless truths have created tremendous divisions, not the least of which is the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant camps.
A creed is “a summary statement of beliefs that unites Christians from all denominations and all generations.” It’s an overview of the Christian faith, coming from “credo” in Latin meaning “I believe.” Much like my summary of myself, a creed offers the highlights of the holy scriptures. Creeds connect us to the ancient roots of our faith. Some creeds are believed to date back to the apostles after Pentecost about two thousand years ago. Many of you know the Apostle’s Creed. Creeds that followed sought to clarify aspects of their predecessors. Describing God and summarizing thousands of pages is a daunting task, after all!
Last year, Pope Leo said,
In the unity of faith, proclaimed since the beginning of the Church, Christians have been called to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy. This is expressed in the words of the Creed, “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven,” that were formulated 1700 years ago by the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical gathering in the history of Christianity.
All Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians believe the Nicene Creed…with one small exception, which we’ll address later in the series. So what does it say? What could all Christians possibly agree about?!
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Right about now you may be thinking, “Who cares about five paragraphs written 1701 years ago? How will that help me pay my Visa bill, get me a promotion at work, help me raise my kids, or ensure I don’t get the flu this winter?”
At our Christmas Eve services, I said we become what we behold. If we don’t know God, we can’t become like Him. If we don’t understand the basics of the faith, we don’t possess a reliable, useful, relevant faith.
One of the things that excites me about the Nicene Creed is how it clarifies closed-hand issues that are non-negotiable for anyone calling themselves a Christian. It illuminates what we have in common with followers of Jesus from other traditions. The family of God is quite diverse, not only in age and ethnicity but also in worship practices and what I like to call open-handed issues that are important but not essential to our faith. Some of those issues—the things which sadly divide Christians—include modes of baptism, the meaning of communion, and spiritual gifts.
For a bit of history, I want to take you back 1701 years to the town of Nicaea in modern-day Turkey. Between May and June 19, 325 AD, a council—a gathering of Christian leaders—was assembled Christians were wrestling with differences about the nature of Jesus, among other things, specifically the question was he created, a believe known as Arianism. That belief was condemned by the phrase
…true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father
There were other things clarified such as determining the date for Easter and various church laws called canons (not the war weapon!).
One of the influential members at the Council of Nicaea was an African from Alexandria, Egypt named Athanasius who was an outspoken critic of Arianism, that Jesus was created and, therefore, was not fully God. Based upon these scriptures (Isaiah 9:6, John 5-6, Philippians 2:5-13, Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:3), it was determined that
• Jesus Christ is “begotten, not made”
• He is “of the same essence” (homoousias) with the Father
• The Son is eternal, not created
As scholars and historians celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed last year, many lamented the fact that the town of Iznik, Turkey where the council occurred has no church today. Maybe it would be a good place to plant a new church!
About 2000 years ago, Paul wrote these words to a church in modern day Turkey:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
This is a portrait of every follower of Jesus, regardless of the church or denomination. We are all masterpieces, created in Jesus to do the good things God prepared for us to do before the foundation of the earth!
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4a)
A few verses later, Paul says of Jesus,
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-18)
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, (Ephesians 2:17-18)
We are one in Christ Jesus, brothers and sisters in a global family of approximately 2.3 billion people on our planet of 8 billion souls.
So What?
As we begin the new year, I want to challenge you to reflect upon two questions:
Who are you? Who is God?
We will address the second question throughout this series, grounding you in the holy scriptures that have united Christians for two thousand years. We become what we behold…and believe.
Your task, then, is to determine who you are, who God has uniquely created you to be, and discover the good works He has created you to do. In a broad sense, this is clearly to love God and love others as yourself. But as we behold the LORD, we will gain clarity on how we are created in His image and the masterpiece we see in the mirror.
Theologian and author Leonard Sweet recently spoke of “a creed not just to recite, but to live. A confession not just of what we believe, but of who we are becoming.”
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
Amen.
Prince of Peace, 21 December 2025
21 12 25 Filed in: Sermons | Handel's Messiah
Prince of Peace
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
December 21, 2025
Isaiah 9:6
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Jesus the Messiah is the Prince of Peace.
Advent Theme: peace
What do you want for Christmas?
Most of us no longer visit Santa to tell him about the toy or doll we want, but each of us has desires, whether it’s a more expensive toy like a car, a real-life doll like a spouse, or something far more grandiose like world peace.
Our text today is quite short, a prophet proclamation issued around 700 BC that describes the Messiah, the subject of Handel’s musical masterpiece and the reason we’re here thousands of years later.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus the Messiah is the Prince of Peace. He’s the other things, too, but our theme today is peace. The original Hebrew word, shalom, is one I use frequently. It’s one of the most beautiful words in the world, not only speaking of the absence of conflict but also completeness, soundness, well-being, perfect, prosperity…things we all seek every day.
It's no secret that our world is torn apart by wars and rumors of wars, whether they are wager on battlefields or social media. If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, why is there so much evil and hatred in our world?
First, God is giving satan a season to lie, steal, kill, and destroy. Why? I don’t fully understand, but it has something to do with testing and character development. Jesus’ half-brother, James wrote,
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
Second, I believe there is evil in the world now to cause us to draw close to God, to need God, to reach out, to pray. How desperate are you for God? If your Christmas shopping is done, the cookies have been baked, and you just learned about getting a raise in the new year, perhaps you are comfortable and even complacent. Contrast that with the unhoused, the lonely, the widow, the legal immigrant begging God for provision.
Let me offer a third reason God allows evil now in our world: for us to be peace makers. Jesus said,
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)
He didn’t say blessed are the peacekeepers, but blessed are those who make peace. Peace keeping sometimes involves avoiding conflict or experiencing false peace. Peace making is when we enter into spaces of conflict, get involved, take risks, and sometimes pay the price. When we ask God—or Santa—for peace on earth, could it be that we are the ones who need to take action?
Our example, of course, is Jesus. He entered difficult spaces (including a manger), had difficult conversations, and spoke the truth in love, even when it was unpopular, even when it got him killed!
Jesus wasn’t afraid to engage people and say hard things. He refused to follow the crowd, yet invited them into a new way of living. He demonstrated how to love one’s enemies, welcome the stranger, and engage the outcast. Jesus made peace because he is the Prince of Peace.
Peace on earth is something we all seek and it’s central to the Christmas message. On Wednesday, we’ll look at the angelic announcement to the shepherds:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
Remember that word shalom? It’s not just the absence of external conflict, but also internal wholeness and completeness. How is your soul? Are you experiencing internal peace?
After writing about the faith of Abraham, the writer of the book of Romans says,
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)
When we say “yes” to Jesus and begin to follow him, we have peace with God. We talked about Jesus being the good shepherd last Sunday. In one of his teachings, he said,
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
The peace—the right relationship—between us and God cannot be snatched away. He is for us. He loves us. Usually when we feel distant from God, it’s because we’ve moved, we’ve gotten busy, we’ve failed to invest in the relationship. There is something called the dark night of the soul when it feels like God is hiding. I believe the purpose is ultimately to get our attention and cause us to pursue Him more. But usually a lack of internal peace is the result of personal sin or neglect.
We can’t talk about relationships without mentioning those around us. Paul wrote to a church in modern day Turkey,
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)
Notice he doesn’t say keep the unity but make every effort to do so through the bond of peace. It reminds me of another message from Romans,
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
Sometimes peace is not possible. Sin destroys, and that goes for relationships, too. You can’t control another person. If you’re like me, it’s more than enough to control yourself! We may need to make the first move in restoring broken relationships and then leave the results to God.
So What?
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He said,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
Do you know him? If not, step one is saying, “Jesus, I give you my life.” That’s the best gift you can give him for his birthday this week! He does not promise to make you healthy and wealthy, but he is the source of true peace. Please let me or another staff member know if today is your day to say yes to Jesus so we can give you some free tools to help you begin your journey.
To those of you who know the Prince of Peace, are you following him? Are you seeking first his Kingdom over your own? Are you spending quality time with him or just talking about doing so? All of your time, talents, and treasures are gifts from Him.
Finally, I want to challenge each of us to follow the Prince of Peace into peace-making. Pay attention to those around you. Who is hurting? Who is lonely? Who is broken inside? Who needs a smile, a word of encouragement, an invitation to coffee…or even lunch today?
We can’t control what world leaders do in the midst of war. We can’t control the behavior of others, even friends and family. We can cultivate our own soul, listen to others, and look for ways to build bridges while others build walls. As the old song says,
Let There Be Peace On Earth/And Let It Begin With Me.
I can’t end any better than by quoting Paul’s words from our last sermon series:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Hallelujah!
Handel’s Messiah
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
December 21, 2025
Isaiah 9:6
Series Big Idea: Handel’s Messiah may be the greatest work of music ever created, bringing praise and glory to the Creator.
Big Idea: Jesus the Messiah is the Prince of Peace.
Advent Theme: peace
What do you want for Christmas?
Most of us no longer visit Santa to tell him about the toy or doll we want, but each of us has desires, whether it’s a more expensive toy like a car, a real-life doll like a spouse, or something far more grandiose like world peace.
Our text today is quite short, a prophet proclamation issued around 700 BC that describes the Messiah, the subject of Handel’s musical masterpiece and the reason we’re here thousands of years later.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus the Messiah is the Prince of Peace. He’s the other things, too, but our theme today is peace. The original Hebrew word, shalom, is one I use frequently. It’s one of the most beautiful words in the world, not only speaking of the absence of conflict but also completeness, soundness, well-being, perfect, prosperity…things we all seek every day.
It's no secret that our world is torn apart by wars and rumors of wars, whether they are wager on battlefields or social media. If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, why is there so much evil and hatred in our world?
First, God is giving satan a season to lie, steal, kill, and destroy. Why? I don’t fully understand, but it has something to do with testing and character development. Jesus’ half-brother, James wrote,
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
Second, I believe there is evil in the world now to cause us to draw close to God, to need God, to reach out, to pray. How desperate are you for God? If your Christmas shopping is done, the cookies have been baked, and you just learned about getting a raise in the new year, perhaps you are comfortable and even complacent. Contrast that with the unhoused, the lonely, the widow, the legal immigrant begging God for provision.
Let me offer a third reason God allows evil now in our world: for us to be peace makers. Jesus said,
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)
He didn’t say blessed are the peacekeepers, but blessed are those who make peace. Peace keeping sometimes involves avoiding conflict or experiencing false peace. Peace making is when we enter into spaces of conflict, get involved, take risks, and sometimes pay the price. When we ask God—or Santa—for peace on earth, could it be that we are the ones who need to take action?
Our example, of course, is Jesus. He entered difficult spaces (including a manger), had difficult conversations, and spoke the truth in love, even when it was unpopular, even when it got him killed!
Jesus wasn’t afraid to engage people and say hard things. He refused to follow the crowd, yet invited them into a new way of living. He demonstrated how to love one’s enemies, welcome the stranger, and engage the outcast. Jesus made peace because he is the Prince of Peace.
Peace on earth is something we all seek and it’s central to the Christmas message. On Wednesday, we’ll look at the angelic announcement to the shepherds:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
Remember that word shalom? It’s not just the absence of external conflict, but also internal wholeness and completeness. How is your soul? Are you experiencing internal peace?
After writing about the faith of Abraham, the writer of the book of Romans says,
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)
When we say “yes” to Jesus and begin to follow him, we have peace with God. We talked about Jesus being the good shepherd last Sunday. In one of his teachings, he said,
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
The peace—the right relationship—between us and God cannot be snatched away. He is for us. He loves us. Usually when we feel distant from God, it’s because we’ve moved, we’ve gotten busy, we’ve failed to invest in the relationship. There is something called the dark night of the soul when it feels like God is hiding. I believe the purpose is ultimately to get our attention and cause us to pursue Him more. But usually a lack of internal peace is the result of personal sin or neglect.
We can’t talk about relationships without mentioning those around us. Paul wrote to a church in modern day Turkey,
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)
Notice he doesn’t say keep the unity but make every effort to do so through the bond of peace. It reminds me of another message from Romans,
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
Sometimes peace is not possible. Sin destroys, and that goes for relationships, too. You can’t control another person. If you’re like me, it’s more than enough to control yourself! We may need to make the first move in restoring broken relationships and then leave the results to God.
So What?
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He said,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
Do you know him? If not, step one is saying, “Jesus, I give you my life.” That’s the best gift you can give him for his birthday this week! He does not promise to make you healthy and wealthy, but he is the source of true peace. Please let me or another staff member know if today is your day to say yes to Jesus so we can give you some free tools to help you begin your journey.
To those of you who know the Prince of Peace, are you following him? Are you seeking first his Kingdom over your own? Are you spending quality time with him or just talking about doing so? All of your time, talents, and treasures are gifts from Him.
Finally, I want to challenge each of us to follow the Prince of Peace into peace-making. Pay attention to those around you. Who is hurting? Who is lonely? Who is broken inside? Who needs a smile, a word of encouragement, an invitation to coffee…or even lunch today?
We can’t control what world leaders do in the midst of war. We can’t control the behavior of others, even friends and family. We can cultivate our own soul, listen to others, and look for ways to build bridges while others build walls. As the old song says,
Let There Be Peace On Earth/And Let It Begin With Me.
I can’t end any better than by quoting Paul’s words from our last sermon series:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Hallelujah!