Central Baptist Church, Portsmouth, Virginia

We've all been stuck in traffic jams. Sometimes they make us a few minutes late, other times we miss meetings or appointments altogether. In those moments of waiting and feeling stuck I think most of us would confess we don't wait well. As we continue tracing the big picture of the Bible, we'll see that even as God begins his rescue plan, we struggle to wait well.

Have you ever been way up high? Maybe on top of a mountain, or a tower, or in an airplane? When you look down from there people look like ants. Cars and houses look like toys. On a clear day you can see for miles. It's amazing what a change of perspective does. Most of the time as we study the Scripture we look at the details. We study a paragraph or two and then move to the next several paragraphs. We see what's right in front of us. During our next series, Long Story Short, we are going to be whisked way up high to gain a birds-eye view of the scriptures. We're going to see how these 66 books written by over 40 different human authors all fit together. We'll gain a framework of understanding to recognize how each Bible story fits into the larger Biblical narrative. It's going to be a fun ride and by the end this change of perspective will help you see the threads that weave the scripture together. You'll gain renewed confidence that God knows what He's doing and you'll see that you can trust Him in the chaos of life.

This week we wrap up our series titled, The Table. I hope this study has deepened your understanding and appreciation of how the table symbolizes God's provision for you and His presence with you. The table is this exclamation that yes, God can prepare a table amid your messiness. It's a reminder that there is no more altar, Jesus paid it all. We've seen that we aren't merely served from a table, we're invited to the table. I hope you've walked away with those as well as other insights.

Life is full of many exciting mealtime celebrations. So much so, that most celebrations seem incomplete if there isn't any food present. Throughout our table series, we've seen that humanity often asks the question from Psalm 78, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” And God continually demonstrates to humanity that yes He can. Yes, He has, yes, He does, and as we'll see this week, yes, He will. What's more, the table to come will be the best mealtime celebration of all time.

There is something so simple about having a meal around a table. Some of the best moments in life are spent in those simple places. So, is it any wonder that when Jesus wanted to give us a picture of his provision and his presence, he didn't give us a statue or a tower – he gave us a table. We'll discuss all of that and more this week in our series, “The Table”.

Have you ever been invited to someone's house for dinner? The joy of the meal is not simply the food, it's also the people who you share the food with. In fact, it would be strange to be invited over for a meal and then the hosts leave you to eat the meal alone. The provision is simply the means to presence. We see that even in an Old Testament table. You will not want to miss this week as we continue our series titled “The Table”.

God gives his people a variety of images in the bible to convey truth. The rainbow was given so that we would know because of God's love He is never going to flood the earth again. We are given bread and wine, communion elements, to be reminded of Jesus's sacrifice for us. That ties into the most iconic Christian image, a cross. There's another image that appears from Genesis all the way through Revelation. An image that is central to the type of relationship God desires with his people. It's a table. Sharing a table is one of the most uniquely human things we do. No other creature consumes food at a table. So, God uses the table to remind us that there's more to food than fuel. God uses the table as a place of connection, a place where broken sinners find belonging and restoration, a place of blessing, a place of mission, a place of fellowship. So much happens at the table. Join us for our next series, The Table. You'll never see the table the same way again.

Have you ever camped under the night's sky in a place that was not polluted by light? You look up and you see the brilliance of the heavens. Did you know there are more stars in the sky than grains of sand on the earth? Perhaps that's one of the reasons the sky speaks of God's majesty and glory. The night's sky sometimes spurs us toward pondering the deeper things of life. It did that for David. We'll see that as we wrap up our series in the Psalms this week. Psalm 8 will surely leave you in awe of just who our God is and who He has created you to be.

We talk a lot about following Jesus with all our hearts. David prayed for that exact same thing in Psalm 86. He recognized the help he would need in order to have whole-hearted devotion. This week we'll study the psalm from a couple different angles and learn what it means to have a united heart.

Did you know that Martin Luther, famous for the reformation, also wrote hymns? His best-known hymn is probably “A Mighty Fortress”. He wrote that hymn based on his favorite psalm, psalm 46. Luther lived a hard life full of many difficulties. Psalm 46 was a reminder of God's strength for him.

We've all been in that situation where we're busted. We must come clean about the wrong we've done. Sometimes, we think that's kind of how confession works. Biblical confession is so much deeper, and the results are so much more freeing.

Have you ever had someone jump out from behind a corner and scare you? We all know that heart-racing, adrenaline-pumping feeling. However, those momentary scares are nothing compared to the fears we sometimes face in life. This Sunday we'll confront our fears in Psalm 34 and learn how to trade anxiety for God's peace.

Have you ever noticed that often you can have more confidence when you're with a group, as opposed to when you face something alone? It was common for the Israelite king to gather with his people to seek God's help as they prepared for battle. We might not be preparing for a physical battle, but Psalm 20 instructs us that in our day of trouble as when trust in the Lord our confidence grows.

Traditionally to develop photographs you had to go into a dark room. By using special equipment like trays, a safe light, and a focus finder pictures are developed and the beauty of the scene is captured. Sometimes, we step into the dark room of life but when we grieve biblically we emerge in the light. Join us this Sunday as we explore Psalm 88.

I am so excited that this Sunday you will have the opportunity to hear Andrew Fry preach to us from Psalm 128. Andrew and Heather have been an active part of Central for about a year now. Andrew is currently studying at Liberty University and we're excited that he is interning with us this summer. So, make this Father's Day meaningful by worshipping with us and be encouraged with a psalm that helps us understand family.

Life is full of ups and downs - highs and lows - and everything in between. The human experience is full of a myriad of emotions. During some seasons of life talking to God can be challenging. Our prayer life can become stagnant or routine. The Psalms are songs that help give us words when we don't know how to pray. During this next series, we will study several Psalms that help us understand the emotions we feel and give voice to the different seasons of our souls. This series aims to help you fall in love with the songs of scripture and deepen your prayer life.

After an exciting year studying through 1st and 2nd Peter, we are coming to an end of our “Confidence” series. Peter ends his 2nd letter on a high note of encouragement to the church. His conclusion ought to stir your heart and your mind toward usefulness and fruitfulness.

It's that time of year when one day feels like a thousand years … Will the school year ever end? Will the school day ever end? How many more days until summer? When will my tomatoes be ready? When will the AC kick on? Amid delay and deferred dreams, we can become discouraged and get misdirected. And that's one reason why it's so important for us to gather together as the church—so we can remember and recommit to our mission as disciple-makers. As believers, we have a responsibility to be always ready, because we don't know when Jesus will return. And when He does, a thousand years will suddenly feel like a single day.

Some of us enjoy vegetables while for others they may be an acquired taste. However, almost all of us recognize their nutritional value so we try to develop in our kids a palate for vegetables because we want them to be healthy and strong. We come to a passage in 2 Peter that most would not run to as their favorite passage in Scripture. However, this warning passage from Peter is of critical importance for the health of the church.

Waiting is one of the most difficult things to do. Whether it's waiting for graduation, Christmas, or waiting all day for Sunday night in the fall. We want things to happen quickly, as they should be, and on our timetable. But what do we do when the unexpected happens and what we have been waiting for turns into an impossible situation? We will dive into what our response should be in the waiting.

Have you ever had to raise your voice at someone – not in a sinful, emotional way, but in a protective way? Or maybe there was a dangerous moment in your life when someone raised their voice towards you and saved you from a lot of harm. As we continue our study of 2nd Peter, Peter effectively raises his voice to the church to save them from what would be certain destruction. His warnings are just as important today.

Have you ever been conned? Maybe someone sweet talked you into a deal that sounded to good to be true and then it was. It usually happens because someone gains your trust, but then turns out not to be trustworthy. As it turns out there are those who use the name of Christ, and call themselves Christians only out of greed. Peter has a lot to say about the effect of false teachers. This important message is very relevant for our day.

What causes you to stop and pay attention to what someone is saying? Maybe it's the seriousness of their voice, or the seriousness of the situation. Peter grabs the attention of his audience by telling them he doesn't have much time left. That, maybe like nothing else, has a way of grabbing your attention. He had a reminder that was of critical importance for the church. It remains of critical importance for the church.

Sometimes, you will run into someone you haven't seen in a long time and they will say, “you haven't changed a bit.” As we age, that's always a nice thing to hear. No one wants to be greeted with someone saying, “wow, I can't believe how you've changed.” However, what may be true physically is not true spiritually. We should all be changing.

We're familiar with the expression – “things have gone from bad to worse.” We've all seen examples of that. In some ways that was the context of 2nd Peter. Not only was the church dealing with the persecution and sufferings that Peter addressed in his 1st letter. Now, there was a growing tide of heresy and false teaching that threatened the church. There are many parallels to the church today and I hope you'll join us as we begin a study of 2nd Peter.

Through the centuries the church has gathered in homes and buildings, in temples and tabernacles, or just outside to celebrate the reality of the resurrection of Jesus and the implications of it. This week we gather again, both on Friday and on Sunday, to join in the long line of saints declaring that Jesus is risen.

Have you ever set out to accomplish something but weren't sure when or if you'd ever finish? Maybe it was when you started college or took that first position in hopes of launching your career. Maybe it was holding your child knowing you had the responsibility of preparing them to be an adult. Jesus was on a long journey. We'll see just how long it was as we follow him to Golgotha this week to be reminded once again of the most significant moment in human history.

Which do you prefer the original or the sequel? Most of us would probably say the original. However, last week we saw, in some respects, the original wilderness experience. The Israelites failed that test miserably. But many years later there was a sequel to the story. Although instead of all the Israelites there was just one. His time in the wilderness proved much different.

Who likes a lot of rules and regulations? Probably not a lot of us, but if we think more about it, we may come to the realization that rules are designed to give us direction or provide us guidelines to keep us safe. If that is true, then standards may not be bad. All throughout Scripture, we can read God's standards. We not only get to read the rules, but also read about the benefits of following those rules as well as the consequences of not following them. During this Easter season we are continuing the series titled: From the Garden to Golgotha. This week we will take a stop along our journey towards Golgotha in the Wilderness at Mount Sinai.

The passion of Jesus and the story of Easter began in a garden. Its name wasn't Gethsemane but Eden. Eden was paradise until the first two people sinned. Their sin unleashed consequences upon all of creation. The most painful consequence was that humanity was separated from God. However, God launched a plan right then to rescue humanity. The climax of that rescue was seen at Golgotha. During this Easter season we are launching into a new series titled: From the Gardn to Golgotha. During this series we'll be reminded about the seriousness of our sin, and magnificent love of Jesus. Prepare to fall in love with the Savior again.

This week we'll be wrapping up Peter's first letter. His conclusion includes the previous themes of pain, suffering and triumph. And in so doing, he draws the attention of his audience to God in such a winsome way.

We've all experienced the effects of good leadership and poor leadership. Sometimes, we'll settle for a poor leader because we think a good leader will call us to do the right thing which is a hard thing and we're comfortable just where we are. The task of the church is to make disciples of all nations. That's a hard task and we need godly leaders who will equip us for that intimidating work.

One of the questions that has bothered a lot of people is, “Why does God allow bad this to happen to good people?” In Peter's 1st letter he spends a lot of time talking about the sufferings of the church. This next section is no different.

One question that humanity has wrestled with is when will the end of the world come. The church has often asked when will Jesus return. As we continue our series in 1st Peter we'll discover how the church should live in the end times.

Have you ever noticed how Hollywood distorts reality? Ventilation systems in any building are always strong enough to hold at least one, but usually multiple people crawling through them. When cars crash they always burst into flames. People living in the Victorian era never seem to sweat wearing all that clothing and their teeth are always perfect. So many distortions. You know, in the church sometimes we have our own distortions. At times we all need a reality check. We'll see that Peter gives us one as we continue studying through his letters.

Have you ever been confused? We've all been there. Some things in life are just confusing. One of the most confusing aspects of the human experience is why do bad things happen to good people. Why do Godly people deal with suffering. As we continue our study of 1st Peter, we'll tackle that and several other difficult questions in a message that is sure to make you think. I hope you'll join us this Sunday as God helps us put suffering in it's proper context.

How do you react to thought of more pain or suffering? Many of us try to avoid that as much as possible. We place a high value on safety and comfort. While we know we are empowered to make disciples sometimes that calling seems too messy and makes us uncomfortable. Peter wrote two letters to encourage the church that there is strength in the face of trouble, that those troubles are temporary, and we can have confidence while living on mission. This year we are continuing our deep dive into 1st and 2nd Peter in our sermon series Confidence. Through it, my prayer is you will press on, living the life God made you to live. It is in the darkest times that the collective light of the Jesus' church shines brightest.

I get it—having a New Year's resolution is a cliché. Almost everyone is doing it, and most of them are just going to fail by February, so why bother? But here's the thing: none of us is perfect. We all have things that need to change, and as followers of Jesus, we're actually in the very business of being changed by His power! And psychologists tell us that the absolute best time to make changes in our lives is at the start of something new, like the beginning of a month or on a Monday or on a birthday. So there's pretty much no better time to stack the deck toward positive change than a new year.

In our world people pick sides. The latest headlines reveal division across the globe. Let's face it if we were God, we'd come to rescue some, but not others. However, the angels announced that the birth of the Messiah would be good news of great joy for all people. Jesus came for the Jew and the Gentile. He came for the down and out and the up and out. He came for the moral and the immoral. He came for you and me.

Sometimes we laugh when people talk about traveling a great distance to visit Buc-ee's or In and Out Burger or some other place. Other long trips make more sense to us, like traveling to see family or friends. This week we'll look at the distant gentile magi who traveled a great distance to see the one born king of the jews. Their story raises lots of questions, but also serves as a great reminder that Jesus came for all people.

As you set up your nativity scene this year. There is of course Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. Then, looking on are those nice shepherds dressed in robes with staffs in hand. We're familiar with the Christmas story; we like them in the scene. However, if we were living in first century Bethlehem, we wouldn't have wanted them there – not at all. Join us this Sunday as we discuss the shepherds and how their inclusion in the Christmas scene reminds us that the good news of Jesus is for all people.

In our world people pick sides. The latest headlines reveal division across the globe. Let's face it if we were God, we'd come to rescue some, but not others. However, the angels announced that the birth of the Messiah would be good news of great joy for all people. Jesus came for the Jew and the Gentile. He came for the down and out and the up and out. He came for the moral and the immoral. He came for you and me. This Christmas season we will celebrate with a series titled, For All People. We'll see how the reality that Jesus came for all people affects how we see and interact with people.

Have you ever been lost? It's a disorienting feeling. Seconds can seem like minutes, minutes can seem like hours. When you are lost what you really want is to be found. The Bible speaks of people who are not in right relationship with God as lost. Jesus came for the lost and he commissioned his followers to go to them as well. As we continue our Key Questions series, we will be asking the question: Who are you sharing Jesus with?

Living life alone on a desert island may sound romantic at times, but if you've ever seen the movie Castaway you get an idea as to just how lonely you'd be. The reason is we were created to live alone. Just as God exists in community (He's triune) so He designed His people to exist in community as well. As we continue our key questions series, we'll be asking the question: where are you experiencing life-giving community? We see that type of community modeled for us in the early church.

Have you ever met someone who has it all together? The truth is we are all in process, growing to become more and more like Jesus. That's what our series the key questions is all about. Asking key questions that help reveal where we are and spur us toward spiritual growth. This week we'll be asking the question "Who am I discipling?". 

Throughout our lives we ask and are asked countless questions. Sometimes those questions can be silly other times serious. Some questions are trivial others are critical. There are several questions for the life of any Christian that are critically important because they are so clarifying. During our next series, our aim is to equip you with 5 questions that will help propel your disciple-making mission. These questions work best not merely for self-reflection but in the context of missional groups.

Most of us have had dreams about what life would be like without the limitations of time, space, or gravity. The thrill of fling around the universe is captivating. That dream of life without limits has made it's way to many parts of our culture. We are living in a time when many of the limits that were in place for marriage have been abolished. Perhaps, that's why the need for godly marriages are more important now than ever. We'll look at what Peter says about marriage this week.

This last week we've seen the atrocities that took place in Israel. I have been diligent in praying for the people there, and I hope you have as well. The hostility of the world has been on full display. There are certain wars that are just. Jesus will execute a just war to rid the world of sin and evil. He is our ultimate authority. Unfortunately, in this life sometimes we are under the authority of those who are unjust. So, while we won't be talking about just wars this Sunday, we will talk about authority and the effects of being under the authority of King Jesus.

Know Your Identity

A Healthy Appetite

The idea of judgment usually doesn't get people excited, usually judgment produces at least some fear. Peter connects fear and judgment for the believer as he writes. So, what does the coming judgment for the believer entail? Why is fear connected to it? We'll talk about those topics and more as we continue our study through 1st Peter.