The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 2, Dr. Mary Manz Simon, former host of “Front Porch Parenting” for 15 years on KFUO, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell, to talk about how she served KFUO over the years, how she saw Front Porch Parenting reaching listeners in practical ways, and her favorite memories of working for KFUO.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

The King and Parliament went to war in 1642 and changed the course of the monarchy. In episode 7 in our series on the Puritan movement, the reformation of the Church of England moves ahead when Westminster Abbey discovers the disunity within Puritan belief and practice. Learn how the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists differentiate themselves, the most contentious doctrinal points, and how these groups became settled in America.Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

Rev. David Fleming, Director of Spiritual Care with DOXOLOGY, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about the work of DOXOLOGY for spiritual care and counsel for church workers, the challenges pastors and other church workers face today, how the Take Heart retreats served church workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the In HIS Image conferences support parents and church workers facing current issues today. Learn about DOXOLOGY at doxology.us and find details about the In HIS Image programs at doxology.us/programs/in-his-image.Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

This issue of LW focuses on the church as a teaching and learning community. Peter encourages Christian education oriented toward apologetics, the defense of the Christian faith: “Always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Lutherans have a wonderful resource for apologetics in the Small Catechism, which is a foundation and guide for deeper knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Peter does not encourage Christians to force their faith on others but tells them to be well-prepared to — when asked! — offer a gentle, respectful account of why Christ the Lord is the way, the truth and the life.Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the August 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “A Community of Hope” on 1 Peter 3:8–17. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Elect Exiles” and will walk through the First Epistle of St. Peter. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us!Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.1 Peter 3:8–17Suffering for Righteousness' Sake8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For“Whoever desires to love life and see good days,let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.Read full chapter English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org

How does a constantly changing congregation welcome new members, stay true to its Lutheran identity, and encourage young people to consider church work vocations? The Rev. Larry Peters, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville, TN, joins us for our Set Apart to Serve series from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to talk about how they are an intentionally welcoming congregation, how they welcome new Lutherans into Lutheran liturgy and practice, how the church has grown over the years and how that has changed their staffing needs, and the realistic challenges of calling a new pastor. Learn more about Grace Lutheran Church at glctn.org.Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 1, Dr. Paul Devantier, current producer and voice of BY THE WAY and previous executive director of LCMS Communications and KFUO, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell, to talk about his years serving the LCMS and KFUO, how he saw the lives of listeners shaped and impacted by the message broadcast on KFUO, the landmark Supreme Court case that KFUO fought in the 1990s, the incredible expansion of technology during his tenure, and his favorite memories of working at KFUO.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

How did the Scottish Rebellion happen, and what effect did this have on the Church of England? In episode 6 of our series on the Puritan movement, we learn more about how the separation but shared monarchy of England and Scotland causes political and religious issues. The Scottish Reformation had produced a Presbyterian church, so when Charles I tries to unite England and Scotland in worship practice, the Scots rebel. Hear how Charles’s dicey relationship with Parliament comes to a head during this time, how Charles decides to deal with the rebellion, and how the Catholics make this situation even more tenuous.Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

Lauren Humphrey, junior Director of Church Ministries student at Concordia University Wisconsin and Summer Intern with LCMS Youth Ministry, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about her experiences performing acts of mercy while on mission trips with Concordia University Wisconsin, why these mission trips are formative for her and other students, how acts of mercy are integral to our Christian lives, and how mission trips helped her see the church at large and the value of our global partners.Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

A group of Lutherans from Australia attended the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music in Seward, NE, and we want to share their story! Peter Wittwer, Chairman of the Creative Word Fellowship, and Hayley Simons, leader of Victorian Youth Camps, join Andy and Sarah from the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music to share how they serve in their local churches, how they got connected with the Institute, what they were hoping to learn and experience, what has been encouraging for them, some similarities and differences between Lutherans in Australia and Lutherans in the United States, and what they will bring back with them to their congregations in Australia.

How is a young church musician formed through Lutheran education at Concordia University Irvine? Olivia Thoelke, Church Music/Director of Parish Music student at Concordia University Irvine, joins Andy and Sarah from the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to talk about where her interest in church music began, who has been most influential in shaping her as a child of God and as a church musician, how she chose Concordia University Irvine for her church music formation, how her Lutheran education is preparing her to serve the church, and what she is gaining from her time at the Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music.Learn more about Concordia University Irvine’s Director of Parish Music (DPM) Program at cui.edu/academicprograms/undergraduate/church-work/director-of-parish-music-programChrist’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.