2022 Sermons
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Why Tongues?
December 28, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Acts 2
I’d like to talk to you tonight about a subject that has been a tremendous blessing for me – the fullness of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the blessings from praying in the Holy Spirit. What I’m speaking about doesn’t come as any sort of memo from a governing body, it is instead a topic that has continually served as an oasis in my life that refreshes me. I brought many books with me tonight that focus on the topic of speaking in tongues and baptism in the Holy Spirit, each from a different angle. As I glean various insights from each book, listen in let your spiritual life be benefitted by taking part in the biblical concept of speaking in tongues.
The Holy Spirit in the Christmas Story
December 25, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Luke 1—2, Matthew 1—2
What I’d like to talk to you about today is the person of the Holy Spirit and how he interfaces with the Christmas Story. Wednesday night we spent studying the angelic activities that took place around the Christmas story, and as I was praying I felt it would be fitting to speak today on Christmas Day on what the Holy Spirit’s role in Christmas was. There were 400 years of silence and darkness that occurred between the writing of Malachi in the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus. However, the Holy Spirit was still at work in this time, helping bring about the events necessary for Jesus’ birth. From the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament to the birth of Jesus, the Holy Spirit played a central role that I will speak in depth on today as you join me.
The Angels of Christmas
December 21, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Luke 1, Luke 2, Matthew 1, Matthew 2
I remember many years ago when I was a young pastor, I gave a message on the many angelic encounters that occurred in the Christmas story. I always thought this was a fascinating topic because if at the time of the Christmas story, you were not receptive to the ministry of angels, you would have missed out on the incredible thing God was doing by bringing his Son into the earth. What I'd like to do tonight is look at five passages of scripture surrounding the birth of Jesus so that we can see how deeply involved angels were in the birth of Jesus. We'll see how deeply they were connected in bringing messages to the earth at this special time, and how at times today God may still use angels to send messages to his church.
An Inconvenient Christmas
December 18, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Luke 2:1–20
I want to share with you this morning the Christmas story from Luke's account in Luke 2. In this passage, we read how in situation after situation, Mary and Joseph encountered inconvenience and chaos on their journey to fulfill the census for the Roman government. Whether having to return many miles back to Bethlehem, the census occurring when Mary was pregnant, or the inn being out of room, we see how from a natural perspective it seemed as though chaos was in control. However, in reality, God was orchestrating all events according to Old Testament prophecies. There are times in all of our lives where we may think "God, are you really in charge?". The Nativity story serves as a reminder that in all circumstances we can trust God is guiding events according to his plan.
The Harvest Is Coming - Part 2
December 11, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Luke 5:1–11
Open up your Bible to Ephesians 3. I'm going to read to you a passage that I'd like to hold onto as you go into the New Year. We live in what we call a "fallen world", one that has much depravity and sin as people oppose God's plan. If we aren't careful, we can allow this to hold us down in our Christian living. The Bible tells us to "not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of our mind." We must resist the temptation to think as the world does -- God's plan for Christians is not for us to have a negative thought life but one which is positive.
The Harvest Is Coming
December 7, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Luke 5:1–11
I'd like to read you some scriptures I've had on my heart lately. In the various Epistles of the New Testament, we find evidence that the early church would gather and read letters from the various Apostles, much like what we're doing tonight. It can be helpful to keep the focus on the Word when gathering. As such, I'd like to read two passages that focus on the Biblical concept of harvesting crops or catching fish. These often serve as allegories for the harvest of souls into God's Kingdom. In these latter days, we must remain faithful and available as laborers to serve in gaining lives for Christ.
Praise Changes Things
December 4, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Acts 16
If you would, open up with me to the book of Acts in chapter 16. This passage tells the story of how Paul and Silas were imprisoned after casting a spirit out of a girl while evangelizing. In the midst of such a discouraging situation, they could have felt that God had abandoned them. But instead, as we will see, they stayed faithful to God, singing their praises to him and in doing so allowing something miraculous to happen. They serve as an example to Christians on how even when in a storm, we should praise God still. Listen on how our praise can change our situations and how it can unlock doors to be a witness to others.
Positive Mind, Positive Words
November 30, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Philippians 4:8
We are living in a time in the world where many strange things are occurring, like never before in history. It can be easy for Christians to gather together and end up talking about everything the devil has been doing, instead of focusing on what God is doing. Our time together as Christian believers is crucial, and we must use it to edify one another and glorify God. This past week after getting off the phone with someone where we discussed some of the negative things happening in the world right now, I was reminded of the passage Philippians 4:8. Open there now and listen in on how we can use positive words and a positive mind to keep ourselves renewed.
Hold Steady
November 27, 2022 • Don Schwarz • James 5:7–8, Habakkuk 2:2–4, Galatians 6:9, James 1:2–4
I want to share a quick word with you today that I believe the Holy Spirit put on my heart. I will admit with this message that I am preaching to myself a little with this message, and if you wanted to put a title to this message you could call it “Hold Steady.” I’d like to talk about the phrase “patient endurance” and how I believe it is crucial for the body of Christ in this hour.
The Apostle Paul's First Prayer
November 20, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Acts 22
If you have a Bible, I’d like you to open to Acts 22. In this passage, we see how Paul recounts how he had an encounter with God on the road to Damascus. Through this story, we get to see what Paul’s very first prayer was to the Lord. My purpose in focusing on this prayer is to allow us to ask ourselves, “Are we frequently praying Paul’s first prayer?”. Paul’s world-changing ministry and life all began with this prayer. It can serve as a model for our prayers and our life’s intentions.
Dare to Be a Daniel
November 16, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Daniel 6
Tonight I’d like to share from Daniel 6. This past Sunday, our guest Bill Kern mentioned Daniel. As I studied this past week, I felt more and more strongly that this passage should be read by our congregation together. Daniel is a Biblical character who lived through many political regimes, or as we might call in contemporary times, administrations. God used this historical positioning to set up Daniel as a positive influence for the leaders he interacted with. Listen on how we can be a similar figure of Christian influence in our lives.
Lessons from a Farmer
November 13, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould, Bill Kern • 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Today we’ll be hearing from a surprise guest, a farmer from rural Oklahoma named Bill Kern. Bill and I have been friends for many years and it is my belief that his experience as a farmer gives him many unique insights into Biblical passages. As of late, his work has been pivotal in allowing him and I to reach legislators in the Oklahoma State Capitol. Listen in as Bill shares on his experience as a Christian influence in Oklahoma politics as well as a farmer.
It is Well - Part 2
November 9, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • 2 Kings 4
In Sunday's service we taught on an Old Testament story from 2 Kings 4, on Elisha and the woman of Shunem. This story tells of how a woman showed generosity and hospitality to Elisha, with Elisha blessing her kindness by praying for God to give her a son. Despite this blessing, the son later passed away due to illness, requiring the woman to exercise faith in God's promise to her and call upon Elisha to resurrect her son. We can benefit greatly in life if we have the ability to say like the woman, "It is alright."
It Is Well
November 6, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • 2 Kings 4
I'm going to share something with you today from 2 Kings 4 that I think will be meaningful to you. This passage is about Elisha's role in blessing the woman of Shunem with a child and his later resurrecting of that child. After the child's death, despite standing in the face of such despair, the woman simply said, "It is well." In our times of desperation, we would strive to have the same faith in God as the woman of Shunem did.
Run Your Race
October 30, 2022 • Pastor Tom Arnould • Hebrews 12, John 21
I’m going to talk to you today about the phrase “run your race.” Growing up, my parents always told me, “Tom, you’re impressionable.” Whether it was a farmer, athlete, or attorney who I spent time with, I always came back wanting to be like them. I think that sometimes in Christendom as we begin to walk with the Lord, if we are not careful we can get caught up in and glorify what others do, and in the process lose sight of what we have been called to do. In the body of Christ, there are no unimportant people doing unimportant things – we have all been called for a purpose. It is important that we run our own unique race with focus and determination.