This post is part of a three-part series drawn from Pastor Adam Anderson’s recent sermon wrapping up our Sermon Madness series. In that message, he reflected on the three words at the heart of who we are as a church: sincere, supportive, and inclusive.
From the very beginning, South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church has not tried to polish itself into something it’s not. We’ve been willing to say over and over again: here we are. Imperfect, yes. Honest, always. And it turns out, God can really work with that. Scripture calls that kind of posture faith.
When I think about sincerity in this community, my mind goes back to the very first time Lindsey and I came here, almost five years ago to the day. A member of the church came to pick us up at the airport for our pastor-nominating committee weekend. That should have been an ordinary drive, but it turned into something I’ll never forget.
We realized we didn’t have the ticket to get out of the parking garage. There we were—strangers at that point—rooting around in the car, checking seats, looking in every pocket. After fifteen minutes of searching, we gave up and did the only thing left: we tailgated behind another car to get out of the garage. My very first experience with this church, before I had even left the airport, was a moment of pure and unpolished honesty. And that endeared us to you right from the beginning.
We knew within 24 hours that this was where we were supposed to be—not because everything was polished, but because everything was real. Yes, you pulled out the stops, and yes, you made us feel welcome. But what struck me most was that you were honest about your struggles. You told us the truth about finances, the tension around the sale of buildings, and the challenges with the community.
That is sincerity.
Genesis 12 tells us that Abram went out not knowing where he was going, trusting promise more than polish. Sincerity in that way is how faith walks. It’s honest about what is, and open to where God leads.
And sincerity creates room for trust. When God blesses Abraham, it is not for his private reward but so that he can be a blessing to others. That is the pattern: God blesses, and then we bless. God goes first, and we follow.
At South Jax, sincerity doesn’t huddle or operate inwardly. It moves outward. It opens us up to one another, to our neighborhood, and to the city around us. It makes space for trust.
This is who we are, and it is one of the reasons why this community has been such a blessing—not only for me and my family, but for everyone who walks through these doors.