Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Christianity
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Welcome to Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith, a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO. We talk about real life and real faith—the doubts, the hope, and the messy middle—through the lens of love, grace, and community. No judgment, just honest conversations about what it means to be human and to believe. Perfect for anyone curious about progressive Christianity or looking for a safe place to explore faith in today’s world.

  1. 6h ago

    God, Science, Heaven & Doubt: A Teen Asks the Big Questions

    What happens when a confirmation student gets to ask a pastor anything about faith? You get a conversation that goes well beyond Sunday school answers. For her confirmation project at Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver, Adelaide Schopp sat down with Pastor Gary Sandberg to ask some pretty big questions. Can you believe in God and science? Why does God allow suffering? What happens after we die? Can you question your faith and still be a Christian? And perhaps the biggest question of all: What if you don't have everything figured out? Pastor Gary shares how his own Lutheran faith has changed over the years, where he's encountered God in both joy and grief, and why he believes honest questions and conversations are an important part of growing in faith. It's a thoughtful, refreshingly open conversation about Christianity, doubt, grace, and what it means to have a relationship with God. In This Episode: How faith changes as we grow older Why questioning God doesn't mean losing your faith Whether Christianity and science can coexist Finding God's presence in grief, joy, and everyday life What Pastor Gary believes about heaven and God's grace Why religious differences don't have to divide us What to remember when you're struggling with faith Whether you've been Lutheran your whole life, are exploring Christianity, or have more questions than answers, there's room for you in this conversation. 🎙️ Together 4 Good is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado, where we explore faith, community, and what it means to live together for good. Learn more at bethany-denver.org.

  2. Oct 13

    Can Music Express Faith Better Than Words? A Conversation with Rick Seaton

    What happens when music expresses something about faith that words simply cannot? Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Bethany organist Rick Seaton at the organ to explore the history, complexity, and spiritual power of one remarkable piece: Louis Vierne’s Finale from Symphony No. 1. Rick shares why the pipe organ has been intertwined with Christian worship for centuries, how Vierne’s difficult life shaped music filled with struggle and triumph, and why this particular finale has become such a fitting piece for Easter. Along the way, Rick gives us an up-close look at the organ itself, including a melody played entirely with the feet, an incredibly complicated musical canon, and the subtle themes listeners may hear repeated throughout the piece. And perhaps most importantly, Nate and Rick reflect on something Lutherans know well: not everything about God needs to be completely explained. Sometimes mystery is part of faith. And sometimes music brings us closer to that mystery than words ever could. Why the pipe organ became so closely connected with Christian worship How organ music can physically surround a congregation with sound The story of French composer and Notre Dame organist Louis Vierne Why Vierne’s Finale from Symphony No. 1 works so beautifully as an Easter postlude How struggle, hope, joy, and resurrection can be expressed without lyrics What organists are actually doing with their hands and feet Why music can communicate truths that become smaller when we try to put them into words 00:00 Coming Up: Exploring Vierne’s Famous Organ Finale00:58 Why the Organ Is So Connected to Church03:00 What Makes the Organ Sound So Powerful?05:30 Meet Composer Louis Vierne06:15 Why This Piece Works So Well for Easter08:00 Can Instrumental Music Tell a Faith Story?09:35 Vierne’s Life of Struggle and Loss11:05 How Rick Chooses Preludes and Postludes13:00 The Organ’s “Keyboard for Your Feet”15:00 Learning—and Continuing to Master—the Organ16:20 Rick Demonstrates One of the Hardest Sections18:30 Why Great Music Doesn’t Need a Literal Story19:15 Faith, Mystery, and What Music Can Express21:00 Continuing to Learn New Music22:00 What to Listen for in Vierne’s Finale24:00 Musical Tension, Resolution, and Coming Home25:25 Full Performance: Vierne’s Finale from Symphony No. 1 Louis Vierne — Finale from Symphony No. 1 Performed by Bethany Lutheran Church organist Rick Seaton. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from: One License with license #A-705765 and CCLI with license #CSPL034240 If this conversation gave you a new way to listen to the music you hear in worship, share it with someone who loves music, faith, or both. 👍 Like this episode🔔 Subscribe for more conversations from Together 4 Good💬 Tell us in the comments: Is there a hymn or piece of church music that has become part of your faith story? Learn more about Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver at bethany-denver.org Facebook: /bethanylutheranchurchInstagram: @bethany_denver What You’ll LearnChaptersFeatured Music

  3. Oct 6

    Is 1 Corinthians 13 Really About Marriage?

    “Love is patient. Love is kind.” We hear 1 Corinthians 13 at weddings all the time—but Paul wasn’t actually writing marriage advice. In this episode of Sunday School Remix, Pastor Nate looks at the larger story behind one of the Bible’s most familiar passages. The church in Corinth was divided over leadership, status, spiritual gifts, wealth, and who was supposedly more faithful. Paul places his famous words about love right in the middle of those disagreements because love—not ego, status, knowledge, or spiritual achievement—is what makes Christian community possible. Why 1 Corinthians 13 was originally written to a conflicted church community What agape love means and how it differs from romantic love Why Paul says spiritual gifts mean very little without love How love can include boundaries, truth, and disagreement Why humility is essential to Christian community What this passage tells us about living together when we do not always agree 1 Corinthians 13Additional context: 1 Corinthians 1, 8, 12 + 14 Paul places this teaching about love between chapters about spiritual gifts because love is the foundation that gives those gifts meaning. As Pastor Nate explains, Paul is continually pulling the Corinthians away from competition and back toward their shared identity as the body of Christ. 00:00 Why 1 Corinthians 13 shows up at weddings01:00 What was happening in the church at Corinth?03:00 Competition, spiritual gifts + division04:00 One body with many gifts05:00 Why love sits between chapters 12 and 1406:00 Paul puts love in the middle of a church fight07:00 Philia, eros + agape: different kinds of love09:00 Love is behavior, not simply emotion10:00 “A noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”11:00 Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up12:00 When good actions become spiritually hollow13:00 Love, boundaries + difficult community14:00 “We know only in part”15:00 Why Christian love requires humility16:00 Creating room for vulnerability + imperfection17:00 Christ’s love for imperfect people18:00 Putting first things first If this conversation gave you a new way to hear a familiar passage, share it with someone who might appreciate it too. Like this episode, subscribe to Bethany Lutheran Church, and join us for more conversations about Scripture, faith, grace, and what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. Website: bethany-denver.orgFacebook: /bethanylutheranchurchInstagram: @bethany_denver What You’ll LearnScriptureChaptersConnect With Bethany

  4. Sep 29

    Why Does Singing Together Matter to Our Faith?

    Why has singing been part of worship for thousands of years? In this episode of Together 4 Good, we explore why music reaches parts of us that words alone sometimes cannot. From ancient Scripture to Sunday morning worship, singing connects our hearts to God, connects us to one another, and can even carry our faith when believing feels difficult. We also look at the powerful connection between music and memory, why certain hymns stay with us throughout our lives, and how the songs we sing together can remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Why singing has been part of worship throughout Scripture How music engages more than just our intellect Why congregational singing is an act of community, not performance How the church can help carry us through seasons of doubt Why hymns and sacred music become tied to memory, grief, hope, and faith 00:00 Why do people sing when they worship?01:50 Music throughout Scripture03:50 Why music reaches beyond the intellect06:15 The role of music in Sunday worship08:00 We are not here to watch a performance08:45 When the community believes for you10:30 Learning to depend on one another11:40 What happens when we breathe and sing together13:20 Music, memory, and passing faith along14:20 Singing during grief and hospice15:40 Taking Sunday’s songs into the rest of the week16:30 Hymns connecting generations18:00 Singing with those who came before us18:30 Music ministry at Bethany What hymn or song has stayed with you through an important season of your life? Is there one that immediately connects you with someone you love? Share it in the comments. Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might appreciate the conversation. Bethany Lutheran ChurchDenver, Colorado Facebook: /bethanylutheranchurch Instagram: @bethany_denver

  5. Sep 22

    Does the Church Need to Be Cool? Why We Should Keep Church Weird

    What if the church’s future does not depend on becoming cooler, trendier, or more like the successful church down the street? In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger explores why churches—and individuals—are healthiest when they stop trying to imitate someone else and begin embracing the particular gifts, history, personality, and calling God has given them. From a fictional Lutheran congregation chasing megachurch trends to real stories of communities discovering their unique gifts, this conversation asks a bigger question: Who has God created us to be, and how can we give that away for the sake of others? Why trying to make church “cool” can pull a congregation away from its identity How vocation and calling apply to communities as well as individuals Why every congregation has its own personality, history, and gifts How generosity is connected to our identity as people created in God’s image Why the gifts God gives us are ultimately meant to be shared 00:00 Why We Need to Keep Church Weird00:43 Why Churches Try So Hard to Be Cool02:10 Calling, Vocation, and Identity03:40 What Is a Church Called to Be?04:12 St. Melancthon Jell-O Potluck Lutheran Church05:00 The Megachurch Down the Street06:45 What Happens When Churches Copy Someone Else08:35 A Church That Embraced Being Weird10:55 Who Has God Created Your Church to Be?12:15 Your Identity Is a Gift13:15 What Children Teach Us About Generosity15:10 Created in the Image of a Generous God16:10 Church of the Beloved and Giving Gifts Away18:05 What Has God Blessed You With? If this conversation gave you something to think about, like this episode, subscribe to Together for Good, and share it with someone who may need the reminder that they do not have to become someone else to live faithfully into their calling. Website: bethany-denver.orgFacebook: /bethanylutheranchurchInstagram: @bethany_denverBethany Connect App: Search “Bethany Connect” in your phone’s app store. What You’ll LearnChaptersCall to ActionConnect with Bethany

  6. Sep 15

    Why Do We Need Community More Than Ever?

    Why do we need one another—and what does community have to do with our life of faith? In this episode of Together4Good, Pastor Nate reflects on our deep human longing for connection and the belief that relationship is woven into the way God created us. From the communal nature of the Trinity to Jesus’ compassion, confession in worship, and the healing that comes when we can honestly say, “I’m struggling too,” this conversation explores why meaningful community matters. Why our desire for relationship may be rooted in the very nature of God How Jesus’ compassion restores people to both wholeness and community Why being present with someone can sometimes matter more than fixing their problem How confession reminds us that none of us has life completely figured out Why vulnerable, grace-filled communities can become places of healing 00:00 Why Community and Connection Matter 00:45 Were We Created for Relationships? 02:30 The Trinity as a Community of Love 03:20 Rublev’s Icon and the Invitation to the Table 05:15 God’s Desire for Relationship 06:35 Jesus, Compassion, and Restoring Community 09:00 Sometimes People Need Presence, Not Solutions 10:45 God Suffers With Us 12:45 Relationships and Human Flourishing 14:00 What Makes Faith Community Different? 15:20 Confession: None of Us Has It All Together 17:00 Learning Compassion for Ourselves and Others 18:15 Lowering Our Expectations of Perfection 19:30 Alienation, Vulnerability, and Healing 21:00 What the Church Can Learn About Honest Community 23:05 Creating Spaces for Connection at Bethany 24:20 Created for Community and Held by Grace If this conversation gave you something to think about, like the episode, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need the reminder that we were never meant to navigate life alone. 📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO 🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org 📘 Facebook: /bethanylutheranchurch 📸 Instagram: /bethany_denver What You’ll LearnChaptersConnect with Bethany

  7. Sep 8

    REBROADCAST: Everyday Spiritual Practices

    In this special rebroadcast Pastor Nate is talking about spirituality in everyday life. Because let’s be honest sometimes faith can start to feel like another thing on the to-do list. Go to church. Read your Bible. Say your prayers. And all of that matters, but having faith is so much more than just going to church or reading your Bible. It’s about connection and relationships. Remembering that God is bigger than any one practice or person. After 15 years as a pastor, Nate admits that worship and Bible study can sometimes feel more like work than rest, so he’s learned to look for God in other places, too: in gratitude before a meal, in a walk under the trees, in the rhythm of a ritual that brings you peace, or even in a sticky note on your bathroom mirror that reminds you: God’s here. He shares how the Bible talks about forgetting and remembering God and how spiritual practices are really just ways to help us remember who God is, who we are, and who we’re called to love. 📖 In this episode: Forgetfulness vs. sin and why “ah shoot, I forgot” might be a gentler way to understand grace How your faith practices can change with the seasons of your life Why ritual and repetition (yes, even lighting the same Advent wreath every year) matter What gratitude and nature teach us about remembering God And why even a few seconds of stillness can be an act of worship This episode is a reminder that God’s already here — in your work, your car, your chaos, and your quiet. You don’t have to be in church to be close to Him.

  8. Sep 1

    What Does Zacchaeus Teach Us About Grace?

    What if Zacchaeus isn’t a story about a bad man who finally becomes good? In this episode of Sunday School Remix, Pastor Nate takes another look at Luke 19 and explores what changes when we pay attention to the details we may have missed in Sunday school. The story becomes less about fixing Zacchaeus and more about Jesus seeing someone the crowd had already labeled and written off. What You’ll Learn: Why the story of Zacchaeus may be about labels and assumptions How Luke connects Zacchaeus with stories about wealth, outsiders, and belonging Why Zacchaeus’ generosity may have already been part of his life What Jesus’ decision to eat with Zacchaeus communicated to the crowd How this story reminds us that every person is worthy of being seen Chapters: 00:00 What if we’ve misunderstood Zacchaeus?00:43 Why Zacchaeus only appears in Luke01:35 The rich ruler and Zacchaeus02:33 Jesus sees both rich and poor outsiders03:19 Jesus makes room for interruptions05:17 What Zacchaeus’ name means06:55 Was Zacchaeus actually the short one?08:07 Why Zacchaeus climbs the tree10:39 Jesus sees Zacchaeus11:15 Why eating together mattered12:38 The crowd starts grumbling13:37 What Zacchaeus actually says about his money15:10 Looking beyond assumptions16:07 “He too is a son of Abraham”17:11 How communities can lose people18:22 Jesus sees both of them19:15 The story doesn’t end in Sunday school Like this episode, subscribe to Bethany’s YouTube channel, and share it with someone who might enjoy taking another look at a familiar Bible story. Connect with Bethany:📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org

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Welcome to Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith, a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO. We talk about real life and real faith—the doubts, the hope, and the messy middle—through the lens of love, grace, and community. No judgment, just honest conversations about what it means to be human and to believe. Perfect for anyone curious about progressive Christianity or looking for a safe place to explore faith in today’s world.

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