St. Paul Podcast

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 w...

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.”  P...

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...

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 correlate...

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...

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 ar...

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 cont...

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 Lection...

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...

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...

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 wee...

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...

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!...

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 experi...

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 w...

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 effe...

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 acti...

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 Co...

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 ti...

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-...

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 Lectiona...

Today’s episode takes place at night when a visitor arrives at the door to see Jesus. Our favorite Little Bird has 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...

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. Preac...