The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Rev. Nabil S. Nour — a Palestinian Christian from Nazareth, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartford, SD, and Fourth Vice President of the LCMS, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his heritage as a Palestinian Christian, his childhood in Israel, the history of the conflict between Palestine and Israel, how each group's understanding of land possession plays a role in this conflict, how we understand the Israel of the Scriptures and the nation-state of Israel established in 1948, what this conflict presents for an Arab Palestinian Christian from Israel living in the USA, and if there's a solution for this seeming unending conflict. Download Pastor's Nour's Bible Study by clicking here.

Rev. Brian Hamer, active duty Navy Chaplain and author of the Lifted Voice column in Around the Word: Theology for the Curious Christian, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Sacred Music for Child-Loss Month, including why sacred music is meaningful when addressing the topic of child loss, his encounter with the concept of the unborn Christ child, and three pieces of music that are especially helpful in this conversation. These pieces are:James MacMillan: A Child's Prayer | Seattle Pro Musica youtu.be/tIgDUVUbOng?feature=sharedMaurice Duruflé: Requiem, Op. 9: Kyrie youtu.be/cauEGSW73hg?feature=sharedVOCES8: Nunc Dimittis - Paul Smith youtu.be/qwyqJoTmPCM?feature=sharedRead more from Chaplain Brian Hamer at whatdoesthismean.org/lifted-voice--brian-hamer.

Rev. Dr. Charles Gieschen — Provost and Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, and Rev. Dr. Ronald Mudge — Provost and Chief Academic Officer and Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary St. Louis, join Andy and guest co-host Rev. Dr. James Baneck for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about their journeys into church work, the various aspects of seminary life that shaped their individual pastoral formation, what has changed in pastoral formation and seminary life since their days in seminary, and the rigors of current seminary education.Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.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.

Rev. Dr. John Bombaro, Associate Director of Eurasia for the LCMS and Chair of the Systematics Department for Luther Academy in Rīga, Latvia, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about today's age of Humanitarian ethics and the mission of Humanitarianism, how identity plays a role in this worldview, where we see these ethics at play today, and how to recognize and combat these ethics in our families and congregations.Learn more about the Lutheran Church in Latvia, Dr. Bombaro's work with Luther Academy, and the LCMS Eurasia region at engage.lcms.org/latvia-spring-2021.This program originally aired January 13, 2022.

Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy, Bishop of the LCMS English District and author of Pastoral Leadership, Shepherding and Caring for God’s People available from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah for our series on Leadership to talk about leadership as a means of pastoral care, including the relationship of pastoral duties (preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments) to all other aspects of pastoral leadership, how leadership issues are related to spiritual issues, how pastoral leadership is stewarding the gifts entrusted to you, and how someone can become and remain a high-quality pastoral leader.Find Bishop Hardy's book from CPH at cph.org/pastoral-leadership-shepherding-and-caring-for-gods-people.

Rev. Mark Kiessling — Director of LCMS Youth Ministry, Julianna Shults — Program Manager for LCMS Youth Ministry, and Meredith Smith — Communications Specialist for LCMS Youth Ministry, join Andy to talk about the 2025 LCMS Gathering theme Endure based on Hebrews 12:1-3. They discuss what happens in the four days that make up an LCMS Youth Gathering, why this is a valuable experience for LCMS youth and adults, and what attendees will experience in New Orleans on July 19–23, 2025!Follow all things gathering at lcmsgathering.com, facebook.com/lcmsgathering, and instagram.com/lcmsgathering.

Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Professor of Theology & Ministry and Director of The Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University St. Paul, joins Andy to talk about questions surrounding Israel’s role in God’s plan of salvation as the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict continues and intensifies. They discuss some modern-day misunderstandings we should address, how divergent methods of biblical interpretation play a role in our misunderstandings about modern-day Israel, what Premillennial-Dispensationalism is, whether there is a difference between the modern nation or land now known as Israel and the Israel we read about in the Old Testament, a proper biblical understanding of the land now known as Israel and Palestine, and how we can lovingly talk about this Truth with friends who believe that the nation-state of Israel is a sign of the end times. Find the "Lutheran Response to The Left Behind Series" at files.lcms.org and the companion Bible study at files.lcms.org.

Robert Finch, pre-seminary student at Concordia University St. Paul, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his journey to Lutheranism and Concordia St. Paul, how he discovered Lutheran doctrine, what he's learning in pre-seminary studies, why he loves learning Biblical languages, and how this program will prepare him for his next chapter at seminary. Learn more about the pre-seminary program and $0 tuition at Concordia St. Paul at csp.edu/program/pre-seminary.Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.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.

Robert Lunak, Superintendent of Lutheran Neighborhood Schools in the LCMS South Wisconsin District, joins Andy to talk about Lutheran education in South Wisconsin, what makes Lutheran Neighborhood Schools different, how this creative model will benefit students, and how our tradition of excellence in Lutheran education continues in this unique educational experience. Learn more about Lutheran Neighborhood Schools at mylns.org.

Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy, Bishop of the LCMS English District and author of Pastoral Leadership, Shepherding and Caring for God’s People available from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah for our series on Leadership to talk about financial matters and why they're important as a pastor, including how one’s understanding of money is significant in leadership and mission, why it's not enough to only teach good biblical stewardship from the pulpit, some financial terms and concepts that a pastoral leader should know, how laziness or complacency to financial matters impacts the health of a congregation, and why the pastor should be involved in the budgeting process.Find Bishop Hardy's book from CPH at cph.org/pastoral-leadership-shepherding-and-caring-for-gods-people.