What does it actually cost to follow Jesus, and what do we gain when we do?

In this message from Holy Trinity Silicon Valley, Rector John Gorin turns to Matthew 10:37-39, where Jesus tells his disciples three times that loving family, comfort, or life itself more than him makes us "not worthy" of him. Drawing on the Greek word Axios, the root of our word "axiom," the message explores how worthiness here isn't about personal value, but about alignment: living a life that reflects who Christ is and what he prioritizes.

The teaching confronts two pressures every disciple faces. There is family pressure, where our deepest relationships can pull against our calling, and cultural pressure, where good gifts like reputation, money, and meaningful work quietly become things we grip too tightly. Using a vivid image, the Tahoe casino billboards promising a thrill that always disappoints, Rector Gorin asks an honest question: is there something in your life you've told God, "Anything but that, Lord"?

But the heavy news gives way to good news. The same Lord who calls us to take up our cross is the one who helps us carry it. Through the story of John Mark, the missionary who quit, was written off, and yet went on to author a Gospel, we're reminded that the final word about our worthiness has not yet been written. We serve the God of another chance, who invites us to lose our life for his sake and, in doing so, finally find the life we were made for.

A message on discipleship, sacrifice, and the freedom of holding life's blessings with an open hand.

What happens when following Jesus moves from the joy of the harvest to the hard work of facing real opposition?

Continuing our journey through Matthew's Gospel, this message picks up where Jesus commissions his disciples. He doesn't offer a sugarcoated vision, but speaks honest words about what lies ahead. He sends them out "like sheep among wolves," warning of councils, persecution, and even division within families. It's a sobering shift from the excitement of being sent into the harvest to the genuine cost of the effort.

But Jesus doesn't leave his followers in fear. Three times he says: Do not be afraid. And he gives three reasons why.

This week's teaching explores what that means for us today. It speaks not only to Christians around the world facing high levels of persecution, but also to those of us navigating faith in a culture that's grown more skeptical. What does it look like to live openly as a follower of Jesus in a place like Silicon Valley, where assumptions and "baggage" are already assigned before we say a word? And how does the example of Christ himself, who "for the joy set before him endured the cross," reframe the way we understand opposition?

Drawing on Scripture, history, and the witness of believers like Stephen and Augustine, this message offers a grounded, hopeful reminder. Our circumstances may not change, but the presence of God can transform how we walk through them. Fear gives way to peace when we trust that we are seen, known, and deeply loved.

Join us as we sit with a difficult but freeing truth: the same resurrection power Jesus displayed is the power he extends to us.

A sermon from Holy Trinity Silicon Valley. To find out more about Holy Trinity head to https://www.holytrinitysv.org

We live in the heart of Silicon Valley, a place that is completely obsessed with scaling up, massive innovation, and huge tech launches. It is easy to get caught up in wanting our own lives and careers to have that same kind of massive impact. In this episode, Rev. John Gorin asks a great question. What if the most important startup out there is not the next big tech company, but the one Jesus started two thousand years ago?

Looking at the Gospel of Matthew, Rev. John talks about what it really means to be part of God’s harvest. This is a mission that is not about breaking stock market records. Instead, it is about building a lasting kingdom right where you live and work.

• The Valley Mindset vs. The Kingdom Mindset: We look at how our culture defines success and why Jesus offers a completely different way to make our lives matter.

• The Ultimate Rescue Mission: Spreading the Gospel is not just about sharing a message. It is about being a real, practical part of God’s rescue plan for a world that often feels overwhelmed and helpless.

• Finding Your "Person of Peace": How do you actually share your faith in a busy office or a neighborhood where people might not be interested? Rev. John gives a practical tip on how to pray for and identify the specific people God has already placed in your life.

• The "Coin-Operated" Motivation: Rev. John gets honest about his past career in tech sales. He shares how he learned to take that natural drive for results and channel it into something eternal, like helping people find Jesus.

"What is eternal is what we have been called to do, to be part of this harvest, to just do it where we are called to be. Just be God's harvester where we are."

Rev. John Gorin

If you have ever felt like your Monday through Friday job is totally disconnected from your faith, or if you are wondering how to make a real difference right where you are, this episode is for you. Tune in to get a fresh perspective on a harvest that will never fade or lose its value.