Grace Transformation

In this Epiphany sermon from the series Revealing the Real Jesus , we slow down and watch how Jesus meets people in John 1:29–51. Jesus does not pressure, argue, or coerce belief. Instead, he invites people to come and see. Some follow quietly. Some are brought by friends. Some are skeptical. Some are explicitly sought out by Jesus himself. As we observe these first encounters, we learn something...

In this Epiphany sermon, we slow down and watch the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:13–17. Rather than rushing to explanation or application, we carefully observe what happens as Jesus steps into the water, stands with sinners, and is publicly named by the Father as his beloved Son. This sermon explores why Jesus chooses baptism, what it means to “fulfill all righteousness,” why the Spirit descends...

In the season of Epiphany, we slow down to watch how Jesus is revealed to us. In Matthew 2:1–12, foreign wise men seek and worship the Christ child, while King Herod responds with fear and resistance. This contrast reveals the kind of King Jesus is and the wideness of God’s mercy. This sermon invites listeners to notice how Jesus reveals who God is and who we are called to be. Sometimes that revel...

A Christmas Eve sermon about a surprising truth: God did not come to be impressive. He came to be reachable. Reflecting on Genesis, Bethlehem, and the incarnation, this message explores God’s pursuit of humanity, shared human longing, and the love that draws us near—not by force, but by grace. Christmas Eve sermon Christmas sermon 2025 God came close Incarnation sermon Luke 2 Christmas sermon God...

What do we do when God feels silent? On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we reflect on the 400 years of silence between Malachi and the birth of Christ—and what that long quiet season teaches us about faith today. Scripture reminds us that silence is not absence. God is at work even when we cannot see it. This sermon explores Israel’s return from exile, the long wait before the Messiah, and the quiet...

What happens when the consequences we face are the result of our own choices? Does God still stay with us when we’ve made a mess of our lives? In this third sermon of The Long Road to Bethlehem Advent series, we journey to the Babylonian exile—a moment in Israel’s history marked by warning ignored, consequences endured, and hope tested. Unlike suffering that comes from circumstances beyond our con...

Have you ever wondered whether God really sees what you’re going through? In this message, we look at the Exodus story and discover a God whose heart is moved by the cries of His people — a God who sees, hears, knows, and comes down to deliver. This sermon is part of our Advent series, “The Long Road to Bethlehem,” where we trace the major turning points of God’s saving story — from Creation and t...

Advent doesn’t begin at the manger. It begins in a garden. In this first message of our Advent series, The Long Road to Bethlehem, Pastor John takes us back to Genesis to remember where our story truly starts: a world created in love, a relationship broken by mistrust, and a God who responds not with abandonment but with mercy, promise, and protection. We explore the goodness of creation — the bea...

What comes to mind when you hear the word judgment ? Fear? Uncertainty? The sense that you’ll never measure up? On Christ the King Sunday, we turn to Luke 23:27–43 and watch Jesus reign from the cross—a King who judges with mercy, not terror. In this message, Pastor John reflects on three simple words from the title “The King Will Judge” and shows how each one leads to surprising freedom. The King...

When the world feels uncertain and fear rises, Jesus speaks words we desperately need: “Lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” In this message from Luke 21:25–36, discover how Christ reframes fear into hope, teaches us to watch over our hearts, and invites us to live with release, anticipation, and identity as children of God. Whether you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or weighed down,...

In this message from Matthew 25:1–13, Pastor John Rallison reflects on Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Virgins and what it means to live wisely—prepared for what we know is certain, even when we don’t know when it will happen. Using the vivid image of bridesmaids waiting with their torches for the bridegroom, Pastor John invites us to rest in Christ’s redemption, keep our faith personal and alive, and c...

What does it really mean to be blessed? In this third message from our Walking in Wisdom series, Pastor John Rallison explores Jesus’ shocking words from Matthew 5: “Blessed are the poor in spirit… blessed are those who mourn… blessed are the meek.” These don’t sound like blessings at all — until we see them through the lens of the resurrection. Discover how the Beatitudes turn the world’s wisdom...

What if real freedom isn’t doing whatever you want — but being free from guilt, fear, and striving? In this Reformation Sunday message, Pastor John Rallison explores the same discovery that changed Martin Luther’s life: righteousness is received, not earned. Through John 8, Romans 1 & 8, and 2 Corinthians 7, we see how Jesus frees us from guilt, self-justification, and fear of death — and for...

In this message from Pastor John Rallison at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon, we begin the Walking in Wisdom series by exploring Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees and Herodians in Matthew 22:15–22. When Jesus says, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” He reveals more than a clever answer—He shows us how to live wisely in a confusing world. Discover what it mean...

This final message in the Stories That Confront series explores one of Jesus’ most piercing parables — the Wedding Feast from Matthew 22:1–14. Jesus tells a story about a king who prepares a joyful banquet for his son, only to have the invited guests refuse to come. It’s a parable about grace offered and grace refused. Some miss the feast because they live as though the King isn’t really King. Oth...

In this sermon from Parables That Confront #3, Pastor John explores Jesus’ parable of the vineyard tenants (Matthew 21:33–46). What does it mean to live as a steward, not an owner? Why do so many of us drift into thinking we “own” our time, resources, or faith? And how does the work, wisdom, and mercy of Christ reclaim us from that delusion? We begin with a vivid story: six boys taking on a tank w...

In this sermon, Pastor John explores Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16) and what it teaches us about grace, pride, and joy. The master pays each worker the same wage, no matter how long they labored. Why does this upset those who worked all day? Because comparison is the thief of joy. Discover how God’s strange economy of grace ends the math, unites His people, and fre...

In this sermon, Pastor John Rallison concludes the *Essential Church* series with a message on *Forgiveness Without Limits* from Matthew 18:21–35. Peter’s question, “How many times should I forgive?” sets the stage for Jesus’ unforgettable parable of the unforgiving servant. We explore the impossible debt forgiven by the king, the shocking refusal of mercy by the servant, and what this reveals abo...

How can the church stay united when pride, sin, and conflict threaten to divide us? In this third message of the Essential Church series, Pastor John Rallison explores Matthew 18:1–20 and shows how Jesus calls us to humility, vigilance against sin, care for those who wander, and reconciliation when relationships break down. Unity does not mean uniformity. It means all our God-given differences are...

Jesus asks his disciples who the crowd thinks Jesus is. They spout off a variety of answers. Then Jesus asks the disciples, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Peter, ever the spokesman for the disciples, replies, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus then tells his disciples that the confession that he is the Christ is the rock on which he will build his church. In th...

What does it mean to hold on to faith when God feels silent? In this message, Pastor John talks about the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21–28 — the woman who begged Jesus for mercy and said, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Drawing from Martin Luther’s insight into this passage, we see three great battles of faith: Pushing past the feeling of not bel...

In this hope-filled message, Pastor John Rallison reflects on the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13–21) and what it means for our lives today. More than a story of loaves and fish, this sermon offers a glimpse into heaven’s abundance and reminds us that even a little light from Jesus is enough to keep us going. Explore how Christ meets us in our grief, multiplies what we offer, and...

What does it really cost to follow Jesus? And why would anyone give up everything to do it? In this inspiring sermon from Pastor John Rallison, we explore two of Jesus’ shortest and most powerful parables: the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44–46). These stories aren’t about guilt or obligation—they’re about joy. The kind of joy that reorders your entire life. One man stu...

**Sermon on the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds | Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 | Let Them Both Grow**In this message from Matthew 13, Pastor John Rallison unpacks the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds—a powerful story Jesus told about God's patience, final judgment, and our call to love rather than judge. With humor, honesty, and practical insight, this sermon invites us to recognize that wheat...

Series: Word Pictures from the King – Part 1 Why did Jesus tell stories? And what can a reckless farmer teach us about grace, growth, and the Gospel? In this first message from our new sermon series Word Pictures from the King , Pastor John explores the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13:1–23 — a story where a farmer flings seed everywhere, even onto ground that seems hopeless. This parable isn’...