Rev. Matthew Ian Fleming
Denomination: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Organization: St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Matthew is a Lutheran pastor (ELCA), author, and faith-based entrepreneur who opens up his Bible bruises with curiosity, wonder, and a dash of irreverence. Matthew's first book (Broadleaf Books, 2024), The End is the Beginning: Revelation, Hope, and Love that Lit the Stars, wrestles with the scariest and most misunderstood book of the Bible (Revelation) through humor, story, and invitation. He is a frequent contributing writer to Faith+Lead and Church Anew and a sought after preacher with upcoming engagements at Day1 and St. Andrew Lutheran Church.
Matthew launched and leads Church Anew, building an international platform that hosts events and creates resources that express a fresh witness in the world. As Church Anew's founding Executive Director, Matthew raised more than $4 million in capacity building funding and expanded its reach to support more than 1,500 congregations, 10,000 Christian leaders, and more than 750,000 unique visitors to the website.
With four colleagues, Matthew founded Alter Guild, a podcast network with more than half a million downloads that features four shows including Cafeteria Christian and New Time Religion.
Matthew is ordained in the ELCA and serves as teaching pastor to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Matthew has created original worship offerings, sermon series, and child-centered worship experiences over his decade of leadership at St. Andrew.
He shares insights at conferences across the country including Church Anew, Preach Collective, Ignite the Church, St. Olaf College, and Luther Seminary. Constantly in demand for content creation, Matthew has developed video, podcast, spiritual practices, and retreat content for 1517 Media, The Collegeville Institute, St. Olaf College, Faith+Lead, various local congregations and regional church networks.
At home, Matthew sings unrequested car-duets with his spouse, jams on banjo with their two daughters, and religiously bakes sourdough bread.
Day1 Weekly Programs by Rev. Matthew Ian Fleming
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A Message, A Memory, A Mystery - Episode #4253
Tuesday September 22, 2026
Join us for Episode 4253 of Day1, featuring Rev. Matthew Fleming, teaching pastor at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and founder of Church Anew. In his sermon "A Message, A Memory, A Mystery," drawn from Psalm 78:1-8, Fleming reflects on the wonder of children's questions and the psalmist's call to pass faith from one generation to the next. As we move through the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, he invites us to hold scripture as message, memory, and mystery alike.
Revolution or Revelation?
Tuesday March 12, 2024
The inimitable Elizabeth Schuyler chides Alexander Hamilton in Lin Manuel-Miranda’s fabulous couplet: “You want a revolution? I want a revelation.” The crowd may have gathered expecting a revolution, a king who would topple the government, flip the script, and change their lot. But what they received was a revelation. Jesus is absolutely revealed in our sanctuaries, whether they swell to pre-pandemic participation, or whether they tenderly care for a remnant few. We can indeed catch a glimpse of Jesus in moments of transcendence witnessing art and song and dance and spectacle. But Jesus’ reminders in this final discourse are ordinary, mundane, and simple. A seed in the ground. A grain of wheat. And a final blessing, as Jesus reminds the crowd and his beloved followers, “The light is in you.”