Central Presbyterian Church - Sermons

There are a lot of difficulties in ministry, but if we’re not careful, the presenting challenges can easily distract us from one covert challenge with damaging potential. When ministry goes well, the danger of success creeps in, tempting us to chase a name for ourselves instead of elevating the name of the One to whom we owe credit for all our successes. Listen to this sermon as Rev. Alex Watlington instructs us to be on guard against this danger as we engage in God’s mission. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

Humans love a good comeback story. Whether it’s sports, rags-to-riches, or otherwise, there’s something about a new start — a second chance — that resonates with us in the depths of our souls. The book of Jonah tells us one such story and reminds us that God is a God not just of second chances but of third chances, fourth chances, and millionth chances. Listen to this sermon from guest preacher Brent Harriman as we consider God’s mercy and our response to it. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

The earliest Christians had their lives radically transformed by Jesus, and their response was justice, mercy, and faithfulness, yes, but in addition to the practice of tithing. The radical generosity of Jesus in giving his very life naturally led to the Church radically giving to support the advancement of the gospel and to provide for those in need. Listen to this sermon as we consider the voluntary, responsive, and sacrificial gift of generosity. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

We live in between God’s promised future and our present reality. This place of suspense causes pain — pain for us as the people of God, pain for all of God’s creation, and even pain for God’s Spirit, who hears our groanings and groans along with us, longing for the day when pain will be overshadowed once and for all by God’s glory. Listen to this sermon as we consider how to wait eagerly and patiently for that day, all the while interceding on behalf of the world through lament and prayer. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

The biblical account of the original Palm Sunday reveals a complex messiah capable of experiencing multiple strong emotions simultaneously. While Christ’s seemingly paradoxical emotions teach us a lot about him, they also teach us a lot about ourselves. Listen to this sermon as we consider the multifaceted image of Jesus and what that reveals about our position as being simultaneously a sinner and justified. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

Anger is a big emotion, but it’s also a more complex emotion than we give it credit for. There’s blowup anger — the type we typically think of, which feels negative and leads us to strive for no anger at all — but there’s also a slow anger that grows in response to the ways the world deviates from God’s original plan. So does anger have a place in the Christian life? Watch this sermon as Rev. Andrew Smith considers the righteous anger demonstrated by Jesus that’s rooted in nothing less than the deepest love. ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.