Under the Fig Tree

In today's episode Ben and Micah chat with Deaconess Sarah Longmire, current president of the Concordia Deaconess Conference, to see what the "Blue Tornado" is up to these days, and to continue the conversation of the blessing the deaconesses are to the church. If you like this episode and know someone who should hear, please make sure to share Under the Fig Tree with them!

IN this episode, Ben and Micah have a discussion with Dr. Leo Sanchez about the Holy Spirit in the call process. Make sure to share this episode with someone, especially if you think they would make a good pastor or deaconess. 

In today's episode Ben and Micah catch-up after the summer, talk about the inauguration of President Tom Egger, and reflect on their confirmation verses. Welcome back friends. Please make sure to share this episode with someone, and let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover in the future.

In this final episode of season one, we chat with the new President of Concordia Seminary, Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Egger. He shares his joy of proclaiming Christ, his love for pastoral ministry, his scholarship on Exodus, and why someone should consider coming to Concordia Seminary.

In this episode, we interview Deaconess Cheryl Naumann who serves with her husband, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Naumann, as LCMS missionaries based in the Dominican Republic. Cheryl discusses her own training to become a deaconess and also shares what diaconal ministry is like in a missionary setting. Deaconess Naumann is the author of In the Footsteps of Phoebe: A Complete History of the Deaconess Movement in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

In this episode our guest, Dr. David Lewis, tells us his story of coming to faith, his decision to apply to seminary, and what it was like for him to be a parish pastor and then professor of New Testament. We walk through the rest of Paul's epistle to Titus and discuss chapter three.

In this episode of our miniseries on Titus we break down the second chapter with Dr. Tim Saleska, Professor of Old Testament and Dean of Ministerial Formation at Concordia Seminary. Dr. Saleska helps us especially understand how to read this particular text and any text with abstract language so that we can be formed by the Word of God. We also discuss being formed as a student at seminary.

In this episode on Titus chapter 1, Micah and Ben talk with Dr. Peter Nafzger, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology. Dr. Nafzger discusses how the themes of doctrine and life hang together in Titus, especially in the qualifications for elders or pastors in congregational ministry. How these two hang together in studying theology at Seminary and out in the parish is essential to doing ministry in the name of Jesus.

Over the next four episodes, Micah and Ben dive deep into the Pauline Pastoral Epistle to Titus. Titus is a fantastic book of the Bible for those who are considering studying to become pastors or deaconesses. In this episode, we spend some time learning from world renowned Pauline scholar, Dr. Mark Seifrid. Dr. Seifrid discusses the background of the epistle and gives an overview of the basic themes of the letter.

In this episode Ben, Micah, and Dr. Erik Herrmann talk about Martin Luther and his hilarious sense of humor. If you never imagined that the Great Reformer would make fart jokes, think again.