

Jesus is a curious character. His life, his works, and his words stand out and pique interest. Sometimes for the most unsuspecting person, in the most unsuspecting circumstances, curiosity is a catalyst for an encounter with Jesus. And sometimes, in our curious seeking, it turns out Jesus has also been seeking us. Watch this sermon as we consider the patient pursuit of a seeking savior.
August 11, 2024 | Watch
Suffering often feels senseless, but Paul reminds us that God is using even our pain to prepare us for something far greater: an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison. Though our outer selves waste away, our inner selves are being renewed day by day as we fix our eyes on unseen realities. The trials we face are not meaningless; they are the very means by which God shapes us for his eternal purposes. Watch this sermon as Rev. Dr. Jay Harvey shows how our suffering becomes the doorway through which God prepares us for glory.
October 12, 2025 | Watch
Purpose To discover and experience Jesus Christ in our midst To cultivate mutually encouraging relationships To participate in God’s mission to the world Opening Prayer Responsive Prayer — Psalm 16 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; In the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; My flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, Or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Summary We are continuing our fall sermon series, Power in Weakness, during which we’re looking at Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians, appropriately considered Paul’s most painful, personal, and passionate letter. In this week’s section of the letter, Paul returns to the theme that has run throughout chapters 3 and 4: the nature of Christian ministry under the new covenant. Because Christ has secured eternal glory for his people, believers can persevere through present suffering with confidence and hope. “So we do not lose heart,” Paul writes (2 Cor. 4:16), even as the outer self “wastes away.” The “outer self” and “inner self” are not two separate entities in a Platonic sense, but rather two perspectives on human existence. One is characterized by mortality and decay, the other by the transforming work of new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; Romans 8:11; Westminster Shorter Catechism [WSC] 35). The contrast between “momentary light affliction” and an “eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17) shows that present suffering, though real, is temporary and for the purpose of preparing believers for something far more substantial. This echoes Romans 8:18, where Paul writes, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” The believer’s endurance flows not from stoic denial of all passions but from faith in the unseen, eternal realities of God’s promises (2 Cor. 4:18; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 3:1–2; Hebrews 11:1). In 2 Corinthians 5:1–5, Paul deepens the metaphor by describing earthly life as dwelling in a “tent” — a temporary shelter that will one day give way to a “building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” This image recalls Israel’s tabernacle in the wilderness, a temporary structure pointing to the long-lasting nature of God’s earthly temple in Zion (Exodus 25–27; 1 Kings 8:27–30) and anticipates the final permanent “dwelling place of God” with his people in the new creation (Revelation 21:3). Our groaning in this present tent reflects a longing for the resurrection body, when what is mortal will be “swallowed up by life” (2 Cor. 5:4). The Spirit, given as a guarantee (2 Cor. 5:5; cf. 1:22; Ephesians 1:13–14), assures believers that this hope is certain. As the Westminster Confession of Faith 32.2 teaches, on the last day “all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.” Thus, the believer’s present groaning is not despair but homesickness for the eternal dwelling secured by Christ. Finally, in verses 6–10, Paul draws out the ethical implications of this hope. Because we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), believers can live in confident obedience, whether “at home or away,” aiming to please the Lord (2 Cor. 5:9; Philippians 1:21). Our longing for the eternal does not lead to disengagement from the present but rather fuels faithful service in it. Knowing that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10), we live with reverent accountability to the one who has redeemed us. The hope of future glory empowers steadfastness in present weakness, reminding believers that every act of faithfulness, every moment of endurance, witness, and love, has eternal significance. As the WSC 1 reminds us, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” Because Christ has secured our glory, we persevere through our pain with confidence, looking not to what is seen and temporary but to what is unseen and eternal, for the glory of God and for our enjoyment of him. Discussion Questions 1. Looking at the Bible From the passage, share with the group some key phrases or ideas that stood out to you. 2. Looking at Jesus At Central we believe that all of Scripture points to Jesus. In other words, Jesus is the theological center of the Bible. Every passage not only points to Jesus, but the grand narrative of the Bible also finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The Gospel writers go out of their way to emphasize Jesus’ bodily resurrection when he appears to his disciples (Luke 24:36-49, John 20:19-29). How does Jesus’ bodily resurrection serve as the foundation for the hope that Paul is writing about? 3. Looking at Our Hearts Paul’s primary encouragement is that believers are called “not to lose heart” (4:16) and to “always be of good courage” (5:6). Share some situations (and the accompanying fears or emotions) when you feel tempted to lose heart. How might this passage challenge or encourage us in those situations? 4. Looking at Our World A theme of this passage is our groaning and eager expectation of the “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (4:17). Does our city long for “unseen” things or do they seem content with the “seen” things (4:18)? Why or why not? How might we share our eternal hope with those closest to us? Prayer Pray for each other: Share any prayer requests you have. Pray for people at Central and in our communities that are struggling through… Relational changes, such as new marriages/children, losses of loved ones, loneliness, etc.; Physical challenges, such as chronic illnesses, financial insecurities, injuries, etc.; and Spiritual difficulties, such as debilitating doubt, anxiety, church hurt, etc. Pray that God would help us to groan in longing, revealing the insufficiencies of our individual and collective longings. Pray that God would remind us of the eternal glory he has promised, and that we would share this good news with those in our lives whose deepest longings have not been met.
October 12, 2025 | Read
Our culture may be obsessed with power, but Paul reminds us that God’s power works in a completely different way — through weakness, humility, and grace. We are merely jars of clay: fragile and ordinary, yet entrusted with the priceless treasure of the gospel. God’s strength shines most brightly when our own efforts fail, revealing that the power to change lives belongs to him alone. Watch this sermon as Jason Harris shows how God’s power in weakness transforms our frailty into a vessel for his glory.
October 5, 2025 | Watch
Purpose To discover and experience Jesus Christ in our midst To cultivate mutually encouraging relationships To participate in God’s mission to the world Opening Prayer Responsive Prayer — Psalm 116 For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord In the land of the living. I believed, and so I spoke, “I am greatly troubled.” What shall I repay to the Lord For all His benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord; May it be in the presence of all His people! Summary We are continuing our fall sermon series, Power in Weakness, during which we’re looking at the book of 2 Corinthians — appropriately considered Paul’s most painful, personal, and passionate letter. Numerous commentators say this week’s passage from chapter 4 is Paul at his most passionate and revealing. Dane Ortlund, the author of “Gentle and Lowly,” calls 2 Corinthians 4 “one of the richest and most precious chapters in the Bible.” Paul continues the defense of his ministry and reiterates his philosophy of ministry from the previous chapters. The overall theme of this chapter is “not losing heart” (as seen in verse 1, and repeated in verse 16), and Paul gives several explanations of how he doesn’t become discouraged in his work while also emphasizing the authenticity of his ministry. This week, we will narrow his reasons to three key principles. Principle #1: Ministry by God’s mercy. Paul begins by saying that he has this ministry (see also 3:6) by the mercy of God. The Apostle is referring to his personal conversion experience: how he was blinded by seeing the light of the gospel (verse 4) but how God has shone in his heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God (verse 6). Paul gives thanks to God for being merciful and appointing him to this ministry (1 Timothy 1:12-13). Paul’s understanding that this ministry belongs to God and that he has been made a steward by God’s mercy is what keeps Paul from compromising the message or mishandling finances, as he was accused in verse 2. Principle #2: Power in Weakness. In verse 7, Paul explains that this gospel message is in “jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” This is one of the central themes of the epistle of 2 Corinthians, which is also evident by the title of our sermon series: Power in Weakness. The Apostle responds to various criticisms — many of them false — but ultimately he won’t boast in anything but his weaknesses, for God’s power is made perfect in weakness (12:5-10). Principle #3: “Soli Deo Gloria.” This leads to the third and main principle of Paul’s philosophy of ministry: It’s not about him, but all about Christ. The Reformer John Calvin wrote in his commentary, The man who wishes to preach only Christ must forget himself…Here all pastors of the church are reminded of their rank and condition, for whatever title of honour they may have to distinguish them, they are nothing more than the servants of believers, for the only way to serve Christ is by serving his church as well. Paul’s ultimate defense of his ministry is that the gospel message isn’t about proclaiming himself (either in eloquent rhetoric or charisma) but rather proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord (verse 5). In all things, Paul is acting out of obedience and faith — similar to all other believers — for the sole purpose of glorifying God, not himself (verse 15). Glory to God alone — or in Latin, “Soli Deo Gloria.” Discussion Questions 1. Looking at the Bible From the passage, share with the group some key phrases or ideas that stood out to you. 2. Looking at Jesus At Central we believe that all of Scripture points to Jesus. In other words, Jesus is the theological center of the Bible. Every passage not only points to Jesus, but the grand narrative of the Bible also finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The biblical scholar C. K. Barrett said on verse 5, “It would be hard to describe the Christian ministry more comprehensively in so few words.” How does this verse change/affect your understanding of the gospel and ministry? (Compare with Romans 10:9.) 3. Looking at Our Hearts What personal event is Paul referring to in verse 6? (See Acts 9.) Salvation is not a one-time event but a process. How does God continue to shine his light in our hearts today (1 John 1:5-9)? 4. Looking at Our World Look at verses 7-9. How does the “power belonging to God and not to us” enable the descriptors assigned to us in verses 8-9? How is this different from the world’s understanding of power? Prayer Pray for each other: Share any prayer requests you have. Pray for Central’s leaders and officers (elders and deacons). Pray that they would faithfully handle the ministry of preaching the gospel, not proclaiming any other name but Jesus (verse 5). Pray that they would not lose heart (verse 1) and would continue to show that the surpassing power belongs to God (verse 7).
October 5, 2025 | Read
Christianity somewhat conveniently offers an unbelievable narrative that, if true, literally changes everything. Which raises the question: Is it possible that Christianity is simply wishful thinking — a framework generated by humans who were (and still are) looking to place their hope in a future that’s better than their reality?
April 18, 2025 | More...
Throughout human history, both the religious and non-religious have exhibited the capacity for doing good works. But when we turn to the question of universal moral obligations of goodness, does atheism hold up? Without a belief in God, there is a ceiling to how far goodness can reach.
September 30, 2024 | More...
For many of us, the thing that we fear the most is being insignificant. This is why we are so driven and ambitious—we think that we have to do everything we can to prove that we are significant and that our life counts for something. We scramble to find whatever meaning, value, and purpose this world alone can offer. Although it is true that there is no good or fulfilling life without significance, through Jesus we are offered not only significance but grace. While we may be tempted to try and prove our worth to God or others, God relates to us not on the basis of merit, but on the basis of grace. Our life is simply a response to his love. Accepted First God showers his love upon us simply because he loves us—not because of what we have done, will do, or what potential he may or may not see within us. This is what gives us absolute and utter security. If we do not do anything to win God's love, there is nothing that we could ever do to lose it either. Furthermore, grace means there is nothing we could ever do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we could ever do to make God love us less. His love for us is immovable. This is the difference between Christianity and every other religion. Religion requires you to obey before you are accepted. But the message of Christianity is that you are accepted in and through Jesus Christ first, despite all your faults and failures, and therefore, you obey—not in order to try to win God's love or out of obligation, but out of gratitude for the love you have first been shown. Consider the Exodus story. God could have given his people the Ten Commandments while they were living in bondage in Egypt and required them to follow the law before he rescued them. But instead, he rescues his people first. It is only after he delivers them from their bondage that he then gives them the law in order to show them how to live their lives in response to his love. It is not law, then grace. It is grace, then gratitude. Contra-Conditional Love Grace is the most powerful force in the world. And yet, at the very same time, it is the most difficult thing for us to accept because it is an affront to our pride and self-sufficiency. When we accept God’s grace, we acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves. Years ago I had a conversation with a college student who told me, “I hate the very concept of grace because I want God to love me for me. I want God to love me for the things I do for him because then I know what I'm worth. Then I know that I'm valuable.” I tried to help her see that grace is far better. Consider the words of Victor Hugo who said, “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved—loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” God's love is not conditional or even unconditional. His love is contra-conditional. In Jesus Christ, he does not merely love us as we are. He loves us despite who we are and despite what we have done. That is why Pastor Jack Miller used to say, “Cheer up! You're worse than you think! But in Jesus Christ, you are more loved than you could ever imagine.” The House of David In 2 Samuel 7 we read that several decades after God raised David up to be the prince over Israel, David decides to build a house for the Lord. David is living in a luxurious house with paneled walls made out of fine cedar, and he realizes that by contrast, the Ark of the Covenant—the place where God said that he would dwell in the midst of his people—is being kept in a tent. It suddenly dawns on him that his housing is better than God’s! David, understandably, wants to do something for God by building him a permanent house. But rather than allowing David to follow through with his plans, God responds by saying God is going to make a house for David, and David's son, in gratitude, will be the one who builds a house for the Lord. In 2 Samuel 7:16 God says, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” God makes this unconditional promise to David—not because of any merit on David's part but out of sheer grace. This is how God works with all of us. Like David, we might want to go out there and do something great for God as a way to prove our worth or win other’s respect and admiration. But God’s grace always precedes our work. He makes the first move and takes the initiative. His grace comes first. If you continue reading through the Bible, you discover the house of David eventually comes crashing down. The kingdom is plagued by civil war, and eventually, the Babylonians conquer David's kingdom, setting fire to the temple that Solomon builds and carrying away the last kings in the line of David into exile. And yet centuries before, the prophet Isaiah promises that one day a child will be born who will establish and uphold the throne of David with justice and righteousness forever. The promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7 points us forward to Christ, the true son of God, who knows God as Father. That is why Jesus is repeatedly referred to as the Son of David. When Jesus begins his public ministry, he proclaims: “the kingdom of God is at hand.” And when Jesus establishes the kingdom of God, he says that he will build a house for the Lord in the midst of his people, not in a temple made out of human hands. This means that the moment we put our faith in Jesus, we become a temple of the Holy Spirit. Building for the Kingdom After becoming a Christian, we might start talking about bringing the kingdom, building the kingdom, advancing the kingdom, expanding the kingdom. But “bringing the kingdom” is precisely the one thing that we cannot do. Only Jesus can do that. Matthew 6:33 tells us we are called to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” We are called to proclaim the good news of the kingdom, to testify to the kingdom, to inherit the kingdom. The kingdom is not something that we achieve through our own effort but rather something we receive as a gift of grace. But that does not mean that we are supposed to sit back and passively await the coming of the kingdom in its fullness. We may not be able to build the kingdom of God, but we can and must build for the kingdom of God. New Testament scholar N.T. Wright writes, “The final coming together of heaven and earth is, of course, God’s supreme act of new creation, for which the only real prototype—other than the first creation itself—was the resurrection of Jesus. God alone will sum up all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth. He alone will make the ‘new heavens and new earth.’ It would be the height of folly to think that we could assist in that great work. But what we can and must do in the present, if we are obedient to the gospel, if we are following Jesus, and if we are indwelt, energized, and directed by the Spirit, is to build for the kingdom…You are—strange though it may seem, almost as hard to believe as the resurrection itself—accomplishing something that will become in due course part of God’s new world. Every act of love, gratitude, and kindness; every work of art or music inspired by the love of God and delight in the beauty of his creation; every minute spent teaching a severely handicapped child to read or to walk; every act of care and nurture, of comfort and support, for one’s fellow human beings and for that matter one’s fellow nonhuman creatures; and of course every prayer, all Spirit-led teaching, every deed that spreads the gospel, builds up the church, embraces and embodies holiness rather than corruption, and makes the name of Jesus honored in the world—all of this will find its way, through the resurrecting power of God, into the new creation that God will one day make. That is the logic of the mission of God.” The kingdom of God is a present reality because the kingdom is present in Jesus. It is a kingdom of grace, which means that it can only be received. That is why Jesus said in Luke 12:32, “‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’” He went on to say that only those who receive the kingdom like a child will ever enter it. How does a child receive the kingdom? With empty hands. Our faith does not add or contribute anything to our rescue. Faith is simply empty hands which receive what Jesus gives. And what Jesus gives us is himself. Wherever Jesus is, there is the kingdom. There is grace. ___ Adapted from David and The Good Life: Grace, a sermon delivered by Jason Harris on October 23, 2022. Listen to the sermon or read the full transcript. Christ and Contemporary Culture is a journal written by Jason Harris which reflects on the intersection between Jesus Christ and our contemporary culture. If you are skeptical or resistant to Christianity, the hope is that you might pause to reflect on your pre-existing ideas about the way things are and perhaps think again. For those who have embraced Christianity, these posts will serve to encourage you in your ability to communicate the gospel in a way that takes our current cultural context seriously. Produced by Mary-Catherine McKee
August 9, 2023 | Read
When most of us think of the “good life,” we are not merely imagining an ethical or moral life but a life that is truly worth living, even in the face of the existential problems with which we must contend. Luc Ferry, a French philosopher and self-proclaimed atheist, offers this interesting thought experiment: Imagine we could wave a magic wand and cause everyone living today to begin treating one another perfectly, with equal dignity and respect. There would be no more war, genocide, racism, or xenophobia. There would be no need for a police force or a standing army. Our judicial system and prisons would eventually disappear. And yet, Ferry suggests that even if we were to wave that magic wand, the most profound existential challenges we face would still not be resolved. This is how he puts it, “Still—and here I have to weigh each one of my words—none (I really mean none) of our most profound existential problems would be resolved if this came to pass. Nothing, even in a perfect realization of the most sublime morality, would prevent us from aging; from witnessing, powerless, the appearance of wrinkles and white hair; from falling sick, dying, and seeing our loved ones die; from worrying about the outcome of our children’s education or from struggling to achieve what we want for them. Even if we were saints, nothing would guarantee us a fulfilled emotional life.” The point is that morality is indispensable to human life. And yet, it is not enough. We read in the story of David in 1 and 2 Samuel about the importance of living a life of worship before God. David is far from perfect, but that is not what matters. What matters is that whether winning a great victory or committing an egregious sin, David lives a life of repentance and faith. Whether in triumph or defeat, hope or despair, David does not run away from God. He runs towards God. And that is what fills his life with enduring meaning, value, and purpose. What Is Worship? The problem with religion is that it leads us to think of God like a genie in a bottle—rub the lamp and out will pop God to grant you your wishes. Religious people tend to think God is there to serve us, to fulfill all our dreams, and to make us feel good about ourselves. We assume that if we are good enough, pious enough, zealous enough, devout enough, if we say all the right prayers, observe all the right rituals, and keep all of the right rules, then God is obligated to bless us and to make our life go well. We are not really interested in God for who he is—we are merely using God to get whatever we want. And if God does not deliver, then we become angry, bitter, and resentful because he did not fulfill our expectations. It is critical to realize that the real God will challenge our dreams, not merely fulfill them. The poet W.H. Auden once wrote that a Christian is someone who says, “I believe because He fulfills none of my dreams, because He is in every respect the opposite of what He would be if I could have made Him in my own image.” God is not here to serve us. We are here to serve him. In fact, in Hebrew the word “worship” and “serve” are the very same word. God is not here to worship us. We are here to worship him. God is not supposed to follow us according to our terms. Rather we are supposed to follow God on his terms. And if we do, then he promises that he will bless us—not out of necessity, but as a pure gift. Christianity offers this unique view of salvation: God relates to us on the basis of sheer grace, which means that a relationship with God is not something that we achieve through our own efforts, but something we can only receive with empty hands. Religion leads us to say, “I obey, and therefore, God accepts me.” But the gospel tells us, “God accepts me, despite my sin, through the substitutionary sacrifice of another, and therefore I obey.” We strive to love, serve, and honor God, not motivated by mere duty or obligation, but motivated by gratitude and joy for what he has first done for us—not as a way to try to win God's love, but in order to demonstrate that we already have it. If we know that God has done absolutely everything that is necessary in order to cover our sin and put us in right relationship with himself, then that will infuse our life with insuppressible joy, regardless of our life circumstances or personal challenges. There is, of course, a rightful place for lament as we mourn those aspects of our lives or within the wider world that are not yet in line with his purposes. Nevertheless, the foundation of a Christian’s’ life must be one of joy. The English author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial. Melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul.” Why Worship Matters When Isaiah has a vision of the Lord seated enthroned above the ark of the cherubim in Isaiah 6:5, he immediately says, “‘Woe is me! For I am lost!’” Isaiah acknowledges that he is a sinner and “a man of unclean lips.” But despite Isaiah’s sin, God does not strike him down. Instead, one of the seraphim flies to the altar, the place of the sacrifice, and removes one of the burning coals and places it on the lips of Isaiah saying: “‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” God has now made Isaiah clean. This, of course, was just a vision. We get something far better. There are only two places in the New Testament where the Greek word for “mercy seat” or “place of atonement” is used—once in Romans 3 and once in Hebrews 9. In both cases, “mercy seat” or “place of atonement” is used not to describe a place but a person. Hebrews 10 tells us that the blood of bulls and goats could never do anything to actually take away people's sin. This is just a symbol meant to prepare us for the ultimate high priest who does not enter the most holy place within a humanly constructed temple, but rather he enters into the presence of the divine being himself. And there he offers not the sacrifice of an animal, but rather the sacrifice of his very own self. He gives himself for us so that our sin might be covered by his blood, and so that God in his mercy might forgive us and cleanse us so that we can enter into his holy presence and live. Jesus is the mercy seat and the place of atonement. He is the true prince of peace and the one who makes it possible for us to approach the throne of grace and live. And the mercy seat is open, still. The gospel tells us that God is so holy and you and I really are so flawed that Jesus had to die. There was no other way for us to be able to enter into God's holy presence and live. And yet, at the same time, God is so loving and you and I are so valuable, that Jesus was willing to die for us. When you take these two truths deep into your heart and into your life, then that is what unlocks the joy. Morality and ethics are essential and important, but they are not sufficient to actually live the “good life.” The Westminster Shorter Catechism, a historic document of faith from the 1600s, begins with this question: What is the chief end of man? In other words, what is the meaning of life? The answer is short: To glorify God and to enjoy him forever. As C.S. Lewis astutely observed, those two commands are actually one and the same. In commanding us to worship him, God is inviting us to enjoy him. The only way in which we truly learn to live the “good life” is through worship, by living our lives before the God of grace. And when we do, it will fill our lives with insuppressible joy. ___ Adapted from David and The Good Life: Worship, a sermon delivered by Jason Harris on October 16, 2022. Listen to the sermon or read the full transcript. "Christ and Contemporary Culture" is a journal written by Jason Harris which reflects on the intersection between Jesus Christ and our contemporary culture. If you are skeptical or resistant to Christianity, the hope is that you might pause to reflect on your pre-existing ideas about the way things are and perhaps think again. For those who have embraced Christianity, these posts will serve to encourage you in your ability to communicate the gospel in a way that takes our current cultural context seriously. Produced by Mary-Catherine McKee
May 18, 2023 | Read