Sermons from 2026

Heaven Comes Down

Pentecost is not merely a remembrance but the moment heaven breaks into earth through the gift of the Holy Spirit. The sermon traces the historical roots of Pentecost—from the giving of the Law at Sinai to the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2—and shows how Jesus transforms the pattern: instead of humanity climbing up to God, God comes down to dwell within His people. The Spirit empowers believers to be living witnesses of God’s presence, reversing Babel and making…

Now and Not Yet

Jesus’ kingdom is a beautiful expression of God’s grace ruling and reigning in our lives and in the world. He gives us his Spirit to bring his grace wherever we go. Text: Acts 1:6-14 Sermon preached on 17 MAY 2026 by Peter Tepper at St Peter the Fisherman, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Another Advocate

Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit another advocate. Text: John 14:15-21 Sermon preached by Peter Tepper on 10 May 2026 at St Peter the Fisherman, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Stephen’s Spark : A Glimpse of Glory

The sermon explores Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 7 as an “encounter with the risen Christ,” showing how Stephen provides resources for the road—a way to face suffering with courage, clarity, and grace. The preacher frames the message around three movements: what Stephen said, what Stephen saw, and what Stephen did. 1. What Stephen Said Stephen, one of the first deacons, delivers the longest speech in Acts, recounting 1,800 years of Israel’s redemptive history—Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David—to show that Jesus is…

Hearts Aflame

Cleopas and his companion walk away from Jerusalem discouraged, despite hearing reports of the resurrection. As the sermon notes, “we heard there’s this thing called the resurrection… but we didn’t believe him” . Jesus meets them in their confusion, walks with them, listens to their disappointments, and then opens the Scriptures—showing that all of Scripture points to Him. This becomes the “reality of revelation,” where God discloses Himself and opens their eyes. Revelation is not merely intellectual but experiential: “a…

Rediscovering a Sense of Wonder

Jesus meets Thomas and the other disciples in their fear and disbelief to reveal himself as the risen Lord, restoring a sense of wonder that the world’s thrills can’t supply. By showing his wounds, Jesus moves Thomas from disbelief to faith, offering a deeply personal encounter where Christ’s scars speak to our own pain. He then gives a durable, resurrection-shaped joy that persists even amid fear, suffering, and death. Finally, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into his followers, transforming them…

He Called Her Name

This Easter sermon centers on the resurrection story in John’s Gospel, especially the moment when the risen Jesus speaks Mary’s name—one word that changes everything. Just as we recognize a loved one by their voice, Mary recognizes Jesus, and her world is transformed. The sermon unfolds around three movements that flow from that single word: The sermon concludes by connecting resurrection hope with the Eucharist: where death once entered through “take and eat,” new life is offered through Christ’s self‑giving…

Jesus and the Grieving

This sermon explores how Jesus meets people in their grief through tears, truth, and grace, drawing from the story of Lazarus in John 11. It highlights how Jesus responds differently to Mary and Martha—offering compassionate presence to one and grounding truth to the other—showing his intimate understanding of human sorrow. Jesus points to the hope of resurrection, reminding listeners that he enters death itself so that everything sad might one day come untrue. Sermon preached by Peter Tepper at St…

When the Light Breaks In

In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind—not only restoring physical sight but revealing a deeper spiritual reality. This miracle, or “sign,” exposes the contrast between physical vision and spiritual blindness. With our “small eyes,” we often try to make sense of the great mysteries of suffering, pain, and evil. But Jesus invites us into a larger story: God’s redemptive work in the world. The Pharisees, though physically sighted, cannot recognize the Light of the World standing before them.…

Good News in a Good Way

Jesus conversation with the the woman at the well in Samaria tells us how to share our faith, naturally, sensitively, and with clarity. Sermon preached by Michelle Tepper on 8 March 2026 at St Peter the Fisherman, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

The Way Back to the Garden

The Way Back to the Garden The sermon traces the biblical story arc from the Garden of Eden, through the wilderness of sin, to our return to the garden made possible through Christ. It highlights that Scripture both begins and ends in a garden—Paradise lost and Paradise restored. Humanity’s fall introduces four forms of death/alienation: After Adam and Eve are sent into the wilderness, humanity continues to wander there. Yet God does not abandon us—Christ enters the wilderness to find…
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