What is a Confessional Lutheran?

The Fellows continue their conversation about Lutheran identity. This time, they discuss the term "evangelical." Lutherans have used the term to describe themselves since the early Reformation. In recent times, confessional Lutherans have turned away from the term. Caleb, Scott, Adam, and Bruce discuss why the word is worth using and qualifying, even though it has come to gain new definitions in Western Christianity.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: Preorder Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

The Thinking Fellows continue discussing the issue of a Lutheran identity crisis. This week, they deal with the moniker: confessional. They define confessional and explain why it is essential to Lutheranism. They also cover how the term has been used within specific movements in American Lutheranism, particularly the LCMS, to bludgeon people over a reasonable disagreement. Overall, Lutherans must subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions and thus be confessional, but it is not necessary to be involved in the gatekeeping that "confessional" movements can participate in today.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: Preorder Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith engage discuss an ongoing identity crisis within Lutheranism. They explore various terms such as confessional and missional, their meanings, and the implications for the Lutherans. The conversation explores the historical context of Lutheran identity, the role of tradition and doctrine and how they shape the identiy of a church.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

How should Christians navigate the shoulds and shouldnots of daily life, especially on matters not explicitly covered in Scripture? The Fellows look at common questions about civil behavior that Christians ask online. They also consider the idea of Christian behavior as a witness to their neighbor.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: Celebrate 2,000 Episodes of Christian History Almanac! 2025 North West Arkansas Regional Conference: Psalms of David (4/25-4/26) The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

There are lots of objections to infant baptism floating around in American Christianity today. In this episode, the Fellows respond to some common objections leveraged against advocates of baptizing infants. The objections came from X-post comments; they do not represent the most sophisticated arguments for the credo-baptist position but rather some ordinary objections that real people believe and profess. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: Celebrate 2,000 Episodes of Christian History Almanac! 2025 North West Arkansas Regional Conference: Psalms of David (4/25-4/26) The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith discuss the relevance of the gospel in contemporary society. The conversation delves into the roles of law and gospel, cultural contextualization, and the challenges faced by churches in effectively communicating the gospel message. The Fellows emphasize that while the gospel itself cannot be changed. They also discuss the potential roadblocks that can hinder understanding, the importance of context in evangelism, and the dangers of conflating the gospel with law.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

In this episode of The Thinking Fellows, the hosts take on a challenging question: Are Christians hypocritical when it comes to sexual sins? This discussion is often raised in conversations about LGBTQ issues and the Church’s stance on morality. The Fellows explore how the Sixth Commandment applies to all sexual sins and emphasize that the Church’s teaching should be consistent—preaching repentance and forgiveness for every violation, not just the culturally controversial ones. They also push back on the common accusation that churches are obsessed with homosexuality, pointing out that society, not the Church, is hyper-fixated on the issue. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Adam Francisco engage in a friendly discussion about the current state of university education. They explore whether the traditional concept of the university is dead, the role of universities in preparing students for the job market, and the cultural influences that shape modern education. The conversation also touches on the challenges of implementing a liberal arts curriculum and the varying expectations of what a university should provide to its students.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: Pre-order: Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi  Bible in One Year with Chad Bird Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman  

In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, the Fellows answer, "Did Martin Luther invent a new religion?" They explore the historical context of the Reformation, the theological implications of Luther's teachings, and the ongoing debates between Catholicism and Protestantism. The conversation highlights the role of humanism in the Reformation and the centrality of scripture for understanding justification by faith. Ultimately, they conclude that Luther did not create a new religion but instead rightly reformed and returned to the core tenets of Christianity. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: Pre-order: Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi  Bible in One Year with Chad Bird Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman

The Thinking Fellows talk about the limitations of scientific progress. Skepticism of previous scientific advancements in medicine and chemical engineering has paved the path for more people to question technological progress and the good it can do for humanity. Yet many skeptics still look to the future and advancing technology as a solution for death, suffering, and sin. By understanding the realities of sin and death, Christians can walk a realistic line where technology can be leveraged for the good of this life and neighbor. Still, we know it will never solve death and can always be used to accomplish evil means.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What’s New from 1517: Pre-order: Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi Junk Drawer Jesus By Matt Popovits Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: The Sinner/Saint Lenten Devotional Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James  More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Scott Keith Adam Francisco Bruce Hilman