St. Paul Podcast

As the disciples make the long walk to Galilea, they share a few of their favorite parables that Jesus shared with them. So, snuggle in for story time, and a few wooly good jokes, on this week’s episode.  

Pastor Peter W. Marty preaches on truth. It is essential to human community, it’s a foundation in the social fabric of this world. Once a culture allows truth to become relative, that culture is fighting for its life. To abandon truth is to degrade the bonds and networks of trust upon which society is built and on which our relationships so depend. And what if truth is more than a concept or an idea? What if truth is a person? 

Preaching text: 1 Peter 1: 17-23 

Guess what? It’s still Easter on the podcast! That’s right – there are still more stories of Jesus visiting his friends on that first Easter day. While traveling on the road back home to Emmaus, Cleopas and Mary are joined by a stranger. Can you guess who that stranger may be? Listen to this week’s episode to find out. 

Megan Eide preaches on salvation. Salvation is not just a future promise. Salvation is also our present reality when we cultivate the kind of faith that acts as a living hope. Faith becomes an invitation to pause in the midst of panic, to know that we don’t have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, or even the weight of tomorrow. Jesus has been to tomorrow and back and shown us there is nothing to fear.  

Preaching text: 1 Peter 1: 3-9 

Did you think you wouldn’t be hearing much from Little Bird after Easter? Well, she has more stories to share! These are the stories of those times when the risen Jesus found his friends. His friends may just be a little surprised to see him again, don’t you think?

Peter W. Marty preaches on Easter Sunday. There are so many people who are afraid of so many things right now. That fear can paralyze lives and cripple the capacity to function well with faith. The greatest achievement of Easter is a freedom from fear. We’re not living in that freedom nearly enough. Having faith does not mean that you don’t have any fears but faith helps instill the courage to walk through these fears.   

Preaching text: Matthew 28: 1-10 

Happy Easter, podcast listeners! A particularly amazing thing happens in today’s episode. Little Bird’s best friend Jesus died just three days ago and while she and a few of Jesus’ other friends are getting ready for his burial, some special visitors bring surprising news. 

Sara Olson-Smith preaches on Palm Sunday. Jesus chose power that comes not through force but through self-giving and strength through humility, not domination. And during Palm Sunday, Jesus chose to ride on a donkey. Today, it’s that donkey that teaches us. It’s an invitation to us to be like the donkey and carry Jesus and his love into this world. We don’t have to be the strongest, the toughest, or the fanciest. We just have to be who we are.   

Preaching text: Luke 19: 28-40 

Today’s episode is a sad one. There are some scary and hard things but there is also lots of good and love. Our story begins on the same evening as the Last Supper. When Jesus is arrested and put on trial, Little Bird and the disciples are scared and don’t know quite what to do. But Jesus is ready to show the world just how big God’s love for this world is. 

Megan Eide preaches on forgiveness. God’s ways of mercy and forgiveness are radically different from our own. When God forgives us, God is insisting on a relationship with us. When it comes to forgiveness we often focus on the character of the forgiven and what they’ve done to deserve mercy. Instead, forgiveness is more about the character of the one forgiving. It’s about insisting on the relationship and moving forward together. Forgiveness opens the doors for healing and hope. 

Preaching text: Psalm 130