Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons

In this sermon from John 17:20-26, Pastor Andrey brings us into the final movement of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, where Christ intercedes not just for His immediate disciples, but for believers across the centuries—including us. Drawing on the profound reality that Jesus was praying for future believers before they ever existed, Andrey reveals the staggering truth of our inclusion in Christ's ete...

In this sermon from John 17:6-19, Pastor Sean takes us into the heart of Jesus' high priestly prayer, where Christ intercedes for his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. Sean reveals the stark contrast of a Savior who never abandons those he calls his own. As Jesus prepares to return to the Father, he prays not for their removal from a hostile world, but for their protection within it. This p...

In this sermon from John 17:1–5, Paul Hoffman invites us into the climactic moment of Jesus’ farewell discourse—the prayer that stands on the edge of the cross. Drawing on J.R.R. Tolkien’s idea of eucatastrophe—the sudden, joyful turn in a story—Paul shows how what appears to be tragedy in the eyes of the disciples is, in fact, the triumph of God’s redemptive plan. As Jesus lifts His eyes to heave...

What do you stand on when clarity doesn’t calm your fear, and life begins to unravel? In this message from John 16:25–33, Jesus speaks to His disciples on the eve of the cross—not with sentimental comfort or vague optimism, but with unshakable certainty. As He prepares them for betrayal, suffering, and scattering, Jesus anchors their hearts in three enduring realities: they are loved by the Father...

Dear Church Family, Your generosity this past year has not only been remarkable, but a clear marker of genuine faith. It has been steady, joyful, generous, and deeply faithful. More than numbers on a page, your giving reflects something far more important. It reflects a heart that understands money as a gift from God, entrusted to us for the sake of His gospel. When Scripture says, “Where your tre...

In this message from John 16:5–15, Jesus speaks tenderly to sorrow-filled disciples on the eve of His departure—and offers them an unexpected gift. Though His going feels like loss, Jesus insists it is to their advantage, because the Helper is coming. In this sermon, we explore why the coming of the Holy Spirit is not a downgrade from Jesus’ physical presence, but the gracious completion of God’s...

What does real spiritual fruit actually come from? In John 15:1–17, Jesus reminds weary disciples, and weary believers, that lasting fruit, deep joy, and genuine love do not come from striving harder, but from remaining connected to Him, the true Vine. In this sermon, we explore how life flows from union with Christ, how obedience is meant to protect joy rather than diminish it, and how love for o...

In this Advent message, Pastor Andrey Gorban invites us to look again at the arrival of our King and to see not just thatHe came, but how He came. Drawing from Zechariah 9:9, this sermon contrasts the kings the world expects with the King God promised. While earthly rulers arrive with power, spectacle, and conquest, God’s King comes righteous and bringing salvation—humble, gentle, and riding on a...

In this Advent message, Pastor Thomas opens the season by taking us back to God’s covenant with David—one of the most significant promises in the entire storyline of Scripture. In a world exhausted by failed leaders, political polarization, and deep cultural cynicism, this passage meets us with a different kind of hope: the promise of a perfect, eternal King. Tracing the biblical story from Genesi...

This exploration of John 14:15-31 confronts us with a challenging truth: love isn't proven by our words or feelings, but by our actions. When Jesus says 'If you love me, you will keep my commandments,' He's not placing an impossible burden on our shoulders—He's defining love the way God defines it. The beauty of this passage is that Jesus never commands without providing what He commands. We can't...

In the midst of confusion, betrayal, and impending loss, Jesus speaks words that seem almost impossible: 'Let not your hearts be troubled.' This exploration of John 14:1-14 takes us into the upper room where Jesus comforts His disciples with the most profound promise imaginable—Himself. Rather than offering elaborate explanations or detailed roadmaps, Jesus repeatedly redirects our focus from plac...

In the shadow of betrayal, we discover the most profound display of love the world has ever known. This exploration of John 13:31-35 takes us into the upper room where Jesus, fully aware that Judas has just left to betray him and that Peter will soon deny him, speaks not of bitterness or self-protection, but of glory and love. What makes this moment so extraordinary is the timing—Jesus declares hi...

This powerful exploration of John 13 confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: we are all capable of betraying Jesus. Through the parallel stories of Judas and Peter, we're invited to examine the hidden corners of our own hearts where unchecked sin, self-preservation, and comfort-seeking can lead us away from faithful discipleship. The sermon reveals Jesus in his full humanity—troubled, distressed...

In this powerful scene from John 13, Jesus—fully aware that the Father had given all things into His hands—rises from supper, lays aside His garments, and kneels to wash His disciples’ feet. In this single, scandalous act of humility, the Sovereign King of creation becomes the servant of sinners. This sermon invites us to marvel at the love of Christ—“having loved His own who were in the world, He...

In this powerful closing moment of Jesus’ public ministry, we stand at the edge of the cross — where agony and glory collide. In John 12:27–50, Jesus reveals that the hour of His suffering is not a tragedy to be avoided, but the very triumph of God’s redemptive plan. Pastor Thomas walks through four scenes that uncover the meaning of the cross: The Cross — where the Son of God trembles under divin...

What is something truly worth? What does the way we live reveal about what we value? In this powerful sermon, Trinity Church Member Sean Jim invites us to reflect on the cost of following Jesus—and why He is worth it. Preaching from John 12:20–26, Sean unpacks three key scenes: unexpected worshipers, glory in death, and life through loss. In a world that constantly tempts us to preserve our lives,...

On the surface, the Triumphal Entry looks like a spontaneous parade—palm branches waving, crowds shouting “Hosanna!”—but John shows us it’s something far deeper. The people are reenacting a familiar script from Israel’s history, welcoming Jesus the way their ancestors once welcomed Simon Maccabeus, their liberating leader. Yet Jesus intentionally flips the scene on its head. He doesn’t ride a warh...

In this sermon from John 11, Pastor Andrey leads us through one of the most emotionally rich and theologically profound chapters in the Gospel of John—the raising of Lazarus from the dead. With pastoral warmth and careful exposition, he unpacks the beauty, sorrow, timing, and triumph found in Jesus’ actions and words. We’re invited to see the compassion of Christ as He weeps with His friends, the...

In John 10:22–42, Jesus stands in the temple during the Feast of Dedication and is charged with blasphemy for claiming equality with God. Against the backdrop of a false “god manifest” (Antiochus), we meet the true God in the flesh and hear His promise: “No one will snatch them out of my hand.” This sermon walks through four simple questions—Who is He? Who are His? What has He done? How will you r...

In this sermon, Pastor Andrey unfolds Jesus’ teaching in John 10, where Christ declares Himself both the door of the sheep and the Good Shepherd. First, we see the need for a shepherd (vv. 1–10). Jesus contrasts Himself with false shepherds who climb in another way—those who neglect, misuse, or scatter God’s people. Drawing from Ezekiel 34, Pastor Andrey shows how Jesus indicts the religious leade...

In John 9, Jesus encounters a man blind from birth and gives him sight—not only physically, but spiritually. This miracle sparks controversy among neighbors, parents, and Pharisees, all wrestling with the same question: Who is Jesus? As the healed man’s understanding of Christ grows from “a man” to “a prophet” to “one sent from God” and finally to the Son of Man worthy of worship, we are confronte...

When Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world,” He confronted darkness, exposed unbelief, and offered life to all who believe. In John 8:12–59, Pastor Thomas shows how this bold claim exposes hostility, reveals our deepest need, and points us to Christ as the only answer—calling us to belief, worship, and witness in a world of darkness.

When a woman is dragged before Jesus to be condemned, He turns the tables on her accusers with one piercing sentence: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” In this sermon, Pastor Thomas shows how Jesus exposes hypocrisy, warns us about judging others, and points us to the cross—where justice and mercy meet, and sinners stand forgiven, not condemned.

In John 7:37–52, Jesus stands and cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” It’s a bold invitation—urgent, clear, and life-changing. In this message, we walk through five scenes: the plotting of the religious leaders, the invitation to the thirsty, the division in the crowd, the arrest that never happens, and the pride-filled rejection of the Pharisees. Along the way, we meet N...

In this sermon on John 7:1–31, Pastor Andrey Gorban opens up the dramatic tension surrounding Jesus’ public ministry as He journeys to the Feast of Booths. Although He faces growing opposition from religious leaders and even misunderstanding from His own family, Jesus walks in perfect obedience to the Father’s timing and mission. With clarity and conviction, Pastor Andrey explores how Jesus’ words...