Central Church Sermons

God's original design for humanity includes a call to multiply in every sphere of life - family, work, church, and personal growth. This purpose stems from being created in God's image, which gives all humans inherent dignity and worth. To fulfill this multiplication calling, we need to recover God's purpose, reproduce His multiplication power through relationships, His blessing, and health. Rather than embracing our culture's self-serving mentality, Pastor Matt Shackelford shows us how to identify areas where God wants us to multiply what He's entrusted to us.Visit https://www.centralchurch.com to get involved with Central Church.

This message invites us to reimagine what the church is truly meant to be—not just a service we attend, but a movement we embody. Rooted in Psalm 66, we're reminded that our lives should be a public, joyful testimony to the greatness of God. Worship isn't confined to a room; it's meant to echo into our neighborhoods, schools, and cities.God has done awesome deeds—so how do we live like it?Visit https://www.centralchurch.com to get involved with Central Church.

Being a Gospel servant means following a threefold compass that guides our Christian life: upward devotion to God, inward love for the church, and outward mission to the world. Upward devotion involves giving thanks to God, rejoicing in His work, and praying continually with submission to His will. Inward love means building warm relationships with fellow believers, using spiritual gifts to strengthen others, and seeking mutual encouragement. Outward mission requires recognizing the Gospel as a sacred trust for all people and eagerly sharing Christ across all boundaries. This sermon by Pastor Tim Gibson from Romans 1:8-15 provides clear direction for finding purpose in Christ.

Psalm 98 reveals three compelling reasons why God's people should praise Him. First, we praise God for His marvelous works - His power that brings salvation, His revelation of that salvation to the world, and His faithful love toward His people. Second, our entire lives should be a joyful song of praise, involving every aspect of our being and joining with all creation in worship. Finally, we praise God for His promised return, when He will judge the world with perfect righteousness and equity, making all wrongs right. The soundtrack of a saved life is characterized by intentional gratitude, complete surrender, and readiness for Christ's return.

Worship is not just singing on Sundays but a lifestyle that aligns our hearts with God's rule and reign. Psalm 96 teaches that true worship is a response to the hope we have in Christ, expressed with confidence in God's greatness. It involves offering repentance, turning from worthless idols to faith in Jesus, and declaring our allegiance to God as King. When we truly worship, we join all creation in expectantly awaiting Christ's return, knowing His judgment brings rejoicing for believers because of His faithfulness to His finished work on the cross.

In a world of influencers promising happiness, Jesus offers genuine satisfaction through three essential elements. In this sermon from Luke 20 & 21, Pastor Matt Shackelford shares where true satisfaction comes from. First, we must recognize Jesus as the incarnational Son—fully God and fully man—which gives purpose to our worship and meaning to our service. Second, we need to follow Him as our transformational Savior, allowing Him to change us from the inside out rather than focusing on appearances like the scribes did. Finally, we must finance His sacrificial story by investing our resources in God's kingdom, going 'all in' like the widow who gave everything she had. True satisfaction comes only when we fill the hole in our heart with Jesus alone.

True lasting peace can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ, the King of Peace. His humble entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolized His approachability and desire for personal connection. Finding peace requires recognizing life isn't about us, understanding our greater purpose, and fully submitting to Jesus as King. In this sermon on Luke 19, Pastor Matt teaches how you can have peace with God.

Guest speaker Dr. Bruce A. Ware teaches on Isaiah 6. 

The eternal destinations of heaven and hell are determined by where we place our trust and what we truly desire in life. While some trust in their wealth and earthly kingdoms, true believers place their complete trust in God. Death comes to everyone regardless of status, but it's not the end - it leads either to eternal comfort or torment. Hell is a real place of conscious suffering, permanent separation from God, and eternal regret. The only escape is through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, turning from self-reliance to complete dependence on God.

 Finding joy in seeking those who are spiritually lost - exploring Jesus's heart for reaching others through powerful parables in Luke 15. Discover the transformative patterns of loss, searching, and celebration that reveal God's deep love for every individual. Learn practical ways to build meaningful relationships with non-believers and share your faith effectively. In this sermon, Eric Jones II shares why every Christian should strive to share Jesus Christ with those who are lost. 

In this insightful exploration of Luke 13:1-9, Pastor Matt Shackelford shows how to navigate life's inevitable tragedies by focusing on transformation. Jesus addresses the unavoidable nature of suffering in a fallen world, using the examples of the Galileans killed by Pilate and the tower in Siloam. Learn how to prioritize your spiritual life, respond to tragedy, and allow God to shape you through trials.

Many of us hold a familiar image of Jesus: the Prince of Peace, or the newborn in a manger. But passages like Luke 12:49-58 challenge us to see another side—one that calls us to a choice and warns of consequences. When Jesus says, "I came to cast fire on the earth," it may feel unsettling, even unexpected. In this powerful sermon, Pastor Matt Shackelford dives into the urgency behind Jesus' words and why He calls us to make a decision that can't be delayed. Learn why Jesus warns us against missing our opportunity to follow Him and how His words are a call to real transformation.