The Lutheran Witness Podcast

KFUO Radio - LCMS
KFUO Radio - LCMS
  • 4.9 (34)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

The Lutheran Witness provides readings of all the articles posted on LW website, witness.lcms.org. The Lutheran Witness is an official periodical of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (Visit lcms.org to learn more). Subscribe to the print edition of LW at cph.org/witness. For additional stories and articles that help you interpret the world from a Lutheran perspective, visit the LW website.

  1. 3d ago

    Stories in Global Lutheranism: Lutheran Church–Canada

    What does the Lutheran church look like in Canada? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Timothy Teuscher (President/Bishop, Lutheran Church—Canada) joins Andy Bates (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he gets to live and work, a history of Lutheran Church–Canada and how the LCMS uniquely shares some of that history, the relationship between the LCMS and LCC, how the Lutheran church fits into the broader cultural context in Canada, challenges the Church faces in Canada, and his message to the members of the LCMS during his time in Phoenix. To learn more about Global Lutheranism: Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules. Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies. Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members. For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

  2. 3d ago

    LCMS Convention: Meet the Parliamentarian!

    What does a Professional Parliamentarian do, and why is this role important at the LCMS Convention? Al Gage (current Parliamentarian for the National Association of Parliamentarians, CPP-T, PRP, PAP; past president of the American Institute of Parliamentarians) joins Andy Bates (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to share his story and why he became a parliamentarian, what exactly a professional parliamentarian is, the purpose and intention behind Robert’s Rules of Order, what these rules accomplish and how they do it, how congregational voter’s assembly can get the benefits of Robert’s Rules without having to have a full time parliamentarian, one of the most creative ways Al has seen Robert’s Rules used, and how congregations can implement Robert’s Rules of Order in their congregations. For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.

  3. Aug 3

    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.

  4. Jul 6

    Following the Formula, Article VII: The Lord’s Supper — LW Searching Scripture, July 2026

    Article VII of the Formula of Concord confesses the biblical doctrine of the Lord’s Supper, distinguishing it from the teachings of the Zwinglians (“openly crass Sacramentarians”) and the Calvinists (“crafty Sacramentarians”). The former rejected the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament, while the latter taught a “spiritual” presence of Christ in the Supper, received by faith (not by oral eating). The Formula of Concord frames the debate this way: “In the Holy Supper, are the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (a) truly and essentially present, (b) distributed with the bread and wine, and (c) received with the mouth by all those who use this Sacrament — whether they are worthy or unworthy, godly or ungodly, believing or unbelieving? Are they received by the believing for consolation and life, but by the unbelieving for judgment? The Sacramentarians say No. We say Yes” (FC Ep VII 2). This study will lead us to the Scriptures that support the position of the FC, which simply confesses the truth of God’s Word. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the second “Searching Scripture” feature in the June/July 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article VII: The Lord’s Supper” on Article VII 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 VII on the Lord’s Supper (p. 487–491) 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/2025/06/02/coffee-hour-060225-third-use-of-the-law-the-lords-supper-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.

  5. Jun 25

    Resolution 9-11: How can the Synod support its entities and agencies?

    How can the Synod better support the entities and agencies of Synod in their work at home and abroad? In this special 2026 Convention episode of The Lutheran Witness podcast, the Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson, district president of the LCMS Pacific Southwest District; Andrew Grams, vice chairman of the LCMS Board of Directors; and the Rev. Dr. John Sias, LCMS Secretary join the Rev. Roy S. Askins to discuss Resolution 9-11, which proposes bylaw changes that would address changes to corporate law and business needs affecting Synod-wide entities. The podcast addresses the critiques of the resolution and offers a way for Synod to order its life together in a God-pleasing and legal way. Listeners can reach out directly to Secretary Sias at lcmssecretary@lcms.org. Resources: lcms.org/convention/national 2026 Today’s Business, 1st Edition

  6. Jun 1

    Following the Formula, Article VI: The Third Use of God’s Law — LW Searching Scripture, June 2026

    God’s Word plainly teaches, “The law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12). And so, we do not discard the Law, which is a holy gift from God. However, Lutherans have sometimes debated that Law’s applications. In the 16th century, Lutheran theologians debated the question, “How many uses of God’s Law are there?” While there is but one Law of God, He uses it in various ways, depending on the person to whom it is applied. Theologians attempted to catalogue these uses. Some disputes over numbering and terminology amounted to misunderstandings, but there were substantive disagreements as well, mainly involving the third use of the Law (the Law as a guide for Christian life). In response to these debates, the Formula identified three proper uses of God’s holy Law. This study will explore the biblical basis for these three uses. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the first “Searching Scripture” feature in the June/July 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article VI: The Third Use of God’s Law” on Article VI 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 VI on the third use of the Law (p. 485–486) 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 V at kfuo.org/2025/06/02/coffee-hour-060225-third-use-of-the-law-the-lords-supper-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.

  7. May 4

    Following the Formula, Article V: Law and Gospel — LW Searching Scripture, May 2026

    Luther famously said that students of the Bible need “to retain the distinction between Law and Gospel” (AE 26: 406). This became the official position of Lutherans with Article V of the Formula of Concord: “We believe, teach, and confess that the distinction between the Law and the Gospel is to be kept in the Church with great diligence” (FC Ep V 2). If we want to be distinctively Lutheran today, this distinction between Law and Gospel must retain a prominent place in our interpretation of Scripture, preaching and catechesis. This task is challenging, because the terms “Law” and “Gospel” can be used in different senses. In the Bible, both terms can be used in a wide sense to refer to God’s work and speech, but they also can be used in a narrow (proper) sense, which is what this article focuses on. Properly speaking, the Law is what God tells us to do, think, say and be, and it threatens wrath and punishment on those who break His will; the Gospel is what God by grace has done and is still doing for our salvation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This distinction also opens the whole Bible to us, reinforcing the proper understanding that the Old Testament is not just Law and the New Testament is not just Gospel. In fact, the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) contain Law as well as Gospel, and the Law (the Books of Moses) contains Gospel as well as Law! Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the May 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article V: Law and Gospel” on Article V 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 V on The Law and The Gospel (p. 484–485 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 V at kfuo.org/2025/05/01/coffee-hour-050125-law-gospel-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.

  8. Apr 6

    Following the Formula, Article IV: Good Works — LW Searching Scripture, April 2026

    Article IV of the Formula of Concord elaborates on teachings introduced in the previous article: “Good works always follow justifying faith and are surely found with it — if it is true and living faith. Faith is never alone, but always has love and hope with it” (FC Ep III 11). The authors of the Formula chose to include a separate article on good works in order to resolve a dispute that had occurred among Lutheran theologians: Some argued that good works are necessary for salvation, while others argued that good works are detrimental to salvation. Both claims are unscriptural. The Formula of Concord follows the Bible in confessing that good works are “necessary,” but in the sense that God wants them to be done and that they will always be produced by true faith. The Formula also counters the accusation that Lutherans discourage good works. Far from it! Lutherans maintain the necessity of good works while upholding a distinction between justification by faith and the good works that are produced by the Holy Spirit in one who is justified. Certainty of salvation by grace alone is preserved by this distinction. If the quantity or quality of our good works had any bearing on our salvation, we would be in a constant state of doubt about whether or not we are saved! Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the April 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article IV: Good Works” on Article IV 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 IV on Good Works (p. 482–484 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 IV at kfuo.org/2025/04/02/coffee-hour-040225-good-works-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.

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The Lutheran Witness provides readings of all the articles posted on LW website, witness.lcms.org. The Lutheran Witness is an official periodical of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (Visit lcms.org to learn more). Subscribe to the print edition of LW at cph.org/witness. For additional stories and articles that help you interpret the world from a Lutheran perspective, visit the LW website.

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