The Gottesdienst Crowd

Explore the Bible’s teaching on usury—lending at interest—and how the church has addressed it through the centuries. From Old Testament prohibitions to medieval church bans and modern economic debates, we trace the theological, moral, and social arguments that have shaped Christian thought on money, lending, justice, and idolatry. For further reading: https://scholar.csl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?ar...

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Feast of St. Bartholomew, Luke 22:24–30. ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen ----more---- Become a  Patron ! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gottesdiens...

This is a recording of the sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year , reprinted by Steadfast Press.  ----more---- Read by: Fr. Matt Moss ----more---- Become a  Patron ! WE HAVE MERCH! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gott...

In Scripture, the “womb” and the “belly” are more than anatomical terms—they are profound symbols of God’s work in creation, salvation, and judgment. In this episode, Womb of Mercy, Belly of Judgment, we explore the biblical imagery and theological depth behind these often-overlooked words. From the womb of Sarah to the virgin womb of Mary, from Jonah in the belly of the fish to Christ in the “hea...

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Tenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 19:41–48. ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen ----more---- Become a  Patron ! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gottesdie...

This is a recording of the sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year , reprinted by Steadfast Press.  ----more---- Read by: Fr. Matt Moss ----more---- Become a  Patron ! WE HAVE MERCH! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gott...

“That is Catholic!” is often heard by those who seek to restore historic rites and ceremonies among Lutheran churches in America. It is a charge leveled even against CFW Walther. In this two part series, we hear from Walther himself as he responds to such charges from a series of articles published in Der Lutheraner during 1846–1847.  ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Mark Br...

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Eighth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 7:15–23. ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Matthew Moss ----more---- Become a  Patron ! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gottesd...

This is a recording of the sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year , reprinted by Steadfast Press.  ----more---- Read by: Fr. Matt Moss ----more---- Become a  Patron ! WE HAVE MERCH! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.got...

“That is Catholic!” is often heard by those who seek to restore historic rites and ceremonies among Lutheran churches in America. It is a charge leveled even against CFW Walther. In this two part series, we hear from Walther himself as he responds to such charges from a series of articles published in Der Lutheraner during 1846–1847.  ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Mark Br...

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Seventh Sunday after Trinity, Mark 8:1–9. ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen ----more---- Become a  Patron ! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gottesdien...

This is a recording of the sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year , reprinted by Steadfast Press.  ----more---- Read by: Fr. Matt Moss ----more---- Become a  Patron ! WE HAVE MERCH! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.go...

In this Gottescast, The Gottesdienst Crowd wades into biographical sketches of some key American Lutheran liturgical reformers. The first liturgical reformer is Luther D. Reed. Mark Braden (Gottesdienst Editor, the author of the recurring column "Taking Pains," and pastor of Zion Lutheran, Detroit, MI) takes us through this man's life and work.  Become a Patron!  Please help the podcast to continu...

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 5:17–26 ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen ----more---- Become a  Patron ! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gottesdi...

What does pastoral ministry have in common with Special Operations? More than you might think. In this episode, we explore how the training, mindset, and mission-focus of Green Berets can sharpen the way pastors lead, serve, and endure. From clarity under pressure to sacrificial service, from team-building to mission-first thinking, elite soldiers model habits that mirror the pastoral calling in s...

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fifth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 5:1–11. ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen ----more---- Become a  Patron ! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gottesdiens...

This is a recording of the sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year , reprinted by Steadfast Press.  ----more---- Read by: Fr. Matt Moss ----more---- Become a  Patron ! WE HAVE MERCH! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gott...

Who are the men behind the liturgical renewals within our Synod? Who are the men at the tip of the spear when it came to talking about the importance of retaining the historic liturgy, rites, and ceremonies of the Western Church? The next installment of the liturgical biographies we're going to cover is Paul H.D. Lang. Mark Braden (pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Detroit, MI, and Depar...

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fourth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 6:36–42. ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen ----more---- Become a  Patron ! You can subscribe to the Journal here:  https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here:  https://www.gottesdie...