Invitation Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Invitation Church
In part III of our series in Galatians, we welcomed Pastor Heather Henson who shared with us the danger of saving seats in the Kingdom of God.
In week two of our series in Galatians, Dave encouraged us to consider if our way of life looks more like a critic or a pupil.
In week 1 of our Galatians series, Dave unpacks the first chapter of this letter from Paul to the Galatian churches.
On Sunday, Dave talked about how life with Jesus isn't always easy, but rather, we will encounter all kinds of different terrain: peaceful, stalled and painful.
For Easter Sunday, Dave talked about the power of resurrection life that Jesus not only brought but wants to raise up within us and in the world around us!
For Palm Sunday this year, Dave unpacked the 4 elements of Passover: traveling together, celebration of new life, collective memory, and the Passover lamb.
In week 8 of our series walking through the Exodus narrative, Jaden unpacked the plague of locusts looking at 4 signs of a hardened-heart.
In week 6 of our series walking through the Exodus narrative, Dave unpacked the plague of hail.
In week 5 of our series unpacking the Exodus narrative, Dave walked through the plague of the boils with us that presents Pharaoh with a question we all must answer.
In week two of our series on the Exodus narrative and the 10 Plagues, Dave unpacks the plague of Frogs and its message about obedience.
On the first Sabbath Sunday of 2025, Dave is joined by Adam Sieff and the Bishop of Sioux Falls, Dennis Thum, for a conversation about the Sabbath. We hope it encourages you as you seek grace, truth, and life.
In the series finale, Dave unpacked a moment in Phillip the disciple's life that challenges us as followers of Jesus.
In week 4 of our winter series, Jaden unpacked the example of Andrew, the first disciple.
In week two of our series on the disciples of Jesus, Jaden introduced us to a man named Matthew.
In week one of our series unpacking the disciples, Dave shared a message about Peter the Disciple.
In week 4 of our Advent Series, Jaden Brockel unpacked the role of the Shepherds in the Christmas narrative.
In week 3 of our Advent series, Zach Bauer unpacked the role of Joseph in the Christmas story.
In week two of our Advent series, Dave unpacked Mary's response to the message of the angel Gabriel.
In the conclusion of our fall series on the parables of the Kingdom of God, Dave unpacks the parable of the two sons, which highlights the truth that we desire salvation, but we desire a Christ who does all the dying.
In part 7 of our fall series, Dave unpacked a parable from Jesus in Matthew 18.
"Evil is not defeated through punishment; evil is defeated through forgiveness."
We welcomed Pastor Wade Duroe to our gathering this weekend as he shared the parable of the treasure hidden in the field.
In week 3 of our series on the Kingdom Parables, Dave unpacked the parable of the mustard seed.
In week two of our series, Dave unpacked Jesus's telling of the wheat and weeds parable.
In week one of our fall series on Jesus's kingdom parables, we unpacked the parable of the sower.
Dave shared about the fall ministry schedule at our weekend gathering as we shift to a morning gathering beginning September 1st.
In our worship gathering this weekend, Dave unpacked the words of the Psalmist recorded in Psalm 91 about God's sheltering and refuge-providing love.
In this episode, hear from our ministry partners in Haiti: Drs. William & Nathalie Hyppolite!
For Jesus: it is UNTHINKABLE that we would identify with him and NOT be in training. As his popularity is skyrocketing, Jesus tells his disciples that the student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be LIKE their teacher.
What he doesn't say: + Everyone who is fully trained will be ready to be let into heaven.
The far horizon for Jesus is not for people to GATHER around him, but for people to be LIKE him and invite others into that life. Doesn't that sound heavenly?
On Mother's Day, Dave continued our series unpacking the post-resurrection appearnaces of Jesus. In John 21, the disciples experience failure in the area of their greatest confidence, and Jesus uses this moment to reframe the role that failure has in our discipleship.
In week 4 of our spring series, Dave unpacked a moment between Thomas and his Resurrected Lord and God.
In week three of our series tracing the post-resurrection appearances, Dave unpacked Luke 24!
Grace & Peace!
In week two of our series tracing the post-resurrection appearances, Dave unpacked John 20:19-23!
Also included is Sailer Erickson's dedication!
Grace & Peace!
In part 1 of our series of conversations looking at the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, Dave unpacks the first person to see him alive after Good Friday: Mary Magdeline.
In celebration of Palm Sunday, we discussed that the most important thing that happens when Jesus enters Jerusalem is what DOES NOT happen.
What DOES NOT happen is that the religious leader welcomes him into the holy city...
What DOES NOT happen is that the people filling Jerusalem for Passover crown him as king
What DOES NOT happen is that Jesus is welcomed and celebrated as the rightful Lord of all....
In part 7 of our series on the Lord's Prayer, Dave unpacked the difficulty and the invitation behind forgiveness.
In part 6 of our series on The Lord's Prayer, Dave unpacked the line from Jesus: "Give us today our daily bread."
In part V of our series on the Lord's Prayer, Jaden provided some clarity into the heart of God when it comes to his will showing up in our lives!
In part III of our series on the Lord's Prayer, Dave unpacked the idea of praying and seeking, "Thy Kingdom Come."
On this special episode of our podcast, Pastor Dave sat down with Bruce Blumer, executive director of Haiti Alive to talk about his ministry in Haiti.
Check it out!
God is not just the useful one to whom we pray for things but also the beautiful one to whom we adore.
This weekend we welcomed Bruce Blumer from our ministry partner Haiti AliveBruce gave us an update on the school, clinic, and feeding program in Haiti. Follow the link in the comments to support the work being done on the island of LaGonave!
In part 7 of our fall series, Dave unpacked the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6.
»The challenge of this miracle is that watching God provide is never a comfortable experience and is always an expression of faith.
In week 6 of our series on the miracles of Jesus, Jaden unpacked a central moment in the ministry of Jesus.
In week 5 of our series in the book of Mark, Dave took us back to the moment on the sea of Galilee when Jesus invited his disciples to go with him to the OTHER side of the lake.
In week 4 of our series studying the miracles of Jesus in the book of Mark, we came around the idea that shame can be HIDDEN or HEALED, but it cannot be BOTH.
In Mark chapter 2, Jesus heals a paralyzed man while teaching about his kingdom. Mark wants us to notice how Jesus sees the man's faith, but he also sees the judgment of the religious leaders, and we were faced with the question: "How would Jesus say he sees your faith?"
In week two of our series unpacking the miracles in the book of Mark, we examined the truth that in the ancient world, impurity was contagious, but in the Kingdom of God, purity is contagious.
AS WE KEEP COMPANY WITH JESUS: a work happens within us and spills out of us
All good things must come to an end!
This week Jaden Brockel closed out our series through the book of Acts. We discussed how Luke ends this book with a very intentional challenge: Do we have ears to hear the message of the Kingdom of God? Do we have eyes to see the beauty of the King?
This week Richie Hutchinson shared a message with our community about encountering God and God encountering us.
This weekend Dave continued our study through the book of Acts.
We looked at how taking up the way of Jesus draws us into the burdens of Jesus. If we are going to have burdens on this side of resurrection, why not be united with Jesus in what burdens him?
This weekend we welcomed Brent Eliason to Invitation as he encouraged us to embrace life by the spirit!
This week, Jaden unpacked Acts 16-18 and looked at several frustrations that Paul and Silas were confronted with in the midst of their second missionary journey. Even though these situations left them frustrated, it didn't stop them from eventually seeing the beautiful plan of God that was unfolding in front of them.
In the final section of the year-long study in the book of Acts, Dave unpacked a moment between Barnabas, Paul, Peter, and James, helping us understand that grace helps us not get lost in the wrong story.
If you’re going to wrap your life around ANYTHING ...wrap it around GRACE
This weekend we unpacked Acts chapter 12!
» You can be deeply committed to being a Christian WITHOUT being deeply formed by Christ
» WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? Someone who pursues living INSIDE of, instead of UP TO, God’s standard.
For Easter this year, we had a combined worship gathering as we celebrated resurrection together.
This weekend we unpacked Acts chapter 10!
» HEAVEN is not an ADDRESS but a FORCE
» WE WANT TO MAKE SURE that we're not gathering around what Jesus can do FOR us; we want to make sure we gather around JESUS
This weekend we welcomed Mikaela Campbell to help us walk through the conclusion of Acts 9!
This weekend we unpacked Acts chapter 9:19-31!
» In Saul's 5th decade of life, he writes a letter to a church stating, "that if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a NEWcreation, the old has GONE and the new has COME." He writes those words to the church because of his intense and personal struggle of seeing himself in light of God's grace.
» Saul does not write 1 Corinthians 13: love as protecting, trusting, hoping, persevering, and never failing, in a vacuum; he writes it out of an experience of being forgiven.
This weekend we unpacked Acts chapter 9:1-19! » You don’t grow by MOVING ON from the gospel, but by digging more DEEPLY into it—and becoming more deeply ROOTED in it. » In a world that says, "MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL!" We hear from the heart of God on a road to Syria that he has MADE US SO, but he wants to make us even MORE so! » What is getting in the WAY of your DIVINE USEFULNESS?
This weekend Dennis Thum shared a message on grace. » What we learn as we grow is that hardship is the doorway to grace. » Grace is not the activity of God; it is the very nature of God.
This weekend we unpacked Acts 8. » Jesus wasn't the first to say: "Come follow me," and he won't be the last. » Turning toward Jesus involves claiming his promises and wrestling with his questions.
This weekend we unpacked Acts 7.
» A story without Jesus is an INCOMPLETE & MIS-SHAPED story.
» The choices we MAKE reveal the story that we have EMBRACED.
» You can KNOW God and not be LIKE Christ.
What Luke wants us to see in Acts chapter 6 is that walking with Jesus will require us to stand before the Sanhedrin.
In week two of our Advent series, Dave unpacked some lessons that we learn from the Magi in their pursuit of the Christ child.
In Week 1 of our Advent series, Dave introduced us to a group of men who travel 900 miles; from Babylon to Bethlehem to see Jesus.
As we approach Thanksgiving, Riche Hutchinson shared a word on gratitude for us to carry with us through this holiday season.
In week 7 of our series in the book of Acts, Dave outlined the unity of the early church.
In part 6 of our series in the book of Acts, Dave unpacked a prayer for boldness following the arrest and release of John and Peter.
In part 5 of our series in the book of Acts, Dave unpacked the response of the religious leaders to the miraculous healing performed by God through Peter and John.
In week 4 of our series in the book of Acts, Dave unpacked a healing performed through Peter and John on their way to the temple.
In week 3 of our series in the book of Acts, Dr. Robin Duncan unpacks the presence, power, & reality of the Holy Spirit in you.
In our morning worship gathering, Dave unpacked the next steps for our church as we transition to an early evening gathering beginning in 2023.
In week two of our fall series, Pastor Dave unpacked the spirit falling on the early Christians during Pentecost, dissolving doors that had locked people out of relationship with others and with God.
In the opening message in our Acts series, Dave shared a warning from the end of Acts chapter 1.
"Do not live with your head in the clouds."
This weekend the Sproles family shared with us about their time serving and learning in Liberia!
In week 4 of our summer series on various Bible stories and characters, Dave unpacked a story surrounding the superhero of the Bible: a man named Samson.
In week two of our summer series, Dave unpacked Gideon's story of tearing down his father's altars to false Canaanite gods.
In week two of our summer series, Dave unpacked the story of Deborah: the only female judge in Israel's history.
This weekend we celebrated our graduates, and talked about 3 different kinds of terrain that we all encounter in life.
PEACEFUL//STALLED//PAINFUL
At the conclusion of the 2022 school year, Dave shared a word to the teachers in our community.
On Mothers Day 2022, Dave unpacked a few quotes from Mary the mother of Jesus that help us understand the heart that God has for us as we seek him.
In the final message of our Lent series, Jaden Brockel unpacked a conversation between Jesus and the disciples from John 15.
In week 4 of our series during lent, Adam opened the door to a conversation that Jesus has with his disciples about a gift that will fall upon them after leaves the earth. It is a gift, but it is a gift that they will have to WAIT for.
In week 3 of our lent series, Dave unpacks a conversation between Jesus and his disciples that reveals the deepest longing of God.
In week 3 of our Lent series, Dave unpacked a moment in the book of John that is filled with grief as one of the disciples steps away from the inner circle of people around Jesus.
In week one of our lent series, Dave unpacked the moment Jesus interrupted dinner with a foot washing.
In part 4 of our series on the life of Peter, Dave unpacked a scene in the book of Acts that shows us the growth and transformation that has happened in Peter's life.
In week 3 of our series on the life of Peter, Dave unpacked the two gifts of God that we are given, but don’t expect to have to use: (1) REPENTANCE (2) FORGIVENESS Peter shows us that when we use these gifts, the kingdom gets closer. They help us TASTE the sweetness, SEE the glory, and SMELL the aroma of heaven.
Matthew helps us step into moments of Peter's journey with Jesus that are informative for us in our life of faith.
"You are the Christ!"
"May it never be, Lord!"
In week 4 of our series in Romans 8, Dave unpacked Paul's word to the Romans that their present suffering does not compare with the future glory that will be revealed in them by the Spirit.
In week 3 of our series in Romans 8, Kate Friesen unpacked the third section of one of the most famous chapters of the Bible.
This morning we welcomed Pastor Dennis Thum, Campus Pastor at the University of Sioux Falls.
In week 1 of our new series in Romans 8, Dave unpacks the way in which the spirit convicts us both us both of SIN & RIGHTEOUSNESS
In week two of our Advent series, Dave Campbell and Richie Hutchinson talked together about the power of the incarnation.
In part 1 of our Advent series, Dave Campbell, Adam Sieff, and Travis Lavender had a conversation together about what it actually means that God is WITH us.
In week 10 of our series in the book of Ephesians, Dave unpacked two ways of life for followers of Jesus.
We can follow JESUS, or we can follow ROME.
We just cannot claim CHRIST if we are going to find our identity in ROME.
In week 9 of our fall series in the book of Ephesians, Dave unpacks the relationship between IMITATION & INFLUENCE
In week 7 of our series in Ephesians, Kate Friesen unpacked Paul's call for the church to walk in unity
In week 6 of our series in Ephesians, Dave unpacks Paul's prayer for this young church to more fully grasp the love of God.
In week 4 of our series in the book of Ephesians, Dave unpacks Paul's declaration that Jesus has come to DESTROY walls of hostility between God's people.
In week 3 of our series in the book of Ephesians, Dave unpacks what God has made possible in Christ for the Ephesian church and us.
In week 2 of our fall series in Ephesians, Dave unpacks Paul's prayer for the Ephesian Jesus community: that they would grow in KNOWLEDGE, HOPE, AND POWER.
In the opening week of our Ephesians series, Dave unpacks three words spoken over this 1st century church in Asia Minor: CHOSEN:::HOLY::::BLAMELESS:::
Dave shares about the heartbeat of Invitation Church, and Matt Schock shares some of his cancer journey.
On back to school Sunday Dave unpacked a moment in Isaiah that will root us as we step into a new school year.
In part 9 of our summer series, Dave unpacks the final moments of Israel's captivity in Egypt.
In part 5 of our summer series, Dave unpacked a story of a man named Abram from the book of Genesis.
In week 3 of our summer series, Dave unpacked the story of Noah in the first few chapters of the Bible.
Bruce Blumer updated us on what's happening in Haiti with at friends at LaGonave Alive!
In week 2 of our summer series, Dave unpacks God's question to the first humans about where their feet are planted.
In week 1 of our summer series Dave unpacked the creation account from Genesis 1.
When God is FORMING & FILLING us in a way that we do not like—is it possible that he is responding to a chaos that we cannot see? df
In week 3 of our series tracking the days and weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, Dave unpacks John 21: the epilogue of John's gospel.
In week two of our series called "After Resurrection," Dave unpacked an interaction between the risen Jesus and the hurting Thomas.
In part 1 of our series called "After Resurrection," Dave unpacked Jesus's reunion with the disciples in John 20.
In part 5 of our series in the book of John, Dave unpacked a severe storm that the disciples encountered on the Sea of Galilee.
In week 4 of our Lent series, Dave unpacks a sign of what is to come in the world as Jesus provides abundantly for his people.
In week one of our Lent series, Adam Sieff unpacks a miracle of Jesus at a wedding in Cana.
In the conclusion of our series called, "Kings & Kingdoms," Dave unpacked the prayer of Solomon in 1 Kings 8
In part 6 of our series called, "Kings & Kingdoms," Dave unpacks the impulse within us to customize the way of Jesus.
In week 5 of our series Dave unpacks some words spoken by King David at the end of his life.
In week 4 of our series called "Kings and Kingdoms," Dave unpacked the power of the pasture in preparing King David and the opportunity it provides for each of us toward transformation.
In part 1 of our new series, Dave unpacked Israel's demand for a king to lead them in 1 Samuel 8.
In week 4 of our advent series, Dave unpacks the title of Prince of Peace from Isaiah 9.
In week 3 of our Advent series, Dave unpacked the title of EVERLASTING FATHER in Isaiah 9.
In week 2 of our Advent series, Dave unpacked the second title given to Christ at this birth: MIGHTY GOD.
In part 1 of our Advent series, Richie unpacked the first title of Christ from Isaiah 9: wonderful, counselor
In our Colossians series finale, Dave unpacked the names of a few people that Paul highlights at the close of his letter.
In week 9 of our series in the book of Colossians, Dave unpacked Paul's call to live the Jesus way in the place you are most yourself: your home.
In part 8 of our series in the book of Colossians, Dave unpacked the new wardrobe that Paul is calling the Colossians to put on as they live the Jesus way.
In the days before the 2020 Presidential Election, Dave draws our attention to what the scriptures call us to before AND after Tuesday.
In part 7 of our series in the book of Colossians, Dave unpacks Paul's command to the Colossian church to fix their HEARTS & MINDS above.
In part 5 of our series in the book of Colossians, Dave shares a warning from Paul about how faith is impacted not so much by what we neglect, but by what we add.
During last weekend's gathering, Dave shared our plan as a church as we move toward regathering at Apple Tree on Sunday mornings.
In week 3 of our series in the book of Colossians, Dave unpacks the hymn found in Colossians 1, lifting up Jesus as the one BEFORE and ABOVE all things.
In our Sunday night church in the park gathering, Dave unpacked the words of Jesus to his disciples in John 14.
In week two of our series in Colossians, Dave unpacks Paul's prayer for them as a community.
In the opening message in our Colossians series, Dave unpacks the reality of drifting away and drifting back toward all that God desires for his people.
In the series finale of our study in Lamentations, Dave unpacks chapter 5 of this ancient word from the lips and heart of Jeremiah. The highest expression of praise is “Hallelujah” but the highest expression of worship is “Yes Lord”. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Are you a “Hallelujah” person, or are you a “Yes, Lord” person?
In part 8 of our series in Lamentations, Dave unpacked the truth that our problem is not the depth of our brokenness, but the depth of our self-sufficiency.
In part 7 of our series in the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah speaks to the nation of Israel about a moment that forever shaped him and how he looks at the world. While God did allow suffering, pain, and loss to enter his story, he did have an important word to speak in that season of his life.
In week 6 of our series in the book of Lamentations, Dave unpacks the idea that we can seek to UNDERSTAND so that we might have CONTROL, or we can seek to SURRENDER so that we might have PEACE.
In part 5 of our summer series in Lamentations, Dave unpacks the second half of chapter 2 with a question: "the door makes no promises...so what are you going to do with it?
In part 4 of our series in the book of Lamentations, Dave unpacks the first part of chapter 2 of Jeremiah's poem about the destruction of the city of Jerusalem. God does not destroy his people, but he will destroy what stands in the way of being connected to his people.
Dave continues our series in the book of Lamentations, unpacking the second half of chapter 1.
Pastor Dave provides an update from the Staff and Directional Team on our next steps during COVID-19
On Father's Day 2020, Dave unpacked one verse in the book of John that highlights a truth about the Fatherheart of God.
In week two of our Lamentations series, Pastor Dave unpacks the first 11 verses of chapter one in a message called "Wrestling with the Gap."
Pastor Dave kicks off our summer series in the book of Lamentations, unpacking the practice of lament as a way to become more deeply connected to God.
This week we invited several mental health professionals from our house to share with us about mental health and how it is impacting our world during COVID-19. Thank you, Wanda Jeffcoat, Jenna Kvaale, Mikaela Campbell, Courtney Ballard, Erik Anderson, Karmyn Marchand, Ashley Sehr & Rachel Haas
As we celebrate all the ladies of our house on Mother's Day, Dave unpacks the life and experiences of Mary as an example for all of us to follow. A life of perseverant hope and trust in the one who had called her and prepared her.
Dave gave a brief update from the staff and directional team as our country, state, and city begin to reopen.
This weekend Dave unpacked Jesus' prayer in John 17 as a model for us to approach God's throne during these strange and uncertain times.
Here is the latest message from Dave as we continue to gather in these days of physical distancing.
On this Maundy Thursday, Dave takes us back to the upper room for the last meal that Jesus shares with his disciples.
In this episode of our podcast, you'll hear some words of encouragement from Dave in place of our worship gathering.
In week 2 of our journey toward Easter Sunday, Dave unpacked a miracle of Jesus from John 4.
In week one of our Lent series, Dave unpacked a story from the book of John when Jesus turns water at a wedding into wine.
In the series finale, Dave unpacked the idea of the Holy Spirit PREVENTING as well as EMPOWERING.
In week 6 of our series on the Holy Spirit, Dave unpacked the idea of the Holy Spirit as teacher.
In part 5 of our series on the Holy Spirit, Dave unpacked the idea of the Holy Spirit as helper in all things.
In part 3 of our series on the Holy Spirit, Dave unpacked the spirit as the author of new beginnings.
In part two of our series on the Holy Spirit, Dave unpacked Ezekiel 37 and the God who brings life to dead places, people, and situations.