Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons

Trinity Church Pastor Andrew Pack preaching from Hebrews 1:1-4. This letter was written to call the recipients back from trying to blend Judaism with their newly found faith in Jesus Christ. This was their reaction to the intense pressure being exerted on Christians in the first century. Because the law never made anything complete, the author of Hebrews is directing these people and us to the greatness of Jesus and the completion of his work on our behalf. He is the one we must remain closest to in life because he is the better King, Prophet, and Priest.

Trinity Church Pastor Emeritus Norm Thiesen preaching from Matthew 6:9-13 using the Lord's Prayer to teach us about our relationship with God often has everything to do with our disposition and can be spiritually diagnostic as to how we are doing in our walk with the Lord. Ultimately, our disposition is far more important than our words, both with God and people. We can bring our struggles to God, but we must do it with utter dependency focusing on first seeking His name, His kingdom, and His will, then we can be honest with Him about our desires and needs.

Guest preacher David Sundman preaches to us on the importance of the church, its people, and why it is so special—because we have in common Jesus Christ.

Pastor Thomas Terry preaches to us on the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder,” as we continue the short detour in our preaching schedule to hear what God says about murder from Exodus 20 and other Biblical texts.This sermon helps us understand the definition of murder, why the command matters, how the command plays out in our modern culture, and what lies at the heart of this command.

We hear from a guest preacher, Dr. Todd Miles on the fifth commandment, honor your father and your mother from Exodus 20:12. Living in a way that honors your parents is not optional for the Christian. The New Testament even elevates this command, and it can be extended to other authoritative relationships. Jesus was not impressed with people who sacrificed care for their parents for other things, even for ministry. Jesus even from the cross provided for his mother as he placed her John's care. So, honor those God has placed over you as way of honoring God.

Former Trinity Church Pastor, Norm Thiesen was our guest preacher, his sermon "Living Wisely" is from Luke 12:13-21. Norm helps us see that life is full of choices that require us to exercise wisdom from God's word to avoid foolishness. A life lived that is honoring to God will be one that lives aware of God daily, one that makes eternity a priority, and one that lives content knowing God is in control.

Pastor Andrew Pack brings our series Follow The Son to a conclusion preaching on The Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20. Because Jesus has been given all authority and promises to be with us to the end of the age we are blessed by Him to go, to baptize, and to teach people to become disciples wherever God has placed us. Often this involves both formal church programs and informal work done within discipleship relationships. Remember, Jesus always empowers His people to do the things he commands, so go and make disciples.

This week Pastor Thomas finishes the Gospel of Mark with the resurrection of Jesus found in Mark 16:1-8. The story of Jesus’ resurrection in these verses highlights feelings of sorrow, fear, and hope that the women who went to anoint Jesus’ body experience. Their encounter with an angel who announces that Jesus has been raised gives them evidence of Jesus’ resurrection and sends them to tell the disciples of this fact. The resurrection is an historical event that is to be believed by faith, which is to believe in a person—Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day in order to save sinners.

Our Good Friday sermon preached by Pastor Andrew Pack is from Isaiah 53:3-5. Andrew draws out for us from this text that Jesus saves us from our rejection of God, he saves us with his finished work on the cross, and he saves us to healing from our sins being forgiven. This leads us to a life of peace, and a life that is truly abundant.

This week in our series Follow The Son, Pastor Thomas preaches from Mark 15:42-47. This sermon brings us to the burial of Jesus when the Lord Jesus after dying for the sins of his people is wrapped in linen and laid in the hewn rock tomb that is sealed with a very large stone.