Salvation

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.

August 24, 2026

The Book of the Twelve – Zechariah

Zechariah 1–14

Zechariah is a contemporary of Haggai. Both were writing to the Jews returning from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. While both encourage them to complete the building of the temple, Zechariah primarily focuses on their spiritual return to the LORD.

So, Zechariah sees a series of visions and pronounces a number of oracles rebuking the people for their disobedience, calling them to repentance, promising their restoration and the judgment of the nations, and prophesying the coming, rejection, and return of the Messiah to reign. But key to their restoration will be more than a physical return to the land. And more than just building the temple. They need to return to the LORD. Maybe you do too.

Just a reminder of the big plans the LORD had 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 the nation. 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 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 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.

But if not…well, that’s a different story. Then they would experience the curses of the covenant. The LORD would drive them out of the land. He would become their Enemy. They would be a different kind of spectacle to the world…a horror and a curse…for all the evil that the LORD would do to them. And so it happened.

And even though they failed, the LORD still has big plans for Israel. Because He made the promise, and He is always faithful, even when His people are not. That’s who He 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 has plans for us, too. Even if we’ve blown it. Even if we’ve strayed and experienced the LORD’s discipline. He still invites us to return to Him. To come back. Like the prodigal. And when we do, we find that He’s been anxiously awaiting us all along. If that’s you today, don’t wait. Come home.

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.

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.

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 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.

April 27, 2026

The Giving of the Law and the People’s Response

Exodus 21–24

The ten words having been given, Moses now receives a series of instructions detailing what it means to live out the ten words, including observing the sabbath and the three annual feasts.

Then the LORD promises to send His angel to bring the sons of Israel into the land. If the people will fear the LORD and obey Him, the LORD will fight for them, and they will succeed. If not, they are on their own, and they won’t. It’s really that simple. So, Moses writes down all that the LORD has said, and the people’s response is a resounding “yes”! All that the LORD has said, we will do. 

We said this last time: the LORD has great plans for Israel. If only they would fear and obey Him. If only they would listen to His voice and keep His covenant. If only… And yet the LORD is faithful and will accomplish His purposes despite their unfaithfulness. In fact, the Law highlights the need for the LORD’s mercy. The need for a Savior. It can’t make anyone righteous. It can only reveal our lack of it. And our need for Someone to bridge the gap. Someone to save us because we cannot save ourselves.

So, Jesus will come. He will fulfill the Law because He is truly righteous. And because He is truly righteous, He is the only One who didn’t deserve the punishment of death. Yet He will willingly die for our sins, the perfect sacrifice, so that the penalty for our sin can be taken care of and we can then share His righteousness. That’s true for all those who have believed.

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, 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 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.