Completed Sermon Series for 2007

The Visions of Ezekiel

Ezekiel’s visions are widely known for their incredible imagery: heavenly thrones, messianic figures a blaze, fiery  wheels within wheels, creatures, angels,  bugs, and  dry bones. Yet in spite of the severity of the times he lived, and the hardships of his own life, Ezekiel’s peek behind the scenes of fallen humanity gives us hope.  The fog bank of  despair from a secular world and the problems of day to day existence are no match for the glory and wisdom of God.  Do you  find yourself in God’s imagination or under the imagination of evil?  Visions are given by God to Cut through despair and penetrate dissatisfied coping which has no end in site.  Enter the world of the 6th BC prophet, Ezekiel.  Sundays at 11:00 AM.

 Sermons of the Advent Season

December 9 - Title: "To Christmas Come"

Once Thanksgiving is past, the culture crashed toward the celebration of Christmas with breakneck speed. Along the way come windows for stepping back to savor, or at least long for, a moment of peace and sentimentality, whether in TV Christmas specials or special church activities. In worship, the Advent season challenges us to prepare spiritually to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. John the Baptizer calls for repentance and cries out “prepare the way of the Lord.” This Sunday’s Advent worship climaxes with the vision of the Kingdom of God celebrated at the Lord’s Table.

December 23 - Title: "Ready or Not, Time’s Up"

Down to just a couple of shopping days to Christmas. Whether or not everything on the shopping list has been purchased, whether or not all of the food is prepared, whether or not all of the decorating and cleaning are done, Christmas will arrive. Whether or not the people of Bethlehem, Jerusalem or Judea were ready, Jesus was born. Whether or not the people of First Century Palestine were ready, Jesus began his ministry. Whether or not we are ready, Jesus calls us from our hurried schedules to God’s relentless Kingdom timing.

Christmas Eve Service - Monday, December 24, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. - Title: "Tradition and Surprise"

The congregation of Central Christian Church along with neighbors, family and friends will gather on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. to welcome Jesus at the celebration of his birth. Christmas carols old and new, fresh dramatization of the ancient story, rocking chair reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. Here is a place for all to participate: young and old, singles and couples and families, church veterans and curious guests. Worship will close in candlelight sending all to an evening of anticipating the festival of Christmas morning.

We associate giving gifts with the celebration of Christmas. At this season, many are moved to give to the needy of their community and world as well as their own family, friends and neighbors. Giving a gift in the name of Jesus Christ in honor of his birth is a traditional feature of Central Christian Church’s Christmas Eve worship. This gift is always given to a cause, program or ministry that serves needy people in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. None of it is kept for Central Christian Church. This year it will go to Dallas Habitat for Humanity to help provide adequate housing for people in need of a home in the Dallas area.

"The Ten" – Neither an Irreverent Comic Movie nor a Stolid Courthouse Monument, but Contemporary Conversation with the Ten Commandments

The posting of the Ten Commandments in public places (schools, legislatures, courtrooms, parks) has been a volatile battleground in the “culture wars,” even though posting them has little effect on how people choose to live. The neglect if not aversion to the Ten Commandments by churches may be more telling and influential. Pastor Stolpe’s worship messages this fall reveal the Ten Commandments as instruments of liberation and humanization.

Some Anti-Truths of the Post Modern Age

There are timeless questions about the incongruities of life that haven’t gone away.   The ancient wisdom of the Psalms once again calls into question  thinking which might suspect that God has no justice and turns a blind eye. Associate Pastor Todd Boddy preaches.

Live Hope for Uncertain Times

In one of his National Public Radio commentaries Daniel Schorr spoke of the ”fade to black” that brought “The Sopranos” to an unsatisfying ending as a metaphor for common responses to many of today’s insolubles.  Pastor Stolpe’s summer worship messages explore a compelling vision of climactic hope powerful enough to break through this “fade to black.” This exploration comes in a dialogue with the Seven Churches of the Revelation and a montage of seven biblical images of the glorious culmination of human history.

Discovering God Along the Way to the Kingdom

Encounters with God are not of our choosing, but recognizing them is.    The people we randomly meet,  the odd routes we sometimes take, and  changing life events, may give us guideposts along the way to the kingdom.  These three messages show three distinct  and unsuspecting ways the Holy Spirit might be leading you. 

Son of Encouragement

Three message series based on the life of Barnabas whose behind the scenes ministry encouraged outsiders and failures to make major contributions to the early formation of the Church.

Big Little People

Three message series about four women who seemed insignificant but who made a big impact because of their relationship with Jesus: Mary the mother of Jesus, Martha and Mary the friends of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene who was first to meet Jesus after his resurrection.

Long before television, Jesus had his own version of the “lost” series to describe the value of every person.   Possibly discover yourself, in one of these time tested stories.     They will stretch your heart and remind you of why Jesus came to this earth.   From lost coins to lost adult children, Jesus makes us think about our real eternal home.

Messy Spirituality

Michael Yaconelli, author of the book Messy Spirituality says, “My life is a mess. After years of trying to follow Jesus, I keep losing him in the crowded busyness of my life. I wake up most days with the humiliating awareness that I have no clue where Jesus is.” Whether you want to find Jesus in your mess or help a neighbor struggling with a mess, these six messages by Norman Stolpe are for you and for your neighbor. The Gospel of Luke will guide our search for Jesus in life’s messy reality.

On Loan from God, Your Money and Soul

If our money and soul belong to God, then people are created in the image of God to be blessed and bring abundance to help others.  Unfortunately,  blessings and joy can be lost when greed replaces the Lord.  Is your money and soul on loan from God for a greater purpose?  Find out.