PBC Latest Sermons

In a complex world marked by sin and its harmful consequences, it can be hard to know how to think, act, and feel. As Mordecai and Esther respond to Haman's destructive decree, we see some principles that can shape our response to evil, injustice, and suffering in our lives and in the world today.

Living in a land that was not their own and under the rule of those hostile to God and his people, the Jews of Esther's day were living as exiles in a foreign land. As followers of Jesus awaiting his return, so are we. How do we live well while in exile? What does exile mean for our faith — and for the faithfulness of God?

As we study the book of Esther, we have the opportunity to see God's care and faithfulness even in the midst of a cruel world. We will meet characters who can help us see God in our own story, and help us understand God's devotion even when it can be hard to see.

We are a divided people. Everyone knows it to be true, but no one wants it to be true. What if oneness were one of the main goals of God's work in the world through Christ? On this tour through Scripture, we'll see the thread of oneness from Genesis to Revelation, culminating in Christ and lasting into eternity. This is God's plan: to make a people one in Christ.

In the last chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul leaves us with a number of final thoughts and instructions. He touches on giving, planning for the future, being courageous, honoring one another, and more. In his last words, however, he reinforces the main point of the letter reminding us that on account of the grace of Jesus, we should focus on what is most important: loving God and others.

Nothing can be more disheartening than putting a lot of effort into something challenging, only to realize it wasn't worth it. Have you ever found yourself questioning whether the work you're doing or the service you provide truly makes a difference? It's a common thought: Does what I do in this life really matter? Let's explore what the apostle Paul has to say about a life worth living.

“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” The apostle Paul answers these questions in 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world today. In the midst of the uncertainty, one thing is certain: because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, death does not get the final word. When Jesus comes back, we will also be raised from the dead, and death itself will be defeated. Because of our certain future, we can have hope in the present.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul explores the important theme of unity, love, and order within community. In this section, he clearly lays out one of the non-negotiable pillars of the faith - the resurrection. As we near the end of this book, let us see why the resurrection is so important to our faith, and how that ties in to the rest of our theology.

If God is the author of our stories, could it be that he is writing them in such a way, chapter by chapter, that we encounter Jesus?

We all face disappointment with God at some point in our lives. At times it can be devastating. Sometimes it causes us to walk away from our faith. Other times we protect ourselves against hope and withdraw emotionally from God. How can we view disappointment as a gift to grow our faith and increase our intimacy with God? Using Judas as an example, we will explore a few events during Holy Week to unpack how disappointment can become a gift leading to renewal and deeper understanding.

Do you ever fail to live up to your own expectations for yourself? Do you ever worry that God is disappointed with you? In the week leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus' disciples have plenty of reasons to feel these things. However, their encounters with the risen Lord teach us the eyes of Jesus are full of love, grace, and compassion, even when we are at our worst.

At the beginning of our new series, we are looking at how we encounter God when our communities disappoint us. We will sit with Jesus in his last meal before His death and see what truths He has to share, and how he models living through pain. By turning to Jesus in our disappointments, we can find hope, truth, and love.

"Immanuel Theology: What God Has Always Wanted." Why did God create us? What is the Bible all about? What has God always wanted? We will explore these important questions together as we study Immanuel Theology from Genesis to Revelation.

In 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, we see that each person has a contribution to make to the church. We also see the most expansive description of a worship service in the New Testament.

The church in Corinth had a preference for a certain style of worship: they wanted "manifestations of the Spirit." The apostle Paul gave them instructions on the proper place for such activity. In his words, we can find guidance for our own worship and learn how to balance expressions of mind and spirit.

How is the most commonly cited scripture in wedding ceremonies connected to spiritual gifts and worship gatherings? This week in 1 Corinthians 13, we'll join Apostle Paul as he urges the Church in Corinth to prioritize what truly counts. It's not about your talents; it's all about embodying love. So, how does this manifest within our church and beyond?

Politics, ethnicity, theology, economics — many things threaten the unity of the church today. Now more than ever, the people of God must remember that we are ONE body. Yet, as one body, we are also made up of many unique parts.

From 1st century Corinth to 21st century Silicon Valley, some Christians put themselves on a pedestal because of the “spiritual gifts” that God has given them. This sense of spiritual superiority is a serious misunderstanding of the nature of the spiritual life and the purpose of “spiritual gifts.” God does not give us gifts to inflate our ego but to empower us to serve the common good.

Jesus gave us to celebrate is meant to be one that unites us. What happens when it doesn't? How do we get back to the celebration of unity?

Many years ago, women would regularly wear hats to the worship services at Peninsula Bible Church. Today, not many women deem it necessary to do so. What happened?

What is it okay for Christians to do? Are there limits to freedom in Christ? These questions frequently arise as we figure out how to follow Jesus within our culture. The first century Corinthians asked the apostle Paul a similar question. In his response, he reorients their focus. Instead of giving them an answer, he points them to better questions.

Sometimes we find ourselves walking the line between following God and chasing after the idols of our culture. God, however, is not looking for halfhearted disciples. Rather, he calls us to flee from idolatry and run to Christ.

We often hear that Christians should be selfless, giving up their rights for the sake of others. But what if that's only half the story? In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul passionately defends his rights, revealing a powerful truth about sacrifice and the radical life of faith. His example can lead us to rethink our understanding of freedom, responsibility, and the joy found in wholeheartedly following Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 8, the apostle Paul warns us about knowledge but also informs us that knowledge has its place, especially knowledge about God. In fact, he imparts to us critical knowledge about God that we need to live for him and for others.

Jesus calls it the greatest commandment, but we frequently have difficulty grasping it, much less living by it. What is God looking for? What are we afraid of? We shall see.

In the face of uncertainty and disappointment, some are tempted toward despair, while others find comfort in naive optimism. The Christmas story offers us a better way: the way of hope. Because our King took on flesh and dwelt among us, we can embrace hope this Christmas and always.

In the end, it's all a love story. It's the story of Christmas. It's the story of God in the world. It's the story of Psalm 118. In our last messianic psalm for the season of Advent, we see the love of God breaking into the world in a great reversal. The unlikely has become essential. God has acted to save. By the time we work through the psalm we realize that God doesn't just love the world. God loves us.

Your life is like Psalm 110. Your life is a mystery, unfolding chapter by chapter. Psalm 110 can inspire you to enjoy the mystery that is your life.

In some seasons of life, joy is easy to find. In other seasons, joy seems altogether absent. What do we do when we can't find joy? We wait with hope in our King, who has come and will come again.

As begin an Advent sermon series looking at the messianic psalms, the contrasts within Psalm 8 teach us something important about Jesus. In painting a picture of the tension of humanity, we see hints of the coming Savior. In a world where everyone is asking what it means to be human, Psalm 8 and the advent of Jesus on Christmas day provide a clear and powerful answer.

It is clear from 1 Corinthians 7, not to mention the lives of both Jesus and Paul, that marriage is not the biblically exalted state. In 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, Paul offers some helpful advice to those of us who are single.

It often feels like it would be easy to follow God if only _______ would change. We will in that blank with all kinds of things: our marital status, our financial status, our job situation, our health, etc. What if we don't need anything to change in order to follow God? What if we can follow him from right where we are?

The young church in Corinth had written Paul a letter asking specific questions regarding sexuality in the context of marriage. In response to their questions, the apostle Paul addresses four different categories of people: those who are married, widowed, struggling in their marriage, and married to an unbeliever. He gives specific advice in each case, but underlying it all is a rich theology of mutuality in marriage and the importance of encountering Christ in all circumstances.

In both testaments, a male-female relationship in marriage mirrors God's relationship with his people. God is the husband; we are the wife. Christ is the bridegroom; we are the bride. Practically, what does this mean for us as members of God's wife, as members of the bride of Christ, both married and single? It has a great deal to do with what we do with our bodies.

After spending several chapters on the issues of divisions within the church, in 1 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul moves on to the topic of sexual brokenness within the church. His correction of the young church in Corinth can help us to think about how we deal with sexual ethics within our community. Do we actively encourage each other toward sexual health? Do we judge outsiders instead of focusing on ourselves? Do we have blind spots that have gone unnoticed?

The apostles were entrusted with the mysteries of God. Has something been entrusted to us? If so, what is it? And how can we go about finding what it is?

Growing spiritually can be challenging. Many of us have felt frustrations around faith, prayer, community life, and how to be open to the Lord's growth in our lives. The church of Corinth can relate. Today, we will dive into several aspects of spiritual growth that Paul shared with the Corinthians and can be helpful for us today. 

In 1 Corinthians 2, the apostle Paul not only discloses to us what God is really up to, he also tells us how we got the Scriptures and how we can understand the Scriptures.

Do you want to be wise? Do you seek after power? We all do to some degree, but we often misunderstand what true wisdom and power are. In this passage, “earthly” wisdom and power are turned on their head as true wisdom and power are defined in a person: Jesus Christ, the wisdom and power of God.

In the introduction to the book of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul addresses a young church who have struggled to find their way. They have become conformed to the culture around them and formed divisions based on leadership personalities. The apostle celebrates God's work among them and points them back to what forms the center of their community: the cross of Christ.

Another election is upon us. Who and what should we support? How should we go about doing it? We all have our blind spots, don't we? Therefore, we all need to do our best to visit and revisit the Scriptures and have our minds renewed.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is among the most well-known stories in the Bible, yet it is also one of the most challenging to practice. How do we truly love people as we love ourselves, despite how unlovable they may seem to us? We start by loving God and being loved by him.

Within three short parables, Jesus communicates a deep message about the value of his kingdom and what it takes to be a part of it. These stories challenge us to take stock of our lives and notice what we really value . They also caution us against judging too quickly and inspire us to invite others into the kingdom of God. In the end, our response to the kingdom is simple: seek, receive, and invite.

What motivates us to do good things? Though our motivations are usually mixed, those good things can sometimes distract us from our need for mercy and the Lord. Through this parable, we will explore how our need for mercy is a gift and how it changes the posture we take in life.

Message from Gary Gaddini on August 11, 2024

On the surface, if you look out on our world, there is more than enough to depress you all day, every day. But we all know that appearances can be deceiving. Jesus told a story to help us understand what's really going on in our world, appearances notwithstanding. We call it the Parable of the Sower.

What does Jesus think about the way we use our money? In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus uses strong words to warn us against the dangers of hoarding money for ourselves rather than orienting our lives towards God and his kingdom.

You may have heard that God's love is given to everyone equally. You may know that no one actually deserves God's love, but he pours out salvation as a free gift of mercy. But many of us don't realize how controversial or unsettling God's generosity really is. Without knowing it, many of us begrudge the generosity of God. To help diagnose our hearts, Jesus tells a story that makes it clear how we feel about the scandal of grace.

Have you ever lost something of value, and when you found it, celebrated with others? This week, we will look at Luke 15: 11-32 into the window of a father and his two lost sons. How the father responds to his sons will show us a picture of God's heart, and how the sons respond to the father will be a mirror to our hearts.

Sometimes, the most unassuming things have the most potential for pervasiveness and impact. Together we'll explore one of Jesus' shortest parables in Matthew 13 and discover that small hidden things can grow, permeate, and even overwhelm their surroundings.