Centennial Church - Sermons

Special Guest Dr. Paul Pettit (Mark 10:35-45)

Work is a good thing. As we celebrate Labor Day, we are right to esteem work and workers. Even God works (and rests)! However, Jesus once said that our primary work is to trust Him. Often we would rather DO for God than TRUST God. Sometimes believing is hard. But without faith it is impossible to please God, and Jesus has shown himself trustworthy.

Have you ever felt stalled out in your faith? Have you ever felt like you just weren’t moving forward? Jesus finds himself surrounded by people who are stalled out, but he does not give up on them just as he does not give up on us. Rather, he provides just what they need to move forward.

Life does not always make sense. When we encounter our most difficult circumstances, what do we do? In Exodus 32, we see the Israelites faced with having no answers and feeling abandoned. How do they respond? As we study their reaction to this trial, Jason Bowman encourages us to fully and radially trust God - even when our lives make no sense.

Non-committal. Church shoppers. Church hoppers. Church droppers. How do modern approaches to church compare to the New Testament? In Acts 2, we see that believers “devoted themselves” to the church and her practices. In this message, Pastor Ross exhorts us to embrace the church as central and essential rather than peripheral and optional.

The first disciples would never have thought of “attending” church! Their faith in Jesus was much more than merely a weekly gathering - not less than that, but much more. They entered a new and alternative community, deeper and more transformative than any other association. In Acts 2, we get a sense of their radical devotion.

The church is not a human institution. It is God’s idea, His design. To love Jesus while minimizing or degrading the church is to insult His bride! In Acts 2, we see the beginnings of this new community and its unique functions or marks.

Colossians shows the preeminence of Jesus. In this short message, we consider two basic questions: 1) What is preeminence? and 2) What is everything?

Last words are often significant, but sometimes the final sign-offs and goodbyes of New Testament letters can seem like throwaways. But certainly not in Colossians! Paul's last 12 verses are rich with instruction, encouragement, and comfort - and timely words for our strange times.

Prayer and evangelism are the privilege of all believers, and practices that all Christians sometimes struggle to do effectively. In these verses, Paul describes how we can be faithful in prayer and effective in evangelism.

On this holiday weekend, Pastor Ross reminds of us four key passages that should anchor believers in this nation, in these trying days.

In a nation that prides itself on freedom, Paul’s instructions in the last paragraph of Colossians 3 seem quite challenging. However, to benefit the community and honor the preeminence of Christ, we should be willing to submit our will to His and to those in authority over us. Paul is clear that we do it all “for the Lord.”

In these verses Paul offers a pattern or blueprint for a different kind of kingdom. We are to cultivate, "put on”, certain virtues but to do so with particular motivations.

In chapter 3, Paul pivots from the truth of Jesus and the false teaching gaining influence around Colossae, to the implications and practicalities of how the preeminence of Jesus should pervade every area of our lives. To follow Jesus is not a part-time hobby or optional add-on, but a total-life, all-encompassing, holistic journey.

The world appears unhinged. What’s wrong? What’s the problem? Violence, corruption, racism, disease, and more… But what’s the cause? Why? The Bible has an answer. It’s an explanation that, though often resisted or scorned, when accepted makes sense of a beautiful world gone terribly wrong.

We compromise the word of God when we subtract from or add to it. The false teachers in Colossae were teaching error and insisting upon human rules and traditions, thereby destroying the purity of the Gospel message. In this passage, Paul continues his warnings against them and explains the rationale for his injunctions.

Paul has told the Colossians that preaching Jesus requires both warning and instruction (1:28). In this section he does both himself. Two warnings are given (2:4; 2:8), followed by longer teachings or explanations. Paul’s point again is to remind them, and us, of the supremacy of Jesus and thus the danger of adding other worldly, human traditions and/or teachings.

As Paul writes the believers in Colossae, he shares that he toils and struggles to help see that they grow mature in their faith in Jesus. Instead of grabbing for something else or something new, they should press in to the treasure and fullness found in Jesus alone.

Though the apostle Paul had never been to Colossae, he writes to them affectionately thankful for their faith in the Gospel of Jesus and concerned that they not veer from the purity of it - neither subtracting from it or adding to it. He opens his letter by sharing what he’s thankful for and how he’s praying for them.

We can be skeptical of death-bed conversions, but the Cross of Jesus demonstrates that they are possible. No one is saved by their record of good works, but only by the sheer mercy and grace of Jesus. Because of Jesus’ work on the Cross, no failure is ever final and no sin is ever greater than the scandalous grace of Jesus.

Jesus’ first words on the cross speak of his divinity and his mercy. They are directed to his Father, in mercy toward his murderers. It’s Jesus’ blood that makes his prayer effective. The wonder of the cross is that the Son of God would bleed for his enemies. The cross displays the horror of sin as well as God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness for sinners - even the worst of us.

Pastor Ross concludes our Who We Are (becoming) series by encouraging every member to identify and embrace a personal mission field and link up with our CC Global partners.

What is worship? Is it only what happens on Sundays? Should we be concerned only with what God thinks of our worship? In this message, Pastor Ross offers a three-fold framework for thinking about worship.

Luke’s account of the “great commission” in Acts calls disciples “witnesses” (shaping what we are responsible for and what we are not responsible for), tells us where to begin, and reveals the power we need to be effective. Our mission is immediate (beginning right where we are), expansive (going to the whole world), and impossible (apart from God’s power). Have you identified your mission field?

Jesus’ first command in the Great Commission is “Go…” To reach the unsaved and unchurched we have to go to them - we can’t expect that they will come to us. In this message, we see the priority, rhythm, and holistic nature of our calling as followers of Jesus.

The call to follow Jesus is a call to follow totally, completely, holistically. In this message, Pastor Ross expounds on four vital areas that contribute to a discipleship that is holistic.

Disciples of Jesus are called to obey and pass on “all that Jesus commanded” (Matthew 28:20). Our goal should be to grow as holistic disciples, meaning that no area of our lives is outside the Lordship of Jesus. Discipleship is all-encompassing, comprehensive, and total. We must grow in following Jesus in all areas of life - our mind as well as our emotions, our money as well as our sexuality, in worship as well as evangelism.

Our primary calling (Great Commission) is to make disciples, students of Jesus. And Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and love others. Therefore, our aim is to make disciples, who will make more disciples, who love God and love others.

There’s no perfect Christmas celebration. We don’t have to pretend that all is okay. But there is a perfect Savior. He came as a baby to imperfect people - for imperfect people. By embracing Jesus, we can know peace and joy in the midst of sin, brokenness, and imperfection.

We are meant to be surprised by the way God has come to us in Jesus. He came first, not in power nor to the rich and acclaimed, but in humility and for the humble and weak who would accept Him. He entered our world not as a conquering King, but a suffering servant and Savior. This is good news and brings great joy to all who will receive Him.

The second week of Advent calls for us to reflect on peace, but in a hurried and anxious world this can be difficult to do. What does the Bible say about peace and how is Jesus the perfect manifestation of that peace? When we turn to Christ we see from birth to death to resurrection, He alone is able to give us true and everlasting peace.

Luke narrates the classic and most memorable account of Jesus’ birth. In this four-part Advent series, we look at the reason for His coming and how it brings us joy and hope.

Thanksgiving is not just a once a year celebration for Christians, but a year-round response to God’s grace. Communion, or the Eucharist as it’s referred to sometimes, is a meal of thanksgiving. It reminds us of God’s grace given to us personally and prompts our response of thanksgiving. It is also an appetizer and preview of the feast we will enjoy in the new kingdom of God.

Submission is often a dirty word today. But God’s word honors submission, even to authorities that are not so great. Though there are times not to submit, submission witnesses to our faith in the Ultimate Authority, silences those who slander God’s followers, gives us opportunity to follow Jesus’ example, and tries our faith in continuing to entrust ourselves to God who judges justly.

There’s a war being waged. And it’s a war for our soul. Christians are not only sojourners and exiles in this world; they are also soldiers. We fight our sinful nature, the trappings and values of the world, and the evil one himself. Our faithful engagement in the fight ensures not only our own health, but our honorable reputation among those who would like to speak against us. Where is the fight raging for you? What steps of obedience do you need to take?

What are the stories we tell ourselves about who we were, who we are, and who we want to be? Have you ever considered that Jesus is calling you into his story? A story that calls, ultimately, for resurrection into life in Him? In this sermon we focus on the master storyteller, Jesus, and his parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) to hear about the greater story Jesus calls us into.

In a world scurrying to find and define identity, Peter gives us an identity that is not achieved but rather received. Believers have unique position and privilege because God has chosen us and is building us up as His temple. We are His most valuable possession.

In the midst of trials and in unfamiliar, foreign territory, believers in Jesus can have clear minds and confident hope. We are called to be distinct and different and therefore make a difference. But the motivation for holiness is paramount. Be hopeful. Be holy. Because you are God’s beloved.

Trials train and transform us. Through them, the luster of the world’s toys and comforts fade. We (re)discover the value of faith. God is not punishing us but perfecting us. And ultimately, we are rewarded for enduring faith.

Reflecting upon the tragic death of a young lady in the Frisco community, Pastor Ross directs our hearts to various passages in 1 Peter, 2 Corinthians, and Revelation for hope that is found only in the Good News of Jesus.