church

June 30, 2025

Under Authority

Ephesians 6:1-9

Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Just as the LORD has a design for marriage, so He also has a design for families and for work as well.

Children are to obey their parents, and parents are to bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the LORD. Employees are to obey/serve their employers from the heart as unto the LORD, and employers are to do good to their employees. Paul hasn’t switched topics here. He’s still talking about what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ. A “you all” thing. How each part does its part. For the building up of the Church.

And not only is this important for the healthy functioning of the Body, but it’s also a reflection of the LORD’s relationship to His people in the OT and should reflect our relationship to Him today. All parties involved, both those in authority and those under authority, are to do their job as unto the LORD. As an act of worship.

pro rege

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

June 23, 2025

Christ and the Church

Ephesians 5:21-33

The Bible begins and ends with a wedding…Jesus’ first miracle in John’s Gospel is at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. The husband-wife relationship is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. God takes marriage seriously. So should we.

What does that look like? Wives submitting to their own husbands as to the Lord. Husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the Church. Both ideas go against the grain. Both are countercultural. But both also reflect God’s design and His desire for marriage. Both are a reflection of Christ and the Church. And both are impossible without Jesus at the center.

Just as the Church is not a “me-thing” but a “we-thing” so also is marriage. A “you all thing.” Success is not measured by individual achievement, but by our life together. It’s a team sport. A group adventure. A tandem ride on the bicycle of life. Something we do together.

pro rege

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

June 16, 2025

Be Imitators of God

Ephesians 5:1-20

Paul urges the Ephesians to be imitators of God, walking in love, and turning away from the “old man”…to live in light of the truth so that they will build up, and not tear down, the Body of Christ.

When we trusted in Jesus, we were adopted into His family. Our allegiance changed. We are now sons and daughters of the King. We were darkness, now we are light in the Lord. And so we are called to walk as children of the light…goodness and righteousness and truth…doing the things that please the Lord. Loving others the same way Jesus loved us. Not easy, but something we are called to do together.

The goal of the Christian life is conformity to the image of Jesus. We might say…to live and love like Jesus. Not just for some us. For all of us. We are the Body of Christ. That’s super important to keep in mind. It means that following Jesus is not a solo gig…it’s a group project. It’s something we do together. It’s not enough for one of us to follow Jesus well. Paul says the job’s not done “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ,” being filled with the Spirit where there is a lot of singing and thanksgiving and serving one another.

That’s of course if you are a part of the Body of Christ. And that only happens when you’ve trusted in Him. Until then, you may “go” to Church, but you are not a member of Christ’s Body. But you can be. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life and can now be a part of this thing called the Church.

pro rege

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

June 2, 2025

Put off the Old, Put on the New

Ephesians 4:17-32

The Ephesians are not to live according to their lives before Christ, but they are to live their lives as members of the Body of Christ pursuing greater knowledge of Him through the Scriptures and unity with one another. So are we.

We are not who we were. We were dead, but now we are alive. We were lost, but now we are found. Darkened in our understanding, but now our hearts have been enlightened with the true knowledge of Him. Far off, but brought near. Without hope and without God, but now a living hope and members of God’s household. Fellow citizens. Fellow heirs. Fellow members of the Body. Fellow sharers of the promise. With access to the Father and the unfathomable riches of Christ.

Knowing these things can and should impact the way we live our lives. That’s why spending time in God’s Word is so incredibly important. It helps us to understand who God is, who we are and what He requires from us. So, we are no longer to live like who we used to be. We are to live like who we are in Christ.

That assumes of course that you have already trusted in Jesus. But if you haven’t yet, you can today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life and can now be a part of this thing called the Church.

pro rege

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

May 26, 2025

Equipping the Saints

Ephesians 4:1-16

We all have a part to play when it comes to preserving unity. Not just some of us…all of us. But within this unity there is diversity. We all have to work together for the mutual building up of the body, the Church. Equipping the saints for works of ministry… Each of us doing our part.

So, whatever the talent, resource, gift, experience, passion or personality the LORD has entrusted you with, we need you. We will only reach our full potential as a Body when each member is doing his or her part to build up the Body. If you are not currently serving, find a place to plug in and serve.

This passage always reminds me of when my son Jack and I decided to try tae kwon do. The first day we entered the dojo aka YMCA, it was clear that the goal was for us to be black belts. Even though there were a number of them present, the sensei didn’t consider his job done until we all crossed the finished line and mastered the art. The idea in this passage is very similar…it’s not about one of us making it to maturity. The job’s not done until we all attain to the unity of the faith… 

That’s of course if you have trusted in Jesus. But if you haven’t yet, you can today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

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

May 19, 2025

Paul’s Second Prayer for the Ephesians

Ephesians 3:14-21

Paul prays that these Ephesian believers will be empowered to understand the love Christ for them as members of His body, the Church. He prays that they may be “strong enough to grasp”, which means it’s not easily understood.

So, how will the Ephesians understand the love of Christ? How will we? Through the words of the Apostles and the Prophets. Through the Scriptures. The foundation on which the Church is built, Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone.

Understanding the love of Christ is a “you all” thing. It’s something we understand together. And it’s something we share together. It’s as the Church that we are “filled up to all the fullness of God”. The glory of the LORD filling the house of the LORD.

That’s of course if you are a part of the Body. A member of the Church. I’m not talking about showing up on Sunday or taking a class. I’m talking about trusting in Jesus. You see, it’s when you trust in Him that you are in the Church. Until then, you may “go to church” but you are not a part of the Church. And all the things we’ve talked about…that’s not you.

But it can be. If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus, you can today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

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

May 5, 2025

Brought Near

Ephesians 2:11-22

Although we, like the Ephesians, were separated from God, we have now been brought near through the sacrificial death of Jesus and so are, along with believing Israel, a part of the Church built on the Apostles and Prophets aka the Scriptures and indwelt by the Spirit.

That is good news. We who were without access now have access. We were excluded but now are included. We were without hope and without God in the world. But now, because of Jesus, we have a living hope and are members of God’s household. How awesome is that?!?

That’s true for us as believing Gentiles just as it is for believing Jews. We are both fellow citizens of the same household. Members of the one Body of Christ. A New Man. The Church.

If you have not yet believed, you are still far off. But you can be brought near. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

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

April 28, 2025

The Gospel

Ephesians 2:1-10

For by grace you all have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. A dead man can’t do anything to save himself…he’s dead! He must be made alive again.

The bad news…if you have not yet trusted in Jesus, you are dead. Your sin has killed you. And if something doesn’t change, nothing will change. You will remain dead. Separated from God forever. Not a very pretty picture. In fact it’s a very grim picture. An unsettling picture. But an accurate picture. The bad news is you’re as bad off as you can possibly be without Jesus.

The good news…Jesus came to change all of that. He came to give you life. His death has taken care of the sin problem, His resurrection has taken care of the death problem, so that through faith in Him you can can be saved because of His amazing grace.

It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised would come. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

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

March 31, 2025

Greatings and the Blessing

Ephesians 1.1-14

God made some truly incredible promises to Israel in the OT…promises that include their adoption as sons, redemption, forgiveness of sins, an inheritance, the Spirit…promises that, because of Jesus, because of His blameless life, sacrificial death, and grave-conquering resurrection, can now be realized. Great news for believing Jews…and unexpectedly and unexplainably good news…part of the mystery…for us Gentiles who have believed as well.

We don’t take Israel’s place…but as believers from both the nation and the nations, we stand together in the Body of Christ…the Church. A mystery which Paul will explain more fully in the coming weeks.

Good news for those who have believed. For those of us who have trusted in Jesus. We have been sealed for the day of redemption. Our place in the kingdom secured. We’ll be ready when the King comes back. You can be too.

It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf and was raised the third day conquering both sin and death, so that by faith in Jesus you can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

pro rege

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

March 24, 2025

Prelude to Ephesians – Goodbye Ephesus

Acts 20.17-38

Paul says goodbye to his friends at Ephesus. In his absence, he warns them of the need to be ever vigilant…to stay true to both the teaching and the living out of the Word.

Last words are lasting words, and Paul’s last words to the folks from Ephesus are a reminder of the spiritual battle that rages all around us, of the importance of Truth, of our need to stand our ground. When we compromise on the Truth of God’s Word because it’s uncomfortable or unpopular, it won’t be long until we begin to compromise in all areas of faith and practice. Soon truth becomes relative…what feels good must be right…and the difference between the world in here and the world out there becomes negligible.

That’s true for the Church…but it’s also true for us as individuals. How intentional are you in following Jesus? As I asked earlier, are you running the race or just wandering around in your spiritual walk? What impact is God’s Word having on your life? Is it causing you to think and act differently? Are there parts of Scripture that you refuse to believe because they don’t agree with your or the culture’s worldview?

My challenge for you this week…take one intentional step down Torah Road by… Praying. Reading the Word. Spending time with fellow believers. Sharing your story. Finding a place to serve. Giving generously to someone in need. Inviting someone to come along with you on the discipleship journey.

pro rege

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