Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

What do we LCMS Lutherans mean when we talk about worship? How does our language, including use of metonymy and synecdoche, shape how we talk about worship? Where do we learn about Lutheran worship and divine service in our Lutheran confessions, and what do those passages teach us about right worship?Chaplain Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for the LCMS and Chaplain at the International Center joins host Rev. Sean Smith for this study.

What is the foundation for discussion of Concord within the Christian Church? What does unity look like in the Christian Church? How is such unity preserved? How do we handle disunity, heterodoxy, and heresy in the Church? Where would be a good “first-step” place to go in the Book of Concord to help us handle these matters?Rev. David Wiist, pastor of Concordia Lutheran in Evansville, Indiana, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss how our Lutheran confessions matter for us to live peaceably as the body of Christ.

What is a soul? What does it mean to care for souls, and why is that important? Is it different from mental health therapy? How does right understanding of the care of souls affect how pastors care for their flock?Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Concord Matters for the care of souls.

The historical context of the Book of Concord is quite intricate. Cultural and political influences abounded in the 1500-1600s and caused tricky situations for the young Lutheran church in Saxony and across German territories. The Saxon Visitation Articles from 1592 brought standards to Lutheran practice across Saxony and were brought to America by Saxon Lutherans. This small part, not officially part of the Book of Concord, holds great historical and doctrinal value for our Lutheran confessions.Rev. Brian Thomas, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in San Diego, California, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Saxon Visitation Articles in the Appendix to the Book of Concord.

What is the Catalog of Testimonies included in the Appendix of the Reader's Edition of the Book of Concord? (Did you even know that was there?) Why does it matter a great deal that our church fathers wrote and spoke in accordance with the Word of God? Why should we study what our church fathers believed and taught?Rev. Anthony Dodgers, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlotte, Iowa, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Catalog of Testimonies in the Appendix of the Reader's Edition of the Book of Concord.

What do we believe about confession and why should we want to go to confession? What are the two kinds of confession? How is confession and absolution balm to weary souls?Rev. Mark Barz, pastor of Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Martin Luther's "A Brief Exhortation to Go to Confession."

The old saying goes, "if we do not learn from history we will have to repeat history's mistakes." On this episode we will dig in to the history and background of the Formula of Concord, including how it came into being and succeeded in healing the young strife-torn Lutheran Church. We learn wisdom from it that, God-willing, creates the setting for us to approach controversies that threaten our unity in the Church today.Rev. Jaime Nava, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Maplewood, Missouri, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the history, background, and setting for the Formula of Concord. (This is a rebroadcast from November 26, 2019.)

Who are the Schwenkfeldians and how are they related to the Reformation? What is the proper understanding of Christ's incarnation? How do our beliefs about the sacraments differ from those opposed to our Lutheran Confessions? How does everything boil down to the proper distinction between Law and Gospel?Rev. Paul Cain, senior pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School in Sheridan, Wyoming, and Secretary and Webmaster on the board for the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE), joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article XII: Other Factions ‹Heresies› and Sects that Never Embrace the Augsburg Confession (Erroneous Articles of the Schwenkfeldians - Paragraphs 20-27).

What are the three estates that Christians are a part of? How are government, church, and family different vocational spheres, and how do our beliefs about these estates shape our daily lives as Christians? How do we partake in each of these estates as faithful Christians?Rev. Matt Richard, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot, North Dakota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article XII: Other Factions ‹Heresies› and Sects that Never Embrace the Augsburg Confession (Articles that cannot be tolerated in the Government & Domestic Life - Paragraphs 12-19).

Why is it important to also confess what we reject? What are the teachings that we do reject? How are these teachings connected to ancient heresies, and how does our Lutheran doctrine teach against these things?Rev. Matt Richard, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot, North Dakota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article XII: Other Factions ‹Heresies› and Sects that Never Embrace the Augsburg Confession (Erroneous Articles of the Anabaptists - Paragraph 2-11).