Trinity United Presbyterian Church

Arms of LoveThe story of the Good Samaritan shows us that we must move beyond excuses and be actively loving in this life. True religion means taking care of others.

A Heart for Christ Alone

- A Voice to Speak the Good News -Christ is the "image of the invisible God", and we each are called to describe Christ with the story of our lives.

- A Mind Transformed by God's Word - When Jesus tells us to "repent," we usually think about changing our behavior. But our Lord meant (and means) so much more! Jesus invites and even commands us to let our minds be blown up by seeing the world -- ourselves, the future, all of life -- with God's perspective.

- Intro to the Series -What does it mean to be Living Proof daily?

This sermon will focus on remembering the past and embracing God's future. But we are a forgetful people. The Exodus, culminating in the stacking of the "Ebenezer" shows a road map for remembering and moving forward. Deuteronomy 8:10-19, culminating in Joshua 4:4-9 shows how remembering is always meant to propel God's people to present and future faithfulness. Remembering the "right" things and leaving behind distractions propel God's people to dependence, faithfulness, and clarity. When we remember, we join the story of God's people boldly stepping out to embrace God's lead.

To the church in Laodicea…

To the Philadelphia "Outpost"- the open door

An outpost is "a small military camp some distance from the main force, used especially to guard against surprise attacks." And we come to discover our own purpose by remembering that Trinity was once an outpost in every sense of the word -- remote, isolated from other churches, vulnerable, and yet with a clear (even military-style) spiritual purpose. We still are! And for the next few weeks, we'll find our identity in the stories of 1st-century churches. Today, we begin with the church in Ephesus – a church that Christ commends, but with one warning: the people are at risk of losing the love/enthusiasm/commitment they had at first.

Mephibosheth. 1. The impulse to show kindness 2. Broken feet and broken hearts - some people’s woundedness is obvious; others is not . . . we need to care for both. We have fractured relationships with ourselves, with God, with others, with the earth. 3. The invitation: Are you willing to be a Ziba? One who invites others to the king’s table. 4. Welcomed Home: We can come as we are and be assured of a welcome. God’s kindness leads us to repentance. We can experience acceptance and restoration.

Here we see David’s flaws and the worst of his “Outlaw” nature. We all have this within us – so we need to know how to resist our inner Outlaw. And.. The more capable we become, the more easily we fall, AND the greater our impact when we fail. The (often unsung) heroes speak to us “the truth in love” (Eph 4:15), especially the truth we don’t want to hear.

An introduction to David, a man after God’s own heart, and a bit more about Samuel. Also, we are not so much commanded to serve God as we are anointed. David turned out to be amazingly talented, successful, and powerful – but it wasn’t obvious; God revealed it through David’s anointing. The king we truly desire is Jesus, the Messiah.

Pride, insecurity, and disobedience lead to downfall. Saul started with a promise but rebelled, eventually losing God’s favor. He embodies the classic outlaw origin story, who refuses to follow the right path when times become tough and ends up in self-destruction. His story warns us about the dangers of pride, impatience, and rejecting God’s guidance.

Samuel was a prophet raised to listen to God’s voice and guide Israel through turbulent times. Samuel had many moments to compromise, to embrace passivity, or cave to the powerful and influential. But he remained committed to truth of his mission and God’s Word. Like the frontier preacher in a Western town, he stood against wickedness and called for righteousness. His lesson warns against letting the voices of the world drown out the voice of God and reminds us to stay steadfast in truth.

Hannah seemed to have so little, but her prayers and willingness to sacrifice were a hinge-point for God’s salvation history. Our prayers can seem so small, but God can use them – and our commitment to Him – to bring about a huge impact. Trinity’s history is soaked in prayer – is this the (not-so-secret) reason for our ministry's success?

Ruth, an outsider, chose unwavering courage and commitment to those near her. Her choice turned a foreign widow into the great-grandmother of King David and the ancestor of Jesus. Just like Ruth did, this lesson challenges us to commit to others. What do I do when I experience loss? Will that define me (as almost did with Naomi)?

The sermon series begins with faith's beginning - the epic story of Abraham & Sarah. In this series of sermons, we will also recall Trinity Church's history. In the rugged, unknown before Trinity in 1876, it was the trailblazers who dared to venture into uncharted territory. Their faithfulness impacted not only their generation but those to come. How do we trust God’s leading in uncertain seasons? Who or what are we holding onto that keeps us from stepping into our calling?

Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, has an enormous party, and drinks from the goblets captured from the temple of God in Jerusalem. A hand writes “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin” on the wall during the party. None of the wise men can interpret, but the Queen (Nebuchadnezzar’s former wife) remembers Daniel, who is called and able to interpret. Belshazzar is told by Daniel that his pride and arrogance, setting himself up against God, has been his downfall. Daniel is rewarded, but Belshazzar dies that night, and the kingdom is given to Darius the Mede. How do we set ourselves up against God? Do we think we know better? Where are the traps that lead to pride and arrogance for us? And how can we cultivate a healthy dependency on God?

Mr. Jayden KawasakiGraduating High School Senior