Torah Road

December 16, 2024

O Come, All Ye Faithful (Love)

Matthew 2.1-12

A tale of two kings…a tale of two loves. Herod, an earthly king, living in Jerusalem, seeks to build a name and a kingdom for himself. Jesus, the true King, has already been given a Name and a kingdom.

Herod’s love is a very worldly love…love for his own kingdom, love of power, prestige, position, pleasure. A love that was very selfish and self-serving. A love that did not save him because it could not. Jesus was a real threat to Herod because he knew what was at stake. If Herod didn’t think Jesus might indeed be a king…the King…if he didn’t think Jesus, though now just a Child, could in fact dethrone him, rule over him, take allegiance from him, he would not have felt threatened. But Jesus is a real threat to anyone who thinks seriously about Him. If Jesus is King…you’re not. It means your dethronement. It means your submission. It means you can’t lead your life any longer, as Herod did, according to your worldly loves. If Jesus is who He says He is, you either love Him or you hate Him! Herod represents King Me…his response to the true King, to King Jesus is hatred and rejection.

The Magi’s love is other-worldly…it’s clear where their loyalties lie. The Magi give their allegiance to Someone far greater than any earthly king…their King’s arrival was announced by the heavens. A star pointed the way. The Magi’s love led them to go to incredible lengths to see Jesus, and seeing Him, they couldn’t help but worship Him, expressing their love for Him for what He would do and God’s love already demonstrated in sending Him. They brought costly gifts…another natural expression of their love. In Him, they found an Object worthy of great pursuit…chasing after Him with all they had…their love for Jesus is clear…Jesus, the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, the Warrior-King from the line of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Hero of the Story and the only One who could rescue them, the Savior of the nations. The Magi recognize Jesus as King, and their response to Him is worship and adoration.

Where are your affections this Christmas? Who or what do you love? Is it causing you to be selfish and self-serving? Is it causing you to want to protect your stuff? If so, you may be giving your affections to people or things that are destined to disappoint. Or are you loving Jesus, the only One who can save and deliver and rescue…not just in an eternal sense, but also here and now? Is He the Object of your affections…your devotion every day? Do you live that way…going to great lengths to be in His presence, to worship Him, to serve Him with the same passion and diligence that the Magi did? Are you living as one who has realized their hope in Jesus, who’s experienced God’s amazing love? Are we as God’s people making much of Jesus this Christmas, or are we caught up in the hustle and bustle of building our own little kingdoms?

If you don’t know Jesus as Savior today…if He is not the King you adore, make today the day. To do so starts with acknowledging that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and then 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 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.

O Come All Ye Faithful…Christmas is a busy season, and we have a thousand things on our minds and a thousand things to do. But through it all, let us remember to come and adore Jesus who loves us and proved that love by coming into the world to bring us light for our darkness…and joy…and life eternal.

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This post is based on a sermon from our Advent series: Songs of the Season. 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 11, 2024

IMPACT Promise Week 6: The Generosity of God

2 Corinthians 9.10-15

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”

Last weekend Wendy and I were visiting our son’s church, and the pastor said something that stuck with me about giving. We will call it four views of “my stuff”: 1) all that I have is mine 2) the more is mine 3) some of what I have is mine or 4) all that I have belongs to the LORD (generous/kingdom IMPACT mindset). Helpful way of thinking about this idea of generosity.

Everything we have comes from the LORD. Everything. He has entrusted us with His resources. He provides the seed…time, talent, experience, gifts, money/stuff…and He expects us to invest those resources until He returns. Parable of the Mina’s in Luke 19. Guess what He wants us to invest in? Our kingdoms? Building bigger barns…seeing who can die with the most toys…having a YOLO attitude? And who gets all that stuff when you die? Eventually it all goes to the graveyard or the junkyard. What a foolish way to live! Or are we to invest in His kingdom? Yeah…His kingdom. Easy to say, but hard to do. It requires us to let go, rather than hold on. To recognize that we are not the main character in our story. He is. Our job is simply to say “yes” to Him.

Here’s the thing…our money/stuff and how we use it…is a good indication of our spiritual health (all mine vs. all His or somewhere in between). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges His disciples not to worry…about food or clothing…the necessities of life…God will provide for us just as He does for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. He says instead that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us. For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

Now’s the time to make an IMPACT. Strive to become a generous giver, not a bigger barn builder. Then watch and see what the LORD does.

IMPACT Promise is a great place to start.

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This post is based on a sermon from our IMPACT Promise 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.

October 28, 2024

IMPACT Promise Week 4: Teamwork

2 Corinthians 8.16-24

Each of us is called to make an IMPACT. And all of us can have IMPACT in different ways. Sharing our story. Serving in a ministry. Investing our financial resources in kingdom purposes. Loving our neighbor. All of the above.

Our greatest IMPACT is the one we make together. Serving alongside one another with an earnestness…a diligence…an eagerness…a zeal to reach the lost, expand the kingdom, and make Jesus more famous.

So what about you? What IMPACT are you having right now? What kind of IMPACT do you want to have  around the block and around the world?

It starts today…sign up to be a part of our IMPACT Promise and say “yes” to the LORD.

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This post is based on a sermon from our IMPACT Promise 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.

October 21, 2024

IMPACT Promise Week 3: Finish What You Start

2 Corinthians 8.8-15

Why be generous? Because of Jesus. Though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor, so that we through His poverty might become rich. That’s God’s grace. That’s the gospel.

Being generous is a heart attitude. Not really something that’s easy to teach. It starts with the recognition of God’s grace…His generosity towards us. Those forgiven much, love much. Those forgiven little, love little. Truth is…we’ve all been forgiven much. And when that sinks in, we will do a much better job of loving. Loving God and loving others. We will simply be more generous. We will have an IMPACT mindset.

Everything we have, we’ve been given. It’s been entrusted to us. It all belongs to God. We are managers of His resources. And one day we will have to give an account…have we been generous with His stuff? Have we been generous with the money, time, relationships, etc…with the life He’s entrusted to us?

Another way to ask that is…what kind of IMPACT are you having right now for the kingdom? What kind of IMPACT would you like to have? 

Let’s start today…sign up to be a part of our IMPACT Promise and say “yes” to the LORD.

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This post is based on a sermon from our IMPACT Promise 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.

October 14, 2024

IMPACT Promise Week 2: The Overflow of Grace

2 Corinthians 8.1-7

Because of the grace of God they had received, the churches of Macedonia give generously and with great joy despite the desperate circumstances they are facing. Because of God’s grace.

That kind of generosity doesn’t come naturally for most folks. For most of us, even giving something may be a stretch. So, how do we get to this “generosity” thing? It starts by recognizing God’s grace in our own lives. That of course should lead us to offer ourselves to the LORD. His grace should motivate us to be all in! To have an IMPACT. And then, from there, showing grace to others…even in crazy, generous ways…is just the overflow of the grace the LORD has shown towards us.

There are lots of examples of generosity right here at Central…lots of folks having an IMPACT. Some of that’s through sharing their story. Some of that’s through serving. Some through giving. All of it through loving. All with the desire to be all in. To have an IMPACT.

So what about you? What IMPACT are you having right now? What kind of IMPACT do you want to have?

What would Central look like if everyone was as generous as you are? If everyone gave and served and shared and loved exactly like you, what IMPACT would that have, not only on Central, but around the block and around the world?

A simple start…sign up to be a part of our IMPACT Promise.

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This post is based on a sermon from our IMPACT Promise 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.

October 7, 2024

IMPACT Promise Week 1: Paul at Corinth

Acts 18.1-11

Paul’s trip to Corinth is a game changer. A church is planted in one of the most affluent and influential cities of the ancient world, setting the stage for major strategic IMPACT, and Paul himself is encouraged by the Lord to press on to greater IMPACT despite ministry fatigue.

Following Jesus is hard work at times. Opposition and obstacles are often in the way. But the Lord is with us, and He will see us through. He still has work for us to do…lots of folks who need to hear about Jesus. Now’s not the time to shrink back. Now’s the time to forge ahead…to crash the gates of hell…and proclaim our Resurrected King. Now’s the time to make an IMPACT.

Like Paul, it’s our job to share the gospel…to be a watchman on the wall. The gospel is good news for those who receive it, but a warning of impending judgment for those who reject it. Jesus is either our King, or He will be our Judge. No middle ground. You are either in or out, for or against, saved or lost.

And also like Paul, we all need encouragement. Who can you encourage this week? Maybe someone who is having a rough go of it. Maybe someone who’s been out of the game for awhile. Maybe someone who has walked away from the faith for any number of reasons. Maybe someone who needs to take a step of faith. Maybe it’s something else. Whatever the situation…encourage them in the Lord this week. Another great way to have an IMPACT.

BTW if you have not yet trusted in Jesus, please make today the day. It is 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.

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This post is based on a sermon from our IMPACT Promise 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.

September 30, 2024

The Relentless Love of God

Jonah 4.1-11

We said this week 1 of Jonah…God’s plan has always been for the nations. He promised Abraham that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. And John 3.16 reminds us…“For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son…”

But too bad it’s not the same for Jonah. He had a tremendous response from folks he seemingly couldn’t care less about…first on the ship and then in Nineveh. And the overwhelming response of the folks in Nineveh even makes him angry. He definitely doesn’t share God’s heart on the matter.

If we are not careful, we too can be like Jonah. Maybe for good reason…or so we think. Maybe someone’s hurt us in some way. Maybe they are making bad life choices. I don’t know. We can come up with all kinds of reasons why, but the bottom line is: we don’t think they deserve God’s mercy. We of course do. But they definitely don’t. And you know sometimes, we may even get mad when God shows them mercy. How dare He! Yeah, we can be a lot like Jonah.

Two things continue to be unmistakable in this story…God’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. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of calamity. He loves the lost. He loves us too. And wants us to love the lost just like He does.

Sometimes the folks that we have written off as too far gone, like the folks there in Nineveh, are just the folks who are ready to hear the gospel and respond to it. God’s question to Jonah at the end of the story isn’t answered. “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh?” We all need the LORD’s compassion…His mercy. Who do you need to share His mercy with this week?

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This post is based on a sermon from our Jonah 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.

September 23, 2024

Nineveh Repents

Jonah 3.1-10

This episode in Jonah 3 is one of the few times in the OT that we see the nations responding to the LORD in faith. Too bad that Jonah can’t…won’t celebrate it.

Jonah has a tremendous response to his message from folks he seemingly couldn’t care less about…first on the ship and then in Nineveh. And the overwhelming response of the folks in Nineveh, as we will see next week, even makes him angry. Mercy…what’s that?!?

It’s a warning to us…we too can forget that we are all in need of God’s mercy. Everyone one of us. And just as God has been merciful to us, so we are to be merciful to those around us. Lot’s of ways we can show mercy, but the best way is to share the hope that we’ve found in Jesus.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of calamity. He loves the lost. He loves us too. And wants us to love the lost just like He does.

Sometimes the folks that we have written off as too far gone, like the folks there in Nineveh, are just the folks who are ready to hear the gospel and respond to it. Believe it or not, that might have been you at one point. Then somebody told you about Jesus, and you responded in faith. Our job is to pay it forward…being faithful to share our story with the folks around us who need to hear it. Who is that for you?

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This post is based on a sermon from our Jonah 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.

September 16, 2024

Jonah’s Prayer

Jonah 2.1-11 (Hebrew)

Jonah’s own need for the LORD’s mercy is painfully obvious as he descends to the depths of the sea in the belly of the great fish. It’s only then that he once again cries out to the LORD, confident that the LORD will rescue him despite the seemingly overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

What was the source of Jonah’s confidence? He knew the LORD. He had spent time in His Word. And so in a time of great distress, the words of God flood his mind. And not only does he call out in prayer, but he also offers thanksgiving to the God he knows will deliver him. What about you? When you hit the wall, what are the words that come to your mind? Confidence in the LORD? Or something else? That kind of confidence can only come through time logged with the LORD…getting to know Him through His Word and spending time with Him in prayer.

The LORD is merciful. Amen for that. I’m thankful for His mercy toward me. And I pray that I’m as thankful for His mercy toward others. I can’t always say that’s the case, but I am praying for it. What about you? Seems Jesus said something about that…blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy, right?

Anyway, we are reminded again of God’s sovereignty over and love for His creation. He appoints a great wind and a great fish. 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. He loves us so much that even when we are running from Him, He pursues after us.

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This post is based on a sermon from our Jonah 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.

September 9, 2024

Jonah’s Disobedience

Jonah 1.1-16 (Hebrew)

God’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…exhibit A…the men on the ship who go from fearing the storm to fearing the LORD. Jonah definitely doesn’t share God’s heart on the matter.

I think if we are honest with ourselves we can be like Jonah. Maybe for good reason…or so we think. Maybe someone’s hurt us in some way. Maybe they are making bad life choices. I don’t know. We can come up with all kinds of reasons why, but the bottom line is: we don’t think they deserve God’s mercy. We of course do. But they definitely don’t. Oh, we would never say it out loud, or at least not where anyone could hear us. But our action or inaction speaks louder than words. Who are you avoiding/refusing to share your story with? Maybe you think they won’t respond in faith, or maybe you think they will. But how can we expect God to be gracious to us if we won’t share His grace with others? 

And while Jonah tells the sailors he fears the LORD, his actions don’t seem to make that obvious. But for the sailors, fear/belief has resulted in action. Their response of faith has been just that…a response. Our actions don’t save us, but they do demonstrate the faith that we say we have. Remember to hear and not do is not to hear. To believe and not to respond is not to believe. Jesus said, “He who hears My words and does them will be like a man who built his house on the rock…” Is your faith obvious by the way you live your life? Would folks know you’re a Christian by your actions?

Two things that are unmistakable in this story…God’s sovereignty over and His love for His creation. He appoints a great wind. He directs His prophet and even uses Jonah’s disobedience to accomplish the salvation of a group of unsuspecting sailors. 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 Father, He pursues us even when we are running from Him.

Sin is serious and impacts the folks who are around us…Jonah’s sin impacted the sailors, and it affects those closest to us too. Even though we may think otherwise. Sin is greedy that way.

So don’t be like Jonah. We all need the LORD’s compassion. We all need His mercy. Who do you need to share it with this week?

BTW if you have not yet trusted in Jesus, please make today the day. It is 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.

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This post is based on a sermon from our Jonah 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.