Podcasts about Luther

In this episode we watch Jesus do what Luther says Christ always does: use the law to uncover real sin, then speak a promise that creates faith, revealing himself as the great “I am” who gives living water as pure grace. As the Samaritan woman leaves her jar behind and confesses him Savior of the world, we see that true worship isn't about the right mountain but about the Spirit delivering Christ through his Word—salvation from the Jews, and for the nations.GOSPEL John 9:1-411 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, 7 saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." 10 But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." 12 They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." 16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. Support the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

For our 150th episode, we're bringing back one of the most powerful conversations ever aired on Raising Wild Hearts.Ginny Luther — international speaker, parent educator, and author of Blue Star Grit — joins us to explore what happens when we stop trying to control our children… and start regulating ourselves instead.This episode dives deep into:The true meaning of discipline (hint: it's not punishment)Conscious discipline and social emotional learningThe “wooden spoon moment” that changed Ginny's parenting foreverWhy your child's defiance is developmentally normalCo-regulation and nervous system awarenessHow control always costs connectionMom guilt, boundaries, and authoritative presenceHealing intergenerational trauma through parentingGinny vulnerably shares her journey of raising a strong-willed child into an exceptional leader — and the unimaginable grief of losing him. Through it all, she reveals a radical truth:You can be victimized… without choosing to be a victim.If you've ever found yourself in a power struggle…If you've ever wondered whether you're “doing it wrong”…If you've ever had your own wooden spoon moment…This conversation will shift something inside you.Because when we grow, we leave the world better than we found it for our children.Support The Mission:

Please remember to rate and review our podcast!Check out your YouTube channel @comadresycomics  CHISME DE LA SEMANA: When I Was 5 by Mark Waid and David Lapham. Bad Idea Secret Six Comic Drop at ComicsPro 2026ON MY RADAR: The Digger by T.S. Luther & Sam Gudilin In 1930s Veracruz Mexico, along the Gulf Coast, lie Olmec ruins, all but hidden to anyone from the outside world. Locals make money guiding academics and scholars through the region. But there is one name that is spoken in hushed tones, one name guides stay away from, they call him “El Excavador”. But The Boy doesn't listen to whispers, he hasn't seen that no one returns from guiding The American in the hat. No, The Boy doesn't know the man with the eyes of the devil. But The Boy knows he needs money for his sick grandma, and The Boy knows The American has money, and The Boy KNOWS where the ruins are. What begins as guide and treasure hunter, turns into cat and mouse.BOOK REVIEW: Black & Bloody Zine Anthology: A Black Vampire Anthology by Black Indie Comix Club www.blackindiecomixclub.carrd.co @BICCBlackIndieComixClubBlack & Bloody (B&B for short) is a zine anthology of Black vampire comics, illustrations, and short stories made by and for Black artists, creatives, and speculative lovers. This project was lovingly curated and edited by the Black & Bloody Anthology team.EN LA LIBRERÍA:  California Screaming: Horror in the Golden State-A chilling comic book anthology of California-themed horror stories by top creators.  www.kickstarter.com/projects/leonieo/california-screaming-horror-in-the-golden-state JUNTOS Y FUERTES: Cultural Arts Workshops Spring 2026 at Tia Chucha's. The mission of Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural is to transform community in the Northeast San Fernando Valley and beyond through ancestral knowledge, the arts, literacy and creative engagement. www.tiachucha.orgSALUDOS:  Black Indie Comix Club and their YouTube @BICC Black Indie Comix Clubwww.blackindiecomixclub.carrd.co Follow us on socials @comadresycomics Visit our website comadresycomics.comProduced by Comadres y Comics Podcast

We love a good road trip, whether they're planned or not. On this episode of Behind the Mitten, we head out with our portable mics to see what we can find as we travel north of Grand Rapids along the 131 corridor. Located about forty minutes north of GR, Howard City is a small village with a popular destination restaurant.  The Forager draws diners from all over for their Great Lakes focused cuisine. We first visited this spot during our search for Michigan's Best Bloody Mary, back when it was under a different name and ownership. We get the scoop on what's on the menu now, and how this vibrant place is both a hot spot for the community as well as welcoming guests from all over.Another stop on our long-ago search for bloody mary's comes up next when we stop a bit further up 131 at Logger's Landing in Luther Michigan. This is a popular, classic, 'up north' style bar that is busy no matter the season. Just steps from multiple snowmobile trails, you'll find all sorts here, as well as excellent pizza. No, you probably aren't that tipsy, it's really just the wooden floor here at Logger's. Next, we head to Mesick, where we make two stops. One is at a fabulous gas station that you may have driven by multiple times on your way to TC, and we'll share why you really should make a stop at Ellen's Corners, located just outside of Mesick where M-37 and M-115 meet at the roundabout. And then head up the road to the Bucksnort Bar in town, where you'll find tasty burgers, a dance floor, and new friends. 

There is a time for peace and a time for war, according to God's Word in Ecclesiastes. With American forces engaged in combat operations in Iran and many in our communities and congregations divided over the conflict, the question is unavoidable: Can war ever be just before God? Does He sanction the sword or merely tolerate it? And what about the Christian who puts on a uniform and picks up a rifle? Drawing on Romans 13, Augsburg Confession Article XVI, and Luther's treatise "Whether Soldiers Too Can Be Saved," we explore the just war tradition through the lens of the two realms, vocation, and the conscience of the baptized believer. We also ask the harder questions: What restrains us from bloodlust when our cause is right? How do we care for the veteran whose memories still trouble him decades later? And where does the cross fit when the sword has done its terrible, necessary work?  The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discuss “Just War.”  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Peter Bender of The Concordia Catechetical Academy Concordia Catechetical AcademyThe post Looking Forward to Sunday Morning According to Luther's Catechisms: Third Sunday in Lent – Pr. Peter Bender, 3/5/26 (0641) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

We're back, and we're joined by "The Killbilly" Nathan Mowery!Man, this one goes places we never expected... From being home schooled at a saw mill to working for DDP & being trained by Luther and Jimmy Wang Yang, Mowery's journey has been one of a kind! If anything sums up this interview for me, it's this quote: "I've been on fire enough times to know how long I can be on fire". Don't miss this one!Links:Debut Match vs Tank:https://youtu.be/UEMcZu_a6z0?si=JeSVReFp_BjwDp8ABest Matches:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpMK7fJgu7Fk9XcjCBkxfft1vkD9h_d23&si=Mw5f8xJVs5uszcn9Blood & Honey:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpMK7fJgu7Fn6m73txLRSUtYuM9d96S0n&si=fTGxBvSlmR1KnaVlLISTEN & LINKS HERE: https://linktr.ee/facesfeelscastWatch every Dude, Where's My Ring? Show FOR FREE On YouTube:https://youtube.com/@DWMRPerth?si=MDiTqw8U99PfIzQbFollow on social media: @dwmrperthThis episode & every episode of Faces & Feels is dedicated to the memory of Sean Patrick O'Brien. Thank you for being my friend & believing in me.RIP SPO. #SPOFOREVERSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hit-the-books-realistic-wwe-fantasy-booking/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're back, and we're joined by "The Killbilly" Nathan Mowery!Man, this one goes places we never expected... From being home schooled at a saw mill to working for DDP & being trained by Luther and Jimmy Wang Yang, Mowery's journey has been one of a kind! If anything sums up this interview for me, it's this quote: "I've been on fire enough times to know how long I can be on fire". Don't miss this one!Links:Debut Match vs Tank:https://youtu.be/UEMcZu_a6z0?si=JeSVReFp_BjwDp8ABest Matches:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpMK7fJgu7Fk9XcjCBkxfft1vkD9h_d23&si=Mw5f8xJVs5uszcn9Blood & Honey:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpMK7fJgu7Fn6m73txLRSUtYuM9d96S0n&si=fTGxBvSlmR1KnaVlLISTEN & LINKS HERE: https://linktr.ee/facesfeelscastWatch every Dude, Where's My Ring? Show FOR FREE On YouTube:https://youtube.com/@DWMRPerth?si=MDiTqw8U99PfIzQbFollow on social media: @dwmrperthThis episode & every episode of Faces & Feels is dedicated to the memory of Sean Patrick O'Brien. Thank you for being my friend & believing in me.RIP SPO. #SPOFOREVERSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/faces-and-feels/donations

March 5, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Eighth CommandmentDaily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31; Mark 7:24-37“We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.” (Luther's meaning for the Eighth Commandment)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Eighth Commandment! Thanks be to God for this commandment and Luther's explanation! After all, the tongue can be so destructive. It's teeny-tiny and yet can go scorched earth on a person's life, as James reminds us: “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6) Every one of us has had those moments when we stayed silent as gossip was shared, when we were delighted to share the faults and failures of others, when we embellished a story to make ourselves look better, or when we lied about someone to turn people against them. We have used our tongues as a wrecking ball. Reputations turned into rubble. Friendships fractured. Relationships ruined.  Repent! All of us! Return to the Lord, for He is gracious and merciful! Go to His called and ordained man who uses his tongue to speak that passion-purchased pardon into our ears! “You are forgiven all for Jesus' sake!” Those words cover all the bad our tongues have done. What Good News that Christ only speaks well of you and me! Forgives us all sins! Defends us from every accusation from Slithery Serpent Satan! Yes, Jesus is no adversary like Satan but our Advocate! Before the Father, He continually pleads for us, showing the Father the very wounds that won peace! Peace with God! Peace with one another! Having been forgiven, we now strive to live at peace with all. Yes, our tongues have been set free to defend our neighbor, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way. We now have the joy of imitating Jesus, who is our Advocate. Keep your eyes open every day for those opportunities to be an advocate to and for your neighbor. And when you sin with your tongue, what joy to hear once again Christ's forgiveness from the lips of your pastor.      In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Bear no false witness nor defame Your neighbor nor destroy his name, But view him in the kindest way; Speak truth in all that you say.” Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:9)Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

In this episode of the Outlaw God podcast, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson examine the story of Joseph in the pit and how it has been used in Christian theology to interpret divine election, sovereignty, and suffering. They trace how medieval mystics and nominalist theologians treated Joseph's suffering as God's chosen means of purifying and justifying the elect—effectively replacing preaching with suffering as the instrument of righteousness. The episode concludes by previewing Luther's break from this view, arguing that Joseph's story ultimately points not to redemptive suffering, but to the proclamation of the gospel. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson  

She escaped a convent, married a reformer, ran a household, brewed beer, managed finances, and helped redefine marriage and ministry. Katie Luther was anything but ordinary. In this episode, we take a closer look at the bold and practical faith of the woman who stood beside Martin Luther.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEW CHANNELhttps://www.youtube.com/@behold.podcast @behold.podcast  Last Season: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK6oXv2ImzCIpCabDqBsuyTHPOizoeKtSWatch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK6oXv2ImzCII7jOHIUsPv4k9oSPmbnB0Send your questions to behold@arcadechurch.comVisit us at arcadechurch.comFollow us on social mediaInstagram: @arcadechurchYouTube: @behold.podcast Facebook: Arcade Church#beholdpodcast #bible #christian #podcast #christianpodcast #parenting #parents #Theology #church #unionwithchrist #jesus #gospel #hopeinjesus #religion #christianity #worship #conflict #leader #socialmedia #mentalhealth #baptism #obedience #holyspirit #salvation #katieluther #martinluther #convent #escaping #nun

What does it mean to be a Lutheran?  The Lutheran Reformation was founded on the “Three Solas” (Latin for “alone”) “Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone”.   In 1517, Martin Luther's 95 Theses were headed in that direction.  His 1529 Small Catechism condenses those biblical truths into a text book for instruction.  In 1521, he was called to Worms and told to “sit down and shut up” by withdrawing all his writings and declaring them to be false.  Luther stood up instead and kept proclaiming the truth.  By 1530, it was time to set the record straight - against false accusations hurled against them and confusion that was spread as to what Lutherans believed.  So the process began to draft the Augsburg Confession. It was a clear and concise summary of the teachings of Scripture, a bold declaration of what the Scriptures say and what they do not.  It was a statement of biblical truth and a refutation of unbiblical error.  It was a demonstration that the Lutheran faith is the Christian faith and the orthodox teachings that the church has held too since the time of Christ.   So on June 25, 1530, the Augsburg Confession was boldly, confidently and loudly read.  Charles V and anyone else within earshot heard a systematic presentation of the Bible's truth.  They heard an incredible answer to the question "What does it mean to be a Lutheran?”  All who read its 28 articles today hear that answer as well.     What a blessing to generations of Lutheran Christians those men and their courage, conviction, and confession have been! June 25, 1530 was truly a turning point in the life of the Lutheran Church.  Blessings have been coming our way as a result ever since.  And now as you join in our discussion, those blessings are sure to come your way as well! The Augsburg Confession is included in the Book of Concord.  You can find a free version online here.  Grab your printed copy off the shelf or get your own copy here. If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org.  If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org.  

¡Bienvenidos a una nueva entrega de Smooth Jazz Classics! Hoy viajamos a través de diferentes épocas con grooves suaves, melodías cálidas y ese toque de soul que nos hace desconectar del mundo. Desde clásicos atemporales hasta joyas más recientes, este tracklist es perfecto para tardes soleadas, atardeceres tranquilos o simplemente para dejar que la música fluya. 2005 | Jamiroquai - Seven Days In Sunny June Un himno veraniego por excelencia: funky relajado, con acordes luminosos y la voz inconfundible de Jay Kay contando una historia de amor no correspondido bajo el sol. ¡Pura vibra de verano eterno! 2020 | Tommy Proulx - Upturn Un saxo seductor y grooves modernos que suben el ánimo. Fresco, optimista y con ese swing contemporáneo que hace que quieras moverte suavemente en la silla. 2021 | Dean James - DJ's Groove Puro groove para el alma: bajo funky, saxo melódico y un ritmo que invita a cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. Dean James en su mejor forma, ideal para sentir el pulso del smooth jazz actual. 2019 | Incognito - Jakarta Dreams Viaje exótico y sofisticado con el sello inconfundible de Incognito: acid jazz elegante, percusión sutil y un flow que evoca noches urbanas llenas de misterio y calidez. 2020 | Matt Johnson - Sunshine Luz pura en forma de música: teclas brillantes, melodía uplifting y un groove que transmite energía positiva. Perfecta para empezar el día con una sonrisa. 2019 | Luther Vandross, Louie Vega - My Body Clásico del soul mezclado con el toque house-jazz de Louie Vega. La voz legendaria de Luther envuelve todo con sensualidad y clase infinita. ¡Atemporal! 2005 | Jamiroquai - Talullah Otro diamante de Jamiroquai: funky suave, con toques retro y una melodía pegajosa que te transporta a tardes despreocupadas. Elegancia británica en estado puro. 1998 | Kirk Whalum - Ascension Saxo apasionado y espiritual que eleva el alma. Una balada instrumental poderosa, llena de emoción y técnica impecable. Para momentos de introspección. 1997 | Ken Navarro - Smooth Sensation El título lo dice todo: sensación suave y adictiva. Guitarra melódica, ritmo ligero y ese feeling clásico del smooth jazz de los 90 que nunca pasa de moda. 2008 | Chris Standring - Have Your Cake And Eat It Groove juguetón y sofisticado, con guitarra funky y un bajo que marca el camino. Divertido, elegante y con mucho sabor: ¡imposible no mover la cabeza! 2003 | Simply Red - Sunrise Versión moderna y luminosa de un clásico del pop-soul. Mick Hucknall en modo relajado, con toques jazzy que la convierten en un himno matutino perfecto. 1988 | Najee - Day By Day Flauta y saxo en armonía total. Un clásico del smooth jazz de los 80: cálido, romántico y con esa producción cristalina que define la era. 1996 | Gail Jhonson - Groovin' In Philly Groove urbano con alma de Philadelphia. Teclas suaves, ritmo contagioso y un feeling callejero pero refinado. ¡Pura buena vibra! 2012 | Vincent Ingala - If I Could Fly Saxo emotivo y melódico que parece elevarte. Balada contemporánea con corazón, ideal para cerrar los ojos y soñar despierto. ¿Qué te parece esta selección? ¿Cuál es tu favorito de esta lista? ¡Cuéntame en los comentarios! Si te gustó, comparte y síguenos para más Smooth Jazz Classics. ¡Que la música te acompañe siempre!

March 3, 2026Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 or Romans 5:1-5Daily Lectionary: Genesis 21:1-21; Mark 6:35-56“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Through! What a tiny preposition, but that preposition is Good News for you! Paul states that “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1b) Peace with God is not through our brains and brawn, our achievements and accomplishments, our degrees and pedigrees, likes and looks. Peace with God is not even through how good we are as Lutherans or how good we have Luther's Small Catechism memorized. Although it's not a bad idea to store those words in your heart. Peace with God is through our Lord Jesus Christ. Period. No one or nothing else. The Jesus who lived the perfect life we couldn't live. The Jesus who died the godforsaken death we deserved to die. The Jesus who was raised for our justification. Yes, you are justified–declared enough–all for Jesus' sake! This is Good News that's out of this World for everyone in this World! We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ! There's more! Always more with the Good News! It's no trickle of Good News but an endless gushing fountain! Paul tells us that “through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2a) His grace and not our grit got us into God's House! What undeserved kindness and favor from God our heavenly Father! You need not doubt what God thinks of you. By faith in Jesus, you stand in God's House as His beloved Child. Your Baptism assures you of this. Paul encourages us to remain in the Father's House, a house that has grace as the floor, ceiling, and walls. In this grace place, “we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2b) We look forward to our glorious resurrection on the Last Day when everything wrong will be made right, beautiful, true, and good!  As we wait with Holy Spirit-ed confidence for the great-and-glorious Last Day, there will be pressures. You've felt them before, haven't you? Paul tells us that we get to rejoice in the pressures of life because they produce endurance, that is, a hunger and thirst for God's grace to sustain and shelter us 24/7. And endurance produces character, that is, we don't despair over the pressures, but depend on God, who is leading us by the hand through the pressures into Paradise. And character produces hope; that is, no matter what our eyes see, we know we will outlast the pressures, all because of that little preposition “though”! Through our Lord Jesus Christ! Yes, through Jesus, we have peace with God today, tomorrow, and forevermore!   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In God, my faithful God, I trust when dark my road; Great woes may overtake me, Yet He will not forsake me. My troubles He can alter; His hand lets nothing falter. (LSB 745:1)Rev. Aaron Schian is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

ImmaLetYouFinish... #234 kicks off with a recap of the Brits aka Harry's house, a rundown of the RHOF nominees(team Luther, baby!) and a look at the perils of being a Black female pop artist. ImmaLetYouFinish... Podcast is a proud member of Pantheon Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we watch Jesus do what Luther says Christ always does: use the law to uncover real sin, then speak a promise that creates faith, revealing himself as the great “I am” who gives living water as pure grace. As the Samaritan woman leaves her jar behind and confesses him Savior of the world, we see that true worship isn't about the right mountain but about the Spirit delivering Christ through his Word—salvation from the Jews, and for the nations. GOSPEL John 4:5-425 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?" 13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back." 17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!" 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." 26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29 "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?" 30 They left the city and were on their way to him.39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I have ever done." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world."Support the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

ImmaLetYouFinish... #234 kicks off with a recap of the Brits aka Harry's house, a rundown of the RHOF nominees(team Luther, baby!) and a look at the perils of being a Black female pop artist. ImmaLetYouFinish... Podcast is a proud member of Pantheon Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In which Tatler descends and discovers, Redmark uses languages, Philips runs out of magic points and Felicity Blake returns in time to join Luther in a significant decision…   A modern Call of Cthulhu Scenario by Joseph Chance   Cast: Josephine Arundel & Felicity Blake – Belinda Cornish Chris Caldwell & Jonathan Tatler – Dan Wheeler Max Davenant & Tam Philips – Danann McAleer Charlie Westenra & Luther Eliot Redmark – Dominic Allen Keeper of Arcane Lore ­– Joseph Chance   CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror.  This episode contains the sound of liquid entering other liquids (22 mins), performers eating cheese and speaking at the same time (19.20) and, once again, sounds of sexual intimacy . As ever, human discretion is advised.   The Apocalypse Players is an actual play (or live play) TTRPG podcast focused on horror tabletop roleplaying games. Think Dimension 20 or Critical Role, but fewer dragons, more eldritch horrors, and more British actors taking their roleplaying very seriously (most of the time). We primarily play the Chaosium RPG Call of Cthulhu, but have also been known to dabble with other systems, most of which can be found on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/apocalypseplayers We now have a free Discord server where you can come and worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will be only too eager to welcome you into the fold. New sacrifices - oops - we mean players are always welcome. Join here: discord.com/invite/kRQ62t6SjH For more information and to get in touch, visit www.apocalypseplayers.com   The Apocalypse Players are: Dominic Allen @DomJAllen Joseph Chance @josephchancemj.bsky.social Danann McAleer @DanannMcAleer Dan Wheeler @DanWheelerUK     Music includes:   Waves from The Past - Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Kw21NkSu4j/   Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/5346c11d-81ac-458e-9d63-f53b8fa91321/   Who We Once Were - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c9e485f8-2969-4b8e-9c75-829fe9ad9079/   Through The Alleyways - Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/64978412-f992-3301-bdc8-8747a039ffd3/   Hiding in The Shadows - Ludvig Moulin https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c4f88f81-2c2b-4d98-b64d-f9126470c734/   Tiny Scandals - Creative Cut - Heron Vale https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/tiny-scandals-creative-cut-orchestra/138177   Up To No Good - Alt Version - Score Maestro https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/up-to-no-good-alternative-version/137611   The Ninja Path - Jono Heres https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/album/blue-desert/10972   Hotel Lalo - Harry Edvino https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a6d57ec3-cb02-405d-af2a-14931d1555aa/   Gravity of Fragile - DEX 1200 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/6165500f-3d46-4509-b16d-d308229ee352/   Light Footed - Bonnie Grace https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/48833251-ac55-3e3d-9562-e632dde5b5fd/   Mysterious Antics - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/e8a513fe-c597-39eb-a101-bc8898b50444/   Imber - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/19d624eb-2516-43ea-8c3a-52e92cdb68c4/   Scandinavian Folk 2 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/bede20b4-36e0-3965-9fab-3d220dfc0444/   Landscapes - Helmut Schenker https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/f6e96196-103b-4260-b2bc-ec423116c6f9/   Sworn by Blood - Dream Cave  https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/75628ecd-c5f2-387f-b01e-839e8b434bc6/   In Santa Ana - First Timer https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/8b74f82a-e721-4f93-b358-d214e6c00086/   Do You Really Wanna Be In Love? - Frigga  https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/b94f0ef1-9a8b-311c-b358-537b560c433b/   Missing Memories - Christopher Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/M5e5wT9Ci7/   Tavore - Anders Schill Paulsen, Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3jAWMYFdtD/   Crucial Calculations - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wJWNbpM3bh/   Sounded Blue Saga https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Ua4aSty4ml/   Murmur Forest - Rand Aldo https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7amZAibTX0/   Where the Flowers Grow - Dez Moran https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EcUT8PAe8b/   The Adjunct Anders Schill Paulsen, Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager   Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3ed2z62JCV/   Out of the Window - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uZpb17J0rN/   Redemption - Sunriver https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/redemption/93323   Bitter Bitter - Dylan Thomas https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/dylan-thomas-bitter-bitter/49435   Bound To Fall Apart - Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/ecb4e639-62bc-3f2c-b48f-53c23b5b8cf0/   Savage Shadows - Semi https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/savage-shadows/134832   Those Moments - Hampus Naeselius https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/HmZtb2i0sL/   3000 Years Old - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/7a29bef0-58f0-303b-af94-575197610de9/   Enter The Realm of Shadows - Christopher Moe Ditlevsen  https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/003fff05-76b0-44f2-bd5e-2d2b98e2b062/   Ebbas Not Right - Peter Crosby https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/4052c08d-d4c6-4974-b888-6aeaa505c4af/   Vapors - Ethan Sloan https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yg5J0DyMEz/   Tension Mansion - Kikoru https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/eZkXkCpIjF/   The Prophet - Alec Slayne https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/JK03rRZisV/   Shouldn't Have Met You https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/shouldnt-have-met-you/73261   V1rgo - Ambre Jaune https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/0Pq5JDXcmj/   Hysteria - Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/DOLsvJVimx/   The Closing - Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yYkl9onNPg/   Incertitude - Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/YUW9T6jcJA/   Tviviel - Hannah Ekstrom  https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xdbASDVzOS/   Title: "Impromptu Exorcism" Artist: Tim Kulig (timkulig.com) Licensed under Creative Commons By Attribution 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   Grass on the Grave - Sage Oursler https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/rJe82RQka0/   Void - WHENISEEYOUISEEMYSELF https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/fGp8lQImZt/   Grief and Isolation - DEX 1200 https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/c1flrtmhZU/   Invention No. 1 in C Major https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/1daa8eab-3190-3851-ac38-c41bc5033d84/   Take Five - Ambre Jaune https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/J8E0Z4qTMZ/   A Gathering - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/TCFbG808lJ/   Spheres - Elliptik https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EMaiTc6RNW/   The Duke of Norfolk - Dylan Thomas https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/dylan-thomas-bitter-bitter/49435   Twivel - Ekstrem and Dager https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xdbASDVzOS/   Friends Make the Worst Enemies - Experia  https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/bf0f9833-2f40-3525-b13e-166942b8e020/   Cave Dwellers https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/cave-dwellers/85396   The Lure - Christian Anderson  https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7WZdqHNOQ7/   Mist Over Lapland https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/mist-over-lapland/99505   Maybe Next Year - Spectales Wallet & Watch https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/IwdmifGfcl/   Seven Sins Later - Farrell Wooten  https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/HFSjWZQDWE/   Stop Snitching  https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/QCMBXV5202/   Jay Varton - Silent Castle https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uKXncvlspI/   Follow the Falcon - David Celeste https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Trl1W1XgLF/   Work Undone - Pearce Roswell https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/4831fd82-d8e0-30c4-9351-5a1719d1163e/   The Search - Hannah Ekstrom  https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/pKp55DWXME/   The Arctic - INSTRUMENTS - Jo Wandrini https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/QH3Sw8lU6S/   The Mire - Anders Schill Paulsen  https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/cDx39w2F3D/   Metaformation - Ethan Sloan https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/8vz9arpHEB/   Shadowdance - Saira Ridley https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xKz8svrmcZ/   Into The Void - Ella Joy Meir https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/into-the-void/127506   Bad Dreams - Mary Riddle https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/ed0ee666-a83d-3e3b-9eee-dd5d6ae5abd5/   Société Secrete - Duke Herrington https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/60be67f8-ed95-449f-b496-7959505d7577/   Over of This Town - Will Harrison https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/qpwpYDpGnv/   Excitement - Traditional https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/71e77fbc-eda1-3105-9c99-8f8319cf2532/   "SCP-x4x (Mind Leech)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html   “The Liberty Bell” John Philip Sousa, 1893 - US Marine Band https://archive.org/details/InternetJukebox.JPS.48/01+Liberty+Bell+-+USMC+Performance.mp3   Restlessness Friedrich Burgmuller https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/68a0fdda-4805-3a03-954a-1bc12176a93f/   Work Undone - Pearce Roswell https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/4831fd82-d8e0-30c4-9351-5a1719d1163e/   Coma Visions - Martin Klem https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/17b0058f-00f6-3177-845e-2e449193e23c/   Etude No. 1 for Strings - Peter Sandberg https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/45e4a974-0361-3816-997e-6a7c7e77674c/   Etude No 3 For String Quartet - Peter Sandberg https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/XLlmbhGNLp/    Liminal - Beyza https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/5c5381d2-351d-4fb1-8c0a-8f942a4b44b7/    Didn't Know Love - Sully Bright https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/4f8c372d-1483-4561-ae8c-6f946f033ef5/   Summer in The Swamp - Roy Edwin Williams https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a7cf44a8-79f8-4216-ac6d-c13381513008/   The Mission - J. F. Gloss https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/b9ff2eb3-38c0-371c-ba1c-42e9792e5dac/   Where Daylight Falls - Tellsonic https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c6967dad-d857-493d-baaa-c0ea43780d1b/   Riding High on the Wind - Will Harrison https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/d51c7d7f-3123-4fb4-b66f-5b639d8e20e9/   Dust & Destiny - Jo Wandrini https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/805c9e1a-585b-4406-b693-fbd9f14fc176/   Shame - Carvings https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/18be45fd-d417-3134-8bd8-3d6d06b6b288/   Forever In Love With A Ghost - pär https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/18843d3f-d857-4ede-b499-b3c247dd3349/   Survival of the Bravest - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/D6x4hf9Tnt/   Alluvion - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Anna Dager, Hanna Ekström https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/18c07325-4e93-4e85-ace4-0555616489e4/   Afternoon Mood - Megan Wofford https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a6119cb7-85d6-4fc4-8261-2d24b5f2498a/   Stars Align - El Flaco Collective https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/93d328f0-ab66-4121-aa89-d7d758251477/   Ready to March - Brightam Orchestra https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a08e46d4-ad42-3422-9ed4-9aaa7838f2e9/   Tracker - Christopher Moe Ditlevsen  https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/3d59ec8e-9ad0-3446-87b4-b2f57773c457/   Fraught - Elin Piel https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/46b3f33c-bf47-448a-b631-1f3af86405e7/   Eye of The Beholder - Fabien Tell https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/b1ff0535-741c-3421-a9e7-b1f2c4620cf7/   Vilja - Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/ccfa0d3c-40fd-4415-a678-3432e576266c/   Dunes of Despair - Deskant https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/7a54e4be-ada6-31b4-b50b-cdf3dfab4750/   Mysterious Lights - Edward Karl Hanson https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/20f323c2-2ceb-3e86-8016-25f17f75e26e/   Hunting Nightmare - Cobby Costa https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/97a06cf6-019f-457b-921d-ace67e6ff72e/   Exit - Beyza https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/4ddd667b-7613-4c2d-8c21-b18fbaa598fd/   Martyr - Nevin (Instrumental) https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a2fef5cb-e0e9-49ab-8b66-08f8336f9898/   The Lure - Christian Anderson https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7WZdqHNOQ7/   Heartbreaking - Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html "Heartbreaking" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this week's episode, I take a historical digression to look at the four major Thomases of the English Reformation - Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store: QUEST25 The coupon code is valid through March 9 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 292 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is February 27th, 2026. Today we are taking a digression into history by looking at the four Thomases of the English Reformation (with one bonus Thomas). We'll also have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and publishing projects. First up, let's do Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Dragonskull series at my Payhip store. That coupon code is QUEST25 and as always, the links to the store and the coupon code will be available in the show notes of this episode. This coupon code is valid through March 9th, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this winter, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. I am very nearly done with Cloak of Summoning. As of this recording, I am 35% of the way through the final editing pass. This episode should be coming out on, let's see, March the 2nd. I'm hoping Cloak of Summoning will be available a few days (hopefully like one or two days) after this episode goes live, but we'll see how things go. In any event, it should be out in very early March, which is not far away at this point. I'm also 14,000 words into Blade of Wraiths, the fourth book in my Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series. Hopefully that will be out in April, if all goes well. That's my secondary project right now, but once it gets promoted to primary project once Cloak of Summoning is available, my new secondary project will be Dragon Mage, which will be the sixth book in the Rivah Half-Elven Thief series. I'm looking forward to that since it is going to bring to an end a lot of ongoing plot threads. So it should be quite a fun book to write and hopefully to read. That should hopefully be out in May or possibly June, depending on how things go. In audiobook news, Cloak of Titans, the audiobook narrated by Hollis McCarthy, should be available in more audiobook stores than it was this time last week, though it's still not on Amazon, Audible, or Apple. Brad Wills is working on recording Blade of Storms and I think the first six chapters are done. Hopefully we should have those audiobooks available to you before too much longer. So that is where I'm at with my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. 00:02:18 Main Topic: The Four Thomases of the English Reformation Now without further ado, let's get to our main topic and it's time for another of my favorite topics overall, a digression into obscure points of history. I've mentioned before that Wolf Hall (both the TV show and the book) is a lot easier to understand if you are at least passingly familiar with the key figures of the English Reformation, which happened during the reign of King Henry VIII. But who were these key figures? I had a history professor who said that to understand the English Reformation, you need to know about the four Thomases of the English Reformation: Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer, since each one of them altered events in a major way. Fun fact: only one of the four died from natural causes and right before he was about to go on trial for treason, which would have likely ended with his execution. The English Reformation was a tumultuous time and the Tudor court was not a place for the faint of heart or the morally scrupulous. So let's talk about the four Thomases and one bonus Thomas today. But first to understand them, we should look at three background trends that converged and boiled over during their lifetimes. #1: Henry VIII needs an heir. King Henry VIII was quite famously married six times and executed two of his wives in his quest for a male heir. To the modern era, this sounds odd and chauvinistic, but one of the errors of studying history is assuming that the residents of the past had any interest in 21st century standards of behavior. By the standards of Henry's time, having a male heir to assume the kingdom after his death was absolutely vital. In fact, an argument could be made that Henry was attempting to act responsibly by going to such lengths to father a male heir, though naturally he went about it in a spectacularly destructive and self-absorbed way. Remember, Henry's father, Henry VII, came to the throne after a 30-year civil war, and there were noble families that thought they had a better claim to the throne than Tudors and would be happy to exercise it. A good comparison is that the lack of a male heir for Henry VIII was as serious a crisis as a disputed presidential election in 21st century America would be. You can see evidence for this in Henry's famous jousting accident in 1536. For a few hours, people were certain that he was dead or was about to die, and this incident caused a brief constitutional crisis. If Henry died, who would rule? His daughter, Mary, who he had just declared a bastard? His young daughter Elizabeth from Anne Boleyn? His bastard son, Henry FitzRoy? A regent? One of the old families who thought they had a claim to the throne? Now, these are the sort of questions that tend to get decided by civil wars, which nobody wanted. So Henry needed a male heir and it weighed on him as a personal failure that he had been unable to produce one, which was undoubtedly one of the reasons he concluded that several of his marriages had been cursed by God and needed to be annulled. Though, of course, one of Henry's defining traits was that his self-absorption was such that nothing was ever his fault, but a failing of those around him. #2: The Reformation is here. At the same time Henry was beginning to have his difficulties, the Protestant Reformation exploded across Europe. The reasons for the Reformation were manifold. There was a growing feeling across all levels of society that the church was corrupt and more concerned about money than tending to Christ's flock, a feeling not helped by the fact that several of the 15th and 16th century popes were essentially Renaissance princelings more interested in luxury, money, and expanding the power of the papal states than in anything spiritual. Many bishops, archbishops, abbots, and other high prelates acted the same way. The situation the early 16th century church found itself in was similar to American higher education today. Many modern professors and administrators go about their jobs quietly, competently, and diligently, but if you want to find examples of corruption, folly, and egregious waste in American higher education, you don't have to try very hard. Reformers could easily find manifold examples of clerical and papal corruption to reinforce their arguments. Additionally, nationalism was beginning to develop as a concept, as was the idea of the nation state. People in England, Scotland, Germany, and other countries began to wonder why they were paying tithes to the church that went to build beautiful buildings in Rome and support the lavish lifestyle of the papal court when that money might be better spent at home. For that matter, the anti-clericalism of the Reformation was not new and had time to mature. At the end of the 14th century, Lollardy was a proto-Protestant movement in England that challenged clerical power. In the early 15th century, the Hussite wars in Bohemia following the teachings of Jan Hus were a preview of the greater Reformation to come. Papal authority had been severely damaged by the Great Schism at the end of the 14th and the start of the 15th century when two competing popes (later expanded to three) all tried to excommunicate each other and claim control of the church. In the aftermath, Renaissance Humanists had begun suggesting that only the Bible was the proper source and guide for Christianity, and that papal authority and many of the church's practices were merely human traditions that had been added later and were not ordained by God. A lot of the arguments of the Reformation had their earliest form from the writers of the 15th century. Essentially, the central argument of the Reformation was that the believer's personal relationship with God is the important part of Christianity and doesn't need to be mediated through ordained priests in the official sacraments of the church, though such things were still important. Of course, all the various reformers disagreed with each other about just how important and what the nature of that relationship was, how many sacraments there should be, and what the precise relationship between the individual, the church, and the state should be (and that argument got entangled with many other issues like nationalism), but that was a central crux of the Reformation. So all these competing pressures have been building up, and when Martin Luther posted his statements for debate on church reform in October of 1517, it was the equivalent of lighting a match in a barn that had been stuffed full of sawdust and was suffering from a natural gas leak. #3: The printing press. So why did Luther's action kick off the Reformation as we know it and not the other proto-Protestant movements we mentioned? I think the big part of that is the printing pass, perhaps the biggest part. The printing press did not exist during the early proto-Protestant movements, which meant it was a lot harder for the ideas of reform to spread quickly. The Lollards in particular wanted to translate the Bible into English instead of Latin, but the Bible is a big book and that is a lot of copying to do by hand. In 1539, after a lot of encouragement from Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII decreed that an English Bible should be placed at every church in England. In 1339, that would have been an impossible amount of copying by scribes. In 1539, thanks to the printing press, it was essentially on the scale of the government embarking on a mid-sized industrial project, perhaps a bit of a logistical and organizational challenge and you have to deal with contractors, but by no means impossible. The printing press made it possible for the various arguments and pamphlets of the Reformers to spread quickly throughout Europe. Luther published tracts on a variety of religious and political topics for the rest of his life, and those tracks were copied, printed, and sold throughout Europe. In fact, he had something of a flame war with Thomas More over Henry VIII's "Defense of the Seven Sacraments". Kings and governments frequently tried to suppress printers they didn't like, but the cat was out of the bag and the printing press helped drive the Reformation by spreading its ideas faster than had previously been possible. AI bros occasionally compare modern large language model AIs to the printing press as an irreversible technological advancement, but one should note that the printing press of the 16th century did not require an entire US state's worth of electricity and an unlimited supply of water. So those were some of the undercurrents and trends leading up to the English Reformation. With that in mind, let's take a look at our four Thomases. #1: Thomas Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Henry's right hand man during the first 20 years of his reign and essentially the practical ruler of England during that time. He started his career in Henry's reign as the almoner, essentially in charge of charity, and it ended up becoming the Lord Chancellor of England. Since Henry was not super interested in actually doing the hard work of government, Wolsey ended up essentially running the country while Henry turned his full enthusiasm towards the more ceremonial aspects of kingship. Wolsey was an example of the kind of early 16th Century church prelate we mentioned above, more of a Renaissance princeling than a priest. However, as Renaissance princelings went, you could do worse than to have been ruled by someone like Wolsey. And if you were a king, you would be blessed to have a lieutenant as diligent in his work as the Cardinal. Granted, Wolsey did amass a large fortune for himself, but he frequently patronized the arts, education and the poor, pursued some governmental reforms, and deftly maintained England's position in the turbulent diplomacy of the time. He was also much more forgiving in questions of religious dissent than someone like Thomas More. Wolsey was the most powerful man in England at his apex, and the nobility hated it for him because his origins were common. So long as he had Henry's favor, Wolsey was untouchable and the nobility couldn't move against him. But the royal favor came to an end as Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was unable to produce a son. Since Catherine had previously (and briefly) been married to his older brother Arthur before Arthur's death, Henry became convinced (or succeeded in convincing himself) that his marriage was cursed by God for violating the prohibition against sleeping with your brother's wife in the book of Leviticus. His eye had already fallen on Anne Boleyn and Henry wanted an annulment and not a divorce in his marriage with Catherine. In the eyes of God, he would never have been married at all, and then he could marry Anne Boleyn with a clear conscience. Here, Wolsey's gift for diplomacy failed him, but perhaps it was an impossible task. Catherine of Aragon was the aunt of Emperor Charles V, who at the time was the most powerful man in Christendom. All of Wolseley's efforts to persuade the pope to annul the marriage failed, partly because the pope had already given Henry VIII dispensation to marry his brother's widow. Wolsey's failure eroded his support with the king. Anne Boleyn likewise hated Wolsey partly because she believed he was hindering the annulment, and partly because he had blocked her from marrying the Earl of Northumberland years before she had her eyes set upon Henry. Finally, Henry stripped Wolsey of his office of Lord Chancellor, and Wolsey retired to York to take up his role as archbishop there. Wolsey's popularity threatened Henry and Anne, so Henry summoned him back to London to face treason charges. Perhaps fortunately for Wolsey, he died of natural causes on the journey back to London. His replacement as Lord Chancellor was Thomas More, the next of our major for Thomases. #2: Thomas More. More was an interesting contrast-a Renaissance Humanist who remained a staunch Catholic, even though Renaissance Humanists in general tended towards proto-Protestantism or actual Protestantism. He was also in some ways oddly progressive for his time. He insisted on educating his daughters at a time was considered pointless to educate women about anything other than the practical business of household management. Anyway, More's training as a lawyer and a scholar led him to a career in government. He held a variety of posts under Henry VIII, finally rising to become the Lord Chancellor after Wolsey. In the first decades of his brain, Henry was staunchly Catholic and despised Protestantism, in particular, Lutheranism in general and Martin Luther in particular. In 1521, Henry published "Defense of the Seven Sacraments" against Luther, and More helped him write it to an unknown degree. In their dislike for all forms of Protestantism, More and Henry were in harmony at this point. More was involved in hunting down heretics (i.e. Protestants) and trying to convince them to recant. During his time as the Lord Chancellor, More ended up sending six people to be burned at the stake for heresy, along with the arrest and interrogations of numerous others. This rather clashes with his "humanist man of letters" aspect, but More was undoubtedly convinced he was doing the right thing. And while he might have believed in education, he most definitely did not believe in freedom of conscience in several areas. To be fair to More, in the view of many at the time, Protestants, especially Anabaptists, were dangerous radicals. Likely More viewed hunting heretics in the same way as some modern politicians view hunting down covert terrorist cells or surveilling potential domestic terrorists. Harsh measures true, but harsh measures allegedly necessary for the greater good of the nation. However, the concord between More and Henry would not last. Henry wanted to set aside Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, which More staunchly opposed. More especially opposed Henry breaking away from Rome and becoming head of an independent English Church. At first, More was able to save himself by maintaining his silence, but eventually Henry required all of his subjects take an oath affirming his status as head of the church. Thomas Cromwell famously led a deputation to try and change More's mind, but he failed. More refused, he was tried on specious treason charges, and beheaded in 1535. Later, the Catholic church declared him the patron saint of politicians. This might seem odd given that he oversaw executions and essentially did thought police stuff against Protestants, but let's be honest-it's rare to see a politician even mildly inconvenience himself over a point of principle, let alone maintain it until death when he was given every possible chance to change his mind. Probably the most famous fictional portrayals of More are A Man For All Seasons and Wolf Hall. I would say that A Man For All Seasons was far too generous to More, but Wolf Hall was too harsh. #3: Now for the third of our four Thomases, Thomas Cromwell. After Wolsey's fall and More's refusal to support Henry's desire to either annul his marriage to Catherine or to make himself head with the church so he couldn't annul the marriage, Thomas Cromwell rose become Henry's new chief lieutenant. Cromwell is both a fascinating but divisive figure. For a long time, he was cast as the villain in Thomas More's saga, but Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall really triggered a popular reevaluation of him. Like A Man For All Seasons was too generous to More, I would say Wolf Hall was too generous to Cromwell. Nonetheless, I suspect Cromwell was and remained so divisive because he was so effective. He got things done on a scale that the other three Thomases of the English Reformation never quite managed. Cromwell's origins are a bit obscure. It seems he was either of non-noble birth or very low gentry birth and his father Walter Cromwell was a local prosperous tradesman in a jack of all trades with a reputation for litigiousness. For reasons that are unclear, Cromwell fled his birthplace and spent some time in continental Europe, possibly as a mercenary soldier. He eventually made his way to Italy and started working for the merchant families there, gaining knowledge of trade in the law, and then traveled to the Low Countries. When he returned to England, he became Cardinal Wolsey's right hand man. After Wolsey's fall, Cromwell went into Parliament and defended his master whenever possible. This loyalty combined with his significant talent for law and administration caught the eye of Henry and he swiftly became Henry's right-hand man. Amusingly, Cromwell never became Lord Chancellor like More or Wolsey, but instead accumulated many lesser offices that essentially allowed him to carry out Henry's directives as he saw a fit. Unlike More and Wolsey, Cromwell had strong Protestant leanings and he encouraged the king to break away from the Catholic Church and take control of the English Church as its supreme head. Henry did so. His marriage to Catherine of Aragon was nulled. The rest of Europe never accepted this until Catherine died of illness and it became a moot point. In 1533, he married Anne Boleyn. Like Cromwell, Anne had a strong Protestant bent and began encouraging reformers to take various offices and began pushing Henley to make more reforms than he was really comfortable doing. For example, Cromwell was one of the chief drivers behind the English Bible of 1539. This, combined with Anne's inability to give Henry a son, contributed to Anne's downfall. Unlike Catherine, she was willing to argue with Henry to his face and was unwilling to look the other way when he wanted a mistress, and this eventually got on Henry's nerves. Events are a bit murky, but it seems that Henry ordered Cromwell to find a way he could set aside Anne and Cromwell complied. Various men, including her own brother, were coerced and confessing to adultery with Anne on charges that were most likely fabricated and Anne's "lovers" and Anne herself were executed for treason in 1536. Cromwell had successfully used a technique that many modern secret police organizations and dictatorships employ- if you want to get rid of someone for whatever reason, accuse them of a serious crime, coerce them to a confession, and then have them executed. Joseph Stalin did basically the same thing when he purged the Old Bolsheviks after Lenin's death. Henry married Jane Seymour shortly after Anne's execution, and she finally gave Henry his long-waited son, though she died soon afterwards of postpartum complications. Cromwell also oversaw the dissolution of the English monasteries in the 1530s. Monasticism had become quite unpopular even before the Reformation, especially among humanist writers. The concentration of property in the hands of monasteries made for a ripe target. Using Parliament and with Henry's approval, the monasteries of England were dissolved, the monks and nuns pensioned off, and the various rich properties held by the monasteries were given to the king and his friends. Cromwell himself profited handsomely. This was essentially legalized theft, but there was nothing the monasteries could do about it. Cromwell pushed for more religious reforms, but that combined with the dissolution of the monasteries caused "The Pilgrimage of Grace" in 1537, a rebellion that Henry was able to put down through a combination of lies, stalling, outright bribery, and brutal repression under the Duke of Norfolk (more about him later). Cromwell was at the zenith of his power and influence, but his reformist bent and made him a lot of enemies. For that matter, Henry was increasingly uncomfortable with further religious changes. He wanted to be head of his own church, but essentially his own Catholic Church, not his own Reformed or Lutheran one. Cromwell's alignment with the reform cause gave his more traditionalist enemies a tool to use against him. Cromwell's foes had their chance in 1540 when Henry married his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Cromwell had heavily pushed for the match, hoping to make an alliance with the Protestant princes of Germany against the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor. For whatever reason, Henry took an immediate dislike to Anne and never consummated the marriage, which was swiftly annulled and Anne pensioned off. Henry blamed Cromwell for the failed marriage and Cromwell's enemies, particularly Duke of Norfolk and Bishop Gardiner of Winchester, were able to convince Henry to move against him. Cromwell was arrested, stripped of all the titles and property he had amassed, and executed in July of 1540. The sort of legal railroading process he had born against Anne Boleyn's alleged lovers and numerous other enemies of Henry's was used against him. This was one of the very few executions Henry ever regretted. Within a year, the French ambassador reported that Henry was raging that his counselors had misled him into putting to death the most faithful servant he had ever had. Once again, nothing was ever Henry's fault in his own mind. The fact that Henry allowed Cromwell's son Gregory to become a baron and inherit some of his father's land shows that he likely changed his mind about the execution. For once in his life, Henry was dead on accurate when he called Cromwell his "most faithful servant". He never again found a lieutenant with Cromwell's loyalty and skill. The remaining seven years of Henry's reign blundered from setback to setback and all the money Henry obtained from the dissolution of the monasteries was squandered in indecisive wars with France and Scotland. I think it's fair to say that the English Reformation would not have taken the course it did, if not for Cromwell. As ruthless and as unscrupulous as he could be, he nonetheless did seem to really believe in the principles of religious reform and push such policies whenever he could do so without drawing Henry's ire. #4: Now the fourth of our four major Thomases, Thomas Cranmer. If Thomas Cromwell did a lot of the political work of the English Reformation, then Thomas Cranmer wrote a lot of its theory. Cranmer was a scholar and something of a gentle-minded man, but not a very skillful politician. He seemed happy to leave the politicking to Cromwell. I think Cranmer would have been a lot happier as a Lutheran pastor in say, 1950s rural Nebraska. He could have married a farmer's daughter, had a bunch of kids, and presided at weddings, funerals, and baptisms where he could talk earnestly about Jesus and Christian virtues, and he probably would have written a few books on obscure theological points. But instead, Cranmer was destined to play a significant part in the English Reformation. He started as a priest and a scholar who got in trouble for marrying, but when his wife died in childbirth, he went back to the priesthood. Later, he became part of the team of scholars and priests working to get Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. While he was at university and later in the priesthood, he became fascinated by Lutheran ideas and became a proponent of reform. As with Cromwell, Henry's desire to marry Anne Boleyn gave Cranmer his great opportunity. Anne's family were also in favor of reform, and they arranged for Cranmer to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The new archbishop and the like- minded clerics and scholars laid the legal and theological groundwork for Henry to break with Rome and become head of the English church with Cranmer and the rest of the reform faction wanted to be used to push for additional church reforms. He survived the tumults of Henry's reign by total loyalty to the king – he mourned Anne Boleyn, but didn't oppose her execution (though he was one of the few who mourned for her publicly), did much the same when Cromwell was executed, and personally sent news of Catherine Howard's adultery to the king. Because of that, Cranmer had a great chance to pursue the cause of reform when Henry died and his 12-year-old son Edward VI became King. Edward's uncle Edward Seymour acted as the head of the King's regency council, and Seymour and his allies were in favor of reform. Cranmer was at last able to steer the English church in the direction of serious reform, and he was directly responsible for writing the Book of Common Prayer and several other key documents of the early Anglican church. But Cranmer's of luck ran out in 1553 when Edward VI died. Cranmer was part of the group that tried to put the Protestant Lady Jane Grey on the throne, but Henry's daughter Mary instead took the crown. Mary had never really wavered from her Catholicism despite immense pressure to do so, and she had last had a chance to do something about it. She immediately brought England back to Rome and started prosecuting prominent reform leaders, Cranmer among them. Cranmer was tried for treason and heresy and sentenced to be burned, but that was to be commuted if he recanted his views in public during a sermon, which he did. However, at the last minute, he thunderously denounced his previous recantation, asserted his reformist faith, and vowed that he would thrust the hand that signed the recantation into the flames first. Cranmer was immediately taken to be burned at the stake, and just as he promised, he thrust his hand into the flames, and his last word is that he saw heaven opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Cranmer had spent much of his life trying to appease Henry while pushing as much reform as possible, but in his final moments, he had finally found his defiance. When Mary died and Elizabeth took the throne, she returned England to Protestantism. Elizabeth was much more pragmatic than her half siblings and her father ever were, so she chose the most expedient choice of simply rolling the English church back to as it was during Edward VI's time. Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer and religious articles, lightly edited for Elizabeth's sensibilities, became the foundational documents of the Anglican church. So these four Thomases, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer were central to the events of the English Reformation. However, we have one bonus Thomas yet. Bonus Thomas: Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. Thomas Howard was a powerful nobleman during the reign of Henry, and the Duke of Norfolk was frequently Henry's lieutenant in waging various wars and putting down rebellions. He was also the uncle of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Henry's second and fifth queens. He was also involved in nearly every major event of Henry's reign. So with all that, why isn't Norfolk as remembered as well as the other four Thomases of the English Reformation? Sometimes a man would be considered virtuous by the standards of the medieval or early modern age, yet reprehensible in ours. For example, for much of the Middle Ages, crusading was considered an inherently virtuous act for a knight, whereas in the modern age, it would be condemned as war mongering with a religious veneer. However, by both modern standards and Tudor standards, Thomas Howard was a fairly odious character. For all their flaws and the morally questionable things they did, Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer were all men of conviction in their own ways. More and Cranmer explicitly died with their faith. Cromwell's devotion to the Protestant cause got him killed since he insisted on the Anne of Cleves match. Even Wolsey, for all that he enriched himself, was a devoted servant of Henry after his downfall never betrayed the king. By contrast, Norfolk was out for Norfolk. This wasn't unusual for Tudor nobleman, but Norfolk took it to a new level of grasping venality. He made sure that his daughter was married to Henry's bastard son, Henry FitzRoy, just in case FitzRoy ended up becoming king. He used both his nieces, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, to gain power and lands for himself, and then immediately turned against him once he became politically expedient. In fact, he presided over the trial where Anne Boleyn was sentenced to death. After the failure of the Anne of Cleve's marriage, Norfolk made sure to bring his young niece Catherine Howard to court to catch Henry's eye, and to use the Anne of Cleve's annulment as a lever to get rid of Thomas Cromwell. Both stratagems worked, and he attempted to leverage being the new Queen's uncle to bring himself to new power and riches, as he had with Anne Boleyn. Once Henry turned on Catherine Howard, Norfolk characteristically and swiftly threw his niece under the bus. However, as Henry aged, he grew increasingly paranoid and vindictive, and he had Norfolk arrested and sentenced to death on suspicion of treason. Before the execution could be carried out, Henry died, and Norfolk spent the six years of Edward VI's reign as a prisoner in the Tower of London. When Edward died and Mary took the throne, she released Norfolk since she was Catholic and Norfolk had always been a religious traditionalist suspicious of reform. He spent the remaining year of his life as one of Mary's chief advisors before finally dying of old age. As I often say, history can be a rich source of inspiration for fantasy writers, and the English Reformation is full of such inspiration. Wolsey, More, Cromwell, and Cranmer can all make excellent inspirations for morally ambiguous characters. For that matter, you can see why the reign of Henry VIII has inspired so many movies, TV shows, and historical novels. The real life events are so dramatic as to scarcely require embellishment. So that's it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show and thank you for listening as I went on one of my little historical digressions. I hope you found the show enjoyable. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes on https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy, and we'll see you all next week.

(This is a Replay)How to avoid the Top 3 Insurance Bad Faith mistakes made by plaintiff lawyers in working up their cases.Contact Gregg Luther atWebsite: https://greggwluther.comEmail: gluther@keenanlawfirm.comTo learn more about the Keenan Case Presentation System, click on this link:https://www.keenancps.com/And on your Apple device you can download the KCPS App for FREE:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/case-presentation-system/id1541913706Want to listen to more episodes? Or did you miss out on last week's episode? We're now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can also find us on the Keenan Trial Institute website at https://keenantrialinstitute.com/podcast/

Have you ever wondered what truly happens during Holy Communion and why it matters so deeply? In this episode, we are joined by John Bombaro to explore the profound theological significance of the Eucharist, its roots in the ancient Catholic tradition, and how a renewed understanding can transform our worship and faith life.00:00 - Introduction to the significance of the Eucharist in Lutheran faith01:23 - The personal journey of John Bombaro from Catholic roots to confessional Lutheranism03:05 - Why the Lord's Supper is often the center of doctrinal differences09:00 - Christology as the foundation of sacramentology vs. Christ-centeredness11:53 - The importance of continuity with Catholic and Orthodox sacramental traditions14:31 - The theological basis for the real presence and sacramental union23:00 - The importance of liturgical integrity and the threat of liturgical drift27:56 - The role of uniformity, tradition, and church authority in Lutheran worship34:31 - Restoring reverence, decorum, and beauty in the Lutheran mass42:48 - The significance of the priesthood, dignity, and proper liturgical practices50:46 - The spiritual warfare and enchantment of the Holy Communion66:34 - Moving beyond “kindergarten Christianity” toward deep sacramental understanding74:49 - The necessity of catechesis and lifelong education in Confessional Lutheran doctrine81:17 - Biblical and early church evidence for liturgy and sacrament practice90:33 - Luther's liturgical reforms as a return to tradition, not innovation96:32 - Christian freedom and the discipline of reverent worship97:37 - The call to recover lost reverence and the legacy of confessional practiceHear John on Issues, Etc - https://issuesetc.org/guest/john-bombaro/John's Book Recommendations: Kent A. Heimbigner, In the Stead of Christ: The Relationship of the Celebration of the Lord's Supper to the Office of Holy Ministry (Repristination Press, 1997).Alexander Schmemann, The Eucharist: Sacrament of the Kingdom (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1987).David Fagerberg, Consecrating the World: On Mundane Liturgical Theology (Angelico Press, 2016).David Fagerberg, The Liturgical Cosmos: The World Through the Lens of the Liturgy (Emmaus Academic, 2023).R. Alan Streett, Subversive Meals: An Analysis of the Lord's Supper under Roman Domination during the First Century (Pickwick Publications, 2013).Scott Hahn, The Fourth Cup: Unveiling the Mystery of the Last Supper and the Cross (Image, 2018).James F. White, Sacraments as God's Self Giving (Abingdon Press, 1983)Gird Up Links:Website - https://www.girdupministries.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/YouTube - https://youtube.com/@girdupministries4911?si=bJQOUakikV4aUbc9

The sermon presents the Protestant Reformation not as a radical innovation but as a recovery of the ancient gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, grounded in Scripture alone—truths rediscovered by Martin Luther and the Reformers amid the spiritual darkness of medieval Catholicism. It traces Luther's personal journey from despair over his inability to earn salvation through asceticism to the life-changing realization of justification by faith, sparked by his study of Scripture and the distinction between law and gospel. Drawing on biblical precedents such as Isaiah's prophecy of light in darkness and Jesus' ministry in Galilee, the sermon affirms that the Reformation was a divine restoration of the church's foundation in Christ and His Word. The enduring call of the church—Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, secundum verbum Dei—reminds believers to remain perpetually reformed under the authority of Scripture, relying on the ordinary means of grace—Scripture, sacraments, and prayer—to sustain faith, foster holiness, and bear witness to the gospel in a culture that often drifts from truth.

God hasn't called you to a life of striving after Him. He has called you to a life of surrender to Him. This message will reveal to you the greatest mystery in the Bible. For more information go to www.city-church.com.au/

#top .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-cede098beb8960b4523eca4cae995c9a{ padding-bottom:10px; } body .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-cede098beb8960b4523eca4cae995c9a .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{ font-size:25px; } .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-cede098beb8960b4523eca4cae995c9a .av-subheading{ font-size:15px; } Through My Bible Yr 03 – February 28Genesis 4 – 5 LISTEN HERE Through My Bible – February 28 Genesis 4 – 5 (EHV) https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0228db.mp3 See series: Through My Bible The First Children: Cain and Abel Genesis 4 1 The man was intimate with Eve, his wife. She conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have gotten a man with the Lord.” [1] 2 She also gave birth to Cain's brother Abel. Abel tended sheep, but Cain worked the ground. 3 As time passed, one day Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the soil. 4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord looked favorably on Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not look favorably on Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and his face showed it. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why do you have that angry look on your face? [2] 7 If you do good, will you not be lifted up? If you do not do good, sin is crouching at the door. It has a strong desire for you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let's go into the field.” [3] When they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel, his brother, and killed him. 9 The Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the soil. 11 Now you are cursed and sent away from the soil [4] which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the soil, it will no longer give its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear. 14 Look, today you have driven me away from the soil. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 The Lord said to him, “No! [5] If anyone kills Cain, he will face sevenfold revenge.” And the Lord appointed a sign for [6] Cain, so that anyone who found him would not strike him down. The Descendants of Cain 16 Cain went out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land of Nod, [7] east of Eden. 17 Cain was intimate with his wife. She conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Cain built a city and named the city after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch, Irad was born. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives. The name of one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the predecessor [8] of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal, who was the predecessor of all who play the lyre and flute. 22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, who made all kinds of tools and weapons from bronze and iron. Tubal Cain's sister was Na'amah. 23 Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. Look, I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. 24 If Cain will be avenged seven times, then Lamech will be avenged seventy-seven times. The Family Line of Seth 25 Adam was intimate with his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth, [9] because she said, “God has set another child in place of Abel for me, since Cain killed him.” 26 Later a son was born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. This is when people began to proclaim [10] the name of the Lord. Genesis 5 1 This is the account about the development of Adam's family: In the day that God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them, and on the day they were created, he named them “mankind.” [11] 3 Adam lived 130 years, and he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his own image, and he named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were 800 years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 5 All the days that Adam lived were 930 years. Then he died. 6 Seth lived 105 years, and he became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived 807 years after he became the father of Enosh, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 8 All the days of Seth were 912 years. Then he died. 9 Enosh lived 90 years, and he became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived 815 years after he became the father of Kenan, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 11 All the days of Enosh were 905 years. Then he died. 12 Kenan lived 70 years, and he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived 840 years after he became the father of Mahalalel, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 14 All the days of Kenan were 910 years. Then he died. 15 Mahalalel lived 65 years, and he became the father of Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived 830 years after he became the father of Jared, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 17 All the days of Mahalalel were 895 years. Then he died. 18 Jared lived 162 years, and he became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived 800 years after he became the father of Enoch, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 20 All the days of Jared were 962 years. Then he died. 21 Enoch lived 65 years, and he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 23 All the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God. Then, he was not there, for God took him. 25 Methuselah lived 187 years, and he became the father of Lamech. 26 After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 27 All the days of Methuselah were 969 years. Then he died. 28 Lamech lived 182 years and became the father of a son. 29 He named him Noah [12] and said, “This one will bring us comfort during our work and the hard labor that we must perform with our hands because the Lord has cursed the soil.” 30 Lamech lived 595 years after he became father of Noah, and he became the father of sons and daughters. 31 All the days of Lamech were 777 years. Then he died. 32 Noah was 500 years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. [13] Footnotes Genesis 4:1 Or, following Luther's translation, I have gotten a man, the Lord. The Jerusalem Targum reads I have acquired a man, the Angel of the Lord. Cain means get or acquire. Genesis 4:6 Literally why has your face fallen Genesis 4:8 The words let's go into the field, which are missing from the Hebrew text, are supplied from the ancient versions. Genesis 4:11 Here and in verse 14 the Hebrew word adamah, which can be translated ground or land, refers to the soil that Cain worked. Genesis 4:15 The translation no is supported by the ancient versions. The Hebrew reads very well then. Genesis 4:15 Or placed a mark on Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering. Genesis 4:20 Literally father, that is, the founder of this way of life Genesis 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew word for set or place. Genesis 4:26 Or call on Genesis 5:2 Hebrew adam Genesis 5:29 The name Noah sounds similar to the Hebrew words for rest and comfort. Genesis 5:32 It does not seem that all of Noah's sons were born in the same year. Translations disagree whether the sons were born by the time Noah was 500 years old or after he was 500 years old. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-aocsdx-89cb4ca21532423cf697fc393b6fcee0{ height:10px; } The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-4vzadh-3f04b370105df1fd314a2a9d83e55b26{ height:50px; } Share this entryShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare by MailLink to FlickrLink to InstagramLink to Vimeo

Peter Bender of The Concordia Catechetical Academy Concordia Catechetical AcademyThe post Looking Forward to Sunday Morning According to Luther's Catechisms: Second Sunday in Lent – Pr. Peter Bender, 2/26/26 (0571) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

The Rise of Replacement Theology and Anti-Jewish Propaganda | KWR-0057 Kingdom War Room Episode Description In this Kingdom War Room roundtable, Dr. Michael Lake is joined by Dr. Mike Spaulding, Dr. Corby Shuey, and Dr. Justin Elwell for a sober, Scripture-centered discussion on replacement theology (supersessionism)—its historical roots, its modern resurgence, and why it fuels dangerous anti-Israel rhetoric in our day. We address: how supersessionism was codified historically and how it continues to shape today's conversations why God's covenants (especially the Abrahamic) are foundational to understanding the entire Bible the warning of Romans 11 and the inconsistency of claiming "Israel is replaced" while still appealing to Israel in end-times frameworks why "unhitching" from the Old Testament throws away the very definitions that make the New Testament intelligible the difference between critiquing a government's policies and condemning an entire people why the remnant must return to the Word of God—with God's definitions—if we're going to stand faithfully in the days ahead

Caleb invited Pastor David on to help us learn more about the Lutheran denomination.   https://stpaulsug.org/Church and State is brought to you by, YOU!  Visit us at: https://churchandstate.media where you can support us by donating directly and find links to shop with our affiliates.Get our merch at https://standupnowapparel.com/partner-church-and-state/   Learn how to Protect Your Wealth against inflation at: www.BH-PM.com and tell them Church and State sent you.Support Church and State today by shopping at www.MyPillow.com using our coupon code: “CHURCHANDSTATE”.Our links are on link tree: https://linktr.ee/churchandstate                    Subscribe to our Locals Community (churchandstate1.locals.com)   Follow us on Rumble (@ChurchandState1776) https://rumble.com/user/ChurchandState1776    X(twitter) (@1churchandstate) https://x.com/1churchandstatefacebook (churchandstate1776) https://www.facebook.com/ChurchandState1776   SubStack (churchandstate.substack.com) https://churchandstate.substack.com/     *Help fund our fight against tyranny: Buy from our affiliates and tell them Church and State sent you. *Tune in on NRBTV Tue-Fri 1:30 PM Pacific!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/prepper-broadcasting-network--3295097/support.BECOME A SUPPORTER FOR AD FREE PODCASTS, EARLY ACCESS & TONS OF MEMBERS ONLY CONTENT!Red Beacon Ready OUR PREPAREDNESS SHOPThe Prepper's Medical Handbook Build Your Medical Cache – Welcome PBN FamilySupport PBN with a Donation Join the Prepper Broadcasting Network for expert insights on #Survival, #Prepping, #SelfReliance, #OffGridLiving, #Homesteading, #Homestead building, #SelfSufficiency, #Permaculture, #OffGrid solutions, and #SHTF preparedness. With diverse hosts and shows, get practical tips to thrive independently – subscribe now!Newsletter – Welcome PBN FamilyGet Your Free Copy of 50 MUST READ BOOKS TO SURVIVE DOOMSDAY

February 26, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Seventh CommandmentDaily Lectionary: Genesis 11:27-12:20; Mark 4:21-41“We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.” (Luther's Small Catechism, The Seventh Commandment - What does this mean?)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The letter of the law says, “You shall not steal.” (That's in Exodus 20:15 by the way. God also reiterates this command for the Israelite people in Leviticus 19:11 and Deuteronomy 5:19. Jesus also emphasizes the importance of this commandment, as recorded in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, and Luke 18:10). Why does it matter whether or not we steal? First of all, it tells us that God cares about your possessions. After all, whatever you have in this life is ultimately a gift from Him. Remember that the explanation to the First Article of the Creed in Luther's Small Catechism says God “gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.” This truth is reinforced when we pray in the Lord's Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” which includes God's daily provision for you. Isn't it interesting how all of these things are related and how the Seventh Commandment protects those gifts that God has given to you? In our sinfulness, we're inclined to focus only upon ourselves, our own possessions, and the blessings that God has given to us. We're also tempted to gain more possessions for ourselves through dishonesty and deceit. But God calls us to put others above ourselves and recognize the gifts that He has given to them as well. Therefore, we do not follow only the letter of the law but also the spirit of the law. As those redeemed by Christ and washed clean from the stain of sin, we are called to help our neighbor improve and protect his possessions and income. We should be willing to use the gifts, money, and possessions that God has given us in this life (not only to meet our own bodily needs) but to generously help our neighbors as a way of serving them in the service of Christ.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Heavenly Father, You are a giver of all good gifts and have blessed me abundantly in this life. Thank you for caring for me and providing people in my life to help me to improve and protect the gifts You've given. Forgive me for those times when I have selfishly neglected to serve my neighbor and have been dishonest in my gain of worldly possessions. Help me to love and serve my neighbor the way that You love and serve Your creation. Amen.     Rev. Chad Hoover serves as Campus Pastor and theology teacher at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, IN and pastoral assistant at Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

What does it mean to be a Lutheran?  The Lutheran Reformation was founded on the “Three Solas” (Latin for “alone”) “Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone”.   In 1517, Martin Luther's 95 Theses were headed in that direction.  His 1529 Small Catechism condenses those biblical truths into a text book for instruction.  In 1521, he was called to Worms and told to “sit down and shut up” by withdrawing all his writings and declaring them to be false.  Luther stood up instead and kept proclaiming the truth.  By 1530, it was time to set the record straight - against false accusations hurled against them and confusion that was spread as to what Lutherans believed.  So the process began to draft the Augsburg Confession. It was a clear and concise summary of the teachings of Scripture, a bold declaration of what the Scriptures say and what they do not.  It was a statement of biblical truth and a refutation of unbiblical error.  It was a demonstration that the Lutheran faith is the Christian faith and the orthodox teachings that the church has held too since the time of Christ.   So on June 25, 1530, the Augsburg Confession was boldly, confidently and loudly read.  Charles V and anyone else within earshot heard a systematic presentation of the Bible's truth.  They heard an incredible answer to the question "What does it mean to be a Lutheran?”  All who read its 28 articles today hear that answer as well.     What a blessing to generations of Lutheran Christians those men and their courage, conviction, and confession have been! June 25, 1530 was truly a turning point in the life of the Lutheran Church.  Blessings have been coming our way as a result ever since.  And now as you join in our discussion, those blessings are sure to come your way as well! The Augsburg Confession is included in the Book of Concord.  You can find a free version online here.  Grab your printed copy off the shelf or get your own copy here. If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org.  If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org.  

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller, author, “Has American Christianity Failed?” Pastor Brian Kachelmeier, author, “Reading Isaiah with Luther” Pr. Wolfmueller on Closed Communion On the Demons Has American Christianity Failed? Pr. Wolfmueller’s YouTube Channel Reading Isaiah with Luther Redeemer Theological AcademyThe post Your Unanswered Bible Questions – Pr. Bryan Wolfmueller & Pr. Brian Kachelmeier, 2/23/26 (0542) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Share a commentSoup steaming on a wooden table. Laughter, arguments, and ink-stained notes flying between students and a weary reformer. At the center stands Katharina von Bora, running a 40-room refuge, balancing ledgers, and setting the stage for the conversations that would become Table Talk. We pull back the curtain on the unseen power of Katie's table and how a marriage that started as a shock proposal turned into a living model that reshaped church, family, and vocation.We walk through Luther's bold teaching that pastors could marry and that faithfulness at home reveals fitness to lead. Then we get honest about the mess: a decaying cloister, rancid straw, and two strong-willed people choosing commitment over compatibility. Katharina brings order and enterprise—whitewashing walls, buying cattle, managing property—while Luther embraces humility, even championing fathers who wash diapers as a witness of real Christianity. Together they embody a new vision of sacred calling, where the milkmaid, the mechanic, the teacher, and the parent each practice holy work.The story doesn't dodge pain. Slander hounds Katharina from both Catholic and Protestant corners, yet she keeps serving, raising children, adopting kin, and welcoming refugees who crowd the halls. Meanwhile, the evening ritual becomes legendary: light supper, deep debate, and an open chair for Katie's questions. Without her, there's no supper; without supper, no sustained exchange; without exchange, no Table Talk. By handing her finances and authority, Luther models partnership; by claiming a voice at the table, Katharina reframes what a home can do.If you care about marriage, leadership, parenting, or the quiet labor that powers big ideas, this story will recalibrate your sense of what counts. Press play, share it with a friend who carries unseen weight at home, and leave a review to tell us which moment from Katie's table stayed with you._____Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the show

Share a commentSoup steaming on a wooden table. Laughter, arguments, and ink-stained notes flying between students and a weary reformer. At the center stands Katharina von Bora, running a 40-room refuge, balancing ledgers, and setting the stage for the conversations that would become Table Talk. We pull back the curtain on the unseen power of Katie's table and how a marriage that started as a shock proposal turned into a living model that reshaped church, family, and vocation.We walk through Luther's bold teaching that pastors could marry and that faithfulness at home reveals fitness to lead. Then we get honest about the mess: a decaying cloister, rancid straw, and two strong-willed people choosing commitment over compatibility. Katharina brings order and enterprise—whitewashing walls, buying cattle, managing property—while Luther embraces humility, even championing fathers who wash diapers as a witness of real Christianity. Together they embody a new vision of sacred calling, where the milkmaid, the mechanic, the teacher, and the parent each practice holy work.The story doesn't dodge pain. Slander hounds Katharina from both Catholic and Protestant corners, yet she keeps serving, raising children, adopting kin, and welcoming refugees who crowd the halls. Meanwhile, the evening ritual becomes legendary: light supper, deep debate, and an open chair for Katie's questions. Without her, there's no supper; without supper, no sustained exchange; without exchange, no Table Talk. By handing her finances and authority, Luther models partnership; by claiming a voice at the table, Katharina reframes what a home can do.If you care about marriage, leadership, parenting, or the quiet labor that powers big ideas, this story will recalibrate your sense of what counts. Press play, share it with a friend who carries unseen weight at home, and leave a review to tell us which moment from Katie's table stayed with you._____Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the show

In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night — confident, credentialed, fluent in the language of signs and law. But Jesus won't be managed. “Very truly,” he says — and when Jesus speaks, reality happens. The kingdom of God is not something you climb into; it is something spoken into you. You must be born from above — born of water and Spirit. Not a spiritual achievement. Not a better decision. A birth. Luther calls this passive righteousness: the Spirit blows where it wills, and you cannot command it. What flesh produces is flesh. What God speaks becomes life. This is not advice. It is promise.LENT CHALLENGE GRANTDouble your impact this Lenten season: if you sponsor an episode of Scripture First, a generous donor has agreed to double your donation. We greatly appreciate your support of the show. Learn more at lutherhouseofstudy.org/donateCARE OF SOULS - ADDICTIONIn Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life's challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more. With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the broken places of addiction not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ.Because in the end, it's not about fixing people—it's about preaching the Gospel.Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of Souls - AddictionGOSPEL John 3:1-171 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.Support the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

Kenny and Mike review and disuss faith elements spotted in Guillermo del Toro's latest film and passion project. Frankenstein stars Jacob Elordi as the Creature and, Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, and co-stars Mia Goff and Christoph Waltz. The film received 9 Oscar nominations including best Picture, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay. Frankenstein is a passion project for del Toro as he weaves elements from the Mary Shelley's novel, James Whale's original 1931 film, as well as his reinterpretation of the story.  Faith Spotted: Humanity's temptation to play or challenge God. This tempation dates to the book of Genesis 3 where Eve and Adam were tempted to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This desire was rooted in a mistrust of God to care for them.  For Victor Frankenstein, the drive to play or become like God was rooted in Victor's loss, grief, and pain associated with the death of his mother and the abuse and rejection from his father, and his father's inability to save his mother. He wanted to reverse his father's failure by not only saving life but restoring and recreating life. Such pain cannot be soothed by satisfying ego and pride. These motivations to create are in direct contrast to God's desire to create which was and is grounded in God's desire for love and community.  The film shows the place and purpose for processing grief and not rushing or suppressing the grief journey. Such processing can involve faith, theology as well as counseling and psychological tools. In Philippans 4 Paul speaks of peace which passes understanding, which includes peace in the midst of the pain and grief of loss of loved ones.  Victor's abuse of the creature models the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, reflecting the cycle of abusive relationships being passed down to future generations as taught in Exodus 20 and 34. The contrast of the music played during the process of Victor dismembering body parts to be used in the creature reflets the contrast between creation born out of love and that born out of anger and pain. Victor's comment, "It is finished" also reflects on the contrast of Christ's crucifixion which leads from death to eternal life and that of the eternal death the creature experiences in the life given from Victor. Martin Luther's concept of simul iustus et peccator (simultaneously saint and sinner). The human and monster qualities within both Victor and the Creature reflects the saint and sinner within humanity. This concept is at the core of Luther's teaching that righteousness is a gift of grace received through Christ and received by faith. It is Christ who justifies as an act of love and grace.  The film shows the power of forgiveness to bring about transformation and true peace. 

Paul is in prison — but who really put him there? In this introduction to the final four chapters of Acts, Dr. John explores how God's providence works through injustice, inconvenience, and interrupted plans. From Paul's unjust imprisonment in Caesarea to Luther translating the Bible in a castle basement, discover how our greatest setbacks can become our greatest assignments — and what it means to call yourself a prisoner of Christ Jesus.Jesus Goes Global: A Prisoner of Christ: When we read the book of Acts, we tend to give primary attention to the formation and growth of the Church in the early chapters. We then highlight the three mission trips of Paul. But some of the most profound lessons lie in the final chapters of Acts 25-28. Dr. John will show God extending His Kingdom through the personal struggle and imprisonment of Paul. The world's worst cannot impede God's best.

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner begin a multi-part review of Dr. Martin Luther’s treatise The Babylonian Captivity. 1520 was the year that Luther published three major treatises (Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian). This second of three treatises accuses the Catholic Church of keeping the people captive through the abuse of the sacramental system. Beer Break Kasteel Rouge Cherry Brew NA by VanHonsebrouck. A ruby red specialty beer with a rich head and strong flavor of fruit.

IntroductionLight shines in the darkness for the upright, the psalmist sings. Isaiahdeclares that when we loose the bonds of injustice and share our breadwith the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In anotherpassage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world,calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine beforeothers. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shine with thelight of Christ.This is the Day that the Lord has made!Let us rejoice and be glad in it!Scripture Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 and Matthew 5:13-20

Why is it that so many believers see so little success? What is missing? The reason may really surprise you. For more information go to www.city-church.com.au/

Share a commentA single line from Romans shattered a lifetime of striving and set two lives on a collision course with history. We follow Martin Luther's storm-tossed vow into the study where Romans 1:17 turned guilt into grace, then step through the convent doors with Katerina von Bora as smuggled sermons and a moonlit escape in fish barrels carried her toward a risky freedom. What begins as theology on parchment becomes a home under pressure—fields to manage, walls to whitewash, books to write, mouths to feed—and a marriage that made doctrine visible.We share how Luther's embrace of sola fide and sola Scriptura reshaped his preaching and his world, and how Katerina's courage, wit, and practical genius transformed the decaying Black Cloister into a humming household. Along the way, we unpack their unlikely courtship—complete with a declined suitor and a bold proposal—and why their union became a living rebuttal to compulsory celibacy and a blueprint for Christian family life. Their table talks, daily labors, and stubborn commitment argued that righteousness is received by faith and worked out in chores, budgets, hospitality, and forgiveness.Across these scenes, two durable principles emerge. First, marriage flourishes through commitment rather than compatibility; differences become the apprenticeship of love. Second, the aim is humility, not the chase for constant happiness; the home is a school where character grows in the friction of ordinary days. If you're curious how big ideas like the Reformation change small things like bedsheets, brewing, and bedtime prayers, this story invites you into the rooms where belief becomes habit and hope finds a home.If this journey moved you, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who loves history told through the lives that lived it._____Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the show

Share a commentA single line from Romans shattered a lifetime of striving and set two lives on a collision course with history. We follow Martin Luther's storm-tossed vow into the study where Romans 1:17 turned guilt into grace, then step through the convent doors with Katerina von Bora as smuggled sermons and a moonlit escape in fish barrels carried her toward a risky freedom. What begins as theology on parchment becomes a home under pressure—fields to manage, walls to whitewash, books to write, mouths to feed—and a marriage that made doctrine visible.We share how Luther's embrace of sola fide and sola Scriptura reshaped his preaching and his world, and how Katerina's courage, wit, and practical genius transformed the decaying Black Cloister into a humming household. Along the way, we unpack their unlikely courtship—complete with a declined suitor and a bold proposal—and why their union became a living rebuttal to compulsory celibacy and a blueprint for Christian family life. Their table talks, daily labors, and stubborn commitment argued that righteousness is received by faith and worked out in chores, budgets, hospitality, and forgiveness.Across these scenes, two durable principles emerge. First, marriage flourishes through commitment rather than compatibility; differences become the apprenticeship of love. Second, the aim is humility, not the chase for constant happiness; the home is a school where character grows in the friction of ordinary days. If you're curious how big ideas like the Reformation change small things like bedsheets, brewing, and bedtime prayers, this story invites you into the rooms where belief becomes habit and hope finds a home.If this journey moved you, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who loves history told through the lives that lived it._____Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the show

Tell 'em Kendrick did it... We're back to talk about Compton's own Kendrick Lamar and his 2025 record GNX! After we explored Damn back on episode 72, James felt like this Pulitzer Prize winner deserved a better score from Connor. We're back (reincarnated) in the Year Of Redemption to break down his shortest record yet (but one of his most expansive). After decimating Drake in a years-long feud with the astounding Not Like Us, GNX is Kendrick's attempt to move his career forward with songs of the confrontational, the introspective, and the catchy. He wrote more than 80 songs for the project, but only a dozen made the cut. Will it be the perfect combo to redeem his score?James & Connor will debrief on our last Kendrick episode and get to the bottom of why we're back again. We relive the backwards concept album and catch up on our Kendrick listening habits. The Mixtaper is ready to Squabble Up with a new round of Fact Or Spin, featuring comfy socks, vault tracks, and a baffling reskin of a classic crunchy conundrum. From the vintage car on the cover to the final twist of Gloria, we'll touch every corner of this Album Of The Year nominee. Ain't no legends if his legends end, so find out why we think K Dot does (or doesn't) deserve the Greatest Of All Time!Is this album a step up or a step back after Damn and Mr. Morale? Is SZA a dominant force for Favorite Feature or can one of the 9 other voices on this record compete? If you woke up lookin' for that broccoli, turn the TV Off and head to our socials or spinitpod.com for more!Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro0:25 Last Time: Damn.4:55 About Kendrick Lamar7:31 Not Like Us / Drake Feud11:48 About GNX16:12 Awards & Accolades17:25 Fact Or Spin20:03 He Has An Interesting Rider24:00 He Has An Unreleased Track With Prince26:20 Kendrick Has A Supernatural Connection To Tupac29:47 He Needs A Shepherd's Pie For Every Show39:40 Album Art40:53 Wacced Out Murals43:36 Squabble Up45:52 Luther (with SZA)48:55 Man At The Garden50:10 Hey Now (feat. Dody6)51:47 Reincarnated54:20 TV Off (feat. Lefty Gunplay)56:26 Dodger Blue (feat. Wallie The Sensei, Siete7x, Roddy Ricch)57:47 Peekaboo (feat. AZChike)59:52 Heart Pt. 61:01:32 GNX (feat. Hitta J3, YoungThreat, Peysoh)1:03:58 Gloria (with SZA)1:05:50 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Bender of The Concordia Catechetical Academy Concordia Catechetical AcademyThe post Looking Forward to Sunday Morning According to Luther's Catechisms: First Sunday in Lent – Pr. Peter Bender, 2/19/26 (0503) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

In this episode of the Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson continue their look into suffering, the theology of the cross, and the historical context of mysticism in relation to faith. They explore how suffering is perceived in Christian theology, particularly through the lens of Luther's insights, and discuss the implications of viewing God's suffering as redemptive. The conversation also touches on the challenges of cultural Christianity and the importance of external word in faith, culminating in a critique of Oseander's mystical interpretations. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson  

In this episode of Eye on AI, Craig Smith speaks with Amanda Luther, Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group and global lead of BCG's AI Transformation practice, about what their latest 1,500-company AI study reveals about the widening gap between AI leaders and laggards. Only 5% of companies are truly "future-built" with AI embedded across their core business functions. These firms are seeing measurable gains in revenue growth, EBIT margins, and shareholder returns. Meanwhile, 60% of organizations are either experimenting or struggling to extract real value. Amanda breaks down how BCG measures AI maturity across 41 capabilities, how AI impact flows through the P&L, and why leading companies invest twice as much in AI as their competitors. She explains where AI is actually creating value today, from sales and marketing to procurement and retail operations, and why most of that value comes from core business functions, not back-office automation. The conversation also explores the rise of agentic systems, why many early agent deployments fail, and what it really takes to redesign workflows around AI. Amanda shares practical advice for companies stuck in experimentation mode, how to prioritize the right use cases, and why training and change management matter more than chasing the perfect vendor. If you want to understand how AI is reshaping competitive advantage in enterprise organizations, this episode provides a data-backed look at what separates the leaders from everyone else.   Stay Updated: Craig Smith on X: https://x.com/craigssEye on A.I. on X: https://x.com/EyeOn_AI   (00:00) The AI Value Gap (01:17) Inside BCG's 1,500-Company AI Study (04:14) What "Future-Built" Companies Do Differently (09:30) How AI Impact Is Measured on the P&L (12:57) Why AI Leaders Invest 2X More (14:16) Where AI Is Driving Real Cost Reduction (16:20) Agentic AI: Hype vs Reality (20:13) Where Agents Actually Create Value (24:22) Tech vs Talent: Where the Money Goes (26:58) Will AI Laggards Slowly Disappear? (31:58) Why Adoption Is Accelerating Now (40:07) How to Start: Amanda's Advice to AI Laggards  

Did you know that when Martin Luther (1483-1546) wasn't nailing things to doors and fomenting major splits in Christendom he was writing poetry? In Latin? Well, thanks to Carl P. E. Springer we now have all of it in one fascinating volume. Join the guys and see how Luther runs the gamut—lines which express his deep faith, his longing and loss, his reworking of the Psalms, invective against Erasmus and Pope Clement VII, not to mention those verses that express his, um, earthier side. So tune in and revel in this hidden side of one of the most pivotal figures in world history and see if Jeff can stop giggling. Also, don't forget to sign up for your chance to win the new Hackett Complete Works of Aristotle, in 2 volumes. You'll need the secret code word (it's Kontos).

Rod and Karen banter about Tyler the Creator’s “I Killed You”, the Neighbor’s App, Rod viral tweet, The NBA All-Star Game and doing things on Valentine’s Day. Then they discuss Obama addressing a racist Trump meme, Trump officials are in the Epstein files, Bad Bunny cleared by FCC, Luther ‘Uncle Luke’ Campbell announces plans for Congressional run, labor market growth stalled in 2025, Banning Black from Black History Month flyer was a mistake, FAMU says, Disgusted designer of famed Nicki Minaj fried chicken necklace ditches it to protest her MAGA turn, Nicole Curtis caught using racial slur, man pulls gun on neighbor over his unleashed dog, couple convicted in 25 million dollar pyramid scheme, man kills friend over French fries and sword ratchetness. Podjam 3 Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/podjam3 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theblackguywhotips Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rodimusprime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SayDatAgain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TBGWT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheBlackGuyWhoTips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theblackguywhotips@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theblackguywhotips.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Teepublic Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- https://the-black-guy-who-tips-podcast.dashery.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wishlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PDD9JUQUNVY5?ref_=wl_share ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crowdcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.crowdcast.io/theblackguywhotips Voicemail: ‪(980) 500-9034Go Premium: https://www.theblackguywhotips.com/premium/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Bender of The Concordia Catechetical Academy Concordia Catechetical AcademyThe post Looking Forward to Sunday Morning According to Luther's Catechisms: The Transfiguration – Pr. Peter Bender, 2/13/26 (0444) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith examine Christian views of suffering and critiques the common idea that God sends hardship to create or strengthen faith. Drawing on Luther's reading of the Psalms and 2 Corinthians 3, they argue that faith comes first and suffering follows because faith is attacked, not produced, by affliction. They trace how mystical and modern evangelical traditions interpret suffering as a path to humility, conversion, and even divine compassion, including the notion that God must suffer to understand humanity. The discussion concludes by previewing Luther's break from these ideas and a clearer theology of the cross to be explored next time. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson  

Luther returns for the first time since 2021 to explain how he became Timeless Toni Storm's butler, what inspired the black-and-white aesthetic of the character, and why the movie, Sunset Boulevard, became required homework. He breaks down what it's like balancing comedy, character work, and physical involvement in Toni's biggest matches, including the All In Texas moment that led to his very real “reattachment surgery,” and the not-so-subtle signal he recently gave Orange Cassidy for getting too close to Toni! Luther also talks about his backstage role as an AEW coach and producer, and working with younger talent. Plus, he dives into his longtime obsession with ghosts, cryptids, and the unexplained, and shares some of his own truly wild paranormal encounters.   Upper Deck's AEW SP Signature Edition is here, featuring Mercedes Mone, Orange Cassidy, Kenny Omega and more! https://bit.ly/4srGApc  AEW Unrestricted video episodes available Mondays at 1pm Pacific on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4e4Lb87XTzETPZyj7nZoJ4xPBjKdzgy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Bender of The Concordia Catechetical Academy Concordia Catechetical AcademyThe post Looking Forward to Sunday Morning According to Luther's Catechisms: The Fifth Sunday After Epiphany – Pr. Peter Bender, 2/5/26 (0361) first appeared on Issues, Etc..