Author: Central Christian Church

August 12, 2013

A Resurrected Jesus

Latest blog from Pastor Matt

strive4theprize's avatarOne Man's Quest

John 20. John’ account of the resurrection. As I reflected on the sermon this week, I wondered why John includes this episode. The Synoptics seemed to have it covered, so John must have a theological purpose in including it. Somehow it must be vital to the story. We’ve pointed out some of those things like the fact that the relationship between the disciples and Jesus has changed from that of friend to brother…as believers we have a familial relationship with Father God. We also noted that the disciples were given new life when Jesus breathed the Spirit on them. And Thomas’ statement, “My Lord and My God” points to Jesus as both human and divine. Three extremely important theological reasons to include this episode which will be further developed by Paul. But John wraps those truths in a story that includes characters who respond in very different ways to Jesus’…

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March 20, 2012

Believe


Believe

I can’t believe
That in spite of what I’ve done
And how I chose to live
He’d send His perfect Son

I can’t believe
That the One who bore my shame
Could watch me drive the nails
And want to end my pain

But when my hope was lost
And my pride was torn away
I heard a whisper shake the heavens
Calling me by name!

Though I
Know that I’m unworthy,
By Your grace You want to save me
And give me hope again
Lord I,
Know that You are holy
By your Son You want to know me
And save me from my sin
If I believe…
If I believe…

Now I believe
And because of what He’s done
I’ll live my life for Him
And glorify His Son

Now I believe
That the hands once pierced by me
Have broken off my chains
And set my spirit free

Now I know when life is lost
And I’m standing at His gates
I’ll hear the voice that calmed the oceans
Welcome me by name!

Though I
Know that I’m unworthy
By Your love You chose to save me
And gave me hope again
Lord I,
Know that You are holy
By Your Son You chose to know me
You gave me life again
When I believed…
When I believed…

I believe…

August 21, 2011

No Man Left Behind

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Men’s summit at Central.  I had no idea what to expect, but the reality was far better than anything that I imagined.  One of the things that surprised me the most was the turn out.  I assumed that several guys would show up for the event, but I was stunned to walk into a sanctuary packed with tables of more than 350 men!  It was also great to see that we had attendees ranging in age from young teens all the way through the 70’s.  After all, one of the main themes of the Summit revolved around the fact that older generations of men need to pass on godly disciplines and wisdom to the younger generations.

Friday evening kicked off with beef sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, chips, and cookies!  A big thanks goes out to all of the women who volunteered their time to put together the glorious meals that we enjoyed over the weekend.  We also enjoyed a time of worship led by Scott Sturdyvin and the worship team.  Imagine the sound of men’s voices, 350 strong, raised in unison to praise the God who has no equal.  It was a truly powerful experience!



The majority of the time this weekend was devoted to discussion panels which covered the topics of church vision, devotion, discipleship, doing life, and men’s studies.  Various church leaders were chosen to speak on these topics and shed light on what Central is doing in each area.  I am sure that every man there took away something different from the discussions, but there were a couple of things that stood out to me.
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First, guys tend to think that in order to be a real man, you have to go through life without the help and support of fellow-men.  The reality is that God’s plan is just the opposite!  God’s word and Jesus’ example tell us that men are designed to fellowship with each other, to build one another up, and to help bear each other’s burdens.  If there is an area in life that you are struggling with, you should have a few close christian friends that you can rely on to pray for you and encourage you.

Secondly, guys tend to struggle these days with being real men!  Some startling statistics were shared that really caught me off guard.  Did you know that the number of men in their 30’s who still live at home with their parents has grown exponentially over the past 20 years?  Did you know that the average video game user is 35?  Those are just two examples among many that show the alarming trend of men postponing their transition into adulthood.  So what happens when we no longer have men?  The world, and the church in particular, suffer.  When guys fail to step into the roles left by previous generations, leaders become scarce, core values begin to vanish, and future generations begin to forget what really matters in this life.  One quote from the weekend drives this point home very nicely:  “If you are failing to lead, you are leading to failure.”


So what can we do to change the crash course that we are headed on guys?  Invest in each other.  Invest in your sons.
 Invest in the body of believers.  Learn from those who are older and wiser.  It is time to stand up and take on the role of a leader.  I know that can sound like quite a challenge, but remember…you have more than 300 brothers-in-arms in our church alone!  Changing our city and our world can seem daunting, but this weekend I witnessed first hand that God can call up an army of His own.  Strong christian men united with a common goal are a force to be reckoned with.  It seems rather convenient to pull out one of my favorite quotes in light of the turn out that we had at the Summit…

“If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire!”   ~  John Wesley

For all of those that could not make it to the Summit, we will see you next year!

August 14, 2011

The Gallery Service Returns!

Did you know that Central Christian provides two types of Sunday services?  While most people are familiar with the main services in the church sanctuary, there is another option for those that enjoy a more contemporary style of worship.  The leadership at Central recognized the need for a service of this type and launched what we now know as the “Gallery” service.  The Gallery meets each Sunday at 10:45 and has attracted an ever-growing group of regular attenders.

So what can you expect if you decide to visit the Gallery?  You can expect to meet a group of people who share a common theme… a love for God and each other!  While the Gallery service shares the same basic structure as the main Sunday morning services (worship, teaching, communion, etc.), the setting is a bit more intimate and less formal.  Despite what you may think, this service is not just for the young folks!  If you join us, you will be surrounded by teens, college students, the career crowd, and those of us that are a bit more…seasoned.  In fact, I would guess that the Gallery plays host to representatives from just about every generation currently attending Central Christian!

So what are you waiting for?  Come on by next Sunday and join us for great music, worship, and teaching.  Come and be encouraged in your daily walk, and meet like-minded believers.  If you think that church “just isn’t for you” for one reason or another, we invite you to join us and see what the Gallery is all about.  If you are anything like me, you will leave the service wishing for more and feeling like you found your home!

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” ~ Hebrews 10:25

June 11, 2011

Acts 2 Yard Sale!

The second chapter of Acts talks about how the believers in the early church sold their possessions to provide for those in need.  That was a great idea back then, and it is a great idea today!  In an effort to help members of Central Christian who may be struggling to make ends meet during this economy, Central hosted a church yard sale!  Starting at 7:00 this morning, Central began to sell items donated by the congregation.  I arrived just after eight (I am too old to wake up early) and was very impressed by the vast array of merchandise available for such fantastic prices.  Stretched down the length of the church was a variety of clothing, furniture, electronics, games, toys, movies, books, and more!  I checked in with Wade Little, a volunteer that I have spotted at several church functions, who filled me in on some of the details.  The Acts 2 program is designed to do exactly what the early church had in mind.  The proceeds of the sale will be collected and distributed to church members that have fallen on hard times and are in need of outside help.

I am sure that all of us have been affected in some way by the recession that we are going through.  Some have lost jobs, some have lost homes, some are clinging desperately to hope, and all could use the help of fellow believers.   Did you know that the church takes an Acts 2 offering each month?   That means that if you weren’t able to make it to the sale today to donate or purchase items, you can still make a difference in a practical way!

“They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” ~ Acts 2:45

May 17, 2011

Neighborhood Impact and Trend!

As you may know, Central Christian provides a vast array of ministries to the local community.  If you are anything like I am, you may only have a vague concept of what some of these ministries are all about!  One of the goals for this blog is to shed some light on what exactly goes on here at Central and in our cities.  With that in mind, I will tackle a massive ministry and attempt to clarify its components.  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…

Neighborhood Impact

Neighborhood Impact is a multifaceted ministry provided by a coalition of churches in the Antelope Valley.  The purpose of Neighborhood Impact is to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of those who live in “high-risk” neighborhoods throughout the Antelope Valley.  You may have heard of the “Trend House” or the “Trend Workday” while attending Central.  Although I am fairly new to Central, I have heard these names dropped here and there.  However, did you know that the Trend project is just one of several similar homes that all fall under the umbrella of the Neighborhood Impact alliance?  I had no clue!  My hope is to be able to visit the other homes and dig into even more of what Neighborhood Impact is all about (they provide medical care, emergency training, etc.), but for this blog , lets dive into the home sponsored by Central and take a peek at what goes on there.

I dropped by the Trend house on Thursday to see what I could learn about the ministry and was pleasantly surprised when I pulled up and saw the home.  When the City of Lancaster asked Central to adopt the Trend neighborhood, they rehabilitated the house for the ministry to use!  This snappy looking home now provides a place for many activities available to the children in the neighborhood.  I was given a tour by Concepcion Harris who heads up the ministry.  After an hour of trying to find out all that Trend does, I barely scratched the surface!  Here is what I did learn:

The Trend house is open for kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  On these days, the kids have access to crafts, games, basketball, a growing library, help with homework, healthy snacks, and most importantly, a Bible study!  By providing these activities, the staff is able to get involved in the lives of the kids to provide the stability so desperately needed in so many cases.  By demonstrating the love of Christ in such practical ways, the ministry is able to reach the neighborhood in ways that would otherwise be impossible!

I asked Concepcion and the other staff members if there was anything that they needed to support the efforts at Trend.  They mentioned that they are always happy to receive school supplies and other items, and they are very thankful for the generosity of the Central membership, but what they really need is time!  They are hoping to increase the effectiveness of Trend by opening three days per week, but staff is spread too thin.  If you have a heart for children and are looking for a ministry to become involved in, I would encourage you to contact Concepcion (charris@centralchristian.org) to find out how you can help!  Obviously I’ve done a frightfully inadequate job of communicating all that goes on at Trend, but hopefully this blog will inspire someone out there to consider helping out with this awesome cause.

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”  –  Mark 9:36-37

May 4, 2011

Homeless Guests…

The homeless ministry of Central Christian began when several people from the church got together and began to take sack lunches out into the community to distribute food directly to the homeless in our valley.  That ministry still exists today, and it has also grown to include a weekly dinner that is hosted at the church and open to anyone that needs help, a full stomach, and encouragement.  I did a bit of checking and was shocked to learn that as of 2009, there were nearly 2,500 people known to be homeless in the Antelope Valley alone.  I had no idea that there were so many people in our area in need of so much.  When I learned that there was a ministry aimed at meeting those needs I had to check it out.  As a result, I showed up at the weekly dinner to see what I could learn, and to see what the church was doing to help out!

I was not sure what to expect that Thursday, but I was amazed by the coordination of volunteers and food providers, the number of guests, and the scope of the endeavor as a whole!  I quickly learned that there are several ways for individuals and small groups to get involved.  The church is on the lookout for people to help out by bringing the food, serving drinks, manning food stations, staffing the kitchen, and even enjoying a meal with the guests as a table leader.  Thanks to a sophisticated online system, the available positions are listed, updated, and easy to sign up for.  In fact, if you choose to bring food for the other volunteers to serve, the system will even show you where to get it, what to get, and how much it will likely cost!  Fellow tech geeks rejoice!  My wife accompanied me on my visit and volunteered as a table leader while I attacked the other volunteers with questions about the ministry.

Although the weekly dinners are a fairly recent development, the word is quickly getting out.  The dining area was outfitted with seats for 80 guests, and by my estimation, we had barely enough seating for all those that arrived.  At about five o’clock the folks that volunteered to bring the food began to arrive.  Any food that is meant to be served hot is brought to the church ready to serve and kept in the kitchen until needed out front.  Just before the doors opened at 6:00, all of the volunteers met for a quick word of prayer for the meal and the guests.  As we joined hands in prayer, I looked around the room and was overcome by the joy so plainly evident in the faces of those that showed up to serve.  So many people in the church are looking for the missing piece in their spiritual walk.  So many people come to church, tithe regularly, attend Sunday school, and wonder why they still feel empty.  I would suggest to you that finding a way to serve in the body of believers and working to advance God’s purposes may be what you need!

When the guests began to line up, the first thing that I noticed was the diversity of the people that needed help.  Elderly folks, families, and small children all stood in line and expressed their gratitude for the food and the friendly faces that were there to serve them.  When their plates had been filled, they made their way to one of several tables and sat down to enjoy the meal.  Place mats with bible verses and drawings were provided by the young children at the church and brought a smile to many of the guests as they were seated.  Volunteers who opted for the table leader position were in place at the tables to chat with those who wanted to and to encourage those that needed it.  Although my wife is very shy and not nearly as outgoing and obnoxious as I am, she ended up at a table with the task of striking up conversations with the guests.  I knew that was way outside of her comfort zone, but she was determined to grow and had a great time!

As we headed home at the conclusion of the night, my wife told me about the prayer requests from a couple at her table.  She had tears in her eyes when she told me that although the couple was in obvious need, every one of their requests was for the needs and hurts of someone else.  What a convicting eye-opener!  There are so many things in life that we take for granted.  A car to drive us to work, a computer to write an article, shoes on our feet, and a roof over our heads can seem to us like the basic necessities of life, but those things can all be gone in an instant.  True contentment flows from God and is something that we should all be striving for on a daily basis.

If you or your small group would like to get involved with this or any other ministry opportunity, please contact Cyndy Chapin (cchapin@centralchristian.org ) at the church office and sign up today!