Preacher Paul's Blogs

This Sunday, we continue our Lenten journey with a heavy but deeply meaningful passage: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46). Our message, “Depression,” explores how even Jesus experienced overwhelming sorrow and spiritual anguish. Far from being a sign of weakness or lack of faith, Jesus' grief shows us that emotional and spiritual darkness can be holy ground. He prayed honestly, persistently, and with trust, even when answers didn't come quickly. This sermon will not minimize the reality of clinical depression but will invite us to see how our faith walks beside our pain, never in denial of it. As you reflect this week, consider:  Where in your life have you experienced Gethsemane moments?  How might you allow yourself or someone you love to rest in the truth that even Jesus grieved deeply, and yet remained connected to God? _________________________________________________________________________________ As we continue our Lenten Journey examining the five ...

This Sunday, we'll continue our Lenten journey on the five stages of grief with a powerful message from Mark 7:24-30, exploring the encounter between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman. This remarkable story shows us what happens when desperation meets faith, as a mother from outside the Jewish community approaches Jesus seeking healing for her daughter. When faced with what appears to be rejection, she doesn't retreat but instead engages Jesus with clever persistence that ultimately results in her daughter's healing. This passage invites us to examine our own tendency to bargain with God during difficult times, and how God might transform our negotiations into deeper, more trusting relationships. As you prepare for worship this week, I invite you to reflect on these questions:  When have you found yourself bargaining with God during times of crisis or need?  How might your own desperation become an opportunity for deeper faith rather than just a transaction? Consider how ...

This Sunday, we'll continue our Lenten journey with part 2 of our series exploring the stages of grief as identified by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and reflected in Scripture. After examining denial last week, we now turn to anger as seen in Jesus' cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:15-19). We'll discover how Jesus' righteous anger wasn't a loss of control, but a purposeful response to corruption and misuse of sacred space. Kübler-Ross recognized anger as a natural part of processing loss, and in Jesus' actions, we see this emotion channeled toward restoration rather than destruction. As you prepare your hearts for worship, I invite you to reflect:  When have you experienced anger that ultimately led to positive change?  How might God be inviting you to transform your own anger into constructive action Let’s come together on Sunday, ready to explore how God might be calling us to transform our anger into a force for renewal.

This Sunday, we'll be exploring Matthew 16:21-23, where Jesus reveals to his disciples that he must suffer and die in Jerusalem. When Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes him, saying "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you," Jesus responds with the striking words, "Get behind me, Satan!" This powerful exchange reveals how we often practice spiritual denial, accepting only the parts of faith that comfort us while avoiding difficult truths. Through Peter's story, we'll examine how denial, whether in our faith or personal lives, may feel protective but ultimately prevents growth and transformation. As you prepare your hearts for worship, consider these questions:  What uncomfortable truths in your spiritual journey have you been avoiding?  When have you, like Peter, tried to direct God's path rather than following where God leads?  Remember that Lent invites us into honest self-examination, calling us to move beyond denial toward a deeper d...

Grieving Change and Loss -  A Lenten Journey to Resurrection Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and preparation, a time when we walk with Christ toward the cross and the hope of resurrection. This year, our Lenten journey acknowledges the reality of grief, recognizing that loss and change are inevitable parts of life. Drawing from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief, we find these experiences reflected in the stories of Scripture. Grief is not a straightforward process but a deeply human experience that can involve denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages, though not always sequential, are evident in the New Testament as Jesus' disciples, followers, and even Jesus navigate suffering, loss, and transformation. By engaging with these themes in Scripture, we open ourselves to God's presence in the midst of sorrow and the promise that grief is never the end of the story. Each week, we will explore a different stage of grief, conn...

This Wednesday, we'll gather for our Ash Wednesday service where we'll explore Psalm 51:10-12, focusing on David's heartfelt prayer for renewal and restoration. I'll be sharing how this ancient prayer speaks directly to our modern need for spiritual renewal and fresh starts. We'll explore how God offers us not just forgiveness, but complete spiritual transformation. Just as David sought more than mere behavioral modification, we too are invited to experience God's creative work in making us new from the inside out. As you prepare your hearts for this service and the beginning of our Lenten journey, I encourage you to consider:  What areas of your life feel most in need of God's renewing touch?  When you think about "the joy of salvation" that David mentions, what does that mean to you personally, and how might God be calling you to rediscover that joy during this season of Lent? I look forward to seeing everyone at 6:00 p.m.  Please plan to stay f...