How do Christians love their neighbors in practical, everyday ways?

This week on 2414, Shane Welter and Vicar Dave Gallagher continue their journey through St. Luke's 1-2-3 Challenge by exploring Go: Love Well. Jesus doesn't simply call His people to believe the Gospel—He sends us into the world to live lives of sacrificial love, serving our neighbors through our everyday vocations and relationships.

Drawing from the 1-2-3 Challenge resource, Shane and Vicar Dave discuss practical first steps, next steps, and challenge steps that help Christians intentionally love well. Whether it's encouraging a friend, serving in your community, helping a neighbor, or faithfully living out your calling at home and work, every act of love becomes an opportunity to reflect the love Christ has first shown us.

Topics include:
• What it means to "Go" as a follower of Jesus
• Loving your neighbor through everyday vocations
• Why ordinary acts of kindness matter
• Practical ways to serve your family, church, workplace, and community
• Building habits of intentional service
• Living for others because Christ first lived for us
• Taking faithful next steps in Christian discipleship

The 1-2-3 Challenge invites every person at St. Luke's to take two intentional steps in each of three discipleship areas:

Gather. Grow. Go.

This week's focus:
Go: Love Well

Learn more about the 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share your completed steps so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

Want to share your faith story on the 2414 Podcast?
Schedule a recording here:
https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

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This week on 2414, Shane Welter and Vicar Dave Gallagher continue the conversation through St. Luke's 1-2-3 Challenge by focusing on Grow: In Baptismal Identity.

For many Christians, Baptism can feel like a past event—a date, a memory, or a milestone. But Scripture teaches that Baptism is much more than something that happened to us. It is a present reality that shapes who we are every day.

In this episode, Shane and Vicar Dave explore what it means to live from our Baptismal Identity, remembering God's promises, daily dying and rising with Christ, and finding confidence not in our performance but in what God has already done for us through Jesus.

Drawing from the 1-2-3 Challenge resource, they discuss practical first steps, next steps, and challenge steps that help Christians remember, celebrate, and live out their identity as baptized children of God.

Topics include:
• What Baptism means in the Christian life
• Living from God's promises instead of our feelings
• Daily repentance and faith
• Dying and rising with Christ
• Baptism and Christian identity
• Remembering whose you are in Christ
• Practical ways to grow in Baptismal Identity
• Encouragement for Christians at every stage of life

The 1-2-3 Challenge invites every person at St. Luke's to take two intentional steps in each of three discipleship areas:

Gather. Grow. Go.

This week's focus:
Grow: In Baptismal Identity

Learn more about the 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share your completed steps so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

Want to share your faith story on the 2414 Podcast?
Schedule a recording here:
https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show

This week on 2414, Shane Welter and Vicar Dave Gallagher continue the conversation through St. Luke's 1-2-3 Challenge by focusing on Grow: In the Word.

What does it mean to grow as a disciple of Jesus? How do Christians develop habits of hearing, reading, learning, and inwardly digesting God's Word? And why does Scripture remain central to the Christian life?

Drawing from the 1-2-3 Challenge resource, Shane and Vicar Dave discuss practical first steps, next steps, and challenge steps for spending time in God's Word. Whether you're brand new to reading the Bible or have spent decades studying Scripture, this episode offers encouragement to take the next faithful step.

Topics include:
• Why God's Word is essential for Christian growth
• Building sustainable Bible reading habits
• First Steps, Next Steps, and Challenge Steps
• Scripture memorization and meditation
• Learning to engage the Bible consistently
• Encouragement for new and seasoned Christians alike
• Growing in faith through God's promises

The 1-2-3 Challenge invites every person at St. Luke's to take two intentional steps in each of three discipleship areas:

Gather. Grow. Go.

This week's focus:
Grow: In the Word

Learn more about the 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share your completed steps so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

Want to share your faith story on the 2414 Podcast?
Schedule a recording here:
https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show

Robert Grothe joins Shane Welter to share an extraordinary story of faith, family, and God's provision.

From growing up on a small vegetable farm in West Texas to answering the call into pastoral ministry, Robert reflects on the people and experiences that shaped his life. Alongside his wife Jan, he shares stories of hardship, loss, unexpected blessings, seminary life, marriage, ministry, and the ways God remained faithful through every season.

It's a conversation filled with humor, history, heartfelt moments, and encouragement for anyone seeking to trust God's leading in their own journey.

Join us as we hear how one family's story became a testimony to grace, calling, and a lifetime of walking with Christ.

Want to be part of a future episode of 2414? We'd love to hear your story.

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What does genuine Christian community actually look like?

In this episode of 2414, Pastor Dan and Shane continue the conversation on St. Luke’s 1-2-3 Challenge by focusing on “Gather: In Life Together.” From learning names and sharing meals to building trust through ordinary conversation, they explore why Christian fellowship is formed through consistent, everyday presence — not just major life moments.

The episode moves from personal highs and lows, parenting struggles, and an absurd “Wheels vs. Doors” trivia game into a deeper discussion on friendship, vulnerability, and why modern Christianity can drift toward isolation and individualism.

Drawing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, the conversation emphasizes that meaningful relationships are usually built slowly:
“We share names before we share burdens. We share the boring parts of life before we share the big things.”

Topics include:
• Why the mundane matters in friendship
• Introverts, extroverts, and practical connection steps
• Why consistency builds trust
• The danger of isolated Christianity
• Summer Nights, meals, check-ins, and shared rhythms
• How “training wheels” habits help create real community
• Building belonging through ordinary life together

The 1-2-3 Challenge invites every person at St. Luke’s to take two intentional steps in each of three discipleship areas:
Gather. Grow. Go.

This week’s focus:
Gather: In Life Together

Learn more about the 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share your completed steps so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

Want to share your faith story on the 2414 Podcast?
Schedule a recording here:
https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show

What does it actually mean to “gather” as Christians?

In this episode of 2414, Pastor Dan and Shane spend time unpacking the “Gather: In Worship” portion of St. Luke’s 1-2-3 Challenge. From showing up consistently, to arriving early for prayer, to bringing a Bible, taking sermon notes, serving in worship, and building relationships across services, the conversation centers on how simple, intentional habits shape Christians over time.

The discussion explores why discipleship is built more through rhythms than inspiration, why participation matters more than consumption, and how worship forms Christians for life beyond Sunday morning.

They also reflect on:
• Why small steps matter
• How repetition forms identity
• The value of gathering even when worship feels imperfect
• Why Christians need shared life together
• How consistency creates deeper connection and belonging
• Why worship is about receiving God’s gifts, not personal preference

The 1-2-3 Challenge invites every person at St. Luke’s to take two intentional steps in each of three discipleship areas:
Gather. Grow. Go.

This week’s focus:
Gather: In Worship

Learn more about the 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge

Share your completed steps so others can be encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1

Want to share your faith story on the 2414 Podcast?
Schedule a recording here:
https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show

Five months into the 1-2-3 Challenge, Pastor Dan and Shane sit down to reflect on the intentional steps they’ve taken to Gather, Grow, and Go throughout 2026. They talk about what’s been encouraging, where growth has been challenging, and why small, faithful steps matter in the Christian life.

The 1-2-3 Challenge invites every person at St. Luke’s to take two intentional steps in each of our three discipleship strategies:

• Gather in Worship and Life Together
• Grow in the Word and Baptismal Identity
• Go Love Well and Speak the Gospel

This episode is also a reminder that your story matters. One of the best ways we encourage one another is by sharing the steps we’ve taken in faith. Even small steps can strengthen and encourage other Christians walking the same journey.

Learn more about the 1-2-3 Challenge:
https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challenge?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Share your steps so others can be encouraged too:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1&utm_source=chatgpt.com

Want to share your faith story on the 2414 Podcast? Schedule a recording here:
https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=&utm_source=chatgpt.com

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show

In this episode, Pastor Dan sits down with Isaac Sato for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about faith that doesn’t rely on dramatic turning points—but instead is shaped through steady, ordinary faithfulness.

Isaac reflects on growing up in the Church, where simple songs, weekly worship, and baptism formed a foundation long before he could fully articulate belief. Over time, that childlike faith was tested and refined through questions about science, evolution, and the nature of truth itself.

Together, they explore:

-Why reason is not the enemy of faith—but a gift meant to strengthen it
-How engaging difficult questions can lead to deeper, more resilient belief
-The role of liturgy, sacraments, and repetition in shaping a lasting faith
-Tensions between different Christian traditions and what’s at stake theologically
-A richer vision of eternal life—not as static, but as endless joy in the presence of an infinite God

Isaac also shares how his understanding of the Christian life has matured—from youthful assumptions about grace to a deeper appreciation for repentance as a continual “return home.”

This episode pushes back against the pressure for sensational testimonies and instead highlights the quiet, powerful beauty of a life formed by Word, sacrament, and community.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, struggled to articulate your faith, or wondered how Christianity holds up under intellectual scrutiny, this conversation invites you to think deeply—and return again to what is true.

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

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On this episode of 2414, Shane and Pastor Dan center the conversation on the comfort and confidence found in the LCMS confession that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.

They explore what it means to confess that the eternal Son of God took on real human flesh at the Incarnation, remains both God and man after the resurrection and ascension, and reigns even now for our salvation. The discussion unpacks the communication of attributes, clarifies why the church rejects errors such as adoptionism and subordinationism, and shows how Scripture, the Apostles’ Creed, and Luther’s Small Catechism safeguard the biblical teaching about who Jesus is and what He has done.

Rather than treating doctrine as abstract theory, Shane and Dan emphasize doctrine as clear, life-giving teaching meant to give Christians assurance: only God could bear the sins of the world, and only as man could Christ suffer, die, and rise in our place. This is the heart of our comfort—Jesus chose to save, keeps His promises, and remains “one of us” who understands human suffering.

Along the way, they share a few everyday highlights and play a light game featuring songs with U.S. cities in the title, but the focus remains on slowing down, listening well, and speaking clearly about the faith we confess.

Want to talk about your faith, share your story, or ask questions on a future episode?
Book a recording time with us here:
https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled

Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show

Do Christians really have free will when it comes to faith? In this episode of 2414, “Talking About Your Faith: Free Will,” warm humor and playful banter give way to a thoughtful, honest conversation about one of Christianity’s most challenging and often misunderstood questions.

The episode begins lightheartedly with highs and lows, family stories, and a spirited round of Outburst, before turning toward a deeper theological discussion rooted in Scripture and Lutheran teaching. From hiking mishaps and board game disasters to adoption analogies and the “house of salvation,” Pastor Dan and Shane explore what the Bible says about human will, sin, and grace.

Framed by Luther’s teaching on the bondage of the will, the conversation carefully distinguishes between everyday choices and humanity’s spiritual inability before God. Rather than centering salvation on human decision-making, this episode points listeners toward repentance, trust, and the comfort that salvation is God’s work from beginning to end.

In this episode, we discuss:

What Christians mean by “free will”

The difference between earthly freedom and spiritual inability

Why defining theological terms matters

Luther’s Bondage of the Will and the Formula of Concord

Why decision-centered faith leads to pride or despair

How law and gospel shape our understanding of salvation

Why this doctrine, though uncomfortable, brings real comfort

Who this episode is for:

✔ Christians wrestling with questions about choice and belief
✔ Listeners curious about Lutheran theology
✔ Those seeking deeper, honest faith conversations
✔ Anyone wanting to understand grace more clearly

This episode doesn’t offer easy answers—but it does offer clarity, humility, and hope, pointing listeners back to Christ and the grace that saves sinners.
Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!

Support the show