hope

December 4, 2023

Mighty God (Hope)

Isaiah 9.2-7

Isaiah pictures a time of good news for a group of people who desperately needed it. They were under oppression by the enemy. They were defeated. They were without hope. They knew no peace. But God hadn’t forgotten them. Light was coming. God Himself would rend the veil of time and space and come down to the earth He had created in the Person of Jesus. He would rescue them. He would save them from sin and death by sacrificing Himself in their place. He would die that they might live. He would provide the way back to Father God. He would establish a kingdom where they could live and reign with Him forever. Where they would know true and lasting peace. This was their hope.

There are lots of things we “hope” for in this life….some good and some not so good. As I thought about my own life, I realized how often I set my hope on people or events that only disappoint…they can’t carry the weight of my hope. Not their fault. They weren’t designed for that.

How about you? Where is your hope this Christmas? Who are you hoping in? Is your hope big enough to carry you through the storms of life, the disappointments and frustrations, the trials and the suffering that come from living on planet earth? Is your confidence in people or things that are destined to disappoint? Hope placed in anyone or anything other than Jesus will disappoint…it will fail. Why? Because hope based anywhere but in Him is based on things that are fleeting and subject to decay…where thieves break in and steal or moth and rust destroys…

You see, the hope that the Bible talks about is so much more than a feeling. It’s not wishful thinking. The hope that the Bible talks about is a confident expectation. It’s a sure thing. How can it be so sure? Because it’s based in God Himself. He will bring it about. And that’s why only a hope in Jesus is a living hope…living because He is alive and gives life to those who trust in Him…a life that starts today and continues forever. So while we mourn the disappointments in life, we can also choose to worship God in the knowledge that He will never disappoint us. That’s why we never need despair.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, make today the day. 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…that you might have a secure and certain hope.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Advent series: He Shall Be Called. 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.

November 13, 2023

The Greater High Priest

Hebrews 5.1-10

Jesus is greater. He’s greater as the Son of God. He’s greater as the Son of David. He’s the greater Prophet…Priest…and King. Jesus is greater.

Jesus learned obedience through suffering. Not that He was disobedient, but that suffering was necessary for Him to be the perfect sacrifice. Not only sinless. But One who could relate to our suffering. And the One who obediently suffered on our behalf calls us to obediently follow Him. Not under the heavy yoke of endless rules, but in the easy yoke of a life-giving relationship.

That’s why today is always important. Whatever yesterday looked like. Whatever my failures…or successes. I have today. And today if you hear His voice… If you haven’t been walking in obedience to your Savior, then today you can. Today you can get back on Torah Road.

If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus, today can be the day for that as well. 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. You too will have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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.

November 6, 2023

Sabbath Rest: Part 2

Hebrews 4.8-16

There is a Sabbath rest for the people of God, but we will only experience that rest when we walk by faith. We only experience that rest as we learn to trust God yet more and more in the moments of our life…as we seek His help in our time of need.

As believers, we are all called to rest, but we don’t all experience it. And I love this quote from DL Moody that Jared shared with me that relates to this. “There are three kinds of faith in Jesus Christ: struggling faith, which is like a man floundering and fearful in stormy, deep water; clinging faith, which is like a man hanging on to the side of a boat; and resting faith, which finds a man inside the boat-strong and secure enough to reach out his hand to help someone else.

Notice that each man had faith. Each knew that the boat was his only hope. But only one had a resting faith. Only one had discovered he could actually be in the boat-where all he had to do was rest. And that rest produces an obedience to reach out to help. 

This is the kind of faith God wants us to have-a faith that trusts Him totally. But sometimes we discover its reality only after we have endured a struggling or clinging faith that we come to a resting faith. Sometimes we only realize we can get in the boat when the storm rages, and we call out to God with new faith. Then our Savior graciously extends His hand and says, ‘Come to Me…and I will give you rest’ (Matthews 11.28).”

My prayer for each of us is that we discover for ourselves that resting faith.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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 30, 2023

Sabbath Rest: Part 1

Hebrews 4.1-7

Living a life of rest is what every believer is called to but not what every believer experiences. Because living a life of rest requires us to walk by faith in obedience to what God calls us to do.

How do we know what God calls us to do? Of course that’s found in His Word…in the Bible. And it’s as we spend time in His Word…daily spending time with Him in His Word, reading, meditating, praying, absorbing, allowing His Word also to spend time in us, dwelling richly within us…that we learn who it is that God calls us to be and what it is that God calls us to do, that the Spirit transforms us by the renewing of our minds so that we know that God’s will and His ways are good and acceptable and perfect. Then we hear and obey, trusting Him all along the way…all the way down Torah Road.

We first enter His rest when we trust in Jesus. When we start our journey down Torah Road. If you would like to do that 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. You too will have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus. And you can experience His rest today.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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 23, 2023

The Peril of Unbelief

Hebrews 3.12-19

We must take care that there not be found among anyone of us an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God…a heart that’s been hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. That’s why it’s so important that we walk down Torah Road together. The Christian life was never intended to be a solo journey. It’s a group adventure.

The folks coming out of Egypt were believers when they left…the people believed in the LORD. The Passover was the sign of their faith. So, given that these folks were believers when they left Egypt, and we’re only a few years down the road from that, what happened? Could that happen to these Jewish believers who were reading Paul’s letter? More importantly at this point…could it happen to us?

The answer is…yes. But…if we do this thing together, that’s so much less likely. I can’t see my blind spots. Kind of why they’re called blind spots. But you can. And I can see yours. And so we can help each other. Keep pointing each other back to Torah Road. Keep pointing each other back to Jesus. That’s my prayer for each and every one of us. That we all have that group of folks who will do that for us. So if you are not in a small group, get into one.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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 16, 2023

Greater Than Moses

Hebrews 3.1-11

Jesus is greater. He’s greater than the OT revelation that points to Him. He’s greater than the angels who were created to worship and serve Him. He’s greater than Moses. Jesus is greater.

Moses was faithful as a servant. And although Moses was faithful, those who followed him weren’t. They grumbled and complained. They questioned. They rebelled. They missed their opportunity to enter the land. They fell short of the promise.

Jesus is faithful as the Son. So what about those of us who follow Him? Are we…will we be faithful? Or will we too grumble and complain? Will we question Him? Will we rebel? Will we drift away or become hardened and so miss our opportunity to experience the life that He called and saved us for? I pray that that’s not the case. I pray that we do remain faithful. That we keep our feet on Torah Road and our eyes fixed on Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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 2, 2023

Bringing Many Sons to Glory

Hebrews 2.10-18

There is so much theology in these 9 or 10 verses. I want to encourage you to read and listen again so you can wrap your mind around these truths. The more you dig in, the more light bulbs are going to go off, and the more clearly you will see your loving Creator and Mighty King. And then you will catch the bug and want to know more. And the more you will be in awe of Him. And the more you are in awe of Him the more motivation you will have to live a life in honor of Him.  And do your part in bringing many sons to glory.

It’s an incredible thought…the Son of God, the radiance of the Father’s glory, the exact representation of His nature, the One through whom the world was made, the One who sustains all things by the word of His power, the One who is worshiped by the angels is also the One who was made like His brothers, suffered and died on their behalf, so that He could be the Author of their salvation, bringing many sons to glory.

Suffering before glory. It’s important for us to remember so that we do not lose heart in the midst of suffering for our faith. That’s tough to do in the suffering stage. But if we keep in mind that God is at work in the midst of it, especially in the suffering, accomplishing His work in us and…through us, if we will let Him, making us more like Jesus, purifying and strengthening our faith, then we can find both peace and joy in the midst of suffering.

Jesus is the Author of salvation. He died so that you could live. If you haven’t experienced that yet…if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. 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. You too will have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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 25, 2023

So Great a Salvation

Hebrews 2.1-9

How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

Paul has already made the case that the Son is greater…that Jesus is greater than anyone or anything. He fulfills what the OT anticipated. Every promise, prophecy, picture, symbol…you name it and Jesus fulfills it. Even the salvation that the OT pointed to finds its fulfillment in Jesus.

So what is this so great a salvation? It is this. The OT promised that a Hero would come. A Hero who would crush the serpent’s head, who would defeat sin and death, and lead God’s people back to the garden and a relationship with Him. And Jesus is that Hero. 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. You too will have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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 18, 2023

Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1.5-14

Paul quotes a number of OT passages to show that Jesus is greater. He is greater than the angels. They were created to worship and serve. He creates and rules. Jesus is greater.

I don’t know about you, but I need to be reminded of that often in my own life. Jesus is greater. Whatever my current crisis…Jesus is greater. Whatever problem that might seem insurmountable at the time, even those caused my my own stuff…Jesus is greater. Whatever the opposition that the enemy might throw up…Jesus is greater. I hope that message is sinking in. Because Jesus is greater.

And isn’t that an amazing thought…that Jesus, the One who is greater, is both our Savior and our Redeemer. Our King. The One whose side we’re on. He is greater! The One we’re following is the One who is the greatest of all.

My prayer for us as we go out this week is that we don’t forget that. That in our day-to-days when life is overwhelming…bills piling up, deadlines looming, health concerns, family problems, relationship crises, scarcity of resources…whatever life throws at us this week, that we don’t forget that Jesus is greater.

And if you haven’t experienced that yet…if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. 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. You too will have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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 11, 2023

Through The Son

Hebrews 1.1-4

It’s been said before that here Paul presents Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King. And He is that. But also so much more. Jesus is greater than the OT revelation because He fulfills all that the OT anticipated. We will see this more next week, but He’s also greater than the angels both as the Son of God and the promised Messianic King, the Son of David. He is Creator and Sustainer, Savior and Redeemer. Jesus is greater.

That’s good news for folks that are suffering. Sometimes we too can be tempted to throw in the towel when things get hard. Maybe we thought the Christian life was the easy life. But if Jesus suffered and all the saints who have followed after God from the beginning have suffered, why would we assume that we are immune to suffering…especially suffering for our faith?

But knowing that Jesus is greater should encourage us. He’s greater than our circumstances and whatever the trial we may be walking through today. He doesn’t often save us from the trial, but He will save us through the trial if we will trust in Him. Perfecting and purifying our faith. Making us more like Jesus. Until we get to see Him again.

Jesus is greater. And if you haven’t experienced that yet…if you haven’t trusted in Jesus yet, please make today the day. 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. You too will have the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Jesus.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Hebrews 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.