Preacher Paul's Blogs

This Sunday, we will reflect on one of the most powerful stories of transformation in Scripture: Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6). Saul, once a fierce persecutor of the early church, was forever changed by a divine interruption that redirected his life for God's purpose. We will explore how God's grace still transforms lives today, not by ignoring our past, but by using it to shape who we are becoming. As we continue celebrating the Easter season, we will be reminded that God does not define us by who we were, but by who God calls us to be. As you prepare for Sunday, I invite you to reflect on this:  Where in your life might God be trying to interrupt your plans in order to transform you?  How might your past experiences become a blessing to others through God's grace?

Last Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection as a promise for all people. This week, we turn to Acts 5:27–32 and reflect on what it means to be witnesses of the resurrection. The apostles stood before the Sanhedrin, the same council that condemned Jesus, and boldly proclaimed that God raised Christ from the dead. They were not speaking out of pride or defiance. They spoke because they had experienced the risen Christ and were empowered by the Holy Spirit to share that truth. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. Our witness may not place us before a council, but it should shape our lives and conversations. Take time this week to ask yourself: Where is God calling me to speak with courage and compassion? How is the Holy Spirit helping me share the hope of the resurrection with those around me?

This Easter Sunday, we'll be exploring Acts 10:34-43, where Peter makes the revolutionary declaration: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality." In my sermon titled "A Resurrection Promise for All People," we'll examine how the resurrection of Jesus breaks down barriers and challenges our human divisions. Peter's encounter with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, becomes a powerful moment of realization that God's love transcends all boundaries in which we divide ourselves. The resurrection establishes a new kind of community where our differences do not separate us but find new meaning within God's greater plan of salvation for all humanity. As you prepare your hearts for Easter worship, I invite you to reflect on these questions:  Where in your own life have you placed limitations on God's love?  Have you ever had an experience like Peter's, where God challenged your assumptions about who belongs in God's family? 

As we prepare for Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, our focus this year turns from the familiar palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna” to something deeper: the Passion of Christ and the meaning we find through loss. Our scripture from Philippians 3:7–11 invites us to consider how even our most painful experiences can be transformed when we view them through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. The Apostle Paul, once so proud of his accomplishments, came to see them as nothing compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ. In the same way, our own grief and suffering can lead us into a more meaningful relationship with God when we allow Christ to meet us in the midst of them. This Sunday’s sermon, “Finding Meaning,”  will walk us through the final step of our Lenten journey: moving beyond acceptance into the discovery of meaning. As you reflect this week, consider these two questions: What have I lost that God might be redeeming in ways I don't yet see? How mi...

This Sunday, as we continue our Lenten series, an examination of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief, we will reflect on a vulnerable and powerful moment in Jesus’ life. In Luke 22:39-46, we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying in anguish and yet moving toward acceptance. When Jesus says, “Not my will but yours be done,” he shows us that acceptance is not about giving up or giving in. It is about opening ourselves to God's purposes, even when they are difficult to face. We live in a world that tells us to resist and control every situation. Yet in this moment, Jesus invites us to stop fighting what cannot be changed and to trust that God's strength will sustain us. As you prepare your heart this week, I encourage you to reflect on these questions:  Where in your life are you holding on too tightly?  How might God be inviting you to let go and embrace acceptance so you can live more fully in God's grace?