We begin studying the rich text of the Augsburg Confession with Article I: God. Learn why the confessors begin their confession of faith with a statement on God and the significance of our Lutheran identity that affirms the same faith that the Council of Nicaea confessed. Also, take a deep dive into the doctrine of the Trinity, including where in the Scriptures we find this doctrine of the Trinity, how we explain the Three Persons in One God, where we see this doctrine of God lived out in the faith and life of the Church, and the importance of confessing the doctrine of the Trinity.

Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, IL, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the first article of the Augsburg Confession. Find your copy of The Augsburg Confession - Concordia Reader's Edition at cph.org or read online at bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession.

It's time for a deep dive into the history surrounding the Augsburg Confession! In this episode, hear answers to questions like:

• Why did Emperor Charles V calling for a general assembly at Augsburg in 1530?
• How much of the significance of the Augsburg Confession in its day was political and how much was religious or theological?
• Why didn't Luther write the Augsburg Confession?
• What are the various articles that are included in the Augsburg Confession, and why they the ones the Lutherans choose to address?
• Why did the Lutheran confessors find it necessary to draft a reply defending the Augsburg Confession, called the Apology of the Augsburg Confession?

Dr. Jack Kilcrease joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the history of the Augsburg Confession. Dr. Kilcrease is associate professor of Historical & Systematic Theology for the Institute of Lutheran Theology and member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

What is a soul? What does it mean to care for souls, and why is that important? Is it different from mental health therapy? How does right understanding of the care of souls affect how pastors care for their flock?

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Concord Matters for the care of souls.

This is a rebroadcast from September 15, 2020.

What is Gnosticism? It's more than just a big word, and you've probably run across it more than you realize.

Rev. Peter Burfeind joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss Gnosticism in America today. Learn the historical roots and key ideas of Gnosticism and the influence of Gnosticism on historic Christianity. Then, hear how the gnostic heresy is still active in Christianity today, the dangers of hidden Gnosticism to our concord as the Church, and how we combat Gnosticism in order to maintain concord in the Church.

Rev. Peter Burfeind is Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City, Michigan and Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Marshall, Michigan, and serves as a Reserve Chaplain in the United States Army. He is author of the book Gnostic America: A Reading of Contemporary American Culture and Religion according to Christianity's Oldest Heresy (Amazon.com), and a series of 3 books called A Year Crowned in Goodness: Daily Meditations on the Gospels of the Historic Lectionary (Amazon.com: Part One, Part Two, Part Three) that challenge gnostic ideas.

"Synod" is in the name of our church body, but what does that word actually mean? Learn this, who the official members of synod are, and why The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod holds to confessions written in the 16th century as the basis of our unity. Also, hear about whether it's mandatory for all members to subscribe to to Scripture and the Confessions, what this subscription looks like in practical terms for the Synod, and how our commitment to a common confession helps us accomplish the work of Christ’s Church here on earth and into eternity.

The Rev. Dr. James Baneck, Executive Director of Pastoral Education for the LCMS, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss life together as Synod. Dr. Baneck was a parish Pastor for 22 years until he became the North Dakota District President, where he served for 8 years before accepting the call to be Executive Director of Pastoral Education. In his current position, he has recently worked to produce the "Life Together as Synod" video series, which you can view at resources.lcms.org/life-together-as-synod-video-series.

What is stewardship? You’ll often hear “time, talents, and treasures” referenced. But is that a helpful way to think about stewardship?

Is stewardship “just the business side of the Church"? A matter of our Christian life? Only a matter of “me and God”? A confessional matter?

How does the faithful pastor approach stewardship, and what does stewardship look like in the Church, the Christian home, and in daily life?

As Lutherans we are always looking for Law and Gospel. But, with stewardship we tend to think of it as all law. Does stewardship relate to the Gospel?

Rev. Heath Curtis, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Worden, IL, and Zion Lutheran Church in Carpenter, IL; LCMS Coordinator for Stewardship; and co-author of the book, Stewardship for the Care of Souls joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss stewardship.

Where do we learn about the Advent of Christ in our Lutheran Confessions? What does the Advent of Christ mean for us in these gray and latter days? How do we participate in these parts of the church year in our Christian vocations?

Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch, Jr., Pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Church in South Bend, Indiana, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Advent of Christ.

This is a rebroadcast from December 15, 2020.

What are these Saxon Visitation Articles of 1528? Learn about what church visitations are about, what they have to do with the Book of Concord, and why Gospel-focused Lutherans—wanting to get out from under the Pope tyranny— would want to visit their churches and establish a Church order. Also hear what the proper use of the Lord’s Supper, closed communion, daily worship services, and what is being taught in the churches and schools has to do with gospel-focused Church order. And finally, hear about what tribulation has to do with church visitation.

Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of Worship for the LCMS and Chaplain at the LCMS International Center, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Saxon Visitation Articles of 1528.

We continue in the discussion about understanding worship catechetically. Learn how the Golden Gate Bridge serves as an analogy for how we can understand the liturgy and its catechetical function. Also, hear how the liturgy helps us see the confession of both the earthly life and mission of Christ and the benefits of that completed mission being poured out today.

Rev. Mark Bestul, Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church Elgin, IL joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss catechesis in worship.

We now dive into understanding worship “Catechetically.” Hear discussion about what worship is and how we rightly understand that term, what liturgy is, and how liturgy itself echoes the truth of God’s Word and teaches the Catechetical faith.

Rev. Mark Bestul, Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church Elgin, IL joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss our Lutheran worship and liturgy.