Sermon
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.
Know-it-Alls Know Nothing - John 3:1-10
February 8, 2026
Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?”
Thinking we already know is often the greatest barrier to wisdom and faith. Like Nicodemus, we may approach God believing we understand how things work, only to discover that Jesus calls us not to improvement but to new birth. To be “born from above” is not about greater effort or religious achievement, but about receiving new life from God—a life shaped by the Spirit and rooted in relationship. This new birth invites us to live with openness, humility, and wonder, recognizing that eternity and resurrection life are not only future promises, but present realities meant to transform how we live today.
If We Only Knew - John 4:1-15
February 1, 2026
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Sometimes, knowing who you are talking to makes all the difference, and that is the point Jesus makes with the Samaritan woman at the well. Her problem was not that she had a question, but that she had the wrong question. Jesus redirects her attention to the real issue: “If you knew who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” This raises the most important question we can ask—who is Jesus? Is he a great teacher, a prophet sent by God, the Messiah, the Son of God, or all of the above? How we answer that question shapes everything about our lives.
The Path of Light
January 25, 2026
Once you were darkness,but now in the Lord you are light.
When it is dark, even the smallest light brings hope, and once light claims a space, darkness cannot remain. This is our hope in Jesus Christ, who does not merely move us from darkness to light but transforms us so that in the Lord we are light. While we were dead, God made us alive, and this new life bears fruit that is good, right, and true—fruit that exists to nourish others and bring new life, not to glorify ourselves. As we live in this light of God's love, his light shines through us and exposes the emptiness of darkness, not by condemning, but by revealing a way out. When this transformation takes hold, others encounter a community marked by humility, patience, and Christ-like love that reaches out rather than turns away.
Be Angry but Do Not Sin? - Ephesians 4:25-5:2
January 18, 2026
Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
“Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” The words sound simple, but like “keep your eye on the ball,” they are much harder to live out. Anger is a neglected topic in the church, even though it is real and Christians experience it every day. Some explode, others suppress it, but neither path leads to life. Anger has deep and destructive effects, triggering destructive behaviors, increasing stress, and damaging relationships. Yet Scripture reminds us that even Jesus became angry, and Ephesians 4 calls us not to deny anger but to handle it rightly, without sin and without giving the devil a foothold.
The Gift of No Return - Ephesians 4:14-24
January 11, 2026
We must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
Staying the same is not an option; growth and change are essential to becoming who we were created to be. Just as an egg must hatch in order to fly, transformation is necessary; remaining unchanged leads only to stagnation. Our growth and fulfilment are found as we put away our old self, and are renewed in the spirit of our minds. Our path forward is to grow into new life in Christ rather than holding on to what is obsolete.
This growth requires turning away from paths that promise fulfillment but lead to emptiness. Habit, hidden sin, unforgiveness, and low expectations can quietly stall transformation and keep us from moving forward. Renewal happens as we learn to say “yes” to God again and again. We were not created to remain in the nest, but to grow, mature, and soar.
Would You Go - Matthew 2:1-12
January 4, 2026
We observed his star in the east
and have come to pay him homage.
If you heard that the Messiah had been born just down the road, would you go? The Christ—the long-awaited ruler who would restore God’s shalom—was born, yet King Herod, the religious leaders, and much of Jerusalem stayed where they were. Though they knew the prophecies and could quote Micah about Bethlehem, they preferred the way things were, holding tightly to position, power, and expectations of how God should act. In contrast, today’s celebration of Epiphany reminds us that the birth of Jesus is God’s greatest self-revelation, the unveiling of God’s purpose and grace in Christ.
A 'Whole Life' Compassion
December 28, 2025
Jesus said, I have compassion for the crowd because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.
A 'Whole Life' Compassion
Matthew 15:29-32
Pastor Nancy Graham Ogne Preaching
This Sunday, we are blessed to have Paul's better half preaching. The church for which she is the organizing pastor, Hope Presbyterian Church at Lake Nona, meets at Lake Nona Middle School. To avoid having school staff interrupt their Christmas break and in recognition of many people traveling, they did not meet in person this Sunday morning. Instead, Nancy made a video of her sermon, and together with Paul, produced a video worship service for them to enjoy.
For the Love of God – John 3:16-17 & Romans 5:8
December 21, 2025
For God so loved the world
For the Love of God
John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8
God loves you right now, just as you are, knowing you completely and loving you more than you can imagine. Out of that great love, God gave his only Son, paying a price we could never repay, so that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life. This gift is meant to free us from the bondage of sin so that we may live as God created us to live—living in his love and sharing that love with others. This is a wonderful gift received by a step of faith, not about what we can do, but about what God has already done, a faith that gives us a glimpse of eternal life.
