SJLC Sermons

In Mercy Makes Room, we explore how Jesus consistently chose mercy over exclusion and relationship over judgment. From sharing a table with Matthew and other outcasts, to restoring a forgotten woman and raising a little girl to life, Jesus reveals the heart of God—a mercy that welcomes, heals, and makes room for everyone. This message challenges us to see people as Jesus sees them, to move beyond labels and assumptions, and to discover that God's table is larger than our comfort zones. Ultimately, we are reminded that we all come to Christ's table not because we deserve a place, but because mercy has made room for us.

On Holy Trinity Sunday the sermon explores the mystery of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, drawing on Matthew 28 and Hebrews to show how the triune nature of God models perfect community and love. It emphasizes that Christian discipleship, sanctification, and communal life flow from this triune pattern — calling believers to faith, hope, and love and urging them not to neglect meeting together.

This episode reflects on John 20 and Acts 2, contrasting the quiet, tender resurrection appearance with the explosive, world-changing events of Pentecost. A pastor's personal anecdote about a baby named Peter frames a deeper look at Apostle Peter's dramatic transformation from an ordinary fisherman into a bold preacher filled with the Holy Spirit. Through the story of Pentecost, the message highlights how the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to speak truth, unite diverse peoples, and begin the birth of the church, inviting listeners to be open to that same Spirit in their own lives.

This episode covers a Graduation Sunday service at St. John's featuring the Gospel reading from John 17 and a closing reflection on Acts about spreading the gospel. The pastor encourages the congregation to be authentic and pass faith to the next generation. Three graduating seniors then deliver brief sermons: Connor reflects on choices, success, and finding God's calling; Meredith shares about trusting God amid anxiety and unexpected detours; and Cora celebrates relationships, belonging, and the church community that shaped her faith.

Christ the King Sunday