Central Community Church | Sermon Audio

Luke 6:43-49 Not everyone who claims to follow Jesus is a genuine disciple of Jesus. In Luke 6:43–49, Jesus challenges us to examine both the fruit of our lives and the foundation upon which we are building, because our words and works reveal the true condition of our hearts. Genuine faith will inevitably produce a life increasingly characterized by obedience to Christ. Ultimately, the storms of life and the final judgment will reveal whether we have truly built our lives upon Jesus.

Luke6:43-49 Jesus closes the Sermon on the Plain with a question: “Why do you call me‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” This morning, we look at two parables that Jesusgives us. One about a tree and its fruit, and the other about two builders and their houses.Both parables call us to to take a look at our lives and see what they reveal about what wetruly believe and what our lives are built on. Jesus shows us that genuine faith is not foundin what we say, but in whether our lives are rooted in Him and shaped by His words.

Luke 6:43-49 Jesus is calling us to move beyond an outward profession to inward transformation. Knowing Christ = love for Christ, visible fruit. Because we come to him, listen to him and do what he calls us to do He enables us by the power of his Spirit to stand when the storms come.

Luke 6:37-42 In a fallen world, hostile to believers, Jesus calls his followers to adopt a love that is entirely unlike the world. A love marked by mercy, even as our Father in heaven is merciful. This means we must refrain from hypocritical, self-righteous judgment and instead, we must firstly assume a posture of grace, desiring ultimately that those caught in sin would be restored to the Father. As we allow the Lord Jesus to reveal to us our own spiritual blindness and our desperate need for him, we will be equipped to show others this mercy. Only when the log is removed from our own eyes will we be prepared to help our brothers and sisters with the specks in theirs. The good news is that Jesus is able to deal with every wooden plank in us because he was nailed to a wooden cross for us.

Luke 6:37-42 Scripture does not tell us to not judge, but rather to exercise godly, gracious judgement carefully, with the right heart, motives, and method. Making sober judgements, beginning with self-judgement, contributes to a healthy, thriving church body and prepares us for God’s judgement.

Luke 6:37-42 “Judge not, lest ye be judged” (for some reason always quoted in the King James Version) has got to have the dubious honour of being the most quoted, misunderstood, and misapplied Bible verse in society today. People take it to mean that we should stay out of each other’s business and never judge one another. But what Jesus is actually forbidding is a self-righteous, fault-finding, judgmental, condemning spirit. In this sermon, Pastor Matt shares how when we take the log out of our own eye, then, and only then, can we lovingly, truthfully, and gently help fellow Christians remove the speck from their eye.

John 4:7-15 (NLT) John 4 describes the improbable meeting between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. This meeting should have never happened, but Jesus deliberately crossed all sorts of barriers to offer this woman a gift she would not refuse: living water. Through this sermon we discover the simple truth that Jesus is real, he welcomes all to come to him and only he can truly satisfy.

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus was clear about the why the church exists and what its purpose is: To make disciples. Yet many Christians drift into other activities that ignore this mission. We must never allow good things like outreach and community to obscure or replace our purpose. This sermon will outline what fulfilling our disciple-making purpose involves and requires.

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus told us why the church exists & what its purpose is: To make disciples. But many Christians and churches suffer from “Disciple-making Amnesia”. If we’re not careful, the church can drift into prioritizing ministries of mercy over the gospel; socializing over disciple-making; comfort over the mission. While there are many good by-products of our purpose, they must never obscure or replace our purpose. This final sermon in our Forward series will outline what fulfilling our disciple-making purpose requires.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-22 Moving forward together, contributing to the counter cultural family of faith.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-22 The church is called to be a counter-cultural family of faith where every member contributes, not merely attends. Believers build one another up, honour godly leadership, patiently care for the struggling, and pursue reconciliation over retaliation or unresolved conflict. Shaped by the gospel, the church is marked by joy, prayer, gratitude, and Spirit-led discernment rooted in Scripture. These practices strengthen the body, protect its unity, and make its witness to Christ more compelling. They are not merely practical for the local church—they are indispensable.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-22 The FORWARD series continues as we ask what it actually means to move from mere attendance to active contribution in the life of our church. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul describes the church as body that is building itself up - which means that every single person has something real to contribute. Come discover how God is calling you to build up (and be built up by) this family of faith.

Hebrews 5:12-14 Hebrews 5:12-14 is a wake-up call for the spiritually stagnant Christian. The author rebukes believers who have remained spiritual infants when they should be mature leaders. True discipleship requires moving past basic truths to active obedience and consistent training, empowering believers to discern good from evil. Moving forward personally is the first step on the pathway to discipleship.

Hebrews 5:12-14 Following Jesus is not about making a decision and then standing still; it is about continually moving forward toward maturity. Hebrews 5:12–14 challenges Christians to grow beyond spiritual infancy through the training of God’s Word, becoming mature disciples who are able to help make other disciples. While that kind of growth requires intentional effort and perseverance, it is worth it because Jesus is worth following.

Hebrews 5:12-14 True discipleship requires moving past basic truths through consistent training and active obedience. Then and only then can believers discern how to live out the faith and be useful to train others in the faith. This sermon calls the hearer to forward progress as a disciple of Jesus.

Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1 Song of Solomon celebrates sexual love as a good and beautiful gift from God, meant to be enjoyed within the safety and commitment of marriage. It shows that intimacy is more than physical pleasure; it involves tenderness, trust, exclusivity, and mutual self-giving love. Ultimately, marriage points beyond itself to the greater love of Christ for His Church, reminding us that even in areas marked by hurt or brokenness, Jesus brings restoration and hope.

Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1 God created sex as a good, life-giving gift for marriage. Though sin has distorted God’s design, the Song of Solomon offers a beautiful vision of covenant intimacy. Calling husbands and wives to receive sexuality without shame, protect it from distortion, and pursue faithful, joyful love.

Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1 Song of Solomon contains the unfiltered, romantic, sexual language of a book often seen as too steamy for church and churchgoers. But it’s inclusion in the Bible reminds us that God created sexual intimacy, physical attraction, and beauty. God-honouring spirituality is not “above” our human experiences or sexuality; He created it with great intentionality and as a pointer to something even greater. While the book is literally a poem celebrating human marital love, we should not miss that it is also a signpost for Christ’s love for His Bride, the Church. This sermon will help you understand the Song of Songs, share the Bible’s vision for sex and marriage, and surprise you with how much Jesus cherishes you.

Psalm 69:19-33 As followers of Jesus, we will suffer for his sake by our/God’s enemies. David turns his anger towards them asking God to make his justice certain on all of God’s enemies. David is a foreshadowing of another King although perfect, sinless, he will be the Suffering Servant and be the means by which we are and will be delivered from all our enemies.

Psalm 69:19-33 As followers of Jesus, we will suffer for his sake by our/God’s enemies. David turns his anger towards them asking God to make his justice certain on all of God’s enemies. David is a foreshadowing of another King although perfect, sinless, he will be the Suffering Servant and be the means by which we are and will be delivered from all our enemies.

Judges 19.22-30 Judges 19 exposes how far the human heart can fall when it rejects God’s rule, and how our sin wounds others along the way. Yet the story also creates a longing for a righteous King. Unlike the Levite who sacrificed his bride to save himself, Jesus gave Himself so that His bride could live. In Him, sinners receive new hearts, sufferers are seen, and God promises to make all things new.

Judges 19:22-30 This story vividly reveals humanity’s depravity when there is no king, or more importantly, no God in their hearts, and everyone does what is right in their own eyes. It exposes human sin, not God’s character, and confronts us with the realities of sexual assault, murder, injustice, and evil. Praise Jesus, who did not give us over to the enemy but gave Himself up for us. He offered His own body in our place, bearing the judgment we deserved.

Judges 19.22-30 This week, we sit with one of the darkest stories in Scripture: a woman needlessly violated and dismembered. We won’t rush past that. But we won’t stay there either. Because when we encounter awful stories like this - in Scripture and in our lives - our hearts cry out: “God, what are you doing about this evil and suffering?” And the answer takes us into the dark mystery of the cross, where God took on a body to suffer on our behalf, so that evil would not have the final word. This is a hard story. But it is also, in the end, one of hope.

Ezekiel 4:1-17 The prophet Ezekiel was called to live out God’s message to Israel. He compassionately suffered for their sake, while being a persistent presence in their lives as a reminder of what the Lord was going to do in Jerusalem. Our call as Christians today is the same, we are called to live out the Gospel compassionately and persistently because of our care for the Lost. While the method might look differently our motivation and mission are the same.

Ezekiel 4:1-17 The weird & bizarre things that God asked Ezekiel to do demonstrated not only the seriousness of sin and disobedience and its consequences, but also the incredible mercy of the one who would bear the punishment of sin, giving hope for an eternal future in the New Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 4:4-17 Why would God tell a prophet to lie on his side for over a year, ration his food, or bake bread over dung? This morning we will see that Ezekiel's strange actions weren't random, but were powerful images revealing the devastating reality of sin. Through these unforgettable (and weird) signs, we see that sin carries a weight we cannot bear and it ultimately leads to judgment. But Ezekiel's story doesn't end with judgment, it points us to Jesus. Ezekiel could only symbolize humanity's problem, Jesus became the solution. He bore the weight of our sin, becoming the true Bread of Life, that takes on the judgment we deserved so that we could receive His grace.

Acts 17:24-27 Whether it be for significance, fulfillment, fame or love, everybody is searching for something. In Acts 17, Paul presents the God of the Bible as the Creator of all, a God who is both powerful and personal, and who longs for all people to find Him. It is only as we find God through His Son Jesus, that we can be truly satisfied.

Numbers 22:22-35 Some texts in Scripture are confusing, others troubling, and some just seem silly. A talking donkey? That falls in the latter category. But the message is serious: God uses messengers of His choosing – vessels that the world may label as foolish, weak, and despised – to speak His words, and His words only – words of blessing. This blessing, ultimately found in Christ, has been given to His people now – the church – to continue the blessing of Abraham to all nations.

Numbers 22:22-35 In this strange and memorable story, a donkey sees what a famous spiritual seer cannot. Yet the real wonder is not the talking animal, but the sovereign God who rules both the visible and invisible world, restrains human foolishness, and faithfully accomplishes His purposes. While Israel remains completely unaware of the danger around them, God protects His people, keeps His promises, and turns an intended curse into blessing. This passage reminds us that our greatest assurance is not our ability to understand or control everything, but God’s unwavering faithfulness, ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ.

1 Samuel 28:3-20 The Bible doesn’t pretend magic isn’t real - it takes witchcraft, sorcery, and the supernatural seriously. So why did Saul, the king of God’s people, turn to a forbidden medium? This week, we trace one of Scripture’s strangest nights to a question none of us can dodge: when God feels distant, what are we tempted to turn to instead?

1 Samuel 28.3-20 The Bible doesn’t pretend magic isn’t real - it takes witchcraft, sorcery, and the supernatural seriously. So why did Saul, the king of God’s people, turn to a forbidden medium? This week, we trace one of Scripture’s strangest nights to a question none of us can dodge: when God feels distant, what are we tempted to turn to instead?

1 Samuel 28.3-20The Bible doesn’t pretend magic isn’t real - it takes witchcraft, sorcery, and the supernatural seriously. So why did Saul, the king of God’s people, turn to a forbidden medium? This week, we trace one of Scripture’s strangest nights to a question none of us can dodge: when God feels distant, what are we tempted to turn to instead?

Matthew 10:34-39 The characterization of Jesus as a peace-loving hippy that the general population holds of our Lord does not actually square with the Biblical account of the Gospels. Jesus said some truly shocking and radical things that polarized the people of his day: Jesus came to bring a sword? Does that sound like following Jesus will mean an easy life? With these words Jesus cuts to the heart of what it means to be his followers: division, opposition, even combat with the world. As Jesus is embraced and accepted by some with joy he will also be vehemently rejected by others with contempt. The result is inevitably a sword: even among those we hold dearest. This is the cost of following Jesus; this is what it means to be his disciple. He must have our supreme allegiance. There can be no middle ground. The call to faith is the call to forsake all and follow Jesus. Have you counted the cost?

Matthew 10:34-36 We often picture Jesus as gentle, compassionate, and the “Prince of Peace.” But in Matthew 10, He says, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” These aren’t two different versions of Jesus. The same Saviour who brings peace with God also divides. Drawing a clear line between those who follow Him and those who don’t, even within the closest relationships.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 The accounts of God’s commands to the Israelites to devote the peoples of Canaan to destruction have at times been used to portray God as vindictive or even as a moral monster. Yet when these texts are read carefully in their broader biblical context, a different picture emerges: while God’s judgment on sin is real and at times severe, He consistently reveals Himself as one who delights in mercy. That truth reaches its clearest expression in the sending of His one and only Son, who bore the judgment we deserved so that we might receive the mercy we could never earn.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 The first passage in our “My Weird & Wonderful Bible” summer series seems both bizarre and unsettling – a text where God instructs the Israelites to completely eradicate the Canaanites from the Promised Land ... a text that some have mistaken as a divine mandate for “ethnic cleansing” ... a text that seemingly highlights an extreme disparity between “the God of the Old Testament” and “the God of the New Testament.” This sermon will point out that neither objection is true ... that the character of “the God of the OT” is more patient, loving and gracious than people often assume, and that “the God of the NT” is much more consistent about judgment from OT to NT than people often assume. Ultimately, there is also bloodshed in the NT that it is levelled against Jesus – a game changer in the unfolding history of redemption.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 As we embark on our summer series called My Weird & Wonderful Bible, this sermon addresses a common difficulty people have with the Old Testament: The number of texts where God instructs the Israelites to completely eradicate the Canaanites from the Promised Land. The key questions at hand are, 1. Is this Divinely mandated “Ethnic Cleansing”?; 2. Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so different from the God of the New Testament? This sermon will seek to address these questions and how God-ordained violence in the Bible fits into redemptive history and Good News to all nations.

Luke 6:27–36 Loving our enemies doesn't come naturally, and it may be one of the mostdifficult things Jesus ever asks of us. But in Luke 6:27–36, we discover that this commandisn't rooted in human effort but in God's incredible mercy toward us. In this challenging yetbeautiful passage we see how God's love changes our hearts and empowers us to extendgrace and mercy to those who need it most.

Luke 6:27-36 When Jesus said ‘love your enemies and do good to those who hate you’, could he possibly have known about all the evil in the world? Of course he did. It was because of that evil, our sinfulness, that He came to this earth. Does our Christian walk seek to imitate that kind of love?

Luke 6:27-36 When Jesus said ‘love your enemies and do good to those who hate you’, could he possibly have known about all the evil in the world? Of course he did. It was because of that evil, our sinfulness, that He came to this earth. Does our Christian walk seek to imitate that kind of love?

Luke 6:20-26 Through a series of four blessings and corresponding woes, Jesus calls His followers to embrace kingdom values that turn the world’s value system upside down, where apparent earthly losses can become eternal gains.

Luke 6:20-26 The keys to a full, satisfied, happy, joyful life are not what we often think they are. What Jesus says are the keys to happiness are, in fact, just the opposite of what the world tells us. His’ is an upside-down kingdom that, when pursued, offers the most satisfactory life possible!

Luke 6:20-26 God does not see things the way we do, because He does not look at what the world values. What we often prize, He does not. While the world focuses on outward appearance, God looks at the heart. In Jesus, we see a complete inversion of the world’s perspective, because the values of heaven are fundamentally different from the values of this world.

Luke 6:12-19 Have you ever felt totally inadequate for a task God was calling you to? In Luke 6:12-19, Jesus calls twelve of his disciples to be his apostles. These weren’t the most educated, sophisticated men, and yet God built his church initially through this group. This text encourages us to answer Jesus’ call to live as people sent on mission, depending at every moment on Christ’s great power.

Luke 6:12-19 Apart from His decision to go to the cross, Jesus’ choice of who would be His apostles is perhaps the most consequential decision of His earthly ministry. These twelve men would go on to establish the church as we know it and plant the seeds that would carry Jesus’ mission forward.