I have a question for Lutherans reading this website (I suspect there may be only one, but who knows? I will leave the question open).
I want to know what’s on your iPod (or other MP3 player). Specifically, I want to know whose sermons and/or radio broadcasts and/or teachings are something that you try to keep on your radar. Is there a Lutheran preacher out there with whom you feel like you have to keep up? Is somebody putting out the Word in such a way that you feel like they grab your heart every week (or often enough to justify listening regularly) and drag it back to Jesus?
Those of you who know me would think that I would have an answer to this question, but alas, I do not. The Lutherans I know don’t seem to get excited about individuals and their preaching ministries in the same way that people in my circles get excited about Sproul, Piper, and so forth. I am interested in seeing the exceptions to this. Prove me wrong. Please, please comment if you listen to a Lutheran regularly!
(I’m not setting anybody up here; in fact I am genuinely interested in getting hold of that preaching myself. I want to hear some passionate Lutheran preaching. No, I’m not running back to Wittenberg; I am perfectly happy spending my time somewhere between Geneva and John Bunyan’s prison cell. This is all just part of my trying to get a grip on evangelicalism and Protestantism in this day and age.)
Oh, one more thing. I’m thinking LCMS Lutheran here, or more conservative. I’m not too interested in ELCA preaching unless it’s the kind that doesn’t go over really well with ELCA’s leadership. Call me old-fashioned.
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As an aside, what’s on your “must listen” list?
Hey Amber,
Not that you asked me, and not that you probably even care for my opinion, but since I never tire of giving it…
Piper’s “Men of Whom the World Was Not worthy” is worth listening to. Well, that’s true of Piper in general, but that series was especially good, in my opinion.
I’ve gotten a lot out of Michael Haykin, too — and not only from his church history series, but also from some of his other sermons. He’s recently started a series on Hebrews.
Oh, and I’ll save the best for last: Britney Spears.
Just kidding.
BTW, I’d also be interested in Charlie’s “must listen list.”
Hey Lutherans, just because we’re talking doesn’t mean you can’t jump in.
Having said that… My “must listen” list right now is Piper’s podcast, James White’s The Dividing Line, Ken Ham, and the sermons from church (I find that if I listen to it again somewhere around Thursday the lessons stick a lot more).
Then I will go back and add in individual bits from Alistair Begg, John Macarthur, Phil Johnson’s church (which usually isn’t him preaching, I’m sorry to say, although his partners there are quite good too), and Tim Keller.
In the past I had Mark Driscoll on there, for a couple of months, until I realized that I wasn’t getting much out of it.
Alistair Begg! Wow. Now there’s a fine preacher I’ve not had the pleasure to hear in quite some time!
Scottish, too, if I recall?
By all means Patrick, I enjoy hearing your input too!
Dad just got me an FM transmitter for my MP3 player, so I was thinking of what I can put on there. Of course, I only have a 128MB player, so I can’t just load it up with anything and everything. (Our old car only has a tape player/radio)
I must say I miss Christian radio. I heard some great things on there (such as Alistair Begg’s preaching) that I would never have probably gone out and found otherwise.
Make that a 64meg player… Can’t find my 128meg at the moment… Wait a minute…
That being said, I’m sure that one P. Chan is trying to shout his little secret from the rooftop… Then deny that he listens to Britney Spears.
Speaking of Lutherans (ahem), Way of the Master just put up a show where Todd Friel interviews Lutheran seminary students. I haven’t heard it, I don’t know thing one about it, and it will probably be tonight or tomorrow before I get to hear it. But I’m sure it’s interesting. (HT: Phil’s WIWLW)
I’m still sad about the Spice Girls breaking up.
I am in the middle of the WoTM podcast linked in comment #8 now. It’s a juxtaposition of Friel asking ELCA seminary students what they had to do to go to heaven, and some bona-fide street preaching. Luther would be spinning in his grave if he could hear what these sem students were saying.
Hey Charlie,
To sorta bring this back to the Lutherans, by any chance do you happen to know the more conservative Lutheran churches? I have a friend who is looking at Lutheran churches, and another one who is attending a Lutheran church (not sure which branch or whatever it’s called), but I have no idea what to say to them. I just know (in general) LCMS = conservative while ELCA = liberal.
Don’t you have one of them ‘Posh’ Spice Girls moving in to an area close to you?
*cough* I crack me up.
Oh yeah, Becks and Posh are moving here ‘cos Becks signed a whoppin’ $250 million contract to play for the LA Galaxy for five years. Which is roughly $1 million per week.
Crazy.
Since he’s getting up in years for a soccer player, and probably only had a couple of years at most left in Europe, I guess he figured he’d retire here in America (aka the new Japan). As well as maybe attempt to do what another famous European soccer player of the recent past, Eric Cantona, failed to do: start a career in Hollywood.
Of course, Aaron, you’re in soccer heaven over there in the UK!
Funny you should ask that. Funny for two reasons:
This link had information which appears on the face of it to be accurate (in the comments). They include a link to this page which looks as if it may be useful as well.
Doh! Those are two good points. Thanks, Charlie.
Also, thanks for the link. Interesting that Lutherans here have diverged along both theological as well as ethnic lines.
For some very interesting reading, Google for “seminex.” That’s the code name for the last big seminary-level fight between the higher-criticism people and the classic inerrancy people. There are still a lot of bad feelings in some quarters over this very theological problem, which is still having an effect on the LCMS’ current ability to fill pastor and church worker openings.
Well, I have been a Lutheran (ALC, the ELCA) all my life, and I will be Lutheran for about two more weeks.(I am being Chrismated in the Orthodox Church on Feb. 18.
One too many wild rides with the Reformation Bunch.
Sermons: Pastor David Peterson and Pastor William Weedon. You can’t do much better than either of them
links for Peterson at his blog, cyberstones: http://redeemer-fortwayne.org/audio.php
For Weedon, you can search the archives of WKFUO (kfuo.org), the LCMS run station and his series on the liturgy is great. That link ishttp://www.zionmarshall.org/issuesetc.htm#titles
He has a website, but doesn’t podcast sermons, but he’s well worth reading (weedon’s blog)
That website that has his liturgy series is part of Zion Lutheran in Marshall MI, and has a gaggle of links to more good stuff to listen to than you have time.
Though not Lutheran, but if you haven’t listened to Peter Kreeft, try one of his talks, and I bet you can’t stop. It’s all here: http://www.peterkreeft.com/audio.htm.
Hope that helps. Just dropped in for the first time today, I haven’t any idea what flavor theology you adhere to, Calvin?
I’ll check back again. Lookks like lots to read here.
Isabella: your blog is fascinating. This particularly interested me. It’s hard for me to imagine two people, married to each other, ending a long process of soul searching by deciding to join different churches.
In the meantime, thanks for the links; I will give them a listen.
“Wild rides with the Reformation bunch”? You make us sound like an episode of Scooby-Doo. *smiles*
Oh, and the majority of us here are Calvinist in soteriology, Baptist in sacrament and ecclesiology, and at least covenantal in terms of biblical theology, to answer your other question.
In fact, I’ve finally applied for membership at my 1689 LBCF Reformed Baptist church. Assuming the majority do not vote against me, I should be a member in a couple of weeks.
Wow, congratulations! So, what did you have to agree to? The whole 1689, or are there exceptions granted? Will you be watching soccer games on Sunday anymore? Inquiring minds want to know!
Hey! It’s Friday, I posted this on Monday, and the only response I have gotten that was anywhere near the target was from somebody leaving ELCA for the other side of the Bosporus. Hello? Lutherans?
Cool, thanks, Charlie!
I’m not “in” yet, of course, since the congregation could still vote against me in the next few weeks (Pastor Arden mentioned they like to have a few weeks to examine applicants for membership, make certain of their sincerity in all things, etc.). So, for the time being, I gotta make sure to hide any and all relations with the Presbies I know — to say nothing of Lutherans or even Arminians! Hehe, just kidding.
But yeah, I did agree to pretty much the whole 1689. Or rather I should say, I got to the point where I didn’t really disagree with anything, per se, although I did have my reservations like you know. But because I tend to think my reservations with the 1689’s understanding of the Sabbath, etc. were due more to my own lack of Scriptural understanding than anything else, I decided to defer to the 1689 and the elders at our church.
However, at least two if not three of the four elders, including Pastor Arden, did say there’s a certain amount of “flexibility” in what we subscribe to in the 1689 (and church constitution) — although I’m not sure if “flexibility” is quite the right word, as the elders would probably think of it more as members growing into a fuller understanding of the 1689 as a Biblically-based confession rather than “growing” into anything else. Obviously, no disagreements on the core doctrines of Christianity. Or even the doctrines of grace, or baptism. But, as I understand them, they do include things such as gray areas of Sabbath observance.
They would still hold to a high view of the Sabbath and suggest that members not watch sports on the Sabbath (which I don’t anyway, mainly because I don’t have a strong interest, even, surprisingly, in soccer; mostly I just like to play, and keep up on main news primarily because it comes up with other players
), but rather focus their time and attention on the Lord, His Word, His church, etc. on the Sabbath. But it doesn’t sound like they’d forbid someone from becoming a member over it.
I have done other things in the past like watched movies during the Sabbath. But even so, perhaps from their perspective, it may not be ideal, but it would not be something to exclude one from membership. However, it would probably be something I’d be expected to grow and mature into as a growing and maturing Christian — again, as I understand it.
Of course, events or circumstances which “providentially hinder” a member from worshiping on the Sabbath are completely understandable. For example, I recall one of the elders telling me he had to work a couple of times on the Sabbath in the past. It wasn’t because he wanted to, but because he had to. Things like that are understandable. Although it might be a different story if it occurred over a long period of time. Well, I’m not sure if I’m out of bounds for saying this, but even that seems to me like it would depend on the particular person and his situation. It need not necessarily keep one from becoming a member, I don’t think?
In other words, from the perspective of the elders and deacons, it sounds like they’re more about getting genuine Christians to identify with and join themselves to a generally like-minded local body (Reformed, Baptistic, so I reckon they would consider all of us here on TOOT for membership
), so that members can both participate in the activities of as well as be accountable to a local body, and so that the elders know which sheep they themselves are accountable for and should minister to, etc. And they seem to take the view that members can grow into a fuller understanding of things they may not be entirely sure about like the particularities of Sabbath observance rather than exclude them from membership because of it.
Anyway, hopefully I’ve not understated or overstated anything here. If one of the elders, deacons, or other members would like to clarify anything I’ve said or implied or whatever, I’d be more than happy to listen.
Yeah, where are all the Lutherans?! Maybe we should email the PP?