Central Church NYC

Of all the emotions Jesus could have felt toward the sinful people around him, compassion makes the least sense. But time and time again in the Gospels, we see that Jesus looked upon those around him with compassion. He saw the needs of the people, and he was so moved in his gut that it spurred him on to action — even the ultimate action of giving his life on the cross. Listen to this sermon...

Lament is rooted in longing. We all know what it feels like to have deep longings go unfulfilled, but Jesus knew what it felt like too. In his life, he longed for Jerusalem to receive him as King, and every day now, he longs to be in relationship with us. His lament over our sin drove him to the cross; this Lent, we have the opportunity to let our lament over our sin drive us to him. Watch this se...

What difference does anything in this life make if we’re all just going to die? Is there really any meaning to life? These are the questions Ecclesiastes asks, but they are also the questions that in the end Ecclesiastes finally does answer. So does that meaning exist, and if so, where do we find it? Listen to this sermon as we examine the fear of the Lord as the joy-filled, life-changing se...

The seemingly inescapable problem of death hangs over us all. No matter who we are, no matter how we live, the same thing is going to happen to all of us in the end. So of what value is anything in this life? Listen to this sermon as we consider how Jesus’ act of going to the cross opens up a way, through death, for us to find true value and enjoyment in life. ________ Sign up for Central&rs...

The Bible never tells us we shouldn’t have wealth. The Bible never even tells us we shouldn't enjoy wealth. But in Ecclesiastes (among other places), the Bible does tell us we shouldn’t love wealth. Because wealth offers all kinds of problems, and in the end wealth offers us a false promise. Thankfully, the Bible also offers an antidote to the problems of wealth. Listen to this sermon...

Whether you profess faith in God or not, suffering is a challenge. It’s a challenge to endure, and it’s a challenge to watch other people endure. The problem of suffering — and of the justice that often seems so elusive — was a challenge for the author of Ecclesiastes as well. But this problem isn’t without answer. Listen to this sermon as we consider the ultimate res...

It may be identity, it may be security, it may be celebrity, or it may be one of any number of other enticing outcomes. Everyone looks to achievement to meet a deep need. But all of those attempts will fail because we're asking our achievements to provide something for us that they never can. Listen to this sermon as we consider how success will only satisfy when viewed in light of the one ultimat...

Wisdom is revered and coveted. It’s often seen as the byproduct of education, experience, or maybe just a life well lived. But when we seek wisdom in earthly sources, it’s temporary at best and foolish at worst. If you want to embrace a wisdom that will successfully inform your life now and last into eternity, then you don't need to look any farther than Jesus. Listen to this sermon as...

We all have different goals, dreams, ambitions, and desires, but there is one thing everyone seeks: happiness. No matter what paths we choose for ourselves, there is the consistent hope that those paths will bring us happiness. The professor in the book of Ecclesiastes had this same hope, and we have much to learn from his experiment toward this end. Listen to this sermon as we explore the elusive...

To both Christians and non-Christians, life is a baffling enigma. There’s so much about life that we don’t understand. But when it comes to the meaning of life, that’s where Christians differ. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes runs through all different philosophies on the meaning of life to show us that in the end, either nothing matters, or everything matters because of Go...

Jesus has said that disciples walking with him will be like a city on a hill which cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). Listen to this sermon as Dr. Jay Harvey explores how Israel’s time in Exile informs the Church’s understanding of what it means to be a new kind of community in Jesus Christ — a city within a city that nurtures those inside it and blesses those outside of it. ______...

In the beginning of Matthew's gospel, we see Mary fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (God with us)." Matthew explains to his readers that God has always been with his people throughout all of history — in the past, present, and future. Specifically, Matthew shows that all of the Trinity — God the Father, God...