remnant

August 31, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Malachi

Malachi 1–4 (Hebrew 1–3)

Malachi writes a bit later than Haggai and Zechariah. The temple has been rebuilt, and folks have settled in. But there’s a problem. Although the people have returned to the land, they are not experiencing the restoration that Deuteronomy 30:1–10 promised. The land they are currently occupying is a small province within the Persian Empire. The promises of this glorious future made by Haggai and Zachariah have not been realized. The LORD had yet to visit the temple (3:1) as He had done in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–38) and Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10–11), where “the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle/house of the LORD.” And so, the people question the LORD’s covenant love for them (1:2) and His justice (2:17; 3:14–15). Malachi (“My messenger”), then, writes to Israel, and especially to the priests, using disputation, repetition, and vivid imagery in order to challenge and correct their charge against the LORD and make them aware that they are not experiencing restoration/blessing in the land due to their profaning of the altar with improper sacrifices, the false teaching of the priests, marrying daughters of foreign gods, divorcing their Jewish wives, withholding the tithe, and acting arrogantly against the LORD, so that they will fear the LORD and repent and so avoid further judgment and experience the promised blessing as they await the coming day of the LORD heralded by Elijah.

We’ve seen it throughout the prophets: the LORD’s desire for Israel’s repentance, and their seeming determination to run in the opposite direction. The LORD’s warning of judgment to come, and their refusal to listen. And yet, even then, the LORD promises to one day restore them. But it will require them to return to Him. He still has big plans for them, but they need to return to the LORD. Maybe you do too.

I hope this series has been profitable for you. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s not been easy, but it’s been worthwhile. And if you’ve gotten nothing else out of it, I hope you’ve seen that the LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness, relenting of evil, forgiving of iniquity, transgression, and sin, mighty to save, but who will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD is a good, good God, but He does take sin seriously. And so should we. If you’ve strayed, don’t wait to come back. Do it today.

If you don’t know the LORD, you can come to know Him 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 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.

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.

November 16, 2020

The Jewishness of Christianity

Romans 11.11-24

Being grafted in to the people of God is a huge privilege for us…for a “no people without understanding”, wild olive branches that had no hope of salvation outside the kindness and mercy of God. By faith we have been grafted in and by faith we stand.

God is not done with His people Israel. They still are His people. We benefit from the promises given to them. We are partakers of the rich root of the olive tree…not as natural branches, but as those who have been grafted in. So there is no room for boasting. We, the Church, have not replaced Israel. We have been grafted in to the people of God. Reminds me of the picture of New Jerusalem in Revelation…the twelve gates have the names of the twelve tribes written on them (OT), while the twelve foundation stones have the names of the apostles (NT) (Revelation 21.12-14)…a picture of the cultivated olive tree to which the nations coming streaming in.

Pray for Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for individual Jews that you know. Pray for the nation that they would accept Jesus as their Messiah. If their failure is riches for Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be…right?

God takes our faith seriously, and so should we. We are saved by faith and not by works. But we are saved to do the good works which God has prepared for us to do. We are to live out our faith. We are to provoke others to jealousy…living our lives in such a way that they want to come to know and follow Jesus. Can that be said of you? If not, what needs to change?

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Romans series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster

November 2, 2020

Israel’s Believing Remnant

Romans 11.1-10

God has not rejected His people. There is a believing remnant of Jews now just as there has always been…a remnant chosen by God. Not because they deserve it. But because of God’s mercy. A remnant who have trusted in Jesus.

Two things that I want you to think about. First, you are not alone. Often in the Christian life we find ourselves in situations where we feel all alone. Like we are the only ones who are following Jesus. And it’s tempting in those times to despair…to throw our hands up and want to give up. But don’t. My guess is you’re not alone. If you will lift your head up out of the dark cloud you’ve created, you’ll often find there are other believers around that you were not previously aware of. And in the workplace or at school, it’s good to know others who share your faith and can be a support when times are tough. Maybe it’s the push you need to share your story…tell others about the hope that you have in Jesus.

Second, there is an implicit warning for us not to disregard the truth. If we are constantly hearing the Word preached/taught and yet not responding to it, our hearts become hard. Eventually we are unable to respond to the truth. Now God can work miracles in hard hearts, but don’t let it go that far…don’t neglect to respond to the truth that you hear.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Romans series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter: @ccclancaster