The Crux of the Matter

What does it mean to be human? What does it mean that God became man? These and many more questions may fall under the heading “The Theology of the Body.” While this is a phrase usually associated with Pope John-Paul II, it is one that has gained a much wider usage, even among Lutherans. In episode 48 of The Crux of the Matter, Todd and Scott unpack what a Lutheran theology of the body is, and what it means for pastoral care today.

• 1st Article of the Creed

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:

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Intro and Outro Music is “BWV 739: Wie schön leuchtet uns der Morgenstern” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

Scott Stiegemeyer (left) and Todd Peperkorn (right) recording live at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California.

What does it mean to be the Christian Church in the twenty-first century. In this live episode of The Crux of the Matter, Todd and Scott answer questions, ask a few of their own, and bring Christ to bear as we look forward to the future together in Him. Join us for episode 46 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 and Outro Music is “BWV 739: Wie schön leuchtet uns der Morgenstern” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

It is certainly fair to say that Star Wars: The Force Awakens in a phenomenon. So how are we as Christians to view such a thing? Does it have a biblical view of good and evil, and ultimately of redemption? Or is it just another good old yarn designed to make Hollywood some bucks? Listen to Scott and Todd discuss the years most popular movie in Episode 45 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 and Outro Music is “BWV 699: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibble). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. When it comes to pastors, that’s a pretty good description of Advent. In this episode, Scott and Todd discuss why it is that the season of Advent is often so hard, and how we as pastors can try to provide comfort to the suffering. Join us for episode 44 of The Crux of the Matter.

• Jessica Jones TV Series

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 and Outro Music is “BWV 699: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibble). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

Everyone is talking about refugees these days. The distinction between what the Church should do and what the government should do is obvious (perhaps) to Lutherans, but it is not so obvious in our society. In this episode of The Crux of the Matter, Todd and Scott talk about that distinction in the context of the Paris attacks, and what it means for the Church and her pastors today. Join us for episode 43 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 “BWV 1103: Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

All our lives we are surrounded by history. Our own history. Those around us. Those who will come after us are on the horizon. But how does the Christian Church understand her history? In this episode of The Crux of the Matter, Peperkorn and Stiegemeyer talk about what it means to be a pastor who is aware of the Church’s history, and how it shapes pastoral care.

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 “BWV 1103: Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

Halloween is a day of great fun and frivolity, but it is also a day of some conflict for Christians. Do we “celebrate” Halloween, or is this a pagan holiday that Christians should avoid? And strangely in the same vein, what does it mean to “celebrate” the reformation? Is this Lutheran Pride Sunday, or is something else at work? Todd and Scott discuss these and more in episode 41 o 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 and Outro Music is “BWV 1103: Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

Why do we practice closed communion? Do you wear that outfit in the shower? What does God let X happen to me if He really loves me? These are just a few of the questions Todd and Scott try to answer in this episode. Oh, and like the rest of the Internet, they also talk about Star Wars, ADD, and the craziness of random questions. Join us for episode 40 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 “BWV 1103: Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

Outro Music is from “Star Wars Symphonic Suite--Jelani Eddington at the Sanfilippo Wurlitzer”, as found on YouTube HERE.

Why do we want to turn the world into a cosmic battle of Good vs. Evil? We often appear to live in a superheroes and supervillians world, where they are constantly at odds with each other, and neither gets the upper hand. But God is the Lord of heaven and earth. Hear Scott and Todd talk about dualism in episode 39 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 and Outro Music is “BWV 1103: Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.

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 “BWV 1103: Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort” (by J.S. Bach, recorded by James Kibbie). Licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.