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Talk of the Town In this episode, we discuss Christian conversation — cultural, institutional, and in our encounters with the living God. Our guide is Prof. Robert Kolb, who wrote about the 'Art of Christian Conversation' in his book, "Speaking the Gospel Today." What is Christian conversation, and what is its purpose? On the other side of the table, what is a worldly conversation, and what is its ultimate purpose? Is there any difference between pre-modern and post-modern Christian conversations and secular talks? Is there anything we can learn from "Christian conversations" that can be applied and/or help us appreciate myths, legends, folk tales, and storytelling? Is it possible for our conversations to awaken us to a greater reality than what our material generation tells us about the limits of reality? SHOW NOTES: Speaking the Gospel Today: A Theology for Evangelism by Robert Kolb https://a.co/d/01jxW3Po Robert Kolb @ 1517 https://www.1517.org/1517-search-result?qSearch=robert%20kolb More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! https://donate.overflow.co/1517/cash?config=2026-podcast-network-fundraiser Support 1517 Podcast Network https://www.1517.org/podcast-fundraiser 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/events 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education: https://academy.1517.org/ What's New from 1517: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco https://shop.1517.org/collections/coming-soon/products/9781964419947-the-turk-at-the-door Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419985-luther-and-the-lion By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas https://shop.1517.org/products/9781967920013-by-water-and-the-word Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419961-being-family More from the hosts: Donovan Riley https://www.1517.org/contributors/donavon-riley Christopher Gillespie https://www.1517.org/contributors/christopher-gillespie CONTACT and FOLLOW: Banned Books Wiki https://bannedbooks1517.org Email mailto:BannedBooks@1517.org Instagram (1517)https://www.instagram.com/bannedbooks1517 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BannedBooks1517/ Twitter https://twitter.com/bannedbooks1517 Instagram (1517) https://www.instagram.com/1517org X/Twitter (1517) http://twitter.com/1517 Facebook (1517) http://www.facebook.com/1517org PODCAST: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BannedBooks Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-1223313 Odysee https://odysee.com/@bannedbooks:5 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-books/id1370993639 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2ahA20sZMpBxg9vgiRVQba Overcast https://overcast.fm/itunes1370993639/banned-books MORE LINKS: Tin Foil Haloes https://t.me/bannedpastors St John's Lutheran Church (Webster, MN) - FB Live Bible Study Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/356667039608511 Donavon's Substack https://donavonlriley.substack.com Gillespie's Sermons and Catechesis https://outerrimterritories.com Gillespie Coffee https://gillespie.coffee Gillespie Media https://gillespie.media
Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith explore why Lutherans place public absolution at the center of worship and how it differs from approaches that emphasize repentance as a human work. Looking at Psalm 51, they explain Luther's claim that we don't fully know our sin through the law alone—we come to understand the depth of our sin when God first forgives it through His promise. The conversation shows how absolution creates faith, reveals true repentance, and keeps the Gospel, rather than our efforts, at the heart of the Christian life. Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook More from 1517: Support 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson
The sequel to 2024's Most Excellent Whizzbang American Roller-Coaster Adventure! This time: the South. Charlie and Luther discuss their trip in a pickup truck from Richmond to New Orleans, via the Rappahannock Oyster Company, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Monticello, the Michie Tavern, The Andy Griffith Show, The Tail of the Dragon, Knoxville, Nashville, Shiloh, the Jug's One Stop gas station, the Bass Pro Pyramid, Graceland, Johnny's Drive-in, and Vicksburg. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#Lutherhiersteheich #Hauptstadtinsider #JanPeterLuther #DNEWS24 #CDU #JensSpahn #Leihmutterschaft #KaiWegner #Blackout Nachdem sich Jens Spahn ins Abseits geschossen hat, kommt Bewegung in die Führungsebene der CDU. Wer wird was, wer darf bleiben? Ein paar Spekulationen vor dem Sommerloch...Hauptstadt-Insider Jan Peter Luther im DNEWSTV24Podcast „Luther – hier stehe ich!“
When we start the second article of the Apostles' Creed with I believe in Jesus Christ, what does that mean? Luther tells us that this means that we believe that Jesus is true God, begotten of the Father in eternity and also a true human being, born of a virgin Mary, is our lord. The faith claim is that Jesus was God's son, born out of miracle. Although we may be ‘distracted' by the questions surrounding virgin birth, we should also focus on the belief that Jesus is Lord. Today's message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our Gospel lesson is from Luke, Chapter 1, verses 26 - 35, and our New Testament Lesson comes from Colossians Chapter 1, verses 15 - 19a. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette provides a restated creed: I believe in God the Father, the Almighty God above, Maker of the earth and heaven which were formed in God's great love. And in Jesus, loving Jesus, God's own Son, who makes us new. This the creed of generations, is the faith for our church too. Jesus by God's Holy Spirit was so wondrously conceived, Born unto the Virgin Mary, who your promises believed. Jesus suffering under Pilate, on a cross was crucified. Soldiers mocked hi, friends denied him; he hung there until he died. So it was, our Lord was buried, in a borrowed tomb he lay. To the dead he then descended, where was joy on earth that day? There's more to God's great story: In three days he rose again. He ascended into heaven and he sits at God's right hand. I believe what God has promised: Christ will come as he has said. He will judge the nations' peoples, both the living and the dead. I believe God's Holy Spirit makes the church one family. We're surrounded by God's people, saints who in our Lord believe. I believe that God forgives us for the times we turn away, And that God will raise our bodies on that resurrection day. We rejoice that we'll live forever, singing praise to God's great name. This the creed of generations is the faith that we proclaim.
In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Adam, Bruce, and Caleb explore whether Martin Luther can be trusted, responding to modern critiques that question his character, motives, and mental state as a way of dismissing the Reformation. They argue that while Luther was at times emotional, outspoken, and flawed, his theology should be judged by how faithfully it interprets Scripture rather than by speculative psychological diagnoses or personal attacks. Along the way, they discuss how Luther's humanity, historical context, and extensive writings have fueled both serious scholarship and polemical caricatures, encouraging listeners to evaluate his teaching on its biblical merits. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook
Luther said of Psalm 118 that it proved a friend and helped me out of many great troubles. The last Huguenot to die a martyr's death sang it as he walked to the gallows and into eternity. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he concludes his study of Psalm 118, a psalm that speaks to our relationship with God and our need to trust Him. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111
Run for the Hills! On this episode, we sit with Eugene Peterson and Jonah, listening to what they have to teach about God's grace, death and resurrection, threshold experiences, believing Jesus is God versus encountering him, and much, much more! What does pastoral ministry look like in Jonah's disobedience and obedience to God's call? What would a "Church of St Jonah" look and sound like? What is it about God's love for sinners that drives us away from God? When will this episode description end? SHOW NOTES: Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness https://amzn.to/3VXD1XT Conversations with Rev. Eugene H. Peterson https://www.doxology.us/return-to-conversations-with-rev-eugene-h-peterson/ More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! https://donate.overflow.co/1517/cash?config=2026-podcast-network-fundraiser Support 1517 Podcast Network https://www.1517.org/podcast-fundraiser 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/events 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education: https://academy.1517.org/ What's New from 1517: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco https://shop.1517.org/collections/coming-soon/products/9781964419947-the-turk-at-the-door Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419985-luther-and-the-lion By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas https://shop.1517.org/products/9781967920013-by-water-and-the-word Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419961-being-family More from the hosts: Donovan Riley https://www.1517.org/contributors/donavon-riley Christopher Gillespie https://www.1517.org/contributors/christopher-gillespie CONTACT and FOLLOW: Banned Books Wiki https://bannedbooks1517.org Email mailto:BannedBooks@1517.org Instagram (1517)https://www.instagram.com/bannedbooks1517 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BannedBooks1517/ Twitter https://twitter.com/bannedbooks1517 Instagram (1517) https://www.instagram.com/1517org X/Twitter (1517) http://twitter.com/1517 Facebook (1517) http://www.facebook.com/1517org PODCAST: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BannedBooks Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-1223313 Odysee https://odysee.com/@bannedbooks:5 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-books/id1370993639 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2ahA20sZMpBxg9vgiRVQba Overcast https://overcast.fm/itunes1370993639/banned-books MORE LINKS: Tin Foil Haloes https://t.me/bannedpastors St John's Lutheran Church (Webster, MN) - FB Live Bible Study Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/356667039608511 Donavon's Substack https://donavonlriley.substack.com Gillespie's Sermons and Catechesis https://outerrimterritories.com Gillespie Coffee https://gillespie.coffee Gillespie Media https://gillespie.media
In episode THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR, Wade discusses how to pray Luther's Small Catechism. We hope you enjoy the episode! Let us know if you have questions you'd like us to address in a future episode. For more about the show and the hosts, visit the Let the Bird Fly! website. Thanks for listening! Attributions for Music and Image used in this Episode: “The Last One” by Jahzzar is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. “Gib laut” by Dirk Becker is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. “Whistling Down the Road” by Silent Partner. “Not Drunk” by The Joy Drops is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.
In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson discuss Luther's famous and often misunderstood phrase, "faith creates God," from his lectures on Psalm 51. They trace how Ludwig Feuerbach turned that phrase into a theory that shaped modern theology, psychology, and atheism, while showing why Luther meant something very different. The conversation ultimately points listeners back to the heart of the Reformation: faith is not a human achievement or projection, but the gift created by God's powerful Gospel. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Scott Keith Daniel Emery Price Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook
July 16, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism - 1Daily Lectionary: Judges 16:4-30; Judges 17:1-21:25; Galatians 4:12-31“Baptism is not simply water, but it is the water included in God's command, and combined with God's Word.” (Luther's Small Catechism)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Water is necessary for life. Water helps plants grow, so all living creatures have something to eat. Staying hydrated is important, too, so drink more water, kids! Water cleans things by washing away dirt. Water also has a great capacity for destruction. Too much rain leads to flooding, mighty tides of water that pummel everything they crash into, leaving devastation in its wake. Rough water can drag a person down into the deep to drown and die. Tsunamis, hurricanes, and floods are all deadly. They are an example of how broken and sinful the world has become. Instead of bringing life, it ends it. All of creation is no longer “good,” but tainted by sin and death. All things wither and die. Our sinful nature compels us to do harm to our neighbors and ourselves. The devil, the world, and our sinful flesh hate God, wanting nothing to do with him. We turn good gifts into weapons against the life God would have us defend and uphold. But God takes what is broken, sinful, and dying and makes new life. He creates abundant life in the midst of death, decay, and destruction. So, then, water, when combined with the Word of God, becomes a source of resurrection—a place where Christians are made. God names you in His Triune Name, marking you as one whom death has no claim over. Your sins are washed away, and a new, clean robe is given to you. The stain of sin, taken on by Christ, is no longer yours to bear. Jesus takes our sin and drowns it, burying it and leaving it behind. God restores life to where death and sin reigned. Water is necessary for life, and it is this creation of God, paired with His Word, that gives us life eternal. The Word of God, which spoke everything into existence, in Baptism, now calls the dead sinner to life, out of the waters and into light. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Though around us death is seething, God, His two-edged sword unsheathing, by His Spirit life is breathing through the living active Word.” (LSB 597:4)Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.
Stark County Administrator Brant Luther joins Pam this morning to discuss Stark County! Building permit activity is increasing, as is construction value. We've got EMA training our county public servants to take care of us, Project care and the be a friend program for children, and more!
Having examined the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation in previous episodes, Dr. Craig now turns to three more views of the Lord's Supper. He explains the Lutheran doctrine of consubstantiation — where Christ's body and blood are present alongside the bread and wine, grounded in Luther's doctrine of the communication of attributes (communicatio idiomatum). He then contrasts this with Calvin's Reformed view of a spiritual presence and communion with Christ, and finally with Zwingli's view of the Supper as a memorial ordinance rather than a sacrament. Next time: an assessment of these four competing views.
Psalm 117, the shortest Psalm in the Bible, has been said to have “a faith which is great and a reach that's enormous.” Luther dedicated 35 pages to it in his commentaries, and five great sermons were once preached from its two, short verses. Join Dr. James Boice next time on The Bible Study Hour as he explores this brief but powerful psalm that calls all nations to praise our God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111
Exploring Church History: Key Figures and Renew Network Vision Join us in this episode as Bobby and David dive into an insightful discussion about their journey with the Renew Network, aiming to restore and renew the New Testament church. They explore notable figures in Christian history, such as Irenaeus, Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther, who contributed to shaping Christianity. The founders discuss the importance of following God's Word, the challenges of embracing the Holy Spirit, and the need for courageous leadership. They highlight the mission and values of Renew Network, focusing on discipleship, church planting, and upholding biblical authority. Discover their vision for the future and how they plan to equip churches and individuals to make disciples and expand God's Kingdom. Download the free RENEW.org App - https://renew.org/renew-app/ Visit RENEW: https://renew.org/ Check out the following from RENEW.org: Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/ Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/ Articles: https://renew.org/articles/ Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/ Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/ Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/ Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/ Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/ Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/ Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This final volume of the History of the Papacy begins with the rise of Martin Luther and with the final years of Leo X's papacy. Leo never really grappled with Luther's calls for reform and his successors, Adrian VI and Clement VII, were equally ineffectual in preventing the establishment of the Protestant Church in Germany. The political sky darkened as the rivalry between Francis I and Charles V spilled over the Alps into Italy. The army of Charles V, unpaid, ill-fed, and mutinous moved relentlessly southward until Rome itself fell defenseless. Bishop Creighton writes: "Brutalized by hardships, by poverty, by suffering; of different nations, Germans, Spaniards, Italians; they were held together by no common bond save that of boundless cupidity, and wild desire." The sack of Rome lasted eight days, but it was followed by nine months of occupation, violence and extortion.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Led by the Spirit, Not Driven by the Flesh — a confessional Lutheran sermon on Romans 8:12–14, preached in the tradition of C.F.W. Walther's Law and Gospel distinction. In this LCMS (Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) sermon, Pastor David P. Balla explores what it truly means to live the Christian life — not as self-improvement or willpower, but as a daily dying and rising accomplished by the Holy Spirit through Holy Baptism, God's Word, Absolution, and the Lord's Supper. Drawing from Romans 8, Matthew 13:22, and Isaiah 55:12–13, this sermon explains the biblical doctrine of sanctification, the meaning of daily contrition and repentance, and how Luther's Small Catechism teaching on Baptism connects directly to St. Paul's call to put the flesh to death. This is confessional Lutheran preaching rooted in the Book of Concord, Francis Pieper's Christian Dogmatics, and Holy Scripture as the final authority — free from American evangelical decision theology. Perfect for those seeking sound LCMS doctrine, Law and Gospel preaching, Baptismal theology, and daily devotional encouragement in the Christian faith.☕ Support this ministry: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalph
In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Adam Francisco discusses his new book The Turk at the Door, exploring how Martin Luther understood Islam, the Ottoman Empire, and the challenges facing Christendom during the Reformation. The conversation examines Luther's distinction between just war and holy war, his study of the Quran, and why Christians should understand Islam without confusing political conflict with the proclamation of the Gospel. They discuss why this overlooked chapter of Reformation history still matters today as Christians engage thoughtfully and faithfully with their Muslim neighbors. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman
In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their conversation on Luther's lectures on Psalm 51, showing how true repentance is rooted not in human effort or love for God, but in God's mercy alone. They unpack Luther's "conjunction of the incompatible" to explain how the holy God joins Himself to sinful people through Christ, shaping the Reformation's teaching on justification, the sacraments, and the Christian life. The discusssion challenges common misunderstandings about faith, emphasizing that salvation comes through God's Word creating faith—not through our works, decisions, or acts of love. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook
Jeff Luther collapsed mid-workout in front of his 16-year-old son — no pulse, no breath. Two AED shocks didn't bring him back. The third did. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Jeff walks us through what actually happens in the space between life and death, the paralyzing fear that followed a second cardiac arrest, and the exact moment — 30 seconds at a time — that he started rebuilding his life on his own terms. We talk about ego, gratitude, the stories we tell ourselves, and why the belief "I am becoming" changes everything.Check out Jeff's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-can-no-cant-mastering-resilience/id1658627241Connect with Jeff on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/jdluther2.0/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-luther/Stay in touch with Sabine:https://sabinekvenberg.com/resourcesYour Free Gift: https://sabinekvenberg.com/get-your-bold-move-kitPre-order Gumption: https://sabinekvenberg.com/pre-order-gumptionTime Stamps:[00:09] Introduction — Jeff's story begins mid-collapse at the gym in front of his son[01:56] The workout, the racing heart, and the moment things didn't stop this time[02:25] Going into ventricular fibrillation — and the strange, split-second shift from "get away from me" to "please don't let me go"[03:27] Watching his son's shoes walk toward him on the gym floor — "Jeff, you've got to get up"[05:43] Waking up and thinking he'd gotten drunk the night before[06:40] Coming to — to the sound of his own screaming[07:19] How the AED actually works, and why the first shock didn't bring him back[08:49] 911, a second shock, a second failure[09:15] The paramedics arrive — third shock, and he wakes up[09:54] Denial in real time: "Are we going to finish this workout?"[10:23] Four days in the hospital and the diagnosis: ARVC (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy)[11:22] Back in the gym after 30 days — and cardiac arrest strikes again[11:50] This time, he knew he was dying — and everything changed[12:31] Paralyzing fear, a divorce he didn't want, and life "effectively ending"[13:04] Finding gratitude for a pen — the smallest possible starting point[13:31] The first workout back — breaking down, giving up, feeling like a failure[15:17] His coach's pivotal question: "Does that thing hurt?"[15:44] The 30-second breakthrough — working for 30, resting 30, and getting his life back one interval at a time[18:58] The belief that became a gut-punch: our beliefs shape our future — and our present[19:29] Untangling shame and guilt from his divorce — and the shift from "who am I" to "who am I becoming"[22:56] Why gratitude and bitterness can't occupy the same space in the brain
The Rosary, original sin, Luther's law and Gospel and much more on Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.
You can send a text, include contact info to get a response. There are two stories here, their opposition is part of a theme. Erasmus, the great Erasmus , Erasmus of Rotterdam was even more a product of the Devotio Moderna than was Luther. Most of his young education was by the Brethren of the Common Life or their imitators.I am Groote.Last episode I called him a Satirist. Of course he was much more than that. You've heard of him, but are unlikely to have read any of his full length works, unless you are a specialist in the time.And yet he had great influence of his period, being perhaps the highest status intellectual of the period. He was the writer of 1 in 3 books purchased during the 1530s. And as he wrote Suleiman the Magnificent was first overcoming Hungary and then moved on to the Siege of Vienna.Erasmus wrote In Praise of Folly, which we discuss in the episode, while folly is being acted out in Hungary, to a tragic end.Hungary was well able to defend the West from the Ottoman during the days of Matthias Corvinus. But on his death, short sighted magnates pursued a foolish policy, leading to their defeat. After an absolutely heroic defense of Vienna, Suleiman was defeated, losing 20,000 men in the retreat. Oddly enough, this is about the same number of boys and girls taken as slaves by the Ottomans on this campaign. You want your civilization to be so powerful you do not have to suffer slavers.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260707dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” Matthew 11:25 A Revealed Glory The Bible teaches us that the glory of Christ’s cross is naturally hidden from us. It is hidden behind the horrific dreadfulness of God’s shameful suffering and death there. Martin Luther explained this important truth in his Small Catechism with these words: “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.” With that explanation, Luther was echoing the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote: “‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no mind has conceived' [these are] the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Simply put, left to ourselves, sinful humans would never be able to see or fathom the hidden realities of God’s glorious, behind-the-scenes workings at Christ's cross. The Lord himself explains why this is true through his prophet Isaiah, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (55:9). In other words, the divine plan and purpose are far beyond our puny human senses. By nature, we see and sense the opposite of God's reality. God often does the opposite of what we expect. If that’s true, then how can anyone comprehend the divine truth? By ourselves we can’t, but the Bible tells us that, “these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10). As Luther explained: “The Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” Through his Word—law and gospel—the Holy Spirit brings us to humble repentance, a change of mind. First, he shows us our need for a Savior, and then at the cross, he proclaims that we have one, a perfect One. Suddenly, the cross’s hidden glory is revealed! Prayer: Dear Jesus, lead me daily to repentance through your holy Word so that I see the glory of your cross through the eyes of faith. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260707dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” Matthew 11:25 A Revealed Glory The Bible teaches us that the glory of Christ’s cross is naturally hidden from us. It is hidden behind the horrific dreadfulness of God’s shameful suffering and death there. Martin Luther explained this important truth in his Small Catechism with these words: “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.” With that explanation, Luther was echoing the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote: “‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no mind has conceived' [these are] the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Simply put, left to ourselves, sinful humans would never be able to see or fathom the hidden realities of God’s glorious, behind-the-scenes workings at Christ's cross. The Lord himself explains why this is true through his prophet Isaiah, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (55:9). In other words, the divine plan and purpose are far beyond our puny human senses. By nature, we see and sense the opposite of God's reality. God often does the opposite of what we expect. If that’s true, then how can anyone comprehend the divine truth? By ourselves we can’t, but the Bible tells us that, “these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10). As Luther explained: “The Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” Through his Word—law and gospel—the Holy Spirit brings us to humble repentance, a change of mind. First, he shows us our need for a Savior, and then at the cross, he proclaims that we have one, a perfect One. Suddenly, the cross’s hidden glory is revealed! Prayer: Dear Jesus, lead me daily to repentance through your holy Word so that I see the glory of your cross through the eyes of faith. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Christ in the Abyss: A Conversation with Jean Neely Daniel and Yulee welcome Jean Neely—Korean American writer, writing instructor at Azusa Pacific University, and author of Christ in the Abyss—for a deeply personal conversation about faith, mental illness, and what it means to encounter God in suffering rather than be rescued from it. The conversation covers: Why Jean wrote the book: growing up in Korean American evangelical spaces (and broader U.S. Christian culture) where she rarely heard stories of unresolved, long-term suffering—and the toxic message that real faith should look like constant joy, certainty, and answered prayer A warm, nurturing church upbringing as a pastor's kid, paired with a self-critical, melancholic temperament that absorbed and amplified harmful theological messages Her parents' striking, unshaming response to her mental health struggles—including their reflection on a formative early trauma they felt responsible for A vivid, moving story: being sent to live with relatives in Korea as a baby, then flown alone to the U.S. at 22 months old after her aunt grew attached to her—and the lasting effects of that early separation (a story Yulee shares a striking parallel to from her own childhood) The long, hard-won process of trusting that Jesus is present in depression and doubt rather than disappointed by it—with help from her Aunt Miyong, a retired pastor, and contemplative writers like Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, and Henri Nouwen Why she now describes herself as more of a doubter than a believer, and what faith looks like when intellectual certainty isn't available A connection to Luther's Anfechtung and the idea that wrestling with God—not quiet submission—is at the heart of the biblical story (Israel as the one who wrestles with God) The unexpected comfort of contemplative spirituality: "silence is God's first language," and the idea that something is happening in prayer even when it isn't felt Sustaining daily practices: a prayer app, NYT word puzzles, checking in with friends by text, and unwinding with Korean dramas A fun detour into Jean's love of languages—French, Korean, and Arabic (including reading Harry Potter in Arabic to build vocabulary) A rich, honest conversation well-suited for church book groups—not just for those who've experienced mental illness, but for anyone wrestling with unresolved pain and wondering what kind of God they're dealing with. Jean's book, Christ in the Abyss https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9798898020347_christ-in-the-abyss?srsltid=AfmBOooOGPjsC684nPN5r6fvEVXhQmEUOCpByiE-aVyV1qlbc3lwAh3f Sign up to receive more updates from the AAC: https://aac.fuller.edu/newsletter/ If you appreciate the work we do at the Asian American Center at Fuller Seminary, please consider supporting us! Your monetary support sustains our vital work and expands Asian American research, leadership development, and pastoral formation for the Church in the year ahead. Donate here: fuller.edu/giveaac.
In this comprehensive block of The Charlie James Show (Hour 3), guest host Heidi Harris navigates a variety of topics centered around American values and political structures with both guests and call-in listeners. The hour opens with South Carolina Congressman William Timmons praising the patriotic scale of recent national celebrations before discussing the Save America Act, emphasizing the importance of securing elections through photo identification mandates and using reconciliation to encourage state compliance. Transitioning to a discussion on state-to-state migration patterns, caller Luther notes that citizens are actively using their geographic mobility to escape heavily taxed and highly regulated states, though Harris cautions that this often causes left-leaning voters to inadvertently import those exact same failing policies into traditionally conservative states. These systemic issues are further criticized during a discussion with an older caller named Bill regarding the prevalence of liberal indoctrination on college campuses, prompting Harris to advocate for strict accountability in education and an end to academic tenure. The broadcast concludes on an uplifting note with an 18-year-old high school graduate named Carson, who shares how his parents intentionally taught him about the real-world downfalls of communism and socialism, leading him to express deep gratitude for American liberty as he prepares to attend a Bible college in Kentucky
In this audio excerpt from the Charlie James Show, guest host Heidi Harris engages with callers regarding political migration, voting behaviors, and socialism. A caller named Luther argues that communist or socialist policies inevitably fail because modern populations are highly mobile and will flee oppressive cities, thereby destroying the local tax base. Harris counters by highlighting a recurring problem: residents fleeing high-tax "blue" states often relocate to "red" states like South Carolina, Texas, or Idaho, only to vote for the exact same unsustainable policies—such as bloated public pensions—that ruined their previous homes. The conversation concludes with another caller, Bob, who criticizes voters who refuse to vote due to a lack of a "perfect" candidate, defines socialism as a form of theft driven by envy, and argues that criminals owe direct restitution to their specific victims rather than a generalized debt to society.
The Face of an Angel Acts 6 by William Klock I hate doing administration stuff. I'm really glad that John handles our finances so well and makes sure all our bills get paid. I don't like filling out annual parish reports and get annoyed when I have fill out one for ACNA and another for the REC. Why can't they just ask the same questions and share the information? Our church register is stuffed with Post-It notes going back five or six years so I know what to enter in it whenever I eventually get around to sitting down to make all the entries for baptisms, deaths, weddings, membership, and all of that. And I wonder if Peter had his own First Century Post-It note system for dealing with the dreaded admin work that was perpetually threatening to cut in on his preaching and praying. Because that's what we come to in Acts 6. The church has been growing quickly. There's something like 5,000 Christians in Jerusalem. We don't know how they were organised. We know that the apostles and presumable some others regularly spent time in the temple. But they met together in their homes. Were they divided into what we might think of as “churches” or “parishes” with an apostle or two overseeing each—or maybe each apostle overseeing two or three groups? We don't know. But what we do know is that the twelve apostles were overseeing everything. They were preaching, they were teaching, they were praying, they were pastoring, they were making sure everyone's needs were met. And it got to be too much, even for twelve of them. I get that. I have a friend who pastors a Baptist church of about 950. They figured out thirty years ago that they need one elder to every hundred people or so in order to pastor well. In Acts we're talking at least 500 church members per apostle. People started falling through the cracks and complaining. Look at Acts 6. [Page 1086 in the pew Bibles.] “Now, in those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the ‘Hellenists' raised a dispute with the ‘Hebrews' because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” As we've seen in Chapters 2 and 4, these first Christians were very aware that they belonged to a new family and they lived accordingly. They were the beginnings of Gods new Israel. The Spirit had filled them with love for each other—the kind of love that torah had always envisioned for the people of Israel—and so they began to live it out. They fellowshipped with each other. They shared meals together as Jesus' family and they shared with their brothers and sisters who were in need. They weren't just overflowing with the love and mercy of Jesus; despite most of them having little, as a people they were overflowing with generosity and abundance. And there were plenty who were truly in need. Widows would normally be looked after by their own family, but when people joined the church—just as in some parts of the world today—it meant being cut off from their families and the support they once had. The church suddenly found itself providing for a large number of widows. Maybe it was a language barrier or maybe it has something to do with social connections, but the Hellenists—the Greek-speaking widows—the ones who had come to Jerusalem from the great Jewish diaspora—they were falling through the cracks. It surely wasn't deliberate. It was growing pains. The sheer scope of the church's charity work had become too much for the twelve to handle efficiently. So the Greek-speaking members of the church take up their cause with the apostles. The fact that their fellow “Hellenist' believers take up their cause with the apostles, suggests it was a language problem. Maybe these widows didn't know how or when to ask for food or where to get it and there were simply so church members, that the apostles were no longer able to know the personal needs of everyone. Whatever the case, the apostles realise they have to do something. Luke goes on: “So the twelve called the full number of disciples together. ‘Listen,' they said, ‘It wouldn't be right for us to leave the word of God to serve tables. So Brothers, choose seven men from amongst yourselves who are well spoken of and filled with the Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of what needs to be done in this matter. We will continue to pay attention to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The apostles knew what their primary calling was. It was to study and to teach and to preach the word and to pray. Sure, they could do some other things. But when those other things became so big that it meant taking significant time away from their ministry of the word and their time in prayer, well, it was time for the church as a whole to pick up the slack. To sort of quote Paul: God gave some to be apostles and other to—well—to fill the other multitude of roles that need filling in the church. Some are eyes and ears and mouths, others are hands and feet and finger and toes. The body needs them all. And this was common sense. But it also—and I think Luke deliberately frames it this way—it had precedent in Israel's own story. Think of Israel in the beginning, in the wilderness, just delivered from Egypt, and Moses trying to rule over a thousand and thousands of people and feeling totally overwhelmed. Luke wants us to see the fledgling church as the new Israel and so he shows us the apostles in the position of Moses. It's time to choose some well-respected men from amongst the people to help. Verse 5: “The whole gathering was pleased with what they said. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a proselyte from Antioch). They presented them before the apostles, and having prayed, they laid their hands on them.” It's worth noting: the seven names are Greek names. One of these men was even a proselyte, meaning he was a gentile who had converted to Judaism and was now a Christian. Presumably the seven were meant to serve the whole church, but the church chose seven men who were especially able to help with the problem at hand: the Greek-speaking widows. So the church elects these men, brings them before the apostles for their approval, prays for them, and then it's the church that lays hands on them. Now, almost every English translation says that it was the apostles that laid hands on these seven, but the Greek text doesn't really bear that out. It says they, the church, elected the men and brought them to the apostles and there's absolutely nothing in the text that indicates a change of subject before Luke says that “they” laid hands on the men. The church—probably a representative few—laid hands on the seven, not the apostles. And when we look at what was involved, it suggests even more that it was the church doing the laying on of hands. There are several words in Hebrew that, in English, all get sort of generically translated as “to lay hands”, but the Hebrew behind the idea here, has the sense of pressing down on something—as if you're sharing or transferring something of yourself to another: your sins to a the scape goat, or the people of Irael “pressing down on” the Levites who will represent them and fill in for their firstborn sons, or Moses pressing his hands down on Joshua and making him his representative and successor. Remember, the whole point of this is that the apostles knew “serving tables” wasn't their job. Their job was word and prayer. It was the job of the wider church to look after the welfare of each other and so it's appropriate that the church not only elects these seven men, but also “ordains” them, if you will. And what were the seven? Traditionally we've called them deacons. Deacon comes from the Greek word to serve—in this case to serve (διακονεῖν) tables, which is symbolic of making sure the widows get their charity. But otherwise, what we see these men doing doesn't look all that much like what we see deacons doing later in the New Testament. In fact, when the apostles talk about “serving tables”, there's a probably a word play there—“tables” is a banking or accounting term, not just a word for a literal table—that suggests that what these men were really doing was overseeing, administering the distribution of food and, more broadly, the resources of the church. And if that was the case, they look a lot more like bishops. I could be wrong, but what I would tentatively suggest, is that these seven men were the first men to be appointed to pastoral office in the church, before that role had split into bishops on the one hand and deacons on the other. I think these guys were, more or less, both proto-deacons and proto-bishops. And while their primary duty was to oversee the church's charity, the church chose them because they were full of the Spirit. And in Acts, what that means is that they were bold and unafraid proclaimers of the good news about Jesus. So, writes Luke in verse 7, because of the apostles could now be devoted to the word to prayer and because these seven men were now ordained to ensure the church was being what the church is supposed to be, “The word of God increased and the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly. This included a large crowd of priests who became obedient to the faith.” Brothers and Sisters, when the church—the people and the leaders—are boldly proclaiming the word of God and are diligent in prayer, God will multiply it. We might miss it, but Luke makes the point: It's not us. We don't grow the church. It's God. The power lies with him. We need to trust his word and we need to proclaim it. We need to pray and entrust our ministry to him. Not gimmicks, not money, not all the other things churches often do to try to make themselves effective. Just preach God's word and pray. He'll bring fruit from it. And be patient, because God works on his own schedule, not ours. And, we might miss it: Luke makes a point of telling us a significant new step in the church's growth: now it's attracted a crowd of priests. And that would not have gone unnoticed by the leaders of the temple. Luke doesn't say anything here, but this means the Jewish leaders are getting more concerned, getting more angry, becoming more inclined to violent action. But, first, Stephen's story. Look at verse 8: “Stephen was filled with grace and power and performed great signs and wonders amongst the people. But some from the Freemen's Synagogue, as it was named, and from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia stood up and disputed with Stephen. They could not, however resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.” Stephen preached in the gospel in the synagogues. And here's the thing. Luke makes a point of saying that Stephen wasn't just full of power; he was also full of grace. We've all heard people speak who are full of power, but are short on grace. They can be jerks. Maybe they're right, but just the way they speak makes people angry. But that's not Stephen. He's speaking with great grace. But the folks listening still aren't having any of it. Not that Palestinian Jews were any more receptive, but Luke kind of gives the sense that maybe these folks—they're all hellenised, diaspora Jews like Stephen—maybe they're overly defensive of their Jewish heritage because they feel deficient in some way for not being Palestinian Jews. Whatever their motivation, they're angry with what he says and they get even angrier because they couldn't resist him. And then they get even angrier—we've all seent his happen—they're even angrier, because he's not angry in response. He's full of grace They couldn't refute what he was saying. But rather than concede, they dig in and at that point there's only one thing left to do: they make false accusation of blasphemy. Verse 11: “Then they put up men to say, ‘We heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.' They aroused the people, the elders, and the scribes. They set upon him, seized him, and took him in front of the assembly. They set up false witnesses to say, ‘This man never stops speaking words against this holy place and the law. We heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.' Everyone who was sitting in the assembly looked hard at Stephen. They all saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” It sounds a lot like the accusations against Jesus, when he was accused of saying he would destroy the temple and rebuilt it in three day. Of course, yes, he said that, but his point was that God was doing something new, that God was about to fulfil his promises, and that God would establish a new temple in which he would come to dwell with his people. But the Jewish elders didn't hear it that way, not because Jesus wasn't clear, but because they couldn't accept that God was fulfilling his promises through Jesus. If Jesus was the Messiah, he was doing it all wrong, at least so far as they were concerned. He couldn't be the one. And now exactly the same thing is happening to Stephen. We don't have his words, but based on the false accusations against him as well as his defence that will follow in Chapter 7, we have a pretty good idea what he was saying and it was closely related to what Jesus had said. Just like Jesus, just like Peter, just like the preaching we see through Acts, Stephen told the story of God and his people and how it leads to Jesus. There were four things that were all-important for the Jews and that marked out their identity. There was the temple; the torah or law; the land of Israel itself and especially Jerusalem, where the temple was; and there was their ethnic identity as Jews—the sons and daughters of Abraham, delivered by God from Egypt when Moses led them through the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai. Those things marked them out as God's people. Those things marked them out as separated, as different from the pagan peoples and nations around them. Compromise those things, and you'd be sliding down a slippery slope into the same idolatry that had got their ancestors exiled to Babylon. So when Stephen spoke, as any of the Christians would have, about God establishing a new temple or about Jesus fulfilling torah, out came the angry charges of blasphemy. But those first Christians—just like Jesus—were never attacking the temple or the law. The problem was that Israel—despite knowing her own story so well and so thoroughly—had forgotten where it was going and then failed to recognise how Jesus was bringing it to its climax. When Jesus or when Peter or when Stephen said that God was doing a new thing, what people like the priests and the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, people like Saul of Tarsus heard was that these Jesus people were saying was the law and the temple were bad. What Stephen (like Jesus and Peter before him) was trying to say is that the word of God tells a story and that this story was moving forward and, as it moved forward, new things would happen. This didn't mean that the old things that had happened were bad. Just the opposite! They were good. They were necessary to get the story to the point it's at now. Imagine you take a trip to Montreal. First you drive your car to Nanaimo to get to the ferry, then you take the ferry to Horseshoe Bay, then you get off the ferry and get on a bus that takes you downtown, where you take SkyTrain to the airport, where you finally board an airplane that flies you across the country. The fact that you left your car parked in Nanaimo to get on a ferry or that you left Skytrain to get on an airplane or even that you stopped travelling once you arrived in Montreal, none of that means that the car or the ferry or the bus or the airplane or even the trip itself was bad. You couldn't get where you are without them! And, just so, God gave Israel the law. God gave Israel the temple. And they were good things. They were necessary things. They were gracious things. They were things that prepared the people for and brought them to the part of the story where Jesus became a part of it. But they tuned this part out. Some modern Christians do the same. I'm not sure where it comes from. Maybe it comes from listening to Luther with only one ear. But we get the idea that the old covenant was a bad thing. People will get the wrong idea that the old covenant was about being saved by works and that's why Israel refused Jesus, who came to offer salvation by grace. A thousand time, no. If that's what Stephen had been saying, the Jews would have been right to be angry with him, because he would have been wrong. The status of God's people has never been because of works; it has always been because of grace. That's part of how the old covenant prepared people and led them to the part of the story where Jesus enters. Other times we just ignore God's story altogether and try to write our own. But what's often even more dangerous is when we know God's story to a point, but then we lock it down and refuse to let him take it in a new direction. We do that. And that's what these folks mad at Stephen are doing. Jesus just couldn't be where the story they knew was heading; instead, Jesus became a threat to their version of the story. And yet Stephen persisted. Even as they dragged him before the Sanhedrin with a slate of false witnesses against him. And think about that. They're convinced they're in the right. They're convinced that they represent God and everything that is good and right and true. They think they're the heaven on earth people. And yet what do that they do in response to his preaching? They lie. By their actions they condemn themselves. And in contrast stands Stephen. For all his speaking with power, he's full of grace. And as he stands before the Sanhedrim, as false witness after false witness testified against him, the Spirit, God, transforms—almost transfigures him—to the point that the whole assembly is left staring at him. Luke says his face became like the face of an angel. As far as literal appearance, I don't know what that means. But the important thing is that everyone recognised what was happening and in that moment, the Spirit revealed Stephen—and along with him the church—for what he, what they, what we really are: In that moment Stephen was revealed as the face of Jesus' heaven on earth people. He was actively part of the church living out heaven on earth. He was preaching the good news about Jesus and he is the fulfilment of God's promise to bring heaven and earth back together. And in the middle of this controversy, in the middle of the false accusations, in the middle of these men who, despite all the evidence, were digging in their heels and refusing to accept the message about Jesus, refusing to let God lead the story they new so well in a new direction, God himself vindicated Stephen and made him a manifestation of heaven on earth. Stephen was full of the Spirit, a little temple in miniature full of God's presence. As if the shekinah—the cloud of glory visibly representing God's presence that had been missing from the temple ever since Israel's exile—suddenly became present with Stephen. God announcing: “In this man, in this people, through my son, in this gospel I am fulfilling my promises. Listen to him.” Brothers and Sisters, this should be a picture of us. The bit where Stephen was transfigured and looked like an angel—whatever that means—that was unique. But the rest of it, that ought to be us. A people committed to be a covenant family, not just overflowing with talk of love and grace and mercy, but a family of people where love and grace and mercy are abundant in real, practical ways. A family where we make a point of doing what needs doing to make sure that nothing gets in the way of that love and grace and mercy. We ought to be a people of word and of prayer who are bold for the gospel, because we know that the power lies not with us, but with God. His word, not ours, brings life. His Spirit has the power to renew minds and regenerate hearts. And so we pray, entrusting ourselves and our ministry to him and we proclaim not our word, but his. We tell the story that leads the world to Jesus. And if we're doing all these things, that word, that story will have power, but our telling of it will also be full of grace. The world, the flesh, and the devil will do their worst. People will dig in their heels. People will tell lies about us and about the story and the good news we proclaim. People may even violently persecute us one day. But remember: It's all of grace. The story that leads us through the law and the prophets, through torah and temple, is all about the grace of God towards rebellious sinners, and so is the story that leads to forgiveness and life with God, the story that leads us to Jesus and the Spirit and eventually to the New Jerusalem. Brothers and Sisters, it's all of grace. Live the story of God's grace and the light of heaven will permeate the church. Proclaim the story of God's grace, and that light will being to permeate the world. Let's pray: Lord, fill us with your grace. And don't just fill us with it; ensure that we're ever and always overwhelmed by the knowledge and understanding of your grace, so that we will live it out in practical terms as your church and so that we will go out with boldness to proclaim your good news, not to win arguments, but make your grace known. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.
You can send a text, include contact info to get a response. A miner's son, decided one day, to nail 95 thesis to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg in the year of our lord 1517. It seems unlikely he intended to split his church, the Catholic, universal church, into a bewildering multiplicity of new religions and sects.And yet, trained in the Devotio Moderna's way of taking action and responsibility, for his own salvation, he ran into problems. What Luther did with the 95 theses, or 95 propositions if you prefer, was a common garden variety way of opening an argument and inviting the university to participate. Some even say the nailing to the door part is just dramatic enhancement, never happened, he just circulated some hand written stuff around campus, in the conventional way. This episode is about dramatic enhancement, so anyway. Well he had copies made and sent them around to friends, who apparently copied them some more and sent them around some more until “Soon, Luther had the uneasy surprise of receiving them back from Southern Germany, PRINTED.”
July 1, 2026Today's Reading: Romans 12:14-21 or Romans 8:18-23Daily Lectionary: Joshua 6:6-27; Acts 10:18-33“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.It's like Paul is saying, “Don't lower yourselves to their level.” Only he isn't wording it condescendingly or negatively. “Win them over by love and goodness.” Yes, that is more like it.When Paul had been the Pharisee of Pharisees, seeking out the supposed heretics - the Christians among the Jews, he had one thing in mind: lock them up, and if they don't recant, we will stone them all to death. He thought they were evil. And he was attempting to overcome their evil by the evil of killing them.Jesus had other plans. He came and stood before this zealous and religious man, and came crashing down with the accusation: “Why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). And then He sent Ananias. But Ananias is not there to punish Paul. He does not come with weapons, a jail sentence, or even more words of judgment. Ananias is sent to call Paul “brother,” to restore his sight, and to baptize him. Ananias overcomes evil with good.Ultimately, that is what Christ Jesus Himself had done. Betrayed by one of the Twelve, beaten, spit on, stripped, humiliated, and then nailed to a cross to die of asphyxiation. You are hard-pressed to find anyone suffering more evil than that. Yet Jesus does not return evil for evil. The King of the Universe could have demanded justice against those transgressors and responded with agonizing punishment. But He did not. He knew the great paradox of His salvation for mankind was in overcoming evil with good. Jesus Christ remained good and holy even in suffering all evil. And the goodness of God is what overcame sin, death, and the devil in His sacrifice.Now, Paul says, you do the same. Not simply as some example that you follow. Not because you are supposed to do it. The Law has been fulfilled by God the Son when He overcame evil with good at the cross. So now, you do this from the love of Jesus that fills you. In faith, the Lord grants that you respond to Him by loving your neighbor and doing good. Doing good can only come from faith in Christ, the One who has truly overcome evil with good. And as “little Christs,” as Luther calls you, you are happy to not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O grant that nothing in my soul May dwell but Thy pure love alone; Oh, may Thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown! All coldness from my heart remove; My ev'ry act, word, thought be love. (LSB 683:2)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.
In this episode we are joined by Reformanda Initiative Fellow Robbie Bellis to discuss his contribution to the 2026 Rome Scholars and Leaders Network (RSLN). HIs paper titled, “The Essential Issue: Luther's Bondage of the Will and Roman Catholic Soteriology” explores the 16th-century debate between Erasmus and Luther that focused on the human will and its natural capacities. Erasmus argued for the freedom of the will, while Luther argued for the bondage of the will. At the heart of this debate is the gospel itself. To understand the bondage of the will is to understand the theology at the heart of the Reformation. It remains relevant today, especially as evangelicals engage with their Roman Catholic friends.Support the show
Most of the time, The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge exists exclusively in podcast format. But every once in a blue moon, KFUO Radio welcomes the Lutheran Ladies to its studio for an on-air broadcast. In this repackaging of their recent 2026 Sharathon live broadcast, Rachel quizzes Sarah and Erin to find out what they know about famous Lutheran women, favorite Lutheran potluck dishes, and key ideas in Luther's Small Catechism. But this is no ordinary edition of Rachel's Trivia Challenge — oh, no. This trivia comes with a (hilarious) AI twist ... Resources referenced in this episode include: Faithful Women of the Reformation - Lutheran Reformation Ursula von Münsterberg - The Canadian Lutheran Letter from Ursula von Münsterberg Hot dish heaven – The Lutheran Witness Correction: Throughout this episode, Rachel repeatedly (erroneously) refers to “Google Copilot.” The AI-enhanced search engine she actually used in her research was Microsoft Copilot. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.
Pastor Paul Schultz (filling in for Braaten) continues a two-part conversation with Pastor Joe Meunch on the baptismal theology of 1 Peter, this time working through Luther's catechism questions on baptism as a framework for the epistle. They trace how Peter's language of salvation, sonship, and the gift of the Holy Spirit echoes the Exodus pattern explored in part one, and dig into the notoriously difficult baptism passage in 1 Peter 3:21, weighing how Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz understood the "answer of a good conscience toward God" as the faith that clings to God's promise rather than any work performed in the rite. Along the way they consider the flood narrative as a type of baptism, the destructive and saving dimensions of water, and what it means for the baptized to be marked off from the world and tested through suffering, much as Israel was tested in the wilderness and Christ in his own baptism and temptation. A rich resource for preachers working through baptismal texts or the Easter-season lectionary readings from 1 Peter. ----more---- Host: Fr. Paul Schulz Guest: Fr. Josef Muench ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.
On this episode of The Opportunist, former Luther Davis leveraged his football pedigree and connections to build a career representing aspiring NFL players. The episode traces how promises of opportunity and professional success gave way to allegations of deception that left careers and dreams hanging in the balance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Most Christians read the Bible far too seriously.But what if Scripture contains far more humor, irony, satire, and laughter than we've been taught to see?In this conversation, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with humor scholar Dr. Terry Lindvall to explore the hidden comedy of the Bible—from Sarah's laughter and Noah's drunkenness to Jewish humor, biblical irony, and the surprising ways God uses humor throughout Scripture.Why do we miss so much of the Bible's humor? Did God intend for His people to laugh? And what happens when we rediscover the joy, playfulness, and humanity woven into the biblical story?This is Part 1 of a fascinating conversation on humor, satire, and the Bible.
Oklahoma's primary election saw only 1 in 4 voters turn out.Luther enacts moratorium on data center development.How immigration enforcement has unraveled one Tulsa couple's life.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram at @KOSURadio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.
Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: holmbergpodcast.com, 98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Samuel Rutherford helped write the Westminster Confession. He also developed a four-part test for evaluating prophetic words. That's not a charismatic running loose, but a Westminster divine doing careful pastoral theology on the gifts.ABOUT THIS EPISODE:There's an assumption that the debate over spiritual gifts is a recent one: a 20th-century Pentecostal invention set against centuries of Reformation clarity. But the historical record tells a different story. John Knox was called "the prophet and apostle of our nation." John Welsh reportedly prayed a dead man back to life. George Wishart publicly predicted Cardinal Beaton's death from the pulpit. These weren't fringe figures. They were architects of the Scottish Reformation.In this episode, Joshua Lewis responds to a four-part viewer question that cuts to the heart of what cessationists often ask about continuationism: 1. Did any Protestant Reformers — Luther, Calvin, Knox, Wesley — actually affirm the continuation of miraculous spiritual gifts?2. Are there accredited seminaries that teach continuationism, and if so, why don't more charismatic leaders pursue formal degrees?3. Did the lack of denominational accountability in charismatic churches contribute to the scandals the show has covered?4. Are continuationists mostly Arminian, or do Calvinists hold this position too?Joshua works through each question with the historical and theological care. Join us for an informative episode.0:00 – Introduction0:34 – Questions2:23 – Reformation-Era Continuationism5:26 – Continuationist Seminaries7:01 – Charismatic Anti-Intellectualism11:27 – Denominational Accountability & Scandal14:52 – Calvinism vs. ArminianismRESOURCES MENTIONED: - Scots Worthies by John Howie (unedited, Project Gutenberg): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28272/28272-h/28272-h.htm- Spirit Hermeneutics by Craig Keener: https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Hermeneutics-Reading-Scripture-Pentecost/dp/0802874398- Barna Research — "Is There a Reformed Movement in American Churches?": https://www.barna.com/research/is-there-a-reformed-movement-in-american-churches/Subscribe to The Remnant Radio newsletter and receive our FREE introduction to spiritual gifts eBook. Plus, get access to: discounts, news about upcoming shows, courses and conferences - and more. Subscribe now at TheRemnantRadio.com.Support the showABOUT THE REMNANT RADIO: The Remnant Radio exists to equip believers who are hungry for the radical middle of both Word and Spirit. Subscribe for twice-weekly content on theology, church history and the gifts of the Spirit.
In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their examination of Psalm 51, showing how David's confession reveals the total reality of sin and the complete inability of human beings to save themselves through free will or good works. Drawing on Luther's distinction between Law and Gospel, Paulson explains that God's righteousness is not merely His own holiness but His action of justifying sinners through the promise of forgiveness. The discussion highlights how faith comes through God's external Word, which exposes sin, creates trust, and grants the righteousness that comes apart from the Law. More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Learn more about the 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas 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 More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook
Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: holmbergpodcast.com, 98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A $300,000 real estate purchase in Panama can get you permanent residency and a second passport.Steve Luther runs Cord Real Estate, a boutique firm based in Nashville that helps American investors buy property abroad. After a serious health crisis, Steve and his wife stumbled into Panama while looking for a Caribbean property with better healthcare access, and ended up buying two investment properties there themselves. In this episode, Steve breaks down why Panama has quietly become one of the strongest hedges against US market volatility for real estate investors: a currency pegged one to one with the US dollar, low property taxes and insurance thanks to its location below the hurricane belt, and a residency by investment program that turns a $300,000 real estate purchase into permanent residency, with full citizenship available after five years. Steve also walks through what that money actually buys on the ground, how financing works for Americans buying through Panamanian banks, and what tends to derail a transaction. If you've ever wondered what buying property abroad actually involves, beyond the highlight reel, this episode lays it out.Key TopicsHow Panama's golden visa program works, and what a $300,000 purchase actually gets youThe retirement (Pensionado) program and its travel, dining, and entertainment discountsWhy the dollar peg and hurricane-free location keep currency and insurance risk lowHow an American gets a mortgage through a Panamanian bankWhat typically derails a Panama real estate transaction, and how it compares to a US closingGuest BioSteve Luther has been in real estate for 24 years and runs Cord Real Estate, a Nashville-based firm that has helped clients invest in residential, commercial, and international property for the past decade, including direct experience buying and managing property in Panama himself.Links
In this episode of the Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their exploration of Psalm 51, focusing on David's confession that sin is not merely something we do but something that defines us apart from God's intervention. Paulson explains Luther's understanding of repentance as two distinct words preached from outside the sinner—the law, which exposes and kills, and the gospel, which forgives and raises to new life through absolution. The conversation highlights David as prophet, showing how God creates faith by joining the seemingly incompatible realities of a holy God and sinful humanity through the promise of the gospel. More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Learn more about the 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas 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 More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson