Banned Books

Featured text: "Luther's Outlaw God" — Steven Paulson Strong Words for a Strong Word. In this episode, we read Steven Paulson's book, The Outlaw God. We discuss preaching, doing God's Word to listeners, calling out curses and blessing confessions, using strong words to expose and condemn the devil and the world, and much, much more. SHOW NOTES:   Steven Paulson - Outlaw God https://amzn.to/4kHmP8s...

Featured text: "Table Talk" — Martin Luther I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. In this episode, we discuss how pre-modern church history, the Industrial Revolution, therapeutics, language, corporate culture, and the flight of heretics from Europe in the 17th-18th century affected contemporary Western churches. SHOW NOTES:   The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age h...

Featured text: "What Is the Church?" — Tim Keller Come Together, Right Now… In this episode, we read from Tim Keller's sermon, which asks, "What is the Church?" We discuss the relationship between churches and culture, what the church is and isn't, where we locate faith, whether Christian faith changes one's values, and much more. SHOW NOTES:   A Vision for a Gospel Centered Life by Dr. Timothy Ke...

Featured text: "Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI: Concerning the Eternal Predestination and Election of God" Burning Down The House. In this episode, we continue our discussion of election, addressing the certainty of election, how we are chosen, the human limits of perseverance in faith, why the pope is a bad example of Christian piety, and how old Adam tries to invert election b...

Featured text: "Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI: Concerning the Eternal Predestination and Election of God" Somebody Told Me. In this episode, we read the Book of Concord on election, and discuss why God chooses to forgive all people on the cross, why some reject the gospel, why Lutherans reject double predestination, what the consequences are to trust that we are always justifie...

Featured text: "The Power and Primacy of the Pope" — Philip Melanchthon Over And Done With. In this episode, we read Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope and discuss the validity of the papacy's claims to divine authority, the response of Lutherans and Protestants to the death of Pope Francis, how to love one's neighbor while disagreeing with them, the distinction between heterodoxy and h...

Featured text: "Complete Sermons of Martin Luther" — Martin Luther Sunday Bloody Sunday In this episode, we read Martin Luther's sermon for Maundy Thursday (1534), discussing the Lord's Supper, polity, sacramental piety, fellowship, election, and all the rabbit trails we follow… SHOW NOTES:   Complete Sermons of Martin Luther - Klug https://duckduckgo.com/?q=complete+sermons+of+martin+luther+klug&...

Featured text: "Adiaphora and Tyranny" — Matthias Flacius Can't You See. In this episode, we read the Lutheran theologian Matthias Flacius, and discuss inter-church debates, the Lord's Supper as ground zero for most church conflicts, the consequences of compromise in matters of faith, the limits of love, and when it's time to push away from the table and go into prayer. SHOW NOTES:   Adiaphora and...

Featured text: "Adiaphora and Tyranny" — Matthias Flacius Kick Out the Jams. In this episode, we focus on the raw, real work of life in the parish—the ordinary burdens, the hidden insecurities, and the quiet faith that holds it all together. We explore the distinction between philosophy and theology and why attempts to fuse them often leave both diminished. There's talk of reformation—its drama, i...

Featured text: "Great Commission, Great Confusion, or Great Confession?" — Lucas Woodford Hey, Hey, What Can I Do? In this episode, we read Lucas Woodford's book, Great Commission, Great Confusion, or Great Confession? and discuss the Great Commission, evangelism, the radical gospel, the purpose of the church's preaching about Jesus, post-modern consumerism, and many, many rabbit trails into uncha...

Featured text: "Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness" — Eugene H. Peterson First It Giveth. In this episode, we discuss Jonah's vocation, gospel imagination, dogmatic materialism, spell casting, the contemporary effects of the Industrial Revolution, and God's preference for wasted places while reading Eugene Peterson's Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration i...

Featured text: "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien" — J.R.R. Tolkien And so it begins. In this episode, we read the letters of J.R.R. Tolkien for Lent. We discuss sin and mercy, Eden and scientific materialism, ecumenism and cults, and much more! SHOW NOTES:   The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien https://amzn.to/3FbRqLS   Shelby Foote https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_Foote Phrygian Mode https://en.wikiped...

Featured text: "The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction" — Donavon Riley The Impossible Prize In this episode, we explore The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction, a forthcoming book that examines addiction not just as a habit or illness, but as a form of misplaced worship. We discuss how addiction draws us toward false gods, demanding our devotion and shaping our lives in ways we barel...

Featured text: "Oration, Meditatio, Tentatio" — John Kleinig Who Made Who? Today, we read an essay by Rev. Dr. John Kleinig about what makes a theologian. Dr. Kleinig explains Martin Luther's threefold description of how the master of theology, the Holy Spirit, makes one a theologian through contemplative prayer, meditating on Scripture within the communion of saints, and being translated into the...

Featured text: "St. Anselm's Book of Meditations and Prayers" — Anselm You May Be Right… In this episode of Banned Books, we read Anselm of Canterbury's Meditation on Sin and Penance. We discuss the consequences of sin, the Fountain of Mercy, Jesus' excuses, the doctrine of simul iustus et peccator , theological presuppositions, and how we speak influences our behavior. SHOW NOTES:   St. Anselm's...

Featured text: "On Wealth and Poverty" — John Chrysostom Dig, Lazarus, Dig! In this episode of Banned Books, we read St. John Chrysostom's sermon on the Rich Man and Lazarus — wealth, poverty, Satanic feasts, ivory beds, spiritual warriors, Chaldean comfort dogs, and the dangers of actors and perfume on this podcast episode. SHOW NOTES:   On Wealth and Poverty: St. John Chrysostom https://amzn.to/...

Featured text: "The New Testament Devotional Commentary, Volume 1" — Bo Giertz Leper Messiah. In this episode, we read Bo Giertz's commentary on Jesus' healing of a leper and Cornelius' servant… boy… slave boy. Giertz addresses textual criticism, catechesis, miracles, and the liturgy of the Church, and we delve into the effect of disbelief in Jesus' power to heal and make whole affects modern Chri...

Featured text: "Understandings of the Church" — Origen Good Christians, One and All Rejoice? In this episode, we read Origen's response to Celsus about whether or not Christians are detrimental or beneficial to society. Does the Church uplift or undermine culture? What part does faith play in living a virtuous life? SHOW NOTES:   Understandings of the Church by E. Glenn Hinson https://amzn.to/4iTK...

Featured text: "Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans" — Origen Superabundance. In this episode, we read Origen's commentary on St. Paul's epistle to the Romans. We discuss the accusations leveled at Origen's orthodoxy, exegetical method, and critique of Marcion and discuss how what was written so long ago is relevant to Christians today. SHOW NOTES:   Origen - Commentary on the Epistle to the R...

Featured text: "Early Christian Writings: Pliny, Clement, and Justin" — Pliny the Younger, Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr Same Old Story. In this episode, we read various Christian and non-Christian sources from the first two centuries, discussing their understandings of Jesus Christ, the church, law, and the Gospel, and the effect of the Christian faith on people in Roman society. SHOW NOTES:   N...

Featured text: "A Sermon for Christmas Day" — Norman Nagel That's How Love Goes. In this episode, we read a Christmas sermon by Norman Nagel and discuss the nativity, the mother of God, iconography, Bible translating, story-telling traditions, teaching through the story, God's strange way of loving people, and people's expectations of Christmas and how it affects the Church. SHOW NOTES:   Norman N...

Featured text: "Luther's Works Volume 57" — Martin Luther Tighten Up. In this episode, we read Martin Luther's Advent 3 ordination sermon, discussing rites and ceremonies, church traditions, God's mysteries versus the devil's, and much pastoral talk about transparency and honesty amongst brothers and sisters in the Gospel. SHOW NOTES:   Luther's Works Volume 57:45 https://amzn.to/4ieJbO6   The Mys...

Featured text: "Luther's Works Volume 57" — Martin Luther Countdown to Armageddon. In this episode, we read Martin Luther's Advent 2 sermon (1532) and discuss signs and symbols, the liturgical calendar, funerals, preaching, and many many other things of an episodic nature. SHOW NOTES:   Luther's Works Volume 57:45 https://amzn.to/4ieJbO6   Ordering Our Days in His Peace https://amzn.to/3CXXEht   W...

Support 1517 This Giving Tuesday This is Caleb Keith, director of the 1517 Podcast Network. Today, as many of you may know, is Giving Tuesday. On this special day, I have a question for you: Does this podcast bring Jesus and His Gospel of peace into your life on a regular basis? At 1517, our mission—and the mission of the 1517 Podcast Network—is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forg...

Reach for The Sky. This episode discusses the Augsburg Confession, the Church, and what makes a good fanatic. We dig into the Church's language, symbolism, meaning, and rites today. How can we best use narrative theology to catechize? Did Jesus have to die for your traditions and worship? Is there anyone in heaven that hasn't fallen into sin? This and much more today on the show! More from 1517: S...