Third Church Sermons

This Sunday we’ll be looking at 2 Corinthians 6, and Paul’s continued appeal to his friends to commit themselves wholly to Jesus Christ.

The Ministry of Reconciliation by Third Church, RVA

This Sunday, we’ll continue our study of 2 Corinthians by looking at the first part of chapter 5. Derek Mondeau will be preaching on the good news of Easter that our mortal bodies are already being swallowed up by resurrection life!

The passage this week is probably one of the most famous of the whole book. Paul’s metaphor of having “treasure in clay jars” is a powerful image that communicates what it means to have tremendous power (the treasure of the gospel and the Holy Spirit) in such apparent weakness (the “clay jar” of our mortal bodies).

This Sunday, we’re continuing our series on 2 Corinthians by looking at the way God uses weak people to make known the truth and power of the gospel.

This sermon was co-written with Rev. Kevin Germer of Christ Presbyterian Church, Richmond.

Sermon sources:

- Paul Barnett, The Message of 2 Corinthians (IVP)

- Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone (SPCK)

- R. Kent Hughes, 2 Corinthians: Power in Weakness (Crossway)

- James Torrance, Worship, Community, and the Triune God of Grace (IVP)

- Anthony Thiselton, 2 Corinthians (Cascade)

- A lot of personal conversations with Rev. Dr. Robert Stamps

This Sunday we kick off a series on 2 Corinthians titled “Power In Weakness.” We’ll look at Paul’s counter-cultural invitation to see that real power comes not through strength but through weakness. As Jesus’s resurrection triumph comes through apparent defeat of the cross, so now the cross and resurrection gives us the basic pattern for the Christian life.

This Sunday we’re privileged to hear from Fakhri Yacoub, pastor of our sister congregation the Christian Arabic Church. Fakhri will be preaching about the difference Jesus’ resurrection makes to help us overcome fear.

Easter Sunday: A Living Hope by Third Church, RVA

This week we’ll look at the fruit of self-control. Under the leadership of Jesus and his Spirit we can order and direct our desires toward that which we were made: love of God and neighbor. This is not about self-mastery, but living in step with and empowered by the Spirit to be the redeemed people God has created us to be.

Sermon Sources this week:

- Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness

- Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit

- Phillip Kenneson, Life on the Vine

- Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, Logos Bible Software

- “Self Control in a Time of Self-Fulfillment,” Sermon by Jon Tyson at Church of the City NYC, 5/25/20

- Justin Early, The Common Rule