Sermons Archives - Congregational Church of La Jolla

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?”

This week we explore the story of Jesus walking on water after feeding the 5,000.

Rather than dwelling on the miracle’s mechanics or the common “have more faith than Peter” reading, Rev. Tim reframes the story as a mirror. Every character in the boat, whether afraid, adventurous, sinking, or amazed, represents a way we experience life’s storms.

In this sermon on the Feeding of the Five Thousand, Rev. Tim begins with Jesus withdrawing to grieve John the Baptist’s execution, choosing solitude over strategy and “rest as resistance.” But the crowds find him anyway, and Jesus meets them with splagchnizomai (σπλαγχνίζομαι), a gut-level compassion that turns scarcity into abundance.

How often do we overlook the small in search of something grand?

In our third week exploring Jesus’s parables, we unpack the Parable of the Mustard Seed—a story about a tiny, seemingly insignificant seed that grows into an expansive place of shelter. From dollhouse miniatures to the overlooked legacy of Abigail Adams, this message explores how “the art of noticing” small details trains us to see hidden truths.