The Good News From The Gardens Podcast

Jesus’ mission includes making people whole again. Jesus encounters and heals ten lepers, yet  only one, a Samaritan recognizes that he has been healed of his leprosy. The others moved on seemingly unaware or without gratitude that they had been healed. In this message we ponder the relationship between healing and gratitude.   Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity .

Part 4 of 4 part Stewardship Series Because of God, Followers of Jesus Do For God Paul’s letter to Timothy is a personal message of encouragement. In the face of hardship and persecution, Timothy is reminded that his faith is a gift of God. He is encouraged to exercise that faith with the help of the Holy Spirit. In this message we consider the stewardship of God’s mysteries in how we  share and p...

Jesus tells a parable in which the poor one is “lifted up” and the rich one is “sent away empty.” In this message we explore compassion as the divine attribute that binds us to one another, that keeps us from being insulated by wealth or comfort, and that reorients us toward generosity, stewardship, and love. Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

Part 2 of 4 part Stewardship Series Because of God, Followers of Jesus Do For God Jesus tells the curious story of a dishonest manager who cheats his employer and then is commended by him for having acted so shrewdly. Jesus wonders why his own followers are less creative and diligent in their stewardship given that they are managers of a far more valuable household. In this message consider what i...

Part 1 of 4 part Stewardship Series Because of God, Followers of Jesus Do For God In this Sunday's Gospel, Pharisees and scribes are giving Jesus grief for welcoming and eating with sinners. Jesus goes on to tell a pair of parables that speak to what time well spent for God looks like. In the wake of Charlie Kirk's divisive death, how might we be a reflective image of God's love? What God-given ta...

Part 2 of 2 sermon series Serving the Future On this God’s Work Our Hands Sunday we hear Jesus use sharp and divisive language to explain the level of commitment expected He expects out of those who follow him. A follower of Jesus doesn’t half-commit to His movement. A follower of Jesus is fully aware of what they are getting them self into. A follower of Jesus’ primary interest is serving the fut...

Part 1 of 2 sermon series Serving the Future In this first of two part series Jesus shares the spiritual significance of serving the future of God’s kingdom by denying our ego and delaying our gratification. What does it look like for you and I to individually, and collectively serve God’s interest’s today, and tomorrow?  Listen to this message and contemplate what we want, alongside what the king...

Part 3 of sermon series Pillars of Faith. Through the story of Jesus healing a woman on the sabbath, we contemplate courageous faith. Listen to this message for insight into what faith in the face of opposition looks like, and how you can go about expanding the depth and breadth of your faith in God. Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity

The Eyes of Faith | Luke 12:49-56 Part 2 of sermon series Pillars of Faith. Jesus is having what we call a “Come to Jesus meeting”. Using the family unit as His example, Jesus delivers harsh words to his disciples about how purifying and potentially divisive God’s call to obedience is. The cross of Christ often leads followers to encounter hostility and rejection, even from those they love. For Je...

Part 1 of sermon series on Pillars of Faith. God promises childless and aging Abram that a child of his own will be his heir and that his descendants will number as many as the stars. Abram trusts God’s promise, and through this faith he is considered righteous. In the Gospel reading from Luke Jesus addresses his disciples doubt, telling them to not be afraid. In this message we ponder the importa...

Week 4 of 4 sermon series on actions “required” of our faith. Jesus uses a parable to warn against identifying the worth of one’s life with the value of one’s possessions rather than one’s relationship with God. Desire clarity amongst the things that clutter our lives? Listen to this message as we ponder what possesses us, God, or stuff. Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity

In teaching his disciples “His” prayer, Jesus also reminds them to focus on God’s coming reign, God’s mercy, and the strengthening of the community. Jesus encourages his disciples to childlike trust and persistence in prayer. In this message we contemplate the exercise of prayer, and who or what is being changed when we pray. Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

During his visit to the home of Mary and Martha, Jesus reminds Martha that her concern for her many tasks distracts from the one thing that precedes all else: abiding in the presence of God. What does it look like for us to stop, collaborate, and listen in Christ? Listen to this message about how  prioritizing the presence of Christ in our lives, leads to mindful and purpose filled relationships i...

In this message we hear how Jesus is challenged to explain what is involved in obeying the greatest commandment. He tells the parable we all know as the Good Samaritan; a parable rich in surprises: those expected to show pity display hard hearts while the lowly give and receive unexpected and lavish mercy. Pastor Steve shares a couple stories from his recent 60 miles over 6 days Appalachian Trail...

On this Holy Trinity Sunday we dwell in wisdom. In the Bible wisdom is portrayed in terms sometimes human and sometimes divine. Often, wisdom is personified as feminine. In this passage, Woman Wisdom is depicted not only as the first creation of God, but also as God’s helper, rejoicing in God’s creation, especially in human beings. In this message we hear the Trinity's wisdom for what our call to...

On this Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, the gifting of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, amid signs of fire, wind, and a variety of languages, the people were amazed and astonished at Jesus’ promise coming true. During this message we pondered and then engaged in some spiritual spontaneity! All thanks to the Ho...

Through a divine chain of events Paul and Silas offer liberation in Christ to a slave girl, are unjustly jailed then liberated, and in the end bring a jailer and his household to Christ. Listen to this message for a peek into how one thing in Christ, leads to another.  Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity.

A vision compels Paul to move his ministry into Greece. There he meets Lydia, an important person in the business community, whose heart has been opened by God to receive the gospel. Her conversion and baptism provide the impetus for the founding of the church at Philippi. But it’s the question she poses to Paul that might give us pause, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and...

Would You Like to Try One of Our Specials? | Acts 11:1-18 In defense of his earlier baptism of non-Jewish believers, Peter demonstrates to the members of the Jerusalem church that God’s intention to love Gentiles as well as Jews is revealed in Jesus’ testimony. This revelation came to Peter through an odd dream involving food. Listen to this message about embracing God’s menu of special interests....

This week guest preacher Mary Winsor shares her thoughts on holy patience, those times when we find ourselves living in uncomfortable, in-between spaces of our lives. After the resurrection, Peter and the disciples slip-slide back into doing what they think they know best, fishing. Jesus then challenges Peter to get busy living, by tending to, and feeding God's people. Step into the unknown good p...

Artwork by Thomas Ribble of Alison, Iowa The unprecedented events of the day of resurrection continue as the risen Jesus appears to his fearful disciples. A week later, after Thomas worships Jesus, Jesus pronounces that the blessings of the resurrection are also for those who “have not seen and yet believe.” In this message Pastor Steve challenges the congregation to see their personal and communa...

What does the pupae stage of a butterfly's life, the resurrection of Christ and our individual and communal transformation have in common? A lot more than you may think. In this message Pastor Steve connects the metamorphosis of a butterfly, and our future selves in a way that you may never have considered. Listen to the message to be affirmed that God's image of life is alive and well within you,...

A Good Friday message featuring hymns and short reflections surrounding our life giving event of Jesus Christ's death on the cross. Click here to explore and support the ministry of Nativity   

In this Maundy Thursday message Pastor Steve shares a number of Holy Communion occasions as a guest, a parishioner, a seminary student, and pastor that have shaped his faith life. Each occasion was an opportunity to reflect on the centrality of the sacrament to our faith, and understanding of God's grace for us in Jesus Christ. On any given Sunday, how does the Lord's Supper make you feel and why...

Lazarus’ sister Mary anoints Jesus for his burial with an expensive perfume. She is ahead of everyone else in caring for Jesus' coming death. She is on the offensive. On the other hand, Judas is offended, as he feigns concern for the poor. What does it smell like to be the church? Does sacrifice have a smell? Join us this Sunday at 9AM for a message of love that hopefully lingers within you for th...