Salvation

March 2, 2026

Israel’s Rescue through the Waters

Exodus 14

Having brought the sons of Israel out of Egypt through a series of plagues (stage one), the LORD will rescue them from the Egyptians who are pursuing them by destroying the Egyptians in the midst of the sea after bringing His people safely through on dry land (stage two). The LORD will fight for His people while they remain silent.

And yet, the people, having seen all that the LORD did for them in Egypt, are soon willing to turn back at the first sign of trouble. How quickly they forget, but before we judge them too harshly, aren’t we kinda the same? We see the LORD do some pretty amazing things in our lives, but then something hard comes along, and we’re ready to run back to Egypt instead of trusting the LORD in this circumstance to deliver us. Why do we do that? Didn’t He promise to always be with us?

It’s a pattern that seems to repeat…over and over again. Like a broken record. How do we break the cycle? It’s a matter of perspective. The Israelites were looking at their problem. They weren’t looking to the LORD, even though the pillar of cloud/fire never left. And when we focus on the problem, when all we can see is our current circumstances, it is so easy to forget what the LORD has done and so hard to trust Him in the moment. Grumbling. Fear. Worry. Pretty good indicators that our focus is on the problem.

But when our eyes are fixed on the LORD despite our circumstances, then it’s hard to forget all that He’s done for us, and it’s easy to trust that He will see us through this situation too. We may not know how, but we can trust that He’s going to work it out for our good and His glory. And the result? Thanksgiving. Courage. Trust. Pretty good indicators that our focus is on the LORD. None of us does it perfectly, but we can get better at it. 

Of course, that assumes we have a relationship with the LORD. That starts with faith. 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. 

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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.

February 23, 2026

Setting Aside the Firstborn

Exodus 13

Passover is such a defining moment in Israel’s history that it not only resets the calendar but is also celebrated at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and memorialized in the consecration of the firstborn. Lots of symbolism that points forward to and is fulfilled in Jesus. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

It’s an event to be passed down and explained from father to son from generation to generation. The faith of the father that becomes the faith of the son. Sounds a lot like what we are supposed to be doing, right? Passing down the faith to the next generation. Transforming families to live and love like Jesus. Not necessarily easy, but extremely important. And something we can and should all do. It just takes time and intentionality.

Here’s the good news. It’s not something we do alone. It’s something we should do together. And it’s something we do in tandem with the Spirit. As He guides and directs, and as we make ourselves available to Him. That’s what I love about the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. Day and night, the LORD’s presence was right there with the Israelites to guide them in the way they were to go. Lamp to my feet and a light to my path. As we follow the LORD’s leading, He will show us the way. And then we can lead others.

But it starts with faith. 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.

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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.

February 2, 2026

The Last Plague and Passover

Exodus 12

The LORD brings one last plague on the Egyptians. With this plague, Pharaoh will not only let the people go, but he will also drive them out of his land when all the firstborn in the land of Egypt are destroyed. All the firstborn except for those from the sons of Israel. They will be spared by the blood of the Lamb. The Passover lamb points to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

This event in Israel’s history is such a defining moment that the calendar is reset. And yet it will look forward to an even greater event when the LORD brings deliverance, not just from physical bondage, but from sin and death. It’s no coincidence that Jesus’s last meal and His death are tied to Passover.

Pharaoh had a choice to make. He could have let the people go willingly. The easy way. No plagues. No death of the firstborn. No wrath of God…at least for a time. But because Pharaoh doesn’t know the LORD, he chooses door number 2. The hard way, complete with plagues and the death of the firstborn…the wrath of God poured out on him and his kingdom. Sad because had he responded differently, he could have spared himself and his kingdom the total devastation that followed. But because he doesn’t know the LORD, he continues to run headlong down the broad road to destruction.

You also have a choice to make. The good news is—anyone can be saved. Not everyone will be, but anyone can be. 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 Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

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.

January 26, 2026

Locusts and Darkness

Exodus 10–11

Two more plagues, with the last one looming on the horizon. And still Pharaoh’s heart is hardened. Even as his kingdom lies in ruins, he still refuses to let the Israelites go.

The LORD will use Pharaoh’s obstinacy, his hardheartedness, his pride to demonstrate His power and to make His name known, so that not only the sons of Israel, but also all the world may know that the LORD, He and He alone, is God. There is none like Him. Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness, relenting of evil, forgiving of iniquity, transgression, and sin, mighty to save, but by no means leaving the guilty unpunished.

For those who have trusted in the LORD, who have responded to His mercy, that’s great news. Forgiveness of sins. Eternal life. The kingdom awaits. But for those who have not trusted in Him, who like Pharaoh have rejected His mercy because of hardheartedness, well, that’s a different story. Judgment. Wrath. Death. Forever separated from God and all that’s good. Not the option you want to take.

And you don’t have to. You don’t have to harden your heart. You can respond to God’s mercy with repentance. 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 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.

January 19, 2026

Livestock, Boils, and Hail

Exodus 9:1–35

Three more plagues. Each one is more severe than the one before. And though Pharaoh seeks relief from the consequences of his refusal to let Israel go, he does not repent of his actions.

Being sorry for the consequences of our bad behavior/choices is not the same as being sorry for our bad behavior/choices. Everyone’s sorry when punishment/judgment comes. That’s just no fun. But being sorry for the bad behavior/choices… that’s the kind of sorrow that leads to repentance. Regretting not that I got caught, but that my actions negatively impacted others. Regretting that my actions caused others to stumble or reflect my own disobedience toward the LORD. That’s what we call repentance. Super important for both believers and unbelievers.

For believers, repentance allows us to restore our fellowship with the LORD when we’ve blown it. And with each other. Not a heaven/hell thing, but a relationship thing.

For unbelievers, repentance leads to salvation. It’s the recognition that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. And then from there, it’s 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.

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.

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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.

December 15, 2025

The Promised Good News (Joy)

Luke 2:1–20

Mary had a little Lamb…what a simple story with life-changing implications! Mary’s little Lamb is none other than the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is not only the promised King for whom the ancients long awaited and who came to save His people from their enemies, but He’s also the LORD who is worthy of all worship and praise and honor…and obedience.

The heavens erupt in praise at His coming, and the shepherds can’t help but rejoice. The people are amazed, and Mary ponders. So what will you do?

Do you know Jesus as Savior and LORD? If not, today I want to invite you to take that first step. Jesus came as Savior, the Hero and only One who can rescue us from sin and death by dying in our place, and who by His resurrection, offers us new life when we believe in Him. Good news of great joy! If you are going to experience the joy of Christmas, it has to start with the joy of knowing Jesus as Savior.

If you do know Jesus as Savior, are you serving Him as LORD? I hope so. If not, then who are you serving? Who or what is “lord” of your life? Who or what do you love more? Father John of Kronstadt (John Sergiev), a Russian Orthodox priest greatly beloved for his charity and wisdom, said this, “The enemy of our salvation especially strives to draw our heart and mind away from God when we are about to serve Him, and endeavours to adulterously attach our heart to something irrelevant.” Sound familiar? Whoever or whatever that irrelevant thing might be for you, you won’t experience the joy of Christmas, the joy of your salvation, until you make it right, until Jesus has your affections.
There is only One King of kings and Lord of lords…only One is worthy of our worship. Only He can bring true joy.

Spend some time this week, like Mary, pondering the good news that the King has come…He’s come to rescue us, He’s come to save us, He’s come to give us true peace and joy, He’s come to give us new life, and He will never leave us or forsake us. Then share that good news of great joy with someone else.

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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.

December 8, 2025

The Promised Prince (Peace)

Isaiah 9:2–7 (Hebrew 9:1–6)

Isaiah pictures a time of good news for a group of people who desperately needed it. They were under the enemy’s oppression. They were defeated. They were without hope. They knew no peace. But the LORD hadn’t forgotten them. Light was coming. God Himself would rend the veil of time and space and step into the world 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 reconcile them with their heavenly Father. He would establish a kingdom where they could live and reign with Him forever. Where they would know true and lasting peace.

And so Jesus has come…

I like the way Paul talks about it in Romans 5…“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:1–11)

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, make today the day. It starts with recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior that God promised would come. He lived a perfect life. He died a sacrificial death on your behalf. He was raised on the third day, showing that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, you could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

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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.

November 10, 2025

And So It Begins

Exodus 7 (English) 7:1–25 (Hebrew)

The LORD has promised to rescue the sons of Israel from their captivity in Egypt, to go down and bring them up, and to deliver them to the land. And now the work begins.

The LORD makes an initial request and gives a sign before He begins His great judgments through the plagues He will unleash on Pharaoh, his people, the land, and the gods of Egypt. We can easily get caught up in the plagues and miss that, in the midst of judgment, there’s this vein of mercy that runs throughout.

The LORD gives Pharaoh the choice. Let the people go, or suffer the consequences. But because Pharaoh doesn’t know the LORD, he refuses. His heart is hardened. The LORD’s instrument for hardening Pharaoh’s heart? His mercy. Every time the LORD relents, Pharaoh hardens his heart. Sad because had he responded differently, he could have spared himself and his kingdom the total devastation that is soon to come. But because he didn’t know the LORD, he continues to run headlong down the broad road to destruction.

The LORD is merciful. He’s gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness, relenting of evil, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Mighty to save. But He will judge the wicked.

The good news is—anyone can be saved. Not everyone will be, but anyone can be. 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, the Bible says we, like Adam and Noah, Abraham and Joseph, 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.

November 3, 2025

The Promise of Rescue

Exodus 6

Pharaoh’s resistance has set in motion his downfall. Not only will he let the sons of Israel go, but he will also drive them out of his land.

The LORD has not forgotten His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Not only will He rescue the sons of Israel and bring them into the land, but He will also be their God, and they will be His people. And unlike Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He has made Himself known to the people by His covenant name, the LORD.

But the people can only see their circumstances. They “lack spirit.” It’s hard to imagine that anything will ever get better. And yet, the LORD is on the move. He will rescue them. He will do what He said. He will keep His promise.

Ever feel like that? So caught up in the circumstance that you can’t see any way out? Maybe you need to be reminded that the LORD has not forgotten you. In fact, not only do we know Him as LORD, but we also know Him as Father. Not only are we His people, we are His children. That is, if you know the LORD.

Do you know the LORD? If not, you can 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, the Bible says we, like Adam and Noah, Abraham and Joseph, 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.