Jordan Rimmer Sermons

Being Church: The Future of the Church

In the previous sermon, I took a look at what happened to the world and the church. In this sermon, I consider what the future is for the church and how the church should respond.

Being Church: What happend to the church (and the world)?

In this sermon I follow the lead of the tribe of Issachar, which Chronicles tells us "understood the times and knew what Israel should do." Here, I analyze how our world has changed and how we can understand our times. In particular, I talk about how we now live in a post-Christendom and postmodern world in the West. Net week, I will talk more about how we can respond.

April Fools or Jesus Rules

 

This was an interesting Sunday. It was Easter, but it was also April Fools Day. I had a little fun with it.

Why Palm Sunday?

I have a confession to make. I have never really understood why Palm Sunday is such a big deal. At least, until this year. And this sermon is the result of that study.

Redeeming Ruth: Chapter 4 and Conclusion

In this sermon, I finish the story of Ruth. I look at how Boaz remains a man of honor in the way he works toward marrying Ruth, how Ruth ends up being the great grandmother of King David, how the Book of Ruth shows the love of Jesus, and what the book teaches us about faith.

Redeeming Ruth: Chapter 3

Here we go into chapter 3. We have to do a lot of background work to understand what is going on, but with the idea of redeeming and the idea of winnowing. Also, is this some kind of illicit midnight rendezvous?

Redeeming Ruth: Chapter 2

This sermon continues with the story of Ruth. Here, she goes out to gleen and meets and man named Boaz. She and Naomi are blessed by him, and the question of God's goodness and kindness start to be answered.

Redeeming Ruth: Chapter 1

This begins my Lent sermon series on the Book of Ruth. This sermon paints the context and starts the story of Naomi's return to Bethlehem with her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth.

Ministers of Reconciliation

In this sermon, I take a look at the four relationships that we are created in and how the fall breaks them on. I then look at how Jesus heals all four relationships and calls us to be ministers of reconciliation.

God Brought the Growth

In this sermon I take a look at 1 Corinthians 3:1-15 and the way Paul talks about Christian maturity. We need to move past being a fleshy or carnal Christian and learn to live both trusting God to bring growth while also being faithful to what God calls us to do.

Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

Here I take a look at the process that people (and churches) go through as the mercies of God transform us into something new and how part of that process involves us renewing our mind.

I am the Vine

In this sermon, based on John 15:1-11, takes a look at the image of the vine and the branches. I then apply these ideas to the practice of discernment. Finally, I share my journey of discernment which led me to Northminster Church.

The Parable of the Prodigal God

Why is the parable of the prodiagal son a bad name for the parable? How does the audience of the parable help interpret the parable? Why are there details like pigs, a fatted calf, a cloak, and the sound of dancing? In this sermon, I take a look at this familiar parable that we are not so familiar with.

I am indebted to Timothy Keller, Matt Chandler, and Kenneth Bailey for helping me rethink this parable every time I study it and preach it again.

Epiphanies about Epiphany 2018

In this, my first sermon at Northminster Presbyterian Church, I take a look at the story of the Wise Men--who were they and what do their gifts mean?

Change, Adaptability, and Goodbyes

This was a difficult and bittersweet Sunday, as I said goodbye to Westminster Church. I talked to them about how we all struggle with change, but how important it is that we learn to trust God and remain faithful in the process.

What Child IS This?

This is my Christmas Eve sermon where I look at who this Christ-child is thorugh the way Matthew connects the birth of Jesus to Moses.

Luke's Nativity Story

I take a look at Luke's version of the Nativity story. Why does he include what he does and write the story the way that he does?

Matthew's Nativity Story

In this Advent sermon, I walk through Matthew's story of Jesus' birth and why he tells the story the way he does. We are so used to hearing a story as one story and in quick and edited form that we are unfamiliar with the way Matthew and Luke each tell their own version of the story.

The Meaning of Advent (and Christmas Jeopardy)

In this sermon I am a little more playful than usual. I start out talking about the meaning of Advent and our need to have the prophets and Mary teach us to wait for and long for Christ. I then shift gears and look at how our tendency to rush through Christmas is evident in how much we don't know about the Christmas story. My challenge, to my congregation and to you, is to slow down and be intentional about experiencing Christmas.

Christ the Shepherd King

In this sermon, I take a look at Jesus for Christ the King Sunday through the metaphor of the shepherd. We don't associate shepherding with royalty, but that is because we don't really grasp the image of a shepherd because it is so foreign to us. Yet in the ancient near-east, this was a very common connection.

The Valley of Dry Bones

In this sermon, I look at Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. I also use the story to pivot to some personal words to my congregation, who found out this week that I am leaving at the end of the year.

The Four Chapter Gospel

In this stand alone sermon I unpack what the Gospel actually is in its fullest and most robust understanding. The good news comes in four chapters--Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Part of the probglem in Christianity today is that many only have 2 of the 4 chapters in their faith.  

I am the Bread of Life

In this sermon, I unpack Jesus' language in John 6 about "the bread of life." I connect Jesus' words with the feeding of the crowd and also with communion.

 

Martin Luther Part 5: Luther's Legacy

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. In this, the final sermon, I track the history of the Reformation from Wittenberg 1517 to New Brighton, PA 2017. I look at how the fire that Luther sparked spread across Europe, across the ocean, and around the world.

Marin Luther Part 4: Luther's Leadership

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther.

This sermon looks at what Luther did to lead the movement and keep it going. I especially take a look at how our world is similar in some ways to Luther's and in need of another reformation. I also take an honest look at Luther's flaws. Ultimately, Luther was a flawed human being that God used, just like you and me.

Martin Luther Part 3: Marrying Katharina

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther.

In this sermon, I take a look at Luther's marriage to Katharina von Bora and how it changed his view not just of marraige, but of the Christian faith and Christian community. 

 

Martin Luther Part 2: The Theology of Martin Luther

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther.

This sermon continues the series, as I look at the theology of the church at the time and how Luther critiqued it. I am also clear in the sermon that the Catholic Church of today is not the same as the church 500 years ago.

The painting I refer to in the sermon can be seen at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haywain_Triptych.

Martin Luther Part 1: The Life of Luther

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther.

This sermon started the series. I did a biography of Martin Luther's life and why he wrote the 95 Theses.

 

Faith in Practice: How to Pray

In this sermon, I walk through the Lord's Prayer not as a prayer that we should pray all the time but as an outline for prayer that Jesus used to teach his disciples how to pray. 

Faith in Practice: How to Read and Study the Bible

In this longer sermon I give a crash course on how to read and study the Bible. I also talk along the way about the tools you need for good Bible study. There is also a handout for this sermon in pictures below.