1. What’s Love Got to do With It? In this episode, we read Berthold von Schenk’s The Presence, discussing sacrifice, sacrament, human will, anthropology, the cross, Lent, Easter, Love, and the consequences of the crucifixion for worship, faith, and Christian living. Why does our focus determine how we view these things? What is the “telos” of the Lord’s Supper, and where does it lead us? How does it change us?
  2. Mass Effect. In this episode, we continue our reading of The Smalcald Articles, focusing on Luther’s critique of the Roman Mass and all its consequences for the churches and Christian life. We discuss mimetic desire, sacrificial religion, the exclusive work of Jesus.
  3. Today on the Christian History Almanac, we head to the mailbag to answer a question about practices surrounding Holy Communion.
  4. Sunday Bloody Sunday In this episode, we read Martin Luther’s sermon for Maundy Thursday (1534), discussing the Lord’s Supper, polity, sacramental piety, fellowship, election and all the rabbit trails we follow…
  5. Reign in Blood. In this episode of Banned Books, we discuss the Lord’s Supper while reading The Last Supper: The Testament of Jesus by Reinhard Schwarz. We discuss why the distinction between a covenant and a testament is of utmost importance for exegesis, sacramental theology, and Christian life, why promise and gift are central to Luther’s understanding of the sacrament, and how rejecting the sacrament leads to a denial of Christ.
  6. On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss Christ's sermon on the bread of life. Unlike the manna given to the Israelites, Christ himself is the bread which endures to eternal life.
  7. God accomplishes great things through the Lord's Supper.
  8. Caleb and Dr. Paulson continue their read through Luther's Small Catechism. This time, Dr. Paulson teaches about the institution of the Lord's Supper.
  9. On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the gospel reading for Maundy Thursday.
  10. Plug In, Baby. In this episode, we read St. Ambrose’s work, On the Mysteries, enjoying his exegesis and defense of the body and blood of Jesus. We also discuss recognizing patterns in the Bible, testing the spirits who want to separate out the heavenly from the earthly, and the importance of symbol and meaning for Christian comfort.