Dominic Jackson continues our journey through 1 John by exploring what it means to live in the light through the command to love. Though John calls it both an “old” and “new” command, the heart of it is simple: love one another. But this love is not a vague sentiment or shallow tolerance; it’s a love defined by the life and self-giving of Jesus. When we withhold love, John says, we walk in darkness, no matter what we claim to believe. To walk in the light is to live in a way that makes space for others to be seen, known, and welcomed. This passage challenges us to ask whether we are just avoiding hate or actively practicing love.

Dominic Jackson opens our series on 1 John by reflecting on how the Christian faith begins not with ideas or inspiration, but with a person—Jesus Christ—whom John and the apostles heard, saw, and touched. The letter begins with eyewitness testimony and a call to deeper fellowship: not just with God, but with one another. In a world where many are uncertain what is true or who can be trusted, John grounds faith in what is real, embodied, and eternal. The invitation is not to escape into private spirituality, but to enter a shared life animated by joy, honesty, and love. This is how we walk in the light—not alone, but together in the truth.

Dominic Jackson teaches on the parable of the mustard seed from Matthew 13, where Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to something small, hidden, and slow-growing. The seed’s size hides its true power; it becomes a tree that offers rest, hospitality, and shelter. In an era that prizes instant results and visible success, Jesus invites us to trust the quiet power of small beginnings. The kingdom grows not by force but by faithfulness. Our task is not to obsess over outcomes but to sow and tend, even when progress feels invisible. Through this parable, we’re reminded that God’s work often begins beneath notice, but it never stays that way.

Dominic Jackson teaches on Jesus’ parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, where a man builds bigger barns to store his abundance but loses his life before he can enjoy it. The story is not a simple condemnation of wealth, but a confrontation with greed—the subtle shift of trust and allegiance away from God and toward self-sufficiency. Jesus names this as a vision problem: a darkened eye sees the world through scarcity and fear, while a clear eye sees generosity and grace. The parable calls us to loosen our grip on what we cannot keep and to become rich toward God—not by earning status, but by opening our lives to the kingdom’s abundance. What we do with our money reveals what we believe about God.

Continuing our Parables series, Dominic Jackson teaches on Matthew 21:28-32 and the story of the two sons, where Jesus contrasts words with obedience. One son refuses his father but later repents and acts; the other promises compliance but never moves his feet. In this tension, Jesus exposes the danger of honoring God with our lips while our lives remain unchanged. True faith, Dominic reminds us, is not merely mental agreement or verbal profession but trust embodied in action. Repentance is more than saying “I’m sorry”—it is a turning, a 180, from stubborn refusal toward obedience rooted in God’s grace. The kingdom belongs not to the polished or religiously impressive, but to those whose hearts are turned and whose lives bear the fruit of repentance and trust.

Matt Crummy explores Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard, where God’s justice and mercy meet in ways that unsettle our instincts about fairness. The landowner pays each worker the same, keeping his promise to the first while showing unexpected generosity to the last. For those measuring worth by comparison, this feels like loss, and Jesus names it the “evil eye”—a vision clouded by envy. In contrast, the “good” trusts that God’s resources are abundant, not scarce, and that his generosity to others does not diminish his care for us. The kingdom is not a zero-sum marketplace but a place where grace is given as a gift, not a wage, and where blessing is multiplied when it is shared. We are invited to lay down rivalry, resist the pull of comparison, and see others’ gain as a sign of the same goodness we ourselves receive from the hand of the generous landowner.

Dominic Jackson examines Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, highlighting how pride, comparison, and self-righteousness can obscure our need for grace. While the Pharisee presents a flawless religious résumé, his posture reveals a heart focused on self and performance. The tax collector, in contrast, offers no defense—only humility and a cry for mercy. We are invited to consider how our motives shape our actions, how easily we reduce faith to merit, and how Jesus calls us to bring our empty hands, not our accomplishments. True righteousness, we’re reminded, begins not with moral superiority but with need that is recognized, named, and brought to God.

In this sermon on Luke 15, Dominic Jackson reflects on the parable often called “The Prodigal Son.” Drawing out the inner lives of all three characters—the younger son, the older brother, and the father—Dominic explores how the story exposes not just rebellion, but resentment, grief, and the longing for reconciliation. The younger son runs from home in search of freedom, only to find himself empty and ashamed. The older brother stays but seethes, convinced that faithfulness should earn him control. The father’s actions disrupt both patterns—he watches, runs, and welcomes with joy, refusing to let either son’s vision of justice define the terms of relationship. The parable presses into how we see God, what kind of home we believe we’re returning to, and whether we can receive grace when it comes.

In this sermon on Matthew 25:14-30, Dominic Jackson continues the Parables series by turning to the parable of the talents. Dominic explains how the parable is less about ability and more about responsibility, especially in light of who we believe God to be. Jesus presents a master who entrusts his wealth to servants with varying amounts and then departs, inviting them to act in his absence. The contrast between the faithful servants and the third servant hinges on relationship rather than results. The third servant’s fear and distorted image of the master lead him to bury what he’s been given. We are challenged to consider how our view of God shapes our stewardship and whether we are hiding or risking what has been placed in our hands.

In this sermon on Matthew 13, Dominic Jackson opens the Parables series by exploring the parable of the sower. He reflects on how Jesus’ stories shape our perception and judgment, inviting self-examination rather than critique of others. Through the lens of a familiar farming image, Jesus challenges his listeners to consider the judgments they’re making and where true discernment comes from. We’re reminded that the kingdom of God grows in hidden, often misunderstood ways—and that we’re called to tend first to the soil of our own lives.