Cedar Mill Sermon Podcast

This sermon highlights the unhindered nature of the gospel, as it breaks through hard hearts, societal barriers and personal doubts, empowering individuals to fulfill their divine purpose. Saul’s story serves as one of many examples in Acts that no opposition can thwart God’s plans, as He uses even the most unlikely vessels to expand the church and be Kingdom Witnesses. Ultimately, this passage invites us to reflect on our own journeys of transformation and the power of the gospel that continues to change lives today.

In Acts 6–8 Luke shows how the Holy Spirit breaks through boundaries, pushing the church out of its small, self-protective habits and sending them it into places they would never choose on their own. The message here is clear - When we yield to the Spirit, our narrow assumptions are challenged, the overlooked are not only reached but empowered, and the gospel advances in surprising, remarkable ways. And yes, the temptation to bend the gospel to our own interests is real—but Acts warns us that true fruit comes when we submit to God’s agenda, not ours. As we continue walking through Acts our hope is simple: let the Word instruct us, let the Spirit lead us, and may the Kingdom expand through u — unhindered.

This week, as we continue our series through the book of Acts, Luke gives us a vivid picture of a Spirit-empowered, generous, and growing church. Yet this joyful community is quickly tested—both from within through hypocrisy and from without through opposition. Ananias and Sapphira warn us that inauthentic spirituality undermines our witness and that a reverent fear of God is essential for a life of righteousness. At the same time, the Apostles show us that God’s rescue is not merely for our comfort, but a summons to boldly continue His mission in the world. As we study this passage and wrestle with the questions it raises, we are invited to renew our reverent fear of God and walk courageously in faith, even in the face of temptation and opposition, confident that the gospel continues to advance— Unhindered.

While the Gospel might not be hindered, we are…as were the early followers of Jesus. The call to “witness” within our communities and beyond has been an essential calling of Jesus’ followers since the beginning. Yet, we often find ourselves staring to the clouds. What does it mean to walk in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, continuing what began on the pages of Luke’s Gospel?

The story of Bathsheba is a story of hope—hope for sinners and hope for the deeply wounded. Her presence in the lineage of Jesus reminds us that no one is too far gone, and no one is too deeply harmed to be welcomed into the family of God. God’s redemptive purposes are not thwarted by our sin or by the sins committed against us; instead, He weaves even the most broken stories into His plan of redemption.

This week we’re continuing with our Advent Series: Her Story, His Story, Our Story by looking at the life of Rahab. Her inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus reminds us that no matter our past or family of origin, Jesus came to bring hope to seemingly impossible situations. He often uses people considered unworthy by societal standards to accomplish good in the world. Rahab’s courage and faith amidst uncertainty provide us with the encouragement needed to take risks along our own faith journeys knowing that the embodied promise of salvation is on its way.

This week’s sermon explains how Matthew begins with a genealogy because Jesus’ “credentials” are revealed through His family line, and Ruth’s story shows the kind of Kingdom He brings. We hear that God often works without obvious miracles, behind the scenes in ordinary moments, and Ruth’s redemption points forward to Jesus, the true Redeemer who restores hope when life feels off-script.

In Week 1 of our Advent series "Her Story, His Story, Our Story," we examine Tamar’s startling, justice-driven story (Genesis 38) to see how God works through messy, painful lives and bring righteousness and redemption into the world. Tamar (a marginalized, twice-widowed, woman) is denied her rightful place, but takes bold, risky action to secure justice when Judah and his family fail her. Through this, Judah is finally forced to “recognize” his sin and the birth of Perez (whose name means “breakthrough”) pictures how God’s justice breaks through human failure. In the end, this sermon urges us to resist a sentimental, sanitized faith, to see the vulnerable as God sees them, and to allow God’s disruptive mercy to change how we use power to protect the powerless. While Tamar's’ story is complex, it reminds us that Jesus’ birth is the ultimate breaking-through and that the Kingdom of God will one day bring perfect justice for all.

Our Advent begins with longing: we long for a savior to come. We wait not for what we can control, but for what is beyond our ability to provide for ourselves. Elizabeth and Zechariah knew deeply about longing. They longed for child to love and to carry on their name. Yet their prime years passed and no child came. Israel, under the oppressive foot of Rome, longed for a savior that seemingly would never arrive. Two dreams shattered by the pain of silence.
 
Until an angel came. Then Zechariah was silenced and Elizabeth found herself with child and tasked with speaking on behalf of God’s plans. The work of restoration began where no one would ever expect it…

Baptized into Christ - Galatians 3:26–29