Understanding the Jesus of the Gospels
Sermons from the Gospels
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Tag: christianity
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Offered to the United Presbyterian Church of Alpha NJ on February 8, 20236 Mel Prestamo, Ruling Elder, PCISA Salt & Light [Matthew 5:13-16] These words of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel today are not the most famous, most recognizable words that Jesus had spoken during his ministry; but these in Matthew’s Gospel today are perhaps the…
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Prepared for the Rockport Presbyterian Church / January 25, 2026 Mel Prestamo, Ruling Elder, PCUSA Before we get into this story in Matthew’s Gospel, I want to first just get a picture of what Jesus was doing. The first thing that Matthew tells us is that John the Baptizer was arrested and put into prison…
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John 16: 12-15 Offered to the congregation at The Presbyterian Churches of Long Hill, NJ Mel Prestamo, Ruling Elder PCUSA So, today is Trinity Sunday. Usually, a Pastor will tackle the complexities of the Trinity in their message for their congregation on this Sunday. It is a difficult and complex subject that requires a rather…
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Based upon Luke 6: 27-38 Offered to the congregation of the Community Church of Chester, NJ on February 20, 2022 Mel Prestamo, Ruling Elder PCUSA This morning, the lectionary takes us to one of the most notable of Jesus’ teachings. We have here what is referred to as the “Golden Rule”. It may be the…
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Matthew 14: 1-14 Mel Prestamo, Elder PCUSA There is a technique some people use in studying Bible text. They will look at a story repeated times. They will read it to hear if a specific verse or line might jump out at them. Then they will think upon it to allow God’s word to reveal…
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Matthew 22: 1-14 Offered to the First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna, NJ, 2012 Mel Prestamo, Elder, PCUSA “The kingdom of God is like this..” This is the second time I have gotten an opportunity to speak about this passage from Matthew. The first time must have been four years ago, the last time that it…
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Offered to the congregation at Mine Hill Presbyterian Church on World Communion Sunday October 5, 2025 John 17: 20-24 / 1 Corinthians 12 [selected verses] World Communion Sunday is meant to be a special day in the life of our denomination and for Christians around the world. It is meant to symbolize a gathering together…
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Luke 16: 19-31 Offered by Elder Mel Prestamo PCUSA to the congregation of the Wharton United Community Congregation Today’s lectionary begins with another of Jesus’ many parables which in one way or another deal with affluence and wealth. This series of parables begins in Luke 12 with a person calling out to Jesus from the…
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Luke 16: 1-13 Offered to the Rockport Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 21, 2025 by Mel Prestamo, Elder PCUSA This parable in Luke is a difficult one to understand – especially if we run Luke’s text all together as the lectionary does. If we look at this reading today as one single unit it is…
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Gospel Lesson: John: 14-1-14 Offered to the Highlands Presbyterian Church on November 7, 2021 by Mel Prestamo, Elder PCUSA This morning is Reformation Sunday and perhaps a preacher with a stronger background in the Reformation and Martin Luther would be speaking to you today about the great history and theological meaning of the Reformation. Or…
