Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

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...

Begin studying the Sacrament of the Altar, including what it is, what we learn from the Words of Institution, the importance of the word “true” body and blood, how these words challenge the Protestant teaching that bread and wine are symbols, explanation of "consubstantiation," and how the benefits which were obtained by Christ on the cross are now delivered to us in the Sacrament. Rev. Mark Bestu...

Learn about the Office of the Keys, including why we even call it that, why we have pastors if the whole Church possesses the Office of the Keys, the biblical qualifications for the pastoral office, and the comfort we have knowing that the pastor is God’s appointed minister to us. Rev. Mark Bestul, Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Offi...

We dig deeper into the Confession of Sins, including discussion about what sins we should confess, if we confess directly to God or to a pastor (or both), and the distinction between general confession in a worship service and private confession. Learn more about the blessing of private confession and absolution, why it's important to confess the "little sins" as much as the "big sins," and how we...

We continue discussion on the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and living a Baptized life. Hear about what baptizing with water indicates, what this washing with water means for one's daily life, what happens to the old Adam in Baptism, and how the baptismal life is a continual return to Baptism. Also learn why it's appropriate to talk about Confession simply as our Baptized life, why Luther accents Abso...

We dive deeper into the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Study what benefits baptism gives, why it's important to talk about forgiveness as something actually happening before God, how the language and image of adoption helps us understand the benefits of baptism, how baptizing with water does such great things, how faith is connected to Baptism, and how the imagery of birth fits with Baptism. Rev. Mark...

In discussing the Chief Parts, we now discuss the Means of Grace and Sacraments in particular. Hear what we believe is a Sacrament in our Lutheran doctrine and how this is different from Roman Catholics, Protestants, and American Evangelicals. Then, start learning about Baptism specifically, including what Baptism is and what the benefits are. Rev. Mark Bestul, Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in...

We now move into the next part of the Small Catechism on Baptism, Confession & Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. Learn how the first three chief parts (10 Commandments, Apostles’ Creed, and Lord’s Prayer) relate and transition into the final three chief parts (Baptism, Confession & Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper). Also consider what we mean when we say the word “faith,” what our Lutheran under...

We complete the Lord's Prayer in this episode. Regarding the 6th Petition, consider sources of temptation and God's promises in the face of temptation. In the 7th Petition, learn how it is a prayer against Satan and where our help against evil comes from. In the Conclusion, hear whether the conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer is original, if it is faithful and appropriate for Christians to pray this d...

We move into the 5th Petition of the Lord's Prayer and learn how Christ teaches us in this petition that our one great need is the forgiveness of sins. Consider also what distinction should be made between the prayer for the forgiveness of sins and the reception of the forgiveness of sins (as with the Sacraments). Does this petition mean that God forgives conditionally? Should we forgive everyone,...

We continue in our discussion of the Lord's Prayer in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Petitions. Finishing out the 2nd Petition, consider how rejoicing in God’s kingdom is simply being the beneficiary of it. In the 3rd Petition, hear about the importance of the two tones Luther takes between the Small and Large Catechisms on this petition, what “God’s Kingdom care” for His Church and His people looks like,...

We've gone over the overview of The Lord's Prayer, so now we begin studying the text and meaning of the prayer. In the Introduction, consider how the Lord’s prayer remind us of the First Commandment and shows us that the God of the First Commandment (and 1st Article of the Creed) is one we can not only “fear,” but also “love and trust”. In the First Petition, hear about the importance of the term...

We begin studying the Lord's Prayer in our series on The Catechized Life. In this introduction and overview of the Lord's Prayer, we consider how the Lord’s Prayer fits in with and builds on the first two chief parts, the 10 Commandments & Creed. Also, we discuss what prayer is, why we should be careful talking about prayers as a “conversation” with God, and how we rightly understand prayer. Rev....