Trinity Church of Portland - Sermons

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.

This morning we continued our series "Hevel Under The Horizon" going through the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes. This sermon, the sixth of the series is titled "The Myth of Sacred Politics & Casual Church" and was preached by Pastor Thomas Terry from Ecclesiastes 4:13-5:9In this text the Preacher exposes that many people have placed their ultimate hope in politics to the point that politics has become a religion, it is often treated as something sacred. Meanwhile church has become less sacred and bends toward being treated as casual by many in the church.When Politics is elevated to the level of the sacred, it is vanity and when church is downgraded to a place that is casual it too is vanity. We as God's people must be people who put church in its right place approaching God with reverence. Practically we must hear what is said, be careful to watch what we say, and be people who do what we say.

This morning we continued our series "Hevel Under The Horizon" going through the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes. This fifth sermon of the series is titled "The Mtyh of Having Other People’s Lives" and was preached by Pastor Thomas Terry from Ecclesiastes 4:4-12In this text we see the Preacher expose the vanity of envy and desiring the lives other people seem to be living. Human envy will often lead to either laziness or over work. Both of these sinful responses from our envy produce vanity, they are worthless and harmful to human flourishing. The way God would have His people live is to work hard yet also avoid envy by being content with what God has given you and how God has blessed you. God has given Christians each other to walk through this world socially integrated within the church and family relationships. There is a safety in numbers which we should see also as a blessing from God.

This morning our sermon was preached by Pastor Sean Demars from Sixth Avenue Community Church in Decatur, Alabama. The title of this sermon is Zeal For Your House and was preached from John 2:13-17.In this sermon we learned why Jesus cleansed the temple. It was because of the overemphasis on convenience and the greed of the money changers which led to such irreverence that Jesus in his zeal cleaned out the mess. This is a good lesson for the church that we be willing to live with inconvenience, avoid greed, and acknowledge the holy, in order to live with zeal for Christ. 

This morning we continued our series “Hevel Under the Horizon” through the book of Ecclesiastes. This fourth sermon of the series is titled "The Mtyh of Human Goodness" and was preached by Pastor Thomas Terry from Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3.In this text we see the Preacher begin to make some observations about the wickedness in our world with the goal of exposing the myth of human goodness. He starts by telling us that even in the places where justice should be ensured there is instead wickedness. He brings into view the terrible oppression that people without power often face. These are the result of sin in humanity. God allows the wickedness in our world to remain as way of exposing the realities of our condition (being in sin) and our position (we all will die). But despite the rampant wickedness in our world God will one day be the judge of all these oppressions and injustices. This should be a comfort to you, to know one day God will repay.

This morning we continued our series "Hevel Under The Horizon", going through the wisdom book of Ecclesiastes. This sermon titled "The Myth of Time Management" and was preached by Pastor Thomas Terry from Ecclesiastes 3:1-15.In this text we see the providence of God as it relates to the times and seasons of our lives. We do not control most of these things but rather respond with the limited freedom we have. Too often we attempt to manage time as a way to create our own destiny, to gain a sense of control. This often reveals a heart either of trust or autonomy. There is great profit when we experience what God has given us, the good gifts that come when we accept our limitations and live in light of God who is, the One who is in control and the giver of every gift we possess. So, let us live every moment in light of God’s loving care for us trusting Him even in the times of sorrow and loss, when things don’t go as we had hoped.