St. Paul Podcast

Mark shows his community that something more than a Messiah from David has come to lead them into the future. Preaching text: Mark 11: 1-11 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.

Max Franks preaches on God’s mercy. We don’t carry the impulse to be forthright about our shortcomings. Not only do we veil our shortcomings, we also avoid facing them privately within ourselves. Even if these sins go unnoticed in the public eye, they still leave a mark on us, and after a while, the guilt and shame add up. But God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy will never leave you.  Preachin...

In this week’s episode, Little Bird shares a very special meal with Jesus and the disciples. And before that meal, Jesus does something a little different but extra special for his friends to show his love and care for them.  

Jeremiah announces to the people Israel that God will once again and always move beyond their rebellion and lift them up to life with God that cannot collapse or be eradicated, because it is God's promise. Preaching text: Jeremiah 31:31-34 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 w...

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on salvation. Those who do what is true come to the light. We all have things we do in the shadows and cannot make the changes that will help us become better people without being honest about ourselves and shining a light on our faults and failings. When we get stuck in our ways, we need love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, and someone we trust will not give up on us.   Prea...

We're going back again to revisit the Easter story and revisit a very special donkey friend. On today's episode, Little Bird adds another new friend to the story. This time, it's a donkey!  Little Bird, Jesus, and their new donkey friend are part of a palm parade in Jerusalem.  

John shows the "lifting up" of Jesus, in death and in resurrection, as a way to awaken people to the fullness of life unbounded by time and space. Preaching text: John 3:14-21 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...

Max Franks preaches on sensing God’s presence in our lives. God’s presence is just as available to us outside of the church as it is inside. God comes home with us. You are the temple of God and God’s spirit is within you. In all of the places in our lives, physical and spiritual, God is present.  Preaching text: John 2: 13-22

Have you ever wondered what heaven looks like? That’s what Little Bird is wondering…what exactly heaven looks like? Jesus talks about just that in today’s episode. 

John goes to the heart of religious life to show Jesus pleading for people to honor the holy graces that God showers on us. Preaching text: John 2:13-22 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...

Peter W. Marty preaches on abundant life. What does it mean to take up your cross? If we’re not afraid to let go of the myth that nothing bad will happen to us, or that God will spare us from anything but safety and comfort, then we might be surprised to discover the really good life we have. We can try to save our lives, to preserve things and we can be cautious, but if we live this way, it is ce...

This week, we need your superpowered imaginations as we tell stories with lots of comparisons. Jesus is often compared to things and today, we’ll hear an example of a few of those. So turn on those imaginations!  

 Mark writes the gospel for us after the resurrection, which is the promise that calls us to follow in the pattern of Jesus' suffering love for others.  Preaching text:  Mark 8:31-38  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. P...

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on God’s amazing promise. What truly changes people is grace. Rainbows appear when there is both rain and sunshine. God doesn’t deny our brokenness, our failures, and our sin, nor does God let us ignore that part of our humanity, but God lets us see that in the light of God’s grace with a kind of loving truth. By God’s rainbow grace and a little foolish faith, we can make...

Today, Little Bird is MAD. Very, very mad. Do you ever get mad? Of course you do. We all do! But it’s how we deal with those feelings that is very important. 

The covenant God makes with all living things after the Great Flood opens up our lives to honest self-critique and an earnest quest to respond more fully in faith. Preaching text: Genesis 9: 8-17 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 a...

Katy Warren preaches on change. Every day we get to choose how and when to let others influence us and how we’ll let our perspectives shift or modify our own ways of thinking. We decide how open we are to change. There are times we could set aside our perspectives and plans to learn from someone else’s and allow ourselves to be shaped, moved, and inspired toward change.  Preaching text: Mark 9: 2-...

Hello podcast friends! Do you know about the commandments? Which one do you think is the greatest commandment of all? In today’s episode, we’ll talk about just that! 

In the story of Jesus's transfiguration, Mark's powerful use of symbols underscores God's presence and grace in both strength and weakness. Preaching passage: Mark 9: 2-9 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...

Peter W. Marty preaches on strength and vulnerability. When I am weak, that is precisely in the Lord when I am strong. This inversion of strength and weakness, power and vulnerability is difficult to wrap our heads around. How is it that when I am weak, I am strong? If you search your life, you will find a place where you were so depleted and uncertain of hope that from that powerless vantage poin...

Today, Little Bird is a little baffled. Jesus is always talking to himself, and she can’t quite figure out who he is talking to. What do you think Jesus is doing and who is he talking with?

Isaiah encourages Israel in exile with a reminder that God is the author of creation and history, giving enduring power to the weak and weary. Preaching passage: Isaiah 40:21-31 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...

Katy Warren preaches on words. Our words carry much more weight or power than we sometimes give them credit for. You don’t need special powers to make change happen. It starts with our words. Every single day we can choose to speak with a certain kind of courage or confidence. What would the world look like if we used our voices in this way? As though we had all the power in the world to change it...

On this week’s episode, a very unexpected person shows up and does something even more unexpected! This is an episode of love and forgiveness. 

Mark opens the story of Jesus's public work, affirming that a close, undistracted alignment with God gives power over the forces that oppose life. Preaching text: Mark 1: 21-28 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.  W...