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October 31, 2022

The Coming of the Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3.1-9

Despite the mocking mockers willful ignorance, judgment is coming. And Peter doesn’t want us as believers to be deceived and led astray from the life that the Lord desires for us…a life we will only experience as we stay on the Torah Road.

What you do today matters. Who you listen to matters. I’ve said that a lot in this series, I know. But it’s because Peter does. The danger is real. And the stakes are high. So heed Peter’s warning.

If not, don’t be surprised that the path that you’re now on does not lead to joy and peace. How can it? When you trusted in Jesus, the Spirit was given to you as a pledge, and you became a new creation. You’re not who you used to be. Which means now that you have the Spirit, you can’t enjoy sin any longer. You can’t pursue life as if you didn’t know Him. God loves you too much for that. And so He disciplines you. To bring you to repentance. And until that happens…until you return, you will feel your righteous soul tormented day after day by the lifestyle you’re choosing to live. You will be blind, short-sighted, forgetting your salvation. Not really living. It’s not a good place to be. God wants much more for us than that.

So if that’s you, what do you need to do? Making every effort, to your faith add moral excellence. And to your moral excellence, knowledge…then self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and finally love. That keeps you strong and keeps you from stumbling. Makes you fruitful and useful for the kingdom. And an abundant entrance awaits.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 2 Peter series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

October 24, 2022

The Danger of Following the False Teachers

2 Peter 2.12-22

Peter warns us about the danger of following the false teachers. Greedy, deceitful and arrogant, like unreasoning animals driven purely by their impulses, they sin with abandon and seek to entice the spiritually weak to follow them in their headlong race to destruction.

Don’t do it.

And while much of Peter’s warning applies equalling well to the culture in which we live (out there), his concern is for what’s going on inside the church (in here). It’s the wolves who have come in among the flock that are promoting this self as god lifestyle. The lie of the serpent…you can be like god, knowing good and evil.

It’s easy for us to imagine the influence of the world in which we live, enticing believers to detour off of Torah Road. But very hard for us to imagine someone inside the church…a pastor/leader/elder/person of influence…enticing believers to do the same. How does that happen? Slowly at first, and then very quickly.

Remember the false teachers are not believers. So we’re not talking about folks who once were on the right path and then strayed off. That would be an Option B believer. No, we’re talking about folks who have rejected Jesus and intentionally lead others down the same path. For financial gain. Or popularity. Or worldly pleasure. How do you recognize them…who are they promoting? Themselves or Jesus? Are they encouraging you to pursue the Torah Road (adding to your faith…moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love)? Probably the easiest way to recognize them is to be grounded in Truth. Best way to spot a counterfeit is to be super familiar with the real thing.

Remember also that Peter says we’ve be given everything we need to live the life that God calls us to…the Spirit and the Word. The Word to inform, the Spirit to empower. To allow us to see the world from God’s perspective. To have a biblical worldview. Once we start compromising on the Word, we’ve left Torah Road. It begins with questioning the Truth of Scripture. Six day creation? Adam and Eve? The Flood? Sodom and Gomorrah? When life begins? Gender? Marriage? The value of life? The things that we label “non-essential”. And yet Jesus talks about events in Genesis like Adam and Eve, the Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. David talks about life beginning as he’s being knit in his mother’s womb. John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary shows up…Jesus couldn’t have been more than a few weeks in the womb at that point. So if they really didn’t happen, if these things aren’t True, what does that say about Jesus? About the Bible? And how can we believe that Jesus’ death on the cross has paid the penalty for our sin if there is no Genesis 3? It all hangs together. It’s either all true, or none of it is. And if it’s not true, I’m not sure what you’re doing here.

Then there’s the “true back then, but not today” approach to Scripture. Methods and customs might be influenced/informed by the culture of the time. But Truth is not. It’s timeless. Washing feet is not a common practice these days, but the idea of serving one another still applies. There’s no trajectory on Truth, and there’s no fitting it into the views we’ve imported from the world in which we live.

Placing a high value on the Word will help us stay on Torah Road and is a safeguard against false teachers and an out-of-control culture. Both as individuals and as a church. The Word tells us the kind of life we are to live, and the Spirit then gives us the ability to live that kind of life, transforming us to live and love like Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 2 Peter series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

October 10, 2022

Examples of the False Teachers

2 Peter 2.4-11

Peter gives us three examples of what awaits the false teachers. God rescued the godly and destroyed the wicked in the past, and He will do it again in the future. So don’t be fooled by the lies of the false teachers. Or a culture that promotes indulging the flesh in its lusts and that despises authority.

So why the delay? Why doesn’t God judge now? Because God’s patience is mercy. His patience leaves room for the wicked to repent and for the righteous who have stepped off of Torah Road to return. He’s provided a way for the wicked to escape…through Jesus. He has already paid the penalty for their sin…He has already bought them. But they have to receive what is freely offered.

It’s as simple as admitting that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus came to save you from your sin. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death on your behalf, and was raised the third day, so that you might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life and might reign with Him forever.

If you are a believer who’s bought into the lie of the false teachers/this present world’s madness aka not walking the Torah Road, Peter is not trying to comfort you. He is warning you because the path that you’re now on does not lead to joy and peace. When you trusted in Jesus, the Spirit was given to you as a pledge, and you became a new creation. You’re not who you used to be. Which means now that you have the Spirit, you can’t enjoy sin any longer. And instead of facing it, unfortunately too many try to justify it while at the same time having to numb the pain that their sin is causing…their righteous soul being tormented. It’s not a good place to be. God wants much more for us than that.

So if that’s you, what do you need to do? Making every effort, to your faith add moral excellence. And to your moral excellence, knowledge…then self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and finally love. That keeps you strong and keeps you from stumbling. Makes you fruitful and useful for the kingdom. And an abundant entrance awaits. Motivated not by fear, but love.

What you do today matters. Who you choose to follow/listen to matters. Life or death. Blessing or curse. It’s your choice so choose wisely.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 2 Peter series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

October 3, 2022

The Rise of the False Teachers

2 Peter 2.1-3

Peter introduces the false teachers, who, like the false prophets of old, will arise in the church. Folks who are not believers, who sin with abandon, who are greedy, deceitful and exploiting, and who prey upon the spiritually weak. In other words, not the good guys.

And so believers have the option…listen to Peter or listen to the false teachers. To stay on Torah Road…the way of truth or be led away from it. A useful and fruitful life in which they never stumble leading to an abundant entrance into the kingdom, or a useless and unfruitful life, being blind or short sighted and forgetting their purification from their former sins. Option A or option B.

The choice seems obvious, doesn’t it? Shouldn’t we choose life…shouldn’t we choose the blessing? Shouldn’t we choose Option A? Don’t we all want to hear, “Well done…”? So why don’t we do it? What keeps us from choosing Option A? Simple…“me”. If I pursue Option A, I have to give up stuff. I have to say, “no” to things I really don’t want to say no to, even though they bring nothing but heartache. Because I like to call the shots. I like being the main character in my story.

But one day we will have to give an account. Everyone one of us. Every knee will bow…whether willingly or unwillingly. Jesus will either be your King or your Judge, your Lord or your Master. What you do today matters.

Do you want to experience more grace and peace in your life…a more abundant life? You’ve been given everything necessary to live the kind of life that God calls you to live…the Spirit and the Word. Being informed by the Word and empowered by the Spirit you can be transformed to live and love more and more like Jesus. But you have to be intentional. It won’t just happen. You have to choose.

So choose life today.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 2 Peter series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

September 26, 2022

Eyewitnesses

2 Peter 1.12-21

Knowing that his time is short, Peter reminds us to hold on to the truth that Jesus is coming back…the King will return. When He does, we will have to give an account to Him for how we lived our lives…how we invested (or failed to invest) our minas, so what we do today matters.

Like Solomon’s advice to his son in the book of Proverbs, Peter presents two options for us. The way of the wise and the way of the foolish. The wise will listen to him. The foolish…will not. So what you do today matters.

Will we live lives anchored in the Truth, empowered by the Spirit that count for eternity? Or will we live lives for the here and now, empowered by our own feeble attempts to build bigger barns during our fleeting time on earth…being unfruitful and useless for the kingdom? What you do today matters.

How are you investing your mina? When it comes time to give an account…will it be with great joy or great sadness? The choice really is yours. What you do today matters.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 2 Peter series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

September 19, 2022

Making An Entrance

2 Peter 1.1-11

What kind of entrance do you want to make into the kingdom? How you live your life today matters. Through the Word and the Spirit we have everything we need to pursue the life God calls us to live.

Two options for entering the kingdom. One mentioned. One implied. One involves a celebration…a rich homecoming. The other…not so much. 

Both are true of believers. Both have trusted Jesus at some point in their life. Both will enter the Kingdom. But both do not enjoy the same caliber of life today, nor will they have the same kind of entrance into the Kingdom. What, or maybe better, why the difference? What you do today matters.

The difference is the philosophy or worldview that the believer lives by. Option A: biblical worldview informed by the Word and lived out in the power of the Spirit. Option B: worldview informed by our “it’s-all-about-me” culture that defines pleasure as the highest good. Living for today…all that matters is the here and now.

We all have the opportunity to live an option A kind of life. In fact that’s what God saved us for (Ephesians 2.10; Titus 2.11-15), and He is the One who empowers us to live such a life (Philippians 2.13; Colossians 1.29). But we have to be intentional. We have to make every effort to pursue that kind of life. It’s gonna cost you something.

What you do today matters. Every choice that you make has an impact in time and in eternity. Who are the voices speaking into your life today? Do reason up or reason down? Have you trained yourself to see the world through the lens of Scripture? Are you asking God for help to do so?

Having been equipped by God with the means necessary to be transformed to live and love like Jesus…namely, the Word and the Spirit, and having been given the road-map to get there from faith to love, and the present and future benefits thereof, it’s time…it’s time to make every effort…to press on toward the goal…to diligently pursue this thing called the Christian life.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our 2 Peter series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

August 30, 2022

Generosity 101

Luke 18-19, 21

God’s economy is different than ours. The stories of the rich young ruler, Zaccheus and the poor widow are reminders that God is not looking at the size of the gift, but the motivation behind giving it. God’s not after our money, but us. And yet we cannot give ourselves to Him without giving everything to Him, including our stuff.

Just as our Father is generous, He wants us to be generous too. Because of our so great salvation, our thankful and happy hearts should loosen our grip on our stuff and free us up to give…and to give generously like both Zach and the widow. In fact, we as believers should be the most generous folks on the planet!

But so often we’re not. We act more like the rich young ruler. Maybe it’s because we have too low a view of God. Maybe we’re afraid to trust Him because deep down inside we believe Him to be stingy…that somehow He might hold out on us. And if we give away what we have, there won’t be enough for us. 

Yeah…but that’s not the picture that the Bible paints of who God is…think about the number of stars in the heavens, the number of galaxies, the greatness and vastness of space. In the Genesis account, when God creates the sun, moon and stars, what is their purpose? To give light to the earth, and for signs and for seasons. Seems to be a bit extravagant, doesn’t it?

What about God’s grace and His mercy and His love? His boundless, immeasurable love? The cross where the sins of all mankind were placed on His beloved Son. Every sin atoned for. Every one. So that all might be saved…if they will believe in Jesus.

So if God is so incredibly generous in these things…both in creation and in redemption, then why would He be stingy in providing for our needs (birds and flowers)? Our generosity problem has nothing to do with our wealth or lack thereof. The widow was certainly not rich by anyone’s standards. It has everything to do with our faith and obedience. So the question is, do you trust God enough to give generously?

When I was growing up, giving was not a practice my parents modeled. With eight kids…money was always tight. So giving wasn’t something I was used to…and putting myself through college, I never had two nickels to rub together as my dad would say. I didn’t think I could afford to give. So it wasn’t until I met my wife Wendy that I even considered giving as a spiritual discipline. And even then, I wasn’t sure how the giving thing would work out. But we did it anyway, and we haven’t looked back since.

For some of us, giving is a discipline that we’ve practiced for awhile. Somewhere along your spiritual journey, someone challenged you to make giving a regular practice, and so you’ve done it for years. Thank you for your faithfulness and your generosity.

If giving is new to you, I know what it feels like to look at your finances and wonder, “how?” Let me just challenge you to try it. Pick an amount and begin to give regularly. Set a goal…maybe ten percent, and build those giving muscles until you reach it. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Strive to become a generous giver, not a bigger barn builder, knowing that investing in the kingdom pays eternal dividends. Then your heart won’t be wrapped up in your stuff, but in the kingdom. Just like Zach and the widow.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our main service. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

August 22, 2022

The Story: Series Wrap-up

Genesis, Daniel, Luke-Acts, Romans, Revelation

Genesis begins with a man in a garden enjoying perfect fellowship with God…Revelation ends with man in a garden enjoying perfect fellowship with God.

Jesus is coming back. Until He does, our work is not done. Our job in this in-between time is to invest our minas well…to live our lives on purpose. Share our stories. To build into the lives of those around us. Using our gifts to serve and our resources to further the kingdom. Making a difference…going back in for just one more. Being ready.

Good news is that we are not alone…the Spirit empowers us to live the life we have been called to live.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, please don’t wait. He is coming back, and He will either be your King or your Judge. But He would rather be your King. It’s as simple as admitting that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus came to save you from your sin. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death on your behalf, and was raised the third day, so that you might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life and might reign with Him forever.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our main service. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

August 15, 2022

A Final Word

Revelation 22.6-21

John finishes Revelation pulling together the two major themes of the book…1) Jesus is coming soon, so 2) be ready. Live your life in such a way that Jesus could return at any moment and find you faithfully and fearlessly investing the mina He’s entrusted to you.

If you have trusted in Jesus, live life on purpose…like what you do matters. Share your story. Invest in the lives of those around you. Use your gifts to serve and your resources to further the kingdom. Make a difference. You are saved by grace, but you will be judged by your works. So be ready.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, come to the waters. Only those who have washed their robes may enter the eternal city, only those who have trusted in Jesus. God invites you to “come”. If you are thirsty, come. If you want to take of the water of life without cost, come. It’s as simple as admitting that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus came to save you from your sin. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death on your behalf, and was raised the third day, so that you might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life and might reign with Him forever.

Amen. Come Lord Jesus!

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Revelation series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.

August 8, 2022

The River and Tree of Life aka Back to the Garden

Revelation 22.1-5

John finishes his description of the new heaven and the new earth with a trip back to the garden. Or maybe better a trip forward to the garden. The river and tree of life. The removal of the curse. God’s presence. Seeing Him face to face. Serving Him. Ruling and reigning with Him forever.

But now we live in this in-between time…in between the time of Jesus’ ascension and His return…where life seems to be crashing down around us because of sin and death and the effects of the curse. In this in-between space where the consequences of our own sin…we might call it compromise…and the sin of others, especially persecution, impact us in often tragic ways, we can’t forget that our hope is not in this broken world. Let me say that one more time…our hope is not in this broken world. I think we forget that. We are just sojourners passing through, on our way home.

As I was thinking about that, it struck me…this world is like a burning house. Hang with me for a minute. When you see a house on fire, you don’t go in to rearrange the furniture. You don’t settle in and make yourself comfortable. Nope. You grab the first person you see and pull them out. Then you go back and grab one more. And then you go back and grab one more… Our job is to keep pulling folks out of the fire until God calls us home. To storm the gates of hell until we see our Savior fact to face. To share our story with those around us, investing our mina until the King returns. No…our hope is not in this broken world, but in a new one, a re-created one where Jesus is reigning. So Don’t give up on your faith. Don’t give in to the pressure of this world. Don’t forget…Jesus wins.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Revelation series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.