Following Together (Central Baptist Edmonton)

Growth sounds exciting—until it gets complicated. Why does progress so often bring tension, misunderstanding, or even opposition? And what does God actually do when things start to feel messy inside the church… or hostile outside of it? In this talk, we explore what happens when faithfulness creates friction—and how God turns even resistance into something that advances his mission.

In this passage we can see multiple instances where the apostles and believers would understandably face a difficult time being obedient. There were internal and external realities that would make it easier to choose fear over obedience yet we see courage to remain obedient despite those pressures. Today, many believers still face many kinds of pressures that make it hard to choose obedience over...

As the early church professed the gospel of Jesus, we see this message upend the established religious order and confront worldly ideas of authority and control — provoking a strong response from those who felt threatened. Yet the apostles remained faithful, choosing obedience over fear, even in suffering. Like them, when we follow Jesus faithfully today, we discover true joy, purpose, and the pow...

The disciples went boldly to the temple because they loved their people and were compelled to proclaim the reign of King Jesus where the lost were. Though filled with fear, awe, and opposition, they obeyed God’s command, showing that obedience, not emotion, drives gospel mission. Their courage flowed from real encounters with the risen Christ. So, because Jesus is exalted as Prince and Savior, we...

What if the greatest threat to the church isn’t pressure from the outside, but something quieter on the inside? Acts 4–5 shows a breathtaking picture of unity, generosity, and bold faith—and then tells a shocking story that forces us to slow down and pay attention. Why does God respond so strongly, and what does that mean for us today? This talk invites you to wrestle honestly with fear, hypocrisy...

What do you do when following Jesus brings applause—or opposition? In Acts 3–4, the early church faces both success and pressure, and their response might surprise you. This talk explores where real courage comes from and why silence and aggression both miss the point. If you’ve ever struggled to speak about your faith in public, this is for you.

God’s power was poured out at Pentecost, but the real story is what happened afterward. Ordinary people devoted themselves to learning, prayer, shared life, and generosity—and God used those simple commitments to build something far bigger than they imagined. When faith moves from a personal response into shared community, God continues to draw people in. This is how a powerful encounter becomes a...

There are moments you can’t repeat, but you’re meant to live from them—and Pentecost is one of those moments. God poured out his Spirit, Peter stood up and proclaimed Jesus, and the church was born as people responded in faith. That day didn’t just change history; it launched the world we’re still living in. And if Pentecost has happened, then none of us gets to live the same way again.

Acts isn’t just ancient history—it’s the beginning of the church, the ongoing work of Jesus through his people, empowered by his Spirit. Jesus didn’t stop working when he ascended; he expanded his ministry through the church. He calls ordinary believers to receive power, bear witness, and move outward—from where they are to the ends of the earth. And it all starts in a surprisingly simple place: p...

You were never meant to follow Jesus, reach others, or carry God’s mission on your own. From the beginning, God has chosen to work through ordinary people who pray together and depend on him. When we make room for God in prayer, he releases wisdom, courage, and power we don’t have on our own.

There are so many amazing reasons that people need to know about the Good News of Jesus!  From the angel's declaration to the shepherds in Luke 2 that God had good news for all people that would bring them great joy, the coming of Jesus fundamentally changes how we understand the nature and character of God, what Christ can do in our lives & our eternal destiny.  For all of these reasons Jesus com...

If you were to look at the life of Jesus, from manger to mountain, you'll notice the contrast between a powerful God who is healing, speaking, providing, dying and resurrecting and a powerless people who either turn away from Him or come to grips with their powerlessness to receive Him and reorientate their lives around Him. No one wants to be confronted with their powerlessness but what if that's...

The Christmas manger is one of the first places we encounter God’s gift of love—a love that finds its ultimate fulfillment at the cross, where God’s Son, Jesus, gives Himself for the world. Today, we are invited to view the manger and the cross together, seeing them as one unfolding story of God stepping into our world and making room for us through Christ’s life and death. As we reflect on this,...

Around tables, Jesus welcomed tax collectors, sinners, and the left out. He turned ordinary meals into moments of grace and belonging. His way teaches us that love always has room for one more.

Jesus begins his story in a manger, choosing the lowest place so he could come near to us. He doesn’t wait for us to climb our way to him—he comes down to our level, showing that God’s welcome always starts with humility. And the same is true for us: mission grows when we show up simply, listen well, and see ourselves as fellow travellers in need of grace. God has made room for you—and now invites...

What do you really want, and how far are you willing to go to get it? Our desires can lead us toward life or quietly pull us away from it, especially when comparison gets a grip on our hearts. If you’ve ever found yourself wishing for someone else’s life, circumstances, or blessings—has that ever actually satisfied you? Join in as we look for a better way to live with desire, joy, and contentment.

In God’s 9th Word, we are reminded that our words have the power to build up or destroy. God commands us to avoid false testimony, which is shallow and destructive, and to wield truth, which puts both God and others first.

God commands His people to live truthfully, protecting one another’s reputation and relationships. False witness destroys trust and divides communities. The ninth word leads us to preserving the Body of Christ by carefully and justly guarding how we speak about one another.

In the 9th Word, we are commanded to stop practicing something that has the power to oppress and destroy people, relationships, and communities: do not bear false witness. To bear false witness of our neighbours bears false witness to who God is, to who others are, and to who you are.

You might not think of yourself as a thief—but what if “Do not steal” goes deeper than taking stuff? What if it’s about trust, control, and the kind of person you’re becoming? This talk will challenge how you see your money, your possessions, and your faith—and show how freedom comes when you stop grasping and start trusting.

Our culture talks about sex constantly—but seems more confused about it than ever. We’re told to follow our desires, yet that path so often leads to disappointment, pain, and regret. What if God’s design for sex was never about restriction, but about joy, intimacy, and freedom? This talk cuts through the noise and invites you to see sex as one of God’s most powerful and life-giving gifts.

God treasures every human life because each one bears his image. But murder doesn’t start with weapons—it starts with anger, contempt, and the quiet wish that someone would just disappear from our world. Jesus exposes that in us, not to shame us, but to set us free. When we forgive, make peace, and protect life, we live out his heart in a world that desperately needs it.

God calls us to honour our parents—not because they’re perfect, but because honour is the posture of a healthy heart. It’s how we treat, speak about, and care for them, especially as they age. In learning to honour our parents, we’re also learning to honour God and those he’s placed in authority. It’s not always easy, but it’s right, and it leads to blessing in our families and in our world.

Busy. Tired. Swamped. Hurried. Troubled. We were never meant to live at the edge of our strength but to experience peace and even joy in the midst of all that life brings to us. The kind of rhythm that allows us to experience that peace and joy comes right from Creation and repeated throughout Scripture. It is the subject of the 4th commandment given to the people of God; it's "Sabbath" or, "Rest"...

The 4th commandment God gave his people moved into some new territory — shifting from commands that defined their allegiance to God, to one that shaped their rhythm of life with him. This Sabbath command continues to remind us today of our true identity, that we were created with a need to rest - and that in that rest, we receive blessing. As we embrace this Sabbath call, we not only find holy res...