The Central Podcast

Maybe you’ve had some great days but now you’re in a season of holding or even hiding. Don’t give up, God is the comeback King and your greatest days may still be ahead! 

Today, Lead Pastor Jon Henninger kicked off a brand new series about Mountain Moments. Up first, Mt. Ararat. Mt. Ararat represents grace, faithfulness, and a fresh start. God is still guiding, protecting, and preparing a place of rest for us. The story of Mt. Ararat shows us the power of trusting God when we do not understand the process, serving while we wait, and worshiping both in the storm and after the breakthrough.

When was the last time you allowed your heart to break for what breaks God's heart?This Mother's Day, we wrapped up our series on uncomfortable prayers with one of the most transformative: "Break my heart for what breaks Yours." It's not about adding more to our plates, it's about alignment with the God's will. Like Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10, we're bringing heaven to earth.When we surrender our plans and take up our cross daily, Jesus carries the heaviest part. The question is: will you pray the uncomfortable prayer?

We’re in week 3 of our series, Stories of Uncomfortable Prayers, where we're learning to step out of the comfort zones of our prayer life to pray prayers that stretch us and challenge us to grow in our faith. These are the prayers that aren’t easy to say, but often lead to even greater trust in God.This week, we’ll hear about the challenging prayer of “Why God?” as we study the life of Job, a man who lost nearly everything he had. In the middle of his suffering, Job wrestled honestly with God, showing you and me that even our hardest questions can be a powerful part of our relationship with Him.

Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger is bringing us a powerful word about the uncomfortable prayer: “Send me,” a challenge to be taken into new spaces, places, and positions in order to share the Good News of Jesus.

Our comfort zones are a place where we feel safe, it’s familiar, it’s…comfortable. But our prayer life was never meant to stay in that safe zone, God wants us to pray prayers that stretch us and challenge us. Prayers that allow us to grow and experience even more of His power than ever before. And that’s what we’re diving into in this series. Throughout the next four weeks, we’re going to discover stories throughout scripture of those uncomfortable prayers that can change our life.In today’s message, we'll look the uncomfortable prayer of King David in Psalm 139. He says “search me,” and it’s an invitation for God to look inside our hearts and show us our sins, our weaknesses, and our faults.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just visit believers, He dwells IN believers. When we actively pursue Him, His power is stirred in us, transforming us from the inside out and producing a visible, life-changing impact on the world around us.

The same God who walked in the garden, appeared in the burning bush, and dwelled in sacred spaces now chooses to live WITH His people. Through the resurrection, His presence is alive, powerful, and available to YOU. Because Jesus is alive, real life and true freedom are possible. The tomb is empty, the veil is torn, and the Spirit of God is ready to dwell within you.

Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger is bringing us week 3 of our series, Sacred Spaces, where we're taking a look at special places throughout Scripture where God turned ordinary spaces into sacred spaces. Up next: The Temple! The Temple was ordered by God to be created as a space where He could be encountered. Having the temple assured the people that God was accessible and near, but also reminded them that they were still separated from Him. Until….Jesus, Who bridged that separation, making God’s presence directly available to ALL who believe!

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger is bringing us a powerful word from our Carbondale campus as we celebrate TWO WHOLE YEARS of this extension of the heart of Central in Carbondale, Illinois!  God has been so faithful since we launched this second campus! Today, we pause to celebrate and honor Him for His provision and remember what He’s done for us as we continue our series, Sacred Spaces, where we're taking a look at special places throughout Scripture where God turned ordinary spaces into sacred spaces. 

A sacred space isn’t about the place or the ritual, it’s about the relationship we develop with God in that space. God invites us not just to visit His presence occasionally, but to dwell with Him in an ongoing relationship. While we can’t physically stay in our prayer space all day, we can carry the mindset of that relationship with us wherever we go.

Have you ever felt worthless? Helpless? Hopeless? Those can be common feelings IN us but they are not God’s feelings TOWARD us. In this final six-seven lesson, we will look at what The Bible teaches about our value to God.

Community Outreach Pastor, Hayden Poninski is bringing us week 6 of our series, 67, where we're turning this meaningless trending phrase into a fun way to remember meaningful truths from God’s Word.There are always moments in life where you don’t know how to respond, challenges we will face that seem unbeatable, and questions we have that may never be answered on this side of Heaven, yet, we are called to follow Jesus no matter the circumstance and the disciples gave us a great example in the book of John chapter 6.

We’re in week 5 of our series, 67, where we're turning this meaningless trending phrase into a fun way to remember meaningful truths from God’s Word.So often we are guilty of giving God the convenient, the comfortable, the remnant, the leftover. Yet time and time again all throughout scripture we see that God gave His BEST for us, and wants the same FROM us. It may be more costly, but it is always worthwhile.

Worry controls our thoughts and steals our trust in God, but what if instead of living in constant fear we could train our minds toward faith by telling God what we need, thanking Him for what He’s already done, and trusting that He knows best. Over time, the worries that once overwhelmed us would become an invitation to deeper trust and greater freedom.

How to pray…Talk about something we overcomplicate. In our human effort we repeat words, use different tone, try and sound spiritually deep…but when Jesus was asked how we SHOULD pray, He gave some specific, and SIMPLE instruction. We find it in the Bible book of Matthew chapter 6, verses…you guessed it 6 and 7.

Today, Executive Pastor of Growth and Development, James McKinzie is bringing us a powerful word from the only chapter 67 found in the Bible - Psalm 67, where we’re called to meditate on the things God has given us and let that encourage us to being a blessing to others. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger, kicks off a brand new sermon series called.....67. Yes, we're turning this trending phrase into a fun way to remember God's truths from His Word.In this message, we'll look at Joshua chapter 6 where God's people are called to faithful obedience even when they don't see the results of what they're praying for, God asks them to keep moving forward. If you're in the waiting or find yourself in a season of delay, this word is for you. When the walls are still standing, God calls us to keep marching, keep trusting, keep moving forward, believing that He sees every step and will finish His work in His time.

Relationships Matter Most is more than a saying around here—it’s an intentional way of interacting with God, the Church, and the world. Today, we’ll explore what it means to build our relationship with the world. You were created for a purpose. Check it out!

Relationships Matter Most is more than a saying around here—it’s an intentional way of interacting with God, the Church, and the world. Today, we’ll explore what it means to build our relationship with the Church. You were made for more than solitude. You were made to be in the live-giving relationship with a circle of people who know you intimately and know God intimately! Check it out!

Relationships Matter Most is more than a saying around here—it’s an intentional way of interacting with God, the Church, and the world. Today, we’ll explore what it means to build our relationship with God. Too often, we chase success, comfort, or answers, hoping a deeper relationship with God will happen along the way, but Jesus calls us to seek Him FIRST in all things. Let's find out how uncommon seeking can lead to uncommon blessing as we pursue God together as a church in 2026!

We’re celebrating all God has done in 2025 and looking forward with anticipation for what He will do in the days ahead! But witnessing a miraculous move of God requires action on our part, we have to demonstrate faith in Jesus on a different level to see something extraordinary happen before our eyes.As we head into a new year full of new possibilities to see a real move of the Holy Spirit in our lives, Community Outreach Pastor, Hayden Poninski encourages us to trust Jesus enough to believe He can move in in powerful ways, even when it doesn’t make sense. We can’t will things to change, we have to trust God for more to see more in this year to come.

We're wrapping up our Christmas Sermon Series called “Good News, Great Joy, ALL People.” Just like He did on the night He was born, Jesus still offers true joy to people who don’t expect it, joy in the midst of interruption and inconvenience, and He even makes Joy available to those who never choose to accept it. Like the wisemen in the Bible, so many of us spend our lives searching. Searching for meaning, looking for truth, trying to find hope and real joy. Whether we know it or not, what our souls are actually searching for is Jesus…check out today’s message!

The birth of Jesus is more than a moment in history, it's the good news that brings great joy and changes everything for us. In Luke 2:10–11, the angel’s announcement to a group of overlooked shepherds becomes a powerful declaration of WHO Jesus is and WHO He came for.Today, we'll explore the good news of great joy of all people offered through the Messiah, Jesus.As recorded in Scripture, King Herod was famous for resisting the truth of Jesus. Yet even for those who oppose Him, Jesus still comes, offering hope to all. This message from Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger, reminds us that the joy of Christ is freely offered, whether we feel ready for it or not, and it has the power to fill our lives with a hope that changes us.

The birth of Jesus is more than a moment in history, it's the good news that brings great joy and changes everything for us. In Luke 2:10–11, the angel’s announcement to a group of overlooked shepherds becomes a powerful declaration of WHO Jesus is and WHO He came for.Today, we’ll hear about Mary and Joseph. What they were asked to carry wasn't easy, but their inconvenience became the doorway for unimaginable joy. In the same way, embracing inconvenience in our own lives can position us to experience God's surprising, transformative joy. Jesus came so that all people could know this joy.Join us as we explore how the good news of Jesus’ birth transforms our lives and reminds us that no matter what unexpected situation comes your way, God has great plans for His people.

The birth of Jesus is more than a moment in history, it's the good news that brings great joy and changes everything for us. In Luke 2:10–11, the angel’s announcement to a group of overlooked shepherds becomes a powerful declaration of WHO Jesus is and WHO He came for.Today, we’ll hear about the shepherds. If Jesus is announced first to lowly shepherds, people who society saw as outcasts, then Jesus must truly be for all people.Join us as we explore how the good news of Jesus’ birth brings great joy, transforms our lives, and reminds us that no matter who you are or where you find yourself, Jesus has come for you.

There are so many things in life we just don’t know. Questions about God and faith that we will never understand on this side of Heaven. But, there are other things that God’s Word IS very clear about and we CAN be sure of. In this series, According to God, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger is looking at a few of THOSE things. Concepts we can be confident in, not because we think them, but because God says them! Last week we found that according to God each one of us is fully known by Him. This week we’ll learn that according to God, He wants us to be grateful. Being grateful changes our perspective, protects our mind, and honors God. 

There are definitely things in life we just don’t know. Questions about God and faith that we will never understand on this side of Heaven. But, there are other things that God’s Word IS very clear about and we CAN be sure of. In this series, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger is looking at a few of THOSE things. Concepts we can be confident in, not because we think them, but because God says them! Last week we found that according to God we are better TOGETHER. This week we’ll learn that according to God, each one of us is fully KNOWN by Him.

According to God, we are better together. In a world that celebrates comfort, self-sufficiency, and isolation, God calls us to something deeper: togetherness. It’s His design. We are stronger, more effective, and more like Christ when we walk in unity.But togetherness doesn’t happen by accident, it takes work, forgiveness, and love. This powerful message invites us to find power in community, to forgive when it’s hard, to love when it’s inconvenient, and to remember that God shows up in a special way when His people come together.

Today, Executive Pastor of Growth and Development, James McKinzie, kicked off a brand-new two week sermon series all about baptism. Throughout Scripture, we learn that following Jesus often begins with faith. We rarely get to have everything figured out before we set out in our relationship with Him. Abraham's story reminds us that abundant life with God is often on the other side of trusting Him. So whatever brokenness, emptiness, outright darkness you might find yourself in, making our desperate declaration of our need for “The Lord” can impact us and influence others not just now, but for eternity.

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger, continued our two-week sermon series all about baptism. God never intended for our faith to be something added to our lives, He wants every part of our lives to be immersed in Him. God calls every believer to follow Jesus in baptism, as a declaration of trust, obedience, and surrender. Because He doesn't want us to live a life with just a little bit of Jesus, He wants our lives to be fully contained by Christ.

We're bringing movies to life as we reveal profound truths about God through film in this fun series! This week, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger brings us a powerful message about commitment. In Forrest Gump, we see a journey of love, loss, and pain. Just like Forrest, we carry wounds that shape who we are. Yet, while the world offers temporary comforts, only Jesus brings us true healing and lasting peace. In this message, we’ll discover how Christ meets us in our brokenness and leads us into true hope, wholeness, and new life.

We're bringing movies to life as we reveal profound truths about God through film in this fun series! This week, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger brings us a powerful message about commitment. In The Notebook, the characters are devoted to one another through life's deepest trials. In the same way, despite our wandering and sin, God's love never fails, and He continually pursues us. In turn, He invites us to mirror that devotion by offering Him our whole hearts, not a half-hearted faith. The message reminds us that true love, whether in human relationships or in our walk with God, is proven not in fleeting feelings but in enduring commitment.

We're bringing movies to life as we reveal profound truths about God through film in this fun series! This week, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger brings us an impactful message about unity. In Remember the Titans, a divided team discovers the power of unity when they choose to stand together as one. In the same way, God calls His people to lay aside differences, oppositions, and preferences to live as one body in Christ, united by His love and strengthened for His mission.

We're bringing movies to life as we reveal profound truths about God through film in this fun series! This week, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger brings us an impactful message about seeking the approval of God, not man. In the Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum chases applause, fame, and approval, only to find it never truly satisfies. In the same way, we often get caught up in seeking validation from others instead of finding our worth in God. This message will challenge us to stop living for the approval of man and start living from the unshakable approval we already have in Christ.

Last week, we kicked off a two-week series about how God has uniquely designed each of us with spiritual gifts—tools that aren’t meant to sit on a shelf, but to be used for His glory. Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger is bringing us part two: how those gifts find their greatest purpose when we put them into action. When you bring your gift to the table, when you step into a place of service, you are partnering with God to build His kingdom in ways that only you can.Want to learn more about serving opportunities at Central? Text the word "serve" to 618-242-4185.

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger kicks off a brand-new series called “A REAL TOOL.” If you’ve ever asked the question “What was I made for?” What is my purpose?” Then this series is for you. Over the next two weeks, we’re going to look at God’s Word to help us answer those questions and make sense of what our significance really is!Today, we’ll hear about our role in the Kingdom of God. There is a job that YOU were created to do. You were uniquely designed by the Creator with gifts, talents, and abilities that purpose you for a certain role. Operating in our God given strengths is how we were designed to honor our Heavenly Father and there is so much fulfillment in doing what we were made to do!

Lead Pastor Jon Henninger wraps up our series - Battle Ready, where we’re talking about the armor of God. This series comes from Ephesians chapter 6 where the apostle Paul draws the analogy of a Roman solider preparing for battle to help you and I understand what we need to do to prepare for the spiritual battle we face.Today, we’ll hear about the sword of the spirit. As Christians, our greatest offensive weapontry is the Word of God. With the sword of the inspired words of God, we can charge into battle with confidence knowing that what He says is true. Get ready to be encouraged! Grab your Bible, let’s get into it!

Executive Pastor of Growth and Development, James McKinzie continues our series - Battle Ready, where we’re talking about the armor of God. This series comes from Ephesians chapter 6 where the apostle Paul draws the analogy of a Roman solider preparing for battle to help you and I understand what we need to do to prepare for the spiritual battle we face. Today, we’ll hear about the helmet of salvation. The helmet protects our head and our mind. The enemy is almost always after our mind, that was the case from the very beginning of time, because it he can control our mind than he has control of our entire body. This lesson is one for all of us! Grab your Bible, let’s get into it!

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger continues our series - Battle Ready, where we’ll hear about the shield of faith. In any battle, the shield is the first line of defense. The same is true for our faith. Faith is a personal and portable shield for us. Throughout Scripture we see that it is faith that led to miraculous healing and is a vital part of seeing God’s immense power in action. Faith is how we fend off the attacks of the enemy and experience God’s protection in every season.

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger continues our series - Battle Ready, where we’re talking about the armor of God. Much like real armor, the armor of God is a spiritual set of tools that God gives His children to protect us from the schemes of the enemy.  Through this armor, God has made a way to allow us to implore His power in this fight. Today, we’ll hear about the shoes of peace. If you’ve ever played a sport, you know the right shoe is crucial. It gives you a competitive edge to have a shoe with all the right features for the surface you’re playing on, and when you have a competitive edge you play with confidence. The same is true as people of God. We have to be equipped with the right shoes to walk in the confidence and readiness of the call on our lives.

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger continues our series - Battle Ready. In any battle, armor is important. It’s a protective layer that keeps us safe. Putting on our helmet, shield, shoes, and sword, is a choice we make to help ourselves in the face of danger. In the same way, God is calling us to put on our armor as we face a spiritual battle in the here and now.

Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger kicks off a brand-new series - Battle Ready. In any battle, armor is important. It’s a protective layer that keeps us safe. Putting on our helmet, shield, shoes, and sword, is a choice we make to help ourselves in the face of danger. In the same way, God is calling us to put on our armor as we face a spiritual battle in the here and now. The belt of truth is a great place to start! It’s the core, the foundation. If we don’t have truth, then nothing else matters. Truth is something people have been searching for since the very beginning. Let's check it out!

Today, our Community Outreach Pastor, Hayden Poninski, is wrapping up our series “Sidekicks and Forgottens” where we’re taking a look at the partners and helpers of well-known Bible heroes. Many of these people could’ve easily been the main character, but instead, they chose to submit to leadership and honor God obediently in the place they were in.  Today’s sidekick is a perfect example – Jonathan. Jonathan was raised in royalty as the eldest son of King Saul and was a rightful heir to the throne. But instead of chasing power and authority, he chose to remain true to the calling upon his life that looked much different than ruling Kingdoms, instead he played a supporting role.

Today, our Executive Pastor of Growth and Development, James McKinzie, is continuing our series “Sidekicks and Forgottens” where we’re taking a look at the partners and helpers of well-known Bible heroes. These are the people throughout Scripture that are easily overlooked, but are a necessary part of completing God’s work.  Today, we’ll check out the story of Barnabas – who was a sidekick to the apostle Paul and had a reputation of being encouraging. When it came time for Paul to take a missionary journey to spread the Gospel across the land, there was no question it was Barnabas that he needed by his side to stay encouraged for the long trek ahead. We all need encouragement. It’s a necessary part of building God’s church. So grab your Bible and lean in, we hope this message encourages YOU today. Let’s check it out!

Today, Carbondale Campus Pastor, Jared Lecrone is continuing our series “Sidekicks and Forgottens” where we’re a look at the unsung heroes of the Bible. These aren’t the spotlight stealers or the big names etched into Bible history. These are the quiet warriors, the background characters with front-row faith. Take the life of Aaron for example. Aaron was Moses’ older brother and Israel’s first high priest. Aaron’s life wasn’t marked by inspiring stories like holding the staff that split the Red Sea or negotiating with Pharaoh to let God’s people go. He was the other guy. The backup vocalist to Moses' lead. He was the sidekick. Grab your Bible and lean in, let’s get into today’s lesson!

Even the most well-known leaders of the Bible didn’t walk alone. Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger kicks off a brand new series “Sidekicks and Forgottens” where we’re taking a look at the lesser known counterparts to the well known Bible heroes. Just like Batman had Robin, God often uses dynamic duos to change the world. Throughout Scripture we hear powerful stories of men and women who’s faith earned them a rightful place in the Bible Hall of Fame. But these heroes didn’t stand in the spotlight alone. They were supported, prayed for, cared for, and protected by faithful sidekicks. God uses each of us and gives us an important part to play, and for most of us, that will often happen in the shadows of someone else’s light.Take Silas for example. He was sidekick to the great disciple Paul. His support, encouragement, and timely wisdom turned prisons into platforms and suffering into songs.Grab your Bible and lean in, as we take a look at God's purpose for each of us. Let’s get into it!

We all have a sins we "like." You know, the one that doesn’t seem too bad or the one everyone else does, or that no one else knows about. It’s easy to normalize our favorite sin and convince ourselves that other sins are more harmful, but the truth is ALL sin separates us from God. In this series we're taking a look at God's truths that challenges us to follow Him and part ways with all sin...even the sin we like!

We all have a sins we "like." You know, the one that doesn’t seem too bad or the one everyone else does, or that no one else knows about. It’s easy to normalize our favorite sin and convince ourselves that other sins are more harmful, but the truth is ALL sin separates us from God. In this series we're taking a look at God's truths that challenges us to follow Him and part ways with all sin...even the sin we like!

We all have a sins we "like." You know, the one that doesn’t seem too bad or the one everyone else does, or that no one else knows about. It’s easy to normalize our favorite sin and convince ourselves that other sins are more harmful, but the truth is ALL sin separates us from God. In this series we're taking a look at God's truths that challenges us to follow Him and part ways with all sin...even the sin we like!