Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit another advocate. Text: John 14:15-21 Sermon preached by Peter Tepper on 10 May 2026 at St Peter the Fisherman, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
The sermon explores Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 7 as an “encounter with the risen Christ,” showing how Stephen provides resources for the road—a way to face suffering with courage, clarity, and grace. The preacher frames the message around three movements: what Stephen said, what Stephen saw, and what Stephen did. 1. What Stephen Said Stephen, one of the first deacons, delivers the longest speech in Acts, recounting 1,800 years of Israel’s redemptive history—Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David—to show that Jesus is…
Cleopas and his companion walk away from Jerusalem discouraged, despite hearing reports of the resurrection. As the sermon notes, “we heard there’s this thing called the resurrection… but we didn’t believe him” . Jesus meets them in their confusion, walks with them, listens to their disappointments, and then opens the Scriptures—showing that all of Scripture points to Him. This becomes the “reality of revelation,” where God discloses Himself and opens their eyes. Revelation is not merely intellectual but experiential: “a…
Jesus meets Thomas and the other disciples in their fear and disbelief to reveal himself as the risen Lord, restoring a sense of wonder that the world’s thrills can’t supply. By showing his wounds, Jesus moves Thomas from disbelief to faith, offering a deeply personal encounter where Christ’s scars speak to our own pain. He then gives a durable, resurrection-shaped joy that persists even amid fear, suffering, and death. Finally, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into his followers, transforming them…
