The First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton

The eleventh chapter of Luke’s Gospel sees Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. In the simplified version of The Lord’s Prayer, we are given a pattern for prayers of all kinds. Using this pattern, Jesus teaches us how to bring every aspect of our lives before God in prayer.

So far, Luke’s Gospel has told us that Jesus is the savior of all - but what exactly does Jesus save us from? In three brief stories, chapter 8 reveals Jesus’ power to save humanity from natural disaster, evil, sickness, and death. The salvation offered in Christ assures us of the life to come, but begins with the problems we face here and now.

The seventh chapter of Luke's Gospel challenges us to reconsider our understanding of the relationship between faith, forgiveness. and healing. In presenting contrasting stories of faith and healing, Jesus reveals God's will to liberate the sick, dying, and grieving regardless of whether or not the recipient is deserving.

Chapter 6 in Luke’s Gospel begins the Sermon on the Plain. Significantly, Jesus leaves the confines of the synagogue to deliver his best remembered teaching. In this challenging sermon, we are called to do the impossible. But through the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, everything is possible for us.

Chapter 5 in Luke’s Gospel introduces us to Jesus’ first disciples. In order to follow Jesus Pete, James, and John must leave everything - prosperity, safety, and familiarity. They are called to practice a discipleship that is built on sacrificial faith. The church today is called to this same costly discipleship.

Our series on Luke’s Gospel continues with a look at Jesus’ hometown sermon. Following the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus offers a mission statement for his earthly ministry - naming the things God has sent him to do. Pastor Jon asks whether the Church has confused the mission of the Gospel for the Gospel itself.

Between now and Easter, we will take a deep dive into the Gospel of Luke with an eye toward what makes Luke’s account unique, how it speaks to us today, and how it helps us answer the question: what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Beginning a summary of Luke’s first 3 chapters, Pastor Jon uses Luke 4:1-13 to explain how Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel, the second Adam, and the culmination of God...

On the First Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Jon opens the Prophet Isaiah (61:10-62:3) to explore God’s unifying plan of salvation - from the particular to the universal; from Israel to all of humanity; and from Adam to Jesus. The central narrative of all scripture, from the time of Isaiah until now has been God’s story of restoring humanity to right-relationship with himself.

With Christmas Eve comes the Incarnation of the Word - God made flesh. The truth of Immanuel - God with us - is manifest in a stubborn joy that overcomes the darkness of the world. Over and against happiness, which comes and goes, the stubborn joy that Jesus brings with His birth carries us through the challenges of this life. Jesus stubbornly loved humanity so that we might have stubborn joy thro...

On the third Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist warns his followers that the life of faith does not end with forgiveness, it begins here (Luke 3:7-14). When we are baptized and receive God’s forgiveness, we are given the choice to walk a new path that follows the steps of Jesus. When we begin with forgiveness, we can take the sacrificial journey toward Christ in the knowledge that good works are b...

Focusing on Luke 3:1-7, Pastor Jon walks through the narrative structure of Luke to show the evangelist’s emphasis on Jesus’ historical, political, and religious context. Through this short prologue, we learn that God has sent Jesus on a journey that covers the full spectrum of human existence. And on this journey, fear is met by joy.

Pastor Jon introduces our series for the season of Advent by surveying the evolving meaning of Advent throughout the history of the church. From the time of ancient Israel, through Jesus’ ministry, the Apostolic Age, and now in the Age of the Church - Advent is rife with meaning no matter what time we live in. One thing remains true: waiting for Jesus does not mean standing still. Over the course...

On Christ the King Sunday, Pastor Jon challenges us to consider whether we treat Jesus like a politician, rather than our King. Do we live life as though we have no king, or as though we are our own king. Following Jesus as King means sacrificial submission that mirrors the sacrificial submission of Jesus.

For Stewardship Sunday, Pastor Jon explores the idea of holy dissatisfaction in the story of Hannah found in 1 Samuel 1:4-20. Hannah models the life of faith that takes seriously God’s generosity, while meeting it with sacrificial giving. Her story teaches that we may be recipients of God’s gift, but we are not always the only ones blessed by God’s gifts.

This week Pastor Jon continues our stewardship series with 1 Kings 17:8-16. In this text we are introduced to God’s prophet Elijah and a foreign widow who saves his life. This scripture challenges us to see generosity as a non-transactional and costly discipline that ultimately finds its fullest expression in the cross.

This week Pastor Jon studies Deuteronomy 6:1-10 to explain how we are claimed as children of God. God’s covenant faithfulness from Israel into today is defined by his selfless generosity. When we practice this same generosity, we come to resemble our father’s love for the world.

This week Pastor Jon studies John 6:56, 60-69 and reflects on one of the greatest dangers in Christian life: the belief that God isn’t powerful enough to forgive our sins. The scandal of grace, which we experience in our liturgy every Lord’s Day, reminds us that God’s love overcomes all sin once and for all on the Cross.

This week Pastor Jon studies John 6:51-58 to answer the question: what happens when Christians gather for worship? From the early church into today, leaders and governments have feared what might happen when Christians gather around the table and worship the God whose life is poured out on the Cross and celebrated in the bread and wine at communion. Why do we fail to gather regularly and how might...

This week guest speaker Rev. Chesna Hinkley explores what it means to spend time with Jesus as a friend. Drawing from John 6:41-51, we learn that the sacraments offer a visible means of God’s invisible grace, and that we experience God in a new and different way every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. If we are to grow in Christ, we must commit to doing what it takes to build our relationship w...

This week Pastor Jon continues the second part of our summer series on evangelism. John 6:24-35 introduces the church to a theology of the table where Jesus - the Bread of Life - gives himself for the world. At the table we are fed with sustaining and everlasting life, the result of Christ’s body and blood poured out for the church. At the table, we invite our neighbor to tangibly experience God,...

This week Pastor Jon begins the second part of our summer series on evangelism. John 6:1-15 outlines 3 key truths about how the church bears witness: i. Disciples are responsible for feeding the crowd; ii. following Jesus for sustenance is enough; iii. we are all fed by Jesus’ hand. Following these truths means practicing a self-sacrificial form of evangelism that prioritizes the needs of our neig...

This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:5. This scripture harmonizes with Psalm 116 in its claim that God hears our cries in the midst of affliction. God is present in all circumstances, transforming misfortune into blessing. The Holy Spirit assures of this truth, among both believers and non-believers.

This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10. This scripture testifies to God’s strength which is made perfect in weakness. Paul reminds us that God is able to use our struggles, turning our afflictions into blessings. For this reason, our witness is incomplete without our weaknesses.

This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. This scripture reminds us of God’s faithfulness in circumstances of all kinds. Paul’s word to the church challenges us to base our evangelism primarily on our witness of God’s activity in our life. It may be that the elements of our witness which are most difficult to reconcile will serve as the foundation of...

This week Pastor Jon continues his series on evangelism by studying 2 Corinthians 5:11; 16-21 . This scripture calls members of the church God’s ambassadors to the world. The success and failure of an ambassador depends on their obedience to their King. As Christians, Christ is our King. If we find that our witness to the world has suffered, might it be because our obedience as ambassadors has als...