The John Knox Presbyterian Church Podcast

Rev. Jimmy McPherson - Matthew 5:4

What could Jesus possibly mean when he says, "Blessed are those who mourn"? In this message from Matthew 5:4, we explore one of the most surprising Beatitudes and discover that Jesus is not glorifying suffering but proclaiming God's presence and promise to those who grieve. Drawing on the biblical vision of God's coming restoration, this sermon considers how faithful mourning can become an expression of love, hope, and longing for God's kingdom. In a world marked by loss, injustice, and heartbreak, Jesus offers a surprising word of comfort: those who mourn are not abandoned—they are blessed, and they shall be comforted.

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

Rev. Jimmy McPherson - Matthew 5:1-3

In this opening message of the House Hunters series, we begin exploring Jesus' Sermon on the Mount by asking both who Jesus is and what kind of life he invites us to build. Drawing on Matthew 5:1–3, we discover Jesus as the new and greater Moses who ascends the mountain to reveal God's vision for human flourishing. Far from celebrating self-sufficiency, Jesus pronounces a blessing on the "poor in spirit"—those who recognize their need for God and receive the kingdom as a gift of grace. In a world that constantly urges us to secure ourselves through achievement, wealth, and control, Jesus offers a different foundation: the lasting security of belonging to God's kingdom.

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

 

Rev. Jimmy McPherson - Numbers 11:24-30

Moses’ remarkable declaration, “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets,” is a vision of humility, shared leadership, and the wide outpouring of God’s Spirit. Moving from the wilderness of Moses to the church at Pentecost, this message confronts modern temptations toward prestige, control, and spiritual elitism, while calling the church instead toward humility, generosity, and a Spirit-filled community where gifts are shared and all are welcomed into God’s work. With reflections on leadership, reconciliation, and the surprising ways our words and witness shape others, this sermon invites listeners to imagine a church marked less by grasping for power and more by the grace of Christ that empowers the whole people of God.

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

Rev. Jimmy McPherson - Luke 19:1–10

This sermon explores the familiar story of Zacchaeus beyond the children’s song and into the deeper realities of grace, repentance, and communal transformation. Looking at the social stigma surrounding tax collectors, the symbolism of the sycamore tree, and Jesus’ intentional pursuit of the lost, this message reflects on how Christ’s costly grace not only changes individual hearts but begins healing entire communities. For “the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

Marc Gronholz - John 9:1–41

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

Rev. Jimmy McPherson - Luke 7:36–50

In Luke 7:36–50 we encounter a story of sin, shame, and surprising grace. Through the contrast between a “respectable” Pharisee and an unnamed woman marked by her past, the message exposes a shared spiritual reality: all are “flat broke” before God, unable to repay the debt of sin. Yet where judgment is expected, Jesus offers something radically different — public forgiveness, restored identity, and true peace. Moving beyond self-help and shallow absolution, this sermon invites us to see ourselves honestly, receive Christ’s authority to forgive, and live in the freedom of grace that lifts the burden of every scarlet letter.

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

David Floyd - Mark 5:1-20

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

Rev. Jimmy McPherson - John 3:1-21

Nicodemus’ nighttime encounter with Jesus reveals how fear keeps us in the dark — guarding our image, avoiding exposure, and holding back from transformation. Rather than condemning, Jesus invites us into new life: a “birth from above” shaped by the renewing work of the Spirit. Drawing on the promises of the prophets and the image of the lifted serpent in the wilderness, the message points to Christ lifted up on the cross as the place where healing and life are found. In a world marked by fear, this is a call to step into the light, trust the love of God, and receive the new life already being offered.

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

Marc Gronholz - John 4:1-30

The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman reveals the deep spiritual thirst at the heart of every human life. As she searches for fulfillment in all the wrong places, Jesus meets her across every barrier—not with condemnation, but with an offer of “living water” that truly satisfies. Her story becomes our story, exposing the ways we try to fill a God-shaped longing with lesser things. The good news is clear: no sin is too great, no distance too far, and no wall too high to keep us from God’s pursuing love, which alone can transform our longing into abundant, lasting life. 

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.

Rev. Jimmy McPherson - Jonah 2:1-10 

On Easter morning, we step into the strange, subversive story of Book of Jonah and discover it’s not just about a prophet and a fish — it’s about mercy we resist and grace we cannot escape. Connecting Jonah’s descent into the deep with Matthew 12, this sermon proclaims the resurrection of Jesus as the ultimate “sign of Jonah” — God entering death itself to bring life. Through a vivid personal story of missing a stop sign and living as if nothing had changed, we’re invited to confront the deeper question: are we still living in the old story, or will we awaken to the new life God is already bringing? At the threshold between death and resurrection, judgment and mercy, the call is clear — how will you respond?

Thank you for listening and for supporting the ministry of John Knox Presbyterian Church Seattle. To learn more about our life together and ministry, visit www.johnknox.church.