St. Paul's Howards Grove Podcast

March 10th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

Spring training is in full swing. Baseball fans enjoy watching their favorite teams and players. As people watch games from home, it doesn’t change how the players perform or affect the outcome of the game. They simply watch. Apart from anything we do, God loved the world and saves us and promises us life. This is how God gives us the save, the win, the trip home. This is faith. By the Holy Spirit, we simply fix the eyes of our heart on God’s promises in his Son: “Look to Jesus in Faith.” Our sermon today is from Ephesians 2.

Mar 6th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

Our Wednesday evening worship series this year is entitled “God on Trial”. As our society becomes increasingly secular, we Christians become more aware of the many ways that God and his people are judged. We will look at scenes from Jesus’ trial during Holy Week and find forgiveness for ourselves, love for our enemies, strength for our faith, and courage to testify to the truth. Tonight’s emphasis is on “Truth”. Our sermon tonight comes from John 18.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI - March 3rd, 2024

The Jews at Jesus’ time thought they had worship all figured out. Convenient currency exchange on-site – of course with a little surcharge. Animals available for sacrifice, bellowing and busy. A frenzy of activity was crowding out the fear of the LORD. So, Jesus went to work and whipped the foolishness out of them. In return he pointed to the wisdom of God: his body destroyed at the cross and rebuilt on the third day. Today, may Jesus exchange our foolishness for his death and resurrection, and so lead us to “Worship with Wisdom.” Our sermon comes from 1 Corinthians 1.

Feb. 25th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

We see pretty crosses all over as jewelry, in logos, and on decorations in homes. Yet the cross was actually an unsightly object. It was a symbol of torture, pain, and death. Jesus said that whoever wants to be his disciple must carry their own cross. This involves denying our sinful self and enduring whatever pain comes as we walk behind him. These crosses may come in the form of temptations, persecution, or loss. As we review the importance of Jesus’ own cross for our salvation this Lent, today we also learn how we are to “Follow Jesus Under the Cross.” Our sermon is from Romans 5.

Feb. 21st 2024 Lent 2 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

February 18th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

First things first. In the beginning, the devil’s temptations led to the fall into sin and death for all. He is at work tempting each of us already first thing every morning. Don’t bother listening to God. There isn't time for that today. Trusting God doesn’t make sense. Do whatever makes you feel good today. Serving others isn’t worth your time. Here on the first Sunday in Lent, we look at our Savior’s first task after his baptism: confronting the devil’s temptations. His victory is ours. “Jesus Conquers the Devil for Us”. Our sermon is based on Mark 1.

Ash Wednesday Feb 14th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. The liturgical color for Ash Wednesday is black, a color which calls to mind mourning, death, and dust. The wages of sin is death. From dust the first human was formed, and to dust we return because of sin. Some Christians even apply ashes to their body on this day as a solemn reminder of sin's wages. Although the overall tone of Ash Wednesday is one of mourning and repentance, Christians also approach the season of Lent by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. As followers of our crucified Savior, we are called to crucify the sinful flesh with its passions and desires. We seek to give up sin, not only during Lent but throughout the year, in thanks to the one who gave us everything in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our service theme: Now is the Time for Repentance. Our sermon is from Matthew 26.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI - Feb. 11th, 2024

For hundreds of years, Christians have observed the Transfiguration of our Lord at the end of the Epiphany season. What began with the light of a star ends with Jesus shining more brightly than the sun. At the Jordan River the Father approved of his Son and on the high mountain the Father announced his Son again. The glory revealed there made a lasting impression on Jesus’ disciples and it does on us as well. During dark and difficult days of self-denial and cross-carrying throughout this life, we draw assurance and hope from “The Transfiguration of our Lord”. Our sermon is from Mark 9.

Feb. 4th 2024 - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

Greetings St. Paul's Family and Friends, 

This weekend we see the Lord meet us...even in the most challenging of places. He meets us in our suffering, our hurts, and our low places. In spite of our attitudes and egos, he speaks to us and lifts us up with encouragement and promise. 

Come fly and walk and run... by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ God speaks to you!

Pastor Mueller

St. Paul's Worship Services, January 28 & 29, 2024

What gives a person authority so that others will truly listen to them? It could be experience, like a plumber who has honed his craft for 30 years. It could be excellence, like a talented basketball player who wins championships. It could also be intellect, like someone who has multiple PhDs in biology. In the season of Epiphany, we get out a microscope and take a close look at Jesus. Today, we see “Christ Revealed with Authority”. Our sermon today is from Mark 1.