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The Red Letter Disciple

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes155Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & SpiritualitySpirituality

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Artwork for The Red Letter Disciple

Latest Episodes

Matthew Gehne grew up Lutheran, drifted from his faith, and rediscovered it after falling in love with a Catholic woman and moving into Baptist country. Now he's using social media to help a new generation discover historic Lutheran theology. Join Za... more

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Joel Biermann returns to The Red Letter Disciple after the 2026 LCMS presidential election to reflect on the experience and respond to new State of the LCMS Survey data on worship, pastoral formation, church unity, young adults, and the future of the... more

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What actually makes worship Lutheran? Concordia Seminary professor Kent Burreson joins Zach to talk worship wars, Christian freedom, adiaphora, Word and Sacrament, traditional and contemporary worship, women reading Scripture, pastoral formation, and... more

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What happens when a congregation knows its current path isn’t sustainable? Scott Giger, Greg Griffith, and Tom Pfotenhauer join Zach to talk honestly about church mergers, multisite ministry, revitalization, pastoral shortages, and how struggling con... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Joel Biermann
Three-time guest, LCMS theologian
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Episode: After the Election: Joel Biermann on Division, Worship, Pastoral Formation & the Future of the LCMS
Kent Burreson
Professor of Systematics and Worship at Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Episode: 146: Who Gets to Decide How Lutherans Worship? | Kent Burreson on Worship Wars & Christian Freedom
Scott Giger
Pastor at Cornerstone Lutheran Church, Central Indiana
Cornerstone Lutheran Church
Episode: LCMS Churches Don’t Have to Die | Mergers & Multisite | Scott Giger, Greg Griffith & Tom Pfotenhauer
Greg Griffith
Pastor at King of Kings, Omaha
King of Kings Lutheran Church
Episode: LCMS Churches Don’t Have to Die | Mergers & Multisite | Scott Giger, Greg Griffith & Tom Pfotenhauer
Tom Pfotenhauer
Pastor at Woodbury Lutheran Church, Minnesota
Woodbury Lutheran Church
Episode: LCMS Churches Don’t Have to Die | Mergers & Multisite | Scott Giger, Greg Griffith & Tom Pfotenhauer
Kip Fox
Director at Center for Worship Leadership, Concordia University Irvine; co-host of The Lutheran Worship Podcast
Center for Worship Leadership, Concordia University Irvine
Episode: Are the Worship Wars Back? NAR, Creativity & the Future of Lutheran Worship w/ Kip Fox & Steve Zank
Steve Zank
Director of Parish Music Program, Center for Worship Leadership; co-host of The Lutheran Worship Podcast
Center for Worship Leadership, Concordia University Irvine
Episode: Are the Worship Wars Back? NAR, Creativity & the Future of Lutheran Worship w/ Kip Fox & Steve Zank
Jamison Hardy
Concordia University System president
Concordia University System
Episode: 143: The Future of the Concordias: An Honest Conversation with CUS President Jamison Hardy
Bryan Wolfmueller
Pastor, author, and speaker from Austin, Texas
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Episode: 142: Why Lutheran Theology Is Built for This Moment | Reaching Young Adults with Bryan Wolfmueller

Host

Zach Zehnder
Host of The Red Letter Disciple; pastor, author, and speaker focused on discipleship within LCMS contexts.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 146 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 States4 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.

Many appreciate the focus on discipleship and church leadership through LCMS perspectives.
Listeners praise the show for rich, practical content and credible guests.
Some feedback calls out episodes that felt less engaging or light on challenge, but overall sentiment is positive.
Audiences note a strong blend of humor, accessibility, and deep theological discussion.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

LCMS Churches Don’t Have to Die | Mergers & Multisite | Scott Giger, Greg Griffith & Tom Pfotenhauer
Q: What is the dominant format for the episode?
A collaborative discussion among three pastors and the host about church mergers and multisite strategies, sharing stories, challenges, and practical playbooks.
143: The Future of the Concordias: An Honest Conversation with CUS President Jamison Hardy
Q: How is CUS addressing financial pressures and the 'demographic cliff' confronting higher education?
CUS is pursuing affordability (e.g., St. Paul offering free tuition for church workers, other campuses under 5k out-of-pocket), exploring 90-credit degree models, pursuing voc/tech pathways, and leveraging property/IP for revenue (Talents Fund) to sustain scholarships and access.
143: The Future of the Concordias: An Honest Conversation with CUS President Jamison Hardy
Q: What were the major takeaways for Concordia University Systems from the recent convention?
The convention affirmed the work of CUS for another three years, reinforced focus on the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards, and signaled openness to reforms like the 90-credit bachelor's proposal and enhanced church-work pathways, while emphasizing affordability and strategic partnerships as key to meeting shortages in church workers.
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.

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?

A thought-provoking show centered on Lutheran theology, pastoral formation, and church leadership, with a recurring focus on practical discipleship, network collaboration, and modern challenges facing congregations. Across episodes, conversations span pastoral training paths (residential, online, SMP), church mergers, leadership pipelines, and the role of technology and AI in ministry, often features guests who are pastors, theologians, and church leaders offering hands-on guidance and strategic frameworks for growth and reform. Noteworthy is the emphasis on collaborative networks (Go Network), youth engagement, and formation outcomes, which helps listeners explore actionable steps for their communities while exploring broader denominationa... 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. The Lutheran Hour

How many episodes of The Red Letter Disciple are there?

The Red Letter Disciple launched 5 years ago and published 155 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. Joel Biermann
2. Kent Burreson
3. Scott Giger
4. Greg Griffith
5. Tom Pfotenhauer
6. Kip Fox
7. Steve Zank
8. Jamison Hardy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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