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Central Lutheran Church - Elk River
Weekly sermons from our Central Lutheran Church preaching team plus quick reflections from Pastor Ryan Braley.
Real talk, ancient wisdom, and honest questions — all designed to help you learn, grow, and find encouragement when you need it most.
At Central, our mission is simple: FOLLOW Jesus together, be a community where you BELONG, and LOVE our neighbors across the street and around the world.
Think deeper. Live freer. Share an episode with a friend and visit us in person anytime — you’re always welcome here in Elk River, MN.
Episodes
214 episodes
What Happens When You Die? Part 3 {Reflections}
Ever been told that heaven is just floating on clouds and playing harps for eternity? A young confirmation student once confessed to me that this common image was exactly why she didn't want to affirm her faith. "I just don't want to sit on a c...
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11:22
The End, and How It All Connects with Pastor Ryan Braley
The resurrection of Jesus stands as the bedrock of our hope, promising that no matter what chaos surrounds us, we will ultimately be okay. This powerful conclusion to our Philippians series reveals how Christ functions as the cosmic glue bindin...
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32:38
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What Happens When You Die? Part 2 {Reflections}
Death touches us all, prompting the universal question: what happens when we die? As someone who conducts many funerals, I've sat with countless families grappling with this mystery. While no living person has empirical evidence, Scripture offe...
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11:00
Joy Anyway, through the Ups and Downs with Sonja Knutson
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" These words, penned by the Apostle Paul from a Roman prison cell, stand as either the most audacious command in scripture or the most profound key to unlocking a life of genuine joy. W...
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18:33
What Happens When You Die? {Reflections}
Death comes for us all, but what follows remains shrouded in mystery. Drawing from ancient wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, we explore one of the most profound questions humans face: what happens when we die?The Book of Ecclesiastes offers...
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5:10
Rubbish to Righteousness with Ben Carruthers
Where do you find your joy? Is it in delicious food, exciting vacations, meaningful relationships, or good health? These sources of happiness seem natural—but what happens when they're taken away?In this eye-opening exploration of Phili...
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32:08
Spiritual but Not Religious? {Reflections}
Ever caught yourself nodding along when someone says, "I'm spiritual but not religious"? This reflexive distinction has become commonplace in our culture, but what are we really saying when we make this claim?Ryan dives deep into this m...
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6:28
Phronesis and Other Unpronounceable Miracles with Pastor Ryan Braley
What glasses are you wearing? How we view reality fundamentally shapes everything about our lives – our choices, our relationships, our definition of "the good life." In this illuminating exploration of Philippians 2, we dive deep into the anci...
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34:07
Holy Places: Rethinking Sacred Geography in Modern Faith {Reflections}
Have you ever wondered what makes a place truly sacred? Ryan explores the fascinating contrast between ancient beliefs about holy places and a more personal understanding of sacred spaces.Throughout history and across religious traditio...
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5:06
Can't Lose with Pastor Ryan Braley
What if I told you that regardless of your circumstances, you simply cannot lose? That's the radical truth Paul communicates from his prison cell to the Philippian church. Looking at a man who's been beaten, shipwrecked, starved, rejected, and ...
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31:11
Two Roads: Choosing Softness or Hardness {Reflections}
Have you ever wondered if there's more to spiritual conviction than just feeling bad about your sins? That nagging feeling might actually be an invitation to something deeper and more transformative.Taking you on a journey from my Chris...
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8:16
Intro to Joy with Sonja Knutson
Discover the radical counterculture of joy through the lens of Philippians, a letter penned by a man awaiting possible execution. Pastoral Associate Sonja Knutson launches our new sermon series "Joy Anyway" by unpacking why this brief 104-verse...
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16:47
Rediscovering Sacred Space {Reflections}
Ever wonder if we've lost something vital in our modern rush to demystify the world? Ryan explores one of the most fascinating paradoxes in spiritual history: how ancient Israelites built an ornate temple for God, only to realize that no buildi...
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7:24
Home: A Father’s Day Sermon with Pastor Ryan Braley
"Does anybody really love me?" It's a question that echoes in the depths of our hearts. For those who grew up without a father—or with complicated father relationships—this question carries extra weight, especially on Father's Day.Growi...
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37:46
The Chaos Inside Us {Reflections}
Have you ever wondered why spiritual clarity often follows periods of inner turmoil? In this reflective episode, we explore the powerful story of Elijah from 1 Kings—a narrative that perfectly captures the spiritual rollercoaster many of us exp...
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7:34
Rhythm: Celebration with Pastor Ryan Braley
What if celebration isn't just something we do when life is going well, but a spiritual discipline we need to cultivate intentionally? In this eye-opening exploration of sacred celebration, we discover that God actually commanded his people to ...
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31:39
The True Self vs. False Self: Discovering Who You Really Are {Reflections}
Have you ever been caught off guard by the seemingly simple question: "Who are you?" For many of us, we instinctively respond with what we do—our jobs, roles, or accomplishments. But what happens when those external identifiers are stripped awa...
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6:48
Rhythm: Worship with Pastor Ryan Braley
Have we lost our breath in the modern world? In this profound exploration of worship, we discover that for ancient peoples, worship wasn't a scheduled event but as natural and necessary as breathing itself. It was woven into the fabric of their...
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32:36
Faith in the Age of AI {Reflections}
Ever feel like the world is changing too fast to keep up? You're not alone. In this deeply reflective episode, I explore a profound interview between Stephen Bartlett and investor Raoul Paul that left me questioning what happens when artificial...
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7:30
Rhythm: Submission with Ben Carruthers
Ever noticed how certain words can immediately put us on edge? "Submission" is certainly one of them. What should be a pathway to freedom has become associated with control, oppression, and abuse. But what if we've been looking at it all wrong?...
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26:57
Theology on a Timer {Reflections}
Racing against a 30-second timer, Pastor Ryan tackles deep theological questions with surprising candor and insight in this experimental podcast format. Music director Mike Lauer serves as both inquisitor and timekeeper, challenging Ryan to dis...
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10:40
Rhythm: Silence & Solitude with Pastor Ryan Braley
What happens when we stop shaking the jar of our lives and let everything settle? In this exploration of silence and solitude, we discover how intentional withdrawal from noise and distraction creates space for profound spiritual encounters.
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32:09
Fire in the Fireplace: A Christian Perspective on Sex {Reflections}
We live in a culture saturated with sexual messaging, yet meaningful conversations about sexual ethics often remain elusive. Drawing from both pastoral experience and personal journey as a parent of four, Ryan offers a refreshingly balanced fra...
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8:40
