St. Paul Podcast

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 Creatio...

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. Jo...

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 powe...

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." Arran...

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...

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 p...

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...

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...

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 som...

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 i...

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 wit...

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, al...

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...

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 & Musi...

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...

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 H...

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:...

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 Publicati...

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...

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...