Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

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...

What is the history surrounding this document, The Power and Primacy of the Pope? How does this history reflect itself in the Book of Concord and how does it relate to us today? How does the expanse of the church across the world play into Biblical church hierarchy? What is church hierarchy, anyway? Rev. Peter Ill— pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, Peter Slayton— Social Med...

Does God’s presence come directly to us? How do churches relate to each other, and how to pastors relate to churches? Do we have authority or divine right to have power over others? How did Jesus send disciples and apostles out to teach? These questions are covered in this week’s episode of Concord Matters. Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, and Peter Slayton...

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...

Some traditions and institutions are created with the best of intentions, but when they do not work out as planned, rules and regulations designed to “fix things” can end up making matters worse. This is what the Smalcald Articles says happened in the case of Monastic Vows (Part III, Article XIV) and Human Traditions (Part III, Article XV). Rev. Anthony Oliphant, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church...

Have you ever heard (or thought) these things? What about good works? Doesn’t God command us to do certain things, like keeping the Ten Commandments or loving our neighbor as ourselves? Isn’t the promise of sheer grace a little dangerous? Won’t people get lazy if we tell them there is nothing they can do to save themselves? We have to do something, don’t we? Luther addresses all of these questions...

We call the Church the “Holy Christian Church.” But who or what is the church? What is the authority of the church? What is the church built on, and what do we put our faith in? These are the points that Luther takes up in a short, but weighty articles for discussion in the Smalcald Articles: Part III, Articles XII: The Church. Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, an...

Rev. Micah Bauer, Associate Pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings, South Dakota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Part III, Article X: Ordination and the Call in the Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord. The church is to gather together to preach the Gospel, use the sacraments, and promote the spreading of the pure Word of God. For this work, our Lord has graciously given t...

Rev. Mark Bestul, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Part III, Article IX: Excommunication in the Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord. They discuss what excommunication is especially from a Lutheran or Roman Catholic viewpoint, how penitence and contrition plays a role in excommunication and “minor bans,” and how closed communion relate...

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LMCS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Part III, Article VIII: Confession (paragraphs 3-13) in the Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord. They discuss the meaning of confession, the power of the Word of God, and what it means to have Christ’s Words spoken to you. Find th...

Rev. Michael Schuermann joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Part III, Article VII: The Keys, and Part III, Article VIII: Confession in the Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord. They discuss what it means to bind and loose sins, sins that only we know about and how they are also bound and loosed, how confession is about the Gospel, and the work of Christ applied to us rather than our act of c...

Host Rev. Sean Smith— pastor of Immanuel-Campbell Hill and St. Paul-Wine Hill, Illinois, and guests Rev. Peter Ill— Senior Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, and Rev. Merritt Demski— pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Illinois, discuss Part III, Article VI: Of the Sacrament of the Altar of the Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord. When you think that this do...

Live from the 67th Regular Convention of the LCMS, host Rev. Sean Smith and guests Rev. Joshua Scheer and Rev. Adam Matheny discuss Part III, Article IV: Of The Gospel of the Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord. Rev. Sean Smith is pastor of Immanuel-Campbell Hill and St. Paul-Wine Hill, Illinois. Rev. Joshua Scheer is pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Rev. Adam Mathen...