Sermons from St. John the Divine

In this second message from Letters to a Young Christian, we reflect on God’s deepest desire—that all people would be rescued, forgiven, and brought near through Jesus Christ. As we discover God’s heart for the world, we are invited to make His desire our own: to pray for all people, to live in peace, and to share the love that has transformed us.

In a week shadowed by violence, this sermon returns us to the hope and power of the gospel. Walking through Luke 15, we explore the joy of being found, the light of the Spirit that searches for the lost, and the church’s call to carry that light into a dark world. Be encouraged to trade outrage for intercession, resentment for generosity, and fear for the Lamb’s radiant peace.

In the opening message of our new series Letters to a Young Christian, we turn to Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Paul reminds Timothy, and us, of what matters most: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. In a culture weighed down by anxiety and brokenness, this word of grace overflows with hope. If you have ever felt lost or burdened, this sermon proclaims the good news that Jesus...

When Paul wrote his brief letter to Philemon, he invited a master to welcome back a runaway servant not as property, but as a beloved brother in Christ. At the heart of this little book is a big truth: forgiveness is not only possible, it is transformative. In this sermon, we reflect on how the grace of God frees us from the prisons of guilt, resentment, and bitterness, and how choosing to forgive...

Paul’s short letter to Philemon is more than an ancient note between two men. It is a living word about forgiveness and freedom. Onesimus, a runaway slave, found himself in a prison cell, but also found Christ through Paul’s witness. Philemon, his master, was challenged to welcome Onesimus back not as property, but as a brother in Christ. This powerful story invites us to see ourselves in both men...

What does it mean to practice true Kingdom hospitality? In this sermon, we’re challenged to see the face of God in the stranger, the outsider, and those different from ourselves. Unlike worldly hospitality, which is conditional and comfortable, Kingdom hospitality calls us beyond our fears and prejudices to welcome with open hearts. Discover how Jesus’ radical example of inclusion reshapes our liv...

What does it mean that Jesus takes the lowest place at the table—and still becomes both host and meal? In this sermon, we reflect on Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet and discover the radical hospitality of the Kingdom of God. Unlike the social ladders and power games of this world, Christ welcomes the poor, the broken, and the undeserving. He Himself takes the humble place, even to the cross,...

When Jesus attends a dinner party, He doesn’t just take a seat. He rewrites the seating chart. In Luke 14, Jesus flips the rules of social climbing upside down, challenging our obsession with status and teaching us what true hospitality looks like. Instead of jockeying for recognition, He calls us to humble ourselves and invite those who can’t pay us back. What happens when we take His party advic...

Happy Rally Day at St. John the Divine! This sermon calls us to gather as one body in Christ, to renew our faith, and to be set free by Jesus who sees us, heals us, and empowers us with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Drawing on Hebrews and the story of the bent-over woman, we are reminded that worship is not about order alone: it is about gratitude: standing tall in God’s grace, lifting our hearts i...

The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill draws from Hebrews 11–12 and a personal memory of his brother’s final high school track meet to reflect on what it means to run with endurance the race set before us. Surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” the Christian life is not a solitary sprint but a shared journey of encouragement, perseverance, and hope in Christ. Whether you’re weary in faith or feeling w...

Have you ever been unsettled by Jesus’ words that he came not to bring peace but division? This sermon wrestles honestly with that difficult passage, showing how Christ’s message disrupts the status quo and calls us into bold, transforming faith. Drawing on Hebrews’ image of the Christian life as a race of endurance, it explores what it means to lay aside the weights that hold us back, to trust Go...

When Jesus returns, will He find you ready? The Rev. Reagan Cocke shares how to trade fear for faith, treasure the Kingdom over possessions, and live prepared for the Master’s arrival.

Feeling worn out in your faith? Hebrews 11 awakens us to see God’s unseen reality when life feels stale. Discover how shifting your focus can reignite joy, renew conviction, and open your eyes to the presence of the Holy Spirit.

When life brings triumph or tragedy, how do we respond? In this sermon, The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill reflects on Paul’s letter to the Colossians, urging us to live lives rooted in Christ—not as an add-on to busy lives, but as the very center. Especially in seasons of grief and doubt, we are called to keep walking in faith, trusting in a God who walks with us.

What does it mean to walk in Christ? In this sermon, The Rev. Reagan Cocke connects Paul’s call to live in Christ with Jesus’ teaching on prayer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we’re invited into daily dependence on God, bold and intimate prayer, and a life rooted in God's presence.

The Rev. Reagan Cocke reflects on Mary and Martha to explore the difference between doing for Jesus and being with him. Mary sees in Jesus the very presence of God, one who forgives, reconciles, and holds all things together. In the wake of deep loss, we are reminded that Christ meets us in our suffering, and nothing can separate us from his love. Even Martha, in the end, comes to know this good p...

The Most Rev. Josiah-Idowu Fearon reflects on the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10. While Martha busies herself with hospitality, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. What does it mean to choose “the better part”? Is our faith rooted in doing, or in delighting? Are we willing to pause, to sit, to submit, and to draw close to Christ?

When a religious scholar asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, the answer doesn’t come in a formula. It comes in a story. In this sermon, Bishop Josiah Fearon challenges us to see ourselves not as the hero, but as the one in the ditch: helpless, broken, and in need of mercy. Drawing from the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Bishop Fearon reminds us that salvation isn't something we earn by religio...

Seminarian Karlie Keller reflects on the parable of the Good Samaritan and the command to love God and neighbor, asking where we see ourselves in the story. She explores Jesus as the true Samaritan, moving toward us with gut-level compassion, binding our wounds, and entrusting us to the Church, the inn where we receive care through the sacraments. As modern innkeepers, Karlie reminds us, we are ca...

Seminarian Karlie Keller explores Jesus’ sending of the 72 disciples with the message, “The kingdom of God has come near.” This sermon invites us to receive and share Christ’s peace, grieve the world’s brokenness, and join in God’s work of healing as we participate in the kingdom drawing near today.

In this sermon, we hear Jesus’ call to go out like the 72 disciples, proclaiming the kingdom of God with courage and trust. We are reminded that Jesus sends us to share his peace and healing, not burdened by fear of failure, things, or our own needs. Instead, we are invited to depend on God, bless others, and remain faithful even when facing rejection. As we go out from worship to love and serve t...

Why do we start our walk with Jesus so determined, only to lose focus along the way? In this sermon on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem from Luke’s Gospel, we explore how our everyday hesitations mirror the struggles of would-be disciples who let even good things distract them from following Jesus fully. But the good news is that our salvation doesn’t depend on perfect resolve, but on Christ’s unwaveri...

Are miracles just stories from the Bible—or does God still intervene in the world today? In this sermon, we reflect on Jesus’ healing of the Gerasene demoniac and explore the deeper meaning behind miraculous encounters: divine compassion, spiritual rebirth, and the call to share the good news. With a personal story, the preacher offers heartfelt testimony that God’s love and power are still at wor...

When Jesus heals the man possessed by demons in the country of the Gerasenes, the man begs to follow him, but Jesus tells him to go home and share what God has done. In this sermon, we’re reminded that God’s transforming power is not only real but also deeply personal. The miracle isn’t just that the man was healed—it’s that he became the first apostle to the Gentiles, sent not far away, but home....

Happy Father’s Day! Today’s sermon dives deep into the mystery of the Trinity— Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— with stories that are as heartfelt as they are relatable. Through personal testimony, Scripture, and real-life moments of joy and struggle, The Rev. Reagan Cocke explores how the Holy Spirit isn’t just a theological concept, but a guiding presence—compelling, comforting, and incredibly real...