The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

What are the challenges of New Testament archeology, and what exciting things have been discovered just recently? Dr. Steven Notley (Dean of Religious Studies at Pillar College, Newark, NJ) and the Rev. Dr. Stephen Pietsch (Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Theological Research and Publication, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the third annual "These Stones Will Shout" biblical archaeology lecture set for Sept. 29th at Concordia Seminary. They discuss Dr. Notley's background and interest in biblical archaeology, the excavations at Khirbet el Araj, its historical and Biblical significance, how historical geography and...

We head to the northern third of Illinois for today’s conversation! The Rev. Dr. Allan Buss (President, Northern Illinois District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about where he grew up, his journey to seminary, where he served in parishes and what he learned from those experiences, why visitation is so important to him in his vocation, his duties as a district president, what makes the Northern Illinois District unique, and why he loves bein...

How does the Gospel of Christ bring peace, forgiveness, and restoration to women who are struggling after an abortion? Deaconess Dr. Chrissie Gillet (Director, Word of Hope, a ministry of Lutherans for Life) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about an upcoming retreat for women struggling after abortion. They talk about what inspired this retreat, who it is for, what attendees will experience, how this retreat will bring the hope and healing of Christ to women, and what makes this retreat different from others. Learn more at word-of-hope.org/rgr, 888-217-8679, or info@word-of-hope.org.

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How can we express joy even in sorrow? The Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller (Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church, Austin, TX) joins Andy and Sarah for Part 3 of 3 on “serious joy” to talk about what "countenance" is and how it's related to joy, how we practice joy in sorrow, some misconceptions about joy, the difference between joy and happiness, and where we can turn to in Scripture for encouragement.

Find everything from Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller at wolfmueller.co and youtube.com/@PastorBryanWolfmueller.

As you grab your...

How do Church Work Scholarships make a difference for church work students? The Rev. Patrick Gumz (Mission Executive, Central Illinois District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod), Nicholas Seibert (Vicar at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Springfield, IL) and Oliver Braaten (Freshman, Concordia University, Nebraska) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about Pastor Gumz's story of church work formation, what Christian formation has looked like for all three of them, their individual stories of considering church work vocations, how congregations are a part of the culture helping to form church workers, how church wo...

In the 16th century, there were some disputes among Lutherans over the phrase of the Apostles’ Creed, “He descended into hell.” The FC explains its meaning: Christ “destroyed hell for all believers, and delivered them from the power of death and of the devil, from eternal condemnation and the jaws of hell” (FC Ep IX 4). The FC also holds up Martin Luther’s 1533 sermon on this topic (WA 37:62–67) as a model for how to preach it. Luther’s sermon teaches that we must not rely on our reason or five senses to understand this (or any other) article of the faith but ra...

We head to the great state of Texas for today’s conversation! The Rev. Dr. Jon Braunersreuther (President, Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey to seminary, how his service after seminary influences how he serves today, his duties as a district president and how he sees the district serving the local parish, what makes the Texas District unique, and why he loves being a pastor in the LCMS...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Brazil? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Geraldo Schüler (President, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil - IELB) joins Sarah, guest co-host Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications), and translator Rev. Airton Schroeder (Vice President of Mercy Work, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil - IELB) to talk about where he lives and works, the history and culture of the Evangelical Lutheran C...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Bolivia? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Limberth Fernandez Coronado (President, Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia) joins Sarah, guest co-host Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications), and translator Rev. Tyler McMiller (LCMS Missionary serving the Lord in Italy) to talk about where he lives and works, the history and culture of the Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia, how the...

Can you have joy even when you're suffering? The Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller (Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church, Austin, TX) joins Andy and Sarah for Part 2 of 3 on “serious joy” to talk about whether we can have joy in the midst of suffering, what joy looks like in these situations, whether joy must be felt, how we actually find joy or even happiness, and where Jesus comes to us to bring us joy.

Find everything from Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller at wolfmueller.co and youtube.com/@PastorBryanWolfmueller.

How does a congregation’s care for her church workers impact the congregation and the recruitment of future church workers? David Kuschel (Assistant Vice President of Ministry Engagement, Concordia Plan Services) and Kelly Menke (Ministry Wellness Advisor, Concordia Plan Services) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about how they get to care for church workers in their roles with Concordia Plan Services, what care looks like from various facets of wellness, how congregations can care for their workers, how appropriate compensation contributes to church worker health and joy, how caring for church wo...

How do Concordia Universities prepare students for their next chapter in life and service to their neighbor? Maybe even a career in the lively world of Banana Ball? Blake Benson – #17, Pitcher for the Loco Beach Coconuts (Banana Ball) joins Andy and Sarah on his trip to St. Louis to face off against the Savannah Bananas to talk about what Banana Ball is, how pitching in Banana Ball is different from what we might call “regular” baseball, the flair he adds to the game as a break dancer, how his journey to Banana Ball went through Concordia University, Nebraska, how his ti...

What are the duties of the 3rd Vice President of the LCMS? The Rev. Dr. Scott Murray (retiring as 3rd Vice President of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey through schooling, the journey that took him to the seminary, his service to parishes along the way, his work as 3rd Vice President, and what he has loved about being a pastor in the LCMS.

Learn mo...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Argentina? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Arturo Truenow (President, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina) joins Sarah, guest co-host the Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications), and translator Rev. Tyler McMiller (LCMS Missionary serving the Lord in Italy) to talk about where he lives and works, the history and culture of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina, how the church fits...

What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Australia? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Matt Anker (President, Lutheran Mission – Australia) joins Sarah and guest co-host the Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about the general landscape of religion and Lutheranism in Australia, the current state of the Lutheran Mission - Australia and exciting things coming up, the seminary currently in development for LMA students, the first Sy...

What is joy? What is serious joy? The Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller (Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church, Austin, TX) joins Andy and Sarah for Part 1 of 3 on "serious joy" to talk about how we define joy, the four quadrants of the human heart, the distinction between joy and happiness, where and how Scripture speaks about joy, how joy is expressed in action and in trial, and whether joy can be serious.

Find everything from Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller at wolfmueller.co and youtube.com/@PastorBryanWolfmueller.

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What is classical Lutheran education, and how are young people being prepared to serve as educators in classical settings? The Rev. Dr. Charles Schulz (Professor of Theology and Classical Lutheran Educator Program Leader at Concordia University, Chicago) and Macy Froetschner (Deaconess student and rising senior in the Classical Lutheran Educator program at Concordia University, Chicago) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about Dr. Schulz's work at Concordia Chicago, what classical Lutheran education is and how the Classical Lutheran Educator program prepares students to serve in classical schools, the demand for classical Lutheran...

What does mission work look like across the continent of Africa? The Rev. Shauen Trump (Regional Director, Africa, LCMS Office of International Mission) joins Andy and Sarah at the LCMS Synod Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, to talk about the Africa Region for the LCMS, the various ministries across the region, why it's important to work with the local church bodies when doing mission work, the history of some of these church bodies, the ways churches have mercy work across the region, how church planting happens in different countries, how theological education happens across the region, and how short-term teams...

We head to the Rocky Mountains for today's conversation! Rev. James Maxwell (President, Rocky Mountain District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and serving Rock of Ages Lutheran Church – Colorado Springs, CO) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and journey to seminary, how his service after seminary influences how he serves today, his duties as a district president and what makes the Rocky Mountain District unique, and why he loves being a pastor in the LCMS today.

What does the Lutheran church look like in Canada? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Timothy Teuscher (President/Bishop, Lutheran Church—Canada) joins Andy and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about where he gets to live and work, a history of Lutheran Church–Canada and how the LCMS uniquely shares some of that history, the relationship between the LCMS and LCC, how the Luth...

What does a Professional Parliamentarian do, and why is this role important at the LCMS Convention? Al Gage (current Parliamentarian for the National Association of Parliamentarians, CPP-T, PRP, PAP; past president of the American Institute of Parliamentarians) joins Andy and guest co-host the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to share his story and why he became a parliamentarian, what exactly a professional parliamentarian is, the purpose and intention behind Robert’s Rules of Order, what these rules accomplish and how they do it, how congregational voter’s assembly can get the benefits of Robe...

Over half of the congregations of the LCMS are in rural or small-town communities. What is unique about ministry in these communities? Erika Petsch (Director of Continuing Education, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), the Rev. Russ Sommerfeld (Professor Emeritus, Concordia University, Nebraska; former President of the LCMS Nebraska District), and the Rev. Dr. David J. Peter (Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Faculty, Concordia Seminary St. Louis) join Andy to talk about the partnership between Concordia University, Nebraska and Concordia Seminary to provide insights and learning about serving in rural and small-town communities. They discuss what rural and small-town...

How can we use conversation to connect with young people in church? Tim Oberdieck (Youth Director at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Seward, NE) and Annie Ryan (Director of Church Ministries at Bethlehem Lutheran in Delmar, NY) join Andy and Sarah to talk about how they each get to serve in their ministry contexts, how they see personal relationships making a difference when connecting with young people, how changes in social media and technology pave the way for investing in real-life and in-person leadership opportunities, how they see youth and adults in the church interacting in informal yet me...

How does Lutheran theology contribute to the care of souls, especially those struggling with mental health issues? Erika Petsch (Director, Continuing Education, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) and the Rev. Dr. Rick Marrs (Licensed Psychologist, Senior Professor of Practical Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2026 Theological Symposium at CSL: "I Will Uphold You: Ministry in Mental Health." They discuss the relationship between the care of souls and mental health, the changes or significant challenges to mental health we've seen in the past 10 years, how we've also seen changes in mental health and spiritual...

What are the duties of the 4th Vice President of the LCMS? The Rev. Nabil Nour (4th Vice President of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his early life and seminary journey, his work in the Executive Synod District as 4th Vice President, and what he loves about being a pastor in the LCMS today.

Learn more about the LCMS President and Vice Presidents at lcms.org/about/leadership/president an...

What does the Lutheran Church look like in Italy today? The Rev. Tyler McMiller (LCMS Missionary serving the Lord in Italy) joins Andy and Sarah at the LCMS Synod Convention to talk about a brief history of the Lutheran church in Italy and the state of Lutherans in Italy today, what his mission work looks like across the peninsula, who is being served by the mission efforts, the team he gets to work with, what worship and congregational life look like, the native Italian pastors who were recently ordained, how his experience as a missionary kid servs him as...

What does Deaf ministry look like at Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas? The Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller (Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas) joins Andy and Sarah at the LCMS Synod Convention to talk about the need for Gospel ministry among the Deaf, what Pastor Wolfmueller learned as a newcomer to Deaf ministry, his experiences learning ASL in a ministry context, what he found to be most helpful in learning a new language and culture, some misconceptions he had about Deaf culture and ministry prior to entering into Deaf ministry...

Obadiah addresses Edom, the nation descended from Esau. When Babylon sacked Jerusalem, Edom stood at the crossroads and watched his brother burn, then gloated, looted, and cut down the refugees who ran. Safe on the high rock, Edom asked, "Who will bring me down to the ground?" God, through the prophet Obadiah, answers him. The answer widens past Edom to every nation and ends on Mount Zion, where the kingdom belongs to the LORD.

The Rev. Dr. Richard Davenport, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Smith, AR, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe...

What role do athletics play in the formation of future church workers? Coach Matt Beisel (Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach – Concordia University, Nebraska) and Coach Josh Schumacher (Head Football Coach, Concordia University, St. Paul) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their respective positions and why they love being coaches, how sports have been a key part of their development both physically and as a whole person, the importance of the physical development of a person for their future vocations, how stewardship of the body and physical health impact how a...

How does Lutheran Heritage Foundation work around the globe? The Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (executive director, Lutheran Heritage Foundation), the Rev. Dr. Dinku Bato (Translation Coordinator, Africa, Lutheran Heritage Foundation), and the Rev. Dr. Ted NaThalang (Translation Coordinator, Southeast Asia, Lutheran Heritage Foundation) join Sarah at the LCMS Synod Convention to share updates in Icelandic and Norwegian languages, the Spanish Book of Prayer, materials in Swahili, the African translation seminary, pastors seeking Lutheranism in South Sudan, materials in Chinese and Indonesian, a new regional office in Malaysia, and how LHF approaches materials for second-generation immigrants around the globe. Learn...

We head Southeast for our conversation, recorded at the LCMS Synod Convention. The Rev. Dr. Bill Harmon (President, Southeastern District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, also serving King of Glory, Williamsburg, VA) joins Andy and Sarah to answer the now infamous Lightning Round of Favorites (which every COP member will be subjected to) and to talk about his upbringing and school journey, how he became a pastor, how he serves as President of the Southeastern District, what makes this district unique, and why he loves being a pastor in the LCMS.

Learn more ab...

What is the origin story of Lutheran Heritage Foundation? The Rev. Dr. Robert Rahn (Founder of Lutheran Heritage Foundation) and the Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (executive director, Lutheran Heritage Foundation) join Andy and Sarah at the LCMS Synod Convention to talk about where Lutheran Heritage Foundation began, the challenges Dr. Rahn and his colleagues faced in cultivating relationships and partnerships, what he learned about the Church as he met and built relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe, the first books or materials LHF translated when venturing into a new language, and how they've seen LHF...

Article VIII of the Formula of Concord (FC), “The Person of Christ,” is closely related to Article VII, “The Holy Supper of Christ.” After Luther’s death in 1546, Calvinist errors about Communion and Christ found their way into some Lutheran churches and schools. The FC criticizes Calvinists for attempting to explain the mysteries of the Supper and the Savior in terms acceptable to human reason rather than simply following the truth of God’s Word.

It is helpful that the FC has separated articles VII and VIII, because they answer slightly different questions, though both origina...

It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. How has the music of J.S. Bach helped to form church workers over the years? The Rev. Dr. Christopher Ahlman (Associate Pastor and Director of Parish Music, Memorial Lutheran Church and School, Houston, TX) and Deaconess Elizabeth Ahlman (upper school teacher, Memorial Lutheran Church and School, Houston, TX) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their own individual journeys into church work, how each of...

It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. How has the work of J.S. Bach influenced spiritual care? Deaconess Cara Patton (Worship Coordinator, LCMS Office of National Mission) and Kantor Christina Roberts (Kantor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, Michigan) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the ways in which they serve the church in the offices of deaconess and kantor, how spiritual care is uniquely a part of each of these offices, the role of...

It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. How has the music of J.S. Bach influenced our present-day church music? Dr. Joseph Herl (professor of music at Concordia University, Nebraska) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about who introduced Dr. Herl to the work of J.S. Bach, the ways Bach's music has shaped his relationship with music, what people thought of Bach's music during his own time, how Bach's music actually became famous, the influence of Bach's music on...

It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. What are Bach societies, and how do they help share the beautiful music of J.S. Bach? Ron Klemm (host and producer of Bach Talk, and former KFUO Radio talent) and Dr. A. Dennis Sparger (Music Director and Conductor of the Bach Society of St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the importance of Bach, what is so special about singing Bach together with a large ensemble, how conducting Bach is...

It's Bach Week! This week, we commemorate legendary church musician J.S. Bach with conversations about his work and influence on the church’s song over centuries. Dr. Bruce Durazzi (Special Collections Librarian, Hasse Memorial Library, Concordia Seminary) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his work in Concordia Seminary’s Kristine Kay Hasse Memorial Library, how the Bach Bible ended up at Concordia Seminary, some of the history behind this volume of books, interesting pieces of trivia about the Bach Bible (Calov Commentary), and what we learn about J.S. Bach from this piece.

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How did the CUS leadership team become pastors in the first place? The Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy (President of Concordia University System) and the Rev. Dr. Douglas Spittel (Vice President of Concordia University System) join Andy and Sarah at the LCMS Synodical Convention to talk about their journeys to seminary, who encouraged them to consider church work, where each of them has served, what they have experienced and learned along the way, and how their own formation and experience informs their work with the CUS today. Learn more about CUS at CUS.edu.

Christ’s...

We catch up with Erin Bode at the LCMS Synodical Convention about the release of a special collaborative album that has been in the works for years. Erin Bode (singer, songwriter, and recording artist) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about her trips to South Africa in the early 2000s to visit the Themba School, why she returned to the Themba School to record with the boys' choir, the collaborative process required to create the beautiful music on the new release "Sounds of Mercy," and some insight into the creative process and what she learned through the process of...