Under the Fig Tree

Concordia Seminary enrollment team
Under the Fig Tree

A podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis for people thinking about becoming a pastor or deaconess or coming to seminary to study theology.

  1. -1 J

    Under the Fig Tree: Doubt, discernment and the path to ministry with Dr. James Fickenscher

    In this episode, join hosts Rev. Tom Schlund and Katie Gaschler as they get to know one of Concordia Seminary's newest exegetical professors, Dr. James Fickenscher. From studying mathematics as an undergraduate student, to attending seminary and getting a graduate degree, to serving seven years in a Texas parish, Fickenscher shares how God led him on the path to ministry. "I'd always loved math. I loved teaching people and helping people, and there was this other side of perhaps being a pastor. But I always had that internal doubt and struggle with grace...'I don't know that I'm good enough to be a pastor.'" Listen as he shares what the discernment process looked like for him, both as a college student first deciding to attend seminary, and as a pastor accepting the call to become a professor.  While talking about his time in the parish, Fickenscher discusses three of his favorite parts of being a pastor, one being the people. "Being able to go into the lives of God's people, have them invite you into their lives in such a deep way that as they're going through the darkest moment of their life, you get to be there. As they're going through the best moments of their life, you get to be there. And every step of the way, you get to be a visible reminder that God is there with them."  Additionally, you'll learn a little bit about the exegetical department, Fickenscher's role as a New Testament professor, the connection he sees between math and theology and his advice to people considering applying to the seminary. In the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree," Tom and Katie bring up some outdoor activities that get mixed reviews, digital book reading and the love-hate relationship with smart phones.  Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information. Learn more about Concordia Seminary at http://www.csl.edu or by contacting the admissions team at admit@csl.edu or 800-822-9545. “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added semi-weekly during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    40 min
  2. 15 NOV.

    Under the Fig Tree: Following God's Call with Dr. Ryan Tinetti

    In this episode, hosts Rev. Tom Schlund and Katie Gaschler are joined by one of Concordia Seminary's newest professors, Dr. Ryan Tinetti. While studying journalism during his undergraduate years at Michigan State University, Tinetti felt a call toward ministry. After graduation, he followed God's call with a few different stops along the way. He says, "Ministry is a trailhead, not a terminus. When you get into ministry, it could go into so many different directions... Don't think, 'I've just got to fit into this box and this is what it's going to look like.' It can take so many different shapes and God is going to use who you are in order to shape the ministry that you're in."  After serving in the parish for more than 10 years, Tinetti now is a professor in the Seminary's Practical Theology department. He shares some of his passions as a professor and what excites him about the courses he teaches. He also gives some insights into his specialty as a homiletics professor and shares his favorite things about St. Louis and the Seminary Community. When discussing future students and people considering full time church work or applying to the Seminary, Tinetti shares, "My advice to anyone is not to rule yourself out... There are so many different paths [to Seminary]. What's important is the Lord and his call and claim on your life." Do you like eating toasted ravioli? Find out who does during the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree." You'll also find out who enjoys camping, who goes blueberry picking and how everyone feels about Imo's Pizza. Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information. Learn more about Concordia Seminary at http://www.csl.edu or by contacting the admissions team at admit@csl.edu or 800-822-9545. “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    31 min
  3. 24 OCT.

    Under the Fig Tree: Campus Updates with President Dr. Thomas Egger

    In this episode, Rev. Tom Schlund and Kati Gaschler sit down with President Dr. Thomas J. Egger who gives some updates about things around Concordia Seminary. They discuss with Egger the excitement and joy of starting a new school year, looking back on Orientation and looking forward to the year ahead. They reflect on the impact of having these new students on campus, each with their own story and journey to the Seminary. Egger shares, "It's always inspiring when you see the new students coming in. You just remember the Lord is at work in his church. And here are a whole bunch of people who He has placed His gospel in their hearts in such a way that they want to offer themselves to serve the church in the name of Christ with that word of hope." Other updates include changes to faculty and staff on campus, with an emphasis on the experience of visitors to our campus. We see this particularly in the Admissions and Recruitment departments and the process of calling two new admissions officers, as well as with Campus Events and Hospitality. Schlund shares some of his experience in taking his call to the Seminary as a recruitment officer. He says, "It didn't take very long for me to realize... that God is a God of physical means. He's always using people and things to accomplish his tasks. And so, I discovered that the role we play is one of encourager and director along the way... It's not just collecting applications after the Holy Spirit has done his secret work. There is real, useful and important work to be done." Egger also shares some comments on this year being the 100th anniversary of the Clayton campus, which brings with it a variety of physical maintenance and improvements that must be done. He also gives an overview of the large-scale Campus Plan. Schlund remarks, "Generation after generation, there's always been this investment ensuring there is a place to train and form pastors to go out and serve." The episode ends with advice from Egger for future students and those considering attending, "Read your Bibles ... Don't wait to start that process of filling yourself with God's Word. Read the Scriptures ... Trust that through his Word, God gives wisdom." In the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree," find out everyone's opinions on a couple classic (or not so classic) movies and star athletes of Major League Baseball and the Women's National Basketball Association. Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information. Learn more about Concordia Seminary at csl.edu or by contacting the admissions team at admit@csl.edu or 800-822-9545. “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added throughout the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    34 min
  4. 10 OCT.

    We're back! New year, new host and a new academic year theme with guest Dr. Thomas Egger

    After a summer off, Under the Fig Tree is back! In this episode, Rev. Tom Schlund joins Kati Gaschler as a new host of the podcast. They sit down with President Thomas J. Egger and take a deep dive into the 2024-25 academic year theme "Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus," based on Heb. 12:2. Egger shares some behind-the-scenes about the selection process the theme and why this year's choice rose to the top. He encourages listeners, "Don't let Jesus come into the world and be right near you and find yourself looking everywhere but [at him]...There's no one so worthy of our gaze and our attention as Christ through His Word and through His Sacraments." They discuss the importance of being daily reminded to keep Jesus the focus of our lives.  When giving advice to future students, Egger shares, "The church is certainly saying to young people who are looking at 'What should I do in life? How can I serve my neighbor? How can I use my gifts?' the church is saying, our congregations are saying, 'Come and preach the Gospel to us.' We have a great need for pastors, we have a great need for Lutheran school teachers, we have a great need for deaconesses in the church." During the recurring segment "Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree," find out how everyone feels about pumpkin flavor, if they enjoy the fall task of raking leaves and if hay rides and apple picking are on their fall to-do lists. Interested in vocational ministry? Start a conversation with our admissions team at https://ask.csl.edu/register/Request-Information. Learn more about Concordia Seminary at http://www.csl.edu or by contacting the admissions team at admit@csl.edu or 800-822-9545.

    39 min
  5. 4 JUIN

    Under the Fig Tree: Sharing God’s free gift of grace

    In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum (’96, ’05) Rev. W. Max Mons, who is pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center in Iowa City, Iowa, and also chairman of the Seminary’s Board of Regents. During the episode, Max shares what led him to go into ministry as a pastor, including his time as a student in campus ministry at the University of Michigan. “I consider myself to be a product of campus ministry,” he said. Today, he serves as a campus pastor of the University of Iowa, and loves sharing the God’s free gift of grace in Christ with the students there. “In college you’re always being evaluated,” he said. “God isn’t here to weed you out. He’s here to engraft you. He’s already made a decision about you in Jesus. You’re His child. He loves you. He cares about you. Everybody else is saying, ‘You need to measure up to my standard.’ And God says, ‘I’ve just brought you into the fold. And you can’t be plucked out of My hands.’ To have that message in a community and a culture of almost nonstop constant evaluation is a pretty cool thing to be able to do, to tell people about that week to week.” Max also explained what the Board of Regents is all about, and what it’s like for him to be able to serve on the board. “To have an opportunity to give back to a place that puts so much into you, that invested in you, it’s really just an honor and a joy to turn back and do that,” he said. “I really am so very grateful for the professors that I had and the time that I had at Seminary. I still look back and some of the most joyous days of my life were spent on this campus.” In the recurring segment, “Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree,” hear how he feels about pineapple on pizza, “Cats: The Musical,” flying in small airplanes and carrot cake. “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added weekly each Monday during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    1 h 7 min
  6. 4 JUIN

    Under the Fig Tree: Farewell to Ben and Micah

    In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler welcome back Dr. Benjamin Haupt, the former podcast host and founder who has been on sabbatical during the spring semester. The two men share big announcements that they both are moving on to other calls: Ben as global executive director of PLI and Micah as head of school at Sierra Lutheran High School in Carson City, Nev. Kati surprises Micah with some pineapple pizza, a recurring topic on the podcast, which he agrees to eat and continues to loathe. The two men also share some words of advice and parting words. “Concordia Seminary not only shaped and formed me to be a pastor my first time around as a student but deeply molded, shaped, formed my life to be a witness for Jesus in profound ways, ways that I will never understand,” Ben says. “This is a fantastic place to come and learn the Word of Christ and to study who God is and to learn what it means to serve Christ’s church among people who absolutely love His church. Listeners, hear loud and clear that Micah and I absolutely love this place. And you would do very well to check out Concordia Seminary.” Micah thanks everyone for listening and told them not to lament. “This isn’t the end of the podcast,” he says. “There’s something that happens when you come to study here,” Micah says. “You are blown away. You’re completely overwhelmed. You probably have a little bit of imposter’s syndrome. In the midst of all that, you are growing closer and closer to your classmates. You’re growing closer and closer to the faculty members. You’re growing closer to God’s church. And before you know it, somebody’s calling you to be their pastor. God has blessed me with this experience. … There is no other place in the world like Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.” In the recurring segment, “Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree,” hear how the trio feel about cold pizza, grilled pizza, McDonald’s McCrispy chicken sandwich, stargazing and more!   “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added weekly each Monday during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    1 h 28 min
  7. 6 MAI

    Under the Fig Tree: Short Pastoral Case Studies with Rev. Mark Renner

    In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum Rev. Mark Renner (M.Div. ’20), one of the pastors at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wis. During the episode, Mark shares what led him to go into ministry as a pastor and discusses his recently published book, Curious Cases: A Series of Short Pastoral Case Studies (2024, Wipf and Stock Publishers). “We can empathize with other Christians or with non-Christians by reading this and understand where they are headed,” said Mark.   He also reflects on encountering difficult societal issues in ministry. “All of the problems, all the issues that are taking place in our society, we [as Christians] are either directly or indirectly dealing with. We’re influenced by society. And we have security in our Baptism to discuss difficult things,” he said. “That’s the real world that we’re encountering and trying to responsibly share this message of grace.” In the recurring segment, “Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree,” hear how he feels about pineapple on pizza, Wisconsin Dells, the new Star Trek movies and Vibram shoes.    “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added weekly each Monday during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    1 h 14 min
  8. 29 AVR.

    Under the Fig Tree: Discern God’s direction with Rev. Will Hanke

    In this episode of “Under the Fig Tree,” hosts Rev. Micah Glenn and Kati Gaschler sit down with Concordia Seminary alum Rev. Will Hanke (M.Div. ’07), who shares some highlights from his time serving as a student recruitment ambassador for the Seminary. As he thinks of creative ways to connect prospective students to the Seminary and help them discern God’s direction for their lives, Hanke said, “What it means is that I get to be a pastor at my church, but then I get to occasionally go and spend time at events recruiting people. If you know somebody, just pass them to me, and I’ll help them get connected with the Seminary. It doesn’t have to mean that their life-changing decision is right now. We just want to start that conversation with them.” Hanke also shares some advice for prospective students. “Ask pastors you know and be ready to talk about it now,” Hanke said. In the recurring segment, “Ripe for the picking or leave it on the tree,” hear how he feels about pineapple on pizza, prickly pear, walking in wet grass, kayaking, spaghetti squash, tofu and more.  “Under the Fig Tree” is a video and audio podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. New video and audio episodes are added weekly each Monday during the academic year. “Under the Fig Tree” can be found on YouTube, the Seminary’s Scholar site (scholar.csl.edu) and most podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    1 h 3 min

Notes et avis

4,8
sur 5
5 notes

À propos

A podcast of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis for people thinking about becoming a pastor or deaconess or coming to seminary to study theology.

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