Sermons from Saint Christopher's By-the-Sea, Portland Texas

Father John tells the story of a boy who is sent on a great adventure, who is promised treasures and riches, but also to see great and wondrous things.  Using the medium of a Short Story, Father John conveys the idea of evangelism as something we do with others, and not to others.  Based on John 1:43-51, this story gives the illusion of the Christian life as a journey.

Baptism is our entrance into the Household of God.  But when we are baptized, we (or our parents and godparents) make vows as to how we will live our life.  And these vows are among the most important we make.  In this sermon, Father John answers questions about beginning our new life, and in our dark and troubling world, how we living into the promises we have made.

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, the day we celebrate the coming of the Magi, who offered gifts to the Christ Child.  Why do we celebrate this day?  Father Blackburn explores what Epiphany and Manifestation looks like in our daily lives.

Today's Gospel passage includes the Slaughter of the Innocents that Herod order in Bethlehem.  The fear of losing power is a motivating factor for Herod.  In the sermon, Father John explores what power looks like when it is corrupted over and against what power looks like in the hands of God.  

On the Feast of the Holy Name, Father Blackburn explores what it means to hold power in the Name of Jesus.  What does a name mean, and why is it important that God has given us his name, and the Name of Jesus?  

What does it mean to be adopted into a family?  Or, more importantly, what does it look like to be adopted into the Family of God.  Father John explores the meaning of adoption, tradition, grace and inheritance and how we live into the fullness of God's love.

The Gospel of Saint John beginnings with some of the most memorable, yet puzzling words about The Word.  Who is this Word, and what does he bring.  As Saint John unfolds the mystery of the incarnation in terms of Word, Light and Life, we all gain a greater understand of just who Jesus is.  Father Blackburn's sermon on Christmas Day helps us see how Word and Life and Light all inters...

We all know the Christmas story, but this year, perhaps we need to listen to it with fresh ears.  Father Blackburn describes how the coming of the Son of God breaks into the ordinariness of our life, and brings Love with him as he does.  This sermon is from our Christmas Eve Service in 2020.

One of the great delights from the Ordination service held at Saint Christopher's was the sermon by Father Blackburn's good friend, The Rev'd Brian Tarver.  The two had worked together at Saint Philip's Church in Beeville, and Father Tarver is now the Rector of Saint David's Church in San Antonio.  

There is a question that arises every year about what do we do with Mary.  Do we venerate her?  Is she important in our faith?  What is her role in our History of Salvation?  This Sunday, the Gospel is the Annunciation, found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke.  We explore and ask the question, "What does Mary's 'Yes' mean for us?"  The Rev'd John Blackburn is...

Preaching a sermon on the Collect of the Day, Deacon John asks what it would really look like if God were to come right now with Great Power and Might.  

Sometimes there are situations that we must wait through, or we must endure with no true end in sight.  We all go through some of these.  Israel also went through a period like this; we call it the Babylonian Exile.  But over time, God speaks words of comfort, words of assurance to us.  In this Sermon, Deacon John describes what waiting sometimes looks like, and the words of co...

Happy First Sunday of Advent.  The Church often looks both forward and backwards on Advent Sunday; backward as we remember what waiting looked like in ages past, but also forward to the coming judgement of Christ.  As you listen to today's sermon, consider how you might make your own heart ready for him, and what the coming of Christ means in your own life.

Today is the Feast of Christ the King, the end of the Liturgical Year.  But, when we celebrate Christ the King Day, are we actively working in the Kingdom, or simply gazing towards it in the distance?  Learn about a tiny sermon that Mother Teresa would preach, known as "The Gospel of the Five Fingers", and how to be more sheep-like, rather than goat-like.  The text for this morning...

In today's Sermon, The Rev'd John Blackburn speaks about his recent trip to the Diocese of Navajoland, and some of the experiences that he was able to take part in.  As he recollects about the experiences that he had, Deacon John relates how the people who he encountered gave of their "talents", which produced more good.

What is a Saint?  Why are Saints considered special in the life of our Church?  Are they superheros on a divine scale?  Or, just ordinary folk who love God.  On this All Saints' Day, Deacon John discusses the active role that the Saints play in our lives today, and why we should all "strive to be one too".

Stewardship is one of the hardest concepts to address in our modern Christian Life.  Between what some people see as the Church trying to "get rich", or for ministers to try to extort money out of their flock, it becomes difficult to discuss stewardship.  In this sermon, Deacon John explains his own discipline of stewardship.  This is the last of our fall stewardship sermons for 202...

What belongs to us? What about to God? What role does our money play? Why do we tithe? These are all questions we ask daily in our life she dealing with finances, possessions, and meeting our basic needs.

Not long after the Crossing at the Red Sea, the Children of Israel fell away from trusting in God, and constructed a calf made of gold, and gave willingly the materials needed to fabricate a false god.  How do we prevent ourselves from making the same mistakes?  What are the idols that we have in our lives that prevent us for seeing God clearly?  Deacon John argues that one way we c...

First, please forgive the Audio Quality of this recording; we had some major difficulties with technology today. What bearing do the Ten Commandments have today? What about Love? What about our current Political climate?

One of the most moving passages in the New Testament is Saint Paul's writing in Philippians 2, where he exhorts the Church to, "Let the same mind be in you as in Christ".  What does it mean to be of the same mind?  What would it look like?  Join Deacon Blackburn and the Saint Christopher's Church as we ask what being of the same mind of Christ means.

The Parable of the Laborers from the Gospel of Matthew begs us to consider what is fair.  Why did people who came to work in a field receive the same wages as those who have been working all day?  What was the Master of the Vineyard doing?  Deacon John works through two definitions of what fairness is in the Kingdom of God.  The text for this sermon is Matthew 20:1-16.

Matthew 18 has a few verses that have been used by the Church to form factions and divide the unity of the Church.  But, is this what Jesus is really saying?  Perhaps, not.  Deacon John discusses how Matthew 18 might be a tool for growing and unifying the church, rather than dividing it.

Jesus calls us to take up our crosses, to die to self and to this world.  Deacon John explores themes involving works of art, 20th Century Martyrs, and our call to life into a crucified life today.  The Scripture reference is Matthew 16:21-28.  For links to some of the artwork that was shown during the sermon, here are some links. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agony_in_the_Garden :...

Jesus asks a question of his disciples, and it is a question that all of us need to ask from time to time.  Who do people say that we are?  This sermon is based on the passage from the Gospel of Matthew.  Deacon Blackburn explores the meaning of identity and call.