Trinity United Presbyterian Church

Pressure can be as recent as your last thought, but pressure is nothing new. Centuries ago, James (the half-brother of Jesus) gave encouragement and guidance to Christians who faced intense challenges. Dispersed by persecution and hardship, James’ words invite them – and us – to let life’s pressure points guide them toward a deeper journey with Jesus. Learn how faith in Christ can transform life’s...

"Sleeping Thru Christmas"

"Sleeping Thru Christmas"

To find Christ, the Magi followed a star. Since they were seeking a king, they naturally assumed it would guide them to an elegant palace. The home of such a king would certainly be a center of commerce! And (of course!) it would be a deeply religious place, where people go to find God. To their surprise (and ours) the star led them to none of these. Christmas reminds us of the surprising justice...

“Jesus.” As for all of us, this baby’s name describes him – but the name also defines his purpose. This baby would be “Jesus – The Lord’s Rescue” – because he would save people from their sins. Within the angel’s message is the deep surprise that God’s forgiveness always includes sacrifice; so this baby was born to die. Jesus’ life is all about forgiveness – and how we can share it with others.

Poor Zechariah! Suffering for his doubt, he’s made speechless by an angel. He waits nine months to tell others the news he’s been told and the miracles he’s witnessed. Zechariah is punished for his doubt and lack of wonder. What about us? The amazement of our childhood is quickly replaced by boredom, skepticism, and inattention. But Christmas is all about Wonder – and how we can share it with othe...

For us, Christmas arrives at the same time every year; but for centuries, people waited and waited for God’s rescue – for “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4). As we wait in the season of Advent – the four weeks until Christmas – we learn once more about the sheer patience and perfect timing of God. Contentment is trust in God, even when we don’t yet have what we’d truly love to have now.

- Feet that Go - People who gather together as Living Proof don't just stay together -- they move out. Are you ready to hit the road??

- Knees for Prayer - Prayer is, first and foremost, a relationship. When we are willing to draw near to God, it transforms our prayers - and everything about us.

- Hands that Serve - In Ephesians 2:8–10, Paul reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works, but for a life of good works prepared by God. Our salvation is a gift, and our service is the evidence of that gift at work in us. As God’s workmanship, our hands become instruments of His love, reflecting His character to the world.

Arms of Love The story of the Good Samaritan shows us that we must move beyond excuses and be actively loving in this life. True religion means taking care of others.

A Heart for Christ Alone

- A Voice to Speak the Good News - Christ is the "image of the invisible God", and we each are called to describe Christ with the story of our lives.

- A Mind Transformed by God's Word - When Jesus tells us to "repent," we usually think about changing our behavior. But our Lord meant (and means) so much more! Jesus invites and even commands us to let our minds be blown up by seeing the world -- ourselves, the future, all of life -- with God's perspective.

- Intro to the Series - What does it mean to be Living Proof daily?

This sermon will focus on remembering the past and embracing God's future. But we are a forgetful people. The Exodus, culminating in the stacking of the "Ebenezer" shows a road map for remembering and moving forward. Deuteronomy 8:10-19, culminating in Joshua 4:4-9 shows how remembering is always meant to propel God's people to present and future faithfulness. Remembering the "right" things and le...

To the church in Laodicea…

To the Philadelphia "Outpost"- the open door

An outpost is "a small military camp some distance from the main force, used especially to guard against surprise attacks." And we come to discover our own purpose by remembering that Trinity was once an outpost in every sense of the word -- remote, isolated from other churches, vulnerable, and yet with a clear (even military-style) spiritual purpose. We still are! And for the next few weeks, we'l...

Mephibosheth. 1. The impulse to show kindness 2. Broken feet and broken hearts - some people’s woundedness is obvious; others is not . . . we need to care for both. We have fractured relationships with ourselves, with God, with others, with the earth. 3. The invitation: Are you willing to be a Ziba? One who invites others to the king’s table. 4. Welcomed Home: We can come as we are and be assured...

Here we see David’s flaws and the worst of his “Outlaw” nature. We all have this within us – so we need to know how to resist our inner Outlaw. And.. The more capable we become, the more easily we fall, AND the greater our impact when we fail. The (often unsung) heroes speak to us “the truth in love” (Eph 4:15), especially the truth we don’t want to hear.

An introduction to David, a man after God’s own heart, and a bit more about Samuel. Also, we are not so much commanded to serve God as we are anointed. David turned out to be amazingly talented, successful, and powerful – but it wasn’t obvious; God revealed it through David’s anointing. The king we truly desire is Jesus, the Messiah.

Pride, insecurity, and disobedience lead to downfall. Saul started with a promise but rebelled, eventually losing God’s favor. He embodies the classic outlaw origin story, who refuses to follow the right path when times become tough and ends up in self-destruction. His story warns us about the dangers of pride, impatience, and rejecting God’s guidance.

Samuel was a prophet raised to listen to God’s voice and guide Israel through turbulent times. Samuel had many moments to compromise, to embrace passivity, or cave to the powerful and influential. But he remained committed to truth of his mission and God’s Word. Like the frontier preacher in a Western town, he stood against wickedness and called for righteousness. His lesson warns against letting...

Hannah seemed to have so little, but her prayers and willingness to sacrifice were a hinge-point for God’s salvation history. Our prayers can seem so small, but God can use them – and our commitment to Him – to bring about a huge impact. Trinity’s history is soaked in prayer – is this the (not-so-secret) reason for our ministry's success?