New Testament

September 28, 2026

The Gospel of John – The First Sign at a Wedding in Cana

John 2:1–11

Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, the first of His signs. An everyday event becomes a powerful picture of the King and the coming kingdom.

There’s lots of wedding imagery throughout the Bible. One of the first scenes in the Story is a wedding (Genesis 2). The language of the covenant in the OT is wedding language: “You will be My people, and I will be your God.” When Isaiah talks about the kingdom in Isaiah 54 and 62, he uses wedding imagery. Jesus uses a wedding feast in Matthew 22 and the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 to describe the kingdom. When Paul talks about husbands and wives, he compares their relationship to Christ and the Church. And, of course, Revelation 19 describes the wedding supper of the Lamb. So, yeah, the Bible uses wedding imagery throughout. Why? Because there’s nothing more intimate than that. Kind of like “And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” A beautiful way to picture God’s love for us.

Everything that John writes is for this one purpose: that y’all may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing y’all may have life in His name. How does he do that here? By showing that Jesus fulfills the OT imagery of the wedding feast that pictures the kingdom. He’s the King who has come for His bride to usher in the kingdom.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, today’s a great day to do that. 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. We can become children of God—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 Gospel of John 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.

September 21, 2026

The Gospel of John – The First Disciples

John 1:35–51

John the Baptist serves as a witness, testifying to the Light. He identifies himself as the “voice” preparing the way and declares Jesus to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” first to the crowd and then to two of his disciples. One of those disciples is Andrew, who tells his brother Peter. The next day Jesus finds Philip, who tells Nathanael. In talking with Nathanael, after he proclaims, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel”, Jesus says, “You will see greater things than these.” So, get ready.

Notice the progression of this thing. Andrew hears John’s testimony about Jesus, and the first thing he does is tell his brother. A guy named Peter. Jesus tells Philip, who has no doubt already heard something about Him, to follow Him. And what does Phillip do? He goes and tells his buddy Nate. And that’s how we get the first official followers of Jesus. The first of the disciples.

So, who have you told? Who have you shared your story with, or who do you need to share your story with? Who do you need to tell about Jesus and the hope you’ve found in Him and the difference He’s made in your life? The gospel is not a secret to keep, but good news to share.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, today’s a great day to do that. 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. We can become children of God—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 Gospel of John 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.

September 14, 2026

The Gospel of John – The Testimony of John

John 1:19–34

John the Baptist serves as a witness, testifying to the Light.

He is clear about who he’s not. He’s not the Guy. He’s just the one to point you to the Guy. He’s the “voice” preparing the way, declaring Jesus to be “the Lamb of God,” the Perfect Sacrifice to take away the sin of the world.

And so, we are going to see that everything that John, the Gospel-writer, writes is for this one purpose: that y’all may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing y’all may have life in His name.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, today’s a great day to do that. 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. We can become children of God—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 Gospel of John 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.

September 7, 2026

The Gospel of John – The Word

John 1:1–18

In these opening verses, John unmistakably presents Jesus as more than a Man…He was with God, and He was God. As I said earlier, it’s our Trinitarian concept of God…one God in three Persons. God the Father. God the Son. And as we will see soon enough, God the Holy Spirit. Not easy to grasp, but foundational to our faith.

And not only does John present Jesus as more than a Man…He is also a Man. The Word became flesh. He didn’t give up His God-ness to become a Man, but somehow clothed His divinity in humanity. Again, not something that is easy to understand, but also foundational to our faith.

John wants us to know Jesus…fully God because only God can forgive sins. Fully Man because only a Man could die for sin. The perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

I’m excited for our journey through John. Lots of good stuff here. Let me leave you with this.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name… If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, today’s a great day to do that. 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. We can become children of God—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 Gospel of John 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.

April 20, 2026

Where is Your Treasure?

Luke 12:13–34

Where is your treasure? What captures your heart? What consumes your time? What gets you up in the morning or keeps you up at night? Is it on earth or in heaven?

If greed says, “I can never get enough”, worry says, “I’m afraid I may not have enough.” Both reveal a wrong view of God. Greed is short-sighted and turns our stuff into idols. Always wanting more, we think our stuff will give us life. When we do that, we forget or ignore that life is so much more than the things we have or the achievements we’ve accomplished. Life, true life, can only be found in our relationship with Jesus…the way, the truth, and the Life.

Worry is similar but different. It’s constantly asking, “But what if…” It’s a failure to trust God to provide. Instead of seeing Him as a loving Father who gives good gifts to His kids, He is a distant God who is unconcerned about the day-to-day of life on the earth He created. The weeds that choke out the Word in the parable of the soils are worries, riches, and pleasures of this life…worry and greed. Both keep the Word from being productive in a believer’s life.

But there is an alternative… if we want to live and love like Jesus, we need to trust God rather than our stuff. We have to believe that God is a loving Father who cares for us and what’s happening in our lives. We have to trust that He can and will provide as we pursue Him and look out for others’ needs. Then we can be generous rather than greedy, helping rather than hoarding. If we want to worry less, then give more. Remember, generosity is not about the amount, but the heart attitude when we give or serve. It’s seeing those things as acts of worship.

Don’t be a fool. One day, your life will be required of you. If your life reflects greediness and selfishness, if it’s the sum total of the stuff you’ve accumulated, if you’re trusting in your stuff, then you will be sadly disappointed. But if your life is rich toward God, if you’ve invested in His kingdom and loved people, if you’ve trusted in Jesus and allowed Him to transform you from the inside out, then yours is the kingdom.

pro rege

This post is based on our Quarterly Update sermon. 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 6, 2026

Our Resurrected King

Matthew 28:1–20

Just as the women are instructed to go and tell the disciples, and the disciples are told to go out and tell all the world, so we also are to go and tell. To give our testimony, to tell our story, of what Jesus has done for us, what the resurrection means to us.

The resurrection proves that everything Jesus said and did is absolutely true. He is the Hero that God’s people hoped for, the Messianic King He claimed to be.

Both the women and the guards are witnesses to some amazing things that first Easter morning. But they arrive at two wildly different conclusions: 1) The women believe that Jesus is alive, which brings both fear and joy, a resurgence of their faith, a rekindling of their hope, eternal life, forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God; whereas 2) the guards, at the prompting of the religious leaders, say that Jesus is dead, which brings only fear and trembling, deception and despair, death…

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, today would be a great day to do that. 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 for you. 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.

Matthew’s Gospel closes with Jesus’ words… “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to k all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28.18-20). Come and see, go and tell.

pro rege

This post is based on our Resurrection Sunday sermon. 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 30, 2026

Who Is This?

Matthew 21:1–17

Jesus enters Jerusalem, and His final week of ministry is underway. Some gladly accept Him as their King, while others complain and reject Him as an Imposter.

None of the events of this final week will catch Jesus by surprise. Not one. He is in control of His destiny. He will lay down His life as a willing sacrifice. He’s not a victim. He’s not a bystander. He’s not “along for the ride.” He is the King. And He is in control. That hasn’t changed.

Everything that Jesus did was on purpose, including dying for our sins and being raised to life again so that we could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Him. That’s what we celebrate at Easter…our passing from death to life through the finished work of our Resurrected King. Let me encourage you to spend some intentional time this week reflecting on what that means for you.

And if you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus, you can do that 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 for you. 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 our Palm Sunday sermon. 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.

January 5, 2026

Reflect and Resolve: Put Off the Old, Put On the New

Ephesians 4:17–32

The Ephesians are not to live as they did before Christ, but to live 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 we used to. 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.

For the rest, let me challenge you, if you haven’t already, to spend some time over the next week or so reflecting. Ask yourself the tough questions: What lessons have I learned this past year, both good and bad? Where is my relationship with the LORD? What about my family and friends? Favorite memories? Greatest accomplishments? Biggest disappointments? And where have I used the resources the LORD has entrusted to me to serve?

And then resolve…what do I want to do better? How can I grow in my relationships with the LORD and others? How can I be more intentional? How will I challenge myself this year? What will I do to finish strong? What is my part? Where can I use the resources the LORD has entrusted me to serve? Maybe start by making reading your Bible and committing to prayer a daily habit, joining a small group, finding a place to serve, sharing your story with someone at school, work, home, or in your neighborhood who doesn’t yet know Jesus, and living a generous life…

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our January series: Reflect and Resolve. 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.

December 29, 2025

Reflect and Resolve: Equipping the Saints

Ephesians 4:1–16

We all have a part to play in 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 does their part to build it up. 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 taekwondo. On the first day we entered the dojo, aka the YMCA, it was clear that the goal was for us to become black belts. Even though there were a number of them present, the sensei didn’t consider his job done until we all crossed the finish 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 do so 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.

For the rest, let me challenge you to spend some time over the next couple of days reflecting. Ask yourself the tough questions: What lessons have I learned this past year, both good and bad? Where is my relationship with the LORD? What about my family and friends? Favorite memories? Greatest accomplishments? Biggest disappointments? And where have you used the resources the LORD has entrusted to you to serve?

And then resolve…what do I want to do better? How can I grow in my relationships with the LORD and others? How can I be more intentional? How will I challenge myself this year? What will I do to finish strong? What is my part? Where can I use the resources the LORD has entrusted me to serve? Maybe start by making reading your Bible and committing to prayer a daily habit, joining a small group, finding a place to serve, sharing your story with someone at school, work, home, or in your neighborhood who doesn’t yet know Jesus, and living a generous life…

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our January series: Reflect and Resolve. 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.

December 25, 2025

The Promise Kept

John 1:1–18

In these opening verses, John presents Jesus as more than a Man…He was with God, and He was God. But not only does John present Jesus as more than a Man…He is also a Man. The Word became flesh. He didn’t give up His God-ness to become a Man, but somehow clothed His divinity in humanity.

John wants us to know Jesus… fully God, because only God can forgive sins; fully Man because only a Man could die for sin. The perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…if you have not yet trusted in Jesus, tonight would be a great time to do that.

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 with Him, so that you might become a child of God.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Advent series: The Promise of Christmas. 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.