The God of the Middle – Pastor Brian Cassell
Spring Meadows Seventh-Day Adventist Church: Briefing Document – July 12, 2025
I. Key Themes and Sermon Focus: “The God of The Middle”
The central theme of this Communion Sabbath service, delivered by Pastor Brian Cassell, is “The God of The Middle.” This concept explores God’s presence and work in the “in-between” spaces of life—specifically, between a witnessed miracle and an upcoming mission or challenge.
- God’s Presence in the In-Between: The sermon emphasizes that “we serve a God a loving gracious God who is the God of the middle.” This “middle” is often perceived as a “place of need of desperation or negativity,” but it is precisely where God operates and does his “deepest work.”
- Biblical Parallel – Israel at Jordan and Jericho: The sermon uses the biblical narrative of Israel after crossing the Jordan River but before conquering Jericho. They were “between a miracle and a mission,” “between their past and God’s promise.”
- Stepping into Uncertainty: The Jordan River was “rushing fast” and “overran its banks,” presenting an “impossible barrier.” God instructed the priests to “step right into guess what the raging deadly waters” before they parted, illustrating that “the waters will not part for us until we take the step and obey.”
- The Miracle of Dry Ground: As soon as the priests’ feet touched the water, the Jordan “stood still and rose up in a heap very far away,” allowing “all Israel crossed over on dry ground.” This demonstrates that “it is in the midst of the waters in the midst of the places of uncertainty that God is present.”
- God’s Delays as Preparation: After crossing the Jordan, God did not immediately send Israel to Jericho. Instead, He had them “pause for spiritual renewal through circumcision and remembrance and worship through Passover.” This highlights that “God often pauses us before he propels us.” These “delays are not denials or punishments… They are preparations.”
- Shifting from Miraculous Provision to Partnership: The sermon notes that the manna ceased after Israel entered Canaan. This signifies a transition from “miraculous provision to partnering with him in promise.” It’s a call to maturity, to “transition our trust” from the “miracle” to the “miracle worker,” learning to cooperate and journey with God in new seasons.
- God as “I AM” – The God of the Present: The sermon reiterates God’s name, “I am that I am,” to emphasize that “He is here in the now.” This present moment, even if “unfinished” or “unclear,” is “sacred holy ground because God is here.”
II. Communion and Remembrance
Communion is a central element of the service, deeply connected to the sermon’s theme of remembrance and the cross.
- Purpose of Communion: The Lord’s Supper is a “sacred celebration” that “takes us closest to the cross with view of what has been done there for us” and “proclaims God’s death Jesus’s death until he comes again.” It is a “looking backwards and a looking forwards at the same time.”
- Critique of Routine Celebration: Paul’s criticism of the Corinthian church’s celebration of the Lord’s Supper is cited, where “what should have been a symbol of their unity became evidence of their disunity.” The sermon applies this by urging attendees not to let “a sacred celebration become routine and familiar.”
- Open Communion and Children’s Participation: Spring Meadows practices “open communion,” welcoming “whoever you are” to participate. Grapes are provided for children “who may not be partaking of the emblems today but we want them to be included in our service.”
- Symbolism of Emblems:Bread: Represents Jesus’s “body broken for us,” to be received and absorbed, allowing His “grace, your love, your goodness, your mercy, your character, your mind, your life lived in out and through us.”
- Cup: Represents “the blood of my new covenant which is shed for many,” and a reminder to “always invite you to fill our hearts fully.”
- Footwashing (Ordinance of Humility): This precedes the main communion service, a “time where we seek fresh cleansing both spiritually and relationally if necessary towards one another.”
III. Church Life and Announcements
The service includes various announcements and details about the Spring Meadows Seventh-Day Adventist Church community.
- Welcome and Introductions: The service began with a welcome from the Batista family (Camille and Henry) filling in for Christine, who was ill.
- Sermon Series Theme: The overarching sermon series for the year is “Rooted in Christ,” based on Colossians 2:6-7, focusing on “growing up into Jesus being rooted in him” and “abounding in grace towards one another with thanksgiving.” This quarter’s theme is “growing together growing in the community of believers in Christ Jesus.”
- Upcoming Events:Food Pantry Ministry: Meeting in the fellowship hall for a potluck lunch, with extra food available. Interest meeting for those who want to join. Donations of plastic/paper grocery bags, canned vegetables, rice, and bottled juice are requested.
- Beach Vespers: Tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Ponson and Winter Haven Park. Look for church flags.
- EMU (Youth Event): This coming Wednesday at Fort Melon Park splash pad, $2 per person. Contact Pastor Alex for questions.
- iRecite: Friday, July 18, at 7:30 pm in the Boggess Chapel.
- YA Beach Day: Sunday, July 20, at 10:00 am at Cocoa Beach (@SMCYoungAdults on Instagram).
- High School Lake Day: Sunday, July 27. Contact Pastor Oso.
- Family Sunday Beach Day: Sunday, August 3, at Ormond Beach Park. Contact Pastor Alex Harter.
- JOY (Just Older Youth) 55+: River Boat Tour and potluck picnic on Sunday, August 10, at 10:00 am (arrival: 9:30 am).
- Camp Kulaqua Church Retreat 2025: Friday, November 7, to Sunday, November 9. Registration forms are available online and at the welcome desk.
- Pastoral and Church Staff: The bulletin lists the church staff, including Senior Pastor Brian Cassell, Associate Pastors Shane Davis, Alex Harter, and Jonathan Osorio, Head Elder Michael Fogg, Finance Committee Chairman Brad Hillmon, Treasurer Berkley Moss, and Church Administrator Miriam Cassell.
- Sabbath School Classes: Various classes meet at 9:30 AM, catering to different age groups and interests (e.g., Young Professional, Adult, Russian Language, Parent, Children’s classes).
- Offerings:Loose offering for the church budget.
- Specific offering for the “General Conference Digital Mission Digital Strategy towards mission,” recognizing how the “mission field has expanded in new and different ways over the internet.”
- A separate offering will be collected at the back doors for the “member assistance fund” to help the needy in the church.
- Prayer: Attendees are encouraged to bring forward prayer requests. Elders are available for special prayer after the service at the front of the Sanctuary.
- Contact Information: Office hours are Thursday-Friday, 9 am-12 pm. Office email: office@springmeadows.org, Phone: (407) 327-1190.
- Social Media: Instagram: @Springmeadowschurch, Facebook: Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist Church, Young Adult Instagram: @SMCYoungAdults, Youth Instagram: @SMCYouthFamily.
- Gladys Neigel Memorial Service: On July 19th at 5:00 p.m. in the Bogus Chapel. Gladys Nigel passed away on July 9th and was part of the Florida Conference Communication Department. Her family, Christina and James Meyers, are members. The church asks for thoughts and prayers for the Neigel family.
IV. Spiritual Takeaways
- Power in the Blood: The hymn “Power in the Blood” was sung, emphasizing the transformative and cleansing power of Jesus’s sacrifice.
- Thanksgiving and Worship for Victory: The sermon stresses that “It is only when we begin to experience thanksgiving and worship that we’ll ever experience victory and strongholds coming down in our life. The joy of the Lord is our strength.”
- Trust in God’s Present Work: The core message encourages believers to trust God in their current “in-between” season, recognizing that “God does his deepest work between the water and the walls in our lives.”
- Reconsecration: The communion Sabbath is a time for the community to “reconsecrate our hearts to the Lord today.”
Other Sermons In This Series
Rooted in the Word – Pastor Alex Harter
January 04, 2025
Beginnings Matter – Pastor Jonathan Osorio
January 18, 2025