City Central Church Podcast

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our study on 1 Peter. In this passage, Peter was writing to Christians who had experienced two years of intense persecution from the emperor Nero. Chris has heard faith defined in an acronym: “forsaking all, I trust Him.” We can know the quality of our faith when we’re faced with trial and difficulty. We must have faith that lives on the promises of God and not the circumstances in front of us. We are called to live expecting good things from the good Father. In order to do this, we must learn to expect the fire, rejoice in it, evaluate its’ cause, and entrust it to God.

This week, Pastor Dennis brought a word about how we as Jesus followers should live and deal with offense. He defined offense as resentment or annoyance as a result of a perceived insult. The Bible teaches how offense corrupts. Dennis shared how the gospel will be offensive to those who don’t receive it and how our primary concern should be to walk as Jesus walked. Dennis sought to answer what Jesus was offended by, what we have the right to be offended by, and how we ought to walk out living unoffended.

  This week, Pastor Chris continued in 1 Peter, sharing that the word for Easter is hope. He defined hope as “confident expectation of good from God”. This hope is different than a wish or a desire. This hope is firm and steadfast. Each of us chooses to put our hope in something or someone. Is yours in someone or something that will never leave you or forsake you? There is hope to be found when you choose to put your hope in a sure, steadfast, eternal, resurrected King.

This week, Pastor Chris likened Christian suffering to fire. Fire represents suffering and refinement. Fire can burn away unnecessary things and break open seed that has laid dormant. According to Peter, we should not be surprised when trial comes. In seasons of trial, we have an opportunity to grow and mature in significant ways we would not find any other way. According to Chris, growth equals change, change equals loss, loss equals pain, therefore growth equals pain. When trial comes, we have two options: to sin and remain stuck or to serve and posture ourselves for growth.

This week, guest preacher Adam Narciso continued in our study of 1 Peter. Adam and his family were members of City Central’s church body until the Lord called them to ministry in Tennessee. Adam conveyed how Peter is speaking to Christians who are experiencing religious persecution. He focused on verses 19-21, emphasizing what Jesus did on the Saturday in between his burial and resurrection, and what baptism means for the believer.

This week Pastor Chris continued in 1 Peter, sharing with his wife Jena about how to stand firm in marriage. The Hippes shared the reality that every marriage can have a 100% success rate if each spouse will choose to live out what the Bible says. We must choose to honor one another and adorn ourselves with faith, fear of the Lord, Godly thoughts, and humility. The measure we live in fear of the Lord will directly affect the health of our marriage relationships.

This week Pastor Chris continued in our study through 1 Peter, urging us to know and understand what God’s word says about submission to authority. As God’s children, it is not our opinion or the world’s perspective that dictates our reality. We stand on the word of God and we live in fear of the Lord. We are in an hour of lawlessness, and it is more important than ever to know what our Biblical response ought to be. Pastor Chris answers how Christians should submit to leadership we don’t agree with and what role civil disobedience should play in our lives. We cannot follow blindly or respond in rebellion. There is a third option that mirrors Jesus and stands firmly on the Word of God.

This week, Pastor Chris brought a powerful word continuing in our 1 Peter study. We learned that in order to stand firm in the faith, we cannot stand alone. It is vital to our spiritual life to be in the word and in Christian community as we represent Christ amongst an unhealthy, broken world. Our relationship with God’s word matters just as much as our relationships with other people. Pastor Chris called on all those listening to come into community because God is not an individual God and we are not created to do life alone.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our sermon series drawing from 1 Peter on what it means for Christians to stand firm in our faith. He shared how it is the inheritance of every believer in Jesus Christ to have clarity in the midst of chaos. The battle begins in our minds, and our choices matter greatly. Whether you are in a chaotic season now or can recall a season of chaos from your past, you can find refuge and clarity in Jesus and the truth of His Word.

This week, Pastor Chris began a new series drawing from 1 Peter on what it means for a Christian to stand firm. In many ways, the life of Peter is highly relatable for the average Christian. His life can be described as a parable of extremes, be it of great fear or great faith. Though he denied Jesus three times, Peter knew grace, stood firm, and endured to the end in close relationship with the Lord. He writes his first letter to encourage Christians who are experiencing great persecution in Rome. Peter shares the importance of being rooted and grounded while living in a world that is hostile to the gospel. There is triumph and trial in every season with the Lord, and Peter’s key to making it through difficulty is joy.

This week, Pastor Chris preached about God’s immeasurable generosity toward us. Once we recognize that all we’ve been given is a generous gift, we will learn the joy of generously giving away. Through Christ, we have been given everything we need in order to be generous. The world is looking for Christians to be a light amongst a dark, withholding, needy world. Choosing to hold loose to the financial gifts God has given us and extend them into the God’s Kingdom is our calling as Christ-followers.

This week, Pastor Chris shared a practical, Biblical word on financial stewardship. He expressed the reality that our bank accounts will reflect our hearts, priorities and motives. Jesus spoke about money and there are real, spiritual implications for how we steward what we have been given. If we’re lacking victory in the area of stewardship, we will walk around in bondage wondering where our freedom is. Where you spend your money will show you who is on the throne of your life. 

In our third service, Pastor Larry Jones from New Salem Baptist brought a word about taking up the shield of faith in our personal walk with Jesus. To begin, Pastor Larry shared how a spoon placed into a glass of water will appear bent and distorted, although we know it is not. Oftentimes, things in our world that are crooked appear to be straight. We want to be a people who know truth and, like a soldier or a baseball player with a weapon or a glove, intentionally pick up the shield of faith daily.

In our first two services, Pastor Chris shared how meeting for fellowship in homes is both Biblical and vital for the life a believer. When discussing Life Groups with group leaders, we learned that their focus is asking and answering questions about Sunday’s sermon, sharing a meal, building intentional friendships, and praying together. A Sunday morning does not always provide enough time to develop relationships, and Life Groups offer a space to authentically go deeper, share our lives, and build community. Some leaders shared how their fellow group members are the ones they’ve reached out to in times of crisis. Pastor Chris expressed the importance of having your tribe before trouble comes.

This week, Jena Hippe brought a word on what it means to make prayer a lifestyle. She expressed how through her own walk, God has shown the reality of Romans 8:28: “and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Jena shared a testimony from this week where she received an answer to something she’s prayed for 11 years. For those who call themselves lovers of Jesus, prayer is vital for remaining connected to the vine.

This week, Pastor Chris shared about the power of prayer. He expressed the reality that prayer shifts and changes things in cities, in nations, and in culture. It is one of God’s primary means God uses to release His power on Earth. When we learn to have a lifestyle of prayer, we will be strengthened. Prayer demonstrates that we are dependent on God and humbles our hearts. Are you in need of some strengthening this week? If we choose to call out to Him in confidence from within the secret place, we will find strength.

This week, Pastor Chris shared his heart for our 2021 Renewal Fast and expressed what God’s word says about fasting. Fasting is a choice to lay something aside in order to seek God’s face and His will. It is an invitation to walk with God and fully rely on Him. Fasting helps us tune into God’s will for our lives and find sharpening and clarity for areas of breakthrough. Pastor Chris shared how the rewards of fasting far outweigh the momentary, trivial discomfort of it.

This week, City Central’s youth pastor Stephanie shared her heart for the next generation as we transition into a new year. Reaching the generation is one of City Central’s shared values, and our Legacy Youth ministry has seen immense growth in reaching students from across the Seattle/Tacoma area. Stephanie shared the reality that we as believers are called to give our lives away. Each of us are qualified and called by God to serve and give our lives away. By paying it forward with our God-given gifts, money, and talents, we are blessed to see the Kingdom expanded on Earth.

This week, Chris expressed how worship is the response of Mary in the Christmas story. Mary was a 12-13 years old in a small, no-name town and she likely knew what it was like to be hungry and poor. The angel Gabriel brought her good news of great joy that would change her life. She would be the mother of the Messiah. There were two possible responses for Mary at this news – one of great worship and one of great worry. Mary responds with the Magnificat. 

This week, Pastor Chris expressed ten points that he appreciates about Jesus and His nature this Christmas season. The birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus all speak to the nature of God the Father. Since Jesus is fully God and fully man, we need to look at His character in order to know who our God is. Luke 1:26-38 shows the angel Gabriel appearing before Mary, explaining just who her child would be. 2020 has been a difficult year for many, but the joyous news of Christ’s birth reminds us that God is with us – He came as a baby because He longed to be that close. As we wrap this year up, we all could use reminding of who Immanuel is.