2010 Sermons

2010 Sermons


Advent Unwrapped

Heaven is not a location we go to when we die. In biblical terms, heaven and earth are not two places but two realms or "dimensions" that exist side by side. Heaven is always present, though not always visible. Heaven is the dimension where the presence and will of God is fully expressed-expressed in ways that we never fully experience on earth. Like the curtain between the broader temple and the holiest place, something blocks our view. But occasionally the curtain between the two is blown back, and we see more clearly the heavenly reality. The incarnation through to the resurrection is the main moment of clarity in all of history.

This series, indebted to ideas from Rev. Clayton Libolt, is about contemplating what is beyond the curtain. Much of the frenzy of our lives is because we are seeking the answers to our "heavenly" need though earthly means. The incarnation makes the most sense to our lives as we gaze beyond the frantic activity of the world to the enduring realities that the incarnation promises to us.

12/26/10 A Rare Gift Andy Gathman Matthew 2:1-12 Read transcript Listen
12/24/10 9pm When Heaven Broke Through Rev. John Schmidt Luke 2:1-20 Read transcript Listen
12/24/10 7pm When Heaven Broke Through Rev. George Antonakos Luke 2:8-14 Read transcript Listen
12/19/10 When Heaven Comes to Stay Rev. John Schmidt Revelation 21:1-5 Read transcript Listen
12/12/10 When Heaven Came to Us Rev. John Schmidt Colossians 2:6-12; 3:1-4 Read transcript Listen
12/5/10 When Heaven Came Back Rev. Laura Crihfield Luke 1:26-55 Read transcript Listen
11/28/10 When We Walked With Heaven Rev. George Antonakos Genesis 3:1-9 Read transcript Listen

Joy in Action

We need to be reminded of the biblical foundations for stewardship. A major part of our Discipleship Path at Central is "Serving". This is the part of discipleship that expresses our desire to worship God by making our lives (time, talent, treasure) available to him. A key question we need to address though is motivation. Why do we serve?

11/21/10 Joy in Giving Rev. John Schmidt 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 Read transcript Listen
11/14/10 Joy in Serving Rev. George Antonakos John 13:31-35 Read transcript Listen

The Prodigal God

In this series we show how the grace of God can form us all at Central Presbyterian Church into a unique and distinctive community. In this parable we usually focus on the younger son. But Jesus told this parable to confront people who were much more like the older brother. We can all fall prey to the 'elder brother' syndrome (believing we earn God's favor in some way) even while we reach out to the 'younger brother' type of people. Most of all in this series we desire to learn about the prodigality of our great God in the display of his grace and love.

Some of our Grow Groups will be following along with this series, using the book The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith, by Timothy Keller, and an associated discussion guide. Prodigal God study materials and other resources are available at www.theprodigalgod.com.

11/7/10 The Feast of the Father Rev. John Schmidt Luke 15:11-32 Read transcript Listen
10/31/10 The True Elder Brother Rev. George Antonakos Luke 15:1-10,25-32 Read transcript Listen
10/24/10 The Prodigal Brother Rev. John Schmidt Luke 15:25-32 Read transcript Listen
10/17/10 He Came to Himself Rev. Laura Crihfield Luke 15:11-24 Read transcript Listen
10/10/10 I Wish You Were Dead Rev. George Antonakos Luke 15:11-32 Read transcript Listen
10/3/10 He Welcomes Sinners! Rev. John Schmidt Luke 15:1-10 Read transcript Listen
9/26/10 Dogs, Cats, or Sheep? Rev. George Antonakos Luke 15:1-10 Read transcript Listen

A Secret Kingdom

It's way too easy to view church as something you "go to" in order to improve the rest of life. That view of church gets boring fast, and if that is all we are, then people are right in putting it low on their priority list. But the church is so much more than that. It is God’s prime agent in bringing his kingdom into this world. We need to regularly remind ourselves on the nature of the church and of our calling as followers of Christ. We need help to move from a churchy, religious view of our faith, to a gritty, practical, day to day view of it.

9/19/10 Secret Agents Rev. Laura Crihfield 1 Peter 2:11-17 Read transcript Listen
9/12/10 Demonstrating the Message Rev. George Antonakos Mark 6:1-13 Read transcript Listen
9/5/10 Telling the Message Rev. John Schmidt Matt. 13:10-17,34-35 Read transcript Listen
8/29/10 World Rescue Mission Rev. John Schmidt 1 Peter 2:9-12 Read transcript Listen
8/22/10 The King is Here Rev. Eliot Winks Romans 10:8-17 Read transcript Listen

It's Never Too Late

Many people go about believing that God's grace is just too late to experience. They have made too big a mess for too long and that they are not candidates for mercy and grace. It's far too easy to feel like the thoughts and habits of a lifetime pretty much dictate who we will be forever. Christianity is more than forgiveness-it is a new life from the inside out. This series will explore the truth that with God's power, it's never too late to face the issues in our lives.

8/15/10 It's Never Too Late to Change Rev. John Schmidt John 1:35-42 Read transcript Listen
8/8/10 It's Never Too Late to Ask for Help Rev. Laura Crihfield Mark 5:12-88 Read transcript Listen
8/1/10 It's Never Too Late for a New Start Rev. George Antonakos 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Read transcript Listen
7/25/10 It's Never Too Late to Be Forgiven Rev. George Antonakos Luke 23:33-43 Read transcript Listen

Forgiveness: A Close Up

When this topic comes up it creates many questions in the minds of believers and non-believers alike. It is not an easy topic! Yet, giving and receiving forgiveness is a life skill that can make all the difference in our experience of God's wholeness in our lives. This series will attempt to address a number of our common questions but more importantly will emphasize the central nature of forgiveness to our spiritual, emotional and mental health. (Series Study Guide)

7/25/10 It's Never Too Late to be Forgiven Rev. John Schmidt Luke 23:33-43 Read transcript Listen
7/18/10 Joseph's God ~ Our God! (VBS) Rev. John Schmidt Genesis 50:15-21 Read transcript Listen
7/11/10 Forgiven Forever Rev. John Schmidt 1 John 5:11-13 Read transcript Listen
7/4/10 The Freedom of Forgiveness Rev. Ronald Johnson John 8:31-42 Read transcript Listen
6/27/10 Living Forgiven Rev. George Antonakos Psalm 32 Read transcript Listen
6/20/10 How Do I Forgive Others? Rev. George Antonakos Matthew 18:21-35 Read transcript Listen
6/13/10 How Can I Forgive Myself? Rev. John Schmidt Luke 22:54-62 Read transcript Listen
6/6/10 The Foundation of Forgiveness Rev. George Antonakos Ephesians 2:1-10 Read transcript Listen

The Holy Spirit

In the Holy Spirit we experience something that even the disciples never knew while Jesus was on earth. The most important features of our understanding is that the Holy Spirit is a person, not some shadowy figure that comes and goes. The Holy Spirit has a specific role in our lives and in our relationship with the Father. He is God present with us. On Pentecost we will begin a 2-week series on the Holy Spirit. The first week will focus on the idea that the Spirit is God's presence within us. The second week will follow with a more detailed look at Spirit's role.

5/30/10 God's Paraclete Andy Gathman John 14:15-27 Read transcript Listen
5/23/10 God's Presence Rev. Laura Crihfield John 14:15-27 Read transcript Listen

Jonah

Evangelicals are the least "city-loving" of all Christians. We assume far too often that moving from the city will protect us from problems. It's a false hope. Cities are the cultural shapers of our whole society: where the cities go we all ultimately go. Yet it's not easy to figure out what we need to do as faithful Christians when it comes to reaching out to the cities that surround us. As more and more people become city-dwellers it is imperative that the church understands how to reach out to the expanding cities of the 21st century. ("Driver's Manual" series study guide: booklet or ordered page layouts)

5/16/10 Joining God Rev. George Antonakos Jonah 4:1-11 Read transcript Listen
5/9/10 Sharing the Message Rev. John Schmidt Jonah 3:1-10 Read transcript Listen
5/2/10 Time to Yield Rev. John Schmidt Jonah 1:17-2:10 Read transcript Listen
4/25/10 Wrong Way, Jo Rev. Laura Crihfield Jonah 1:3-16 Read transcript Listen
4/18/10 Go to the Great City Rev. George Antonakos Jonah 1:1-2 Read transcript Listen
4/11/10 Jonah - Detour to Nineveh Rev. John Schmidt Jonah 1-4 Read transcript Listen
 
4/4/10 Dare I Believe
(Easter Sunday)		 Rev. John Schmidt Luke 24:1-12,36-49
Ephesians 1:15-23		 Read transcript Listen
3/28/10 Facing Our Darkest Hours
(Palm Sunday)		 Rev. George Antonakos Matthew 26:36-46
Isaiah 50:4-9		 Read transcript Listen

Soul Training

One of the facts of modern life is the danger of deep disorientation. We move quickly and are constantly busy-but why? And where are we heading? And while we're at it, who are we anyway? A life full of activity does not mean we have a life full of meaning. In order for our faith to have greater impact on harried lives like these, we will embark on a Lenten series that will focus on the spiritual disciplines (or soul training exercises) designed to help all of us draw closer to God and experience spiritual transformation as a result.

3/21/10 Simplicity and Margin Rev. John Schmidt Daniel 1:6:10 Read transcript Listen
3/14/10 Prayer and Fasting Rev. John Schmidt Nehemiah 1 Read transcript Listen
3/7/10 Counting Our Blessings - Gratitude Rev. George Antonakos Psalm 131 Read transcript Listen
2/28/10 Search Me - Self Examination Rev. George Antonakos Psalm 130 Read transcript Listen
2/21/10 Silence and Contemplation Rev. John Schmidt Psalm 8 Read transcript Listen
 
2/17/10 A Clean Heart (Ash Weds) Rev. George Antonakos Matthew 23:35-38 Read transcript Listen
2/14/10 Storms Rev. John Schmidt Mark 4:35-41 Read transcript Listen
2/7/10 Snow Cancellation

Being a Jesus Follower

It's the start of a New Year and we need to be refreshed in the basics of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. This is an opportunity to cover the basics of discipleship both for ourselves as individuals, as well as for our church as a whole community.

1/31/10 Sharing Christ with the World Rev. John Schmidt Matthew 28:18-20
1 Peter 2:9-12		 Read transcript Listen
1/24/10 Serving and Giving from the Heart Rev. George Antonakos Mark 12:38-44 Read transcript Listen
1/17/10 Growing in Faith Together Rev. George Antonakos Colossians 1:24-2:7 Read transcript Listen
1/10/10 Knowing God Rev. Laura Crihfield Psalm 100 Read transcript Listen
1/3/10 Make Disciples Rev. John Schmidt Matthew 28:16-20 Read transcript Listen