La Jolla Presbyterian Church Sermons La Jolla Presbyterian Church

You Are Called - Join us this week as Pastor Chad Fransen leads us deeper into our sermon series, "Changing the Narrative," with a message titled "You Are Called." This week's focus is on Mark 2:13-17, where Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him, challenging societal norms and expectations. In this passage, we see Jesus reaching out to someone considered an outsider by the religious and social elite of the time. By calling Levi to be His disciple, Jesus demonstrates that His invitation extends beyond traditional boundaries to include everyone, even those often marginalized or overlooked.

We want to connect with you! Email Pastor Chad at chadf@ljpres.org to get plugged in or you can find our website at ljpres.org/connect. We hope to see lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus, and we strive to be a place where you experience and are able to express that transforming love of Christ.

It builds our faith to help give back a portion of what God has given us. If you would like to help further His work in La Jolla, San Diego and the world you can give online at LJPres.org/Donate.

Today, we are looking at John 3:1-9. This sermon explores the radical idea that regardless of our past narratives or how we view ourselves, we have the opportunity to start anew through spiritual rebirth. Jesus explains to Nicodemus, and to us, that being born again is not a physical rebirth but a spiritual awakening brought about by believing in Him. This new birth changes our narrative from one of sin and separation from God to one of forgiveness, relationship, and eternal life. Pastor Paul will guide us through understanding how this new birth is not just a theological concept, but a living reality that offers a fresh start and a new way of seeing the world.

We want to connect with you! Email Pastor Chad at chadf@ljpres.org to get plugged in or you can find our website at ljpres.org/connect. We hope to see lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus, and we strive to be a place where you experience and are able to express that transforming love of Christ.

It builds our faith to help give back a portion of what God has given us. If you would like to help further His work in La Jolla, San Diego and the world you can give online at LJPres.org/Donate.

Today, we are surrounded by countless narratives—stories we hear from the world around us and the ones we tell ourselves. But how often do these narratives align with the truth? How often do they reflect the narrative God has about us and for us? Through Jesus' baptism and temptation, we see a profound example of knowing and relying on God’s Word to affirm identity and purpose, even in the face of challenge.

In this sermon, "Knowing God’s Word," we'll explore the significance of Jesus using Scripture to counteract temptation, emphasizing the importance of immersing ourselves in God's narrative. Jesus' responses to the tempter reveal the power of Scripture not just as a historical record, but as a living, breathing guide for life, offering us strength, guidance, and truth in every circumstance.

We want to connect with you! Email Pastor Chad at chadf@ljpres.org to get plugged in or you can find our website at ljpres.org/connect. We hope to see lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus, and we strive to be a place where you experience and are able to express that transforming love of Christ.

It builds our faith to help give back a portion of what God has given us. If you would like to help further His work in La Jolla, San Diego and the world you can give online at LJPres.org/Donate.

Jesus Will Show Up - Happy Easter! Today Pastor Paul is looking at Luke 24:36-49. In this passage, we witness the transformative moment when despair turns to hope, and disbelief turns to faith, as Jesus Himself stands among His followers, showing them His hands and feet, and opening their minds to understand the Scriptures. This Easter sermon will explore the significance of Jesus' resurrection appearances and how they reveal His promise to be with us always, in every circumstance of our lives.

"Jesus Will Show Up" is an invitation to experience the reality of the risen Christ in our midst. Pastor Paul will guide us to see how Jesus continues to reveal Himself to us today, offering peace, forgiveness, and the power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. Whether we find ourselves in a place of doubt, fear, or celebration, the message of Easter assures us that Jesus will show up, bringing His light into our darkness and His life into our dead places.

We want to connect with you! Email Pastor Chad at chadf@ljpres.org to get plugged in or you can find our website at ljpres.org/connect. We hope to see lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus, and we strive to be a place where you experience and are able to express that transforming love of Christ.

It builds our faith to help give back a portion of what God has given us. If you would like to help further His work in La Jolla, San Diego and the world you can give online at LJPres.org/Donate.

Preparing For The King - This Palm Sunday, Pastor Paul invites us to journey into the heart of Holy Week with his sermon, "Preparing For The King," centered on the narrative of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem found in Mark 11:1-11. This passage not only marks the beginning of the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry but also symbolizes the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, revealing Jesus as the long-awaited King. "Preparing For The King" will challenge us to ponder the nature of the kingdom Jesus came to establish—one not of power and might as the world understands it, but of humility, peace, and servant leadership.

We want to connect with you! Email Pastor Chad at chadf@ljpres.org to get plugged in or you can find our website at ljpres.org/connect. We hope to see lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus, and we strive to be a place where you experience and are able to express that transforming love of Christ.

It builds our faith to help give back a portion of what God has given us. If you would like to help further His work in La Jolla, San Diego and the world you can give online at LJPres.org/Donate.

The One Who Forgives - This Sunday, Pastor Paul brings a compelling message titled "The One Who Forgives," focusing on the powerful narrative found in Mark 2:1-12. In this story, we witness the profound authority and compassion of Jesus as He forgives and heals a paralyzed man, brought to Him by friends who believed in His power to restore. Through this act of forgiveness and healing, Jesus not only demonstrates His divine authority but also challenges societal and religious norms surrounding sin, forgiveness, and physical ailment. Pastor Paul will explore the depths of Jesus's actions and words in this passage, emphasizing that forgiveness is at the core of Jesus's ministry and the kingdom He proclaims.

We want to connect with you! Email Pastor Chad at chadf@ljpres.org to get plugged in or you can find our website at ljpres.org/connect. We hope to see lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus, and we strive to be a place where you experience and are able to express that transforming love of Christ.

It builds our faith to help give back a portion of what God has given us. If you would like to help further His work in La Jolla, San Diego and the world you can give online at LJPres.org/Donate.