Ministry of the Church

342: Luther - Now the Works of the Flesh are Plain

03/03/24

10 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

Everybody’s Working for the Weekend. In this episode, we continue our Lenten tradition of reading Luther’s Galatians commentary in March, discussing past and present idolatry and why we keep falling for the same sales pitches from the same gods.
341: John Cassian - The Spirit of Acedia

02/24/24

10 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

Hey, You Guys! In this episode, we discuss the dominant spirit of our age, acedia, by reading and discussing St. John Cassian’s exposition of acedia in The Institutes.
335: Gregory the Great - Pastoral Rule

01/12/24

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

The Art of Noise. In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of pastoral care — the art, the discipline, and the experience of pastoral care — while reading The Rule of Gregory the Great. It’s all about church leadership and pastoral ministry in this week’s episode of Banned Books.
327: Karl Barth - How to Preach to Prisoners

11/08/23

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

In this episode, we discuss preaching to those in prison, the consequences of sin, and the power of the gospel. We read excerpts from Karl Barth’s prison sermons and converse about preaching, pastoral care to the vulnerable, where Jesus locates himself for the preaching of the Gospel, and how we can all “set the captives free” through the power of the Gospel proclaimed for the forgiveness of sin.
322: An Early Lutheran Ordination

09/23/23

8 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

Baptized, Confirmed, and Ordained. In this episode, we discuss the early Lutheran formulation of calling and ordination of pastors and preachers. What is ordination, when does it happen, are their rules and rites that must be followed, and much, much more!
321: Luther - The Right and Power to Judge all Teaching and to Call, Appoint, and Dismiss Teachers

09/16/23

10 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

You can call me any day or night. Call me! In this episode, we read Martin Luther’s verbosely titled treatise, “That a Christian Assembly or Congregation has the Right and Power to Judge all Teaching and to Call, Appoint, and Dismiss Teachers, Established and Proven by Scripture." We discuss ordination, church authority, the doctrine of the pastoral call, and much more.
319: Graff - Baalism in the Life of the Church

09/02/23

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

We Need to Get Ba’aled Out. In this episode, we read Warren Graff’s article, "Baalism in the Life of the Church," and discuss the roots of Baal worship in Israel and its consequences for Israel and churches today.
318: Nestigen - Luther on Marriage, Vocation, and the Cross

08/17/23

11 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

All In The Family. In this episode, we discuss marriage, vocation, and cute theology of the cross. How can Luther’s teaching and preaching on marriage and vocation help Christians at present waist the temptations of the world and Satan, which pervert and disrupt God’s will for marriage? What does baptism have to do with marriage? How does Luther’s formulation of marriage and family help Christians comprehend their relation to society and the state?
317: Löhe - Pastoral Care of the Sick

08/08/23

10 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

Spiritual War, What Is It Good For? In this episode, we discuss pastoral care to the healthy and sick and spiritual warfare while reading Wilhelm Loehe’s book, The Pastor.
309: Sprinkle - Charis: God's Scandalous Grace for Us

05/30/23

6 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

Diving for Gomers. In this episode, we have a much-needed conversation about slavery to sin, Ezekiel’s whore metaphor for God’s relationship with his people, and why it’s important that Christians not shy away from difficult conversations about how God describes sin and grace in the Bible.
307: Peterson - Under the Unpredictable Plant

05/14/23

6 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

Drowning The Branch Manager for Christ. In this episode, we discuss Jonah, ministry, and the aches and pains of church life while reading Eugene Peterson’s book, Under The Unpredictable Plant.
- Ministry of the Church
305: Cyprian - The Baptismal Controversy

04/29/23

7 mins

By Christopher Gillespie Donavon Riley

Who Controls Baptism? In this episode, we discuss the baptismal controversy in the early church. Cyprian, Novation, and a whole cloud of witnesses join us on the podcast this week.

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