Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

In Article XIII, the Lutheran confessors are concerned about the Roman Catholic understanding that the Sacraments are beneficial just by doing them. So, how do Lutherans speak of the proper use of the the Sacraments? What do the Lutheran confessors mean when they say that the Sacraments were instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them? Is the improper use of the Sacraments harmful...

What is “true repentance”? Learn about what follows repentance, what it means to be sorrowful over sin, and why this article speaks of good works as “the fruit of repentance”. Also, hear about the (false) teachings that once you’re baptized you cannot sin anymore (“once saved always saved”) and if you sin after baptism you cannot be forgiven, and why these teachings are so destructive to the Gospe...

We turn to Article XI on Confession. The Lutheran confessors condemn what the Roman Catholic practice of confession had become, yet why do the confessors urge the private confession and absolution should be retained in the churches? Also hear discussion on the reactions most people have when urged to go to confession, misconceptions about the practice, and why it's important for God's people. What...

As Lutherans, we seem to have a lot to say about the Lord's Supper, but Article X in the Augsburg Confession is relatively short. What is our Lutheran focus in this doctrine, and why is "real presence" so important to us? Are Lutherans closer in agreement to the Roman Catholics or the other groups coming out of the Reformation? What are the various ways that Sacramentarians deny what we — and thus...

What is the Lutheran confession of Baptism? Learn about what the confessors mean by "baptism is necessary for salvation," why the confessors don't just reject but rather "condemn" the Anabaptist's teaching on Baptism, why we baptize infants, and where we see contemporary situations that show how our Lutheran confession of the great treasure of Baptism is still relevant and important today. Rev. Ma...

What makes the Church? Learn about the unity of the Church, including what is necessary and not necessary for unity, and how the Lutheran doctrine of the Church Gospel-centered. Also hear about how the Holy Spirit works even through evil and faithless people, why this is a good thing to know when we talk about the work of the Church, and why the Roman Catholics rejected the Lutheran doctrine confe...

What is faith, and what is the relationship of faith and good works? Learn what "new" means in regards to obedience, whether good works are necessary for the Christian, and what we mean when we say that good works are "bound to happen". Also, hear about how true worship is a good work, why it's wrong to "rely on good works," and how you might tell the difference between relying on works and just d...

We move on to Article V of the Augsburg Confession, on The Ministry. What is ministry, and how is it properly defined and understood? Also hear discussion on whether we sometimes have poor practices in the Church because of a poor understanding of what "the ministry" is, what God gives and produces through the ministry, and the relationship between the means of grace and the office of the ministry...

We come to Article VI of the Augsburg Confession on Justification, the article by which the church stands or falls. Why is this article so critical? Also, learn the differences between the Lutheran and Roman Catholic concepts of "the grace of God" and the doctrine of justification, what we believe about justification and who does the work, and the implications of this article on justification for...

We move on to Article III of the Augsburg Confession on the Son of God. Why do we have an article on “The Son of God” before we get to the big article of controversy on justification? Also, learn why it's important to focus on the person of Christ as well as the work of Christ, the significance of the inclusion of the verbs "rose" and "return" with regards to the work of Christ, and how spending t...

We turn to Article II of the Augsburg Confession on Original Sin. Hear discussion on the cause of sin, why Article II places more emphasis on original sin than actual sin, what concupiscence is, whether babies are responsible for sin and stand condemned for it, why Roman Catholics couldn't accept all of Article II on original sin, and the relationship of original sin and justification. Rev. Dustin...

We begin studying the rich text of the Augsburg Confession with Article I: God. Learn why the confessors begin their confession of faith with a statement on God and the significance of our Lutheran identity that affirms the same faith that the Council of Nicaea confessed. Also, take a deep dive into the doctrine of the Trinity, including where in the Scriptures we find this doctrine of the Trinity...

It's time for a deep dive into the history surrounding the Augsburg Confession! In this episode, hear answers to questions like: Why did Emperor Charles V calling for a general assembly at Augsburg in 1530? How much of the significance of the Augsburg Confession in its day was political and how much was religious or theological? Why didn't Luther write the Augsburg Confession? What are the various...

What is a soul? What does it mean to care for souls, and why is that important? Is it different from mental health therapy? How does right understanding of the care of souls affect how pastors care for their flock? Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Concord Matters for the care of souls. This is a rebroadcast from Sept...

What is Gnosticism? It's more than just a big word, and you've probably run across it more than you realize. Rev. Peter Burfeind joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Gnosticism in America today. Learn the historical roots and key ideas of Gnosticism and the influence of Gnosticism on historic Christianity. Then, hear how the gnostic heresy is still active in Christianity today, the dangers of hid...

"Synod" is in the name of our church body, but what does that word actually mean? Learn this, who the official members of synod are, and why The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod holds to confessions written in the 16th century as the basis of our unity. Also, hear about whether it's mandatory for all members to subscribe to to Scripture and the Confessions, what this subscription looks like in pract...

What is stewardship? You’ll often hear “time, talents, and treasures” referenced. But is that a helpful way to think about stewardship? Is stewardship “just the business side of the Church"? A matter of our Christian life? Only a matter of “me and God”? A confessional matter? How does the faithful pastor approach stewardship, and what does stewardship look like in the Church, the Christian home, a...

Where do we learn about the Advent of Christ in our Lutheran Confessions? What does the Advent of Christ mean for us in these gray and latter days? How do we participate in these parts of the church year in our Christian vocations? Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch, Jr., Pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Church in South Bend, Indiana, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Advent of Christ. This is a rebr...

What are these Saxon Visitation Articles of 1528? Learn about what church visitations are about, what they have to do with the Book of Concord, and why Gospel-focused Lutherans—wanting to get out from under the Pope tyranny— would want to visit their churches and establish a Church order. Also hear what the proper use of the Lord’s Supper, closed communion, daily worship services, and what is bein...

We continue in the discussion about understanding worship catechetically. Learn how the Golden Gate Bridge serves as an analogy for how we can understand the liturgy and its catechetical function. Also, hear how the liturgy helps us see the confession of both the earthly life and mission of Christ and the benefits of that completed mission being poured out today. Rev. Mark Bestul, Pastor of Calvar...

We now dive into understanding worship “Catechetically.” Hear discussion about what worship is and how we rightly understand that term, what liturgy is, and how liturgy itself echoes the truth of God’s Word and teaches the Catechetical faith. Rev. Mark Bestul, Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church Elgin, IL joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss our Lutheran worship and liturgy.

We now study section 4 of the Catechism, Christian Questions with their Answers. How do the Christian questions and answers relate to the rest of the Catechism, especially the 6 chief parts? What is the distinction between self-examination and the duty of the pastor examine those who desire to come to the Lord’s Table? How does this section lead us to the reason for our hope in the Gospel promise?...

Today we explore Section 3 of the Catechism and the Table of Duties. What role does this section (the table of duties) play in the Catechism? Luther refers to these as “holy orders” but, how is Luther framing this in a radically different way of understanding that term than was taught in his day (and might even still be understood by some today)? How are we to understand these duties as paired in...

We dive into section 2 of the Catechism on Daily Prayers and Table of Duties. What do these teach us for a catechetical devotional life? Why did Luther provide prayers for morning, evening, and mealtime in addition to the Lord’s Prayer in the catechism? How does the Lord’s Prayer form a foundation for our devotional life and for our prayers throughout the day? What do the italicized instructions i...

We continue in The Sacrament of the Altar and consider how bodily eating and drinking can do such great things, if the forgiveness of sins is automatic for all who eat and drink Jesus’ body and blood, how we can best prepare to receive the Lord’s Supper worthily, some forms of “outward training” that are beneficial in worthy reception of the Lord’s Supper, how we understand “closed Communion,” and...