09/05/21 Contemporary Service

St. Paul's Lutheran Church

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09/05/21 Contemporary Service

“What Good is it?” James 1-2

September 5, 2021 • Rev. Kenny Hsu

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We focus today on the words of James, which call us to an active faith that loves our neighbors. We are forced to ask ourselves: What good is a faith that bears no fruit of love and service to others? Such a question might make us worry about our salvation. Friends in Christ: do not fear; your living, saving faith in Christ will inevitably overflow with His good works. Christ powerfully works in us as we live out our daily vocations. Serve the Lord with gladness.

09/15/2024 Praise Service

September 15, 2024

AS WE GATHER In today’s Readings, James draws our attention to the tongue. Our tongues might be small but, like the rudder of a ship, the tongue is vitally important to us for staying on the right course. If the rudder is broken, the ship is adrift. If the tongue is filled with evil, so will the rest of our lives. But the tongue also boasts of great things, speaking God’s good word of forgiveness and life. Remember that Jesus has restored all things, including our tongues to no longer speak evil, but to speak His Word.

09/15/2024 Traditional Service

September 15, 2024

09/08/2024 Praise Service

September 8, 2024

AS WE GATHER Since the fall and expulsion from Eden, the consequences of sin have been quite evident. People do not have to be worse sinners than anyone else to become blind, deaf, lame, or mute. They need not sin more than other people to find themselves unfairly treated in court. How can those problems be reversed? It takes God’s power. The Gospel tells of how Jesus cast out demons and healed the deaf. He seeks to make such great reversals today! Through the letter to James, we, God’s faith-filled people, are encouraged to treat our neighbors as ourselves and do more than give them lip service. But the inability of the disciples to exorcize a demon is a startling reminder that all things are possible only for God, to whom we must entrust all our problems.