Salvation

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.

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.

March 16, 2026

The Song of Deliverance and the Beginning of Testing

Exodus 15

The people sing of the LORD’s salvation. They praise and exalt and lift up His name. He is a Warrior who has fought for them and destroyed the Egyptians in the heart of the sea. All the peoples will hear and be filled with terror and dread until the sons of Israel have passed through the land. The first recorded song in the Bible.

And yet, somewhere around three days later, the people have gone from worshiping the LORD to complaining. This time because of a lack of water. Unfortunately a pattern that is going to become all too familiar.

The LORD is testing them. Will they trust in Him or themselves? Are they going to focus on their circumstances or the LORD who controls those circumstances? It seems they have a ways to go. But that’s what treading Torah Road is all about. Learning to trust the LORD more consistently in our circumstances. It’s a process that takes time and intentionality. And we’re going to blow it. But then we go again.

One of the things I love in this passage is the LORD’s patience. This is the second time the people have grumbled, and yet the LORD simply provides. There will come a time when He disciplines their continued grumbling and disobedience (their refusal to obey Him), but now they are learning what it means to trust the LORD, and He provides them with an amazing oasis with springs and palm trees.

The LORD is patient with us, too. Nothing that happens in our lives catches Him off guard. The LORD wants us to trust in Him in every circumstance. With the big things and the small things. He wants us to walk by faith while He guides and directs our steps. When we trust Him, we are in that place of worship. When we are trusting in ourselves, well, that’s where the grumbling comes in.

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.

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.