2009 Sermons

2009 SERMONS

This Sunday at Central: View this week's sermon at Current Sermon Series

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What Keeps You Up At Night?

Anxiety is as common as breathing for every human being. God knows how prone we are to fears of not being able to cope with the pressures of living and the depth of our vulnerability. There are so many do not be afraid verses in the Bible for this very reason. This series will attempt to encourage a calm trust in God no matter what we are facing in life so that we will be able to sleep well.

11/1/09 The Anxiety of Loss Rev. Laura Crihfield Read transcript Play MP3 file
10/25/09 Anxiety Over Money Rev. John Schmidt Read transcript Play MP3 file
10/18/09 Anxiety of Choosing Rev. George Antonakos Read transcript Play MP3 file
10/11/09 Anxiety of Failure Rev. George Antonakos Read transcript Play MP3 file

Reframing Our Perspective on Jesus

We are kicking off this series with Kick Off Sunday, a special Sunday designed with our friends in mind. There will be special considerations in our worship that day, as well as with the hospitality in the concourse.

This series is intended to give seekers some information on Jesus that will help them “move toward Christ.”

10/4/09 Windows of Opportunity Rev. George Antonakos Read Transcript Play MP3 file
9/27/09 Broken Windows Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
9/20/09 Outside Looking In Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
9/13/09 Stained Glass Jesus Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file

Strangers Welcome Here

This series focuses on three aspects of being a welcoming community: serving the body here so we can welcome and serve others, moving past our fears to invest in people's lives and invite others to encounter Jesus, and being a community that helps others grow in Christ in relationship with other people.

9/6/09 Growing Together Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
8/30/09 Crossing the Fear Barrier Rev. George Antonakos   Play MP3 file
8/23/09 You Do It Rev. John Schmidt Read Transcript Play MP3 file

Stone Tablets in a Wireless World

We live in a society that is moving away from God, which brings with it the seeds of its own judgment and dissolution. People are already being deeply wounded in life because they (and others) don’t live by the basic rules that God wrote into the fabric of life. Although Christians know they are accepted by God apart from any obedience to the Law, at the same time we have always recognized the fact that the 10 Commandments describe the kind of moral life God’s Spirit calls us to. Love fulfills these kinds of demands. However much we seek the motive and power for a holy life from God, through the Spirit, in love, it will always look something like what these commands present to us, both in what they avoid, and what they aspire to.

 

So this summer we will look at this guide to avoiding the things that tear life apart, and that show us how to live life as it was created to be lived.

8/16/09 Some More Stuff About Stuff Janice McWilliams Read Transcript Play MP3 file
8/9/09 Stop Snitchin' Rev. Laura Crihfield Read Transcript Play MP3 file
8/2/09 Some Stuff About Stuff Charles Bailey Read Transcript Play MP3 file
7/26/09 Til Death Rev. John Schmidt Read Transcript Play MP3 file
7/19/09 The Power of Love Rev. John Schmidt Read Transcript Play MP3 file
7/12/09 Baltimore Homicide Andy Gathman Read Transcript Play MP3 file
7/5/09 An Honorable Weight Ken Zeigler Read Transcript Play MP3 file
6/28/09 Freedom of the Day Bart Houseman Read Transcript Play MP3 file
6/21/09 What's in a Name Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
6/14/09 American Idols Rev. George Antonakos Read Transcript Play MP3 file
6/7/2009 In Gods We Trust Rev. George Antonakos Read Transcript Play MP3 file
5/31/09 People of the Spirit Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file

Authentic People

People expect Christianity to be pretty meaningless in day-to-day life. Many Christians seem to be living a mundane version of Christianity that doesn't seem up to facing the biggest issues in life. It just doesn't seem that our lives are that different. The early church didn't suffer from any lack of relevance or authenticity. The believers in Thessalonica experienced a deep life change that was evident even to people in other countries. The old life was transformed, and they enthusiastically pursued their new life as they awaited the full expression of God's kingdom. We can learn from these authentic people as we study the book of 1 Thessalonians.

5/24/09 Authentic Community Rev. John Schmidt Read Transcript Play MP3 file
5/17/09 Authentic Hope Rev. Laura Crihfield Read Transcript Play MP3 file
5/10/09 Authentic Lives Rev. George Antonakos Read Transcript Play MP3 file
5/3/09 Authentic Love Rev. George Antonakos Read Transcript Play MP3 file
4/26/09 Authentic Evangelism Rev. Laura Crihfield Read Transcript Play MP3 file
4/19/09 Authentic Faith Rev. John Schmidt Read Transcript Play MP3 file

The Way of the Cross

We struggle with suffering. We can accept that the world is full of dangers. What is harder to accept is that our belief in God and prayer do not totally protect us from those dangers—and from the suffering they bring! “Perfect religion should protect us perfectly!” In Mark we see that life is not as simple as that. Suffering comes. Not only does our faith not protect us, sometimes God works in the suffering.

4/12/09 Resurrection Matters Now Rev. John Schmidt Read Transcript Play MP3 file
4/5/09 This is For You Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
3/29/09 Too Much Rev. George Antonakos   Play MP3 file
3/22/09 Pain in the Offering Rev. George Antonakos   Play MP3 file
3/15/09 Security Blankets Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
3/8/09 Down from the Mountaintop Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
3/1/09 Who is Your Jesus? Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file

Relational Theology

Everyone is enamored with “originals”, whether it happens to be an original autograph, painting or automobile. We value being original when we pour ourselves into our work or hobbies. And in a similar manner we like to be thought of personally as original or unique, one of a kind.In a world where we can easily be reduced to a function – consumer, voter, client, resource, etc. we need to be reminded of God’s original intention for us especially in terms of how we relate to God, ourselves, and others.

2/22/09 Pure Sex Rev. George Antonakos   Play MP3 file
2/15/09 I'm a Soul Man Rev. George Antonakos   Play MP3 file
2/8/09 Before the Beginning Rev. George Antonakos   Play MP3 file

Set Your Watch

Baltimore is a broken place. "Deserted by God" or "Desolate" seem better suited for the city than "Delighted in her". We Christians are part of the problem: our church falls short of what it could be, and we each have wounded and broken lives that fall short of God's best intention for us. Are God's intentions for us powerful enough for us to rely on them as a real plan for our future-as individuals, a church, and even a city? We need to have a vision rooted in scripture with a clear sense of what our priorities must be.

2/1/09 Build Up The Highway! Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
1/25/09 Do Not Let Him Rest Rev. John Schmidt   Play MP3 file
1/18/09 The Two Jesus' of Scripture Paul Borden Read Transcript Play MP3 file
1/11/09 God Will Not Be Silent Rev. John Schmidt Read Transcript Play MP3 file
1/4/09 New Year's Resoluteness Rev. George Antonakos Read Transcript Play MP3 file