Preacher Paul's Blogs

This Sunday, as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we will reflect on the expectations of the crowd as Jesus entered Jerusalem and how those expectations shaped what they believed God should do. Like them, we often carry our own assumptions about how God should act in our lives, and when those expectations are not met, we can feel confused or even disappointed. In this sermon, we will explore what it means to let go of our need to define God on our own terms and instead learn to trust God’s presence and work, even when it looks different than we imagined.  As you prepare for worship, consider this:  Where might you be expecting God to follow your plan?  And how might your faith grow if you trusted God beyond your expectations?

This Sunday we will look at Jesus’ words in John 12:20–26, where Jesus uses the simple image of a grain of wheat to teach a profound truth about the Christian life. Jesus reminds us that a grain must fall into the earth and die before it can bear fruit, and in the same way, we are called to loosen our grip on living only for ourselves. In a world that constantly tells us to look out for number one, Jesus invites us into a different way of living, a life centered on service, faith, and trust in what God is doing through us. Together we will reflect on what it means to follow Christ not just in belief, but in the way we live each day.  As you prepare for worship, consider this:  What parts of your life are you holding onto most tightly right now?  Where might God be inviting you to let go so that something new can grow?

This Sunday we continue our Lenten series, “I Give Up… I Quit,” by reflecting on something many of us quietly carry: grudges. In Romans 12:17–21, Paul challenges Christians to resist the natural urge to get even and instead respond to wrongdoing with goodness and grace. It is a difficult teaching because holding on to resentment can feel justified, even protective, yet Paul reminds us that vengeance belongs to God and that our calling is to live peaceably with others whenever possible. During worship we will consider how grudges shape our lives and relationships, and how letting them go can free us to live more fully into the love God calls us to practice.  As you prepare for Sunday, consider this:  Is there someone you are still holding a grudge against?  What might it look like to begin releasing that burden and trusting God with the outcome?

This Sunday we continue our Lenten series, “I Give Up… I Quit,” by letting go of one of the most exhausting habits in the Christian life: comparing ourselves to others. In 2 Corinthians 10:12–18, Paul reminds the church that measuring ourselves against one another is not wisdom, and that the only approval that ultimately matters is God’s. Some of us quietly believe we are not enough for God, while others are tempted to think we have things figured out better than most. Yet in Christ, the scorecard is torn up and we are invited to faithfulness, not competition.  As you read the passage this week, ask yourself:  Where am I most tempted to measure myself against someone else?  And what might change if I truly believed that Christ is enough?