Christendom and the World

Pastor Andrew Preus
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Conversations on the state of the Christian church anchored against the waves of worldly doctrines, both past and present. Christendom is Christ's church as she has existed around the world in various situations throughout various times. The times change, but God's Word remains the same. Join host Pastor Andrew Preus and guests as we discuss how Christ's church on earth strives to maintain sound doctrine and proclaim the gospel in a fallen world. Through topics of church history, current events, and biblical study, Christendom and the World covers various trends the church must face as she stands on the foundation of Christ and his enduring Word.

  1. 1d ago

    Legalism Among Us: What is the Source of the Christian Life?

    In this episode of Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus continues his discussion of Philip Hahn's "Enthusiasm Among Us" by turning to J.P. Koehler's 1914 essay "Legalism Among Us." Kaler's warning is directed specifically toward conservative, confessional Lutherans: even our zeal for pure doctrine, proper worship, sanctification, and church discipline can subtly become legalistic when we lose sight of the Gospel. Pastor Preus explores the difference between living from the Gospel and allowing the Law—or our outward forms, traditions, and intellectual formulations—to become the source of our Christian life. He discusses how the old Adam can even take good things like pure doctrine and use them to feed pride, suspicion, selfishness, and fear rather than faith, hope, and love. The episode also considers intellectualism, proof texts, traditionalism, ecumenical spirit, and how Christians should interact with those who hold doctrinal errors. The goal is not to abandon sound doctrine or discipline, but to remember why we guard them in the first place: because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our life.     #ChristendomAndTheWorld #Lutheran #Christianity #Gospel #LawAndGospel #ConfessionalLutheran #ChristianDoctrine #Faith #JesusChrist #Theology #ChristianPodcast #LutheranTheology #Legalism   Chapters   00:00 Introduction to the dangers of legalism 02:00 Historical background of legalism among Lutherans 04:24 Legalism as a subtle infiltration in church practice 06:47 The difference between law and gospel 10:08 Manifestations of legalism in doctrine and worship 13:09 The role of faith, hope, and love in the Christian life 16:07 The danger of intellectualism and traditionalism 18:55 The importance of the gospel as the foundation 21:49 The false reliance on proof texts and doctrine 24:46 The ecumenical spirit rooted in the gospel 28:06 Practical application: guarding the gospel in church life 31:51 The life of faith as rooted in Christ 36:05 The danger of externalism and superficiality 39:52 The importance of the Holy Spirit's work 44:10 Summary and concluding thoughts on Christian freedom

  2. 1d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Oprah Celebrates 40 Years of The Oprah Winfrey Show from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Today—September 8, 1986—marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most momentous days in Oprah's life and career. Forty years ago today the very first nationally syndicated episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired launching what would become a 25 year cultural phenomenon and pioneering television. In this special anniversary episode Oprah reflects on her extraordinary journey—from her early days as a news anchor in Nashville and Baltimore to her first audition tape and the lessons she learned hosting AM Chicago, the show that brought her to the Windy City. She also reveals the enduring early lessons that shaped her life's purpose and continue to guide her work today as well as how she lives each day in gratitude for what she considers a God-given opportunity. 00:00:00 Oprah on the beginning of The Oprah Winfrey Show 00:04:00 Oprah and Barbara Walters 00:09:00 Oprah’s audition and Dennis Swanson 00:18:30 - Oprah’s journal entry before her first national show 00:20:00 - Oprah's first show 00:30:00 - Oprah’s last show 00:35:50 - Don Johnson’s surprise Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

  3. Sep 2

    Christian Freedom, Adiaphora, and the Worship Wars

    What does Christian freedom actually mean when it comes to worship, church traditions, and adiaphora? In this episode of Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus revisits the Lutheran teaching of adiaphora—things neither commanded nor forbidden by God—and considers what Christian freedom means for the church's worship and life together. Drawing on the Wauwatosa theologians and a recent article, "Enthusiasm Among Us," Pastor Preus examines the dangers of both legalism and enthusiasm. We can fall into legalism by treating traditions as laws simply because "we've always done it this way," but we can also fall into enthusiasm by trying to manufacture spiritual experiences through atmosphere, emotion, or entertainment. The answer is neither prohibition nor indifference. Rather, Christian freedom sends us back to Scripture, where we learn to use the forms and traditions of the church as witnesses to the Gospel. Ultimately, our confidence is not in a particular liturgical form, a tradition, or a manufactured experience—but in Christ and His life-giving Word. "Christian freedom includes a lot of disciplining of your own flesh. It includes a lot of digging into Scripture and a lot of repentance, but it is a wonderful life because it is one that relies only upon the grace of God in Jesus Christ and His life-giving Gospel."   #ChristendomAndTheWorld #ChristianFreedom #Adiaphora #Lutheran #LutheranTheology #Worship #WorshipWars #Gospel #Christianity #Theology #Scripture #ChurchHistory #Liturgy #LutheranChurch #ChristianDoctrine   0:00 — Introduction: Freedom, Adiaphora, and Christian Life 0:25 — Revisiting Wawatosa Theology and Gospel-Centered Teaching 3:22 — Why Doctrine Must Serve Life, Not Become Legalism 8:06 — The Ministry Debate and the Pastoral Office 15:12 — Christian Freedom and the Problem of Tradition for Tradition's Sake 20:27 — "Enthusiasm Among Us" and Gospel Freedom 24:42 — What Reveals the Church's Real Instinct? 30:16 — Adiaphora, Ordination, and Sunday Worship 37:48 — Worship Wars, Forms, and What They Actually Teach 43:11 — Holding to Christ, Not Just to Forms 52:13 — Why Adiaphora Exists for the Christian Will 57:09 — Theological Conclusion: Freedom, Repentance, and the Gospel

  4. Aug 26

    What is the Gospel? How do we talk about it?

    What exactly is the Gospel? And why does it matter how we define it? In this episode of Christendom and the World, we discuss the distinction between the Gospel in its broad sense and the Gospel in its narrow sense, along with the proper distinction between Law and Gospel. The Gospel in its narrow sense is the promise of forgiveness and salvation freely given through Jesus Christ. The Law exposes our sin and brings us to recognize that we cannot establish our own righteousness before God. The Gospel, however, points us entirely outside of ourselves—to Christ, who was crucified for our sins and raised for our justification. We also discuss baptism, faith, repentance, and the danger of turning God's gracious gifts into something we must accomplish for God rather than receiving what Christ has done for us. The episode ultimately comes back to the foundation of Christian faith and certainty: Christ and Him crucified. Christ alone.   #ChristendomAndTheWorld #Lutheran #LutheranTheology #LawAndGospel #TheGospel #ChristAlone #ChristCrucified #Justification #Faith #Baptism #ChristianDoctrine #ConfessionalLutheran #Gospel #Christianity

  5. Aug 19

    Lay Readers, Women Lectors, and the Public Reading of Scripture

    In this episode of Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus examines LCMS Resolution 5-09A and the ongoing debate over lay readers and the public reading of Scripture in the Divine Service. Pastor Preus discusses 1 Timothy 4:13, the nature of public Scripture reading as an act of teaching, and the biblical distinction between the various stations and vocations God has given to Christians. He also considers the arguments surrounding women serving as lectors, the history of the practice in the Missouri Synod, and the importance of allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. The episode also looks at the role of the pastor, the historical use of trained male lay readers, the 2026 LCMS convention debate, and the importance of grounding our church practices in the Word of God rather than simply in historical precedent or contemporary custom. For questions or comments, email news@christiannewsmo.com.   #ChristendomAndTheWorld #ChristianNews #Lutheran #LCMS #LutheranChurch #Pastor #Bible #Scripture #ChurchHistory #Theology #DivineService #Worship #LayReaders #WomenLectors #PastoralOffice #ChurchPractice #SolaScriptura

  6. Aug 12

    What Is Christian Mysticism? Luther, Enthusiasm, and the Word of God

    This week on Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus is joined by Pastor Jesse Schlie for a conversation about mysticism and enthusiasm and whether there is such a thing as true, biblical Christian mysticism. Luther strongly warned against enthusiasm—the idea that God speaks to us apart from His external Word. But what does that mean for prayer, meditation, spiritual experience, and a Christian's personal awareness of God's work in their lives? In this episode, we discuss: What Luther meant by enthusiasm Why God speaks to our hearts through His Word, not out of our hearts The dangers of seeking signs, dreams, visions, and extra-biblical revelation Mysticism and its place throughout church history Luther's theology of the cross Oratio, meditatio, tentatio — prayer, meditation, and testing The relationship between Christian experience and Scripture How Luther's understanding of faith differs from the mysticism that came before him True Christian spirituality isn't found by looking beyond God's Word for something new. Rather, the Christian is brought deeper into the mystery of Christ through the Word, through faith, prayer, meditation, and the trials of life. For questions or comments, email news@christiannewsmo.com.   #ChristendomAndTheWorld #Lutheran #LutheranTheology #MartinLuther #Mysticism #Enthusiasm #ChristianMysticism #Theology #Scripture #Bible #TheologyOfTheCross #Pietism #Christianity #ConfessionalLutheranism

  7. Aug 5

    The Schlie Brothers: Digging Deeper Than the Clichés — Round 4

    What does it really mean that Christians are simultaneously righteous and sinners?   In this episode of Christendom and the World, Pastor Andrew Preus is joined once again by Pastors Joseph and Jesse Schlie of the Dynamis Podcast. They begin by answering a listener question about the new heavens and new earth, the resurrection of the body, and what Scripture teaches about the eternal life Christians have to look forward to.   The conversation then turns to the Lutheran teaching of simul iustus et peccator—that a Christian is simultaneously righteous and sinner. The pastors explain the distinction between justification and sanctification, the difference between the old man and the new man, and why this teaching is meant to comfort Christians struggling against sin rather than provide an excuse for continuing in unrepentant sin.   The Christian life involves repentance, faith, and a continual battle against the sinful flesh. Yet throughout that struggle, the righteousness of Christ remains the foundation of the Christian's confidence and assurance. Listen as the pastors discuss why we must take sin seriously while always keeping the Gospel at the center.   Questions or comments? Email news@christiannewsmo.com.   #ChristendomAndTheWorld #Lutheran #ConfessionalLutheran #ChristianPodcast #Gospel #Repentance #Sanctification #Justification #SimulIustusEtPeccator #Theology

  8. Jul 29

    The Schlie Brothers: Digging Deeper Than the Clichés — Round 3

    The Schlie Brothers are back for another round of digging deeper than the clichés! Pastors Joseph and Jesse Schlie join Pastor Andrew Preus for another wide-ranging conversation about Lutheran theology, Scripture, tradition, church history, and the phrases Christians often use without stopping to consider what they really mean. This time, the conversation begins with sola Scriptura and what it actually means to say that Scripture is the sole source and norm of Christian doctrine. From there, they explore the relationship between Scripture and the historic witness of the Church, the canon of Scripture, the early Church Fathers, the Apocrypha, and the danger of allowing history or tradition to become the authority over Scripture. They also discuss why some people leave Lutheranism for Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy, the desire for something that feels more "authentic," and how that search can ultimately become a question of where we place our confidence. As always, the goal isn't simply to reject clichés but to dig deeper: What is true? What is being misunderstood? And what does Scripture actually teach? Join Pastor Andrew Preus and Pastors Joseph and Jesse Schlie for Round 3 of digging deeper than the clichés. 📩 Questions or comments? Email us at news@christiannewsmo.com   #ChristendomAndTheWorld #TheSchlieBrothers #Lutheran #LutheranTheology #SolaScriptura #Scripture #ChurchHistory #BookOfConcord #Christianity #ConfessionalLutheran

See All (82)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Conversations on the state of the Christian church anchored against the waves of worldly doctrines, both past and present. Christendom is Christ's church as she has existed around the world in various situations throughout various times. The times change, but God's Word remains the same. Join host Pastor Andrew Preus and guests as we discuss how Christ's church on earth strives to maintain sound doctrine and proclaim the gospel in a fallen world. Through topics of church history, current events, and biblical study, Christendom and the World covers various trends the church must face as she stands on the foundation of Christ and his enduring Word.

Information

  • Creator
    Pastor Andrew Preus
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Christendom and the World

You Might Also Like