What gives ordinary people the courage to speak truth, resist fear, and remain hopeful in a fractured world?

In Acts 4 and 5, the early church faces its first wave of persecution after Peter and John heal a man at the temple gates and boldly proclaim the resurrection of Jesus. Confronted by powerful religious leaders, threatened, imprisoned, and punished, the apostles discover that true power is not found in coercion or control, but in resurrection, community, and the Spirit of God.

In this sermon, Yelena explores:
• Why the message of Jesus provoked opposition
• What Acts teaches us about power and courage
• How community helps us face fear
• Why joy can still exist in suffering
• What it means to live nonviolently and faithfully today

Whether you’re wrestling with fear, longing for deeper community, or trying to live with integrity in a divided world, this conversation invites us to become people of courageous witness together.

Scripture: Acts 4–5

Commons Church
Love God. Love People. Tell the Story.

What if the judgement of God looks nothing like we imagined?

In Acts 2 we step into Peter’s first sermon after Pentecost—the moment the church begins to find its voice. But instead of fear, vengeance, or religious certainty, Peter announces something radically different: resurrection changes everything.

Together we explore:

- The real miracle of Pentecost
- Why not everyone recognizes new movements of God
- “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” and the expansiveness of the Spirit
- The Day of the Lord reinterpreted through Jesus
- Resurrection as God’s victory over violence and death
- Why Peter sees the cross not as divine punishment, but divine participation

This is the story of a church learning to see the world differently in the light of Christ.

Scripture: Acts 2
 
Commons Church — Calgary, Alberta

What do you do when the future feels uncertain, God feels quiet, and the old season is clearly over?

In Acts 1–2, the early church finds itself in that exact moment — caught between resurrection and Pentecost, between promise and fulfillment, between what was and what will be. And somehow, in the waiting, God is already moving.

This week at Commons Church, we explore how faith often begins not with certainty, but with trust in the middle of transition.

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📍 Commons Church
🌐 https://commons.church
📷 Instagram: @commons.church

#Acts #BibleTeaching #ChurchOnline #Faith #HolySpirit #CommonsChurch

What if the real miracle of love isn’t finding the right person—but becoming the kind of person who can stay?

In this final message of The Miraculous series, we explore the ancient story of Ruth and uncover a vision of love that goes far beyond romance. This is a story about commitment, community, and the quiet, steady work of choosing one another—again and again.

From friendships to family, from social responsibility to romantic connection, love is revealed as something we build, not something we stumble into. And maybe, just maybe, it’s this kind of love that holds everything together.

✨ If love is more than a feeling… what does it look like to practice it this week?

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Commons Church
Calgary, Alberta
More messages: commons.church/watch

What if the most meaningful moments in your life aren’t random at all?
In this talk, we explore a surprising story from Acts 8—the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian traveler—and ask a simple but unsettling question: Can coincidence be a miracle?

Rather than focusing on miracles as interruptions of nature, this message reframes the miraculous as something formed over time—through attentiveness, presence, and the kind of person we are becoming. Maybe the miracle isn’t just in the moment things come together… but in the quiet ways our lives are shaped to notice those moments at all.

From desert roads to everyday conversations, this is an invitation to rediscover wonder—not in spectacle, but in the ordinary intersections of our lives.

If you’ve ever wondered where God is in the middle of your everyday routines, this conversation is for you.

📖  Scripture: Acts 8:26–40
📍  Commons Church, Calgary
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What do you do when it feels like God is asleep in the middle of your storm?

In this reflection on Mark 4:35–41, we explore one of Jesus’ most well-known miracles—the calming of the sea—and wrestle with what it reveals about fear, faith, and the nature of God. Is the miracle about power…or presence?

This Eastertide message invites you to move beyond what God can do and toward who God is—especially in the moments when life feels overwhelming.

Question for reflection:
How have the challenges in your life shaped your view of God?

What if miracles aren’t rare interruptions of reality—but the very fabric of it?

In this opening message of our Miraculous series, we explore the deep connection between faith, science, and the nature of existence itself. 

From Genesis to the Big Bang, from quarks to galaxies, this conversation invites us to rethink what we mean when we say “God.”

Maybe the greatest miracle isn’t when the rules break…
Maybe it’s that anything exists at all.

This is a call to wake up—to wonder, to relationship, and to the sacred reality holding everything together.

#Faith #Science #Miracles #TheUniverse #Sermon

We all know the story of the prodigal son… or at least we think we do.

This Easter message explores one of Jesus’ most famous parables—and reveals the surprising twist we often miss. What if the story isn’t just about a rebellious younger son… but also about the older brother standing outside the party?

And what if Easter is the announcement that God is still coming after both?

This sermon traces the movement from lost sheep, to lost coin, to lost sons—and ultimately to a God whose grace refuses to give up on anyone.

Because the real question isn’t whether we’ve been lost…
It’s whether we’re ready to be found.

📖 Luke 15
🎥 Recorded at Commons Church

#Easter #ProdigalSon #Grace #Jesus #Church #Faith

Palm Sunday is full of celebration—but also confusion.

In this message, we hold together two powerful moments:
• The parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18)
• Jesus’ quiet, subversive entry into Jerusalem

Together, they reveal something surprising about God:
Grace doesn’t always look like justice.
And peace doesn’t always come the way we expect.

As we step into Holy Week, this teaching invites us to reconsider what we’re hoping for—and whether we’re ready for the kind of kingdom Jesus actually brings.

🙏 A reflection on prayer, persistence, and faith
🌿 A different way to understand Palm Sunday
🕊️ A call to recognize the peace we often miss

We’ve all heard that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed—small beginnings, big results. But what if that’s not actually the point?

In this message, we explore one of Jesus’ most familiar parables and uncover the twist we often miss. The kingdom of God doesn’t just grow—it shows up in unexpected places, disrupts our assumptions, and welcomes the people we might overlook.

Through the story of a healing on the Sabbath and a strange little seed planted in the wrong place, we’re invited to rethink what grace really looks like.

What if the kingdom isn’t about power or perfection… but presence, disruption, and radical inclusion?

📍Commons Church

📅 Part of our Parables of Grace series

#ParablesOfJesus #MustardSeed #Grace #Sermon #KingdomOfGod