Central Lutheran

How do we choose a life that's less about ourselves and more about others? How do we choose God's way over our own preference? Are you waiting until you've got your life sorted to take a step in the right direction? Do you live with fear and anxiety over protecting what's yours? You're not alone! Pastor Aaron finishes up our series unpacking the most famous prayer; specifically the relevance of 'F...

Do you ever make a decision, even though you know it's not the right thing to do? Do you have regrets or moments you wish you could take back? What's that one thing that you swear you won't go back to, but find yourself being tempted by over and over? You're not alone! Every single person suffered with these same questions. In this message, Pastor Aaron Sturgis continues our series unpacking the m...

Ever feel like someone let you down or did you wrong? Have you ever caused someone else pain, intentionally or unintentionally? Does your future feel tarnished by what happened in your past or present? Pastor Aaron continues this series unpacking the most famous prayer; specifically the relevance of “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us” Lean in and find deep truth as we unp...

In this week's sermon, Vicar Justin discusses the petition of The Lord's Prayer that is: "Give us this day our daily bread." We need two types of bread in this world. The first is the physical bread that we need to survive, whether it be actual food, water, shelter, clothing, etc. The second form of bread is spiritual bread, which forms our hearts so that we can trust in God's provision and then w...

Ever feel like life is a rollercoaster and you're simply holding on for dear life? Are you in a period of waiting or anxiety, wishing you could impact the outcome? If you love to be in control and are constantly straining to keep everything perfect, this message might just be for you! Pastor Aaron continues this series unpacking the most famous prayer; specifically the relevance of 'Your kingdom c...

Whether you consider yourself a Christ-follower or not, you've probably considered prayer at one time or another. If you've ever considered HOW to pray, you'll be pleased to know you're in good company. Even those closest to Jesus had the same question. The Lord's Prayer begins 'Our Father' - but how can the creator of the universe, the all knowing, omnipotent, omnipresent Supreme Being care for e...

This week's question, "What do I do when I'm anxious?" is one we all relate to. The statistics show us that half our population struggles with anxiety. So, what do we do when we are anxious? What did Jesus do when He was anxious? In week two of our Emotions series, Pastor Aaron teaches us how Jesus' response to anxiety gives us a road map to follow in the anxiety we experience. Socials: www.facebo...

Do you realize that in the Gospels, Jesus felt 39 different emotions? The Bible shows examples of Jesus' love, compassion, righteous anger, sadness, and more. In the message this week, Pastor Aaron helps us realize the importance of feeling our emotions and learning to trust that God cares for us in all our shame, disappointment, wonder, awe, disgust, despair, contentment, boredom, unsettledness,...

In the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32, Vicar Justin Arnold reveals how first-century listeners would have identified themselves with the younger son in the story. As the story progresses, however, first-century listeners would have distanced themselves from the younger son due to his actions. What was Jesus teaching the first-century listeners through the story? What is Jesus teachin...

In Matthew 20:1-16, we read the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. At the time of the parable, a typical day's wage for a laborer is a denarius. In the parable, each worker received the same wage even though they did not all work the same number of hours. The vineyard owner did not deceive anyone by paying them a dishonest wage. In the parable, the vineyard's owner chose to be generous by pa...

In week two of our Storyteller message series, Pastor Rick Lund teaches us three detriments to wealth found in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21. Pastor Lund helps us see how parables are meant to disorient us to reorient us in the way of Jesus.  Socials: www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia www.instagram.com/centrallutheran/ www.centrallutheran.church  

When you read the story of the Good Samaritan, do you treat the parable as a children's story? In week one of our Storyteller message series, Vicar Justin Arnold teaches us the parable is not for us to adopt the hero's characteristics in the story but to recognize the serious challenges posed to the listener on what a life following Jesus looks like. 

In the last Music Meditation message this week, Central's Pastoral Intern, Justin Arnold, will share the song "Carry Me, Carrie," performed by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. You will be surprised that Shel Silverstein, best known for his children's books, The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Light in the Attic, authored the entire album containing "Carry Me, Carrie." In the message, Vica...

Pastor Ned Lenhart shares this week how the two Queen songs, "We Will Rock You, and We Are The Champions," impacted him. The two songs can be played separately from each other and together as well. They were a double A-side record, meaning the royalties go together, and the radio would most likely play them together, but they are two different songs—one written by Brian May and one by Freddie Merc...

We are in week three of our sermon series, "Music Meditations," meditating on music that isn't specifically religious to look for God to show up in a place we might not expect to find Him. This week's song is "That's How Strong My Love Is," written by Roosevelt Jamison and performed by Otis Redding. Vicar Justin was introduced to this song by Tom Drehmel, who asked a few years back if Justin could...

Pastoral Intern, Justin Arnold, continues our worship series Music Meditations. He discusses the song Peace Train by Yusuf/Cat Stevens and how people should see what the Kingdom of Heaven looks and can look like when people look at the Christian church.  LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE: https://youtu.be/M9cJRqsKZKo

So often, songs, like other art forms, can express the thoughts, feelings, and matters of the heart that would otherwise be inexpressible in everyday human words. Many would say that the purpose of art is to give a voice where one is lacking.  Martin Luther had great praise for music and wrote several timeless, beautiful hymns. He is quoted as saying, "Beautiful music is the art of the prophets th...

God's Word speaks of love in four very different ways. When we talk as a congregation that Central exists to Love God and Love People, we need to clarify the Bible's definition of love to understand better how to follow Jesus. Pastor Ned Lenhart from Living Water Church in Cameron, Wisconsin, is joining us this week to share how understanding God's love changes how we think and act. Through defini...

How difficult is it for you to take risks in your life? When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?  If we decide to stay in our comfort zone and never take a risk in our life of faith, we will not be able to create the ripple effect God intended for us to make in this world. Immediately images of jumping on a plane and following God to a remote area enter our mind when we imagine...

God made you on purpose and for a purpose. And a big part of that purpose, perhaps even the biggest part of it, is to help the Kingdom of God continue to break through in this world. That is the ripple effect that you were created to make! Socials: www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia www.instagram.com/centrallutheran/ www.centrallutheran.church  

Do you look at your life and think, this is not where I expected to be at this point in my lifetime? I thought by now I would be at this place in my career or driving this kind of car. In fact, the home that I am living in is not the home that I expected to be in this season of my life. Unfulfilled expectations…expectations we have placed on ourselves or expectations that have been placed on us by...

Today is week three of our Baggage series. A series in which we are talking about the baggage that we carry around that God never intended for us to carry. And today's baggage is this, and unhealthy view of yourself. This one hits close to home for many of us, in fact all of us. It's probably the one thing that connects all of us and that is how we look at ourselves, how we view ourselves... or do...

There are some things from our past that we should hold on to and take forward with us. It’s worth carrying friends and good habits with us into a new season. But there are other things that God never intended for us to carry around, because when we do they weigh us down. They are like heavy luggage we carry around with us. One of those things are the pains of our past. Facebook - www.facebook.com...

Join Intern Pastor Justin as he shares in our final week of 'If God Is Love.'

Join us as Pastor Aaron shares in week two of If God Is Love, and thank you to our special guest worship leader TRU-SERVA! Catch him here: www.facebook.com/truserva/