Cedar Mill Sermon Podcast

Luke said that in order to run well, we need to rest well. The Bible frequently talks about the need for Sabbath (rest), and Jesus spoke about how the Sabbath was made for man. We need downtime to rest and focus on God.

Some storms come from outside us: a diagnosis, a layoff, a phone call we never wanted to get. Others come from inside: a season of grief, a shaken sense of self, a slow erosion of hope. In Acts 27, Paul finds himself on a doomed ship in the worst storm of his life and somehow, he’s the calmest, wisest, most useful person on board. Why? Because his identity wasn't anchored to anything the storm could take. All series long in Unhindered, we've watched the gospel of Jesus refuse to be stopped by prison cells, riots, religious or political power. Today we add one more thing to that list – The Gospel can't be stopped by storms either! Our question this week is one every one of us will face eventually: When the storm hits and exposes everything we've been depending on, what actually holds?

Jeremiah Nealon carried the baton for this leg of the “Run the Race” sermon series and spoke about fueling for the race. We need to fuel our lives with Jesus, the bread of life, who will sustain us.

Some storms come from outside us: a diagnosis, a layoff, a phone call we never wanted to get. Others come from inside: a season of grief, a shaken sense of self, a slow erosion of hope. In Acts 27, Paul finds himself on a doomed ship in the worst storm of his life and somehow, he’s the calmest, wisest, most useful person on board. Why? Because his identity wasn't anchored to anything the storm could take. All series long in Unhindered, we've watched the gospel of Jesus refuse to be stopped by prison cells, riots, religious or political power. Today we add one more thing to that list – The Gospel can't be stopped by storms either! Our question this week is one every one of us will face eventually: When the storm hits and exposes everything we've been depending on, what actually holds?

In Week 17 of "Unhindered," we walk through Acts 25–26, where Paul (after two years in Roman custody) finally gets his day in court. The most powerful people in the region are in the room: a king, a governor, military commanders. And Paul doesn't show up with a legal strategy. He shows up with the Gospel.
So this week we ask: What makes a person that brave? What we discover is that Paul’s boldness wasn't a personality type, a technique, or some special spiritual anointing. It grew from something anyone can have: the ability to see the chains others are wearing, the willingness to tell his own story, and a confidence rooted in the public, historical evidence of the resurrection. When you have those things, you can walk into any room, in chains, and still be the freest person in it.

Luke continued the “Run the Race” sermon series and spoke about running together. Community provides us with the encouragement and accountability we often need to run the race and stay strong in the faith.

In Week 16 of "Unhindered," we walk through Acts 22:30–24:27, where Paul stands before three powerful authorities and turns every accusation into an opportunity to proclaim the gospel. Most of us, when accused or under pressure, instinctively protect ourselves, but Paul instinctively preaches. What empowered that kind of courage? What gives a person confidence in the face of threats and persecution? This week we explore four foundations from Paul's life with the hope of being strengthened in these areas ourselves: a clear conscience that comes from living with integrity, the knowledge that God shows up in the dark and not just in the victories, a deep trust in God's providence to use even the most unlikely people and circumstances to accomplish His plans, and a mission so much bigger than personal comfort that the fear of man simply loses its grip. Whatever you're facing right now, this message is an invitation to hear and hold onto the same words Jesus spoke to Paul in the middle of his darkest night: "Take courage."

In Acts 21:15–22:30, Luke paints a Christlike picture of Paul. Paul loves and cares for the Jews despite their hostility, showing us how to love others even when they don’t respond as we’d hope. This challenges our culture’s tendency to write people off or return insult for insult. Paul also demonstrates what it looks like to stand up for others at great personal cost. This week, we continue uncovering what it truly means to pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

In Acts 21:1–14, Luke gives us more than a travel itinerary, he gives us a portrait of what it looks like to surrender to God's will, even when the road ahead is costly. As Paul makes his way toward Jerusalem, the Spirit is warning him at every stop that chains and suffering await. His friends beg him not to go, a seasoned prophet named Agabus acts out the coming arrest and yet Paul presses forward. This passage invites us to wrestle with one of the most foundational questions of the Christian life: Do we want God's will even when it’s hard? But it doesn't offer a trite answer. As the church surrounds Paul, we see them struggle together, grieve honestly, discern in community and then finally arrive at the words Jesus prayed in the garden: "The Lord's will be done." Where do we need this prayer in our lives and what will it take for us to get there? Come explore this challenging passage, and the lessons it offers us, in this week’s message from our series through Acts called, “Unhindered.”

Easter is not just a nice religious holiday or a burst of sentimental seasonal optimism; it is the announcement that Jesus has risen and has opened a new reality inside our broken one. In John 20, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb in darkness, grief, and disorientation, unable to imagine anything beyond death, loss, and fear. But the risen Jesus meets her personally, calls her by name, and turns her despair into recognition, worship, and witness. And this is not only Mary’s story; it is ours as well. Easter tells us that Jesus comes to meet us in our pain, struggle, and longing, but it also asks a piercing question: what is keeping us from seeing Him, embracing Him, and trusting Him? Like Mary, when we hear His call, receive Him as our own, and embrace His resurrection, we too can live in His new reality, where pain, death, worry, and struggle are no longer the most powerful or prominent forces in our lives.