Concord Matters From Kfuo Radio

How do we understand the doctrine of predestination and election, or God's eternal foreknowledge? How does human understanding and reason cloud how we understand this doctrine? What is the divine logic in this doctrine? Where do we read about this doctrine in Scripture? Find the free (public domain) audio Book of Concord at bookofconcord.org/audio.php, archive.org/details/LibrivoxBookOfConcord, and librivox.org/group/376. Rev. Jonathan Lange, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kemmerer and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Evanston, Wyoming, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article XI: God's Eternal Foreknowledge and Election (Status of the Controversy).

What is the historical context behind this article on Church Practices? What are some examples of how Lutheran Church Practices differ from other denominations? What do these practices or ceremonies communicate or teach about our faith? Rev. Charles Henrickson, pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article X: Church Practices (Negative Statements para. 8-12).

Does adiaphora mean things don't matter? How do we distinguish things that are adiaphora in our church practices? How do we handle and consider changes to worship practice? Rev. Kurt Cockran, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Tucson, Arizona, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article X: Church Practices (Affirmative Statements para. 3-7).

Hear this history behind the term "adiaphora," the Smalcald wars, and how we apply this word to our church practices. Do certain things really matter?Are we just agreeing to disagree or is there more to it?  What do we as Lutherans consider adiaphora? Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Saint Peter Lutheran Church in La Grange, Missouri, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article X: Church Practices (Status of the Controversy paragraphs 1 &2).

What do we believe about Christ's descent to hell? What happened when He descended there? What does Martin Luther teach about this part of our doctrine? Rev. Dr. Jayson Galler, pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Kilgore, Texas, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IX: The Descent of Christ to Hell. Download the sermon by Martin Luther, referenced in this episode, here. This sermon is from Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology XIII:3 [2003], pp.37-50. Used with permission.

What do we actually believe about the person of Christ (good Christology)? What is the opposite of that, those teachings that make up bad Christology? How do we explain what we believe about Christ as comes from Scripture? Rev. Nate Hill, pastor of Saint Michael's Lutheran Church in Winchester, Texas, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VIII: The Person of Christ, Negative Statements (paragraphs 19-).

Why did Christ have to take on flesh, even though He does not have a beginning or an end? How do we confess the truths of Christ's two natures? Is it possible to separate the two natures of Christ? Rev. Peter Ill, senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VIII: The Person of Christ, Affirmative Statements (paragraphs 4-18). Text of the hymn “We Praise You and Acknowledge, You, O God” © 1999 Stephen P. Starke, administered by Concordia Publishing House. Recording from “We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God: Hymns of Stephen P. Starke” © 2011 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

Who is Christ and what do we say about Him? Are both natures present in the Supper? Who was arguing over this at the time of the Reformation, and why does this matter to us now? Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VIII: The Person of Christ, Status of the Controversy.

Continue the conversation about what Lutherans *don't* believe about the Lord's Supper. Are we able to earn the Supper? Why does closed communion matter? Is there a loving way to tell someone they can't receive the sacrament? Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VII: The Holy Supper of Christ, Negative Statements (paragraphs 37-42).

What do we *not* believe about the Lord's Supper? What is the importance of the actual celebration of the Mass? Does it matter how we practice and receive the Lord's Supper? Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VII: The Holy Supper of Christ, Negative Statements (paragraphs 21-36).

What do we believe, teach, and confess about the Lord’s Supper? How to we explain the real presence of Christ in the sacrament? How does what we believe about Christ inform what we believe about the sacrament? Rev. Dr. Christian Preus, pastor of Mount Hope Lutheran Church in Casper, Wyoming, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VII: The Holy Supper of Christ, Affirmative Statements (paragraphs 6-20).

How do we clearly confess what we believe about the Lord’s Supper? What was happening during the time of the Reformation that caused the need to clarify what Lutherans believe? And, what is Crypto-Calvinism and how does it play into our view of the Sacrament? Rev. Mark Bestul, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VII: The Holy Supper of Christ, Status of the Controversy (paragraphs 1-5).

How is the constraint of the Law a comfort? Why do we need to hear both Law and Gospel? How do these concepts flow into our understanding of educating our children? Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, senior pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas and Third Vice-President of the LCMS (West-Southwest Region), joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VI: The Third Use of God’s Law, Affirmative & Negative Statements (paragraphs 2-8). Dr. Murray is also the author of the book Law, Life and the Living God: The Third Use of the Law in Modern American Lutheranism.

What is the Third Use of the Law? Where does it fit in with the other two uses, and how do they all apply to us? Where do we find this use of the Law in scripture? Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, senior pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas and Third Vice-President of the LCMS (West-Southwest Region), joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VI: The Third Use of God’s Law. Dr. Murray is also the author of the book Law, Life and the Living God: The Third Use of the Law in Modern American Lutheranism.

How do Lutheran beliefs about Law and Gospel differ from other denominations? What is the measure of what is right, and when is it appropriate to reject something? Rev. David Wiist, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Evansville, Indiana, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article V: The Law and the Gospel: Negative Statements.

Is it a Biblical concept to discern Law and Gospel in scripture and sermons? How do wisdom and the Law go hand-in-hand? What does the Law teach us? What happens when we mix Law and Gospel? Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article V: The Law and the Gospel: Affirmative Statements.

What is the Law and what is the Gospel? Why do we as Lutherans teach that rightly distinguishing the Law and Gospel is so important? Why do we need to teach both? Where do we find these in Scripture? How is all of this relevant to us today? Rev. Mark Nebel, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud, Illinois, and 1st Vice President of the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article V: The Law and the Gospel – Status of the Controversy.

Who is Nicolaus von Amsdorf and what was his relationship to Martin Luther? How is von Amsdorf’s statement about good works not helpful to our understanding of their role in our lives? How do we know the role of good works? Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: Good Works – Negative Statements (paragraphs 16-19)

What is dead faith or living faith? How do good works interact with faith? Are they necessary? How is this part of the Formula of Concord still relevant to us today? Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, New Mexico, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: Good Works – Affirmative Statements (paragraphs 5-15).

What’s the controversy on Good Works today? What were the controversies and major events leading up to the writing of the Formula of Concord? Where did Philip Melanchthon go off the rails? Find answers to these questions and a deep dive into the history surrounding the Formula of Concord. Download the Venn Diagram and Major Markers at kfuo.org/concordmatters. Rev. Dr. James Baneck, executive director of LCMS Pastoral Ministry joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: Good Works.