Sermons from Christ Presbyterian Church in Burke, VA

Rev. Jonathan Landry Cruse, our guest preacher, preaches on the worship Christ has made available through the New Covenant. In celebration of our church’s 6th anniversary and the conclusion of our What Happens When We Worship Conference, Pastor Cruse brings fresh insight from Exodus 27:1–19 and 30:17–21.

This sermon, titled “And His Courts with Praise!”, walks us through the meaning and significance of the Old Testament courtyard, the altar, and the basin—ultimately pointing us to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Worship is more than just singing songs or going through routines-it’s a supernatural encounter with the living God. In this series, we’ll explore how God works in and through worship to shape us, strengthen our faith, and draw us deeper into His presence.

SPEAKER BIO:

Pastor Jonathan Cruse is a Central Pennsylvania native and has served as pastor of Community since 2017. He studied Communication and English at Temple University and earned his M.Div. from Westminster Seminary California. Jonathan and his wife, Kerri Ann, live in Michigan with their three children. A passionate writer, he has contributed to several Christian publications and authored multiple books, including What Happens When We Worship and The Character of Christ.

This past Sunday, the sermon will focus on one of Jesus’ most revealing teachings about life after death. Preaching from Luke 16:19–31—the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus—the pastor will guide the congregation through this powerful passage where Jesus pulls back the curtain on eternity.

The message will explore questions that weigh on many hearts: What happens to believers when they die? What is heaven really like? Will we be reunited with loved ones who have gone before us in faith?

This beloved passage offers deep hope, especially through Jesus’ promise of “comfort” in verse 25—a word that speaks directly to those who trust in Him. It’s a message of assurance, peace, and anticipation for what’s to come.

This week, our Pastor preached from Luke 16:14-18 and examined what God’s law has to do with the Christian life. Although Jesus gives a full explanation in the sermon passage, that explanation may not be apparent on its face. So we unpacked the passage in hopes of seeing such a beautiful picture of Christ’s Kingdom that we will want to press deeper into it.

This past Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing from Nathan Newman, who serves as a minister to members of Congress through the Presbyterian Church in America’s Ministry to State.

This unique ministry is dedicated to discipling legislators, staff, and officials on Capitol Hill, throughout the federal government, and in many state governments—bringing the hope of the gospel into the heart of civic life.

Nathan preached a sermon titled “One Heart and Soul” from Acts 4:23–37, a passage he has been studying with a Bible study group on the Hill. In this message, we were encouraged and challenged by the unity, boldness, and generosity of the early church—and reminded of how those same gospel dynamics are at work even in the halls of power today.

In this challenging and insightful passage—often known as the parable of the dishonest manager—Jesus confronts us with the question of where our true allegiance lies. Porter helped us see how our use of money and resources reveals the posture of our hearts, and how the call to be wholly devoted to God reshapes our priorities, loyalties, and daily decisions.

At the heart of it all, we were reminded that God is not simply after our behavior—He’s after our hearts. Like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, God pursues us in love, longing to draw us into joyful, undivided devotion to Him.

This Sunday, we’ll reflect on the Great Commission—our Savior’s call for His church to go and make disciples of all nations. What does that look like today? While we’re called to make disciples right here in our own communities, we’re also part of a global mission: praying for, supporting, and partnering with those who proclaim Christ around the world.

We’re honored this week to hear from one of those partners in mission, Pastor Jason Kueh. Jason serves as the pastor of Shin-Urayasu Grace Church, a joint church plant of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the Presbyterian Church in Japan (PCJ), just outside of Tokyo. Join us as we hear how God is at work in Japan and how we can be part of His mission to the ends of the earth.

This week, our pastoral intern preached from Luke 15 and the parables of the lost coins, lost sheep, and lost sons, which show us our Father’s great love for us His children.

 This week our pastor preached from Luke 14:25-35 where Christ uses several short parables to explain how we (Christians) can be “salty” (effective) followers of Him.