1. Kick Out the Jams. In this episode, we focus on the raw, real work of life in the parish—the ordinary burdens, the hidden insecurities, and the quiet faith that holds it all together. We explore the distinction between philosophy and theology and why attempts to fuse them often leave both diminished. There’s talk of reformation—its drama, its necessity, and its cost. We reflect on the pervasive victim-perpetrator dynamic that shapes so much of modern life and how the gospel when rightly preached, breaks that cycle. At the heart of it all is this: the power of Christ’s mercy to open what we’ve shut tight, to drive out the bitterness we’ve made into habit, and to speak a word stronger than shame.
  2. Hey, Hey, What Can I Do? In this episode, we read Lucas Woodford’s book, Great Commission, Great Confusion, or Great Confession? and discuss the Great Commission, evangelism, the radical gospel, the purpose of the church’s preaching about Jesus, post-modern consumerism, and many, many rabbit trails into uncharted topics.
  3. Craig and Troy invite special guest Pastor Mark J. Renner to discuss his recent book Curious Cases: A Series of Short Pastoral Case Studies.
  4. First It Giveth. In this episode, we discuss Jonah’s vocation, gospel imagination, dogmatic materialism, spell casting, the contemporary effects of the Industrial Revolution, and God’s preference for wasted places while reading Eugene Peterson's Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness.
  5. Yes, but how do we know that we believe the truth?
  6. In what way is the Church a remnant? Luther uses God's preservation of a remnant of faithful teachers and preachers throughout scripture and the Church against Erasmus and his argument that Luther stands alone.
  7. Who Made Who? Today, we read an essay by Rev. Dr. John Kleinig about what makes a theologian. Dr. Kleinig explains Martin Luther’s threefold description of how the master of theology, the Holy Spirit, makes one a theologian through contemplative prayer, meditating on Scripture within the communion of saints, and being translated into the kingdom of heaven by God’s Word—all this and much more on this week’s episode of the podcast.
  8. For Valentine's Day, Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin talk about the trend of writing marriage vows, and some of the pitfalls of such a trend.
  9. In episode THREE HUNDRED AND NINE, using a chapter from Mark Mattes' Law & Gospel in Action, Mike, Jason, and Wade discuss whether there is such a thing as a Lutheran ethic and, if so, what it looks like (and what it doesn't)?
  10. Many times, Christian homes view sin as a problem "out there" and not a problem "in here."
  11. Kelsi chats with Christian author Ian Harber about his new book, Walking through Deconstruction: How to be a Companion in a Crisis of Faith, which details his own experience with with Christian deconstruction and return to faith.