The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, North Dakota, joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms to talk about his new book, Life in Christ: Rooted, Woven, and Grafted into God’s Story, available from Concordia Publishing House, including the state of Biblical literacy today in the wider society and within the church, what changes in us with increased Biblical literacy, what we learn about God and us in the history of key figures and events in the Old and New Testaments, and how we can use this book. Find your copy at cph.org/life-in-christ-rooted-woven-and-grafted-into-gods-story and amazon.com.

Rev. Anthony Oliphant, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, IL, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the June/July 2023 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled "Receive Him in the Lord" on Philippians 2:19–3:1. This year, "Searching Scripture" will study the book of Philippians, so stay tuned each month for a new Bible study. Follow along 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.Philippians 2:19–3:1Timothy and Epaphroditus19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's[a] proven worth, how as a son[b] with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died[c] for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.Righteousness Through Faith in Christ3 Finally, my brothers,[d] rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.FootnotesPhilippians 2:22 Greek hisPhilippians 2:22 Greek childPhilippians 2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8Philippians 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 17English 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

Rev. Sam Shick, pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Florida, a Set Apart to Serve pilot project participant, joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his journey into pastoral ministry, how the Set Apart to Serve Pilot Project is going in his congregation, how he and the congregation encourage young people and adults to consider church work, how he sees these resources being useful for Synod at large, and his advice for encouraging others to consider church work vocations.Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.Feature image: The Rev. James H. Rockey, president of the LCMS Florida-Georgia District (far right) prays with church workers from local congregations in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Saturday, Oct. 01, 2022, at Grace Lutheran Church, Naples, Fla. LCMS Communications/Erik M. LunsfordChrist’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 Reinke, founder of Deaf Outreach, joins Andy to talk about his path to Deaf Outreach, what the hearing community might not know or understand about the Deaf community, how American Sign Language is different from other forms of communication, who can learn ASL, what hearing congregations can do to reach our Deaf neighbors with the Good News of Jesus, and the upcoming Jesus Signs Immersion Event 2023. Learn more and register at deafoutreach.org.

Julianna Shults, Program Manager with LCMS Youth Ministry, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why it's important to develop leadership among youth in our churches, some misconceptions we might have about the capability of youth to serve as leaders, some proven ways to develop leadership among youth, how YouthLead works to develop young leaders in the church, and how to participate in YouthLead. Learn more and register at lcms.org/youth-ministry/youthlead.

John Klinger, Chief Information Officer at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis joins Andy to talk about the upcoming annual carillon concert at the Seminary, including what a carillon is and how it's played, how these concerts are a tradition at the Seminary, some of the artists that we'll hear this summer, and the best way to enjoy these summer concerts at the Sem. Learn more and find the summer schedule at csl.edu/event/summer-carillon-concert-2023-06-06.

Rev. Andrew Dinger, pastor of Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO, and Dr. Jinah Yoo Knapp, Music Director at Timothy Lutheran Church, join Andy to talk about an upcoming Summer concert at Timothy, including the neighborhood where Timothy is located and how the congregation reaches out into the neighborhood, the role that music plays in the life of the congregation and their connection to the community, and the lineup for the Summer Concert on June 3 at Timothy Lutheran Church. Learn more at timothystl.org/events/timothy-summer-concert/2023-06-03.

Rev. James Sharp, Serving the Lord in Uruguay with the LCMS Office of International Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the church fellowship talks between the LCMS and the Lutheran Church in Bolivia, the exciting updates on the mission field in Uruguay, and how the team on the ground has been growing. Learn more about the Sharp family and how to support their missionary work at lcms.org/sharp.This is a rebroadcast from April 19, 2023.

Rev. Dr. Nabil Nour, Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartford, South Dakota, and 4th Vice President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how he came from Nazareth to being a pastor in South Dakota, what made him decide to leave the painting business and enter the seminary, what he learned about being a second-career pastor that he would share with others, how his experience prior to seminary prepared him to serve in the church, and words of wisdom he would share with men who are contemplating the holy ministry as a second career.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.

Emmy Woock — Director of Parish Music at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, Illinois, and Dr. Charles Brown — Professor of Music, Music Education Coordinator, and Director of Choral Activities at Concordia University Chicago (CUC), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how students at CUC are formed into Lutheran music teachers and church musicians, the skills that are unique to teaching music to children, how music can be used in a school setting to enhance learning, why hymnody is important to teach young children, and the upcoming FAME Music Certification Workshop to help anyone who teaches music enhance their teaching skills. Learn more and register at cuchicago.edu/events/2023/06/fame-music-certification-workshop.