St. Pete's on Repeat

We see so many divisions in this world. It's nothing new. Whether it was race or gender or creed or status, there has always been tension between people. Paul reminds us, however, that as Christians we have no moral high ground. We are members of God's family the same way anyone else is - purely by grace. So, ours is not to be arrogant or conceited, but humbly to mirror the love and mercy of our G...

When the disciples were in danger of drowning, when Peter was sinking into the sea, Jesus responded not so much with power as he did with love. There's a lesson to be learned there for us. When we are experiencing problems, God's love is more than enough to teach us true trust in him.

The presence of problems does not mean the absence of God's love. In fact, he promises you that nothing in all creation can ever separate you from his love.

How can God say that he is always working for your good when things happen in your life that feel so bad? Let me answer that question with another question: Have you ever seen the backside of a tapestry, embroidery or rug? It doesn't look so pretty, does it? But when you turn it over, it all makes sense. Every frayed, tattered, ugly thread has a place in the weaver's grand design. God tells us tha...

How can you know what you should pray for? Sometimes the obvious "blessings" turn out to be curses in the end, and the things we fear the most can be best for us. How can you know what to pray for? You don't have to! Because God sends his Spirit to intercede for you. Listen to this week's sermon based on Romans 8:26,27 to see why you can pray with confidence.

How many times in the last 4 months have you said something along the lines of, "I just want this to be over," or, "I just want life to go back to normal"? We have lots of legitimate reasons to moan and groan, but Paul reminds us that we still have reason for hope by using the groaning of creation as an example. Listen to this week's sermon to hear why you can have hope in something you can't even...

There's something distinctively Christian about guilt-induced self-loathing. We have strong consciences but weak self-control. It's a recipe for disaster and despair. After spilling his guts for a paragraph and a half, Paul only needs 5 words to comfort himself. Listen to this week's sermon to find out what they are.

What would you think if a husband heard his wife's vows on their wedding day and thought, "Wow! She promised to love me no matter what? That's great! That means I can be a complete jerk to her and she has to love me anyway!" Not great. So why do we take that attitude toward God? Why do we use his love as a license for sin? And, maybe more importantly, how can we die to sin but live to God in Chris...

All it takes is one. One person can ruin a good thing for everyone. That's what Adam did by introducing sin and death into this world. We certainly have him to thank for world as we know it. But we are not without our own guilt, and the punishment that we deserve we have earned all on our own. Thankfully, God has reversed the curse of death for Adam's sin by sacrificing Jesus for our eternal life....

At various points in each of our lives, God gives us the opportunity and clarity to look to the past so that we can find hope for the future and purpose for our present. These words from the Apostle Paul give us that perspective of God's personal work of reconciliation through the blood and death of Jesus.

How could a 100-year-old man hope against all odds that he and his 90-year-old wife would have a baby? It wasn't their meticulous health regimen. It wasn't modern medicine or the power of positive thinking. It was the promise that God had made them. And it's the promises of God that still enable us to have hope even in the most hopeless situations.

In our second installment of "The Christian Faith, One Word at a Time," we go back in time to look at the ark of the covenant (yes, the same one featured in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark) and see why Paul compares Jesus to its lid. There's a special connection and its a much better way for God to address our sin that winks or tears or walks in the park...

In a world suffering from a global pandemic and racially charged protests, do we have time to talk about the Trinity? Absolutely we do! Because the Trinity is much more than a footnote in a theology textbook. Knowing the Father, Son and Spirit not only gives you the tools to survive a sin-filled world, but it is essential for your salvation.

How could Jesus stand idly by and watch as Stephen was stoned to death for believing in him? What kind of Good Shepherd lets his sheep get slaughtered? Another look at Acts 6 & 7 reveals that Jesus wasn't idle at all. He was still with and watching over his messenger - and giving him reasons for hope and confidence - even while horrible things were happening to him. Are horrible things happening t...

Hope can be a hard thing to come by these days, especially while some of the things that we've assumed to be automatic are put on hold - high school graduations, haircuts, hiking in provincial parks, etc... Listen to this week's sermon to hear how the resurrection restores hope to the hopeless and changes you who believe.

The first Palm Sunday worshipers said and did all the right things, but they were still so wrong. They only saw Jesus as a prophet from Galilee and maybe their future, glorious king, but certainly not their heaven-sent Savior from sin. In a world that still cries out, "Lord, save us!" and as we begin Holy Week, may we see Jesus for who he is and not for who we want him to be.

There's something about a global pandemic that makes a person painfully aware of their own mortality. What does that awareness mean for the meaning of this mortal life? Listen to this week's sermon based on Paul's letter to the Romans to find the hope that God gives you in the bodily resurrection from the dead.

How many times do you have to see an ad before you're interested? 3? 4? 7? How many times do you have to hear God's promises and purposes before you begin to understand? Sometimes it's like the words go in one ear and right out the other. But thankfully, our God is patient with us and continues to speak to us in his Word.

If God is all-powerful and truly cares about us, why would he allow something like coronavirus to happen? People have been asking similar questions for generations about Ebola, Swine Flu and SARS, about war and famine and natural disasters. Jesus' own disciples asked him the same question about a man born blind. Listen to this week's sermon to hear Jesus' explanation, and to learn what that means...

What qualifies a person (or a country) for greatness? Is it a skill they've carefully cultivated or a privilege they've enjoyed? Maybe a mixture of the two? God's Word tells us that greatness is a matter of grace. We have been blessed to be called his people and have received an unparalleled blessing through his Chosen People. Listen to this week's sermon to see how you are part of the Greatest Na...

It worked with Adam and Eve. Does it work on you? The devil implied that God was holding out on them, keeping them from enjoying certain pleasures and privileges with his restrictive commands. He'd like you to feel the same way. "God wants you to be happy, doesn't he?" "Why would he put [fill in the blank] in the world and put this desire in your heart if he doesn't want you to have it?" How will...

Have you ever been on holiday and wanted to stay there forever? Or maybe it's just a weekend away but you don't want to come back and face reality? The Apostle Peter felt more than a little bit of that on the Mount of Transfiguration as he witnessed Jesus in all his glory. He famously exclaimed, "It is good for us to be here!" And it was. But maybe not for the reasons that Peter had in mind...

Have you ever clashed with people of a different generation over music or politics or even the use of pronouns? It turns out that one person thinks should be "common sense" isn't so common after all. That's one of the big differences between the wisdom of this age and the wisdom of our God. God's wisdom isn't trendy. It doesn't fade over time. It endures and - what's truly mysterious and amazing -...

It's basic, but don't call it boring. It's simple, but far from simplistic. The cross of Christ is ubiquitous across Christianity, but it's also a topic that couldn't be exhausted by a lifetime of preaching or study. Listen to hear why Paul - the greatest missionary in the history of the world - resolved to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified.

What are the criteria for becoming a Christian? Do you have to be smart, funny, popular or powerful? Of course not! None of those things - or any other personality trait - qualifies us to be Christians. Only God's grace does. It's because of him that you are in Christ Jesus.