Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

How do we clearly confess what we believe about the Lord’s Supper? What was happening during the time of the Reformation that caused the need to clarify what Lutherans believe? And, what is Crypto-Calvinism and how does it play into our view of the Sacrament? Rev. Mark Bestul, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of...

How is the constraint of the Law a comfort? Why do we need to hear both Law and Gospel? How do these concepts flow into our understanding of educating our children? Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, senior pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas and Third Vice-President of the LCMS (West-Southwest Region), joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VI: T...

What is the Third Use of the Law? Where does it fit in with the other two uses, and how do they all apply to us? Where do we find this use of the Law in scripture? Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, senior pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas and Third Vice-President of the LCMS (West-Southwest Region), joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VI: Th...

How do Lutheran beliefs about Law and Gospel differ from other denominations? What is the measure of what is right, and when is it appropriate to reject something? Rev. David Wiist, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Evansville, Indiana, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article V: The Law and the Gospel: Negative Statements.

Is it a Biblical concept to discern Law and Gospel in scripture and sermons? How do wisdom and the Law go hand-in-hand? What does the Law teach us? What happens when we mix Law and Gospel? Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article V: The Law and the Gospel: Affirmative Stat...

What is the Law and what is the Gospel? Why do we as Lutherans teach that rightly distinguishing the Law and Gospel is so important? Why do we need to teach both? Where do we find these in Scripture? How is all of this relevant to us today? Rev. Mark Nebel, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud, Illinois, and 1st Vice President of the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, joins host Re...

Who is Nicolaus von Amsdorf and what was his relationship to Martin Luther? How is von Amsdorf’s statement about good works not helpful to our understanding of their role in our lives? How do we know the role of good works? Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: Good Work...

What is dead faith or living faith? How do good works interact with faith? Are they necessary? How is this part of the Formula of Concord still relevant to us today? Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, New Mexico, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: Good Works – Affirmative Statements (paragraphs 5-15).

What’s the controversy on Good Works today? What were the controversies and major events leading up to the writing of the Formula of Concord? Where did Philip Melanchthon go off the rails? Find answers to these questions and a deep dive into the history surrounding the Formula of Concord. Download the Venn Diagram and Major Markers at kfuo.org/concordmatters. Rev. Dr. James Baneck, executive direc...

Where are the human and divine natures of Christ on the cross? Did God die on the cross? Is justification outside-in or inside-out? What exactly do we even mean by “justification”? Rev. Sean Daenzer—Director of Worship for the LCMS, Dr. Kevin Armbrust—Director of Editorial for LCMS Communications, and Peter Slayton—Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome...

Does it matter what I do with my life? Why do we go to church if going to church doesn’t assure my salvation? Does that mean I don’t have to go? How do we respond to the Gospel with our lives? Where do we look for our salvation? Rev. Peter Ill— pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, Peter Slayton— social media manager for the LCMS, and Dr. Kevin Armbrust— Director of Editorial f...

What is the article on which the church stands or falls? Are we justified by the human nature or divine nature of Christ? (Or is it both?) How is this article relevant for us today? In the end, it’s still all about Jesus and what He’s done for us. Rev. Benjamin Ball, Senior Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School Hamel, Illinois, and 6th Vice-President of the Central Region of the LCMS, join...

What’s the difference between the Pelagians and Semi-Pelagians? Where do we see these teachings now? What is your role in salvation? Who are considered dry bones? How does our language affect how we understand our theology? Dr. Kevin Armbrust, Director of Editorial for LCMS Communications, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the...

It’s another day of negative statements in the Article on Free Will. How do we properly read the Scriptures? How does our human will and nature affect how we read scripture and understand the Word of God? How does our salvation in Christ change how we view the world? Dr. Kevin Armbrust, Director of Editorial for LCMS Communications, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host R...

The second article of the Epitome of the Formula of Concord studies the doctrine of the will of man. Man can want (will) to do many things. If he wants to begin a relationship with a person he can choose to walk up to a stranger and start a conversation. The topic being discussed in this episode is whether a person has the free will to come to God or if God must come to the person to begin the rel...

The human person has been created by God. We do not believe Satan mixed original sin into our nature during creation. The human person is corrupted by original sin and is incapable of coming to God. We do not blame our original sin for our faults as if it has nothing to do with ourselves. However, we do admit our complete sinful condition and ask God to forgive us. This is important, for it keeps...

What are the negative statements, or things we don’t believe, about original sin? How does what we believe about Christ’s incarnation and perfect human nature affect what we believe about original sin? What does Pelagian, Semi-Pelagian, and Manichean mean and why should we be aware of these things? Dr. Kevin Armbrust, Director of Editorial for LCMS Communications, and Peter Slayton, Social Media M...

What’s the difference between the Epitome of the Formula of Concord and the Solid Declaration? What is original sin? What is the nature of humanity? Does Human = Original Sin? What does philosophy have to do with all of this? Rev. Peter Ill— pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, Peter Slayton— Social Media Manager for the LCMS, and Dr. Kevin Armbrust— Director of Editorial for...

The old saying goes, “if we do not learn from history we will have to repeat history’s mistakes.” On this episode we will dig in to the history and background of the Formula of Concord, including how it came into being and succeeded in healing the young strife-torn Lutheran Church. We learn wisdom from it that, God-willing, creates the setting for us to approach controversies that threaten our uni...

The gospel requires those who preside over churches to “exercise jurisdiction”–that is, excommunicate those who are guilty of notorious crimes and absolve those who repent. The bishops have tyrannically reserved this right for themselves alone, and have employed it for gain. But again, this belongs to the proper work of the gospel, which by divine right belongs to all who preside over the churches...

The gospel requires of those who preside over the churches that they preach the gospel, remit sins, and administer the sacraments. This power belongs, by divine right, to all who preside over the churches–whether they are called pastors, presbyters, or bishops. For wherever the church exists, the right to administer the gospel also exists. Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mills...

Is the Pope the Antichrist? Rev. Peter Ill— pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, Peter Slayton— Social Media Manager for the LCMS, and Dr. Kevin Armbrust— Director of Editorial for the LCMS and interim editor of the Lutheran Witness, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Power and Primacy of the Pope: The Marks of the Antichrist (paragraphs 39-59).

Is Christianity strengthened and expanded in the world by worldly power and influence? That was the thinking of the Roman papacy at the time of the Reformation and the Power and Primacy of the Pope (paragraphs 32-38) contrasts this thinking of the Pope between that of Christ and the Gospel, which is the true influence of the Church in the world. Rev. David Wiist, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Churc...

Does Matthew 16:18-19 mean that Peter was named the first Pope by Jesus himself? Does the Papacy have any special or Divine authority? Are the Keys given to just Peter and his successors, or the whole Church? These are some of the questions the Lutherans address in the Power and Primacy of the Pope in their Refutation of the Roman Arguments (paragraphs 22-31). Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lut...

What is the right of any one man to rule absolutely in the church on Earth? Was the Pope always regarded by the Early Church as the supreme ruler in Christendom? How is the Church organized, structured, and governed? How do Lutherans receive pastors? These are the questions that are addressed in the document in the Book of Concord called “The Power and Primacy of the Pope.” Rev. Peter Ill, pastor...