Pastor Matt

February 24, 2015

Easter Devotional – February 24

Matthew 3:1-12

The Preaching of John the Baptist

3 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

4 Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

As we continue on our journey, more than 25 years later, we meet up with John the Baptist…also prophesied about in the Old Testament, who happens to be Jesus’ cousin. The cousin of the Messiah! Can you even imagine!?! And John, while being the greatest man who ever lived, talks about “the” Messiah as, “Someone much more powerful, more worthy…and He will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” John the Baptist came saying “REPENT!…the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”…prepare the way – remove the obstacles, get ready to meet the Messiah.

And this is what some people are doing, they are coming to John to repent and be baptized.

Others, however, (the Pharisees and Sadducees) are not. And to them he gives a warning – you can’t rely on your family for your faith – you may be Abraham’s children, but you need to personally repent, for YOU are personally responsible to bear good fruit!

What?!?

They thought they were shoe-ins because of Dad, but it is only by faith in Jesus, the Messiah.

How are you preparing your heart, your life, for the coming Messiah? Have you relied on your parents’ faith or have you personally repented and given your heart over to Jesus? Take some time to take stock of your heart, your faith.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being powerful and completely worthy. Show me what it means to completely rely on You.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

February 23, 2015

Easter Devotional – February 23

As Easter quickly approaches, and it will be quick, let’s take some time to walk through Jesus’ life. Although this journey through Matthew begins with Jesus’ birth, the story begins way before that. If you’ve heard any of our Genesis series, you know that the hope for Jesus was proclaimed in Genesis 3:15…the head-crushing seed of the woman.

Jump ahead to Mary and Joseph and the story of the fulfillment of the first advent.

 

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Conception and Birth of Jesus

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Here we see Joseph’s perspective of Jesus’ birth. First, Mary tells him a story fit for a soap opera, then he has a dream that verifies it! This Child is the Messiah that’s been so long expected…prophesied about throughout history. Mary and Joseph had no idea how this was all going to work out. They were just an engaged couple, chosen by God to bring the Messiah into the world.

They had to trust God with their entire lives. They had to allow God to take over, to change the course of their lives as they had planned it.

Are you open to that…in the midst of your plans? Are you open to hearing from God? Are you willing to allow Him to speak into your life…and transform it?

Prayer: God, as I read Your Word over the next 40 days, help me to hear Your voice and be willing to allow You to transform my life. Help me to discover more about who You are in order for me to live and love like You.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

 

February 17, 2015

An Examined Life

Genesis 47

Socrates, a 4th century B.C. Greek philosopher, once famously said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Of course we understand what he’s getting at. It’s good to evaluate the impact that we are having on our world…on those around us. Is is good or bad? What changes do I need to make to achieve the desired impact? And while Socrates might be right about an unexamined life, it’s important what lens we use to evaluate that life. Will we, like Jacob, see our days as “few and evil” focusing more on events from an earthy perspective…bad choices I’ve made and the bad choices of others that have afflicted me, or will we see our days from the Father’s perspective, full of promise and potential, the working out of His good purposes, blessing and opportunities to brag on Him?

We are sojourners here. This broken world is not our home. Let us not forget that lest we become settlers, building our own earthy kingdoms instead of investing in God’s eternal kingdom. Though we are sojourners, while we are here, we are called to make impact…not to play it safe in our own little holy huddle, but to storm the gates of hell, as we learn to live and love like Jesus. Keeping the destination in mind allows us to enter into the wild adventure of following Jesus each day, recognizing the blessings He has poured out upon us and finding joy even in the midst of the difficult stops along the way.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster

February 9, 2015

Reunited

Genesis 46

A powerful moment in the life of the chosen family. The next chapter in the life of the family will open in Egypt. Jacob’s faith has been reignited. He has been reunited with Joseph who is back from the dead. It’s a powerful reminder of the love between a father and a son. It’s a picture of the love that the Father has for His Son Jesus…and the love that He has for you and me.

The long-awaited reunion between Jacob and Joseph is the climax of this episode. And for some of us it’s a reminder of a reunion that we’ve been longing for. Maybe you are like Joseph and time and/or circumstances have created distance in a relationship, and the reunion you long for is with a family member or close friend. I want to invite you to make a phone call or send a text. Maybe you are like Jacob and tragedy has caused you to disconnect from your relationship with God and from others in your life, and the reunion you long for is with your heavenly Father. Maybe you’ve disconnected from Him and are longing to come back. I encourage you to follow Jacob’s example…return to the altar, that place of spiritual reconnection and cry out to Him. You will find Him waiting for you and the reminder that His presence is with you. For some us, the reunion we’ve been longing for won’t happen this side of heaven. Maybe it’s a spouse, a sibling, a parent or child, or close friend that has already gone to be with the Lord. My mom died when I was two…and I long to see her. Take some time to process that as well. Praise God that physical death is not the end of our story, but is a transition to eternity with the Father. One day there will be a magnificent reunion, both with our Savior and with those who have gone before.

I love God’s promise to Jacob… “I will be with you.” That promise wasn’t just to Jacob as the patriarch…it was a promise to Israel, the people of God who were on their way to Egypt, a scandalous people that included both a Canaanite and an Egyptian. Praise God that He is still pursuing folks on the fringes, amen?

May you know the love of the Father and the constancy of His presence today.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster

February 2, 2015

The Big Reveal

Genesis 45

Both the boys and Jacob are stunned when they learn that Joseph is alive. But maybe even more stunning is the revelation of God’s work in the events of Joseph’s life. Seeing his circumstances from God’s perspective allows Joseph to properly interpret events and forgive his brothers. Looking back it’s easy to see God’s hand, but what about in the midst of his circumstances…as he was being beaten by his brothers or when he was in the bottom of the pit or when he was sold to the Ishmaelites or to Potiphar, what about when he was falsely accused and spends years in prison, what about when he was forgotten for two years…God’s plans for our good are not always simple and transparent. Often we are tempted to ask, why me? It’s easy to discern God’s will through miracles, signs & wonders, but not so much through ordinary events. As believers we can trust in God to bring about His good purpose despite what others intend. It was true for Joseph, and it’s true in our lives as well. There have been many times in my life that I’ve wondered at the path that God had me on, but looking back I see His fingerprints, guiding and directing my steps. Even in the seeming detours, the wilderness experiences, those were times of preparation for the next phase on the journey.

But what about you? Can you see God’s hand at work in your life? Do you believe that He can bring about His good purposes for you even in the midst of your current trial? It was important for the Israelites to understand that as they marched through the wilderness. It’s important for us to understand as well. Instead of chalking it up to luck or happenstance, we need to seek clarity on what God is up to. His plan often takes us through suffering…Romans 5…but it’s the fastest route to spiritual maturity. It’s the furnace of God’s love that purifies, tests and strengthens our faith, so that we begin to look for like Jesus. Suffering aligns us to Jesus more than anything else.

It struck me that there are two different paths taken to suffering in Joseph’s story. Joseph sees God’s fingerprints all over his circumstances and comes to the incredible conclusion that God is working good in spite of the evil intention of others. Jacob on the other hand, exclaims, “Everything is against me!” For Joseph, his suffering is making him more like Jesus. For Jacob, his suffering puts a pause on his spiritual progress…and it’s over twenty years before he’s back in the game. Don’t let that be you.

I love the picture that Joseph paints of God…He’s not only sovereign over the events of history, He’s also personally involved in the lives of His people. He is gracious and compassionate, a God of mercy. “God sent me ahead to preserve many lives…” It’s a word of life, not death. God in sovereign grace has guided Israel’s history. And God in sovereign grace is guiding our history as well.

My prayer for us…that we would continually be stunned by God’s work in our lives and that we would see clearly the evidences of His handiwork even in the most mundane and ordinary of circumstances.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster

 

January 26, 2015

He’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Jesus

Genesis 44

The climax of the story…Judah is beginning to look a lot like Jesus. He’s willing to sacrifice himself for the good of another. It’s the greatest theme in literature…Katniss and Prim in The Hunger Games, Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, Carton in A Tale of Two Cities just to name a few. In fact Jesus said it this way, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friend.” It’s a picture of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us, taking our place, dying in our stead, so that we might live.

Judah’s willingness to step in and offer himself, and the brothers insistence on returning with Benjamin are evidences of a spiritual transformation that has already begun to take place in their lives. At what point did they become believers…when did they pass from death to life? It’s hard to tell exactly from the story. For Judah it seems to have started with his encounter with Tamar. With the rest of the clan? The process seems to have started when they first met Joseph and were forced to acknowledge their sin. But whenever that was, we see a different character in the boys. Looking out for others. Willing to sacrifice themselves for another’s good. They’re beginning to look a lot like Jesus, too.

That’s what trusting Jesus is all about. It’s not just getting incrementally better. It’s about a total transformation…a new creation…death to life…kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of the beloved Son. God doesn’t save us just so that we could go to heaven. If that was the goal, guess what? You’d already be there. No, He saves us so that we can image Him, we can bear His image, to His creation. He wants to radically change us by His transforming grace so that we live and love like Jesus. It’s a lifelong process that begins the moment we trust Him and continues until we see Him face to face. If you aren’t experiencing that radical change? Maybe like the brothers you are carrying the guilt of unconfessed sin…as a believer you have already been forgiven, but guilt is a grace that tells us something’s wrong. We need to make it right. If we don’t, then our spiritual growth will be stunted…we will never experience the life that God saved us for. But maybe you have never said “yes” to Jesus. Maybe you’ve said “yes” to what your parents, or what your church, or what your friends believe, but you’ve never believed in Jesus yourself. You haven’t passed from death to life yet. But you can. Today could be the day.

May the transforming grace of God cause you and me to look a lot like Jesus today.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster

January 19, 2015

Back to Egypt

Genesis 43

The healing process has begun for this fractured family. Jacob is praying, and maybe hoping again for the first time in twenty years. The brothers are acknowledging their sin. Joseph has a front row seat. Good news because the plan of redemption rests with this motley crew. Through them all the families of the earth will be blessed, because from their descendants and more particularly through the line of Judah the Head-crushing Seed of the woman will come, a guy we know as Jesus. God could have chose any other way…He could have entrusted the mission to angels, He could have caused the rocks to cry out…yet He allows the plan to rest on this family. There is no plan B. Very risky proposition considering their track record. Sound familiar? His plan of redemption now continues with us, the church. A ragtag, motley crew…and considering our track record… Yet He has no plan B. We carry forward the plan of redemption.

Through this story we see both the mercy and the grace of God, working through circumstances and people to bring about restoration and healing. Jacob’s prayer. The steward’s consoling words. Joseph’s blessing. The compassion and mercy that we see reflected in Joseph is but a foreshadowing of the compassion and mercy, the grace of his distant Nephew, Jesus. Jesus, the One whose compassion and mercy drove Him to a cross to rescue you and me, who like Judah became Himself the guarantee so that we might be reconciled/returned to the Father. The One who like the Father, is waiting with open arms for His prodigal child to come home.

So whatever the weight of sorrow or guilt you may be carrying…tragedy that you have engineered or that has befallen you, may you experience His grace and mercy today.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster

January 12, 2015

A Close Encounter

Genesis 42

Twenty years of Joseph’s life had been spent in a series of seemingly unfortunate events. A roller-coaster of emotions and experiences…beloved son, despised and hated brother, prisoner, slave, prisoner again, dream interpreter, husband, father, a big deal in Egypt. Success and seeming failure. Unfair treatment. Misunderstood. Hopeful. God’s providence…now we see that the path that Joseph was on was leading him to the realization of his dreams. In every circumstance…every hardship, every sorrow, every joy, every pain, every moment…God meant it for good.

God is sovereign over the affairs of men, but man is still responsible for his actions. It’s a divine mystery…God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. Joseph’s brothers are responsible for their actions and must face the consequences of what they have done. But God uses their actions to bring about His purposes. In this story we see God’s severe mercy. He uses a famine to force the chosen family to look at themselves and at each other, to face their sin and in repentance seek forgiveness. The plan of redemption depended on these guys…as heirs of the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel, through them all the families of the earth were to be blessed. This is a story in process. We haven’t seen yet how it all plays out. But the seeds are planted, and the harvest is not far off.

Joseph is a model of forgiveness in this episode, evidencing an incredibly mature faith. He foreshadows Jesus, picturing the Redeemer to come. And although Joseph is still the main character, the brothers, as a group become a major player, finally acknowledging their sin, godly sorrow as Paul calls it, they will be led to repentance. And the great news is…they serve a loving heavenly Father who delights to forgive and be reconciled to His children.

So whether you’re a Joseph who is in a position to exact punishment but is called to forgive, or the brothers who are being awakened to need for repentance, or a Jacob who so desperately needs to be reminded of the hope that we have in Jesus, my prayer for you today is that you would have a close encounter with Jesus, that you would experience an ever increasing measure of contentment, joy and confidence in your everyday life with Him.

Until next time…stay salty.

This post is based on our Genesis series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on twitter: @ccclancaster

December 25, 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Star

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Thank you for faithfully reading Scripture with us. It’s been fun to take a short break from our Old Testament readings to go through Revelation. We’re going to take a short break from our daily readings and resume with Ezekiel on Monday, January 5th. We’ll finish the Old Testament just in time for Lent (which begins in February)!

This Christmas has been pure joy for us at Central…we get to tell and celebrate the Ultimate Christmas Story!

Don’t give up…Don’t give in…Jesus wins!

HOPE, PEACE, LOVE, and JOY to all this CHRISTmas!

The Central Staff

December 24, 2014

Celebrating Christmas!!

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The Ultimate Christmas Story | Tonight at 4:00, 5:30 & 7:00 p.m.

10 Reasons I’m Celebrating This Christmas

Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and laughter, family and friends, time off, and too much food. It has the potential to be a time of great traditions and fond memories.

But sometimes the Christmas season can fly by in such a blur that we don’t have time to enjoy it. And sometimes it can seem to drag on forever as the stress of expectations and obligations mount.

To help me take a step back and enjoy this crazy season I decided to come up with a list of reasons that I love Christmas. Your list might look a little different, but maybe my list might encourage you as you think of your own blessings this Christmas.

1. Christmas lights and decorations make every trip around town a new adventure.

2. People are more kind and generous than usual.

3. All the pictures on Instagram. #CryingSantaPics

4. So many cupcakes and cookies!!!

5. Modern Christmas Carols (I love Repeat the Sounding Joy by Citizens!)

6. Curling up on the couch with a warm blanket and hot chocolate!

7. Reading the nativity story in Luke and trying to imagine what it was like.

8. $10 limit white elephant gift exchanges where you leave with a $15 gift card. (As opposed to the ones where you leave with oven mitts or weird-scented candles!)

9. There are so many casual opportunities to bring up Jesus to people who don’t know Him.

 And most of all,

10. Remembering that God sent His Son to become one of us and bear our burden for us.

Merry Christmas!

Andrew