THE CARRY ON CAST

Ep 269 | Lent Begins

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen chat about humility, obedience, and caution. Reflection on Lenten theme: in this time of humility, austerity, and sacrifice, we are freed up to think about who we really are and who Jesus calls us to be. How will you approach this season with the spirit of a child? Remembering the low status of children at the time, what does it mean to not think too highly of yourself?

Ep 268 | Transfiguration Sunday

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen are joined by Deacon Hans Vigesaa to discuss what Transfiguration Sunday is all about. Transfiguration prepares us for Lent. We are reminded that Jesus is our Teacher, but is also God’s Son, and his teaching leads us to salvation. In his teaching and in his miracles, how does Jesus reveal God to us?

Ep 267 | 6th Sunday after Epiphany

Pastor Jen Hackbarth is joined by Deacon Hans Vigesaa to discuss Jesus’ use of parables. We continue in Matthew 13:24-35. How do Jesus’ parables about the kingdom of heaven encourage us to seek out God’s action in the world?

Ep 266 | 5th Sunday after Epiphany

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jen continue to discuss Mathew as we reach the end, closing out with the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus urges us to not just listen to his teaching, but to act on it. If we have Jesus as our solid foundation, we have to stay connected to it. How do you remain engaged with his teaching, in prayer, and in developing your faith lives?

Ep 265 | 4th Sunday after Epiphany

This is Jays last podcast with Easter lutheran as he will be starting his call at Holy Cross Church soon. The pastors continue talking about Mathew (Mathew 6:7-15) which is all about love, service, and prayer. We don’t only pray words from the Bible because Jesus taught them, although that would be enough. We pray them to be reminded of how we live and trust in God’s action.

Ep 264 | 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

The pastors announce a very special Meeting for Easter Lutheran Church this Sunday, January 22nd. You'll get to meet the two candidates, and hear them talk about who they are and why they're excited about Easter. They discuss Matthew 5:1-12, how Jesus teaches a new way of being in the world, one based not in power and wealth but on God’s message of lifting up the lowly and truly loving all. How do the Beatitudes help us understand God’s will for us today?

Ep 263 | 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Pastor Megan and Pastor Jay continue their discussion on the book of Mathew, specifically the story of temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. This comes right after the baptism story – claimed and loved by God, we can face evil and temptation. Faith does not guarantee we won’t face struggle or temptation, but it does promise that we will have what we need to endure it.

Ep 262 | 1st Sunday after Epiphany

Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen move into a new sermon series called "The Great Teacher." Entering the season of epiphany, Jesus is revealing himself through these texts as a teacher and as a healer. Focusing on what we learn from Jesus through these stories in Matthew, how do we follow someone like this?

Ep 261 | 1st Sunday of Christmas

Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen are still in the book of Mathew this week as they talk about the three wise men (magi). Did you know the magi followed God over human leaders. This is a chance to talk more about their faithfulness, wisdom, and ability to discern God’s will in a challenging, shifting political climate. What guides you as we end the Christmas season? How will you ensure the light of Christ stays in front of you, wherever you go?

Ep 260 | Christmas

It’s Christmas time! The pastors discuss readings for Christmas eve, and Christmas Day from Luke and Mathew. Luke 2: 10-11 “Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” At the center is the miracle of Jesus, God choosing to come as one of us is the greatest joy and biggest glory we can imagine. In Mathew, God’s ongoing revelation through an angel in a dream, shows that God continues to be active in history and in our lives. This story has more of the wonder and mystery of dreams and angels. We remember the many ways God works and speaks in this world.

Ep 259 | 4nd Sunday of Advent

Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen have a conversation about Mathew 1: 1-17. Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. It can get easy to get lost in the names, but pay attention to the many outsiders, women, and lawbreakers in the list: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, for instance. The promise to the people here is that God has continued to work throughout history to save and protect us, and now realizes that promise in Jesus.

Ep 258 | 3nd Sunday of Advent

Pastors Megan, Jen and Jay discuss Isaiah 42: 1-9. We have a promise of a coming savior who brings justice and compassion, for us and the whole world. How does God’s promise in Isaiah give us hope for renewal and salvation today? How will we watch for those new things? How does Advent help us stay alert?

Ep 257 | 2nd Sunday of Advent

Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen discuss Esther 4:1-16 which kicks off the action of the story and the big burden placed on Esther on behalf of her people. This story is about salvation, confidence and power. They discuss Jews living in diaspora, learning how to be a distinct person in a hostile environment. God’s ongoing work of salvation was true for Esther and her people, through the promised birth of Christ, and among us still today.

Ep 256 | 1st Sunday of Advent

Hans Vigesaa joins Pastor Jay Carlson, and Pastor Jen Hackbarth in a conversation about strength, hope and how God shows his presence even after the most painful times. They discuss Habakkuk and how he receives a reminder: injustice and suffering are not God’s intentions for us. While we might have to endure the consequences of our actions, God brings restoration, strength and healing, after rough times.

Ep 255 | Christ The King Sunday

Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen discuss Micah 5: 2-5; 6: 6-8, along with starting our new worship series “People of the Promise.” While almost all of Micah is a dire warning, the last verses remind the people (and us!) that there is always time to live in keeping with God’s desire for us – especially God’s call for us to live in justice and humility. How do Micah’s promises – good and bad – remind us of what Jesus means for us?

Ep 254 | 23nd Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan, Pastor Jay and Pastor Jen discuss new things here at Easter, including the act of giving and why we give the way we do. How have God's people looked at the act of giving in this weeks reading from Deuteronomy?

Ep 253 | 22nd Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Jay and Jen dive into Proverbs 16:1-3, 8-9, which is full of advise and full of ways to live life. How do you think about Wisdom? How will you continue to commit yourself to God in your words and actions?

Ep 252 | 21st Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen continue their conversation about the new sermon series “All Things New” with Deuteronomy 14:22-29. A lot of Deuteronomy is focused around how do God's people demonstrate that they are Gods people, and a big part of that is how you worship.

Ep 251 | 20th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Megan, Jay and Jen kick off our next series “All Things New” with 1 Corinthians 16: 1-3. This series digs into generosity season, the importance of giving as a part of life, and as a faithful habit.

Ep 250 | 19th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Megan, Jay, and Jen wrap up the last week of the sermon series. They discuss who we are as people, how we mess up and get lost in the wilderness but that does not cause God to stop loving us. There's no promise that life is easy but we do know that God never stops loving us. How will we continue to fulfill this call in the choices we make? How will we call others into the same life?

Ep 249 | 18th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Megan, Jen, and Jay dig into the book of Exodus and discuss how it’s incredibly informative and important. It tells about God saving the people and fulfilling promises. This story gets told and retold to remind us that we belong to God, God will defend us, and incredible things are possible through God.

Ep 248 | 17th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan, Pastor Jay Carlson, and Pastor Jen Hackbarth have a conversation about Joseph and what went on in his life. The point of this story isn’t that God made it all okay. These were real, unjust, and horrifying struggles. The point is that God goes with Joseph into these struggles. There were blessings even in the worst circumstances. How do we see God at work in our lives, especially in difficult times? 

Ep 247 | 16th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan, Pastor Jay Carlson, and Pastor Jen Hackbarth have a conversation about Abraham and how humanity can be very messy at times. "God of the promise, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and love. Make us faithful to what you command as we trust in the life we know through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen" Genesis 12:1-9.

Ep 246 | 15th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan welcomes Pastor Jay Carlson and Pastor Jen Hackbarth to the podcast, their first ever podcast with Easter Lutheran. They discuss Noah and the story of God's grace, Genesis 9:8-17. God promised life to the world, to gather people into his arms and to protect with his mercy.

Ep 245 | 14th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan, Pastor Mary Sue Dreier, and Pastor Gary Dreier start a new conversation about Who We Are. God makes humankind in the image of God, a reflection of God’s presence in the world. We live out that creative, life-giving identity every day. God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness” Genesis 1:26-31. Think of beginnings: start of school year, installation of call committee – God creates something new among us in these things, too.

Ep 244 | 13th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan, Pastor Mary Sue Dreier, and Pastor Gary Dreier continue the conversation on Faith practices, this week why testimony is important with scripture from Matthew 28:16-20. Why do we share faith? Because it is of value. Because it has changed our lives for good. Because Jesus brings life and hope for all. We are called to community.

Ep 242 | 11th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan, Pastor Mary Sue Dreier, and Pastor Gary Dreier continue the conversation on Faith practices, this week Service with Romans 12:9-21.  How can we truly serve all people in God’s name? Service is an act of love. We answer the call to love by actually meeting the needs of others, not as we want to do, but as they need.  Service can look like lots of things.

Ep 241 | 10th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan, Pastor Mary Sue Dreier, and Pastor Gary Dreier continue the conversation on Faith practices, Giving.  2 Corinthians 9:6-15 has the often threatened line God loves a cheerful giver, what do these pastors have to say about that?

Ep 240 | 9th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Megan welcomes Pastor Mary Sue Dreier and Pastor Gary Dreier to the podcast, their first ever podcast.  They continue the discussion on Faith Practices with Fellowship and 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, 26-27.  How do you practice fellowship and caring relationships?

Ep 239 | 8th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Brandon, Megan, and Steve talk about the next faith practice: Prayer from our series “Grow In Faith” with scripture from Mark 11:22-25. How do you engage in conversation with God?  There is no wrong way and no right way.

This is the last podcast for Brandon and Steve, so be sure to listen to the end for a surprise.

Ep 238 | 7th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Steve, Brandon, and Megan talk kick off our next series “Grow In Faith” with Psalm 119:9-16. The series will dig into the seven faith practices of the ELCA starting with Reading Scripture.

Ep 237 | 6th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Steve, Brandon, and Megan talk about Deacon Hans’ favorite Bible passage John 9. The age old of question of, why is this happening to me or what did I do to deserve this. The process of faith and discipleship is often a long journey.  Throughout the text he is questioned, belittled, doubted about who he was and who he is becoming, even by those who know him best.

Ep 236 | 5th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Steve, Brandon, and Megan talk about Pastor Megan’s favorite Bible passage 1 John 4:7-11,17-19.  Like so many parts of faith, it’s easy to weaponize love. We can pretend love is the same thing as putting up with abuse, hatred, or discrimination. Love is hard work. Love means telling the truth, having compassion, and standing up for yourself and others. Our love for others is centered in how God cares for us. Be sure to count how many times the pastors say a form of the word ‘Love’.

Ep 235 | 4th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Brandon and Megan talk about Pastor Brandon’s favorite Bible passage Isaiah 43:1-3a.  Have you ever asked, Where is God, who are we?  Easter is going through some big changes, are you looking for God in this? We are still God’s people and God is with us.

Ep 234 | 3rd Sunday After Pentecost

Pastors Steve, Brandon, and Megan talk about Pastor Steve’s favorite Bible passage, Philippians 1:9-11.

Each day we should ask, ok God, what are you doing today and how can I join in on it?

Ep 233 | 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Pastors Steve, Brandon, and Megan start the new sermon series Word of Life, each preacher will share their favorite Bible passage.  We invite you to choose your favorite passage(s).  This week Deacon Krista Lind will preach on Psalm 80:1-3, 14-19.

Ep 232 | Holy Trinity Sunday

Pastors Brandon and Steve discuss John 16:7-15 the text for Holy Trinity Sunday. It is the day when we recognize one of the most confusing teachings of the Christian tradition.  What is Trinity?  How do you explain something that is three, yet one, and three?  Listen in to hear the pastors try to make the unexplainable explained.

Ep 231 | Pentecost

Pastors Steve and Brandon, head back to Acts 2 (2:1-21) to celebrate Pentecost.  What are tongues?  Was this a miracle of speaking or of hearing?  The Holy Spirit is a gift for EVERYONE. This passage is Jesus fulfillment of  the promise to pour out the holy spirit.

Ep 230 | 7th Sunday of Easter

Pastors Brandon and Megan, continue reading the letter to the Philippians (Philippians 2:1-13). This text can get misused by telling some (but not all) people that they must endure all kinds of suffering because Jesus did. This is not about manipulating people or endorsing abuse. This passage works against much of what we assume we’re supposed to do: look out for ourselves, take care of ourselves, hustle to get ahead, expect others to do the same.

Ep 229 | 6th Sunday of Easter

Pastors Brandon, Megan, and Steve continue learning about Life in His Name in  Philippians 1: 1-18a. What is an epistle?  Is it a flowering, thorny plant? The Gospel should be offensive, the way believers spoke of Jesus, Jesus is Lord , was offensive to the Roman government.  Everyone is represented by Jesus, the Gospel effects the way we live in the world, we are all looking for how to do life in his name. God has a promise!

Ep 228 | 5th Sunday of Easter

Pastors Megan, Brandon, and Steve travel to Rome in Acts 17:16-17, 22-31. We follow these Acts of the Holy Spirit, watch how the Holy Spirit continues to break and challenge the laws of Moses to bring everyone to the risen Christ. Paul opens eyes and hearts to the Truth, without judgement.  How to you keep God in your daily life?  How can you keep idols from being the center?

Ep 227 | 4th Sunday of Easter

Pastors Steve, Megan, and Brandon dig in to Acts 16:16-34 in 3 parts because there is a lot happening in the life of Paul here in Phillipi.  This story exposes some of the darkest aspects of humanity: slavery, misuse of the justice system for economic power, bigotry and scapegoating. We also get to see the liberating power of the Holy Spirit.

Ep 226 | 3rd Sunday of Easter 

Pastors Steve, Megan, and Brandon move into Acts 9:1-19a where we meet Saul persecuting followers of Jesus. How does Saul/Paul encounter Jesus? What would you do if you were Ananias? What does all this have to do with Star Wars ep 7?

How does God work with each of us to use our strengths?

Ep 225 | 2nd Sunday of Easter 

Pastors Megan and Steve read John 20:19-31, When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, it’s late the day of Jesus resurrection.  Where are the disciples? What do they do when they see Jesus?  What if the point of the story isn’t: “don’t question Jesus”, but rather, “Jesus can stand up to your questions”?

Ep 224 | Holy Week

Pastors Steve, Megan, and Brandon read John 20:1-18 (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday gospels 19:23-30, 31-42).  How does John’s Gospel paint the portrait of Jesus? Why is it ‘Maundy’ Thursday?  How does John’s Gospel focus on the Maundy?

What’s Good about Friday? We see that God will go to the end with and for us.

Mary is the first Apostle to share the Good News.  When Jesus calls our name it can clear our vision. Jesus is Risen!

Ep 223 | Palm Sunday

Pastors Megan and Brandon discuss Palm Sunday, readings from John 19:16b-22 Passion and John 12:12-27 Processional Gospel.  Our Gospels go from celebrating Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time to His crucifixion.

What does the palm mean to you? This transition from celebration to crucifixion is deliberately difficult. As difficult as it is for us, Jesus is in control. Jesus dies for everyone.

Ep 222 | together in the face of evil, suffering, and loss

Pastors Megan and Brandon discuss John 19:1-16a as we begin the passion story. What has brought the Jewish leaders so much anger and hatred as to deny their entire religion? Pilot is questioning Jesus, Where are you from? What does Pilot want to know?  The murder of an innocent man should make us uncomfortable.

Ep 221 | together as we remember how easily we are pulled apart

Pastors Brandon and Megan discuss John 18:12-27 notice all the connections to Jesus as our shepherd.  What happens when we leave the fold? Sticking to our belief in Jesus is hard, sometimes we get it wrong, but we are still accepted.

Ep 220 | Vine and Branches

Pastors Megan, Brandon, and Steve discuss John 15:4-17.  Jesus begins his farewell discourse in a teaching about the Vine and Branches.  We all ABIDE with God and are invited into a dynamic relationship with God. What you do now matters. We are Better Together when we are connected to the body of Christ and each other.

Ep 219 | Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Pastors Brandon and Steve discuss John 13:1-17 and the start of Lent (what is Lent?).  Jesus invites us to show greater hospitality.  What can we learn from the example of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet? Is there anything in our culture today that compares to the act of Jesus washing feet? Jesus challenges his disciples and us to share him with the world.

Ep 218 | Jesus Gives the Gift of Life

Pastors Megan, Brandon, and Steve discuss John 11:21-44. The passage is often read at funerals. It shows us that Jesus demonstrates that he has power over death – Jesus is life itself. But also, it shows us the power of the community gathered in faith for the sake of each other. It says, “The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.’” Like these people gathered, Jesus invites us in to being new life for other people.

Ep 217 | Jesus Is Holy

Pastors Brandon, Megan, and Steve discuss John 17:1-12. It's Transfiguration Sunday this weekend. It leads us our of the season of Epiphany and into Lent. There's so much we don’t (or maybe can’t) know about the holiness of Jesus and what it means for us. How can we comprehend Jesus as both human and divine, physical and spiritual, incarnate and mysterious? We're invited to live into the mystery and trust in God’s love made known in Jesus.

Ep 216 | Jesus Is Divisive

Pastors Steve and Megan discuss John 7:37-52. Jesus is telling a crowd that he is the living water, the Messiah. The crowd is divided saying “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?” Some in the crowd were hung up on the belief that the Messiah was supposed to be from Bethlehem. Human desire to hold on to power and create hierarchy creates infighting and big problems for the religious authorities. The church of today isn’t exempt from these issues. Let’s not get hung up on the institutional stuff and just be the body of Christ in the world.

Ep 215 | Jesus Is with Us

Pastors Steve and Brandon discuss John 6:35-56. Bread and water are incredibly important staples to sustaining life, especially to people in the first century. In these verses, Jesus calls himself the bread of life. He is the gift of life, love mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Through Communion, you receive a connection with God, then you get to be the gift of love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness to others in the world.

Ep 214 | Jesus Is the Son of God

Pastors Brandon, Steve, and Megan discuss John 5:1-18. In these verses, Jesus is challenging religious tradition by healing a man on the sabbath and claiming he’s the son of God. For the time, it’s seen as a threat to God’s own laws. It’s taken as heresy. Today, we often try to make Jesus into what we’d rather deal with than what he tells us he is.

Ep 213 | Jesus Is Truth

Pastors Steve, Megan, and Brandon discuss John 4:1-26. Jesus openly reveals that he’s the Messiah and he does so to a Samaritan, a woman far outside his inner circle. It can be easy to turn this into a story about condemnation and acceptance. What if it’s about revealing and telling the truth? The truth of Jesus can be revealed through people we try to discount, like the woman at the well.

Ep 212 | Jesus Is New Life

Pastors Megan, Steve, and Brandon discuss John 3:1-21. In these verses, Jesus is talking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He tries so hard to rationalize and discredit what Jesus says. But Jesus tells him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (Verse 5). What does new life in Jesus look like? Rebirth and new life can’t always be so neatly defined. All we know for sure is that the new life we receive through Jesus changes who we are and how we act.

Ep 211 | Jesus Is Disruptive

Pastors Brandon, Megan, and Steve discuss John 2:13-25 and our new worship series “I Am.” Every story in this series tells us about who Jesus is. In this text, Jesus confronts and disrupts the sale of temple sacrifices. These sacrifices were an important and expected part of religious life for the people who travelled to visit the temple. Jesus’ act of hostility (flipping over tables and making a whip to drive out the people selling animals) is a significant challenge to established practices. Sometimes, our faith needs to be upended.

Ep 210 | Restoring Hope Through Baptism

Pastors Brandon, Steve, and Megan discuss John 1:29-34. John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the Son of God, the one who brings hope. He boldly proclaims Jesus as such. Through baptism, we’re promised that Jesus will be with us always. Whenever we see a baptism in worship, we make promises to those who are being baptized and remember the promises made to us at our own baptisms. Baptisms continually restore and rebuild our hope.

Ep 209 | Looking for Some Direction

Pastors Steve, Megan, and Brandon discuss John 1:19-28. John the Baptist describes himself as “…not the Messiah,” but the one who prepares the way. People were so eager for some answers, direction, and salvation. They wanted to turn John into something he wasn’t so they could know what to do and who to follow. In our rush to find something to give us hope, we might grab onto the wrong thing. It’s always worth being patient to discern what God is really doing.

Ep 208 | Messy Christmas and Hope Abound

Pastors Megan and Brandon discuss Luke 2:1-20 and 2:25-40. The birth of Jesus shows God’s love and commitment to us. We tend to think of the story as something cute and sweet — like a Christmas Pageant. In reality, it was messy and scary. But it was also filled with praise, tenderness, and trust. Following a messy and scary year, how does the story restore hope to us this year?

Ep 207 | Bringing Hope

Pastors Brandon, Steve, and Megan discuss John 1:1-18. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” We hear this passage a lot this time of year. It’s the fulfillment of God’s promises for life and hope. How does the promise of Jesus Christ continue to bring you hope?

Ep 206 | Trusting In God’s Goodness

Pastors Steve, Megan and Brandon discuss Isaiah 55:1-13 using the Grow Guide. It’s a useful tool to get you thinking about the upcoming weekend’s text with helpful context and thought-provoking questions. Visit easter.org/growguide to see this and previous weekend’s Grow Guides.

Ep 205 | Hope and Endurance

Pastors Megan, Steve and Brandon discuss Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14. Advent is a time of waiting, watching and praying. The people in this reading are living in exile, but God tells them to build lives rather than long for a place and time that no longer exists. They’re encouraged to make the most of whatever situation they’re in. God promises to be with us no matter where we are or what life looks like.

Ep 204 | Hope When Things Seem Hopeless

Pastors Brandon, Megan and Steve discuss Isaiah 9:1-7. “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The reading comes just before the exile — a time of incredible pain and suffering. At the time, it probably pointed toward the hope of a just political king. The way we read scripture can change. Today, we hear this as a promise of the coming of Jesus. God’s promises can be renewed and updated for our time. How do you see God’s hope at work when things seem hopeless?

Ep 203 | Provider, Full of Hope

Pastors Megan and Brandon discuss Genesis 50:15-24. Joseph has come into power in Egypt and his brothers come to depend on him for food. But he doesn’t hold a grudge or harm his brothers. Instead, Joseph says “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.” He has hope and faith in a God who sustains and cares. No matter what we endure God will always care for us.

Ep 202 | God Is Generous, We Are Generous Too

Pastors Megan, Brandon and Steve discuss Genesis 39:20 – 40:8. Joseph (of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' fame) has been abandoned by his brothers, sold into slavery in Egypt, and thrown into jail for a crime he didn’t commit. And still, Joseph uses the gifts entrusted to him to help the people around him. God doesn’t remove all obstacles or make life perfect. We still trust that God is generous and we can be generous with the people around us too.

Ep 201 | Enduring, United With the Saints

Pastors Steve, Megan and Brandon discuss Genesis 35:9-15. God appears to Jacob again and blesses him. God changes Jacob’s name to Israel and promises him “…a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.” Then, Jacob sets up a pillar of stone, pours an offering on it, and calls it Bethel (House of God). This reaffirmation from God to Jacob comes in the midst of struggle, trial, suffering, and loss. But nothing can keep God’s promises from us. Trusting in God’s sustaining presence, how will we remain connected to the church on earth and in heaven?

Ep 200 | Renewal, Reformation

Pastors Brandon and Steve celebrate the 200th episode of the podcast and discuss Genesis 32:9-12, 32:22-33:4. Isaac’s son Jacob has cheated his brother Esau, run away, and fears for his life and the lives of his family. He put himself in a desperate place. God restores not only Jacob’s relationship with Esau, but Jacob’s sense of hope and identity. We see that God is a force of renewal and we’re in need of reformation. It’s fitting for Reformation Sunday (this weekend). The church affirmed a God who is always doing new things and walks with us even when we go off-course.

Ep 199 | God Is God, We Are Not

Pastors Megan, Steve and Brandon discuss Genesis 22:1-18. God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham does what God asks and prepares an altar. Before he can sacrifice Isaac, God stops Abraham and says, “...for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” It’s impossible for us to truly understand what God is up to, which makes it hard to follow God sometimes. In this lesson, we see that God ultimately works for live and will always provide where there is a need.

Ep 198 | Compassionate, In Need

Pastors Brandon, Megan and Steve discuss Genesis 21:8-19. Abraham and Sarah discard Hagar and Ishmael in the desert. Even though Abraham and Sarah don’t love them, God shows special concern and love for them. We’re invited to be caring, compassionate, and kind not matter what we think about another person. How can share God’s love for all people?

Ep 197 | Patient, Blessed

Pastors Steve and Brandon discuss Genesis 17:1-7, 15-22. Abram tried to make God’s promises ("I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.”) come true on his own. God’s vision for our lives is much longer-range than we’re willing to accept and we lose track of God’s faithfulness. God's promises keep expanding, even when we’re impatient.

Ep 196 | Faithful, Forgetful

Pastors Megan, Steve and Brandon discuss Genesis 12:1-5a, 10-20. In this story, God calls Abram (later known as Abraham) and promises to defend him. Shortly thereafter, Abram tries to save himself instead of trusting God’s promise, which has some unintended consequences. We are sometimes (frequently) forgetful, but God is always faithful.

Ep 195 | Responsive, Obedient

Pastors Brandon, Megan and Steve discuss Genesis 6:13-22, 9:8-15. In the story of Noah, God’s decides humanity is worthless, but changes and feels bad about the flood. God recommits to Noah and humanity. God only desires a flourishing creation and a relationship with us. Because God can change, how will we make sure we are listening and following?

Ep 194 | Boundary-Maker, Boundary-Breakers

Pastors Steve and Brandon discuss Genesis 3:1-13, 22-24. We were created to be in relationship with God, with nature, and with each other. Our shame, blame, and pain disrupts our relationship with God. What are we called to do in the midst of this? Love God and love our neighbor. “When people look at the church, they should see people who know how to love enemies and love people who are different from them.” - Pastor Steve

Ep 193 | Creation

Pastors Megan, Brandon, and Steve kick off our new worship series, “God Is – We Are” with talk of sabbatical, meaning, order, separation, and filling. Because God has created all things, even rest, how should we live, serve, and worship?

Reading: Genesis 1:1-5 and 1:26-2:3

Ep 192 | Sermon

Pastor Megan is joined by Pastor Liesl Spitz to discuss Sermons in our Renewing Worship Series with text from 1 Corinthians 1:17-25. What is a sermon for, and what is it meant to do? Sermons give the whole community a chance to hear more about what God might be up to and how they might be a part of it.  A sermon isn’t necessarily teaching or public speaking, although it can do both. It is a faith event made possible by the Holy Spirit.

Ep 191 | Creed In Worship

Pastors Megan and Steve discuss CREED and CONFESSION. Confess doesn’t mean admit (like in confessing to a crime), it means declare. When we confess faith, we state it publicly. The creed(s) we use are shared by the whole church. This connects us to believers beyond our own community. We practice it in worship so we can be bold in our confessions in public. 

How does a weekly confession of faith unite us with the whole church?

Ep 190 | Testimony In Worship

Pastors Megan and Steve discuss Psalm 71:15-24. Sharing witness or testimony in worship isn’t typically thought of as “Lutheran" behavior, but it can be. In our online worship services, we have Offering Moments. They’re a chance to share what the church is doing in people’s lives and what it means. We can practice telling our faith stories in worship, so that we’re comfortable telling them in our daily lives. How can we invite each other to talk about faith publicly and share what God is doing in our lives?

Ep 189 | Sharing Faith Throughout the Generations

Pastors Steve and Megan discuss Galatians 3:23-29. “…in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.“ What does it mean to be baptized? It’s God’s blessings coming through ordinary water and spoken promises. We need to hear and see these promises. It unites us in worship, makes us one family, and keeps us accountable to each other.

Ep 188 | Baptized Into a Faith Community

Pastors Steve and Megan discuss Galatians 3:23-29. “…in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.“ What does it mean to be baptized? It’s God’s blessings coming through ordinary water and spoken promises. We need to hear and see these promises. It unites us in worship, makes us one family, and keeps us accountable to each other.

Ep 187 | Sharing What God Has Given

Pastor Megan and guest speaker Pastor Lindsey discuss Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It can be difficult to talk about money in church. It’s a source of guilt, anger, or superiority for some. But Jesus is very open in talking about money, and being generous with our resources, time, and talent.

Ep 186 | The Sacrament of Communion

Pastors Steve and Megan discuss 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Why is it so important to receive communion?

Ep 185 | Music In Worship

Pastors Megan and Steve discuss Psalm 98:1a, 4-9. “O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things." Music can reflect culture, society, and so much more. In worship, its sole focus is on praise of God and building community. The full variety of musical styles connect us to God and each other in worship. But how?

Notes from Producer Elizabeth Denmark:
Sorry, I was so excited to be back in-person that I accidentally cranked up the volume on the mics. I’m a bit rusty after 67 episodes over Zoom.

Ep 184 | Centered In Scripture

Pastors Steve and Megan discuss Joshua 1:1-9. Through scripture, we hear what God has done, how to live as God’s people, and how to listen for what God is doing among us.

Ep 183 | Confession & Forgiveness

Pastors Megan and Steve discuss 1 John 1:5-10. When we confess together, we recognize that together we have individually and as a community fallen short of God’s vision for us. The good news is that God’s forgiveness is for us all!