St. Paul Lutheran Church, Amherst, Oh

06/07/2026

The Pray Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM. All who are interested in praying are welcome to join us. The next prayer session will be on June 11th at 1:00 PM. We will meet in the conference room on the 2nd floor. Please come join us.

06/07/2026

IN TODAY’S WORSHIP God who created the world, Jesus the Son given for the world, Holy Spirit ever present in the world, be with us in our worship that we may know the fullness of the Holy One. As God lives in Triune community, so may we live in communion with God and each other. Amen.

06/07/2026

The Scandalous Call
Devotional
Imagine the shock rippling through the crowd as Jesus approached Matthew's tax booth. Tax collectors were the ultimate outsiders - traitors who got rich by exploiting their own people for Rome. No respectable person would even speak to them, let alone a rabbi. Yet Jesus walked right up to this despised man and said two simple words: "Follow me." Matthew didn't audition for discipleship or prove his worthiness. He didn't even ask to join. Jesus saw him, called him, and transformed his entire life in an instant. This wasn't about Matthew's qualifications - it was about Jesus' grace. Sometimes we think we need to clean up our act before approaching God, but Jesus calls us exactly where we are. He doesn't wait for us to become worthy; He makes us worthy through His love. Your past mistakes, your current struggles, your reputation in the community - none of that disqualifies you from Jesus' call. Just as He saw something valuable in the despised tax collector, He sees immense worth in you.

Bible Verse
"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow me,' he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him." - Matthew 9:9
Reflection Question
What areas of your life do you feel make you "unworthy" of Jesus' call, and how might His grace be bigger than those concerns?

Quote
Matthew asked for nothing. Matthew didn't deserve to have Jesus pick him. Just the opposite. And Matthew didn't do anything to take credit for following Jesus. It was all Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for calling me not because I'm worthy, but because You are gracious. Help me respond to Your invitation with the same immediate faith that Matthew showed.

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06/07/2026

06/06/2026

The Trinity isn't about solving God's mystery—it's about deepening it! 🙌 Discover how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reveal life-changing truths about who God is and His incredible love for YOU.

06/06/2026

Never Alone: God's Constant Presence
Devotional
Have you ever felt completely alone? Perhaps in a crowded room where no one truly sees you, or in the quiet moments when life's burdens feel too heavy to bear. In those moments, it's easy to believe that no one understands what you're going through. Yet there is a profound truth that can transform our perspective: God is always with us. Not as a distant observer, but as an intimate companion who knows every detail of our lives. He sees our struggles, understands our pain, and remains steadfast by our side. God's presence isn't about surveillance—it's about relationship. He doesn't watch over us to catch us doing wrong; He stays close because His love for us is so immense that He cannot bear to be separated from us. This is the heart of our heavenly Father—a love so deep and so wide that it encompasses every moment of our lives. Today, whatever you're facing, remember that you are seen. You are known. And most importantly, you are never, ever alone. The God who created the universe is right beside you, not just observing your life but actively participating in it, offering His strength, wisdom, and comfort.

Bible Verse
"Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life do you feel most alone right now, and how might recognizing God's presence change your perspective on those situations?

Quote
"God is always with us. And he knows even when things in our life are in the toilet, nobody else may see, nobody else may know, nobody else may know what you've been through or understand how you feel. But God is always with you."
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise to always be with me. Help me to sense your presence today, especially in moments when I feel alone. Open my eyes to see you working in my life and give me the courage to trust that you are always by my side. Amen.

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06/05/2026

From Columbus to cancer research to dark energy - humans have always been driven to solve life's greatest mysteries! 🔍 What mystery captivates you most? The same curiosity that drives scientific discovery can deepen our faith journey.

06/05/2026

More Than Just Knowing About Jesus
Devotional
There's a crucial difference between knowing about someone and actually trusting them. You might know facts about a famous athlete, but that doesn't mean you'd trust them with your life savings. You might know information about a celebrity, but that doesn't mean you'd rely on them in a crisis. The same distinction applies to our relationship with Jesus. Many people know about Jesus - they know the stories, the teachings, maybe even some theology. But knowing about Jesus isn't the same as having faith in Jesus. As Luther discovered, "Faith isn't just knowing about Jesus. I mean, the devil knows more about Jesus than we ever will. But the devil doesn't trust in Jesus, doesn't have faith." The devil has perfect theological knowledge, but zero trust. Faith is putting your complete trust in Jesus - not in your own goodness, not in your religious activities, not in your ability to figure things out. It's transferring your confidence from yourself to Him. This kind of faith is active and alive. Luther said, "Faith is a living, busy, active thing that before it even asks what it should be doing, it's already doing it." When you truly trust Jesus, it naturally affects how you live, love, and serve others. But here's the beautiful part: this faith isn't something you have to manufacture or work up. It's a gift that God gives you as you encounter His love and grace. The more you understand what Jesus has done for you, the more natural it becomes to trust Him completely. Stop trusting in your own efforts to win God's approval. Stop relying on your feelings or your performance. Instead, put your full weight on Jesus and what He's already accomplished for you.

Bible Verse
"To the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." - Romans 3:23-24
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life are you still trying to trust in your own efforts rather than fully trusting in what Jesus has done for you?

Quote
Faith is putting your trust in Jesus. You don't trust yourself or anything you do to win God's approval. Stop trusting what you think, what you feel. Instead, trust Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, help me move beyond just knowing about You to truly trusting in You. Show me where I'm still relying on my own efforts, and give me the faith to rest completely in Your finished work.

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06/04/2026

There's so much more to God than what we see in nature! He's not just the Creator of mountains and sunsets - He's revealed Himself as a loving Father who wants relationship with you personally. Unlike distant deities, our God pursues us with love!

06/04/2026

Majesty and Grace United
Devotional
The Trinity teaches us something remarkable about God's character - He is both majestically powerful and graciously personal. As Father, He is the Creator of all things, sustaining the universe by His word. As Son, He is Jesus Christ who walked among us, died for us, and rose again to secure our eternal hope. As Holy Spirit, He lives within us, guiding and comforting us daily. This isn't three different gods, but one God existing in perfect unity, each person fully divine yet distinct in role. What's breathtaking is that this majestic God - who holds galaxies in His hands - knows your name, counts your tears, and calls you His beloved child. Because of Christ's sacrifice, you can approach the throne of the universe with confidence, knowing you're welcomed not as a stranger but as family. Today, let both aspects of God's nature encourage you: His majesty assures you that no problem is too big for Him to handle, and His grace promises that no sin is too great for Him to forgive.

Bible Verse
'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' - Matthew 28:19
Reflection Question
How does understanding both God's majesty and His personal love for you impact the way you approach Him in prayer and daily life?

Quote
Faith in the triune God acknowledges the majesty beyond measure and at the same time trust in a God whose grace is beyond compare.
Prayer
Almighty God, I'm humbled by Your majesty and overwhelmed by Your grace. Thank You for being both powerful enough to save me and loving enough to call me Your child.

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