The Concordia Publishing House Podcast

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Edward Riojas joins us as our guest to discuss his new book A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols. Edward dives into the importance and history behind sacred symbols and how they can deepen our faith.

Get a copy of his book at cph.org/christiansymbols.
Show Notes

Listen now as author and artist Edward Riojas dives into the world of Christian symbols.

Edward joins host Elizabeth Pittman to talk about his new volume of more than 600 historic Christian symbols. The pair explore how in today’s church, we now use these same symbols throughout the sanctuary and in worship materials that Jesus Himself used in his teachings. Edward emphasizes the importance of symbols and art in understanding Scripture and why church leaders should carefully treat each symbol they use during worship. He also talks about how this volume came to be, some of his favorite symbols to investigate, what young artists should know, and more.

Edward’s website
Edward’s Facebook Page

Questions

Tell us about your life as an artist in the Christian and secular space.

Talk about the impact that art in general and symbols have on our faith and understanding of Scripture.

Where do you see symbols being used well in the church today?

How have you seen some denominations embrace or shy away from using symbols?

How long ago did you start this project? Tell us a little bit about how this book started.

Who else is this book for besides pastors and worship leaders? How will history buffs benefit from reading this?

Did anything surprise you while working on the book?

Do you have a favorite symbol from the book? Or three that you gravitate towards?

Why is it important for us as Christians to understand these symbols rather than just passing by them?

About the Guest

Edward Riojas graduated summa cum laude from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a BFA degree. He has worked professionally for more than forty years, including thirty-one years in the newspaper industry. Riojas has returned to his fine-art roots, creating sacred art for commissions and collaborations with various Lutheran entities. His work can be found in sanctuaries, institutions, private collections, and markets throughout the United States and across the globe.

Join us as we talk with Dr. Kim Marxhausen about the Winter Blues, how to help with them, and how to help others.
Learn more about Dr. Marxhausen's book Weary Joy: The Caregiver's Journey Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, host Elizabeth Pittman welcomes Donna Snow back as a guest to discuss her newest book, Meant for Good: A Study of Joseph, and the magnificent story of Joseph as he faithfully waited for God’s plans to come together.

Find out more about Donna’s new Bible study by visiting books.cph.org/meant-for-good.
Show Notes:
Joseph’s life and its portrayal in Genesis is an epic journey through Scripture. In this episode, Donna talks about what listeners and readers can expect to learn from her upcoming Bible study that focuses on the life of Joseph – a phenomenal character laid out in Scripture. Donna also shares her love of pulling history and culture together to help a Bible story make sense in today’s world. Listen to the full episode to hear Donna’s reflections on what she found fascinating in Joseph’s story, how she describes “spiritual dehydration”, and more.
Questions Covered

· What can readers of your previous studies expect from your newest study?

· Your latest study is set in ancient Egypt. Your introduction does a great job setting the reader up with historical and Biblical context for both Joseph and Egypt. Ancient Egypt in Joseph’s time sounds fascinating – what were some of the most interesting tidbits about ancient Egypt or Joseph’s life that you uncovered as you prepared to write this study?

· You wrote in your introduction about Joseph being one of the most Christlike figures in Scripture. Can you elaborate on this point?

· Joseph found himself in a dark spot when he was sent to Egypt. Even when we’re in the midst of dark circumstances, there can be benefits. What are some of the benefits these situations can teach us? How did that play out for Joseph?

· You write about experiencing spiritual dehydration (in the context of experiencing seasons of famine that Joseph’s dreams foretold). Can you define what you mean by this? You share concrete warning signs of spiritual hydration – course talk, fatigue, anger, the presence of sin, and poor decision-making; are there any other warning signs to watch out for? And what guidance can you share for those who are experiencing spiritual dehydration?

· What are some lessons about forgiveness we can take away from Joseph’s story?

· How do we know if we’re actually forgiven someone? You share four litmus tests for this in (Week 4, Day 2) that are very helpful. Can you talk about these tests a little more? (As a recap, those 4 tests are: general thoughts test, failure test, revenge test, and opportunity to help test.)
About the Guest

A soul-stirring, engaging speaker, author, Bible teacher, and worship leader, Donna Pyle has a passion for studying and teaching God’s Word. Her clear, down-to-earth style encourages women of all ages to wholeheartedly love, serve, and live for Jesus Christ. Since launching Artesian Ministries in 2007, Donna has scratched out over 20 Bible studies and enjoys the incredible privilege of traveling throughout the U.S. and internationally to speak and teach where the Lord opens doors. Donna writes regularly on her blog, Hydrated Living, as she seeks to find beauty in the quiet and sacred in the chaos, treasuring that this path is a holy experience planned by God before the beginning of time. A native, life-long Texan, Donna fuels her incredible journey with the Word, coffee, chocolate, family, friends and worship.

Brian Davies joins host Elizabeth Pittman on this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to preview his new book, Captivating Conversations: How Christians Can Reclaim the Lost Art of Listening. During the episode, Brian talks about how we can use Jesus as our model for being good listeners and asking good questions as Christians in today's world.

Pre-order the book at cph.org/listen. Available October 22.
Show Notes
Are you a good listener? Many people believe that they are but, when asked if they believe others are good listeners, the answer is usually no. Perhaps we all can learn to be better listeners. And there's no better model than Jesus Christ Himself.

Listen to the episode now as Brian Davies talks about his new book where he takes readers on a journey of sitting back, opening your heart, and learning how to truly hear what others are saying. Brian discusses what it really means to be a good listener, how we can bring the Gospel to others by learning to really hear what they are saying, and more.

About the Guest
Brian Davies serves as pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, Illinois, and as chaplain for the Grayslake Fire Department. Rev. Davies graduated from Concordia River Forest (now Concordia Chicago) in 2002, studying communications and biblical languages, and then went on to earn his master of divinity at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He and his wife, Beth, have three children: Kate, Megan, and Luke.

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller rejoins host Elizabeth Pittman for the second part of a two-part series to answer a big question: Has American Christianity failed? The pair dive into the why behind American Christians’ move away from the real meaning of our faith, and what this means for the future.
Get a copy of Bryan’s book Has American Christianity Failed? by visiting cph.org. Show Notes:

It is evident that American Christianity’s focus has turned from Christ to Christian.

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller explains what he means by this statement in this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast. The source of our faith is Jesus, but many have confused this along the way. Instead, modern American Christians think that Jesus starts our faith but it us up to us to continue it through good works. Pastor Wolfmueller shares his thoughts on how American Christians can bring their focus back to Jesus and recognize the invitation to serve Him found in His Word.

Wolfmueller's website: https://wolfmueller.co/
Wolfmueller's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wolfmueller
Wolfmueller's Twitter: https://twitter.com/bwolfmueller

Questions Covered

· You write that American Christianity softens the Bible’s teaching on sin. What does that look like?

· In American Christianity, the focus has moved from Christ to the Christian. Why is it essential that we keep the Cross/Christ at the center of our theology?

· In American Christianity, the spiritual life is on the inside. What does this mean? What is the better posture?

· What about good works? How does American Christianity view them? How does God view them?

· “Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.” What is this cliché supposed to mean and what are the problems with relationship theology?

· How are we surprised by the Gospel?

· What is the alternative to American Christianity?

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. He lives in Round Rock, TX with his wife Keri and four children.