Central Church NYC Central Presbyterian Church

Christianity is a faith with ancient origins. But is it outdated? More specifically, are the principles, morals, and ways of Christianity enemies of progress? This is a question that has been asked throughout much of Christianity’s existence. Answering this question requires an examination of the notion of “progress,” the presumed trajectory of society. But what if “progress” is really rooted in something much deeper — something directly correlated to the Christian faith itself? Listen to this sermon as we consider the backward- or forward-thinking essence of Christianity.

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Across the centuries there have been people who have used the Bible to propagate chauvinistic, sexist, denigrating views. But this ideological conclusion can only be drawn when Scripture is mishandled, misinterpreted, or misapplied. Jesus’ life and teachings not only uphold the value and dignity of women, they also promote a beautiful synergy between men and women as God’s image bearers that strongly counters Christianity’s misogynistic reputation. Listen to this sermon as we consider the biblical opposition to sexism.

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Understanding who we are is integral to living a meaningful life. As human beings we strive to discover and live out our true identities. So when Christianity instructs us not to affirm our self but to deny our self, it initially seems to oppose the very goal of becoming the truest version of who we are. Upon closer examination of the Scriptures, however, we see that shifting our identity from being rooted within our self to being rooted outside of our self is exactly how we find the stable identity we’ve been craving all along. Listen to this sermon as we consider how our identities are not repressed but rather fulfilled through our faith in Jesus.

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“Tolerance” and “inclusivity” are principles of high value in our modern society. Likewise, one of the most common critiques of Christianity these days is its perceived lack of tolerance and inclusivity. When we examine Jesus’ actions and words in Luke 13, however, we find that what he offers — and therefore what Christianity offers — goes far beyond tolerance. It is a radical love extended to all, as all have sinned and are in need of rescue. Listen to this sermon as we consider the inclusive hope of the gospel.

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The very nature of faith according to Scripture is believing what cannot be seen. It’s understandable, then, that faith invites questions and even doubts. And in a world that values reason, logic, and thoughtful analysis, it’s natural that some question the rationality of Christianity. But Jesus doesn’t condemn this unbelief. On the contrary, he accommodates himself to meet us where we are and engage our doubts. Watch this sermon as we survey what faith is and consider why it is right and good for us to invite Jesus into the process of moving from doubt to belief.

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Throughout human history, much debate has centered around whether Christianity is true, but recent generations have also begun to call into question the goodness of Christianity. If, in fact, Christianity is true, does it offer anything of value to the world? Listen to this Easter Sunday sermon as we explore the challenge and counterclaims of the resurrection as well as the resulting colossal consequences that accompany its truth.

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