Friends For Life — LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries

Amidst a culture that disdains aging, how can the Christian family embrace the Scriptural call to honor the older generations and revere their wisdom? How can older people serve and mentor young people in both faith and life? Listen in as guest Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Robinson shares why old and young need each other. Bio: Rev. Dr. Geoffrey L. Robinson has served as the Executive for Outreach, Human Car...

Where’s the place for singles when it seems the church is filled with families? How do single adults fit in to the larger family of faith? Join Steph and guest Rachel Morton as they talk about singleness, the propensity to feel invisible, and the family that exists beyond what is visible. Bio: Rachel Morton is a transplanted Texan living in Wisconsin. She is the oldest of nine children, the proud...

Parenting is hard...ever wish you had a guidebook for it? Dr. Randy Schroeder joins us to share the top takeaways from his book, Simple Habits for Effective Parenting. You won’t want to miss this!  Bio: Dr. Randy Schroeder wrote the 2020 three-time national award-winning Christian marriage book, Simple Habits for Marital Happiness. The only marriage book that provides practical, specific words, ac...

A lot of motherhood involves learning from other mothers. Join Steph and her friend Kelly as they talk about the unique role that moms play in the family and why every part of motherhood – even the mundane, monotonous, and messy – matters. Bio: Kelly has a passion for kids and teaching and teaching kids about Jesus! She has worked as a Lutheran elementary school teacher, a Sunday School director,...

Fathers are vital to families. Good fathers are an irreplaceable part of thriving societies. Looking for some tips on fatherhood? Want to know how you can encourage the dads in your life? Then listen in as family members Steph and Aaron talk about fatherhood. Bio: Pastor Aaron Neugebauer is pastor of the best church ever, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lafe, Arkansas. He is the proud husband to his...

To call the family an “estate” may sound dated, but it turns out that Luther’s theology on the three estates is perhaps more timely than ever. What does Luther mean when he identifies the three estates of family, church, and state? How is the family the foundation of them all? What does this actually mean for modern families today? Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller joins Steph on this episode of Friends fo...

What’s it mean to be in a family these days? Are blood relations what decide family ties? How does Jesus shake up our understanding of family and broaden its definition? How does baptismal water bring people closer together than genetics or bloodline? Listen in as Dr. Dave Rueter leads us in the fundamentals of family. Bio: Dr. Dave Rueter is a rostered DCE and the author of Teaching the Faith at...

In the beginning, God created the family. And it was good. Listen in as Steph and Tiffany talk about the importance of upholding the family as an institution created by God and why the family still matters. Resources in this episode: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: lcmslife.org For resources on the family: lcmslife.org/family Not all the views expressed...

Pornography isn’t all that bad, is it? This is the lie that culture is telling and our children’s peers are pushing. Listen as guest Daniel Weiss and Steph talk about the dangers of pornography, how it misses the mark for God’s plan for sexuality, and why God’s vision for sex is good and beautiful and altogether better than the counterfeit of porn. Bio: Daniel Weiss is the executive director of th...

What is a compassionate Christian response to people within the LGBTQ+ community? Rev. Brian Barlow joins Steph to talk about the Church’s role in bringing compassion and truth to people struggling with their sexuality. Bio: Reverend Brian Barlow has invested over 20 years in ministry to those who struggle with relational and sexual brokenness. Having been reconciled out of gender broken past, Rev...

Having once lived in the gay community, guest Rev. Brian Barlow shares his story of self-discovery and re-discovery and how Jesus changes everything. Bio: Reverend Brian Barlow has invested over 20 years in ministry to those who struggle with relational and sexual brokenness. Having been reconciled out of gender broken past, Reverend Barlow offers a life-giving testimony of God’s healing grace. He...

What does it mean to identify as Trans today? What seems to be behind the trend in the growing number of teens and adolescents who identify as transgender? How do Christians respond in compassion and care while remaining true to God’s Word? Clinical psychologist Dr. Beverly Yahnke helps us to navigate these questions. Bio: Dr. Beverly Yahnke is a clinical psychologist serving DOXOLOGY, a RSO of th...

Is sex a social construct, or is a person created male and female by design? Concordia Seminary professor Dr. Joel Biermann lays the groundwork for a biblical discussion of gender and sexual identity. Access Dr. Joel Biermann’s “Woman and Man According to God’s Plan” Lay Bible Institute class at scholar.csl.edu/lbiwomanandman. Bio: A full-time member of the faculty at Concordia Seminary since 2002...

Why do Christians care so much about issues around sexuality? Isn’t it a private matter? Listen as Tiffany and Steph introduce the “why” behind this season and how God’s written and natural law change everything. Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org. Dr. Robert Kolb’s article can be found at witness.lcms.org/2023/lutheran-witness-october-2023. Fi...

You won’t want to miss this short but sweet episode!   Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org. Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

How does the Church care for refugees? How are all believers like strangers in a strange land? How can Christians support the sojourners among us, particularly the incoming refugees from Ukraine? Pastor Chris Asbury and his wife Kelly join Steph to discuss real and practical love for these new neighbors among us. Learn more about the LCMS Ukraine Refugee Grant Program at lcms.org/serve/grants/ukra...

Adoption is a journey filled with hope, longing, and sometimes heartbreak. Tim and Rebekah Janke join us for a second time to share an update on their journey to adoption and what they’ve learned about Jesus’ love and care for them in these last two years. Bio: Tim and Rebekah Janke live in North Dakota with their young son, Elijah. Tim is a veterinarian at a local veterinary clinic and loves cari...

Tiffany is joined by special guest, Dr. Stephen Saunders, to talk about the stigmatization of mental illness within the church - in both the past and the present - and how Luther himself addressed matters of mental health. Bio: Dr. Stephen Saunders is Professor and Chairperson of Psychology at Marquette University. Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcm...

Dr. Kevin Voss, Director of the Center for Bioethics at CUW, joins Tiffany and Steph to talk about the field of bioethics and how our Lutheran theology helps us navigate the nuanced world of reproductive technology. Bio: Kevin Voss is a Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Bioethics at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW). He has been at CUW since 2003 and teaches philosophy, bio...

Tiffany is joined by Lauren Muzyka and Nate Robertson of Sidewalk Advocates for Life to talk about SAFL’s impact on families across the country through their peaceful approach to advocacy on the sidewalks outside of abortion and abortion-referral facilities. Learn how to get involved in Sidewalk Advocates for Life in your own community and how to be a faithful witness of the mercy and love of Jesu...

What couple doesn’t want a happy marriage? Surely every husband and wife get married hoping to have a healthy and ever-growing happy marriage, yet quickly find just how damaging sin, resentment, miscommunication, and the withholding forgiveness can be. With just SEVEN essential habits, guest Dr. Randy Schroeder gives a crash course in implementing and achieving a Christ-focused, God-oriented marri...

It can be hard enough to seek the counsel of a professional psychologist, let alone find one that can speak to your specific struggles with good and true theology. Grounded in Scripture, centered on Christ, distinguishing Law and Gospel, and living under a theology of the cross, Lutherans have a unique approach to Christian counseling. Guest Dr. Rick Marrs is a seminary professor and licensed psyc...

With 8 children at home and another on the way, Zach and Dawn Schnare have a lot on their plate! Even so, they find time to sit down with Steph to talk about the joys, the challenges, and the many blessings that come with having a large family and a full home. If you’ve ever wondered how families with lots of kids do it, then you won’t want to miss the Schnares share their experience with honesty...

Are there certain cases where abortion really is the best option? Should we allow for certain “exceptions,” even while maintaining our pro-life stance? What if rape or incest are involved, or both?   Guest Kristi Hofferber was conceived in rape and incest; yet despite the circumstances of her life’s beginnings, Kristi advocates for life without exception.   Bio: Kristi Hofferber, MSW, is CEO Beaco...

Prepare to laugh as you join Steph, Tiffany, and our favorite fun-loving group of four women, known to many as the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge! On this, our 50th episode (and Second Birthday), we’re celebrating all that is good, beautiful, and blessed about LIFE. This is as close to a favorite things episode as one could get! Find The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge podcast at kfuo.org/category/lutheran-ladie...