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The Red Letter Disciple

Red Letter Living, LLC
LCMS
Lutheran Church—missouri Synod
Pastoral Formation
Discipleship
SMP Program
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Gen Z
Lutheran Church–missouri Synod
Leadership Development
Concordia Seminary
Doctrine Of Vocation
Specific Ministry Pastor Program
Little League World Series
Concordia University Ann Arbor
The Go Network
Old Testament
Artificial Intelligence
Multi-Ethnic Ministry
St. Paul's Seminary Program
Church

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes146Founded4 years ago
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Religion & SpiritualityChristianitySpirituality

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Artwork for The Red Letter Disciple

Latest Episodes

Most churches want to make disciples. Few have a clear strategy for multiplying them. In this episode, Zach sits down with LCMS pastor, church planter, and Kairos Network founder Matt Peeples to discuss micro-groups, disciple-making, and why simplici... more

With 88 overtures related to pastoral formation headed to the 2026 LCMS Convention, one of the most important conversations in the Missouri Synod is heating up.

Former Concordia Seminary professor Dr. Andy Bartelt joins Zach Zehnder to explore the h... more

YouTube

In this special breaking episode of Red Letter Disciple, journalist Sam Jane joins Zach Zehnder to unpack the closure of Concordia Ann Arbor and the newly announced sale of the campus to the University of Michigan. To access the show notes, visit www... more

YouTube

What is the Go Network, and why are so many mission-minded Lutherans talking about it? Greg Finke and Deaconess Noemí Guerra join Zach Zehnder to discuss trust, discipleship, collaboration, and the future of mission in the LCMS. To access the show no... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sam Jane
Journalist covering Concordia Ann Arbor
MLive
Episode: 137: BREAKING: What Really Happened at Concordia Ann Arbor? | Journalist Sam Jane | Special Episode
Greg Finke
Leader of The Go Network; pastor; author
The Go Network
Episode: 136: What If Lutherans Stopped Competing and Started Collaborating? | The Go Network
Noemí Guerra
Deaconess; advisor on The Go Network; Evangelism Training in the Texas District
LCMS Texas District; Evangelism Training
Episode: 136: What If Lutherans Stopped Competing and Started Collaborating? | The Go Network
Brad Urlaub
Pastor in Mendon, New York; LCMS
LCMS; St. Mark's Church, Mendon, NY
Episode: 135: Why Pastors Are Leaving Ministry | Outcomes Over Pathways (with Brad Urlaub)
Chris Holder
Pastor in Texas; SMP pastor; founder of Austin Intercultural Missions Network (AIM Network)
SMP program; AIM Network
Episode: 134: Why Is the LCMS Limiting the SMP Program? Chris Holder Speaks Out
Matt Rosso
Former president of Good Shepherd, now with King of Kings
King of Kings / Good Shepherd
Episode: 133: After 12 Failed Call Attempts, This LCMS Church Chose to Merge
Kristi Webb
Former Good Shepherd staff, now at King of Kings Fremont
King of Kings
Episode: 133: After 12 Failed Call Attempts, This LCMS Church Chose to Merge
Tyler Rolfson
Campus director at King of Kings, Fremont; SMP participant
King of Kings / SMP program
Episode: 133: After 12 Failed Call Attempts, This LCMS Church Chose to Merge
Nathan Meador
President of the South Wisconsin district
LCMS South Wisconsin
Episode: 132: Forming LCMS Pastors: Residential vs. Online Seminary Debate with Two District Presidents

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 States3 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 States4 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 States4 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.

135: Why Pastors Are Leaving Ministry | Outcomes Over Pathways (with Brad Urlaub)
Q: How should a pastor embody confessional identity beyond signing documents?
By allowing confessional identity to guide how they believe, preach, teach, and care for souls, balancing law and gospel, and demonstrating sacramental understanding in daily ministry.
135: Why Pastors Are Leaving Ministry | Outcomes Over Pathways (with Brad Urlaub)
Q: What are the five pastoral outcomes Brad suggests every pathway should aim to produce?
Confessional identity, theological discernment, relational integrity, vocational resilience, and stewardship of the office, with an emphasis on living out doctrinal conviction and pastoral character rather than mere credentialing.
136: What If Lutherans Stopped Competing and Started Collaborating? | The Go Network
Q: What is The Go Network and why was it created?
It's a network of networks designed to connect practitioners and leaders across Lutheran contexts, so they can collaborate, share best practices, and help each other make progress toward five key mission targets without competing.
137: BREAKING: What Really Happened at Concordia Ann Arbor? | Journalist Sam Jane | Special Episode
Q: What lessons should church leaders and denominational bodies take away from this situation?
The journalist suggests better, more transparent communication and genuine listening to affected communities as key learnings for leadership in religious educational institutions.
137: BREAKING: What Really Happened at Concordia Ann Arbor? | Journalist Sam Jane | Special Episode
Q: What were the high points and what developments followed the shutdown?
The guest outlines the timeline from the 2024 shutdown, through ongoing ownership of the property, untaxed status, discussions with University of Michigan, and the eventual 60 million sale, plus related legal and donor stories.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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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. On The Line
3. The Tim Ahlman Podcast
4. Issues, Etc.
5. Thinking Fellows

How many episodes of The Red Letter Disciple are there?

The Red Letter Disciple launched 4 years ago and published 146 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. Sam Jane
2. Greg Finke
3. Noemí Guerra
4. Brad Urlaub
5. Chris Holder
6. Matt Rosso
7. Kristi Webb
8. Tyler Rolfson

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