City Central Church Podcast

Pastor Chris delivers a commanding conclusion to this series Knowing Jesus in Trying Times: a Walkthrough the Book of 1 John. He explains that this was the Apostle John’s goodbye message to the believers reading this letter. He shares that often a person’s final words stress what is most important. Addressing the biblical concept of idols, Chris deepens our perspective on modern idolatry. 

This week, Pastor Chris shared how Christians living in this world are to have an expectation of difficulty and tribulation. John exhorts us to take heart in the midst of it, since we are designed as God’s children to thrive during trials and tribulations. Jesus has made a way for you and I to have peace. He has made a way for us to have peace that dissolves fear and secures us in times of trouble. John 16:33 tells us to take heart. Other translations say to “be of good cheer” and “act of courage in the face of danger”. We are called to live from a position of victory, not for victory. We don’t have to fight for victory, it is already ours In Jesus.

One of our own members, Damion Walker, brings a message from 1 John chapter 4 on what is true love as expressed by God in His character and word. He brings clarity to the need for believers to be salt and light in this world.

Pastor Chris offers a pastoral message for those who are feeling weary and heavy in this hour. He emphasized the importance of reminding ourselves that we are not condemned. Sometimes Christians can live as if they are failures, condemned by their own negative thoughts. Pastor Chris offers three thoughts to remind us of our identity in Christ in order to combat self-condemnation and weariness. The reality is that what we set our hearts on will control us. We must set our hearts on who God is and allow Him to tell us who we are.

Pastor Chris expressed the importance of relationships in our daily walk as Christians. They can be complicated, confusing and difficult to navigate at times. Relationships imprint your life for good or evil, and how we treat each other affects our lives. In reality, you will know what a person believes by how they treat people. Pastor Chris described the difference between natural and supernatural love, and the importance of abiding in Christ in order to supernaturally love others as Christ loves us.

DeQuin Evans & Chris Hippe

Pastor Chris gives us insight into how racial reconciliation will always be fully accomplished in Christ alone. It will always be opposed by the enemy of our souls who sows division as a tactic to build walls of hostility. He reminds us that scripture addresses this human conflict with one remedy: to become and act as children of God. In the power of Jesus we are made new. We are reconciled to Him and to each other. 

Pastor Chris addresses our present societal division and dismay with a message on compassion and action. The Apostle John was eager to remind us all of the kind of love that comes from God. He uses this faith fact as a springboard to challenge us to practice righteousness – not for ourselves, but for others. Loving our brother is essential to knowing God’s love.  Chris orients us to this life theme: what is Jesus’ kind of love? In Luke 10, His response to a lawyer seeking to know how to inherit eternal life includes the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” We can only truly know the love of God by following the way of God, loving our neighbor. In another teaching, Jesus share the parable of the Good Samaritan. Chris explains that we must act in love, not only in our hearts, but with our hands, money, and time. 

Pastor Chris guides us this week in understanding what is fake Christianity and what is real. The Apostle John, who was a New Testament prophet, like the prophets of old, warns us that we are in the ‘last hour’ of the Kingdom of God – the time between Jesus’ ascension and his coming return. During this ‘hour’, many proclaim to be Christians, but they intend to deceive. These are the ‘antichrists’ he writes about (different from ‘The Antichrist’ or ‘false prophet’ in the book of Revelation). They are influencers who follow a ‘counterfeit christ.’ Chris starts with a story about a famous boxer called Kid McCoy from the 1890s who had to differentiate himself from impostors and impersonators. Norman Selby (though not a role-model) became known as ‘The Real McCoy.’ He was different from the imitations.

We continue our journey through 1 John, a love letter to the church from the elderly apostle John who addresses us as ‘Beloved’ just as he heard Jesus address him. In this love, he firmly writes of a new emphasis on an old commandment: to love one another.  Pastor Chris helps us discover how our lifestyle reflects either our love for the Lord or for the world. He unpacks the metaphors John uses to demonstrate how a believer grows in spiritual maturity. When we choose to live the authentic Christian Lifestyle, we think, speak, and act in ways that show others how to make each day count now and for eternity. 

Chris Hippe

Jena & Chris Hippe

Chris Hippe

Chris Hippe

Chris Hippe

Chris Hippe