The Concordia Publishing House Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Church Music | Dr. Jeffrey Blersch Jun 29, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Elizabeth Pittman is joined by co-host Peter Reske, CPH Senior Editor of Music/Worship. The duo hosts together to interview Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, professor of music at Concordia University Nebraska, and discuss all things church music, composition, and more.

Check out Dr. Blersch’s compositions with CPH at cph.org.
Show Notes

Listen to the episode now as Elizabeth and Peter discuss all things church music with Dr. Jeffrey Blersch. Dr. Blersch shares his background in church music, going back to when he was just eight years old, and his long career as a church musician, composer, and professor. Dr. Blersch also gives advice for students aspiring to be church musicians and majoring in music and shares some of his experiences as an educator and why it has influenced his work throughout the years.
Questions

· Share your musical background and how you got started playing the organ.

·What does your compositional process look like? Do you write at your desk? Piano? Organ?

·What’s your favorite medium to compose for? Organ? Choir? Instruments? Piano?

· If someone aspires to be a church musician/music major, what would you tell them to get started on that path and what it is like to go into those careers?

·Share some of your experiences as an educator that have influenced you and why they did.

·What do you enjoy about composing music?

·Tell us about some of your most recent publications and what inspired you to bring them to life.
About the Guest
Jeffrey Blersch is an associate professor of music and the university organist at Concordia University Nebraska, where he teaches all things organ. He is a working church musician and serves as organist and choral director for Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Staplehurst, Nebraska, but he still performs across the United States as a recitalist and a guest organist at hymn festivals. Inspired by his strong background in music, Jeffrey composes numerous organ and choral works with more than one hundred of his pieces published through Concordia Publishing House. His wife, Carla, is also an organist, and together they have three children: Aaron, Ryan, and Jenna.

The Lutheran Confessions in Daily Life | Rev. Andy Wright Jun 22, 2024

Show notes

This episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast features author Pastor Andy Wright as he previews his new book, Faithfully Formed: The Lutheran Confessions in Daily Life. Andy joins host Elizabeth Pittman to take a look at the Confessions and their roles in our lives as Christians, and how they are relevant to us as we face challenges prevalent in today’s culture.
Get a copy of Andy’s book by visiting cph.org/faithfullyformed.
Show Notes:
The Lutheran Confessions play a vital role in the church—both centuries ago, and today. But do they apply to the daily life of an ordinary person?

Pastor Andy Wright offers a resounding “yes” in his new book, Faithfully Formed. He quotes, summarizes, and synthesizes key teachings from the Confessions, revealing their relevance in our daily lives. Listen to the episode as Andy talks about why the Lutheran Confessions are important to nurturing our faith, what led him to write his book, how we are called to live in relationship with one another, and more.

Get a copy of Faithfully Formed on…

cph.org
Amazon
Questions:

For listeners who may not be Lutheran, what are the Lutheran Confessions?
What led you to write Faithfully Formed?
What is your response to someone who wonders how these writings from so long ago could be relevant to their lives today?
Why is it important to not only believe in God, but to know and articulate who God is?
Why is everything about Jesus?
How do the Lutheran Confessions help us to recognize God at work in our daily lives?
How can the Lutheran Confessions help us address tough cultural issues we see today regarding marriage and gender?
What do the Lutheran Confessions have to say about who our neighbor is and how we should live in relationship with one another?
How can these be viewed as a handbook for the baptized?
Why is it important that, as Christians, we are confident in confessing Christ?

About the Guest:
Pastor Andy Wright serves as senior pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas, and previously served St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, Iowa. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Languages from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He also holds an M.Div. and an S.T.M. in systematic theology from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is currently working on his dissertation pertaining to the Lutheran Confessions for a Ph.D. in doctrinal theology from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Pastor Wright and his wife, Rebekah, have been blessed by God with four daughters, a son, and children who went to be with the Lord from the womb. His areas of focus and interests in theology are the Lutheran Confessions, Luther studies, and pastoral theology. Outside of theology, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and anything pertaining to aviation and the space program.

Insights into Healthy Youth Ministry | Rev. Mark Kiessling and Julianna Shults Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Rev. Mark Kiessling and Julianna Shults from the LCMS Youth Ministry office join host Elizabeth Pittman to discuss facilitating healthy youth ministry practices, as well as their new book, Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry, which outlines their insights into this topic

Get a copy of their book at cph.org/seven-practices-of-healthy-youth-ministry.
Show Notes:
Wondering how to care for the youth in your congregation? Experiencing dwindling attendance or enthusiasm? Not sure how to measure the efficacy of your ministry? LCMS Youth Ministry staff members, Rev. Dr. Mark Kiessling and DCE Julianna Shults, are here to help, offering seven markers of healthy youth ministry. With these research-based, practical insights, you’ll be empowered to take on the essential task of caring for teens in Jesus’ name. Listen now as Mark and Julianna discuss the seven practices (not programs), their journey to writing a book, what’s ahead for the Youth Ministry office, the Youth Gathering in 2025, and more.

Get a copy of Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry on…

cph.org
Amazon

Questions:

· Tell us all about your new book.

· Were there any surprises during your research?

· Who did you write the book for?

· What are the seven practices not?

· What do the seven practices mean?

· If you had to spend some time digging into one of the seven, where would you start?

· What are some ways warmth, challenge, and grace look like in practice?

· Talk about the idea of resilience, identity, and Christ as one of the practices.

· What do you say to youth leaders who have read your book and ask “So, what now?”

· Tell us about what’s coming for the Youth Ministry office.

About the Guests:

The Rev. Mark R. Kiessling serves as the director of LCMS Youth Ministry. In that role, he supports the leadership, service, resourcing, and networking functions of LCMS Youth Ministry. Kiessling graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2006 and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from there in 2020. Kiessling is married to Beth (Timm), who teaches Preschool at Christ Community Lutheran School in Kirkwood, Mo.

Julianna Shults serves as Program Manager for Resources and Leadership for LCMS Youth Ministry. Her work includes managing YouthESource.com and LCMS YouthLead along with other research and resourcing. She graduated from Concordia University Seward in 2005 with a BA in Psychology and Director of Christian Education Certification. As a DCE, she has served both Hope Lutheran in Plant City, FL and St. Paul Lutheran in Chicago, IL. With a lo

Isaiah 1-12 - Concordia Commentary | Rev. Dr. Andrew Bartelt May 29, 2024

Show notes

Rev. Dr. Andrew Bartelt joins this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss the newest volume of the Concordia Commentary series he wrote, which covers Isaiah 1-12. Andy talks about how the first 12 chapters fit into the entirety of the book of Isaiah, and how they fit into the Old Testament overall.

Order a copy of the newest edition in the series at cph.org/isaiah-1-12-concordia-commentary.
Show Notes
Isaiah ben Amoz presents a massive tome of historical references and prophetic words that culminate in the coming of Jesus Christ.

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Andrew Bartelt talks about the Concordia Commentary volume that he wrote on the first 12 chapters of the significant book of Isaiah. Andy reflects on his meticulous commentary and the careful juxtaposition of the grammar of these chapters. He also illuminates the voice of Isaiah and sheds light on his process for writing for the Concordia Commentary series.

Get a copy of Isaiah 1-12 – Concordia Commentary on…
cph.org
Amazon
About the series
The Concordia Commentary Series: A Theological Exposition of Sacred Scripture is written to enable pastors and teachers of the Word to proclaim the Gospel with greater insight, clarity, and faithfulness to the divine intent of the Biblical text. The series will cover all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, with an original translation and meticulous grammatical analysis of the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek of each text. The foremost interpretive lens centers on the unified proclamation of the person and work of Christ across every Scriptural book.

Learn about the Concordia Commentary subscription to save 30% on all new and previously published volumes at cph.org/concordia-commentary-subscription.

About the Guest
Dr. Andrew H. Bartelt is a professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He retired in 2020 after 42 years of distinguished service. At the time of his retirement, he was the Gustav and Sophie Butterbach Professor of Exegetical Theology and professor of Exegetical Theology. His areas of expertise include the Hebrew language, Prophets (Isaiah), Hebrew poetry, and biblical theology.

Leading by Faith | Jim Sanft May 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, host Elizabeth Pittman speaks with Jim Sanft, new author and CEO and president of Concordia Plan Services. In his new book with CPH, Leading by Faith: Practical Insights for Christian Leaders, Jim shares his reflections along his leadership journey as a means of encouraging you on yours.
Leading by Faith will be available on May 28. Pre-order the book on the CPH website at cph.org/leadingbyfaith.
Show Notes
As a Christian leader, you can trust that God is in control of your leadership journey, even when you can't see around the bend to know what's coming next. In this episode, we're joined by Jim Sanft. Jim is the CEO of Concordia Plan Services and the author of Leading by Faith: Practical Insights for Christian Leaders. During the conversation, Jim shares the lessons he’s learned from his more than 25 years of executive leadership experience. He also talks about the importance of leading by faith (not by sight) and learning to lead with God’s grace.
Check out Leading by Faith on…
cph.org
Amazon
Goodreads

Questions
What’s it like being a first time author?
Every leader has a story. Tell us about your story and what led you to a place where you were ready to tell it and help other leaders.
Explain what it means to lead by faith, not by sight.
Tell us about the windshield fallacy.
Explain the leadership lesson you use from Indiana Jones.
How did your educational background in mathematics prepare you for leadership and what lessons have you brought into your current roles because of that?
Tell us a little bit about accountability and how that plays into a leader's role.
Tell us about a leadership lesson that you took away from the Lion King.
What advice do you have for leaders who encounter crisis in their leadership journey?What has it been like traveling around the country talking to different groups about leadership?
What encouragement would you like to leave our listeners with?

About the Guest
Jim Sanft has more than 25 years of executive leadership experience, including being CEO of Concordia Plans, a complex financial services non-profit agency of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. He led his organization through the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 to 2009 as well as the global pandemic of 2020. Throughout his career, Sanft has developed a high-performing team that has been recognized both locally and nationally. He is an established leader among his colleagues from other denominations and serves as chair of The Church Alliance, an organization that advocates for employee benefits for faith leaders and their families. Away from the office, Jim is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

Explore Historical Christian Symbols | Edward Riojas Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Edward Riojas joins us as our guest to discuss his new book A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols. Edward dives into the importance and history behind sacred symbols and how they can deepen our faith.

Get a copy of his book at cph.org/christiansymbols.
Show Notes

Listen now as author and artist Edward Riojas dives into the world of Christian symbols.

Edward joins host Elizabeth Pittman to talk about his new volume of more than 600 historic Christian symbols. The pair explore how in today’s church, we now use these same symbols throughout the sanctuary and in worship materials that Jesus Himself used in his teachings. Edward emphasizes the importance of symbols and art in understanding Scripture and why church leaders should carefully treat each symbol they use during worship. He also talks about how this volume came to be, some of his favorite symbols to investigate, what young artists should know, and more.

Edward’s website
Edward’s Facebook Page

Questions

- Tell us about your life as an artist in the Christian and secular space.

- Talk about the impact that art in general and symbols have on our faith and understanding of Scripture.

- Where do you see symbols being used well in the church today?

- How have you seen some denominations embrace or shy away from using symbols?

- How long ago did you start this project? Tell us a little bit about how this book started.

- Who else is this book for besides pastors and worship leaders? How will history buffs benefit from reading this?

- Did anything surprise you while working on the book?

- Do you have a favorite symbol from the book? Or three that you gravitate towards?

- Why is it important for us as Christians to understand these symbols rather than just passing by them?

About the Guest

Edward Riojas graduated summa cum laude from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a BFA degree. He has worked professionally for more than forty years, including thirty-one years in the newspaper industry. Riojas has returned to his fine-art roots, creating sacred art for commissions and collaborations with various Lutheran entities. His work can be found in sanctuaries, institutions, private collections, and markets throughout the United States and across the globe.

Easter Hymns | Part 2 | Peter Reske Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Easter Hymns | Part 2 | Peter Reske

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Peter Reske, senior editor of Music/Worship at Concordia Publishing House, returns to share his insight into some of his favorite hymns during the Easter season. Peter highlights three hymns and discusses the themes found in each piece.

Shop all the different editions of the Lutheran Service Book by visiting cph.org.
Show Notes

Guest Peter Reske and host Elizabeth Pittman dive into three Easter hymns from the Lutheran Service Book in the newest episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast. Peter’s selections may surprise you but will certainly enrich your understanding of how music is used throughout the Easter season. Peter goes into the history behind each of his selected hymns, explains the themes throughout each hymn’s text, and even mentions the way he is commemorating the 500th anniversary of Lutheran hymnals in 2024. Listen to the full episodenow to hear what Peter has to say about these favorite Easter hymns.
Learn more about the Europe Music Tour that Peter is leading with Christian Travel Planners on their website at christiantravelplanners.com/tours/best-music-tour-072024.
About the Guest

Peter C. Reske, senior editor of music/worship at Concordia Publishing House, holds degrees in English literature and historical musicology from Marquette University and Pennsylvania State University. He was the editor of the Lutheran Service Book and its attendant resources.

Caring for Church Workers | Rev. Dr. Gregory Walton and Rev. Thomas Eggebrecht Mar 16, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Rev. Dr. Gregory Walton and Rev. Thomas Eggebrecht join as guests to discuss the importance of caring for the health and well-being of our church workers. Greg is the vice president of Grace Place Wellness Ministries, a part of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), and Tom is the senior vice president for ministry solutions at LCEF.

Learn more about Grace Place Wellness at lcef.org/grace-place-wellness.

Show Notes

Listen to the full episode as Greg and Tom provide an overview of the mission of Grace Place Wellness and the history behind this organization that has led to its work today. The pair also provide insight into how we the laity can help care for our church workers and leaders, give advice for ministry leaders, talk about some of the most common concerns they see in church workers’ wellness, and preview what their goals are for the Grace Place Wellness Podcast.

Learn more about Grace Place Wellness Ministries at lcef.org/grace-place-wellness.
Listen to the Grace Place Wellness Podcast wherever you listen podcasts or at lcef.org/gpw-podcast.
Questions

· Tell our listeners about Grace Place Wellness.

· What is the Lutheran Wellness Wheel?

· As you work with church workers, what are the most common concerns you hear?

· How can church workers find a balance between ministry and their personal lives?

· Conflict happens—even in the church. What advice do you have for ministry leaders who are experiencing conflict in their church or school?

· What are your goals for the Grace Place Wellness Podcast?

· How can the laity help care for our church workers?

About the Guests

Rev. Dr. Gregory Walton is the vice president of Grace Place Wellness Ministries, which is a part of Ministry Solutions at LCEF.

Rev. Thoms Eggebrecht is the senior vice president of ministry solutions at LCEF.

Assurance for Times of Change | Pastor Christopher M. Kennedy Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Pastor Chris Kennedy joins host Elizabeth Pittman to preview his newest book, Unfailing: God’s Assurance for Times of Change. Pastor Kennedy talks with Elizabeth about finding hope in God’s Word during the big changes we experience throughout life.

Get a copy of Unfailing at cph.org/unfailing.

Show Notes

Change, whether big or small, can unnerve us. The good news is that God does not leave us to go through the ups and downs in our lives alone. Assurance and encouragement can be found in Scripture.

Looking at the life of the prophet Samuel, Pastor Kennedy writes about the changes Samuel endured and uses these examples to show readers how they can trust God to lead them through the shifts in their own lives. Listen to the full episode to hear from Pastor Kennedy as he dives into

Pastor Kennedy’s website: pastorchriskennedy.com

Questions

- Why Samuel? What led you to him as the catalyst for this conversation about change?

- Why do you think it [change] can be so hard for us?

- Is there a time in your life when there's been a change that you'd like to share and what you learned from that?

- In chapter 3, you go through God’s Word and where He speaks about change. Can you speak to some of those verses and where we can find comfort there?

- You reference the research you did with your congregation and with others you know. What did you learn from that survey and what people told you where they struggle with change?

- Sometimes we’re with a friend or a loved one who's experiencing change. What can we learn from Samuel about why we should advocate for that person?

- As you set the book up, you include some discussion questions at the end of every chapter. What do you hope readers will take away from this, whether they're reading individually, or if they're reading this as part of a Bible class or a small group?

About the Guest

Christopher M. Kennedy is the senior pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, School, and Childcare in San Antonio, Texas. He is also the author of Equipped: The Armor of God for Everyday Struggles, Grace under Pressure: Responding Faithfully to Stress, and Jesus Said What? He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication, a Master of Theology, and a doctorate in ministry. Pastor Kennedy and his wife are parents of four children.

Addressing Life Issues with Youth | Michelle Bauman from Y4Life Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, guest Michelle Bauman joins Elizabeth Pittman to discuss life issues and how she helps youth address these topics from a Gospel-centered perspective. Michelle is the director of Y4Life, an organization that seeks to equip high-school- and college-aged youth to be Gospel-motivated voices for life.

Learn more about Y4Life and the Y4Life conference by visiting y4life.org.

Show Notes
A wide scope of life issues exists in today’s world. In this episode, Michelle Bauman shares her insight into the depth of life issues impacting our world and how she works to help youth address these issues head on. Michelle also gives a glimpse into Life Week and the Y4Life conference that took place this past January in Washington D.C., what supporting life looks like in a post-Roe V. Wade society, and how youth across the country can get involved with Y4Life to support the promotion of life-affirming values in their schools, communities, states, and nation.

Y4Life website: y4life.org
Y4Life on Instagram: @lfly4life

Questions

- Tell us about the structure of Y4Life and how that looks at different schools across the country.

- Why do you see youth wanting to be involved (in Y4Life)?

- Life issues go farther than abortion. Tell us why we should care about all life issues.

- Our culture often tells women, “My body. My choice.” How does Y4Life suggest responding to that and pivoting to the point that all life is valuable?

- How did the overturning of Roe V. Wade affect your work and the work of Y4Life and Lutherans for Life?

- If one of our listeners is at a school or in a place that doesn’t have a Y4Life team – how can they get started?

- Leave our listeners with a word of encouragement for supporting life and how we can serve our neighbors through this work.

About the Guest
Michelle Bauman is the Director of Y4Life and joined Lutherans for Life in 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Lutheran teaching from Concordia Nebraska and a master’s degree in English from the University of Indianapolis. Michelle helps young adults understand and address life issues from a Christian perspective. Learn more about Michelle at y4life.org.

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