Christendom and the World

In this episode of  Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus is joined by Pastor Jim Wilshusen for a wide-ranging conversation on the nature of the Church, the meaning of confession, and the question many Christians face today: Can liberalized mainline denominations be reclaimed—or is there a time to leave? The discussion engages a recent debate between Roman Catholic apologist Trent Horn a...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus follows up on last week's conversation, "Dating: Don't Be Stupid," by diving deeper into the realities and pressures of modern dating. From competition among men and rejection to social hierarchies, hypergamy, and cultural explanations rooted in evolutionary theory, Pastor Preus responds with clear biblical wisdom drawn from...

Dating is often treated like a joke, a game, or something casual—but Scripture takes wisdom far more seriously. In this episode of Christendom and the World , we look at dating through the book of Proverbs and the fear of the Lord, asking what it really means to pursue wisdom rather than folly. What does it look like to be foolish in dating? How do authority, responsibility, patience, and contentm...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor James Wilshusen to discuss the question of free will in conversion, how Scripture speaks about decision and choice, and why Lutherans confess that the human will is bound and cannot choose God apart from the Holy Spirit. They walk through common misunderstandings about "accepting Jesus," what it means th...

In this week's episode , we celebrate the mystery and marvel of Christmas: that at the fullness of time, God Himself came into our world, taking on our flesh and being born of the Virgin Mary for our salvation. Pastor reads the Christmas Gospel from St. Luke and reflects on how Christ's birth is a real event in real history—God entering time to bring peace, joy, and reconciliation to sinners. From...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor James Wilshusen to talk about the purpose of Christian education, the Benedict Option, and what it means for the church to build and maintain a faithful "camp" without becoming isolated from the world. They discuss demographic changes in the church, the return of men to Sunday attendance, the Lutheran a...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World , we take on one of the most difficult questions Christianity has ever faced: the problem of evil. Why does a good and almighty God allow suffering, tragedy, and injustice in the world? Pastor Preus helps us think biblically and honestly about evil—how Scripture deals with it, why human reason falls short, and how Christ Himself gives the ultimat...

In this week's episode of  Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Chris Diener for an in-depth and wide-ranging conversation on what it truly means to place Christ above all things. Together, they explore how the central confession of Christ shapes the way Christians think, live, and engage with the world around them. Their discussion digs into the importance of sound doctr...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor James Wilshusen to discuss and respond to the popular Catholic Answers video, "Stumped by a Protestant? Just Say This!" ( https://youtu.be/e36qGZrPmAE ). Together, they walk through the claims made in the video, unpack the assumptions behind them, and show how Scripture offers clearer, more grounded ans...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus takes us into the heart of Christian doctrine: justification. Why is justification called the central article of the faith? How does it shape the way we read Scripture, preach, teach, and live as Christians? And what happens when other doctrines or church practices try to take its place? Pastor Preus walks through Scripture—...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus walks through how Christians pray — not with empty words or vague spirituality, but with confidence, rooted in God's Word. Learn the structure of the collect, how Scripture guides our prayers, why God's Word must shape our conversation with Him, and how the Lord's Prayer becomes the perfect model. Prayer is access to the Fath...

What does true forgiveness look like—even toward those who've hurt us deeply? In this week's episode of Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus and Pastor James Wilshusen explore the meaning of forgiveness through the lens of Scripture. They discuss objective justification, the Office of the Keys, and how Christ's forgiveness shapes the way we forgive others. Join the conversation as they u...

In this week's episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus welcomes Pastor Philip Hale—pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Omaha and editor of Christian News —for an in-depth conversation on the doctrine of inspiration. Together they examine what it truly means that Scripture is "God-breathed," how the Church has confessed this throughout history, and why this teaching remains vital a...

In this episode of  Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Rev. Burnell F. Eckardt Jr. for a rich theological conversation spanning the heart of Lutheran thought and practice. Together, Pastor Eckardt and Pastor Preus explore the origins of Gottesdienst Magazine, the dynamics of high and low church traditions, and the central role of the sacrament in Christian worship. They...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus explores the doctrine of new obedience within the Christian life, unpacking the vital relationship between faith, justification, and good works. He discusses both the active and passive dimensions of obedience, the role of suffering, and how these shape our daily vocations within the three estates of life. This conversation undersc...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor James Wilshusen to reflect on the heart of the Christian faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Drawing on 1 Corinthians 15, they explore why Christianity is not merely a coherent philosophy among many but the proclamation of what truly happened—that Christ was crucified, buried, and raised on the...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Hans Preus to discuss the Office of the Keys and the certainty we have in Christ's Word of forgiveness. Together they work through Martin Luther's 1518 theses on repentance, exploring the vital distinction between guilt and punishment, the errors of relying on contrition or penance, and the comfort of absolution that...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor James Wilshusen to unpack Hebrews 10 and the true reason Christians gather for worship. Together, they explore why church is more than personal devotion or ritual—it's about receiving Christ's gifts, encouraging one another in faith, and persevering as the body of Christ. They discuss what it means to "hold fa...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor James Wilshusen to reflect on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, a cultural and political voice for Christian truth. Together they consider the meaning of martyrdom, the role of faith in public discourse, and the deepening divisions within American...

On this week's episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus responds to Larry Sanger's recent interview on On the Line ( watch here ). In that discussion, Sanger wrestles with whether Christ's words, "This is my body… this is my blood," should be taken literally or metaphorically. Pastor Preus engages these questions head-on, examining the biblical grammar, the meaning of "mystery,"...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Hans Preus to reflect on theology, history, and personal experience. The conversation explores Protestantism as an American religion, the role of conscience in Lutheran thought, and the challenges posed by higher criticism. They examine the Seminex controversy and its lasting impact on the Lutheran Church—Missouri Sy...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor James Wilshusen to reflect on Jesus' words in Luke 12 about bringing fire and division. Together they discuss how Christ's Word both divides and unites—separating His Church from the world while gathering believers into true fellowship. They examine what genuine unity in the Church looks like, why it must be g...

In this episode of Christendom and the World  Pastor Andrew Preus unpacks the heart of the Gospel and its connection to the Lord's Supper, with a focus on the often-misunderstood practice of closed communion. The conversation confronts the dangers of gospel reductionism, clarifies why doctrine cannot be reduced to a lowest-common-denominator message, and shows how bearing the cross is inseparable...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus takes a deep look at the hardening of hearts—how it happens, why it's dangerous, and how Christians can guard against it. Using vivid examples from both the Old and New Testaments, he shows how even those who champion pure doctrine can fall into hypocrisy when God's Word is treated as nothing more than a set of rules. Pastor Preus...

In this episode of Christendom and the World , Pastor Andrew Preus sits down with Pastor Philip Hale, Editor of Christian News , to discuss Hale's journey into Lutheran journalism, the challenges of church leadership during COVID-19, and the renewed debate around family, birth control, and cultural decline. They take a deep dive into narrative criticism—exploring how subtle academic methods can un...