The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Most of Peter’s First Epistle is straightforward in meaning, but this month’s reading contains two difficult passages: 1 Peter 3:18–20 and 4:6. Consulting a faithful and reliable resource such as The Lutheran Study Bible is advisable when you are faced with challenging texts. For the first difficult passage, one should ask, “What else could this refer to other than Christ’s victorious descent into hell to proclaim defeat over sin, Satan and the enemies of God?” This is the proper meaning, as we confess in the Apostles’ Creed: Christ “descended into hell.” With the second difficult passage, other Scriptures clarify the meaning: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27; see also Luke 16:19–31). “Those who are dead” (1 Peter 4:6) to whom the Gospel has been preached must be those dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) in this life who need to hear and believe the life-giving Word of Christ. In the verses for this month, Peter makes it perfectly clear that Baptism is a saving bath that unites us with Christ’s resurrection and gives us power for a new life. As a baptized community made alive “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21), we now “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the September 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “A Baptized Community” on 1 Peter 3:18–4:6. 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.

What makes teaching 5th grade at a Classical Lutheran School a unique experience? Mrs. Brittany Wilber, Fifth Grade Teacher at Faith Lutheran School in Plano, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what she loves about being a teacher at Faith Lutheran School, what is unique about teaching 5th grade, how catechesis is included in the curriculum, how classical education forms young adults in the Lutheran faith and prepares them for future vocations, and the relationship between teachers, parents, and pastors at Faith Plano.Learn more about Faith Plano, including the upcoming Golf Tournament to support the school, at flsplano.org.

Josh Douglas, Gift Planning Advocate with LCMS Mission Advancement, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why he joined LCMS Mission Advancement, what a Gift Planning Advocate does, how he builds relationships with people across Synod as he helps them plan their giving, why joyful giving matters, and how to start the process of a long-term gift for the LCMS. Learn more at giftplanning.lcms.org.This program originally aired on October 2, 2023.

What does a Christ-centered understanding of vocation look like in daily life? Deaconess Kristin Wassilak (Dean of the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities; Program Leader for Deaconess Studies and Classical Lutheran Education), Rev. Dr. Chad Kendall (Assistant Vice President for Mission & Identity; Associate Professor of Theology; Supervisor of the Office of Church Relations) and Rev. Simeon Raddatz (University Chaplain, Program Lead for the Pre-Seminary Program) from Concordia University Chicago join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what vocation looks like in daily life and in church work, what influenced each of them to pursue a church work vocation, some of the greatest joys and challenges of church work, and the opportunity for high school students to explore studying for church work vocations at the Careers for Christ weekend at Concordia University Chicago. Learn more and register for Careers for Christ at cuchicago.edu/c4c.Hear Deaconess Kristin's story in our Set Apart to Serve series at kfuo.org/2023/12/08/coffee-hour-120823-set-apart-to-serve-deaconess-ministry.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 7, KFUO's Lead Producer Jenny Williams joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about her many years with KFUO Radio, how she's seen technology changed during her time with KFUO, some of her favorite memories over the years, and why she's loved working with KFUO Radio.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

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 6, former on-air host Rev. Doug Nicely ("In His Steps" and "Do You Have A Minute") joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he served KFUO as an on-air host, stories of his time with KFUO Radio, the impact he saw while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loved about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

What is the need for a biblical understanding of reconciliation? Dwight Schettler (President of Ambassadors of Reconciliation) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what reconciliation is from a Biblical viewpoint, how Ambassadors of Reconciliation has equipped Christians with the truth and skills to live lives of reconciliation, how reconciliation is a "heart" matter, and the various upcoming opportunities to learn more about and practice reconciliation. Find details about these upcoming opportunities at aorhope.org.

Why should we consider the relationship of technology to the soul? Dr. David Maxwell (Professor of Systematic Theology and Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), Dr. Kevin Golden (Director of Resident Field Education, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology, and Dean of Theological Research and Publication at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), and Erika Petsch (Director of Continuing Education at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2024 Theological Symposium "Technology and the Church: Promise and Peril" happening September 17-18 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. They discuss why artificial intelligence and other technologies are important to them as individuals and seminary professors, what questions have arisen among students about emerging technology, and what attendees will learn and experience at this year's Theological Symposium. Learn more and register for Symposium at csl.edu/event/34th-annual-theological-symposium.

Why are hymns important for young adults, and how can we teach young people to love and appreciate hymnody? Rev. Kevin Twit, Campus Minister with Reformed University Fellowship at Belmont University (Presbyterian Church in America) and the founder of Indelible Grace Music, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his service as a campus minister of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), how hymns shaped his faith in childhood and into adulthood, why hymnody is important to him and crucial to teach to young adults, how he introduced traditional hymnody to students who may be unfamiliar, and the next album from Indelible Grace available now on streaming platforms. Learn more about Indelible Grace and find their music at igracemusic.com.

Concordia University students studying to become church workers had the chance to share about church work vocations at Higher Things Conferences this summer. In Part 1 of 2, Young Adult Representatives (YARs) Brianna Pike and Josh Rueter join Andy and Sarah to talk about their church work programs, how they were chosen to be YARs, the conversations they had with Higher Things participants at the Wisconsin and Portland conferences, and how this experience shaped how they view their own future vocations as church workers. Learn more about Higher Things at higherthings.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.