Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons

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 loved them to the end”—and to see how His love redefines greatness, power, and joy. As we watch Him stoop low to serve, we’re confronted with the question: If the Master has done this for us, how can we not serve one another?John’s Gospel shifts here from the “Book of Signs” to the “Book of Glory,” and in this moment, the glory of Christ shines brightest—not in splendor, but in humility. Through His love, His example, and His charge to His disciples, Jesus shows us that the way of blessing is the way of the servant.

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 divine wrath yet glorifies the Father in perfect obedience.The Light — where Jesus pleads with the world to believe before the darkness falls.The Rejection — where unbelief fulfills prophecy and exposes the blindness of the human heart.The Summons — where Christ’s final public cry calls sinners to step into His light.This sermon invites us to see that the cross is not only the place of judgment and victory — it’s also the magnet of God’s mercy.And for all who believe, it’s a reminder that agony and glory still walk side by side: our suffering is never wasted, our witness must never be silent, and the day is coming when every wound will shine with the glory of the Lamb who was slain.“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain — to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”(Revelation 5:12)

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, Jesus calls us to lay them down—to die to self, to suffer with Him, and to find eternal life in Him. Sean reminds us that Christ’s glory is most clearly seen not just in His resurrection, but in His death—and He invites us to follow Him there.Whether you’re wrestling with what it means to count the cost or need encouragement to persevere, this sermon offers gospel clarity, pastoral warmth, and a compelling vision of glory through surrender.“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25)

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.