Redeemer Downtown Sermons

Why is waiting one of the hardest parts of faith? In this sermon from The Power of Good, Pete Nicholas explores patience not as passive waiting, but as the ability to persistently and peacefully endure present difficulties in light of a future hope. In a culture shaped by speed, productivity, and instant gratification, patience can feel almost impossible to cultivate. Looking at Colossians 1:9–12, this sermon explores why patience is essential in our relationships with others, in our growth as people, and in learning to trust God through seasons of waiting and suffering. Real patience is not rooted in willpower alone, but in staying deeply rooted in Christ.

Is joy different from happiness? In this sermon from The Power of Good, Pete Nicholas explores the Christian understanding of joy as part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). From ancient philosophy to modern culture, people have long searched for happiness whether through pleasure and comfort or through discipline and detachment. But Christianity offers something deeper. Looking at 1 Peter 1:3–9, this sermon shows how real joy can exist even in the midst of suffering–not because life is easy, but because hope is secure. This is a joy grounded in the person of Jesus.

In a world driven by power, success, and self-interest–what does real love actually look like? 1 Corinthians 13 offers a striking alternative: a vision of love that gives meaning to everything else. In this sermon from The Power of Good, Pete Nicholas explores love as far more than sentiment or emotion. This kind of love is active, resilient, and rooted in seeking the good of others. In Jesus, we see perfect love, and through Him, we’re invited to grow into it together.

In a culture obsessed with influence and impact, the idea of being “good” can feel weak or outdated. But in this opening message of The Power of Good, Pete Nicholas reframes the meaning of “good” as a transformed life shaped by the fruit of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul’s vision of the “fruit of the Spirit” isn’t a list of ideals–it’s a picture of a whole, integrated life marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The good life isn’t achieved–it’s formed. It begins with staying connected to the One who is truly good.

What would remain if Easter had never happened? In this Easter Sunday sermon, Pete Nicholas explores the Apostle Paul’s striking claim in 1 Corinthians 15: that if Christ has not been raised, then Christian faith is useless. Without the resurrection, faith has no foundation, forgiveness remains out of reach, and hope is ultimately fragile. But if Jesus really did rise from the dead, then everything changes. This is more than a story to believe–it’s a reality that reshapes faith and offers a living hope that holds even in the face of death.