Central Church Sermons

Why is it so difficult to open our mouths and talk about Jesus? We often wait for the perfect opportunity, the right person, or a friendly audience before sharing our faith. But in Acts 8, Philip shows us a different way. When God gives him an opportunity, Philip simply obeys, approaches the Ethiopian eunuch, opens his mouth, and tells him the good news about Jesus. In this message from Acts 8:26–...

How can we prevent small problems from becoming major ministry failures? In Acts 8:9–25 , the early church encounters several potential problems as the gospel spreads through Samaria. Simon Magus professes belief but reveals serious problems in his heart, the Samaritans' reception of the Holy Spirit raises important questions, and the apostles must respond quickly and boldly. In this message...

What if the setback you desperately want to escape is actually setting you up for something God wants to do? In Acts 8:4–8 , Philip finds himself scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution. He ends up in Samaria—a place a Jewish believer normally wouldn't want to go, among people his culture had taught him to avoid. But Philip doesn't waste the setback. He recognizes that God has pl...

What is God doing in the painful seasons of your life? When hardship comes, it's easy to panic, become bitter, or assume something has gone wrong. But what if the pain you're experiencing is actually being used by God as part of a much greater plan? In this message from Acts 8:1–4 , Pastor Matt Shackelford begins the Open Season series by looking at what happened immediately after the de...

How do you respond when someone hurts you? Our natural reaction to conflict is often to run away, fight back, hold a grudge, or become bitter. But when Stephen faced rejection, hatred, and ultimately death, his response looked remarkably different. He looked like Jesus. In this final message from Acts 7 , Pastor Matt Shackelford concludes the Dwell series by examining Stephen’s response when the p...

Is your view of God too small? We often put God into boxes. We limit His presence to a church building, His will to our plans, His calling to what feels comfortable, and His power to what we think is possible. But God refuses to fit inside the boxes we build for Him. In this message from Acts 7:44–50 , Pastor Matt Shackelford continues the Dwell series by examining Stephen's teaching about th...

Why does God make us wait? Whether you're waiting for healing, direction, a relationship, or God to answer your prayers, waiting can feel frustrating and even confusing. But throughout Scripture, we see that God never wastes a waiting season. In this message from Acts 7 , Pastor Matt Shackelford continues the Dwell series by examining the life of Moses. Before God used Moses to deliver Israel...

Why does God make us wait? Whether you're waiting for healing, direction, a relationship, or God to answer your prayers, waiting can feel frustrating and even confusing. But throughout Scripture, we see that God never wastes a waiting season. In this message from Acts 7 , Pastor Matt Shackelford continues the Dwell series by examining the life of Moses. Before God used Moses to deliver Israel...

What do you do when life feels like you've been thrown into a pit? Whether it's betrayal, loss, disappointment, or suffering, every believer eventually walks through seasons they never would have chosen. The good news is that God doesn't wait for you to climb out before He comes near. In this message from Acts 7 , Pastor Matt Shackelford continues the Dwell series by looking at the...

Have you ever felt like God was far away? Whether you're walking through suffering, uncertainty, or simply feel spiritually dry, it's easy to wonder where God is. But throughout Scripture, we see the opposite of what we often assume: God is the One who moves toward us. In this message from Acts 7 , Pastor Matt Shackelford begins the Dwell series by exploring Stephen's sermon and the...

What is God doing in Israel today? Pastor Steven Khoury shares firsthand stories from Jerusalem and Bethlehem, offering a powerful look at how God is working through the local church in the midst of conflict, persecution, and uncertainty. Through personal testimony, biblical truth, and real-life ministry experiences, you'll be reminded that God is still accomplishing His purposes and that eve...

Have you ever wondered what should actually change after someone becomes a Christian? In this powerful overview of Romans 12 , guest pastor Tim Gibson explains that the Christian life isn't driven by guilt or religious performance. It's driven by the overwhelming mercy of God. Because we've received mercy, everything changes. Our worship changes. Our minds change. Our relationships...

What do you do when the people who are supposed to represent Jesus are the ones who hurt you? Church hurt is real. Whether it's betrayal, gossip, abuse of authority, or disappointment, many people have walked away from church because of painful experiences. But does the failure of Christians mean Christ has failed? In this message from Colossians 3, Pastor Greg Sukert explores the difference...

Why does every success, every accomplishment, and every pleasure eventually leave us wanting more? In this sermon from John 6, Pastor Justin points us to Jesus' incredible declaration: "I am the Bread of Life." While the world promises satisfaction through success, relationships, possessions, or experiences, Jesus reveals that true fulfillment is found only in Him. Whether you'...

What if the key to understanding God's love is realizing you've been adopted into His family? In this powerful Father's Day message, Pastor Greg Sukert walks through Ephesians 1 and reveals the breathtaking reality of spiritual adoption. No matter your past, your family background, or your current circumstances, God offers redemption, inheritance, and security through Jesus Christ....

Are you exhausted, anxious, or carrying burdens you were never meant to carry? In Psalm 23, David reveals the source of true peace. Written after a lifetime of battles, betrayal, hardship, and loss, this familiar passage is more than comforting poetry. It's a battle-tested guide for finding rest, security, and confidence in God's care. In this message, Pastor Matt Shackelford explores ho...

What happens when following Jesus puts a target on your back? In this sermon from Pastor Matt Shackelford, we continue our Growing Pains series through Acts and examine the life of Stephen, one of the most courageous believers in the New Testament. As pressure, opposition, and persecution close in around him, Stephen responds with remarkable faith, wisdom, and peace. Whether you're facing cha...

What happens when a church starts growing faster than its systems can handle? In this sermon from Acts 6, Pastor Matt Shackelford explores one of the first major challenges faced by the early church. As more people came to faith, new problems emerged. Complaints surfaced, needs were overlooked, and the apostles had to decide how to respond without losing sight of their mission. Discover how health...

Why do so many people see Christians as angry, divisive, and judgmental? In this sermon from Philippians 2, Pastor Matt challenges believers to rethink what spiritual maturity actually looks like. Looking at the lives of the Protestant Reformer,  both their courage and their flaws, we’re reminded that truth without love can damage our witness. This message explores: Why Christians struggle with un...

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 s...

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, infertilit...

In this sermon by Dr. Jim Allman, we take a deeper look at what the Bible actually teaches about faith and why it’s more than just believing something is true. Many people think faith is simply intellectual agreement or positive thinking, but Scripture reveals that true faith is much richer and more transformative. We explore how faith involves: Knowing God’s character and His plan Agreeing with t...