St. Paul's Howards Grove Podcast

June 30th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

He had lost everything – even the shirt off his back – and was sold into slavery. How could that possibly have turned out well? Yet the Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered. And under his management, so did everything in his master’s household. The circumstances we find ourselves in may lead us to ask how things could possibly turn out well. But the Lord has made us managers or stewards of all that he has entrusted to us: our time, our skills, our finances. He blesses us with far more than we deserve and has in store for us far more than we could have ever imagined. Today, we look to our gracious God to learn about “Stewardship that Surpasses Expectations”. Our sermon comes from 2 Corinthians 8.

June 23, 2024 Worship form St. Paul's Howards Grove Wi.

Whether it comes slowly or suddenly, each of us must face death. It is the wages of sin. When it strikes someone in our own family, it is devastating. The daughter of a synagogue leader was deathly sick, and he went to Jesus for help. Jesus told him not to be afraid; just believe. Jesus listened to his request. Jesus went with him. Jesus did more than he asked and certainly more than he deserved. He showed his deep compassion to rescue from death. He does the same for us. “Trust Jesus for Life.” Our sermon comes from Lamentations 3.

June 16th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

Last year many were concerned that there might not be enough rain for the crops. This year people have said there is too much rain. There is so much about farming that is out of our control. Yet things will still grow. That is how God designed it. Plants will grow and God will provide our daily bread. Today, Jesus teaches us that the same is true of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ powerful Word will bring growth within us, around us, and all over. For this we give thanks and continue to pray, that “God’s Kingdom Grows”. Our sermon today comes from Philippians 1.

June 9th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

He has been around since the beginning. The Bible describes him as a serpent, a lion, a dragon, a ruler. He is a powerful spirit that schemes to bring about desolation, deception and death throughout this world. The devil can do his worst. But it is not enough. The Lord promised to crush his head. Jesus came to tie him up. In Jesus, the victory is ours. “Satan is Bound to Lose.” Our sermon today comes from Revelation 20.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI - June 2nd, 2024

The Pharisees fed off of laws. They had set up hundreds of extra laws – many of them about the Sabbath – all thinking they could satisfy God by their own behavior. So, when Jesus’ hungry disciples picked some grain on the Sabbath, the Pharisees accused them of unlawful working. Jesus was fed up with this attitude of legalism, which Christians still serve up today. Trying to please God with the law alone is a recipe for self-righteousness or despair. By the law, God craves complete holiness and will toss away anything less. Today, Jesus teaches the true meaning of the Sabbath and says to “Give Legalism a Rest”. Our sermon comes from Deuteronomy 5.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI - May 26th, 2024

Just who is God? The highest heavens cannot contain him. His judgments are unsearchable and his paths beyond tracing out. Yet the Spirit, who was poured out on Pentecost and whose coming we celebrated last weekend, searches the deep things of God and makes known what God has freely given us. On this Trinity Sunday, we consider the One whom the Spirit leads us to trust. He is holy, and the whole earth is full of his glory. He is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who makes us heirs of glory. He brings us into his kingdom by water and the Spirit. Now and forever, "The Triune God Gives Us Life."

May 19th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

In the Easter season, we have heard Jesus promise his disciples over and over that he would send the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost, the wait was finally over. Like a powerful tidal wave, the Holy Spirit was poured out. He came to saturate Jerusalem with the message of the Savior. Jesus did and said so much that the apostle John would later surmise by the Spirit that the whole world would not have room for the books that could be written about Jesus’ words and works. As we celebrate the festival of Pentecost once again today, we have “The Holy Spirit Sent with Testimony”. Our sermon comes from Ezekiel 37.

May 12th 2024 St. Paul's worship

Now ascended to God’s right hand, Jesus is interceding for us. What does that sound like? Today we get to listen in as Jesus prays to the Father on our behalf. John recorded one of his prayers in chapter 17 of his Gospel. We live in a dangerous world that hates followers of Jesus and what they stand for. They murdered Stephen just as they put Jesus himself to death. So, Jesus prays that we would overcome the world, that we would be “Protected by God’s Powerful Name.” Our sermon comes from John 17.

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Mar. 5th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

This weekend thirteen young people are confirmed in the faith. Though Confirmation is not commanded in Scripture, the occasion serves several good purposes. It is a celebration of the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts and lives of these teens, giving them faith and knowledge and growth in the Scriptures. It is also a public profession of faith by these young men and women, who are saved by God’s grace in Christ alone. Confirmation is furthermore an acknowledgment that they are able to examine themselves and are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Communion. Finally, Confirmation includes a promise of the faithfulness Jesus calls for in Revelation 2:10 – Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Where else would we go? Jesus has the words of everlasting life. We are “Determined to Remain with the Lord”. Our sermon comes from John 6.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI - April 28th, 2024

There are over 21,000 acres of cranberry marshes in the state of Wisconsin - more than any other state by far. That's a lot of fruit! Jesus says that anyone connected to him will bear much fruit. He was talking about the good works produced by believers that are deliciously sweet to God in heaven. On this 5th Sunday of the Easter season, Jesus teaches us about our new lives connected to him: "Living Branches Bear Much Fruit."