The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

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. 4H AGO

    Lutheran Visitation Education

    How can church workers and graduate level church work students refine their God-given talents and skills in spiritual care from a historic Lutheran perspective? The Rev. Dr. Brian Heller (Manager, LCMS Office of National Mission, Mercy Training, LCMS Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what Lutheran Visitation is, how listeners may have experienced visitation, how Lutheran Visitation Education serves the Church, the key components of Lutheran Visitation Education, how this training fits into the bigger picture of Specialized Spiritual Care, and how church workers can take advantage of Lutheran Visitation Education. Learn more by emailing specializedcare@lcms.org or visiting lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/specialized-spiritual-care-ministry/lutheran-visitation-education-program. 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.

    23 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Lutheran Maternity Home Expanding to St. Louis

    How do we as Lutherans support women facing unplanned pregnancies? Deaconess Jessica Thompson (Director of Program and Ministry Services for Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries) joins Sarah to talk about the mission and work of Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries (RLOM), the need for this type of ministry in the LCMS, how RLOM has impacted women with physical and spiritual care over the years, the RLOM expansion plans for St. Louis, and how people can support RLOM in general as well as this expansion plan. Learn more at rlom.org and facebook.com/RedeemingLifeOutreachMinistries. 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.

    26 min

  3. 4D AGO

    Set Apart to Serve: Church Worker Formation at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

    How are students formed into faithful future pastors and deaconesses at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis? The Rev. Dr. Jason Lane (Associate Professor of Historical Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) and the Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger (Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what they love about their work at Concordia Seminary, their areas of theological expertise and why they were drawn to those areas, how these branches of theology intersect for seminary students, the classes that fall under each branch of theology, how their areas of expertise are important in the forming of future pastors and deaconesses, how students are fed spiritually on campus, and the students' academic and social experience on campus. Learn more about formation at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis by visiting csl.edu. 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.

    26 min

  4. 5D AGO

    Seeds of Generosity at Concordia University, Nebraska

    How has Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), been equipping students for service in God’s church and the world for over 130 years? Derek Englebart (Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Concordia University, Nebraska) and Scott Seevers (Senior Director of Development and Engagement, Concordia University, Nebraska) join Andy and Sarah to talk about what students are equipped for when they complete their Christ-centered education at CUNE, what a Christ-centered education at CUNE looks like for both the church work student and the liberal arts student seeking a career, Derek and Scott's CUNE stories and why they returned to work for the university in leadership roles, the difference scholarships have made for CUNE students, how the “Concordia Fund” enables Concordia University, Nebraska to provide financial assistance, and the exciting Seeds of Generosity celebration at CUNE. Learn more at cune.edu/seeds. 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.

    27 min

  5. 6D AGO

    Finally Free, Episode 1: Belly Slaves

    What can we learn about freedom in Christ from the Parable of the Prodigal Son? The Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller (Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas) joins Andy and Sarah for part one of a three-part series on his new book Finally Free: Lessons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Concordia Publishing House. He shares his first memory of learning about the Parable of the Prodigal Son, what the parable teaches us about who Jesus is, in what way we are slaves, how the illusion of sin as freedom has shaped our culture, where we see contrition in this parable, and the first freedom we have in Christ. Find Finally Free at cph.org/finally-free-three-lessons-in-the-parable-of-the-prodigal-son. Find more content from Rev. Wolfmueller at youtube.com/wolfmueller1 and wolfmueller.co.  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.

    26 min

  6. MAR 3

    Following the Formula, Article III: The Righteousness of Faith Before God — LW Searching Scripture, March 2026

    Article III of the Formula of Concord addresses doctrinal errors spread by two 16th-century teachers, Andreas Osiander (1498–1552) and Francesco Stancaro (1501–1574). Osiander taught that the righteousness of Christ’s divine nature dwelling in Christians is their righteousness before God, while Stancaro insisted that the righteousness of Christ’s human nature is the Christian’s righteousness. The article quickly dispenses with the controversy by demonstrating from Scripture (for example, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Jeremiah 23:6) that the righteousness of the whole, indivisible Christ is what Christians receive by faith, for which God the Father justifies them (that is, declares them righteous before His judgment throne). This article also demonstrates the falsehood of the Roman Catholic teaching that Christians are justified by becoming righteous in themselves rather than trusting solely in the righteousness of Christ. Lest we think this issue is merely part of an arcane debate hundreds of years ago, note what the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church continues to teach: “Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man. … Justification … conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy” (CCC 1989, 1992). The Formula of Concord confesses the comforting truth that our righteousness is a gift from God, which means that it depends completely on Christ, not on us. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the March 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article III: The Righteousness of Faith Before God” on Article III 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 FC Ep III on The Righteousness of Faith Before God (p. 479–482 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 III at kfuo.org/2025/03/04/coffee-hour-030425-the-righteousness-of-faith-before-god-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.

    28 min

  7. MAR 2

    Lutheran Educator Academy

    How is Concordia Publishing House's new Lutheran Educator Academy strengthening Lutheran teachers? Dr. Lisa Clark (Senior Editor, Curriculum Resources, Concordia Publishing House) and Dr. Jacob Corzine (Vice President of Publishing, Concordia Publishing House) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the need for theological continuing education for educators in Lutheran schools, how the idea for the Lutheran Educator Academy came about, how the program is structured, who is teaching and the variety of topics, and how this opportunity will strengthen teachers and benefit students. Learn more about the Lutheran Educator Academy at learn.cph.org/lutheran-educator-academy. 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.

    25 min

  8. FEB 27

    Set Apart to Serve: Church Worker Formation at Concordia University, Irvine

    What do church work students experience at Concordia University, Irvine? The Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer (Associate Professor of Theology and Bioethics, Concordia University, Irvine) and the Rev. Dr. Paul Elliott (Professor of Theology, Christ College, Concordia University, Irvine) join Andy and Sarah to talk about what they love about their work at Concordia University, Irvine, what drew them to their areas of expertise and how these areas of expertise help form students, what students can expect academically and socially at Concordia Irvine, how students are fed spiritually, and what makes CUI a unique place for church worker formation. Learn more about Concordia University, Irvine at cui.edu. 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.

    27 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
35 Ratings

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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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