St. Paul Podcast

Mark Niethammer preaches on Easter Sunday. Nostalgia pulls us toward simpler times — toward safety, toward music and stories we know by heart — because that's where we feel most alive, but life was never buried there. Like the women at the tomb, what we're searching for isn't behind us. Jesus' love propels us forward into forgiveness, new people, new mercy — and a life blooming...

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Palm Sunday. Jesus chose humility over power — a donkey, not a warhorse — because his victory could only come through love, not force. In giving himself fully for others, he conquers death and shows us the breadth of his care. That's the invitation for us, too: shift a habit, risk something, live for others — because that's not just sacrifice. That's whe...

Katy Warren preaches on surprise. As adults, we rarely experience genuine surprise — we're creatures of habit who know what to expect, and the familiar can make us forget how spectacular life really is. Yet one of the greatest gifts of faith is remaining open to being surprised by God, seeing wonder where we've grown accustomed to routine. Where we're tempted to place a period, God...

Mark Niethammer preaches on perspective. Perspective changes everything. Two people can look at the same cloud and see two completely different images. Grace looks at the world differently. When God does something beautiful in front of us – what do we see? Do we see the possiblity that grace may be breaking into the world in ways we did not expect?  Preaching text: John 9: 1-41

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on mattering. Every human being has a deep need to matter — to feel valued and to know their life has purpose and meaning. Yet many of us struggle to believe this, drowned out by voices that make us feel invisible, cast aside, or beyond redemption. The good news of Jesus is simple: you matter, deeply and completely.  Preaching text: John 4:5-21, 25-30, 39 

Maddy Tyler preaches on trust. Being "born again" is not a rebirth but a spiritual transformation. John 3:16 reveals God's plan — sending Jesus to live, die, and raise the world into something new. To truly believe is more than agreeing to facts; trust is relational, a willingness to rely on what we know to be true.  Preaching text: John 3:1-17 

Katy Warren preaches on temptation. Sometimes temptation isn't a clear line we knowingly cross — it's a slow, subtle drift that pulls us away from our center before we even realize it's happening. We find ourselves lost in anger or resentment, wondering how we got there, having forgotten who we are and who we want to be. We have been named children of God, yet how easily we are lure...

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on God’s love. Jesus is God's glory packaged in human form—making the invisible God visible to us. God's presence isn't reserved for mountaintop moments when life feels good; Jesus bends down into our worry and grief, carrying divine light into our struggles and sorrows. Jesus breaks into the world's despair with radiant, unstoppable love.  Preaching t...

Mark Niethammer preaches on showing up. You are salt and light—preserving life, revealing truth, enabling growth—but only when shared with others. Jesus calls you to show up and use what you already have, because the world needs exactly who you are. There is no single way to be salt and light; you become it simply by living it out.   Preaching text: Matthew 5:13-20  

Katy Warren preaches on the Beatitudes. In the midst of chaos, what it would mean if we embraced a radically different way of living—one defined not by self-interest but by how well we love each other. Drawing on Martin Luther King Jr.'s concept of "dangerous unselfishness," we can navigate through difficult times by choosing to think and live differently. God invites us into faithf...

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the power of God. Rather than worldly strength, God's true power lies in the willingness to suffer and die for others—the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. We are all equal in our need for God's grace, each carrying unique gifts, and are called to unite across our differences as a community that brings love and warmth to one another and our neighbors. We ar...

Maddy Tyler preaches on Jesus’ invitation to us. We all search for something to fulfill our lives and give us direction when we're lost. With just three words—"come and see"—Jesus invited the disciples to follow Him, and God continues building something stronger for each of us to discover. Even on our darkest days when we feel unworthy, God is at work creating something new in us, i...

Mark Niethammer preaches on community. Our society often forgets that we were made for community, not division. While God established the world through calls to care for the land and one another, modern culture prioritizes self-interest over collective wellbeing, especially when opinions differ. We belong to each other, and Jesus calls us to love our enemies, feed the hungry, and heal the sick—yet...

Katy Warren preaches on beginnings. Beginnings shape what follows, which is why many people feel pressure at the start of a new year. If we remind ourselves each morning that we carry God's light within us, we could focus on how to share that divine presence daily. The true meaning of Jesus's birth is an invitation to explore and express how God lives in each of us throughout our everyda...

Maddy Tyler preaches on redemption. God's love for humanity remains constant across all generations, even when we forget that divine kindness extends to everyone. In times when division feels easier than unity, God continually chooses to dwell among us and calls us to recognize the dignity in all people.    Preaching text: Isaiah 63:7-9 

Mark Niethammer preaches on this special Christmas Eve episode of the St. Paul podcast. Jesus is God's incredible 'yes' to the world and to our lives. It was in deepest dark that the light of God chose to be reborn. The truth of God's grace doesn't die in the unknowns and challenges; that's where it goes for rebirth. Grace and joy are born here and now, for you. View...

Mark Niethammer preaches on God’s love. God's healing presence appears in unexpected places—transforming wilderness into blooming gardens and making broken people whole, even amid our world's persistent pain and struggle. This Advent season calls us to advocate for forgiveness, peace, and justice, trusting that God meets our challenges with words of love, wholeness, and restoration. Just...

Katy Warren preaches on time. Prolonged waiting can cause our hope and optimism to dwindle, especially when days pass without visible change and peace feels distant. Actively looking for signs of hope and celebrating even the smallest progress as "branches of hope" can shift our perspective. Whether we're waiting for healing, strength, or unfulfilled dreams, searching for these sign...

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on hope. Advent calls us to let our dreams of God's future actively shape our present lives. Like backward design, we can start with Isaiah's vision of peace and work backwards to today, asking what steps we might take this week, even today, to move toward that dream. Though the vision seems idealistic or even inconceivable, these Advent days remind us that seem...

Mark Niethammer preaches on the reign of Christ. When evil seems loudest, faithful followers show up together, bearing witness that evil will not prevail. The reign of Christ becomes visible when we gather, especially in challenging times, advocating for the voiceless and reminding ourselves that God is in control. Though our presence may feel small, it matters—because love, mercy, and forgiveness...

Katy Warren preaches on persistence. We all get stuck in patterns—making progress, then feeling like we're starting over. Never grow tired of doing good. We show up not just for ourselves, but for something larger. We give our time, abilities, money, and comfort for others—even people we'll never meet. At the heart of our faith is a simple call: take care of one another. Make sure everyo...

Paul, Sylvanus, and Timothy close their letter to the Jesus community at Thessaloniki by addressing divisive interpretations of the end times through the everyday, familiar setting of the community's shared meal. Preaching text: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 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...

Mark Niethammer preaches on joy. Joy is found when we stop focusing on ourselves and instead concern ourselves with others. In these challenging times, we need a new narrative to guide our lives, and joy is part of the answer. Joy helps us see the world differently and look past ourselves to the needs of others. Generous people are full of joy.  Preaching text: John 21: 1-14 

The final chapter of John's gospel demonstrates the power of forgiveness and renewal , as the same disciple who failed and fled in the face of Jesus' suffering and crucifixion gains the opportunity to respond more faithfully and receives the gifts and graces to extend the gospel throughout the community. Preaching text: John 21:1-18 Bible for Worship is a weekly introduction to the scrip...

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on hope. We are heirs of God, receiving an incredible inheritance of hope and power - the immeasurable greatness of God's strength to love beyond measure, continue when weary, and do more than we can imagine. When we open ourselves to receive God's grace and power, even the most ordinary among us can do extraordinary things, knowing that love ultimately wins the...