St. Pete's on Repeat

What does it take to really be Jesus' disciple? Without question, it has to start with believing in him. But Jesus says there's more to it than that. Listen to this week's sermon to find out what it takes and how you can confidently know that you really are a disciple of Jesus.

Can you imagine being called upon to do as much as Jesus asked of Peter? The escalation from a small boat charter, to a big catch of fish, to an even bigger calling as a fisher of men? Or can you imagine being called upon to do as much as the first WELS Lutherans - knowing that future generations of believers depend on what you do today? The truth is, he does ask for almost the exact same things f...

Where do you spend your Thanksgiving holiday? Many of us celebrate it surrounded by family and loved ones, sitting before a table set for a feast. But perhaps there's an even better place to spend our Thanksgiving—giving thanks at Jesus' feet. Listen to this week's sermon to find out why Jesus came to us, and why we can't keep ourselves away from him.

How strong is your faith? Jesus said once that if it is the size of a mustard seed (which is only about 1 millimeter long!), then you can uproot a 20-foot mulberry tree with a word. Can you do that? Listen to this week's sermon to find out why not, but also what better thing your faith is able to do by God's grace.

Is the door to heaven "one size fits all," or do people have to be the right size/shape? A hard truth about heaven is that getting into heaven is hard. We carry lots of extra baggage that disqualifies us from entering. A happy truth about heaven is that Jesus has made every effort to ensure that no matter who you are or what you've done you can enter his heavenly home. Listen to this week's sermon...

Sometimes hearing, "Welcome back!" is the most natural thing in the world - like on the first day of school. Other times, though, they catch you off guard - mostly in a good way. In today's Scripture, we hear a parable of Jesus that shares with us an unexpectedly joyful "Welcome back!" from our Saviour in a way that speaks directly to our hearts and fills us with a joy we can't help but share.

"You shall not covet." The 9th and 10th Commandments feel a little fuzzier than the first eight. But setting your heart on what doesn't belong to you is just as dangerous a sin as any other. That's why it's so important that we guard our hearts—and that we have a Saviour who guards it with us. Listen to this week's sermon to learn more about the dangers of greed and the need for a pure heart that...

Patience without problems isn’t patience; it’s privilege. And it’s often privileged people who struggle most when problems come, because they don’t have practice. But the beauty of what God does for you through his Holy Spirit is that he gives you opportunity to exercise your faith until you excel in it. Listen to this week's sermon to find out the immediately practical and eternally relevant trut...

Have you ever heard the complaint or criticism that the God of the Old Testament is vengeful and cruel? Some will point to the Flood and to the forceful, involuntary dispersal of Babel as examples. But what if both the Flood and Babel were more about grace than judgment? What would that mean for history and for you? Listen to this week's sermon to find out how in a battle of wills, God always wins...

Humans have a psychological need for love and belonging. That's why when we walk into just about any room, we (often subconsciously) ask the question, "Are there people like me here?" We gravitate toward people like us. So why is there so much division in the world? Why are politics so polarizing and sports fandom so emotional? What accounts for strained and estranged relationships? Listen to this...

How much content does the average Canadian consume every week? (Do you even want to know...?) It's a lot! How much do you listen to your Shepherd's voice? I feel fairly confident saying it's considerably less. What does all that content consumption do to your spiritual wellbeing, and how can you safeguard your soul? Listen to this week's sermon to find out.

What do you hope to get out of Christianity? What is the tangible, practical benefit of your faith? Are you hoping that you'll be made into a better person? Are you hoping for life to be made a little bit easier for you? Those are worthwhile prayers - and even promised blessings from our God! - but they're not the purpose for our faith or the best benefit God intends to give you. Listen to this we...

Upwards of 100,000 people died, and every death was preventable. If you had been there, would you have been able to stand firm, or would you have fallen into sin and by the sword/plague/fire/earthquake like they did? Hypothetical questions can help us see our spiritual danger, but it's the very real faithfulness of our God that gives us hope. Listen to this week's sermon to learn more about both.

Did you know that pastors cry? They do. They're real people. The question is, Why? Is it because of the sorry state of the world today? Is it because of all the evil influence that's constantly around us? Yes, but more than that, it's because of the many who live like enemies of the cross of Christ. Listen to this week's sermon to learn who those enemies are, and what you can do to keep from becom...

High horse. Holier than thou. Hypocrite. Condescending. Narcissist. Who do you picture when you read those words? Is it that politician you can't stand right now? Is it the hockey player who was supposed to support his nation's team but gave a thumbs up to the other team instead? Is it that actor who gave the most self-righteous acceptance speech at the Oscars? Truthfully, if you picture anyone ot...

What do caterpillars and Calvin and Hobbes have to do with Jesus? Amazing transformations (with equally amazing names). What does Jesus' transformation so many years ago have to do with you today? Listen to this week's sermon to find out.

Would you have done it? Go back out fishing after a long night of trying (unsuccessfully), after having washed and stowed your tackle, before finding your family or your pillow when you're tired? If our personal histories are any indication, the answer is probably a flat, "No thanks." There are just so many excuses. Thankfully, we have a God who cuts through excuses, inspires faith, empowers actio...

What if Jesus was your guest preacher? Would that change the way you come to hear God's Word? Would you be more excited than you would be on a normal Sunday? Should you? I'm not convinced that if Jesus was our guest preacher there's much he'd say or do that's all that different than what we say and do every week. God's Word hasn't changed since Jesus preached it 2,000 years ago, but that doesn't m...

What are your expectations of Jesus? Do you ever think too little of Jesus? Do you assume that Jesus doesn’t care, so you don't bother him with prayer? Or do you think too little of him this way - that you treat him as little more than a vending machine to go to on demand, or a life preserver to keep on standby? Jesus is so much more than that, and his first miracle at the wedding at Cana raises o...

Are you a New Years Resolution kind of guy or gal, or does it all seem kind of hokey to you? Do you look back on the year that was with pride or guilt? Do you look forward to the year ahead with anxiety or excitement? I suppose it depends on who you are, and - honestly - how comfortable you are with yourself. Every transition period in life, including every New Year, gives us opportunity to think...

Do you ever feel like Charlie Brown at Christmas? Does it feel like joy is elusive, that your gentle parenting is failing, that your anxiety keeps rising? God invites you to be joyful, gentle, and anxiety-free, and he reminds us that the power to be joyful, gentle, and anxiety-free is not something that comes from you or me. It comes from the Lord, because the Lord is near. Listen to this week's s...

All the signs are there. If you are looking - if you're paying attention - then you know that Jesus could come at any time. Are you ready? Listen to this week's sermon to learn how to watch and wait for Jesus to return, and why that's so important.

Would you rather have a God who grieves over tragedy, or one who prevents it? What about a God who reverses tragedy? One of those three things feels rare, but happens far more often than you know. The other two happen all the time without exception. As you face the reality and pain of loss and death, a look into Jesus' tear-filled eyes will answer your doubts and soothe your fears.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms lays out the rights and freedoms that we believe are essential for a free and democratic society, things like: life, liberty, and personal security, freedom of religion, expression, and peaceful assembly. If someone threatened those rights, how would you feel? If someone tried to limit those freedoms, what would you do? The Apostle Paul advises the absur...

Finish this sentence: I would truly be happy if only ________. Don't we often do that - impose conditions on our happiness the depend on the circumstances of our life? But whether you finished the sentence with "I had more money" or "more free time" or "less stress," how do we ever know how much money or free time is enough? Or how much stress is too much? Thankfully we don't have to depend on the...