Pastor’s Blog

 
 

Fellowship of the Believers

Pastor Chris & Heidi Hayden

 

                                                                                      

Fellowship of the Believers

  1. Hayden 4-27-19

               

                On Sunday, May 19th directly after the 10am worship service, the church will be meeting for a wonderful time of food, games, music, recognition of volunteers, and fellowship. Nick’s Kitchen will be providing the barbecue pulled pork and chicken for lunch, we will be playing Nine Square along with the erection of the volleyball net, and Rick Fusselman will be calling the Bingo and Trivia game under the tent. It will be worth coming just to see that. And at the end of our day we will have a brief time of song and worship as we close out the afternoon together (Around 2:30pm-ish). We invite everyone and their families and friends to come be a part of that Sunday’s activity as we take time to honor those who volunteer for the church throughout the year. If you have friends and/or neighbors, bring them along, they are invited too!

                As well as honoring our volunteers, we are excited about our time together, just fellowshipping with one another as Scripture calls us to. In 1 John 1:3,7 we read, “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” and “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” This is our opportunity to gather as a family and fellowship around the table, remembering the hard work of so many who have given so much, as well as celebrating our life in Christ…Fellowshipping with one another and with God…Experiencing God Together!

Be blessed even more and thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!!

 

Pastor Chris         


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We’re Ba-a-a-ack!

 

 

                                                                      

 

  1. Hayden 4-9-19

 

Well it is good to be back from the land down under! We spent time in the beautiful metropolitan areas of both Sydney and Melbourne, soaking in a different culture as well as having some relaxing moments on the sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean and Tasman Sea. We explored new experiences including drinking real coconut milk from newly harvested coconuts on the beach in Seminyak, bumming around with mostly docile primates (except the one who tried to steal my son’s water bottle from him) in Bali’s Monkey Forest, visited the absolutely awesome rice terraces in Bali’s interior, relaxed in the cultural backstreets of downtown Melbourne, and took a launch around Sydney Harbor capturing many angles of the Sydney Opera House.

We took our life in our own hands (surely God was watching over us) as Heidi and I rode a scooter for 3 days in the crazy, scooter-filled streets of Ubud, and swam with the fishes, snorkeling in the Blue Lagoon located on Bali’s east coast.

These holiday encounters were but of few of the many wonderful experiences we were blessed with over the last 3 weeks. However, and I know this may be cliché but, our most exciting and enjoyment filled times were being with our children and their significant others, loving them and being loved by them. Yes, our trip to Australia was a huge success, but mostly because we were able to share it with our family and their friends.

God wants to share these experiences with us as well for we have been adopted into His family. All of His creative order was for us to share together and with Him, our family! Scripture tells us, “God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5, NLT). The whole time we were with our children, they kept asking us what we wanted to do. I think we frustrated them a bit because all we could tell them is that we didn’t care what we did, just as long as they were with us to do it! God has given us these wonderful experiences to share with our family, and He wants us to invite Him in to share them together.

By the way, it is so good to be back with our family in Huntington that we can share our adventure with you as well!

May God bless you even more!!

Pastor Chris          

 

 


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Anticipate Great Things

April 22, 2015 Chris Hayden

One thing you may not know about me is that I am a world news junkie! If you ask my wife, Heidi, she will roll her eyes saying, “Oh really, you think!” I watch and listen to several news outlets to keep up on world events. As I do so, I must keep reminding myself that God is sovereign during this mess. It is easy to become pessimistic when it seems like so many things are going wrong and the world continues to seemingly spin out of control. The Apostle Paul is a prime example for us to follow of one person who received bad news and experienced difficult circumstances, yet remained positive that great things would happen regardless. Paul regularly experienced the abuses of an unrighteous, decadent Roman Empire. He saw paganism and idolatry running rampant within the entire known world as well as his own nation of Israel. He endured personal attacks from other “believers”, imprisoned by multiple civic authorities and stoned to the point of death by his own people. What a life!
Amid persecution, Paul declares while in chains in Philippians 1:12-14 & 20 NLT, “And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear…For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.” He always saw the great things God was doing and anticipated great things to happen regardless of what the devil brought his way. Whether he lived or died, God will be glorified and great things were on their way.
You may feel that aspects of your life are being riddled with trials and struggles that are bringing you down. News that you receive from some may not be pleasing to your ears. But God is still in control and he will not allow you to go through anything you cannot handle without providing a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). And always be reminded, as the Apostle indicated, whether we live or die, have great wealth or live in modesty, like what we currently view or are dismayed by the news, God will be glorified in us and great things are on the horizon for those who keep their eyes on Jesus.

Pastor Hayden


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Another Gift God Gave

The last two Sunday sermons reminded us of God’s generosity toward His people in the gifts or blessings that have been given to us. We reviewed the gift of grace given to all who choose to receive. Last week we spoke of the gift of reconciliation to those in the world. This week we want to look at a third blessing that we can celebrate at this wonderful Christmas time. That is that God has set us free!
In Galatians 3, the scripture tells us that the whole world is a slave to sin. We are in bondage to sin and every consequence/symptom that results from our separation from God. We are chained to the sin of greed and every symptom of depression and anxiety that comes about from the lust of either having or not having money. We are bound by evil arrogance and pride and the hate that stems from belittling others and the appetite for power. We are bound by wrath and the destroyed relationships and crippled souls this sin leaves in its wake. We are bound by lust, gluttony, sloth, envy and the consequences derived from these as well (Every sin has one or more consequences/symptoms and demons attached).
So where is the joyful Christmas tidings? It is found in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” The Bible tells us that when we give ourselves to sin we become its slave (John 8:34). We are just as much, if not more, slaves needing deliverance as the children of Israel were under Pharaoh in Egypt. But the advent of Jesus our Lord brought about the key that unlocks the prison doors and loosens the chains that bind us. Let’s remember John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” When we see the Baby, Jesus lying in a makeshift manger this year, we are not just seeing one of many Christmas decorations. We are seeing a representation of our very own Deliverer who came to set us free and bless us with the gift of freedom!

Be blessed even more.

Pastor Chris Hayden
Central Christian Church


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All Things are Possible

June 5, 2013 Chris Hayden

Last summer, a wonderful message adorned the Central Christian Church sign. It was taken from the scripture passage Mark 10:27 KJV, “And Jesus looking upon them saithe, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” This message conveyed to all of us that even when things seem impossible, God can always turn things around making things work in accordance with His will. When we are ready to give up in a situation because things seem too bleak, God is not even phased.

Throughout our time in this life we come across situations that serve to try our faith. Days when we experience suffering and loss, face persecution and hardship, battle circumstances that go beyond our ability to conquer or even control. Over the past year, most of you have become aware of the battle my son had been fighting that stumped doctors and eluded the intellect of the experts. In the past year, we have made several trips to Riley’s Hospital in Indianapolis trying to pin down what has been ailing my son. Out of all the difficulties my wife and I have experienced while in Huntington, none have even come close to rising to importance in comparison to this one. Several things have been beyond our control, but nothing like this. The thing is, I know that many of you have also experienced situations that have stymied you as much as this one did us.

Even though the previous paragraph is true, it is also true that God loves us very much. And while we face these difficulties, God is with us, He knows are hardship, and tells us we can trust Him. The theme of last summer’s Vacation Bible School was “We Can Trust God.” We can trust God know matter who we are. We can trust God no matter how we feel. We can trust God no matter what others may do to us. We can trust God no matter the circumstance. Why trust Him? We can trust Him because He loves us very much and because with God, all things are possible. No matter how difficult things become or what others may say or do, trust the Lord, because with Him, all things are possible.

Be blessed even more!

Pastor Hayden


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A New Venture – C3

A New Venture – C3

  1. Hayden 2-02-19

 

Starting Sunday, February 17th, we will be launching a new Sunday evening service here at Central Christian Church. On Sundays at 6:30pm, this ministry hopes to embark on a new worship experience with a modern flair, new and current music styles, aggressive outreach, relevant and Biblical preaching and teaching, and awesome times of congregational and personal prayer. It is the wish of Central Christian Church to continue the current Sunday morning worship for those who have been faithful for so many years, and at the same time reach out to a new generation with those seeking a more contemporary worship experience on Sunday evenings. It is an exciting time, albeit stress-filled as we work to plan this new venture (and an adventure it is) God has moved us toward.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” The new service, called “C3”, is a new effort for ministry that we hope to be able to utilize the gifts and ministry personalities of others for the common good, not only of Central Christian, but of the whole Body of Christ in Huntington. Having different style services is nothing new in churches, even churches in Huntington. But we hope to be able to reach into a new niche that has yet to be filled for many in our community and still fulfill the needs of those being touched by God in the present Sunday offering.

Please keep this ministry in prayer. If you are moved by a more modern, contemporary and charismatic style service, come join us Sunday evenings at 6:30pm. If you are being ministered in our present service and not interested in a modern style worship, join us Sunday mornings at 10am and consider being a support help for those on Sunday evenings. And if you are wanting to make Sunday evenings your worship time of choice, consider being a support person on Sunday mornings. We hope to have something for all, regardless of your personal worship style that will provide all a time of relevant ministry, to and by others!

May God bless you even more!!

 

Pastor Chris          


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A Holy Anointing

 

 

A Holy Anointing

May 15, 2014 Chris Hayden

Sunday, May 19 (2013) was a special day at Central Christian Church as we honored and celebrated our men and women of the armed forces. It was a wonderful time of worship and remembrance as we gave allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ and thanked our troops for putting their lives on the line to safeguard the freedom that allows us to pursue a relationship with God, unhindered. I will never apologize for saying that our Church supports our troops even if we may have differences on the validity of our political leader’s mission (but I digress).

That day was also, what is known in the Church as, “Pentecost Sunday.” It is the day we celebrate and remember the impartation of the Holy Spirit to the Lord’s disciples and the beginning of His Church; the Body of Christ. It was now that believers were filled with the Spirit of God and received the power and promised Comforter that Jesus spoke of before His earthly departure. In the book of Acts 2:38, the Apostle Peter tells the listener to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is that same Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke of in the first chapter of Acts as the promise of the Father that brings power to witness to the world. Without this anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we become spiritually impotent and anemic in our faith.

It is this very anointing of the Holy Spirit that turned a frightened fisherman, Peter, who was afraid to admit he knew Jesus, into one of God’s mightiest of apostles. It was this same anointing that took a persecutor of the Church, Paul, and made him into God’s apostle to the Gentiles. It was this Holy Anointing that healed the lame, opened the eyes of the blind, removed demons from those possessed and brought Lazarus back from the dead. It is this same anointing that draws us to God and gives us the power to do exploits in His Name. To say the least, we need the Anointing of the Holy Spirit now as much as we needed it then. Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to fill us to the full of His anointed presence.

Be blessed and be grateful,

Pastor Chris


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Why the Ten Commandments?

                                                                      

Why the Ten Commandments

  1. Hayden 3-27-19

               

                Wednesday night Refueling Bible study has been a wonderful time of fellowshipping with other believers but the study has been absolutely EPIC! We have spent the last couple of months studying the book of Exodus as a continuation of our Genesis study. We finally reached chapter 20 of Exodus, which many of you know is the Ten Commandments chapter. We examined each commandment, one by one, to unpack God’s direction to the Israelites and the meaning for each of us today. Heidi and I will be returning from Australia this week with our regular Wednesday night study of this vital book of the Bible starting back up the first week of April.

As we examined each verse, we were able to see how necessary each verse was to our understanding of God’s holiness and purity and the requirements necessary for a growing relationship with God. However, the more we looked at these Ten Commandments (not 10 suggestions!), the more we saw our inability to keep them. Well if we are completely unable to live up to these commandments, why would God give them to us just to watch us fail in our attempt to be righteous? Now it is true that knowing them is a help to live, while not totally pure, a better, less sinful life than had we not known them. And it is true that the Big Ten God gave us has become a foundation to assist societies and nations from descending into total lawlessness. But the Bible tells us that if we break one, we have become guilty of all (James 2:10) and that there is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). So why give them to us?

The answer is found in Galatians 3:24-25. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” The Ten Commandments were given to us, along with helping people and society itself know what is right, to teach us that we need a Savior, drawing us to Him knowing that without Jesus’ sacrifice, we would have no chance to enter God’s Kingdom. Now we should continue to live with God’s law as our guide, but salvation is only by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. You do not get into heaven by being a good person, attempting to keep the Ten Commandments. It is only through Christ and the Holy Spirit He imparts that we are able to live righteously before God. And entrance to God’s Kingdom, is only by the precious blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross!

 

Be blessed even more and thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!!

 

Pastor Chris         

 


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I’m Just Ticked! Part 2

Many times, Christians think of anger as a selfish, destructive emotion that is from the heart of the devil and should never be seen displayed in the lives of loving believers. There are times when it is ok to be ticked off about certain situations and circumstances, and to display our anger in a righteous, holy manner. Jesus becomes our example in this matter. When Jesus overthrew the money changers in the temple, the Lord’s anger was on full throttle as He ran out those desecrating His Father’s house of prayer for dishonest gain. Ephesians 4:26 tells us to be anger and do not sin nor allow said anger to linger past the end of the day. We are not instructed to have no angry or eliminate the feelings of anger, but to deal with the emotion in a measured and controlled fashion. Here is how Jesus dealt with anger: 1) The Lord’s anger was not selfish. He was never angry for Himself, but for others, whether for the unrighteous attitudes toward His father or because of the damage sin brought on the sinner and those affected by it. 2) His anger was always directed at the right target. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this age. When Jesus told Peter to get behind Him for his words of opposition to God’s plan, it was Satan that He directed the rebuke at. Jesus’ anger always stemmed from His love and concern for the spiritual condition of others. 3) Jesus was never out of control, even in His wrath. Even in Jesus’ demonstrative actions driving out the moneychangers from the temple He was always in complete control. What He did, was just and measured for the benefit of those who saw (Luke 19:47). 4) Jesus did not allow His anger to fester and continue to make Him bitter. He did not allow the sun to go down upon His wrath (Ephesians 4:26) and was always ready to forgive those of humble heart. 5) Our Savior’s anger was never an act of revenge, but always intended to bring the sinner back to Himself. Our angry, should always have the intention to respond to injustice and bring the lost back to the loving and just Captain of our souls. With these things in mind, when anger rises, be slow to respond to it, remember who the real enemy is (the devil), do not let it linger or make you bitter, be measured in your response so as to keep the door of forgiveness always open, and keep God’s Word at the center of all things. May God bless you even more!!
 
Pastor Chris

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I’m Just Ticked!

When I see hurting people, it makes me angry. When I see good people suffer, it makes me angry. When I see injustice perpetrated on the weak and infirm, lies passed off as truth, and evil appear to prosper, it really just ticks me off. Yes, even good Christian people can get irate about situations and circumstances that confront all us. The Bible does not say, never get angry for it is a sin. What we are told is to be slow to anger and quick to listen (James 1:19). Being quick-tempered is where anger can turn to injustice. There are a few instances where we can attribute anger feelings to our Lord. When Jesus cleared the temple of those using it as a means of personal financial gain, He showed great anger. In Matthew 21:12-13 we read, “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” In another instance, in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus became angry with the Pharisees because of their hard heart toward the miracles they were seeing. “And he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored” (Mark 3:4-5). In both cases, the Lord’s anger was based on a holy love for His Father’s house and the Pharisees lack of love for the infirm and hurting people they were supposed to be ministering to. Anger, in and of itself, is neither moral nor immoral. Anger is an emotion. It becomes sin when displays of anger are selfish, destructive, unmeasured, uncontrolled, and improperly placed. What the Bible says concerning anger is this, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). Next blog, we will look at the qualities of anger that is just and pure before God. May God bless you even more!
 
Pastor Chris

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