Augustana Podcasts

Sermon Title: Getting Ready to Take on the World. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: John 14:15-21. Spring is a season of transition. Today in worship at 9:45 am, we honor and bless those in our church who are preparing for the transition beyond high school. This milestone brings with it significant changes for families and for our congregation, as we prepare to send them into a new chapter of life, we send them with God’s Spirit, who is calling them into a life filled with promise and purpose.

Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: John 14:1-14. Sermon Title: Not Every Road Leads Home. As we continue to reflect on the works of Christ and the power of His resurrection, in this Easter season, the Gospel of John brings us into a moment of uncertainty. Jesus speaks to His disciples as their world is about to change. And into their fear, He says: Do not let your hearts be troubled. In a world full of many roads and many voices, Jesus does not offer directions—He offers Himself: I am the way, the truth, and the life. Not every road leads home—but Christ does. So come as you are. Let us worship God.

Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: John 10:1-10. Sermon Title: The Voice That Leads to Life. In this Easter season, we continue to live into the promise of resurrection - new life breaking through in unexpected places. Today, Jesus names himself as both shepherd and gate, the one who calls us, gathers us, and leads us into abundant life. In a world full of competing voices, we are invited to listen for the voice that knows us, loves us, and leads us toward life. Come and hear again the good news: Christ is risen, and in him, life is opened wide.

Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Texts: John 20:11-18, Luke 24:13-35, Matthew 28:16-20. This morning, we celebrate the joy of Christ’s resurrection through music. The Hymn Festival practice of worship is a uniquely Lutheran tradition, developed and promoted by Minnesota based Lutheran organists throughout the mid-20th century. This unique style of worship has now spread across the globe. The characteristics of a good hymn festival include choral anthems, organ hymn improvisations, scripture readings, reflections, and most importantly, congregational song. The music preaches the sermon for the day.

Guest Preacher: Emilia Erickson, University of MN Student. Preaching Text: John 20:19-31. Easter is a movement, not a moment. Throughout the season of Easter, we celebrate the ways God calls us into new and abundant life. One of those ways is through the dynamic ministry among the students at Lutheran Campus Ministry – Twin Cities. LCM-TC is one of the largest and most impactful Lutheran college ministries at a public university in the country. We are blessed to have U of M student and LCM-TC student leader, Emilia Erickson, bring the Good News to us today. Augustana has a long history of supporting Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities, as a way to strengthen the church and raise up young Christian leaders today.

Sermon Title: This is Only the Beginning. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Matthew 28:1-10. Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Today, we celebrate the gift of new life given to use through Christ rising from the dead.

Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching text: John 13:1-17, 31b-35.

Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Matthew 21:1-11. Sermon Title: Humility on Parade. Today we enter Jerusalem with Jesus, joining a crowd that dares to hope, to protest, and to proclaim: “Hosanna! Save us!” What looks like a simple parade is anything but. Jesus intentionally stages a different kind of procession; one that challenges the dominant powers of the world and reveals a kingdom rooted in humility, justice, and peace. As we wave palms today, we stand at the threshold of Holy Week: the most sacred and unsettling story of our faith. What begins in celebration will move quickly into tension, confrontation, and grief. We will witness love embodied in acts of service, truth spoken in the face of power, and a cross that exposes the cost of faithful resistance. We are invited not to rush ahead, but to walk the story together, trusting that even in the shadow of the cross, God’s redeeming grace is at work.

Guest Preacher: Pastor Katie Hendrikson. Preaching Text: John 11

A faith conversation with Pastor Jason and Augustana member, Kris Deyo.

Sermon Title: Beyond What's Possible. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: John 11:1-7, 17-29, 32-35, 38-45. Our global church relationships are an important part of our vitality. Through our partnerships with the Church in Tanzania and Guatemala, we have seen God do things beyond what seemed possible over the last 35 years. As we celebrate these relationships, along with our partner Lutheran Mideast Development, we are aiming to raise $80,000 to support ministries and projects that further God’s mission through the church around the world. We welcome marimba player and guitarist, Jorge Hernández & José Reyes to worship today. The marimba is a favorite instrument of Guatemala.

A conversation with Barb Rolfes and Deaconess Claire Schoepp When you think of the ministry of welcome at a church, who comes to mind? We hope a whole lot of people. But we wanted to hear from our Administrative Secretary, Barb Rolfes, who if often the first face of Augustana. In this conversation between Barb and Deaconess Claire, we hope you notice how the welcome of one couple in one congregation changed everything for Barb. We hope Barb's story can be an inspiration about the power of welcoming the stranger no matter who they are or where they've been. You never know the ripple effects a true and deep welcome can have. During Vacation Bible School (VBS) in 2025, we learned a whole bunch of water stories, each story invited us to dive deeply into a biblical theme. The theme of Welcome came from the story of Lydia in Acts 16. The sermon on this theme is from Sunday, July 13: "Let's Take the Detour."

A conversation with Pastor Rachel Tune and Club 56 What does it mean to follow God? What is your favorite Bible story? What have others done to help us feel joyful? What animal do you connect with the most? Do you prefer gummy candy, chocolate, or hard candy? Augustana's 5th and 6th graders are full of questions and grateful for conversation partners willing to share a bit of their faith journey and wisdom. Their sheer delight in being able to ask the random questions is also quite clear. What a gift to have a retired campus pastor in the congregation like Pastor Rachel who is more than happy to show up and explore the big and small questions.

A conversation with Pastoral Intern Nathan Adu-Gyamfi and Club 56. Who is God to you? This conversation between Augustana's 5th and 6th graders and Pastoral Intern Nathan Adu-Gyamfi wanders around a goodly number of questions where our 5th and 6th graders probe into his spirituality and faith. We're grateful to Pastoral Intern Nathan for sharing his life experience with our young people. Let's explore together how faith meets life.

Sermon Title: The Shadow of Blame. Preacher: Deaconess Claire Schoepp. Preaching Text: John 9:1-41. Our global church relationships are an important part of our vitality. Through our partnerships with the Church in Tanzania and Guatemala, we have seen God do things beyond what seemed possible over the last 35 years. As we celebrate these relationships, along with that of our partner Lutheran Mideast Development the next two Sundays, we are also aiming to raise $80,000 to support ministries and projects that further God’s mission through the church around the world.

Beyond the Pulpit - Trust, a conversation with Merri Guggisberg, parent coach, and Deaconess Claire Schoepp. What does it mean to build trust as you're raising your family? Join Merri Guggisberg, parent coach, and Deaconess Claire Schoepp in a conversation about the relationship between trust and forgiveness, the relationship between trust and mindfulness, and the relationships between parents/caregivers and children. Maybe walk away with a few tools to help you stay grounded as you continue to build a relationship rooted in trust with your child. During Vacation Bible School (VBS) in 2025, we learned a whole bunch of water stories, each story invited us to dive deeply into a biblical theme. The theme of Trust came from the story where Jesus Walks on the Water and invites Peter to jump out of the boat in Matthew 14. The sermon on this theme is from Sunday, July 20: "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat."

Faith Conversation with Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner with Bob Sorensen. Text: John 9.

Guest Preacher: Rachel Larson. Preaching Text: John 9.

Faith Conversation with Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi and Jorja Gale. Text: John 4:5-42

Guest Preacher: Pastor Lindsey (Bulger) Bina. Preaching Text: John 4:5-15, 27-28a, 39.

Sermon Title: The Shadow of Isolation. Preacher: Pastor Intern Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: John 4:5-42. Today’s Gospel brings us to a quiet place outside a Samaritan town, where Jesus sits beside an ordinary well. What begins as a simple conversation about water becomes a life-changing encounter with the living God. At that well, a woman who came alone and burdened discovers that Christ already knows her story—and still offers her living water. As we gather this morning, many of us come carrying our own thirsts: questions, worries, fatigue, hopes, and prayers. The good news is this—Christ still meets people at the well. He still speaks into our ordinary lives. And He still offers living water that satisfies the deepest thirst of the soul. So come, just as you are. Come thirsty. Come expecting to meet the One who gives living water. Let us worship God.

Faith Conversation with Deaconess Claire Schoepp and Pastor Rachel Tune. Text: John 3:1-17

Guest Preacher: Pastor Beth (Wilkie) Horsch. Text: John 3:1-17.

Sermon Title: The Shadow of Doubt. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: John 3:1-17. Today we meet Nicodemus, who comes to Jesus under the cover of night. He is a leader, a teacher, a faithful person - and yet he is searching. He carries questions he feels he cannot ask in the daylight. We may know something about that kind of night; what it is to believe and still wonder, to trust and still wrestle, to hope and still have questions. In this conversation, Jesus does not shame doubt or dismiss searching faith. Instead, he meets it. He speaks of new birth, of wind and Spirit, of a love wide enough to hold the whole world. Today’s scripture reminds us that a searching faith is still welcomed faith. Even in the night, we are met by love.

Preacher: Pastor Andrea Roske-Metcalfe. Preaching Text: Matthew 4:1-11.

Faith Conversation with Deacon Stephanie Anderson with Lucy Bock. Text: Matthew 4:1-11.

Sermon Title: The Shadow of Excess. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. Ash Wednesday marks a season of repentance and renewal. We follow Christ toward Jerusalem, where he passes from death to life, and remember that it is through this path that Christ makes us new. We begin Lent by acknowledging our need for repentance and for God’s mercy. Tonight, you will hear the words, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return”, as an ashen cross is smudged on your forehead. These words remind us of our mortality, and of Christ’s redeeming love. The season of Lent calls us to a discipline that resists evil and whatever leads us away from loving God, ourselves, and others. During these 40 days, we seek God’s mercy above all else and reflect on the ways our lives and the world are stubbornly cast in the shadow of sin, and in need of God’s redeeming love. You are invited on a journey starting tonight, that includes self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love. We do this trusting that God renews and strengthens us in faith and leads us in these practices, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Title: The Shadow of Adversity. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Matthew 4:1-11. We begin a new worship series called Out of the Shadows this week. Throughout the gospels, Jesus finds people who have been pushed into the shadows - by religion, by relationship, by community expectations, or by their own fears. Jesus brings them into the light with compassion and truth. In each case, Jesus sets people free and restores them to wholeness. Before we get to Jesus’ encounters with others who have lived in the shadows, Jesus takes his own trip into the shadows of evil and temptation to confront adversity and show us that he is trustworthy to follow.

Sermon Title: Called to Rest: Remember the Sabbath. Preacher: Pastor Intern Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: Exodus 24:12-18 & Matthew 17:1-9. Today we gather at the turning point of the church year—where glory is revealed, where the mountain gives way to the valley, and where Jesus invites us not to escape the world, but to be strengthened for what lies ahead. The Transfiguration reminds us that God’s glory does not cancel suffering, and God’s rest does not bypass the cross. Instead, Christ meets us on the mountain to remind us that we do not climb alone. As we worship today, may our hearts be opened to the God who reveals glory in the midst of struggle, who calls us to listen to the Son, and who invites us into the true rest that only Christ can give.

Sermon Title: Called to Action. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Isaiah 58:2-23 & Matthew 5:13-20. One of Augustana’s values is “Worship is the heart of our life together.” Worship centers us in Christ and unites us in God’s good news and saving work. Yet, worship is not the completion of faith. It’s only the beginning. We worship so that our lives are shaped by Christ that we can reflect his light the rest of the week. As we worship today, what do you hear God saying to you and how does this worship influence how you will put your faith into action this week?

Sermon Title: What Is Good? Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Micah 6:1-8 & Matthew 5:1-12. Our Epiphany series, “Glory Revealed” continues today with a look at both a prophetic word from Micah, and some of the most familiar and beloved words from Jesus. Both voices invite us to reflect more deeply on how our worship of God shapes the rest of our lives. As we bring all that is on our hearts and minds into worship today, trust that God’s light is shining and look for “What is good?” because of God right now. 

Sermon Title: Carrying the Light. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Matthew 4:12-23. In the season after Epiphany, we are listening for how God’s glory is revealed, not in spectacle alone, but in light that guides, calls, and sends. Today’s scriptures proclaim a God who meets fear with courage and ordinary lives with holy purpose. As Jesus begins his ministry and calls his first disciples, we glimpse a glory that moves through everyday places, inviting us to follow and to share the light we have seen.

Sermon Title: What Are You Looking For? Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: John 1:35-42. As we move deeper into the season after Epiphany, we explore the glory God reveals among us. God’s glory often looks like invitation, deeper relationship, and changed perspectives because of the light and presence of Christ in our lives. We pray that as we worship together today, God’s light reveals to all of us a deeper truth about ourselves and the world around us.

Sermon Title: Back to Jordan. Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: Matthew 3:13-17. Today we gather to remember and celebrate the baptism of our Lord and to remember our own. At the Jordan River, God meets us not at the end of the journey, but at the beginning. Baptism reminds us that God’s grace comes before our striving, and that God names us beloved even before the road ahead unfolds. As we worship today, may we return to the waters of promise, hear again God’s voice of grace, and trust the Spirit who leads us forward.

Sermon Title: God Doesn't Wait. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Luke 2:1-20. Merry Christmas! We pray that you experience the wonder and holiness of our Savior's birth in worship today.

Sermon Title: What Is Your "Another Way"? Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: Matthew 2:13-23. Today we gather to celebrate Christmas—the good news that God meets us not in perfect conditions, but right in the middle of fear, uncertainty, and longing. In the Christmas story, those who encountered the Christ child did not return the same way they came—they went home by another way. And that is still God’s invitation to us. As we worship today, may our hearts be open to the God who shows up in unexpected places and gently leads us into new paths of faith.

Sermon Title: Home By Another Way. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Matthew 2:1-12. Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate the light of Christ revealed to the world – a light that drew the Magi from afar and led them not only to Bethlehem, but onto a new way forward. Epiphany reminds us that encountering Christ changes our direction, inviting us to trust God’s leading even when it takes us off familiar paths. As we worship together, may this light renew our hope and open our hearts to how God is guiding us forward.

Sermon Title: A Stubborn Hope. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Isaiah 11:1-10. Welcome to Augustana’s midweek Advent worship. We pause this evening to listen for the stirring of God’s Spirit and the song that still turns the world upside down. As Mary once sang of a God who lifts the lowly and fills the hungry with good things, we join her and dare to wonder: Is the world about to turn? As our nights grow longer and the challenges of life can weigh heavy on our hearts, we find hope and strength in the promise of Advent and the community of God’s people.

Sermon Title: Interrupted by Grace. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Matthew 1:18-25. Welcome to worship in this season of holy anticipation. Our Advent theme, The Time Is Now, invites us to pay attention to the places where God’s promise presses into the present moment. Today we hear Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth from Joseph’s perspective – a story of disruption, courage, and trust. In a world that feels uncertain and weary, we gather to remember that God shows up in the middle of complicated lives and ordinary people, calling us into hope that cannot wait.

Sermon Title: The Time is Now: Prepare the Way! Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Matthew 3:1-12. Our Advent series “The Time is Now” reminds us of the urgency of faith. It doesn’t require us to have everything figured out, or to never doubt. But Advent holds the promise that God is near and because of that we are changed, even now.

Sermon Title: At the Far shores of Galilee. Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: John 6:25-35. As a grateful people, we lift our hearts in thanksgiving to the God who has carried us through another year. As we worship, we remember that thanksgiving is not simply a day on the calendar — it is a posture of the heart. It turns us toward the One who sustains us, centers us again in Christ, and reminds us that we belong not to fear or uncertainty, but to a God whose love never fails. Welcome and may you be blessed richly in this time of worship and thanksgiving.

Sermon Title: The New World Order. Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: Isaiah 2:1-5. Welcome to Augustana’s midweek Advent worship. We pause this evening to listen for the stirring of God’s Spirit and the song that still turns the world upside down. As Mary once sang of a God who lifts the lowly and fills the hungry with good things, we join her and dare to wonder: Is the world about to turn? As our nights grow longer and the challenges of life can weigh heavy on our hearts, we find hope and strength in the promise of Advent and the community of God’s people.

Sermon Title: Awake for the Unexpected. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Matthew 24:36-44. Advent is a season of watchful waiting. The time is now – now to notice the light in our lives, now to tend to hope, now to live with hearts open to God’s presence. In today’s reading, Jesus reminds us that we cannot know the hour when God’s fullness will be revealed. Our call is to live attentively, faithfully, and with gentle urgency, caring for one another and seeking what is good. This season invites us to awaken to the sacredness of the present and to trust that God is already at work among us.

Sermon Title: The Time Is Now: Tending to the Least of These. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Preaching Text: Matthew 25:31-46. Advent holds a tension between waiting and responding. We anticipate God coming as the Christ Child at Christmas. At the same time, God is breaking into the world which yearns for healing and redemption now. Faith calls us to step into that tension and to be alert to the ways God enters our hearts in this season so that our response to God contributes to the peace and healing God ushers into the world.

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen and what Jesus would do about it all if he were "in-the flesh," so to speak? You're not alone. Augustana's fifth and sixth graders have tender hearts and are wondering the same thing. They invited Rev. Tim Schroeder, a member at Augustana Lutheran Church, to help them think through this big theological question and want you to listen in on their conversation. They don't solve it all in 15 minutes, but they do encourage us with the reminder of the timelessness of Jesus' teaching in the story of the Good Samaritan. Listen in for thoughts on our call as followers of Jesus and repercussions of goodness.

Listen in on this conversation between Deacon Stephanie and two of our youth as they explore faith through the lens of "promise." They ask big questions about the nature of promises. A favorite question they explore is "when is it ok to break a promise?" Join in this conversation beyond the pulpit.

Sermon Title: The Time Is Now: Have What Is Needed! Preacher: Intern Pastor Nathan Adu-Gyamfi. Preaching Text: Matthew 25: 1-13. Today we begin the season of Advent, a time of waiting, watching, and preparing for Christ’s coming. Our theme for this season is “The Time Is Now.” In today’s Gospel from Matthew 25:1–13, Jesus tells the parable of the ten bridesmaids, some wise, some foolish, reminding us that faith is not passive waiting but active readiness. Advent invites us to keep our lamps burning, our hearts awake, and our lives open to the movement of God. As we worship today, may we hear the Spirit whisper again that God’s presence isn’t only in the future we hope for, but also in the moment before us — right here, right now.

Sermon Title: A Dialogue with Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner and LMD’s International Field Director. Preaching Text: Haggai 2:1-9. We welcome two very special guests to worship today. Dr. René Clausen is a renowned composer and Conductor Emeritus of the Concordia Choir in Moorhead, MN. He will be conducting the Senior Choir through four of his compositions during worship. We are also blessed to have the Field Director of Lutheran Mideast Development with us today. He has been involved with LMD for over 30 years, and has been leading the international efforts to support Kurds living in Turkey, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East for the last 23 years. 

Sermon Title: You Belong to God. Preacher: Deacon Stephanie Anderson. Preaching Text: Luke 6:20-31. Today we remember all the saints – those who have gone before us and those still walking beside us. In Jesus’ blessings and woes, we hear God’s great reversal: the poor, the hungry, the grieving, and the excluded are named as beloved. Life and death are held together in God’s care, and heaven is not some distant reward but a reality breaking into our world even now. In a world that measures worth by success and strength, we gather to remember that we belong to the God whose love endures beyond death – a love that calls us to live as saints here and now.

Sermon Title: Made New By God's Love: Faith Is A Lifelong Journey. Preacher: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner. Sermon Text: Philippians 4:1-9 & John 8:31-36. Today we mark the anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, an event that changed the Christian faith forever. Martin Luther sought to refocus the faith on the grace of God found in Scripture, and away from traditions and practices that burdened people with guilt and led people to see God as vengeful. This movement continues through the Church today, as God continues to make us new through the good news of Jesus Christ.