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The Red Letter Disciple

Red Letter Living, LLC
LCMS
Pastoral Formation
Lutheran Church—missouri Synod
Discipleship
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Gen Z
SMP Program
Little League World Series
Old Testament
Lutheran Church–missouri Synod
Concordia Seminary
Doctrine Of Vocation
Specific Ministry Pastor Program
Leadership Development
St. Paul's Seminary Program
Faith
Church Growth
Youth Gathering
Pastoral Succession
Concordia University Saint Paul

Welcome to Red Letter Disciple, a podcast to challenge you and your church to be greater disciples of Jesus so that together we can unleash the greatest and fullest expression of Jesus possible. When we do, when we truly live as disciples of Jesus, the world will never be the same! Your host, Pastor and author Zach Zehnder, will guide you through some incredible conversations with world-class disc... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes137Founded4 years ago
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ChristianityReligion & SpiritualitySpirituality

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Artwork for The Red Letter Disciple

Latest Episodes

What would Joel Biermann prioritize if he became LCMS president? In this episode, Zach sits down with Biermann to talk about confessional unity, discipleship, church politics, young adults, worship tensions, and what a more engaged future for the LCM... more

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Kenny Jahng joins Zach Zehnder to talk about why AI is more than a productivity tool. This conversation explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, identity, relationships, discipleship, and the future of the church. To access the show no... more

YouTube

What happens when a pastor retires without a plan? In this episode, Zach talks with his dad, Mark Zehnder, about pastoral succession, leadership transitions, the LCMS pastor shortage, and why churches need intentional pipelines for the next generatio... more

Should SMP pastors always remain under supervision and limited status in the LCMS? Pastor Frank Hart shares his story, challenges, and hopes for pastoral formation in the church. To access the show notes, go to www.redletterpodcast.com.

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Recent Guests

Mark Zehnder
Third generation LCMS pastor; former lead pastor; founder of Always Forward Ministries
Always Forward Ministries
Episode: 128: Pastoral Succession, Leadership Pipelines, and the LCMS Pastor Shortage with Mark Zehnder
Frank Hart
Pastor at New Church in Katy, Texas; SMP pastor
New Church, Katy, TX
Episode: 127: Should SMP Pastors Always Be Supervised and Have Limited Status in the LCMS? | Frank Hart
Dave Miller
Leader of Leadership Pathway, residency expert
Leadership Pathway
Episode: 126: The Church’s Leadership Pipeline Problem | Dave Miller on Developing Young Leaders
Shelly Schwalm
Director of Christian Education program at Concordia St. Paul
Concordia St. Paul, LCMS
Episode: Why the LCMS Needs More DCEs (Gen Z + Women Serving in the LCMS) | Shelly Schwalm | Episode 125
Cheyanne Skeldon
Leader at Way Church; Director of Culture at Think Media
Way Church; Think Media
Episode: Gen Z Men Are Returning to Church… So Why Are Gen Z Women Leaving? | Grant and Cheyanne Skeldon
Tanner Olson
Author, poet, and speaker
Independent/Writer
Episode: You Are Not a Mistake | Tanner Olson on Hope & the Power of Words | Episode 123
Dr. Mark Thompson
Director of SMP at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis
Concordia Seminary
Episode: 122: Mart Thompson | Everything You Need to Know About the SMP Program & Why the New Policies Matter
Michael Zeigler
Voice of the Lutheran Hour Ministries speaker; former pastor
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Episode: 120: How Michael Zeigler Prepares Sermons, Memorizes Scripture, and Preaches to Millions
Jack Kalleberg
Executive Director at Christ Greenfield; co-host of Lead Time Podcast with Tim Allman
Christ Greenfield Church
Episode: 119: Pastoral Formation, Opportunity Cost, and the Future of LCMS Pastors — with Jack Kalleberg

Host

Zach Zehnder
Host of Red Letter Disciple; leadership and ministry-focused host

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 145 ratings
  • Love it!!

    So fun and interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dujgccdcfgf
    United States2 years ago
  • Rich!

    Thank you for giving listeners rich content and encouragement to keep following after Jesus this side of eternity!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    k8ann76
    United States2 years ago
  • So many interesting guests

    I’ve really enjoyed the people on the podcast and what I can learn from them. I especially appreciated the latest with the team from Lutherans for Racial Injustice and the links to all the great resources! Looking forward to season 4.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KAW9
    United States3 years ago
  • I’m a fan already!

    Our church used Zach’s material “Reopening Christianity” after reopening from the pandemic and it was a perfect restart for our life groups. When I saw he started these Podcasts, I couldn’t wait to listen and I was not disappointed. In fact, I am sold! I’ve listened to all the Podcasts and truly enjoy each and every speaker who are sharing their faith journey and everyday life issues. I have it on my calendar every Tuesday. Thanks so much for such useful information to be a better follower of ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joann Ruth Gamm
    United States3 years ago
  • AMAZING!

    Zach is the pastor at our church and I love getting to listen to him on here as well! He brings great insights!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sierraaa111
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for rich, practical content and strong guest lineups.
Many appreciate the podcast for challenging material that connects faith with real-world ministry and leadership.
Guests are described as relatable and insightful, with a focus on discipleship and church leadership.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

106: Tim Ahlman on Being Silenced, Misunderstood, and Spiritually Formed — What He Told President Harrison and What Sabbatical Taught Him
Q: You just completed a 10-week sabbatical. Was that punishment, or what did you learn during it?
Tim explains it was planned, used to refresh rhythms, prioritize family, and rethink leadership structures; it also provided a fresh perspective on how to serve the church effectively without trying to do everything himself.
105: Ben Haupt on the “Gold Standard” vs. New Paths in LCMS Pastoral Formation—Residential, SMP, Colloquy, and the Future of Training Pastors
Q: How should LCMS pastoral formation look ten years from now?
A model anchored in scriptures and confessions, with a robust emphasis on leadership development as ongoing education rather than one-off seminary training, and practical instruction delivered locally by experienced mentors while preserving the global theological core.
105: Ben Haupt on the “Gold Standard” vs. New Paths in LCMS Pastoral Formation—Residential, SMP, Colloquy, and the Future of Training Pastors
Q: Is online education a viable path for forming pastors, given concerns about relational and contextual formation?
Yes, when designed with intentional cohorts, clear outcomes, and ways to maintain relational formation; the data shows online programs can form leaders effectively if we focus on outcomes and meaningful interaction, not just data dumps.
105: Ben Haupt on the “Gold Standard” vs. New Paths in LCMS Pastoral Formation—Residential, SMP, Colloquy, and the Future of Training Pastors
Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing pastoral formation in the LCMS today?
The concern isn't just curriculum; it's whether congregations will see value in sending ministers to seminaries and whether large congregations will feel the current model serves their context. The question is how to balance centralized structures with local vitality while keeping scripture and confessions central.
104: Bryan Stecker on Media, Sacraments, and Strategy to Help the LCMS Grow Again—While Staying Both Confessional and Missional
Q: What are the top urgent challenges for reaching and retaining youth and young adults in the LCMS?
The LCMS must lean into modern outreach while preserving confessional integrity, address demographics and engagement gaps, and create new routes for connection—such as online, high-quality educational resources—that appeal to younger generations without sacrificing doctrinal clarity.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Red Letter Disciple

What is The Red Letter Disciple about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features in-depth conversations with pastors, educators, authors, and ministry leaders exploring leadership development, discipleship, and practical church health within a confessional Lutheran context. Episodes frequently center on creating pipelines for next-gen leaders, the role of DCEs, residency-style formation, and balancing traditional seminary training with flexible, outcomes-focused approaches. Guests share real-world experiences from LCMS contexts, Gen Z engagement, and the intersection of faith, work, and culture, often tying insights to institutional collaboration, financial realities, and ministry impact. The program stands out for its data-informed critique of church vitality, candid discussions about education paths... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Red Letter Disciple?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Red Letter Disciple:

1. Lead Time
2. The Tim Ahlman Podcast
3. Messages • King of Kings Church
4. The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
5. Tangible: Theology Learned and Lived

How many episodes of The Red Letter Disciple are there?

The Red Letter Disciple launched 4 years ago and published 137 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Red Letter Disciple?

Recent guests on The Red Letter Disciple include:

1. Mark Zehnder
2. Frank Hart
3. Dave Miller
4. Shelly Schwalm
5. Cheyanne Skeldon
6. Tanner Olson
7. Dr. Mark Thompson
8. Michael Zeigler

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