St. Paul's Church - Willington, CT

This week guest speaker Peter Scalzo shared about what God has taught him over the course of his 10+ year experience with cancer. Regardless of what trials we may be facing in our own lives, Peter's story is an inspiring reminder that "Christ living in us" has the power to give us strength in the midst of the storm.

What's it like to really meet God? A strange story in Genesis 32 about a wrestling match between Jacob and a mysterious opponent helps us to see: it's personal, it involves struggle, it leads to blessing, and it humbles us.

Over the last 4 months, something very significant has been happening in our culture: on an unprecedented level, people are speaking out about their experiences of sexual assault and harassment. An enormous cry of pain has risen up in our culture, and the Church needs to recognize that pain and the problem it represents. This week we talked about how the #MeToo movement indirectly affirms biblical...

This week we looked at one of the most beloved Psalms. Psalm 139 is David's poetic declaration that "God is everywhere and He knows me." We considered what it means to be "fearfully and wonderfully made," what to do when God's all-pervading presence frightens us, how to understand David's hatred, and how to make the concluding prayer our own.

Our Genesis series concluded on the last day of 2017 with a look at the story of Babel. What did the people of Babel do that was so wrong? We considered how to avoid repeating their mistake as we plan for 2018.

On Christmas Eve Pastor Keith and his wife Tracy retold the Christmas story, reflecting on it from the perspective gained through the birth of one of their own children. God often surprises us, and the birth of Jesus is a prime example.

This week we looked at the events after the Flood. We talked about what Gen 8-9 has to say about diet, treatment of animals, the death penalty, rainbows, and Ham's sin - but most of all we talked about what this passage reveals about what God is like.

The story of the Flood in Genesis is troubling for many of us in this day and age, but when we look at it closely we find that it reveals not a cruel and capricious God but one who is truly good. This week's message identified five reasons why, as well as two things we can learn from Noah's example.

This week we continued our Genesis series with a passage that is usually skipped over because it's difficult to interpret. What are we to make of the long ages in the genealogies? Who were the Nephilim? Stubbornly refusing to skip over the challenging parts, we considered the possible answers to these tough questions. NOTE: Due to some technical problems, the very beginning of this message was cut...

This week we looked at the story of Cain and Abel - the first murder. This story serves as a tragic warning, but it is also a comforting reminder that God is more merciful than we deserve.

This week we looked at what might be the saddest chapter in the Bible: Genesis 3. It answers the question: Why is the world so messed up? It gives us insight into what leads us into sin, the consequences of sin, and - thankfully - the remedy for sin.

This week we looked at the story of Adam and Eve (before the Fall), letting this question narrow our focus: What does this story teach us about God's design for human life?

This week we paused in the drama of Genesis to focus on a brief, but very significant detail: the seventh day. What does it mean that God "rested" and why does it matter for us?

This week we started our Genesis series with a look at the first chapter in the Bible: the story of creation. How to interpret Genesis 1 has long been a source of controversy in the Church. Are the days of creation literal 24-hour periods? Are we morally obligated to reject the modern scientific consensus on evolution? What can we be certain that Genesis 1 teaches? In this message we try to answer...

This Sunday we took a break between sermon series for a Q&A sermon. We looked at five questions from the congregation, spanning a variety of topics: How do we know for sure if we're following God's will? How much does God expect us to pray? Is sarcasm sinful? And more.

This week guest speaker Bob McCoy concluded our Proverbs series by talking about how wisdom is transferred and retained, using Proverbs 4:20 – 27 as a guide.

This week guest speaker (and former St. Paul's staff member) Emma Liddle continues our Proverbs series with a look at one of the book's most popular topics: the tongue.

This week we look at the Proverbs' wisdom on the family: (1) how spouses should relate to each other, (2) how parents should relate to children, and (3) how children should relate to parents.

This week our Uncommon Sense series in the Proverbs continued with the topic of friendship. We discussed the importance of friendship and three qualities that make up a Godly friendship – Allegiance (loyalty, faithfulness, trust), Annoyance (DON'T be annoying), and Accountability.

The Bible is quite frank about the topic of sex, particularly in the book of Proverbs. This week we look at what God's wisdom has to say about this sensitive topic.

This week our series on the Proverbs continues with a look at one of the Proverbs' favorite topics: work. When we consider the amount of time we spend each week working either to generate income or to maintain order in our lives, work takes up a huge portion of our waking lives. What is God's perspective on work? We identify five points the Proverbs make about work and our relationship to it.

This week we started our new sermon series on the Proverbs: Uncommon Sense. The Proverbs tell us that "the fear of the LORD" is the beginning of wisdom - but what does that mean?

In our final part of our Sharing the Faith series, we identify five tips for powerful evangelism. This sermon begins with a few more thoughts on Charlottesville, and an encouragement to consider how one particular advocate for racial reconciliation serves as an excellent model for us as we share our faith.

This week we looked at one of the most famous passages in Scripture - 1st Corinthians 13 - to consider it's implications for evangelism. How should the truth that "without love we gain nothing" affect the way we share our faith? (The sermon starts six minutes in. It is preceded by some comments on - and a prayer regarding - this weekend's events in Charlottesville.)

This week we started a new series on sharing our faith. In our current cultural climate, attempting "evangelism" is often seen as rude and intolerant - and yet Jesus commands us to "make disciples." How can we share our faith in a way that is genuine, culturally-sensitive, and faithful to God? This week we look at an example from Scripture where the Apostle Paul does just that: his sermon in Athen...