Shows / St. Paul Podcast
St. Paul Podcast
A vibrant faith community in Davenport, Iowa, St. Paul Lutheran Church runs a ministry that reaches across the country and outreach commitments that extend around the world.
Episodes
- St. Paul Podcast
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, The Bible for Worship
Introducing Simon Peter as the first disciple that Jesus calls, Luke makes clear some of what discipleship will be about. Preaching text: Luke 5:1-11 Bible for…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and the sending of the 72
In today’s story we see that none of us, not even Jesus, can do it all alone. Jesus needs the help of his friends, the disciples, to help spread the word of…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and who is the best!
On today’s episode, the disciples get a little competitive, wanting to know which one is the best disciple. Jesus shares some good wisdom with them, letting…
- St. Paul Podcast
A little support, 1.26.2025
Mark Niethammer preaches on lifting each other up. In healing times, it is always better when there is accompaniment. Sometimes all we need is a little support…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and who is the best!
On today’s episode, the disciples get a little competitive, wanting to know which one is the best disciple. Jesus shares some good wisdom with them, letting…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus escape to Egypt
Jesus is still a little baby when he, Mary, Joseph, and Little Bird must flee to Egypt because of mean King Herod. Along the way, they seek help from a kind…
- St. Paul Podcast
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, The Bible for Worship
Describing Jesus as he offers the hometown crowd in Nazareth the victory cry of God's defeat of oppression and the deadening forces of the world, Luke also…
- St. Paul Podcast
Third Sunday after Epiphany, The Bible for Worship
As Luke opens the story of Jesus' public activity, he offers a summary scene of all that is to come. The work of the Spirit, grounded in Israel, and alive with…
- St. Paul Podcast
Miraculous faith, 1.19.2025
Katy Warren preaches on the magic of faith. Jesus works among and with us. Everyone has a part in God’s work, a role to play in some way. God doesn’t…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus escape to Egypt
Jesus is still a baby when he, Mary, Joseph, and Little Bird must flee to Egypt because of mean King Herod. Along the way, they seek help from a kind baker who…
- St. Paul Podcast
Second Sunday after Epiphany, The Bible for Worship
In the first story of John's gospel after setting the stage for Jesus' ministry, the gospel writer signals key aspects of what the gospel will reveal regarding…
- St. Paul Podcast
Defined by grace, 1.12.2025
Mac Mullins preaches on identity. We are defined by the life of Jesus, the life lived out for us, dedicated to restoring God’s peace to a broken, wounded, and…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus at a wedding banquet
Podcast friends! We've missed you and we're so glad to be back. Today's story is from season 2 and features a miracle at a wedding banquet. So snuggle on in…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus at a wedding banquet
Podcast friends! We've missed you and we're so glad to be back. Today's story is from season 2 and features a miracle at a wedding banquet. So snuggle on in…
- St. Paul Podcast
Baptism of our Lord, The Bible for Worship
In the story of Jesus's baptism, Luke shows the key actor in the whole gospel story to be the Holy Spirit, now carried by Jesus and empowering God's realm with…
- St. Paul Podcast
God’s love is in-tents, 1.5.2025
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on the deep love of God. God loved us and this world so deeply that God chose to live among us. God put on our vulnerability, the…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and the Wise Men
Happy New Year! This week, we find Little Bird just where we left off - the stable in Bethlehem. On this day, some astounding new visitors arrive, bringing…
- St. Paul Podcast
Second Sunday after Christmas, The Bible for Worship
With majestic, poetic language, John the gospel writer brings the hearer into the dramatic scene of cosmic creation, in which all life, death, resurrection…
- St. Paul Podcast
Chosen by love, 12.29.2024
Mac Mullins preaches on resolutions. Our resolution for the new year, and the rest of our lives, is to be transformed and to live a certain way. God does not…
- St. Paul Podcast
First Sunday after Christmas, The Bible for Worship
Announcing that God in Christ has interrupted creation's life once again, the question arises again for God's people: how, then, shall we live? A surprising…
- St. Paul Podcast
A special Christmas Eve edition, 12.24.2024
Mark Niethammer preaches on the St. Paul podcast's special Christmas Eve edition. Once the holidays are over, the conflict and chaos of the world seem to drown…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird, the shepherds, and the angels
Last week's episode ended with Little Bird waking up to a most peculiar sound. What could that sound have possibly been? This week, Little Bird meets a very…
- St. Paul Podcast
Holding the door for each other, 12.22.2024
Katy Warren preaches on togetherness. We can be together, at work or the grocery store, surrounded by others, and still feel completely alone. This emotional…
- St. Paul Podcast
Fourth Sunday of Advent, The Bible for Worship
The mystery of God's love for Israel and for the world is shouted and sung by Elizabeth and Mary, the first in Luke's long line of witnesses to God's power in…
- St. Paul Podcast
Gifts of repentance, 12.15.2024
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on caring for others. So often, the word repentance is thought of as beating ourselves up for all the wrong we’ve done, feeling…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and Zechariah
If you tuned in last week, you heard the story about Mary and Elizabeth. This week’s story takes place just after that one! Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah is…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird, Mary, and Joseph go to Bethlehem
This week, Little Bird is off on her longest journey yet, flapping her little wings all the way to Bethlehem. Little Bird, Mary, and Joseph find comfort and…
- St. Paul Podcast
Third Sunday of Advent, The Bible for Worship
John the Baptist was sent to prepare a people for God, and here Luke shows what that preparation is. Within our reach, not impossible, it is indeed an…
- St. Paul Podcast
Preparing, 12.8.2024
Pastor Mark Niethammer preaches on making room. Whether we’re filling our calendars or making time, there is always room for the ones we love. Our calling is…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and Zechariah
If you tuned in last week, you heard the story about Mary and Elizabeth. This week’s story takes place just after that one! Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah is…
- St. Paul Podcast
Second Sunday of Advent, The Bible for Worship
With historical and cultural detail and a reference to the prophet Isaiah, Luke introduces John the Baptist as the herald of a God who acts in continuity with…
- St. Paul Podcast
Hope rooted in love, 12.1.2024
Katy Warren preaches on connection. Anyone can bring joy and hope into another’s life in the most unexpected of ways. That’s the power of human connection, of…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and the generous landowner
Does life sometimes not seem so fair? Today, Little Bird gets a little jealous of Tiny Mouse but Jesus reminds her of a very important teaching story. There’s…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Mary visit Elizabeth
This week, we're returning to Season 1 to help set up our story for next week! Today, our brave Little Bird is off on another adventure. This time, traveling…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Mary visit Elizabeth
This week, we're returning to Season 1 to help set up our story for next week! Today, our brave Little Bird is off on another adventure. This time, traveling…
- St. Paul Podcast
Unanticipated power, 11.24.2024
Mark Niethammer preaches on power. How do power, authority, and influence show up in your life? There is so much we want to control throughout our days but we…
- St. Paul Podcast
First Sunday of Advent, The Bible for Worship
The urgency that the apostle Paul felt about Jesus' return to fulfill the kingdom of God drives his wish for the community in Thessaloniki to sustain its ethic…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and the generous landowner
Does life sometimes not seem so fair? Today, Little Bird gets a little jealous of Tiny Mouse but Jesus reminds her of a very important teaching story. There’s…
- St. Paul Podcast
Reign of Christ, The Bible for Worship
The visionary of Patmos makes it clear that no earthly ruler or kingdom has the ultimate future of creation in hand — that belongs only to God and to Christ…
- St. Paul Podcast
A chance to breathe, 11.17.2024
Mac Mullins preaches on hope. When the threads of our society are destroyed, when our customs are endangered, when the things that give us security, are…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and ALL the disciples
We often hear about the 12 disciples who follow Jesus but there are lots and lots more. Today, Little Bird teaches her new friend Tiny Mouse all about the…
- St. Paul Podcast
Season after Pentecost, The Bible for Worship
Mark reassures the community of God's promise to bring all things to an end with great blessing, despite present distress and suffering, and that God alone…
- St. Paul Podcast
Doritos and unexpected joy, 11.10.2024
Mark Niethammer preaches on joy. Joy is the movement of God’s spirit in our midst. It’s the gifts we’ve been blessed by, the people we’ve been blessed with…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and some words of comfort
Today, Little Bird wants to sing the PERFECT song for Mary’s birthday, and it has to be perfect. So Little Bird worries and frets and gets very anxious that it…
- St. Paul Podcast
Joy Sunday, The Bible for Worship
Luke's story of Zacchaeus, "the wee little man," shows the massive impact of faithfulness, as this wealthy character ignores the distractions of wealth to love…
- St. Paul Podcast
The power of tears, 11.3.2024
Katy Warren preaches on grief and hope. We live with the hope and promise of the gift of someday living in the embrace of God’s life but this promise of future…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and a lesson on revenge
What do you do when a friend or a sibling makes you really mad? Like when they take your favorite toy or eat the leftover Halloween candy that was yours! Do…
- St. Paul Podcast
What do you want me to do for you?, 10.27.2024
Mark Niethammer preaches on seeing and being seen. One of the most beautiful things that can happen as we walk this road of life is to see others as they are…
- St. Paul Podcast
All Saints Sunday, The Bible for Worship
John's story of the raising of Lazarus underscores what Jesus means when he says, "I am the resurrection and the life" — not just healing or a miracle, but…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and the Believing Captain
In today’s episode, Little Bird and Jesus meet a surprising person with total faith and trust in Jesus. A big, powerful, commanding person. Who could that be?…
- St. Paul Podcast
Be a servant, 10.20.2024
Sara Olson-Smith preaches on service. Everyone can serve. You don’t have to have any special qualifications to serve others. You only need a heart full of…
- St. Paul Podcast
Season after Pentecost, The Bible for Worship
Mark uses the healing of blind Bartimaeus to round out his new vision for the Jesus community, displaced from Jerusalem and encountering disorientation and…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus and the most important thing
Which one of God’s laws is the most important? Is it going to church every single week? Is it keeping your room nice and clean? Is it being nice to your…
- St. Paul Podcast
Nothing impossible, 10.13.2024
Mac Mullins preaches on gaining eternal life. God has always hoped that if we live the life that God has laid out for us, our hearts might be changed. That we…
- St. Paul Podcast
Season after Pentecost, The Bible for Worship
Mark rounds out his re-visioning of the Kingdom of God with a dramatic encounter that erases any idea of hierarchy, creating a community of mutual concern…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus with Nicodemus at night
Today’s episode takes place at night when a visitor arrives at the door to see Jesus. Our favorite Little Bird has a little trouble staying awake while the two…
- St. Paul Podcast
Expectations in faith, 10.6.2024
Katy Warren preaches on expectations. People of faith have wrestled with the experience of pain and suffering for thousands of years. We’ve all experienced…
- St. Paul Podcast
Season after Pentecost, The Bible for Worship
Mark continues to name familiar, comfortable props of life that may be lost, while reinforcing that "all things are possible for God," so faithfulness through…
- St. Paul Podcast
Little Bird and Jesus play and bless children
We're taking it all the way back to season 1 for one of our favorite episodes so far! This week, we find Little Bird and Jesus playing games with kids just…
- St. Paul Podcast
Season after Pentecost, The Bible for Worship
The story of Job's personal trial and suffering sets up a long tradition of encouraging trust in God through every twist and turn of life. Preaching text: Job…