St. Paul Lutheran Church

Hometown Zero | Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Cor. 12:12-31a; Luke 4:16-30 Pastor Josh Hometown Zero | Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Cor. 12:12-31a; Luke 4:16-30 What’s a time when you’ve been left feeling disappointed? What did you do/how did you respond? Have you ever seen someone/something far exceed your expectations? (Why) do you think having “IF…THEN” type thoughts when it comes to God can be...

A common thing to wonder and worry about is this: “How do I please God?” We hear warnings from people like John the Baptist about how there are only two eternal destinations, and we want to know exactly how we can avoid punishment and find God’s favor. We hear in our Gospel reading from Luke chapter 3 what the Father declares to the world after Jesus’ baptism: “You are my beloved Son; with you I a...

How were you as a child? For parents: how were your kids? Why do you think it’s important for Luke to highlight (several times) that Jesus was human in this text? Have you wrestled with this text thinking that Jesus was being disrespectful to his parents? Has that changed after this sermon?

A Year End Christian Inventory Pastor Beugler NEWS: Catch up on all the latest St. Paul Westlake news in our Monday and Friday emails or read it here: https://bit.ly/News122324 Not seeing our emails? Check your junk file or contact churchoffice@stpaulwestlake.org to update your information. Enjoyed this sermon? Listen to more St. Paul Westlake Sermons below! Permalink

What’s your least favorite chore and why? What is your reaction to Paul using the language of, we are to “put to death” the earthly things? Is it easy or difficult for you to take off the old (nature) and clothe yourself with the new (nature)? Why or why not? Have you seen (in yourself or someone else) God working these virtues in?

Lots of the Faithful Who Came Pastor Beugler NEWS: Catch up on all the latest St. Paul Westlake news in our Monday and Friday emails or read it here: https://bit.ly/News122324 Not seeing our emails? Check your junk file or contact churchoffice@stpaulwestlake.org to update your information. Enjoyed this sermon? Listen to more St. Paul Westlake Sermons below! Permalink

Christ is Born for You Pastor Smith NEWS: Catch up on all the latest St. Paul Westlake news in our Monday and Friday emails or read it here: https://bit.ly/News122324 Not seeing our emails? Check your junk file or contact churchoffice@stpaulwestlake.org to update your information. Enjoyed this sermon? Listen to more St. Paul Westlake Sermons below! Permalink

Come, Though You Have Nothing Pastor Josh NEWS: Catch up on all the latest St. Paul Westlake news in our Monday and Friday emails or read it here: https://bit.ly/News122324 Not seeing our emails? Check your junk file or contact churchoffice@stpaulwestlake.org to update your information. Enjoyed this sermon? Listen to more St. Paul Westlake Sermons below! Permalink

Our theme for Advent and Christmas this year is “O Come, All You Unfaithful.” One of the lyrics invites the “guilty and hiding ones” also to come and see that Christ is born for them. When you think of guilty and hiding ones, your mind probably goes pretty quickly to Adam and Eve. Immediately after they fall into sin because of Satan’s temptation, they hear God coming, and they hide. They realize...

What does your name mean? (If you have kids) Did the meaning of the name play a factor in why you chose the name(s) for your child(ren)? Has there been a time that you’ve been able to relate to the bitterness and brokenness that Naomi experienced? What name or title of Jesus (and its meaning) resonates with or means the most to you, and why?

In Hebrews, chapter 11 there is listed several Old Testament “heroes of the faith” and yet we know each of them were marked by sinful behavior. The list includes Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson and David. At the end of that list of sinners God used is YOU. Discuss this paradox. The “UNFAITHFUL HYMN” uses the words “O come, barren and waiting ones - Weary...

Our theme for Advent and Christmas this year is “O Come, All You Unfaithful.” We will explore the biblical truth that God does not demand that you reach a certain level of faithfulness, righteousness, or “enoughness” before He will receive you as His child. In fact, it is just the opposite. Jesus enters our world as the baby in Bethlehem to be faithful, righteous, and enough in all the ways we are...

The book of Jude is an urgent message to Christians to stand strong in their faith in the midst of the dangers of this world–in particular, there are warnings against false teachers who will try to make you fall away from the faith. As he nears the end of his letter, Jude encourages believers to build themselves up and keep themselves in the love of God. The Gospel lesson contains strong exhortati...

It’s the End of the World as We Know It...And I Feel Fine | Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 13 Pastor Josh Sermon Discussion Questions | “Its The End Of The World As We Know It…And I Feel Fine” When you think about the last day, what do you think about? Why do you think people throughout the ages have tried to predict when Jesus will return? What are some of the “love and good works” that ot...

Two Widows Teach Us All | 1 Kings 17:8-16; Mark 12:38-44 Pastor Buegler Sermon Discussion Questions | “Two Widows Teach Us All” When we say “I believe” at the beginning of our creeds it is not simply a statement of our doctrinal confession, but it is actually a declaration of our commitment to a “lifestyle”. Discuss God protected Elijah and took care of him…..but then sent him on a mission that to...

On this All Saints’ Day, Pastor Smith reflects upon the picture of the heavenly multitude of saints praising God into eternity. We remember those who have died in the past year and are now with the Lord, and we long for the day when our voices will be joined with theirs to glorify God forever and ever. In this sermon, Pastor Smith leads us to realize that even though there are many connections we...

Hold Tightly To Jesus | John 8:31-36 Pastor Josh Sermon Discussion Questions | “Hold Tightly To Jesus” The Jews saw their standing before God based upon being descendants of Abraham. Do you think Christians today get too “confident” in things other than Jesus? What do you typically think of when you hear an “if…then” type of statement? What are your thoughts on what Jesus says in this text? (John...

Jesus Looked Hard Into His Eyes...And Loved Him | Mark 10:17-22 Pastor Buegler Sermon Discussion Questions | “Jesus Looked Hard Into His Eyes...And Loved Him” The preamble to the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20 has two parts: God says, “remember who I am” and “remember what I did for you”……Now, therefore HAVE NO OTHER GODS ABOVE ME. And then comes the other 9 commandments. Luther reminds us that if w...

Highly Flavored | 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 1:26-38 Pastor Josh Sermon Discussion Questions | “Highly Flavored” What was your first job? Is there a situation where you think, “Why would God ever use me for this?” Who is the person in the Bible that you most think, “If God can use THIS person, maybe he can use me”? Why? What’s something you feel God has used you for? NEWS: Catch up...

Today we look at a very short, raw, and candid prayer that a father prays to Jesus as he is seeking healing for his son. “I believe! Help my unbelief.” It sounds rather confusing at first glance…how can you both believe and disbelieve at the same time? This is most likely an inner struggle we have experienced, but maybe we haven’t put it quite into these words. We will explore the difference betwe...