The Crux of the Matter

CRUX Episode 68 - Lenten Disciplines

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. TEACHING/READING/LEARNING * Field Trip to Greek Orthodox Church (SCOTT) * Sermon on the Mount (TODD) TOPIC - LENTEN DISCIPLINES * Why Lent Should Matter to Everyone [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj67KD2kubSAhUMzGMKHfWLCvoQFggnMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthefederalist.com%2F2014%2F03%2F05%2Fwhy-lent-should-matter-to-everyone%2F&usg=AFQjCNFRW2CHRUJmj29dxxG4mL3kJUhMmg&sig2=hBP0vjs-Vk72TJsAtoLacg] (Article in The Federalist) JOY BRINGERS * Eero [https://eero.com] (Todd) * Christian History Magazine [https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/] (Scott) WHERE TO FIND US 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 feedback@thecruxofthematter.net 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.

CRUX Episode 67 - Twenty Years in the Ministry

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. TEACHING * Isaiah (Todd) * Death of Michael Novak * First Things Podcast, "Spirit and Form" [https://www.firstthings.com/media/spirit-and-form] * The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism [https://smile.amazon.com/Spirit-Democratic-Capitalism-Michael-Novak/dp/0819178233/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488569995&sr=8-1&keywords=michael+novak], 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. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1986.03370200054014.] * Article in PDF Format [http://www.thecruxofthematter.net/s/JAMA-deathjesus.pdf]. TWENTY YEARS IN THE PASTORAL OFFICE * Concordia Theological Seminary [http://www.ctsfw.edu] * Concordia Lutheran Church, Brentwood, PA [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj08eTIjLvSAhVFHGMKHVRMDXsQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flocator.lcms.org%2Fnchurches_frm%2Fc_detail.asp%3FC102674&usg=AFQjCNFX4AXYp6y4Vw2QMZPEJpOt49d02w&sig2=n9KQhS1w1d4xbrfBCXbyUQ] (Scott) * Messiah Lutheran Church, Kenosha, WI [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwih077UjLvSAhVY8WMKHb84DaAQFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.messiahkenosha.org%2F&usg=AFQjCNFPo36ABPJGLAJ-rGd5NQ46I6ujAw&sig2=g6pXaACwEFjrxFNQkJzm7g&bvm=bv.148747831,d.cGc] (Todd) * Concordia Theological Seminary [http://www.ctsfw.edu] (Scott) * Redeemer Lutheran Church, Elmwood, IL [http://www.redeemerlcms.com] (Scott) * Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Rocklin, CA [http://www.holycrossrocklin.org/salt/] (Todd) * Concordia University Irvine [http://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/undergraduate/majors/theology/faculty] (Scott) WHAT'S BRINGING US JOY/INTEREST? * Route 66 A.D. : On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists [https://smile.amazon.com/Route-66-D-Ancient-Tourists/dp/037550432X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488569782&sr=8-1&keywords=Route+66+A.D.] (Todd) * Essential McLuhan [https://www.amazon.com/Essential-McLuhan-Eric/dp/0465019951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488564604&sr=8-1&keywords=essential+mcluhan] (Scott)

CRUX Episode 66 - Interpretation and Preaching

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. TEACHING/READING/LEARNING * Isaiah (Todd) * Higher Things UnConference * “The most dangerous ideas in a culture are not the ones people argue about, but what are assumed.” TOPIC - INTERPRETATION AND PREACHING JOY BRINGERS * The Dark Tower Series [https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_qz_back?sf=qz&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AThe+Dark+Tower+Series%2Cp_lbr_books_series_browse-bin%3AThe+Dark+Tower&keywords=The+Dark+Tower+Series&ie=UTF8&qid=1486860464](Todd’s Pick) * “Quick to Listen” podcast [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/quick-to-listen/] (Todd's Pick) WHERE TO FIND US Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER [http://www.thecruxofthematter.net/]. You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn [https://twitter.com/ToddPeperkorn] on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn [https://www.facebook.com/toddpeperkorn] on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac [http://lutheranlogomaniac.com/] and Dark My Road [http://darkmyroad.org/]. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church [http://www.holycrossrocklin.org/] in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCku4gYJaUn8JzEaAbPXlwHg]. You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg [https://twitter.com/scottstieg] on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer [https://www.facebook.com/scott.stiegemeyer?fref=ts] on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine [http://www.cui.edu/]. Email the show at feedback@thecruxofthematter.net [feedback@thecruxofthematter.net] To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice: https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss [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 [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.

CRUX EPISODE 65 - After Christmas

CRUX EPISODE 65 - AFTER CHRISTMAS 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. TEACHING/READING/LEARNING * Incarnation * Alexaminosgraphito [*%20https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexamenos_graffito] * Incarnation: Myth or Fact? [https://smile.amazon.com/Incarnation-Myth-Concordia-Scholarship-Today/dp/0570045479/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483546557&sr=8-1&keywords=incarnation+myth+or+fact] TOPIC - RECOVERING AFTER CHRISTMAS JOY BRINGERS * SonicSolace Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones [http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=16219] (Todd’s Pick) Guatemala Mission Trip [http://www.paraguatemala.org/] (Scott’s Pick) WHERE TO FIND US Todd and Scott co-host THE CRUX OF THE MATTER [http://www.thecruxofthematter.net/]. You may find Todd Peperkorn @toddpeperkorn [https://twitter.com/ToddPeperkorn] on Twitter or facebook.com/toddpeperkorn [https://www.facebook.com/toddpeperkorn] on Facebook. He also blogs, posts sermons, and random nonsense at Lutheran Logomaniac [http://lutheranlogomaniac.com/] and Dark My Road [http://darkmyroad.org/]. Todd’s parish is Holy Cross Lutheran Church [http://www.holycrossrocklin.org/] in Rocklin, California. You can find his sermons & bible classes on YouTube HERE [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCku4gYJaUn8JzEaAbPXlwHg]. You may find Scott Stiegemeyer @scottstieg [https://twitter.com/scottstieg] on Twitter or Facebook.com/scottstiegemeyer [https://www.facebook.com/scott.stiegemeyer?fref=ts] on Facebook. Scott is an assistant professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine [http://www.cui.edu]. Email the show at feedback@thecruxofthematter.net [feedback@thecruxofthematter.net] To subscribe directly, please paste the following link into your pod-catcher of choice: https://thecruxofthematter.squarespace.com/podcast/?format=rss [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 [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.

CRUX EPISODE 64 - Honor Among Pastors

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. TEACHING/READING/LEARNING * Angels * Theology of Preaching TOPIC -HONOR AMONG PASTORS * Law/Gospel (not the one you’re thinking of) * Bonhoeffer, Life Together JOY BRINGERS * Mockingbird web site [http://www.mbird.com/] * Law & Gospel, A Theology of Sinners for Saints [https://www.amazon.com/Law-Gospel-Theology-Sinners-Saints/dp/0990792722/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0990792722&pd_rd_r=YH94K367RH6AY3NH9AV4&pd_rd_w=cOfoR&pd_rd_wg=abU4t&psc=1&refRID=YH94K367RH6AY3NH9AV4] (Scott’s Pick) * PreachByEar.com [http://PreachByEar.com](Todd’s Pick) WHERE TO FIND US 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 feedback@thecruxofthematter.net 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.