Best Missionary Formation Podcasts (2025)

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How Empathy Supports Intimacy With Jesus 33:05

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1h ago33:05

33:05

All of us long to have a flourishing relationship with Jesus — experiencing his bottomless love for us as we walk through life with him. Yet it's easy to get discouraged when going deeper with Christ doesn't look or feel like we assumed it would. Thankfully you can learn the ways of authentic intimacy through empathy practices with God and others. …

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Faith, Love, Thanksgiving 12:58

1h ago12:58

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Send us a text Faith, love, and thanksgiving. Three simple words that carried Paul’s heart even as he sat chained in prison, facing the shadow of death. Instead of despair, his letters overflowed with joy. How? In this episode, we open Ephesians 1:15-16 and discover what it means to trust Jesus completely, to love others freely, and to give thanks …

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Episode 194: When Missionaries Stall-out: My Clear Path Talk at SEEK 2025 28:37

4h ago28:37

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Why would a parish packed with on-fire disciples feel stagnant? You’d think that if you put a dozen former FOCUS missionaries in one parish, it would explode with fruitfulness—but almost nothing happened. The truth is, even the most passionate disciples need a clear path and a culture that supports mission. Without it, the fire fizzles. In this epi…

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Catechesis #18 - The Sacrament of Confession & Absolution 1:02:46

4h ago1:02:46

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In this episode, we discuss the Sacrament of Confession and Absolution (Reconciliation) and why repentance is central to the Christian life. We examine the biblical foundations of confession, the meaning of true repentance as "metanoia" (changing one's mind and direction), and how confession relates to baptism and the Eucharist. We explain the role…

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Charlie Kirk, Why Ideas Aren't Violent, Why Subjectivism is False...and other Tangents 1:11:29

2h ago1:11:29

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In this conversation, Father Sam and Matt discuss the tragedy of Charlie Kirk's murder. They cover martyrdom, civility in discourse, and the impact of ideas on society. They also discuss the distinction between objective truth and subjective experience (why relativism is false but subjective experience is true), the role of humility in arguments, a…

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Nominations with the Synod Secretary, Part 1: A Lutheran Witness Podcast Crossover 28:02

2h ago28:02

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In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins talks with LCMS Secretary the Rev. Dr. John Sias on nominations for offices, boards, and commissions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. They discuss why the Synod needs nominations, who to nominate, the types of roles these nominees fill and much more. To learn more…

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Who God Says You Are: Finding Your True Identity in Christ 30:57

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Send us a text This message was preached at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. Have you ever introduced yourself by your failures? “I’m divorced.” “I’m an addict.” “I’m a mess.” What if your true identity had nothing to do with your past mistakes or even your greatest achievements? In this episode, we open Ephesians 1:1 and discover t…

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Set Apart to Serve: Faith Formation in the Home 26:10

3h ago26:10

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How does a family culture encourage young people to consider church work? Kevin and Jen Siek, along with their son Keith, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about Keith's experiences growing up in a strong faith family, how his experiences at Christ Academy shaped his future vocational path, and his decision to attend Con…

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Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Holy Spirit's Guarantee 33:08

40m ago33:08

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Send us a text What if you could stop trying to earn God’s approval and finally rest in the truth that you already have it? In this episode, we walk through Ephesians 1:13–14 and discover what it means to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. God’s seal isn’t fragile or conditional. It’s as real as DNA inside your body, an unshakable mark that…

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Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, Ep. 6: The Lochner Family 25:09

2h ago25:09

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Who is Friedrich Lochner and how did his vocation as a pastor shape congregational singing for the future of LCMS congregations? Benjamin Kolodziej (Church Organist and Musicologist, author of Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 available from Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah for Episode 6 of our series on Portrai…

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Christ Is Enough: Discovering Your True Inheritance 13:56

8h ago13:56

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Send us a text For many, the word predestination brings more fear than comfort. Visions of a distant God choosing some for heaven and others for hell can feel unsettling. But what if that’s not what Scripture is saying at all? In this episode, we look into Ephesians 1:11-14 and discover the breathtaking truth: predestination isn’t about God excludi…

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New Peace Center for CFNA (and an Open House!) 25:39

3h ago25:39

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How does Christian Friends of New Americans serve our new neighbors in the St. Louis community? Rev. Dr. Stanish Stanley (Executive Director, Christian Friends of New Americans) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how long CFNA has served immigrants and refugees in the St. Louis area, the ways that CFNA serves these new neighbors, how LCMS congregat…

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Organize Your Life, Become Like God? // Episode 248 29:41

6d ago29:41

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What if we took divinization seriously? What if our work, our thoughts, our feelings, were all meant to be divinized through and through? Andy Hickman, of Hēl, believes exactly that. Check out his electrifying essay here! Check out opportunities to sample some of the work of hēl during the week of September 29th, 2025, here: https://hel.co/workshop…

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The Cosmic Glue: Jesus Holds Everything Together 27:23

1h ago27:23

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Send us a text The mystery of God’s will isn’t meant to leave us confused. It’s intended to give us hope. In this episode, we explore Ephesians 1:8-10, where Paul reveals that God is working through Christ to gather everything back together again. When sin entered the world, it broke everything: our relationships, creation itself, and even our conn…

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Celebrating Lutheran Heritage in Perry County 26:07

41m ago26:07

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How can we remember and learn more about our Lutheran heritage in Perry County, MO? Denise Hellwege (Director of Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum, KFUO's Organization of the week) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the group of German Lutherans who left their homes for a new one in Missouri, why they left and why they chose to settle in Missouri…

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The Gift of Mirror Neurons 21:56

7d ago21:56

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It's easy to think that some people are empathetic while others are not. And it's true that empathy comes more instinctively to some than others. But did you know that Jesus created your brain for empathy? This means that all of us naturally long to share the experience of being seen and known by God and each other. Join us for this episode of Soul…

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Clean Slate: How God Actually Sees You 10:52

9h ago10:52

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Send us a text Fully Forgiven: The Freedom of God’s Grace Have you ever felt overwhelmed by guilt, wondering if God can truly forgive you? That voice of condemnation isn’t from God. It comes from a misunderstanding of what forgiveness in Christ truly means. In this episode of Followed by Mercy, we continue in Ephesians 1:7 and discover that forgive…

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Catechesis #17 - Annointing the Sick & Last Rights 36:33

2h ago36:33

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Welcome to Season 4! In this episode, we discuss the Anointing of the Sick, also known as Unction and Extreme Unction (or last rites).

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Episode 193: When Ordinary People Say Yes: The story of Seeking Truth Bible Study 56:31

1h ago56:31

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What happens when you open the Bible and simply say “yes” to God? In this conversation with Sharon Doran, teaching director of Seeking Truth, you’ll hear how Scripture has the power to heal wounds, renew marriages, transform families, and ignite whole communities. Sharon shares how she went from feeling unqualified to teaching hundreds—because the …

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Chapter 1 - Pieces of Purple (AUDIOBOOK) 21:22

1h ago21:22

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Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs. ··· This episode is the audio version of Chapter One of Pieces of Purple, my new book that contains everything I've ever learned, researched or taught about TCKs. ... The Am…

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How Smartphones Change Your Brain (w/ Clare Morell) 1:04:10

3h ago1:04:10

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On this week's episode of the Tangent, Fr. Sam and Matt interview Clare Morell. Clare Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in the Bioethics, Technology and Human Flourishing Program. She has worked in both the White House Counsel’s Office and the Department of Justice, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors. She is al…

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A Place of Refuge 26:01

9h ago26:01

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How can organizations show the love of Christ to mothers in need? Deaconess Grace Rao (Executive Director of A Place of Refuge) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how A Place of Refuge (APOR) began, how APOR is helping women and children today, how women and babies supported after their time with APOR, the roles of volunteers within A Place of Refu…

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Redeemed and Free 16:52

14h ago16:52

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Send us a text Redeemed and Free: Living from Your True Identity in Christ What if the most dangerous lie you’ve ever believed isn’t about money, success, or culture, but about who you are? In this episode of Followed by Mercy, we take a deep look at Ephesians 1:7 and the life-changing reality of redemption through Christ’s blood. Using the vivid p…

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Set Apart to Serve: Formation to Serve as a High School Teacher 22:43

4d ago22:43

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How are high school teachers formed for their vocations? Elizabeth Henschen (English teacher at Lutheran High in Sheboygan, WI) joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about her formation at Concordia University, Nebraska, why she chose to pursue church work, what she loves about teaching English, and her advice to high schoo…

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Ephesians 1: How God Makes Us Holy, Not How We Make Ourselves Holy 22:27

7d ago22:27

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Send us a text What if everything you thought about holiness was backwards? What if, instead of working hard to become holy enough for God, you discovered He has already made you holy? In this episode, David Gardner joins us for a powerful conversation through Ephesians 1. Together, we uncover the life-changing truth that holiness isn’t earned by p…

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The Newest Saints: Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati 42:27

15h ago42:27

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St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati are now canonized Saints and their simple, yet profound witness provides the Church, and in particular its younger members, inspiration to grow in holiness and draw others to Christ through their personal example. Brian Rhude, Project Coordinator at the Catholic Apostolate Center, joins this episode of…

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Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, Ep. 5: Walther’s Liturgy 29:13

1d ago29:13

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What did typical worship services in the late 19th century look like? Benjamin Kolodziej (Church Organist and Musicologist, author of Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 available from Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah for Episode 5 of our series on Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music. Benjamin talks about …

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God doesn't just tolerate you. He delights in you. 14:17

12d ago14:17

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Send us a text Have you ever felt like God just tolerates you? Like you’ve been let into the party but told to stay quietly in the corner? In this episode, we uncover the life-changing truth of Ephesians 1:6: we are “accepted in the Beloved.” God doesn’t simply permit your presence. He delights in you. His love doesn’t keep you at arm’s length but …

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Sing! Dr. Malcolm Guite, Poet-in-Residence 14:43

5h ago14:43

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How do poetry and fantasy literature connect us to God's eternal truth? KFUO Radio went on the road to the Sing! Conference in Nashville, TN, to share Lutheran hymnody and teaching heard on KFUO. In this special crossover episode, Sarah interviews Dr. Malcolm Guite (poet-in-residence at the Sing! Conference and prolific writer) for a Lutheran Ladie…

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Sing! Sandra McCracken, Singer-Songwriter 14:25

5h ago14:25

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Have you ever wondered what inspires the writing of hymns? The Coffee Hour went on the road to the Sing! Conference in Nashville, TN, to share Lutheran hymnody and teaching heard on KFUO Radio and to connect with church musicians. Sandra McCracken (singer-songwriter) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the faith tradition from which she comes, how h…

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Focus on the 2050s, not the 1950s // Episode 247 17:39

13d ago17:39

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A lot of people still talk about wanting things to be like the 1950s. Biggest problem with that? The 1950s not only weren't perfect, they were the set-up for the 1960s and everything that followed. So why not focus on the 2050s, and doing what we can to build something great on whatever is good right now? As always, check out our work, and join our…

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Adoption: When God Says "This One's Mine" 12:45

5h ago12:45

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Send us a text Have you ever wrestled with words like predestination or chosen and wondered what they really mean? Far from being cold or intimidating, these truths open up the beauty of God’s eternal plan for you. Predestination is not about fate or favoritism. It is about a loving Father who made the first move. Before time began, He secured your…

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Sing! Andrew Osenga, Hymnwriter 19:06

7h ago19:06

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What makes a good modern hymn? The Coffee Hour went on the road to the Sing! Conference in Nashville, TN to share Lutheran hymnody and teaching heard on KFUO Radio and to connect with church musicians. Andrew Osenga (hymnwriter with Anchor Hymns) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the faith tradition from which he comes, how hymns have shaped his f…

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Sing! Jordan Kauflin, Hymnwriter & Singer 14:17

7h ago14:17

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Have you ever wondered what inspires the writing of hymns? The Coffee Hour went on the road to the Sing! Conference in Nashville, TN to share Lutheran hymnody and teaching heard on KFUO Radio, and to connect with church musicians. Jordan Kauflin (Worship Pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Atlanta, GA, and songwriter) joins Andy and Sarah to talk a…

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You Were Made for Deeper Love 25:58

14d ago25:58

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Research shows that only 36% of people can identify their emotions as they're experiencing them. Yet learning to feel and share authentically is the path to closeness and connection. This means your emotions and experiences (even the painful ones) are actually invitations to be deeply loved by God and others. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks …

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God Chose You in Christ Before the Foundation of the World 12:39

5h ago12:39

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Send us a text You are secure, purposeful, and fully identified in Christ because God chose you before the foundation of the world. This choosing has nothing to do with your performance and everything to do with God’s eternal grace and love. In this episode, we look at Paul’s words in Ephesians, written around AD 60–62, where he encouraged believer…

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Episode 192: How to Lead Change Without Losing Your People 48:48

3h ago48:48

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*How do you lead change when you don’t know where you are going (yet)? * Today I sit down with Brian Miller, a change management expert from Coach Approach Ministries, to talk about adaptive change. Adaptive change is when you know something needs to change, but you don’t yet know what the solution is. It’s not just fixing a broken pipe—it’s realiz…

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Suffering and Forgiveness in Light of the Tragedy at Annunciation School 1:03:55

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First and foremost, this is not an episode of hot-takes. Recognizing the terrible tragedy at Annunciation School is an event that impacts the Universal Church as well as the local Church, Fr. Sam and I (Matt) reflect on suffering and forgiveness. Our conversation springs from the guidance and words offered to the faithful by the Pastor of Annunciat…

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Faithful and Flourishing, Strategies for Leading Your Christian School with Excellence 32:50

1d ago32:50

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How does a Christian school flourish while remaining faithful to God’s Word? Dr. Bernard Bull (President of Concordia University, Nebraska, and author of Faithful and Flourishing: Strategies for Leading Your Christian School with Excellence) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his new book available from Concordia Publishing House. He explains why C…

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The Spiritual Bank Account: Discovering Your Heavenly Blessings 13:32

11d ago13:32

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Send us a text Do you ever feel like you have to work harder, pray longer, or be better before God will finally accept you? The letter to the Ephesians gives us a completely different picture. Paul tells us that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. We are not trying to earn His favor. We already have it. Ephesians is …

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The Descent Into Hell in the Formula of Concord 27:07

15d ago27:07

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What does the Bible say about Jesus descending into hell? The Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District and host of KFUO Radio’s Concord Matters, joins Andy to talk about the Formula of Concord reading plan he created for 2025, including the questions concerning The Descent into Hell that are addressed in September's readin…

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Living From Your Identity, Not For It 11:48

4d ago11:48

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Send us a text Have you ever felt worn out from trying to earn God’s approval? Many of us grew up believing we had to strive harder, clean ourselves up, and prove ourselves worthy before coming to Him. But the opening verses of Ephesians turn that whole idea upside down. Paul’s words “grace to you and peace” aren’t just a polite greeting. They’re a…

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Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, Ep. 4: Hymnody in 19th Century Lutheranism 28:52

5d ago28:52

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What kind of hymns would Lutherans have been singing in Germany before coming to America? Benjamin Kolodziej (Church Organist and Musicologist, author of Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 available from Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah for Episode 4 of our series on Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music. B…

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You Are Not Your Past: How Grace Redefines Who You Are 13:26

5d ago13:26

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Send us a text Have you ever struggled to see yourself the way God sees you? In this opening episode of our Ephesians series, we explore Paul’s greeting to the believers at Ephesus and uncover life-changing truths about our identity in Christ. Paul calls ordinary Christians “saints” and “faithful in Christ Jesus,” titles that don’t depend on perfor…

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Providing for Refugees in Germany: A Lutheran Witness Podcast Crossover 18:45

6d ago18:45

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In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins shares his interview with Sandra, an American living in Germany.This edition of The Lutheran Witness podcast was recorded almost a year ago in Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. In this episode, we speak with Sandra, an American living in Germany and working with the members of …

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Building a Tower // Episode 246 16:11

20d ago16:11

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Through a bit of serendipity, Joseph recorded an episode about this coming Sunday's gospel, without realizing it until afterward! The reading can be found here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090725.cfm Catholic husbands, check out a five-part series designed for you! https://youroutpost.stellarwebsystems.com/join?euuid=a0e6e22a-7d33-11f0-b…

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You Don't Have to Run Anymore 25:08

6d ago25:08

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Send us a text Have you ever felt far from God, like you’ve wandered too far to find your way back? In this episode, we step into David’s story in Psalm 23 and discover something beautiful: God hasn’t been waiting for us to return. He’s been chasing us all along with His goodness and mercy. We’ll explore how David moved from spiritual drought to th…

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Transition Wisdom from a Sage Called Pooh 16:40

14d ago16:40

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Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs. ··· This episode is based on an article by the same name, which is available HERE. ... The Amazon page for Piece of Purple is HERE. For bulk order pricing of ten copies or m…

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“Sacramental Shadows” LW Searching Scripture, September 2025: Exodus 13 & 14 29:14

7d ago29:14

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Anyone who has studied the Third Commandment in confirmation class has encountered Colossians 2:16–17, which answers the question, “Why don’t Christians have to worship on Saturday (the Sabbath) as the Israelites did in the Old Testament?” St. Paul writes, “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to …

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Does Empathy Reinforce Sin? 20:39

21d ago20:39

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Some Christians are skeptical about empathy, mistakenly assuming that it coddles others and reinforces sinful behavior. Yet genuine empathy (even when we sin) helps us understand our struggles and strengthens us to grow in Christlikeness. Thankfully, loving and healthy empathy is modeled all over the Bible and not only comforts us but leads us towa…