Citadel Square Sermons

The Gospel of Luke | Resurrection Sunday - Luke 24:1-12

Pastor Steve Heron preaches an Easter sermon on Luke 24:1-12.

The Gospel of Luke | Good Friday - Luke 23:50-56

Pastor Steve Heron preaches about Good Friday from Luke 23:50-56.

The Gospel of Luke | The Way Is Opened - Luke 23:44-49

Pastor AJ Rankin preaches from Luke 23:44-49.
Jesus’ final moments on the cross reveal the intersection of divine judgment, perfect obedience, and human response. The darkness highlights the weight of sin and God’s judgment, while Jesus’ last cry demonstrates ultimate trust in the Father. In His death, the veil is torn, and the way to God is opened for sinners once kept at a distance. This is a turning point that demands a response, confronting us with the seriousness of sin and the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.

The Gospel of Luke | Death Row - Luke 23:39-43

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 23:39-43.
While the crowds mock and condemn Jesus on the cross, Luke records a conversation that occurs nowhere else in scripture. The story of the thief on the cross is one of the most poignant moments in Luke's gospel. We see that suffering doesn't make a saint. Rather, it takes the gracious gift of repentance and faith in a crucified King to open the path to paradise. Jesus, in his final moments, gives assurance to every sinner that His grace is available even to our final breath.

The Gospel of Luke | The Crucified King - Luke 23:26-38

Ben Miller preaches from Luke 23:26-38.
This week, we arrive where Luke has been leading us toward for some time: the place that is called “The Skull.” It’s the scene we’re all familiar with and know all too well: The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, this familiarity can often be blinding and, as a result, we need the eyes of our hearts to be removed of the haze that often settles in. This week, we find Jesus doing just that, but this time it comes from Calvary’s hill.

The Gospel of Luke | Delivered to Their Will - Luke 23:13-25

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 23:13-25.
In the final phase of Jesus’s unjust and illegal trial, Pilate renders his verdict. Three times Jesus is declared innocent while Pilate vacillates, the crowds cry out, and the religious leaders demand His crucifixion. What are we to make of this travesty of justice? We long for life to work, for truth and justice to win the day and are often given to despair when it seems God is absent. We discover in the condemnation of Jesus that God does his best work, when it all goes wrong.

The Gospel of Luke | Jesus Before Pilate and Herod - Luke 23:1-12

Pastor Steve Lindenmeyer preaches from Luke 23:1-12.
The trial continues as the Jewish leaders present Jesus to Pilate and Herod with the intent of having him crucified. Jesus will endure false accusations, erroneous claims, ridicule, and mockery in the presence of these wicked politicians. With humility and resolve Jesus absorbs their scorn and injustice as he continues to make his way to the cross.

The Gospel of Luke | A Jury of Your Peers - Luke 22:66-71

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 22:66-71.
Dawn breaks, and the drama of Jesus's religious trial unfolds. Luke records a unique moment among the gospel writers. The religious leaders seek to accomplish their nefarious purpose to condemn Jesus and send him to his death and can only do so if they can present him as a threat. Luke shows us that the identity of Jesus, while clear, is confrontational and leaves us with a question: does our understanding of Jesus result in worship or condemnation?

The Gospel of Luke | Failure and Faithfulness - Luke 22:54-65

Pastor AJ Rankin preaches from Luke 22:54-65.
This Sunday’s message will be from Luke 22:54-65. This week, we see a powerful moment of human failure framed by Jesus' divine faithfulness. Peter, despite his own bold declarations, denies Jesus three times, just as Jesus predicted. Meanwhile, Jesus endures mockery and beatings in silence, unwavering in His commitment to His mission. The stark contrast between Peter's weakness and Christ’s steadfastness reveals the depth of our failure and the boundless grace of God who remains faithful even when we falter.

The Gospel of Luke | The Hour of Darkness - Luke 22:47-53

Pastor Steve Heron preaches from Luke 22: 47-53.
Jesus is betrayed with a kiss, Peter strikes with the sword, while the scribes and Pharisees execute their unjust plot. What can we learn from such varied and wrongheaded responses to the Son of Man? These groups demonstrate the most common responses to God's work in Jesus and invite us to consider how Jesus counsels wayward and misguided hearts, even as he faces his death.