Lutherans have a strange history when it comes to the traditional disciplines of Lent. In Luther’s day, many of the disciplines, particularly fasting, were often frowned upon because they were so easily abused into works righteousness. But is that the case today? How might our obsession with freedom actually turn into a cover up for evil? Join us for Episode 68 of The Crux of the Matter.

• Field Trip to Greek Orthodox Church (SCOTT)
• Sermon on the Mount (TODD)

• Why Lent Should Matter to Everyone (Article in The Federalist)

• Eero (Todd)
• Christian History Magazine (Scott)

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

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Intro and Outro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

In episode 67, Scott and Todd discuss twenty years in the pastoral office. What are the highs and lows, what have they learned, what was the best and worst? And why did Kurt Marquart call their situations a "felicitous inconsistency?" Join us for this episode of The Crux of the Matter.

• Isaiah (Todd)
  • Death of Michael Novak
    • First Things Podcast, "Spirit and Form"
    • The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism, by Michael Novak
• Christology (Scott)
  • "On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ", by Ellenhorn and others.

    • Ellenhorn, M. J., D. P. Oles, S. J. Smith, and et al. "On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ." JAMA 255, no. 20 (1986): 2754-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1986.03370200054014.

    • Article in PDF Format.

• Concordia Theological Seminary
• Concordia Lutheran Church, Brentwood, PA (Scott)
• Messiah Lutheran Church, Kenosha, WI (Todd)
• Concordia Theological Seminary (Scott)
• Redeemer Lutheran Church, Elmwood, IL (Scott)
• Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Rocklin, CA (Todd)
• Concordia University Irvine (Scott)

• Route 66 A.D. : On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists (Todd)
• Essential McLuhan (Scott)

Bible interpretation is somewhat that every pastor engagesevery day of his ministry. In this episode, Todd and Scott start to tackle the question of how to interpret the Bible, particularly for preaching and teaching. They also talk about Isaiah, the HT unConference, Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series, and the Quick to Listen podcast. Join us for Episode 66 of The Crux of the Matter.

• Isaiah (Todd)
• Higher Things UnConference
  • “The most dangerous ideas in a culture are not the ones people argue about, but what are assumed.”

• The Dark Tower Series(Todd’s Pick)
• “Quick to Listen” podcast (Todd's Pick)

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER. You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac and Dark My Road. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice: https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-the-crux-of-the-matter/id959171811

Intro and Outro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

The time after Christmas is typically pretty difficult for pastors, at least these pastors. How is it that we reconnect with family, recharge the batteries, and in general reengage with the ministry after an intensive period. Scott and Todd also talk about the Incarnation, Guatemala, and noise-canceling headphones. Take a listen to episode 65 of The Crux of the Matter to find out more.

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER. You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac and Dark My Road. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice: https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-the-crux-of-the-matter/id959171811

Intro and Outro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

Ronald Reagan had the 11th commandment for conservatives. Is there a similar standard of conversation among pastors? How do we treat each other? How do we speak about one another to the laity? Is that somehow different from what we do and how we should speak as Christians anyways? Listen in as Scott and Todd try to get at this good question in episode 64 of The Crux of the Matter.

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice:

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to:

Intro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

Trump and Clinton, morals and economics, parish membership and political parties. The lines are drawn, but where is Jesus in the midst of all of this madness? Scott and Todd try to untangle the question of pastoral care and politics in episode 63 of The Crux of the Matter. Join us for a listen!

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice:

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to:

Intro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

This page is the tip jar page, for donations to the podcast expenses.

How do pastors deal with being sick? It’s the season when children go back to school, and so many pastors struggle with sickness, both short term and long term. Do you cancel classes or worship services? Who looks after you when you are sick? Will the church collapse in upon itself without you? Scott and Todd take a crack at this question and more in to episode 62 of The Crux of the Matter.

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.
You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac and Dark My Road. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice:
https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-the-crux-of-the-matter/id959171811

Intro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

Mother Teresa was canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday, September 4, 2016. So there's a lot of talk in the media about saints. For Lutherans, this is a mixed conversation. We cling to and hold on to the saints, but we neither worship no pray to them. So what are we to do with a woman like Mother Teresa? John us for Episode 61 of The Crux of the Matter, hosted by Todd Peperkorn and Scott Stiegemeyer.

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.
You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac and Dark My Road. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice:
https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-the-crux-of-the-matter/id959171811

Intro and Outro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

Bioethics, preaching of the poor, Catholic social ethics, what we did over summer vacation, German, Yosemite. We cover it all and much, much more this episode! John us for Episode 60 of The Crux of the Matter, hosted by Todd Peperkorn and Scott Stiegemeyer.

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.
You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac and Dark My Road. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice:
https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-the-crux-of-the-matter/id959171811

Intro and Outro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.

Church politics. Even the phrase leaves a bad taste in your mouth. But what is it, and is it all bad? Whether you are talking about what color the carpet should be, all the way up to how we should deploy missionaries, politics are involved if humans are involved. Todd and Scott go back and forth on the subject today. Learn more in Episode 59 of The Crux of the Matter.

Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER.
You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac and Dark My Road. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE.

You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine.

Email the show at [email protected]

To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice:
https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss

To subscribe via iTunes, please go to:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-the-crux-of-the-matter/id959171811

Intro and Outro Music is “On My Heart Imprint Your Image” from the album, “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” copyright 2003 by Kathryn M. Peperkorn. Used by Permission.