The Cost of Discipline. In this episode, we sit with St. Athanasius and his writings on the life of St. Antony. How did Christians in the 4th century view spiritual warfare and affliction? What is the relation of discipline to prayer, piety, and resisting temptation? What did 4th century Christians think about virtues and vices, and whether they were (or weren’t) related to the Christian life? Is it better for Christians to seek a place of solitude or community when focusing on heavenly things versus worldly things? How does Mammon factor into this? What does Scripture teach about the evil one, demons, dark powers, and evil spirits? Do we as modern Christians agree with Athanasius and Antony’s views about spiritual warfare, and if not, why? This and much, much more on this week’s episode.

As Alive As You Need Me to Be. In this episode, we sit with Rev. Dr. Kurt Marquardt and listen as he teaches us about theosis, deification, justification, Christology, myth and ethics, materialism and rationalism, sacramentality, vocation, relational versus philosophical exegesis, sanctification, glorification, and much, much more.

To Live Well is therefore not a general advice book, but a message suffused with the gospel.

The Scriptures consistently speak about sanctification as a sure gift for the Christian.

We can lay down our sledgehammers of moralistic performance, which aren’t effective anyway, and we can trust that we are his and his life is ours.

He doesn’t consume us, even though that is what we deserve. Instead, Jesus comes down to us and consumes all our sin by taking it on himself.

Our friend, Pastor Luke Kjolhaug just released a book that we are so excited about. Since we live within driving distance from him, we attended his book launch in Alexandria, MN, at Cherry Street Books, and recorded a podcast before the audience there.

Kelsi is joined by author and pastor, Luke Kjolhaug, to talk about his new book, ⁠Sinner Saint: A Surprising Primer to the Christian Life⁠.

This is an excerpt from Chapter 6 in Sinner Saint: A Surprising Primer to the Christian Life (1517 Publishing, 2025). Sinner Saint is available today from 1517 Publishing.

Senkbeil is a pastor’s pastor, a master of the art of pastoral care.

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)?