Desert Well

Lamb of God Las Vegas
  • 4.8 (5)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

Join Pastor Jared Townley and Principal Derek Blessing from Lamb of God Lutheran Church and School, Las Vegas. Delve into discussions on faith, scripture, and the unique challenges of ministry in a desert city, all while connecting with a community centered on the love of Jesus.

  1. 2h ago

    070: Can Christians Be Soldiers? Can Soldiers Be Saved? Luther, Vocation, and Just War

    This week we discuss whether Christians can serve in the military, engaging common pacifist objections from Scripture such as “do not murder,” turning the other cheek, loving enemies, and leaving vengeance to God, while noting persecution contexts like Nigeria, China, and the early church. We read a 2012 article by Dr. Adam S. Francisco explaining the Lutheran answer—yes—grounded in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2, which affirm secular government’s God-given authority to “bear the sword” to punish evil and preserve peace. Drawing on Luther’s 1526 work “Whether Soldiers Too Can Be Saved,” we emphasize vocation and the distinction between a person and an office, faith in Christ as the basis of Christian identity, two kinds of righteousness, and two realms of governance. We also discuss “just war” concerns, motives for service, and conclude with gratitude for military members and families. The article we read today by Dr. Adam S. Francisco can be found here https://witness.lcms.org/2012/can-christians-be-soldiers-8-2012/.00:00 Why This Topic Now01:30 Setting Up The Question03:20 The Pacifist Case08:25 Persecution And Martyrdom11:37 Reading The Article12:05 Luther And The Sword17:22 Romans 13 And 1 Peter 220:45 Identity Before Vocation24:55 Just War As Love25:28 Just War Basics26:15 Orders and Conscience26:56 Motives and National Gain28:23 Defending Neighbor and Home30:53 Military as Godly Vocation35:39 Reading Luther on Soldiers37:58 Two Kinds of Righteousness43:06 Two Kingdoms Two Realms46:35 Gray Areas and Repentance50:59 Veterans Day Wrap UpThank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every week to catch the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/laovNpdxuo8 and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  2. Oct 30

    069: Church & School as One Ministry: Building Healthy Pastor–Principal Partnership

    Pastor Jared and Derek discuss how church and school relationships can naturally drift into an “us vs. them” mentality driven by money concerns, unmet expectations, campus separation, and especially lack of time and relationship between members and school staff. They argue the most important link is between the senior pastor and school administrator, since unity or conflict at that level spreads through staff, families, and the congregation. They emphasize intentional efforts to bridge the gap—such as adopt-a-classroom, shared prayer, and serving together—plus regular meetings, mutual support, and the ability to disagree and forgive as a witness of the body of Christ. They note ministry can feel all-encompassing when work, worship, and family life overlap, and they describe aligning future planning around shared mission/values with different school outcomes and measurable student goals. 00:00 Setting the Topic 01:33 Why It Gets Dicey 03:38 Leadership Relationship Matters 05:04 Intentional Bridges 09:29 Fairness and Expectations 12:14 Money and Sustainability 14:16 Entangled Roles and Boundaries 21:48 A Better Witness Together 24:17 What Makes It Work 26:59 Church School Hand Off 28:10 Real Unity Shows 29:29 Authority Without Ego 31:03 Healthy Conflict Rumbles 31:55 Sticker Prank Story 35:37 Mutual Support Rhythms 37:00 All In Money Tension 41:11 Pastors And Worship 43:17 Strategic Planning Future 50:21 Shared Vision Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back every Friday to catch the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this week's episode on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 and YouTube https://youtu.be/QxMeYJ-YQ_g. We will see you next week!

  3. Oct 23

    068: Seeing Jesus in Isaiah: Prophecy, Typology, and the “Now/Not Yet” Kingdom

    This week on 'Desert Well' we dive into the word and discuss how Old Testament prophecy points to Jesus beyond only the obvious messianic texts. Using Isaiah 5 (the song of the vineyard), Isaiah 25 (the mountain feast and swallowing up death), and Isaiah 45 (God’s anointed Cyrus), we explore typological fulfillments in Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection and also a further completion when Jesus returns, framed as “inaugurated eschatology” or the “now, not yet.” We connect themes to 1 Corinthians 11 on the Lord’s Supper proclaiming Christ’s death until he comes and to Revelation 21–22 describing the new creation where God dwells with his people, wipes away tears, and ends death, mourning, and pain. 00:00 Pre Show Setup 02:42 Shoes Bible Banter 04:15 Running Shoes Story 05:40 Prophecy Now Not Yet 09:33 Isaiah 5 Vineyard 11:35 Vineyard Fulfilled 18:56 Communion Connection 24:52 Isaiah 25 Feast 27:57 Jesus Fulfillment Ideas 30:05 Reading Isaiah Through Jesus 31:23 Cana Vows and Wine 32:49 Easter and Shroud of Death 34:26 Revelation Funeral Hope 37:16 Last Tear Wiped Away 40:26 Cyrus God’s Anointed 44:52 Jesus Fulfills Isaiah 45 49:51 Israel Trip Dark Cell 52:03 New Creation Party Vision 54:48 Scripture Alive Wrap Up Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back every Friday to catch the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/e9J--Q1djt4 and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  4. Oct 16

    067: Lamb of God Vision Frame Explained: Mission, Values, Strategies, and Outcomes

    In this episode, we walk through Lamb of God’s “vision frame,” explaining it as a four-sided framework—mission, values, strategies, and outcomes—meant to describe who the church is now rather than an aspirational wish list. We discuss sunsetting the familiar phrase “Through Christ, we learn, live, and love,” noting it will remain embedded in the new strategies, and introduce the proposed mission: “growing a deeper life with Jesus and one another.” We outline five values (grounded in Word and Sacraments; knowing others and being known; caring that acts; extending Jesus’ invitation; nurturing faith at every age) and three strategies (worship together, learn every day, serve everywhere), emphasizing Lutheran theology, relational depth, and vocation-based service beyond church programs. Outcomes are still in draft form and will be finalized in early October to clarify what a “deeper life” produces and how success is assessed. 00:15 Why This Episode Matters 01:17 Sunsetting Old Tagline 04:32 Feedback Night Expectations 05:35 What Is a Vision Frame 08:27 Not Aspirational Vision 12:31 Mission Statement Explained 17:14 Mission Words and Meaning 27:03 Moving Into Core Values 29:15 First Value Word Sacrament 29:54 Grounded Ongoing Faith 31:13 Knowing and Being Known 32:52 Caring That Acts 34:34 Extending the Invitation 36:09 Nurturing Faith Always 39:23 Strategies Three Buckets 41:53 Worship Together 42:17 Learn Every Day 44:53 Serve Everywhere 49:28 Outcomes What We Become 55:07 Using the Frame Forward 57:07 Next Steps and Wrap Up Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to catch the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/oO9GfN4ExdM and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  5. Oct 9

    066: Strategic Planning : From Vision Frame to Long-Range Goals and One-Year Focus

    In this episode, we continue a “part two” conversation on strategic planning at Lamb of God after completing the first phase of building a vision frame (mission, values, strategies, and outcomes). Special guest Leah Abel reflects on enjoying the church’s people, openness, and collaborative culture, noting the church is in a season of change with a younger pastor and a strong leadership partnership. We discuss how our strategic planning group wrestled most with revising a long-used, spoken-together mission statement and clarifying strategies, while valuing open disagreement and an “80/100” consensus rule. Our conversation then outlines the next planning phase: setting a 5–10 year long-range vision, identifying 18–36 month priorities, choosing a one-year “all-play” focus for the whole congregation, assigning champions, and establishing rhythms to prevent the plan from becoming a binder on a shelf, while remembering plans may change when crises arise. 00:00 Welcome Back in Vegas 00:08 Metallica Travel Chat 00:44 Part Two Setup 01:39 Scheduling Follow Ups 03:01 Reflections 06:07 Blank Canvas Next Steps 08:29 Past Planning Attempts 11:39 Why This Process Works 18:34 Hardest Part Mission Shift 27:14 Next Phase Long Range Vision 28:37 Dream Bigger Horizons 29:29 Layered Vision Framework 30:31 One Year All Play 31:11 Home Church Example 34:26 Goals Like Mountains 42:57 Consensus And 80/100 45:21 After Planning Execution 46:40 Champions And Rhythms 50:48 Post Plan Pitfalls 52:51 Language Sparks Stories 56:03 Dreaming With God 59:32 Not By Might & Wrap Up Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to catch the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/hizbPmwlFCQ and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  6. Sep 25

    064:Pastor Scott Snow on Retirement, Grandparenting, and Passing On the Faith

    In an in-person conversation recorded around Grandparents’ Day, Pastor Scott Snow returns to reflect on the transition into retirement after decades of ministry, noting it still feels like vacation because he continues to preach, officiate weddings, and assist with funerals, while also enjoying new freedom to travel, visit family, and camp in his travel trailer. The discussion turns to “passing on the faith,” emphasizing prayer before and after children are born, praying with them, and creating an everyday atmosphere where the Holy Spirit works through lived example—consistent worship, family devotions, and faith-shaped routines. We address discouragement when children drift from faith, encouraging continued prayer and hope in God’s promises and baptism. Pastor Snow shares practical ways churches can equip parents, including adult-involved confirmation, modeling prayer, and providing devotional resources, while stressing intentional priorities amid competing activities. 00:00 Welcome Back 00:50 Retirement Transition 02:33 Travel And Camper Life 05:58 Helping In Ministry 08:05 Mentoring New Pastors 11:17 Learning On The Job 14:25 Passing On Faith 15:55 Prayer And Example 18:57 Worship And Devotions 25:17 Faith Is Caught 27:10 Faith Is Caught 27:38 Kids Copy Worship 29:13 When Kids Walk Away 32:23 Grandparents Matter 34:21 Season Conversations 36:24 Prepare The Field 38:16 Church And School Role 41:57 Equipping Parents Practically 46:32 Modeling Messy Devotions 48:26 Making Faith Priority 53:05 Balancing Sports And Church 56:50 Mentors And Lifelong Learning 01:00:32 Final Prayer And Wrap Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back every Friday to hear the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/7tyRO4c5jJU and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  7. Sep 11

    062: Faith, Works, and Assurance: Lutheran Clarity on James, Justification, and Sanctification

    This week we discuss the role of good works in the Christian life, especially for Lutherans who often emphasize salvation by grace through faith. We explore common misunderstandings—trusting personal effort or moral history for assurance—and wrestle with James’ teaching that “faith without works is dead,” using excerpts from the Lutheran Study Bible and the Apology to the Augsburg Confession to argue that works do not merit forgiveness but necessarily flow from living faith. We distinguish justification (God’s once-for- all declaration of forgiveness through Christ) from sanctification (a lifelong process in which good works emerge), and read the Formula of Concord on good works, addressing tensions around necessity, freedom, motivation, intentional sin, and the guiding “third use” of the law for Christian living. 00:26 Will My Faith Endure 02:01 God Cries Not Angry 04:31 Works And Assurance Tension 06:03 FCA Heaven Question 07:47 Why Talk Works Today 10:43 James And Hard Passages 11:10 Study Bible And Concord Quote 16:57 Living Faith Produces Works 18:26 Two Slippery Extremes 22:26 Justification Versus Sanctification 27:34 Husband Forgiveness Analogy 28:40 Growth Means More Dependence 30:25 Opening The Next Section 30:41 Formula of Concord Tour 32:32 Good Works Controversy 35:52 Affirmative Thesis Reading 40:08 Obligated Yet Free 46:09 Negative Thesis Rejections 49:49 Third Use of Law 53:05 Boundaries and Discipline 57:49 Wrap Up and Reflections Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to catch the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/N7KuBU-fuss and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  8. Aug 28

    060: Teaching the Next Generation : Deuteronomy, Psalm 78, Ephesians 6, and Luther on Keeping Kids in School

    Today we discuss Bible and catechism study on the role of education and faith formation in children. We read and reflect on Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 6:4–9 , Psalm 78:1–7, and Ephesians 6:1–4, emphasizing guarding one’s own soul, teaching God’s deeds and commands to children and grandchildren, and using everyday “teachable moments.” We note Jewish practices of binding Scripture on the body and doorframes, connect Psalm 78 to Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13, and highlight that education aims at setting hope in God, not only knowledge. Using Luther’s Large Catechism and sermons on keeping children in school, we describe parental authority extending to teachers, affirm teachers as God-given, and warn against reducing education to getting rich while stressing law-and-gospel comfort in parenting.00:00 False Christs and Judgment01:00 Why Education Matters02:47 Prayer and Study Setup03:36 Deuteronomy 4 Teach Kids05:14 Guard Your Soul07:24 Word Your Eyes Have Seen14:36 Buckets and Memorization19:50 Deuteronomy 6 22:39 Teach in Everyday Moments28:14 Israel Trip and Torah Signs31:15 Psalm 78 Tell Next Gen33:55 Psalm 78 Meets Parables35:30 Teaching Beyond Facts37:16 Everyday Teachable Moments40:02 Hope Not Forgetting43:52 Household Habits Redemption45:17 Ephesians Parenting Charge51:09 Luther Authority Partnership54:22 Luther Schools And Culture01:04:14 Law Gospel Parenting Weight01:08:59 Wrap Up Next TopicsThank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to hear the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also catch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/wZ1LtJyVA8U and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Join Pastor Jared Townley and Principal Derek Blessing from Lamb of God Lutheran Church and School, Las Vegas. Delve into discussions on faith, scripture, and the unique challenges of ministry in a desert city, all while connecting with a community centered on the love of Jesus.

Information

  • Creator
    Lamb of God Las Vegas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lamb of God Las Vegas
  • Show Website
    Desert Well