

On The Line
Bryan Stecker
OTL is the Lutheran, Long-Form podcast that engages Theology and Culture. New Episodes Every Monday!
Episodes
Mentioned books

9 snips
Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 60min
Dr. James Lee: How the Early Church Defeated Heresies & Preserved Christian Doctrine
Join us at the long table as we trace the roots of Christian tradition, wrestle with the legacy of the Church Fathers, and recover a vision of doctrine, discipline, and ministry shaped by the clarity and strangeness of the early Church.Dr. James Lee is a scholar of historical theology and teaches Church History and Religious Studies at Concordia University Chicago, where his courses range from Christianity and the Modern World to Lutheran Worship and Liturgy. He holds a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, an S.T.M. from Yale Divinity School, and degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Concordia University Chicago. Dr. Lee’s research focuses on nineteenth-century German theology, the Confessional Revival, and the development of doctrine in modern Lutheran thought. A respected author and frequent speaker, he bridges deep historical scholarship with contemporary questions facing the Lutheran Church. Check Out Our New Website: https://ontheline.net/Support the Launch of LIT: https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/📧 Contact Bryan: bryan.stecker@ontheline.netSend us a text

22 snips
Jun 23, 2025 • 2h 16min
Dr. David Petersen: The Seven Deadly Sins (and Why You Should Know Them)
Join us at the long table as we confront the seven deadly sins not just as abstract categories, but as real spiritual threats—and explore how humility, gratitude, and daily repentance lead us toward the virtues that shape faithful Christian life.Rev. Dr. David H. Petersen has served as Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, since 2000. A graduate of Central Michigan University and Concordia Theological Seminary (M.Div., S.T.M., D.Min.), he is known for his deep commitment to the Church’s liturgical and theological heritage. Dr. Petersen is a contributing editor for Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy, teaches D.Min. and continuing education courses at CTSFW, and serves on the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations. In addition to his pastoral and academic work, he has helped found both Redeemer Classical School and Agnus Dei Lutheran Church, and frequently contributes to Lutheran Witness, Issues, Etc., and conferences across the country.Check Out Our New Website: https://ontheline.net/Support the Launch of LIT: https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/📧 Contact Bryan: bryan.stecker@ontheline.netSend us a text

18 snips
Jun 16, 2025 • 2h 15min
Dr. David Petersen: A Lutheran Renewal is Happening Against the Odds
Rev. Dr. David H. Petersen has served as Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, since 2000. A graduate of Central Michigan University and Concordia Theological Seminary (M.Div., S.T.M., D.Min.), he is known for his deep commitment to the Church’s liturgical and theological heritage. Dr. Petersen is a contributing editor for Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy, teaches D.Min. and continuing education courses at CTSFW, and serves on the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations. In addition to his pastoral and academic work, he has helped found both Redeemer Classical School and Agnus Dei Lutheran Church, and frequently contributes to Lutheran Witness, Issues, Etc., and conferences across the country.Check Out Our New Website: https://ontheline.net/Support the Launch of LIT: https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/📧 Contact Bryan: bryan.stecker@ontheline.netSend us a text

15 snips
Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 34min
Dr. Christian Preus: Epic Bible Study on Genesis
Rev. Dr. Christian Preus is pastor of Mount Hope Lutheran Church in Casper, Wyoming, and Chairman of the Board of Regents for Luther Classical College. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Iowa and an M.Div. from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. A scholar and translator, his works include Philip Melanchthon’s Loci Communes 1521 and contributions to Luther’s Works. Dr. Preus is also editor of Christian Culture: A Magazine for Lutherans and a frequent contributor to LOGIA. He and his wife, Lisa, are raising their nine children at the foot of Casper Mountain.Check Out Our New Website: https://ontheline.net/Support the Launch of LIT: https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/📧 Contact Bryan: bryan.stecker@ontheline.netSend us a text

8 snips
Jun 2, 2025 • 2h 13min
Dr. Jamison Hardy: Major Updates on the Concordia Universities
Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy is a former district president in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and a member of the President of the Concordia University System. A lifelong Lutheran, Hardy was born in Bay City, Michigan, and attended Lutheran schools before earning his bachelor’s degree from Concordia University Wisconsin and his M.Div. from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. He brings pastoral care, administrative leadership, and theological clarity to his roles within both church and higher education. Dr. Hardy is a passionate advocate for confessional fidelity, strong pastoral formation, and the future of Lutheran institutions.Check Out Our New Website: https://ontheline.net/Support the Launch of LIT: https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/📧 Contact Bryan: bryan.stecker@ontheline.netSend us a text

May 26, 2025 • 1h 51min
Dr. Joel Okamoto: What Hinduism and Buddhism Believe (and How Christianity Differs)
Dr. Joel P. Okamoto, a theologian at Concordia Seminary, delves into the nuances of major world religions, highlighting how Hinduism and Buddhism contrast with Christianity. He discusses the nature of religion, emphasizing that all belief systems grapple with life's ultimate questions. Dr. Okamoto clarifies core Buddhist teachings and explores Hinduism's evolution into metaphysical thought. He passionately defends Christianity, focusing on the significance of Jesus' resurrection and how it shapes understanding of scripture and faith.

May 19, 2025 • 2h 20min
Caleb Keith: Wrestling with Sanctification & the Theology of the Cross
Caleb Keith is a Lutheran theologian and podcast producer at 1517, where he serves as the voice behind The Thinking Fellows and Outlaw God podcasts and oversees the 1517 Podcast Network. He graduated summa cum laude as an Honors Scholar from Concordia University Irvine and holds an MA in systematic and philosophical theology from the University of Nottingham. In 2018, he published a translation of Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation. Caleb lives in California with his wife Erika and their four children: Esther, Emerson, Edmund, and Euna.Check Out Our New Website! https://ontheline.net/Support The Launch of LIT- https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/Send us a text

May 12, 2025 • 1h 56min
Dr. Joel Elowsky: The Early Church Was Lutheran
Rev. Dr. Joel C. Elowsky is Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he also directs the Center for the Study of Early Christian Texts. A leading scholar of the early church, African Christianity, and patristic exegesis, Elowsky has edited and authored numerous works, including volumes in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and Ancient Christian Texts series. He previously served at Concordia University Wisconsin and held academic and research posts connected to Drew University, Eastern University, and the Center for Early African Christianity. Elowsky has been active in global theological dialogue, patristic translation, and mission education—bringing deep historical insight to bear on the needs of the Church today.Check Out Our New Website! https://ontheline.net/Support The Launch of LIT- https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/Send us a text

May 5, 2025 • 3h 1min
Dr. Larry Sanger: The Eucharist: Symbolic or Real? | Wikipedia Founder Debates
Dr. Larry Sanger is a philosopher, technologist, and co-founder of Wikipedia, one of the world's most widely used reference platforms. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from The Ohio State University and has spent his career shaping the landscape of online knowledge and advocating for decentralization, transparency, and intellectual freedom. In recent years, Sanger experienced a profound shift (from agnosticism to Christianity) prompted by deep reflection on truth, meaning, and the foundations of reason. He shares the philosophical journey that led him to Christ and how it reshaped his understanding of knowledge and the human condition.Check out our new website → https://ontheline.net/Support the launch of LIT → https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/Email: bryan.stecker@trinitywaconia.orgSend us a text

Apr 28, 2025 • 1h 51min
Dr. Larry Sanger: Why Wikipedia Founder Converted From Agnostic To Christianity
Dr. Larry Sanger is a philosopher, technologist, and co-founder of Wikipedia, one of the world's most widely used reference platforms. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from The Ohio State University and has spent his career shaping the landscape of online knowledge and advocating for decentralization, transparency, and intellectual freedom. In recent years, Sanger experienced a profound shift (from agnosticism to Christianity) prompted by deep reflection on truth, meaning, and the foundations of reason. He shares the philosophical journey that led him to Christ and how it reshaped his understanding of knowledge and the human condition.Check out our new website → https://ontheline.net/Support the launch of LIT → https://institute.ontheline.net/donation/Send us a text


