Podcast Overview

Author

397: Q&A Episode - Civil Disobedience

06/21/25

7 mins

By Donavon Riley | Christopher Gillespie

The Long and Winding Road. In this episode, we answer another listener's question about civil disobedience, understanding the tension for old Adam that’s inherent within the two kingdoms doctrine, and we go down a bunch of alleyways picking through conspiracies, immigration, war, colonialism, and ice cream coveting.
- Two Kingdoms
- Vocation
395: Questions Answered

06/09/25

7 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

Just Answer the Question. In this episode, we answer listener questions, specifically active and passive choices, active and passive righteousness, election and the bondage of the will, addiction, the limits of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the ultimate Good we all seek, and much, much more.
392: Keller - What Is the Church?

05/16/25

11 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

Come Together, Right Now… In this episode, we read from Tim Keller’s sermon, which asks, “What is the Church?” We discuss the relationship between churches and culture, what the church is and isn’t, where we locate faith, whether Christian faith changes one’s values, and much more.
Are Lutherans Evangelicals?

05/10/25

5 mins

By Scott Keith | Caleb Keith | Bruce Hillman | Adam Francisco

The Fellows continue their conversation about Lutheran identity. This time, they discuss the term "evangelical."
391: The gracious will and good pleasure of God in Christ Jesus

05/08/25

8 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

Burning Down The House. In this episode, we continue our discussion of election, addressing the certainty of election, how we are chosen, the human limits of perseverance in faith, why the pope is a bad example of Christian piety, and how old Adam tries to invert election by burying it in our sacrifices and pious moralism.
A Lutheran Identity Crisis

04/22/25

5 mins

By Caleb Keith | Adam Francisco | Bruce Hillman | Scott Keith

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith engage discuss an ongoing identity crisis within Lutheranism.
- Ministry of the Church
- Practical Theology
386: Pastoral Debrief with a bit of Flacius

04/04/25

8 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

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.
The Curious Case of Mark Renner

03/24/25

4 mins

By Craig Donofrio | Troy Neujahr

Craig and Troy invite special guest Pastor Mark J. Renner to discuss his recent book Curious Cases: A Series of Short Pastoral Case Studies.
What Is the Church?

03/06/25

5 mins

By Steven Paulson | Caleb Keith

Erasmus accused Luther of being outside of the church and having a novel understanding of Scripture.
A Theology of Addiction with Donavon Riley

02/25/25

11 mins

By Kelsi Klembara | Donavon Riley

Kelsi chats with pastor and author, Donavon Riley, about his forthcoming book, ⁠The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction⁠.
Did Martin Luther Start a New Religion?

02/17/25

6 mins

By Scott Keith | Caleb Keith | Adam Francisco | Bruce Hillman

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, the Fellows answer, "Did Martin Luther invent a new religion?"
- Reformation History
- Practical Theology
Marriage Vows

02/13/25

6 mins

By Gretchen Ronnevik | Katie Koplin

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.