The Foundation and the Builder of the Church

The Church according to Jesus
Written By Philip Van Steenburgh

Sermon: The Foundation and the Builder of the Church

Series: The Church according to Jesus

Text: Matthew 16:13-19

Preacher: Geoff Chang

Bulletin: April 12, 2026

Matthew 16:13-19 (ESV)

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Philip Van Steenburgh

Philip serves our church as a staff pastor. He grew up in Albany, NY, and then Greenville, SC. After college, he moved to Washington, D.C. to work in congressional politics. During that time, he began attending Capitol Hill Baptist Church where he grew more and more excited about the Gospel, the church, and helping others know and understand God’s Word. After leaving politics, Philip began pursuing pastoral ministry by participating in a pastoral internship program and work on staff at that church. In 2010, he married his wife, Katherine, and moved to Louisville, KY where he earned a Masters degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. They then moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where Philip took an Associate Pastor position for the Redeemer Church of Dubai. From 2017 to 2021 Philip served as Senior Pastor of Grace Harbor Church in Cape Cod, MA. In August of 2021, WRBC called Philip as a staff pastor. In February of 2023, he became the 17th Lead Pastor of WRBC. Philip and Katherine have three children and are happy to be part of the life and ministry of Wornall Road Baptist Church.

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