Sermons

The readings and sermons this year are based on the Lectionary. This year is based on the book of Matthew. 

2023 Sermon Transcripts

2023-09-17 - Apelu Tielu - Believe that God has forgiven your sins and offer the same to those who have wronged you - Genesis 50:15-21; Matthew 18:21-35
Featured Text: Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

2023-09-10 - Apelu Tielu - In conflict management, we need honesty, compassion and forgiveness - Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20
Featured Text: Matthew 18:20 “…For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

2023-08-27 - Apelu Tielu - The Church of Jesus Christ - Matthew 16:13-20
Featured Text: Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it….”

2023-08-20 - Apelu Tielu - Sound theology, strong and compassionate leadership, and wisdom - Genesis 45:1-15
Featured Text: Genesis 45:3a - Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph”.

2023-08-13 - Apelu Tielu - Family feuds can be turned to family joys - Genesis 37:1-28
Featured Text: Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. Watch the sermon

2023-08-06 - Apelu Tielu - Those who persevere against life’s demands and struggles, with God, will prevail - Genesis 32:22-31
Featured Text: Genesis 32:24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. Watch the sermon

2023-07-23 - Apelu Tielu - The exile of Jacob - Genesis 28:10-19a
Featured Text: Genesis 28:10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. Watch the sermon

2023-07-16 - Apelu Tielu - Do not despise what God had given you at conception - Genesis 25:19-34
Featured Text: Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright.  Watch the Sermon

2023-07-09 - Apelu Tielu - Where is home? - Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Featured Text: Genesis 24:37-38 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.' Watch the sermon

2023-07-02 - Apelu Tielu - Be God’s Christ - The call to participate in God’s salvation plan - Genesis 22:1-14; Matthew 10:40-42
Featured Text:  Genesis 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

2023-06-25 - Apelu Tielu - The God who hears the cry of the outcast, the outsider, and everyone and anyone who seeks him - Genesis 21:8-21
Featured Text:  Genesis 21:17 And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.

2023-06-18 - Apelu Tielu - With God, anything and everything is possible - Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)
Featured Text:  Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." Watch the sermon

2023-06-11 - Apelu Tielu - Lech Lecha (Go, You shall go) - Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Featured Text:  Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.…”

2023-05-14 - Apelu Tielu - You are Christ’s witnesses - Acts 1:6-14; John 17:1-11
Featured Text:  Acts 1:7-8 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  Watch the sermon

2023-05-14 - Apelu Tielu - The unknown God is made known through Jesus as a Father who loves like a Mother - Acts 17:22-31; John 14:15-21
Featured Text: John 14:18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.…”  Watch the sermon

2023-05-07 - Apelu Tielu - The power of belief - Acts 7:55-60; John 14:1-14
Featured Text: John 14:12 “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.”

2023-04-23 - Apelu Tielu - The elusive risen Lord - Luke 24:13-35
Featured Text: Luke 24:30-31 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him and he vanished from their sight.

2023-04-14 - Apelu Tielu - Thomas and the mutilated, risen Lord - 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
Featured text:  John 20:27-28 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

2023-04-07 - Apelu Tielu - Good Friday - Being forgiven is our deepest spiritual yearning that only the suffering love of God can satisfy it - John 18:1-19:42
Featured text:  John 19:25 Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

2023-03-26 - Apelu Tielu - Jesus is the resurrection and the life - John 11:1-45
Featured text:  John 11:25-26: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

2023-03-17 - Apelu Tielu - Sin - John 9:1-41
Featured text:  John 9:1-2 - As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

2023-03-12 - Apelu Tielu - Women are worthy partners in ministry  - John 4:5-42 
Featured text: John 4:28-29 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?"

2023-03-05 - Apelu Tielu - God sent the Son to save the whole world, not to condemn it - Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17
Featured text: John 3:17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him”.

2023-02-26 - Apelu Tielu - Examination time: who of Adam, Eve and Jesus will pass and who will fail? - Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11
Featured text: Matthew 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil."

2023-02-19 - Apelu Tielu - Allow yourself and life to be transfigured by the Lord of the transfiguration - Exodus 24:12-18; Matthew 17:1-9
Featured text: Matthew 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 

2023-02-12 - Apelu Tielu - To obey the law is choosing life and blessings; to disobey the law is choosing death and curses - Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Matthew 5:21-37

2023-02-05 - Apelu Tielu - Jesus and the Law - Isaiah 58:1-14; Matthew 5:13-20

2023-01-22 - Apelu Tielu - What it means to follow Jesus? - Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23.
Text: Matthew 4:22, Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

2023-01-15 - Apelu Tielu - What’s in a name? - John 1:29-42
Text: John 1:42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

2023-01-08 - Apelu Tielu - The baptism of Jesus and Jesus' baptism - Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17
Text: Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.

2023-01-01 - Apelu Tielu - For everything, there is a season - Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Revelation 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:3
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.