Understanding the Jesus of the Gospels

Sermons from the Gospels

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Tag: christianity

  • What can we learn from the Unscrupulous Steward?

    Luke 16: 1-13 Mel Prestamo, Ruling Elder, PCUSA Offered to the First Presbyterian Church of Franklin, NJ on September 9, 2022 This is a difficult parable to understand. I think more than just a few of us scratch our heads and wonder, “What is Jesus telling us here? What does he mean by the “children…

  • How Should We Do This Welcoming Thing?

    Genesis 18: 1-8 / Luke 10: 38-42 Mel Prestamo, Ruling Elder, PCUSA Offered to the First Church of Hanover, NJ on July 17, 2022 The two passages from the Old and New Testaments this morning make a curious juxtaposition of ways of being “Welcoming”. We see Abraham in this story from Genesis observes three travelers…

  • Salt & Light [Matthew 5:13-16]

    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…

  • “Come Follow Me”                                      

    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…

  • The Triune God – How can we Know it?

    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…

  • What’s Golden about the Golden Rule?

    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…

  • He Had Compassion for Them

    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…

  • THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE THIS…

    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…

  • On World Communion Sunday

    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…

  • Who Will listen if Someone Is Raised from the Dead?

    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…