St. Paul Podcast

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 a...

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 cu...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 C...

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 t...

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 i...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 w...

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 c...

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 t...

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.  Prea...

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...

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...

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 s...

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 yo...

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...

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.