Luke's reassurance to the community reading Acts that they are indeed included in the life-giving work of God's spirit becomes for us, as readers of Acts, an encouragement to look for the surprising places where God's Spirit might be at work today.

Preaching text: Acts 11:1-18

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.

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on trust. The words of Psalm 23 provide comfort, but the psalm doesn’t just talk about a comfortable kind of love from God. Human life is full of challenges and battles, grief and sorrow. Our faith gives us what we need to navigate those difficult times with courage and hope. God’s love and mercy follow us every minute of every day, through every happy time and during the difficult ones.

Preaching text: Psalm 23

Set at the Jewish Festival of Renewal, John's story about Jesus shows that God renews the promise of life for all people over and over again, in different times and places and ways, yet all life — and eternal life — comes from God.

Preaching text: John 10:22-30

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 connection. We belong to each other, for better or for worse. There’s more to faith than our personal perspective, there’s a great community surrounding each of us. It’s easier to judge, to hate, to persecute someone from a distance but it’s much harder to do those things when you look someone in the eye and recognize their humanity. Be the people who are unafraid to move close.

Preaching text: Acts 9:1-20

Maddy Tyler preaches on the resurrection. In our days of grief and despair, when we’ve lost ourselves, Jesus meets us where we are. He meets us at the foot of our own burdens and grief. There isn’t any barrier or locked door that keeps Christ away. When we lose faith in each other or in ourselves, Jesus will always cross through the barriers and meet us.

Preaching text: John 20:19-31

Bridging the life of Jesus and the life of his own church community, John uses powerful symbolism and narrative to announce that the life abundant that Jesus promised will be realized in a community embracing all people with leadership that is devoted to Jesus and to servanthood.

Preaching text: John 21:1-19

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.

A double appearance by Jesus in the original ending of John's gospel offers a double blessing to all who follow the risen Master. John has been introducing us to Thomas all along as the pragmatic one, the realistic one, the one just like us (of like Eeyore, as one John scholar says), and here the picture comes to its fullness not in a doubting Thomas but, in fact, in a believing Thomas.

Preaching text: John 20:19-31

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.

Mark Niethammer preaches on Easter Sunday. Somedays, everything feels like it’s going wrong and everywhere you turn there is bad news. When we’re surrounded by the bad of the world, we get angrier, turn in on ourselves, and stew in our own misery. Remember what Jesus said throughout his life and take those things into your tomorrows. Love others, give generously, forgive. You can be the good news for someone else.

Preaching text: Luke 24:1-12