Saints Peter And Paul Sermons

At the end of chapter 11, we see David as King - enjoying rest in his house after defeating the Israelites. But the Almighty God is living in a tent! David wants to pay God back for all the God has done for Him; David wants to build God a house. But God says: "No." Why? In this sermon, Pastor Kevin looks at this key text from 2 Samuel chapter 7, where instead of David building God a house, God builds David a "house." Through it all - we see God's heart, his radical grace, and how he operates on a different basis than the ways of the world.

"Pride cometh before the Fall." Many of us are familiar with this wise saying. It comes from the book of Proverbs (chapter 16), and applies to all sorts of situations: NFL football players boasting before losing the game; high school students trying to "fit in" with the cool kids before blundering in front of their class...even Old Testament Kings trying to mirror the kings of their surrounding culture - and ignoring the God who made them king along the way (that's Saul! Check out 1 Samuel 15). In this sermon, Pastor Kevin traces out the problem of Pride by looking at a different character from the book of 1 Samuel: Hannah. In her story we see not only the problem of pride, but it's product...as well as a path forward - to avoid feeling too low OR too puffed up about ourselves.

In the first part of chapter 11, we are introduced to David. At this point, Saul (the first king of Israel) had disobeyed God and therefore, God rejected him as king. God, therefore, told Samuel to go to the family of Jesse because one of Jesse's sons would be the next king of Israel. As Samuel, looks at the sons of Jesse, the oldest ones seem to be good, kingly material. However, God has to remind Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. This is when Samuel is introduced to David. David is described as "a man after God's own heart." In this sermon, Pastor Aaron walks us through what it means to be a "man after God's own heart" and how God wants our hearts to be aligned with His as well.

Chapter 9 of The Story covers the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. It is a reminder to us about the importance of following with our whole lives.

Chapter 8 of The Story covers the Book of Judges in the Bible. The Book of Judges tells us of a 4 phase cycle that the people of Israel go through over and over again for a few hundred years. It is a story not all that uncommon with our own understanding of world history as well. In this sermon, Pastor Aaron connects the dots for us between the Book of Judges, our current state as Americans, and the commemoration of All Saints Day.

The Holy Scriptures are rife with military imagery. But Jesus practiced nonviolence? (See Matthew 5:38-48). So what kind of battle are we dealing with? Paul said it well in Ephesians: "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against...the spiritual forces of evil." Our battle takes place in our minds - as our enemy, the Devil, seeks to deceive us into sin. In this week's sermon: Pastor Kevin looks at the keys Joshua used to gain victory in the Promised Land; so that we might gain victory in our own battles against the Devil.

In this week's sermon, based on chapter 6 of The Story, Pastor Aaron reminds us to pay attention to the signs of God. Most clearly, pay attention to the sign of the cross which is the reminder of Who God is and what He has already done for us through Jesus. Unlike the Israelites, who lost sight of God's Word, let us be people who love the Word of God and do everything we can do obey it. For God's Word is life!

Why do we bristle when we're told what to do? Why do we sometimes sabotage ourselves by not doing what we're told (even when we know it's probably good for us?). And knowing how we respond to being told what to do -- why did God give us the LAW? In this sermon, Pastor Kevin explores these questions by looking at Exodus 19:4-5. Moses has received the 10 Commandments from YHWH and the people have responded: "We will do everything the Lord has spoken." Of course, that isn't exactly what happens. Maybe the Israelites responded poorly to the LAW because they didn't understand God's reason for giving it... Maybe we fall into the same trap. By looking at these key verses from Exodus, Pastor Kevin hopes that we will see the LAW not primarily as a bunch of "have to's" - but as a bunch of "get to's".

In this week's sermon, we are introduced to Moses in chapter 4 of The Story. Moses is a man who is given an important task by God. Yet, Moses responds with an important question, "Who am I?" Who am I? That's one of those questions that not thought about carefully can lead people to moments of mental crisis. Moses finds solace in this question by asking God, "Who are you? Who are you God? What's your name?" And God responds. This is what we learn, without a knowledge of who God is, we will never truly understand who we are.

In the Sermon, Pastor Kevin explores the question that plagues many in the midst of their suffering: "Why?" Chapter 3 follows the story of Joseph. It's a story of suffering. And yet, in it, we learn one of the most important things we can know about God: How He works through our suffering.

In this sermon, based on chapter 2 of The Story, Pastor Aaron shares 3 stories one for each generation: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And, in each of the three stories, we see a similar theme, "God gives life to what seems dead."

The Bible begins with these five words, "In the beginning, God created." God is creator. It's how the Bible begins. It's how The Story begins. In this sermon on chapter 1 of the story, Pastor Aaron preaches about the significance that God is our Creator and we are His creation.

We are a people of stories. We read them to our little ones, we watch them ourselves. From action movies, to love stories, to fantasy, thriller, and historical documentary. When asked about our weekend - we don't list off our activities like data -- we tell a story. It's like stories are written into who we are. BUT WHY? Perhaps it's because we've been written into the Greatest Story Ever Told. The same God who created us, who authored life, also authored the Bible. It's a Story, all pointing to Jesus, that tells the Story of Everything. The whole world is drawn into this epic narrative, including you and me. In this sermon - Pastor Kevin introduces "The Story" - a 31 week journey through the Bible that Saints Peter & Paul will be walking through in the Fall 2021-Spring 2022 Ministry Season. Through this series we will Read the Story, Experience the Bible, and find our place in the Greatest Story Ever Told.

The story of Ezra & Nehemiah finishes in an unexpected way. All throughout these books - we've heard about all that God was restoring for His people: the temple; the people's spiritual foundations; the city walls of Jerusalem. But in chapter 13 - all of these accomplishments start to come undone. That's because this isn't a Hollywood story with a "happily ever after." This is Scripture. Documenting real events in the lives of real people. And that things don't work out perfectly -- well, that's more relatable than the stories we often hear. Yet, God shows us that even when we're undone - He's NOT done! Not with Nehemiah. Not with you or me. Listen as Pastor Kevin walks through this anticlimactic end to the story of "Rubble Restoration" in Jerusalem. And consider what God might be seeking to rebuild in your life.

In Nehemiah 8-12, the characters of our Story of "Rubble Restoration" UNITE. Ezra & Nehemiah join forces to tell "The Story" of God's activity in the lives of His people. But when the people hear it - they weep! Why? Because the "stories" they have been living have been devoid of God. They are confronted with their own guilt & shame for living their stories apart from God. However, they don't remain in this state. Through the teaching of Ezra & Nehemiah - the people's weeping turns to joy. God's Story does not leave the people forlorn and forsaken - but forgiven & RESTORED. In this sermon, Pastor Kevin challenges the hearers to consider their own "stories." How do you see yourself in your "story"; in your life? Are you the main character? Or is God? When we find ourselves placed into the larger story God has for us - we fill find our own brokenness, failures, and weeping turned into purpose, identity, and joy.

We turn the page into the book of Nehemiah today in our sermon series "Rubble Restoration: Rebuilding God's Way." Nehemiah was an important official (the cupbearer) serving the Persian King when he heard that the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem weren't going all that well. In particular, the city wall and the city gates had not yet been rebuilt after lying in rubble for the last 150 years. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to lead the wall-rebuilding effort. In this sermon, Pastor Aaron opens up the Scriptures to us by starting with Nehemiah and expanding to other places to see which kind of walls are purposeful in the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Aaron and Pastor Kevin join together for this sermon where they share the preaching on Ezra 9-10. This sermon was pre-recorded as both Pastors were out of town this day. In a unique way, they tell the story of these rather complicate words from Scripture. In the end, we hope you hear that Relationships Matter to God.

Ezra is finally on the scene! In Chapter 7 begins a new "section" of the Rubble Restoration story for the people of Israel. The 1st wave of Israelites have been back in Jerusalem for 80 years; the temple has been rebuilt; and there's a lot of positive movement for God's people. But there's one thing lacking in Jerusalem - spiritual leadership. The smallest group to return to Jerusalem were the priests & Levites - the spiritual guides of Israel. Their spiritual foundations need to be rebuilt. They need "one who can help." Luckily Ezra is on the way. In this sermon, Pastor Kevin traces the story of the 2nd wave of returned Exiles - led by Ezra. His name means "one who helps" - and Ezra comes to help rebuild the spirituality of Israel - by pointing to God's presence with the people. God is present in the lives of ALL his people. There are Ezra's among us with stories to share. Do you see God's presence at work in your life? Consider where He IS working -- for He is not far from any one of us!

In this week's sermon, we continue journeying with the returning exiles on their rubble restoration project. This week, in chapter 3, the returning exiles decide to first rebuild the central place of their worship - the altar. Once that is established, they can have regular worship with God. But, do you ever wonder, why is worship such a central part of our Christian experience? Why do we gather? What is the point? Pastor Aaron seeks to answer these questions for us in this sermon.

Pastor Kevin walks us into the Book of Ezra by introducing us to characters like Zerrubabel meaning "planted/born in Babylon." This sermon opens up your imagination to put yourself in the shoes of these Biblical characters living in the midst of this defining moment in history. As we journey through Ezra and Nehemiah, we will be looking forward to many things that God has in store for us. But, for us to truly understand where we are going, we need to understand where we've been. That's what Pastor Kevin does in this sermon. He reminds us of God's faithfulness to us. Just as he was faithful to his people (even during exile), he has been and will always be faithful to us!