Encounter

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- Background and introductions from our guests- Discussion regarding what faithful fatherhood looks like, and how to lead a household in the way of the LordFurther Reading and Additional Resources:"Leadership and Emotional Sabotage: Resisting the Anxiety That Will Wreck Your Family, Destroy Your Church, and Ruin the World" Joe Rigney - AuthorA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- Background and introductions from our guests- Sharing various resources for promoting connection and fellowship between young adult singles in the church- Discussion regarding the value of finding likeminded friends and spouses, especially ground in a common faithFurther Reading and Additional Resources:https://lcmssingles.com/https://thegarmsfamily.com/A catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- Environmentalism vs Consumerism, and a third way- Christian duty to steward the earth- Worshipping God and not creation- Looking to the New CreationA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- Should Christians be "judgemental"?- Different kinds of judgement- Discernment, correction, and condemnation- Matthew 7 "Judge not, lest ye be judged."Further Reading and Additional Resources:Concordia Commentary, Matthew 1:1-11:1, by Jeffery GibbsA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

“A Beautiful Easter Sermon” delivered in the presence of the Elector of Saxony. Dr. Martin Luther, Wittenberg, 1538

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- The historical and modern iterations of "anti-life" ideology- The Scriptural picture of family and fruitfulness- Misconceptions about contraceptives- Reframing reproduction vs pro-creationFurther Reading and Additional Resources:- "Ethics of Sex: From Taboo to Delight" CPH, Edited by Gifford A. Grobien- https://youtu.be/5M3W0CvQfzE?si=OKivjrKhLjSma847 (Paul Ehrlich Interview)- http://www.esp.org/books/malthus/population/malthus.pdf ("An Essay on the Principle ofPopulation" by Thomas Robert Malthus)- https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/charted-rapid-decline-of-global-birth-rates/ (Birthrate Chart; UN World Population Prospects 2022)- "Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race" by Shanna Swan and Stacey Colino.- Essays: D. Richard Stuckwisch, "Pastoral Considerations of Contraception" and Donna J. Harrison, "Contraception: An Embryo's Point of View."- This blog is a wealth of resources: Lutherans and Procreation https://lutheransandcontraception.blogspot.com/- "Should Christian Couples Use Contraception?" by Rev. Heath Curtis https://drive.google.com/file/d/1goK4Jvrw2MVKcAmf7DO5EXcR44xoBIMu/view (This is a very good Lutheran article that evaluates contraception from Scripture, tradition, and natural law, with attention given to hard cases.)*Non-Lutheran Resources- "Lambeth, 90 Years Later" https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2020/09/01/lambeth-90-years-later/A critique of the Church of England's disastrous resolution to approve artificial contraception under some circumstances for "moral" considerations.- "What the Early Church Believed: Contraception and Sterilization" https://www.catholic.com/tract/contraception-and-sterilizationGood for patristic quotes.A catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- What does the Bible say about work and leisure?- How can we continue to live according to our vocations even after we step away from our career?Further Reading and Additional Resources:"On Social Justice," St. Basil the Great; Popular Patristics SeriesA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- What is "closed communion" and why do we practice it?- What does it mean to be in union with Christ and other believers?- If we will be united with other believers in heaven, why don't we unite with them all on earth?Further Reading and Additional Resources:Luther's Small CatechismCheck out Pr. Bryan Wolfmueller's video on the topic for a succint review.https://youtu.be/OG1sopM7CsU?si=_IK2BKC09K5OU2vvA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- What is a vocation?- Responsibilities associated with certain vocations- All members of one body- Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25)- Table of Duties (Small Catechism)Further Reading and Additional Resources:- "Freedom of a Christian," Martin Luther, 1520.A catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

The Life of Faith series will be periodic episodes where we interview various congregration members who have agreed to share their stories, reflect on their lives as Children of God, and highlight key moments and lessons they have learned along the way.Our first guest is Mike Almassy, a long-time Lutheran and new member of our Board of Elders. Enjoy!Send your questions and comments to [email protected] catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.⁠www.oursaviorgladwin.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:What is AI?Tool vs IdolTower of Babel case studyCall for WisdomFurther Reading and Additional Resources:Elon Musk Presenting at the WEF: https://www.youtube.com/live/IgifEgm1-e0?si=QDn1EUu-uCtfP9xuLCMS CTCR Study: https://resources.lcms.org/reading-study/ctcr-study-document-online-technology-in-the-church-study-materials/A catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/  / oursaviorgladwin  

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- QnA: Spending time with Jesus- What is prayer?- Sabbath RestA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/https://www.facebook.com/oursaviorgladwin

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:Introduction to LentComparing Seasons of FastingUnderstanding Spiritual DisciplineHow to Target Sin Using Spiritual DisciplinesFurther Reading and Additional Resources: "Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal; Year A"Luther's Small Catechism - Apostle's Creed; Article III - "Sanctification"Lenten Reading Plan: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/55847-lent-journey-40-days-through-john-psalmsA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/https://www.facebook.com/oursaviorgladwin

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- What is Gnosticism? Brief definition and historical background- The conflict between Gnostic thought and Christian doctrine- The ongoing presence of neo-Gnostic ideas in modern philosophy and cultureFurther Reading and Additional Resources: "Surprised by Hope" by N.T. WrightA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/https://www.facebook.com/oursaviorgladwin

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- QnA on Baptism: Implications for an unbaptized believer, and can a baptized believer experience demonic affliction?- Reading and examining the story of Balaam- Considering the "error of Balaam," false prophets, and the ties to spiritual warfare.- 2nd Commandment issues and attempting to manipulate God and others.Further reading and additional resources:"The Road to Character," by David BrooksA catechetical platform of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- QnA on the Trinity and meditating on this truth- Discerning between cultural morals and Christian morals- We are at odds with the world, our flesh, and the devil- Seeing areas of spiritual influence in your life- The tools God has given us to combat the world, our flesh, and the devil.Further Reading and Additional Resources: "The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church," Robert Kolb, Timothy J. Wengert"The Screwtape Letters," by C.S. Lewis"Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare in America," by Robert BennettA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/https://www.facebook.com/oursaviorgladwin

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- QnA on salvation before the life, death, and resurrection of Christ- Overview of Epiphany and house blessings- Introduction to spiritual warfare; laying the Biblical groundworkFurther Reading and Additional Resources: "Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal," Year A"The Screwtape Letters," by C.S. Lewis"Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare in America," by Robert BennettA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/https://www.facebook.com/oursaviorgladwin

Send your questions and comments to [email protected] discussed in this episode:- Introducing the Encounter Podcast- Overview of Advent, the first season in the Church year- Advent as a season of hope, prayer, and repentance- Exploration of repentanceFurther Reading and Additional Resources: - The Smalcald Articles: Part III, Article III "Concerning Repentance"- "Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal," Year A- C.F.W. Walther's "God's No and God's Yes," The Proper Distinction of Law and Gospel, Condensed by Walter C. PieperA catechetical platfrom and resource of Our Savior - Gladwin.http://www.oursaviorgladwin.com/https://www.facebook.com/oursaviorgladwinhttps://www.youtube.com/@oursavior-gladwin