Center Point Christian Church

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

September 2, 2026

Dear Church Family,

Last Sunday was a great day. We had around 40 in church, and most everyone stayed for fellowship dinner. Can you believe it is already September? It seems each year goes by more quickly than the one before. It came as a surprise when I realized that last Monday marked 10 years since I retired from the school district. Notice I qualified my retirement by stating it was from the school district, because I think I am as busy, if not busier, now than when I worked full time.

It is good to stay busy. I knew a guy one time who kept himself very busy. He loved to work on and build cars. He was a master mechanic as well as an artist when it came to bodywork and paint. The only quirk was that, though he built and understood automobiles, he seldom, if ever, drove the car. He didn’t want to mess it up.

Over the last few weeks, I have been preaching a series of sermons from Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. With joy as the overriding theme, Paul teaches us how to live with joy, humility, unity, faithfulness, and contentment in every circumstance. Understanding all that Paul tells the church at Philippi is good. But just hearing it, learning it, and understanding what it says, if we don’t put it into action, we are like the guy with the cool car. What good is it doing?

Sunday my message is from James 1:22–27. James’ letter puts wheels under Paul’s words: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Truly following Jesus requires us to “drive the car.” There is a responsibility to live out our faith. The title of my message Sunday is simple: “Do What It Says.” I look forward to seeing everyone Sunday.

There isn’t much going on right now, but as we get closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, things will begin heating up. It is a week early, and I will be talking about it more next week but let us not forget that next week marks the anniversary of 9/11.

Encourage your friends and neighbors to join us on Sunday. We have Bible Study at 10:00 am, followed by Worship at 11:00. Continue to pray for and look out for one another. We have a long prayer list with many needs. As always, let me know of any concerns.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube link:

"Do What It Says"James 1: 19-27

08/26/2026

August 26, 2026

Dear Church Family,

It is great to be back home for a while. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in New York with the kids, and the bonus trip to Waco last weekend was fantastic, but as the old saying goes, “There’s no place like home.” I am thankful that Phillip was able to fill in for me during my absence, and I know you were blessed by his messages. I’ve said it many times: our church always steps up and takes care of whatever needs to be done. It is a wonderful example of what Paul describes: the body of Christ working together, with each member using the gifts God has given them to serve one another and build up the church (Ephesians 4:16). When each part does its work, the whole body is strengthened.

It has been three weeks since I was last with you, so maybe a little refresher is in order. On June 7, I began in Philippians 1:1–11 with a message entitled “Reasons to Rejoice.” At the time, I didn’t set out to preach through the entire letter, but that is where God led me. Now, twelve weeks later, I will finally wrap up the series with the same theme with which we began: joy; specifically, the joy of learning to be content regardless of our circumstances. During the course of this series, we have seen wildfires in the Panhandle, devastating floods in our own community, a return to drought conditions, and now more wildfires in North Texas. There have certainly been reasons for sorrow, but there have also been many opportunities to serve. Paul never teaches that Christians will always be happy with their circumstances. Instead, his letter reminds us that our joy is found in Christ, even when our circumstances are difficult. Early in the letter, Paul reminds us that God will finish the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6), and as he brings the letter to a close, he reminds us that we can face every circumstance through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). Take an opportunity over the next few days to read through Philippians again. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as I hopefully finish this wonderful letter. My message is titled simply, “Contentment,” and the text will be Philippians 4:10–23.

The Fellowship of Christian Women have been busy lately. When I left a few weeks ago, the back of the church was full of boxes, sacks, and totes of items for Operation Shoebox. Now there are stacks of shoeboxes already packed and ready to go. I’m sure there will still be more to do, though. I also want to mention that if you are interested in reading to elementary students at our school, please contact Kristen. I’ll try to have more information for you next Sunday.

Also, please remember that this is Dinner Sunday. I’m not positive, but I assume we will have roast beef, so as always, bring a side dish or dessert, or both. Bring an appetite and bring a friend.

I do hope to see everyone on Sunday; Bible Study is at 10:00 a.m. and Worship at 11:00 a.m. Continue to pray for one another. And as always, let me know of any concerns.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube Link:

ContentmentPhilippians 4: 10-23

08/19/2026

August 19, 2026

Dear Church Family,

It has been a while since my last weekly update. So technically, I guess it is no longer a weekly update, but rather just an update. As most of you know, I have been on the road visiting grandkids, and Phillip has graciously stepped in during my absence. I will miss one more Sunday before I return. As much as I love spending time with family, I have missed the church.

I really don’t have anything new to report, and I won’t be attaching a link to my message because I won’t be preaching this week. But I did want to share a short story. After a week with grandkids, traveling through airports, and everything else that goes along with being on the road, I could probably share quite a few. But this one is simply about something that happened yesterday. So, bear with me as I share it.

I had a flat yesterday morning. Well, it wasn’t plumb flat. I was headed to HEB and had already gotten a late start. I like to get to the grocery store early, before the crowds, and I didn’t need to be sidetracked. I was almost to town when the low-tire sensor came on. At first, I thought it might have been a false reading—no such luck. I pulled into the HEB parking lot, checked the pressure, and my gauge read the same as the sensor on the screen: 26 pounds and dropping.

So, I headed down the road to Discount Tire. Thankfully, they weren’t too busy, and thankfully, the tire was repairable. It had a screw in it. They were able to get me in, repair the tire, and get me back on the road in less than 30 minutes. So why the story? Well, while waiting for the tire to be repaired, I had a few thoughts and made a few observations.

First, people often complain about technology and all the gadgets that have become part of our lives, but I tend to embrace them. Had it not been for that tire-pressure sensor, I most likely would have driven until the tire was completely flat, possibly ruining it, turning a minor inconvenience into a major expense. Modern technology, including data-driven technology such as AI, can serve us well when we use it wisely. Like so many other things, technology itself is a tool. What matters is how we choose to use it.

Second—and this simply validated something I already know but sometimes forget—we should never take even the simple things for granted. Just because my routine says I go to the grocery store early every Tuesday morning doesn’t mean that every Tuesday will go according to plan. Sometimes it may be a flat tire; other times it may be something much more serious. James reminds us about the uncertainty of our plans:

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” —James 4:13–15

We can make all the plans we want, and there is nothing wrong with planning, but ultimately our plans are subject to God’s will. I certainly don’t want to trivialize what James, Paul, or others wrote to the early church by comparing their difficulties to my flat tire. But I do think we can learn and grow from even the minor disruptions of life. We can learn not to allow anxiety or frustration to overwhelm us, and we can practice the fruit of the Spirit—even something as simple, and sometimes as difficult, as patience.

As I sat quietly waiting for my tire to be repaired, I began thinking about what I had to be thankful for at that very moment.

• I didn’t have a blowout.
• I wasn’t stranded on the side of the road.
• It didn’t happen in San Antonio traffic as I left the airport the day before.
• The tire was under warranty.
• I wasn’t rushing to the emergency room for some reason.

Later in the day, I added a couple more things to my list:

• I had just spent an entire week with my grandkids.
• Brenda had returned home after spending more than a month caring for her brother.

Suddenly, a 30-minute delay at the tire shop didn’t seem like much of a problem.

Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice he didn’t say to give thanks for every circumstance, but in every circumstance. There is a difference. Even when things don’t go according to our plans, there is still much for which we can give thanks.

God gave me another day, and I need to focus on honoring Him rather than dwelling on my trivial idiosyncrasies—or what I sometimes refer to as “grumpy old man syndrome.”

I know this isn’t my typical weekly update. I just wanted to share a little food for thought from an ordinary Tuesday morning. Sometimes the lessons we already know are the ones we most need to be reminded of. Hopefully, in another week I’ll be back on a normal schedule. Until then: “The Lord bless you and keep you.”

Lord Bless,
Scott

08/03/2026

07/29/2026

July 29, 2026

Dear Church Family,

I pray everyone is having a good week. The rains have let up for a while, hopefully not for too long. Of course, all that rain means the grass is growing again. I spent most of Monday mowing and w**d eating around our place. Thankfully, I didn't let it get too tall before getting started, but it still took about five hours to finish everything. With Monday's heat, I was once again reminded that I'm not as young as I used to be. Tasks take a little longer these days, and so does recovering from them. Even so, I thank God that He has still given me the health and ability to do them.

A year ago, we had just returned from watching our grandson's Little League All-Star team compete for the opportunity to represent the Southwest Region in the Little League World Series. Although they fell just a couple of games short, it was a wonderful experience. Then, only a few weeks later, I helped our son and his family move nearly 2,000 miles away. While we were happy for the opportunities before them, saying goodbye was difficult. At the same time, our community was in the midst of the massive cleanup following a historic and deadly flood.

Now, a year later, our grandchildren are still 2,000 miles away, and our community is once again recovering from another historic flood. Disappointments, tragedies, and circumstances beyond our control can easily leave us feeling anxious and discouraged. I'll admit there are times when I wrestle with anxiety myself. During those moments, though, I find my strength and peace in God's Word.

This Sunday I’ll be in Philippians 4:4–9, where Paul gives us God's remedy for overcoming anxiety and experiencing His peace. Paul will lay out how we can have not only the peace of God, but the God of peace as well. I hope you'll join us. Bible Study begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by our Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.

Please continue to pray for those who are still dealing with the aftermath of the flood. And as we pray for ourselves and for others, let us also remember to praise God, not only for hearing our prayers, but for faithfully answering them according to His will.

As always, please let me know of any concerns or prayer requests.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube Link:

AnxietyPhilippians 4:4-9

07/22/2026

July 22, 2026

Dear Church Family,
I hope everyone is having a good week. The rain has moved on, and we continue to dry out. But let us not forget those who suffered damage and loss during last week's floods. There is still much work to be done and many opportunities for us to serve and help others.

The floods last week reminded us that we never know what lies ahead on life's journey. Many families were just getting their lives back together after last year's flood, only to be impacted once again. Such events remind us that this world is uncertain, but God's promises are not. One day, our earthly journey will end, and each of us will stand before the Lord. While we are here, however, Paul describes the Christian life as a race. It is a race in which the prize is God's heavenly calling. As we run, we are to remain focused, refusing to look back, continuing to grow in Christ, and serving as examples to those around us. My sermon this week is titled "Are We There Yet?" The quick answer is no, but we are in the race, and we must keep pressing on. I'll be preaching from Philippians 3:12–4:1 if you would like to read ahead.

Sunday is also our monthly fellowship dinner. Everyone is invited, so bring someone along. After listening to me, they'll certainly deserve a great meal and some good fellowship. We will be having roast beef, so bring along a side dish.

I look forward to seeing everyone this Sunday. There are many in our community who continue to need our prayers. Please let me know of any prayer concerns and take time this week to reach out and check on one another.

Lord Bless,
Scott

You Tube Link:

Are We There Yet?Philippians 3:12 – 4:1

07/16/2026

July 15, 2026

Dear Church Family,

I pray everyone is having a great week. The rain has been wonderful, although it has certainly wreaked havoc with our Vacation Bible School schedule. I won't complain about the rain, we certainly needed it, but I do hope we can get back on track tomorrow and finish the week strong. Our first day was a great success, seeds were planted, and I know God will continue to bless the remainder of the week.

Have you ever stopped to wonder why we do some of the things we do? There is a quote that says, "One of the things that I had to learn was that religion often gets in the way of God." You may be surprised to learn that those words were spoken not by a theologian, but by Bono, the lead singer of the rock band U2. I don't know much about his theology, but I do think there is truth in that statement. Sometimes we tend to overcomplicate our relationship with Christ.

The Christian life certainly includes baptism, communion, Bible study, worship, and obedience. These are all important expressions of our faith. The problem comes when we begin placing our confidence in ourselves, in our religious practices, accomplishments, or credentials, instead of trusting in Christ. That was the issue Paul confronted in Philippians 3. The Judaizers insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised in order to truly belong to God's people. Paul reminded them that believers are the true circumcision because they worship by the Spirit of God, glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). Our salvation is not found in what we add to Jesus, but in Jesus alone. We are saved by God's grace through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

This Sunday my text will be Philippians 3:1-11 in a message entitled "Joy Is Found in Christ Alone." I hope you'll join us as I speak on why nothing compares to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

Please continue to pray for our church family, as well as for our Vacation Bible School children, workers, and volunteers. It has been a blessing to see our community of churches coming together to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday. Bible Study begins at 10:00 am, followed by our Worship Service at 11:00 am. As always, please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or needs.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube link:

Nothing Compares to Christ: Joy Is Found in Christ AlonePhilippian...