Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Pastor Will Stern
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  • Christianity
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Welcome to the sermon podcast of Hope Presbyterian Church in Media, Pennsylvania. At Hope, we believe the Bible is God's Word and that it reveals the hope found in Jesus Christ. Each week, you'll hear verse-by-verse, gospel-centered preaching that explains the Scriptures, applies them to everyday life, and points us to Christ. Whether you're exploring Christianity, looking for a church home, or seeking to grow in your faith, we pray these sermons encourage you to know Christ more deeply and follow Him more faithfully. To learn more about Hope Presbyterian Church, visit our website. We would love to welcome you to worship with us each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in Media, Pennsylvania.

  1. 11h ago

    John 5:1-17 | "God Is Not Distant and Impersonal"

    In John 5:1–17, Jesus encounters a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years and transforms his life with a simple word of command. Yet the miracle reveals a deeper problem—not merely physical paralysis, but the human tendency to view God as distant and impersonal. In this sermon, we explore three spiritual distortions that grow from that root: superstition, legalism, and antinomianism. Each seeks something from God while neglecting God Himself. Through Christ's healing, teaching, and warning, we learn that true Christianity is not about magical power, rule-keeping, or self-directed living. It is about a personal relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ.  Sermon Outline God Is Not Distant and Impersonal John 5:1–17 Big Idea: The root of superstition, legalism, and antinomianism is viewing God as distant and impersonal. Jesus calls us instead into a personal relationship with Himself.  1. Superstition Seeking God's power without God's person The paralyzed man looked to the Pool of Bethesda for healing. Superstition separates the power of God from the person of God. Jesus heals the man through His word, not through magical rituals. Salvation comes through a personal encounter with Christ, not through religious luck or ceremonies.  2. Legalism Seeking God's law without God's love The religious leaders focused on Sabbath regulations rather than God's work of mercy. Legalism detaches the law of God from the God who gave it. The law becomes beautiful only when understood in the context of God's grace and character. Christ frees us from trying to earn God's favor and teaches us to obey from love.  3. Antinomianism Seeking God's grace without God's lordship Jesus warns the healed man: "Sin no more." Grace is not permission to continue in sin. Salvation brings us into a covenant relationship with Christ. Those who love Christ desire to walk in obedience to Him.  Conclusion How do you view God? Do you seek God's power without God's person? That's superstition. Do you seek God's law without God's love? That's legalism. Do you seek God's grace without God's lordship? That's antinomianism. The call of the gospel is to look to Jesus Christ as your loving and personal Savior.

  2. 3d ago

    John 5:18–24 | The Divine Authority of the Son

    The Divine Authority of the Son In John 5:18–24, Jesus responds to accusations of blasphemy after declaring His unique relationship with the Father. Rather than retreating from the controversy, He reveals profound truths about His divine identity and authority. In this sermon, we examine two works that belong to God alone—giving life and executing judgment—and the three responses these truths demand from every person: honoring Christ, believing in Him, and marveling at His glory. Jesus is not merely a great teacher or prophet; He is the eternal Son of God, equal with the Father, worthy of our worship, faith, and awe. Sermon Outline The Divine Authority of the Son John 5:18–24 Big Idea: Jesus reveals Himself as the divine Son who shares the Father’s authority to give life and execute judgment, calling every person to honor Him, believe in Him, and marvel at His glory. 1. The Son Gives Life Only God can give spiritual life. Jesus possesses the Father’s authority to give life to whom He wills. Physical resurrections in Scripture point to the greater miracle of spiritual resurrection. Spiritually dead sinners cannot make themselves alive; new life comes only through Christ. Eternal life is found in the Son because He is truly God. 2. The Son Executes Judgment Only God has the authority to judge the world. The Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son. The One who came to save will also return to judge the living and the dead. Christ’s authority demonstrates His equality with the Father. Every person will ultimately stand before Christ. 3. Honor, Believe, and Marvel The proper response to the Son of God. Honor Christ with the same honor given to the Father. Believe in Christ alone for eternal life, knowing that those who trust Him have already passed from death to life. Marvel continually at the glory of Christ, refusing to let familiarity dull wonder and worship. Faith comes through hearing God’s Word, making the faithful preaching of Scripture central to the Christian life. Conclusion How do you respond to Jesus? Do you honor Him as the eternal Son of God? Do you trust Him alone for eternal life? Do you marvel at His glory, or has familiarity replaced wonder? The gospel calls us to behold Jesus Christ as the divine Son who gives life, will judge the world in righteousness, and alone is worthy of our worship, faith, and lifelong devotion.

  3. Jun 23

    John 5:1-17 | "God Is Not Distant and Impersonal"

    In John 5:1–17, Jesus encounters a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years and transforms his life with a simple word of command. Yet the miracle reveals a deeper problem—not merely physical paralysis, but the human tendency to view God as distant and impersonal. In this sermon, we explore three spiritual distortions that grow from that root: superstition, legalism, and antinomianism. Each seeks something from God while neglecting God Himself. Through Christ's healing, teaching, and warning, we learn that true Christianity is not about magical power, rule-keeping, or self-directed living. It is about a personal relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ.  Sermon Outline God Is Not Distant and Impersonal John 5:1–17 Big Idea: The root of superstition, legalism, and antinomianism is viewing God as distant and impersonal. Jesus calls us instead into a personal relationship with Himself.  1. Superstition Seeking God's power without God's person The paralyzed man looked to the Pool of Bethesda for healing. Superstition separates the power of God from the person of God. Jesus heals the man through His word, not through magical rituals. Salvation comes through a personal encounter with Christ, not through religious luck or ceremonies.  2. Legalism Seeking God's law without God's love The religious leaders focused on Sabbath regulations rather than God's work of mercy. Legalism detaches the law of God from the God who gave it. The law becomes beautiful only when understood in the context of God's grace and character. Christ frees us from trying to earn God's favor and teaches us to obey from love.  3. Antinomianism Seeking God's grace without God's lordship Jesus warns the healed man: "Sin no more." Grace is not permission to continue in sin. Salvation brings us into a covenant relationship with Christ. Those who love Christ desire to walk in obedience to Him.  Conclusion How do you view God? Do you seek God's power without God's person? That's superstition. Do you seek God's law without God's love? That's legalism. Do you seek God's grace without God's lordship? That's antinomianism. The call of the gospel is to look to Jesus Christ as your loving and personal Savior.

  4. Jun 15

    John 4:46-54 | "The Fruit of Faith"

    True faith is not always strong at the beginning. Like an apple seed, it may start small and weak, yet contain the life that will one day bear fruit. In John 4:46–54, we follow the journey of a desperate father whose faith grows as he encounters Jesus. His faith begins as a seed that drives him to seek Christ, grows into a sprout that cries out for help, matures into a tree that trusts Christ's Word, and finally bears fruit that impacts others around him. Join us as we explore how God grows weak faith into strong faith through His Word and grace.

  5. Jun 13

    John 4:25-42 | How Can We Be Transformed into Faithful Witnesses for the Glory of God?

    Sermon Outline How Can We Be Transformed into Faithful Witnesses for the Glory of God?John 4:25–42 I. You Need an Encounter with Jesus (John 4:25–30) Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah. The woman leaves her water jar and goes into town. A genuine encounter with Christ produces a desire to tell others about Him. II. You Need Instruction from Jesus (John 4:27, 31–38) The disciples lose sight of their mission. Jesus teaches them to lift up their eyes and see the harvest. Faithful witnesses learn to see people through the eyes of Christ. III. You Need Time with Jesus (John 4:39–42) The Samaritans initially believe because of the woman's testimony. They spend two days with Jesus. Their faith deepens into personal conviction: "This is indeed the Savior of the world." Main Idea:Jesus transforms ordinary people into faithful witnesses through encounters with Him, instruction from Him, and time spent with Him.  Study Questions Why is Jesus' statement in John 4:26 so significant? What does it reveal about His identity? What does the woman's response teach us about the relationship between encountering Christ and sharing our faith? Why were the disciples surprised to find Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman? What does Jesus mean when He says, "The fields are white for harvest"? In what ways can Christians lose sight of the mission Christ has given them? How did the Samaritans move from believing the woman's testimony to personal conviction about Jesus? What is the difference between secondhand faith and firsthand faith? How do God's Word, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship help us spend time with Jesus? Which group do you most identify with right now: the woman, the disciples, or the Samaritans? Why? What is one specific way you can grow as a faithful witness this week? Key Verse: "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." — John 4:42 (ESV)

  6. May 31

    John 4:20-24 | "Jesus Answers Two Questions About Worship"

    John 4:19–24 If you attended church for 50 years, you would spend thousands of hours gathered with God's people in worship. Worship is not only a central part of the Christian life—it is the very purpose for which we were created. In this sermon from John 4:19–24, Jesus answers two foundational questions about worship: Where should we worship? and How should we worship? As Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well, he reveals that true worship is no longer tied to a sacred place but is centered on a Savior. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Christ becomes the true temple, gathering worshipers from every nation who worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Outline Where Should We Worship? (John 4:19–22) Mt. Gerizim or Jerusalem? Salvation is from the Jews. Christ, the true Temple. How Should We Worship? (John 4:23–24) Worship in Truth Worship in Spirit True worship: fire and wood together. Warning, Encouragement, and Challenge A warning about false worship. An encouragement that the Father is seeking worshipers. A challenge to join God's mission of gathering worshipers. Questions for Reflection Why was the debate between Mt. Gerizim and Jerusalem so important to the Samaritan woman? What does Jesus mean when he says that "salvation is from the Jews"? How does Jesus fulfill and replace the Old Testament temple? What does it mean to worship God "in truth"? What does it mean to worship God "in spirit"? Which danger are you more prone to: truth without spirit or spirit without truth? How can you better prepare your heart for worship each Lord's Day? In what ways can your family life and private devotional life become more centered on worship? How does evangelism relate to God's purpose of gathering worshipers for himself? What is one practical way you can prioritize worship this week? Key Verse "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."— John 4:24 (ESV)

  7. May 25

    John 4:16-19 | "Grace and Truth"

    In this sermon from John 4:16–19, we see Jesus as the searching Savior who is “full of grace and truth.” As Christ lovingly exposes the Samaritan woman’s deepest sins, we are reminded that Jesus does not ignore sin, nor does He crush sinners with shame. Instead, He shines the light of truth into the darkest places of our hearts in order to lead us to repentance, forgiveness, and transformation. This message explores how Christ confronts our “keystone sins” with truth while drawing sinners to Himself with remarkable grace and compassion.  Outline Jesus Is Full of Truth Jesus Is Full of Grace Grace and Truth at the Cross Questions for Reflection What areas of your heart would Christ’s searching light expose? Are you tempted to think of Jesus as all grace without truth—or all truth without grace? How does the cross display both God’s holiness and His mercy? In what ways can Christians show both grace and truth to others?

  8. May 17

    John 4:7-15 | “Living Water"

    In John 4:10–14, Jesus meets a broken and cynical Samaritan woman who has spent her life searching for satisfaction in things that could never truly fill her soul. Using the imagery of “broken cisterns” from Jeremiah 2, this sermon explores how we all seek meaning, joy, and identity in places that ultimately leave us empty. But Christ offers something infinitely better: living water that wells up to eternal life. Listen as we consider the emptiness of false saviors, the free offer of the gospel, and the soul-satisfying gift of the Holy Spirit found only in Jesus Christ. Outline     1    Broken Cisterns     2    Living Water Questions for Reflection     •    What “broken cisterns” are you tempted to look to for satisfaction instead of Christ?     •    Why do good things like family, success, or comfort fail to satisfy our deepest thirst?     •    What does Jesus mean when He offers “living water”?     •    How does the Holy Spirit satisfy and transform believers?     •    What does it look like to keep “coming to Christ” as a believer?

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About

Welcome to the sermon podcast of Hope Presbyterian Church in Media, Pennsylvania. At Hope, we believe the Bible is God's Word and that it reveals the hope found in Jesus Christ. Each week, you'll hear verse-by-verse, gospel-centered preaching that explains the Scriptures, applies them to everyday life, and points us to Christ. Whether you're exploring Christianity, looking for a church home, or seeking to grow in your faith, we pray these sermons encourage you to know Christ more deeply and follow Him more faithfully. To learn more about Hope Presbyterian Church, visit our website. We would love to welcome you to worship with us each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in Media, Pennsylvania.

Information

  • Creator
    Pastor Will Stern
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA)
  • Show Website
    Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA)