We live in a world that constantly tells us to look inward — to follow our heart, trust our feelings, and find our identity within ourselves. But Christians are called to a completely different posture. In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman sits down with Rev. Joshua Pfeiffer, author of Lift Your Eyes: How to Live Outside Yourself. Pastor Pfeiffer draws on Lutheran theology and cultural analysis to help us understand what it means to lift our eyes up to God and out to our neighbor — and why that posture changes everything about how we live the Christian life.

Episode Timestamps

1:51 — Introduction — Welcome & book overview

2:00 — The spiritual posture of looking: how the Nicene Creed sparked the idea for the book

5:00 — Expressive individualism: what it is and how it shapes both culture and the church

9:30 — Pastoral approach: helping people find their identity in Christ rather than in self-expression

12:30 — Two realms and two kinds of righteousness: the Lutheran theological foundation of the book

16:00 — Looking up — faith, worship, and lifting our eyes to Christ in the divine service

20:30 — Looking out — love within the Christian community and why it has a special priority

27:00 — Looking inward rightly — self-examination, mortification, and avoiding the downward spiral

32:00 — Looking forward — the resurrection hope and living with one eye on the horizon

35:30 — How Pastor Pfeiffer hopes readers and congregations will use the book

About the Guest

Rev. Joshua Pfeiffer is pastor of the Tarrington Lutheran Parish in the southeastern state of Victoria in Australia, where he lives with his wife, Kimberley, and their four children. He served various congregations in Australia before moving to the United States for graduate studies. He hosts a YouTube channel and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, golf, and other outdoor activities.

Resources Mentioned

Lift Your Eyes: How to Live Outside Yourself by Rev. Joshua Pfeiffer — cph.org

Concordia Publishing House

Bringing you God’s enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub\

LCMS Foundation – Helping congregations grow long-term funding to support ministries👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

Shame affects us all — but do we truly understand it? In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman sits down with Rev. Dr. John Kleinig, author of From Shame to Glory: God’s Surprising Remedy for Injustice and Failure. Dr. Kleinig draws on decades of pastoral experience to help us understand what shame is, how it differs from guilt, and how Jesus frees us from its weight through baptism, Holy Communion, and the blessing of the Church.

Episode Timestamps

1:51 — Introduction — Welcome & book overview

2:00 — Guilt vs. shame: the key differences — behavior vs. identity, actions vs. wounds

9:00 — What caused Dr. Kleinig to start thinking about shame?

13:50 — Dr. Kleinig’s story: his Wendish ethnic minority background and experiences of discrimination

25:30 — How Jesus frees us from shame: Holy Communion, the blood of Christ, and John the Baptist’s words

29:00 — Jesus as the Lamb of God who bears and carries the sin of the world

33:00 — The divine service as the ongoing remedy for shame; blessing vs. absolution

34:10 — Encouragement for listeners struggling with shame — and how to use the book

About the Guest

Rev. Dr. John Kleinig is professor emeritus at Luther College, Adelaide, SA, Australia. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Cambridge University, Doctor of Divinity from Fort Wayne (1998) and Concordia University, Irvine (2014). He is the author of numerous articles and books. Dr. Kleinig and his wife, Claire, have four children and many grandchildren.

Resources Mentioned

From Shame to Glory: God’s Surprising Remedy for Injustice and Failure by Rev. Dr. John Kleinig —

cph.org

Concordia Publishing House

Bringing you God’s enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation – Helping congregations grow long-term funding to support ministries: 👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

May 27th, 2026, marks the 350th anniversary of the death of Paul Gerhardt — one of the most beloved hymn writers in the history of the Lutheran Church. In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman is joined by Peter Reske from the CPH music team for a deep dive into Gerhardt's life, his enduring hymns, and the faith that sustained him through one of history's most devastating eras. Grab your hymnal and join us.

Episode Timestamps

1:51 — Why talk about Paul Gerhardt? Previous episodes & the 350th anniversary

5:21 — Overview of Gerhardt's 17 hymns in Lutheran Service Book (grab your hymnal!)

10:44 — Paul Gerhardt's biography: Early life, the Thirty Years' War & Wittenberg

14:42 — "A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth" (LSB 438) — hymn as drama

25:28 — "Entrust Your Days and Burdens" (LSB 754) — comfort, acrostic structure & Psalm 37:5

37:04 — Mittenwalde, the altarpiece & the origin of "O Sacred Head Now Wounded"

44:53 — "Rejoice My Heart, Be Glad and Sing" & closing reflections

46:43 — New CPH release: Gerhardt Hymns for SAB Choir by Kevin Hildebrand

Preview the new collection of hymns at cph.org/paul-gerhardt-hymns-for-sab-choir.

About the Guest

Peter C. Reske is senior editor of music/worship at Concordia Publishing House, where he has served since 2004. He holds degrees in English literature from Marquette University and in musicology from The Pennsylvania State University. In addition to his ongoing role overseeing music publications for CPH, he was the editor of Lutheran Service Book (2006) and its attendant resources, editor of The Hymns of Martin Luther (2016), and editorial advisor for One and All Rejoice (2020). With Joseph Herl and Jon D. Vieker, he was co-editor of Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns (2019).

Concordia Publishing House – Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation – Helping congregations grow long‑term funding to support ministries: 👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

What can a 19th-century history of a 16th-century Lutheran school teach us about education today? More than you might expect.

Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Jr. joins us to discuss a new translation from Concordia Publishing House — The History of the Gymnasium and Educational Institutions of Wittenberg, written in 1830 by Franz Spitzner. The Wittenberg Latin School was one of the first distinctly Lutheran classical schools, born out of the Reformation. Dr. Veith wrote the preface to this volume, and today he helps us understand not only the school's fascinating history, but why it's essential reading for anyone who cares about classical Christian education in our own time.

0:00 — Introduction & Welcome to the Concordia Publishing House Podcast. Sponsored by the LCMS Foundation.

1:42 The History of the Old Latin School, as told in the History of the Gymnasium and Educational Institutions of Wittenberg, written in 1830 by Franz Spitzner.

2:42 —Dr. Veith sets the scene: how Luther and Melanchthon built the first classical Lutheran school in Wittenberg — bringing literacy and education to ordinary people for the first time.

8:08 — Why Classical Education Matters Today. The philosophical crisis driving today's educational decline: postmodernism's rejection of objective truth, and how classical Christian education offers a grounded alternative.

11:06 — Education for All: Luther's Vision Luther's radical idea that every child deserved a full "liberal" education. A baptized child of God is worthy of the best.

15:35 — Vocation, Freedom, and Social Mobility. How education enabled social mobility and the development of vocation — not just as a job, but as service to God and neighbor in every area of life.

17:25 — The Prussian Reforms and the Decline of Classical Education. How Frederick William III's authoritarian reforms dismantled classical Christian education, invented the modern research university, and set education on a path away from truth.

24:50 — Why Parents Must Be Invested in Their Children's Education. Preparing children not just for work, but for citizenship, faith, and the next generation. Why parents — not schools alone — are the key to passing on what is precious.

Learn more about The History of the Gymnasium and Educational Institutions of Wittenberg.

About the Guest

Gene Edward Veith Jr. is a retired English professor and college administrator, most recently at Patrick Henry College and Concordia University Wisconsin. He is the author of twenty-seven books, including Embracing Your Lutheran Identity, Authentic Christianity: How Lutheran Theology Speaks to a Postmodern World; Christianity in an Age of Terrorism, and God at Work. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas and currently lives in St. Louis with his wife, Jackquelyn. He has three grown children and twelve grandchildren.

Concordia Publishing House – Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation – Helping congregations grow long‑term funding to support ministries:
👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

How did our modern culture get here—especially when it comes to sex, marriage, and family life? In this episode, Elizabeth Pittman sits down with Dr. Erkki Koskenniemi, a Finnish Lutheran pastor and scholar, to explore how closely today’s world mirrors the ancient Greco-Roman world. Drawing from history, Scripture, and early Christian teaching, Dr. Koskenniemi explains what made Christians stand out in the Roman Empire—and what the Church can learn today as we increasingly live as a minority culture.

About the Guest

Dr. Erkki Koskenniemi is a Finnish theologian, pastor, and educator with 40 years of teaching experience in classical studies and theology. Author of Love, Marriage and Family: Learning from the Early Christians.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why modern Western culture increasingly resembles ancient Rome and Greece
• What early Christians inherited from Jewish family ethics
• How infanticide and child exposure shaped ancient family life
• What set Christian marriage and sexual ethics apart in the Roman Empire
• Why clear teaching and strong Christian community are essential today
• How Christian parents can help young people navigate secular culture
• What gives Dr. Koskenniemi hope for the Church today

Resources Mentioned

• Love, Marriage and Family: Learning from the Early Christians by Dr. Erkki Koskenniemi

Concordia Publishing House – Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social media: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation – Helping congregations grow long‑term funding to support ministries:
👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

Listen & Subscribe
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Concordia Publishing House Podcast and leave a review—it helps others discover the show!

Dr. Kevin Golden joins host Elizabeth Pittman to unpack the Old Testament prophet Hosea and his newly released Hosea volume in the Concordia Commentary series. Discover the historical context of eighth-century Israel, the shocking symbolism of Hosea's marriage to Gomer, and the profound meaning behind their children's names. Dr. Golden unpacks how law and gospel intertwine throughout Hosea's prophecy, revealing God's relentless pursuit of His people despite their unfaithfulness. Learn practical applications for marriage, reconciliation, and preaching that resonate today.

In This Episode:

3:17 - Dr. Golden's Background
How Dr. Golden became fascinated with Hosea and the significance of the "Golden Volume"

7:57 - Historical Context
The eighth-century BC setting and Israel's spiritual decline

15:01 - Marriage to Gomer
Understanding Hosea's shocking call to marry an adulterous woman

23:52 - The Children's Names
Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, and Lo-Ammi—names that speak judgment and grace

31:18 - Lessons for Marriage
Practical applications for reconciliation in Christian relationships

35:13 - Preaching Like Hosea
How pastors can learn from Hosea's use of law, gospel, and metaphor

37:44 - Using the Commentary
Advice for pastors, students, and laypeople on getting the most from the Hosea commentary

Learn more about Hosea—Concordia Commentary

About the Guest

Rev. Dr. Kevin S. Golden is director of resident field education, associate professor of exegetical theology, and dean of theological research and publication at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO.

Concordia Publishing House – Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation – Helping congregations grow long‑term funding to support ministries:
👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

In this episode, host Elizabeth Pittman sits down with Lois Stewart, a lifelong champion of Lutheran education who has served as a teacher, administrator, and now mission facilitator for schools in the Northern Illinois District of the LCMS.

Together they explore what makes Lutheran schools so special—from their Christ‑centered mission to the deep relationships they build between students, families, congregations, and communities. As National Lutheran Schools Week unfolds, Lois shares stories from the classroom, powerful examples of school–church partnership, creative celebration ideas, and inspiring glimpses into the daily joy found in our Lutheran schools.

Topics Covered

• What Makes Lutheran Schools Unique

• Celebrating Lutheran Schools Week

• Service as Joy

• Lois’s Journey Through Lutheran Education

• Celebrating School & Church Together

• Building Strong School–Family Relationships

• Simple Ways Any School Can Celebrate

• Signs of a Joy‑Filled School

Concordia Publishing House – Bringing you God's enduring Word in a changing world. 👉 cph.org

Follow CPH on social: @concordiapub

LCMS Foundation – Helping congregations grow long‑term funding to support ministries:
👉 lcmsfoundation.org/podcast

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Elizabeth Pittman is joined by theologian, author, and podcast host Bryan Wolfmueller to discuss his newest book with CPH, Finally Free: Three Lessons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. In this short book, Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience.

Get the book at cph.org/finallyfree.

Show Notes

In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus tells a story most of us know by heart. Yet beneath its familiarity, He exposes three kinds of bondage that touch every human heart: the pull to do whatever we want, the fear that we’ve sinned too much to be welcomed back, and the quiet pride that trusts in our own goodness. In this episode, author Bryan Wolfmueller talks about his book Finally Free: Three Lessons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son and explores how Jesus uses this beloved parable to reveal our slavery to sin and, more importantly, the freedom He gives through His suffering, death, and resurrection.

Questions

• The parable of the prodigal son is one of the most familiar stories in Scripture. What made you willing to take the risk of writing an entire book on such a well-known text?
• In Luke 15, Jesus tells three lost-and-found parables in a row. How does the presence of the older brother change the pattern of “lost, found, joy” in the third parable?
• You argue that the older brother is not a side character but the entire point of the parable. Why do we so often overlook him, and what do we miss when we do?
• The first slavery you discuss is “Belly Slaves” What is this and how does the younger son illustrate it? Why is this slavery so appealing? How does the younger son illustrate our enslavement to pleasure, desire, and self-rule—and why is that slavery so appealing?
• What happens when an entire culture succumbs to belly slavery?
• You say despair, the second slavery, is a theological slavery. Tell us about this.
• You write that the third slavery, pride, is a two-fold slavery. What do you mean by this?
• You write that each of us has “a little Pharisee living in our hearts.” What are some subtle ways this Pharisee shows up in our church life and personal faith?

About the Guest

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller is the pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX. Prior to that he was the pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Aurora, CO since 2005. He is the co-host of Table Talk Radio, the world’s most famous Lutheran theological game show. Bryan has a new hobby every day, but he always comes back to reading about Law and Gospel. Bryan lives in Round Rock, TX with his wife Keri and four children.