Christ Church Evangelical Covenant christchurchec

Pastor Vann's sermon on Pentecost emphasizes the Holy Spirit's empowering impact on the early Church, enabling them to spread the Gospel. He dispels misconceptions of God as angry, stressing His desire for a personal relationship with each individual. Vann draws parallels between creation and Pentecost, urging listeners to deepen their connection with God through prayer and thoughtful practices. The sermon ends with a call for the congregation to actively engage in God's work of love and compassion, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

"The Fullness" sermon discusses spiritual gifts as expressions of the Holy Spirit and God's grace within individuals, urging the congregation to discover and use their gifts in the church community for the fullness of Jesus. Pastor Vann emphasizes the importance of ongoing growth and refinement of these gifts, highlighting that they reflect the character of Jesus. The sermon concludes with the reminder that the church is called to be the fullness of Jesus who fills all things, quoting Ephesians 1:22-23.

Pastor Vann's sermon "Shorting Ourselves" explores spiritual gifts in the body of Christ, drawing parallels to DNA diversity. Using 1 Corinthians 12:14-25, he emphasizes the value of all members and their unique roles. He stresses the importance of recognizing and utilizing one's gifts for the unity of believers. By discussing spiritual gifts through a metaphor of the Old Testament tabernacle, he urges listeners to embrace their gifts and actively engage in the community for God's glory.

The sermon "In the Beginning" by Pastor Vann highlights God's invitation from creation to a new life. It mentions biblical references to "in the beginning" in Genesis, John, and 1 John. Pastor Vann discusses God's love, our choice to stray, and God's invitation back into His fullness. The sermon emphasizes the importance of making God the center of our lives for true connection and fulfillment.

The greatest and best influence on humankind over the course of our history has been, without a doubt, Jesus Christ. The way He rebuked injustice. The way He modeled kindness. The way He invited us into relationship with Him. What would be better than to see that influence continue to impact our lives and the structures of our world? That is the primary goal of the Holy Spirit; continue the work of Jesus… through us. So, if we want to understand the purpose of the gifts that the Spirit has given, we simply need to look at the purpose of the life of Jesus.

What does it mean to be gifted by the Spirit of God? Does it change situation by situation? Or is it always the effect in the same way? Are we limited to one or two expressions of grace and the Spirit working in and through us? And can we grow in our how effective we are in using the gift God has given us? All good questions. All things we need to understand as we learn to walk with the Spirit in the transforming power of Jesus that He works through us. But that is the most important thing we need to remember: these gifts are not about us; they’re about Jesus.