Saints Peter and Paul Sermons

The text for this week is Mark 11:27-12:12. At this point in the narrative, Jesus is in Jerusalem. His eyes have been set. He was determined to get to this point. Now, he's here. He has gone right to the heart of Jewish power and authority - the temple in Jerusalem. And, while he is there, he faces many opponents who try to trick him, trap him, and plot to destroy them.  In this sermon, Pasto...

Jesus once revealed his full glory to His disciples. It was called "The Transfiguration." In this moment, the disciples saw what no man had ever seen, what not even Moses - who spoke to YHWH "as a friend" had seen. The same cloud, thunder, and lightning that descended upon Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19 descended once again - on Jesus. This is the kind of God we prefer. One who display...

In this sermon, Pastor Aaron contrasts the story of Herod beheading John the Baptist in John 6 vs. Jesus feeding the 5000. In these two stories which come consecutively in the book of Mark, we see Herod, the king of the Jews with a failing kingdom, and Jesus the true king of the Jews whose power and authority continues to grow.

We begin our Lent series on the Gospel of Mark. In this sermon, Pastot Aaron introduces us to the Gospel of Mark and preaches through chapter 1.

In Proverbs 8 we are given another "Creation Account" - but from a different angle. From the perspective of "Wisdom." "When he established the heavens, I was there...when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman" (Prov 8:27,29-30). Which means - God's wisdom is embedded into ALL CREATION. It's all around you! T...

In this final sermon of our Wise Guys sermon series, Pastor Aaron preaches about Stephen who the Bible records as the very first Christian martyr.  In Stephen's short ministry, the Bible describes Stephen as being "filled with Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3-6). When he argues on behalf of Christianity, it also says that "they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit wit...

As we go through this series, "Wise Guys" we want to make sure that you know it's not just the guys... not just the men... who have received wisdom from God. But, God has also given his wisdom to women in order to disperse to the world in unique ways.  In this sermon, Pastor Aaron walks through Proverbs 31 to help explain the context and what is being said to both men and women in t...

King Solomon is revered as the "wisest person of all time." Multiple books of wisdom in the Bible are attributed to him. God Himself said that "none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you." (1 Kings 3:12). And even Jesus referenced the great wisdom of Solomon while He walked the earth (Matthew 12 / Luke 11). So what was his secret? What had Solomon...

This week, our "wise guys" are two Biblical characters that you likely have not heard about. Their names are Heman and Ethan and they're listed in 1 Kings 4. They are also the authors of Psalm 88 and Psalm 89.  In this sermon, Pastor Aaron follows the words of Heman and Ethan as they express bold faith to God, but also an open honesty about the difficulty of their lives. Pastor Aaro...

We are all likely familiar with the story of the "Wise Men" at Christmas. Every year we hear songs like "We Three Kings" and see Nativity displays with finely dressed men bowing at the manger, presenting their gifts to Jesus. We laud these "wise men" for following the star and locating by their wisdom the Savior of the Nations. But what if I told you we got it wrong?...

In this final Advent sermon in our series based on Isaiah 40:1-11, Pastor Aaron preaches on Isaiah 40:9-11. In these words, God is calling out to his sinful, broken, exiled people to tell them what they are to become. When He rescues and redeems them, they will be heralds of good news to the world.  But, in this sermon, Pastor Aaron helps us to ask the question, "Why would God choose people l...

In Isaiah 40:6-7, the prophet voices a timeless lament: "The grass withers, the flower fades...surely the people are grass." It's true. Everything changes. Things fall apart. It's built into the wharp and woof of the universe. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics states that "Entropy" is the reality for the world around us. Yet, the prophet utters a divinely inspired word of...

In Isaiah 40:3-5, we hear Isaiah speak to the people of God encouraging them to prepare for the glory of God to return to the people in exile.  In this sermon, Pastor Aaron walks us through the Biblical concept of the "glory of God" and how it is the visible manifestation of God. This sermon encourages us to consider our own lives and our preparation for receiving the glory of God in Jes...

During Advent this year, Saints Peter & Paul is walking through Isaiah 40:1-11. This section of Isaiah has inspired several Advent hymns as it declares the promises of God to His people that salvation is coming! In this sermon, Pastor Kevin looks at the first 2 verses of Isaiah 40 that speak of "comfort." But, can we really experience true comfort when our lives are buried in so much...

This sermon is the conclusion to the study on Ruth. In chapter 4, we finally see Boaz redeem Ruth.  In this sermon, Pastor Aaron helps us to consider the reality that we are redeemed people as well.

Pastor Aaron preaches on Ruth chapter 3 where Ruth lays it all on the line at the feet of Boaz. This is the chapter where Ruth lets Boaz know her desires and she has to find out how he will respond. How does he respond? He makes a pledge that she (and Naomi) will be redeemed.

In chapter 2 we repeatedly hear Ruth called "The Moabite." The author's use of this title serves to heighten the tension for Ruth living in a foreign land. She's an outsider. She doesn't belong. There's no reason she should expect any grace or favor from the people she is living with (remember: the Moabites were ancient enemies of Israel!). Yet, God reveals His heart...

The story of Ruth begins as a tragedy. Grief upon grief befalls the family of Naomi (whose name means "pleasant, lovely")...until she changes her identity to Mara (which means "bitter"). It's as if the Hebrew author wants to drive a wedge into our hearts as we take in the incredible trauma of Naomi and her family. Naomi is restless. But in the midst of the tragedy and grie...

In this sermon, Pastor Aaron preaches about our core value "Multiply Disciple-Makers."  This core value is based in the Great Commission of Jesus as he sends us out into the world to make disciples who make disciples until the whole world hears of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  For resources Pastor Aaron mentions, check out www.copperluth.org/dande

In this sermon, Pastor Aaron preaches about our core value "Be Humbled Daily." Based on Matthew 18:1-6 and Philippians 2:1-10. 

This week's core value we're studying is Pursue Health. Pursuing health demonstrates a desire to live in the fullness of life God has promised. When things are not healthy, we find healing and restoration in Jesus and work towards healing and restoration in all aspects of health.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Kevin preaches on the core value of Saints Peter and Paul "Honor Relationships." God is our creating Father who desires a relationship with His creation. He has placed us in relationships with others to reflect His desires to the world. This includes relationships with family, friends, people in the church, and those who are far away from Christ.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Aaron preaches on the core value of Saints Peter and Paul "Love Life." God is a God of life. He is the creator of life, the sustainer of life, and the giver of eternal life. Therefore we love our lives, always advocate for life, and are life-givers.

This is the first sermon in a 7 week series on the Core Values of the family of God at Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Houghton, MI. These values are based in the Scriptures and in the very character of Christ himself.  The first value we're looking at in this sermon is "Treasure the Word."