Sermons from Christ Presbyterian Church in Burke, VA

This past Lord’s Day, Pastor Harlow preached on the physical reality of Christ’s resurrection in Luke 24:36-43. As we begin a new year, we can be anxious about what lies ahead, and like the disciples, we struggle with unbelief. Yet Jesus graciously condescends to our doubts, showing His hands and feet, inviting touch, even eating fish to prove He is truly risen. Through baptism, we are united to Christ in His death and resurrection, which means our future is secure in the One who has conquered death itself.

This past Lord’s Day, Pastor Harlow preached on the encounter between the risen Christ and two disciples walking to Emmaus. In Luke 24:13-35, we meet discouraged followers who couldn’t recognize Jesus even as He walked beside them, their hopes crushed by the crucifixion they had witnessed. Jesus opens their eyes by opening the Scriptures, showing them how Moses and all the Prophets pointed to a Christ who must suffer before entering His glory. Their hearts burned within them as the Word was explained, and they finally recognized their Savior in the breaking of bread.

This Lord’s Day, Pastor Hasler preached on the resurrection of Jesus from Luke 24:1–12, exploring what lies at the very heart of the Christian faith. When the women arrived at the tomb that first Easter morning, they found the stone rolled away and heard the angels declare, “He is not here, but has risen.” This sermon examines the truth of Christ’s resurrection, why it was necessary for our salvation, and what it means for us as His followers today.

This past Lord’s Day, Pastor Harlow continued our Advent series by examining Christ’s crucifixion in Luke 23:26–56. Even as darkness covered the earth and the sun’s light failed, Jesus demonstrated His love for the women who mourned Him, for those who crucified Him, and for the criminal beside Him. The sermon explores how Christ, born into a world of darkness, displayed the Father’s love most fully in His darkest hour. We see that the One who came to bring light entered death itself so that we might have life.

This Lord’s Day, Pastor Harlow preached on the trial of Jesus before Pilate and Herod from Luke 23:1-25. Though Jesus faced false accusations of misleading the nation and claiming kingship, Pilate and Herod both declared him innocent. Yet religious leaders, the crowds, and even Pilate himself rejected the sinless Son of God. In a stunning act of substitution, the innocent Christ was condemned while the guilty murderer Barabbas went free, pointing us to the heart of the gospel: Jesus died in our place.

This Lord’s Day, Bob Eickelberg preaches on Matthew 2:1-23, tracing the events surrounding Christ’s birth from the visit of the wise men to the flight into Egypt. Through Herod’s schemes and the hardships of the holy family, we see how God’s sovereign plan unfolds despite human opposition and uncertainty. As we begin Advent, this passage reminds us that God’s purposes cannot be thwarted. The King has come, and no earthly power can stand against his kingdom.

This Lord’s Day, Pastor Harlow preaches from Luke 22:63-71, where Jesus stands before the religious leaders who mock Him, beat Him, and demand answers. While His tormentors seek to humiliate the Messiah through violence and scorn, Jesus points them to the truth they refuse to see: the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God’s power. The religious authorities condemn Him for claiming divine authority, yet their rejection only fulfills God’s eternal plan. Through Christ’s willingness to endure mockery and condemnation, the world’s values are turned upside down as the suffering Servant becomes the reigning King.

Pastor Harlow brings us to the Mount of Olives where Jesus, in the garden, faces the weight of the cup he must drink. Luke 22:39-47 shows us Christ in agony, sweating drops like blood as he prays for the Father’s will to be done rather than his own. An angel appears to strengthen him for what lies ahead, while his disciples sleep through their moment to watch and pray. This passage reveals how prayer sustains us through the hardest trials we face. When temptation and suffering threaten to overwhelm us, we find our strength renewed through honest, persistent prayer that submits to God’s purposes.

This past Lord’s Day, Pastor Porter Harlow preached on Peter’s denial of Christ and the intercession that sustained him through his darkest moment. In Luke 22:31-38, 47-62, we see Jesus warning Peter that Satan sought to sift him like wheat, yet Christ prayed that Peter’s faith would not ultimately fail. The passage shows us Peter’s confident boasts followed by his bitter failure, but also reveals the extraordinary grace of Christ’s ongoing prayer for His faltering disciples. Through both the ordinary means of grace and Christ’s continuous intercession at the Father’s right hand, believers are held secure even when our faith wavers.

Pastor Hasler preached on the nature of true greatness in God’s kingdom from Luke 22:24-30. When the disciples argued about who was greatest, Jesus redefined greatness as servanthood rather than worldly power. He positioned himself as the ultimate example, the one who serves at the table. The passage reveals three truths: greatness is tied to service, Jesus receives the greatest honor because he provided the greatest service, and great servants receive great rewards.