Third Church Sermons

This Sunday we're starting Advent, the season which most closely reflects the posture of the entire Christian life. We are people who live "in between" - between the first and second comings of Jesus, between the promise made and the promise fulfilled, between grace and shalom. Advent is a training ground for our entire life in Christ.

This Sunday we’ll be looking again Matthew 5:13-16, which speaks of Jesus' calling on his people to be agents of renewal and restoration in the world- a calling that endures in any and every circumstance we find ourselves in.

Next Sunday we will dive more deeply into the two key metaphors Jesus employs in this teaching: salt and light. But this Sunday, we'll focus on verse 15: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We're going to spend one last week in the beatitudes, but this time we're going to look at them as a complete whole.

We look at the last of the eight beatitudes this week and explore what persecution meant in Jesus's time and what it could mean today.

This week we'll continue in our study with the 7th beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers."

This Sunday, we'll look at two beatitudes about being merciful and pure in heart. What do these concepts mean today, and how are they related to each other? Join us as we explore those questions together.

This Sunday we'll turn to the next beatitude, “Blessed are the meek…” 9/15/24 Sermon Sources: - "What does righteousness mean?" Become New Podcast, Jan 23, 2024 - Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul - John Stott, The Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today commentary - Dale Bruner, Commentary on the Book of Matthew, volume 1

This Sunday we'll turn to the next beatitude, “Blessed are the meek…” 9/8/24 Sermon Sources: - Opening illustration from Greg Thompson, "A Community of Meekness," preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church. - Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul - John Stott, The Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today commentary - Dale Bruner, Commentary on the Book of Matthew, volume 1

This week we'll continue to explore the upside-down Kingdom of Jesus through the lens of the beatitudes. This Sunday we'll look at the second beatitude, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 9/1/24 Sermon Sources: - Sermon outline was used with permission from Robert Cunningham. See Robert Cunningham, "A Community of Lament." Sermon preached at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 6/1...

In this special podcast episode, listen in as we explore how Christians can think about the upcoming election, and how we might contribute to healing of our society's political polarization.

This week we’ll learn about what it means to be “poor in spirit” and why Jesus promises that the Kingdom belongs to such people. 8/25/24 Sermon Sources: - Bible Project podcast: "What does "Blessed" mean?," Jan 24, 2024 - "Is God's Blessing only for good people?" Become New podcast, Jan 17, 2024. The "reverse beatitudes" comes from John Ortberg. - Rowan Williams, Passions of the Soul - Matthew for...

This week, we're kicking off a new sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most important teachings of Jesus. 8/18/24 Sermon Sources: - Bible Project video: "What is the Sermon on the Mount?" https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/intro-to-sermon-on-the-mount/ - Bible Project podcast: "Kicking off a Year with Sermon on the Mount," Jan 1, 2024 - "The Most Impactful Speech in history,"...

This Sunday we conclude our Summer Series in the Psalms looking at the end of the Psalter at Psalm 150

This Sunday, we continue our study of the Psalms looking at Psalm 67 and are glad to have Richard Haney, Third’s Missiologist in Residence to preach.

This week we look at Psalm 42, a well known Psalm written from a place of honest turmoil and questioning. Elisabeth Hayes shares with us how we may find hope and relief in praying these words, even in our most desperate places.

This Sunday, Ed Satterfield continues our study of the Psalms looking at Psalm 91 and the certainty of God’s promise of protection and care in the midst of all kinds of trouble.

Guest preacher Nathan Walton continues our summer series on the Psalms preaching from Psalm 29.

We continue our summer series on the Psalms this Sunday with local mission partner Murray Withrow preaching on Psalm 8.

This week we're looking at Psalm 51, one of the most well-known and also one of the most emotional prayers in the entire Bible.

We continue our summer series on the Psalms this Sunday with Nicole Unice preaching on Psalm 107.

We continue our summer series on the Psalms this Sunday with Pastor Fakhri Yacoub from the Christian Arabic Church preaching on Psalm 23.

This Summer, we’re looking at the Psalms as the prayerbook of the church. This week, we’re exploring Psalm 19, and what it teaches us about the righteousness of God.

This Summer, we’re looking at the Psalms as the prayerbook of the church, beginning with Psalm 1.

Rev. Dr. Tharwat Wahba will be preaching from John 20:19-23 and reflecting on God's call on the Son and Jesus' corresponding call for us.