Podcasts about Martin Luther

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

Has God chosen some to go to heaven and some to go to hell before they were even born? The Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer (Executive Director, LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the "crux theologorum" or main theological question of "why some and not others" in the doctrine of election, including what Scripture says about election, the historic Lutheran teaching on election, what other denominations believe about election or predestination, and how the doctrine of election is really about the hope we have in Christ. Resources: "Walther's Works: Predestination" (CPH) "Bondage of the Will" by Martin Luther "Bound Choice" by Robert Kolb Formula of Concord: Article XI  As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Evening Prayer for Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (Ash Wednesday; Martin Luther, Reformer of the Church, 1546).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 6, 32Jonah 31 Corinthians 9:24-27⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

Morning Prayer for Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (Ash Wednesday; Martin Luther, Reformer of the Church, 1546).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 38Isaiah 58:1-12Luke 18:9-14⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

Leon Morris once said that Romans 3:21-27 is the most important paragraph ever written. The reason that he said this is captured well by what Charles Spurgeon said of this passage. He said "I do not know any passage in Scripture in which the way of salvation is more clearly and fully set forth than this one." John Piper said about this passage that, "if you understand this passage, you understand Christianity." Martin Luther said that this passage is "the central place of the book of Romans, and of the entire Bible." Nowhere is the gospel so clear. Nowhere is the logic of salvation so powerfully set forth as it is in this passage. In this passage we see that salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone. This episode is a sermon that was originally preached by Jackson Hankey at a Christian Retreat for College Athletes.

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Martin Luther's Large Catechism, Part 6 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 2/17/26 (0483) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

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).

In this episode of More Faith More Life, Pastor Steve Gray confronts what he calls “the Therapy Gospel”. It's a version of Christianity that focuses on coping instead of transformation. He challenges the modern church's self-centered starting point and calls believers back to the message Jesus actually preached: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”Instead of beginning with guilt and anxiety, Steve urges a shift toward forward-moving Kingdom living, calling listeners to die to self, enter Christ's life, and walk in real transformation. This is not about feeling better. It's about becoming new.If you've ever felt stuck in church but hungry for revival, this episode will reframe how you see repentance, salvation, and the true Gospel.Key Takeaways:Therapy vs. Transformation: Pastor Steve Gray critiques the modern "therapy gospel," urging a return to the transformative power found in the teachings of Jesus, which call for a renewal and departure from merely coping with personal issues.The Kingdom of God: Emphasis on the need to understand repentance in light of the Kingdom of God being at hand—a calling towards living a life shaped by divine purpose rather than personal history or self-centered salvation.Critique of Religious Systems: Analysis of how contemporary religious systems often fail believers, leaving them feeling lost within a structure that should foster growth and enlightenment.Historical Perspective: References to Martin Luther's Reformation highlight how historical attempts to reconcile faith with personal guilt and anxiety have evolved, impacting present-day religious practices and beliefs.Redefining Conversion: A call to rethink the sinner's prayer and conversion experiences to ensure they align with biblical notions of losing oneself to gain life abundantly in Christ, invoking personal sacrifice and genuine transformation.

Justin Hibbard continues our series on the 21 Ecumenical Councils by exploring the uprising against the Catholic Church in Europe known as the Protestant Reformation. But was it really a reformation, or was it a revolution? Who were the key players in this movement, and did the movement ultimately succeed in its goals?SOCIAL LINKS* Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.* Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube.* Follow Justin on Facebook.SOURCES:* The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History by Joseph Kelly* Video: General Councils 13: Lateran V and Trent - Fr Timothy Matkin - St Francis Dallas* 95 Theses - Martin Luther* Papal Encyclicals Online: Exsurge Domine - Condemning the Errors of Martin Luther - Pope Leo X - 1520* Papal Encyclicals Online: Decet Romanum Pontificem - Papal Bull of Excommunication of Martin Luther and his followers - Pope Leo X - 1521* Episode 56: Indulgences - The Most Misunderstood Catholic Doctrine* Episode 120: The Deuterocanonicals and Protestant Budget BiblesPREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES* Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils* Episode 147: The World that Led to the Council of Nicaea* Episode 148: The First Council of Nicaea (325)* Episode 149: From Nicaea to Constantinople* Episode 150: The First Council of Constantinople (381)* Episode 151: The Council of Ephesus (431)* Episode 152: The Council of Chalcedon (451)* Episode 153: The Second Council of Constantinople (553)* Episode 154: War Among the Monotheists* Episode 155: The Third Council of Constantinople (680-681)* Episode 156: The Second Council of Nicaea (787)* Episode 157: Reflections on the First Seven Ecumenical Councils* Episode 158: The Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870)* Episode 159: The Great Schism* Episode 160: The First Lateran Council (1123)* Episode 161: The Second Lateran Council (1139)* Episode 162: The Third Lateran Council (1179)* Episode 163: The Fourth Lateran Council (1215)* Episode 164: The First Council of Lyon (1245)* Episode 165: The Second Council of Lyon (1274)* Episode 166: The Council of Vienne (1311-1312)* Episode 167: The Avignon Papacy & The Great Western Schism* Episode 168: The Council of Constance (1414-1418)* Episode 169: The Council of Florence (1431-1445) * Episode 170: The Fifth Lateran Council (1512-1517) Get full access to Why Catholic? at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Today's sermon is Martin Luther's Reformation by David Guzik Find more teaching from Pastor David at www.enduringword.com

Send a text"I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer".  Martin LutherWhen we talk about Sabbath rest, it is easy to go down various paths.  For some, although Sabbath is an oft-heard term, the idea of how to observe it is foreign.  For others, the Sabbath can seem like a legalistic thing and many boundaries can be made around it.  This episode seeks to get an understanding from the source:  God's word.  The Sabbath is instituted right from the start in Genesis 2:2 as God rested or paused from His work.  We see that the Sabbath is created for man and for our benefit.  Finally, we see that as we observe the Sabbath (a day of rest), we depend upon the Lord more and hear His heart.  We invite you to tune into this podcast and by the end, take the challenge to incorporate the Sabbath into your life each week!

Vad innebär det i dag att vara en bekännelsetrogen luthersk kyrka? Vad betyder löftet som präster avlägger, att rent och klart förkunna Guds ord, så som det är givet i den heliga Skrift och omvittnat i kyrkans bekännelseskrifter, samt att rätt förvalta sakramenten? Denna fråga blir särskilt angelägen i en tid då lära och praxis omformas under kulturellt tryck och inte sällan motiveras med att Martin Luther som reformator bröt med kyrkans tro och tradition. Dagens avsnitt gästas av Dr. Scott Keith som leder organisationen 1517, som menar att påstående saknar både historisk och bekännelsemässig grund. De lutherska bekännelseskrifterna framträder inte som nyheter. Tvärtom bekänner de uttryckligen kontinuitet med den allmänneliga kyrkans tro. 

CULTIVATING SAINTS, SAGES, AND STATESMEN THROUGH THE GREAT TRADITION OF CHRISTENDOMIn this episode we interview Ryan Grant, a Latinist and founder of Mediatrix Press, about Martin Luther, specifically some of the myths, confusions, and even lies that have been built up around him to justify the protestant "reformation."Among many other great works it has revived, Mediatrix Press produced the first English translation in 500 years of St. John Fisher's "Against Luther's Babylonian Captivity." Fisher was among the only bishops to remain faithful to the Church in England, and was later martyred for his defense of the Catholic Faith. Joshua Charles wrote the Foreword to this volume.VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://eternalchristendom.com/BECOME A PATRON OF THE GREAT TRADITIONAs a non-profit, you can support our mission with a tax-deductible gift. Help us continue to dig into the Great Tradition; produce beautiful, substantive content; and gift these treasures to cultural orphans around the world for free: https://eternalchristendom.com/become-a-patron/CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIAX: https://twitter.com/JoshuaTCharlesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatcharles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatcharles/DIVE DEEPERCheck out our “Becoming Catholic” resources, where you'll find 1 million+ words of free content (bigger than the Bible!) in the form of Articles, Quote Archives, and Study Banks to help you become, remain, and deepen your life as a Catholic: https://eternalchristendom.com/becoming-catholic/SUBSTACKSubscribe to our Substack to get regular updates on our content, and other premium content: https://eternalchristendom.substack.com/EXCLUSIVE BOOKSTORE DISCOUNTShttps://eternalchristendom.com/bookstore/CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro and Guest Biography07:23 - Myths About Luther: Why This Matters24:41 - What Indulgences Actually Are40:52 - What Really Happened in 151752:01 - Luther's Education, and Latin vs. Vernacular01:22:33 - Indulgence Myths01:46:49 - The Myth of "The Church Left Luther"02:21:32 - Pope Adrian VI's Repentance for the Papacy's SinsThis podcast can also be heard on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

The Herring Barrel Valentine #RTTBROS #Nightlight"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath punishment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." — 1 John 4:18You know, I've always been fascinated by love stories, especially the ones that seem absolutely impossible. And let me tell you, the love story of Martin Luther and Katie von Bora is one for the ages.Picture this: it's 1523, and Katie is a nun trapped in a convent. She's read Luther's writings about the freedom we have in Christ, and she's desperate to escape. So Martin Luther, this bold reformer who's already been excommunicated and declared an outlaw, arranges for her and eleven other nuns to be smuggled out in empty herring barrels. Can you imagine that? The smell alone would have been something fierce.Now, Luther believed these women deserved a chance at marriage and family, so he set about playing matchmaker. One by one, he found husbands for them all, except Katie. She was a bit particular, you see. She told Luther's friend that she would only marry two men, Luther himself or his friend. Well, that put Luther in quite a position.Here's the thing though, Luther had convinced himself he would never marry. He was living under a death sentence from the Pope. Every day could have been his last. He figured, why make a woman a widow? But Katie saw something different. She saw a man worth the risk.In June of 1525, Martin Luther, age 41, married Katharina von Bora, age 26. And you know what? It turned out to be one of the most beautiful marriages in Christian history. Luther, who once said he would never marry, wrote to a friend, "I would not exchange Katie for France or for Venice." He called her "my lord Katie" and said she made him rich beyond measure.Katie wasn't just a wife, she was a partner. She ran their home, which became a hub for students and reformers. She managed their finances, she brewed beer, she ran a farm, and she gave Luther six children. More than that, she gave him a place of peace in the midst of the storm.You see, love has a way of casting out fear. Luther was afraid of making Katie a widow, but love said the risk was worth it. Katie was afraid of leaving everything she knew, but love said freedom was worth it.And here's what I love most about their story: it wasn't perfect. They argued, they struggled, they faced poverty and danger together. But Luther said his marriage taught him more about God's love than all his theology books combined.History is just HIS story, and God writes the most beautiful love stories in the most unexpected places. Sometimes love means climbing into a herring barrel and trusting God with the outcome. Sometimes it means marrying someone when the whole world says it's foolish.Because perfect love, the kind that comes from God, casts out fear. It makes impossible things possible. It turns a monk and a nun into a marriage that would inspire millions for centuries to come.#Faith #Love #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #ChurchHistory #TrustGod #BiblicalWisdom #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

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.  

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Quiggle to continue the German Reformation series—this time focusing on Martin Luther’s years in Erfurt and the startling turn that led him into the Augustinian monastery. Luther wasn’t headed toward ministry. He was a brilliant student on track for law, positioned to become his father’s “golden ticket” in a world with no social safety net. But beneath the surface, Luther’s life was haunted by a question that medieval Europe could not escape: What happens when I die—and how can I stand before a holy God? Greg places Luther’s fear and guilt inside the lived world of late medieval Germany—where death was constant, God was often imagined as perpetually angry, and the Church shaped the calendar, the culture, and the imagination of everyday life. The episode then centers on the famous storm moment: Luther, terrified by lightning, cries out to St. Anne and makes a vow—“Help me, and I will become a monk.” Unlike so many foxhole vows, Luther follows through. From there, James and Greg explore what life in Erfurt’s Augustinian monastery likely entailed: regulated prayer, ascetic discipline, study, and the grinding pressures that could intensify Luther’s already sensitive conscience. The discussion highlights the deep irony of Luther’s early story: the monastery was supposed to bring peace—but for Luther, the spiritual “solutions” only made the struggle worse. The episode ends by setting up the next move in the narrative: the relationship between Augustinian theology, Luther’s extreme ascetic practices, and the transition toward Wittenberg under the guidance of his mentor/confessor, Johann von Staupitz—where the next stage of Luther’s transformation begins. Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland. Subscribe to our YouTube channel

This week, Seth and Keaton discuss the first generation of reformers including Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and Thomas Cranmer. For more information about Zion Presbyterian Church visit www.zioncolumbia.org.For questions and feedback, leave a comment or email keaton.paul@pcazion.org.

In this first episode of a new Thinking Christian series on the German Reformation, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Quiggle—a historian, former Moody Bible Institute professor, and leader of Tours for Ten—to set the stage for the world that produced Martin Luther and the Lutheran Reformation. Before you can understand Luther, you have to understand the world Luther lived in: a late-medieval Germany marked by constant death, recurring plague, widespread poverty, church corruption, and spiritual fear. Greg helps listeners reconstruct the medieval imagination—where God was often perceived as perpetually angry, life expectancy was low, child mortality was staggering, and the question “How can I stand before a holy God?” was not theoretical but urgent. Greg also clarifies an often-missed point: there wasn’t one Reformation, but multiple Reformations—Germany (Luther), Switzerland (Zwingli and Calvin), England (Henry VIII), and the Radical movements—each emerging from distinct contexts and theological pressures. This series focuses specifically on the German stream and its implications for Protestantism today. In this conversation, you’ll hear about: The split between Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Latin/Catholic) Christianity (1054) Why “Reformation” is really Reformations (Germany, Switzerland, England, Radicals) The medieval experience of death: plague, famine, and childhood mortality How the church often failed to provide spiritual comfort or clarity Why fear of judgment and purgatory shaped daily religious behavior The role of literacy, sermons, Latin worship, and “sheep without a shepherd” The core question driving Luther: certainty before God through Christ This episode lays the foundation for the rest of the series, where James and Greg will move from context into Luther’s theology, the 95 Theses, indulgences, justification by faith, and the long-term effects of the German Reformation on modern Protestant life. Related: Want to experience Reformation history on location? Greg leads small-group “Tours for Ten” through Germany (and beyond). Links are in the show notes. Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland. Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Is your brain acting like a malfunctioning smoke detector, screaming about an emergency when there's no fire in sight? In this third week of our series on mental health and Jesus, we tackle the "massively important" topic of anxiety by looking at how the Trinity works together to calm our hearts.In this sermon, you'll discover:• The Gift of Anxiety: God wired your brain with a "danger detector" called the amygdala to keep you safe from real tragedy. But for many of us, this system is "out of control," triggering panic over bad grades, work projects, or social media "what ifs."• The Father & Your Body: Your mental health is "deeply theological" because God created your body and brain. Learn how to use the "vagus nerve" and intentional "box breathing" to literally tell your brain there is no danger.• The Son & Your Certainty: Drawing on the story of Martin Luther, we explore the "monster of uncertainty" regarding our standing with God. If you've ever wondered if you are "good enough," discover the peace of knowing righteousness is by faith in Jesus—from first to last.• The Spirit & Your Community: Discover why even atheists recommend church for improved mental health. The Holy Spirit "roots" us in community, using the "communal nature" of singing and gathering to pull us out of isolation and remind us we aren't alone.• Jesus as a Resurrected King: Stop zooming in on your problems and zoom out to see the King who holds your "what ifs" in His pierced hands.Anxiety might be part of your story, but it doesn't have to be the end of it. Whether you are struggling to "just chill out" or trying to help a friend who is spiraling, this message offers a grown-up, biblical look at finding a peace that goes beyond understanding.Stop trying to earn your peace and start receiving the relief only the King of Kings can bring.

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley finish their conversation on Dr. Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will. This episode includes a discussion on free choice – the will and the reason cannot strive after God without God. Whenever the will and reason are described as us moving to God, this should be condemned because this is the opposite of faith. The only path to faith is our brokenness and trust in God’s revelation of promise in Christ Jesus. Beer Break FLVR! Chocalte Dark Brew – “All the rich chocolatey goodness of your favorite stout, now without the alcohol! Loads of dark malt and cacao nibs give this dark brew the smooth bitterness and luxurious body befitting a decadent liquid dessert!”

The Great Exchange #RTTBROS #Nightlight"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." — 2 Corinthians 5:21You know, there's a quote from Martin Luther that's been rattling around in my head lately. He said, "Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You took on you what was mine; yet set on me what was yours. You became what you were not, that I might become what I was not."Now, preachers never say anything short, but Luther managed to capture the entire Gospel in one beautiful sentence. This is what theologians call "The Great Exchange," and friend, if you can wrap your heart around this truth, it'll change everything.Here's what happened at the cross. Jesus, who never sinned, not even once, took on all of my sin, all of your sin, every dark thought, every harsh word, every broken promise, every failure. He became what He was not so that we could become what we were not. Think about that for a minute. The sinless Son of God became sin itself so that sinful people like you and me could become righteous before a holy God.It's like the ultimate trade, except it was completely one-sided. I brought nothing to the table but my mess, my brokenness, my rebellion. And Jesus said, "I'll take that. And here, take my righteousness, my holiness, my perfect record before the Father."Paul puts it this way in Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."See, this isn't just theological talk. This is the exchanged life. When you come to Christ, you give Him your sin and He gives you His righteousness and His life. You died with Him on that cross, but you also rose with Him. Now Christ lives in you, and the life you're living isn't really yours anymore. It's His life, lived through you, by faith.I'm too soon old and too late smart to have figured this out on my own. But here's what I know now: I don't have to work up righteousness. I don't have to earn God's approval. Jesus already did that. He took my place on the cross, and when God looks at me, He sees Jesus' righteousness, not my failures.That's the cornerstone of the Gospel, friend. That's the foundation everything else is built on. Jesus became what He was not, that you and I might become what we were not. He became sin so we could become righteous. He died so we could live.History is just HIS story, and this is the greatest exchange in all of history. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. That's the Gospel in a nutshell.Let's pray: Father, thank You for the great exchange. Thank You that Jesus took our sin upon Himself so that we could receive His righteousness. Help us live in the freedom and joy of this truth every single day. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #Gospel #Salvation #TheGreatExchange #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #BiblicalTruth #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

The Ten Commandments are among the most famous words in history—and among the least detailed. As Rabbi Dunner explains, this is no accident. By exploring Martin Luther's literalism, Jewish history's rejection of text-only faith, and the role of Torah Shebaal Peh, he shows why Judaism insists that sacred words come alive only through interpretation, debate, responsibility, and lived commitment.

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Martin Luther's Large Catechism, Part 5 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 2/5/26 (0263) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

“Free will” is not a phrase found in the Bible. The concept seems to have been brought into Christian theology by the church father Tertullian (160–240), who likely borrowed it from Stoic philosophy. Augustine (354–430) wrote a treatise called "On Free Choice of the Will" early in his career but altered some of his views later, which led to much debate and confusion on the issue throughout the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) wrote a treatise on free will against Martin Luther, to which Luther replied with his "Bondage of the Will" in 1525. The second article of the Formula of Concord upholds Luther's biblical teachings on free will but also clarifies misunderstandings about Luther's teachings that had persisted in the decades after 1525. The central question of this article is: After the fall, what are unregenerate human beings able to do, from their own will and intellect, toward their conversion and regeneration? (See FC SD II 2.) The answer logically follows from the preceding article on original sin, which exposes us as guilty, condemned sinners under God's wrath. Until the Holy Spirit converts us to Christ, we are powerless to enter a saving relationship with God or even prepare ourselves to receive God's grace. This teaching also safeguards the truth of the Gospel: God does everything necessary to save us and we, by faith, receive His salvation totally as a gift. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the February 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article II: Free Will” on Article II in the Formula of Concord. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Following the Formula” and will walk through the Formula of Concord in the Augsburg Confession. Follow along every month! Before starting this study, it may be helpful to read FC Ep II on Free Will (p. 477–479 in Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, CPH 2005). Or follow along with the full Formula of Concord monthly reading plan at witness.lcms.org/reading-plan. Listen to the Coffee Hour episode with Rev. Brady Finnern on Article II at kfuo.org/2025/02/03/coffee-hour-020425-free-will-in-the-formula-of-concord, and find correlating Concord Matters episodes at kfuo.org/formulaofconcord. Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

“Free will” is not a phrase found in the Bible. The concept seems to have been brought into Christian theology by the church father Tertullian (160–240), who likely borrowed it from Stoic philosophy. Augustine (354–430) wrote a treatise called "On Free Choice of the Will" early in his career but altered some of his views later, which led to much debate and confusion on the issue throughout the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) wrote a treatise on free will against Martin Luther, to which Luther replied with his "Bondage of the Will" in 1525. The second article of the Formula of Concord upholds Luther's biblical teachings on free will but also clarifies misunderstandings about Luther's teachings that had persisted in the decades after 1525. The central question of this article is: After the fall, what are unregenerate human beings able to do, from their own will and intellect, toward their conversion and regeneration? (See FC SD II 2.) The answer logically follows from the preceding article on original sin, which exposes us as guilty, condemned sinners under God's wrath. Until the Holy Spirit converts us to Christ, we are powerless to enter a saving relationship with God or even prepare ourselves to receive God's grace. This teaching also safeguards the truth of the Gospel: God does everything necessary to save us and we, by faith, receive His salvation totally as a gift. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the February 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article II: Free Will” on Article II in the Formula of Concord. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Following the Formula” and will walk through the Formula of Concord in the Augsburg Confession. Follow along every month! Before starting this study, it may be helpful to read FC Ep II on Free Will (p. 477–479 in Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, CPH 2005). Or follow along with the full Formula of Concord monthly reading plan at witness.lcms.org/reading-plan. Listen to the Coffee Hour episode with Rev. Brady Finnern on Article II at kfuo.org/2025/02/03/coffee-hour-020425-free-will-in-the-formula-of-concord, and find correlating Concord Matters episodes at kfuo.org/formulaofconcord. Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

SONGS in this podcast episode: M1 NUN KOMM DER HEIDEN HEILAND, JS BACH, 1714, BWV 61 (5:21) M2 TOCCATA & FUGUE in C MAJOR M.2 ADAGIO, 1710-1717, BWV 564 (4:20). M3 TWO-PART INVENTION in F MAJOR, JS BACH, 1720-1723 (0:40). M4 TWO-PART INVENTION in B-FLAT MAJOR, JS BACH, 1720-1723 (1:30) M5 TWO-PART INVENTION in D MINOR, JS BACH, 1720-1723, (0:55). M6 PRELUDE & FUGUE No. 5 “Le Clavier Bien Tempere” D-Major, JS BACH, 1722, BWV 850 (3:06). M7 JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING, JS BACH, 1723, BWV 147 (2:56) M8 CHORALE PRELUDE “WACHET AUF”, JS BACH, 1731, BWV 140 (3:37) PROGRAM NOTES Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and organist from the late Baroque period. He was born in Eisenach, in what is now central Germany. Bach lived from 1685 to 1750, The Baroque period was a 150-year period in music, dating from 1600 to 1750. Baroque music is Western Classical Music that followed the Renaissance period. Baroque music features drama, ornamentation, major and minor tones, and was presented in new ways – – like the Opera, Concerto, and Sonata, Baroque composers included BACH, HANDEL, VIVALDI. M9 AIR ON A G-STRING, JS BACH, 1730, BWV 1068 (2:27). Bach probably used the CLAVICHORD to compose most of his music. The Clavichord is small, lightweight and would not disturb people. The clavichord was very temperamental, because it required tuning before each play, just like a violin or guitar.  The keyboard instruments of the day were referred to as a general category: the “KLAVIER”….these included HARPSICHORD, CLAVICHORD, ORGAN and PIANOFORTE. Bach's favorite KLAVIER instrument was the LAUTENWERK or LUTE HARPSICHORD with animal gut strings.  The writing of music was in support of GOD and KINGS. Over time, Baroque Music evolved into what is today known as the modern Orchestra. Bach was a prolific composer, writing hundreds of pieces for solo instruments, particularly the organ. He also wrote pieces for orchestra and choir. Bach is MOST known for writing two or more  melodies or voices against each other. Also called point against point, or, Counterpoint. Bit Bucket A BWV catalog number is a unique identifier for musical works composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, standing for Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (Bach Works Catalogue).  Today I will present 9 compositions, dating from 1710 to 1731, during the time Bach was about age 25 to 45. M1 TOCCATA & FUGUE in C MAJOR M.2 ADAGIO, 1710-1717, BWV 564 (4:20) Our first piece — TOCATA & FUGUE in C MAJOR , the 2nd movement (ADAGIO). an ORGAN COMPOSITION.     It is taken from a 1959 album of BACH ORGAN WORKS   . The movement is called ADAGIO ….which indicates “At Ease”, or “Slow and Stately”. Tempo is only 66-76 BPM. like the resting heart rate for many people. Great liner notes. HERE IS AN  excerpt from the liner notes on that album – – QUOTE “OUR BACH” said the obituary notice, “was the greatest organ and clavier player that ever lived”. Though it may seem strange to us now, Bach's genius during his life was recognized only as a master of the organ—not as a composer. It was actually over a hundred years after his death that his works revealed him as a unique and mighty composer. His reputation as an organist brought many invitations to test new organs and advise on the construction of them.  UNQUOTE As with most of his organ works , there is no autograph or manuscript score from Bach, his organ work manuscript copies are lost.  This song has a CONCERTO style and rhythm.  We will hear the 2nd or ADAGIO movement. . It is all very calm and beautiful and pastoral and serene…until Bach pulls out all the stops in the last minute of this ADAGIO movement. He is really rocking the walls and windows of that church. Without any further adieu, here is TOCATA & FUGUE in C MAJOR , the 2nd movement (ADAGIO). PLAY M2 SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ! That was…M2 MUSICAL CREDIT: This Bach organ work  was recorded on the Luneburg Organ at St. Johanniskirche, in the town of Luneburg, in northern Germany, the organist is Professor Michael Schneider. This LP was produced and released on the SOMERSET label here in the US in 1959 The album title is BACH The Majesty of the Luneburger Organ. M2 NUN KOMM DER HEIDEN HEILAND, JS BACH, 1714, BWV 61 (5:21) Our next piece is the most famous church cantata written in 1714 for THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. NUN KOMM DER HEIDEN HEILAND or in English “NOW COME, SAVIOR OF THE HEATHANS” A HEATHAN is a person with no religion, i.e., a PAGAN. In this chorale, Jesus is asked to …  come and save the pagans.  In 1714, Bach would have been 29 years of age. It turns out that this song goes back almost two centuries before BACH's time.  It's based on a LUTERAN CHORALE with words written by Martin Luther for the 1523 first Advent Sunday.  For centuries, this was the first hymn for the first Sunday of ADVENT.  What I will play next is an arrangement for as modern symphony orchestra (the Philadelphia Orchestra) and it is definitely JS BACH heard in those phrases. But it is a large orchestra – – Conducted by Leopold Stokowski.  This is an extremely restrained, demure, and understated interpretation of a Bach piece the most restrained I have ever heard. The recording you will hear next is performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, with conductor   Leopold Stokowski. This recording is on a Vinyl LP titled THE SOUND OF GENIUS, produced by COLUMBIA MASTERWORKS, in 1960. It was one of many records that were shipped by mail to members of the Columbia Record Club. My parents were enthusiastic members. A new disc would arrive in the mail every month, such as this LP of classical music. Without further delay here is NOW COME, SAVIOR OF THE HEATHANS PLAY M1 SHOW PLUG – SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ! ! That was…M1 NOW COME, SAVIOR OF THE HEATHANS” MUSICAL CREDIT: Arranger and Composer JS Bach, sometime between the years 1708-1717 Performance: Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski. Album: The Sound of Genius Limited Edition LP (1960) Members Only ! Label: Columbia Master Works BIT BUCKET This piece also is based on a song listed in the ZAHN Lutheran chorales catalog. ZAHN 1174 M3 TWO-PART INVENTION in F MAJOR, JS BACH, 1720-1723 (0:40) The next three pieces are called TWO PART INVENTIONS, composed by JS Bach around 1720   The inventions were composed for use in instruction of Bach's oldest son WILHELM FRIEDEMANN BACH who was 12 years old. Today, these inventions are introduced to music students in school grades 4-7. Learning the Two-Part Invention requires ROTE learning, practicing over and over until the two hands work completely independently of one another. The inventions teach, among other things, the use of COUNTERPOINT. Bach is MOST known for writing two melodies against each other. Also called point against point, or, Counterpoint. That is the feature of these inventions, in each one there are TWO PARTS, left and right hand parts. COUNTERPOINT is found mostly in Bach's FUGUES and in his INVENTIONS. Perhaps a brief demonstration is in order. Here is an excerpt from one of Bach's inventions. FIRST the right-hand part or first point – the melody SECOND the left-hand part or second point – the bass line LAST both parts played in counterpoint. In some of Bach works, the roles reverse, The left hand plays the first point – the melody And the right hand plays the second point – the bass line Could you do this by crossing hands on the keyboard – yes, but, the roles are reversed, so no cross-hand playing. I will now play  WENDY CARLOS's rendition of three BACH TWO-PART INVENTIONS from her 1969 recording titled “SWITCHED ON BACH” .. I will play all three, back-to-back. Each one is short – – average length ONE MINUTE EACH! PLAY M3 PLAY M4 PLAY M5 Credits: HOLD ON READING THE CREDITS UNTIL ALL THREE INVENTIONS ARE PLAYED M4 TWO-PART INVENTION in B-FLAT MAJOR, JS BACH, 1720-1723 (1:30) And now….. PLAY M4 SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ! That was…M4 MUSICAL CREDIT: HOLD ON READING THE CREDITS UNTIL ALL THREE INVENTIONS ARE PLAYED M5 TWO-PART INVENTION in D MINOR, JS BACH, 1720-1723, (0:55) PLAY M5 SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ! That was…M5 We heard three inventions – – Bach's 2-PART INVENTION in F MAJOR And the 2-PART INVENTION in B-FLAT MAJOR And the 2-PART INVENTION IN D MINOR Each invention is very different than the other. Not just a key change like the work title would suggest ! Bach stated that he wrote his inventions “to be models of composition” in other words, to enable the student to form ways of developing musical ideas and “acquire a strong taste of composition” Bach wrote the inventions, one for of the notes A to G and one for each minor and major key. Today these inventions are over 300 years old ! MUSICAL CREDIT: Composer JS Bach Estimated dates between 1720-1723 Performer – Wendy Carlos – early prototype Moog Synthesizer Arranger and Recording Engineer – Wendy Carlos on MOOG SYNTHESIZER in 1968. Record and label:  Switched-On Bach, Columbia/CBS BIT BUCKET M6 PRELUDE & FUGUE No. 5 “Le Clavier Bien Tempere” D-Major, JS BACH, 1722, BWV 850 (3:06) Next is Bach's “The Well-Tempered Clavier” written in 1722. He was 37. The title page to the Well-tempered Clavier song book reads : “The well-tempered Clavier, or Preludes and Fugues, through all the tones and semitones, both the [major] and [minor]. For the profit and use of the studious musical young…” Bach wrote these preludes and fugues in all keys in the chromatic scale … 12 major and 12 minor keys I have the version in D MAJOR. It's two sections – the prelude, and the fugue The Prelude is the introduction. LISTEN FOR the Stride Piano on the left hand !! It's a short 1:10. The Fugue is the second section. It's slower but with a more Bold left hand. Also short at 1:54. And now….PRELUDE & FUGUE No. 5 D-Major fromThe Well-Tempered Clavier PLAY M6 SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL !  That was…M6  PRELUDE & FUGUE No. 5 D-Major from The Well-Tempered Clavier MUSICAL CREDIT: Composer JS Bach and the autograph date is 1722 Pianist: Vasso Devetzi Label Festival Classique (1978) M7 JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING, JS BACH, 1723, BWV 147 (3:22) Our next song is Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring This song was also composed by JS Bach in that same year of 1723 – – prolific at age 38. This was written for the Christian Feast of the Visitation- celebrated at the end of May in Western Christianity. The song is a Lutheran hymn. … a CANTATA and it has a CHORALE or chorus piece repeated twice within this cantata. There are many arrangements and versions because this song is one of Bach's most beautiful, well-known, and popular. The version we will hear next is arranged for SOLO PIANO. the pianist is Leon Fleisher. And Now, Here is Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring – Bach       1723 PLAY M7 SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ! That was…M7  Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring MUSICAL CREDIT: JS Bach composer 1723 Performance: Leon Fleisher – Pianist    (courtesy of EPIC records) Album  THE SOUND OF GENIUS VOLUME 3   Label Columbia, 1962   (3:22) M8 CHORALE PRELUDE “WACHET AUF”, JS BACH, 1731, BWV 140 (3:37) Here is another Chorale recording titled Chorale Prelude VACKET OFF “Wachet Auf”, which translates to SLEEPERS, WAKE! This hymn was transcribed from a Lutheran hymn written in 1599 by written by Phillippe Nicolai. This Cantata is truly a work from the middle ages. In 1731, Bach took this hymn and created a 7-movement cantata, we will hear the first movement or PRELUDE”.  This cantata is sung in church on the Trinity Sunday. Today this piece is very popular piece in general…it is POPULAR CLASSICAL MUSIC.    J.S. Bach wrote 46 of these cantatas for church, in all. ODD FACT  about this song… it was performed only once by Bach, in Leipzig that year. And now the FIRST MOVEMENT  from  VACKET OFF …the Prelude PLAY M8 SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ! that was M4    The Chorale Prelude “Wachet Auf”, also known as SLEEPERS, WAKE! Song credits M4 Credits: Hymn by Phillippe Nicolai in 1599 Transcribed by JS Bach in 1731 Performance: Wendy Carlos – on an early prototype Moog Synthesizer Wendy Carlos arranger and recording engineer Album:  Switched-On Bach Label: Columbia/CBS, 1968 M9 AIR ON A G-STRING, JS BACH, 1730, BWV 1068 (2:27) Our next AND LAST piece is from the Switched-On Bach album and s titled AIR ON A G-STRING. This title comes from Johann Sebastian Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major,  written almost 300 years ago.   So what is the meaning of the song title Air on a G-String? Well, Bach composed this as an orchestral suite in 1730. 141 years later, August Wilhelm arranged the second movement for SOLO VIOLIN and he did something unique. He transposed the song down from D so that the entire piece could be played on one string of the violin, the G-String, which is the lowest register on that instrument. Here is an example of what this sounds like on the Violin G-String, thjs example with piano accompaniment—pardon the scratchy sound, is from an old 78 RPM disc in 1935. Play example  – Jacques Dumont (Violin) Bach Air On The G String with Andre Collard (piano) We went from Bach's orchestral piece, to Wilhelm's transcription for solo violin, to Wendy Carlos modern interpretation with her MOOG Synthesizer. Now here is Wendy Carlos' arrangement of Air on a G String, from her debut album, SWITCHED-ON BACH, in 1968. PLAY M9 SHOW PLUG – DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL ! That was…M9  MUSICAL CREDIT: Composer JS Bach 1730 Performance Wendy Carlos on early prototype MOOG SYNTHESIZER Arranger and Recording Engineer: Wendy Carlos  Album:  Switched-On Bach Label: Columbia/CBS, 1968 END OF PROGRAM VV-031

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, once said that prayer is the breath of the soul. Christians pray! We are a people called to live and to walk in close fellowship and communion with our Savior and King. And as He speaks to us in his word, so we speak and enjoy fellowship with the Lord through prayer. In Ephesians 3:14–21, we see the Apostle Paul at prayer. What moves him to prayer? What sustains his prayer life? What does he pray for? What is Paul's burden for the church? What is the Lord's burden for you and for me? Join us as we listen in and learn from the great Apostle as he goes to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. 

In this episode, we tackle the contested and often misunderstood question of Christian Nationalism. With two guests offering opposing perspectives—David Ramirez arguing in favor and Peter Burfeind raising concerns—we explore what the term actually means, where it comes from, and whether it can be squared with Lutheran theology. The conversation probes the relationship between Church and state, the limits of political authority, the nature of Christ's kingdom, and the risks of confusing the Gospel with national identity. Our aim is not heat, but clarity—testing claims carefully, naming real points of disagreement, and helping listeners think more precisely about faith, nation, and Christian witness in the public square. Links: Books/Articles:  "The Challenge of History: Luther's Two Kingdoms Theology as a Test Case" by Prof. Cameron MacKenzie  http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/mackenziechallengeofhistory.pdf Gnostic America by Pr. Peter Burfiend https://www.amazon.com/Gnostic-America-Contemporary-according-Christianitys/dp/0692260498 Martin Luther and Religious Liberty by Pr. David P. Ramirez  https://www.academia.edu/89633865/Martin_Luther_and_Religious_Liberty "Are Rulers to Uphold both Tables of the Law" by Pr. David Ramirez https://cc.lutherclassical.org/summer-2025/are-rulers-to-uphold-both-tables-of-the-law/ Interviews (in chronological order): Christian Nationalism-The Gottesdienst Crowd https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/11/2/tgc-232-christian-nationalism Biermann-Ramirez Debate on Christian Nationalism-On The Line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIru3RAff28 A Christian Response to Christian Nationalism-Issues, Etc. https://issuesetc.org/2025/10/09/a-christian-response-to-christian-nationalism-pr-peter-burfeind-10-9-25-2822/   ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez Special Guest: Fr. Peter Burfeind ----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. 

A lot of the crybabies cry that I'm a Calvinist, because I believe in total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints. But these aren't Calvin's ideas, they are what the bible teach. Today you're going to learn the many problems with Calvinism and how to have a more narrow faith as a biblical monergist. * 00:00 - Introduction* 10:15 - What is Biblical Monergism?* 52:57 - The Problem of Philosophy* 1:20:26 - The Problems of Calvinism * 1:26:59 - Eternal Conscious Torment* 1:41:03 - Sunday Sacredness * 1:49:04 - Eschatology* 2:09:16 - Free Will * 2:46:05 - The Author of Sin* 3:02:02 - The Wills of God* 3:23:35 - Calvin's Connections* 3:44:52 - Martin Luther* 3:50:24 - Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.danceoflife.com/subscribe

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, once said that prayer is the breath of the soul. Christians pray! We are a people called to live and to walk in close fellowship […]

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.  

For thus it says in 1 Peter 2[:9], “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a priestly royalty.” Therefore we are all priests, as many of us as are Christians. But the priests, as we call them, are ministers chosen from among us. All that they do is done in our name; the priesthood is nothing but a ministry. This we learn from 1 Corinthians 4:1, “This is how one should regard us. Servants of Christ, and stewards of the ministries of God.” Let everyone therefore who knows himself to be Christian be assured of this: that we are all equally priests. That is to say, we have the same power and respect to the word and the sacraments. However, no one may take use of this power, except by the consent of the community, or by a call of a superior. For what is the common property of all. No individual may arrogate to himself, unless he is called. And therefore, this sacrament of ordination, if it is anything at all, is nothing else than a certain right, where by one is called to the ministry of the church. Furthermore, the priesthood is properly nothing but the ministry of the Word; the Word, I say; not the law, but the gospel. Martin Luther King on Priesthood Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days I will pour out my spirit. Joel 2:28-29 (NRSVUE) Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Matthew 3:4-9 (NRSVUE) So, binasa natin ang quote from Martin Luther, one of the prominent Protestant reformers, who also happens to be an Augustinian monk. What many people do not know is that he was also a Bible scholar. Maraming gumugulo sa isip ni Martin Luther noon. Takot na takot talaga siya sa Diyos. The fear was very palpable. Hindi talaga siya mapakali. Walang panalangin, walang misa, walang sacred space na kayang mag-alis ng takot niya sa Diyos at ng pakiramdam na makasalanan siya, through and through. One of the suggestions given to him by the head of his religious order was to go to the university and study theology and the Bible. Eventually, he became an expert in the New Testament. Para sa akin, doon nagsimula ang kanyang critical response at critical view of the Catholic Church. Inaamin naman ng Catholic Church na mayroong mga abuses during that time. Some of these abuses can be read in the writings of Martin Luther. Isa sa mga tinuligsa niya ay ang hierarchy of the church based on priesthood, where ordinary people were treated as inferior. May mga sulat siya describing how priests and bishops treated ordinary people like basura, parang hayop, according to him. There was this strong distinction between the priesthood and the lay people, and he saw this as deeply oppressive. When he studied Scripture, one of the things he articulated—particularly in The Babylonian Captivity of the Church—was his critique of the seven sacraments. He argued that only two were truly sacraments, while the rest were ministries and did not carry special power or grace. Later on, Protestant scholars pointed out that the Greek word for priest, hierus, is almost always used in the New Testament to refer to Jesus Christ as the High Priest. The only other time it is used for people is in First Peter, where it says, “You are a royal priesthood, a chosen race.” One of the arguments, then, is that Jesus Christ did not try to establish a new priesthood in the way that it later developed in the Roman Church. Scripturally, the word for priest does not refer to church leaders. Leaders were called episcopos (overseers), presbyteroi (elders), and diakonoi (servants or ministers). There is a specific Greek word for priest, and it is not used for church leadership. Some Protestant arguments say that Jesus did not intend to establish a priesthood similar to the temple priesthood, which was hereditary and separated from the people. There are also interpretations pointing to the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' death, symbolizing direct access to God's holiness for all. For Luther and the Reformers, ordination was not about special grace or spiritual superpowers. It was simply a difference in ministry. Any power connected to sacraments and rituals belongs to the whole community—to the priesthood of all believers. All sacramental authority has already been given to every baptized Christian. This is why some churches emphasize apostolic succession, while others do not. In Reformed, Protestant, and evangelical traditions—including MCC—ministry flows from baptism and faith, and leaders are discerned and called by the community. There is also a connection between the Reformation and Western democracy. The Reformers helped democratize Christianity by declaring that no special group has sole authority over Scripture and sacraments. It is the people of God who discern, and from among themselves, call leaders to serve on their behalf. For MCC, this matters deeply. MCC was formed by LGBTQ+ Christians who were excluded, rejected, or oppressed by their churches. From its earliest years in the 1970s, MCC affirmed that women could and should be ordained. That decision came very early in its life, even when many other churches still resisted women's leadership. As MCC grew rapidly across different countries, the question became both practical and theological: who will lead the church? Looking back to its Pentecostal and Baptist roots, MCC affirmed that the call to ministry is not limited by gender, sexuality, or status, but grounded in the priesthood of all believers. The post Priesthood of All Believers appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

The Strong Man and the Niagara: Understanding God's Wrath and Grace We live in a world that wants to taste the sweetness of God's love without the bitterness of His holiness. We often view "wrath" as a divine temper tantrum, but what if God's wrath is actually the greatest proof of His love for us?.   In this episode, we explore Romans 1:17-25 and the "Anatomy of Unbelief." Pastor Steve McKenzie unpacks the chilling reality that God's judgment isn't always a lightning bolt from the sky—sometimes, it's simply God "letting go" and allowing us to have our own way. We journey from the haunting struggle of Martin Luther to a powerful illustration of a boat headed for Niagara Falls, discovering that while the current of this world pulls toward the abyss, the Gospel is the "Strong Man" jumping into the water to rescue us.   Heart-Mind-Hands: - Mind: Recognize that unbelief is not a lack of information, but a willful suppression of the truth clearly seen in creation. - Heart: Shift from fearing God as a punitive judge to enjoying Him as a Father who provides His own righteousness as a gift. - Hands: Stop "paddling" with the oars of self-salvation and effort; instead, fall into the arms of Christ through faith.

The book of Romans has been a history-shaping epistle in the life of the church. It was from Romans that Augustine was converted, as were Martin Luther and John Wesley. An early Catholic, a Reformed Protestant, and an Arminian Methodist could at least agree on the most essential aspect of Christianity: the gospel. This is why Paul wrote Romans: to strengthen a church in the gospel of God. In these opening verses, Paul introduces this glorious gospel.

For Civility Certified, I worked with three sources. The first is Martin Luther's 95 Theses from 1517. Luther posted his propositions to the church door at Wittenberg, demanding that the institution admit what it was doing - selling salvation, monetizing grace, creating a credential system for the afterlife. The structure of numbered propositions, posted to the institutional door, demanding accountability - that form echoes throughout this novella. There is a character who writes theses. The institution does not welcome them. The second source is Jefferson Davis's address to the Confederate Congress in 1861. This gave me the rhetorical DNA of exclusion dressed as protection. Davis spoke of voluntary participation, states' rights, procedural legitimacy - all while encoding slavery into the constitutional fabric of the Confederacy. The Civic Trust & Access Authority in my novella speaks in that register. It promises safety. It delivers sorting. The third source is Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin from 1925 - specifically, his theoretical writings on dialectical montage. Eisenstein believed that meaning emerges from the collision of images, that the audience assembles truth from fragments. This novella works the same way. You receive documents out of sequence. You reconstruct causation. You become complicit in the interpretation. Three sources. Three different centuries. Three different forms of institutional power confronting individual resistance. And from their collision, a new story emerges - one that feels disturbingly contemporary.

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley discuss how our identity is found in our relationship with God instead of our works. When our relationship is secured in the righteousness of Christ, then our will is free to share life with God and with other people. Without Christ, our lives are lived in bondage to our transactions. You can learn more by reading Dr. Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will. Beer Break This episode features a beer from a Wisconsin brewery, Stubborn Brothers Brewery. Mike and his wife went for a ride in their camper around Lake Michigan. He had a great Reuben there and enjoyed the beer. American Wheat. Shawano has to be a great city because this is where this beer is from, but also because this is where Evan was born. Sweet Peel American Wheat.

It's Friday, January 30th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian activists call for self-defense measures for Christians In the middle of the night, Islamic Fulani militias brutally killed seven Nigerian Christian men in a coordinated attack on a mining site in the Plateau State, reports International Christian Concern. The incident has reignited long-standing fears of targeted violence against Christian communities and intensified calls for lawful self-defense amid persistent insecurity. Military sources confirmed that the attack occurred at about 1 a.m. last Thursday when Islamic Fulani militias stormed the site, opening fire on miners who had remained overnight. At the graveside, grief gave way to anger, frustration, and an unmistakable sense of abandonment. Weeping relatives and neighbors spoke of fathers and sons lost — not in open combat, but while struggling to survive in an economy that has pushed many into mining at night which has been banned. Human rights advocate Alex Barbir said, “This is no longer just about illegal mining. It is about our people being hunted in the night, killed without mercy, and buried without justice. How long do we continue to die quietly?” He argued that communities must be empowered to defend themselves where the state has repeatedly failed to provide adequate security. Rev. Dachomo agreed, saying, “We preach peace, but peace must not mean surrender to slaughter.  The right to life is sacred, and protecting that life is not a crime.” Anglican pastor protests confirmation of woke female Archbishop of Canterbury The formal confirmation of Sarah Mullally as the new Anglican archbishop of Canterbury was interrupted when a bold pastor publicly objected and was forcibly removed from the service, reports LifeSiteNews.com. On Wednesday, during the Confirmation of Election service for Sarah Mullally at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Anglican pastor Paul Williamson stood up and shouted his objection after the officiant falsely declared that no opposition had been presented, leading to his restraint and removal from the cathedral by security personnel. Listen. OFFICIANT: “Endorsed on this mandate is a certificate which verifies that public notice was duly given as required and that no person has appeared in opposition to the confirmation.” WILLIAMSON: “I did!” (rest of audio undiscernible) Williamson claimed he was "nearly pushed down the stairs" outside by "four heavies" during his removal from the cathedral on Wednesday. Williamson's protest highlighted ongoing divisions over Mullally's appointment within the Anglican Communion, which has been fracturing for years over sexuality and gender.  1 Corinthians 14:24 says, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” On January 26, 2015, during the consecration service at York Minster for Libby Lane, who was to become the Church of England's first female bishop, Williamson was the lone dissenting voice when the gathered clergy were asked whether she should be ordained. And, in 2005, Williamson protested against the legality of the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, reported The Guardian. Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' as US military builds up in Gulf President Donald Trump has warned Iran that "time is running out" to negotiate a deal on its nuclear program following the steady build-up of US military forces in the Gulf, reports the British Broadcasting Corporation. The US president said a "massive Armada" was "moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose" towards Iran, referring to a large US naval fleet. In response, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the country's armed forces were ready "with their fingers on the trigger" to "immediately and powerfully respond" to any aggression by land or sea. Trump's latest warning follows his promise that Washington will intervene to help those involved in the brutal and unprecedented crackdown on protests in the country earlier this month. Demonstrations began after a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency, but swiftly evolved into a crisis of legitimacy for the country's clerical leadership of the Islamic regime. Apple cider vinegar was sprayed on Rep. Ilhan Omar A man accused of attacking Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a Somali-American, during a town hall event on Tuesday reportedly sprayed apple cider vinegar on her, reports Fox News. Anthony James Kazmierczak, age 55, was seen on video lunging at Congresswoman Omar while spraying an unknown substance on her shirt out of a syringe. Right before the attack, Omar called for the resignation or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, following two fatal shootings involving federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. Listen to the lead up to the attack. OMAR: “DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.” (audio of attack) At the time of the attack, Kazmierczak said, “She's not resigning. You're splitting Minnesotans apart,” according to The Western Journal. Man paints over heretical billboard to read 'Jesus is God' A viral video shows a man painting over a heretical billboard campaign in California, altering the message to read, “The Bible says … Jesus is ___ God,” reports The Christian Post. The undated video shows an unidentified man atop a billboard platform with the Los Angeles skyline behind it as he paints over the word “Not” in the ad which had initially stated “Jesus is Not God”, transforming the billboard into a proclamation of faith.  World's Last Chance, the group behind the billboard, claims the message is part of “four billboard themes that dare to shatter the chains of long-held misconceptions.” In addition to the Jesus billboard, which adds the text, “Jesus did not pre-exist in Heaven,” the group's website lists three others, including one that attacks Trinitarian theology and another promoting the so-called “flat earth” theory. In addition to the billboard campaign, the World's Last Chance website features several videos purportedly “debunking” the deity of Jesus and the Trinity.  The billboard campaign has been reportedly spotted in California, Georgia, and other states. In a January 21st video, author and Living Waters founder and CEO Ray Comfort responded to the billboard remodeling job with a stark warning about the impact of false teaching in the public square. Listen. COMFORT: “These signs have been erected by a strange sect that claims to believe the Scriptures, yet openly denies the deity of Christ -- a contradiction the Bible doesn't permit. “Scripture plainly teaches that God was manifest in the flesh [1 Timothy 3:16] and that Jesus Christ is ‘the image of the invisible God' [Colossians 1:15] and ‘the express image of His person.' [Hebrews 1:3] Jesus Himself said, ‘I came down from Heaven,' [John 6:38] and ‘Before Abraham was, I am' [John 8:58], a direct claim to deity that His hearers understood clearly. “He is not merely a moral teacher or a created being, but the Creator Himself. ‘For all things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made.' [John 1:3] The Bible warns that any teaching that denies the Son is not from God.  ‘Who is a liar? He that denies that Jesus is the Christ, he is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.' [1 John 2:22]. This is the spirit of antichrist, which John says was already active in his day and continues now.” [1 John 4:2-3] Updated link to children's book on Martin Luther's wife And finally, yesterday, as we noted the 427th anniversary of the birthday of Martin Luther's wife, Katherine von Bora, I referenced a beautifully illustrated children's book entitled Katharine von Bora: The Morning Star of Wittenberg. Written by twins Jenna and Shanna Strackbein, I initially linked to Amazon if you wanted to purchase it.  However, because they have not restocked the book, you can get a copy through Generations. Scott Brown, Director of Church and Family Life, wrote, “When I read it to my grandchildren, I choked up a few times encountering the beauty of marriage and the wonderful way Katy served the Lord in her generation. Now she was inspiring the rising generation of my own family. What a blessing!" Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, January 30th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Martin Luther's Large Catechism, Part 4 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 1/29/26 (0294) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

It's Thursday, January 29th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Evangelical college fired teacher for calling homosexual behavior sin A Christian teacher in England went to court last week to defend his religious freedom. Dr. Aaron Edwards worked at Cliff College in Derbyshire. Three years ago, the Evangelical college fired him after he called homosexuality a sin in a social media post. Edwards is now appealing a tribunal decision that upheld his dismissal with the help of the Christian Legal Centre. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the organization, said, "This case raises serious questions about freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and the lawful limits of institutional authority.” Referencing Acts 4:20, Edwards said he does not regret speaking the truth, saying, “As the apostles said before their accusers, ‘We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'” Euthanasia bill failed in French Senate A bill to legalize euthanasia failed in France's Senate last week.  Political deadlock among lawmakers effectively killed the bill. Gregor Puppinck is the Director General of the European Centre for Law and Justice. He said, “This text was terrible. It allowed euthanasia and suicide by decision of a single doctor, at the oral request of a patient, in three days, without the relatives being informed and able to take legal action.” Canada euthanized elderly woman against her will Meanwhile, in Canada, an elderly woman was tragically euthanized against her will through the country's Medical Assistance in Dying program.  This according to a report by the Office of the Chief Coroner. The report identified the 80-year-old woman as “Mrs. B.” She initially expressed interest in the program. But later, she wanted to withdraw her request, “citing personal and religious values and beliefs.” However, assessors with the euthanasia program approved the killing after her husband reported experiencing “caregiver burnout.” Proverbs 12:10 says, “The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Canada backs off deal with China after Trump tariff threat Canada reached a preliminary agreement with China earlier this month to lower tariffs on certain goods. However, U.S. President Trump criticized the deal. He wrote on Truth Social, “If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A.” In response, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney backed off the agreement with China. Federal Reserve didn't change interest rate In the United States, the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged yesterday. The central bank decided to keep its key lending rate between 3.5 percent and 3.75 percent.  The Fed noted, “Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization. Inflation remains somewhat elevated.” Fewer U.S. pastors leaving ministry A new survey from the Barna Group found fewer pastors are considering walking away from the ministry. Twenty-four percent of U.S. senior Protestant pastors say they have seriously considered leaving full-time ministry within the past year. That's down from 42 percent in 2022. Pastoral burnout heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic but has been stabilizing since then. The report noted, “Fewer pastors appear to be in immediate vocational crisis, even as many continue to carry fatigue, grief, and uncertainty about the future of ministry.” Today is birthday of Martin Luther's wife And finally, today marks the birthday of Katharina Von Bora, the wife of Martin Luther. She was born on January 29, 1499. Her mother died in childhood and she was sent to a Catholic boarding school before becoming a nun. At the convent, Katharina discovered the writings of Martin Luther. Along with other nuns, she learned about salvation by grace through faith in Christ. This led Katharina and the nuns to ask Luther for help to escape the convent.  Luther was able to help the nuns find husbands and jobs, except for Katharina. The two were eventually married. Together, they had six children.  Author Michelle DeRusha described Katharina as “a woman who risked marrying one of the most controversial men of the time – a man who could have very likely been burned as a heretic at any given moment. She was a woman who raised six children; ran a boardinghouse; oversaw a farm complete with fruit orchards, livestock, and a fishpond; and advised and cared for her husband.” Consider an excellent, full-color, beautifully illustrated children's book about her entitled Katharine von Bora: The Morning Star of Wittenberg. It is co-authored by Shanna and Jenna Strackbein, twin sisters who were homeschooled in Aransas Pass, Texas, by their beloved mother Jenny. Joel Beeke, President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan said, "Boys and girls (and adults too) will love this beautiful book about a godly woman who helped to change the world." Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, January 29th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend and Early Church scholar Dr. Thomas Scheck to talk about his latest work, a translation of St. John Fisher's refutation of Martin Luther. The importance of this discussion can't be understated as we unpack one of those Catholic writers, theologians, and bishops who wrote against Martin Luther, and the Reformers, at the very time of the Reformation. Counter to what so many of us thought as Protestants, the Catholic response to Reformation era ideas was immediately, intense, and thorough. Our discussion this week digs into that response and how figures like Fisher called Luther to task – on some of his misquotations and misuses, too! – at the very inception of the Reformation.For more from Dr. Scheck check out his author page on Amazon.Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In my experience it's a safe bet that most Protestants are not enthused about the veneration of relics— i.e. bits of a saint's bone or bits of things they once used, such as pieces of their clothing (these are called “secondary relics”). That would apply even to Protestant “saints”: if I came to a Lutheran carrying a fragment of Martin Luther's shinbone in a fancy reliquary box and asked him if he would like to venerate it, he would probably take a pass and reply, “Thanks anyway.” If I came to a Calvinist with a similar fragment of Calvin's shinbone in a reliquary and made the same offer, he would probably knock the box from my hand with a stern Genevan rebuke.

Lyndal Roper, Regius Professor of History at Oxford University is on excellent form to talk me through the German Peasant's War of 1524-25. Things I learned:- take Martin Luther seriously (but not literally)- monasteries feed the poor and needy (particularly when they are armed and extremely determined)- the scale of the revolt was off the charts, nothing like it until the French Revolution- the East German State celebrated its revolutionary past with a mural of the war which needs to be on everyone's 'must see' list (only to collapse a few months later!All in all this is a terrific and thought provoking episode. The role of Luther in all this surprised me greatly. Lyndal's book Summer of Fire and Blood is here.If you enjoy the conversation then please follow the show, share it with a friend and leave a review!

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “A local church's elders do not rule on their own merits or according to their own designs but as subjects and delegates of Christ the chief shepherd…. Our elders may appear to be painfully ordinary men, but under their loving leadership, we receive the ministry of Christ himself…. “Our holiness is not merely personal. It is also the foundation of our corporate identity as the church. The surprising thing about the Bible's testimony is that the word saints does not single out exemplary church members, or church members whose gifts and graces are only of a particular variety. In fact, in biblical terms, there are no individual saints. In its sixty appearances in the New Testament, the word is always plural and always used as a description of all the Christians in the church…. We are not lone saints…; we are corporate saints, members of a holy company…. “The church in eternity will appear more lovely, but it will not be more loved.”~Megan Hill in A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church “God allowed his Son to suffer as if a condemned sinner, so that we might be delivered from the penalty of our sins. This is God's righteousness, that we are not justified by works (for then they would have to be perfect, which is impossible), but by grace, in which case all our sin is removed.”         ~John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), early church leader in Constantinople “And so, we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning….”~Clement of Rome (died c.100 AD), early church leader in Rome, from a letter written c. A.D. 96 “This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest gospel and is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word by heart, but occupy himself with it every day as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much.”~Martin Luther (1483-1546) in his commentary on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans “The body of Scripture is a doctrine sufficient to live well…. Theology is the science of living blessedly forever. Blessed life arises from the knowledge of God…. And therefore it arises likewise from the knowledge of ourselves, because we know God by looking into ourselves.”~William Perkins (1558-1602), Cambridge-based Puritan theologianSERMON PASSAGERomans 1:1-17 (ESV) 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Preacher: Jeremiah Fyffe Genesis 4:1–16 Genesis 4:1–16 | Cain — a brother's worship curves inward from CrossPointe Coast on Vimeo. DISORDERED WORSHIP SIN IS CROUCHING AT THE DOOR BLOOD CRIES FROM THE GROUND Hebrews 11:4 (ESV) By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. A.W. Pink First, he owned that God was righteous in driving fallen man out of Eden (Gen. 3:24). Second, he owned that he was a guilty sinner, and that death was his just due. Third, he owned that God was holy, and must punish sin. Fourth, he owned that God was merciful, and willing to accept the death of an innocent substitute in his place. Fifth, he owned that he looked for acceptance with God in Christ the Lamb. Isaiah 1:12 (ESV) “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Martin Luther … our nature has been so deeply curved in upon itself because of the viciousness of original sin that it not only turns the finest gifts of God in upon itself and enjoys them … it even uses God Himself to achieve these aims, but it also seems to be ignorant of this very fact, that in acting [with such great injustice], so perversely, and in such a depraved way, it is even seeking God for its own sake. James 4:1–3 (ESV) What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:6–8 (ESV) Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Hebrews 12:24 (ESV) to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Martin Luther's Large Catechism, Part 3 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 1/23/26 (0231) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260121dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 The Lamb of God Takes Away Our Sins When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he “takes away our sin”? Sin is defined in various ways throughout the Bible. It is rebellion against God; it is failing to live up to God’s law of perfect love; it is every thought, word, and action that does not flow from a right relationship with our Creator. Sin’s corruption permeates every part of our lives. Not only does sin lead to needless pain and cause countless problems in every personal relationship, but it also separates us from the holy God who made us and who will be our judge. Finally, the wages of sin is death. As one preacher of the gospel, Martin Luther, said, there are only two places where sin can be: on the sinner or on Christ. Either we carry the weight of our disobedience ourselves and accept its consequences of eternal separation from God, or we rejoice in God's work of placing our sin—all our sin—squarely on Jesus, the Lamb of God. This is the heart of the gospel, the good news of what Christ came to accomplish for us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The result for those who turn to Jesus in faith is that God no longer treats us as our sins deserve. Although our corrupted nature still leads us to act contrary to his word, sin does not factor into how God sees us. Instead, he assures us that, in Christ, we have been forgiven. He gives us strength to live for him and joy in the knowledge that we are his dearly loved children through faith in Jesus. Prayer: Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Thank you for your mercy! 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.

On today's show, Hope is back in the studio! We jump into our round table and kick it off with Hope. Hope talks about her weekend and bopping around town…

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Martin Luther's Large Cateshism, Part 2 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 1/15/26 (0151) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Dr. Ken Schurb of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod The post Martin Luther's Large Cateshism, Part 1 – Dr. Ken Schurb, 1/8/26 (0081) first appeared on Issues, Etc..