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Thinking Fellows

420 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 788 ratings

The Thinking Fellows is a 45-minute podcast about theology, philosophy, Christian history, and apologetics. It is hosted by Scott Keith, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hilman. The Thinking Fellows bring high-level subject matters to fun and insightful lay-level conversations each week.

Christianity Religion & Spirituality Society & Culture Philosophy apologetics history theology
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Episodes

The Sacrament of the Altar

February 16, 2021 17:46 - 38 minutes - 53.9 MB

As we continue through the Small Catechism, Luther provides questions and answers about the Lord’s Supper. In a brief and simple format Luther answers the who, what, where, and why of The Sacrament of the Altar.  Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Shop 1517 The Small Catechism 

Holy Baptism in the Small Catechism

February 02, 2021 18:31 - 42 minutes - 59.2 MB

Scott and Caleb move into the Catechism's explanations of the Means of Grace. Starting with Baptism, Luther follows Scripture to explain how God's Word and promises are delivered to us through ordinary means like water. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support 1517 The Small Catechism Online

The Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

January 26, 2021 19:44 - 41 minutes - 56.7 MB

Scott, Caleb, and Rod read and discuss the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s explanations. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Being Dad The Small Catechism 

The Creed

January 19, 2021 20:04 - 44 minutes - 61.4 MB

Caleb, Scott, and Rod walk through the Apostles Creed and Luther’s explanations. They also highlight the purpose and flow of the Small Catechism. Support the Show Outline of the Book of Concord 

The Second Table of the Law

January 12, 2021 18:13 - 42 minutes - 59.2 MB

Scott and Caleb continue to walk through Luther’s Small Catechism. This time covering the 5th-10th commandments. In particular,they focus on how these commands affect your neighbor. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show 

Introduction to the Small Catechism

January 05, 2021 21:54 - 44 minutes - 61.4 MB

Caleb, Scott, and Rod discuss the the context and introduction to Luther’s Small Catechism. They examine the purpose, audience, and style of the catechism to explain why it remains a faithful tool to this day. Show Notes: Support 1517 Lange Outline

Introduction to the Lutheran Confessions

December 29, 2020 17:48 - 42 minutes - 59.4 MB

Caleb and Scott begin the series on the Lutheran Confessions. Scott goes over the outline of the Book of Concord and gives a brief history of why each document was written. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support 1517 The Book of Concord 

Mall Santa

December 22, 2020 17:32 - 37 minutes - 52.3 MB

Caleb and Scott host a Christmas episode where they talk about Santa, magic, and Scott’s graying beard. Is Santa a remotely helpful Christmas image? Can the guilt and commercialism be redeemed? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support 1517  

Christmas and Church Seasons

December 15, 2020 18:20 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MB

Scott, Caleb, and Dave Rufner discuss the place and purpose of Church seasons. How do holidays like Christmas and other liturgical points of importance serve the Christian? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show

Repent!

December 08, 2020 19:14 - 41 minutes - 57.1 MB

The Thinking Fellows talk about repentance. Joined by Rod Rosenbladt and John Hoyum, we answer the questions, Is repentance a final work? Is there good and lousy repentance? Show Notes: Support 1517  

Stewardship

December 01, 2020 17:00 - 38 minutes - 54.2 MB

On Giving Tuesday 2020 the Thinking Fellows discuss stewardship. This opens up a discussion about the economy of salvation and how giving does not enter Christians into transactional relationships with God. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Giving Tuesday Blog

Post-Christians

November 24, 2020 16:58 - 43 minutes - 60.7 MB

Caleb, Scott, and Rod are joined by John Hoyum to talk about reaching out to Post-Christians. How do you talk to somebody who has left the faith? Have common objections to Christianity changed?  Sit back, relax, grab a drink, no enjoy the show.  Show Notes:  Support the Show  

Post-Christians

November 24, 2020 16:58 - 43 minutes - 60.7 MB

Caleb, Scott, and Rod are joined by John Hoyum to talk about reaching out to Post-Christians. How do you talk to somebody who has left the faith? Have common objections to Christianity changed?  Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes:  Support the Show Sensible Christianity 

Tools for Catechesis and Other Questions

November 17, 2020 18:10 - 43 minutes - 60.6 MB

Scott and Caleb answer listener questions. What kind of habits can help children learn the Catechism? Is the deceleration, “all my deeds are sin” a comfort? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Catechism with extended Q&A Rate the Show on Apple Podcasts   

Fathers and Friends

November 10, 2020 17:50 - 41 minutes - 57.3 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by Paul Koch to talk about why conversations and attention to fatherhood and friendship is important. The significance is highlighted by the increasing issue of societal loneliness. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Being Dad Jagged Word Field Guide to Being a Man Where Two or Three are Gathered 

Unveiling Mercy

November 03, 2020 17:19 - 43 minutes - 59.8 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by Chad Bird to talk about his new book, Unveiling Mercy. This opens up a conversation about the difficulty and importance of translation. Also, a conversation about theophanies brought up because of comments on the MeatEater Podcast and by Mike Heiser. Show Notes Support the Show Unveiling Mercy Here We Still Stand Videos HWSS Signup

The Seculosity of COVID

October 27, 2020 16:02 - 44 minutes - 62.3 MB

Caleb and Scott are joined by Dave Zahl to talk about the religious side of COVID. Zahl is the executive director of Mockingbird Ministries and the author of Seculosity. Zahl defines Seculosity as secular religiosity. On this episode we talk about how secular phenomena open up a new world of works righteousness. Show Notes: Support the Show HWSS videos Register for HWSS 2021 Seculosity

What Happened in 1520?

October 20, 2020 15:44 - 44 minutes - 62.4 MB

The Thinking Fellows are live from the 2020 Here We Still Stand Live-Stream. The Fellows talk about the events that unfolded in 1520 including the issue of a Papal Bull against Luther and the writing of The Three Treatises. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show 1517 on YouTube  HWSS livestreams 

Scripture and the Word of God

October 13, 2020 15:49 - 35 minutes - 50 MB

As the Lutheran reformers moved toward a confession of faith it was important to identify where that confession would come from and by what authority doctrine could be revealed. Sola Scriptura or Scripture Alone answered these important questions. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Here We Still Stand Livestream  

All My Deeds Are Sin

October 06, 2020 17:30 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MB

The Fellows talk about good works their necessity and imputation. Can a work be good and sinful? What does it mean that all my goodnesses even good works are a gift from Christ? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Here We Still Stand Live Stream Support the Show Heidelberg Disputation 

Free Will Is a Fiction

September 29, 2020 17:11 - 43 minutes - 60.6 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by Steve Paulson to talk about the Bondage of the Will. The Fellows discuss the timeline and context of changes Luther and the Lutherans made on the issue of the will. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Rate the Show

The Promise With Steve Paulson

September 22, 2020 13:22 - 46 minutes - 64.5 MB

During the Reformation, the gift of the gospel was often described as a promise. Caleb and Scott sit down with Steve Paulson to talk about what the promise is, and how it is received. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Outlaw God Podcast 

The Telos of the Law

September 15, 2020 17:19 - 37 minutes - 52.2 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by John Hoyum to talk about the Law. What was the reformations last shift on the Law and how is it relevant today? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show 1517 Contributors  Article on the Law in Heidelberg Disputation 

Heading Toward a Confession

September 01, 2020 15:36 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by Philip Bartelt to talk about what doctrines and events which lead up to the Augsburg Confession. This will be a multi-part series with episodes highlighting each doctrine. Show Notes: Support the Show Contributors Page at 1517

Donatism

August 25, 2020 14:01 - 41 minutes - 57 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by Philip Bartelt to discuss Donatism. Phil highlights the history of this condemned teaching, while Scott and Caleb ask about the ways Donatism might show up today.  Show Notes Support the Show Rate the Show Philip Bartelt   

The Freedom of The Christian

August 18, 2020 15:21 - 41 minutes - 57.7 MB

Caleb, Scott, and Rod record a special episode for the Lutheran Study Days conference in Bergen. The question: what is Christian Freedom and does it have any limitations? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Lutheran Study Days on Youtube Support 1517

Back to School and Melanchthon

August 11, 2020 17:31 - 43 minutes - 60.1 MB

Scott and Caleb talk about Melanchthon’s approach to education and how it might help parents dealing with kids going back to School during COVID. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Apple Podcasts Catechesis Blog 

Theology and Literature

August 04, 2020 12:39 - 49 minutes - 68.8 MB

Caleb, Scott, and Rod talk about the relationship between theology and literature. Scott also gives Caleb the opportunity to talk about his MA thesis. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Being Dad Where Two or Three are Gathered Myth, Allegory, and Gospel

Weak on Sanctification

July 28, 2020 12:28 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MB

Caleb, Scott, and Rod talk about distinguishing sanctification from justification. Rod talks about how the weak on sanctification phrase developed. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Thinking Fellows on Apple Podcasts Credo  

Why Not Just Study The Bible

July 21, 2020 17:54 - 45 minutes - 63.8 MB

Scott and Caleb answer a question about studying historical and systematic theology vs. just studying the Bible. The conversation turns toward the context and transmission of the faith from one person to another or one generation to the next.  Show Notes:  Support the Show Rate the Show on Itunes Credo 

Is the Church an Essential Service?

July 14, 2020 16:51 - 43 minutes - 60.9 MB

The Thinking Fellows tackle an epistemological problem and ask if churches are an essential service. This episode was inspired by a New York Times Article titled: Are Protests Unsafe? What Experts Say May Depend on Who’s Protesting What. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Rate the Show on iTunes The Craft of Preaching  Ringside

Scientific Method and Faith

July 07, 2020 17:10 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MB

Rod, Scott, Adam, and Caleb are back in their regular studio to record a new episode on faith and reason. The conversation focuses in on the modern issue of scientism and how Christians can identify this as a religion. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Thinking Fellows on Apple Podcasts The Outlaw God Podcast  

Thomism and Theological Systems

June 30, 2020 16:16 - 45 minutes - 63.7 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by John Hoyum to talk about Thomism and the unification of philosophical and theological systems. The conversation focuses on Luther's critique of the medieval Scholastic method and what it means for doing theology today. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes Support the Show Rate on Itunes  The Outlaw God Podcast

Church and State

June 23, 2020 14:58 - 44 minutes - 62.3 MB

The regular hosts of the Thinking Fellows are back in the studio after a long time of phone-in episodes. During this episode, they talk about the separation between church and state, Luther’s two kingdoms distinction, and vocation. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Apple Podcasts Uwe Siemon-Netto Article 

The Theologian's Craft

June 16, 2020 17:18 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by John Hoyum to talk about the theologian's craft. What makes one a theologian? And what considerations should be relevant to the theologian in training? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes  Support the Show Rate on Apple Podcast The Theologians Craft Outlaw God Podcast

Are the Categories of Cross and Glory Useful?

June 09, 2020 16:13 - 39 minutes - 55.4 MB

The Junior Fellows are back for a second episode. John Hoyum and Kelsi Klembara join Caleb Keith to discuss the relevance of the theology of the cross and the theology of glory distinction. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes Support the Show Outlaw God Podcast The Theology of the Cross On Being a Theologian of the Cross

Mortal and Venial Sin

June 02, 2020 16:50 - 40 minutes - 55.8 MB

This episode of the Thinking Fellows is hosted by members of 1517’s junior fellowship. Caleb Keith, John Hoyum, and Kelsi Klembara answer a listener's request to do an episode on mortal and Venial sin. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  ShowNotes Rate the Show Donate The Theology of the Cross

Expertism

May 26, 2020 16:17 - 39 minutes - 55.4 MB

Who can you trust? The Thinking Fellows are back around to one of their favorite topics, epistemology. This time, they talk about experts and expertism. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Rate on Apple Podcasts  

COVID and Our Neighbor

May 19, 2020 16:01 - 39 minutes - 55.1 MB

The Fellows have a conversation about the struggle of serving your neighbor in the time of coronavirus. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Rate on Apple Podcasts Support the Show

Quarantined Reading

May 12, 2020 15:51 - 41 minutes - 58 MB

The Fellows sit-down and talk about what books they are reading during the quarantine. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Wager in the Wind Chasing the Demon The Last Town on Earth The Tip of the Iceberg The Abolition of Man The Other Worldview The Cruelest Miles Who Gets to Narrate the World Pastoral Prophet

Lutheran Language and Other Questions

May 05, 2020 16:31 - 40 minutes - 56.2 MB

Scott, Caleb, and Adam go through the most recent listener questions. The questions range from a request for further reading in apologetics to a critique of the Thinking Fellows use of Lutheran categories. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Apple Podcasts Paul and the Resurrection Faithless to Fearless The Resurrection Fact Mere Christianity Sensible Christianity Tractatus

Hard Choices

April 28, 2020 18:00 - 42 minutes - 59.2 MB

Caleb and Scott Keith are Joined by Pastor Paul Koch to talk about the hard choices pastors are making during the Covid-19 shutdowns. Paul talks about his desire to keep the church going while balancing concern for neighbors. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Apple Podcasts

Scandinavian Luther Renaissance

April 21, 2020 16:33 - 44 minutes - 61.2 MB

Scott and Caleb are once again joined by John Hoyum to talk about Scandinavian Lutheranism and Gerhard Forde. The episode ends on a conversation about Forde's objections to the term inerrancy. Show Notes: Support the Show Review on Apple Podcasts  

Gerhard Forde

April 14, 2020 14:52 - 43 minutes - 60.9 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by John Hoyum to discuss the life and work of Gerhard Forde. John is a doctoral student and pastor in the Seattle area. The Fellows ask John about Forde’s upbringing and background and then dive into his influential works. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Rate on iTunes 1517 Youtube  On Being  a Theologian of the Cross Theology is for Proclamation Where God Meets Man    

Fasting, Natural Law, and Baptism

April 07, 2020 17:08 - 41 minutes - 57.1 MB

Caleb and Scott Keith answer a handful of listener-submitted questions. The questions range from requirements and prohibitions concerning fasting to finding a better podcasting app. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Apple Podcasts Luther and Reason  

Are You Afraid?

March 24, 2020 16:55 - 44 minutes - 61.4 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by Donavon Riley to talk about fear. Is there a Christian response to fear? Should Christians be afraid? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Banned Books Crucifying Religion Letters of Spiritual Counsel 

COVID-19

March 17, 2020 15:35 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MB

Caleb and Scott are joined by Dan Price to talk about the impact and response to the Corona Virus. They look at Martin Luther’s letters on the Plague and talk about vocation and proclamation in these trying times. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Handing Over the Goods Luther’s Letters of Spiritual Counsel  Caleb’s Blog You Are Forgiven Radio

Christ in the Straw

March 10, 2020 18:02 - 41 minutes - 57 MB

Scott and Caleb are joined by pastor Bob Hiller to talk about his book Christ in the Straw.  The book serves as a devotional commentary through James. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Review on Apple Podcasts Finding Christ in the Straw. 

Happiness

March 03, 2020 14:47 - 46 minutes - 64 MB

The Thinking Fellows are once again joined by David Andersen. The topic of this episode leans more philosophical and asks the question, are you happy? Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show.  Show Notes: Support the Show Faithless to Fearless 12 Rules for Life 1517.org - Scott on Jordan B. Peterson The last of the bush pilots Happiness is For Babies Don’t Worry be Happy Jagged Word Inside Out

Islamic Apologetics and Questions about Young People

February 25, 2020 13:49 - 43 minutes - 60.7 MB

The Fellows talk about Islamic apologetic method and common questions from young people. Adam lays out the presuppositional arguments that are common in Islam, while Scott talks about some of the problems facing younger generations. Sit back, relax, grab a drink, and enjoy the show. Show Notes: Support the Show Rate on Apple podcasts.  

Guests

C.S. Lewis
3 Episodes
Augustine of Hippo
1 Episode
Thomas Aquinas
1 Episode

Books

The New Testament
3 Episodes

Twitter Mentions

@thinkingfellows 11 Episodes
@caleb_e_keith 2 Episodes
@adamsfrancisco8 1 Episode
@1517legacy 1 Episode
@thejaggedword 1 Episode