Sermons Archives - Congregational Church of La Jolla

Discover what it means to belong.

This All Saints Sunday sermon reflects on the legacy of progressive Christianity, from the founding of New York’s historic Riverside Church to the remarkable individuals who helped shape the Congregational Church of La Jolla. Drawing on the words of Henry Emerson Fosdick’s beloved hymn, “God of Grace, God of Glory,” Rev. Tim considers the courage required to sustain a faith rooted in intellectual freedom, compassion, and social justice.

What can St. Francis of Assisi teach us about loving creation, making peace, and embracing the untamed parts of ourselves?

In this sermon for our annual Blessing of the Animals, Rev. Tim reflects on the life of a saint who traded wealth and privilege for simplicity, compassion, and a radical commitment to following Jesus. From befriending society’s outcasts to seeking peace amid the Crusades, Francis embodied a love that crossed boundaries and challenged convention.

What does it mean to live faithfully amid injustice, corruption, and oppressive power?

In Matthew 22:15–22, Jesus faces a trap posed by the question: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? His response, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s,” is often misinterpreted as a call to keep faith out of politics. But what if Jesus was doing precisely the opposite?

Even behind prison walls, the things that matter most shine through.

In his sermon on Philippians 4:1-9, Rev. Tim Seery reflects on the Apostle Paul’s call to unity, gratitude, and a Christ-centered life. Writing from prison, Paul urges a divided congregation to set aside its differences and focus on what is true, noble, just, and worthy of praise. His message reminds us that even amid anxiety and conflict, our shared purpose must remain greater than our disagreements.

What if the thing we are most tempted to throw away is actually the thing we need most?

In this sermon on the Parable of the Tenants, the image of “the stone the builders refused” becomes a powerful reflection on who—and what—we choose to center in our lives. Jesus reminds us that God’s vision is often upside down: the rejected, forgotten, and overlooked can become the very foundation of something new.

What if faith isn’t about having all the right answers, but simply showing up?

Drawing on Jesus’s Parable of the Two Sons and the radical spiritual vision of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Rev. Tim Seery explores what makes our congregation unique: a community where questioning is encouraged, beliefs are diverse, and the sacred can be discovered anywhere.

Forgiveness is not a rigid calculation, but an invitation to loosen our grip.

In his sermon on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Rev. Tim explores the complex nature of forgiveness and the human tendency to turn it into a rigid, calculated transaction. Rather than treating mercy like a mental ledger or an absolute obligation, he argues that Jesus invites believers into an infinite, heart-centered practice of grace.

What does it mean to follow Jesus when the way forward doesn’t look like winning?

In Matthew 16, Peter cannot understand why Jesus would choose a path leading toward suffering and death rather than power, victory, and survival. But Jesus asks us to see beyond the immediate moment. The Christian story is a long arc, one that passes through darkness before arriving at light, and through disappointment before redemption.

For this week’s sermon, Rev. Tim delivered a message from Bolivia on the importance of empathy and standing up for the marginalized.

What happens when God’s will meets our own? Jonah was dragged toward Nineveh through storm and darkness, resisting a mission he never wanted: mercy for Israel’s enemy. But Jesus offered something different. When a rich young man walked away sad, Jesus didn’t chase him down; he let him go with love. And when the crowds turned back, Jesus simply asked the remaining twelve, “Do you want to go too?”