St. Paul Podcast

Peter Marty preaches on gentleness. How might we operate in the world more gently? What would happen if we all aspired to be more gentle in our lives? Let your gentleness be visible to all you meet. Because gentleness is not weakness. To be gentle, you have to be strong. I think we're going to have an exceptionally good Christmas this year.  Preaching text: Luke 2: 1-14 

Luke's profoundly rich story of Jesus' first visit to the Jerusalem Temple signals the key themes of his gospel message in an appealing story filled with powerful symbols. Gospel passage: Luke 2:22-40 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...

Luke uses subtle irony and surprise to underscore the revolution that arrives with Jesus' birth. Gospel passage: Luke 2:1-14 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.

Katy Warren preaches on dreams. What does it mean to be people who dream? The season of Advent is about the hope and anticipation that there is something more to come. No matter the struggles, emptiness, or grief we feel right now, we can dream that it will not always be this way. Hold fast to your dreams, for a life without dreams is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.   Preaching text: Ps...

This week, Little Bird is off on her longest journey yet, flapping her little wings all the way to Bethlehem. Little Bird, Mary, and Joseph find comfort and support in a very unlikely place. 

The prophet's vision of a world restored brings hope for freedom, healing, comfort, and growth both in our day and in our spirits. Preaching text: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 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...

Peter W. Marty preaches on the winding path of life. Most of the roads we navigate in life are not perfectly straight. Not everything works the way we wish it would, the way we think it will, the way God hopes it will. We have our issues, our disappointments, our detours but the crooked shall be made straight. Advent is a time to divest the hope we have in ourselves and try to transfer that hope t...

This week, our brave Little Bird is off on another adventure. This time, traveling days and days to visit Mary's cousin Elizabeth. This week's episode is filled with lots of song and encouragement. 

Mark opens the gospel story boldly, setting John the Baptizer in an older biblical context and signaling that "the one who is coming" will be different. 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...

Peter Marty preaches on staying awake. Stay alive to everything that life brings you, offers you, asks of you, and what the world needs of you. The best way to be awake or on watch is for us to do everything we’re supposed to do every day. Don’t go to sleep. Just keep doing the things the world needs you to do.  Preaching text: Matthew 13: 24-37 

It's time to jump back to the beginning of the story, even before Jesus was born. Today, we're revisiting stories we started with last year!  Little Bird meets a very special woman, and together, they have a remarkable encounter and learn some truly life-changing news! 

Mark shows Jesus offering reassurance about troubling times and encouraging his followers to stay alert for the arrival of God's reign in all its fullness.  Gospel passage: Mark 13:24-37 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...

Mac Mullins preaches on living out mercy. The things we do without thinking, our habits, are deeply a part of how our lives are defined even if we don’t realize it. A life that lives out mercy, that’s what Jesus offers us. God builds us up to be a community that shows mercy and loves without thinking about it. We are being shaped into people who love without hesitation. We live this life of love b...

Happy snowy day, podcast friends! Today’s podcast is all about recognizing Jesus in the world. In what ways do you recognize Jesus and what does that even mean? Tune in to today’s episode and you’ll see. 😊 

In the last teaching before Matthew’s Passion story, we hear Jesus talking about eternal judgment for life or punishment, for disciples and for the world. 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, teachi...

Sara Olson Smith preaches on giving and mercy beyond measure. God gives love, grace, and mercy with excess and abundance that cannot be counted. Our fear often keeps us from loving. Sometimes we’re afraid of rejection or abandonment or we doubt we’re worthy of love. We fear it’s too risky but we have a God that sees us all as worthy and gives without counting. 

Podcast friends! It’s almost Thanksgiving. Are you ready for all of the yummy goodies coming your way later this week? On today’s episode, Jesus overhears a conversation that reminds him of a story. One about a great man (who thought he was the greatest of all) and one about a humble man who was trying his best. 

Matthew uses the parable of the talents to caution the community about being paralyzed by fear in the face of the delay in Jesus’s return. 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

Peter W. Marty preaches on gratitude. If we’re feeling the least bit down by the realities out of our control what we want to try and see, know, believe, and trust is that our Lord Jesus sees our plight and is not indifferent to weariness. Living an overwhelmed and exhausted life is not sustainable.   Preaching text: Matthew 9: 35-38

In today’s episode, we hear all about a parent who just couldn’t stop loving their son, no matter what. And that’s just like God. Know that God loves you, no matter what. 

Matthew’s summary of Jesus’ ministry sets the stage for the story of Jesus sending the disciples out as laborers in the harvest of the kingdom. 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.

Katy Warren preaches on identity. Naming who we are in relation to circumstances outside of ourselves is a reality many of us face at one point or another. We spend our whole lives trying to figure out who we are. Some of our greatest struggles come when our identity shifts in some way and we figure out who are now. But, we have an identity through God’s love that is unchanging.  Preaching text: 1...

Sometimes help and kindness come from very unexpected places and that’s just what today’s story is about. Jesus tackles the question: “Who is my neighbor?” What do you think? Cozy up for more story time with Little Bird and Jesus. 

In the mystery of life and death, the writer assures the community of God’s faithfulness and the promise of life with God. 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.

The explosion of rockets and invaders from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7 has been called unprecedented. It has thrown Israel and the Palestinians back onto the front page and leaves many of us feeling ill-equipped to understand what we are seeing. In mid-October, Peter Pettit led a public educational forum on the background of the conflict in history, geopolitics, religion, and human nature.  View pr...