Jordan Rimmer Sermons

In this sermon, based on John 15:1-11, takes a look at the image of the vine and the branches. I then apply these ideas to the practice of discernment. Finally, I share my journey of discernment which led me to Northminster Church.

Why is the parable of the prodiagal son a bad name for the parable? How does the audience of the parable help interpret the parable? Why are there details like pigs, a fatted calf, a cloak, and the sound of dancing? In this sermon, I take a look at this familiar parable that we are not so familiar with. I am indebted to Timothy Keller, Matt Chandler, and Kenneth Bailey for helping me rethink this parable every time I study it and preach it again.

In this, my first sermon at Northminster Presbyterian Church, I take a look at the story of the Wise Men--who were they and what do their gifts mean?

This was a difficult and bittersweet Sunday, as I said goodbye to Westminster Church. I talked to them about how we all struggle with change, but how important it is that we learn to trust God and remain faithful in the process.

This is my Christmas Eve sermon where I look at who this Christ-child is thorugh the way Matthew connects the birth of Jesus to Moses.

I take a look at Luke's version of the Nativity story. Why does he include what he does and write the story the way that he does?

In this Advent sermon, I walk through Matthew's story of Jesus' birth and why he tells the story the way he does. We are so used to hearing a story as one story and in quick and edited form that we are unfamiliar with the way Matthew and Luke each tell their own version of the story.

In this sermon I am a little more playful than usual. I start out talking about the meaning of Advent and our need to have the prophets and Mary teach us to wait for and long for Christ. I then shift gears and look at how our tendency to rush through Christmas is evident in how much we don't know about the Christmas story. My challenge, to my congregation and to you, is to slow down and be intentional about experiencing Christmas.

In this sermon, I take a look at Jesus for Christ the King Sunday through the metaphor of the shepherd. We don't associate shepherding with royalty, but that is because we don't really grasp the image of a shepherd because it is so foreign to us. Yet in the ancient near-east, this was a very common connection.

In this sermon, I look at Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. I also use the story to pivot to some personal words to my congregation, who found out this week that I am leaving at the end of the year.

In this stand alone sermon I unpack what the Gospel actually is in its fullest and most robust understanding. The good news comes in four chapters--Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Part of the probglem in Christianity today is that many only have 2 of the 4 chapters in their faith.  

In this sermon, I unpack Jesus' language in John 6 about "the bread of life." I connect Jesus' words with the feeding of the crowd and also with communion.  

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. In this, the final sermon, I track the history of the Reformation from Wittenberg 1517 to New Brighton, PA 2017. I look at how the fire that Luther sparked spread across Europe, across the ocean, and around the world.

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther. This sermon looks at what Luther did to lead the movement and keep it going. I especially take a look at how our world is similar in some ways to Luther's and in need of another reformation. I also take an honest look at Luther's flaws. Ultimately, Luther was a flawed human being that God used, just like you and me.

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther. In this sermon, I take a look at Luther's marriage to Katharina von Bora and how it changed his view not just of marraige, but of the Christian faith and Christian community.   

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther. This sermon continues the series, as I look at the theology of the church at the time and how Luther critiqued it. I am also clear in the sermon that the Catholic Church of today is not the same as the church 500 years ago. The painting I refer to in the sermon can be seen at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haywain_Triptych.

October 31, 2017 marks a monumental moment for the church and the world. It was on that day 500 years ago that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to door at Wittenberg.  This is typically noted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It was a moment that sparked a movement that continues to influence not only the Christian faith but also daily life. To celebrate, I am planning to do a whole month of worship and preaching around Martin Luther. This sermon started the series. I did a biography of Martin Luther's life and why he wrote the 95 Theses.  

In this sermon, I walk through the Lord's Prayer not as a prayer that we should pray all the time but as an outline for prayer that Jesus used to teach his disciples how to pray. 

In this longer sermon I give a crash course on how to read and study the Bible. I also talk along the way about the tools you need for good Bible study. There is also a handout for this sermon in pictures below.  

In this sermon, I continue to talk about the need to put faith in practice by talking about the Bible. I argue that it is not an instruction book, but a library of people's relationships with God. I use the story of Jonah to show how arguing about it can often lead us to miss the point.