Central Church Sermons

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...

Central's Good Friday Sermon

Discover why the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is Christianity's most important doctrine and how it changes everything about life, death, and eternity. The apostle Paul taught the Corinthians that denying the resurrection undermines everything we believe about God, salvation, and eternity. In this sermon from 1st Corinthians 15, Pastor Greg Sukert shows that without the resurrection, Ch...

Are you struggling with spiritual doubts and wondering if your faith is real? This message addresses one of the most common challenges Christians face: dealing with doubt and uncertainty in their spiritual journey. Learn why doubt affects every believer and discover practical solutions for overcoming spiritual struggles. The key principle is that the closer you get to Jesus, the more you'll d...

When life gets dark and people hurt us, our natural response is to retreat or retaliate. However, the burial story of Jesus shows us a different path through Joseph of Arimathea, who took courage to honor Christ despite facing political, social, and personal dangers. The women who followed Jesus demonstrated compassionate love even in their grief, while maintaining God's standards during thei...

The real reason people are blind to Jesus isn't lack of evidence—it's a moral issue rooted in loving darkness rather than light. At the crucifixion, everyone mocked Jesus except one criminal who saw what others missed. To see Christ the King, you must first see yourself as the criminal in need of salvation. Pastor Greg teaches from Luke 23 and how it shows we're all criminals that a...

Life in this world brings weariness through sickness, conflict, and countless struggles that leave us longing for home. God understands our traveler's fatigue and provides communion as a taste of heaven to sustain us on our journey. At the Lord's Table, we remember the incredible privilege of being invited to dine with Jesus, the provision He made as our Passover lamb, and His promises o...

The gospel contains five essential elements that Peter masterfully proclaimed in Acts 2: Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy, His incarnation, His death and resurrection, His second coming, and salvation through Him alone. Faith is personal but never private. If the gospel has truly transformed your life, it should compel you to share it boldly with others. Jesus must be both your Savior and your...