February 2026
One Holy Church, 8 February 2026
08 02 26 Filed in: Sermons | The Nicene Creed
One Holy Church
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 8, 2026
Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: Followers of Jesus are part of one, universal, global Church, the Bride of Christ.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Once upon a time, about 2000 years ago, where were two types of people: Jews and Gentiles. One day, a rabbi invited a dozen men to leave everything and follow him on a three-year journey, one that would change the world. After performing the ultimate miracle—resurrecting from the dead—he said he would leave again with the promise to return…soon. He sent the Holy Spirit—our subject last week—who initiated what is arguably the most powerful movement in the history of the world…the Church.
Throughout this new year, we’ve been examining one of the most important documents in the history of Christianity, the Nicene Creed. This five-paragraph summary of our faith understandably begins with God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Today we are looking at the Church.
What in the world is the Church? Some use the word to describe a building. Others think of a weekend gathering of people. The original Greek word, ekklesia, means simply assembly, meeting, or congregation. By this definition, you could make an argument that online church isn’t! Of course, virtual gatherings have legitimacy, especially when physical proximity is impossible.
The Nicene Creed states,
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
There may be a few words there that raise an eyebrow, so let’s unpack this 1701 year-old statement.
We believe. This may not include you, and if not, we don’t want you to feel excluded. We love spiritual seekers investigating the Christian faith. Welcome. For the rest of us, we believe…in one. That means one! Holy means set apart, distinct. As you can see in the brackets, small-c catholic is not a reference to Roman Catholic with a capital-C but universal. Apostolic refers to following the teachings and authority of the apostles, those who were with Jesus. Church, of course, is our subject. Notice it is capitalized to denote the assembly or gathering of all followers of Jesus, not referring to a local congregation such as College First.
We are part of a diverse, global family. I hope I don’t need to say the Church is not just a white or western or USAmerican experience, but a multi-ethnic population. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the future of the Church:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)
There’s one more sentence in today’s statement.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Baptism is a public expression of an inward faith, a symbolic water grave that we enter to show our death to our selfish sins and that we exit to demonstrate being resurrected, made a new creation, forgiven of our sins not from our works but the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Unfortunately, the Church does not have a stellar history of one…of unity.
Are you ready for a crash course in Church history?
Jesus invested in twelve disciples and many others who were gathered together in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit arrived.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
This was the reversal of the Tower of Babel. We’ll dive into this on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, but suffice it to say what began with a Jewish rabbi quickly spread to Gentiles. Jesus did not come to start a new religion, but the movement now known as Christianity has spread around the world. Where two or more are gathered, there is conflict! Church history is tragically filled with divisions and splits. As churches spread throughout the Roman Empire, language, culture, and leadership led to key centers in Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. For the first thousand years or so, there was one Church with many cultures.
In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, a split between the western Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox Church based in Constantinople. We mentioned the filoque last week, the understanding of the Holy Spirit, and papal authority and cultural and political divisions led to this separation, splitting the Church in two.
In the 1500s, abuses and corruption in the Catholic Church and theological issues led to the Protestant Reformation. These “Protestant” churches emphasized the authority of Scripture over church tradition and salvation by grace through faith alone, not works. Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in Switzerland, and Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich were among the primary Reformers that led to new congregations and a 66-book Bible following the Hebrew Old Testament.
I wish we could simply say there are Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches, but over the years a number of Protestant denominations have emerged following theological and cultural differences. In fact, according to the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton, Illinois, there are more than 42,000 Christian denominations around the world…Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist, Church of God, and others.
Ironically, two of the things that have divided churches over the years have been communion and baptism, specifically the meaning of the bread and wine and how much water is used in baptism.
Jesus prayed that we would be one in John 17.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
I can’t imagine who much worse the divisions would be if he wasn’t praying for our unity!
Unity is one of the five prayers that I pray for College First Church of God. I pray for direction, protection, passion, good fruit, and unity.
I’ll never forget my wedding day, that thrilling moment Heather and her dad rounded the corner of the back of the sanctuary and headed toward me. She was—and is—the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I was thinking, “Come on down!” As beautiful as she was—and is—if she came down the aisle dismembered—arms flailing, eyeballs rolling, feet hopping, torso wiggling—I would’ve probably screamed in horror. I didn’t want Mrs. Potato Head! Beautiful parts alone don’t make a beautiful bride. There must be unity!
It’s always a challenge for any family to get along given our own preferences, opinions, and desires. When our focus is on Jesus rather than our selfish rights and views, we become unified, not around our agendas but his.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:2-6)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
A lot of people talk trash about the church because it’s filled with imperfect people. Duh! I’ve been brutally hurt by the church, by church people, by sinners…just like me! We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. It’s His Church, not mine or yours. In the midst of disillusionment with scandal, idolatry, and pure sin in the church, I’ve decided to try to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. The church is called the Bride of Christ and you can’t love Jesus and hate his wife!
The Church exists to glorify God. It’s really not about us, though we’re privileged to be invited into God’s family. We’ve been sent on a mission…to go and make disciples.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
So What?
The church is not a building or even a service, but a family. There is one church in Findlay with multiple congregations. Followers of Jesus are part of a global community of believers here to bring glory to God, love one another, and offer faith, hope, and love to our world as we go and make disciples of all nations. We are all different. We bring different gifts and resources together to serve one another and fulfill the mission, the Great Commission.
I want the Church to grow stronger, healthier, and larger. I long for every person on the planet to be invited into the family…about 8 billion people, billions of whom have never even heard about Jesus! I love it when we gather together, but it’s ultimately to equip you to scatter, to go, to share the gospel, the good news.
As a practical next-step, I want to challenge you to pray for three people you can invite to our Easter celebration, April 5 which will be…at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. We’re taking the Church to the community. We’ll have one 10:30 AM gathering, bringing our congregation together while welcoming our friends and neighbors to experience the Church…and Jesus!
College First family, I love you. We’re going to equip you with invite cards beginning next week, and we want to send you into the world to be salt and light, to spread good news, to invite your friends and neighbors to “come and see.” Let’s throw Findlay the biggest party it’s ever seen! Let the Church celebrate the bridegroom…Jesus Christ!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 8, 2026
Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: Followers of Jesus are part of one, universal, global Church, the Bride of Christ.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:2-6, 31-32
Once upon a time, about 2000 years ago, where were two types of people: Jews and Gentiles. One day, a rabbi invited a dozen men to leave everything and follow him on a three-year journey, one that would change the world. After performing the ultimate miracle—resurrecting from the dead—he said he would leave again with the promise to return…soon. He sent the Holy Spirit—our subject last week—who initiated what is arguably the most powerful movement in the history of the world…the Church.
Throughout this new year, we’ve been examining one of the most important documents in the history of Christianity, the Nicene Creed. This five-paragraph summary of our faith understandably begins with God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Today we are looking at the Church.
What in the world is the Church? Some use the word to describe a building. Others think of a weekend gathering of people. The original Greek word, ekklesia, means simply assembly, meeting, or congregation. By this definition, you could make an argument that online church isn’t! Of course, virtual gatherings have legitimacy, especially when physical proximity is impossible.
The Nicene Creed states,
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
There may be a few words there that raise an eyebrow, so let’s unpack this 1701 year-old statement.
We believe. This may not include you, and if not, we don’t want you to feel excluded. We love spiritual seekers investigating the Christian faith. Welcome. For the rest of us, we believe…in one. That means one! Holy means set apart, distinct. As you can see in the brackets, small-c catholic is not a reference to Roman Catholic with a capital-C but universal. Apostolic refers to following the teachings and authority of the apostles, those who were with Jesus. Church, of course, is our subject. Notice it is capitalized to denote the assembly or gathering of all followers of Jesus, not referring to a local congregation such as College First.
We are part of a diverse, global family. I hope I don’t need to say the Church is not just a white or western or USAmerican experience, but a multi-ethnic population. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the future of the Church:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)
There’s one more sentence in today’s statement.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Baptism is a public expression of an inward faith, a symbolic water grave that we enter to show our death to our selfish sins and that we exit to demonstrate being resurrected, made a new creation, forgiven of our sins not from our works but the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Unfortunately, the Church does not have a stellar history of one…of unity.
Are you ready for a crash course in Church history?
Jesus invested in twelve disciples and many others who were gathered together in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit arrived.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
This was the reversal of the Tower of Babel. We’ll dive into this on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, but suffice it to say what began with a Jewish rabbi quickly spread to Gentiles. Jesus did not come to start a new religion, but the movement now known as Christianity has spread around the world. Where two or more are gathered, there is conflict! Church history is tragically filled with divisions and splits. As churches spread throughout the Roman Empire, language, culture, and leadership led to key centers in Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. For the first thousand years or so, there was one Church with many cultures.
In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, a split between the western Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox Church based in Constantinople. We mentioned the filoque last week, the understanding of the Holy Spirit, and papal authority and cultural and political divisions led to this separation, splitting the Church in two.
In the 1500s, abuses and corruption in the Catholic Church and theological issues led to the Protestant Reformation. These “Protestant” churches emphasized the authority of Scripture over church tradition and salvation by grace through faith alone, not works. Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in Switzerland, and Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich were among the primary Reformers that led to new congregations and a 66-book Bible following the Hebrew Old Testament.
I wish we could simply say there are Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches, but over the years a number of Protestant denominations have emerged following theological and cultural differences. In fact, according to the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton, Illinois, there are more than 42,000 Christian denominations around the world…Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist, Church of God, and others.
Ironically, two of the things that have divided churches over the years have been communion and baptism, specifically the meaning of the bread and wine and how much water is used in baptism.
Jesus prayed that we would be one in John 17.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
I can’t imagine who much worse the divisions would be if he wasn’t praying for our unity!
Unity is one of the five prayers that I pray for College First Church of God. I pray for direction, protection, passion, good fruit, and unity.
I’ll never forget my wedding day, that thrilling moment Heather and her dad rounded the corner of the back of the sanctuary and headed toward me. She was—and is—the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I was thinking, “Come on down!” As beautiful as she was—and is—if she came down the aisle dismembered—arms flailing, eyeballs rolling, feet hopping, torso wiggling—I would’ve probably screamed in horror. I didn’t want Mrs. Potato Head! Beautiful parts alone don’t make a beautiful bride. There must be unity!
It’s always a challenge for any family to get along given our own preferences, opinions, and desires. When our focus is on Jesus rather than our selfish rights and views, we become unified, not around our agendas but his.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:2-6)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
A lot of people talk trash about the church because it’s filled with imperfect people. Duh! I’ve been brutally hurt by the church, by church people, by sinners…just like me! We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. It’s His Church, not mine or yours. In the midst of disillusionment with scandal, idolatry, and pure sin in the church, I’ve decided to try to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. The church is called the Bride of Christ and you can’t love Jesus and hate his wife!
The Church exists to glorify God. It’s really not about us, though we’re privileged to be invited into God’s family. We’ve been sent on a mission…to go and make disciples.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
So What?
The church is not a building or even a service, but a family. There is one church in Findlay with multiple congregations. Followers of Jesus are part of a global community of believers here to bring glory to God, love one another, and offer faith, hope, and love to our world as we go and make disciples of all nations. We are all different. We bring different gifts and resources together to serve one another and fulfill the mission, the Great Commission.
I want the Church to grow stronger, healthier, and larger. I long for every person on the planet to be invited into the family…about 8 billion people, billions of whom have never even heard about Jesus! I love it when we gather together, but it’s ultimately to equip you to scatter, to go, to share the gospel, the good news.
As a practical next-step, I want to challenge you to pray for three people you can invite to our Easter celebration, April 5 which will be…at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. We’re taking the Church to the community. We’ll have one 10:30 AM gathering, bringing our congregation together while welcoming our friends and neighbors to experience the Church…and Jesus!
College First family, I love you. We’re going to equip you with invite cards beginning next week, and we want to send you into the world to be salt and light, to spread good news, to invite your friends and neighbors to “come and see.” Let’s throw Findlay the biggest party it’s ever seen! Let the Church celebrate the bridegroom…Jesus Christ!
Holy Spirit, 1 February 2026
01 02 26 Filed in: Sermons | The Nicene Creed
The Holy Spirit
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 1, 2026
Acts 1:6-8
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is a vital member of the Trinity seeking to make us like Christ.
Scripture Reading: Acts 1:6-8
In 1977, an emerging filmmaker created a science fiction movie that featured a line that has been quoted for decades, even leading to its own pseudo holiday on May 4:
May the force be with you.
As we continue our series on the Nicene Creed—an ancient statement of faith supported by Christians of all denominations—we turn from the Father and the Son to the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
My name is Kirk and it’s great to be back after being in Kenya training pastors. It was a fruitful trip, though it was a shock to the system to experience weather 80 degrees cooler when we arrived home! Thank you for your prayers.
Lance Finley and Alex Miller spoke the past two weeks about Jesus, the second member of the Trinity. Today we turn to the Holy Spirit.
There’s a lot of mystery and even fear concerning the Holy Spirit. Some think the Spirit is a force, as in Star Wars. This is not true. A force is ambiguous or nebulous, but the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a feeling, not an indifference or ambivalent element.
The Holy Spirit is not a ghost. The original Hebrew word, ruach, can be translated breath or wind. Visually, the Spirit is sometimes depicted as a dove, a reference to Jesus’ baptism.
We first see the Spirit mentioned in the second verse of the Bible.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2)
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—do life together, not unlike the biblical model of the family—mom, dad, and child. There is a synergy that exists when relationships are healthy, a mutual satisfaction resulting in the flourishing of all.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
If you will allow me to nerd out for just a moment, I’ve been saying the Nicene Creed has been embraced by all Christians—Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant—with one exception. Here it is! Notice the brackets. Does the Spirit proceed from the Father or from the Father and the Son? Listen to this from the Colson Center:
The word filioque is Latin for “and the Son,” as in, “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This is from the Nicene Creed, a widely accepted summary of Christian doctrine, which emerged from the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and was finalized at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. The original text read only “who proceeds from the Father.” However, over subsequent generations, Christians in Western Europe included “... and the Son.” Eastern Christians did not.
Those three words in English, (and just one in Latin) carry enormous theological weight. Though other issues were at play, this was the final straw that led the Pope in Rome and the Patriarch in Constantinople to mutual excommunicate each other in 1054. For Western Christians, at issue is preserving the unity of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, who always works in the Name of Christ. For Eastern Christians, it’s a question of authority. For both, at stake is how best to understand the inner workings of the Godhead. Though certainly an issue of theological precision, the filioque is a matter of no small theological importance.
In other words, Orthodox Christians have a slightly different understanding of the Holy Spirit than Catholics and Protestants. You could spend days researching the ramifications of those three bracketed words. They don’t impact our salvation or practice, but it’s worth noting the theological difference it presents.
Theologian Michael Bird writes,
The divine persons have distinct operations or works appropriate to who they are, that is, the Father is the Creator, the Son is the redeemer, and the Spirit is renewer. But even then, their operations are inseparable, namely, the Father involves the Son and the Spirit in what he does, the Son is the Son of the Father and the bearer and dispenser of the Spirit, and the Spirit is sent by the Father through the Son.
The Holy Spirit is visible throughout the Old Testament, from the second verse of the Bible to helping Joseph interpret dreams in Egypt to giving builders skill to craft the tabernacle and its furniture to encounters with Balaam, Samson, King Saul, and the prophet Micaiah.
It’s not until Acts 2 that the Spirit is simultaneously present in every follower of Jesus. In our text for today, Jesus predicts the coming of the Holy Spirit.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is a fantastic verse revealing the spread of the gospel from its epicenter in Jerusalem to eventually the ends of the earth. It forms a great metaphor for our mission to love, equip, and send as our Jerusalem is obviously Findlay and Hancock County, it includes the Great Lakes Conference covering Ohio and Michigan, moves throughout our nation, and encompasses the world, including Haiti, Kenya, and Thailand.
You can read about the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost in the next chapter, Acts 2. It describes the birth of the Church which we will celebrate on May 24. So what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
1. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to the world. (John 16:8-11)
2. The Holy Spirit glorifies and reveals Jesus. (John 16:12-15)
3. The Holy Spirit enables us to confess Jesus is Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:3b)
4. The Holy Spirit gives us new birth. (John 3:5-6)
5. The Holy Spirit gives us a new life and a new status as children of God. (Romans 8:10-17)
6. The Holy Spirit brings comfort, helps us to pray, reveals truth, inspires and illuminates scripture.
7. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to serve the Church, witness to the world, and glorify God.
8. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I want to highlight one aspect of the fruit today: love. Followers of Jesus are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are commanded to love our enemy. This means if you call yourself a Christian, you are to love Republicans, Democrats, atheists, members of ICE, immigrants, Jews, Palestinians, Asians, LGBTQIA persons, Muslims, addicts, …and let’s not forget Wolverines!
I can hardly believe some of the things so-called Christians are saying and posting online. We are not going to all agree on every political candidate or issue. We are going to have different opinions about what to do with legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. We are going to see economics, government, and the second amendment differently.
But we are always called to love—to look out for the best interest of the other person—even when in the flesh you might want to hurt, harm, or hate. That’s the way of the world. The fruit of the Holy Spirit begins with love, and Jesus modeled it perfectly, praying for Roman guards nailing him to a cross.
It’s not easy to love…some people. It’s certainly not easy to love one’s enemies, whoever they may be. But that’s the litmus test of our faith—love. Don’t believe me? Read 1 Corinthians 13. College First, we must be a people of love, first and foremost. It’s about Jesus. He is our example. Don’t get sucked into political idolatry, worldly reactions, or selfish living. Remember the Golden Rule. We love God by loving others.
So What?
We need the Holy Spirit! We can’t love my enemies on my own power. We can’t experience peace by trying harder. We can’t produce joy on our own. One of the oldest prayers of the church is, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Pray it regularly. Seek the fruit. Surrender your will. Make space for the Holy Spirit in your heart.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)
This is not a one-and-done filling, but a continuous filling, like if I say, “Breathe!” We are to breathe constantly and be filled with the Spirit constantly. We make space by confessing our sins (exhale) and welcome the Holy Spirit (inhale), surrendering to the Spirit and receiving the fruit and gifts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
The Holy Spirit is not a force, a ghost, or feeling, but a Person, God, one third of the Trinity. We need the Holy Spirit to know Jesus and become like Jesus. There is life and power and fruit and gifts that the Holy Spirit offers. We simply need to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
February 1, 2026
Acts 1:6-8
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is a vital member of the Trinity seeking to make us like Christ.
Scripture Reading: Acts 1:6-8
In 1977, an emerging filmmaker created a science fiction movie that featured a line that has been quoted for decades, even leading to its own pseudo holiday on May 4:
May the force be with you.
As we continue our series on the Nicene Creed—an ancient statement of faith supported by Christians of all denominations—we turn from the Father and the Son to the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
My name is Kirk and it’s great to be back after being in Kenya training pastors. It was a fruitful trip, though it was a shock to the system to experience weather 80 degrees cooler when we arrived home! Thank you for your prayers.
Lance Finley and Alex Miller spoke the past two weeks about Jesus, the second member of the Trinity. Today we turn to the Holy Spirit.
There’s a lot of mystery and even fear concerning the Holy Spirit. Some think the Spirit is a force, as in Star Wars. This is not true. A force is ambiguous or nebulous, but the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a feeling, not an indifference or ambivalent element.
The Holy Spirit is not a ghost. The original Hebrew word, ruach, can be translated breath or wind. Visually, the Spirit is sometimes depicted as a dove, a reference to Jesus’ baptism.
We first see the Spirit mentioned in the second verse of the Bible.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2)
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—do life together, not unlike the biblical model of the family—mom, dad, and child. There is a synergy that exists when relationships are healthy, a mutual satisfaction resulting in the flourishing of all.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
If you will allow me to nerd out for just a moment, I’ve been saying the Nicene Creed has been embraced by all Christians—Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant—with one exception. Here it is! Notice the brackets. Does the Spirit proceed from the Father or from the Father and the Son? Listen to this from the Colson Center:
The word filioque is Latin for “and the Son,” as in, “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This is from the Nicene Creed, a widely accepted summary of Christian doctrine, which emerged from the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and was finalized at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. The original text read only “who proceeds from the Father.” However, over subsequent generations, Christians in Western Europe included “... and the Son.” Eastern Christians did not.
Those three words in English, (and just one in Latin) carry enormous theological weight. Though other issues were at play, this was the final straw that led the Pope in Rome and the Patriarch in Constantinople to mutual excommunicate each other in 1054. For Western Christians, at issue is preserving the unity of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, who always works in the Name of Christ. For Eastern Christians, it’s a question of authority. For both, at stake is how best to understand the inner workings of the Godhead. Though certainly an issue of theological precision, the filioque is a matter of no small theological importance.
In other words, Orthodox Christians have a slightly different understanding of the Holy Spirit than Catholics and Protestants. You could spend days researching the ramifications of those three bracketed words. They don’t impact our salvation or practice, but it’s worth noting the theological difference it presents.
Theologian Michael Bird writes,
The divine persons have distinct operations or works appropriate to who they are, that is, the Father is the Creator, the Son is the redeemer, and the Spirit is renewer. But even then, their operations are inseparable, namely, the Father involves the Son and the Spirit in what he does, the Son is the Son of the Father and the bearer and dispenser of the Spirit, and the Spirit is sent by the Father through the Son.
The Holy Spirit is visible throughout the Old Testament, from the second verse of the Bible to helping Joseph interpret dreams in Egypt to giving builders skill to craft the tabernacle and its furniture to encounters with Balaam, Samson, King Saul, and the prophet Micaiah.
It’s not until Acts 2 that the Spirit is simultaneously present in every follower of Jesus. In our text for today, Jesus predicts the coming of the Holy Spirit.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is a fantastic verse revealing the spread of the gospel from its epicenter in Jerusalem to eventually the ends of the earth. It forms a great metaphor for our mission to love, equip, and send as our Jerusalem is obviously Findlay and Hancock County, it includes the Great Lakes Conference covering Ohio and Michigan, moves throughout our nation, and encompasses the world, including Haiti, Kenya, and Thailand.
You can read about the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost in the next chapter, Acts 2. It describes the birth of the Church which we will celebrate on May 24. So what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
1. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to the world. (John 16:8-11)
2. The Holy Spirit glorifies and reveals Jesus. (John 16:12-15)
3. The Holy Spirit enables us to confess Jesus is Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:3b)
4. The Holy Spirit gives us new birth. (John 3:5-6)
5. The Holy Spirit gives us a new life and a new status as children of God. (Romans 8:10-17)
6. The Holy Spirit brings comfort, helps us to pray, reveals truth, inspires and illuminates scripture.
7. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to serve the Church, witness to the world, and glorify God.
8. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I want to highlight one aspect of the fruit today: love. Followers of Jesus are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are commanded to love our enemy. This means if you call yourself a Christian, you are to love Republicans, Democrats, atheists, members of ICE, immigrants, Jews, Palestinians, Asians, LGBTQIA persons, Muslims, addicts, …and let’s not forget Wolverines!
I can hardly believe some of the things so-called Christians are saying and posting online. We are not going to all agree on every political candidate or issue. We are going to have different opinions about what to do with legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. We are going to see economics, government, and the second amendment differently.
But we are always called to love—to look out for the best interest of the other person—even when in the flesh you might want to hurt, harm, or hate. That’s the way of the world. The fruit of the Holy Spirit begins with love, and Jesus modeled it perfectly, praying for Roman guards nailing him to a cross.
It’s not easy to love…some people. It’s certainly not easy to love one’s enemies, whoever they may be. But that’s the litmus test of our faith—love. Don’t believe me? Read 1 Corinthians 13. College First, we must be a people of love, first and foremost. It’s about Jesus. He is our example. Don’t get sucked into political idolatry, worldly reactions, or selfish living. Remember the Golden Rule. We love God by loving others.
So What?
We need the Holy Spirit! We can’t love my enemies on my own power. We can’t experience peace by trying harder. We can’t produce joy on our own. One of the oldest prayers of the church is, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Pray it regularly. Seek the fruit. Surrender your will. Make space for the Holy Spirit in your heart.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)
This is not a one-and-done filling, but a continuous filling, like if I say, “Breathe!” We are to breathe constantly and be filled with the Spirit constantly. We make space by confessing our sins (exhale) and welcome the Holy Spirit (inhale), surrendering to the Spirit and receiving the fruit and gifts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
The Holy Spirit is not a force, a ghost, or feeling, but a Person, God, one third of the Trinity. We need the Holy Spirit to know Jesus and become like Jesus. There is life and power and fruit and gifts that the Holy Spirit offers. We simply need to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.”