The Red Letter Disciple

Joel Biermann returns to The Red Letter Disciple after the 2026 LCMS presidential election to reflect on the experience and respond to new State of the LCMS Survey data on worship, pastoral formation, church unity, young adults, and the future of the Synod. To access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

What actually makes worship Lutheran? Concordia Seminary professor Kent Burreson joins Zach to talk worship wars, Christian freedom, adiaphora, Word and Sacrament, traditional and contemporary worship, women reading Scripture, pastoral formation, and why Lutherans may be closer together than we think. To access show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

What happens when a congregation knows its current path isn’t sustainable? Scott Giger, Greg Griffith, and Tom Pfotenhauer join Zach to talk honestly about church mergers, multisite ministry, revitalization, pastoral shortages, and how struggling congregations can find new life instead of simply closing their doors. To access show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

Are the worship wars back in the LCMS? Kip Fox and Steve Zank join Zach to talk traditional vs. contemporary worship, the NAR movement, whether Lutherans can use songs from churches like Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation, and how Lutheran worship can remain deeply rooted while still making room for creativity. To access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

What is the future of Lutheran higher education? Concordia University System President Jamison Hardy joins Zach to talk honestly about the state of the Concordias, lessons from Portland, Texas, and Ann Arbor, growing church-work enrollment, Luther Classical College, innovation in higher education, and why the LCMS needs to invest in the next generation. To access the show notes, go to www.redletterpodcast.com.

Why are so many young adults searching for deeper faith? In this special session from the Hodos Influencers Gathering, Bryan Wolfmueller explains why Lutheran theology is uniquely equipped to answer the questions this generation is asking. To access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

For the first time in LCMS history, the synodical presidential election has advanced to a third ballot. With only 14 votes separating incumbent President Matthew Harrison and challenger Dr. Joel Biermann, Zach Zehnder and Matt Popovits discuss what this unprecedented election reveals about the state of the LCMS, the future of pastoral formation, and why every vote matters. To access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

For the first time in years, the LCMS presidential election is headed to a second ballot. Tim Ahlman and Zach Zehnder break down the results, discuss the growing support for Dr. Joel Biermann, and explore what these numbers reveal about the future of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. To access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

Most churches want to make disciples. Few have a clear strategy for multiplying them. In this episode, Zach sits down with LCMS pastor, church planter, and Kairos Network founder Matt Peeples to discuss micro-groups, disciple-making, and why simplicity may be the key to reaching the next generation. To access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

With 88 overtures related to pastoral formation headed to the 2026 LCMS Convention, one of the most important conversations in the Missouri Synod is heating up.Former Concordia Seminary professor Dr. Andy Bartelt joins Zach Zehnder to explore the history, tensions, opportunities, and future of pastoral formation in the LCMS. To access the show notes visit www.redletterpodcast.com.