Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons

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 warhorse like a conquering general; He comes on a donkey—a prophetic drama that redefines kingship. In this sermon, Pastor Thomas unpacks the historical and cultural backdrop of John 12 to show how Jesus confronts our expectations—both then and now.You’ll hear how Christ refuses to be co-opted by our politics, why reforming culture is not the same as saving souls, and why the Church—not government—is God’s chosen instrument to display His Kingdom. And you’ll see the hope of the gospel: the humble King who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey will one day return in glory, riding on a white horse to judge evil and rescue His people.This message calls us to receive Jesus as He really is—not our version of Him, but the King revealed in Scripture—so that we might follow Him faithfully in our world today.

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 sovereign timing of God in seasons of confusion, and the resurrection power of Jesus that brings life from death. Pastor Andrey asks penetrating questions: What do we hold onto when everything seems to fall apart? Do we trust in God’s timing even when it doesn’t make sense?Walking through the chapter in three parts —Death and Life to the Glory of God (vv. 1–27)Life and the Defeat of Death by the Power of God (vv. 28–44)Unbelief and Animosity Toward the Son of God (vv. 45–57) —he shows how this miracle is not merely a story of one man raised, but a preview of the cross, and a picture of our salvation.

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 respond?—and offers deep assurance for weary believers living in a dark world: the Shepherd who calls you is the Shepherd who keeps you.

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 leaders of His day, while revealing Himself as the true Shepherd who calls His sheep by name and offers abundant life.Second, we see Jesus the Good Shepherd (vv. 11–18). Unlike hired hands, Jesus willingly lays down His life for the sheep. His care is comprehensive: He knows His own, secures them, and even gathers “other sheep” into one flock—Jews and Gentiles together. This is a love that not only rescues but also provides abundant life here and eternal life to come.Finally, we see a continuing confusion (vv. 19–21). Some accuse Jesus of being demon-possessed, while others marvel at His words and works. Pastor Andrey presses us to consider: do we hear the voice of the Shepherd? Do His words stir us toward worship, trust, and obedience?The sermon closes with a picture from Revelation 7, where the Lamb becomes our eternal Shepherd, wiping away every tear and leading His people to springs of living water. The abundant life Jesus offers is not just for today—it is forever.

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 confronted with our own blindness and need for spiritual sight.In this sermon, we explore how Jesus reveals Himself as the true Messiah, the Light of the World, and the only one who opens blind eyes. Some reject Him in pride; others bow in worship. The call is clear: will we remain blind in self-righteousness, or will we see and believe in the Savior who gives life?

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 Nicodemus, a man whose quiet questions and cautious words remind us that God often works slowly in drawing people to Himself. This passage confronts us with a choice: Will we scoff in pride, stand undecided, or come thirsty to the only One who satisfies?

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 and works provoke varied reactions—astonishment, confusion, division, and rejection—yet all serve to reveal His identity as the one sent from God. This message invites us to examine our own responses to Jesus, and to trust in His divine purpose even when He defies our expectations.

In this sermon, Pastor Thomas Terry walks us through John 6:22–59, where Jesus makes the stunning claim, “I am the bread of life.” Drawing connections to the manna in the wilderness, Thomas shows how Jesus reveals Himself as the true and better bread sent from heaven—not merely to fill stomachs but to satisfy souls eternally.This message confronts our tendency to chase after signs and superficial blessings instead of the Savior Himself. Through four movements—The Shallow Search, The Superior Source, The Satisfying Substance, and The Secure Salvation—Thomas challenges us to examine what kind of “bread” we pursue in life and calls us to a deeper faith rooted in the sustaining provision of Christ.Whether you are wrestling with doubt, struggling with spiritual hunger, or just longing for assurance, this sermon will lift your eyes to the One who never casts out those who come to Him.