Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

In this episode in our epiphany series, Pastor Gary leads an exploration of Jesus as the prophet. How does Jesus fulfill this title and how does he change it?

Our Epiphany podcast series continues!   Each week our Bible Study episodes will look at different aspects of Jesus’ character. Today's episode is about Jesus The Exorcist.  What do the stories of Jesus casting out demons have to teach us about the character of God?  Listen in as special host, Bryan Jaster shares his thoughts as he explores the story of Jesus casting out demons...

This episode is an audio recording of Pastor Nate’s full sermon from 1/16/2022 is based on readings from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and John 2:1-11.  The sermon explores the story of Jesus’ first miracle, which took place at a wedding in Cana and invites you to consider how the themes and emotions of a wedding help us glimpse what the Kingdom of God is like.

During the season of Epiphany we will be releasing weekly Bible Study podcasts that invite us to consider new aspects to Jesus’ character. This episode looks at Jesus as a story teller while exploring the parable of the Good Samaritan as found in Luke 10:25-37.

This episode is an audio recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 1/9/2022 is based on readings from Luke 3:15-17;21-22.  This sermon was for the Baptism of our Lord Sunday. and is based on the theme “Unity”

This is a recording of Intern Rita's sermon from 12/26/21 at the 10am service.  The sermon was preached in three parts and is based on 1 Samuel 2:18-20, Colossians 3:12-17, and Luke 2:41-52.

This is a recording of Pastor Nate's sermon from 1/2/22 at the 10am service.  The sermon is based on John 1:10-18.

Pastor Nates shares some details about the day of Epiphany and the liturgical season of Epiphany. What themes and stories are we invited to engage during this season of the church year?

Two of Pastor Nate’s three children join the podcast to talk about the Christmas story and to share their perspective on the story of God coming into the world.

Merry Christmas!  Please enjoy this scripture meditation based upon the famous Christmas story as found in Luke 2.  Allow the wonder and promise of the Christmas story to fill your heart with joy this Christmas.  

This is a recording of Pastor Nate's sermon from 12/19/21 at the 10am service.  The sermon is based on Luke 1:39-55 and is based on the theme “Open Your Heart”.

In this episode, Pastor Nate's sister Elisabeth once again joins the podcast to share her wisdom and insight as a person of faith and a social worker.  Nate and Elisabeth spend time talking about the value of traditions and rituals both psychologically and as people of faith.  Listen in as they discuss some of their favorite traditions currently and some favorites from when they were growing up.  

In this episode, we continue with our Advent series of scripture meditations.  This meditation, for the fourth week of Advent, is based on the words of the prophet Isaiah as found in Isaiah 25:6-9.  As Christmas draws near we open this meditation can help you "open your heart" to the promises of God. Relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into...

Pastoral Intern Rita’s full sermon from the 8:30 service on 12/12/21 is based on readings from Luke 3:7-18.

Once again, Pastor Nate brings on a favorite guest from the past year for a new conversation.  In this episode, Bryan Jaster once again joins the podcast to talk about finding hope during times of despair.   Bryan shares some thoughts about how he has seen hope here at Bethany in the past 2 years and about the ways that the Christmas story declares to us this message of hope despite...

In this episode, we continue with our Advent series of scripture meditations.  As you listen to this podcast, we invite you to reflect on the theme of "Share Your Heart" by engaging with this unique meditation based on James 5:13-20.  Relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into an understanding of the peace, hope, and joy of this season.

This episode is an audio recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 12/5/21 is based on readings from Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 3:1-6.  This sermon was for the first Sunday of Advent and is based on the theme “Lift Up Your Heart”

Pastor Nate brings his dad, Rev David Preisinger, back onto the podcast to talk about the ways that the church approaches the seasons of the year in a slightly different way.  Listen as they discuss the liturgical calendar and how it invites us to pay attention to different aspects of our life of faith each and every year. 

This episode is an audio recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from 11/28/21 is based on a reading from Luke 21:25-36.  This sermon was for the first Sunday of Advent and is based on the theme “Prepare Your Heart”

Each week of the Advent season we will release a different scripture meditation that aims to highlight the weekly Advent theme. This week, our scripture meditation is based on Jeremiah 31:7-9.  As you listen to this podcast, relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into an understanding of the peace, hope, and joy of this season and our weekly Advent them...

In this episode, Pastor Gary and Pastor Nate sit down to discuss the season of Advent.  Their discussion touches on the themes, symbols, and rituals of the season as well as the characters from scripture that we often read about during this four-week lead up to Christmas.  They also take time to unveil the ways that Advent will be observed at Bethany Lutheran Church this year.  

Each week of the Advent season we will release a different scripture meditation that aims to highlight the weekly Advent theme.  As you listen to this podcast, relax, rest, and allow this time of guided scripture study to bring you deeper into an understanding of the peace, hope, and joy of this season.  This scripture meditation is based on John 21 and is centered around the theme "Prep...

In this episode, a recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from the 8:30am service for Christ the King Sunday.  This sermon is based on readings from Revelation 1:4b-8 and John 18:33-37.

Happy Thanksgiving!  In celebration of this day, Pastor Nate shares some thoughts on gratitude as a spiritual practice as well as some scripture passages related to our call to thankfulness. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for some thankful reflections from the Bethany staff!

We are happy to unveil the next installment in our Faith in Daily Life Series!  This week, Jeff Liljegren joins the podcast to share his story of a recent career change.  During this conversation with Pastor Nate, Jeff shares some great insights about how God has led him throughout his life and most recently through this latest shift.