Ministry of the Church (228)
  1. Can’t You See. In this episode, we read the Lutheran theologian Matthias Flacius, and discuss inter-church debates, the Lord’s Supper as ground zero for most church conflicts, the consequences of compromise in matters of faith, the limits of love, and when it’s time to push away from the table and go into prayer.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  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. Tighten Up. In this episode, we read Martin Luther’s Advent 3 ordination sermon, discussing rites and ceremonies, church traditions, God’s mysteries versus the devil’s, and much pastoral talk about transparency and honesty amongst brothers and sisters in the Gospel.
  6. Break on Through (To The Other Side). In this episode, we discuss preaching to the dead and how to unlock doors when one doesn’t have a good lock pick. We also discuss Robert Capon’s book, Foolishness of Preaching, reading his Easter sermon on John 10. This podcast episode includes preaching, polity, pastoral care, and renegade priests.
  7. That’s the Power of Love. In this episode, we discuss the shock of infatuation with theological concepts and young theologians' conceit while reading Helmut Thielcke’s A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. We converse about laity and clergy’s relationship to theology, piety, and polity. What is the purpose of theology, its study, teaching, and conversations? How can theology become deadly? What happens when the truth is detached from love? All this and more on a new episode of the podcast!
  8. One Christ rules over all of it. He is the constant, the root that nourishes every estate and every vocation.
  9. Craig sits Down with Pastor Donavon Riley at the 2024 Here We Still Stand Conference in San Diego to discuss his lecture on the Church as the Bride of Christ.
  10. Watch Me Work. In this episode, we continue our discussion of justification and vocation as we read "Justification, Vocation, and Location in Luther's Reformation" by James A. Nestigen. Part two of our conversation continues with themes of vocation, location, repentance, humility, personal agency, divine instrumentality, atonement, the relationship of husband and wife to the land, the overlap of heaven and earth, and what to do when we feel like we’ve made a complete mess of our lives.
  11. Love, Rain On Me. In this episode, we answer listener questions about whether baptism has an expiration date, why people avoid joining a church, and comfort for women who’ve suffered a miscarriage.
  12. It is the story of a God who is not distant, not indifferent, not doing anything in half-measures, but who is here, now.
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