Central Community Church | Sermon Audio

As we begin our summer sermon series on Elisha the prophet in 2 Kings, a pivotal moment of transition from Elijah to Elisha is taking place. While Elijah may be gone, God continues to speak, and use Elisha to foreshadow Jesus in many ways.

2 Kings 2:13-25 The succession of Elijah’s ministry to Elisha was marked by the power of the Holy Spirt, reminders of God’s covenants, and the messages of blessing for the obedient and punishment for the disobedient. Elisha’s ministry points to Jesus who, in the power of the Spirit, blesses us by taking the punishment of our sin in obedience to the Father, ushering in a new coven...

2 Kings 2:13-25 The life of the prophet Elijah was marked by mighty miracles done at the command of the LORD. As Elijah’s successor, Elisha has big shoes to fill. 2 Kings 2:13-25 demonstrates that Elisha is indeed God’s empowered propheticsuccessor who comes calling the nation of Israel back to obedience to God’s ways. Ultimately, Elisha points us to the greatest successor of all...

At the end of the Parable Discourse, Jesus again warns His followers of God’s eventual judgement when good will be separated from bad once and for all. But the good news is that He doesn’t do so to scare us, but rather show us the beauty of what He has done for us. We are gathered by the gospel so that we can share in the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus our King.

Matthew 13:47-52 Hell, fire and brimstone. What good could come of such a harsh, final judgment?

Matthew 13:47-52 This parable speaks of the Kingdom of God being open to all, but also of the coming judgment.

Matthew 13:47-52

Matthew 13:44-46 Jesus tells two very simple parables to his disciples that have a massive impact on our lives. Jesus describes both the cost of what it means to follow Him and the joy that follows. The cost of following Jesus is always outmatched by the joy of following after Him.  

Matthew 13:44-46 The rule and reign of God in Christ is the most valuable thing that exists, and it must be pursued and found at all costs. Have you found the kingdom of heaven, and are you helping others do the same?

Matthew 13:44-46 What “treasures” do you find yourself storing up? Our world tries to grab our attention with the newest flashy item as we get sucked into this constant pursuit of more. In our text this morning we see that nothing in this world compares to the incalculable value of the treasure that is found in the Kingdom of Heaven. That treasure is Jesus, and the resurrection life th...

These two short parables reveal that the Kingdom of God is so valuable that losing everything, but getting Jesus, is not only worth it but joy-inducing.

Matthew 13:24-43 Jesus compared his kingdom to wheat growing alongside weeds and a mustard seeding growing into a mighty tree. In doing so, Jesus gives us a picture of how his kingdom grows and influences an evil world… and also how it doesn’t.

Matthew 13:24-43 What do a sabotaged field of wheat, a mustard seed and a handful of leaven all have in common? In Matthew 13 Jesus shares a parable about each one of these to point to the steady growth of the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 13:1-23 In the parable of the Sower we see Jesus referring to himself as a farmer, casting out seeds on a field. The seed is the Word of God, and the soil is our hearts. Field work is hard, but may we, by the Holy Spirit, do the hard work of preparing our hearts to receive God’s word, that renews us and draws us closer to Him.

Matthew 13:1-23 Jesus in the sermon on the mount is making a radical claim that he is the nation of Israel’s rightful legislator. What’s more, look at where he’s making this claim; he is doing it very deliberately on top of a mountain, and as every Israelite would have remembered, the great law giver (God) gave his people the Old Testament law by speaking to them from the top of...

Jesus in the sermon on the mount is making a radical claim that he is the nation of Israel’s rightful legislator. What’s more, look at where he’s making this claim; he is doing it very deliberately on top of a mountain, and as every Israelite would have remembered, the great law giver (God) gave his people the Old Testament law by speaking to them from the top of a mountain. &nbs...

Matthew 13:1-23 In the parable of the Sower we see Jesus referring to himself as a farmer, casting out seeds on a field. The seed is the Word of God, and the soil is our hearts. Field work is hard, but may we, by the Holy Spirit, do the hard work of preparing our hearts to receive God’s word, that renews us and draws us closer to Him.

Matthew 13:24-43 The church is the kingdom of heaven on earth, and though there are many hypocrites in it, Christ rules in it as King. The church is to continue working faithfully in the world, remaining hopeful that Jesus is building His church and that nothing will stop it, gathering in a great harvest for His glory despite the challenges and the work of the enemy.

Matthew 13:24-43 Jesus teaches his disciples about the kingdom of God through short stories we call parables.  Jesus uses a number of parables to teach his disciples to be patient as they follow after him.  Even though it seems as though nothing is happening right away, Jesus calls his followers to keep eternity in mind because God is at work. 

Genesis 11:1-9 & Acts 2:1-9 The Spirit unites the scattered, brings clarity and connection in confusion, indwells and empowers His people, glorifies God, and renews and restores humanity.

Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-11 The story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 are fascinating stories on their own. Placed side by side, they reveal in even greater depth the power God has made available to his followers through the filling of the Spirit as we seek to make much of Jesus.

Genesis 11:1-9 & Acts 2:1-6 It has been said that Pentecost – the day that the Holy Spirit was given 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus – was a reversal of The Tower of Babel … and rightly so. Instead of people trying to reach God in their own power and with evil intent – resulting is confusion & disciplinary dispersion, God came down – resulting in a be...

The tower of Babel was humanity coming together to make a name for themselves by trying to reach up to heaven. The result was God confusing their language and scattering them throughout the earth. This sermon explores how Pentecost is the great Babel reversal.

At the end of the Mission Discourse, Jesus recognizes that conflict, suffering, and even familial unrest lay ahead for His followers. But as He always does, He prepares us for the road ahead with instruction for His modern-day disciples. Jesus instructs us to both disciple others and be discipled ourselves until we receive our reward.

Matthew 10:24-42 Following Jesus is costly. Christians will be maligned and slandered, at times by members of their own family. But for those who place Jesus first, before anything and anyone else, there is great comfort in our heavenly Father’s loving care and the rewards of following Christ.