They met as kids, grew up together, then started a life together!

Meet Jonathan and Christa Petzold.

He's an author and pastor of church in Northeast Illinois.

She's an author and doctoral student and pastor's wife.

And they are living in Christ!

You can find out more about the Petzolds and get their books here.

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Imagine what your life would be like if you were to do the things that Jesus says - which is in red letters in many Bibles?

That's the premise of the Red Letter Challenge by Zach Zehnder and that is what we talk about on this episode!

Check out the Red Letter Challenge website here.

Purchase your copy of Red Letter Challenge here.

You can find out more about Zach and his ministry here.

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Dr. Jeff Kloha, dean of the Center for Missional and Pastoral Leadershi, has spent his career helping the Church think deeply about Scripture, formation, and the mission of God in a changing world. In his work with pastors and leaders, he brings a rare blend of theological depth, practical wisdom, and a heart for equipping God’s people for faithful ministry.

For more information about The Center for Missional and Pastoral Leadership, click here.

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He comes from New York, grew up in Iowa and now lives in Wisconsin.

A life-long - and long-suffering - Buffalo Bills fan, as well as being the youngest of seven children, Steve Kline has a rather unique insight on who God is and what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

To find out more about Steve:

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

Books recommended by Steve:

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Joseph Gretty, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory

The Best Is Yet to Come: 7 Doors of Spiritual Growth by John Kieschnick

If You Want to Walk on Water by John Ortberg

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Red Letter Challenge by Zach Zehnder

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He is a husband, father, pastor, public speaker, and author. And he’s got something to say to today’s generation!

The Christian Faith is not an obligation.

The Christian Church is not a place where you “check the boxes.”

Meet Zach Zehnder, who tells us that following Jesus is an opportunity!

For more about Zach, head over to his website, Red Letter Challenge.

Red Letter Challenge

Books recommended by Zach:

Confessing Jesus’ Mission by Tim Ahlman

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller

Steps by Jon Ortberg

Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

Good to Great by Jim Collins

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From humble beginnings growing up in Texas to being the leader of several churches, a District President and the the President of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - a church body of nearly 2 million people - the Rev. Dr. Jerry Kieschnick inspires us to answer God's call to serve others!

Books recommended by Jerry:

The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Please take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us.

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Life feels heavy at times. Especially in dark times.

Where do you turn when it does? Who do you turn to to get through what you're going through?

Tanner Olson returns to the Reflection Podcast with a new book of poems and essays!

To find out more about Tanner, go to Written to Speak.

To get a copy of Getting Through What You're Going Through, click here.

Here are the previous episodes featuring Tanner.

That's What I Need to Hear with Tanner Olson and Blake Flattley.

Life is Not a Race and You are Not Behind with Tanner Olson.

Please take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening. Those stars really help others discover us.

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What if I told you that the Christmas story you know—Mary, Joseph, a manger, and a baby—wasn’t a surprise to God… not even close? In fact, He announced it centuries in advance, hiding jaw-dropping clues in plain sight all throughout the Old Testament. Some scholars say there are as many as 300 specific prophecies about the Messiah written hundreds, even thousands of years before Jesus was born.

On this special Christmas episode, author and scholar Chad Bird sits down with Ed Blonski to pull back the curtain on four of the most astonishing prophecies. We’re talking precise details—where He’d be born, how He’d arrive, what His mission would be—that are so accurate they’ll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the Christmas story is more than just a sweet tradition… if you want proof that blows the lid off coincidence… you do NOT want to miss this one.Hit play right now and discover why the first Christmas was the most predicted moment in human history.

Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at ⁠1517.org⁠. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites.

Reflection Episodes Featuring Chad Bird

Untamed Prayers Part 1

Untamed Prayers Part 2

Hitchhiking with Prophets

Connection Between Passover and The Lord's Supper

Jesus Died and Rose For You

Podcasts featuring Chad Bird

40 Minutes in the Old Testament

Hidden Streams

Unveiling Mercy

Books by Chad Bird can be found at 1517.org

To connect with St. Matthew Lutheran, click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠:

Please take a quick second to rate this podcast on your favorite platform—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

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