Concord Matters From Kfuo Radio

What is the article on which the church stands or falls? Are we justified by the human nature or divine nature of Christ? (Or is it both?) How is this article relevant for us today? In the end, it’s still all about Jesus and what He’s done for us. Rev. Benjamin Ball, Senior Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School Hamel, Illinois, and 6th Vice-President of the Central Region of the LCMS, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article III: The Righteousness of Faith before God (paragraphs 1-6).

What’s the difference between the Pelagians and Semi-Pelagians? Where do we see these teachings now? What is your role in salvation? Who are considered dry bones? How does our language affect how we understand our theology? Dr. Kevin Armbrust, Director of Editorial for LCMS Communications, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article II: of Free Will in the Book of Concord.

It’s another day of negative statements in the Article on Free Will. How do we properly read the Scriptures? How does our human will and nature affect how we read scripture and understand the Word of God? How does our salvation in Christ change how we view the world? Dr. Kevin Armbrust, Director of Editorial for LCMS Communications, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article II: of Free Will in the Book of Concord.

The second article of the Epitome of the Formula of Concord studies the doctrine of the will of man. Man can want (will) to do many things. If he wants to begin a relationship with a person he can choose to walk up to a stranger and start a conversation. The topic being discussed in this episode is whether a person has the free will to come to God or if God must come to the person to begin the relationship. Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, and Dr. Kevin Armbrust, Director of Editorial for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Formula of Concord in the Book of Concord.

The human person has been created by God. We do not believe Satan mixed original sin into our nature during creation. The human person is corrupted by original sin and is incapable of coming to God. We do not blame our original sin for our faults as if it has nothing to do with ourselves. However, we do admit our complete sinful condition and ask God to forgive us. This is important, for it keeps God’s positive actions of creating, redeeming, sanctifying, and resurrecting as good actions. It also shows how the devil’s actions are negative and corrupt what God has done, and it shows man’s situation of being lost in sin and in need of the Savior. Rev. Timothy Appel— pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Smithville, Texas, Rev. Nathaniel Hill— pastor of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, Texas, and Rev. Dustin Beck— pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, Texas, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article I: of Original Sin (paragraphs 17ff) in the Book of C

What are the negative statements, or things we don’t believe, about original sin? How does what we believe about Christ’s incarnation and perfect human nature affect what we believe about original sin? What does Pelagian, Semi-Pelagian, and Manichean mean and why should we be aware of these things? Dr. Kevin Armbrust, Director of Editorial for LCMS Communications, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article I: of Original Sin (paragraphs 11-17) in the Book of Concord.

What’s the difference between the Epitome of the Formula of Concord and the Solid Declaration? What is original sin? What is the nature of humanity? Does Human = Original Sin? What does philosophy have to do with all of this? Rev. Peter Ill— pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, Peter Slayton— Social Media Manager for the LCMS, and Dr. Kevin Armbrust— Director of Editorial for the LCMS Communications Department, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article I: of Original Sin in the Book of Concord.

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.

The gospel requires those who preside over churches to “exercise jurisdiction”–that is, excommunicate those who are guilty of notorious crimes and absolve those who repent. The bishops have tyrannically reserved this right for themselves alone, and have employed it for gain. But again, this belongs to the proper work of the gospel, which by divine right belongs to all who preside over the churches in the gospel. Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Power and Primacy of the Pope: The Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops (paragraphs 74-end) in the Book of Concord.

The gospel requires of those who preside over the churches that they preach the gospel, remit sins, and administer the sacraments. This power belongs, by divine right, to all who preside over the churches–whether they are called pastors, presbyters, or bishops. For wherever the church exists, the right to administer the gospel also exists. Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, and Peter Slayton, Social Media manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Power and Primacy of the Pope: The Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops (paragraphs 60-73).

Is the Pope the Antichrist? Rev. Peter Ill— pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, Peter Slayton— Social Media Manager for the LCMS, and Dr. Kevin Armbrust— Director of Editorial for the LCMS and interim editor of the Lutheran Witness, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Power and Primacy of the Pope: The Marks of the Antichrist (paragraphs 39-59).

Is Christianity strengthened and expanded in the world by worldly power and influence? That was the thinking of the Roman papacy at the time of the Reformation and the Power and Primacy of the Pope (paragraphs 32-38) contrasts this thinking of the Pope between that of Christ and the Gospel, which is the true influence of the Church in the world. Rev. David Wiist, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Evansville, Indiana, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Power and Primacy of the Pope: A Contrast Between Christ and the Pope (paragraphs 32-38) in the Book of Concord.

Does Matthew 16:18-19 mean that Peter was named the first Pope by Jesus himself? Does the Papacy have any special or Divine authority? Are the Keys given to just Peter and his successors, or the whole Church? These are some of the questions the Lutherans address in the Power and Primacy of the Pope in their Refutation of the Roman Arguments (paragraphs 22-31). Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, and Peter Slayton, social media manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss The Power and Primacy of the Pope in the Book of Concord.

What is the history surrounding this document, The Power and Primacy of the Pope? How does this history reflect itself in the Book of Concord and how does it relate to us today? How does the expanse of the church across the world play into Biblical church hierarchy? What is church hierarchy, anyway? Rev. Peter Ill— pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, Peter Slayton— Social Media Manager for the LCMS, and Dr. Kevin Armbrust— Director of Editorial for the LCMS and interim editor of the Lutheran Witness, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss paragraphs 12-21 in The Power and Primacy of the Pope in the Book of Concord.

Some traditions and institutions are created with the best of intentions, but when they do not work out as planned, rules and regulations designed to “fix things” can end up making matters worse. This is what the Smalcald Articles says happened in the case of Monastic Vows (Part III, Article XIV) and Human Traditions (Part III, Article XV). Rev. Anthony Oliphant, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, Illinois, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss these articles.

Have you ever heard (or thought) these things? What about good works? Doesn’t God command us to do certain things, like keeping the Ten Commandments or loving our neighbor as ourselves? Isn’t the promise of sheer grace a little dangerous? Won’t people get lazy if we tell them there is nothing they can do to save themselves? We have to do something, don’t we? Luther addresses all of these questions in the Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article XIII: How One is Justified before God and Does Good Works. Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith for the conversation.

We call the Church the “Holy Christian Church.” But who or what is the church? What is the authority of the church? What is the church built on, and what do we put our faith in? These are the points that Luther takes up in a short, but weighty articles for discussion in the Smalcald Articles: Part III, Articles XII: The Church. Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, and Peter Slayton, Social Media Manager for the LCMS, join host Rev. Sean Smith for the conversation.

Rev. Micah Bauer, Associate Pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings, South Dakota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Part III, Article X: Ordination and the Call in the Smalcald Articles in the Book of Concord. The church is to gather together to preach the Gospel, use the sacraments, and promote the spreading of the pure Word of God. For this work, our Lord has graciously given to His Church the Office of Holy Ministry. Hence, there is a need for pastors! But how can you know that your pastor is rightly ordained for this work?