Cedar Mill Sermon Podcast

Practice Makes Followers (Holy Spirit Edition): Hearing the Voice of the Spirit – Dave Teixeira

In this weeks’ message, “Hearing the Voice of the Spirit,” Pastor Dave shows us that tuning into God’s guidance isn’t overly mystical but a learned practice built on two pillars: listening and discerning. First, we cultivate the discipline of listening—by following the path of Jesus and actively carving out quiet margin for God to speak. Then we hone the art of discerning by filtering every inner prompting through the truth of God’s Word, the presence of God’s Peace & the counsel of God’s People. These important filters will guard us against the deceptive forces of presumption, isolation and blatant emotion. In the end we’ll be challenged to take some specific steps in order to become the kind of community where God regularly speaks.

Incarnation (The Story of Jesus - Holy Spirit): “Pentecost Power – Dave Teixeira & Ruben Castro

In “Pentecost Power,” the newest installment of our series “The Story of Jesus: Holy Spirit,” Pastor Dave invites us to step into the same dynamic Spirit that set the early church ablaze—empowering our lives today. He shows us that a truly Spirit-powered life hinges on three vital rhythms: cultivating deep intimacy, pursuing a life of sanctity, and choosing a faith of expectancy. As we embrace these practices, the Holy Spirit doesn’t just pass through us—He reshapes us from the inside out, producing a life increasingly marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.

Incarnation (The Story of Jesus - Holy Spirit): “Presence – Dave Teixeira

In this sermon from our series "The Story of Jesus: Holy Spirit," we explore God’s powerful invitation to live in deep, daily relationship with Him as living temples of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Scripture, we reflect on the incredible truth that God doesn’t just dwell near us—He dwells within us, making our lives sacred spaces where His presence is active and personal. As we come to understand our identity as temples of the Holy Spirit, we’re invited to live with greater purpose, purity, and awareness of His presence with us. We’ll also look at how worship serves as both a response to and a reminder of this identity—realigning our hearts with God’s truth and calling us to be vessels of His love and presence in the world.

Incarnation (The Story of Jesus - Holy Spirit): Ordinary/Extraordinary – Jeremiah Nealon

The scandal of the ancient church was in part their ordinariness. The apostles were unschooled and ordinary. The church they led, equally so. Yet these ordinary Apostles taught and led with power in Jesus’ name. This scandalized the religious leaders. Under the pressure of questioning and intimidation, the congregation of ordinary people made an extraordinary choice: to lean deeper into the Holy Spirit. What emerged was a “second Pentecost”, in which the Spirit would fall again: not just on the leaders, but on the ordinary people. They were empowered for an extraordinary mission of kindness and boldness. 

Incarnation (Holy Spirit): Dove, Breath, Water & Fire – Dave Teixeira

This weeks’ sermon continues The Story of Jesus by exploring the rich biblical imagery used to describe the Holy Spirit—Dove, Breath, Water, and Fire—tracing each symbol through both the Old and New Testaments to reveal the Spirit’s character and work. As a Dove, the Spirit descends in peace to do creating work; as Breath, He gives life and renewal; as Water, He cleanses and satisfies our deepest thirst; and as Fire, He purifies and empowers believers for mission. Through key passages like Genesis 1, Ezekiel 37, John 7, and Acts 2, this message invites us to open ourselves up more fully to the Spirit’s work—bringing peace, life, renewal, and holy fire into every corner of our lives.

Incarnation (Resurrection): Doubt, Faith & Blessing – Dave Teixeira

In the final message of the The Story of Jesus’ Resurrection series, this sermon from John 20 focuses on the encounter between the risen Jesus and Thomas—often called “Doubting Thomas.” It explores how doubt is a natural part of the journey of faith and how Jesus meets us with compassion, not condemnation, in the midst of our questions. At the same time, this story emphasizes that true blessing comes not from seeing, but from trusting, not from certainty, but faith. As we move into our next series, “The Story of Jesus: Holy Spirit” Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” are presented as an invitation for us to go deeper, even when we are asked to step into the comfortable.

Incarnation (Resurrection): Why Are You Troubled? – Dave Teixeira

Something amazing about the Bible is that it’s so honest. To use the language of today’s youth, the Gospel writers keep it 100. In today’s passage, we see Jesus’s first followers struggling with something many have wrestled with over the last 2,000 years: the resurrection. Is Jesus really alive, and if so, what does that mean for us? In today’s narrative, Jesus will reassure his first followers and us as well, reminding us that a life of peace and purpose is available when we decide to not only know about His resurrection, but trust it.

Incarnation (Resurrection): Arise to Awakening – Ashley Bell

This week, we continue our Incarnation Series with the Story of Jesus’ Resurrection. The grave is empty, but where is Jesus? We pick up the story with the road to Emmaus, with two disciples processing not only the death of their friend, but the broken promise of redemption. As they walk and talk about all that went down over the last few days a random traveler joins them; meeting them where they’re at reminding them that the promise of redemption had been fulfilled, and through the resurrection we are now free from sin, empowered and invited into a relationship that brings renewal & hope that changes our understanding and energizes us to spread hope and renewal to others.

Incarnation (Resurrection): Easter – Dave Teixiera

This Easter, we attempt to revisit the story of Jesus’ resurrection with fresh eyes. We’ll pay close attention to who was there and why their presence matters. As we step into their shoes, we’ll explore not only what they felt that morning, but also what their responses reveal about following Jesus today. In the end, we’ll be reminded that Easter means the death of death and that there are no longer any powers in this world that can oppress us if we are determined to receive the gift of Jesus' victory by following him as Lord of our lives. 

Incarnation (Death): Not the King They Expected – Dave Teixeira

As we wrap up our series on the Story of Jesus’ Death, we return to where Holy Week began—Palm Sunday. Jesus starts His journey in Jericho, greeted by the desperate cries of two blind men. He then dines in Bethany at the home of Lazarus—the man He raised from the dead. From there, He travels to Bethphage, where a colt awaits, fulfilling ancient prophecy. Then, in a moment filled with royal symbolism, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, surrounded by waving palm branches and the joyful shouts of “Hosanna!” It feels like a king’s welcome—everything we’d expect and hope for. But then Jesus does something surprising: He weeps. Why does this moment of triumph move Him to tears? Join us this Sunday as we explore the meaning of Palm Sunday in a message titled, “Not the King They Expected.”