Sermon
Present or Passing Through?
April 26, 2026
So that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Do you ever feel out of place? Scripture reminds us that, in a real sense, we are—because as followers of Jesus, our true home is with God, and this life is “the time of our exile.” Yet we are not ordinary or forgotten. We are here for a purpose. We are called and equipped to live as people formed by a different kingdom. Jesus himself entered our world as the ultimate exile, revealing God's grace through love, humility, and sacrifice. We are given a purpose on our journey—to reveal God's compassion and grace, and his kingdom wherever God sends us.
Therefore, Go - Matthew 28:16-20
April 19, 2026
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."
Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, is not merely a past event to remember or a doctrine to affirm, but a present reality that continues to shape our lives and purpose. When the disciples see Jesus where he told them, they worship him—even though they still have doubts. Perhaps because of their doubts, Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. And in Jesus’ power, not their own ability, he tells them, “Therefore go."
Jesus' resurrection is not an ending but a beginning. He gives his disciples a huge task: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to live according to everything he has commanded. Though they may question whether they are capable of such a calling, Jesus does not leave them to carry it alone. Instead, he gives them a promise to hold onto in every challenge—that he is with them always, even to the end of the age. This is the same call and promise Jesus gives to us: to go - to go and make disciples - in his power and in his presence.
(Our apologies for our main camera being down today. Instead of a front-row seat for the sermon, you'll have the back-row seat experience, which some prefer anyway. ???? )
Sermon: Doing the Right Thing - Rev. Bill Westlund
April 12, 2026
Our brother and long-time friend of this congregation, Rev. Bill Westlund, shares God's word with us this morning.
Psalm 22:14-18
Matthew 20:17-19; 26:1-8, 14-16; Luke 23:6-11; Matthew 26:31-35
Beyond Expectations - Matthew 28:1-10
April 5, 2026
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said.
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Two women went to where Jesus' body had been placed, expecting to finish preparing his dead body for burial.
The great news of Easter is not found in their expectations being met, but rather that Jesus was not dead like they expected, but had risen from the dead.
The good news of the Gospel isn't found in God meeting our expectations, but shattering them, revealing far more than anything we could ask or imagine - then, using us, to reveal the news of the risen Christ to others.
Who are You?; Mark 11:1-11
March 29, 2026
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! "
We often see ourselves in many biblical characters—seeking healing, following imperfectly, or standing among the crowds as Jesus enters Jerusalem shouting “Hosanna!” Yet Palm Sunday reveals that while the people rightly recognized Jesus as king, they misunderstood the kind of deliverance he would bring. Expecting political victory, they missed that he came to serve, suffer, and give his life as a ransom for many. In the same way, our own expectations can keep us from fully knowing him. True faith is not about fulfilling our desires, but about entering God’s greater reality—living in his love and purpose, as Jesus transforms not just circumstances, but all creation. Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
When God Says, “Go.”; John 4:46-52
March 22, 2026
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
God often works differently than we expect. A royal official approached Jesus to heal his son, believing that Jesus needed to come in person. Instead, Jesus told him, “Go,” leaving the man to choose whether to trust without immediate proof.
This situation illustrates that faith is the willingness to act on Jesus’ word, even when the path is unclear. Whether it's through forgiving, giving, loving, or turning away from sin, faith is about taking the next step, even without knowing the outcome.
Out-of-Focus Faith; Isaiah 58.1-5 – Pastor Nancy Graham Ogne Preaching
March 15, 2026
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before others
in order to be seen by them."
Rev. Dr. Nancy Graham Ogne is the pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church at Lake Nona. She is also our pastor's beloved wife.
Thirsting for Life - John 4:13-26
March 1, 2026
"Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. "
Like Bono’s cry in The Joshua Tree that he still has not found what he is looking for, we all sense a God-shaped void, as Blaise Pascal described, and we try to fill it through relationships, work, heritage, knowledge, and success. Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman each sought meaning—one through religious devotion and understanding, the other through relationships and daily labor—yet both misunderstood Jesus, hoping for improvement rather than transformation. We often do the same, settling for small solutions when God offers abundant life. The water we draw will leave us thirsty again, but Jesus offers living water and new birth from above. The missing piece is not something but someone—Jesus himself, given in love, “that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.”
Standing Up and Shining - Matthew 5:13-16
February 22, 2026
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid."
This Sunday's "sermon" is in two parts. The first are some very powerful testimonies from two ladies from Theta Alpha, followed by their leading a song. The second is pastor Paul sharing about our call to stand up and stand out like Jesus as we share the light of his love.
There are times in life when our experience of God's presence and our pursuit of God's will are particularly important; college is one of them. Theta Alpha is the only Christian women's sorority on the campus of the University of Central Florida. For many years, our facilities have been part of the lives and faith of many young Christian women. Many have told me that the faith of their college years has been inseparable from Theta Alpha and the generosity of our sharing space with them.
This Sunday, they will once again lead us in songs of worship, share about the ministry of Theta Alpha, and speak about how God is at work in their lives and faith..
Hope in a Snake-Bitten World - John 3:7-21
February 15, 2026
Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up
Like the Israelites who rebelled and were bitten by serpents, we discover that the consequences of sin are serious. Yet just as God provided a bronze serpent lifted up for their healing, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Son of Man must be lifted up so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
