Author: xchristopherhooper

Serving as a pastor at First Evangelical Free Church in Brooklyn, New York.

2025 Summer – Wisdom Lit Series

F00 – Ancient Words for Modern Lives
Mainly taken from Proverbs and some Psalms or Ecclessiasties

F26 – 2025 06 29 –
Sermon Title and Topic: True Friendship
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Proverbs 27:1-11

F27 – 2025 07 06 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Vocation, Identity, and Possessions
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

F28 – 2025 07 13 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Real Families Gambling and Gaming
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Proverbs 28:18-26

F29 – 2025 07 20 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Debt, Inflation, and Wages
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Ecclesiastes 5:8-15

F30 – 2025 07 27 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Sex, Porn, and Adultery
Preacher: Zephaniah Seung
Scripture Read:

F31 – 2025 08 03 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Deep Rest, Hard Work
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Isaiah 40:25-31

F32 – 2025 08 10 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Computation, AI, Our Digital Self
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Proverbs 3:1-13

F33 – 2025 08 17 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Post-modernity, moral relativism, multicultural spaces
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Psalm 19:1-14

F34 – 2025 08 24 –
Sermon Title and Topic: Individualism and Community
Preacher: Zephaniah Seung
Scripture Read:

F35 – 2025 08 31 –
Sermon Title and Topic:
Preacher: Johnny Weng
Scripture Read:

2025 Late Spring & Summer Sermon Series Options

These are a few possible options for the next two sermon series.

Week & DateSpecial DetailJesus is GreaterFreedom & CultureJudge for Yourself
wk 17 – Apr 27Week After EasterWaiting for Greatness (The Great Cloud)- Heb 1a, 11Giving Our Time, Talent, Treasure 1Kingdom in Chaos – Judges 1&2
wk 18 – May 4CommunionGreater Messenger (Angels) – Heb 2Giving Our Time, Talent, Treasure 2From the Left – Ehud, Judges 3b
wk 19 – May 11Mothers Day (Zephaniah)Greater Liberation (Moses/Exodus) – Heb 3Giving Our Time, Talent, Treasure 3Spilled Milk – Deborah, Judges 4 (&5)
wk 20 – May 18(David T)Greater Rest (Joshua/Sabbath)- Heb 4Stand Alone SermonFrom the Least – Gideon, Judges 6&7
wk 21 – May 25Greater Mediator (Priest)- Heb 5 (&6?)Healthy Relational Boundaries – 1 Cor 5Enough about Me – Gideon, Judges 8b,9
wk 22 – June 1CommunionGreater Ancestor? or Authority (Melchizedek) – Heb 7Healthy Fellowship Interdependence – 1 Cor 6A Disinherited Lead – Jephthah, Judges 10b, 11
wk 23 – June 8Greater Contract or Content (Law / Covenant) – Heb 8Healthy Singleness – 1 Cor 7Gift from an Angel – Sampson, Judge 13
wk 24 – June 15PentecostGreater Sanctuary (Tabernacle) – Heb 9Healthy Marriage – 1 Cor 7Foiled Romances, Spoiled Celebrations 1- Sampson, Judges 14-16
wk 25 – June 22Fathers DayGreater Worship (Sacrifice) – Heb 10Healthy Relationship in Complexity – 1 Cor 7Foiled Romances, Spoiled Celebrations 2- Sampson, Judges 14-16
wk 26 – June 29Greater Fellowship (Kingdom/Mountain) Heb 12Healthy Consumer Role models – 1 Cor 8First Fall of Israel – Micah – Judges 17,18

Week & DateAncient Words for Modern Lives (from Proverbs and Psalms)Good King, Bad Kings (from Judah)More Psalms of Summer 9x
wk 27 – July 6FriendshipBad KingPsalm 20 – 28
wk 28 – July 13RestBad Kingor Psalm 9 – 18
wk 29 – July 20Gambling & LeisureGood Kingor Psalm 50 – 61
wk 30 – July 27Family [Good, Bad, Etc]Bad King
wk 31 – Aug 3Sex, Porn, and AdulteryBad King
wk 32 – Aug 10Tech, AI, Digital WorldGood King
wk 33 – Aug 17MoneyBad King
wk 34 – Aug 24WorkBad King
wk 35 – Aug 31IndividualismGood King

Gospel of John Series

Possible ways to preach through the Gospel of Johns across several sermon series.

First Try-
Spring 2025 – Encounters with Jesus: 10-11 sermons minus 2 skips
Miracles of Jesus: 6-7 sermons or 9 and add cross, death and burial
Debating with Jesus: 10-12 sermons (from clearing temple chapt 2 to Lazarus fallout chapt 12 plus betrayals and crucifixion)
Discipled by Jesus: 9-13 sermons (foot washing chapt 13 to prayer in ch 17)

EncountersMiracles (6 Sermons)DebatesDiscipleship
*1:37-51
The First Encounters, Nathaniel		2:1-12
Miracle at Cana Wedding Wine		2:13-25
Temple Clearing		1:1-18
The Word Arrives
*2:23-3:36
Nicodemus: The Religious		4:43-54
Miracle at Cana Officials Son		5:16-47
Jesus Teaching On Father, Moses, Authority		1:19-36
The Baptist Prepares
*4:1-42
Samaritan Woman: The Outsider		*5:1-15
Miracle at Jerusalem The Man at the Pool: The Forgotten (skip, Encounters)		6:25-59
Jesus’ Teaching at Capernaum: Bread of Life		12:1-11, 12-19, 20-36
Mary Anoints, Triumphal Entry, Jesus Prepares
*5:1-15
Miracle at Jerusalem The Man at the Pool: The Forgotten		6:1-15
Miracle at Galilee Shore 5000 Fed		6:53-70
Jesus’ Teaching at Capernaum: Eat Flesh & Blood		13:1-17
Jesus’ Teaching: Washing Feet
*7:53-8:11
Adulterous Woman: The Accused (skipped)		6:16-24
Miracle on Sea of Galilee Walking on Water		7:1-24
Jesus’ Teaching at Jerusalem: Word of God		13:18-30
Judas’ Betrayal Predicted
*11:1-37
Mary and Martha: The Grieving		9:1-41
Miracle at Siloam: Blind Sees, Pharisees Can’t, Whose Sins? (Long but one great story)		7:25-52
Jesus’ Teaching at Jerusalem: Source of Living Waters		13:31-38
Peter’s Betrayal Predicted
*11:38-57
Lazarus: The Dead		*11:38-57
Miracle at Bethany: Lazarus: The Dead (skip, Encounters)		8:12-58
Jesus’ Teaching at Temple: Disputes @ Father & Abraham (long but one theme)		14:1-14
Jesus’ Teaching: The Way Home
*18:28-19:16
Pilate: The Powerful		21:1-14
Miracle at shore of Galilee: 153 Large Fish		10:1-21
Jesus’ Teaching at Jerusalem (Hanukkah): Good Shepherd vs Hired Hands		14:15-31
Jesus’ Teaching: The Spirit Predicted
*20:1-31
Mary Magdalene and Thomas: The Faithful and The Doubter (long)
a. 20:1-18 Mary
b. 20:19-31 Thomas		10:22-42
Jesus’ Teaching leaving Jerusalem: “The Father is in Me”		15:1-25
Jesus’ Teaching:
a. The Vine: 1-8
b. The Command: 9-17
c. The World: 18-25
* ALT: 20:19-31
Thomas: The Doubter		12:37-50
Jesus’ Teaching: Words of God Will Judge		15:26-16:15
Jesus’ Teaching: Spirit Brings Truth
* 21:15-25
Peter Reinstated (Done in late 2024, Pastor Z, skip)		18:1-27
Judas Betrays, Peter Betrays, Annas Question		16:16-33
Jesus’ Teaching: Joy Rises From Grief
19:16-42
Cross, Death, Burial
a. 16-27 Cross
b. 28-37 Death
c. 38-42 Burial		17:1-26
Jesus’ Prayer: Reveal Your Glory
a. 1-5: Revealed in the Son
b. 6-18: Revealed in Disciples
c. 19-26: Revealed in Believers

Encounters With God Series

A00 – Encountering God
First the Patriarch Version

A01 – 2025 01 05 – Hagar: The Seen
Scripture Read: Gen 16:1-14
Scripture Covered: Gen 16:1-16

A02 – 2025 01 12 – Sarah: The Barren
Scripture Read: Gen 18:1-15
Scripture Covered: Gen 18:1-15; 21:1-7

A03 – 2025 01 19 – Jacob: The Deceiver
Scripture Read: Gen 32:9-12,22-32
Scripture Covered: Gen 32:1-32

A04 – 2025 01 26 – Joseph: The Discarded
Scripture Read: Gen 41:14-36
Scripture Covered: Gen 40 & 41

A05 – 2025 02 02 – Israel: The Grieving
Scripture Read: Gen 46:1-7, 26-30
Scripture Covered: Gen 46:1-47:12

B06 – 2025 02 09 – Encountering God in the Great Commands
Scripture Read: Duet 6:4-9
Scripture Covered: Duet 6:1-9

B07 – 2025 02 16 – Encountering Jesus in the Great Commissions
Scripture Read: Matt 28:16-20
Scripture Covered: Matt 28:16-20, Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11

Second, the entire OT version
Job – Job 38-42 – The Suffering
Adam and Eve – Gen 3 – The Shameful
Abraham – Several (and we have just done a couple) – The Faithful
Isaiah – Isa 6 – The Repentant
Elijah – 1 Kings 18,19 (Zeph just preached on) – The Exhausted
David – 2 Sam – The Disappointed
Solomon – ?? – The Gifted
Jeremiah – ?? – The Grieving
Hezekiah – 2 Kings or Isaiah – The Surrounded
Ezekiel – ?? – The Creative
Gideon – Judges – The Underdog

Colossians Sermon Series

  • Overarching Theme: “Who we are actually makes all the difference.”
  • Sermons:
  • 1 – Colossians 1:1-14 – Inheritors of Light (?)
  • 2 – Colossians 1:15-23 – Dwelling in Him (humanity)
  • 3 – Colossians 1:24-2:5 – Hidden Treasures (maturing)
  • 4 – Colossians 2:6-15 – ?
  • 5 – Colossians 2:16-23 – ?
  • 6 – Colossians 3:1-17 – A Chosen People (ethnicity)
  • 7 – Colossians 3:18-4:1 – Inheritors of Rewards (class)
  • 8 – Colossians 4:2-18 – People of Mission (groups and individuals)
  • ILL: what pains me: more beauty than I can ever see, more brilliance than I can ever read, more sacrifice than I can ever fathom or applaud, more truth than I can ever know. In short, I’m not God, and there is something in my soul that cries out! The knowledge of good and evil is a such a insufficient taste. I am not like God. I am not close to being like God. And it pains me.

Hebrews Sermon Series – Late Spring 2025

D00 – Series Title: Jesus is Greater

D17 – 2025 04 27 –
Sermon Title: Waiting for Greatness
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 1:1-3, 11:1-6, 11:13-16
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 1:1-3, 11:1-40

D18 – 2025 05 04 – Communion
Sermon Title: A Greater Messenger
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 2:1-11
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 1:4-2:18

D19 – 2025 05 11 – Mother’s Day
Sermon Title: A Greater Liberation
Preacher: Zephaniah Seung
Scripture Read: Hebrews 3:1-14
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 3:1-19

D20 – 2025 05 18 –
Sermon Title: A Greater Rest
Preacher: David Terzano
Scripture Read: Hebrews 4:6-13
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 4:1-13

D21 – 2025 05 25 –
Sermon Title: A Greater Mediator
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 4:14-5:5
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10

D22 – 2025 06 01 – Communion
Sermon Title: A Greater Authority
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 7:11-28
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 6:13 – 7:28

D23 – 2025 06 08 – Pentecost
Sermon Title: A Greater Contract No Shadows
Preacher: Zephaniah Seung
Scripture Read: Hebrews 8:7-13
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 8:1-13

NEW PLAN – D24 – 2025 06 15 – Father’s Day
Sermon Title: A Greater Path Ahead
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 10:19-25 & 11:39-12:3
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 9:1-10:39

ORIGINAL PLAN – D24 – 2025 06 15 – Father’s Day
Sermon Title: A Greater Sanctuary
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 9:16-28
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 9:1-28

ORIGINAL PLAN – D25 – 2025 06 22 –
Sermon Title: A Greater Worship
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 10:19-25,32-39
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 10:1-39

ORIGINAL PLAN – D26 – 2025 06 29 –
Sermon Title: A Greater Fellowship
Preacher: Chris Hooper
Scripture Read: Hebrews 11:39-12:11
Scripture Covered: Hebrews 12:1-13

John Encounters With Jesus Series

C00 – Encountering Jesus (in John’s Gospel)
**Encounters with Jesus from John’s Gospel – Texts and Titles taken from (with some adaptations) Dr Glenn Peckiam. It should be noted that I neither know of his work, nor listened to his messages, but merely adapted his series.

C08 – 2025 02 23 – Nathaniel: The Pure
Scripture Read: John 1:47-51
Scripture Covered: John 1:43-51

C09 – 2025 03 02 – Nicodemus: The Religious
Scripture Read: John 3:1-21
Scripture Covered: John 3:1-21

C10 – 2025 03 09 – Samaritan Woman: The Outsider
Scripture Read: John 4:7-26
Scripture Covered: John 4:1-42

Skip – The Desperate Woman in Adultery: The Used
Skipped due to questionable canonical status. (John 8:2-11)

C11 – 2025 03 16 – The Man at the Pool: The Forgotten
Scripture Read: John 5:1-16
Scripture Covered: John 5:1-16

C12 – 2025 03 23 – Mary and Martha: The Grieving
Scripture Read: John 11:1-8,16-27
Scripture Covered: John 11:1-37

C13 – 2025 03 30 – Lazarus: The Dead
Scripture Read: John 11:33-48
Scripture Covered: John 11:38-57

C14 – 2025 04 06 – Mary of Bethany: The Worshipper
Scripture Read: John 12:1-11
Scripture Covered: John 12:1-11

C15 – 2025 04 13 – Pilate: The Powerful (PALM SUNDAY)
Scripture Read: John 18:33-19:12 (maybe shorten)
Scripture Covered: John 18:33-19:12

C16- 2025 04 20 – Mary Magdalene and Thomas: The Faithful and The Doubter (EASTER SUNDAY)
Scripture Read: John 20:1-18
Scripture Covered: John 20:1-31

Judges Sermon Series

Ideas on preaching through Judges. 7 to 9 weeks.

Sermon Series: “Judge for Yourself”
Week 1 – Kingdom in Chaos – Judges 1&2
Week 2 – From the Left – Ehud, Judges 3b
Week 3 – Spilled Milk – Deborah, Judges 4 (&5)
Week 4 – From the Least – Gideon, Judges 6&7
Week 5 – Enough about Me – Gideon, Judges 8b,9
Week 6 – A Disinherited Lead – Jephthah, Judges 10b, 11
Week 7 – Gift from an Angel – Sampson, Judge 13
Week 8 – Foiled Romances, Spoiled Celebrations 1- Sampson, Judges 14-16
Week 9 – Foiled Romances, Spoiled Celebrations 2- Sampson, Judges 14-16
Week 10 – First Fall of Israel – Micah – Judges 17,18

  • 1-2 : Intro / setup
  • 3-16 : Judges from good to bad
    • 3-5 : Othniel, Ehud, Deborah good judges
    • Bad judges
      • 6-9 : Gideon
      • 10-12 : Jephthah
      • 13-16 : Samson
  • 17-21 : Israel’s corrupt people
    • 17-18 : Micah’s private temple
    • 19-21 : Sexual violence of Benjamin
      7 sermons: intro, ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Micah.
      9 sermons: 2 on Gideon and 2 on Samson

2025 Sermon Series Planning

This post is a work in progress and will be updated with collaboration.

Encounters w/ God*Summer
1 – 1/5 – Hagar
(Gen 16:1-14)		17 – 4/27 – 27 – 7/6 –36 – 9/7 –
2 – 1/12 – Sarai
(Gen 18:1-15)		18 – 5/4 – 28 – 7/13 –37 – 9/14 –
3 – 1/19 – Jacob
(Gen 32:9-12,22-32)		19 – 5/11 – Mother’s29 – 7/20 –38 – 9/21 –
4 – 1/26 – Joseph
(Gen 41:14-36)		20 – 5/18 – 30 – 7/27 –39 – 9/28 –
5 – 2/2 – Israel
(Gen 46:1-7,26-30)		21 – 5/25 – 31 – 8/3 –40 – 10/5 –
6 – 2/9 – Encountering the Great Command (Duet 6:1-9)22 – 6/1 – 32 – 8/10 –41 – 10/12 –
7 – 2/16 – Encountering the Great Commission (Matt 28:16-20)23 – 6/8 – Pentecost33 – 8/17 –42 – 10/19 –
Encounters w/ Jesus (in John’s Gospel)**24 – 6/15 – Father’s34- 8/24 –43 – 10/26 –
8 – 2/23 – Nathaniel (John 1:47-51)25 – 6/22 – 35 – 8/31 –44 – 11/2 –
9 – 3/2 – Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)26 – 6/29 – 45 – 11/9 –
10 – 3/9 – Samaritan Woman (John 4:7-26)
46 – 11/16 –
11 – 3/16 – The Man at the Pool (John 5:1-16)b47 – 11/23 –
12 – 3/23 – Mary and Martha (John 11a)
13 – 3/30 – Lazarus (John 11b)bAdvent 2025
14 – 4/6 – Mary of Bethany (John 12)b48 – 11/30 – 49 – 12/7 –
15 – 4/13 -Pilate (John 18:33-19:12)50 – 12/14 –51 – 12/21 –
16 – 4/20 – EASTER – Mary Mag & Thomas (20:1-17)52 – 12/28 –

*Encounters with God from the Old Testament
Leaves two open weeks in this first draft. Lot does receive a visit (Gen 19) and loses his wife. Abraham’s warning about Sodom and Gomorrah could be another (Gen 18b). But two open weeks would provide a buffer should anything need to be added.

**Encounters with Jesus from John’s Gospel

Late Spring Options (10 Sundays):
– Ten weeks is a little long for one series, but it is fine to do. 6 to 8 week series really work well and might leave a 2-4 week smaller series.
– Judges (7-9 weeks),
– Hebrews (8-10 weeks) otherwise it’s 13-15 weeks to cover it all
– Colossians (6-8 weeks)
– Other ideas? (more 1 Corinthians, more Isaiah, etc)??

Summer Options (9 Sundays):
– Psalms, Who is Jesus from John’s Gospel (more chapters from John), 9 OT Kings or Good King Bad Kings of Judah, …

Fall Options (12 Sundays):
– Longer section could be two 6 weeks series or a longer series with a shorter one or one long 12 week masterful exposition.

  • Small fillers:
    • Biblical
      • Jude
      • Philemon
    • Topical
      • Distraction

Advent Options:
I have a post of options here and I’m open to other thoughts / ideas.

Biblical Coverage So Far (let me know if these photos need clarification):

Key Sunday Dates, Three Day Weekends and Church or Denomination Events:
Jan 19 – MLK Weekend
Jan 26 – Sunday before Lunar New Year (Wed, Jan 29)
Feb 9 – Sunday after the EFCA Theology Conference in Chicago, Pastor Chris attending
Feb 16 -23 – Presidents Day Weekend & Public Schools Winter Break until returning Mon, Feb 24
Mar 9 – Daylight Savings Sunday, Ash Wednesday is just before, Mar 5th
Mar 16 – Sunday after EFCA East Theology Refresher (Mar 13 & 14) in PA.
April 13 – 20 – Palm Sunday begins Holy Week culminating in Easter on the 20th
April 13 – 20 – Youth In House Spring Retreat some or many of these days? (Check with Johnny)
May 11 – Mother’s Day
May 25 – Memorial Day Weekend
June 8 – Pentecost Sunday
June 15 – Father’s Day (and Trinity Sunday and Juneteenth week (Thursday June 19th)
July 6 – Independence Day Weekend will be a three day weekend, Friday to Sunday
Aug 31 – Labor Day Weekend
Oct 12 – Columbus / Indigenous People Weekend
Oct 26 – POSSIBLY Sunday after the EFCA East District Conference (not yet posted)
Nov 30 – First Sunday of Advent
Dec 13 – Second Saturday is traditional day for our Christmas Party
Dec 28 – Sunday after Christmas and before New Years Day

Key Things I need to get dates for and add before ministry calendar shapes up:
– Membership Meetings
– Quarterly All Churches Meals
– Baptism in Spring (with NYCEF invited early enough)
– Quarterly Outreach Plans
– What else?

United States 2025Download