Perinton Presbyterian Church | Sermons and Conversations

Recorded on Sunday, 07/05/26 | Scripture Readings: John 8:36, Galations 5:13-15 | Freedom is one of the most celebrated ideals in American life, but the Bible calls us to a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. In John 8:36, Jesus promises that those He sets free are truly free, and that freedom begins with confessing sin and walking in His ways. The Apostle Paul warned the Galat...

Recorded on Sunday, 06/28/26 | Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 10:17-19 | God's heart for the displaced and vulnerable is woven throughout Scripture, and caring for strangers is not optional for followers of Christ. Deuteronomy 10 reveals that God Himself loves foreigners, provides for them, and calls His people to do the same. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 understood that they were strang...

Recorded on Sunday, 06/21/26 | Scripture Readings: Jonah 1:1-17, Matthew 1:18-25 | Guest Pastor Mark McDaniel shared his message with us. Joseph and Jonah represent two very different responses to God's call. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, responded with quiet, faithful obedience every time God directed him, even when the path was costly or unexpected. Jonah, on the other hand, ran in th...

Recorded on Sunday, 06/14/26 | Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3:17-19 | The prophet Habakkuk faced a crisis of faith when God's promises seemed broken and his world was falling apart. Rather than offering polite prayers, Habakkuk brought his raw, honest complaints directly to God, questioning divine silence in the face of injustice. God responded not with rebuke but with reassurance, promising that j...

Recorded on Sunday, 06/07/26 | Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40:29-31 | This service was Christian Education and Confirmation Sunday at Perinton Presbyterian Church. The service centered on the baptism of four young adults and the confirmation of eleven youth into full adult membership in the church. Three graduating seniors, Drew, Chloe, and Kiera, shared personal testimonies about their faith journ...

Recorded on Sunday, 05/31/26 at the 11am service. Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-20 Paul's letter to the Corinthians addresses serious divisions within the early church, where believers had created hierarchies among spiritual gifts and brought worldly competition into their fellowship. Paul teaches three essential truths: there is no hierarchy of spiritual gifts, all gifts come from the...

Recorded on Sunday, 05/24/26 | Scripture Readings: Acts 2:1-21 | The day of Pentecost marks the birth of the church through the Holy Spirit's outpouring. After Jesus' ascension, the disciples waited together in unity for ten days until the Spirit came like rushing wind and tongues of fire. This wasn't just a historical event - it demonstrates God's desire for believers today to exp...

Recorded on Sunday, 05/17/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Romans 12:9-21 | Christians are called to be living exhibitions of God's kingdom values to the world. Romans 12:9-21 provides a blueprint for this kingdom living, calling believers to show genuine love, honor one another, serve with enthusiasm, and bless rather than curse those who oppose them. The church's witness has...

Recorded on Sunday, 05/10/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Matthew 25:31-46 | Biblical righteousness goes beyond personal piety to encompass how we treat others in our communities. The Hebrew word tzedakah means social relations that honor people's God-given worth. Throughout Scripture, God consistently calls His people to care for the vulnerable while maintaining authentic worship...

Recorded on Sunday, 05/03/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: John 18:33-40 | In a world where truth seems to shift constantly, the question 'What is truth?' remains as relevant today as when Pontius Pilate first asked Jesus. Christianity makes a bold claim that truth is not just an abstract concept, but a person - Jesus Christ, who declared himself to be the way, the truth, and t...

Recorded on Sunday, 04/26/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Psalm 96:1-9, Romans 12:1-2, Revelation 5:11-14 | Worship extends far beyond Sunday services to encompass our entire relationship with God. The word comes from Old English 'worthship,' meaning to declare God's worthiness. Biblical worship has three dimensions: bowing down in reverence (proskuneo), engaging in acts o...

Recorded on Sunday, 04/19/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Acts 2:42-47 | The church exists to provide shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship for God's children. True shelter means being a safe refuge where people can bring their authentic selves without fear. Nurture involves teaching, encouragement, and walking through life together as a community. Spiritual fellowship goes b...

Recorded on Sunday, 04/12/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Matthew 28:16-20 | The church's first great purpose is proclaiming the gospel for the salvation of humankind. The word gospel comes from a Greek military term meaning good news of victory and peace, which perfectly describes what Christ offers through his death and resurrection. Many Christians hesitate to share their faith...

Recorded on Easter Sunday, 04/05/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Matthew 28:1-10 | Easter morning brought the most earth-shaking event in human history when women arrived at Jesus' tomb expecting death but encountered resurrection. Matthew records two significant earthquakes - one at Christ's crucifixion and another at His resurrection - representing the collision of life and...

Recorded on Maundy Thursday, 04/02/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: John 13:1-15, 34-35 | On Maundy Thursday, Jesus demonstrated the heart of Christian faith by washing his disciples' feet, showing that true leadership means serving others. The name comes from the Latin word for commandment, referring to Jesus' new command to love one another as he loved them. This wasn't j...

Recorded on Sunday, 03/29/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Luke 19:29-40 | Palm Sunday reveals two contrasting parades in Jerusalem - Jesus riding humbly on a donkey while crowds celebrated with palm branches, and Pilate entering with military force to intimidate the people. When religious leaders asked Jesus to quiet his followers, he refused, saying even the stones would cry out. Aft...

Recorded on Sunday, 03/22/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Isaiah 43:16-19, Philippians 3:12-14 | Many of us feel trapped by our past—whether it's old mistakes, former successes, or outdated identities that prevent us from moving forward. True freedom in Christ isn't about having no limits on our behavior, but about having the freedom to move into the life God has prepared for...

Recorded on Sunday, 03/15/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Luke 15:11-32 | The parable of the prodigal son reveals God's unconditional love through the story of a father and his two sons. The younger son squanders his inheritance and returns home expecting rejection, but receives an extravagant welcome instead. The older son, faithful but resentful, struggles to accept his father&#...

Recorded on Sunday, 03/08/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Psalm 32:1-11, Luke 13:31-34 | Life is a journey where we often carry invisible burdens that weigh us down spiritually and emotionally. These include grief, fear, rejection, and unconfessed sin. Jesus faced these same challenges but chose a different path - the way around - rather than conforming to worldly expectations. He off...

Recorded on Sunday, 03/01/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Psalm 37:23-27, Isaiah 55:1-2 | God has prepared a place for each of us at His table, where everyone belongs regardless of their background or circumstances. Psalm 37 reminds us that God walks so closely with us that He holds our hand through every season of life, promising that we will never be forsaken. When we face modern ch...

Recorded on Sunday, 02/22/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Psalm 1 | Psalm 1 reveals the secret to lasting happiness: choosing to walk God's well-worn path instead of blazing your own trail through life. True happiness comes from rejecting harmful influences and delighting in God's ways. The Hebrew word 'ashrei' describes not just a feeling, but a blessed way of life ch...

Recorded on Sunday, 02/15/26, at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Matthew 17:1-9 | Moses and Elijah, who appeared with Jesus during the Transfiguration, both faced tremendous suffering and injustice yet chose forgiveness over bitterness. Their presence with Jesus represents wisdom from those who understood how to overcome hardship without becoming consumed by resentment. True forgiveness isn...

Recorded on Sunday, 02/08/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: John 16:16-24, 33 | Life often brings seasons where hope feels impossible and we find ourselves exhausted by circumstances beyond our control. Jesus predicted that his disciples would experience deep sorrow and hopelessness, but he also promised that their pain would transform into joy. The key message is that our story isn&#39...

Recorded on Sunday, 02/01/26 at the 8:30am service | Scripture Readings: James 3:1-18 | Words have incredible power to build up or tear down, and James teaches us that our tongues, though small, can direct entire relationships like a bit controls a horse. Four dangerous forms of speech include demeaning words, boastful speech, deceitful communication, and speaking evil of others. While we cannot p...

Recorded on Sunday, 01/18/26 at the 11am service | Scripture Readings: Matthew 4:1-11 | Jesus' 40-day wilderness experience reveals how to face temptation with God's strength. The devil tempted Jesus to prove himself, show off, and pursue power, but Jesus responded each time with Scripture. These same temptations challenge us today—pursuing money and power above all else, breaking commitme...