City Central Church Podcast

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Driven by Eternity series with a message from 1 Thessalonians 4. Because God has graciously saved and redeemed us through Jesus Christ, He calls us to live lives that please Him in holiness, love, and integrity. Paul reminds believers that pleasing God involves pursuing sexual purity, loving others more deeply, and faithfully fulfilling everyday responsibilities in a way that honors Christ. As we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and look forward to Christ's return, our lives should reflect God's purpose for us as His people, zealous for good works and devoted to His glory.

This week, Pastor Chris continued on our Driven by Eternity series with a message from 1 Thessalonians 3. In a world marked by hardship, temptation, and uncertainty, God calls His people to strengthen one another through encouragement. This message explores how believers can support the afflicted, help the tempted remain faithful, stand firm in the face of trials, and grow in Christlike love. As we journey together, encouragement becomes a vital source of courage, perseverance, and spiritual maturity until Christ returns.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our sermon series Driven by Eternity with a message on authentic faith. In a world filled with pressure, opposition, and imitation, God calls believers to live with authentic faith that is real, rooted, and enduring. Through Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians, this sermon reveals that authentic faith is grounded in God's Word, tested through hardship and persecution, and strengthened to overcome every spiritual obstacle through the power of Christ. When believers truly receive and live out God's truth, they are transformed from the inside out, becoming people of perseverance, joy, and lasting impact in a hostile world.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our sermon series with a message on how ministry that pleases God is not built on popularity or personal gain, but on lives surrendered to Christ with courage, purity, love, sacrifice, and a desire to see others grow spiritually. Drawing from Paul's example in 1 Thessalonians, this message reminds believers that true ministry requires bold faith, genuine integrity, compassionate care, and a willingness to pour ourselves out for the sake of the gospel. As God's chosen people and royal priesthood, we are called to faithfully serve Him in a way that reflects His character and leads others to walk worthy of His kingdom and glory.

This Mother's Day, we had the privilege of hearing from a dear friend of City Central, Shirlee Lamoureux. Through her powerful testimony, we see how there are moments in life when pain feels overwhelming. Some wounds are deep, formed in childhood, through abuse, rejection, abandonment, or loss. Yet even in those places, God sees, knows and heals. God is a Redeemer. He is the One who takes brokenness and brings healing, who takes sorrow and gives joy, who takes ashes and creates beauty.

This week, Jena Hippe brought an encouraging word as we celebrated the joy of giving our lives away in service to the church. Ephesians 2:10 to remind us that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ for a purposeful life of good works prepared in advance. It contrasts two paths: a "small heart" that seeks comfort, avoids hardship, and results in minimal spiritual impact, and a "ministering heart" that embraces others, walks with God through difficulty, and participates in His redemptive work. Ultimately, it calls believers to pursue a life of deep fellowship with Christ that produces lasting joy and meaningful impact in the world.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Driven by Eternity series with a message from 1 Thessalonians describing the marks of a healthy church, beginning with the foundational truth that we are chosen by God and empowered by the gospel through the Holy Spirit. Such a church reflects Christ by imitating His example, enduring hardship with joy, and demonstrating genuine transformation in both character and conduct. Ultimately, a healthy church lives under Christ's lordship and eagerly awaits His return, anchoring its hope in His saving work and promised future.

This week, Pastor Chris began our new sermon series, Driven by Eternity, with a message on how a healthy church is shaped by the certainty of Christ's return—living with watchful hope rather than speculation and ordering its life around obedience to Him. Marked by grace and peace, a healthy church becomes a praying and thankful community whose faith is active, whose love is visible, and whose hope endures even in a troubled world. Anchored in the promise that Jesus will come again, such a church pursues holiness, proclaims the gospel with urgency, and lives in joyful anticipation of redemption.

This week, City Central Elder Darrin Miller shared a powerful message on how Jesus reveals that God desires mercy over judgment—calling not those who think they are righteous, but sinners who recognize their need for Him. Through the story of Zacchaeus, we see that no one is too far gone—Jesus sees us, calls us by name, and invites us into repentance and restoration. This message challenges us to stop focusing on others' sin, recognize our own need for grace, and respond to Jesus with humility, surrender, and love.

It's Easter Sunday! Pastor Chris shared a powerful message about stepping out of the crowd to encounter Jesus personally. Life is often marked by pain, struggle, and seasons where nothing seems to get better, as seen in the woman who suffered for twelve years. But Easter reminds us that through Jesus' death and resurrection, sin is defeated, death is conquered, and even the hardest situations are not beyond His power—so one touch of faith can change everything. In that moment, she was not only healed but also seen, known, and loved, revealing the heart of the gospel: that Jesus meets us in our brokenness and brings restoration and new life.

This week, Pastor Chris highlights how God works "far more abundantly" than we can imagine, calling believers to surrender fully and draw strength from His Spirit within. Rooted and grounded in Christ's immeasurable love, we are invited to experience a relationship that transforms us and enables us to grasp the vastness of His grace. Ultimately, it points to a God who exceeds every expectation, working powerfully in us for His glory across all generations.

This week, Pastor Chris taught us that walking by faith is an intimate trust in a powerful yet deeply personal God who leads with love, even when the path ahead is unclear. Using the example of Abraham, this sermon highlights how faith strengthens believers to trust God fully, make sacrifices, choose eternal priorities, and remain patient, persistent, and joyful in the waiting. Ultimately, a life of faith produces lasting spiritual fruit, shaping us into generous, wise stewards who reflect God's glory and become a blessing to others.

This week, Pastor Chris challenged us to step out of comfort and live by faith, just as Abraham did when he followed God without knowing where the journey would lead. By trusting God's promises, Abraham crossed the lines of the unknown, the impossible, the future, and the pull of the world, demonstrating a life anchored in hope beyond present circumstances. His example calls us to fix our hearts on God's eternal promises, courageously pursuing a heavenly homeland rather than settling for the temporary security of this world.

This week, Pastor Chris taught from Nehemiah, encouraging us to see that God's work of rebuilding begins when a burden for brokenness moves His people to prayer and action. After hearing about the ruined condition of Jerusalem, Nehemiah carefully assessed the situation, received God's vision for restoration, and invited others to join the work. Together, ordinary people with different roles and gifts united to rebuild the wall, reminding us that God accomplishes great things when His people commit themselves to a shared mission.

This week, Pastor Chris continued our Greater Things series with a powerful teaching about generosity that leaves a legacy. Generational Generosity is the call to faithfully pass on a legacy of worship, obedience, and wholehearted giving from one generation to the next. Rooted in God's enduring goodness and modeled by leaders like David, it begins with God's vision, flows from willing hearts, and recognizes that everything we have ultimately belongs to Him. When leaders go first and God's people give joyfully and obediently, they leave behind not just resources, but a lasting, godly legacy for their children.

This week, City Central elder Eric Jones invited the church into "The Grace of Giving," showing that true generosity is not driven by wealth but by worship. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 8 and the example of the Macedonian church, he explains how God's grace (charis) transforms crushing pressure and deep poverty into joyful, willing generosity rooted in surrender to Christ. Ultimately, the Lord calls the church to see giving not as obligation but as a Spirit-empowered privilege—an overflow of the gospel that tangibly serves others and reflects the self-giving heart of Jesus.

This week, Pastor Chris taught us to pray by first approaching God as "Our Father," cultivating a deep, loving relationship with Him and reflecting that love toward others. We honor His holy name and seek His kingdom and will above our own, depending on Him daily for provision, strength, and spiritual victory. As recipients of His grace, we forgive from the heart and engage in spiritual warfare, living as faithful witnesses of His present and coming kingdom.

This Sunday, Pastor Chris delivered a powerful message reminding us that enduring prayer is a steadfast, watchful, and thankful pursuit that keeps God's people rooted in dependence on Him through every season of life. Scripture shows us that persistent prayer shapes our faith, resists discouragement, advances God's mission, and aligns our hearts with His will—even when answers are delayed. As we pray regularly, pray missionally, and live intentionally, enduring prayer becomes both our lifeline to God and our witness to the world.

Today was Life Group Sunday, and Casey Mock our Community Life Director taught us about moving from right belief to right practice—living out the truth that God is El Roi, the God who sees. Scripture shows us that God not only sees us personally, but places us intentionally in the Body of Christ, where every part matters and no one is meant to walk alone. Life Groups are how we live this out: a place to be seen, fully known, and truly loved as we follow Jesus together. 

This week, Pastor Chris continued teaching us about prayer with a message about prayer being the God-given means by which His limitless power strengthens our inner lives, drawing us into the fullness of Christ's love and presence. Rooted in Ephesians 3, this sermon calls us to a deeper prayer life—one that boldly calls on God, prays according to His will with confidence, and cultivates a faithful secret place with Him. As we do, the Spirit strengthens us from within, enlarges our understanding of Christ's love, and works far more abundantly than all we could ask or imagine.

This week, we had the privilege of hearing a powerful message from a dear friend of City Central, Pastor Charlie Sweet as he reminded us to never stand down when God leads us into wilderness seasons. Through Elijah and Hagar, we see that God may allow the brook to dry up or the desert to surround us, yet He is still present, sustaining, and shaping purpose in the silence. What feels like loss or delay is often God's way of awakening faith, revealing His care, and preparing us for greater glory.

This week, Pastor Chris taught on how prayer opens the door to spiritual abundance by connecting God's heavenly purposes with earthly realities. Drawing from Scripture, it shows that prayer is both an intimate act of trust and fellowship with God and a powerful partnership through which the Holy Spirit releases God's will, power, and blessing in our lives. Ultimately, we are called as believers to pursue a vibrant prayer life that invites heaven to intervene on earth, producing transformation, provision, and renewal.

This week, Pastor Chris launched the 2026 Greater Things Fast with a compelling teaching on the power of fasting. In John 14, Jesus promises that those who believe in Him will do greater works through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we explored fasting as one of the God-given ways we are invited into that deeper, Spirit-led life. Rooted in Scripture, fasting is presented as a grace-filled practice that humbles us, realigns our desires with God, and awakens our hunger for righteousness. As we fast and pray, we make space for God to speak, to break strongholds, and to empower us to walk more fully in His will and power.

This Sunday, we had our Legacy Youth Takeover service! Youth Pastor Stephanie Kram shared a wonderful and thought-provoking message about the blessings and call we have as Jesus followers to live faithfully in everything we do.

This week, Pastor Chris' message explored the wonder of Jesus' name, foretold in Scripture as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. The most powerful name of all reveals who Jesus is and what He brings to a restless world. From God's great love in sending His Son to the peace, strength, and hope found in Him, we discover that the name of Jesus is not just a title, but the promise of salvation and new life.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Christmas series celebrating the wonder of God's promise revealed through His faithfulness, His presence, and obedient faith. From the first promise in Genesis to its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus, God proves Himself faithful by sending a Savior who would defeat sin and dwell with His people as Immanuel. Through Joseph's obedience, we see that God's promises unfold through hearts willing to trust, listen, and act, even when the path is not fully understood.

This week, our Young Adult Pastor, Adina Olson, delivered a powerful message to launch our Christmas series, The Wonder of Christmas. She invited us to behold the wonder of the manger, where God's long-promised salvation arrived clothed in unexpected humility. In Jesus' birth, we see God's faithfulness, His willingness to take on human flesh, and His mission to bring peace and redemption to all. Through the quiet obedience of Mary and Joseph and the hidden glory of Christ's identity, we are reminded that the manger already pointed to the cross—and to the hope it would secure for us.

This week, Pastor Chris taught us that generosity is central to the Christian life because it reveals the true condition of our hearts and reflects the character God designed us to embody. It warns that hurry, worry, and a consuming mindset can choke out generosity, while trust in God frees us to give joyfully. Ultimately, believers are called to give willingly, proportionately, and sacrificially, not out of obligation but out of love and faith.

This week, Pastor Chris taught on biblical generosity reminding us that contagious generosity begins with recognizing that God is the first and ultimate giver, showering us with every good gift and even offering His own Son. When we allow this truth to move from our heads to our hearts and into our hands, it reshapes our mindset about money, purpose, and what truly matters. As we live open-handedly, Scripture promises that generosity not only blesses others but transforms and refreshes our own lives.

This week we celebrated Summit Sunday at City Central—a day to remember all God has accomplished over the past year and to look ahead with fresh vision for what's to come. This Summit was especially meaningful as we heard powerful testimonies of transformed lives and learned about an exciting new campaign to expand our reach in Tacoma and across the globe.

This week, we had the privilege of hearing from City Central's Youth Director, Elijah Hippe, as he shared about three key elements of evangelism. God invites us to partner with Him in reaching others through intercession, invitation, and initiation. As we pray for people, invite them to encounter Jesus, and step out in faith wherever we go, we become living witnesses of His love and power in the world.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Hebrews series with a message on loyalty to Jesus. True loyalty to the Lord is more than words—it is a steadfast devotion expressed through love, obedience, and faithfulness in every area of life. It calls us to love others selflessly, steward our resources wisely, honor the spiritual leaders God has placed over us, and continually offer our praise and good works to Him. In every action and attitude, loyalty to Jesus reflects a heart fully surrendered to His will and grounded in His unchanging love. 

This week, Pastor Chris continued our Victorious Jesus series with a powerful message on the stability of God's Kingdom. In a world that is constantly shifting and uncertain, God reminds us through His Word that there is a kingdom which cannot be shaken. The terrifying scene at Mount Sinai revealed the holiness of God and the instability of everything built on fear and law, but Mount Zion reveals the grace, peace, and permanence found in Jesus Christ. Because we belong to this unshakable kingdom, our response must be one of grateful and reverent worship to the God who is a consuming fire.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Hebrews series with a message about enduring in faith. The Christian life is like a race that requires endurance, focus, and faithfulness. God calls us to lay aside every weight that hinders us, fix our eyes on Jesus, and trust His loving discipline to shape us into His likeness. As we run, we are strengthened not only by His grace but also by the encouragement of others, enabling us to finish well and bring glory to Him.

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Victorious Jesus series with a message on biblical faith. Faith isn't proven in moments of strength, but in times of weakness, when all we can do is trust in the unseen hand of God. Hebrews reminds us that endurance and faith are necessary to receive what God has promised, even when fear or failure tempts us to give up. True biblical faith is not passive—it moves forward, obeys God, and clings to His promises, even when the outcome is uncertain.

This week, Pastor Chris continued our Victorious Jesus series with a message from Hebrews 11. Faith isn't just a feeling or blind optimism—it's trusting God fully, believing His promises, and obeying His Word even when the outcome is unclear. This sermon explored four expressions of biblical faith: future faith that looks ahead to God's eternal promises, tested faith that endures trials, generational faith that impacts others, and personal faith that chooses obedience over comfort. True faith sees beyond the present moment and lives with eternity in view.

This week, Pastor Chris unpacked the meaning of true biblical faith as confident trust in God's character, promises, and unseen purposes. Hebrews 11, highlights how faith pleases God and empowers believers to obey, wait, and endure even when the outcome is unclear. We are challenged as believers to live by faith—rooted in God's faithfulness and anchored in the hope we have in Christ.

This week, Pastor Chris about persevering in faith by continually drawing near to God with sincere hearts, holding fast to their hope, and encouraging one another in love and good works. Scripture warns of the danger of willfully rejecting the truth after receiving it, reminding us of the reality of God's judgment for those who turn away. Yet through trials and suffering, we are invited to trust in God's faithfulness, endure with confidence, and live by faith—knowing that His promises are sure and our reward is eternal.

This week, Pastor Chris taught on the depth of human sin, our inability to save ourselves, and the complete sufficiency of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. We walked through the origin, nature, and consequences of sin, showing how the old system of animal sacrifices could never truly remove guilt or restore us to God. Ultimately, Christ's once-for-all offering declares us forgiving and righteous, and empowers us to walk in new life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This week is Life Group Sunday at City Central! Community Life Director, Casey Mock, taught on Biblical community. Drawing from Acts 2, she highlighted how the early church modeled deep fellowship through shared meals, prayer, teaching, and real-life support—laying the foundation for the Life Groups at City Central. In a world where many feel isolated, discouraged, or overwhelmed, gospel-centered community offers strength, spiritual growth, and the encouragement needed to stay faithful and finish strong.

This week, Pastor Chris shared Jesus on the parable of the Great Banquet to illustrate the open and generous heart of God, who invites all—especially the humble and overlooked—to His eternal banquet. While many respond to this invitation with excuses rooted in worldly distractions, their rejection reveals misplaced priorities and hidden idols. Ultimately, the parable reminds us that God's kingdom is for those who respond in faith and humility, and it challenges us to extend that same invitation to others before it's too late.

This week, pastor Chris taught on forgiveness from the parable of the unforgiving servant. We were reminded of the profound truth that God's forgiveness toward us is both undeserved and immeasurable—and we are called to extend that same forgiveness to others. Though forgiveness can be difficult and costly, it is a freeing act of obedience that reflects the heart of God and protects us from the torment of bitterness.

This week, Pastor Chris taught on worship and the condition of our heart. In the parable of the sinful woman, Jesus reveals how extravagant grace produces extravagant worship. Those who recognize the depth of their forgiveness respond with deep love, heartfelt devotion, and joyful service. This sermon explores how God's grace—not human effort—brings forgiveness, restores relationship, and sets us free to love Him and others with overflowing gratitude.

This week was Youth Takeover Sunday! We heard several of our high school students share on Micah 6:8, and God's heart for us to "Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God." This verse isn't just a poetic statement—it's a call to action, a blueprint for how we're meant to live every single day. As followers of Christ, we're invited into a life that reflects God's heart: one that stands for justice, overflows with compassion, and walks in humility before Him.

This week, Pastor Larry Jones taught on the parable of the prodigal son highlighting the themes of mercy, restoration, humility, and the boundless love of the Father. He reminded us that while sin can lead us far from God, His grace makes a way for our return—and that return should be celebrated, not criticized. The parable also challenges us to examine our own hearts, whether we identify more with the rebellious younger son or the resentful elder brother. Above all, we see a picture of a Father who runs to meet us, covers our shame, and restores us with joy.

This week, City Central elder Darrin Miller taught on the parables of Jesus in Matthew 13. Jesus paints vivid pictures of what the Kingdom of Heaven is really like. Though small and hidden at first, the Kingdom grows, spreads, transforms, and proves to be of immeasurable worth. Whether you've walked with Jesus for decades or are still exploring who He is, these parables challenge us to reflect on what we value most—and to consider what it really means to surrender everything for the sake of something greater.

This week, we had the privilege of hearing from Elder Eric Jones, who shared a compelling message titled "The Weight of Grace: Stewarding What God Has Entrusted to Us." Teaching from the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, Eric reminded us that God has graciously entrusted each of us with something of eternal value: our time, gifts, resources, and influence, not to bury, but to steward faithfully in preparation for the return of the King. This parable calls us to reject fear-based living, confront faulty views of God, and step into a life of faithful, fruit-bearing work that honors the Master.

This week, City Central had the privilege to hear from our dear friend and founder of the Racial Reconciliation Cohort, Pastor Lonnie Arnold. He shared a powerful message on the parable of the Good Samaritan, shifting the focus from defining a "neighbor" to becoming one. Through this parable, Jesus exposes the limits we often place on love and reveals that true neighborly compassion crosses boundaries and takes sacrificial action. Ultimately, the story points to the Gospel truth that we are the wounded ones in need of rescue, and Jesus, the Greater Samaritan, is the one who shows us mercy so that we, in turn, may go and do likewise.

This Sunday, Pastor Chris kicked off our summer series "The Parables of Jesus" with a message titled "The Prepared Heart." Parables are not just clever stories, they are ingeniously simple word pictures that illuminate profound spiritual truths. Jesus used them to teach moral lessons, challenge assumptions, invite reflection, and ultimately reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those who were humble and hungry (Matt. 13:10–12). At the same time, these stories concealed truth from those whose hearts had grown dull or resistant (Matt. 13:13–15), fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah and demonstrating God's gracious will to reveal truth to the childlike and dependent (Matt. 11:25–26).

This week, Pastor Chris shared a message on generosity and joyful giving. True joy in life is not found in accumulating wealth, but in releasing it for eternal purposes. This message explores the biblical foundation for generous, cheerful giving as a reflection of God's ownership, our stewardship, and the reality that heavenly treasures last forever. By embracing a life of joyful generosity, we break free from materialism, align our hearts with God's kingdom, and invest in what will truly endure.