The Concordia Publishing House Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Baptismal River | Rev. Dr. Richard Davenport Jul 22, 2023

Show notes

The Baptismal River | Rev. Dr. Richard Davenport
Rev. Dr. Richard Davenport joins host Elizabeth Pittman on this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss his upcoming Bible study, The Baptismal River: Studying The Sacrament Throughout Scripture. His new Bible study will be available on cph.org in August.
Learn more and download a sample session at books.cph.org/the-baptismal-river.

Show Notes:
In Baptism, you become the human God created you to be.
Throughout the episode, Pastor Davenport shares his experience writing about the Sacrament of Baptism and studying for his doctoral work at Concordia Seminary St. Louis. He and Elizabeth also discuss what a great gift Baptism is, the relationship between the flood and Baptism, the unique qualities of a Baptism, what God accomplishes through our Baptisms, and more. Listen to the full episode now to learn about God’s deeper purpose for Baptism and how Pastor Davenport will challenge readers to ask, “Do we really need Baptism? What makes it special?”

About the Guest

Rev. Dr. Richard Davenport lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with his wife and son. He currently serves as pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He received his MDiv from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 2009 and his PhD in doctrinal theology, also from Concordia Seminary, in 2013, focusing on a Lutheran theology of hope. You can read more of his writing at sacramentalstreams.wordpress.com.

Pastoral Leadership | Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy joins Elizabeth Pittman in this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss his new book, Pastoral Leadership: Shepherding and Caring for God’s People, which was officially released on June 20, 2023.

You can download a free sample of Pastoral Leadership by visiting books.cph.org/pastoral-leadership.

Show Notes:
Pastoral care and pastoral leadership are not separate functions but are in fact one and the same thing.

In this episode Dr. Hardy dives into how pastoral care and pastoral leadership are not in competition with each other but are actually intertwined and must work together in order for a pastor to be a present leader and active participant in his congregation. Dr. Hardy also speaks about pastors and time management, his favorite biblical leader, advice he offers to new pastors, staying motivated, and the financial responsibility of church leaders. Listen to the full episode now to hear from Dr. Hardy and to get an inside look at his new book, Pastoral Leadership: Shepherding and Caring for God’s People.
Questions Covered

· What do you hope church workers take away from your book?

· Why should the laity read this book, and what do you want them to take away from it?

· In your introduction, you write that time management is a top struggle for many pastors. You write the proper order for prioritizing a pastor’s time is God, family, and church – in this order. Why in this order and why is time management so challenging for pastors in particular?

· In the first chapter, you write about several leadership styles from several different biblical figures. Who is your favorite biblical leader and why?

· What is the one piece of advice that you wish you had received when you first started as a pastor?

· What is the one piece of advice that you think most seasoned pastors need to hear?

· Let’s talk about leadership. You write that motivation and purpose are key traits of effective pastoral leaders. Are there any other traits that effective pastoral leaders should have? What advice or encouragement do you have for pastors who are struggling to stay motivated?

· You write that the financial situation of congregations and nonprofit ministries don’t get enough attention in leadership. Why is this?

About the Guest

Rev. Dr. Jamison J. Hardy is president of the English District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He has a master of public administration in leadership and management, as well as a doctorate of business administration in leadership and finance. His pastoral leadership has been molded by numerous experiences, including service as an elected member of his local school board, assisting in the merger of two congregations, and serving on the board of directors as secretary for Lutheran Federal Credit Union.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Church | Trevor Sutton Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Trevor Sutton joins Elizabeth Pittman to discuss the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the implications it poses for Christians today. Trevor recently wrote about this topic in Christianity Today, and is the co-author of the 2021 book Redeeming Technology: A Christian Approach to Healthy Digital Habits.

Show Notes:
Many of us may use AI without even knowing it. It’s been around longer than many of us realize.
Trevor dives into these topics regarding AI and the impact it can have on modern Christians in this episode of the podcast.

Trevor also goes into the merits, benefits, and positives for church workers to consider when thinking about using AI in practical ways. He warns of pitfalls that pastors should also be aware of and watch for when actively integrating AI into life at church. Listen to the full episode to hear Trevor and Elizabeth discuss the rise of AI, the ethics involved in using AI at church and school, and how AI impacts our Christian worldview.

Questions Covered

· While it seems like AI has exploded onto the scene in the last 8-10 months, in reality it has been around and in use for much longer. What are some of the ways we’ve seen AI used?

· What are some of the potential benefits for church and school leaders when using AI? What kinds of AI do you see as effective for supporting ministries?

· Is there some merit to using AI as a research aid?

· What are the potential pitfalls of using AI for conducting Bible research?

· What is some ways AI could help a pastor or commissioned minister be more productive?

· What are some dangers or possibly unforeseen pitfalls to watch out for for pastors and commissioned ministers?

· What kinds of AI do you see as dangerous for our ministries?

· How can a church use AI - what areas specifically could AI improve? What kinds of AI do you see as effective for supporting ministries?

· In regard to language model AI, how do you recommend churches and school balance the potential efficiencies for both planning assistance and content creation?

· Recent innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) are raising new questions about how copyright law principles such as authorship, infringement, and fair use will apply to content created or used by AI.

· Can he speak to the ethics from a church perspective on using AI? I know a lot of artists and writers who have expressed concern about their work being stolen.

· How will AI impact ethics in student work? How will teachers be able to check against AI-generated content?

· What unique role does congregational life play in a society that's growing more and more digitized/pre-generated/artificial?

· How does AI impact our perceptions of humanity, identity, and creativity? And/or how does our Christian worldview help us speak to these concerns as AI topics continue to grow?

About the Guest

Rev. A. Trevor Sutton is senior pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Haslett, Michigan. Sutton has a BA from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and an MDiv from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He has published multiple sermons, Bible studies, and devotional books with various Christian publishers. He previously served as managing editor of Relief Journal: A Christian Literary Expression. He speaks at academic conferences, retreats, and congregations. Sutton lives in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Grace.

Lutheran Women in Mission 2023 Convention Sneak Peek | President Debbie Larson May 27, 2023

Show notes

President Debbie Larson of Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) joins this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast with host Elizabeth Pittman to give a preview of the upcoming LWML 40th Biennial Convention in June.
Learn more about Lutheran Women in Mission by visiting www.lwml.org.
Show Notes:
In this episode, listen as Debbie Larson, current president of Lutheran Women in Mission, gives an inside look at the upcoming convention in June and discusses what attendees should expect to experience.
Debbie also talks about life in the office of president of LWML, the impact of some of the missions during her time serving in the organization, and encouragement for young women who are looking to get involved.

Questions Covered

-Tell us a bit about LWML and why you love to do what you do.

-Are there a few missions that have stuck out to you in your memory as unique or extra impactful?

-How did you first get involved with LWML?

-What have been some of the highlights of your time as president?

-What does a typical day in the life of a Lutheran Women in Mission president look like?

-If you're talking to young women or women who have not typically been involved in Lutheran Women in Mission, what would you say to them to encourage them to get involved?

-What are your hopes and prayers for LWML as it moves into the future?

-What closing thoughts do you want to leave with our listeners as they think about Lutheran Women in Mission and serving the church and being involved?

About the Guest
Debbie Larson has served as the president of Lutheran Women in Mission since 2019. She will complete her presidential term at the 2023 40th Biennial Convention and will see a new president elected to serve in the next term.

Extra Nos | FLAME May 17, 2023

Show notes

Award-winning Christian rapper and hip-hop artist FLAME joins this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss his upcoming book, Extra Nos: Discovering Grace outside Myself. FLAME talks about writing his first book with CPH and what it was like writing personal stories of his faith journey down on paper. Download a sample of the book by visiting books.cph.org/extra-nos.

Show Notes:
Listen to this episode to hear FLAME preview the inspirational story of his life and how God brought him to Lutheranism.

FLAME discusses his spiritual journey as God brought him through various trials testing his faith, pushing him to further his theological background and find the truth of "extra nos." Host Elizabeth Pittman also discusses the meaning of “extra nos” with FLAME and what it means. He goes into detail about exploring his faith, learning more about Lutheran theology, and his advice for others defending their faith.

Questions Covered

Can you talk a little about the intersection of theology and music? Listening to your songs is like taking a crash course in theology – what comes first, the lyrics, or the melody? How does this process work?
Lutheran theology needs to rule the day. Why?
You share your very personal faith journey in your book. Can you talk about what parts of the book were the most challenging for you to write?
Your book is titles Extra Nos: Discovering Grace outside Myself. What does this mean?
In your book, you mentioned that you journaled daily and documented how you were feeling and what you were learning as you explored your faith. Do you still journal? Would you recommend journaling to others, and if so, why?
In your book, you wrote about your experiences with Calvinism. It sounds like this denomination emphasizes the work that an individual needs to do to be right with God, rather than the Lutheran view that our salvation is a gift from God that we can’t earn on our merits – Jesus earned it for us on the cross. Is this an accurate summary of these key differences? Do you have any tips for Lutherans who have the opportunity to witness (or just speak with) Calvinists?
It’s been said that misunderstanding or ignoring the two kinds of righteousness will only lead to one of two outcomes: a person will either be filled with pride or despair.
What was the reaction to people who thought you apostate after becoming Lutheran?
What advice or encouragement do you have for those who are grappling with some aspect of their faith? Examples – not feeling like God is listening to their prayers; not sure if they’re in the “correct” denomination; unsure of their life direction.
What is your favorite Bible verse (or passage), and why?
not sure about this one but including it for consideration We couldn’t help but notice how active you are on social media, including some civil but pointed posts and comments challenging people on issues like baptism and that it’s not just a symbolic act. What advice can you share for defending/advocating for faith on social media?
What do you hope readers take away from your book?

About the Guest
FLAME IS A GRAMMY®-nominated and Stellar Award–winning hip-hop artist. He is a well-versed leader in the Christian hip-hop scene with a growing list of accolades, including a GRAMMY nomination, multiple Billboard chart-toppers, and several Dove and Stellar award nominations. He was born and raised in the inner city of St. Louis, Missouri. FLAME’s latest releases include four EPs, including Extra Nos (2020), which was his first project as a Lutheran.

Life in Christ | Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek May 10, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast host Elizabeth Pittman is joined by Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, author of upcoming book Life in Christ: Rooted, Woven, and Grafted into God’s Story. Pastor Filipek discusses reading the Bible, and understanding what the stories in Scripture have to do with our everyday lives.

Read a sample of Life in Christ by visiting books.cph.org/life-in-christ. Available on cph.org in June.
Show Notes:
Reading the Bible can feel like a disjointed narrative where the pieces don’t always fit together at first. With his upcoming book, Life in Christ, Pastor Filipek pieces the stories in the Bible together to allow readers to see how our lives are grafted into Christ’s story. He also provides context to the historical aspects of the Bible, addresses and alleviates the challenges of understanding the Bible story, and explains how his writing frames readers’ thoughts to discover why the faith isn’t about us.

Plus, Pastor Filipek gives an inside look at where his inspiration for the idea of the book came from and what encouraged him to put pen to paper. Listen to the full episode for the inside scoop.

Questions Covered
· What prompted you to write this book?

· You begin by talking about the Great Disconnect. What is this? Why is it important that we rediscover that the faith isn’t about us?

· Why aren’t the books of the Bible arranged chronologically?

· What is the story of the whole Bible in a nutshell?

· What makes reading and understanding the overarching story of the Bible so challenging, and how does your book help alleviate this?

· You write about the dangers of questioning the need to read Scripture, especially the trap of “isn’t this all I need to know?” Why do we need to read Scripture? Do we need to read the whole Bible?

· The Gospels are about Jesus coming to fulfill the law. Why then do we need to read the law books – Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy in particular?

· Where do we fit into God’s story of salvation for all people in Christ?

· What does it look like to live in Christ?

· What is your favorite Bible verse or passage, and why?

· What tips do you have for people to increase their Bible literacy?

About the Guest
Rev. Dr. Adam T. Filipek has been pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, North Dakota, since October 2016. He serves as an online adjunct professor at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Pastor Filipek earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Minot State University in North Dakota, a master of divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and a doctor of ministry from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His doctoral dissertation, which served as a foundation for his book Life in Christ, was centered around teaching and preaching the unified biblical narrative. Pastor Filipek has been married to Becky since 2006. They have four children: David, Miriam, Jacob, and Bethany.

God's Provision in a Wilderness World | Lindsay Hausch Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

Author Lindsay Hausch joins in on the most recent episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast as she previews her newest book, God’s Provision in a Wilderness World, with host Elizabeth Pittman. In her new women’s Bible study, Lindsay pushes readers to focus on the promises and presence of Jesus in God’s Word. Manna reminds us mercies are new every morning as God refreshes and feeds our souls.
Download a sample of Lindsay’s most recent Bible study by visiting books.cph.org/gods-provision-in-a-wilderness-world. The title will release on cph.org in May 2023.
Show Notes:
We face a wilderness where our worldly effort to satisfy leaves our hearts empty and aching.

In her newest book, Lindsay Hausch invites readers to look closely at the experiences that the Israelites had during their 40 years in the wilderness. As we do this, she encourages us to see how the creator is blessing us today with his gifts in our everyday struggles. Listen to the full episode as Lindsay reflects on writing her second book with CPH, recognizing our own wilderness, and seeing the manna that God gives us each and every day.
Questions Covered

· What inspired you to write this Bible study?

· Are there any similarities between this book and your last book, Take Heart: God’s Comfort for Anxious Thoughts?

· The humble sticky note makes a cameo in the book. Tell us about that. How can we use sticky notes to encourage others?

· How does the story of the Israelites’ wandering the wilderness for 40 years relate to us today?

· What are some aspects of the story of the Israelite’s wilderness wandering that stand out to you?

· As you talked with your community about wilderness seasons in their lives, what did you learn?

· What are some signs we are entering our own wilderness? What encouragement or advice do you have for those who are walking through a wilderness season?

· “Sitting atop a question mark” – what does that mean?

· You write about God refreshing us with manna. What does the word “manna” mean?

· What is the manna God is giving us today?

· It can be hard to settle down and focus on clearing a mental space for a Bible study with all the demands on our time. What tips can you share to help us “clear the decks” so we can grow closer to God?

· What is God’s provision in our lives?

· I understand you’re a coffee fan. Do you have a preferred brew? Way of preparing it? Special mug or time of day for enjoying coffee?

About the Guest
Lindsay Hausch is an author, speaker, and pastor’s wife. She co-leads a mental health support prayer group at her church and enjoys speaking to women and other church groups about seeking God’s heart in the midst of a fast-paced life. Lindsay is passionate about hope in life's everyday struggles, overcoming anxious thoughts, depression, and difficult emotions. She most enjoys serving alongside her husband, discipling her three children, and getting quiet with God whenever she can. Learn more about Lindsay by visiting her website at lindsayhausch.com.

Guiding Students through Confirmation | Rev. Lee Hopf Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

In thisepisode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Pastor Lee Hopf joins Elizabeth Pittman to discuss the importance of confirmation and how we can help our students to be confident in their identities as children of God. He also gives a preview of his upcoming confirmation journal, Guided by Truth, that he has written and explains why he was inspired to create this resource that encourages students to not only learn what they believe but also know why they believe it.
Guided by Truth: Enduring Faith® Confirmation Journal will be available to order in May. You can download a sample by visiting books.cph.org/guided-by-truth-enduring-faith-confirmation-journal.

Show Notes:
It can often be complex to know if students are really understanding the Six Chief Parts of the Christian Doctrine when they go through confirmation. Some students know what all the “right” answers are, but, digging deeper, they aren’t sure how to apply those answers to their lives. Other students may be quietly confused.

Pastor Lee Hopf wrote his new confirmation journal with those students in mind. In this episode, Pastor Hopf talks about how Guided by Truth helps students better understand how Lutheran theology answers their questions about the Bible, Jesus, the Sacraments, and more. He also discusses how culture has impacted how teens see their identities, and why confirmation is important to understanding our purpose.

Questions Covered

· Why do we make confirmation a priority?

· What are the important questions students will consider in Guided by Truth?

· Culture is challenging how teens view their identity. Talk about our purpose and identity as children of God. Why is holding onto this identity essential and how can confirmation help?

· When we know who we are and who God is, how does that impact how we live our daily lives?

· Tell us about how the confirmation journal came to be? How have your students and families responded to it?

· How do you see this being used in classes with a high number of students vs. those with only a handful of students?

· How do you respond to someone who thinks that this is giving the pastor a shortcut to teaching confirmation?

· What advice do you have for parents if their kids resist going to confirmation class?

· How can parents explain why confirmation is so important to non-Lutherans?

· What tips do you have for adults who are well past their confirmation classes to stay engaged/reminded of what they learned in confirmation?

About the Guest
Born and raised in Georgia, Pastor Lee Hopf earned his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary St. Louis in 2016. Knowing he wanted to be a pastor since the age of 14, Pastor Hopf has spent most of the last seven years working in youth ministry. He currently serves as Next Gen Pastor at Trinity Klein Lutheran Church in Texas.

Lies about Human Nature and the Truth That Sets Us Free | Rev. Christopher Esget Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

Pastor and author Christopher Esget joins Elizabeth Pittman on this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss his new book (Dis)Ordered: Lies about Human Nature and the Truth That Sets Us Free. Listen as Pastor Esget reflects on writing his book about our identity in Christ and the encouragement we have in Christ during our struggles with sin.

Order Pastor Esget’s new book by visiting books.cph.org/disordered.
Show Notes:
Western culture shows us that human nature has become disordered. God’s Word says something different about us and our purpose, though.
In this episode, Pastor Esget talks about what the Bible says about mankind’s purpose and how our disconnection from the created order causes such great harm in society. He addresses important topics for the Church in his book, the concerning shift away from God’s truth in today’s society, and advice he has for reflecting on these issues in our own ministries.

Questions Covered

· Why is this book important for the church today?

· What do you anticipate will be the greatest challenges and opportunities to the Church as society's views of human nature continue to shift farther and farther from God's truth?

· What does the quest for authenticity look like today?

· The world seems to be going crazy –why is that? How has culture today redefined original sin.

· In a nutshell, what is disordered and what is our role in helping to restore that order?

· How can Christians encounter the Scriptures as fully authoritative and inviolable, yet as a living Word that speaks to us today?

· In chapter one, you talk about how our society is replacing the truth with feelings and how prioritizing our feelings over thought is destabilizing institutions like marriage. The enemy can influence our feelings but sometimes feelings are also a gift from God. How can we discern where our feelings are coming from and if they are harmful or helpful?

· How does being “curved in on yourself” harm our neighbors?

· Define postmodernism. What happens when man is disconnected from an external law?

· How has modern technology/social media become a vehicle for disordered desires?

· In your book, you mention fasting as a spiritual tool. Can you talk about what circumstances would be appropriate for a layperson to fast and how one would go about fasting? Is it a 24-hour fast? How do you set the duration? How do we know if we are called to fast?

· How have you seen the issues you address in the book play out in your own ministry, as a pastor and as a Vice President of the LCMS?

· What advice would you give to Christian parents trying to navigate the changing culture with their households?

· What advice would you give to Christian leaders trying to navigate the changing culture?

· What is your greatest hope for your readers?

About the Guest
Rev. Christopher Esget is senior pastor of Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia, where he has served since 2001. He previously served Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin, Illinois. He and his wife, Kassie, have one son. Esget is the Fifth Vice President of the LCMS (representing the East-Southeast Region). He holds a bachelor's degree in music from Berklee Col

Leaning on Jesus | Deb Burma Mar 11, 2023

Show notes

Author Deb Burma is back as a guest on this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to talk about her newest Bible study, Leaning on Jesus. In her upcoming book, Deb encourages readers to see our continuous need for Jesus.

Find out more about Deb’s new Bible study by visiting books.cph.org/leaning-on-jesus.
Show Notes:
Our culture tells us that we have all we need to make it all work, that we can smash our goals and own our own lives. But what happens when we can’t or simply don’t?

In Deb Burma's latest women's Bible study, readers will see their continuous need for Jesus and will learn to lean on Him. During this episode Deb explains why Christians need each other and how we were created to be in community. She will also provide some of her tips found in her book about finding a Godly mentor, having a “Jesus and me” space, and actively leaning on Jesus.
Questions Covered

· Why do we need to lean on Jesus?

· When will we know we're leaning on Jesus? Can you share some tips/helpful reminders to actively lean on Jesus?

· You mentioned finding a Godly mentor and how helpful that can be. What tips do have to find a mentor and what qualities should the mentor have?

· You wrote about having a Jesus and me space. Can you talk more about this - what is this - physical space, mental/spiritual space? What do we do in this space and why do we need it?

· Leaning and leading – what does that mean?

About the Guest

Deb Burma is a sought-after speaker for women’s conferences, retreats, and ministry events. She is the author of several books, Bible studies, and devotionals, including Be Still and Know: A Study of Rest and Refuge, Joy: A Study of Philippians, Stepping Out, Living a Chocolate Life, and Beautiful Feet. Deb is a follower of Jesus, a pastor’s wife, and a mom. She’s a blogger, a women’s ministry leader, and a self-proclaimed coffee/chocolate connoisseur. Above all, Deb is a grace-filled child of God. To learn more, visit her author page.

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