Make Room
CHRISTMAS AT CENTRAL | Aaron Sturgis | Central Lutheran Church
December 24, 2023
Merry Christmas! We are so excited to celebrate with you. This year we invite you to imagine — if God could do the unexpected by sending his son to the world as a baby who would save the world, just imagine what God could do for you today. Let us know where you're watching from in the comments, and be sure to like & subscribe to stay updated with the latest from Central! Socials: http://www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia http://www.instagram.com/centrallutheran http://www.centrallutheran.church/
CHRISTMAS AT CENTRAL | Aaron Sturgis | Central Lutheran Church
December 24, 2023
Merry Christmas! We are so excited to celebrate with you. This year we invite you to imagine — if God could do the unexpected by sending his son to the world as a baby who would save the world, just imagine what God could do for you today. Let us know where you're watching from in the comments, and be sure to like & subscribe to stay updated with the latest from Central! Socials: http://www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia http://www.instagram.com/centrallutheran http://www.centrallutheran.church/
Do I Belong?
December 17, 2023
The guests who arrived at the stable on that first Christmas, were a strange bunch. None more odd than the “wise men.” Honestly, they didn’t belong. We call them “wise men,” but the actual term for them was magoi. What’s a magoi? Good question. Get this: They were an order of astrologers from Babylon and Persia who specialized in interpreting dreams and magic - think tarot cards, crystal balls, reading palms and Ouija boards. No wonder the authors shied away from the particulars and opted for the more neutral “wise men,” or Magi. They didn’t belong. Not only that, they were foreigners. They didn’t speak the language, didn’t have the right paperwork, and weren’t even believers. They just didn’t belong. Something tells me, you’ve had moments when you’ve wondered: How do I know I belong? This week we wrap up our series, Make Room, as Aaron talks all about how those wisemen remind us that God makes room for every last one of us, even though we might question whether or not we belong. Socials: http://www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia http://www.instagram.com/centrallutheran http://www.centrallutheran.church/
How To Deal With Those Different From Me | Aaron Sturgis | Central Lutheran Church
December 10, 2023
Likely, you are making plans to gather with your family for Christmas. And when you get together, there will be… …your family, and then there will be the in-laws. …some parents in your family who are strict disciplinarians, while others who prefer “free range” parenting. …likely, there will be a mixture of big city folk and maybe some “hicks from the sticks.” …I’m guessing you will have at least one conservative and at least one liberal at Christmas dinner. …some guests will be thrilled to attend Christmas Eve worship, while others tolerate it. …and, as always, there will be those relatives. You know, the ones who seem to do everything just a little differently. Be honest. Our families don’t see eye to eye on everything. So, what will you do this Christmas? This weekend we’re continuing our Christmas series, Make Room, and we’re going to wonder: What do you do about those people who are different from you? Believe it or not, the Christmas story has a lot to say about it! Socials: http://www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia http://www.instagram.com/centrallutheran http://www.centrallutheran.church/
Is my life too messy for God? | Aaron Sturgis | Central Lutheran Church
December 3, 2023
Is your family story a little messy? Maybe there's divorce or alcoholism, tensions with extended family, or stresses and strains you've been avoiding for years. I get it. My story is messy too. Well guess what? The story of the first Christmas is the story of the messiest family we could imagine! Think about the story we tell. It's about... An unmarried teenager gets pregnant in an ultra-conservative culture. Her fiancé's not the father, so he's ready to divorce her. She gives birth on the floor of a barn. The only guests at the birth are degenerate shepherds and three foreigners that don't speak the language. The story of the first Christmas was so messy. So, this weekend we're continuing our Christmas series, Make Room, and we're going to wonder: Why was the first Christmas such a mess? If you have a messy family, this will be a great message for you! It's also a great message to share with a friend who thinks their life is far too messy for God. Socials: http://www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia http://www.instagram.com/centrallutheran http://www.centrallutheran.church/
The Christmas Story Makes Room For Doubt | Aaron Sturgis | Central Lutheran Church
November 26, 2023
It’s time to get ready for Christmas! It’s time to make your list and check them twice. Time to trim the tree and hang the stockings. Time for eggnog and ugly Christmas sweaters, Chevy Chase and Christmas Vacation. Let’s go! We’re going to get ready for Christmas by looking at the characters in the Christmas story and asking: What are they doing there? You see, to the ancient people of the Bible, none of the characters belonged there – not Mary or Joseph, not the shepherds or the wise men. But God chose each of them for a very specific reason: Each one points to the sort of people God is always making room for. We’re kicking off our new series, Make Room, by looking at a guy named John. He announced Jesus was coming, yet, at one point, John wasn’t even sure he believed in Jesus! John is in the story because, for God... The Christmas story makes room for doubt. Socials: http://www.facebook.com/clcecolumbia http://www.instagram.com/centrallutheran http://www.centrallutheran.church/