Shepherd's Study Podcast

When pastors fill out their tax forms, they list their profession as "Minister of the Gospel." Author Heath Curtis has a different idea for our job description: "I tell people what to think." Is this a useful framework for understanding the pastor's role and the office of preaching? Pastor Ryan Gurgel joins Jared and Scott to talk about Curtis's homiletics text, &quot...

A pastor takes care of the flock, and it is a joy to do so. But what about the times when the flock needs to take care of the pastor? Are pastors willing to bring that up? Author Christopher Ash believes so, and wrote this book to alleviate some of that perceived pressure that may be on pastors to talk about themselves. Scott and Jared welcome both Pastor Lucas Proeber and Prof. Brad Wordell onto...

More than just a biography of the Apostles, the book of Acts gives Christians an important look at what the Church looks like without Jesus' visible presence. One could read the book as a challenge to Christians throughout time: this is the mission of the Church, and now it's your turn. Pastor Joseph Neuberger joins Jared and Scott to discuss NT Wright's work on The Challenge of Act...

Jacob, son of Isaac: Hero of Faith, or Perpetual Screw-Up? As one of the Patriarchs, Jacob is used in the Bible and in Luther's writing as a "Hall of Faith" member and forefather to look up to. As you read and re-read his account in Scripture, though, you see a picture of a man who struggled, failed, and had to be picked up time and again. There's no need to create a false dich...

"Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, sustain the dying, calm the suffering, and pity the distressed; all for your love’s sake, O Christ our Redeemer." Have you ever led this prayer in a Compline service and wondered where it came from? Pastor Josh Koelpin joins J...

Have you noticed a changing of the winds? Justin Brierly says he has. The subtitle for his book The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God serves as a summary: "Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again." How accurate is his claim? Pastor Evan Chartrand joins us on the pod to evaluate. The Shepherd’s Study podcast is produced by Grow in Grace to help p...

Spiritual discipline is a hotly discussed topic in popular Christendom, though not always in ways that we would identify as gospel-predominant. The Common Rule by Justin Earley is an award-winning book in which the author explores spiritual discipline with a cautious eye toward the legalism that often pervades the conversation. Did he manage to avoid the trap himself and provide a worthwhile read...

Having a healthy church sounds like a good goal. However, determining the "health" of a church is only as useful as the criteria that are used to define "health" in the first place. In this book, Mark Dever lays out a set of criteria for us to consider for congregational health. Pastor Scott Henrich joins Phil and Jared to critique Devers' 9 Marks and evaluate the evaluati...

"We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own merits, but in your manifold and great mercies." With these words, John Kleinig begins his book on the Lord's Supper with a posture that pastors will immediately appreciate: receiving from God what he offers in the sacrament. Pastor Shaun Arndt joins Jared and Phil this month to discuss and appreciate...

When many Americans hear the word "Advent," in the month of December, they may just think of a 24-compartment calendar with little bits of chocolate in each box. By observing the season of Advent, we are countercultural even within the context of American Christianity. How can we further utilize this great historic season to truly prepare the hearts of our people for the coming of Jesus...

No guest this week - Jared and Phil take some time to talk shop about the Shepherd's Study podcast, and then spend some time discussing "The 25th: New and Selected Christmas Essays" by Joshua Gibbs. Join us for a relaxed episode as we approach the Advent season! The Shepherd’s Study podcast is produced by Grow in Grace to help pastors grow in the art and practice of pastoral ministr...

Jonathan Haidt says we've got a problem on our hands. Literally, a problem is on our hands, in the palm of our hands, all the time. Haidt argues in The Anxious Generation that the arrival of smartphones as a main fixture in modern society has had a deeply significant and often toxic impact upon us all, especially on those born after 1995 who have been raised in a smartphone-centric world. Whi...

For as much as we claim to love variety and feel the need to shake things up every now and again, it remains true that human beings thrive on routine. That's true when we're students in school, or when we're adults in the work force...and yes, it's true when we're Christians in worship! Tish Harrison Warren expounds on this in her book, Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Prac...

Have you noticed that funerals are becoming less and less common? You're not just imagining things--this is a national trend. But trends don't happen in a vacuum. What are the philosophical and theological underpinnings that are leading to this trend, and how can we recapture the beauty and even necessity of the Christian Funeral? Phil, Jared, and guest Pastor Lucas Proeber discuss all o...

Jeremiah Gumm returns to the Shepherd's Study...in audio form! Jared and Phil are joined by former editor Jeremiah Gumm to discuss a tome by Robert Louis Wilken concerning the Spirit of Early Christian Thought. Is this a good volume to pick up if you'd like to shore up your knowledge of the early patristics? Listen in and find out! The Shepherd’s Study podcast is produced by Grow in Grac...

Feminism and Progress are often seen as companion concepts, at least in the modern sociopolitical landscape. What is Mary Harrington getting at, then, when her book suggests that those two things don't go hand-in-hand as many would assume? Pastor Nathanael Jensen joins Jared and Phil this month to discuss Harrington's book on feminism and what we pastors can learn from it. The Shepherd’s...

Inarguable: church is essential. Far more arguable: all of the members of my congregation view church as essential. There's an obvious tension between those two statements, but how can we help bridge the gap? Pastor Orie Thomford joins Phil and Jared this month to see what Rainer and Rainer have to say. The Shepherd’s Study podcast is produced by Grow in Grace to help pastors grow in the art...

It's not a science fiction episode; bioethics is a word that describes very real decisions and grounded issues that we will encounter throughout our lives. Pastor Matthew Zeng joins Phil and Jared to discuss Gilbert Meilaender's primer on topics at the start of life, end of life, and everything in between. Listen to our conversation and ponder some deep topics with us today! The Shepherd...

Pastor Eric Janke joins Jared and Phil to talk about a collected trilogy on Jesus' Parables by Robert Farrar Capon, titled Kingdom, Grace, Judgment. All three of the reviewers agree that Capon is a bit prone to overstatement, but that doesn't mean his work is without value. Should you make space on your shelf for this one? Listen in! The Shepherd’s Study podcast is produced by Grow in Gr...

Happy New Year! Jared and Phil are back this month with Pastor Ben Phelps to discuss Brand Luther by Andrew Pettegree. The general consensus among historians seems to be that the Reformation was successful largely due to the advent of the Gutenberg Press and Luther's savvy to take advantage of it. To what extent is that true? And what are the real take-aways for us 21st-Century pastors as we...

Pastor Jonathan Bauer takes up the guest spot this month to discuss Christopher Watkin's Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture. As far as recent buzzwords and hot topics go, Critical Theory is certainly one to be aware of. How does Watkin attempt to utilize critical theory as a means of biblical interpretation? And for that matte...

Jared and Phil are joined by Caleb Bassett to discuss Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. While not a theological work itself, Burkeman's approach to the topic of time and mortality gives us theologians much to consider for our ministries and lives. Pastor Bassett's full review can be found on the Shepherd's Study blog. The Shepherd’s Study podcast i...

In this episode, Jared and Phil welcome Scott Henrich to go over CFW Walther's Pastoral Theology. Most of us are more familiar with Walther's Law and Gospel evening lectures, but Walther's text on pastoral theology is where we get to read a more polished product of the Lutheran titan. Scott's full review can be found on the Shepherd's Study blog. The Shepherd’s Study podca...

The Shepherd’s Study podcast is produced by Grow in Grace to help pastors grow in the art and practice of pastoral ministry. Each episode features Lutheran pastors discussing a book that is salient to their work, much in the manner of an informal conversation that pops up at a circuit meeting. In this episode, Jared and Phil welcome Noah Willitz to talk about The Gospel Comes with a House Key by R...

The Shepherd’s Study podcast is produced by Grow in Grace to help pastors grow in the art and practice of pastoral ministry. Each episode features Lutheran pastors discussing a book that is salient to their work, much in the manner of an informal conversation that pops up at a circuit meeting. In this episode, Jared and Phil introduce themselves and the podcast itself. Welcome! Our first book for...