Under the Fig Tree

You may know Dr. Mark Rockenbach as the director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, but did you also know that he is the director of personal growth and leadership development? What does that mean? Find out as host Dr. Ben Haupt and Rockenbach discuss this role, what it has to do with the ministerial formation of our Seminary students, why each of our students can tell you if they are an eagle, pa...

Join hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt as they talk with Dr. Mark Rockenbach, associate professor of Practical Theology, director of personal growth and leadership development, director of the institutional review board and director of the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Program. During the episode, Rockenbach shares how the Seminary’s recently revised D.Min. Program helps pastors develop quali...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn talks with Rev. Joshua Pfeiffer talks about life in Australia, how he decided to become a pastor and what it’s been like to be a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) Student at Concordia Seminary. Under the Fig Tree is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added weekly each Monday. Under th...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt sit down with Dr. Douglas L. Rutt, professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary. Rutt shares his journey to Seminary and to the mission field in Guatemala. He also discusses with Ben and Micah how God prepared him for future calls in his ministry through the "lulls" and times of questioning. And they have some...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, host Rev. Micah Glenn explains how the podcast is taking a break this week. He also thanks listeners for their support and asks for the names of Concordia Seminary faculty members that listeners/viewers would like to hear from on future episodes. Under the Fig Tree is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt sit down with Emeritus Professor Dr. Robert Kolb, an esteemed Lutheran Confessions and Martin Luther scholar, in the second part of a two-part conversation. Kolb discusses where to start if you’re digging into Luther’s writings. He also talks with Ben and Micah about mission and evangelism and how to “start the convers...

Join hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt as they talk with Emeritus Professor Dr. Robert Kolb, an esteemed Lutheran Confessions and Martin Luther scholar, in the first part of a two-part conversation. Listen in as Kolb shares his journey into ministry, his interest in Luther (it began with a picture!) and tremendous value of study abroad. Kolb also explains why he views Luther as a “theologia...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt talk with Sarah Seying, admissions officer, and Monica Rhodes, office manager for the Enrollment Office, about their own personal stories, what led them to ministry and how each of their roles support the Seminary’s enrollment process. Under the Fig Tree is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Ne...

Join hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt as they talk with Dr. Joel Biermann, Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology, Under the Fig Tree. Listen in as Biermann shares his journey into ministry, first as a parish pastor and later, as a professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary. Glenn, Haupt and Biermann dive deep into the doctrine of vocation – that first,...

What’s it like to be a second career student at Concordia Seminary? Find out as hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt talk with two concluding M.Div. students Under the Fig Tree. Listen in as second-career students Deon Hull and Nick Palmer share what led them to pursue ministry as a second career, what it’s like to be an older student with a family, the process of navigating the vicarage proce...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt sit down with Dr. David Lewis, associate professor of Exegetical Theology and director of the Master of Divinity and Residential Alternate Route Programs at Concordia Seminary. Lewis shares his love of the Greek language — which he teaches at the Seminary. He also discusses with Ben and Micah some tricky translations a...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt sit down with Ben’s own paster, Rev. Jeff Cloeter from Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in St. Louis. Cloeter shares the impact on his life growing up in a pastor’s family, as well as the ebbs and flows of his own ministry in a large congregation over 18 years. They discuss his book Loved and Sent and what ministry look...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt sit down with second-year Master of Divinity (M.Div.) student Daniel Bueckman. From the seeds of ministry that were planted when he was young, to the career opportunities in international business he had coming out of college, Daniel shares his journey to the Seminary. They also discuss some of Daniel’s current course...

In this episode of Under the Fig Tree, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt talk about Micah’s role with LCMS Black Ministry and the Black Clergy Caucus, and some of the joys, challenges and current discussions about ministry in multicultural contexts and serving brothers and sisters in Christ of all ethnicities. They also discuss current enrollment and recruitment at Concordia Seminary, provi...

Join hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt as they talk with President Thomas J. Egger Under the Fig Tree. During the program, Egger talks about why he chose the new year’s academic theme, the importance of community and what community truly is – a deep commitment and willingness to share our lives with one another. Egger discusses what he would say to a student who is discerning a call to mini...

Join hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt as they bring Deaconess Rebekah Lukas Under the Fig Tree. During the program, Lukas shares how God has used her family and friends to guide her on the path to becoming a deaconess, how Concordia Seminary’s Deaconess Studies Program has prepared her for ministry, the blessings of marriage and motherhood, and her current role serving as a communications...

This week, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt bring Concordia Seminary Provost Dr. Ronald Mudge Under the Fig Tree. Mudge shares his love for literature, and how the Lord used that to lead him to study theology and later, his call to ministry. He’ll share lessons learned as a missionary in West Africa, his time as a professor at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, and how these experienc...

This week, hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Dr. Ben Haupt bring Concordia Seminary alum Rev. Alec Fisher Under the Fig Tree. They talk about biblical Hebrew, Tertullian, Seminary life, Ph. D. work and Alec’s journey to the Sem. They throw in some deep conversation about pineapple on pizza and Star Wars Episode 2. Alex also shares some advice for those considering vocational ministry. Under the Fig Tree...

Welcome to the video podcast debut of Concordia Seminary’s “Under the Fig Tree” with hosts Rev. Micah Glenn, director of recruitment, and Dr. Benjamin Haupt, associate provost! In this episode, Micah and Ben offer a glimpse of what is to come with the new season of the podcast, which is geared toward those considering vocational ministry or enrolling at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and...

In the season 2 finale of Under the Fig Tree Ben and Micah sit-down with President Dr. Thomas J. Egger, 11th President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to talk about his recent inauguration, and how President Egger sees CSL moving into the future. If you like this episode and know someone who you think would make a good church worker someday, please make sure to share Under the Fig Tree with them...

In this episode Ben and Micah sit-down with Dr. Ely Prieto, Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Associate Dean of Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry at CSL, to talk about Ely's path to ministry in the LCMS and his role here at Concordia Seminary. If you like this episode, and know someone that you think would be a good church worker, please make sure to share this episode with them.

In this episode Ben and Micah sit-down with guest Dr. Gill Bond, Director of Deaconess Studies at CSL, to talk about how she became a deaconess, and what's going on in our deaconess programs today. If you like this episode and know someone that you think would make a good church worker someday, please make sure to share it with them!

In this episode Ben and Micah sit-down with Dr. David Schmitt, Professor of Practical Theology, to talk about preaching the parables. If you like this episode and know someone that you think would make a good church worker, please make sure to share it with them!

In this episode Ben and Micah sit-down with Dr. Jeff Oschwald, Professor of Exegetical Theology, to talk about the parable of the "Shrewd Manager" found in Luke 16:1-13. If you like this episode and know someone that you think would make a good church worker, please make sure to share it with them!

In today's episode, Ben and Micah sit-down with Dr. Dave Lewis, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology, to talk about two short but impactful parables in Mark 4:26-34. If you like this episode and know someone that you think should hear it, please share it with them! Thank you for joining us Under the Fig Tree.