St. Paul Podcast

Peter W. Marty preaches on building a life worth living. Shaping particular habits, developing moral commitments, and practicing certain disciplines will give shape to your character. And from that character, everything else in your life springs. It’s the virtue that grounds you. To build a Christian life well, one must have a deep commitment to the most vulnerable people, commit ourselves to the well-being of the common good, and treat every person we meet as full brothers and sisters.  

Preaching text: Matthew 7: 24-28

Pastor Peter A. Pettit preaches on signatures. A signature is the name we put on our work. A signature authenticates what we do as ours. The psalmist in Psalms 8 reflects on God as an artist of creation. The response to that creation is how majestic, how remarkable, how awesome is this creation that God has made? The psalmist reminds us it is only humans who carry God’s image. You are God’s signature on the canvas of creation. 

Preaching text: Psalms 8

Max Franks preaches on being better together. Paul writes to an emerging Christian community in Corinth. How to be a faithful community together. To be the body of Christ.  Perfectism isn’t what God desires for us or how we were created to be in community with each other. We can’t be all things to all people. Instead, God wants us to discover our own gifts and use them for the benefit of the all.  

Preaching text: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 

Megan Eide preaches on inheritance. Jesus served as God’s hands and feet in the world. He took the baton from God and ran with it, and now he passes it on to his disciples. What does it take to inherit that gift of the spirit? Little by little, one by one, the disciples step out and explore their own authentic ways to embrace and share their experiences of faith. Now, the disciples have passed on their baton, their stories, and their knowledge of God to the next generation of teachers and preachers.       

Preaching text: John 17: 1-11

Podcast friends! It’s our last episode of the season. The Holy Spirit visits the disciples, just as Jesus had promised. With the Holy Spirit working in them, they begin to boldly share the love of God with the world. This summer, don’t forget to look for Little Bird among the sparrows and keep spreading love and kindness in the world. Until next season…. 

Peter W. Marty preaches on worship. There is no such thing as a life without worship. Everyone worships something and most of us worship many somethings. What do you love? We tend to worship what we love. What pulls in our confidence? What captures our affections? That’s what we worship and we end up bestowing upon them a power they were never meant to have.  

Preaching text: Acts 17: 16-28

Jesus and his friends have spent a lot of time together lately and now it’s time for them all to head back to Jerusalem. It wouldn’t be a trip with Jesus and the disciples without some jokes along the way. Jesus says goodbye one more time to his friends and Little Bird, reminding them (and us) to keep sharing Jesus’ stories and loving beautifully. 

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on living stones. God often takes things that are disregarded and makes them into something beautiful and strong. We may find ourselves buried but God digs us out of the darkness and into marvelous light. Each of us brings our unique selves into this life together, as varied as the sizes and colors of stone in a fieldstone house. Like living stones, let yourself be built into something beautiful and strong.  

Preaching text: 1 Peter 2: 2-10 

Peter is still struggling with the denial of his friendship with Jesus. A little time fishing on the water is sure to raise his spirits and you’ll never guess who shows up to make the fishing trip even more special. This friend has a very important job for Peter.

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Jesus is the shepherd who protects his sheep, knows their names, and leads them to green pastures. Jesus is also the gate, the entrance, the door. This reminds us that Jesus’ whole way of being is not about blockades and barriers or even safety and security for just a few but for all. He is both the shepherd and the gate whose whole purpose is to bring life abundant.    

Preaching text: John 10: 1-10