The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

KFUO Radio - LCMS
KFUO Radio - LCMS

As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.

  1. 2d ago

    Set Apart to Serve: Athletics in Church Worker Formation

    What role do athletics play in the formation of future church workers? Coach Matt Beisel (Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach – Concordia University, Nebraska) and Coach Josh Schumacher (Head Football Coach, Concordia University, St. Paul) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their respective positions and why they love being coaches, how sports have been a key part of their development both physically and as a whole person, the importance of the physical development of a person for their future vocations, how stewardship of the body and physical health impact how a church worker serves, and their philosophy/theology when they coach men and women at our Concordia universities. Learn more about CUNE athletics at cune.edu/athletics and CSP athletics at cspbears.com. Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

  2. 3d ago

    LCMS Convention: Lutheran Heritage Foundation Global Work

    How does Lutheran Heritage Foundation work around the globe? The Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (executive director, Lutheran Heritage Foundation), the Rev. Dr. Dinku Bato (Translation Coordinator, Africa, Lutheran Heritage Foundation), and the Rev. Dr. Ted NaThalang (Translation Coordinator, Southeast Asia, Lutheran Heritage Foundation) join Sarah at the LCMS Synod Convention to share updates in Icelandic and Norwegian languages, the Spanish Book of Prayer, materials in Swahili, the African translation seminary, pastors seeking Lutheranism in South Sudan, materials in Chinese and Indonesian, a new regional office in Malaysia, and how LHF approaches materials for second-generation immigrants around the globe. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

  3. 4d ago

    Meet the Council of Presidents: Rev. Dr. Bill Harmon (at the LCMS Convention)

    We head Southeast for our conversation, recorded at the LCMS Synod Convention. The Rev. Dr. Bill Harmon (President, Southeastern District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, also serving King of Glory, Williamsburg, VA) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his upbringing and school journey, how he became a pastor, how he serves as President of the Southeastern District, what makes this district unique, and why he loves being a pastor in the LCMS. Learn more about the LCMS President and Vice Presidents at lcms.org/about/leadership/president and the 35 LCMS Districts at lcms.org/districts. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

  4. 5d ago

    LCMS Convention: Founder of Lutheran Heritage Foundation

    What is the origin story of Lutheran Heritage Foundation? The Rev. Dr. Robert Rahn (Founder of Lutheran Heritage Foundation) and the Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (executive director, Lutheran Heritage Foundation) join Andy and Sarah at the LCMS Synod Convention to talk about where Lutheran Heritage Foundation began, the challenges Dr. Rahn and his colleagues faced in cultivating relationships and partnerships, what he learned about the Church as he met and built relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe, the first books or materials LHF translated when venturing into a new language, and how they've seen LHF grow over the years. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

  5. 6d ago

    Following the Formula, Article VIII: The Person of Christ — LW Searching Scripture, August 2026

    Article VIII of the Formula of Concord (FC), “The Person of Christ,” is closely related to Article VII, “The Holy Supper of Christ.” After Luther’s death in 1546, Calvinist errors about Communion and Christ found their way into some Lutheran churches and schools. The FC criticizes Calvinists for attempting to explain the mysteries of the Supper and the Savior in terms acceptable to human reason rather than simply following the truth of God’s Word. It is helpful that the FC has separated articles VII and VIII, because they answer slightly different questions, though both originated in the debate over the Lord’s Supper. Article VII answers what the Sacrament is, taking its answer directly from the Words of Institution (for example, Matt. 26:26–28). Article VIII answers the challenge, “How can the true body and true blood of Christ be present in, with and under the bread and wine in all the countless places where the Sacrament is celebrated, and in heaven with the ascended Christ, at once?” It does so by taking up Christology (the theology of the person and work of Christ), providing an answer from Scripture. The answer is that the God-man can cause His Word to do what it says it does, for as He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (MATT. 28:18). This study will search Scripture for its teachings on the divine and human natures personally united in the one Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the August 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article VIII: The Person of Christ" on Article VIII in the Formula of Concord. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Following the Formula” and will walk through the Formula of Concord in the Augsburg Confession. Follow along every month! This year, “Searching Scripture” is walking through the Formula of Concord (FC) from our Lutheran Confessions, exploring the biblical foundations for each topic. Before starting this study, it may be helpful to read Formula of Concord Epitome VIII on the Person of Christ (p. 491–493) in Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (CPH 2005). Or follow along with the full Formula of Concord monthly reading plan at witness.lcms.org/reading-plan. Listen to the Coffee Hour episode with Rev. Brady Finnern on Article VII at kfuo.org/2025/08/11/coffee-hour-081125-the-person-of-christ-in-the-formula-of-concord, and find correlating Concord Matters episodes at kfuo.org/formulaofconcord. Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

  6. Jul 31

    Bach Week and Set Apart to Serve: J.S. Bach in Church Worker Formation

    It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. How has the music of J.S. Bach helped to form church workers over the years? The Rev. Dr. Christopher Ahlman (Associate Pastor and Director of Parish Music, Memorial Lutheran Church and School, Houston, TX) and Deaconess Elizabeth Ahlman (upper school teacher, Memorial Lutheran Church and School, Houston, TX) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their own individual journeys into church work, how each of them now serves at Memorial Lutheran, the role of music in their journeys, Bach's influence on each of their paths, the role of the organ in the ministry of the church, and the role of Bach's music in the spiritual formation of the people they serve, both in the school and the church. Learn more about Memorial Lutheran Church and School at mlchouston.org. Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

  7. Jul 30

    Bach Week: Music and Bach in Spiritual Care

    It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. How has the work of J.S. Bach influenced spiritual care? Deaconess Cara Patton (Worship Coordinator, LCMS Office of National Mission) and Kantor Christina Roberts (Kantor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, Michigan) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the ways in which they serve the church in the offices of deaconess and kantor, how spiritual care is uniquely a part of each of these offices, the role of music in spiritual care, how Bach's music specifically lends itself to spiritual care, and some ways they've each used Bach's music to help people through difficult situations. Learn more about Our Savior in Grand Rapids at oursavior-gr.org/church and LCMS Worship at lcms.org/worship. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

  8. Jul 29

    Bach Week: Bach's Influence on Present-Day Church Music

    It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. How has the music of J.S. Bach influenced our present-day church music? Dr. Joseph Herl (professor of music at Concordia University, Nebraska) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about who introduced Dr. Herl to the work of J.S. Bach, the ways Bach's music has shaped his relationship with music, what people thought of Bach's music during his own time, how Bach's music actually became famous, the influence of Bach's music on our modern Lutheran church music, and how Bach's music influences Dr. Herl's teaching methods. Learn more about music at CUNE at cune.edu/music. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

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As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.

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