Pastor at the Beach Sermon Podcast

From Belief to Believing

Pastor Paul is back from COVID and in this week's message, he talks about what it looks like to move from belief to believing with our whole selves. Jesus' encounter with religious leaders sparks a series of parables intended to teach the leaders a thing or two about faith in God. What can we learn?
 
 
Music ”Ukulele Beach” provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

An Attitude of Gratitude (or just an attitude?)

GUEST PREACHER Pastor Karen Leedahl pinch hits for Pastor Paul this week (COVID, boo) and she delivers a grand slam of a message. The central question? Do you have an attitude of gratitude or just an attitude? Grab two index cards or small pieces of paper and something to write with so you can participate fully.
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

Forgiving and What God Does

Forgiving is hard work, but it is necessary work. The blessings we realize when we forgive others range from physical health to spiritual wholeness AND God does work in us in the process.
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

The Best of Ourselves

We want to be our best selves when others are watching, and when they aren't. In this week's message, Pastor Paul talks about what that means when we remember that Jesus promises to be with us, even in, especially when we are involved in conflicts or disagreements. How does it change our outlook and our words when we remember that?
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

Seeing the World Cross-Eyed

What does it mean to see the world through the cross? Well, for one thing it means to desire what God desires for all of us. In today's reading from Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him. But there's weight to that cross and we need to prepare for it. In today's message, Pastor Paul suggests an exercise routine.
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

Jesus IS Love! (and that’s great news for you!)

Pastor Paul's message from the beach this week is about who we say that Jesus is. Jesus is love. So why does that matter and what do we do with that knowledge? 
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

When We Cry Out

In this week's gospel reading we get two pretty big teachings. In the first part, Jesus talks about what makes for clean and unclean. In the second part, we find Jesus applying this standard as he heals the child of an outsider. God's mercy extends beyond our imagining, so we are right to cry out for mercy at any time.
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

What if I Fail?

What if I fail? Whether we say it out loud or just in our head, we all say it and we all hold onto that fear. Pastor Paul talks about fear and Jesus' way out. Jesus said to His disciples, "Do not be afraid" yet often we let ourselves fall into fear. There are lots of reasons, but in today's message Pastor Paul reminds us that just as Jesus reached out to save Peter in the midst of the storm, Jesus will reach out for us, too. 
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.

God Can Use That

What if we don’t think that what we bring to God is enough? In today’s message, Pastor Paul talks about what God can do because of compassion. God can use what we bring of ourselves to our faith. God can bless it and send us out to share God’s love.

In Jesus’ Name [and a day of firsts]

In this week's message, Pastor Paul begins anew, officially, as pastor at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Cocoa Beach, FL. The reading for the day is Jesus' teaching his disciples about heaven in an ongoing section about what it means to follow Jesus. Pastor Paul talks about this and about what the implications are for our lives when seeds are planted.
 
Music "Ukulele Beach" provided by YouTube with permission. Written by Doug Maxwell.