Central Church Sermons

Showing up isn’t the same as growing.Many Christians settle into a pattern of attending church without ever stepping into maturity. But Ephesians 4 paints a different picture: God designed His church so every believer grows and helps others grow too.In this sermon, Pastor Todd walks through God’s design for spiritual maturity and challenges us with a hard truth: healthy things grow. God didn’t save you simply to attend church—He saved you to grow in Christ and help others do the same.In this message you'll discover:• Why church attendance isn’t the same as spiritual growth• Signs you may be spiritually stalled• Why spectatorship can quietly replace discipleship• Why truth and love are both essential for growth• Practical next steps toward maturity in ChristIf you’ve ever felt stagnant, disconnected, or spiritually inconsistent, this message is for you.Visit https://www.centralchurch.com to get involved with Central Church.

What do you do when life doesn’t go the way you hoped?In this powerful message from 1 Samuel 1, Pastor Matt walks through the story of Hannah, a woman overwhelmed by pain, unanswered prayers, and deep longing. Yet through her story, we discover a better way to face suffering: not with striving, but with surrender.Whether you’re walking through disappointment, anxiety, relational pain, infertility, grief, or simply a season of waiting, this sermon is a reminder that God is still at work. Even in the middle of your sorrow.In this message, you’ll discover: Why God sometimes allows painful seasons  How surrender leads to peace  What it means to trust God before the answer comes  How Hannah found hope in the middle of heartbreak  Why God uses pain to shape us, not destroy us

Central's Good Friday Sermon

Discover why the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is Christianity's most important doctrine and how it changes everything about life, death, and eternity. The apostle Paul taught the Corinthians that denying the resurrection undermines everything we believe about God, salvation, and eternity. In this sermon from 1st Corinthians 15, Pastor Greg Sukert shows that without the resurrection, Christians are liars without hope.

Are you struggling with spiritual doubts and wondering if your faith is real? This message addresses one of the most common challenges Christians face: dealing with doubt and uncertainty in their spiritual journey. Learn why doubt affects every believer and discover practical solutions for overcoming spiritual struggles. The key principle is that the closer you get to Jesus, the more you'll doubt your doubts. Pastor Matt Shackelford shares three practical ways to overcome doubt include experiencing Jesus' presence through Bible study and fellowship, examining the historical evidence for Christianity including the resurrection, and embracing the peace and joy that comes from knowing Christ personally.

When life gets dark and people hurt us, our natural response is to retreat or retaliate. However, the burial story of Jesus shows us a different path through Joseph of Arimathea, who took courage to honor Christ despite facing political, social, and personal dangers. The women who followed Jesus demonstrated compassionate love even in their grief, while maintaining God's standards during their darkest hour. Good works don't save us, but they flow from our salvation as evidence of Christ's transforming power. Because Jesus conquered death, we can respond to our worst days with our best deeds, choosing love over bitterness and courage over fear.

The real reason people are blind to Jesus isn't lack of evidence—it's a moral issue rooted in loving darkness rather than light. At the crucifixion, everyone mocked Jesus except one criminal who saw what others missed. To see Christ the King, you must first see yourself as the criminal in need of salvation. Pastor Greg teaches from Luke 23 and how it shows we're all criminals that are blind to Christ. However, there is hope! Two criminals hung beside Jesus with two different destinies: one humbled himself and received paradise, the other remained proud and faced judgment.Visit https://www.centralchurch.com to get involved with Central Church.

Life in this world brings weariness through sickness, conflict, and countless struggles that leave us longing for home. God understands our traveler's fatigue and provides communion as a taste of heaven to sustain us on our journey. At the Lord's Table, we remember the incredible privilege of being invited to dine with Jesus, the provision He made as our Passover lamb, and His promises of relationship and return. Rather than seeking satisfaction in broken cisterns that cannot truly fulfill us, communion reorients our hearts to find true peace and joy in Jesus Christ alone.

The gospel contains five essential elements that Peter masterfully proclaimed in Acts 2: Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy, His incarnation, His death and resurrection, His second coming, and salvation through Him alone. Faith is personal but never private. If the gospel has truly transformed your life, it should compel you to share it boldly with others. Jesus must be both your Savior and your Lord, having authority over every area of your life. True repentance is both a moment of decision and a lifestyle of turning from sin toward Christ. The gospel transforms everything, making your workplace a mission field and your relationships opportunities to point others to Jesus.

Christmas provides unique opportunities to share the gospel with family and friends we rarely see. Many Christians miss these divine appointments because they approach life like tourists rather than evangelists. The apostle Paul offers three powerful motivations for evangelism: remember your slavery to sin before Christ, rejoice in the salvation God provided through His mercy, and resolve to share this hope with others. When we remember our former condition as deceived, disabled, disobedient, and dead in sin, we develop compassion for those still trapped in that state. Understanding that God saved us not through our works but according to His mercy should compel us to look for divine appointments and share the gospel with those who desperately need it.

Christmas naturally turns our hearts toward giving, but true generosity flows from understanding Jesus' incredible sacrifice. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul shows how Christ's example motivates authentic generosity - Jesus gave up eternal riches to become poor so we could become spiritually wealthy. When we remember what Jesus possessed and willingly surrendered, understand His purposeful sacrifice for our sake, and receive the spiritual riches of mercy, grace, and eternal life, it transforms how we view our possessions and opportunities to bless others. Gospel-driven generosity looks like creating stability for those around us who may be one crisis away from being overwhelmed.