Church at the Center

The Sequel - 1 Acts 1:1-11 There are three kinds of sequel, and we're living in the best--but maybe also hardest--kind.   ---------------- Scripture Reading: Ron Chernisky Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Elijah and Elisha - 4 2 Kings 2:1-22 Why are even good good-byes hard?   ---------------- Scripture Reading: Kathleen Youngs Children's Message: Ron Chernisky Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Elijah and Elisha - 3 1 Kings 19 Sometimes feeling unique is great. Other times it's scary. Elijah has a crisis of purpose after his big win. Also, Pastor Jenn makes an announcement. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Ron Chernisky Children's Message: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Elijah and Elisha - 2 1 Kings 18:1, 17-46 God is going to put an end to the drought. Elijah makes sure everyone knows it's on God's terms, not Baal's. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Children's Message: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Elijah and Elisha - 1 Scripture: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24 We're going to study Acts in a few weeks, but in order to get those sermons to sync up with Pentecost, let's talk about some Old Testament prophets for a month. Introducing Ahab (not a prophet) and his nemesis, Elijah. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Kathleen Youngs Children's Message: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

The Comfortable Yoke - 7 Scripture: Matthew 28:1-8 God wants to celebrate us and us to celebrate Him! Today we celebrate the lost sheep found, and the Shepherd who went to every length to find us. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Ron Chernisky Baptisms: Dominic Schnare, Nour Hashem, Brian Lavoie Children's Message: Ron Chernisky Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

The Comfortable Yoke - 6 Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-26 What if worship is God allowing us to give Him permission to be Himself? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

The Comfortable Yoke - 5 Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9 What is the point of all the previous spiritual disciplines if they're not helping us to love one another? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

The Comfortable Yoke - 4 Scripture: Matthew 6:5-14 What is prayer? What is prayer to you? What is prayer to Jesus? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Kathleen Youngs Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

The Comfortable Yoke - 3 Scripture: John 10:1-5; 2 Timothy 2:14-21 What is the Bible? What isn't it? and how important is it for us to read it, really? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

The Comfortable Yoke - 2 Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; 1 Timothy 5:17-21 Are Christians supposed to tithe? And if we do, is anything really supposed to happen besides that we have less money to work with? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Rev Barbara Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

The Comfortable Yoke - 1 Scripture: Joel 2:13-17; Matthew 6:16-18 There's actually a way to intentionally "yoke" ourselves to Jesus, like He talks about in Matthew 11: spiritual disciplines. Let's talk about fasting--what it is and what it isn't. *Apologies for the sound quality. We know. It's terrible. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Promises, Promises - 6 Scripture: Hebrews 10:10-25 Let's talk about how we be part of God's covenant people when we don't have to offer sacrifices anymore... ___________________ Scripture: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A. G. Layte

Promises, Promises - 5 Scripture: Romans 12 Central Baptist has a "Church Covenant" which we recite together after communion once a month. What are the principles underlying it? ___________________ This is also our second in-person service cancellation in a row due to weather, so Pastor Jenn recorded all of this from home.

Promises, Promises - 4 Scripture: Mark 14:12-25 "Groundhog Day the Covenant." What does God do when humans keep breaking the covenant over and over again? He is faithful, because that is who He is. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Promises, Promises - 3 Scripture: Exodus 20:1-24 God frees the people from slavery and essentially has to set them apart all over again. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Lilly Dolan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Promises, Promises 2 Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9; 12:1-3 God takes a do-over again, but this time it's choosing a family, not sending a flood. God chooses, and we also choose. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Promises, Promises Scripture: Genesis 1:24-31; Genesis 9:1-17 There are all kinds of analogies for how we can relate to God, but what does the idea of covenant tell us? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Draw Near - Christmas Sunday Scripture: John 17:20-26 Ever notice how the three prayers of Jesus that we know the content of, rarely get answered "yes"? Maybe prayer is something different than we thought...and is what keeps Jesus in the neighborhood. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Lilly Dolan Message in a Basket: Paul Layte Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Draw Near - Advent Week 4: Love Advent Reading: Hebrews 10:5-7, 10 Scripture: 1 John 4:1-12 How do you know if someone loves you? How do you know if someone loves God? ---------------- Advent Reading: John Petrelli and Kayla O'Brien Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Draw Near - Advent Week 3: Joy Advent Reading: Isaiah 12:2-6 Scripture: Zephaniah 3:11-20 Y ou've heard of the Prodigal Son, but what about the Prodigal Daughter? Also, God's joy is greater than His grief or His wrath. ---------------- Advent Reading: Nour Hashem Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Draw Near - Advent Week 2: Peace Advent Reading: Isaiah 26:1-4 Scripture: Isaiah 57:14-19 God may be everywhere, but where does He live? ---------------- Advent Reading: Kristal Bonelli Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Draw Near - Advent Week 1: Hope Advent Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Scripture: James 4:1-10 This passage from James isn't an Advent passage, surely? Isn't it a little grim? True, but sometimes we need to acknowledge the grim to know we need hope--and to know where to place it. ---------------- Advent Reading: Emily Powers Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 19 Scripture: Mark 11:27-33 The chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders make a power play, but Jesus doesn't let them. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 18 Scripture: Mark 11:12-25 Jesus curses a fig tree and flips out in the Temple, and then He talks about chucking "this mountain" into the sea. Is He just "hangry," or is something else going on? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Lilly Dolan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 17 Scripture: Mark 10:46-52 If you were in this story, who would you be? What do you want Jesus to do for you? Are you willing to get loud and/or messy to ask Him for it? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 16 Scripture: Mark 10:16-45 It just might be possible for our righteousness to be more of an obstacle between us and Jesus than our sin is. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Held on 10/27/24. Announcement regarding search for part-time associate pastor, and discussion.

Marching Orders - Week 15 Scripture: Mark 10:1-16 Talking about divorce is hard...but Jesus did it. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 14 Scripture: Mark 9:38-50 How can we tell if someone claiming Jesus' name is one of us? Please note with our apologies that unbeknownst to anyone at the time, this recording got truncated after the Message in the Basket. The audio for the main message was a voice-memo recording of our Facebook livestream after the fact. You may prefer to listen here: https://fb.watch/vW0KNlMMW-/   ---------------- Scripture Reading: Lilly Dolan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 13 Scripture: Mark 9:30-37 Jesus' people--like most people--have always wanted to be great. But in the Kingdom of God, greatness is not always as it seems. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 12 Scripture: Mark 9:1-29 Can people change? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 11 Scripture: Mark 8:1-21 The disciples still don't understand bread. And maybe we don't either. Additional note for this sermon in particular: Context in reading Scripture is important. When teaching, it's vital to remind the hearers that these words weren't written ABOUT them or TO them, but can still be FOR them. BUT...the context of the hearers also matters and legitimately interacts with Scripture in such a way that sometimes there is a message for a particular community out of a particular passage that may in certain ways be specific to them. Or even to an individual. Discerning this message takes real attention to the Holy Spirit and cooperation with the Spirit's transforming of mind-being-behavior. But it's important to allow for the possibility that God can speak to a person or a people specifically through something that was originally written to someone else. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Bernice Rivera [strangely, did not get recorded for this version--apologies] Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

*Note--this sermon/service is not about "Evangelical Purity Culture" as currently commonly conceived. Marching Orders - Week 10 Scripture: Mark 7:1-23 What's the point of rules? They might have one, but when the point of rules is rules, everything falls apart. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Kathleen Youngs Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 9 Scripture: Mark 6:30-56 Two familiar stories: the Feeding of More than 5000, and Jesus Walking on the Water. What is Mark talking about when he describes the disciples being amazed by the second miracle because they didn't understand the first one? "51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 8 Scripture: Mark 6:1-13 It seems like amazing Jesus by a lack of faith should be really hard to do. All He asks for is a mustard seed's worth, and He spent all His time around people He kept nudging for having "little faith." It's not like small faith "amounts" were a news flash to Him. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Rev Barbara Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte) - remotely, due to covid

Marching Orders - Week 7 Scripture: Mark 5:21-43 Hear Jesus' call. Remember He wants us. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Kathleen Youngs Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Foster Mann

Marching Orders - Week 6 Scripture: Mark 4:35-5:20 What's the most challenging place to do ministry? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Kathleen Youngs Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Elizabeth Cernoia

Marching Orders - Week 5 Scripture: Mark 4:1-34 Jesus tells some stories to help us understand the truth. ---------------- S cripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Paul Layte  Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 4 Scripture: Mark 3 Imagine being in that house when Jesus asked who His mother and brothers were...? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 3 Scripture: Mark 2 "It's not a religion, it's a relationship." What does that mean, and is that really what we're trying to do here? Also, what Jesus does to our religious hangups. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Mark Bertrand Message in a Basket: Bernice Rivera Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 2 Scripture: Mark 1:16-45 Timing is everything, right? When Jesus shows up, it's Time to follow Him Time to be freed Time to be healed Time to spend time with God Time to...well, at this point, it's probably also time to tell others about Him. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Kathleen Youngs Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

Marching Orders - Week 1 Scripture: Mark 1:1-15 John the Baptizer sets Jesus up for success...or something like that. In which we examine a biblical pattern ---------------- Scripture Reading: Lilly Dolan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte

1 Corinthians 12:15-26; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, 13 Alas, the only part of this service that got recorded was the sermon...but that is about what the Apostle Paul calls "the most excellent way." -------------- Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

1 Corinthians 12:1-14, 27-31  What are spiritual gifts? What are they for? What are they at Central Baptist in particular? -------------- Scripture: Mark Bertrand Moment for Missions: Bernice Rivera Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

King of Kings - Week 12 Scripture: Daniel 11-12 How long? What will be the outcome? Are you ready? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Lilly Dolan Message in a Basket: Ron Chernisky Main Message: Rev Barbara Jernigan

King of Kings - Week 11 Scripture: Daniel 10; Revelation 22:12-17 Answers to prayer: Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. Sometimes I-was-on-my-way-but-I-got-held-up-by-the-Prince-of-Persia. And there's a Man standing by us to strengthen us, no matter what. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Kathleen Youngs [Apologies that the Scripture reading was omitted from this recording.] Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

King of Kings - Week 10 Scripture: Daniel 9; Joel 1:13-15 Bypassing blame doesn't really get us off the hook. But what if we take responsibility for wrongdoing that we didn't even commit? Should we do this? And if we did, what might it look like? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

King of Kings - Week 9 Scripture: Daniel 8; Psalm 22:11-19 Why do the wicked prosper? And how should God's people be in the world when they do? ---------------- Scripture Reading: Tom Jernigan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

King of Kings - Week 8 Scripture: Daniel 7; Revelation 22:1-5 When we read apocalyptic writing in the Bible, we need some tools. Like...the definition of the word apocalypse ("unveiling"), and the historical context of the person receiving the vision. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Lilly Dolan Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)

King of Kings - Week 7 (Pentecost Sunday) Scripture: Daniel 5; 1 Peter 5:5-11 When you take over an empire, you have to pay attention. Extra attention. ---------------- Scripture Reading: Paul Layte Message in a Basket: Rev Barbara Jernigan Main Message: Pastor Jenn (Rev Jennifer A G Layte)