Pathfinder Church Messages

Pathfinder Church | July 5 2026 | Doug Mauss By late spring, the world feels alive. Everything is growing fast, strong, showy, and vibrant. In humans, this is the season when roots deepen and our destinies begin taking shape. But what happens when fear and control dominate what’s growing? Or when it’s neglected to fight for itself? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfi...

Pathfinder Church | June 28, 2026 | AJ Mastic Early spring is full of possibility. Tiny shoots push up from the ground, but it’s still too early to tell exactly what each one will become. Children are like that—full of possibility. With all the possibilities, overwhelm is inevitable. Yet, are there consequences when we steer our children into who we’d like them to be, or tell them they “can be wha...

Pathfinder Church | June 21, 2025 | Dion Garrett What is the Kingdom anyway? The Kingdom of God was Jesus's most talked-about topic, but it looks nothing like the castles, crowns, and conquest we might imagine. It's not a nation-state, a political movement, or even the afterlife — it's something far more personal and immediate. Jesus himself is the Kingdom, and according to Luke 17,...

Pathfinder Church | June 14, 2026 | Doug Mauss It’s good to have a sense of the sacred. Some things are holy and their purity should be maintained. But with too much an emphasis on purity, you end up with constant “moral panics” about the corrupting influence of the world. Too little purity, and human dignity itself becomes trampled in the mud of “anything goes”. How do we find the right balance?...

Pathfinder Church | June 7, 2026 | AJ Mastic We have an innate sense that life should be fair. And certainly, if we have a just God, then he should enforce fairness. But how do we define what’s truly “fair,” considering all possible factors? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinderstl.org/podcasts Facebook | https://facebook.c...

Pathfinder Church | May 31, 2026 | Dion Garrett As a nation, founded on liberty, freedom ranks high(est) in Americans’ values. But how much freedom is a good thing? Can too much freedom cause harm to ourselves and others? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinderstl.org/podcasts Facebook | https://facebook.com/pathfinderstl Ins...

Pathfinder Church | May 24, 2026 | Doug Mauss We all know we should care for others. But how much, exactly? Are someone else’s bad circumstances my problem, or their own fault? Too much care, and we become martyrs. Too little care and we become misers. How do we find the right balance? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinders...

Pathfinder Church | May 17, 2026 | Dion Garrett People being under authority is a gift of God, to establish and maintain order. But what kind of authority is holy, and what level of obedience do Christians owe to unjust authorities? Giving too much power to authorities results in fascism; too little results in anarchy. How can Christians know when to submit to authority and when to hold authority...

Pathfinder Church | May 10, 2026 | AJ Mastic Loyalty is important. It’s what binds groups together. But too much loyalty can lead us to tolerate or excuse immoral behavior from our in-group, while magnifying the flaws of outsiders. At its most extreme, loyalty creates cults. On the other hand, too little loyalty prevents us from forming bonds of safety and trust. It can lead to individualism and s...

Pathfinder Church | May 3, 2026 | Dion Garrett Many of us draw a sense of confidence from looking good. We shop for the right clothes and cosmetics, we perfect our poses and posts, and we collect things of beauty around us. When does it cross a line and become vanity? What if we’re not showing people more of our true beauty, but covering it up? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | h...

Pathfinder Church | April 26, 2026 | Doug Mauss In a chaotic world, the ability to call the shots and exert a measure of control over our lives is solid gold. We hardly ever turn down a promotion or the chance at more influence, but have you ever noticed that those who gain power tend to lose part of their souls in the process? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinder...

Pathfinder Church | April 19, 2026 | Dion Garrett We have a deep human need to feel physically and emotionally safe. As safety has become the top priority in our culture, we have become very risk-averse; stockpiling resources, and building our safety nets. Butif you take all of the risk out of life, you also remove the adventure, and then what are we left with? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org...

Pathfinder Church | April 12, 2026 | Doug Mauss It feels so good to be special, and if we have the rare chance to stand out in this world of billions, it makes sense that we should see how far we can take it. But isn’t it clear that many of the biggest celebrities feel alone and wish they could escape the limelight? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give...

Pathfinder Church | April 5, 2026 | Dion Garrett On Easter, we proclaim that Jesus has rescued us from  sin, but why then is life still FULL of stress and pain? Doesn’t it seem like faith in Jesus is supposed to make  our lives more harmonious and enjoyable? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinderstl.org/podcasts Facebook | h...

Pathfinder Church | March 25, 2026 | AJ Mastic Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinderstl.org/podcasts Facebook | https://facebook.com/pathfinderstl Instagram |  https://instagram.com/pathfinderstl St. John School | https://stjls.org Contact Us | churchinfo@pathfinderstl.org

Pathfinder Church | March 29, 2026 | AJ Mastic The Sacraments seem really gross if you stop to think about them. It’s great that Jesus died for our sins, but are we really supposed to eat his body? And why do we talk about “drowning” babies through baptism? That seems needlessly cruel and harsh. Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://p...

Pathfinder Church | March 22, 2026 | Doug Mauss If there’s one truth that seems pervasive in being a success in our culture today, it’s to never admit being wrong. Our leaders and influencers carefully maintain an image of polished confidence. So why does the church force us to publicly share our failings each week? Doesn’t that just increase anxiety and shame? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org...

Pathfinder Church | March 4, 2026 | Doug Mauss Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinderstl.org/podcasts Facebook | https://facebook.com/pathfinderstl Instagram |  https://instagram.com/pathfinderstl St. John School | https://stjls.org Contact Us | churchinfo@pathfinderstl.org

Pathfinder Church | March 11, 2026 | Jeremy Hetzel Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinderstl.org/podcasts Facebook | https://facebook.com/pathfinderstl Instagram |  https://instagram.com/pathfinderstl St. John School | https://stjls.org Contact Us | churchinfo@pathfinderstl.org

Pathfinder Church | March 15, 2026 | AJ Mastic Nobody ever seems to feel like they have enough money. Even most billionaires seem unable to stop the relentless pursuit of “more.” So why does the church tell us to give some of our precious, hard-earned money away? Surely God in heaven doesn’t need our cash? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts...

Pathfinder Church | March 8, 2026 | Dion Garrett While it’s fun to watch musical memes on social media, most people would hate to have to sing in public. So why does the church force everyone—tone deaf or otherwise—to sing weird songs in a large group? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathfinderstl.org/podcasts Facebook | https:/...

Pathfinder Church | March 1, 2026 | Doug Mauss People who routinely talk to invisible beings are normally consigned to a psychiatric ward. Why does the church make such a big deal about talking to God? How could he possibly hear all the prayers and care about every little thing in our lives? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pathfinderstl.org/give Podcasts | https://pathf...

Pathfinder Church | February 22, 2026 | AJ Mastic We have fewer and fewer “third spaces”—places where people gather together simply for the sake of being with one another. Even community events that used to be primarily experienced in a group (such as cheering on your local team or going to a movie) are now mainly experienced from the (isolated) comfort of our couch and big screen. So why does the...

Pathfinder Church | February 18, 2026 | Dion Garrett Our society has largely sterilized the process of death—offloading the care of the sick and dying onto medical professionals. We even try to keep our pain and grief hidden inside, rather than “make a scene.” So why does the church publicly and messily focus on death and lamentation? Website | https://pathfinderstl.org Online Giving | https://pat...

Pathfinder Church | January 15, 2026 | Dion Garrett Conventional wisdom says it’s a bad idea to change horses in midstream, but when it comes to Grace, the very thing that all Christians acknowledge as the means for our salvation, we seem to struggle to live by it. Unfortunately, too many churches, seeing the reality of sin in the world, abandon grace and reach for a different means to motivate an...