The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Why is it important to hear God’s Word daily? Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to talk about the treasure of God's Word, what he would say to the team of founders of KFUO as they were considering this new medium of AM Radio 100 year ago, and how important our listeners and donors are as we continue this radio ministry for...

How does the LWML share God's Word, and how does KFUO partner with LWML? Eden Keefe, President of LWML - Lutheran Women in Mission, joins Andy and Sarah for Sharathon 2024 to talk about how LWML partners with other organizations and ministries to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, what is beautiful and good about these partnerships, how the tiny little mite boxes make a big difference for these oppo...

What do we learn about Christ in the Five Books of the Psalms? Does the order of Psalms actually matter? Rev. Dr. Adam Hensley, associate professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the order of the Psalms and why that matters, the pictures of Christ in the Psalms, what we learn about Christ through these pictures, and how the Psalms shap...

KFUO Radio's Annual Sharathon is happening April 18-20, and we need your support to continue sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Mary Schmidt — KFUO Radio Director of Development, and Rev. Doug Griebenaw KFUO Radio Mission Advocate, join Andy and Sarah to talk about what we mean when we say we are listener-supported, what happens during Sharathon each year, how KFUO programming su...

What is the emotion of calm, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about what "calm" actually is and how it's different from "peace," why we seek calm, how calm is related to anxiety, the relationship between brokenness and calm, and how we recognize or find calm.  Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Cre...

How do Lutheran Schools elevate church work vocations and raise up the next generation of church workers? Alicia Levitt — Director of Academic Excellence and Interim Executive Director of The Lutheran Schools Partnership in Northeast Indiana, and Jacob Pennekamp — Head of School for Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk...

What do we mean when we say “principles of biblical interpretation”? Dr. James W. Voelz, Dr. Jack Dean Kingsbury Professor of New Testament Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his book Principles of Biblical Interpretation for Everyone, including who this book is for, what "biblical interpretation" means, why it's important to have a common or shared set...

How do the Psalms form us in our daily lives and the rhythm of worship? Dr. Geoffrey Boyle, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the posture of worship, how the Lord speaks to us in the Psalms, what the Psalms reveal about our Lord, how the Psalms shape our worship, and how the Psalms form us as ch...

What's it like to serve on a short-term mission team with the LCMS? Rev. Richard Woelmer — Pastor of University Lutheran Church at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, Lewis Ostermeyer — Member of University Lutheran Church at IU and short-term mission participant, and Anne Gonzalez — manager of Short-term Mission Training and Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join A...

What is the emotion of wonder, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about how wonder is connected to curiosity and surprise, the place of wonder in the midst of brokenness and the ugliness we experience in the world, the sensory and cognitive components of wonder, how wonder is a spiritual emotion, and how we...

What does a young man's path to seminary look like, and how is he formed during seminary for the pastoral vocation? Jason Kohm, 4th-year seminarian at Concordia Seminary in St Louis, and Zachary Staehr, 4th-year seminarian at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how they decided to study for the pastoral ministry, their p...

When Jesus first saw Peter, He said to him, “‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter)” (John 1:42). God the Father chose Peter to make the great confession of Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Then Jesus made a play on words with Peter’s name, “You are Peter (Petros), and on this rock (petra) I will build my church” (Matt...

How significant is singing the psalms in the life of the congregation? Dr. Charles Brown, professor of music and chair of the arts division at Concordia University Chicago, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how the Psalms are accessible for congregational singing, what is unique about singing the Psalms, how singing Psalms encourages congregational song in general, what is unifying about singing...

What does a volunteer coordinator do on the mission field, and how can you serve in a role like this? Erin MacKenzie — Volunteer Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region with the LCMS Office of International Mission, and Ariana Gomez — Manager of Missionary Recruitment with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Sarah to share Erin's story about being a Volunteer Coordinator,...

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Sing a beautiful Easter Cantata with us today. Rev. Brian Hamer, US Navy Chaplain, joins Sarah and Andy to talk about J.S. Bach's BWV 4, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" (Christ Lay in Death's Strong Bands), including the texts for this cantata, unique features that set it apart from Bach's other sacred works, the familiar melody that unites each movement,...

What can we learn from Maundy Thursday hymns? Benjamin Kolodziej, Church Organist and Musicologist, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Maundy Thursday Hymns, their history, theology, and author. Hear this discussion on Lutheran Service Book 445 "When You Woke That Thursday Morning," Lutheran Service Book 446 "Jesus, Greatest at the Table," and Lutheran Service Book 617 "O Lord, We Praise Thee."

Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and International Center Chaplain, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the services of the Triduum during Holy Week, the origins of these services, what makes Tenebrae a unique service among the others, and the beautiful Responsories used in the Medieval church during these Tenebrae services. Listen to the Responsories by...

How does Lutheran Elementary education make a difference for students, and how does LESA support families and educators? Amee Colvin — Director of Fund Development and Marketing with Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) in St. Louis, MO, and Mark Debrick — Principal of Zion Lutheran School in St. Charles, MO, join Sarah to talk about how Zion Lutheran serves the surrounding community, wha...

We hear Psalm 22 during Holy Week, so how do we see it fulfilled? Rev. Andrew Jones, pastor of First Lutheran Church and Preschool in Concord, California, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the place of Psalm 22 in Holy Week, the theme of Psalm 22, how it walks us through Holy Week, and where we see fulfillments of the Psalm in Holy Week. Read his CPH blog post at blog.cph.org/study/the-fulfillmen...

Why is supporting church workers important to the LWML? Eden Keefe, President of LWML (Lutheran Women in Mission), joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about both her personal interest and LWML's interest in supporting and loving church workers, why LWML is invented in forming and recruiting church workers in congregations and school, the $100,000 mission offering grant f...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the difference between Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion, how the Church typically observes Palm Sunday, what makes this day unique in the Church Year, and the scripture readings and hymns we have for this day. Learn more about our Lutheran Church Year and practices at lcms.org/worship. T...

How does Lutheran Braille Workers reach the blind and visually impaired with the Gospel? Daniel Jenkins, President of Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the current status of the blind and visually impaired population in the US, the opportunities for sharing the Gospel with this population, how LBW has reached the blind and visually impaired in the last year, how LB...

How can parents respond when a child wanders from the faith? Kay Meyer — Founder and Director of Family Shield Ministries, and Paula Isakson — Founder of Faith Family Reunion, join Andy and Sarah to share Paula's story of bring raised in a Christian family, wandering away from faith, how her parents responded to her decisions, and what ultimately brought her back to the church. Learn more about Fa...

J.S. Bach's St. John Passion is an experience like none other during Holy Week. Dr. Maurice Boyer, Music Director of the American Kantorei, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Bach's St. John Passion and how it fits into his body of work, why this is an important piece in music history as we celebrate its 300th anniversary, some key highlights of the work, and what will sound familiar to those list...

How does the LCMS English District make it a priority to raise up church workers from their congregations? Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy, Bishop of the LCMS English District, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his own story of how he became a pastor, what the English District is doing to encourage men and women to consider full-time church work, some stories of how he ha...