Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

What do "heresy," "orthodox," and "heterodox" mean, especially in the context of our Lutheran confessions? How does the history of our Lutheran confessions compare to other denominations? How do we use our confessions to compare what we believe to what others believe? How is Christ in the center of our Lutheran confessions?Rev. Jaime Nava, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Maplewood, Missouri, 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 (History/Setting/Background - Paragraph 1).

How is Election a comforting thing? How does discussion on Election always come back to Jesus? What are some false views of predestination that Lutherans do not agree with?Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article XI: God's Eternal Foreknowledge <Predestination> and Election (Negative Statements).

Why are some saved and not others? If we cannot climb into the mind of God, how can we be assured of our election? How is predestination all about the comfort of the Gospel? Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Amston, CT, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article XI: God’s Eternal Foreknowledge <Predestination> and Election (Affirmative Statements).

How do we understand the doctrine of predestination and election, or God's eternal foreknowledge? How does human understanding and reason cloud how we understand this doctrine? What is the divine logic in this doctrine? Where do we read about this doctrine in Scripture?Find the free (public domain) audio Book of Concord at bookofconcord.org/audio.php, archive.org/details/LibrivoxBookOfConcord, and librivox.org/group/376.Rev. Jonathan Lange, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kemmerer and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Evanston, Wyoming, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article XI: God's Eternal Foreknowledge <Predestination> and Election (Status of the Controversy).

What is the historical context behind this article on Church Practices? What are some examples of how Lutheran Church Practices differ from other denominations? What do these practices or ceremonies communicate or teach about our faith?Rev. Charles Henrickson, pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article X: Church Practices (Negative Statements para. 8-12).

Does adiaphora mean things don't matter? How do we distinguish things that are adiaphora in our church practices? How do we handle and consider changes to worship practice?Rev. Kurt Cockran, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Tucson, Arizona, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article X: Church Practices (Affirmative Statements para. 3-7).

Hear this history behind the term "adiaphora," the Smalcald wars, and how we apply this word to our church practices. Do certain things really matter?Are we just agreeing to disagree or is there more to it? What do we as Lutherans consider adiaphora?Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Saint Peter Lutheran Church in La Grange, Missouri, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article X: Church Practices (Status of the Controversy paragraphs 1 &2).

What do we believe about Christ's descent to hell? What happened when He descended there? What does Martin Luther teach about this part of our doctrine?Rev. Dr. Jayson Galler, pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Kilgore, Texas, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IX: The Descent of Christ to Hell.Download the sermon by Martin Luther, referenced in this episode, here at kfuo.org. This sermon is from Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology XIII:3 [2003], pp.37-50. Used with permission.

What do we actually believe about the person of Christ (good Christology)? What is the opposite of that, those teachings that make up bad Christology? How do we explain what we believe about Christ as comes from Scripture?Rev. Nate Hill, pastor of Saint Michael's Lutheran Church in Winchester, Texas, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VIII: The Person of Christ, Negative Statements (paragraphs 19-).

Why did Christ have to take on flesh, even though He does not have a beginning or an end? How do we confess the truths of Christ's two natures? Is it possible to separate the two natures of Christ?Rev. Peter Ill, senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article VIII: The Person of Christ, Affirmative Statements (paragraphs 4-18).Text of the hymn “We Praise You and Acknowledge, You, O God” © 1999 Stephen P. Starke, administered by Concordia Publishing House. Recording from “We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God: Hymns of Stephen P. Starke” © 2011 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.