Central Heights Sunday Messages
In our text Acts 2:1-13 were going to see 4 things unfold: The promise fulfilled, the power released, the church awakened, the message declared.
How do you meet with God? This isn't just a theoretical question for theologians; this is the concern of our day. We live in a cultural moment thirsting for transcendence. Our musicians sing about it. Our artists paint about it. Our marketplaces sell such things as gems and tarot cards. Our world practices exercises like "manifesting," looking to tap into the divine. We want to know how to meet with God. Scripture has an answer: It's possible, it's necessary, and it comes through the New Temple.
From Eden to Exodus, God seeks to restore what was lost in the garden through rescue and relationship. Why? Because God wants to be with his people. More than a great truth about the God we worship, its an invitation for the church to prepare a place for him to come and be with us.
From the very beginning, the Holy Spirit hovered over the chaotic waters, breathing life and order into creation. Today, His role remains unchanged: He enters into our personal chaos, bringing renewal and life as we turn our gaze upon the glory of Jesus.
For many, the reality of God as Father, Son, and Spirit is either massively confusing and better left to theologians or a doctrine to believe with no implications for everyday life. Yet, the testimony of the Bible paints a much different picture of the Triune God; a being so beautiful and full of love that it overflows into creation, redemption, and the renewal of all things.
The church was never meant to be passive organization but a Spirit filled people, burning with a holy purpose to bring hope, healing, and freedom into the world. In Isaiah 61 we receive a vision of a people filled for this holy purpose, and the God who gives us the power to live it out.
One of the most basic experiences of life is dissatisfaction. As humans, we're perpetually disappointed, frustrated, and even disillusioned with the state of affairs. The answer to these struggles may be found in the often-neglected reality of Jesus' ascension.
In a world marked by darkness, pain, questions, and division, we need some good news; the kind of news that can break through the noise and shake the world with hope. the empty tomb stands and speaks good news in a world filled with bad news: Jesus is alive and death does not have the final word, Gods love and hope does.
Mere hours before dying on a cross, Jesus eats a meal with his closest friends. This became the most famous meal in human history. Why the significance? And why does this moment set the stage for Jesus' betrayal?
As he begins the final march to the Cross, Jesus is the recipient of a misunderstood gift. In the conversation that follows, we discover how God sees beauty in what others see as wasteful.
Even if you haven't grown up in church, you've heard something like the "golden rule": love your neighbour as yourself. Loving God and loving others comprise the greatest commandment. We know this. So why do we struggle so much to live as if it's true?
God has a vision for his house and he is zealous to see it lived out. So what happens when Gods people stray from that vision? God comes and he flips tables.
The Kingdom that Jesus established was and is his central work. It's a key reason why the Gospel authors could not write of Jesus without including the Triumphal Entry. So does this story get such little airtime today?
What is God up to when he takes a hike and spends some time at the top of a mountain with three of his followers? To give his followers and experience untold glory on the other side of suffering and death.
How do you move beyond familiarity and being lukewarm to the things of God? The answer Jesus gives may surprise you.
During the Missions Sunday service, we gathered to celebrate and support missionaries serving around the world through a special panel discussion, and prayer. The service included inspiring testimonies, worship, and a renewed call for involvement in spreading the gospel globally.
1 Samuel 17:1-52 Sometimes Bible stories become too familiar. It is easy to approach them like an old married couple, finishing each other's sentences because they have heard it all before. David and Goliath is that kind of story. Perhaps it's time to approach this classic story with fresh eyes, asking the Lord, "Is there anything I have missed?"
It seems everywhere we look, theres a reason for despair: War. Brokenfamilies. Misuse of power. Painful or difficult circumstances. How can weexist within this and still be a people of grace, glory, and thankfulness? Withhis last to the church in Philippi, Paul teaches us how.
In a culture of frustration and disillusionment, people capable of standing firm are compelling. We are drawn to those marked by peace and contentment rather than anxiety and unrest. Paul invites the church to experience the peace of God in ways that are both miraculous and practiced.
War-torn countries. Refugee crises. Family dysfunction. The weight of responsibility. When we're bombarded by pain, frustration, and a sense of inadequacy, indifference is often our coping mechanism. The same is true spiritually. How can we step beyond indifference and pursue a life of greater fullness than what we currently experience?
The worth and weight of Jesus far surpasses anything we cling to and hope to achieve in life.
When the church lives out of its identity and pursues its purpose, it becomes a people of light in in a world full of darkness.
As Christians it is easy for us to head one of two ways in our walk with Jesus. We either push ourselves to do good things in an attempt to earn God's love and our salvation, or we sit and do nothing with the gift of grace that God has given us. God actually calls us to work out our salvation, a continual journey of peaks and pits with the goal of reflecting the life that Jesus lived and calls us to live, for the glory of God.
We're going to take a deep dive into the revelation that John experienced when approaching the throne of God. This will broaden our understanding of Heaven, God, and the plan that God has to make everything new.
Does Christmas bring you celebration or pain? Today, we often first assume the holidays bring joy and later remember those who experience grief. All this was reversed at the first Christmas. Jesus was born to a people experiencing barrenness, not peace. Zechariah's song is a message for those facing hopelessness.
When God arrived on earth in Jesus of Nazareth, songs burst forth. People and angels sang because theGod of eternity had come near in an unexpected yet powerful way. Marys song invites us to experiencethe wonder of this once again and be led to worship this advent.
Rags to riches. Driven, gifted individuals who rise above their circumstances. These are the stories told in our day. God's story is the opposite. It's not rags to riches -- it's riches to rags. Something about this story is key to understanding how God designed us and the world.
The way of Jesus invites us to walk a different path in a highly individualistic and hyper ambitious culture. Surprisingly, it doesnt ask us to abandon ambition but to have our ambitions redirected toward the things of God.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." That...is a huge ask! What does that mean? How is this possible? If I want my life to reflect this statement, how do I start down the path?
Our age is increasingly marked by cynicism, despair, and indifference. To a world in desperate need of hope, Paul offers a different picture of what life may look like.
This is the land of the True North strong and free. What more could we learn about freedom? According to Paul: a lot. While he experiences freedom even while in prison, he knows there are far more serious chains that currently trap the people of God.
In a divisive culture experiencing increasing unrest, the community of Jesus called the church has a chance to stand out and show the world something different: a joyful way of life that transcends the circumstances we face, yet doesn't diminish their difficulty. Through the pen of Paul, an early follower of Jesus who was no stranger to suffering and difficulty, the letter to the Philippians invites us to see, and live, differently as the people of God living in the world, especially when it comes to hardship and being the church.
As a church we believe our part to play in Gods mission to make all things new is defined and given focus by Isaiah 61: we are here to display the splendor and glory of God in the power of the Spirit to a lost and hurting world. As we wrap up our vision series, we ask the question: Gods given us a vision, now what?
Our world thirsts for purpose, meaning, and a sense of calling in the world. Theoretically, we are thus positioned to be the most missional generation in history. So why do we find it so difficult? How can we live into the grand calling that God has given us?
The people of God are a people with a grand purpose. This purpose is born in the heart of God, spans the ages, encompasses the entire cosmos, is fueled by the power of God, and involves the transformation of all things. Incredibly, God wants to partner with us to see this happen. But what does that look like? How can we play our part as individuals and as the community of Jesus called Central Heights to see this come to life in our day? For us, it begins with delighting in Jesus.
The people of God are a people with a grand purpose. This purpose is born in the heart of God, spans the ages, encompasses the entire cosmos, is fueled by the power of God, and involves the transformation of all things. Incredibly, God wants to partner with us to see this happen. But what does that look like? How can we play our part as individuals and as the community of Jesus called Central Heights to see this come to life in our day? As we return to Isaiah 61, we findout it looks like the people of God living for the display of Gods splendor.
The people of God are a people with a grand purpose. This purpose is born in the heart of God, spans the ages, encompasses the entire cosmos, and involves the transformation of all things. This Fall, we are going to immerse ourselves in God's vision for the world and unpack the part we believe he's inviting us to play as a church in seeing this vision come to life. Over the next 5 weeks, we will unveil our new vision and values by looking at what it means for Central Heights to live for the display of God's splendor in our city and the world.
Philip was intentional and walked closely with God, listening and responding to the call of the Holy Spirit on his life. He preached the word of God and scattered seeds of the gospel wherever he went. In Acts he is referred to as the evangelist.
Have you ever had a debt canceled? How did it affect you? How did you respond? But what if you didn't know you had a debt?
Anna is a little known person in the story of God, yet the impact and importance of her life extends far beyond the three verses dedicated to her in the Bible. Her story helps us answer the question: how do you wait on God when youre desperate for him to act and you live in a culture of immediacy?
The life of Simon Peter is a story of flaws, repentance and restoration. His life shows us that Jesus is a God who restores our deepest darkest nights so that his grace in our story can be a bright light to the world around us.
We live in a time and place focused on getting views and likes, focused on the external rather than the internal. So what can we learn from Mordecai, a man without immense fame or status? Mordecais compassion, humility, and faith transcend that, reminding us how to love God and others from behind-the-scenes no matter the cost.
Barnabas is known as the Son of Encouragement, but what did that mean, and what can we learn from him? Today were going to look at Barnabas life and what it truly means to encourage others.
In the Portraits sermon series, most of the messages will look at Scripture characters that resonate with the speaker. In this week's teaching, the guest preacher takes a slightly different approach by working through excerpts from 1 Kings 1-11 to explore the life of Solomon. This well-known King is the son of David, the project-manager for the construction of the Temple, and the prolific author of wisdom literature in the Old Testament... so what went wrong? Why is Solomon a warning story, and how does is story apply to Christians today?
Identity and happiness are two of our culture's greatest obsessions. 2,000 years ago, the same was true for the Apostle Paul. His insight reverberates across the centuries in ways that are astonishingly applicable today.
Life in exile can be incredibly difficult. It is costly and it can easily shake one's faith in God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were somehow able to hold firmly to their convictions and dedicate themselves to the "God who is Able", even in the face of almost certain death. How did they do it?
Following Jesus isnt always convenient and easy. More often than not, Jesus will invite you into inconvenient situations that stretch and challenge you. Yet, as we find out in this stand-alone message, on the other side of inconvenience is the life you are looking for.
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