Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons

This morning we began a new series titled, The Twelfth Chapter expositing Romans 12. This sermon titled “A Life Of Worship” was preached by one of our faithful members, Andrey Gorban and is from Romans 12:1-2.This sermon focused us on how Christians are to live lives of sacrificial worship by presenting ourselves in totality to God. In addition to worship we learned that we are to avoid conformity to the world but instead we are to renew our minds and be people who love what Jesus loves and to seek his will in all things.

This morning Pastor Thomas Terry brought to a conclusion our series “The Word of God and the People of God”. This concluding sermon is titled “Every Member Ministry” and is from Ephesians 4:7-16.This sermon focused us on how God gives us grace to serve in His church. He has given us the gifts of offices in the church to equip the people of the church to serve with the goal that the members grow into maturity and find protection from false doctrine and the worldly deceit that comes against us. Ultimately this is equips the members to do the work of the ministry.

This morning our sermon titled “Every Member Holy" is from Matthew 18:15-20 & 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 and was preached by Pastor Greg Taylor and part of our series “The People of God & the Word of God.”This sermon focused on the subject of church discipline which is found in our two main texts where we see that church discipline is a necessary device the Lord has given us to maintain purity and order in the church when members stumble or fall in such a way it requires the other members to get involved. We practice church discipline for the sake of the person who has stumbled, always with the goal of seeking that person to be restored to a right place with Christ as well as with all of us, in the church. 

The podcast explores the significance of the keys of the kingdom, Peter's confession, the foundation of the church, the church advancing and overcoming evil, dealing with unrepentant sinners, the importance of church discipline and restoration, and the importance of membership and commitment in the church.

This morning our sermon titled “Gardeners In The Garden” is from Genesis 1:27-28 was preached by Pastor Thomas Terry as part of our series “The Word of God & The People of God.”This sermon focused us on the church and the role of church members. By going back to the beginning we see Adam and Eve were commissioned to work and garden as part of God’s covenant. Similarly, these are the things we are commissioned to do in the church as we seek to glorify God, work, guard, and live within the new covenant community as chosen people who are saved by the person and work of the Lord Jesus. So, as a local assembly of the new covenant community, this church is our garden and it is the job of each and every member to glorify God in unity by reflecting the very image of God so that those outside the covenant might peer in and see what God is like. We are to seek to grow the church through evangelism, and we are to guard and protect the church to ensure that those who come into the church are in fact regenerate people so we can ultimately keep the church sacred and holy.

This morning we closed out the year with a sermon titled “So That Your Cup Overflows” from Romans 15:13 preached by Pastor Josh Petersen.From this text we looked back on the closing year able to rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins and looking at God’s work in our lives. We also looked ahead to the coming year to think through the disciplines of our faith and the importance this should have in our daily lives and in our Christian walk. So, let us be committed in the new year to be fully submitted to Christ, and then seek unity, care, and service to one another.

This morning we continued our series "Hevel Under The Horizon" an exposition through the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes, this morning in 8:2-9:1. This sermon titled "The Beauty, Frustration, and Freedom of Sovereignty" was preached by one of our Trinity Church members, Andrey Gorban.In this text the Preacher shares his deep frustration that God is sovereign and God is in control, yet evil and injustice is all around us. The Preacher unpacks how we must submit to the authorities, even ungodly authorities because of God’s sovereignty. We must know that despite the fact that our world is full of injustice, God in his infinite wisdom is using these things to achieve his purposes in this world. While earthly justice is often delayed, limited, or worse—non-existent; God will one day put all things right and execute divine justice in the world. As Christians we must live joyfully, knowing God is good and he has blessed us with his good gifts to enjoy even while we live in the midst of a world full of paradox.

Andrey Gorban, Preacher at Trinity Church, discusses the elusiveness of wisdom and the need for Christ in our lives. He emphasizes the challenges of seeking wisdom in a world filled with sin and injustice, and highlights that true wisdom can only be found in Jesus Christ.

In this podcast, Pastor Thomas Terry discusses practical principles for living a better life. He emphasizes the importance of perspective, building character, and finding balance between laughter and lament. The importance of offering warmth and perspective to others is highlighted. The speaker also explores the tendency to romanticize the past and the importance of trusting in God's providence. The podcast concludes by discussing the paradoxes in the Christian life and the need to trust in God's wisdom amidst difficulties.

This morning we continued our series "Hevel Under The Horizon" going through the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes in 5:10 through 6:9. This sermon titled "The Myth of Wealth Under the Sun" was preached by our guest, Pastor Cody Cannon from Life Pointe Church in Woodland, CA.In this text we see the Preacher’s observation that he saw one group of people who had wealth but God did not give them the power to enjoy it, then he saw another group of people who also had wealth and God gave them the power to enjoy it. This is because God alone is the only source of joy in a life lived under the sun now, and for all eternity.The lack of enjoyment and fulfillment under the sun is because of sin and that we loved something not worthy of our love. Therefore, we must abandon all those temporary things we seek to give us enjoyment and fulfillment and seek the only source of fulfillment and joy—God. If you have done that then be reminded that it is worth it to put God first.