Lenexa Central Church Sermons

1 Peter 5:1-11

1 Peter 4:1-11 Our world is filled with competing visions of the “good life,” but following Jesus invites us to live with our eyes open, aware of God’s vision for who we are to be and what we are to do. Life is too short to spend our days living for temporary pleasure or chasing the next fad. Prayer connects us to our Creator and opens our eyes to who God is and what he is calling us to do.

1 Peter 2:13-3:7   Peter describes the church as "exiles and foreigners." It's a reminder that this world and its ways are not our true home. While we live in it, however, we are to live with respect towards everyone. From the highest levels of power to the lowest in society, the people of God distinguish themselves in how they show respect to everyone. The bridge between doubt and...

1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:15 Are you a bucket filler or a bucket dumper? Peter recognizes that all of us are vessels that can be filled through encouragement and kindness or emptied by insult and slander. When we are going through difficult times that leave us empty, Peter points us to Jesus who emptied himself so that we might be filled. As God’s holy people, the unlimited love of Jesus overflows into o...

1 Peter 2:9-10 Pastor Howie Tempel calls our congregation to be a holy people based on 1 Peter 2:9-10. Because we are a "royal priesthood and holy nation," we live in a way that invites others out of darkness and into the wonderful light of a relationship with Jesus. Only the power and presence of the Holy Spirit makes this possible.

1 Peter 2:4-11 What are the rough edges and broken pieces in your story? Even when the rough edges keep us from reflecting our Creator, the work of the Holy Spirit allows us to reflect the work of our Creator back to Him.

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

1 Peter 1:3-12  Peter is writing to those suffering persecution, but he begins his letter by calling them to praise! Jesus is the living hope that transcends our circumstances. Even in the face of difficult situations, holy people can worship a holy God. Praise centers us in God's presence and reminds us where our hope is. 

Luke 24:36-49  The resurrection is a miracle that defies logic, making it difficult for the human mind to accept it. The disciples could hardly believe what their senses were telling them as they talked with the One who was crucified and was now alive. It did not compute. Faith is not illogical, but it defies logic. Jesus invites us on a journey to believe what we cannot comprehend and to trust in...

Matthew 11:28-30; Acts 9:1-9  Before he had an encounter with Christ, Saul's pace of life as a Pharisee was predictable and constant. Everything changed, however, on the road to Damascus. Saul's eyes were opened and the pace of his life changed. No longer did he walk by his own righteousness through adherence to the Law, but he learned to "keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:...

Mark 16:7; Acts 2:37-39 The messenger at the empty tomb tells the women to, "Tell his disciples AND Peter." The resurrection of Jesus means that even those that deny him three times can experience forgiveness, hope, and restoration! Peter has a change of heart and is then empowered by the Holy Spirit to help others experience this change as well. His sermon on the day of Pentecost calls...

Luke 24:13-35  The two disciples on the Road to Emmaus were disappointed and heartbroken by the loss of Jesus. The resurrection, however, changes their walk. Not only do they not walk alone, but they ultimately are able to walk in a completely different direction. The resurrection of Jesus changes the direction of our lives, transforming the journey of grief into a journey of grace as we are sent...

Mark 16:1-8; Mark 14:51-52  The risen tomb is a miracle that demands a response of praise. It's not just a fact to be remembered, but a reality that changes everything. The unnamed man who flees the garden in shame (Mark 14:52) is all of us, but we can become the man clothed in white at the tomb, announcing the good news of resurrection. Our mess is changed by His message! 

Matthew 6:13; Matthew 21:1-11  Humanity will always face the temptation to trust in anyone or anything other than God. This is how Jesus was tempted in the desert. On Palm Sunday, the crowd was trusting in their image of who they wanted Jesus to be rather than who he was. Kings and earthly rulers come and go, but Jesus and His Kingdom is eternal. A life of prayer connects us to this King and helps...

Matthew 6:12; Matthew 18:21-35  God offers us an amazing gift in the forgiveness of our sins, but we are not always ready to offer others the same deal. Forgiveness is central to the gospel, both as a gift to be received and as a gift to share. For those who have been hurt and abused, God knows what you're going through and provides the grace to forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiveness re...

Matthew 6:11; Matthew 7:7-12  Learning to pray for "daily bread" requires that we surrender our sense of entitlement. God doesn't promise excess but he does promise enough. Rather than hoard our limited resources for things beyond our control, we must learn to trust in the unlimited resources of our Father who controls all things. When released from the fear of scarcity, we can live...

Matthew 6:10; Rev. 11:15-16  It's obvious the world is not the way that it's supposed to be, but praying and living this prayer calls us to a renewed imagination. Instead of throwing up our hands in despair and saying, "What's the world coming to?", we boldly declare, "Look, who is coming into the world!" Prayer teaches us patience in the "not yet" of G...

Matthew 6:5-15; 1 Peter 1:13-16  In prayer, we honor and revere the name of God. It's a reminder that just as God is holy, we too, are called to lives of holiness that honor God. We "sanctify" the world through worship and mission. A holy people are sent out to transform common places into holy places. How do we hallow the name of God in the common places of life, making them a &quo...

Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1  In revealing who God is, Jesus is inviting a Jewish audience to think of God as "Father." Prayer and its importance was nothing new, but calling God "Our Father" was more than just novel, it was revolutionary. We are to live each day in the confident assurance that we have a Father with Heavenly power at his disposal and he longs to bless us, his sons...

Genesis 32:22-32  Jacob has a past. He's known as a deceiver, manipulator, and cheater, but God doesn't give up on him. God meets Jacob in his failure and "wrestles" with him, leaving him changed as evidenced by the new way he walks. When we have a genuine encounter with God it's real and it changes the way we walk. A new way of living awaits, but you've got to be wil...

Genesis 22:1-18 God asked Abraham to offer back to Him the most important gift he had ever received: his only son. It's the first time in the story Abraham does what God asks him to do with nothing to gain and everything to lose. Abraham's faith and obedience demonstrate his relationship with God is not about what God can do for him, but anchored in who God is. The provision of God'...

Genesis 15  God reaffirms his covenant with Abraham, walking between the sacrifices as a demonstration of his commitment to the promise. Like Abraham, we are unfaithful to the covenant, but Jesus walks between the sacrifices for us. He keeps promises that we cannot! 

Genesis 12:1-5  God called Abraham to a land that was not his own and in faith he obeyed. God continues to call, asking his people to step into unknown places and situations. Will we step out in faith, trusting that the one who calls goes before us and will provide? 

Genesis 1 In the creation narrative, the Lord speaks and worlds are created. There is power in words. They create worlds. We have a story to share and it matters more than we know. Let's tell our story and allow God to use it to create new worlds!

Matthew 2:13-23  Jesus growing up in Nazareth shows that God delights to work through the overlooked and despised. Our own humble circumstances can be the very soil where God’s glory grows.