Walking the Camino: Faith, Family, and Doing Hard Things: A Conversation with Dave and Jll McLain

How Should Christians Read the Bible Today? A Conversation with Kate Souther

What does it actually mean to trust the Bible? Pastor Nate and Kate Souther talk about biblical interpretation, what we mean when we call Scripture the Word of God, and why faithful Christians can read the same passage differently. They explore literal readings, the bigger truths Scripture reveals about God, and why reading the Bible in community matters. What You’ll Learn: * Why the Bible can communicate truth without every passage being read literally * How Jesus and the parables can shape the way we approach Scripture * Why our own experiences affect what we notice when we read the Bible * Why Christians need community when interpreting difficult passages * How Lutherans understand Scripture as something living that continues to speak into our lives Chapters: 00:00 What is the Bible? 01:30 Why Scripture still matters 05:45 Is the Bible inspired or inerrant? 08:30 Does biblical truth have to be literal? 10:45 What can Jesus' parables teach us? 14:30 Why interpreting the Bible can feel difficult 17:30 Why we shouldn't read Scripture alone 21:30 How do Lutherans approach the Bible? 25:30 How our experiences shape what we read 27:30 One Bible story, three very different interpretations 30:30 Reading Scripture with humility 32:30 Reformation artifacts coming to Bethany If this conversation gave you something new to think about, like the episode, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who enjoys asking big questions about faith. Connect with Bethany: 📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO 🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]

What Keeps People Coming to Church: A Conversation with Pastor Gary Sandberg

Pastor Nate sits down with Pastor Gary Sandberg, for a deeply personal conversation about what keeps us coming back to church. Yes, the headlines continue to shout about church decline. However, this episode serves as a reminder that staying is its own kind of testimony. They talk candidly about: * The real reasons people leave church, and the quieter reasons people stay * Grace, commitment, and why the church doesn't need to be perfect to be powerful * How worship can ground us even when nothing else makes sense * The unexpected beauty of liturgy (and chanting in a Snuggie) * What Pastor Gary still finds at the altar after 30+ years in ministry What You'll Learn * Why do people stay in church when the stats say otherwise * The hidden value of participation over perfection * How churches can offer peace in an anxious, overstimulated world * Why liturgy might be weird at first—and why it's worth sticking with * Pastor Gary's car-shopping analogy for finding the right congregation This episode isn't just a look back, it's a recommitment to the future. Whether you're a longtime listener or have just discovered us today, we want you to know that you're not just a part of this community, you're an integral part of it. Welcome.  Learn more at https://bethany-denver.org

What If Your Humanity Is Actually God's Greatest Gift? A Conversation with Rev. Alex LaChapelle

What does it mean that God chose to become human? In this episode of Together for Good, Pastor Nate sits down with Pastor Alex LaChapelle for a conversation about the Incarnation, baptism, grace, and what it means to be fully human. Together, they explore why God works through ordinary people, how our failures do not erase our worth, and what changes when we remember that we and our neighbors were created “very good.” WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Explore why Jesus becoming human changes how we understand God * Remember that failure does not remove your worth * See how baptism continually recenters us in grace * Challenge assumptions about people whose stories we do not know * Discover how ordinary relationships can become places of God’s presence CONNECT WITH BETHANY If this conversation encouraged you, like the video, subscribe to Bethany’s channel, and share it with someone who may need the reminder that they are deeply loved. 📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]

Sunday School Remix: What Does Daniel and the Lions' Den Really Teach Us?

Most of us learned that Daniel and the lions' den is a story about praying faithfully and trusting God to keep us safe. But what if there's something much deeper happening? In this episode of Sunday School Remix, Pastor Nate explores Daniel 6 through the lens of exile, empire, and faithful resistance. Rather than a story about escaping hardship, Daniel becomes a powerful example of how ordinary spiritual practices can anchor us when political power, fear, or culture demand our ultimate loyalty. * Why Daniel's story is about faithfulness, not guaranteed safety * What exile teaches us about living faithfully today * How daily spiritual rhythms shape who we become * Why remembering God matters in uncertain times * What Daniel reveals about power, integrity, and hope 00:00 Is Daniel really about surviving lions? 01:00 The problem with transactional faith 03:00 Daniel, exile, and the Babylonian Empire 05:00 Why Daniel's integrity mattered 07:00 Power, manipulation, and King Darius 09:00 Daniel's daily practice of prayer 11:00 The trap is set 13:00 The lions' den and the limits of empire 15:00 The living God versus earthly power 17:00 What this story meant for people in exile 19:00 What Daniel teaches us today If this conversation encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone exploring faith or rediscovering familiar Bible stories in a new way. 🌐 Website: https://www.bethany-denver.org [https://www.bethany-denver.org] 📱 Follow Bethany Lutheran Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethanylutheranchurch What You'll LearnChaptersConnect

Walking the Camino: Faith, Family, and Doing Hard Things: A Conversation with Dave and Jll McLain

What can a 173-mile pilgrimage teach a family about faith, resilience, and life together? Dave and Jll McLain join Pastor Nate on Together 4 Good to share how they walked the Camino de Santiago from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, with their four children. Along the way, aching feet, welcoming villages, fellow pilgrims, and small acts of generosity open into a conversation about family sabbaticals, resilience, faith milestones, and why shared challenges can make strangers feel like family. In This Episode •    The Camino’s Christian roots and its modern life as a global pilgrimage route •    Why the McLains chose the Portuguese Way and walked 280 kilometers in 13 consecutive days •    How physical challenge creates resilience, perspective, and lasting family memories •    The scallop shell, pilgrim passport, and rituals that build connection along the way •    How hospitality and generosity let entire communities participate in a pilgrimage Key Takeaways •    Hard things become part of our toolbox. Completing a difficult journey gives us evidence that we can face the next challenge. •    Pilgrimage is communal. The marked path, shared symbols, fellow travelers, and hospitality of local communities remind us that faith is never practiced alone. •    Milestones matter. Camino stamps and certificates echo the faith markers—baptism, confirmation, a first Bible—that help us remember where we have been. •    Travel and time together are intentional investments. Encountering other cultures can nurture empathy while meaningful family experiences strengthen relationships into adulthood. Chapters 00:00  Coming up — A Christian pilgrimage through Portugal and Spain—and what it reveals about faith and parenting. 01:22  What is the Camino? — Dave traces the tradition of the Camino de Santiago and its modern revival. 04:40  Following the Way — Jll explains the route markers, pilgrim infrastructure, and villages that welcome walkers. 10:55  A family rhythm of sabbatical — Dave shares how extended family adventures grew from a commitment to work to live. 14:42  Why this journey, why now — Their oldest daughter’s idea becomes an invitation for the whole family. 16:45  Planning lightly — Experienced travelers, last-minute gear, and a willingness to figure things out together. 17:52  Thirteen days and 173 miles — The physical reality of walking about 14 miles a day—and when it finally began to feel possible. 20:08  We can do hard things — Challenge, shared struggle, and the experiences that equip children for real life. 22:00  Going through it — Why pilgrimage is not a resort experience, and how difficult moments can reshape us. 24:44  The scallop shell — A visible sign of belonging creates camaraderie and practical care among pilgrims. 27:26  Arriving in Santiago — The cathedral square, pilgrim’s Mass, passport stamps, and certificates of completion. 31:11  Generosity along the path — A box of plums becomes a picture of hospitality offered without recognition or thanks. 32:39  A microcosm of faith — The Camino reflects the highs, lows, community, and milestones of a life of faith. 33:43  Travel and empathy — Shared meals and cross-cultural experiences help form curiosity, tolerance, and love. 34:58  Choosing time with adult children — Dave and Jll reflect on the privilege, sacrifice, and joy of saying yes to time together.