Jesus has said that disciples walking with him will be like a city on a hill which cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). Listen to this sermon as Dr. Jay Harvey explores how Israel’s time in Exile informs the Church’s understanding of what it means to be a new kind of community in Jesus Christ — a city within a city that nurtures those inside it and blesses those outside of it. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram , YouTube , ...
Jan 05, 2025
In the beginning of Matthew's gospel, we see Mary fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (God with us)." Matthew explains to his readers that God has always been with his people throughout all of history — in the past, present, and future. Specifically, Matthew shows that all of the Trinity — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit — is Immanuel. Listen to this sermon as pastoral resident Hansol Kang helps us see h...
Dec 29, 2024
It certainly counters biblical teaching that once you profess faith in Jesus, it doesn’t matter how you live. Faith is not a license to excuse sin and dismiss it as simply a part of the human condition. The ancient theologian Pelagius knew this, and it drove much of his ideology. But what Pelagius failed to understand was where one finds the power and ability to live a life of obedience to God. Listen to this sermon as we consider how the gospel of grace is the only way to a virtuous life. _____...
Dec 22, 2024
The Bible is clear that Jesus is the Son of God. But many biblical characteristics of Jesus have, throughout history, been analyzed and debated. For the ancient theologian Arius, one of those characteristics was the essence — or the substance — of Jesus. Was Jesus simply the greatest of all created beings, or was he of the same substance as God the Father? Listen to this sermon as we consider how getting the essence of Jesus right doesn’t just settle a theological debate; it revolutionizes our k...
Dec 15, 2024
Christianity is the only world religion with a God who experiences the weakness, temptation, and suffering of humanity. That also means Christianity is the only world religion with a God who has become like us so he can make us like him. So what if, as some have argued in the past, Jesus appeared human but wasn’t actually human? Does it matter whether the baby whose birth we celebrate this month was actually fully God and fully man? Listen to this sermon as we consider how the human incarnation ...
Dec 08, 2024
The Christian doctrine of the incarnation — God taking on human flesh in the person of his Son, Jesus — is a central teaching of the faith. But there has been some debate throughout theological history over whether Jesus was the Son of God by nature, or if, being born a mere human, he was then adopted as God’s Son. While this may seem like a minor distinction, rightly understanding Jesus’ deity and his relationship to God the Father has massive implications for the salvation of the world. Listen...
Dec 01, 2024
The Christian life requires something of us. We do have to invest time, energy, and effort into living according to God’s Word. But in the end, even when we are faithless, he is faithful. Even when we fail, his promises remain true. Listen to this sermon as we consider how the gospel and only the gospel ignites our worship, so that we might find our deepest joy and delight in Jesus. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram , ...
Nov 24, 2024
Just like the Church today, the New Testament Church was made up of sinful people who couldn’t escape conflict and controversy. The apostle Paul sought to address these issues, but he also didn’t write the Church off as a lost cause because of them. Listen to this sermon as we consider how Paul’s encouragement for the early Church to multiply their ministry can be applied to us today. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram ...
Nov 17, 2024
The biblical concept of the day of the Lord — Jesus’ second coming — is defined by judgment, justice, and even wrath. And on top of that, we are told no one knows the hour or the day it will happen. So how is there any hope in that? The hope lies in the reality that God’s judgment, justice, and wrath are in opposition to sin, evil, and injustice — against which God has already issued the ultimate blow. Listen to this sermon as we consider the encouragement that comes from anticipating God’s prom...
Nov 10, 2024
Even for Christians, death is a difficult subject. But for those who have no hope beyond this life, facing death personally or through the loss of a loved one can feel devastating and even crippling. Which is why it was so challenging for the new believers in Thessalonica to shift their perspective on death. Listen to this sermon as we hear how the apostle Paul instructs the early Church believers — and us — to take heart in the hope of the resurrection. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletter...
Nov 03, 2024
When the early Church embraced the gospel and the good news that Jesus would one day come again to bring redemption to the world, they struggled to see why their work on earth mattered. In the apostle Paul’s addressing of their questions, he helps us see that there is inherent dignity in our work, and also that the way in which we work can be a means of giving glory to God. Listen to this sermon as we consider how the gospel inspires our work. _______ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Vis...
Oct 27, 2024
The early Church believers in Thessalonica wrestled with many of the same questions we ask God today, so when they faced confusion over how to honor God with their bodies, Paul’s instruction to them delivers truth to us as well. The biblical sexual ethic may have a restrictive, negative, and life-denying reputation, but it actually frees us unto a holiness already secured for us in Jesus. Listen to this sermon as we explore the life-giving effects of being wholly devoted to God. ________ Sign up...
Oct 20, 2024
The book of 1 Thessalonians — and likewise many books of the New Testament — are actually letters, written by the apostle Paul to the early Church believers whom he loved with an inspirational love. In addition to instruction and guidance, we see in his words an outpouring of passionate care and concern worth embodying. Listen to this sermon as we consider the intense, exemplary love of Paul — and more importantly, the Good News out of which it was born. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletter...
Oct 13, 2024
The history of God’s people is one of abundant blessing but not without exile, persecution, and hardship. At every point throughout the biblical narrative, God’s people have found themselves in need of comfort. And in those moments, the almighty, all powerful creator of the universe has gently embraced his children and held them in his loving arms with a comfort that believers even today can, in turn, extend to a world in need. Listen to this sermon as guest preacher N.T. Wright leads us in cons...
Oct 06, 2024
“Mission” in the Christian context is commonly perceived as a unique and extreme calling for a select group of people. But in fact, all Christians are called to participate in God’s mission, and thankfully the Bible — and the life of Jesus — provides us with all the guidance we need to do it. Listen to this sermon as we consider the who, what, why, and how of God’s mission. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram , YouTube ,...
Sep 29, 2024
Faith can prove most challenging when we face circumstances that leave little rationale for hope. But in those instances, it is actually our faith itself that helps us to discern God’s activity, confront our doubts, and become more dependent upon him. Watch this sermon from guest preacher Rev. Michael Davis as we consider the many functions of faith — and the one who gives it to us. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram , ...
Sep 22, 2024
Last week we saw that the good news of the gospel transforms the lives of every individual who receives it. So what then? Do those individuals walk their individual paths of faith for the remainder of their days? Joyfully we see that the identity, responsibility, and destiny that the gospel transfers to believers has a communal element, because the gospel creates a unique community meant to walk the journey of faith together. Listen to this sermon as we consider the beauty of Christian community...
Sep 15, 2024
The nature of good news is that it communicates that something has happened that changes your situation for the better. But good news rarely ends with good news. It signifies change, it motivates action, and it establishes a future that is uniquely different from the past in an exciting and unchangeable way. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ does exactly that for those who receive it. Listen to this sermon as we consider the power of the gospel to transform our lives and the lives of t...
Sep 08, 2024
One shared experience across all of humanity is the desire to be chosen. It’s built into who we are, whether we own it or not. For this reason, the biblical story of Saul’s encounter with Jesus is both intriguing and attractive. Saul of all people would have never chosen Jesus, but for that reason, Jesus chose him. Listen to this sermon from pastoral resident Alan Charnock as we consider how, in Jesus himself being chosen, charged, and changed, we see the blueprint for Saul’s life and for our ow...
Sep 01, 2024
When we have needs, we are painfully aware of them. Sometimes they feel truly debilitating, and often they leave us feeling weak and helpless. But is it possible there’s someone who knows our deepest need even better than we know it ourselves? Listen to this sermon from guest preacher Scott Redd as we consider the one who not only knows our true needs but is the sole agent in meeting them. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Insta...
Aug 25, 2024
No matter what our lives look like on the outside, we all have areas of shame. We have wounds that need healing, burdens that need compassion, and transgressions that need deliverance. Listen to this sermon from guest preacher Erik Bonkovsky as we consider the savior who looks for us, listens to us, and moreso, loves us enough to be our solution when everything else falls short. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram , YouT...
Aug 18, 2024
Jesus is a curious character. His life, his works, and his words stand out and pique interest. Sometimes for the most unsuspecting person, in the most unsuspecting circumstances, curiosity is a catalyst for an encounter with Jesus. And sometimes, in our curious seeking, it turns out Jesus has also been seeking us. Listen to this sermon as we consider the patient pursuit of a seeking savior. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Inst...
Aug 11, 2024
We are people driven to distraction, living in an age of distraction. As such, simplification does not happen naturally. But Jesus advocates for us to simplify our focus, because when we busy ourselves, we are driven away from him. Listen to this sermon from guest preacher Brent Harriman as we consider the one thing that’s necessary. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram , YouTube , and Facebook ....
Aug 04, 2024
When we truly understand the gospel deep in our bones, it has powerful and life-changing ramifications. When we see Jesus clearly and comprehend his love and forgiveness, we respond with unabashed gratitude. Listen to this sermon from guest preacher Marshall Brown as we consider God’s beautifully overwhelming grace. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram , YouTube , and Facebook ....
Jul 28, 2024
In the biblical accounts of Jesus’ interactions with others, he emerges as somewhat of a disruptor — not in a bad way, but in a way that challenges conventional wisdom and thinking in his day and in our own. When Jesus encounters the rich young ruler, it’s his demands that are disruptive. Listen to this sermon as we see how Jesus’ extraordinary demands illuminate the truth about God’s incredible goodness and love. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn...
Jul 21, 2024
When we think about children, we usually think of them in terms of their naivety and their dependence upon adults to survive and thrive in the world. But adults have much to learn from children, and in particular, Christians have much to learn from the simplistic, humble, receptive nature of childlike faith. Listen to this sermon as we consider what Jesus has to teach us through his interactions with children. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our website to learn mor...
Jul 14, 2024
The Bible is full of examples of faith, many of which are particularly unlikely and uniquely inspiring. One such example is the unnamed centurion in Matthew 8. His story illustrates not only that you don’t have to fit a particular mold to have faith, but also that in response to faith alone, Jesus can and will act in miraculous ways. Listen to this sermon as we explore the empowering simplicity of faith in a powerful savior. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here . Visit us on our websi...
Jul 07, 2024
One consequence of the human condition is that we are all in need of healing. Things are broken in our lives, and at almost any given moment, we are either consciously or subconsciously looking for a way to improve that. There are many options to which we can turn — but only one option that can deliver. Do you want to be healed? If the answer is yes, listen to this sermon as we consider how the tiniest bit of faith in the true source of healing is all it takes. ________ Sign up for Central’s new...
Jun 30, 2024
The sovereignty of God can be incredibly comforting, but in the face of suffering, it can also be perplexing. What do we do when we know God is in our circumstances, but we don’t like them? The Old Testament prophet Elijah, in his own moments of need, encountered the sovereign, living God. In turn, God used him to bring grace, truth, and life to others — foreshadowing an even greater prophet to come, who would offer deliverance and life to all. Listen to this sermon as we consider the power of t...
Jun 23, 2024
Colloquially, religion is often synonymous with morality. When people reference major world religions, regardless of how much they know about the ins and outs of the faith, there is an awareness that each aims for morality in its own way. But the foundation of the Christian faith is one person — Jesus — bearing wrongs he did not commit. It’s God justifying the ungodly. Isn’t that wrong? Isn’t that immoral? Listen to this sermon as we consider the morality of the gospel. ________ Sign up for Cent...
Jun 16, 2024
