Central Community Church | Sermon Audio

Acts 2:42-47 From a young age, our culture tries to tell us that newer is better, and that we always need to have the next best thing. The bible teaches us that this is actually not the case. In our new sermon series titled “The Ordinary Path to Extraordinary Grace”, we will unpack the God-ordained means, being prayer, the Bible, church, and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, that God uses to strengthen, nourish, and bless His people. As we enter a new ministry year, this series will challenge us to rally around these same means of grace, confident that God can do extraordinary things through our ordinary faithfulness.

Acts 2:42-47 Practicing rudimentary skills can seem ordinary and boring, but in the long term such practice leads to excellence. In the Christian faith, God has provided for Christ followers a number of relatively ordinary “means of grace.” These means can seem dull and ordinary, but through devoted practice Christ followers are able to experience in growing fashion the extraordinary grace of God.

Acts 2:37-47 We have this amazing, reliable, extraordinary grace – salvation & freedom in Christ ... which we often want to experience & grow in via extraordinary means rather than the ordinary. Because ordinary is boring. But the ordinary ways are the primary ways that God has chosen for us to experience His grace, to deepen our spiritual understanding, and point others to Jesus. All the rest (the signs, the wonders, the miracles), while extremely important (and still exist!), are not the foundational aspects of our faith.

Acts 2:41-42 It seems that we are hard-wired to assume that newer is better and that the way to a flourishing life is kept secret. But God, in His kindness, makes His grace and spiritual growth accessible through God-ordained ways He has revealed to us, namely, through His Word, prayer, the Church, and the ordinances. This sermon gives an introductory overview to the ordinary means of grace.

Nehemiah 13 Why would anyone want to go back to their former life of sin, misery, loneliness, sadness and lack of meaning? It’s absurd! And yet it happens to us constantly. But today we’ll learn that even when it is very easy to go back to your old self, God has given us precious tools to persevere in His ways. We’ll explore our commitment, zeal, passion for the Lord and no turning back to the old ways.

In Nehemiah 13, we see God’s people drifting into compromise, forgetting His Word, and failing to remain faithful. Yet even in their failures, we’re reminded of our desperate need for a Saviour who can do what we cannot. That Saviour is Jesus Christ, who not only restores what is broken but also gives us lasting hope and victory through His death and resurrection.

Nehemiah 13 Sometimes the “path to renewal” is not as easy. We easily “get off track” and begin to wander. One of the keys to renewal ... revival ... is getting “back on track” and recommitting to follow the Lord once again.

1 John 4:19-21 Jesus commands that his people love one another as God has loved them. We follow the example of Jesus, showing self-sacrificial love to those around us in the church as a compelling, visible witness to the watching world of what God’s love is like.

Nehemiah 8 Revival is a work of God whereby many who are spiritually indifferent are awakened either to new life or to a fresh fervor and renewed commitment to their Saviour. The Spirit of God accomplishes this work of renewal when the people of God return to the Word of God giving the Scriptures their rightful place in the gathering and in their own lives. God blesses the church that honours his Word. We must learn the Scriptures, love the Scriptures, and live the Scriptures in order that revival might come to our church and city in these days.

Nehemiah 8 shows us how God’s people can be renewed through God’s Word.

Nehemiah 8 shows us how God’s people can be renewed through God’s Word.

1 Peter 5:1-4 God designed the church to function in a way that shows his glory. While we sometimes assume that means we should have less structure, God gives the church structure so that it can thrive and share the message of Jesus effectively. Every Christian has a part to play in how God designed the church to function for his glory.

Nehemiah 4 Opposition to the work of God’s Kingdom is nothing new. As we experience opposition, it is essential to know what to expect & how to handle it.

Nehemiah 4 The image of a sword and trowel are a helpful image for Christian ministry. With the trowel we build and with the sword we defend. Thankfully, we are not left on our own in this work; Jesus said He would build His church and has already secured the victory of sin, Satan, and death.

Nehemiah 2:1-20 We all want God to do something meaningful with our lives and the waiting is often the most difficult part. But what are you doing during the “in-between” time? Do you sit back after you pray for it once? Or do you constantly bring your requests before God trusting in faith that He will answer in His timing? Frequent prayer will prepare you for that moment when God answers because prayer doesn’t change God, it changes you.

Nehemiah 2 We all want God to do something meaningful with our lives and the waiting is often the most difficult part. But what are you doing during the “in-between” time? Do you sit back after you pray for it once? Or do you constantly bring your requests before God trusting in faith that He will answer in His timing? Frequent prayer will prepare you for that moment when God answers because prayer doesn’t change God, it changes you.

Nehemiah 2:1-20 Have you ever sensed God leading you to do something that terrified you because it was so much bigger than you? Nehemiah did, and his response is both inspiring and instructive. Fuelled by earnest prayer, Nehemiah stepped out in bold faith, followed God’s promptings and encountered great success because God’s hand was on him.

John 17:13-18 God both gathers and scatters his church. He sends his people out into the world to go with the joy of the gospel to all people. Living holy lives we are to sent to proclaim this good news in all the nations.

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Nehemiah 1 In Nehemiah 1 we see that renewal starts with a broken heart, prayer, and faithful obedience. As we walk through this story, we’re reminded that God is still in the business of rebuilding what’s broken, both in the world and in us.

Nehemiah 1 Nehemiah feels tremendous compassion to the difficult reality of the Israelites living in the undefended city of Jerusalem. His initial response is the foundation of his leadership skills; he responds in prayer that births a plan of action.

Nehemiah 1 The world is sick. We all experience it in different ways - broken families, life-threatening sicknesses, poverty and addiction. What is the good God of the Bible doing about all of this? In Nehemiah 1, we get the next scene in the Big Story of the Bible - a story which shows how God is slowly and lovingly healing the world through his chosen people. And because of what his son, Jesus, has done, you can also be healed, forgiven, and become part of this story.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 The church is many things...but one of the most important is that it is filled with the Holy Spirit enabling God's people to serve Him and bring the Gospel to the world!

Ezra 9 There is great power in repentance as we turn from our sin and turn to Christ. This text presents us with a beautiful demonstration of repentance from the priest Ezra, who repents not even for his own sin, but for the sin of the people! This text graciously communicates that real repentance can lead to revival only because of the steadfast love of God.

Ezra 9 Sin is the insidious enemy of the believer. It is readily embraced, and often subtly engaged. Too often believers treat sin as a mere inconvenience, or trivial matter. This passage challenges us to deal swiftly, and seriously with sin. The Godly Reaction to Sin is to Recognize it from Scripture, to mourn over it, and to confess it without excuse to the God of Mercy!

Ezra 9 We all love stories of integrity and courage—of men and women who stood for the truth and were willing to die rather than deny the Lord. Deep down, we wish we had that kind of faithfulness—the strength to remain true to the end.

Ezra 3 The nation of Israel has endured decades in exile but are now given the opportunity to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. God’s sovereign will sees this story from Ezra as another beautiful chapter in His story of redemption.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Ezra 3 Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Is this it?”—when the monotony of life, the busyness of work and family, or even the abundance of leisure leaves you feeling restless and empty? Is life really just about going through the motions? Some of you have walked with Christ for years, and you can't help but notice how much things have changed—and not for the better. Maybe you catch yourself reminiscing about the good old days when church felt more vibrant, more alive, and the world didn’t seem so upside down. But before this turns into a lament, I have good news: today we’re going to explore The Path to Renewal. We’ll see how God works even in seasons of despair, fatigue, monotony, and fear. And we’ll discover how He brings revival that rekindles our passion and restores our purpose.

Ephesians 6:10-24 As Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesian church, he calls them to do one final thing: stand firm. After showing the beauty of the gospel and how we are to apply it into our lives, Paul calls the church to withstand the spiritual warfare in the strength of God, praying at all times and encouraging one another.

Ephesians 6:10-24 In this closing passage of Ephesians, Paul uses the imagery of armour to describe how we as Christians are protected as we engage in spiritual warfare. In doing so, Paul calls us to stand firm in the strength of the Lord and encourage one another in the process.

Ephesians 6:10-20 We are all living in a war zone and the only way we can win this battle is with God's help. Prayer is a vital weapon in our Spiritual Battle and can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Ephesians 6:5-9 God created us to work and reflect his glory in how we do that. While sin gets in the way and we live in a fallen world, through Jesus we have the ability to reflect God’s glory in how we work. All our work should reflect the goodness of God’s grace in our lives.

Ephesians 6:5-9 While we may no longer live in a context where slavery exists like it did in the first century, Paul’s words to bondservants and masters have significant application for us today in the area of work and the value we attribute to others. Finally, this passage calls us to recognize that we are to be slaves of Christ. Such a designation is a joyous honour in light of the price he paid for us.

Ephesians 6:5-9

Ephesians 6:1-4 The relationship between parents and children is a reflection of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. How do we reflect that relationship in our families for God's glory and what do we do when we fail?

Ephesians 6:1-4 God’s desire for the family is to be a reflection of His love and a place for spiritual growth and joy. In this passage, the Apostle Paul outlines the responsibility of children to parents and parents to their children.

Ephesians 6:1-4 God’s desire for the family is to be a reflection of His love and a place for spiritual growth and joy. In this passage, the Apostle Paul outlines the responsibility of children to parents and parents to their children.

Ephesians 5:22-33 Marriage was created by God to show us a picture of the love of Jesus for the church. Husbands and wives are each called to put on display the relationship between Christ and the church and together they show the full picture of God’s glory.

Ephesians 5:22-33 Marriage is a gift designed by God given to husbands and wives to display the beautiful relationship between Christ and His bride, the church. Ephesians 5:22-33 is the Bible’s most classic marriage passage, but it is also an incredibly challenging one as it presents a high, countercultural calling for both husbands and wives as they seek to glorify God in their marriage.

Ephesians 5:22-33 What does worship look like in the context of marriage? God challenges both men and women to a higher standard; one that could impact the lives of more than just a husband and wife.

Ephesians 5:22-33 God made marriage and marriage isn’t easy. 1 sinner + 1 sinner in holy matrimony will always be fraught with challenges. But don’t get disillusioned! Marriage is one of the greatest means God uses to grow and change (sanctify) His people and is one of the most compelling pictures of the gospel for Christians to display to the world.

In Ephesians 5:15-21, we explore Paul’s call to live wisely in a world full of distractions and temptation. Being filled with the Spirit empowers us to worship God genuinely and to submit to one another in love. This gospel-centered life reflects the wisdom and grace of Christ at work in us.

Ephesians 5:15-21 Throughout the book of Ephesians Paul uses the language of “walk” eight times to describe how Christians ought to go about their daily life and faith. In Ephesians 5:15-21 Paul exhorts his readers for the eighth and final time to walk by the Spirit with Spirit filled lives.

Ephesians 5:15-21 What should we do with our time? No one can make more time or save it for later, and the Bible calls us to think carefully about how we use it. We are called to use our time wisely, being filled with the Spirit to worship God.