God

August 3, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Nahum & Habakkuk

Nahum 1–3, Habakkuk 1–3

Both Nahum and Habakkuk write their prophecies to the folks in Judah; Nahum’s prophecy is against Nineveh and her soon and sure fall because her wickedness and cruelty against Judah and the nations, in order to comfort the folks in Judah, reminding them of the LORD’s covenant faithfulness and that His righteous and just kingdom will stand while the kingdoms of the world fall, encouraging them to covenant faithfulness and to take refuge in Him.

Habakkuk’s prophecy, on the other hand, confronts Judah’s pride, using his conversation with the LORD and struggle to understand the LORD’s justice to show them that it is by faith that the prophet, and thus the nation, must live, submitting to the righteous ways of the LORD despite outward appearances, so that they will live by faith in the LORD and not by sight.

And like most of the prophets we’ve seen so far, there is both warning and promise. Warning of the judgment to come because of sin, whether that sin pertains to Nineveh or Judah or Babylon; it’s clear that the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. Sin carries a steep price. For Nineveh and Babylon that meant total destruction. For Judah, exile. The wages of sin are death.

Yet there’s also the promise of restoration for the LORD’s people. He will judge, but He will also restore because He is faithful to His covenant promises even when His people are not.

Two things that are important for us: 1) the kingdoms of this world will fall. Only the LORD’s righteous and just kingdom will stand, and so we need to take refuge in Him. 2) It’s by faith that the righteous should live, meaning whatever our circumstances, we trust the LORD to be working things out for our good and His glory no matter what things look like on the outside. Not always easy to do, but the LORD is faithful. And He will never leave us or forsake us.

If you don’t know the LORD, you can come to know Him today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

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

July 27, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Micah

Micah 1–7

Micah writes a series of three poetic/prophetic oracles of indictment against Israel and Judah to expose their rebellion, idolatry, and tolerance of injustice, warning them of impending judgment while also expressing confidence in their restoration, grounded in the LORD’s character and promise to Abraham. A King will come to shepherd His people, defeat the nations, and establish the kingdom.

And yet Israel and Judah refuse to repent. Instead, idolatry, violence, greed, and injustice prevail. They hate the good and love the evil. In fact, they are schemers of iniquity and workers of evil, and so the LORD will bring evil on them.

But the LORD will save a remnant of the people. Those who do justice, love lovingkindness, and walk humbly with their God. All evidence of their faith. And Israel will one day fulfill her role as the priest to the nations. Folks will come to Jerusalem to learn about the LORD, and His people will take His word out among the nations. He will raise up a Ruler for His people, to shepherd them and lead them to victory over those who oppose them. Not because Israel deserves it. But because of who He is and His covenant with Abraham.

The salvation that the LORD has promised has already gone out to the nations. Because the King has come and laid down His life for the sins of the people and was raised to life again, so that all who believe in Him…not just the folks from Israel, but those from all the nations…can be saved, not because of anything that they have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

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

July 20, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Jonah

Jonah 1–4

The LORD’s plan has always been for the nations. He promised Abraham that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son…

How did Jonah miss that? He had a tremendous response from folks he seemingly couldn’t care less about…first on the ship and then in Nineveh. And the folks in Nineveh’s overwhelming response even makes him angry. He definitely doesn’t share the LORD’s heart on the matter. Judgment is always the last resort. Jonah reminds us of that.

Two things that are unmistakable in this story…the LORD’s sovereignty over and love for His creation. He appoints a great wind and a great fish, a plant, a worm, and a scorching east wind. He directs His prophet and even uses the prophet’s disobedience to accomplish the salvation of a great number of folks. He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of calamity. He loves the lost. He loves us too. And like a good Parent, He pursues us even when we are running from Him.

The LORD’s question to Jonah (and Israel) at the end of the story isn’t answered. “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh?” Of course, the answer should be yes. We all need the LORD’s compassion. So, who might you share it with this week?

If you don’t know the LORD, you can come to know Him today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

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

July 13, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Amos Part 2 & Obadiah

Amos 7–9, Obadiah

Amos writes his prophecy to the northern kingdom of Israel to pronounce judgment against Israel for the multitude of her transgressions against the LORD, using courtroom language to warn them of future judgment in the coming day of the LORD, so that they will repent, seek the LORD, that they might live.

But Israel refuses to repent. She tells the prophets not to prophesy and refuses to take heed to the word of the LORD. And so judgment will come. But so will restoration. Because the LORD is faithful to His covenant promises even when His people are not.

Obadiah, on the other hand, writes to the southern kingdom of Judah, encouraging and reminding them through his prophecy concerning Edom that the LORD will judge the nations for their treatment of His people and will restore Israel to the land (Deuteronomy 30). 

A common theme throughout the prophets is judgment for sin, and yet the promise of restoration to come. Because He is the LORD, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness; relenting of evil, who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin, but who does not leave the guilty unpunished.

If you don’t know the LORD, you can come to know Him today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

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

July 6, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Amos Part 1

Amos 1–6

Amos writes his prophecy to the northern kingdom of Israel to pronounce judgment against Israel for the multitude of her transgressions against the LORD, using the language of the courtroom to warn them of future judgment in the coming day of the LORD, so that they will repent and seek the LORD, that they might live.

Amos begins with the pronouncement of judgment on the surrounding nations, primarily for their treatment of Israel. And while Israel is no doubt in total agreement that the nations should be judged, she is none too happy when her own guilt is exposed. Even though she should have recognized the LORD’s discipline, she refused to repent and return to the LORD. And so, the final curse of the covenant remains. Exile.

And yet the LORD continues to invite Israel to seek Him and live. Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord GOD of hosts may be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

The LORD invites us to do the same today…seek Him and live. Hate evil, love good, and do what’s right. Turn away from sin and turn toward Him that we may experience the life He’s called us to and saved us for.

If you don’t know the LORD, you can come to know Him today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Book of the Twelve 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 22, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Joel

Joel 1–3 (Hebrew 1–4)

Joel writes his prophecy to the southern kingdom of Judah, in order to expose Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness, using the illustration of the locust plague, to warn Israel against future judgment in the coming day of the LORD, so that they will repent, turn to the LORD, and be restored. 

The LORD had big plans for Israel. They were His seghola. His treasured possession. They were to be a kingdom of priests for the nations. The LORD had so much good He wanted to do for them. If they would only listen to His voice, keep His covenant, and follow His commands. They would experience all the blessings of the covenant He had made with them. He would bring them into the land. He would be an Enemy to their enemies and an Adversary to their adversaries. He would fight for them. And they would live securely in the land in peace. They would be a spectacle to the world for all the good that the LORD did for them. He would be their God, and they would be His people.

Unfortunately, they did not listen to His voice. They did not keep His covenant. They did not follow His commands. And so, the LORD, being true to His word, has brought the curses of the covenant on them in the form of the plague of locusts. But there’s still time to repent before things get worse. Before the LORD drives them out of the land. Before He becomes their Enemy. Before the day of the LORD comes, and they become a different kind of spectacle…a horror and a curse…to the world for all the evil that the LORD does to them. If only they would turn back to the LORD.

Maybe that’s where you are today. You’ve strayed far from the LORD. Maybe intentionally. Maybe it’s been a slow drift. But here you are. I think most of us have been there at some point. So, what do you do? It reminds me of the prodigal son. Stuck in the muck. Longing to eat what the pigs are eating. That’s pretty low. But then he came to his senses and remembered his Father’s house, and he turned to come back. And he discovered the most beautifully unexpected thing. The Father had been waiting for him all along and met him with open arms, celebrating His son who had been lost and now was found. That’s just like the LORD, “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness, relenting of evil, who knows whether He might turn and relent and leave a blessing instead?”

If you don’t know the LORD, you can come to know Him today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, you can be saved—not because of anything that you have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Book of the Twelve 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 15, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Hosea Part 2

Hosea 4:1–14:9

Hosea writes his prophecy to the northern kingdom of Israel, pronouncing judgment against her for her covenant unfaithfulness, committing spiritual adultery through her idolatry, which she refuses to repent of, yet because of the LORD’s love for her and His covenant faithfulness, He will redeem and restore her.

One thing is extremely clear. Israel has been unfaithful to the LORD. Chief among her sins is her idolatry. They’ve broken the first and greatest commandment. You shall have no other gods before Me. Israel was to be the LORD’s seghola. His treasured possession. They were to be His people, and He was to be their God. He had so much that He wanted to do for them. He wanted to bless them. To give them life, if they would only obey Him. If they would keep His covenant. If they would trust Him. And yet they failed. Miserably.

We said this last week, but it bears repeating. In fact, we will be reminded of this throughout this series.

Though Israel is unfaithful, the LORD is always faithful to His covenant promises to both Abraham and David. So, although He will bring judgment on Israel for their rebellion against Him, He will also restore them. Because He is the LORD. “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

This should serve as both a warning and a comfort to us. The LORD takes sin seriously. And so should we. Sin always carries consequences. Yet the LORD’s lovingkindnesses never cease. He will discipline His children, but He does so as a loving Father who is conforming us to the image of His Son. A painful process, but one that’s for our good. Of course, that’s if you know the LORD. If you don’t, your sin carries very different consequences.

The good news is you can come to know the LORD today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Book of the Twelve 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 8, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Hosea Part 1

Hosea 1:1–3:4

Hosea writes his prophecy to the northern kingdom of Israel/Ephraim, pronouncing judgment against her for her covenant unfaithfulness but also promising her restoration based on the LORD’s faithfulness, with the desire to see Israel repent of her idolatry and turn to the LORD.

Hosea’s marriage is a shocking illustration of Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness. Like a wayward wife, Israel has broken her covenant with the LORD, committing spiritual adultery with her idolatry. Not only does she not know the LORD, but she also refuses to know Him.

Yet the LORD is faithful to His covenant promises, both to Abraham and to David. So, although He will bring judgment on them for their rebellion against Him, He will also restore them. Because He is the LORD. “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

This should serve as both a warning and a comfort to us. The LORD takes sin seriously. And so should we. Sin always carries consequences. Yet the LORD’s lovingkindnesses never cease. He will discipline His children, but He does so as a loving Father who is conforming us to the image of His Son. A painful process, but one that’s for our good. Of course, that’s if you know the LORD. If you don’t, your sin carries very different consequences. Eternal consequences.

The good news is you can come to know the LORD today. It’s as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Book of the Twelve 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 1, 2026

The Building of the Tabernacle

Exodus 35–40

The tabernacle is built with all its trappings, including the ark of the covenant (the lid of the ark is the mercy seat where the LORD will meet with Moses), the table of showbread, the golden lampstand, the bronze altar, the garments for the priests, the sacrifices, and the altar of incense according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, according to the pattern given to him on the mountain. A shadow of the heavenly tabernacle. And a foreshadowing of what’s to come when the Word becomes flesh and tabernacles among us. It’s no accident that John uses the same language in John 1.

But the tabernacle is not complete until the “glory of the LORD” fills the tabernacle. You see, that’s when the tabernacle becomes more than a bunch of stuff thrown together. It becomes the dwelling place for the LORD among His people.

The book of Exodus is driving toward this one goal: the LORD’s presence with His people, bringing them out of captivity and leading them to the land He promised. They will be His seghola, His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, representing Him to the world.

Sounds somewhat familiar, doesn’t it? For those of us who have trusted in Him, the LORD has brought us out of captivity to sin and is leading us to the kingdom, while His presence goes with us as we trek down Torah Road together. Just like with Israel, it’s not a me-thing, but a we-thing. The Church as the Body of Christ, the Tabernacle of His Spirit.

The Church isn’t one of us. It’s all of us. Generously bringing the full weight of the resources the LORD has entrusted to us to bear in serving the body, where the LORD dwells among us in a special way.

That’s, of course, if you are a part of the body, the Church. And that’s only true of you if you have trusted in Jesus. You can do that today. It starts with recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Exodus 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 30, 2026

The Golden Calf and Moses’s Intercession

Exodus 32–34

When Moses is slow to come down the mountain, the people once again complain and convince Aaron to make an idol for them. It doesn’t take the people long to violate the first and most important commandment. Pretty shocking how quickly they’ve turned away after all that they’ve experienced through the plagues and the Red Sea, water and manna and quails in the wilderness, the defeat of the Amalekites, not to mention the LORD’s appearance on the mountain in smoke and fire.

The LORD is ready to judge, but Moses intercedes for the people, and the LORD relents. But when Moses sees the people’s idolatry and becomes angry, his response is like the LORD’s. He shares the same zeal as the LORD. He is jealous for His God.

The LORD tells Moses to go up to the land, but He will not go with the people lest He destroy them on the way because they are a stiff-necked folk. But once again, Moses intercedes with the LORD, praying that His presence will accompany them into the land. If not, then they won’t go. Super important. Without the LORD’s presence, the land is just a piece of real estate. The LORD’s presence gives purpose to that piece of property and to that group of people.

I think there’s something similar there for us. There are lots of things in this life we could pursue, things that the world would tell us give us some kind of purpose or meaning (fame, fortune, family, friends, etc.). And many of those things are not bad in and of themselves, but without the LORD, those pursuits are in vain. Treasures on earth of no lasting value. But when we pursue the LORD in this life, it pays eternal rewards. A treasure in heaven of inestimable value. 

I love the way the LORD reveals Himself to Moses. “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Do you know the LORD? You can today. It starts with recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Exodus 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.