Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

In this episode, Pastor Nate sits down with his longtime friend, Dr Tim Snyder to talk about famous Lutheran theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Listen in to learn about this important figure and how his life and writings relate to our daily walk of faith.

Pastor Nate and Pastor Gary’s shared sermon from May 23, 2021 looks at the story of Pentecost and what it means for us to be people of the Holy Spirit.  This sermon is based on readings from Acts 2:1-21 and John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15.

This episode is a conversation with Elisabeth Preisinger, LMSW, on the role contemplative practices can play in building resilience.   Elisabeth is the Contemplative-Based Resilience (CBR) Program Coordinator at The Garrison Institute and Pastor Nate's sister.  

Today's episode is a recording of Pastor Gary's sermon from May 16, 2021.  This sermon is based on readings from John 17:6-19 and Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

This week’s Podcast episode is just in time for our celebration of Pentecost! Pastor Nate and Pastor Gary sit down to talk about the Holy Spirit. What do you Lutherans believe about this often-forgotten person in the Trinity? How do we see the Holy Spirit at work in our life of faith and in our congregation? Listen in as your pastors discuss this interesting and theologically rich topic.

This episode is a recording of Pastor Nate's sermon from 5/9/21.  It's based on the Gospel reading found at John 15:9-17. 

In this episode Pastor Nate looks at the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch, which we read in worship a week ago.   What interesting themes and lessons for our faith do we find in this strange story from Acts 8:26-40?  Listen along for an in-depth examination.

This episode is a recording of Pastor Gary’s Full sermon from 5/2/21.  This sermon looks at Jesus’ statement about the vine and the branches found in John 15:1-8.

Pastor Nate and Bryan Jaster (Director of Youth and Family Ministry at Bethany) sit down to share some thoughts about what happens next.  How does the church move forward after a pandemic?  What does scripture tell us about living through difficult times?  Theologically speaking, what might our approach to the future look like as people of faith?

Pastor Nate's sermon from 4/25/21 is all about the importance of the empty spaces in our lives and how God can often take those empty moments and create something beautiful with them.  This sermon was part of worship on  4/25 when our Chancel Choir performed a Bach Cantata as a part of our worship service.  If you would like to watch the Cantata please follow this link: https://yout...

This week's podcast features a special guest!  Pastor Nate invited his dad on to the podcast to talk about one of their favorite topics:  Time Travel.   Listen in as they discuss all the ways that theology and the life of faith connect with the idea of time travel. 

In this episode, Pastor Nate leads a deep-dive on Mark's version of the resurrection story and talks about how Mark's unique approach to telling this story is so interesting and valuable for our life of faith.  

Pastor Gary’s full sermon from April 18, 2021.  This sermon is based on Luke 24:36b-48.

In this PRAYER AND STUDY episode, we take time to dwell deeply in God's Word. Through readings, reflections, prayers, and music we will meditate on Luke 14:1;7-14.  Take 15 quiet minutes to pray, study, and grow in your sense of God's activity in your life and the world around you.

This SERMON episode is a recording of Pastor Nate's Sunday morning sermon from 4/11/21.  It focuses on the disciple Thomas and his experience of the resurrection as found in John 20:19-31.  

This episode is a Bible study on Luke 24:1-11.  Pastor Nate looks at  Luke's version of the Easter story and gives you an in-depth analysis of many of the smaller details and bigger questions posed by this Gospel reading.  

At the beginning of Lent, we shared a poem on this feed entitled "The Fall: A Poem for Lent".   As a way of adding a bookend to our journey from Lent to Easter, Pastor Nate shares another poem entitled "Bodily Resurrection" which is based on readings from Luke 24:36-49.   

In this episode, Pastor Nate and Pastor Gary sit down to talk about Holy Week, its theological themes, its liturgical worship services, and ways to further engage this most sacred week of the Christian year.   During this episode we mention a video where Pastor Nate makes Communion Bread with his family, you can find that video by following this link: https://youtu.be/MVofsb32Rk0  We als...

Pastor Nate discusses the gift of Rituals, Traditions, and Seasons and the ways that establishing these rhythms in our life can bring greater intentionality to our life of faith and greater connection to God.   

Listen to an audio recording of Pastor Nate's sermon from the Mid-week Lenten service held on 3/17.  This sermon is based on a strange reading from Numbers 21:4-9 and explores the ways that God sends healing into the broken and hurting places in our world. 

This episode is a recording from the sermon on 3/14.  It's part 3 in our series "Because You Asked".  Pastor Gary and Pastor Nate together preach a sermon that addresses questions about Heaven and Salvation.  

We are just about halfway through the season of Lent and so here is a conversation between Pastor Gary and Pastor Nate about the Lenten season.  Why is it important? How can it be of value to our journey of faith.  Is it too late to embrace the themes of Lent, now that we are halfway through?  We will answer these questions and more!  

This episode is an audio recording of Pastor Nate’s full sermon from 3/7/21.  This sermon is part 2 in our “Because You Asked” series.  Pastor Nate’s sermon looks at forgiveness and is based on readings from Psalm 130 and Matt 18:15-22

In this episode, we share an audio recording of Pastor Nate’s sermon from our Mid-Week Lenten Service on 3/3/21.   This sermon focuses on following Jesus and the ways that living out that calling can oftentimes cause us to change, adjust, and let go of certain parts of our lives and is based on Mark 8:31-38.

In this episode, we share the audio recording of Pastor Gary’s full sermon from our Wednesday Evening Lenten service on 2/24.  Listen as Pastor Gary explores the ways that temptation affects our life and how Jesus shows us the way to confront these difficulties.