Saint Paul’s Sermons

Only the traditional Anglican service contains the “comfortable words,” four passages of scripture that follow the rite of confession and absolution. Why are they “comfortable”? Because they ease our conscience and assure us of pardon if we have fully trusted in Jesus and in him alone.

During the season of Lent the prayers of the church and the Scriptures the Anglican church presents to us remind us of our need for God and his desire for us to be sanctified through Christ.

Lent is a season for realistic reflection on our lives, and how we compare to God’s standards in what we do and fail to do. It is an opportunity to turn away from those things in our lives that are not pleasing to God, and things that are harmful to us.

The gospel accounts of how Satan tested Jesus teach us valuable lessons about the times we are tested or tempted, about putting God first, and about finding our defenses in our survival manual, the Bible

God saves us for a purpose: to be relationship with him. We communicate with God through regularly reading of the Bible and prayer. As we approach the season of Lent, it’s a good time to begin or increase time spent in praying morning and evening prayers and/or in reading and reflecting on God’s word.

God has graciously and freely given us the gift of his grace. How do we respond? Are we angry at the things we don’t like, or grateful for the gifts of God? Learn from the parable of the workers told by Jesus, Matt 20:1-16

Chapter 13 of Matthews gospel contains several parables teaching us about the end of the age to come and how important it is to be with Christ when the final separation takes place. This parable is one of them, teaching us that the wheat and the weeds grow up together in the world, and in the church, and in the end Jesus will identify which is which. We want to be wheat

Living to please God as our grateful response to God’s love and mercy toward us requires knowing and submitting to God’s perfect will for us.

Belief in Jesus is the whole thing; John wrote his Gospel that we might believe with certainty.

We are full of excuses. Excuses for not coming to church, for example. Excuses for choosing not to please God. But our true happiness and peace come when we make the choice to live to please God.

The Epiphany brings us a message of new awareness and new understanding of familiar things. By reading the Bible regularly we can gain new insights into God’s word for us and how to apply biblical wisdom to our lives.

The seasons of the church year give rhythm and unity the the body of Christ, and as the Christmas season comes to a close we observe the Epiphany, the Messiah’s birth manifest to the world. For all, not only for the chosen Jewish people. The seers from the East come to seek him and celebrate. Gentiles know him though his own receive him not.

Saint Stephen is remembered on December 26. Though a young man he served the church well, taught, and spoke out for Christ with winsome confidence empowered by the Holy Spirit. We do well to learn from his example of knowing scripture, speaking boldly, and showing forth a living and forgiving spirit.

Christmas is the time we celebrate God’s fulfilling his promises by coming to his people, God, with us! Christ comes for a close personal relationship with us, he in us, and we in him.

The Birth of the second person of the Trinity as a human being, the Incarnation, begins the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation and reconciliation for humanity. Resting in this gives us that peace surpassing all understanding.

On this Sunday of rejoicing we look at how our study of God’s word changes us and directs in life as we internalize what God has to say.

We do not control everything in life, but we do control our attitude toward life. We need to cultivate gratitude to God in our own attitude.

Stir us up, Lord, to do your will, knowing all things are possible through you!

God permits his children to experience trials in this life. He knows them. He is in them with us. In chapter 5 of Mark Christ heals a suffering woman who come to him in faith.

If we seek God faithfully, God will answer effectually. If we Render to God the things of God, the things due to God, then God honors that and blesses us.

Why we celebrate the Saints and draw inspiration from their example.

Christ calls us to transformation through his saving work on our behalf. Have you experienced that?

Examining what it means to be faithful, to resist Satan daily, to love the Lord our God and our neighbor as ourself.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus illustrates the Kingdom of God with a parable, a story about a wedding feast. It shows us the wonderful way in which God has chosen those who come to faith in Christ.

God is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He does not change. His will does not change. His teachings and commandments for us are not suggestions, but tell us how to love him with all our hearts, minds, and strength.