Central Church Sermons

As we struggle this year with the anxiety and uncertainty of COVID-19, the Hope of Easter still exists. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we have a living hope that is not dismantled when hard times come. In this sermon, Pastor Matt looks at 1 Peter and the 3 ways that Jesus offers hope. 

No other animal is mentioned in the Bible as sheep. In this sermon, Pastor Matt looks at Psalm 23, one of the most popular chapters in the Bible, and what it means for God to be our shepherd.

Our world doesn't make a lot of sense right now. In the midst of the coronavirus changing our lives, it's easy to fear. In this sermon, Pastor Matt reads through Psalm 91 and gives three reasons to trust God in a fearful world. 

“We have never seen anything like this!” It was in this way that the people of Capernaum responded to an encounter that Jesus had with a man in great need. Powerless to help himself, this man found true and ultimate healing in Jesus alone. In this sermon, we will explore Mark 2:1-12 with the aim of recognizing our own neediness and seeing Jesus as the only one who can bring true healing. May we each go out into our communities amazed, glorifying God and exclaiming, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Life is hard! It’s a world of heavy hits that temps us to despair and give up on our ministry and our callings. In 2 Timothy 2:8-14, Pastor Matt is going to show you four powerful reminders that give us the grace and encouragement to endure and to Keep the Gospel Central!

Do you find that your relationship with the church is a lot like a dating relationship? Some people tend to "date their church" when they don't engage in the mission, neglect the community, and drift apart over time. In today's age we're missing that deep commitment to the mission and people of God.In this sermon, Pastor Matt is going to show us three pictures of commitment, which will help us Keep the Gospel Central.

What will you leave behind when your life is over? Do you often think about the legacy you’re leaving behind? In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul is writing Timothy with instructions to experience a four- generation legacy and shows us the intentional steps to experience a gospel legacy that spans generations to come. 

What daily investments are you making? On what do you spend your time, money, and faculties? In the end, do you believe the reward will be worth the cost? We're in a sermon series entitled, "It's Always Too Soon to Quit." and Pastor Matt's sermon today is all about two "eternal investments" to keep us going. These two investments found in 2 Timothy 2:13-18 teach us how not to waste our life and how to refocus towards God's Word and God's people. As you prepare for this passage today, ask the Lord for Grace to begin investing in the things that last. 

So often, we fail to finish because we run away from those risky moments when we’re called to stand boldly for Jesus. It happens when we get the chance to share our faith, and we retreat from that uncomfortable conversation. It occurs when someone is ridiculing Jesus, and we stay quiet, not wanting to bear the shame. In this sermon, Pastor Matt talks about our security. In 2 Timothy 1:11-12 we will see that when we know how secure we are, we’ll take risks, endure shame, and finish our race strong. When you know you’re secure in Christ, you’ll know that its always too soon to quit.

We’re returning to 2 Timothy for the encouragement that “It’s Always Too Soon to Quit.” Paul is going to show us that crossing the finish line requires living an unashamed life. He’s going to explain that the expectations and opinions of people shouldn’t imprison or paralyze us. To keep going in a world of hard hits, we’ve got to live to please God and not man (Gal. 1:10; 2 Cor 5:9).

Have you ever felt that temptation to give up when life gets hard?In this sermon, we started a new series entitled, "Its Always Too Soon To Quit!" It's a study through the book of 2 Timothy. In this short letter, Paul writes at the end of his life to encourage young Timothy to finish strong.We're going to discover that one means of Grace God uses to help us keep going is a father's influence. It's the reminder that God uses His people to encourage and uplift His people.

In this special service, we are joined by Dan Werthman, Dr. Tim Gibson, and Philip DeCourcy as they encourage and challenge Pastor Matt Shackelford in his new ministry at Central. 

In Joshua Chapter 1, we see a great example of God commissioning Joshua and His people into “Courageous Obedience” before they enter the new territory He has promised them.   As we also move into a new year, new decade, new leadership, and new territory in the life of our church, obedience to God’s Word is required of all of us as well.  When we respond as Joshua did, we will enjoy God’s promises that come with “Courageous Obedience!”

Resolutions. We make them, we break them. Few are ever kept. In this sermon we talked about the greatest resolution ever kept in Luke 9:51 and other passages.

In this sermon we explored Joshua 4:19-24. After having spent forty years wandering in the Sinai wilderness the Israelites finally came to the edge of the promised land. While their time in the wilderness had been marked by a lack of trust in the Lord's faithfulness to his promise, the Lord demonstrated once again that He was with them. This story calls us to remember that the Lord's hand is mighty and that we should be filled with awe upon beholding Him and His work.

Do you believe in the virgin birth of Jesus? In this sermon we looked at the virgin birth and its importance through the eyes of Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25.

In this sermon we look at 4 points of how God wants us to treat one another as we work together to glorify Him.

Do you believe in the virgin birth of Jesus? In this message, Dan Werthman looks at the virgin birth and its importance through the eyes of Mary in Luke 1:26-38.

Joe Caruso, one of the elders of Central, shares his story of how God led him to Central 15 years ago, and how God led Joe into a relationship with Christ.