Archive for 2009
Characters of Advent
This series covers a look at four different characters involved in the advent story. In total there are 4 sermons preached from in December of 2009 at The Resolved Church, San Diego, CA.
Audio & Manuscripts Below
Listen Read The Prophecy Candle of Hope: Zechariah – Luke 1:5-25, 57-80
Listen Read The Bethlehem Candle of Humility: Mary – Luke 1:26-38,46-56
Listen Read The Shepherd’s Candle of Joy: Elizabeth – Luke 1:39-45
Listen Read The Angels Candle of Peace: Gabriel – Luke 2:8-21
Advent Week 4 – The Angels Candle of Peace: Gabriel
This week is an exegetical sermon looking at Luke 2:8-21 focusing on the character of Gabriel. The sermon is titled, “The First Preacher of the Gospel”and looks at the nature of angels and what they do, the gospel angels announce and rejoice in, and the worship and praise of God for Jesus’ birth. This sermon was originally preached by Pastor Duane Smets on Christmas Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Santa was a Pastor
The other day I was at the mall with my daughter and we were walking by the booth where “Santa” was present, ready, and willing to take your money in exchange for a picture with him. I hadn’t really given a whole lot of thought yet to what our approach was going to be in our home regarding Santa.
But my daughter made that a little easier for us.
As we were walking by the Santa center, my daughter stopped, froze her step, and in her pause stared in confusion at the whole hoobala…Santa, his big chair, some elves, reindeer, candy canes and the whole bit. I thought I’d try and help and clarify for her so I said, “that’s Santa sweetie.” That only made things worse because then she said, “Santa scares me daddy.” I was sort of dumbfounded at how to reply so I just said, “Well you don’t have to be scared honey, because Santa was a pastor just like daddy.” To which she then said, “hug daddy, hug” and she grabbed on to me real tight.
I don’t think she really understood at all, how could she. And as I’ve thought about it more, I’m not sure I do either. Sometimes words just come out of your own mouth without giving them a whole lot of thought that actually bring out something very important. What’s the whole deal with Santa and how should we approach him?
Advent Week 3 – The Shepherd’s Candle of Joy: Elizabeth
This week is an exegetical sermon looking at Luke 1:39-45 focusing on the character of Elizabeth. The sermon is titled, “The Mom Whose Baby Knew Jesus and Rejoiced”and how Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and recognizes God’s hand at work, confesses baby Jesus as her Lord, identifies Jesus as the source of God, and celebrates the promise of God. This sermon was originally preached by Pastor Duane Smets on December 13th, 2009 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Update from our S.Korea Missionaries
Josh and Megan Carstensen are our missionaries in South Korea. They sent this update for us last week.
We came back at the end of August and school started crazy as usual with students switching classes and us teachers getting new classes and loosing classes for the first 3 or 4 weeks (it makes it really hard to have any consistency).
Unfortunately our school made a decision to get rid of Bible for all students other than 11th and 12th graders, so this year I am teaching three 11th grade Bible classes and three 10th grade US History classes, which I do enjoy but I would rather have all Bible.
New Elder Installed: Ron Broersma
This last Sunday we officially installed Ron Broersma as an elder of The Resolved Church. We welcome Ron and his wisdom, guidance, authority, and care that Jesus has called and enabled him to provide for our flock.
Our Church and the Acts 29 Network which we are a part of believes in the Plural Elder Led form of church government. This day was a hugely significant day in the history of The Resolved Church, since we have been functioning with only one present elder (assisted by three outside virtual elders) for the last three years. For more on this model of ecclesiology at The Resolved Church read: Plural Eldership
Below is a transcript of last Sunday’s installation ceremony.
