St. Paul Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Paul Lutheran Church
A vibrant faith community in Davenport, Iowa, St. Paul Lutheran Church runs a ministry that reaches across the country and outreach commitments that extend around the world.
Mark Niethammer preaches on the reign of Christ. When evil seems loudest, faithful followers show up together, bearing witness that evil will not prevail. The reign of Christ becomes visible when we gather, especially in challenging times, advocating for the voiceless and reminding ourselves that God is in control. Though our presence may feel small, it matters—because love, mercy, and forgiveness will ultimately rule the day.
Preaching text: Luke 23:26-27, 33-43
Katy Warren preaches on persistence. We all get stuck in patterns—making progress, then feeling like we're starting over. Never grow tired of doing good. We show up not just for ourselves, but for something larger. We give our time, abilities, money, and comfort for others—even people we'll never meet. At the heart of our faith is a simple call: take care of one another. Make sure everyone has what they need. Because everyone matters. Everyone counts. Everyone is part of the whole.
Preaching text: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Paul, Sylvanus, and Timothy close their letter to the Jesus community at Thessaloniki by addressing divisive interpretations of the end times through the everyday, familiar setting of the community's shared meal.
Preaching text: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on joy. Joy is found when we stop focusing on ourselves and instead concern ourselves with others. In these challenging times, we need a new narrative to guide our lives, and joy is part of the answer. Joy helps us see the world differently and look past ourselves to the needs of others. Generous people are full of joy.
Preaching text: John 21: 1-14
The final chapter of John's gospel demonstrates the power of forgiveness and renewal , as the same disciple who failed and fled in the face of Jesus' suffering and crucifixion gains the opportunity to respond more faithfully and receives the gifts and graces to extend the gospel throughout the community.
Preaching text: John 21:1-18
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on hope. We are heirs of God, receiving an incredible inheritance of hope and power - the immeasurable greatness of God's strength to love beyond measure, continue when weary, and do more than we can imagine. When we open ourselves to receive God's grace and power, even the most ordinary among us can do extraordinary things, knowing that love ultimately wins the day.
Preaching text: Ephesians 1:15-19, Luke 6:20-31
The physical setting of Jesus' "Sermon on the Plain" in Luke's gospel shows the radical character of the kingdom that Jesus announced and served, calling his followers well beyond the familiarity of the Golden Rule.
Preaching text: Luke 6:20-31
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Maddy Tyler preaches on mercy. Competition fosters growth and community but can damage relationships with others and God when it breeds contempt, perfectionism and harsh judgments. People cannot achieve perfection or draw closer to God through their own efforts alone, yet unrealistic expectations leave many feeling inadequate. Sin and death don't determine anyone's proximity to God.
Preaching text: Luke 18:9-14
Watch video mentioned in sermon: https://www.tiktok.com/@jgraves96/video/7560429923236662583
In the final parable of the central section of Luke's gospel, the theme of discipleship — what it means to live as God's people, which has shaped the central section since near the end of chapter 9 — is distilled into a memorable punchline.
Preaching text: Luke 18:9-14
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on stepping back to see the bigger picture. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by life's challenges. God provides hope and perspective when daily struggles threaten to consume us, if we try to remember to look beyond immediate obstacles and connect with God’s larger story of grace and purpose, even in the face of fear, debt, family pressures, and uncertainty. Coming together in community can help us see past adversity and trust in a journey that's bigger than ourselves.
Preaching text: Psalm 121
Katy Warren preaches on gratitude. Gratitude is fundamentally connected to faith and shapes our entire perspective on life. Each day presents a choice between negativity and thankfulness, recognizing life itself—every breath, every moment, every heartbeat is a gift. Gratitude is not just good manners but a restorative way of living that flows from trusting God and acknowledging that nothing we have is truly our own doing.
Preaching text: Luke 17:11-19
The seemingly unrealistic confidence of the psalmist finds a welcome and reassuring place in its placement within the Book of Psalms, as a person beset by deceit and war-mongering is invited to "come up" to the hill of God's temple under God's protection and blessing.
Preaching text: Psalms 121
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
With the story of Jesus healing ten men and having only one return to praise God and give thanks, Luke opens the third part of his gospel's Central Section, where the character of life as a follower of Jesus is developed. The theme of this third part is thankfulness for God's blessings.
Preaching text: Luke 17:11-19
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on action. Confidence and faith grow through taking action rather than waiting until we feel ready. We build faith by doing the hard things that intimidate us, not by waiting for certainty. True faith isn't about having all the answers in our minds—it's about trusting God through relationships and taking action now instead of postponing what we're called to do.
Preaching text: Luke 17:5-10
In a pair of brief, challenging sayings, Luke shows Jesus counseling caution to those who follow him. The character of faith and the kingdom life that we live in faith are just as subject to misunderstanding as the lures of the world.
Preaching text: Luke 17:5-10
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Maddy Tyler preaches on compassion. We all carry wounds—loss, broken relationships, devastating diagnoses—that leave us desperately seeking relief and wholeness. When we're consumed by our own pain, we often forget to help others who are suffering alongside us. But there's hope: God's compassion for us creates endless opportunities to extend that same compassion to others.
Preaching text: Luke 16:19-31
In a vivid parable of stunning reversals, Luke shows Jesus underscoring the centrality of two things: generous compassion toward our neighbors and God's teaching to biblical Israel as the place to learn it.
Preaching text: Luke 16:19-31
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on our gifts. You have been entrusted with gifts from God and carry the responsibility to use them wisely to bring compassion and peace into the world. While God remains gracious even when you fall short, you are called not to squander these treasures but to be a faithful steward of the life you've been given.
Preaching text: Luke 16:1-13
Luke uses an unexpected and challenging parable by Jesus to underscore one of the central themes of the gospel—the urgency of the choice we face to live by Kingdom values or by those of this worldly life.
Preaching text: Luke 16:1-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on counting. When life leaves us feeling lost—whether through our own mistakes, painful circumstances beyond our control, or overwhelming doubt and isolation—it's easy to believe we don't matter. No matter what messages the world sends about our worth, we are precious enough to be sought after and carried home with care and love. We also can remind others of their value of being God’s own.
Preaching text: Luke 15:1-10
In two Jesus parables about lost things that are found, Luke teaches the reason for the Jesus community to extend care and concern to those on the fringes of society.
Preaching text: Luke 15:1-10
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches about choices. Many daily decisions are clear — we know right from wrong. Others are harder to discern, falling into life's gray areas rather than absolutes. Choosing life isn't always obvious or easy. We all stand on one side of the river, looking toward an unknown future, called to choose life and care for creation and our neighbors.
Preaching text: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
The writer of Deuteronomy looks far back into Israel's past to portray Moses instructing the Israelites about life in the land. In the writer's own day, sitting in exile after losing the land, the offer of life and prosperity is a renewal of God's faithful promise, with a fresh invitation to bear witness to that grace.
Preaching text: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Maddy Tyler preaches on honor. What does honor look like in our modern world today? We're trapped by presumptions, snap judgments, and self-importance, constantly navigating assumptions. Jesus flips this: rather than worldly rankings, everyone sits at the highest place of honor—no one lower.
Preaching text: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Luke uses a communal banquet scene as the setting for Jesus to teach what true glory is, and how it differs from acclamation and success in simply human terms.
Preaching text: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on noticing. The goodness of God is all around us, waiting for us to notice. There is so much power in seeing and noticing God all around us. We can be consumed by so many distractions around us, that we miss what’s right in front of us. We are sometimes more concerned with the proper order of things that we forget to live with love and compassion as our first and crucial impulse.
Preaching text: Luke 13:10-17
In one of the dramatic episodes that Luke portrays of Jesus in a synagogue, we hear the core value of life affirmed and re-affirmed — affirmed from within Jewish life for all of God's people.
Preaching text: Luke 13:10-17
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on divisions. The world that God dreams of isn’t just going to happen. It’s going to take work on our part. It will force all of us to change and that will not be easy. Sometimes division comes from this change and is necessary for us to become more fully who God intends for us to be. For this world to heal and deep peace to flood in, truth has to be spoken to power and the divine love in each person must be lifted up.
Preaching text: Luke 12:49-56
Luke portrays the profound importance of understanding God's power over the worldly forces of death as a fire and division that splits communities and families. In Jesus' mouth, the words bring reassurance about God's ultimate power even over those divisions.
Preaching text: Luke 12:49-56
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter Pettit preaches on reframing. Without the larger context, we look at things only from what we know but there is a bigger frame. Greatness in God’s frame doesn’t mean we become God, it doesn’t mean we have all the answers or have to make it happen by ourselves. Greatness in God’s frame means living with the godly virtues right where it is that God has led you. Seeing in a larger frame is seeing in faith.
Preaching text: Genesis 15:1-6
With a look back to the earliest ancestors of the people of Israel, Genesis tells a story that reorients a desperate community from their difficult situation to a source of hope and promise that is far beyond what the threats in their lives can reach.
Preaching text: Genesis 15:1-6
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on looking outward toward others. Our desire for more is often a need to fill a hole we have in ourselves. When we focus on only ourselves, we live lives which are isolated and insular. It is not our things which bring us contentment. A ‘toward’ life, turning outward toward others, protects us from this insular living which isolates us.
Preaching text: Luke 12:13-21
A dramatic encounter leads to a parable with a dramatic confrontation in this story from Luke. Together, they can help us understand what we might do with any parable.
Preaching text: Luke 12:13-21
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on prayer. Many of us desire to have a rich prayer life but are wondering what to pray, how to pray, wondering if we’re doing it right or if anyone is listening to the words we’re saying. If your prayers feel unanswered or the thought of even figuring out what to pray for feels daunting, it doesn’t mean you’re not a faithful person. We don’t just speak the words, we live them.
Preaching text: Luke 11:1-10
Luke frames the familiar prayer that Jesus taught in particular ways to encourage a community living through difficult times with the promise that God's gift of the spirit is certain, is present, and is the daily nourishment and forgiveness needed for kingdom life today.
Preaching text: Luke 11:1-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on distractions. In today’s world, distractions are constant and often unavoidable. But how often do they keep us from doing what truly matters? We're called to choose what’s better in each moment—to be fully present, attentive to the joys, sorrows, and needs of those around us. It’s easy to tune people out, to let lesser things consume our time, and to miss the opportunity to truly connect with others. One of the greatest distractions is believing that God’s word is for others, but not for us personally.
Preaching texts: Luke 10:38-42
In an exchange between Jesus and a familiar friend named Martha, Luke addresses a key question of discipleship and the many needs out of which the world calls to gospel ministers.
Preaching text: Luke 10:38-42
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on roots during his final weekend as pastor in residency. These days, it feels like the foundation of our lives is hanging on by a thread. Safety and security often feel far away. Our gift is our life in Christ and it is eternal. We are firmly and deeply rooted in God.
Preaching text: Colossians 2:6-10
The author of Colossians confronts a perennial question of faith, offering people of every era a clear standard for knowing whom and what to follow in a faithful life.
Preaching text: Colossians 2:6-10
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Maddy Tyler preaches on being shaped by others. Putting yourself out there takes a lot of courage, vulnerability, and faith. We are the sum of all the people we get to meet in our lives and we are changed by all of those people. Big or small, good or bad. We are always in this cycle of receiving. A routine of someone else’s becomes more than a routine, it becomes a memory of that person. What does it mean to be shaped by those who comes into our lives?
Preaching text: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Mac Mullins preaches on drawing boundaries. When two deeply held priorities clash, we must decide which matters more—ours or God's. God's priorities, rooted in selfless love, always take precedence. Following God requires courage and the willingness to let go of everything else. Not everyone is ready for the boundaries of love God draws.
Preaching text: Luke 9:51-62
Luke tells of Jesus sending out 72 people "to every place where he himself intended to go"; through this story, we learn how we all can pave the way for Jesus to arrive in any home, town, or heart.
Preaching text: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
John, the gospel writer, sets two scenes in mirror relation to one another to demonstrate the power of forgiveness for reconciliation and to underscore the kind of leadership to which Jesus calls those who love him.
Preaching text: John 21:15-19
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on healing. What unites us as people is far more significant than what pulls us apart from each other, but it can be difficult to live that out on a daily basis. We all know what it feels like to have something broken inside of us. It can keep us from the things and people we love. The grace of God is what helps bring us back to center.
Preaching text: Luke 8:26-39
As God shows that Jesus wields the most effective power of all, Luke tells the story in such a way that the power creates reassurance rather than fear, and hope rather than terror.
Preaching text: Luke 8:26-39
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on assumptions. Every person you meet has their own unique, multi-faceted story. One detail of someone’s life shouldn’t define all of who they are. Embrace the willingness to ask questions, look beyond first impressions or initial impulses to see the real human being in front of you. No one wins when we diminish another person to the simple idea of who we think they are. Be curious, not judgmental.
Watch full video here: The Danger of a Single Story
Preaching text: Luke 7:36-50
As part of Jesus' last word to the disciples, John responds to the challenge of an enduring Word of God in a changing world. The promise of the Spirit of Truth assures the Jesus community that the Word that God spoke to Israel and the disciples knew in Jesus continues to be the Word they hear in their own time and place.
Preaching text: John 16:12-15
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the Holy Spirit as wind. The Greek word for spirit is ‘pneuma.’ Pneuma has multiple meanings including wind, breath, and spirit. Wind is both strong and gentle, a soothing whisper and a powerful storm. We can never see the wind but we can see the way it moves things like sailboats. Our task as people of faith is to raise our sails and align them so we can be taken by the wind. We can open our lives to be moved by the Holy Spirit.
Preaching text: Acts 2:1-13
Mark Niethammer preaches on human annoyances. A faithful life is possible even in the messiness of our days. When we embrace the love of God, that love brings us into the lives of others, into community, and then spreads, changing everyone in its wake. We all have moments of annoyance, but prayer and reflection might help us decipher what God is up to in that moment. Sometimes, taking a moment to pray can free someone from their chains, and sometimes, it can free you from yours.
Preaching text: Acts 16:16-34
With dramatic flair and deep biblical echoes, the gospel writer Luke opens the story of the Book of Acts as one that will bring to all people the power of life over death that biblical Israel and Jews already knew in the mighty acts of God.
Preaching text: Acts 2:1-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
John closes the account of Jesus' public ministry with the final words of Jesus' prayer for the disciples, that God will hold them together against every divisive and polarizing claim, to offer to all people what God has sent Jesus to bring—the light in a dark world that Israel has been and Jesus has embodied.
Preaching text: John 17:20-26
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on God's grace. Our lives are like the water of a watershed, which eventually flows toward a big river. All creation will be pulled by the gravity of grace into the goodness, care, and the ultimate joy of life with God. All of our lives flow back into God’s care. Even if we can’t see the river of life which flows through our lives now, we can trust that God’s grace is still there pulling us.
Preaching text: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
The Book of Revelation presents a soaring vision of the city of God to which all nations turn for praise and healing, with a surprising twist regarding when and where that vision comes into reality.
Preaching text: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on love. Often, we think there is only so much love to share, but love is not a limited resource. There is more than enough to go around. In all areas of our lives, we have new opportunities to love more. Love doesn’t get used up; it grows if we allow it. We love without conditions or stipulations. To love as Jesus loves us, we should support, encourage, and provide for others, even those we don’t know well, in whatever way we can.
Preaching text: John 13:31-35
Luke's reassurance to the community reading Acts that they are indeed included in the life-giving work of God's spirit becomes for us, as readers of Acts, an encouragement to look for the surprising places where God's Spirit might be at work today.
Preaching text: Acts 11:1-18
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on trust. The words of Psalm 23 provide comfort, but the psalm doesn’t just talk about a comfortable kind of love from God. Human life is full of challenges and battles, grief and sorrow. Our faith gives us what we need to navigate those difficult times with courage and hope. God’s love and mercy follow us every minute of every day, through every happy time and during the difficult ones.
Preaching text: Psalm 23
Set at the Jewish Festival of Renewal, John's story about Jesus shows that God renews the promise of life for all people over and over again, in different times and places and ways, yet all life — and eternal life — comes from God.
Preaching text: John 10:22-30
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on connection. We belong to each other, for better or for worse. There’s more to faith than our personal perspective, there’s a great community surrounding each of us. It’s easier to judge, to hate, to persecute someone from a distance but it’s much harder to do those things when you look someone in the eye and recognize their humanity. Be the people who are unafraid to move close.
Preaching text: Acts 9:1-20
Maddy Tyler preaches on the resurrection. In our days of grief and despair, when we’ve lost ourselves, Jesus meets us where we are. He meets us at the foot of our own burdens and grief. There isn’t any barrier or locked door that keeps Christ away. When we lose faith in each other or in ourselves, Jesus will always cross through the barriers and meet us.
Preaching text: John 20:19-31
Bridging the life of Jesus and the life of his own church community, John uses powerful symbolism and narrative to announce that the life abundant that Jesus promised will be realized in a community embracing all people with leadership that is devoted to Jesus and to servanthood.
Preaching text: John 21:1-19
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
A double appearance by Jesus in the original ending of John's gospel offers a double blessing to all who follow the risen Master. John has been introducing us to Thomas all along as the pragmatic one, the realistic one, the one just like us (of like Eeyore, as one John scholar says), and here the picture comes to its fullness not in a doubting Thomas but, in fact, in a believing Thomas.
Preaching text: John 20:19-31
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on Easter Sunday. Somedays, everything feels like it’s going wrong and everywhere you turn there is bad news. When we’re surrounded by the bad of the world, we get angrier, turn in on ourselves, and stew in our own misery. Remember what Jesus said throughout his life and take those things into your tomorrows. Love others, give generously, forgive. You can be the good news for someone else.
Preaching text: Luke 24:1-12
Happy Easter, podcast listeners! A particularly amazing thing happens in today’s episode. Little Bird’s best friend Jesus died just three days ago and while she and a few of Jesus’ other friends are getting ready for his burial, some special visitors bring surprising news.
Amidst a bevy of details that make the whole story seem questionable, Luke sets the one question that proclaims the Easter gospel from the heart of an empty tomb: Why do you seek the living among the dead? Why, indeed — then, now, or ever.
Preaching text: Luke 24:1-12
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Jesus' steadfast love. Jesus' saving work was to bring freedom and hope not just for the people in his own time and place but for all creation of every time and place. Our songs of praise are joined with those who came before us and those who will come after us. We don’t have to carry the weight of the world; it’s not all up to us, because we already have a savior.
Preaching text: Luke 19:28-40
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Today’s episode is a sad one. There are some scary and hard things, but there is also lots of good and love. Our story begins on the same evening as the Last Supper. When Jesus is arrested and put on trial, Little Bird and the disciples are scared and don’t know quite what to do. But Jesus is ready to show the world just how big God’s love for this world is.
Mark Niethammer preaches on new life. When Jesus shows up, incredible things happen. When we are at our worst, lowest, and loneliest, we need to look no further than the story of Lazarus. He reminds all of us what Jesus can do and what Jesus does. Jesus gives us a life where we know we are loved and cared for even at our worst. There is love and joy, there is peace and forgiveness for all. That you are held in the embrace of a God who gives you a new and fresh beginning every day.
Preaching text: John 12:1-8
Luke orchestrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem with every mark of the pomp and circumstance that is appropriate to the story he is telling. The prophets, tradition, and creation itself hail the moment when God proves faithful to promises that will bring redemption.
Preaching text: Luke 19:28-40
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
In this week’s episode, Little Bird shares a very special meal with Jesus and the disciples. And before that meal, Jesus does something a little different but extra special for his friends to show his love and care for them.
John in his gospel pairs two moments to show the incredible value of Jesus' death for his community and for the world as that death draws near. Though this good news has been tragically misused in slander and violence against Jews for centuries, a fresh reading wafts new beauty into our awareness and our communities.
Preaching text: John 12:1-8
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on God’s grace. We put together complicated analytics about those around us and for ourselves. Balancing out honesty, speed of humor, average amounts of shared activities, or political viewpoints, or even taste in music. If people fail to live up to these standards, we turn away from them. We are quick to remember the statistics of good and bad, but God doesn’t care about statistics. God doesn’t keep score. There is amazing grace for all of us.
Preaching text: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
For the next few weeks, revisit some favorite Little Bird Easter episodes!
On today's episode, Little Bird adds another new friend to the story. This time, it's a donkey! Little Bird, Jesus, and their new donkey friend are part of a palm parade in Jerusalem.
Keeping the focus on the central character of a very familiar story is key to hearing the gospel in this parable, in which Jesus teaches that the God of Israel is the author and champion of life in every way that it wins out over death, with enough to go around for everyone.
Preaching text: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on repentance. Human beings have a knack for dividing things, including one another. When we begin to internalize and believe in these divisions as the primary story of our lives and the life of the world, we begin to see each other as divided, as separate, as less than, as our enemies. We fail to look at our own lives and our own sin when we’re focused on others’ actions. We all sin and all fall short and are all equally deserving of God’s love.
Preaching text: Luke 13:1-9
With dramatic urgency in a story about Jesus, Luke underscores the urgency of our response to God's invitation to be part of God's people, lest we lose out on even another minute of the life God wants for us.
Preaching text: Luke 13:1-9
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on trust. We place our trust in many things every day. Faith and trust are words that are sometimes used interchangeably. Faith seems to have an extra element to it. You place your faith in those you grow to know and form a relationship with at other times. When you have a connection, a bond, or a commitment to one another, there is an ability to live in faith with one another. Trust is never entirely logical; faith never really makes sense.
Preaching text: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Today’s episode is about trust. Jesus asks the disciples to trust him and to trust in God’s plan, even if they don’t quite understand it. Sometimes tough things happen in life but trust in God and stick with each other. We don’t have to do it alone.
Mark Niethammer preaches on discerning the truth. Our lives and world are full of people, philosophies, advertising, and social media all trying to convince us of various lies. As Christians, we stand up to the lies that try to convince us that God made something that’s worth less. We must call out lies for what they are in a world where discerning truth from fabrication is becoming more difficult.
Preaching text: Luke 4: 1-13
Midway through Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and Calvary, Luke again shows him tempted to turn aside from God's will and promise, and again Jesus claims the heritage of the prophets of biblical Israel to press on with confidence in the path on which God leads him.
Preaching text: Luke 13:31-35
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Today, Jesus heads out to the wilderness alone and Little Bird is very worried about him. So worried that she takes off to find him. A lizard helps her find her friend, but he is not alone in the wilderness. Who is that sitting with Jesus? Little Bird doesn’t have a very good feeling about this.
Mac Mullins preaches on transformation. Our light, God’s light within us, shines through the abundance of how we live; living with patience, humility, and limitless generosity. When we begin seeing, reacting, and envisioning ourselves and others through God’s eyes, our minds and lives are formed into Jesus's shape. We see ourselves as worth beyond our actions, thoughts, and deeds. We have our own transfiguration each and every moment of our lives.
Preaching text: Luke 9: 28-36
As Jesus steps away from his baptism with the gift of the Holy Spirit, Luke shows him immediately tempted to use for his own purposes and power the gracious and powerful relationship God has created with him and aligns the resistance to temptation with biblical Israel's own staunch calls to faithfulness.
Preaching text: Luke 4:1-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Today, Little Bird, Jesus, and some of the disciples take a small little hike up a mountain. Once on the mountaintop, Little Bird and the disciples are in for a big, sparkly surprise!
A key turning point in Luke's' gospel marks a key turning point in the church year, as the changing of Jesus' face on a mountaintop marks the beginning of his journey to Jerusalem, cross, and resurrection and our journey through Lent to Holy Week and Easter.
Preaching text: Luke 9:28-36
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on mercy. God forgives us and welcomes up back over and over again, not just for our sake, but so that this mercy will trickle down through our lives and through the ways we live in the world. When we are at our worst, when we have really messed up, God sees us for who we really are and who we could become. Mercy is an act of divine imagination. It dares to imagine that we are more than we are right now and the only thing that can bring about this transformation in us is love.
Preaching text: Luke 6: 27-38
Jesus, Little Bird, and his friends, the disciples, get a little silly today. Jesus plays a little game to get the disciples to guess what he is and soon, they’re all part of the game!
In Luke's account of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain, he reminds the reader that we always have control over our posture in response to abuse and injury and that God's own dignified posture of love remains the one meaningful model we have.
Preaching text: Luke 6:27-36
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on the blessings of God. We have every opportunity to forget our faith and take for granted the things we have. If the things we have to fall back on (money, food, comfort) are gone, do we have the faith to acknowledge the things that matter? If we can’t see the blessings of God in all circumstances and others, that’s when we become lost to God.
Preaching text: Luke 6: 17-26
Hi podcast friends! Do you ever feel afraid or alone? Of course, you do. We all do at times. A Little Bird told us that today’s episode helps remind us that with the Holy Spirit we are never alone. Because the Holy Spirit is a parakeet…no wait…that can’t be right… Listen to today’s episode to find out!
In the first major speech by Jesus in Luke's gospel, the focus of life as God's people is on those who understand themselves to be in need — of God's kingdom, God's nourishment, and God's gift of joy. That can be any of us, and those are the people on whom we also are called to be focused.
Preaching text: Luke 6:17-26
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on continuing. Even those of us who live with great depths of faith in our lives experience uncertainties about the future, emotional fatigue, and overwhelm. When God asks us to do things of great purpose and meaning, God rarely calls us to do something we can do all on our own. God asks us to be instruments of transformation and to bring joy, grace, and hope wherever it’s needed. It would be impossible for us to do any of that on our own. This work requires others.
Read Maya Angelou's full poem 'Continue' here.
Preaching text: Luke 5: 1-11
Today’s episode has it all. Disciples and their silly jokes. Jesus shares an important teaching. AND everyone’s favorite Tiny Mouse. Oh boy. Tiny Mouse gets himself in quite a predicament and must make a big choice. We promise…it’s a really grape episode.
A new sound effects list will be emailed out later this week. Send a quick message to jessica@stpaulqc.org if you'd like to be included in the email!
Mac Mullins preaches on God’s vision. The promise of God’s love is already ours. It’s not a future reality for us. It is alive here and it is alive now. The very reason most of us worship is to once again hear God’s promise that we will be freed. God’s grace gives us a courage, strength, and love we can’t find anywhere else. We have been redeemed by God.
Listen to last week’s sermon.
Preaching text: Luke 4: 21-30
Introducing Simon Peter as the first disciple that Jesus calls, Luke makes clear some of what discipleship will be about.
Preaching text: Luke 5:1-11
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
In today’s story we see that none of us, not even Jesus, can do it all alone. Jesus needs the help of his friends, the disciples, to help spread the word of God – even Little Bird gets in on the adventure!
It’s about time for another sound effects list to be sent out. Are you on the mailing list yet? Just like today’s story, none of us can do it alone and Little Bird and Jesus greatly benefit from the help of all of you!
Mark Niethammer preaches on lifting each other up. In healing times, it is always better when there is accompaniment. Sometimes all we need is a little support to grow and heal, and our lives can be changed forever. Jesus calls all of us to live in and be a part of a community of care and support for each other. When one of us needs support, we give it. The healing and creative power of God lives and it lives in you.
Preaching text: Luke 4: 14-21
On today’s episode, the disciples get a little competitive, wanting to know which one is the best disciple. Jesus shares some good wisdom with them, letting them know that being the best isn’t the most important thing.
Describing Jesus as he offers the hometown crowd in Nazareth the victory cry of God's defeat of oppression and the deadening forces of the world, Luke also reminds them and his readers that God's victory is God's to offer, not ours to claim.
Preaching text: Luke 4:21-30
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
As Luke opens the story of Jesus' public activity, he offers a summary scene of all that is to come. The work of the Spirit, grounded in Israel, and alive with creativity in Jesus' own day will be the theme of Luke's whole account through the gospel and the book of Acts.
Preaching text: Luke 4:14-21
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on the magic of faith. Jesus works among and with us. Everyone has a part in God’s work, a role to play in some way. God doesn’t accomplish miraculous work alone. God works in, among, and through us. We can use our gifts or our passions to serve the needs of those around us.
Preaching text: John 2: 1-11
Jesus is still a baby when he, Mary, Joseph, and Little Bird must flee to Egypt because of mean King Herod. Along the way, they seek help from a kind baker who keeps them safe.
There’s still time to get on the Little Bird sound effects list. If you, a friend, family members, anyone would like to submit sound effects for Little Bird to use, email jessica@sptaulqc.org and receive the monthly sound effects list.
In the first story of John's gospel after setting the stage for Jesus' ministry, the gospel writer signals key aspects of what the gospel will reveal regarding Jesus as God's only-begotten son, Word made flesh, and savior of the world.
Preaching text: John 2:1-11
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on identity. We are defined by the life of Jesus, the life lived out for us, dedicated to restoring God’s peace to a broken, wounded, and lonely humanity. What Jesus’ baptism, and our own, lay out for us is a new way of being and living. Not a life trying to live up to unreasonable expectations, to please others, to be popular. Our new life begins and is rooted in the fact that we are already and have always been loved. You are a child of God, wholly and dearly loved.
Preaching text: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Podcast friends! We've missed you and we're so glad to be back. Today's story is from season 2 and features a miracle at a wedding banquet. So snuggle on in for today's episode!
In the story of Jesus's baptism, Luke shows the key actor in the whole gospel story to be the Holy Spirit, now carried by Jesus and empowering God's realm with grace and servanthood.
Preaching text: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the deep love of God. God loved us and this world so deeply that God chose to live among us. God put on our vulnerability, the weight of tears and laughter, pain and joy, and the suffering and delight of being human. Jesus embodies God’s word, showing us what compassion, care, forgiveness, justice, and hope look and feel like.
Preaching text: John 1: 1-18
Happy New Year! This week, we find Little Bird just where we left off - the stable in Bethlehem. On this day, some astounding new visitors arrive, bringing with them one of the strangest creatures Little Bird has ever seen!
With majestic, poetic language, John the gospel writer brings the hearer into the dramatic scene of cosmic creation, in which all life, death, resurrection, and people are held together by the God of Israel, whom all people can come to understand through John's story of Jesus.
Preaching text: John 1:1-18
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on resolutions. Our resolution for the new year, and the rest of our lives, is to be transformed and to live a certain way. God does not want perfect people, God’s resolution is for all of us. Try compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness of each other. This is the path for a character transformation. God’s desire for us becomes our desire for God. That’s what leads to a life of transforming salvation.
Preaching text: Colossians 3:12-17
Announcing that God in Christ has interrupted creation's life once again, the question arises again for God's people: how, then, shall we live? A surprising answer awaits those who share in a cosmic victory through Jesus.
Preaching text: Colossians 3:12-17
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on the St. Paul podcast's special Christmas Eve edition. Once the holidays are over, the conflict and chaos of the world seem to drown out the peace of those special days. This time together is a deep breath for all of us. It’s a beautiful and needed interruption. Today, we have an opportunity to remember who we are and whose we are.
Preaching text: Luke 2: 1-20
Last week's episode ended with Little Bird waking up to a most peculiar sound. What could that sound have possibly been? This week, Little Bird meets a very small new friend.
Katy Warren preaches on togetherness. We can be together, at work or the grocery store, surrounded by others, and still feel completely alone. This emotional loneliness is something most of us experience at some point in our lives. We can’t do it alone; we belong to God and each other. The love of God connects us, no matter how different our circumstances might be. Being part of a community of faith means we hold each other up, help each other search for meaning and purpose, and walk alongside each other through all seasons of life.
Preaching text: Luke 1:39-55
The mystery of God's love for Israel and for the world is shouted and sung by Elizabeth and Mary, the first in Luke's long line of witnesses to God's power in Jesus for life that confronts and overcomes the deadening powers of the world.
Preaching text: Luke 1:39-55
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on caring for others. So often, the word repentance is thought of as beating ourselves up for all the wrong we’ve done, feeling guilty and burdened by all our messed-up things. Repentance is about turning back to God. It’s getting back on track when we’ve lost our way, letting go of what keeps us from God’s way of love, and bringing more beauty into this world. But how do we go about this?
Preaching text: Luke 3:7-18
This week, Little Bird is off on her longest journey yet, flapping her little wings all the way to Bethlehem. Little Bird, Mary, and Joseph find comfort and support in a very unlikely place.
John the Baptist was sent to prepare a people for God, and here Luke shows what that preparation is. Within our reach, not impossible, it is indeed an announcement of good news, preparing us for the one who brings the Holy Spirit and power over the world's deadening forces.
Preaching text: Luke 3:7-18
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Pastor Mark Niethammer preaches on making room. Whether we’re filling our calendars or making time, there is always room for the ones we love. Our calling is to realize that in our world, in our society, God is already here. We need to prepare ourselves to receive the gift that has already been given and to make room in our hearts for Christ to be present. Preparing the way is not seizing control of anything, it’s acknowledging who we are and making room for more.
Preaching text: Luke 3: 1-6
If you tuned in last week, you heard the story about Mary and Elizabeth. This week’s story takes place just after that one! Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah is being awfully quiet, but why? We also find out what Elizabeth and Zechariah name their baby.
We’d love for you to share the meaning of your names with us! Send your responses to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
With historical and cultural detail and a reference to the prophet Isaiah, Luke introduces John the Baptist as the herald of a God who acts in continuity with the life of biblical Israel to touch history and the world through the person of Jesus, bringing a forgiveness that saves people from all the extremes to which life and sin might take them.
Preaching text: Luke 3:1-6
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on connection. Anyone can bring joy and hope into another’s life in the most unexpected of ways. That’s the power of human connection, of opening ourselves up to loving others, whoever might cross our paths. The openness of our hearts to others, even strangers, brings about joy, love, and hope. “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.”
Preaching text: 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
This week, we're returning to Season 1 to help set up our story for next week!
Today, our brave Little Bird is off on another adventure. This time, traveling days and days to visit Mary's cousin Elizabeth. This week's episode is filled with lots of song and encouragement.
Mark Niethammer preaches on power. How do power, authority, and influence show up in your life? There is so much we want to control throughout our days but we just can’t. Our powerlessness to change can be paralyzing and devastating. Real power is realizing you can’t control everything but knowing God works all things out, ultimately for good. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or where you are in your faith journey, you rest in the arms of God who has you.
Preaching text: John 18: 33-37
The urgency that the apostle Paul felt about Jesus' return to fulfill the kingdom of God drives his wish for the community in Thessaloniki to sustain its ethic of self-discipline for the sake of others.
Preaching text: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Does life sometimes not seem so fair? Today, Little Bird gets a little jealous of Tiny Mouse but Jesus reminds her of a very important teaching story.
There’s still time to get on the Little Bird sound effects list. If you, a friend, family members, or anyone would like to submit sound effects for Little Bird to use, email jessica@sptaulqc.org and receive the monthly sound effects list.
The visionary of Patmos makes it clear that no earthly ruler or kingdom has the ultimate future of creation in hand — that belongs only to God and to Christ, the King of Kings.
Preaching text: Revelation 1:4b-8
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on hope. When the threads of our society are destroyed, when our customs are endangered, when the things that give us security, are ruined, despair begins to creep in. These things are not the end of the world. Jesus’ words are meant to give our brains and our souls a course correction that shifts our focus toward God. We are meant to live, not in fear, but as disciples. We are the very hands God uses to bring about love and healing, and to bring a tangible fullness into this world. Our lives are not merely lived for ourselves.
Preaching text: Mark 13: 1-8
We often hear about the 12 disciples who follow Jesus but there are lots and lots more. Today, Little Bird teaches her new friend Tiny Mouse all about the disciples and the many people who followed Jesus and learned from him.
We’ll be sending out another sound effect email so now’s the chance to get on the email list! If you, your kids, your friends, your grandkids – whoever! – would like to contribute to Little Bird by providing sound effects, let us know! To get on the email list for sound effect requests, send an email to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
Mark reassures the community of God's promise to bring all things to an end with great blessing, despite present distress and suffering, and that God alone knows when that will be.
Preaching text: Mark 13: 1-8
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on joy. Joy is the movement of God’s spirit in our midst. It’s the gifts we’ve been blessed by, the people we’ve been blessed with. God’s spirit has a way of nudging us back into the right place after a time. Today is a day for you to open your hearts to the newness God is bringing about. Joy is here and joy abounds.
This past weekend was Joy Weekend at St. Paul. It’s a time for members of the congregation to pledge to the church for the coming year. A pledge to this church is a financial promise. It’s an indication of what you plan to give over the weeks and months in the coming calendar year. It’s an act of love that arises from your appreciation for God’s blessing in your life. If you would like to make a pledge commitment to St. Paul, visit stpaulqc.org/give/pledge
Preaching text: Luke 19: 1-10
Today, Little Bird wants to sing the PERFECT song for Mary’s birthday, and it has to be perfect. So Little Bird worries and frets and gets very anxious that it won’t be good enough. Until Jesus shares with her some words of comfort. Sometimes we all need a little break, a little rest. It can be easy to forget that we are enough. “Come to me all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.”
Podcast friends! Can you draw some pictures to share with us? Can you draw a picture of Jesus holding Little Bird in the palm of his hand? Or a picture of yourself in Jesus’ hands? Or even the whole world in Jesus’ hands? What else do you imagine could fit in Jesus’ hands? Draw that too and share it with us! Email your drawings to info@stpaulqc.org or share it on our social media pages!
Luke's story of Zacchaeus, "the wee little man," shows the massive impact of faithfulness, as this wealthy character ignores the distractions of wealth to love God and neighbor in a life of generosity and humility."
Preaching text: Luke 19: 1-10
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on grief and hope. We live with the hope and promise of the gift of someday living in the embrace of God’s life but this promise of future joy doesn’t always negate our personal sadness. Grieving the loss of someone we love doesn’t make us any less faithful. It’s ok to feel the sense of wrongness or injustice in the face of death and when thinking of our own mortality. Cherish the gift of this one life we have.
Preaching text: John 11: 32-44
What do you do when a friend or a sibling makes you really mad? Like when they take your favorite toy or eat the leftover Halloween candy that was yours! Do you try to get back at them? Well, in today’s episode, Little Bird is dealing with a difficult new creature and thinks payback is best. But do you think Jesus agrees?
The sound effects are rolling it and we'd love to feature more kiddos! There's still time to get on the email list for upcoming sound effects. To get on the email list for sound effect requests, send an email to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
Mark Niethammer preaches on seeing and being seen. One of the most beautiful things that can happen as we walk this road of life is to see others as they are as a whole, not focusing on one or two ‘labels’ that define us. You are a beloved and blessed part of a beloved and blessed creation. We want to be seen and heard by those like us but we cannot close our worlds to the vastness of human experience.
Preaching text: Mark 10: 46-52
John's story of the raising of Lazarus underscores what Jesus means when he says, "I am the resurrection and the life" — not just healing or a miracle, but life that transcends every human challenge.
Preaching text: John 11:32-44
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
In today’s episode, Little Bird and Jesus meet a surprising person with total faith and trust in Jesus. A big, powerful, commanding person. Who could that be? And what does Jesus do for him? Find out in today’s episode!
Hey kids! Did you like the sound effects in today's episode? There's still time to submit more sound effects. We’ll be sending out another email with a list of sound effects soon! To get on the email list for sound effect requests, send an email to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on service. Everyone can serve. You don’t have to have any special qualifications to serve others. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love, and you can be that servant. It’s living for others in all that we are. Don’t just serve when it works for us but be a servant. It’s not something we do when we have the time, it’s something we are. It means acting for the benefit of others, even when it doesn’t benefit us.
Preaching text: Mark 10: 35-45
Mark uses the healing of blind Bartimaeus to round out his new vision for the Jesus community, displaced from Jerusalem and encountering disorientation and suffering in its faithful discipleship.
Preaching text: Mark 10: 46-52
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Which one of God’s laws is the most important? Is it going to church every single week? Is it keeping your room nice and clean? Is it being nice to your parents and friends? Hmmm…Little Bird and some friends have this same question this week? What do you think is the most important thing? Tune in to find out!
Hey kids! Did you like the sound effects in today's episode? There's still time to submit more sound effects. We’ll be sending out another email with a list of sound effects soon! To get on the email list for sound effect requests, send an email to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
Mac Mullins preaches on gaining eternal life. God has always hoped that if we live the life that God has laid out for us, our hearts might be changed. That we might become different people because of the way we live. Things and possessions aren’t bad; it’s what these things do to our hearts. The more we have, the more our hearts want and the less our hearts want God.
Preaching text: Mark 10: 17-31
Mark rounds out his re-visioning of the Kingdom of God with a dramatic encounter that erases any idea of hierarchy, creating a community of mutual concern, respect, care, and support.
Preaching text: Mark 10:35-45
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Today’s episode takes place at night when a visitor arrives at the door to see Jesus. Our favorite Little Birdhas a little trouble staying awake while the two talk about some pretty important things. Who could this surprise visitor be?
Hey kids! Did you like the sound effects in today's episode? There's still time to submit more sound effects. We’ll be sending out another email with a list of sound effects soon! To get on the email list for sound effect requests, send an email to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
Katy Warren preaches on expectations. People of faith have wrestled with the experience of pain and suffering for thousands of years. We’ve all experienced emotional, physical, and spiritual pain to some degree and often wonder why bad things happen to good people. But we know what to expect; God shows up to care for and love us all the more. No matter what life may hold for us, God is good.
Preaching text: Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Mark continues to name familiar, comfortable props of life that may be lost, while reinforcing that "all things are possible for God," so faithfulness through even underserved suffering is the way of the kingdom.
Preaching text: Mark 10:17-31
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
We're taking it all the way back to season 1 for one of our favorite episodes so far!
This week, we find Little Bird and Jesus playing games with kids just like you! Jesus shares with a few grumpy disciples that children understand God’s dream of love for the world better than anyone else. We can all learn a little something from the children around us.
The story of Job's personal trial and suffering sets up a long tradition of encouraging trust in God through every twist and turn of life.
Preaching text: Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on small actions. Deeds of power are far and varied and it’s not just the big stuff; giving cups of water or pudding. All of those small things are also mighty deeds of power. Lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time, and God will take those actions and multiply them. Our small actions can do big things in Jesus’ name.
Preaching text: Mark 9: 38-50
On today's very hot episode, Jesus and the disciples could use some water. Jesus meets a woman at the well and the woman realizes that Jesus has a different kind of refreshment to offer.
Hey kids! Did you like the sound effects in today's episode? There's still time to submit more sound effects. To get on the email list for sound effect requests, send an email to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
Mark shows Jesus dramatically countering several obstacles to life in God's kingdom that Mark's community was facing.
Preaching text: Mark 9:38-50
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on lines, squiggles, and dots. God sees the world like a preschooler talking about their drawings. Where we may see what appears to be a mess of a world, God sees something amazing, beautiful, and challenging. God sees a picture of people who are in this world so that they can care for others in this world. The love of God is what unites all of people and nobody is outside of that grace.
Preaching text: Mark 9: 30-37
Children's artwork
Map of the Quad Cities
Little Bird shares a yummy treat with a new friend under a fig tree in today's episode. I wonder who that friend could be?!
Don't forget: Little Bird needs your help to make and create sound effects and voices for future episodes! Did you hear Pastor Sara's big yawn in today's episode? We know you can do it too! To get on the email list for sound effect requests, send an email to jessica@stpaulqc.org!
Visit stpaulqc.org/children to learn more about St. Paul and the many children's opportunities available.
Thank you for listening to Little Bird and Jesus!
Looking ahead to Jesus' suffering and addressing the disciples' misplaced aspirations, Mark makes clear that servanthood is the shape of leadership and caring for others is the mark of the kingdom of God in the community's new situation.
Preaching text: Mark 9:30-37
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on grace. We want to define what salvation, redemption, and transcendence look like. We want and desire assurance and our anxieties mislead us. When our fear guides our decisions, we decide we can only trust ourselves. If we let God hold the reins of life, our heads and hearts will be free of the fears that drive us to define goodness as what’s best for me and me alone.
Preaching text: Mark 8: 27-38
Whoa, podcast friends! It's been a whole summer since we've last been together! We hope you've had lots of exciting adventures over the summer.
Our favorite little bird is back...and in today's episode, she meets a new friend! Who could it be? Hit play to find out!
At the center of Mark's gospel stands the central question: who is Jesus? Mark answers for the new era in which the community finds itself, offsetting disappointment and confusion with promise and hope.
Preaching text: Mark 8: 27-38
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on the mercy of God. Not everyone in the Bible, especially women, has a name. But these unnamed people have stories to tell, pain to share, joy to celebrate. They are like us, with lives led as faithfully as possible, needs unmet, and laments heard only by their own ears. The “unnamed” in our world are those who live with deep struggles and yet largely go unnoticed by the majority of society. But even those who feel invisible, lost, or cast aside have standing, grounding, and access to the love and mercy of God.
Preaching text: Mark 7: 24-37
In a pair of stories about Jesus' power to heal, Mark reorients the community toward a wider world and more encompassing gospel than they had ever imagined.
Preaching text: Mark 7:24-37
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren reflects on faith. When was the last time you looked in the mirror? How often do we think about what we saw in the mirror after stepping away and going about the rest of our day? While many of us look in the mirror regularly, it’s not something that sticks with us all that long. Be doers, not hearers. Our lives are only as vibrant as the faith we reflect, our community of faith reminds us who we are, and then we go out into the world and live it.
Preaching text: James 1: 17-27
The author of the letter of James, as part of introducing this letter, emphasizes that knowing salvation by the word has a purpose – to care for orphans, widows, and others on the vulnerable margins of life.
Preaching text: James 1: 17-27
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mark Niethammer preaches on ‘enough.’ We tend to see, to notice, the things we don’t have. If we fall into the pit of ‘there is never enough,’ we forget to look for the subtle ways God is already providing everything you need. Sometimes we need to learn or relearn how to distribute all that God made so all can thrive. There’s always enough. God is working in the background of your life every day.
Preaching text: John 2: 1-11
The account of Jesus' first public encounter in John's gospel comprises all the themes of that gospel, showing in story what was already announced in poetry and theology in the very first verses.
Preaching text: John 2:1-11
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the power of comfort food. One of the miracles of being human is that our bodies remember. Not just our heads remember but our bodies do too. Love is stored and remembered in our muscles and our senses. Faith isn’t about having the right answers, thinking in the right kinds of ways, understanding, and never doubting, it’s not just about our heads or our hearts, our faith is also lived out in our bodies.
Preaching text: John 6: 51-58
John shows Jesus redirecting people's attention away from spectacle to the persistent, reliable work of God in sustaining and nourishing communities in every circumstance.
Preaching text: John 6:51-58
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Amy Current, Bishop of the Southeast Iowa Synod, preaches on humanity. We are all humans created by God and we are set free to live our lives. We often come up short. We aren’t always compassionate. We aren’t always kind. But we are never alone. In this week’s episode of the podcast, Pastor Mac Mullins reflects on Bishop Current’s Sunday sermon and the installation of Pastor Mark Niethammer as the ninth senior pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
To learn more about the Southeastern Iowa synod, visit their website at seiasynod.org.
Preaching text: Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Mark Niethammer preaches on hope. We have all hoped. When we have hoped and things have not turned out how we wanted them to, we must live in that grief. But that broken hope doesn’t end with the tragic, they evolve into something amazing and often, something miraculous. Second chances give us all the chance to move from grief to accompanied grief to life on the other side.
Preaching text: Luke 24: 13-35
The writer of Ephesians grounds life together in community in truthfulness and thoughtful restraint, showing those to be echoes of God's saving love for us.
Preaching text: Ephesians 4: 25-5: 2
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Mac Mullins preaches on being grounded in faith. When left to our devices, our hearts and desires tend to remain focused on ourselves, on our own wants and desires. Letting go of selfish ambition and trusting our needs will be met even if our wants may not be, are part of what it means to be rooted in Christ. We are filled with love because we are meant to share that love deeply with others.
Preaching text: Ephesians 3: 14-21
In a dramatic story set on the evening of Easter day, Luke addresses crucial questions for every Christian community that lives after the resurrection.
Preaching text: Luke 24:13-35
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Near the end of the first century CE, a follower of Paul affirms the good news that the wide diversity of the Ephesians' community holds together in unity as a gift of God.
Preaching text: Ephesians 3:14-21
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Katy Warren preaches on compassion. Compassion is the ability to tend to someone’s needs, to take time away from our own agendas and though it’s rarely convenient, it’s sacred and needed work. Your true character is what you do or how you respond when no one is watching, even if it is an inconvenience for you. Wherever someone shows up in front of you, wherever this is a need, it is no small thing to go out of your way, to set aside your own needs, to honor the humanity of another.
Preaching text: Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56
In Mark's Gospel Jesus stitches together different communities, showing that our oneness as people of God makes it possible to live in our differences with love and respect.
Preaching text: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Max Franks preaches on the power of love. Even if you believe and have faith that can move mountains, it doesn’t matter if you do not have love. When the fear of change, the pain of loss, or the anxiety of what will come next arises within us, we’re bold to lean into love and to lean into God who is love. The love we share is a powerful force.
Preaching text: Hebrews 12: 1-13
The example of biblial Israel's ancestors and heroes, living in the embrace of God's faithful promise, is called "faith," and it models the stance that Christians are exhorted to adopt in the face of adversity.
Preaching text: Hebrews 12: 1-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Peter A. Pettit preaches on God's vision. The promised kingdom doesn’t depend on any groups of special people. It depends on whoever lives for the kingdom. Look for signs of the kingdom, of God’s vision, wherever you go. Look for welcome, hospitality, acceptance, humility, and generosity. Wherever you find these, people are living out the kingdom that God has brought near.
Preaching text: Mark 6: 1-13
Mark's story of Jesus in his hometown reassures Mark's community about their own mission, that even without Jesus they have God's power of the gospel for healing and life in God's realm.
Preaching passage: Mark 6:1-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Katy Warren preaches on memories. Our memories from the past inform how we approach the future or even in the present. Memories shift our perspective, moving us from sorrow to hope and carrying us through difficult times. Our memories are informed by days of less burdens and more joy, even when it might not feel possible. Even in grief, there is hope and joy to be found.
Preaching text: Lamentations 3: 17-25
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on uncertainty. It’s uncertainty that is often the hardest part of the challenges of our lives. Being human is often about finding ways to live with uncertainty. We like to know what to expect and we take comfort in knowing what is to come. It’s the not knowing or the lack of control over what is ahead of us that causes many of our fears and anxieties. But know that God is with us.
Preaching text: Job 38: 1-11
The poet voices unwavering confidence in God from the depths of heartache and despair, recalling God's steadfast love and mercy even as present circumstances are bleak and seem hopeless.
Preaching passage: Lamentations 3:22-33
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Mac Mullins preaches on broken trust. God’s vision and understanding of trust differs from that of human beings. Our fears and anxieties don’t place a lot of faith in trust. But God does. God’s trust is unending. When God forgives, God forgives completely. When God loves, God loves completely. And when God trusts us, that trust is complete and total trust.
Preaching text: Ezekiel 17: 22-24
God's voice speaks "from the whirlwind," testifying to God's presence within the worst of life's circumstances and assuring Job and us that the mastery over cahor that God established in creation remains our hope in any chaos or calamity that life can throw at us.
Preaching passage: Job 38:1-11
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
The prophet Ezekiel announces God's promise to go one better than any earthly rulers, restoring the people to their homeland and blessing them with abundant life.
Preaching passage: Ezekiel 17:22-24
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Peter W. Marty preaches, during his final Sunday at St. Paul, on the essentials of Christian living. Resume virtues are the skills and achievements that may end up on a resume, centering on your credentials. In contrast, eulogy virtues involve your character, your depth, and the nature of your relationships. How do we grow our eulogy virtues? Desire, grace, faith, and gratitude. Desires shape the contours of our lives. A desire for God is the beginning of faith. Grace is the abundant love of God. Faith begins where certainty ends. There is nothing that beats gratitude for a joy-filled life.
Preaching text: Philippians 3: 8-12
A Splendid Torch
by George Bernard Shaw
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.
I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
The apostle Paul reminds his congregation in Galatia that life and hope depend entirely on God's faithfulness to the relationship that God has created with them.
Preaching passage: Galatians 2:15-21
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on knowing. We often talk about knowing someone or something but there is a broad spectrum of what knowing implies. What is known about you and who knows all about you? God knows our challenges and our fears, our hopes and joys. There’s nothing we can think, say, or do that God isn’t aware of. God knows all of this and all of us, inside and out, and loves us completely.
Preaching text: Psalm 139: 1-14
Approaching God with a fervent plea, the psalmist acknowledges just how many ways there are that God knows them, and in that vulnerability entrusts the plea to God.Preaching passage: Psalms 139:1-6, 13-18
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Max Franks preaches on change. We all find ourselves at different times between chapters in life. These are the spaces between what has been and what is to come. Times when something that brought us life and joy is passing or has passed away and we wonder if there is new joy or new promise on the other side of the transition. The new is sometimes scary, especially when the old ways are comfortable and familiar, but hanging on to the old things God takes from us can hinder the newness of life that God is creating for us.
Preaching text: Mark 2: 13-22
Peter W. Marty preaches on prayer. It can be hard to figure out what to pray. Many of us are focused on receiving some answers. That’s why we pray. We should eliminate the word ‘answers’ when we talk about prayer or prayer outcomes. Prayer is about conversation with God; conversations are not about answers but about engaging a relationship and sharing company with someone. Once we realize this about prayer, our relationship with God becomes much deeper.
Preaching text: Romans 8: 22-27
Leading a desperate community after catastrophe into new ways to be God's people, Mark emphasizes reaching out and settling in for an indefinite future.
Preaching text: Mark 2:13-22
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
The apostle Paul reminds the community in Rome that they have the "first fruits" of the Spirit as both the guarantee of God's promises and the gifts and strength to persevere until those promises are brought to fulfillment.
Preaching passage: Romans 8:22-27
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on connectedness. When faced with something scary, our friendships and our community matters. When are are afraid of things, imagined or real, getting together to dance, to laugh, to play, chases away our fears. We are not lost, we are not alone, we have each other and God will hold us through everything we face, even death. Connecting to God and one another dares us to love with courage and step into the world even when it’s scary.
Preaching text: John 17: 6-13
Peter W. Marty preaches on boundaries. We shape our lives around social distinctions and cultural affinities that we’re often barely even aware of. We segment ourselves and measure our happiness by being around people who are roughly like us. In God, there is no partiality. God does not make distinctions between faces. Ask yourselves: am I learning to live as Jesus would in my place? Live in such a way that you are always prepared to be interrupted by the Lord’s spirit.
Preaching text: Acts 10: 34-36, 44-48
In Jesus' final prayer, John reminds the community that God has given them all that they need to be protected from the seductions and corruptions of the world.
Preaching text: John 17:6-13
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Luke, the author of Acts, depicts a key step in his program of gospel expansion – the realization that the Holy Spirit works in many ways throughout the world, and it is the same Holy Spirit that the apostles experienced on Pentecost.
Preaching text: Act 10: 44-48
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on love. Perfect love casts out fear. What is perfect love? We probably accumulate more failures in the love department than in other areas of our lives. We make a lot of mistakes. We practice love very undependably and imperfectly. What does perfect love look like and can we ever know it? God is love and there is no way to know this God without loving other people. We can talk about God but we cannot know God or enjoy God without love. If the opposite of love is not hatred, then what is it?
Preaching text: 1 John 4: 7-12, 18-21
John reminds the Jesus community that they are outgrowths of Jesus' love and power; when they hold fast to Jesus and his words, "abide" in them, they stay on the right side of life and they glorify God.
Preaching text: John 15:1-8
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on the boundaries of God’s love. We’ve spent too long debating who will be included or excluded from Heaven. God, who loves us with a parent’s heart, would never want to be far from any of us. God keeps trying to open up the boundaries of God’s love throughout the Old Testament. The ability to know and experience God’s love cannot be contained by any human being.
Preaching text: Acts 4: 5-12
Video link: https://youtu.be/bRbUTfSds0U?si=ngqOXmM8eGxKiG5b
The author of Acts shows Peter dramatically reassuring the Acts community that the name of Jesus is enough for their future life.
Preaching text: Acts 4:5-12
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on food. Where would we be without food? It doesn’t matter what you eat, every meal is sacramental. If the disciples were looking for God to be some kind of wispy spiritual being or a metaphor or a ghost, what they get instead is the Lord of Heaven and Earth in the flesh, capable of being hurt and of spilling tears. We must guard against simply intellectualizing our faith. Our bodies are central to faith and nothing speaks to life quite like eating.
Preaching text: Luke 24: 36b-48
Luke charts post-Easter life for all followers of Jesus in a story about Jesus with disciples after the Resurrection.
Preaching text: Luke 24: 36b-48
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on the fear of missing out. Fear is one of those things that can so quickly and easily encircle us and fill us up. Deep down fear tells us that we don’t measure up and we just aren’t good enough. There are so many things that are outside of our control, the timing of our faith or our health, these things keep us from living fully together as one whole community of followers of Jesus. It’s not our fault but it still creates a deep longing within us.
Preaching text: John 20: 19-31
John uses an encounter between the disciples and the resurrected Jesus to reassure his community that they have everything they need to follow Jesus, even though they never met or saw him.
Preaching text: John 20:19-31
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Happy Easter, podcast listeners! A particularly amazing thing happens in today’s episode. Little Bird’s best friend Jesus died just three days ago and while she and a few of Jesus’ other friends are getting ready for his burial, some special visitors bring surprising news.
Peter W. Marty preaches on Easter Sunday. Take a moment to see how Easter can change your life or how you look at life. We get to take the spirit of Jesus Christ and make some change in this world. The resurrection isn’t simply about getting us to Heaven. It’s more about getting a little bit of Heaven into us; making us better people.
Preaching text: Mark 16:1-8
Mark shows the community that God's presence continues to lead them beyond death and the devastation of hope into a promised future.
Preaching text: Mark 16:1-8
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Sacrifice is something you give, not something that is given up. This is not a burden, it’s a privilege and a positive act. Once you decide to give of yourself, everything else falls into place so you can give. And you must have enthusiasm for something else which you believe is more significant than what you were giving.
Preaching text: Philippians 2: 5-11
Today’s episode is a sad one. There are some scary and hard things but there is also lots of good and love. Our story begins on the same evening as the Last Supper. When Jesus is arrested and put on trial, Little Bird and the disciples are scared and don’t know quite what to do. But Jesus is ready to show the world just how big God’s love for this world is.
Mark shows his community that something more than a Messiah from David has come to lead them into the future.
Preaching text: Mark 11: 1-11
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Max Franks preaches on God’s mercy. We don’t carry the impulse to be forthright about our shortcomings. Not only do we veil our shortcomings, we also avoid facing them privately within ourselves. Even if these sins go unnoticed in the public eye, they still leave a mark on us, and after a while, the guilt and shame add up. But God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy will never leave you.
Preaching text: Psalm 51
In this week’s episode, Little Bird shares a very special meal with Jesus and the disciples. And before that meal, Jesus does something a little different but extra special for his friends to show his love and care for them.
Jeremiah announces to the people Israel that God will once again and always move beyond their rebellion and lift them up to life with God that cannot collapse or be eradicated, because it is God's promise.
Preaching text: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on salvation. Those who do what is true come to the light. We all have things we do in the shadows and cannot make the changes that will help us become better people without being honest about ourselves and shining a light on our faults and failings. When we get stuck in our ways, we need love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, and someone we trust will not give up on us.
Preaching text: John 3: 16-21
We're going back again to revisit the Easter story and revisit a very special donkey friend.
On today's episode, Little Bird adds another new friend to the story. This time, it's a donkey! Little Bird, Jesus, and their new donkey friend are part of a palm parade in Jerusalem.
John shows the "lifting up" of Jesus, in death and in resurrection, as a way to awaken people to the fullness of life unbounded by time and space.
Preaching text: John 3:14-21
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Max Franks preaches on sensing God’s presence in our lives. God’s presence is just as available to us outside of the church as it is inside. God comes home with us. You are the temple of God and God’s spirit is within you. In all of the places in our lives, physical and spiritual, God is present.
Preaching text: John 2: 13-22
Have you ever wondered what heaven looks like? That’s what Little Bird is wondering…what exactly heaven looks like? Jesus talks about just that in today’s episode.
John goes to the heart of religious life to show Jesus pleading for people to honor the holy graces that God showers on us.
Preaching text: John 2:13-22
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on abundant life. What does it mean to take up your cross? If we’re not afraid to let go of the myth that nothing bad will happen to us, or that God will spare us from anything but safety and comfort, then we might be surprised to discover the really good life we have. We can try to save our lives, to preserve things and we can be cautious, but if we live this way, it is certainly not abundant life.
Preaching text: Mark 8: 31-36
This week, we need your superpowered imaginations as we tell stories with lots of comparisons. Jesus is often compared to things and today, we’ll hear an example of a few of those. So turn on those imaginations!
Mark writes the gospel for us after the resurrection, which is the promise that calls us to follow in the pattern of Jesus' suffering love for others.
Preaching text: Mark 8:31-38
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on God’s amazing promise. What truly changes people is grace. Rainbows appear when there is both rain and sunshine. God doesn’t deny our brokenness, our failures, and our sin, nor does God let us ignore that part of our humanity, but God lets us see that in the light of God’s grace with a kind of loving truth. By God’s rainbow grace and a little foolish faith, we can make this place beautiful.
Preaching text: Genesis 9: 8-17
Today, Little Bird is MAD. Very, very mad. Do you ever get mad? Of course you do. We all do! But it’s how we deal with those feelings that is very important.
The covenant God makes with all living things after the Great Flood opens up our lives to honest self-critique and an earnest quest to respond more fully in faith.
Preaching text: Genesis 9: 8-17
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on change. Every day we get to choose how and when to let others influence us and how we’ll let our perspectives shift or modify our own ways of thinking. We decide how open we are to change. There are times we could set aside our perspectives and plans to learn from someone else’s and allow ourselves to be shaped, moved, and inspired toward change.
Preaching text: Mark 9: 2-9
Hello podcast friends! Do you know about the commandments? Which one do you think is the greatest commandment of all? In today’s episode, we’ll talk about just that!
In the story of Jesus's transfiguration, Mark's powerful use of symbols underscores God's presence and grace in both strength and weakness.
Preaching passage: Mark 9: 2-9
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on strength and vulnerability. When I am weak, that is precisely in the Lord when I am strong. This inversion of strength and weakness, power and vulnerability is difficult to wrap our heads around. How is it that when I am weak, I am strong? If you search your life, you will find a place where you were so depleted and uncertain of hope that from that powerless vantage point, humility came upon you and you began to see life in a whole new light.
Preaching text: Isaiah 40: 27-31
Today, Little Bird is a little baffled. Jesus is always talking to himself, and she can’t quite figure out who he is talking to. What do you think Jesus is doing and who is he talking with?
Isaiah encourages Israel in exile with a reminder that God is the author of creation and history, giving enduring power to the weak and weary.
Preaching passage: Isaiah 40:21-31
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on words. Our words carry much more weight or power than we sometimes give them credit for. You don’t need special powers to make change happen. It starts with our words. Every single day we can choose to speak with a certain kind of courage or confidence. What would the world look like if we used our voices in this way? As though we had all the power in the world to change it.
Preaching text: Mark 1: 21-28
On this week’s episode, a very unexpected person shows up and does something even more unexpected! This is an episode of love and forgiveness.
Mark opens the story of Jesus's public work, affirming that a close, undistracted alignment with God gives power over the forces that oppose life.
Preaching text: Mark 1: 21-28
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on relationships. We seem to live in a world where we no longer need each other much anymore need our neighbors for the meaning in our lives, the happiness in our lives, and the quality of our lives. Do we celebrate and honor these relationships just as we celebrate and honor achievements in our own lives? This is hard work and we should be investing in it.
Preaching text: Mark 1: 14-20
Little Bird and Jesus visit some very good friends in today’s episode. The sisters are so excited to see Jesus and Little Bird but they each show their love and care in two very different ways. You may even remember these sisters from Season 1!
Season 1, Episode 15: Little Bird and Jesus with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1232567/12431325
Telling the story of Jesus calling the first four disciples, Mark offers important insights into the nature of Christian discipleship.
Gospel passage: Mark 1:14-20
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on renewing our vision. We can look at the same situation, the same person, the same thing and see very different things and come to very different conclusions. There are things we see objectively and then there is how we interpret them or respond. And sometimes we use our eyes instead of our hearts in how we see people around us.
This week, we fast forward to when Jesus is a grown-up. Today, we’ll meet a very generous woman who gives so much of herself to others.
John tells the story of Jesus calling two disciples, in a scene that can teach us all about discipleship.
Preaching passage: John 1:43-51
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on the chaos and goodness in life. So many of the words in scripture are like three-dimensional words you can climb inside of because they speak of a truth that we cannot live without. Goodness itself is intrinsic to creation. There’s something else besides goodness that rests at the heart of creation: chaos. God brings structure to the chaos.
Preaching text: Genesis 1: 1-5
For the next few weeks of Little Bird and Jesus, we’re going to introduce you to some wonderful people Jesus met throughout his life. This week, meet Simeon and Anna, two people who met Jesus very early on in his life.
The first verses of the Bible open up to us the God who is for us from beginning to end.Preaching passage: Genesis 1:1-5
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on encountering God’s grace. How is your life being shaped by God’s grace? We are surrounded by this heavenly peace and God’s great story. One part of living a great life is encountering grace outside ourselves and living in a way that is true to ourselves.
Preaching text: Luke 2: 22-33
Happy New Year! This week, we find Little Bird just where we left off - the stable in Bethlehem. On this day, some astounding new visitors arrive, bringing with them one of the strangest creatures Little Bird has ever seen!
Last week's episode ended with Little Bird waking up to a most peculiar sound. What could that sound have possibly been? This week, Little Bird meets a very small new friend.
Peter Marty preaches on gentleness. How might we operate in the world more gently? What would happen if we all aspired to be more gentle in our lives? Let your gentleness be visible to all you meet. Because gentleness is not weakness. To be gentle, you have to be strong. I think we're going to have an exceptionally good Christmas this year.
Preaching text: Luke 2: 1-14
Luke's profoundly rich story of Jesus' first visit to the Jerusalem Temple signals the key themes of his gospel message in an appealing story filled with powerful symbols.
Gospel passage: Luke 2:22-40
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Luke uses subtle irony and surprise to underscore the revolution that arrives with Jesus' birth. Gospel passage: Luke 2:1-14
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on dreams. What does it mean to be people who dream? The season of Advent is about the hope and anticipation that there is something more to come. No matter the struggles, emptiness, or grief we feel right now, we can dream that it will not always be this way. Hold fast to your dreams, for a life without dreams is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
Preaching text: Psalm 126
This week, Little Bird is off on her longest journey yet, flapping her little wings all the way to Bethlehem. Little Bird, Mary, and Joseph find comfort and support in a very unlikely place.
The prophet's vision of a world restored brings hope for freedom, healing, comfort, and growth both in our day and in our spirits.
Preaching text: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on the winding path of life. Most of the roads we navigate in life are not perfectly straight. Not everything works the way we wish it would, the way we think it will, the way God hopes it will. We have our issues, our disappointments, our detours but the crooked shall be made straight. Advent is a time to divest the hope we have in ourselves and try to transfer that hope to something we have in God.
Preaching text: Isaiah 40: 1-8
This week, our brave Little Bird is off on another adventure. This time, traveling days and days to visit Mary's cousin Elizabeth. This week's episode is filled with lots of song and encouragement.
Mark opens the gospel story boldly, setting John the Baptizer in an older biblical context and signaling that "the one who is coming" will be different.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter Marty preaches on staying awake. Stay alive to everything that life brings you, offers you, asks of you, and what the world needs of you. The best way to be awake or on watch is for us to do everything we’re supposed to do every day. Don’t go to sleep. Just keep doing the things the world needs you to do.
Preaching text: Matthew 13: 24-37
It's time to jump back to the beginning of the story, even before Jesus was born. Today, we're revisiting stories we started with last year!
Little Bird meets a very special woman, and together, they have a remarkable encounter and learn some truly life-changing news!
Mark shows Jesus offering reassurance about troubling times and encouraging his followers to stay alert for the arrival of God's reign in all its fullness.
Gospel passage: Mark 13:24-37
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Mac Mullins preaches on living out mercy. The things we do without thinking, our habits, are deeply a part of how our lives are defined even if we don’t realize it. A life that lives out mercy, that’s what Jesus offers us. God builds us up to be a community that shows mercy and loves without thinking about it. We are being shaped into people who love without hesitation. We live this life of love because we just can’t help it.
Preaching text: Matthew 25: 31-46
Happy snowy day, podcast friends! Today’s podcast is all about recognizing Jesus in the world. In what ways do you recognize Jesus and what does that even mean? Tune in to today’s episode and you’ll see. 😊
In the last teaching before Matthew’s Passion story, we hear Jesus talking about eternal judgment for life or punishment, for disciples and for the world.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson Smith preaches on giving and mercy beyond measure. God gives love, grace, and mercy with excess and abundance that cannot be counted. Our fear often keeps us from loving. Sometimes we’re afraid of rejection or abandonment or we doubt we’re worthy of love. We fear it’s too risky but we have a God that sees us all as worthy and gives without counting.
Podcast friends! It’s almost Thanksgiving. Are you ready for all of the yummy goodies coming your way later this week? On today’s episode, Jesus overhears a conversation that reminds him of a story. One about a great man (who thought he was the greatest of all) and one about a humble man who was trying his best.
Matthew uses the parable of the talents to caution the community about being paralyzed by fear in the face of the delay in Jesus’s return.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor
Peter W. Marty preaches on gratitude. If we’re feeling the least bit down by the realities out of our control what we want to try and see, know, believe, and trust is that our Lord Jesus sees our plight and is not indifferent to weariness. Living an overwhelmed and exhausted life is not sustainable.
Preaching text: Matthew 9: 35-38
In today’s episode, we hear all about a parent who just couldn’t stop loving their son, no matter what. And that’s just like God. Know that God loves you, no matter what.
Matthew’s summary of Jesus’ ministry sets the stage for the story of Jesus sending the disciples out as laborers in the harvest of the kingdom.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on identity. Naming who we are in relation to circumstances outside of ourselves is a reality many of us face at one point or another. We spend our whole lives trying to figure out who we are. Some of our greatest struggles come when our identity shifts in some way and we figure out who are now. But, we have an identity through God’s love that is unchanging.
Preaching text: 1 John 3: 1-3
Sometimes help and kindness come from very unexpected places and that’s just what today’s story is about. Jesus tackles the question: “Who is my neighbor?” What do you think? Cozy up for more story time with Little Bird and Jesus.
In the mystery of life and death, the writer assures the community of God’s faithfulness and the promise of life with God.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
The explosion of rockets and invaders from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7 has been called unprecedented. It has thrown Israel and the Palestinians back onto the front page and leaves many of us feeling ill-equipped to understand what we are seeing. In mid-October, Peter Pettit led a public educational forum on the background of the conflict in history, geopolitics, religion, and human nature.
View presentation handout
Peter W. Marty preaches on truth. There is a difference between telling the truth and living the truth. Living the truth is about being a certain kind of person. How do we discover this truthful living? To live the truth is to want to know and to desire the love of Jesus, such that we can be free from all kinds of other anxieties. To live the truth is what will help us tell the truth.
Preaching text: John 8: 31-36
This week’s episode is all about persistence and prayer! Have you ever wanted something so badly that you kept working toward it no matter how hard it was or what stood in your way? Then you were persistent, just like the woman in today’s story.
John shows Jesus correcting believers’ misunderstanding about freedom, a key dimension of life as the people of God.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on the ways God shows up in our lives. Why is it we cannot see God visibly, tangibly, immediately? If God is so omnipresent, why doesn’t God show up with some skin on sometime? God seems everywhere present but nowhere obvious. Perhaps we need to pay more attention to God showing up in other people. God does show up with skin and it just so happens to be through the lives of other people.
Preaching text: Exodus 33: 12-23
We all have days when we feel very small. Today is a day like that for Little Bird. And it’s really great to have a friend like Jesus to share with. Jesus reminds Little Bird about two stories that show that even the smallest of things do amazingly big things!
Moses and God negotiate the future of God’s relationship with the people, Israel, after their idolatry with the golden calf.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on how to live peacefully. Comparing can also be about contrast. In today’s scripture reading this parable compares how different God’s ways are from the ways of the world and how we ought not to live. Maybe this story teaches us about God’s way of redemption that comes through the cross from self-giving. Maybe that saving hope we have is not in powerful violence but in powerful love.
Preaching text: Matthew 22: 1-14
It’s story time! These next few weeks we’ll be exploring the parables of Jesus. Parables are teaching stories. This week, we learn about one of Little Bird’s favorite things - seeds! Settle in and get ready to grow in love!
Matthew uses a compound parable by Jesus to account for Jerusalem’s destruction and remind the community to live as God’s people.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Katy Warren preaches on ownership. It’s our human nature to crave ownership, to want to possess and control things, but that is not how we are asked to live. We are not the owners, we are the caretakers. We own nothing. Every day we get to choose gratitude over entitlement; giving thanks for the fact that everything is a generous gift from God.
Preaching text: Matthew 21: 33-46
Little Bird makes a new friend, a friend that others just don’t seem to notice. What kinds of things or people do we not notice very well sometimes? From the most beautiful of little sparrows to the most wonderful of people.
Matthew uses a parable by Jesus to assure the community that people who seek power for themselves cannot defeat God’s plans.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the power of song. The songs we sing together form us into a community and create faith in us. Music connects with our memories, our feelings, our deep faith. Together we sing words that might be familiar or brand new but our voice is never a solo. When we sing together, we feel that we are not alone. We are part of something so much bigger than ourselves.
Preaching text: Philippians 2: 1-13
Today’s story is about some very good friends. As Jesus and the disciples travel from town to town, crowds and crowds of people follow them around, making it difficult to get close to Jesus. But a group of friends makes absolutely sure (using some very creative methods) to get their sick friend in front of Jesus. It’s a very hole-y episode today.
Paul encourages his beloved community in Philippi to trust God to hold them through suffering, as God has done with Jesus and with Paul himself.Preaching text: Philippians 2:1-13.
The Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Peter W. Marty preaches on God’s divine patience. God’s compassionate purpose is to heal hurt, save lost and lonely people, and build a kingdom of peace. We prize the faith that is ours because of the spirit of patience we receive from a compassionate God. A God that puts up with a world full of wrongness and hardened hearts, always giving people a chance to give up their self-righteous ways and come home. What if God gives us the grace to imitate divine patience?
Preaching text: Jonah 3:10-4:11
More miracles are happening this week. Little Bird and the disciples head out on one of our most familiar modes of transportation but when Jesus says he’ll meet up with them later – it’s not quite what they expected!
Jesus’ parable teaches that worth is not measured by work or money in God’s economy and that God gives generously to all.
Preaching text: Matthew 20: 1-16
Pastor Mac Mullins preaches on mercy. Is it enough to simply say ‘I’m sorry?’ When words aren’t enough to heal our wounds, God does so through the very mercy we show one another. We show mercy by being physically present in each other’s loneliness and by comforting and supporting one another in our sadness. Mercy comes by showing up. If words could solve every issue, what a lonely and colorless life we would live.
Preaching text: Matthew 18: 21-35
Are you ready to experience another amazing miracle? This miracle helps 10 men get their lives back. Little Bird hopes you’re ready for a toe-tally incredible story with a lot of heel-ing power.
Paul encourages the community in Rome to strive for unity rather than uniformity so that those whom God has included will not be excluded.
Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scripture passage that is likely to be the basis for the sermon on the following weekend. It correlates with the Revised Common Lectionary as it is used at St. Paul. With Peter A. Pettit, teaching pastor.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on freedom. Freedom is not just won on the battlefield or in the political arena. It's in the hearts, the minds, and the imaginations where the seeds of liberty are planted and grown. Freedom is a spirit that has to be taught and has to be learned. How can we grow a deeper sense of freedom in our own lives by learning and growing?
Preaching text: Excerpts from Exodus 12: 1-27
Podcast friends! We've missed you and we're so glad to be back. For our second season, we are telling more stories about Jesus. The first handful of episodes are stories about miracles Jesus did and today's episode features a miracle at a wedding banquet. So snuggle on in for today's episode!
Pastor Max Franks preaches on love. When you treat someone as an adversary, they tend to become one. Instead of putting others down and elevating yourself, challenge that impulse by building them up. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. Genuine love is what really transforms. Let love be genuine.
Preaching text: Romans 12: 9-21
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on keys. The kingdom of heaven isn’t a place but a vision. When Jesus says to Simon Peter “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven,” it’s not about giving Peter the job of gatekeeper but the responsibility of making God’s dreams become real in this world. We are all given those keys. Jesus entrusts us to be the people who help unlock, unleash, and unfurl the goodness and love, the wonder and abundance of the kingdom of heaven into this world.
Preaching Text: Matthew 16: 13-20
Peter W. Marty preaches on tenacity. When people display a dogged persistence in the fight for something that is good, we should pay attention. The church must look for and expect to find faith existing outside of our boundaries, norms, and expectations. We need to have a faith that is humble and strong enough to stand up to our own minds when that mind is too small or too narrow. We are not meant to remain as we are; it is a gift to evolve, discover, grow, and change.
Preaching Text: Matthew 15: 21-28
Peter W. Marty preaches on fear. When fear gets the best of us, it can so easily play tricks with our minds. The most important work of Jesus in the world is to calm our fears, to lower our anxieties about all things life and all things death. “Be not afraid.” Jesus hands over a lifeline time and time again.
Preaching text: Matthew 14: 22-33
Peter A. Pettit preaches on the remarkable generosity of God with many communities. God’s Word is not static, it’s not limited, and it doesn’t choose favorites. It’s living and it’s active, it’s creative and life-giving wherever it touches creation. In God, there is enough love, glory, teaching, commitment, and promise for all. When we see God’s Word living and active in other communities and other faiths, we can celebrate.
Preaching text: Romans 9: 1-5
Katy Warren preaches on certainty. What are you absolutely sure of in your life? It’s not easy to be truly convinced. We know God loves us because we’re surrounded by a community of people that remind us of that fact even when we’re prone to doubt it.
Preaching text: Romans 8: 26-39
Peter W. Marty preaches on weeds. There’s no field in the world where you will find only grain and there is no flower garden that is only flowers. The same goes for people. We wrestle with the saint versus the sinner within us. We’re perfectly incapable of separating the wheat from the weeds.
Preaching text: Matthew 13: 24-30
Megan Eide preaches on growth. If we want a fruitful, healthy life, we need healthy soil. God meets us where we are with words of grace and hope. We all have work to do when it comes to tending our soil and cultivating our lives of faith but, in the end, it’s God’s steadfast love and abundant goodness that wins the day.
Preaching text: Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
Katy Warren preaches on the things we carry. God is aware of the things we carry around with us each and every day. Instead of carrying a laptop, maybe we carry feelings of shame we are unable to put down or instead of our keys, wallet, and phones we carry our own worries, deep grief, or exhaustion and overwhelm. You don’t have to let go of all that is on your heart and mind today but neither do you have to hold it all on your own.
Preaching text: Matthew 11: 25-30
Max Franks preaches on kindness. A life of faith is made up of a thousand small gestures. There is no small gesture anything done in faith and love has cosmic significance. From a cup of cold water to holding open a door.
Preaching text: Matthew 10: 40-42
Peter W. Marty preaches on baptism and death. We will not take baptism seriously in our lives if we do not comprehend that death is a core image in baptism. There should be a funeral in our own lives every single day. Every day, we should be laying to rest something that is not befitting of God. What do you need to lay to rest today? We all have pieces of our lives we need to let go of every day.
Preaching text: Romans 6: 1b-11
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on hope. It is impossible to avoid grief, suffering, and death but the promise of hope will not disappoint us. We do not have a force field of protection but we are given something even better. A faith that is just what we need to navigate this world of challenges, an identity to help us to live with hope and courage, a community with whom was can find meaning. There is peace in the present and hope for the future.
Preaching text: Romans 5: 1-8
Peter W. Marty preaches on building a life worth living. Shaping particular habits, developing moral commitments, and practicing certain disciplines will give shape to your character. And from that character, everything else in your life springs. It’s the virtue that grounds you. To build a Christian life well, one must have a deep commitment to the most vulnerable people, commit ourselves to the well-being of the common good, and treat every person we meet as full brothers and sisters.
Preaching text: Matthew 7: 24-28
Pastor Peter A. Pettit preaches on signatures. A signature is the name we put on our work. A signature authenticates what we do as ours. The psalmist in Psalms 8 reflects on God as an artist of creation. The response to that creation is how majestic, how remarkable, how awesome is this creation that God has made? The psalmist reminds us it is only humans who carry God’s image. You are God’s signature on the canvas of creation.
Preaching text: Psalms 8
Max Franks preaches on being better together. Paul writes to an emerging Christian community in Corinth. How to be a faithful community together. To be the body of Christ. Perfectism isn’t what God desires for us or how we were created to be in community with each other. We can’t be all things to all people. Instead, God wants us to discover our own gifts and use them for the benefit of the all.
Preaching text: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13
Megan Eide preaches on inheritance. Jesus served as God’s hands and feet in the world. He took the baton from God and ran with it, and now he passes it on to his disciples. What does it take to inherit that gift of the spirit? Little by little, one by one, the disciples step out and explore their own authentic ways to embrace and share their experiences of faith. Now, the disciples have passed on their baton, their stories, and their knowledge of God to the next generation of teachers and preachers.
Preaching text: John 17: 1-11
Podcast friends! It’s our last episode of the season. The Holy Spirit visits the disciples, just as Jesus had promised. With the Holy Spirit working in them, they begin to boldly share the love of God with the world. This summer, don’t forget to look for Little Bird among the sparrows and keep spreading love and kindness in the world. Until next season….
Peter W. Marty preaches on worship. There is no such thing as a life without worship. Everyone worships something and most of us worship many somethings. What do you love? We tend to worship what we love. What pulls in our confidence? What captures our affections? That’s what we worship and we end up bestowing upon them a power they were never meant to have.
Preaching text: Acts 17: 16-28
Jesus and his friends have spent a lot of time together lately and now it’s time for them all to head back to Jerusalem. It wouldn’t be a trip with Jesus and the disciples without some jokes along the way. Jesus says goodbye one more time to his friends and Little Bird, reminding them (and us) to keep sharing Jesus’ stories and loving beautifully.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on living stones. God often takes things that are disregarded and makes them into something beautiful and strong. We may find ourselves buried but God digs us out of the darkness and into marvelous light. Each of us brings our unique selves into this life together, as varied as the sizes and colors of stone in a fieldstone house. Like living stones, let yourself be built into something beautiful and strong.
Preaching text: 1 Peter 2: 2-10
Peter is still struggling with the denial of his friendship with Jesus. A little time fishing on the water is sure to raise his spirits and you’ll never guess who shows up to make the fishing trip even more special. This friend has a very important job for Peter.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Jesus is the shepherd who protects his sheep, knows their names, and leads them to green pastures. Jesus is also the gate, the entrance, the door. This reminds us that Jesus’ whole way of being is not about blockades and barriers or even safety and security for just a few but for all. He is both the shepherd and the gate whose whole purpose is to bring life abundant.
Preaching text: John 10: 1-10
As the disciples make the long walk to Galilea, they share a few of their favorite parables that Jesus shared with them. So, snuggle in for story time, and a few wooly good jokes, on this week’s episode.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on truth. It is essential to human community, it’s a foundation in the social fabric of this world. Once a culture allows truth to become relative, that culture is fighting for its life. To abandon truth is to degrade the bonds and networks of trust upon which society is built and on which our relationships so depend. And what if truth is more than a concept or an idea? What if truth is a person?
Preaching text: 1 Peter 1: 17-23
Guess what? It’s still Easter on the podcast! That’s right – there are still more stories of Jesus visiting his friends on that first Easter day. While traveling on the road back home to Emmaus, Cleopas and Mary are joined by a stranger. Can you guess who that stranger may be? Listen to this week’s episode to find out.
Megan Eide preaches on salvation. Salvation is not just a future promise. Salvation is also our present reality when we cultivate the kind of faith that acts as a living hope. Faith becomes an invitation to pause in the midst of panic, to know that we don’t have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, or even the weight of tomorrow. Jesus has been to tomorrow and back and shown us there is nothing to fear.
Preaching text: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
Did you think you wouldn’t be hearing much from Little Bird after Easter? Well, she has more stories to share! These are the stories of those times when the risen Jesus found his friends. His friends may just be a little surprised to see him again, don’t you think?
Peter W. Marty preaches on Easter Sunday. There are so many people who are afraid of so many things right now. That fear can paralyze lives and cripple the capacity to function well with faith. The greatest achievement of Easter is a freedom from fear. We’re not living in that freedom nearly enough. Having faith does not mean that you don’t have any fears but faith helps instill the courage to walk through these fears.
Preaching text: Matthew 28: 1-10
Happy Easter, podcast listeners! A particularly amazing thing happens in today’s episode. Little Bird’s best friend Jesus died just three days ago and while she and a few of Jesus’ other friends are getting ready for his burial, some special visitors bring surprising news.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Palm Sunday. Jesus chose power that comes not through force but through self-giving and strength through humility, not domination. And during Palm Sunday, Jesus chose to ride on a donkey. Today, it’s that donkey that teaches us. It’s an invitation to us to be like the donkey and carry Jesus and his love into this world. We don’t have to be the strongest, the toughest, or the fanciest. We just have to be who we are.
Preaching text: Luke 19: 28-40
Today’s episode is a sad one. There are some scary and hard things but there is also lots of good and love. Our story begins on the same evening as the Last Supper. When Jesus is arrested and put on trial, Little Bird and the disciples are scared and don’t know quite what to do. But Jesus is ready to show the world just how big God’s love for this world is.
Megan Eide preaches on forgiveness. God’s ways of mercy and forgiveness are radically different from our own. When God forgives us, God is insisting on a relationship with us. When it comes to forgiveness we often focus on the character of the forgiven and what they’ve done to deserve mercy. Instead, forgiveness is more about the character of the one forgiving. It’s about insisting on the relationship and moving forward together. Forgiveness opens the doors for healing and hope.
Preaching text: Psalm 130
In this week’s episode, Little Bird shares a very special meal with Jesus and the disciples. And before that meal, Jesus does something a little different but extra special for his friends to show his love and care for them.
Katy Warren preaches on perspective. We all come into new scenarios with our own ways of thinking, our own bias, or preconceived notions that shapes what we believe. We look for the reasons behind why certain things happen. The more convinced we are that we know exactly what God is doing, the less we’ll see and experience the work of God. The place we often find God is often in the middle of the mess.
Preaching text: John 9: 1-41 (excerpts)
On today's episode, Little Bird adds another new friend to the story. This time, it's a donkey! Little Bird, Jesus, and their new donkey friend are part of a palm parade in Jerusalem.
Peter W. Marty preaches on the constancy of God. Think not of the Christian faith as just a set of rules and laws or noble and inspirational ideas. Instead, Christianity is the Lord Jesus Christ present with us and in us. As God communicates to Moses, I will be right there with you. God is to be trusted, not tested.
Preaching text: Exodus 17: 1-7
Are you ready for another miracle on this week’s episode? When Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus gets very, very sick, Jesus cannot get to see his friends fast enough. There are a lot of big feelings in this episode so snuggle in close with your parents, siblings, or friends and know that just like in the story, Jesus is always with you.
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on being in the dark. Many of us, in various seasons of our life, for various kinds of reasons, find ourselves in some kind of darkness. Those times when we really don’t know where we’re going or how we’re going to get there or what is next. Those times can be scary but they’re also the times when we discover the greatest truths about ourselves and the world.
Preaching text: John 3: 1-17
This week, we find Little Bird and Jesus playing games with kids just like you! Jesus shares with a few grumpy disciples that children understand God’s dream of love for the world better than anyone else. We can all learn a little something from the children around us.
Megan Eide preaches on landing in uncharted territory. There is no scenario so unexpected or destination so bleak that God has not passed through first ahead of us and come out the other side. God’s spirit leads people through the wilderness and they come out the other side more ready to step into that promised future. We see over and over again how the wilderness isn’t so much a place of desolation as it is a place of preparation.
Preaching text: Matthew 4: 1-11
Miracles are happening in this week’s episode! After last week’s scary boat ride, Jesus and Little Bird return to shore where lots of people have gathered to see Jesus. In that crowd, a very sick old woman and a man with a sick daughter seek Jesus’ help in healing them.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the both divine and human Jesus. On the feast of the transfiguration, we celebrate the glory and the power of Jesus, who carries in his being the fullness of God’s goodness and strength, and yet, still present on Earth, with skin on. The light and the glory of God is not just reserved for mountaintops. Our faith reminds us that God’s glorious light and love are breaking into every corner of our lives.
Preaching text: Matthew 17: 1-9
Put on your raincoats, pull up those rain boots, and get ready for a bumpy boat ride! Little Bird, Jesus, and a few of the disciples head out on the water again but this time, the weather makes things a little scary. Jesus reminds Little Bird (and us) to not be afraid, to find peace, to be still, and to trust in Jesus.
Peter W. Marty preaches on hateful speech. To be a free person in Jesus Christ, we must let go of hate-filled words. The way we assemble and connect words makes a big difference - we can harm and disfigure or we can bless and dignify the world and other people just by the words we use. It is our words that will save us or condemn us.
Preaching text: Matthew 5: 21-26
Little Bird and Jesus make their way to Jericho. When Little Bird lands in a sycamore tree, she finds an unlikely new friend and it’s not another bird – but a rich man! This rich man will make some big changes throughout our story today.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on wisdom and maturity in faith. Once you know the basics and you’re working to cultivate your faith, there’s a certain maturity about you that people outside of the faith don’t know in quite the same way. When you’re growing in maturity in your Christian life, you’re able to perceive some of the hidden wisdom of God that others cannot.
Preaching text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-9
Jesus and his new flock, including our favorite little bird, share in a few teachings on a mountainside.
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on being blessed. What does it mean to be blessed? God's blessings are given to us freely. It’s not something that is earned or given as a reward for working hard enough or enduring enough hardship in your life. You matter, you are loved, you are blessed even and, maybe especially, when you don’t feel like it. Blessed are you, right where you are in life.
Preaching text: Matthew 5: 1-12
This week, lots of people gather to hear what Jesus has to say. But as the day goes on, tummies start to growl. Instead of sending everyone home, Jesus says, “We’ll feed them!” But how will they feed 5000 hungry people with only five loaves of bread and two fish?
Pastor Peter A. Pettit preaches on the big picture. All of our lives, the big picture has a strong impact. This big picture shapes what we make of the options life presents. 28,000 years ago, the prophet Isaiah already understood this. Scripture paints the big picture for people of God. In God’s big picture, we gain from challenging moments, working together for a more joyful world for the whole human community.
Preaching text: Isaiah 9: 1-4
Our story today takes place on the water at the Sea of Galilea. While Jesus helps a few fishermen catch some fish, Jesus and Little Bird catch some new friends along the way.
Megan Eide preaches on seeing. Not only do we have a unique way of seeing things we also have a unique way of assigning meaning to them based on our own backgrounds, skills, relationships, and values. They all come together to tell a unique personal story. True faith, a relationship with God that is personal, full, and vivacious, develops through your eyes alone. We must put on our own glasses of faith to bring God into focus in our unique lives.
Preaching text: John 1: 35-42
Remember last week’s episode when we fast-forwarded 12 years? Well, hang on to your seats – we’re fast-forwarding even further into the future – almost 20 years! This week, Little Bird and Jesus go on an adventure to see Jesus’ cousin John at the Jordan River.
Max Franks preaches on self-worth. When we realize our inherent human value, it allows us to see ourselves and others as God sees us. When we face unrelenting hurt, loss, or insecurity, we can boldly face what the world tosses at us with a certain assurance that, through our baptism, Christ walks with us.
Preaching text: Matthew 3: 13-17
In this week's episode, we fast forward to when Jesus is 12 years old. Jesus and Little Bird are the best of friends but when Jesus and his family travel to Jerusalem, Little must stay behind. Just as the group is getting close to home, Little Bird flies out to meet them on the road and discovers quite the surprise - Jesus isn't with them! Where could he have gone? Find out on this week's episode.
On the first podcast of 2023, Peter W. Marty preaches on goodness. Good always outweighs evil. Good always has more beauty, more merit, and more presence; you just have to notice it. This year, try your best to notice all the goodness you can. Along the walks that you make, every place you go, try to create and share some goodness and some kindness too.
Preaching text: Matthew 2: 13-23
Happy New Year! This week, we find Little Bird just where we left off - the stable in Bethlehem. On this day, some astounding new visitors arrive, bringing with them one of the strangest creatures Little Bird has ever seen!
Last week's episode ended with Little Bird waking up to a most peculiar sound. What could that sound have possibly been? This week, Little Bird meets a very small new friend.
Peter W. Marty preaches on this special Christmas edition of the St. Paul audio podcast. The world is full of brokenness but in Jesus Christ, God makes gentle the life of the world. God whispers in our ear, through Jesus Christ, that we have to make this world a better place. We can allow our hearts to be our own little manger for God to live in, for God to dwell in, for God to make a home in. Featuring new music by William Campbell and a beautiful contemplative “Silent Night.”
Preaching text: Luke 2: 1-14
Peter W. Marty preaches. Sometimes we find ourselves in a place we didn’t expect, a situation we didn’t plan. Listen closely while you pray. It may not be the life you imagined but God will be born into it. This may be what Christmas is about – the irrational, unexplainable appearance of love in the midst of the world’s toughest realities and some of our own unplanned circumstances. To do what Joseph did – to bet on our dearest dreams, to give our hearts away to precious hopes, to let go of reasonableness and constraint and respond with love to a world that needs us.
Preaching text: Matthew 1: 18-25
Candle In the Dark: Words & Music by William Campbell © 2020 William Campbell Music. Used with permission.
This week, Little Bird is off on her longest journey yet, flapping her little wings all the way to Bethlehem. Little Bird, Mary, and Joseph find comfort and support in a very unlikely place.
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on joy and the way joy bursts forth like a spring in the desert. Joy sometimes comes in the most difficult of times, surprising us. Many of have known our own desert exiles. A season defined by sorrow, despair, longing, or grief. Times in our lives that don’t seem like we’d hoped they’d be. But Isaiah says to be strong and not to fear, the Lord will come to save you.
Preaching text: Isaiah 35: 1-10
This week, our brave Little Bird is off on another adventure. This time, traveling days and days to visit Mary's cousin Elizabeth. This week's episode is filled with lots of song and encouragement.
Peter W. Marty preaches on justice. The biblical concept of justice, wherever God is involved, is about making things right for people and making things right in society. Justice is not about fair play, it’s about righteous play. It’s not about giving people what they deserve, but what they need. God’s justice is helping all people live a dignified life.
Preaching text: Isaiah 11: 1-6
We're starting off our podcast at the beginning, even before Jesus was born. Today, Little Bird will meet a very special woman, and together, they'll have a remarkable encounter and learn some truly life-changing news!
Original music by William Campbell
Children's voices by Annie Harless, Gary Harless, Isabelle Lovel, Susannah Olson-Smith, Amos Olson-Smith
Pastor Katy Warren preaches. If we are to place our faith in a God that does unexpected and unimaginable things, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that God could break into our lives in some unconventional way. One of the themes of the Advent season is to make room for Christ in our homes and in our lives. To prepare a space for God where we have otherwise been too busy, too distracted, or too full.
Preaching text: Matthew 24: 36-44
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the reign of Christ. The view of our own route is often narrow. Jesus has a wide view, a great big holy atlas. Jesus is spacious, expansive, supreme, towering over all things and all time. Jesus sees the whole big picture, from the beginning to the end of it. Jesus has this big broad view. Jesus’s purpose is to save and redeem the whole universe, to bring together all of those broken and dislocated parts of the universe.
Preaching text: Colossians 1: 11-20 & Luke 23: 33-43
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on sticky faith. Skills and talents accumulate. Learning a new language is built on layers and layers. Our lives are like ten-layer cakes. Faith is the same. When you face challenges or crises in your life, you have accumulated layers and layers of insight, depth of heart, and a Godly hope that comes from attending to your faith. The best kind of faith is a sticky faith that attaches to your life over time and accumulates, making you the type of person you are. Grace upon grace; it’s these layers of goodness in life that add up to real significance.
Preaching text: John 1: 14-18
Pastor Peter W. Marty on saintliness. Saints don’t have to be perfect, famous, or dead. Some of the best saints we know are sitting among us right now. When you refuse to live only for yourselves because you know your lives belong to God, that is what it means to be a living saint. It’s not about the good life but living a life that is good.
Preaching text: Luke 6: 17, 20-26
Pastor Megan Eide preaches on God’s forgiveness. No one wants to be remembered for their mistakes. Jesus’ message is about identity and grace. Who we are and how we see ourselves is all wrapped up in who God is and how God sees each and every one of us. Nothing we do or say can overshadow our identity in Christ. We are not defined by our mistakes or enslaved to the sins of our past. We are redeemed by God’s love and forgiveness.
Preaching text: John 8: 31-36
Image of Sankofa
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on repaying debts. We’ve all been “victims” of time lost that we wish we could have back. God promises to repay us for our struggles, not with money, goods, or services but with hope. Hope for what comes next. “Be glad and rejoice...I will repay you.”
Preaching text: Joel 2: 23-28
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on knowing God best through the struggles in our lives. We meet God most clearly, most vividly, most especially through our struggles and hardships. The things in life that require the most of us are often the most rewarding. Sometimes suffering, struggle, and blessing are all comingled. We may be wounded through the hardships in our lives, but they are our best chance at being made whole.
Preaching text: Genesis 32: 22-31
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on simplicity. Sometimes in faith we don’t have to make things too complicated. So often we think that understanding God or receiving God's mercy or experiencing God’s love demands complicated or elaborate actions. We think there is some complicated recipe we need to cook up a bit of faith to experience God’s healing goodness. We often get in our own way of receiving this incredible gift.
Preaching text: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on 2 Timothy 1:1-7,14. “Guard the good treasure that has been entrusted to you, with the help of the holy spirit, keep safe what has been deposited in you.” What is it about your character, your integrity, your values, and priorities of faith that you would like to leave this world? You have to fan the flames of the precious faith, that treasure that is within you. Keep on rekindling that faith because God has not given you the spirit of timidity, but instead, the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Luke 16:19-31. This parable offers us an invitation to abundant life now, a way out of the stuckness, of breaking out of the circumstances that keep us apart and divide us. We break out of these patterns that divide the prisons of our own circumstances when we get to know a person beyond their situation, beyond their label. The way we build this new way of being in the world is simply by getting to know another person’s name.
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on Luke 19:1-10. There is no better time than right now to reevaluate what consumes our time, our attention, and our efforts in different ways. What we’ve prioritized and what we've put off. We can discover for ourselves the ways God’s love and grace actually move us toward lives that simply can’t wait to do something with that love.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Exodus 32:7-14. To have a change of mind or a change of heart when we are wrong, mistaken, or blind to a very important truth is a beautiful thing. To alter our course or reverse our ways of thinking when we have wronged others, disrespected them, or been too certain of our own certainty is a magnificent move that is open to all of us. Faith is all about change; change is a constant companion.
Pastor Megan Eide preaches on Psalm 139:14. ”I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” What difference will it make in our lives when we remember that we were fearfully and wonderfully made? If we saw our worthiness through God’s eyes we would live less for the approval of others, and instead, live freely and boldly as our unique selves.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on gratitude from Luke 14:1, 12-14. How do you repay certain people for something life-changing they’ve done for you? There are times in our lives when gratitude wells up so deeply within us, the unstoppable kind of gratitude, and no note can possibly describe that feeling. There is a way to live life that honors God and others for the blessings we’ve known.
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on the instinct toward love. That instinct includes choosing to look past societal norms, etiquette, or rules to show love and compassion when someone is hurting. Every day is the right day to care for one another. There is no wrong day to be overwhelmed by the peace and love of God. What are our instincts of faith? What is so ingrained in us that we don’t give a second thought to what our response is?
Watch the video of the Little League pitcher referenced in Katy’s sermon.
Peter W. Marty preaches on the gifts of discernment. We each have our own unique gift of discernment that makes each of us who we are. We need more than heads full of knowledge, we need hearts full of wisdom. To better discern what is permanent and what is transient in this life and for this, we need wisdom of the heart.
From the early 20th century to the present day, the dream of America as a Beloved Community has grown in response to social conditions and shifts in worldview among philosophers, theologians, and social activists. Like each American Dream in this series, it has ties to certain aspects of the Christian gospel and has implications for ideas about the self, God, and others. That triad offers a lens through which to explore and engage constructively with any version of the American Dream that we might encounter.
In week three of the series, the impact of both Enlightenment ideas and the dynamics of the 19th century leads some in society and the church to conceive of the American dream as "a land of opportunity."
Katy Warren preaches on faith. Faith is not being sure where you’re going but going anyway. It is a journey without maps. If true faith is being sure of what we hope for, then we need to regularly evaluate what consumes our hopes and our dreams, placing God at the center of our lives, and letting Christ guide our steps in many ways. Faith has less to do with gathering together a certain quantity and more to do with this ability to put one foot in front of the other, pouring our lives into something greater than ourselves.
The second session in this series takes up the American dream of "a more perfect union," enshrined in the opening lines of the US Constitution (1787). Its relationship to the God-language of the Declaration of Independence and to the "city on a hill" of the Puritans offers a window into the vision and project of the country's founders to respect both the foundational place of religion in human life and the pragmatic plurality of religious views and convictions in public policy debates.
Peter W. Marty preaches on the gift of forgiveness. Receiving the gift of forgiveness should prompt us to develop the kind of mindset of forgiveness. It should inspire in us a posture of generous pardon, to recognize how readily God reaches out beyond our deeds and how God looks beyond consequences to give us a second chance and from which we are to become new people. If we take seriously the Lord’s mercy upon us - this Lord who abundantly pardons - we have to ask ‘what are we going to do or be because of that?’
"Drawing heavily on research presented by Abram Van Engen in his 2020 volume, City on a Hill: A History of American Exceptionalism, the introductory session of the 4-part series explores the origins and use of "a city on a hill" as one expression of the American dream. Biblical sources and presidential usages of the phrase contribute to the complexity that the phrase carries today. (Correction: the speaker incorrectly identified UN membership as comprising 167 nation-states; in fact, there are 193.)"
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the plurality of the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer is always a communal thing, even when we pray alone. These words are powerful in how we share them. When we pray, we are pulled into connection with each other; even when we can’t hear each other prayers, we can feel them.
Pastor Megan Eide preaches on Isaiah. Big or small, Jesus listens with love. Take time to sit in the presence of Christ, building a relationship together. Jesus was not just a character in Bible stories, maybe Jesus is someone we could get to know personally and someone who wants to know us. You are worried and distracted by many things, but there is need of only one thing. Our worries and duties can often pull us away from what is most important, our families and our God.
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on the parable of the Good Samaritan. In no Bible will you find the heading named the parable of the robbers. Jesus gives the robbers little attention, focusing on the good Samaritan who showed mercy, was kind and thoughtful, and a good neighbor. The way Jesus decides to tell this parable demonstrates that we have a choice about what we focus our lives on. Are we focusing on the things that inspire love and kindness, moving us toward richer lives of faith?
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Isaiah. We’ve been shaped through a multitude of words and images to view God as a paternal figure. The prophet Isaiah uses explicitly maternal images to describe God, images that appropriately enlarge our imaginations of the divine. Our conceptualization of God influences the ways in which we relate to each other. Everything we can do to enlarge our understanding of God will expand our faith and understanding.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit is…not the fruits of the spirit are… It’s as though Paul couldn’t quite come up with just one word that could contain the fullness of what a spirit-led life looked like. The fruit of the spirit is not just a list of things we can check off or measure ourselves by but a whole way of life that moves toward love for ourselves and other people. The fruit of the spirit are those things that restore life and create joy, goodness, and community.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches that we are all one in Christ Jesus. There is often the mistake and confidence of many people who claim to have the truth when in fact we should be pursuing the truth. Jesus didn’t seem to pay much care to the distinctions that society was obsessed with; gender, race, heritage, ancestry. Sometimes we forget about loving because we are so eager to be right. No one should be written off. Everyone counts. Everyone matters. No exceptions.
Pastor Katy Warren preaches making time to be in awe of the things God has made. We can be quick to the frustration of inconveniences and slow to look at the marvels around us. Carve out time to explore the beauty and intricacies of what God has formed. Be surprised, be astonished, be present, pause just long enough to say ‘wow.’
Pastor Peter A. Pettit preaches on Acts. “What does this mean?” Showing up, walking alongside, and doing it all in the way that is needed - that’s what incarnation is all about. That’s what it means that Jesus came into this world to know our lives, walk alongside us, know our language and experience, and know our power and our strength. This is how we come to know the Gospel - when someone comes alongside us and speaks it to us in the language of our lives.
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the ascension of our Lord. God has a plan for bringing about God’s way of love in this world. Jesus was part of this plan; he lived, taught, healed, then died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven. But God’s plan continued to unleash the life-saving and world-changing power of God’s love into this world through us. Jesus ascended and passed that baton to us. Jesus is in us, with us, and working through us.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on wholeness. Do you want to be made whole? Do you want to take the steps necessary to make you whole? We all live with unhealthiness. It could be in our relationships, our homes, our spirits and sometimes we can’t imagine an alternative to our situation, we’re not willing to take the steps necessary to get out of our circumstances. Being made whole means to be whole on the inside, to be at peace in your center, to have God deeply shaping the core of your life.
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on Revelation and all things becoming new. “See, I am making all things new.” God is constantly at work making new joy or restoring hope in our lives, reassuring us of God’s presence. Not just someday, but right now. We are not starting over from scratch or erasing everything else that has happened but simply that God is making things new.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Psalm 23. Trusting our lives to God, who is capable of planting a deep internal peace within us, a God who doesn’t disappear when we needed but embraces us through some of the darkest and chilliest shadows of life.
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on love and the different ways in which it is spoken to each other. Jesus’ love language is about making a way when there is no way, making possibilities where there are only impossibilities, hope where there is despair, freedom where we are stuck, and forgiveness when we’ve messed up. It is in loving others in our varied ways that we show our love for God.
Pastor Megan Eide preaches on the questions and doubts we often face in our faith journey. Making observations, forming questions, and gathering evidence are how we interact with the world and make meaning in it. These questions aren't stop signs or road bumps on our journey, instead, they can be guideposts to help travel a more authentic road toward God.
Hear Our Praises
Text and music by Reuben Morgan ©1998 Hillsong Music. Used with Permission. CCLI License #2900188.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Easter Sunday. Life is stronger than death and despair is not permanent. While none of us know exactly what resurrection will look like, not until it happens to us, Paul makes clear that it is stitched into our lives in a daily way and we can come to know and trust the shape of resurrection through small signs in our lives.
Because He Lives
Words and Music by Ed Cash, Gloria Gaither, Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Daniel Carson, William J. Gaither and Chris Tomlin. © 2014 Alletrop Music; SDG Publishing; Sixsteps Music; Worship Together Music; Be Essential Songs; I Am A Pilgrim Songs; Open Hands Music; So Essential Tunes; Hanna Street Music
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Luke. God cares about the quality of our lives, the depth of our lives, the scope of our lives. The passion for important things. To live fully is to risk dying, to hope is to risk despair, to try is to risk failure. If we don’t take certain risks, are we really free? With faith, there are some beautiful risks to take. It’s about living a life that matters. How can we live a life that really matters?
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the last days of loved ones. When our loved ones are dying, our whole world shrinks to focus on them, they are the center of our attention, the here and the now is what matters. Because the time we once thought of as endless now has a finish line, a finite end. When we come face to face with death, we come to know that we do not have forever so we may experience more joy, more generosity because these moments are so utterly precious.
Your Will Be Done / Mayenziwe
Arr. © 1990 Iona Community, admin. GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on the story of the prodigal son. We are vulnerable when we love someone else; a child, parent, spouse, friend, family pet. When you love another person, you open yourself up to the joy and goodness and happiness of that relationship but you are also opening yourself up to hurt, sadness, heartache. God has the willingness to love us despite the vulnerability or the risk that it involves.
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Isaiah and the poetry of prophets. Poet Jane Kenyon “It is to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth in such a beautiful way that people cannot live without it. The poet's job is to put into words those feelings we all have that are so deep, so important, and yet so difficult to name, to tell the truth in such a beautiful way, that people cannot live without it.”
See the hands-free Whopper Holder video mentioned in Pastor Marty’s sermon.
Surely God Is My Salvation
Text: Zebulon M. Highben, b. 1979, based on Isaiah 12:2-6 Music: Hasidic melody. Text © 2009 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Kindness
Words and music: Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and Jesse Reeves. © 2000 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188.
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on Genesis and placing trust in God to guide us where we’re meant to go. Trust takes courage. God is willing to take a risk in trusting us so maybe one of the miracles of our faith is hearing the whispers of the promises of God and believing God is worthy of our trust.
Word of God
Words & Music by Brenton Brown & Andi Rozier. © 2012 Thankyou Music | Sony/ATV Tunes LLC. Used with permission, CCLI # 2900188
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Luke and remaining sustained during wilderness moments, holding on to faith, hope, courage. Staying grounded in faith during wilderness times may help you find meaning, a new sense of strength, or growth.
O Lord, throughout These Forty Days
Text: based on Claudia F. Hernaman; para. Gilbert E. Doan Jr. Music: A. Davisson, Kentucky Harmony, 1816; arr. Theodore A. Beck, Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
The River Is Here
Words & Music by Andy Park. © 1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing. CCLI Song #1475231
Peter W. Marty preaches on Exodus. After coming down from the mountaintop, Moses’ face was luminescent, radiant with everything that constituted the fullness of God. God is known in the face, through light and brightness. You have the power to make someone else’s day or to bring them joy, to show empathy and love through the light in your face.
Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing)
Words & Music by Brenton Brown & Brian Doerksen, © 2000 Vineyard Songs. Used with permission. CCLI License # 2900188
Katy Warren preaches on Luke Chapter 6 and the Golden Rule. It can be easy to ignore the commandment to ‘Love your enemies’ when it feels like you don’t have many. But what is Jesus’ definition of enemy? Could it be someone who irritates you, gets under your skin, makes you annoyed or resentful? Loving your enemy frees you up to care for others, to love others. We can choose anger and resentment or compassion and love but there is rarely room for both.
God, When Human Bonds are Broken
Text: Fred Kaan; Music: William H. Monk; Text © 1989 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Micah's Song
Text: Micah 6:8 Music: Bill Campbell © 1999 Bill Campbell. Used with Permission.
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches Luke’s Gospel. For those of us who are worn down from living too long with too little, who are hollowed out by hunger, or who are exhausted by too many nights full of tears, hearing Jesus’ words, “blessed are you who are poor, who are hungry, who are weeping” may bring some comfort and healing. The beauty in every one of us is in the eyes of God.
Let Justice Flow Like Streams
Text: Jane Parker Huber. Music: Aaron Williams. Text © 1984 Jane Parker Huber, admin. Westminster John Knox Press. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
All the People Said Amen
Words and Music by Matt Maher, Paul Moak, and Trevor Morgan © 2013 Thankyou Music | Valley of Songs Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on grace. “By the grace of God, I am what I am and it is God’s grace that has been shown to me that has not gone to waste.” God loves each of us because we are who we are.
To Be Your Presence
Text: Delores Dufner Music: Charles V. Stanford. Text © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Multiply Your Love
Words & Music by Andy Park ©2001 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing | Vineyard Songs Canada Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Pastor Katy Warren preaches on 1 Corinthians and love. Sometimes love looks like wedding gowns, tuxedos, flowers, and a great big party, and other times, love looks like sharing what you have, putting a smile on someone else’s face, or making sure someone else has a warm meal. Love comes in all shapes and sizes and can look like all sorts of different things.
Rise, Shine, You People
Text: Ronald A. Klug, b. 1939, alt. Music: Dale Wood, 1934-2003. Text and music © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Love the Lord
Words & Music by Lincoln Brewster © 2005 Integrity's Praise! Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Pastor Peter Pettit preaches on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. There are always reasons for discontent, embarrassment, and frustration about our bodies, however, this body is what God created. This body is what God formed. All of what Jesus did, he did in his body and all that we do in our bodies and all our bodies can do is amazing. No one body can be the whole, no one body can be perfect or perfected.
Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
Text: Rusty Edwards, b. 1955; Music: J. Wyeth, Repository of Sacred Music, Part III, 1813.Text © 1987 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Canticle of the Turning
Text: Rory Cooney, based on the Magnificat. Music: Irish traditional Text © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Pastor Peter Marty preaches on John 2. Pastor Marty explores the helping of others and the mission of the church. Reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr.’s words from his Mountaintop speech, a need to develop an almost dangerous unselfishness. Instead of “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” King suggested the real question should be “If I don’t stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
All the People Said Amen
Words and Music by Matt Maher, Paul Moak, and Trevor Morgan © 2013 Thankyou Music | Valley of Songs Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Pastor Peter Marty preaches on the third chapter of St. Luke and the baptism of Jesus. “I have called you by name, you are precious in my sight, and I love you.” Our names are distinctive and part of our identity. This is a big reason why we get baptized. We are baptized with our full name and we are told that we have a place in the heart of God and we are loved by God.
Crashing Waters at Creation
Text: Sylvia G. Dunstan, 1955–1993 Music: attr. Christian F. Witt, 1660–1716; adapt. Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805–1876. Text © 1991 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Be Lifted Up
Words & Music by Paul Oakley © 2001 Thankyou Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Peter W. Marty preaches on Ephesians. We are the adopted children of God and God as our adoptive parent. “Do not think the point of life is just to set goals, think instead the point of life is to be faithful to the commitments that have already been built into your life.”
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Text: attr. John Francis Wade; tr. Frederick Oakeley, sts. 1, 3-4; tr. unknown, st. 2. Music: attr. John Francis Wade. Stanza 3 and 4 arranged by David Willcocks © 1961, Oxford University Press. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Verse Text: African American Spiritual; Refrain: John W. Work, Jr.; Music: Go Tell It, African American Spiritual
Peter W. Marty preaches on this special Christmas edition of the St. Paul podcast. The Christmas story tells us that the things that count are human and deeply personal. Jesus offers a new way of being human, with power found in vulnerability, humility, and service to others. May the Christmas story remind you of that tiny child who is determined to teach us the difference between the love of power and the power of love. With Christmas favorites like Joy to the World and Silent Night as well as Oh Holy Night with lyric soprano Claire Kuttler.
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Luke chapter 1 and Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth and the song of Mary and Elizabeth. Our collective memory can be our shared hope. God has been faithful to us, is faithful to us now, and will be faithful to us and this world forever.
Lo, How A Rose / Child of Mary
German Carol. Chorus & Arrangement by Bill Campbell
Peter W. Marty preaches on Isaiah chapter 12. Salvation is the name for Christian hope. Hope is what allows us to overcome despair, for some to wage a realistic war against the depression that bedraggles you or the anxiety that bedevils you. “Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and I will not be afraid.”
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Words: Charles Wesley. Melody: "Hyfrydol." Arranged by Bill Campbell
Katy Warren preaches on the first chapter of the gospel of Luke and the song Zechariah sings just days after his son John was born. Pastor Warren reflects on Brahms Lullaby and the constant hope for renewed life and a hope for the future even during struggles and difficult times. The names two realities: Life is hard, death is an ever-present reality and you will be surrounded by the tender mercy of God. While life is challenging, it is beautiful and God is present in the midst of it all.
Prepare the Royal Highway
Text: Frans Mikael Franzén; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship; Music: Swedish folk tune, 17th cent.; Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Candle In the Dark
Words & Music by William Campbell © 2020 William Campbell Music. Used with permission.
Peter W. Marty preaches on the first Sunday of Advent. Be on your guard so you aren’t avoiding or wasting your true purpose. Stand tall, keep your head up, stay engaged with all of the messy activities of life. The proper response in anxious times of disaster, Jesus says, is to keep your head high, stand up, and go about living, to keep loving God and your neighbor as much as yourself. Christian people see and rejoice in endless hope.
Creator of the Stars of Night
Conditor Alme Siderum, Latin Hymn, 9th Century, Arranged by Bill Campbell, 2020
Katy Warren preaches on the celebration of the final Sunday in the church calendar, the Sunday prior to the beginning of Advent. It is a day of reflection on the reign of God in our lives. “My kingdom is not of this world.” God’s presence shapes who we are and how we behave in this world because it is God who reigns in our hearts.
Shine Down on Me
Words & Music by Maria Christianson, Margaret Davis, Chris O'Brien, and Carrie Petrillo. © 1995 Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Peter W. Marty preaches about grace. Consider your life during the sermon, what good luck and breaks have you had in your life? The good fortune and chance blessings that are part of your experience? While there may be bad luck and misfortune in your life, there are ample blessings that come your way. When we focus on the positive aspects of our lives, we tend to underestimate the role of luck and blessings, the unmerited blessings that come into our lives. Gratitude is one of the finest feelings in life. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”
Now Thank We All Our God
Text: Martin Rinkhart; tr. Catherine Winkworth. Music: Johann Crüger. Arr. © 2006 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Woke Up This Morning
Text and Music: African American Spiritual
Sara Olson-Smith preaches during All Saints from John Chapter 11. Pastor Olson-Smith preaches about taking a threshold pause as a spiritual practice, stopping and pausing as we step out of one place and into the next, one way of being into another, a time to stop and look back so we can step forward with freedom and intention. When we are stuck and buried by our grief, Jesus helps move us into some kind of new, hopeful now.
For All the Saints
Text: William W. How, 1823–1897; Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872–1958. Music © Oxford University Press. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Here I Am To Worship
Words & Music by Tim Hughes © 2000 Thankyou Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Peter W. Marty preaches from the book of Romans from the Apostle Paul. In Christ Jesus, we get to trust that all will be right in the center of life, even when all feels wrong. It’s all right. Behind this phrase are the murmurings of grace. All people sin and fall short of the glory of God, no exceptions, but through the righteousness of God, God brings us a gift through Jesus Christ. Everything is going to be all right in the life of Christ.
A Mighty Fortress
Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship. Music: Martin Luther, 1483–1546. Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Your Will Be Done / Mayenziwe
Arr. © 1990 Iona Community, admin. GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534
Peter W. Marty preaches from the book of Mark Chapter 10 and shares about establishing habits and practices that shape who we are, including our faith. When faith becomes second nature, it is truly beautiful. You have to train and work your spiritual muscles. Learn the fundamentals of trust, know them, practice them, then let them wail!
Amazing Grace
Text: John Newton. Music: New Britain
Katy Warren preaches on Mark Chapter 10 beginning with verse 35. Pastor Katy reflects on the thought that if Jesus is the answer, what is the question? Is it your search for peace, hope, meaning, and purpose? Or is it possible that Jesus is the question and we become part of the answer? What does God hope for my life?
Micah’s Song
Text: Micah 6:8 Music: Bill Campbell © 1999 Bill Campbell. Used with Permission.
Peter W. Marty preaches on St. Mark’s Gospel Chapter 10. We can have huge resources but can be missing something vitally in us. What about the things we cannot buy? You cannot buy more time, you can’t buy your way out of shame or loneliness. The richest things in life have nothing to do with money.
All My Hope on God Is Founded
Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680; para. Robert Bridges, 1844-1930, alt. Music: Herbert Howells, 1892-1983. Music © 1968 Novello & Co., Limited, London, United Kingdom. All rights reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Your Grace Is Enough
Words and Music by Matt Maher © 2003 Thankyou Music | SpiritandSong.com. Used with permission. CCLI License # 2900188
Katy Warren preaches about the story of Job and bad days. Sometimes there is no justification as to why sometimes we have bad days. “Who has decided to walk beside us in the darkest of valleys?” On days when it is difficult to find something good, the sharing of gratitude lifts our spirits, focusing on those that bring us joy even during terrible, horrible, no good days.
God, When Human Bonds are Broken
Text: Fred Kaan; Music: William H. Monk; Text © 1989 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord
Words & Music by Paul Baloche, © 1997 Integrity's Hosanna! Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
There are few things in our lives that hold more power than words. The conversations we share, the stories we tell, and the ideas we express all influence our sense of being and belonging. The Book of James invites us to consider how our words shape our sense of community and faith - and pushes us to ponder the power of prayer. Megan Eide preaching. James 5:13-17
Hold Us Together: Words & Music by Matt Maher and Steve Wilson© Beaux Music | Skyline Apartments | spiritandsong.com | Thankyou Music Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
There is something very human about our desire to measure ourselves against other people. To compare and compete, to see who's bigger, better, best. Jesus' friends had their own debates about who was the greatest. And in response, Jesus does something pretty surprising. Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on how Jesus turns our competing, our comparing - everything - upside down. Mark 9: 30-37.
Follow You
Words & Music by Leeland Mooring, Jack Mooring and Ed Cash, © 2009 Meaux Mercy (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Meaux Jeaux (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), and Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services), CCLI License #2900188
The mouth figures prominently in scripture as the organ with which we sing, praise, and bless God. In this episode, Peter W. Marty looks at our individual capacity to speak such kind and blessed words on the one hand, and such cruel or mistaken words on the other -- and how difficult it is to take back our words. James 3:1-5a, 9-11.
Give Me Your Eyes
Words & Music by Jason Ingram and Brandon Heath © 2007 All Essential Music | Peertunes | Ltd. Windsor Way Music | Sitka 6 Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
When it comes to preferences, think about all the things you favor in a given day. Pastor Katy Warren preaches that when it comes to matters of faith, the Letter of James has some different thoughts on showing favoritism. Our task as Christians is to show compassion in intentional ways and share God's love and care for all people -- particularly those left out on the margins. Preaching text: James 2:1-10, 14-17.
O God of Mercy, God of Light
Text: Godfrey Thring, alt. Music: Joseph Barnby; arr. hymnal version, Arr. © 2006 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
All the People Said Amen
Words and Music by Matt Maher, Paul Moak, and Trevor Morgan © 2013 Thankyou Music | Valley of Songs Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on the importance of commandments and their interpretation - especially to a religious and moral life. Living out God's commandments in thoughtful ways is basic to walking and talking with God. Deuteronomy 4:1-9
Everlasting God
Words & Music by Brenton Brown & Ken Riley, © 2005 Thankyou Music. Used With Permission. CCLI License #2900188
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on moving and living with intention to make us come alive with meaning, purpose, and joy. As the school year begins, we have a new beginning to step back and ask ourselves, “Who are we going to be this fall? What will be our priorities?” Choose today who you will serve.
To Be Your Presence
Text: Delores Dufner Music: Charles V. Stanford. Text © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Pastor Peter A. Pettit preaches John 6:51-59. The first of seven “I am” sayings and how God relates to the world and people through Jesus. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.”
10,000 Reasons
Words and Music by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman © 2011 Atlas Music; Said and Done Music; Sixsteps Music; ThankYou Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on character and personality. You are not your reputation, your possessions, or your skill set but are in fact your character. Walking in God’s ways means what we do in the name of God in regards to our character.
Words & Music by Neil Robins © 2009 Sojourn Community Church. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188.
Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on growth during the Season after Pentecost. We are a forest of faith that helps nurture us and grow into a deeper love of God and each other. Diversity is our greatest superpower to growth.
We All Are One in Mission
Text: Rusty Edwards, b. 1955; Music: Finnish folk tune; arr. hymnal version. Text © 1986 Hope Publishing Company; Arr. © 2006 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Kindness
Words and music: Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, and Jesse Reeves. © 2000 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188.
During the Season after Pentecost, Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on hunger and the anxieties surrounding scarcity with a reading from 2 Kings 4:42-44. “Wherever there is plenty of God in your life, there is plenty of everything else. And wherever this is a shortage of God in your life, you can expect other things to be missing as well.”
River of Mercy
Words and Music by Paul Frantsen © 1998 Cross the Sky Music Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Sent Forth By God’s Blessing
Text: Omer Westendorf; Music: Welsh Folk Tune.Text © 1964 World Library Publications. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
During the Season after Pentecost, Pastor Katy Warren preaches on resetting your life through the words of Mark. At some point, everyone is in need of a reset in our lives, to discover God’s grace, love, and compassion. Music by Chris Nelson and an original piece by Bill Campbell with Open Spirit.
Garden of My Soul
Music by Bill Campbell, Music by Bill & Michelle Campbell. © 1999 by William Campbell Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188.
In Pastor Hayden’s final service, he talks about what makes an experience formative. Hayden speaks about his experiences over the last two years in the pastoral residency program at St. Paul. Hayden gives his farewell to the congregation. Music from Chris Nelson, Bill Campbell, and Open Spirit.
ELW 769 If You But Trust in God to Guide You
Text: Georg Neumark; Music: Georg Neumark; Text © 1978, 2006 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534
Blessed Be Your Name
Words & music by Matt Redman and Beth Redman © 2002 Thankyou Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Season after Pentecost, Katy Warren preaches during the concluding online worship service. God’s love shows up, again and again, every morning without fail. This scripture addresses those who are looking for some sense of peace and God’s constant goodness among us. We meet and share the peace with some new friends during the Children’s Message.
All Who Are Thirsty (first used 8/2/20)
Words and Music by Brenton Brown and Glenn Robertson © 1998 Vineyard Songs. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
ELW 733 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Text: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1866-1960. Music: William M. Runyan, 1870-1957 Text and music © 1923, Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Company. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
During the Season after Pentecost, Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on weathering storms and approaching each other just as we are. God leads us into storms and also through the still waters of life. Pastor Hayden’s children’s message describes what items make us feel safe, protected, and peaceful during a storm and throughout the storms in our lives.
During the Season after Pentecost, Peter W. Marty preaches on how we unintentionally see the world through our own experiences which can sometimes lead to selfishness. Paul says we can see the world through our own perspective or we can see the world through the perspective of Jesus Christ so we can experience a more beautiful existence. Andy and Haley join for the Children’s Message to make old things new.
Raspberries William Campbell
©2011 William Campbell Music. Used with permission
Music: Your Grace Is Enough
Words and Music by Matt Maher © 2003 Thankyou Music | SpiritandSong.com. Used with permission. CCLI License # 2900188
Pastor Hayden Kvamme preaches on the Apostle Paul and resurrection moments in our lives and what makes life good even during our darkest times. Pastor Hayden likens this scripture to us having an emergency contact we would entrust our lives to in difficult times. Pastor Sara tries to pack a few special items to take on her trip.
Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord
Words & Music by Paul Baloche © 1997 Integrity's Hosanna! Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
ELW #665 Rise, Shine, You People!
Text: Ronald A. Klug, b. 1939, alt. Music: Dale Wood, 1934-2003. Text and music © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Everlasting God
Words & Music by Brenton Brown & Ken Riley © 2005 Thankyou Music. Used With Permission. CCLI License #2900188
Season after Pentecost, Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on Moses and the ten commandments. We reflect on the word Sabbath and the importance of rest. Pastor Hayden Kvamme shares a message with the kids on seeing things through other people’s eyes.
Give Me Your Eyes
Words & Music by Jason Ingram and Brandon Heath © 2007 All Essential Music | Peertunes | Ltd. Windsor Way Music | Sitka 6 Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
On the Day of Pentecost, Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Romans Chapter 8 about The Holy Spirit and expanding our metaphors for the Holy Spirit. “This spirit knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.” Chris Nelson takes Peter Marty on a tour of the organ. Musical performances by the St. Paul Chorale, Music Staff, Open Spirit, and Chris Nelson.
Holy Spirit, Come
Words & Music by William Campbell © 2007 William Campbell Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Come Down, O Love Divine
David Ashley White © 1999 Selah Publishing Co., Inc. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Hold Us Together
Words & Music by Matt Maher and Steve Wilson © Beaux Music | Skyline Apartments | spiritandsong.com | Thankyou Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
On the seventh Sunday of Easter, Peter A. Pettit preaches. "Your blessing, O Lord, is in your very name, your name above all other names. Your name speaks mercy, grace, and compassion into our lives." The Chorale sings.
On the sixth Sunday of Easter, Peter W. Marty preaches on the Scripture of John regarding love and friendship. A very special goodbye to our wonderful Destiny Ellingsworth. The children and youth choirs sing.
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing! Paul Manz
© 1974, 1990, and 2011 Birnamwood Publications. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved
Everybody Praise Him! Jeff Reeves
© 2019 Hal Leonard LLC. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved
Take, Oh Take Me As I Am
Text & Music by John Bell. © 1995 WGRG the Iona Community (Scotland), admin. GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
You Are Mine David Haas
© 1991 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing!
Text: Cyril A. Alington, 1872–1955, alt., Music: Melchior Vulpius, 1570–1615
Text © 1952, ren. 1980 Hymns Ancient & Modern (admin. Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188). All rights reserved. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534.
The Lord Bless You and Keep You John Rutter
words and music © 1981 Hinshaw Music, Inc. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
All Creatures Worship God Most High
Words: St. Francis of Assisi, 1225; tr. composite; Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; arr. Bill Campbell
On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Hayden Kvamme preaches. "May your whole life be nurtured and filled by the resurrection joy of Jesus our Lord, and may God's blessing bear much fruit in every encounter into which the Spirit leads you. Amen."
Garden of My Soul
Words by Michelle Campbell & William Campbell Music by William Campbell © 2000 by William Campbell Music
ELW #377 Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen!
Text: Herbert F. Brokering, b. 1926-2009; Music: David N. Johnson, 1922–1987.
Text © 1995 Augsburg Fortress. Music © 1969 Contemporary Worship 1, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved
ELW #388 Be Not Afraid
Text: Matthew 28:5; Taizé Community Music: Jacques Berthier.
Text and music © 1998 Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Love the Lord
Words & Music by Lincoln Brewster © 2005 Integrity's Praise! Music.
Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Pastor Sara Olson-Smith preaches. "As you step with courage into these new days- go in the care and keeping our Good Shepherd, who came that you might have life and have it abundantly, and who might just lead you into amazing and unexpected relationships. And May God, our Creator, Savior, and Spirit, bless you today and forever. Amen."
Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us, setting by Walter L. Pelz
Setting © 2018 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Here I Am to Worship
Words & Music by Tim Hughes © 2000 Thankyou Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188
Forever
Words & Music by Chris Tomlin © 2001 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music. Used with permission. CCLI License #2900188.
Pastor Peter A. Pettit preaches on the Third Sunday of Easter. "As we move on through this Easter season, living out our Easter lives and the newness that God gives us, may the Father of our Risen Lord confirm you in faith, renew you in hope, and empower you in love. Amen."
People of God
Words & Music by Brandon Gillies, Israel Houghton & Michael Gungor
© 2009 worshiptogether.com songs. Used with permission. CCLI License # 2900188
Be Not Afraid
Text: Matthew 28:5; Taizé Community Music: Jacques Berthier.
Text and music © 1998 Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc.
Used by permission under OneLicense #A-710534. All rights reserved.
Open The Eyes of My Heart, Lord
Words & Music by Paul Baloche © 1997 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music.
Used with permission. CCLI License 2900188.
Peter Marty preaches on the Second Sunday of Easter. "May the Lord help us all discover that we are not what we own, but we are what we have been given, and we also are what we share."
Peter Marty preaches on Easter Sunday. "Without God emptying out a grave one morning, and resurrecting a lifeless corpse in the process, there would be no New Testament, no Church, and no Christianity. But God’s extraordinary power exhibited then continues now in our day. So, we say with great joy: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!"
Peter Marty preaches on Good Friday. "In the ancient world, heroes were heroic and victims were pitiable. But the crucifixion of Jesus changed all that. Enter into the power of the suffering love of Jesus by centering yourself in the somber realities of this difficult but “good” day for believing people."