Sermons on Living our Faith
Keep It Simple
In a world that is getting more complex and complicated, it’s refreshing to enjoy some of the simpler things in life for a change. A relaxing time to yourself. A good book and a cup of your favorite coffee. Watching a movie in peace and quiet. Listening to some music. “The Good Book!” Yes, the Bible, even with its sometimes challenging teachings and passages can be one of those simpler things in life. Maybe you’ll be as shocked as the…
Forgiveness – Pay It Forward!
How many times have you prayed: “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us?” You’ve spoken the Lord’s Prayer more times than you can count. But in that phrase you are requesting something very difficult and very necessary. You are asking the Lord to help you be as forgiving to others as he has been and is with you. Jesus teaches a difficult, yet necessary truth to his followers in the Parable of the Unmerciful…
Aaugh!
Wouldn’t it be nice if life for the Christian was a smooth sailing life of smiles, $$$$ and laughs? There are some Christian churches that preach this type of “glory” theology. Do the right thing and God will reward you with few if any difficulties (crosses), good health and even better finances. In this Sunday’s readings, God’s Word pokes HUGE holes in that kind of theology. Jesus tells us we are going to face a lifetime of crosses (struggles and…
Jesus the Crowd Pleaser
Agree or Disagree: God provides for you. It’s not a trick statement. It’s not intended to stump you, either. Whether through natural ways – buying the things you need at a store, or growing them in your garden – God provides you with things you need. He can also provide for you through miracles. How else do you explain the disease or cancer that is no longer in the body without any treatment? Or the protection and safety in a…
The Wheat and the Weeds
One of the most unpleasant tasks for any gardener is picking weeds. If you want your plants or your garden to grow you’ve got to stay on top of the weeds. Jesus often used pictures that would be familiar to his listeners to help them understand a deeper spiritual lesson. That’s called a parable. It was one of Jesus’ favorite teaching tools. Join us to find out what message Jesus’ parable of the weeds and the wheat has for us. …
Confirmation 2023
White gowns. Red carnations. Memory verses. Vows and promises. Nervous teenagers. It’s Confirmation Sunday at St. Paul’s. A time for young Christians to share their faith, promise their faithfulness to Jesus and receive the Lord’s Supper to strengthen their faith. Confirmation made some of us excited and others nervous wrecks. Perhaps those memories come back each year about this time for you. It’s also an annual check-up to see how we’re doing with our promise: “I do, and I ask…
Hope
Sermon Text: I hope the weather improves and warms up. I hope my boss gives me a raise. I hope I won’t get sick. We can hope all we want, but there is uncertainty in those statements, isn’t there? This Sunday, Jesus talks to us about a hope that is completely different. His hope is certain and guaranteed. That’s because his hope has its source in his resurrection. The living Lord gives hope. Jesus gives you hope. We need it…
How to Destroy your Enemies
Sermon Text: Matthew 5:43-48 In this week’s section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he’s teaching us to do something that sounds absurd – “Love your enemies.” Here’s a suggestion. Start small, pick an enemy … maybe someone whose values are different than yours … maybe someone whose done you wrong. Now think about ways to destroy them … with kindness and consideration. Join us as we explain how “Destroying Your Enemies” is a good and God-pleasing thing to do.