Augustana Podcasts

Sermon Title: The Crown. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Matthew 14:1-12. During this series on Villains of the Bible, a thread is emerging about how certain characters use power. Pharaoh used power to enslave a people he feared would overtake his nation. David used power to seize a married woman as something to possess, and had her husband murdered. Power itself is not the villain. It is how it is used. In the words of the Spider-Man universe, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Jesus shows us through his life and his death, that his kingdom is not built on having power over people, but by offering his power to others to build them in faith, hope, and love.

Sermon Title: The Hero. Preacher: Deaconess Claire Schoepp. Preaching Text: 2 Samuel 11:1-18, 26-27 & 2 Samuel 12:1-14. As we continue our sermon series on Villains of the Bible, today we meet David, a most beloved king of the Israelite people. He's known as "a man after God's own heart." David began as an underdog and even suffered at the hands of an unjust king, but he grew up to be the hero, a composer and poet, and a king himself. When he inherited the throne, David failed his people when he began to see himself as above the law. As his sense of entitlement grew, David abused his power to avoid his job as king, committed sexual violence against one of his citizens, and had her husband murdered to try to avoid the consequences. David lost his grounded sense of identity in God. He let his entitlement and inflated sense of power take the driver's seat. In imagining he could just make the world how he wanted it to be, David failed to see things as they actually are. And so, this week, the hero is the villain. Today, we will hear a story about power and abuse. We will hear a story about cowardice and consequences. We will hear a story of truth and grace. The villain is shown a mirror so that he too might recognize his need for God and be changed. May he be a mirror for us as well lest we forget who we are anointed to be, beloved children of God. It's a complicated bit of good news.

Sermon Title: The Pharaoh. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Exodus 5. As a part of our sermon series on Villains of the Bible, today we meet Pharaoh, the powerful ruler of Egypt who becomes increasingly threatened by the flourishing of the Israelite people. His fear leads to oppression, violence, and suffering. Pharaoh is a villain, but he is also a mirror: showing us what can happen when fear takes hold, when we see another person’s flourishing as a threat, and when our desire for control becomes more important than our neighbor’s well-being. And yet, before Moses confronts Pharaoh, before the plagues and the Red Sea, God is already at work. Today we will hear a story about fear and power, but even more, we will hear a story about a God who hears, sees, remembers, and moves toward those who are hurting.

Sermon Title: The Serpent. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Genesis 3:1-7. Every great story needs a great villain. Imagine Star Wars without Darth Vader, The Lion King without Scar, or Batman without the Joker. The Bible is no exception. Inside we find epic, unforgettable stories with equally unforgettable villains who do terrible evil in the sight of God and humanity. Yet, so often we gloss over the villains and lift up the heroes. Our August worship series will explore the role villains play in the Scriptures. When we explore the villain, an uncomfortable truth arises. They become a mirror held up to us that exposes where we've missed the mark. These villains reveal the familiar shapes and patterns of sin and brokenness. They also reveal for us where to look, and who to look toward to find healing and redemption.

Sermon Title: I Am the True Vine. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: John 15:1-17. We all know what it's like to feel stretched thin, disconnected, or worn down. So much of life often is spent trying to hold things together - our relationships, our responsibilities, our faith. In today's Gospel, Jesus offers a simple image that speaks directly to those experiences: "I am the vine; you are the branches." Just as branches draw their life from the vine, we are invited to find our life, strength, and purpose in Christ. As we gather for worship, may we hear again Jesus' invitation to remain in his love and trust that God is at work in us, nurturing growth and bearing fruit in ways we may not always see.

Sermon Title: I Am the Good Shepherd. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: John 10:11-18. We gather as a community today to worship the God of all creation, be reminded of who we are in light of the cross, and whose we are in Christ. Wherever you have come from, and whatever you bring with you from your life into this time, we pray that you experience the grace of the Good Shepherd, and hear the call to follow him, that you may have abundant life.

Beyond the Pulpit: Jesus Connects Us

Sermon Title: I Am the Light of the World. Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: John 8:12-20. Today we continue our summer sermon series, “I AM: Life with Jesus,” exploring the powerful “I AM” statements in John’s Gospel. Last week we heard Jesus declare, “I Am the Bread of Life.” Today Jesus makes another remarkable claim: “I Am the Light of the World.” In a world filled with uncertainty, fear, and competing voices, Jesus does not simply offer us more information or better advice. He offers himself. He is the Light who reveals God’s presence, exposes what keeps us from God, and leads us into the fullness of life. Whether you come today carrying joy, questions, burdens, or hope, Christ invites each of us to walk in his light. As we gather, may our worship draw us closer to the one who promises, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Sermon Title: I Am the Bread of Life. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: John 6:25-39. This weekend we begin our summer worship series "I Am: Life with Jesus", exploring the powerful “I am” sayings in John’s Gospel alongside the stories our children discovered during Vacation Bible School. In a world that offers countless promises about what will satisfy us, Jesus offers something deeper. “I am the bread of life,” he says, inviting us to receive the life that only God can give - a life rooted in grace.

Sermon Title: Sabbath Feasting. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Deuteronomy 14:22-29. We are concluding the Keeping the Sabbath Wholly series today. Throughout the last few weeks, we’ve taken a deeper look at both the command and the freedom of centering Sabbath in our lives as a way to connect with the rhythm of God’s time. This final week, we look at the ways God weaves celebration, relationships, and feasting into Sabbath.