The Lutheran Witness Podcast

Formula of Concord XI serves as a sort of capstone to the entire Book of Concord, because it brings together numerous topics of Christian doctrine: the authority of Scripture, God, the Holy Spirit, Law and Gospel, the Means of Grace, faith, the limits of human reason and, above all, the person and work of Christ, who is “the Book of Life” (Ep XI 7, 13). We are taught to avoid prideful speculation about God’s hidden purposes and cling humbly to His gracious will revealed in His inspired and inerrant Word, the Bible.As we learned in Article IX to shun “useless, unnecessary questions” and “believe with Christian simplicity” (Ep IX 3) the Word, so now we bow before “the mystery of God’s eternal election” (Ep XI 11), also known as “predestination” (Ep XI 5). Election/predestination is distinguished from God’s “foreknowledge,” which means that He knows everything that will happen but does not thereby cause evil or sin (Ep XI 3–4). Biblical election/predestination, on the other hand, refers to the teaching that God elects Christians to salvation. This is not a fatalistic, Calvinistic double predestination — we do not believe that God elects anyone to damnation. Rather, predestination “covers only the godly, beloved children of God. It is a cause of their salvation, which He also provides” (Ep XI 5). God’s truth about election/predestination provides “glorious comfort” (Ep XI 13) for us as we live under the cross and are attacked by the devil, the world and our own sinful flesh.Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the November 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article XI: Predestination and Election” on Article XI in the Formula of Concord. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Following the Formula” and will walk through the Formula of Concord in the Augsburg Confession. Follow along every month!This year, “Searching Scripture” is walking through the Formula of Concord (FC) from our Lutheran Confessions, exploring the biblical foundations for each topic. Before starting this study, it may be helpful to read FC Ep XI on Predestination and Election (p. 497–500 in Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, CPH 2005). Or follow along with the full Formula of Concord monthly reading plan at witness.lcms.org/reading-plan.Listen to the Coffee Hour episode with Rev. Brady Finnern on Article XI at kfuo.org/2025/11/03/coffee-hour-110325-election-in-the-formula-of-concord, and find correlating Concord Matters episodes at kfuo.org/formulaofconcord.Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in England? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Tapani Simojoki (Chairman, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of England, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England at lutheranchurch.org.uk.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in the Czech Republic? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Martin Damašek (Interim Bishop, The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Czech Republic) joins Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Czech Republic, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of the Czech Republic, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Czech Republic at ecav.cz/kategorie/ecav/kategorie/deni-v-cirkvi and Martin Damašek at lutheranchurch.cz/our-church-community.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in South Africa? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Helmut Paul (Bishop, Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa) joins Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of South Africa, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa at felsisa.org.za/en.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Portugal? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Adalberto Hiller (President, Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church) joins Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of the Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of Portugal, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find the Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church at ielp.pt.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in the Philippines? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Antonio Reyes (President, The Lutheran Church in the Philippines) joins Andy Bates (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of The Lutheran Church in the Philippines, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of the Philippines, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find The Lutheran Church in the Philippines at ilcouncil.org/members/asia/philippines.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Norway and Iceland? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Torkild Masvie (Bishop, Lutheran Church in Norway and Iceland) joins Andy Bates (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of the Lutheran Church in Norway and Iceland, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of Norway and Iceland, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find the Lutheran Church in Norway and Iceland at lkn.no/information-in-english.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Nigeria? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Dr. Christian Ekong (Archbishop, Lutheran Church of Nigeria) joins Andy Bates (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, the history of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of Nigeria, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find the Lutheran Church of Nigeria at lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/the-lutheran-church-of-nigeria.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Norway? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Thor With (Bishop, The Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese in Norway) joins Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he lives and works, The Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese in Norway, challenges this church body has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, how the church fits into the broader culture of Norway, how they are able to serve their neighbors with the love of Christ, and the joy he’s found among fellowship with fellow Lutherans.Find The Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese in Norway at delsin.no and ilcouncil.org/members/europe/norway-2.To learn more about Global Lutheranism:Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

What are the latest updates from our friends in Lutheran Mission - Australia? The Rev. Michael Prenzler (Interim Principal, Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia) and Deaconess Kathleen Mills (Registrar, Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia) join Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about the very exciting first Synodical Assembly for Lutheran Mission - Australia (LM-A), the now-official altar and pulpit fellowship between LM-A and the LCMS, the new developments for LM-A's seminary (Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia), the story of the beginning and development of the seminary, the state of theological education for the upcoming year, and future goals for Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia.Learn more about Lutheran Mission - Australia and the new seminary at lutheranmissionaustralia.org.au.For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.