All Souls Presbyterian Church

Why? It’s a question we ask often, in response to national tragedies, global pandemics, brutal racism, personal devastation. Why me? Why now? Why this? We want answers. And answers, more often than not, mean determining blame. In John 9:1–7, the disciples ask Jesus a question: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” They want to know why. They want to know who to blame. Jesus, of course, rarely answers a question in the given parameters. Very often Jesus is given two options and he persistently chooses a third. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, looking at the question of who sinned, under four headings: the situation (there is tragic suffering in the world); the presupposition (suffering is a result of personal sin); Scripture’s correction (suffering is an opportunity to display God’s works); and the climax (Jesus enters suffering and overcomes it). Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, August 13, 2023. allsoulspca.org

God has quite a lot to say about worry and anxiety, and in Matthew 6:24–34 we find one of the most well-known Biblical passages on the subject. Listen as church elder Todd Doehring teaches through this passage that you cannot serve both God and worry; when we worry, we overlook God’s care for his creation; and only when we put God first can we be sure of anything. From Sunday Worship, August 6, 2023. allsoulspca.org

The first two chapters of Philippians are filled with beautiful and lofty truths about who Jesus is and how he impacts the world. But at the end of Philippians chapter 2, Paul comes down to some real and practical implications of these truths, seen through the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus. Listen as Josué Pernillo preaches on Philippians 2:19–30, helping us to see that the gospel allows us to grow in our concern for others, to grow in our service of others, and ultimately to have deep gospel friendships. Part of a series on Philippians. From Sunday Worship, July 30, 2023. allsoulspca.org

Who is worthy to come to the king’s table? In 2 Samuel 9, we find a seemingly small moment: King David shows kindness to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. But in this story of a faithful king and a dinner we catch a glimpse of something more profound. Listen as Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing that because of the king’s faithfulness the messy can come to the king’s table, because of the king’s faithfulness the needy can come to the king’s table, and because of the king’s faithfulness the unworthy can come to the king’s table. From Sunday Worship, July 23, 2023. allsoulspca.org

You might be tempted to hear the opening words of Ephesians and think of them as a perfunctory greeting: Paul is just explaining who he is and who he is writing to. But these words contain far more than a mere greeting. In them we find the gospel being presented to us, the beginning and the end of the Christian life being put on display. Listen as RUF campus minister Ethan Brown takes a closer look at Ephesians 1:1–2, answering three questions: Who is Paul? Who are we? And what is the gospel? From Sunday Worship, July 16, 2023. allsoulspca.org

The apostle John wrote his gospel so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and, by believing, have life in his name. This makes the question of who Jesus is very important––even a matter of life and death. So what makes Jesus different? What makes him different from the teachers and founders and philosophers of other great religions of the world? What makes him even greater than Abraham, “the father of all who believe”? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche teaches from John 8:48–59, showing how Jesus is “greater than” in three points: Jesus speaks the words of the Father, Jesus fulfills the promises of the Father, and Jesus is one with the Father. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, July 9, 2023. allsoulspca.org

“Like father, like son,” “the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,” and “from a pumpkin comes a pumpkin” are all common expressions––well, maybe not that last one!––that help illustrate the same truth: a thing will reflect that which produced it. Jesus employs this logic in John 8:37–47 with some strong words for his hearers. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on this passage, providing the context (a story of two families), the principle (children are like their fathers), and the call (believe in the Son). Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, July 2, 2023. allsoulspca.org

In chapter two of his letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds the believers in Philippi of who they are and how their identity impacts their actions. Like the Philippians, believers today can know that because we have been saved by God, we can now live as those that are saved, with new identities in Christ that overflow into our actions. Listen as Josué Pernillo continues his series on the book of Philippians, expounding on this passage in three points: The Source, The Direction, and The End. Part of a series on the book of Philippians. From Sunday Worship, June 25, 2023. allsoulspca.org

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “the truth will set you free.” But what does it mean? When Jesus first spoke these words found in John 8:31–36 he wasn’t coining an aphorism, but making a bold, personal claim. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche gets to the bottom of what Jesus meant in this passage through three questions: Why do you need to be set free? What is the truth that sets you free? And when will the truth set you free? Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, June 18, 2023. allsoulspca.org

We're not big on “taking someone’s word for it.” We want to verify the facts, and when we can’t do it ourselves we want some kind of independent verification. But if you test the veracity of someone’s word by appealing to a higher authority, at some point there is an authority above which you cannot go... so how can you test God’s word? How do we know Jesus’ words are true? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on John 8:12–30 (in which the Pharisees challenge Jesus’ claim to be “the light of the world”), providing three ways that we can know Jesus’ words are true: 1) the world makes sense in light of Jesus, 2) Jesus was sent by the Father, who is true, and 3) to know Jesus, look at the cross. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, June 11, 2023. allsoulspca.org

Are grace and obedience opposed to one another? When a woman is caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus, we see Jesus’ gracious response, neither condemning the sinner nor condoning the sin. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche preaches on John 7:53–8:11 (with an introduction on text criticism!), identifying two common mistakes (grace is permissiveness; Biblical religion is legalism), offering a biblical corrective (know the depth of your sin; know the power of Jesus’ grace), and pointing us to a life of knowing and showing grace. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, June 4, 2023. allsoulspca.org

In Philippians 2:5–11 we engage with some of the most intricate and beautiful themes of Christology found anywhere in the New Testament. Listen as Pastoral Intern Josué Pernillo helps us to reflect on this passage, thinking about who Jesus is, what he has done, and what that means for his people. Part of a series on the book of Philippians. From Sunday Worship, May 28, 2023. allsoulspca.org

Are you thirsty in life? Do your job, your studies, your family, your friends leave you parched? Do the lives of others on social media whet your thirst for something you don't have? It looks like it's out there, it looks like others are experiencing it, but you remain thirsty, needy, restless, wanting. In this sermon on John 7:37–39, the well-known passage in which Jesus cries out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink,” Pastor Luke Herche looks through all of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, to show some of the beauty of God's artistry in the history of redemption recorded in the Scriptures, and ultimately to point us to Jesus as the one who pours out the Spirit as rivers of living water to satisfy the thirst of his people. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, May 21, 2023. allsoulspca.org

How does your approach to Jesus stop you from actually coming to Jesus? What is it about what you bring to the table that gets in the way of seeing who Jesus is? In this sermon on John 7:1–52, Pastor Luke Herche shows that theological banter, worldly thinking, and self-centeredness all stop us from seeing who Jesus is. Rather, if you would know who Jesus is, you must choose the path of humble obedience, which is the path that Jesus took. He himself shows us that the path to greatness is through humility, and it is the suffering servant who becomes the glorified Son. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, May 14, 2023. allsoulspca.org

The message of the cross is offensive. It was offensive in Jesus’ day and it is perhaps more so today. When Jesus finished his sermon in John 6, all of his disciples left him except twelve. Why did some not believe? And how can we come to Jesus and find life? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche teaches on John 6:35–71, showing that the cross is scandalous, human wisdom fails, God gives life, and so we must look to Jesus and believe. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, May 7, 2023. allsoulspca.org

In this sermon on Philippians 2:1–4, Pastoral Intern Josué Pernillo teaches us about the gospel source of our unity, the gospel experience of unity, and the gospel reaction to unity. Part of a series on the book of Philippians. From Sunday Worship, April 30, 2023. allsoulspca.org

People know that they need to feed their souls. But the problem is, which of us really understands what that means? Where do we look? And what even is the “life” of the soul? In this sermon on John 6:25–59, in which Jesus makes the statement “I am the bread of life,” Pastor Luke Herche asks three questions and provides three answers: · What does this life look like? Real life is the satisfaction of the soul. · Where does this life come from? Jesus is the bread of life. · And how do I get it? Come and feed by faith. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, April 23, 2023. allsoulspca.org

Pastor Luke Herche preaches on John 6:1–27, showing who Jesus is, why we miss it, and how to see. Part of a series on The Gospel of John From Sunday Worship, April 16, 2023. allsoulspca.org

Why was Jesus crucified? What was happening at the cross? Was it the noble death of a martyr? Or the tragic end of a wasted life? The events of the crucifixion seem to portray the defeat of an apparently weak, helpless, and insignificant man. Jesus is mocked, shamed, crucified, abandoned, and dies. But to understand what is really happening, we have to see in all of that the victory of King Jesus. Listen as Pastor Luke Herche explains in this Good Friday message, showing us the reality of King Jesus, the method of King Jesus, the victory of King Jesus, and the accomplishment of King Jesus. Delivered on Good Friday, April 7, 2023. allsoulspca.org

Christ is risen from the dead. But what does that mean? Why is it important? What difference does it make? Listen as Pastor Luke Herche answers these questions in an Easter Sunday sermon on Matthew 28, showing us that: 1) Christ has been exalted as the King of heaven & earth. 2) Christ’s exaltation vindicates God’s power in weakness. 3) Christ’s exaltation demonstrates the powerlessness of the powers of this age. 4) Therefore repent, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. Delivered on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. allsoulspca.org