Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Easter, John 20: 19–31.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Sixth Sunday in Lent, Matthew 26–27.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

In Episode 3 of Saving the Sons of Missouri, Rev. David Ramirez moves from diagnosis to response—offering a candid and pastoral path forward for engaging the rising generation of young men in the LCMS. Building on the cultural, economic, and familial realities outlined earlier, this episode wrestles with how older generations can faithfully respond to the zeal, frustration, and searching of younger men today.

Rather than dismissing or fearing that zeal, Rev. Ramirez calls for understanding, repentance, and intentional leadership: removing generational blind spots, making careful distinctions, and guiding young men with wisdom shaped by Scripture. Drawing on biblical examples—from David’s failures as a father to the exhortations of Colossians—he highlights both the dangers of neglect and the opportunity for renewal.

The episode also tackles practical questions: how to direct youthful energy without crushing it, how to avoid bitterness on both sides, and how to rebuild strong families and congregations through mentorship, inheritance, and embodied teaching. The goal is not nostalgia, but faithful continuity—passing on the faith, forming leaders, and strengthening the bonds of Christ-centered households.

At its heart, this episode is a call to action: to turn hearts between fathers and sons, to cultivate holy zeal, and to seize what may be a providential moment for renewal in the Church.

TGC 583 – Saving the Sons of Missouri, Part 1

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2026/3/2/tgc-583-saving-the-sons-of-missouri-part-1

TGC 585 – Saving the Sons of Missouri, Part 2

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2026/3/11/tgc-585-saving-the-sons-of-missouri-part-2

Tell the Good News about Jesus Convocation (2025)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAL2mMQkURReJEKYKZtJlMhjZth7bWFAt

The Great Awokening

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/3/2/tgc-172-the-great-awokening?rq=great%20awokening

Aaron Renn's Negative World

https://firstthings.com/the-three-worlds-of-evangelicalism/

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez

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You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, John 8:46–59.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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In Part 2, Rev. Jason Braaten and Rev. David Ramirez discuss what happens when a society reaches the end of its cultural experiment. After decades of secularization, humanism, and cultural revolution, many younger people—especially young men—are beginning to recognize that the modern project has failed to deliver the promised freedom and happiness. The result is a renewed search for truth, order, and tradition.

Drawing on historical parallels such as the religious revival in France following the French Revolution, the conversation explores how periods of intense cultural upheaval often produce two opposite reactions: some people become even more hostile to Christianity, while others return to it with renewed seriousness and conviction.

One visible sign of the current reaction is the growing cultural “battle of the sexes,” as younger men and women respond differently to the failures of modern culture. Rather than dismissing these developments, the hosts consider how this moment may present an opportunity for the Church to offer something the modern world cannot: a clear moral vision, stable family life, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

TGC 583 – Saving the Sons of Missouri, Part 1

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2026/3/2/tgc-583-saving-the-sons-of-missouri-part-1

Tell the Good News about Jesus Convocation (2025)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAL2mMQkURReJEKYKZtJlMhjZth7bWFAt

The Great Awokening

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/3/2/tgc-172-the-great-awokening?rq=great%20awokening

Aaron Renn's Negative World

https://firstthings.com/the-three-worlds-of-evangelicalism/

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez

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You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, John 6:1–15.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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What kind of world have our sons inherited—and how different is it from the one their fathers and grandfathers knew?

In Part 1 of Saving the Sons of Missouri, Rev. David Ramirez lays out the situation. Before offering solutions, he insists on telling the truth about how radically the religious, cultural, economic, and familial landscape of America—and the Missouri Synod within it—has changed in just a few generations.

Drawing on historical data, generational comparisons, and lived experience, this episode traces the shift from a broadly Christian culture to a post-Christian—and increasingly anti-Christian—one. Listeners are walked through the realities faced by those born in 1960, 1980, and 2000, highlighting how changes in church life, worship, catechesis, male and female roles, family structure, and public morality have compounded over time. What once could be assumed now must be taught—and often defended.

Rev. Ramirez also explores the wider civil and economic pressures shaping young men today: declining trust, fractured national identity, collapsing pathways to stable family life, and unprecedented generational economic decline. The result is a cohort of young men who are often angry, restless, and searching—not because they are uniquely rebellious, but because the world handed to them is profoundly disordered.

This sets the table. The hard questions are named. Only then can faithful and wise responses follow.

Tell the Good News about Jesus Convocation (2025)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAL2mMQkURReJEKYKZtJlMhjZth7bWFAt

The Great Awokening

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/3/2/tgc-172-the-great-awokening?rq=great%20awokening

Aaron Renn's Negative World

https://firstthings.com/the-three-worlds-of-evangelicalism/

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez

----more----

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You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday in Lent, Luke 11:14–28.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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WE HAVE MERCH!

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday in Lent, Matthew 15:21–28.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent, Matthew 4:1–11.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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Brux Theologorum examines a theological temptation in the church today: the refusal to acknowledge legitimate implication and inference in biblical interpretation. Drawing its name from a historical figure in the Missouri Synod whose hermeneutical approach narrowed the reach of Scripture, the podcast explores how reducing doctrine to only its “essentially similar” cases can sever the vital connection between doctrine and practice, recast settled teachings as adiaphora, and reshape church life according to subjective criteria rather than the whole counsel of God. We aim to diagnose this tendency — what the guest calls the Brux Theologorum — and to reclaim a robust, confessionally grounded approach to reading Scripture that faithfully honors both explicit commands and their undeniable implications.

Links: 

https://revjosephgreenmyer.substack.com/p/brux-theologorum

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Joseph Greenmyer

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Quinquagesima, Luke 18:31–43.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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In this episode, we tackle the contested and often misunderstood question of Christian Nationalism. With two guests offering opposing perspectives—David Ramirez arguing in favor and Peter Burfeind raising concerns—we explore what the term actually means, where it comes from, and whether it can be squared with Lutheran theology. The conversation probes the relationship between Church and state, the limits of political authority, the nature of Christ’s kingdom, and the risks of confusing the Gospel with national identity. Our aim is not heat, but clarity—testing claims carefully, naming real points of disagreement, and helping listeners think more precisely about faith, nation, and Christian witness in the public square.

Links:

Books/Articles: 

"The Challenge of History: Luther's Two Kingdoms Theology as a Test Case" by Prof. Cameron MacKenzie 

http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/mackenziechallengeofhistory.pdf

Gnostic America by Pr. Peter Burfiend

https://www.amazon.com/Gnostic-America-Contemporary-according-Christianitys/dp/0692260498

Martin Luther and Religious Liberty by Pr. David P. Ramirez 

https://www.academia.edu/89633865/Martin_Luther_and_Religious_Liberty

"Are Rulers to Uphold both Tables of the Law" by Pr. David Ramirez

https://cc.lutherclassical.org/summer-2025/are-rulers-to-uphold-both-tables-of-the-law/

Interviews (in chronological order):

Christian Nationalism-The Gottesdienst Crowd

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/11/2/tgc-232-christian-nationalism

Biermann-Ramirez Debate on Christian Nationalism-On The Line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIru3RAff28

A Christian Response to Christian Nationalism-Issues, Etc.

https://issuesetc.org/2025/10/09/a-christian-response-to-christian-nationalism-pr-peter-burfeind-10-9-25-2822/

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez

Special Guest: Fr. Peter Burfeind

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Sexagesima, Luke 8:4–15.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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In this episode, the Gottesdienst Crowd welcomes back Jarryd Allison—former MARSOC officer and current software engineer—for a conversation with David Petersen on pastoral formation, accountability, and courage in the Office of the Ministry. Drawing on the rigor of special operations training, the panel raises necessary questions: If the eternal stakes of the ministry are higher, should the training and evaluation of pastors be more demanding? Why do nearly all seminarians graduate, yet so many pastors leave within the first years of ministry? Together they explore attrition, peer evaluation, ongoing training, lay responsibility, catechesis, and the need for humility, standards, and perseverance—arguing that the Church must recover a serious, formative approach to preparing men for the weight of preaching Christ, teaching the faith, and caring for souls.

Previous episode with Jarryd Allison: https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2025/10/29/tgc-561-fit-for-the-call-why-the-man-and-the-office-both-matter

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

Special Guest: Mr. Jarryd Allison

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Septuagesima, Matthew 20:1–16.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, John 2:1–11.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the First Sunday after Epiphany, Luke 2:41–52.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the First Sunday after Christmas, Luke 2:33–40.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Holy Innocents & the Second Sunday after Christmas, Matthew 2:13–18.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the First Sunday after Christmas, Luke 2:33–40.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Christmas Eve Midnight, Luke 2:1–14.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fourth Sunday in Advent, John 1:19–28.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Third Sunday in Advent, Matthew 11:2–11.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Second Sunday in Advent, Luke 21:25–36.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The First Sunday in Advent, Matthew 21:1–9.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 25:1–13.

Sign up for Memento.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Sunday of the Fulfillment from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 18:21–35.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46–54.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In this episode we sit down with former Marine Special Operations Officer and lifelong LCMS Lutheran, Jarryd Allison, to explore one of the most pressing questions facing the church today: who should be allowed to wear the collar? Drawing on his recent essays “Are Our LCMS Pastors Fit for Purpose and Duty?” and “Does the Man Wearing the Collar Matter?”, Jarryd argues that the pastoral office is not simply another vocation—but a spiritual battlefront—requiring men who are not only doctrinally sound but spiritually, mentally and even physically prepared.

We’ll discuss topics including:

• How low attrition and high graduation rates in seminaries may mask deeper problems of pastoral formation and suitability. 

• What standards Scripture (especially 1 Timothy & Titus) sets for the pastoral office—and why those standards still matter in our age.

• Why pastoral calling is more than desire—you don’t simply ‘want’ the job of shepherding souls—it must be discerned, proven and tested.

• How seminaries, congregations, and district leaders might rethink recruitment, formation, and accountability in order to raise up faithful shepherds rather than convenient job-fills. 

• The culture of the church in decline, the risk of sentimentality in wired calls, and the urgent need for pastors who are ready to fight—not just preach.

Jarryd brings his unique vantage point—military rigor plus Lutheran theological tradition—to ask tough questions about the pastoral office and the church’s mission in a post-Christian culture. Whether you’re a pastor, aspiring pastor, church board member, or simply a congregation member wondering about the health of church leadership, this conversation promises to challenge, provoke and perhaps inspire renewed commitment to the gospel and the office that ministers it.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Guest: Mr. Jarryd Allison

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Feast of All Saints; Matthew 5:1–12.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Epistle and Gospel reading for The Commemoration of the Reformation; Romans 3:19–28; Matthew 11:12–19.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In this episode, we discuss the resurgence of the Deus Vult meme. What began as an internet rallying cry has tapped into something deeper: a longing for courage, honor, and transcendence in an age that often mocks those very virtues.

We’ll explore how people are reclaiming the image of the knight—not as a relic of the past, but as a symbol of moral clarity and spiritual warfare. What does this say about our cultural moment?

Along the way, we’ll hear from men who understood the power of myth and chivalry:

“Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed.”
— G. K. Chesterton

And C. S. Lewis reminds us why the knightly ideal still matters:

“Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.”
— C. S. Lewis, The Necessity of Chivalry

Join us as we trace the Deus Vult phenomenon from meme culture to meaningful cultural critique—examining how the knightly ideal offers a vision of virtue, discipline, and holy purpose in a world seemingly gone mad.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Larry Beane

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 14:1–11.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 7:11–17.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In Psalm 119:104, the psalmist declares, "Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." We explore what it means to hate false ways in light of God’s Word, with a particular focus on the topic of contemporary worship. Join us as we discuss the cultural and theological implications of rejecting the false ways of the world and embracing God’s truth in every aspect of life.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Fr. Evan Scamman

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 6:24–34.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Feast of St. Matthew, Matthew 9:9–13.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Here we discuss the book A Lutheran's Case for Roman Catholicism by Dr. Robert Koons.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Joseph Greenmyer

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Holy Cross Day, John 12:20–36.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Here Dr. Harold Ristau discusses his new book Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance: How to Minister to the Demonically Oppressed and Possessed.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31–37.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Here David Ramirez takes us through some books briefly noted that are helpful for pastors and laity in handing on the faith once delivered.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. David Ramirez

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, Luke 18:9–14.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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Explore the Bible’s teaching on usury—lending at interest—and how the church has addressed it through the centuries. From Old Testament prohibitions to medieval church bans and modern economic debates, we trace the theological, moral, and social arguments that have shaped Christian thought on money, lending, justice, and idolatry.

For further reading: https://scholar.csl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1123&context=thd

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Fr. Vincent Shemwell

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Feast of St. Bartholomew, Luke 22:24–30.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In Scripture, the “womb” and the “belly” are more than anatomical terms—they are profound symbols of God’s work in creation, salvation, and judgment. In this episode, Womb of Mercy, Belly of Judgment, we explore the biblical imagery and theological depth behind these often-overlooked words. From the womb of Sarah to the virgin womb of Mary, from Jonah in the belly of the fish to Christ in the “heart of the earth,” the Bible uses these images to reveal the mystery of life, death, and divine intervention.

We’ll trace how God opens wombs to bring forth promised life and how He uses the belly—often associated with hunger, idolatry, or even the grave—to reveal His judgment and mercy. Join us as we journey through Genesis, the Psalms, the Prophets, and the Gospels to discover how the hidden places of the womb and belly point us to the Gospel: that from the depths of judgment, God brings forth new birth, and from barrenness, He brings redemption.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Fr. Karl Fabrizius

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Tenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 19:41–48.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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“That is Catholic!” is often heard by those who seek to restore historic rites and ceremonies among Lutheran churches in America. It is a charge leveled even against CFW Walther. In this two part series, we hear from Walther himself as he responds to such charges from a series of articles published in Der Lutheraner during 1846–1847. 

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Mark Braden

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Eighth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 7:15–23.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Matthew Moss

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This is a recording of the sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

“That is Catholic!” is often heard by those who seek to restore historic rites and ceremonies among Lutheran churches in America. It is a charge leveled even against CFW Walther. In this two part series, we hear from Walther himself as he responds to such charges from a series of articles published in Der Lutheraner during 1846–1847. 

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Mark Braden

----more----

Become a Patron!

You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/

As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Seventh Sunday after Trinity, Mark 8:1–9.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

In this Gottescast, The Gottesdienst Crowd wades into biographical sketches of some key American Lutheran liturgical reformers. The first liturgical reformer is Luther D. Reed. Mark Braden (Gottesdienst Editor, the author of the recurring column "Taking Pains," and pastor of Zion Lutheran, Detroit, MI) takes us through this man's life and work. 

Become a Patron! Please help the podcast to continue in its second year by becoming a Patron. 

You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 5:17–26

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

What does pastoral ministry have in common with Special Operations? More than you might think. In this episode, we explore how the training, mindset, and mission-focus of Green Berets can sharpen the way pastors lead, serve, and endure. From clarity under pressure to sacrificial service, from team-building to mission-first thinking, elite soldiers model habits that mirror the pastoral calling in surprising ways. We’ll unpack how spiritual shepherds can lead with greater courage, discipline, and purpose—not by becoming militant, but by embracing the seriousness and sacrifice of their holy calling. If you're a pastor or just someone who cares about strong, faithful ministry, this episode will challenge and encourage you to lead with resolve, discipline, and humility.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Fr. Coleman Geraci

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fifth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 5:1–11.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

In this Gottescast, The Gottesdienst Crowd wades into biographical sketches of some key American Lutheran liturgical reformers. The first liturgical reformer is Luther D. Reed. Mark Braden (Gottesdienst Editor, the author of the recurring column "Taking Pains," and pastor of Zion Lutheran, Detroit, MI) takes us through this man's life and work. 

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Mark Braden

----more----

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You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/

As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Third Sunday after Trinity, Luke 15:1–32.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for the Third Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

In this episode, we confront a growing trend in contemporary Christianity: the desire to have Christ without His Church. Many today seek a personal faith disconnected from any visible communion, doctrine, or shared life with the Body of Christ. But is such a divorce possible—or faithful?

We begin by exploring modern attempts to follow Jesus while distancing from the Church, examining the roots of this spiritual individualism and the dangers it poses. Then we turn to the Lutheran Confessions, where Luther clearly affirms that the Church is not only a human community but an article of faith: “I believe that there is on earth a little holy group and congregation of pure saints...” (SA III.XII.1–2; Large Catechism, Creed, III). The Church is where Christ is present with His Word and Sacraments.

Finally, we present a better way forward—a way rooted in love for both the Bridegroom and His Bride. To love Christ is to love His Church. To receive Him is to receive His gifts in the fellowship of believers. Join us as we seek a faithful and joyful reintegration of personal faith with the life of the Church, where Christ is truly known and received.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Fr. Mike Grieve

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for St. Peter & St. Paul, Apostles, Matthew 16:13–19.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for the Second Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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The Augsburg Interim was a tumultuous time in the history of the Lutheran Church. With outside pressure and from within to compromise and capitulate, the time was tumultuous but also revelatory and clarifying. In this first episode, Karl Hess begins to take us through how the Lutheran Church in America is experiencing it’s own Interim. 

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Fr. Karl Hess

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the First Sunday after Trinity, Luke 16:19–1.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for the First Sunday after Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In this Book Talk, Mikkel Søtbæk discusses his forth-coming book on the Septuagint called The Seventy-two Servants of the Word of God. 

You can view more of his work:

• On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@truthuntogodliness

• On Twitter: https://x.com/potamopotos

Previous episode on Septuagint:

• https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2024/10/23/tgc-418-septuagintal-superiority?rq=septuagint

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Mr. Mikkel Søtbæk

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, John 3:1–17.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for The Feast of the Holy Trinity from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In Psalm 119:104, the psalmist declares, "Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." We explore what it means to hate false ways in light of God’s Word, with a particular focus on the topic of women's suffrage in the church and beyond. How does Scripture shape our understanding of order given by God to roles of male and female in life – society, family, and the church? Join us as we discuss the cultural and theological implications of rejecting the false ways of the world and embracing God’s truth in every aspect of life.

Link to paper: http://essays.wisluthsem.org:8080/handle/123456789/5921

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Fr. Evan Scamman

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Feast of Pentecost, John 14:23–31.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for The Feast of Pentecost from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In this Book Talk, Joe Rigney discusses his book More Than A Battle: How to Experience Victory, Freedom, and Healing from Lust.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Dr. Joe Rigney

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, John 15:26–16:4.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for The Seventh Sunday of Easter from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In this episode, we explore how the Book of Concord speaks about the Law’s twofold work—accusation for the unbeliever and mortification for the believer. Drawing from key confessional texts like the Apology of the Augsburg Confession and the Formula of Concord, we discuss how the Law always accuses, but does so differently depending on faith. For the unbeliever, the Law terrifies and condemns. For the believer, the accusation remains, but it drives daily repentance and the mortification of the flesh by the Spirit through the Word. This distinction is not only doctrinally vital but also deeply pastoral, grounding the Christian's struggle in Christ's victory and the Spirit’s ongoing sanctifying work.

Join us as we trace how this confessional insight shapes our understanding of sin, repentance, and the Christian life.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Gifford Grobien

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, John 16:23-33.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for The Sixth Sunday of Easter from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most overlooked yet essential tools for church outreach today: search engine optimization (SEO) and making the most of Google. Whether you’re a pastor, church administrator, or volunteer managing your church’s website, this conversation will equip you with practical strategies to ensure your church is found by the people who are looking for it.

Every day, people in your community are searching online for answers—some are seeking a place to worship, others are looking for hope, community, or help. But if your church doesn’t show up when they search, you’re missing a major opportunity to connect with them. That’s where SEO comes in. It’s not about gaming the system or marketing gimmicks—it’s about being present where people are already looking.

We’ll walk through what SEO actually is (in plain English), how Google ranks websites, and the top things you can do today to make your church website more visible online. You’ll learn about the importance of keywords, how to write content that Google recognizes and people appreciate, and why updating your church’s Google Business Profile might be the most important five minutes you spend this week. We’ll also touch on how to make your sermons, events, and blog posts easier to find—and how small things like page speed, mobile-friendliness, and simple URLs can make a big difference.

Our goal isn’t to turn your church into a tech startup—it’s to help faithful churches reach real people with the Gospel by stewarding the tools that are already at our fingertips. This episode is packed with tips, examples, and encouragement to take small, consistent steps toward making your church more discoverable.

If you've ever wondered why your church isn't appearing in search results, how to bring more people to your site, or what Google actually wants from your content, this episode is for you. The harvest is plentiful—even online—and the tools are in your hands. Let's use them wisely.

• The Lutheran Church in a Digital Age: SEO, Outreach, and Mission blog post

• Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Lititz, PA

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Special Guest: Mr. Michael Usner

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Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, John 16: 16-22.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen

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Become a Patron!

You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/

As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support. 

This is a recording of the sermon for The Fourth Sunday of Easter from George Stoeckhardt’s book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. 

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Read by: Fr. Matt Moss

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WE HAVE MERCH!

You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/

You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/

You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/

As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.