First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn Sermons

We definitely don't find mourning high on the "blessings" list but Jesus continues his kingdom declaration by talking about those who mourn. What does it mean for us to mourn as Christians and how is it a part of our calling to mourn the brokenness of the world as Jesus did?

Jesus speaks more about money than any other topic. Is wealth a bad thing in and of itself? Jesus warns about the pursuit of wealth as our end goal but wealth can be used for God. When Jesus talks about being "poor in spirit" it is more about a disposition before God the Father than a condition of material possessions. How can we be people who are poor in spirit before the Lord?

This week we start a new series on the Beatitudes at the beginning of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. For Matthew's gospel, the Kingdom of Heaven is an important theme. In the first teaching of Jesus' that Matthew records, Jesus sets the tone for what the Kingdom will be about. What do the Beatitudes have to do with being Kingdom oriented people? Listen in and meditate on this question with us.

The world has thrown us a curve ball when it comes to our ideas about fellowship. As we end our series on practices every Christian should do, we look at how the principle of fellowship can still be accomplished in these days of COVID-19.

God has been generous toward us in his mercy and love. We are called as Christians to be generous with the blessings God has given to us. What does it look like to live a life of generosity toward God and others? We take a look at the parable of the Good Samaritan to think about this Christian practice.

God has blessed us with so much in life let alone the grace and mercy we have received through Jesus. We see a regular practice throughout scripture of giving thanks to God for all God has done. Do we have thanksgiving on our lips first or grumbling? Listen in as we talk about how to develop a practice of giving thanks.

Have you wondered why we have confession in our worship service weekly? Confession is an important part of the Christian life. Because God has given us grace, we no longer need to hide from Him. Come reflect with us on the practice of confession.

We continue to look at different practices to develop your faith and relationship with God. This week we look at prayer and the important role it plays in helping us to understand God's will for us.

Meditation is a hot topic the last few years but Christian meditation is steeped in seeking God's wisdom and guidance in your life. Today we look at how we can develop this discipline in our own lives.

God is always present with us and has promised to never abandon us. Why does it often feel like God is far off? We have not learned to be aware of God's presence. Join us today as we look at the practice of being aware of God's presence.

Fasting has been a hot topic the last couple of years with fad diets. Fasting has also been used for spiritual purposes in religions around the world for many millennia. What does Christian fasting look like and what is the point of it? Listen this week to find out and learn how you can practice this to grow in your daily relationship with God.

We are called into a relationship with God because the source of our life is found only in God. How can we know God's will for us unless we listen? In this sermon we examine the ancient practice of listening to God and are challenged to spend intentional time listening.

Our world is full of constant noise. God likes to speak to us when we still ourselves before him. Can you find time this week to carve out some time of silence and solitude with the Lord? Pastor Chris explores why this is important for us in these days.

On this Pentecost Sunday we wrap up our look at the appearance of Jesus after the resurrection with the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is with us in a new way after Pentecost but what does that mean for our lives today? Join us to reflect on the scripture of Pentecost.

Jesus appears one last time to his disciples before he ascends into heaven to be at the right hand of the Father. While in Jerusalem the disciples share one more meal with Jesus and he commands them to stay put in the city until the Spirit comes upon them. He reminds them one more time of the mission he is calling them into. Are we living into that mission today?

Jesus invites his disciples into the mission he began. They are to continue this unfolding mission of God into the world as they continue on in their lives. What is that mission? What does it mean for us today?

We are called to pass on the faith. Parent's play a significant role in passing down the faith but we are all called to walk along side a new generation in faith.

Jesus appears once again to his disciples but this time in Galilee as he had promised. The disciples went there to wait for him but soon got anxious and returned to what they knew best, fishing. After a night of no luck, Jesus shows up and reminds them of their calling to be fishers of men.

Jesus Appears to the those disciples he was closest to and gives them some words of affirmation and encouragement. What do we learn about Jesus’ resurrection and the hope we have from this encounter? Listen in and reflect with us as we continue our series on the appearances of Jesus after the Resurrection.

Jesus walks a journey with two of his disciples and they don’t recognize he is. He opens the scriptures to them and they still don’t recognize him. How is Jesus walking with you today that you don’t recognize?

Who was the risen and victorious King on Easter? The same king who went to the cross. We look at Matthew's account of the resurrection this Easter morning.

We start a new worship series today on Palm Sunday looking at the appearances of Jesus around the Easter story. Today we look at John's account of the Palm Sunday events and how Jesus' actions don't always match up with our expectations.

Have you ever felt like life was unfair? Jonah definitely did as he ran from God's call to preach a message to the Ninevites. This week we finish our series on Jonah by looking at God's response to Jonah's rebellion.

This morning we take a look at Jonah chapter three and see Jonah finally surrendering to the call God gave him. We often struggle with following after God's ways and yet we see how God blesses Jonah even as he does his task somewhat begrudgingly. 

Rev. Renee Roederer continues our look at the book of Jonah and when things go wayward in our relationship with God. This week in the midst of the belly of the fish Jonah prays to God. His prayer is one of frustration and surrender. When we find ourselves far from God, do we open the lines of communication and share with God how we are feeling? Do we recognize God’s presence with us even when things get rough?

This Sunday we start a new series journeying through the book of Jonah. This book shows what it looks like when our relationship with God goes wayward. In this first of the series we’ll see what happens when we have conflict with God.  Our guest preacher is Rev Renee Roederer.  

Rev Renee Roederer examines the parable of the Prodigal Son. The Father of the story expresses love well beyond what is expected. How have we received the unconditional and unwavering love of God? How are we called to share love in ways that move beyond obligation and expectation?

Rev Renee Roederer is taking a look at God leading Moses and Israel’s other leaders beyond their comfort zone outside of the tabernacle. Where is God calling us beyond our walls?

Life in this world brings conflict. Conflict does not need to be the end of our relationships. What does Jesus say about conflict and how to resolve it? In what ways is his advice not applicable today? We take a look at these questions in this stewardship sermon on our "Ties" that bind us to one another in relationship.

Today in the last installment of the Social? series, we see how easy it is to tear others down online and the biblical principles which counter that behavior. As we interact in this world of technology will we choose to build others up or tear others down?

This week Rev. Isaac Chung continues our exploration of what it means to be social beings in today's world. Our theme for the journey this week is how we are meant to make one another better. Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron" so how are we called today to use the technology available to us to help make one another better humans?

We are social beings created in the image of a God who is also social. What does the nature of God teach us about our own nature? Simply put, that we are to be selfless in our love of others. Do we always act with selfless motives in the virtual world? Today we examine this and think through principles to help us be more like Jesus in everything we do.

We continue our look at what it means to be a social creature in today's technological world. Today Pastor Chris examines the concept that we strengthen one another when we are in community and looks at how Social Media can help us in that endeavor and harm us.

Today we start a new worship series on what it means to be social beings in today's world. God created us to live in and be whole in community. Throughout time we have had different tools for pursuing social activity but the core nature of being social has always been there. 

Pastor Chris takes a look at the epiphany hymn "As With Gladness Men of Old" and the scripture which inspired it in the gospel of Matthew. What does the story of the magi visiting Jesus teach us about our lives today?

Pastor Hoffman looks at the joy given to us in Jesus and how we are to pass it on to others this Christmas season.

Pastor Chris reflects on the inspiration behind the hymn "Silent Night" and how the birth of Jesus brings peace and stillness even when everything is busy and loud.

Today we celebrated Christmas with our Church families. Pastor Chris meditates on the presence of the angels at the birth of Jesus with our kids.

The choirs blessed us with a beautiful cantata this Advent season. Pastor Chris meditates on the beautiful contradiction of Christmas, God become human, in the scripture and lyrics of the cantata.

In our second week of advent we look at the historical setting of Jesus' birth and learn about the town that inspired the hymn "O' Little Town of Bethlehem".

We start a new series today on the Hymns of Advent and Christmas. Today we celebrate the hope we have in the promises of God. Israel hoped in the coming of the messiah and we did too. Charles Wesley wrote "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" to recognize both the waiting of Israel fulfilled in Jesus and our waiting for Jesus to return.

God makes all things beautiful in the end. Do we see beauty through our own lens or are we willing to define beauty as God sees it? We explore the beauty of God in this message.

God is a God of innovation. When we read scripture we see that God is continually up to something new. What new is God doing in your life today? And are you able to trust in what God is doing and follow him no matter the cost?

Pastor Mike Hoffman explores Paul's admonition to become an encourager like Barnabas was.

God calls his people throughout scripture to look back at what he has done for them. We can get trapped in nostalgia wanting to go back to the "good ol' times" but God is not asking us to go back, he is asking us to remember how he has worked for us in the past so that we can move boldly ahead in faith toward what he is doing in the future.

Rev. Chris Thomas looks at the life of Mother Teresa and how we can learn from her humble service in the name of Jesus to the least of these on earth.

What does it look like when we seek to do the mission God has given to us in Jesus fully? Rev. Isaac Chung closes out our series on mission in exploring this idea.

Rev. Isaac Chung brings a message helping us understand how God has Sent us to provide for those in need. The fourth in our series on mission and how to do what God has Sent us into the world to do seeks to understand the role that providing for people's physical needs fits into God's plan.

In this sermon we continue to explore what Jesus' mission was and therefore what our mission is. James says that pure religion is to "care for orphans and widows" and Jesus seems to care for those most vulnerable around him. We are called to care the vulnerable of our world in continuation of Jesus' mission.

In our second week of our mission series we examine how we are sent to proclaim the good news of Jesus to those around us. Jesus saw part of his mission being proclaiming the kingdom and so he sends us with the same mission. When we miss this part of the mission, we may do lots of practical things for folks but they may never know the abundance of God's love that we enjoy without hearing that good news.

We start a new series on what the mission of the Church is. Jesus was Sent into the world and then he Sends his Church in his name. If we miss parts of God's mission for us to the world, we don't live into the mission he has given to us.