St. Paul Podcast

Peter A. Pettit preaches on God's vision. The promised kingdom doesn’t depend on any groups of special people. It depends on whoever lives for the kingdom. Look for signs of the kingdom, of God’s vision, wherever you go. Look for welcome, hospitality, acceptance, humility, and generosity. Wherever you find these, people are living out the kingdom that God has brought near. 

Preaching text: Mark 6: 1-13

Mark's story of Jesus in his hometown reassures Mark's community about their own mission, that even without Jesus they have God's power of the gospel for healing and life in God's realm.

Preaching passage: Mark 6:1-13

Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul.  With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor

Katy Warren preaches on memories. Our memories from the past inform how we approach the future or even in the present. Memories shift our perspective, moving us from sorrow to hope and carrying us through difficult times. Our memories are informed by days of less burdens and more joy, even when it might not feel possible. Even in grief, there is hope and joy to be found.  

Preaching text: Lamentations 3: 17-25 

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on uncertainty. It’s uncertainty that is often the hardest part of the challenges of our lives. Being human is often about finding ways to live with uncertainty. We like to know what to expect and we take comfort in knowing what is to come. It’s the not knowing or the lack of control over what is ahead of us that causes many of our fears and anxieties. But know that God is with us.   

Preaching text: Job 38: 1-11 

The poet voices unwavering confidence in God from the depths of heartache and despair, recalling God's steadfast love and mercy even as present circumstances are bleak and seem hopeless.

Preaching passage: Lamentations 3:22-33

Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul.  With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor

Mac Mullins preaches on broken trust. God’s vision and understanding of trust differs from that of human beings. Our fears and anxieties don’t place a lot of faith in trust. But God does. God’s trust is unending. When God forgives, God forgives completely. When God loves, God loves completely. And when God trusts us, that trust is complete and total trust.  

Preaching text: Ezekiel 17: 22-24 

God's voice speaks "from the whirlwind," testifying to God's presence within the worst of life's circumstances and assuring Job and us that the mastery over cahor that God established in creation remains our hope in any chaos or calamity that life can throw at us.

Preaching passage: Job 38:1-11

Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul.  With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor

The prophet Ezekiel announces God's promise to go one better than any earthly rulers, restoring the people to their homeland and blessing them with abundant life.

Preaching passage: Ezekiel 17:22-24

Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul.  With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor

Peter W. Marty preaches, during his final Sunday at St. Paul, on the essentials of Christian living. Resume virtues are the skills and achievements that may end up on a resume, centering on your credentials. In contrast, eulogy virtues involve your character, your depth, and the nature of your relationships. How do we grow our eulogy virtues? Desire, grace, faith, and gratitude. Desires shape the contours of our lives. A desire for God is the beginning of faith. Grace is the abundant love of God. Faith begins where certainty ends. There is nothing that beats gratitude for a joy-filled life.  

 Preaching text: Philippians 3: 8-12 

 A Splendid Torch 
by George Bernard Shaw 
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. 
 
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. 
 
I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

The apostle Paul reminds his congregation in Galatia that life and hope depend entirely on God's faithfulness to the relationship that God has created with them.

Preaching passage: Galatians 2:15-21

Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul.  With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.