Sermons from St. John the Divine

We have the awesome privilege of being invited to the greatest celebration ever held. The king of the universe invites us to the wedding banquet of his son. So many take such a glorious invitation lightly or even hold it in contempt. But how will you respond?

What is truth? In a world of noise, distraction, and deception, God calls us to discern what’s real through His Word. In this message from Letters to a Young Christian, we look at Paul’s teaching to Timothy about recognizing lies, guarding our hearts, and anchoring ourselves in Scripture, the only foundation that will never fail.Part 5 of our series, “Letters to a Young Christian.”

When Jesus tells the story of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, he’s not comparing God to a bad judge. He’s showing us how much greater God’s love and faithfulness are. In this sermon, we’re reminded that prayer isn’t about wearing God down but about being drawn close to the One who never gives up on us.

Memory is one of God’s greatest gifts. In this week’s message, we look at Paul’s words to Timothy and the power of remembering. We remember God’s faithfulness, the people who shaped our faith, and the truth that even when life feels confining, the Word of God is never bound. No matter what we face, God’s presence and promise of freedom remain unshaken.

We’re constantly surrounded by messages about what the “good life” should look like — more money, more success, more stuff. But in 1 Timothy 6:6–19, Paul offers a radically different vision. In this week’s sermon, we explore how the good life isn’t about wealth or perfection — it’s about godliness, contentment, generosity, and hope in Christ.

What if the people the world overlooks are the very ones God sees most clearly? In this sermon, we dive into Jesus’ story of Lazarus and the rich man and discover a God who knows every name, welcomes every person, and calls us to do the same. When we open our hearts, share what we have, and look beyond our own gates, we get a glimpse of God’s kingdom, a place where everyone belongs and no one is forgotten.

In this second message from Letters to a Young Christian, we reflect on God’s deepest desire—that all people would be rescued, forgiven, and brought near through Jesus Christ. As we discover God’s heart for the world, we are invited to make His desire our own: to pray for all people, to live in peace, and to share the love that has transformed us.

What does Jesus’ strange story of the dishonest manager mean for us today? Dr. Michael Lloyd unpacks this challenging parable, showing how God’s mercy invites us to lighten burdens, widen the net of welcome, and become a community shaped by grace.

In the opening message of our new series Letters to a Young Christian, we turn to Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Paul reminds Timothy, and us, of what matters most: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. In a culture weighed down by anxiety and brokenness, this word of grace overflows with hope. If you have ever felt lost or burdened, this sermon proclaims the good news that Jesus has already come to find you and bring you home.

In a week shadowed by violence, this sermon returns us to the hope and power of the gospel. Walking through Luke 15, we explore the joy of being found, the light of the Spirit that searches for the lost, and the church’s call to carry that light into a dark world. Be encouraged to trade outrage for intercession, resentment for generosity, and fear for the Lamb’s radiant peace.

When Paul wrote his brief letter to Philemon, he invited a master to welcome back a runaway servant not as property, but as a beloved brother in Christ. At the heart of this little book is a big truth: forgiveness is not only possible, it is transformative. In this sermon, we reflect on how the grace of God frees us from the prisons of guilt, resentment, and bitterness, and how choosing to forgive, like Philemon was urged to do, sets both others and ourselves free.

Paul’s short letter to Philemon is more than an ancient note between two men. It is a living word about forgiveness and freedom. Onesimus, a runaway slave, found himself in a prison cell, but also found Christ through Paul’s witness. Philemon, his master, was challenged to welcome Onesimus back not as property, but as a brother in Christ. This powerful story invites us to see ourselves in both men: trapped in prisons of guilt, shame, or anger, yet met by Jesus who breaks our chains and calls us to forgive. Discover how God turns finite evil into infinite good, and how the freedom we receive in Christ enables us to extend forgiveness to others.

When Jesus attends a dinner party, He doesn’t just take a seat. He rewrites the seating chart. In Luke 14, Jesus flips the rules of social climbing upside down, challenging our obsession with status and teaching us what true hospitality looks like. Instead of jockeying for recognition, He calls us to humble ourselves and invite those who can’t pay us back. What happens when we take His party advice seriously?

What does it mean that Jesus takes the lowest place at the table—and still becomes both host and meal? In this sermon, we reflect on Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet and discover the radical hospitality of the Kingdom of God. Unlike the social ladders and power games of this world, Christ welcomes the poor, the broken, and the undeserving. He Himself takes the humble place, even to the cross, so that we might be fed, healed, and made new at His table. Come hear the good news of God’s unexpected generosity and be invited to live as bearers of His mercy.

What does it mean to practice true Kingdom hospitality? In this sermon, we’re challenged to see the face of God in the stranger, the outsider, and those different from ourselves. Unlike worldly hospitality, which is conditional and comfortable, Kingdom hospitality calls us beyond our fears and prejudices to welcome with open hearts. Discover how Jesus’ radical example of inclusion reshapes our lives, our church, and our city.

Happy Rally Day at St. John the Divine! This sermon calls us to gather as one body in Christ, to renew our faith, and to be set free by Jesus who sees us, heals us, and empowers us with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Drawing on Hebrews and the story of the bent-over woman, we are reminded that worship is not about order alone: it is about gratitude: standing tall in God’s grace, lifting our hearts in thanksgiving, and rallying together to shine Christ’s light to the world.

Have you ever been unsettled by Jesus’ words that he came not to bring peace but division? This sermon wrestles honestly with that difficult passage, showing how Christ’s message disrupts the status quo and calls us into bold, transforming faith. Drawing on Hebrews’ image of the Christian life as a race of endurance, it explores what it means to lay aside the weights that hold us back, to trust God in the midst of struggle, and to discover a deeper joy and peace that the world cannot give.

The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill draws from Hebrews 11–12 and a personal memory of his brother’s final high school track meet to reflect on what it means to run with endurance the race set before us. Surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” the Christian life is not a solitary sprint but a shared journey of encouragement, perseverance, and hope in Christ.Whether you’re weary in faith or feeling weighed down by life’s burdens, this message is a reminder to lay aside what hinders and fix your eyes on Jesus, the one who runs before us and crowns the race with joy.

Feeling worn out in your faith? Hebrews 11 awakens us to see God’s unseen reality when life feels stale. Discover how shifting your focus can reignite joy, renew conviction, and open your eyes to the presence of the Holy Spirit.