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! 

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!

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 want to live a life of peace, but how do we know we’re on the right track? Today, Lead Pastor, Jon Henninger continues our series - The Path to Peace– where we’re studying specific landmarks throughout the Bible that lead us to know how we can experience the kind of peace God offers us!