Concordia Journal Currents

A series of videos on books, movies and events at Concordia Seminary

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099. Meet the Professor: Dr. James Fickenscher

James Fickenscher and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden takes some time to introduce new faculty member Dr. James Fickenscher. Fickenscher recently joined the Seminary as assistant professor of Exegetical Theology.

Fickenscher previously served as associate pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, School and Early Learning Center in McAllen, Texas (2017-24); guest instructor at Concordia Seminary (2013-16, 2023-24); and adjunct faculty at Concordia University, Irvine, Calif. (2022-24), and Concordia University, Portland, Ore. (2014-15, 2017-18). He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (2022) and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) (2012) from Concordia Seminary. In 2008, Fickenscher received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, graduating from The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson. Learn more about Fickenscher.
098. Meet the Professor: Dr. Jason Lane

Jason Lane and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden takes some time to introduce new faculty member Dr. Jason Lane, who recently joined the Seminary as associate professor of Historical Theology and director of research, assessment and academic programming.

Lane previously served as assisting pastor at Luther Memorial Chapel and University Student Center in Shorewood, Wis. (2013-24); pastor at Celebration Lutheran Church in St. Johns, Fla. (2010-13); and associate professor of theology (2019-24) and assistant professor of theology (2013-19) at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon. Lane earned a Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) (2015) at Universität Hamburg in Germany and a Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) (2010) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) (2007) from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. In 2001, Lane received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, graduating from Framingham State College in Framingham, Mass. Learn more about Lane.
097. Meet the Professor: Dr. Ryan Tinetti

Ryan Tinetti and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden takes some time to introduce new faculty member Dr. Ryan Tinetti, who recently joined the Seminary as assistant professor of Practical Theology.

Tinetti previously served as pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Mich. (2018-24); Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Spokane, Wash. (2014-18); and Faith Lutheran Church in Seaside, Calif. (2010-14). He was a guest lecturer at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Praetoria, South Africa (2024), and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. (2024), and he is the author of the book “Preaching by Heart” (Cascade Press). Tinetti earned a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) (2019) from Duke University in Durham, N.C., and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) (2010) from Concordia Seminary. In 2005, Tinetti received a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. Learn more about Tinetti.
096. Meet the Professor: Dr. Samuel Eatherton

Samuel Eatherton and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden takes some time to introduce new faculty member Dr. Sam Eatherton, who recently joined the Seminary as assistant professor of Practical Theology, kantor and director of music arts, and the Kreft Chair for Music Arts.

Previously, Eatherton served as kantor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Sheboygan, Wis. (2020-24); minister of music and teacher at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Dallas, Texas (2000-20); and as a teacher and the director of music at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in St. Joseph, Mich. (1996-2000). Eatherton received a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in church music from Baylor University (2019) in Waco, Texas; a Master of Church Music from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. (2003); and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in education with a concentration in music from Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward (1996). Learn more about Eatherton.
095. Book Blurbs: Paul Raabe, Isaiah 13-27

Paul Raabe

Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden sits down with Professor Emeritus Dr. Paul Raabe to discuss Raabe’s newly published book in the Concordia Commentary Series, Isaiah 13-27 (Concordia Publishing House, 2023), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. “It's profound theology, even in these chapters,” Raabe says. “These chapters are often overlooked by people but they constitute 20% of the book. They’re essential to the message of the book.” He says he wrote the book for non-Lutherans. “Ninety-eight % of the country is non-Lutheran,” he says. “And I believe that we all have to learn to preach and teach and write in ways that are intelligible to non-Lutherans. … We should not be working in some bubble of just Lutherans talking to Lutherans. We need to learn to make it intelligible to a general audience.” Raabe says he hopes readers walk away from the book and “rejoice in the work of Christ and His work of fulfilling Isaiah both now and the promise of the future not yet. And on how our lives in the church now, and our mission, is part of the fulfillment that Isaiah promised 2,700 years ago in the city of Jerusalem in the Middle East. We are now enjoying this age to come that he announced and we look forward to the full consummation. Isaiah can instill in us hope. Hope for the future. Hope for God’s future. Not man’s future but the future that God will bring about for our benefit.” The book is available for purchase from Concordia Publishing House and from Amazon.
094. President Egger offers reflection on 50th anniversary of the Walkout

Thomas Egger

Today, on the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Walkout that occurred at the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis campus, Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger offered a brief reflection and statement after the morning service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.
093. Book Blurbs: James W. Voelz, Principles of Biblical Interpretation for Everyone

James Voelz and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden talks with Graduate Professor of Exegetical Theology Dr. James W. Voelz about his recent book, Principles of Biblical Interpretation for Everyone (Concordia Seminary Press, 2023), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Voelz has designed this inventive text for lay people who are intensely interested in doing in-depth interpretation of the sacred Scriptures. He looks at what readers encounter in English Bible translations and discusses everything from the manuscripts that stand behind those translations, to issues of language and meaning, to the surprisingly complex content of Scripture, to problems of application for today. “Deeper Dives” with more detail are included for those who are interested. Voelz says the book is written for the informed lay person who wants to go deep into the Bible. “This book is for the man, the woman who comes to Bible class with a Bible, a pad a paper, a pencil and is really wanting to learn,” Voelz says. “It’s not for the person who comes in with a donut and says, ‘Hey, is there a Bible somewhere in this class?’ I’m aiming at the person who really wants to delve in.”

The book is available for purchase through the Concordia Seminary online store.
092. Book Blurbs: James Brauer, Music: God’s Mysterious Gift

James Brauer and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden sits down with Professor Emeritus Dr. James Brauer about his recent book, Music: God’s Mysterious Gift (Wipf and Stock, 2023), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Brauer says he wrote the book for people who want to better understand what music does and why it should be used in the church. “[Music] comes from God,” he says, “And therefore [we] need to pay attention to it in a way that takes God into consideration. What did He want [us] to do with it?” Music, he says, is a divine gift from God. Music can help build up others in the same manner that a pastor does when he is preaching. “It’s the Word used by the Spirit that’s building up others,” Brauer says. “That’s the purpose and highest purpose that you can have for music.”

The book is available for purchase through Wipf and Stock and Amazon.
091. Book Blurbs- Face to Face: Martin Luther’s View of Reality

Robert Kolb and Kevin Golden

Book Blurbs: Robert Kolb, Face to Face

Face to Face book coverConcordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden chats with Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Kolb about his forthcoming book, Face to Face: Martin Luther’s View of Reality (Fortress Press, 2024), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. The book provides an overview of Luther’s thought proceeds from the perspective of his use of the Latin preposition coram, “face-to-face with.” Kolb, a preeminent Luther scholar, proposes that under Luther’s use of dominant ancient concepts of reality in his day, he placed the foundation of relationships. Kolb wants readers to understand the “presence of God and His continuing relationship with us,” he says. God “always wants to be in dialogue with us. Luther’s understanding of faith is really much like Erik Erikson’s concept of trust. It grabs the whole of our person. If we really trust the word of Absolution and say, ‘OK God, if You say so, I’m righteous.” Then we’re going to want to act that out in righteous deeds. And so this idea of trusting in Christ and what He has done for us becomes the key to our relationship with God and with the world and with other human beings. That’s the exciting thing about Luther’s theology. It fits so nicely into 21st century life in the Western world.”

The book is available for purchase through Fortress Press and Amazon.
090. The Theology of Cyril of Alexandria

David Maxwell

Dr. Maxwell’s recording of a class on “The Theology of Cyril of Alexandria.”
089. Book Blurbs: Mark Rockenbach, Unforgivable

Mark Rockenbach and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden sits down with Associate Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Mark Rockenbach about his recent book, Unforgivable: How God’s Forgiveness Transforms Our Lives (Concordia Publishing House, 2024), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Rockenbach, whose background is in counseling, co-authored the book with Ted Kober. “There’s a lot out there about forgiveness but not a lot out there when you struggle with unforgiveness, when you don’t want to forgive someone,” Rockenbach says. “This book is intended to help people who are in that particular situation. … Forgiveness ultimately comes because of what Jesus has done for us. One of the things the book helps to establish is that forgiveness is really something that Christians do.” The book is available for purchase through Concordia Publishing House and Amazon.
088. Meet the Professor: Rev. Joel Fritsche

Joel Fritsche and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden takes some time to introduce new faculty member Rev. Joel Fritsche. Fritsche recently joined the Seminary as assistant professor of Exegetical Theology and director of Vicarage and Deaconess Internships. For more than two decades, Fritsche served The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as a pastor, church planter, missionary and theological educator in the United States and in the Dominican Republic.

He succeeds Dr. Glenn Nielsen who concluded 33 years of service as director of Vicarage and Deaconess Internships at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. Since 2014, Fritsche has served as a missionary pastor and church planter in the Dominican Republic. From 201723, he also has served as the director and professor of biblical languages at Concordia Seminary the Reformer, where he helped form Lutheran pastors and deaconesses for partner churches and mission fields throughout Latin America. His areas of interest include Greek, Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis. “I moved around a lot in the church in the last 23 or so year,” he says. “In some ways I lamented that. In other ways, looking back, all of those experiences … seem to come together in my new role here on the faculty.” Learn more about Fritsche.
087. Meet the Professor: Dr. Stephen Pietsch

Stephen Pietsch and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden chats with Dr. Stephen Pietsch, who recently joined the faculty as associate professor of Practical Theology. Pietsch is a respected scholar with expertise in pastoral care and counseling from the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) in North Adelaide, South Australia, where he taught undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in the areas of pastoral care and counseling, homiletics, Lutheran Confessions, liturgics, the pastoral theology of Martin Luther and others (2008-23). After receiving a Bachelor of Theology from Luther Seminary (now ALC) in 1988, Pietsch was ordained in the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). He served for 19 years in parish ministry, gaining extensive pastoral care experience in congregational, school and chaplaincy settings. He also served as the ALC’s director of pastoral formation (2018-22), dean of chapel (2016-19) and field education coordinator for the School of Pastoral Theology (2009-19). Pietsch says he looks forward to teaching seminarians at Concordia Seminary and sharing his expertise in pastoral care and comfort, particularly of people with mental illness and depression. “Mental illness is a very, very lonely experience for people typically,” Pietsch says in the video. “And someone who is a persevering, loving presence in their life is also an important thing. That’s one of the things that Luther models so beautifully in his letters. … Like Luther says, you take all things captive and you use all of the gifts that God gives you. Indeed that’s one of the hallmarks of our methodology for doing practical theology here at Concordia [Seminary].” Learn more about Pietsch.Pietsch
086. Meet the Professor: Dr. Adam Hensley

Adam Hensley and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden sits down with Dr. Adam Hensley, who recently joined the faculty as associate professor of Exegetical Theology. He previously served as professor at Australian Lutheran College (ALC) in North Adelaide, South Australia (SA), Australia, a college of the University of Divinity (2017-22), where he taught in the area of Old Testament studies and served as dean of chapel. Hensley earned a Graduate Certificate in Theological Education from the ALC (2018) and a Ph.D. in biblical studies from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (2015). Hensley says he looks forward to helping instill a love of the Scriptures among the students he teaches. “I’ve found the love of the Scriptures, the better you get to know them, the deeper you imbibe them, the better you are formed for any kind of ministry, whether you are a pastor or deaconess or DCE [Director of Christian Education], whatever your vocation might be in the church,” he says in the video. “Nothing can replace that deep love for and thorough understanding of the Scriptures. It’s a lifelong journey isn’t it?” Learn more about Hensley
085. Book Blurbs: David Peter, Organizing for Ministry and Mission

David Peter and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden sits down with Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Faculty Dr. David Peter about his recent book, Organizing for Ministry and Mission (Concordia Publishing House, 2022), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Peter said he wrote the book after hearing from pastors about their struggles with how to best organize their congregations and noticing a lack of resources available to help them. The book is intended as a resource for seminary students, pastors and lay/congregational leaders. “Organization is necessary,” Peter says in the video. “The way you organize is optional. But the fact that you need to organize is not optional. When I say ‘you,’ I mean pastor and lay people together need to do this to be the best stewards of the resources and the ministry and mission that God has given to them.” The book is available for purchase through Concordia Publishing House and Amazon.
084. Book Blurbs: Tyler Arnold, Pastoral Visitation for the Care of Souls

Tyler Arnold and Thomas Egger

Concordia Seminary’s President Dr. Thomas J. Egger talks with Dr. Tyler Arnold, about his recent book, Pastoral Visitation for the Care of Souls (Lexham Press, 2023), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Arnold, the pastor of Village Lutheran Church in Ladue, Mo., received a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in 1999. He also is a member of the Seminary’s Board of Regents. Egger calls the book a “fantastic, inspiring and practical guide for pastors to think through why it is useful to spend time visiting individually with their members.” The book also includes practical tips about setting up a program of pastoral visitation and making the most of the time pastors spend with their parishioners. Arnold calls pastoral visitation “the pastor’s identity. We hear all the time, ‘What is a pastor?’ ‘Who is a pastor?’ I don’t see visitation so much as a function but actually … the essence of a pastor,” Arnold says in the video. “Pastoral visitation is an extraordinary way to do the care of souls among your people.” The book is available for purchase through Lexham Press and Amazon.
083. Book Blurbs: Abjar Bahkou, Shining the Gospel Light on the Quran

Abjar Bahkou and Erik Herrmann

Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Erik Herrmann talks with Dr. Abjar Bahkou, associate professor of Practical Theology, about his recent book, Shining the Gospel Light on the Quran: Understanding and Engaging Muslims (Concordia Publishing House, 2021), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Born in Syria, Bahkou converted to Lutheranism after translating some Lutheran materials into Arabic for a missions outreach effort of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Texas District. In the book, Bahkou advocates for Christians to tell their story and have dialogue with Muslims in the way Peter describes in 1 Peter 3:15. “Be ready to give the reason for your hope,” Bahkou says in the video. “You do it with gentleness and respect.” The book is available for purchase through Concordia Publishing House and Amazon.
082. Book Blurbs: Bruce Schuchard, The Word from the Beginning

Bruce Schuchard and Erik Herrmann

Concordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Erik Herrmann talks with Dr. Bruce Schuchard, professor of Exegetical Theology, about his new book, The Word from the Beginning: The Person and Work of Jesus in the Gospel of John (Lexham Academic, 2022), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Schuchard began studying John as part of his graduate work. “It struck me quite a while ago, this Gospel has more to say about the Word made flesh than perhaps we previously we realized,” Schuchard says in the video. “Who the Word is in the prologue, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,’ and then in verse 14, ‘And the Word became flesh.’” Schuchard says a lot of scholarship suggests this manner of introducing readers to Jesus in the first few verses of John doesn’t end up being taken anywhere in the story that follows, or that perhaps, the prologue was a late addition to the Gospel. He argues that the book’s prologue has a much more organic relationship with the rest of John. “If you play close and careful attention to Jesus, who talks a lot in this Gospel, and frequently talks about His talk a lot, we discover the thread that needs to be noticed with the telling of the story,” Schuchard says. “Who the Word is in the prologue is what the Word does in the narrative. He speaks.” The book is available for purchase through Lexham Press and on Amazon.
081. Meet the Professor: Dr. Vilson Scholz

Vilson Scholz and Erik Herrmann

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Erik Herrmann sits down with Dr. Vilson Scholz. Scholz, who is from São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil, is currently serving as a visiting professor of Exegetical Theology. His course load includes a hermeneutics class, “Interpreting and Communicating the Word,” a Greek lab and courses on Philippians, Luke and 2 Corinthians. Scholz is also writing a commentary on 2 Corinthians for Concordia Publishing House and it also was the subject of his dissertation. Scholz said he and his wife have settled into the campus community. “This is a very welcoming campus,” Scholz said. “People are so friendly. The theme for this year, “Sharing the Gospel—Sharing Our Lives,” I can testify that this is going on. They’re sharing the Gospel but people also are sharing their lives by being welcoming, being supportive and friendly. It’s great.” Before his current term as visiting professor at Concordia Seminary, which began in fall 2022, Scholz served as a translation consultant for United Bible Societies and a professor of biblical theology at Seminario Concordia and ULBRA (Lutheran University of Brazil). He previously served as a visiting professor at the Seminary from 1996-99. Learn more about Scholz.
080. Opening the Scriptures: Expository Preaching in the Lutheran Tradition

David Schmitt and David Peter

Concordia Seminary’s Gregg H. Benidt Memorial Professor of Homiletics and Literature Dr. David Schmitt interviews Professor of Practical Theology Dr. David Peter about his new book, Opening the Scriptures: Expository Preaching in the Lutheran Tradition from Concordia Seminary Press in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. The book is the second title in The Conversations in Preaching Series. The book demonstrates and affirms the value of expository preaching in the Lutheran tradition. Many people associate expository preaching with evangelicals, but Peter asserts that it is also part of Lutheranism. “Much of [Luther’s] preaching was expository,” Peter says in the video. “I’ve even seen some expository preaching in [C.F.W.] Walther’s repertoire. … I say it’s preaching the whole text not just something in the text.”
079. Meet the Professor: Dr. Ronald Mudge

Erik Herrmann and Ronald Mudge

Concordia Seminary Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Erik Herrmann sits down with Dr. Ronald Mudge, who became provost and chief academic officer in May 2022. Mudge previously served as the Rouse Professor of Pre-Seminary Studies at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, and is a former missionary to Africa. As part of his duties, Mudge says he wants the message that people from around the world are welcome to come and study at Concordia Seminary. “We are a multicultural Seminary,” he says. “We are a Seminary that reflects God’s description of heaven in the book of Revelation.” Learn more about Mudge .

078. Meet the Professor: Dr. Jon Vieker

Thomas Egger and Jon Vieker

Meet the Professor: Dr. Jon Vieker

Concordia Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger sits down with Dr. Jon Vieker, who became associate professor of Practical Theology in August 2021. He also serves as dean of chapel. Vieker previously served as senior assistant to Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) President Dr. Matthew C. Harrison (2010-21) and assistant director for the LCMS Commission on Worship. He was involved with all aspects of research, development, editing and production of the seminal Lutheran Service Book and its core companion volumes. In his role as dean, he oversees daily chapel services. “Chapel is an opportunity to feed the Seminary community with the Gospel preached and with Sacraments on Wednesdays and then also to model how Lutheran worship is done in this place,” he says. “That’s a great joy.” Learn more about Vieker.
077. Conversations in Preaching: Dr. Dean Nadasdy

David Schmitt and Dean Nadasdy

Conversations in Preaching: Dr. Dean Nadasdy

Dr. David Schmitt, the Gregg H. Benidt Memorial Professor of Homiletics and Literature at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, chats with Lutheran theology scholar Dr. Dean Nadasdy about his recent publication of The Beautiful Sermon: Image and the Aesthetics of Preaching. The book is the first title in The Conversations in Preaching Series from Concordia Seminary Press, the publishing arm of Concordia Seminary. In The Beautiful Sermon, Nadasdy sets preaching in the context of aesthetic theology. He highlights preachers who have contributed significantly to aesthetic theology such as Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther and Jonathan Edwards. Nadasdy explores seven elements that contribute to the beautiful sermon and the various approaches to using images in preaching Read more about the book Beautiful Sermon.
076. Meet the Professor: Dr. Ely Prieto

Thomas Egger and Ely Prieto

Meet the Professor: Dr. Ely Prieto

Concordia Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger sits down with Dr. Ely Prieto, who became associate professor of Exegetical Theology in July 2021. He also serves as the Lutheran Foundation Professor of Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry, and associate dean for Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry. Prieto previously served as the executive director/urban mission developer at Lutheran Intercity Network Coalition – San Antonio, Texas (LINC-SA) (2011-21); and as a vacancy pastor at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, San Antonio (2009-21). “I’m enjoying this piece of being here and preparing men and women for ministry,” Pietro says. “That’s the main goal of this institution.” Learn more about Prieto.
074. Meet the Professor: Dr. Kevin Golden

Thomas Egger and Kevin Golden

Concordia Seminary President Dr. Thomas J. Egger sits down with Dr. Kevin Golden, who became associate professor of Exegetical Theology in July 2021. Golden previously served as pastor of Village Lutheran Church, Ladue, Mo. (2009-21), and as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Holts Summit, Mo. (2002-09). Golden says Christ is at the heart of the Seminary’s mission as it prepares future servants of the church to deliver Christ. “With nearly 20 years of pastoral parish ministry experience, [I want to help students recognize] the indispensability of all this pastoral formation we do here at the Seminary,” Golden says. “I think about my own formation here at the Sem and the lessons I learned from all of the different departments resonated with me in the parish.” Learn more about Golden.