Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons

Thomas Terry preaching from Mark 10:13-16 asks and answers the question, “Are we helping or hindering our children to come to Jesus?” This starts with parents and extends to the local church to create an environment that makes Jesus foremost in our homes, and makes the church a vital, and important place in the life of each family.

Preaching from Mark 10:1-12, Thomas puts before us the beautiful blueprint God has given people for marriage. In our text, Jesus confronts sinful people seeking loopholes to sever their marriages by exposing the hardness of their hearts. Jesus takes them back to creation where we see God's original, intentional design for marriage. As Christians we must affirm this teaching and never take our que from the culture who has corrupted marriage. Let us remember that there is no sin outside the forgiveness found in the shed blood of Christ as proclaimed in the gospel.

In this great Messianic Psalm, Andrew Pack teaches us that even though we live in a world full of people who try to remake Jesus to fit their paradigm, Jesus is who God's word says He is. This is put on full display here in Psalm 110 as we see Jesus as a new kind of king, a new kind of priest, and a new kind of judge. Jesus uses everything he has and everything he is for our good, our joy, and has paid the price for our sins.

From our text, this sermon teaches us about God's providence and helps to address the question, "How do we deal with setbacks, suffering, and even calamites as people who live under God's hand and care?" We see God's providence in the life of Naomi and her family, as there is suffering and death which leads Naomi to bitterness. However we also see that God in his providence provides for Naomi. As people who must live in a fallen world often full of suffering, sin, and setbacks we must remember that we have a Heavenly Father who is for us and working all things together ultimately for our good, even when we cannot see it.

The text of our sermon displays the side of Jesus preaching about the seriousness of sin related both to causing other Christians to stumble, and sin that jeopardizes our relationship with Jesus. Jesus warns that hell is a reality for the one who embraces sin. The good news of the gospel reminds the true believer, they need not fear hell; but the one who has embraced their sin over Jesus must be willing to go to extreme measures to mortify their sin. All true believers can expect to be salted with the fire of trials and suffering that will ultimately refine us, season us, and help us be a preserving influence upon a rotting culture.

In this sermon, Jesus reminds the disciples that he will soon die on the cross and be raised back to life. Jesus uses review and repetition of the gospel with his disciples to challenge their pride and emphasize the danger of pride and tribalism. Pride cannot be easily self-diagnosed and is one of the killers of Christian community. Jesus concludes by teaching his disciples that he has other followers doing mighty works in His name that are not opposed to the disciples. Jesus taught that the greatest of all is a servant, something he modeled for his disciples and for us.

Jesus heals a boy who is mute. The crowds are amazed. What does it mean for us today ?

The Transfiguration. It's a big deal in the Bible. But it's often overlooked by most Christians. Thomas Terry dives into the story this week.

We live in an age where people consider themselves to be their own gods. Yet, Jesus asks his followers to follow another God. Listen in as Thomas Terry unpacks the true cost of following Jesus in today's american culture.

Today Thomas Terry takes a look at the final act in the book of Jonah and examines what it means for Trinity Church in Portland today.