Suffering Servants: Conversations of the Unspoken

Becoming a dad changed my life. Today, I talk with another fellow dad, Kevin, who has three children (a 3 year old, and 4 month old twins!). We talk about the joys and struggles of fatherhood and the love we have for our children and our wives. Enjoy!

Blessed Easter to all of you! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. On today's show, I have a flashback to "follies of the week", talking about some ridiculousness that I've come across during the week. This folly comes courtesy of Christianity Today and the heretical take that Jesus was not (necessarily) nailed to the cross. This had me thinking about the bigger issue...

It's Good Friday and I spend some time reflecting on the vital importance of what Jesus did on this day for us...for YOU! Easter is Overrated

We've taken the top 20 Bible verses according to Crosswalk.com and talked about them and the implications these verses have on our lives as Christians. In it, we talk about things to say and not to say during suffering, prosperity, and the fruits of the Spirit, among so much else. Humor and Theology is what we do best so please enjoy!

Today I am joined by my brother James Miller, a former Lutheran pastor who recently converted to Catholicism. On this episode, we talk through what led him to his conversion and what he has learned about the Catholic Church since joining. We discussed differences and similarities, arriving at the conclusion of disagreement, but unified in the belief of our Savior Jesus who died and rose from the g...

The Pod is back! On today's episode, I sit down with Pastor Donavon Riley, aka The Warrior Priest, to talk about his new book, "The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction." We talk about the nature of addiction, why he wanted to write this book, and how does the concept of "free will" and Luther's theology of the bondage of the will influence those who are in bonda...

Pastor Tyler is joined this week by Pastor Mark Renner to talk about Pastor Mark's new book, "Curious Cases: A Series of Short Pastor Case Studies." In this book, Pastor Mark explores different situations that have arisen in the church, or that might arise in the church, and how might we as THE Church work with God's people. It is a book that can be used in studies, staff matte...

Joining me on this week's episode is my dear brother in Christ, Josh Kittleman, the Director of Christian Family Formation at Christ Our Savior in Livonia. Together we talk through his journey from small parish ministry, to the University level, and then to big parish ministry and what he has seen, learned, and experienced. We also are sure to hit one of the things that Josh struggles with on...

Today, as Pastor Hill finishes his vacation, Tyler is joined by a dear friend of the Family of God. Ron Hughes has been serving with us for over ten years and has become an intricate part of the ministry. Our people love him and gravitate towards him because of his experiences. On the show today, we talk about those experiences. As a veteran in recovery, Ron has much to say with regard to faith, c...

"This episode is incredibly special to me. To sit and chat with one of my favorite people in the whole world truly is such a gift. I pray that you hear my sister's story of her multiple trips to the NICU with her son, Beckham, and with her, truly see the goodness of God even in our suffering." - Tyler We do not own the rights to the song "Goodness of God" by Jenn Johnson a...

"He who stands alone falls." Pastor Hill drops a great thought about men and women in the ministry who try to be "hero" servants and serve a great mission, but do it alone. This person has made themselves a prime target for the enemy to pick them off and suffocate them. What can we do? How can seminary training prepare pastors better so that they don't end up trying to ser...

The Rev. Dr. Jim Marriott joins Tyler on this week's episode! Jim taught at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, where Tyler attended, and now serves as the Associate Pastor at small Texas church outside of Austin. He also teaches theology and music at Concordia University Texas where he is also the chairman of the theology department. On this episode, we talked about the use of liturgy in suffer...

On this week's episode, Tyler interviews a great friend of the podcast and the Family of God. Penny Armbruster is the Executive Director of The Luke Clinic in Detroit and Flint.  The Luke Clinic is a free pro-life 501c3 non-profit charity dedicated to taking care of mothers, providing prenatal care, and infant care. On this episode we talk about compassion, relationships, suffering, women&apo...

On this exciting episode, Pastor Hill and Pastor Cronkright sit down with a long time friend and professor, Rev. Dr. Charles Schulz of Concordia University Ann Arbor. Recently, Pastor Schulz has returned from a two week stint in South Sudan where he taught church history at the seminary. We talk with him about his experience there, the need for the Gospel, and what we can learn here in the United...

Pastor Bill Wrede of Denison, Iowa joins me (Tyler) on this week's episode. In our conversation, we talked about the hard transition from the Seminary to being a parish pastor, to the struggles he experienced as a Seminary employee, and lastly, his time serving at Ground Zero in New York on September 11th and in the days following. This man has quite the story, and we can't wait for you...

Perhaps the most polarizing episode to date. Tyler sits down with Donavon Riley to talk about addiction. What is the nature of the addict? What don't "outsiders" understand? What is truly at the core of addiction and is there really a cure? This particular episode of Suffering Servants will shock your system. It’s raw and it’s real. But it’s also necessary for us to understand our a...

Pastor Tyler interviews Deaconess Intern Terry Priestley of St. John Lutheran Church in Rochester Michigan & Family of God Detroit. In this episode, they discuss the importance of women's ministry, physical presence for those in need, and the importance of listening. They also discuss the vicious cycle that many women involved in toxic relationships go through. Terry also shares of her ow...

On this episode, Tyler sits down with Pastor Randy Duncan, the campus pastor at Concordia University Ann Arbor. In this conversation, they talk about the struggles of college students and the importance of campus ministry. They also take some time to talk about Randy's suffering in his own life, including divorce, and how God has delivered him from this. 

On this episode, Tyler sits down with Pastor Christian Jones of the Franklin Avenue Mission and Flint Mission Network to talk about the struggles of pastoring in the inner city. The conversation consists of violence, addiction, social justice, family life, and raising up leaders. When we say they covered it all, we mean it. Have a listen! Learn more about the Flint Mission Network by going to thei...

Tyler sits down with Chad Bird of 1517 and talks about all kinds of suffering. As an Old Testament scholar, Chad shares about how God uses suffering in the Bible and how that is applied to us today. He then talks about suffering he inflicted upon himself as he pursued his own goals and achievements. How did God bring him back to Himself in this suffering? And lastly, we take some time to discuss t...

Tyler sits down with Pastor Gabe Kasper, Lead Pastor at University Lutheran Chapel in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's a very real conversation about ministry leaders suffering with depression. We try to describe the feelings of inadequacy and the day-to-day fears when you are in the middle of it. Ultimately, we talk about Christ Jesus who sits with us in the suffering and gives us hope and promise...

Satan has been working overtime. & every now and again, we will just vent and talk about the happenings in the inner city. Today we cover baptism and the sixth commandment, and then we get very real. From physical violence, to verbal harassment, we see it all. Have a listen and let us know what you think.

To begin the journey of suffering in the Christian life, we must first talk about why is there suffering in the first place? Is God punishing me? Do I deserve it? What can I do amidst the suffering? We break down four main reasons for suffering: 1) Correction, 2) Discipline, 3) Persecution, 4) Hidden Purpose. Have a listen! Rate, review, contact us!