Todd A. Biermann joins host Elizabeth Pittman on this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss his new Bible journal with CPH, Everyday Word: A Two-Year Bible Journal. Todd is the executive director of Concordia Center for the Family.

Get a copy of the Bible journal at cph.org/everydayword.

Show Notes

Listen to the episode to hear from author Todd A. Biermann as he discusses his new Bible journal from CPH, Everyday Word: A Two-Year Bible Journal. He describes how this journal came to life, what makes this Bible journal unique, how a family or small group may use the journal together, advice he’d give to those who want to start regularly reading the Bible, and more.

Questions

• You’ve described Everyday Word as “the fruit of a journey” that began during one of the most challenging seasons of your ministry. Can you share more about that moment and how this journal came to life?
• What personal spiritual lessons did you learn as you developed and used this two-year plan yourself?
• How would you describe what makes this Bible journal unique compared to other reading plans or devotionals?
• Why do you think it’s important to read Scripture daily—but not necessarily to rush through it in a year?
• Each weekly unit includes six components—Historical Context, Law and Gospel Themes, Life Application Starters, Prayer Starters, Memory Verses, and Daily Readings and Notes. How do these pieces work together to deepen someone’s engagement with God’s Word?
• What might it look like in practice for a family or small group to use Everyday Word together?
• How can pastors or church leaders use Everyday Word to help members stay connected to Scripture throughout the week?
• For someone who feels intimidated by the idea of reading the whole Bible, how does this resource make that goal more achievable—and more joyful?
• You suggest that people return to the journal again and again over the years. What new discoveries might readers expect to find each time they start over?
• How might Everyday Word become a spiritual legacy—a record of faith that can be passed down through generations?
• What impact do you hope this journal will have on the broader Church and on individuals’ confidence in God’s Word?
• What encouragement would you give to someone who wants to start reading the Bible regularly but struggles to stay consistent?
• What’s one step listeners can take today to begin—or renew—their own journey in Scripture?

About the Guest

Todd A. Biermann, after having served as a parish pastor in Minnesota, Ohio and Michigan for 34 years, is now fulfilling the Call as Executive Director of Concordia Center for the Family, a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He resides in Republic, Missouri, with his beloved bride, Heather, who shares his passion for building up marriages and families in God’s way.

Dr. David J. Peter joins this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss the 2025 Advent series, Every Heart Prepare, which he authored in partnership with CPH.

Order your church’s Advent materials at cph.org/advent.

Show Notes

We do so much to prepare for Christmas. One way we prepare is by decorating our homes, yards, and churches with evergreens, lights, the crèche, and presents. This season, reflect upon these common Christmas decorations and how they help us see Christ and prepare for His coming with this Advent and Christmas series.

Dr. David J. Peter discusses Every Heart Prepare, the all-inclusive Advent preaching and worship series that features sermons and sermon notes, Bible studies, children’s messages, a children’s Christmas service, and more. He talks about what first inspired him to write about common Christmas decorations and how they relate to Advent, advice he would give pastors for using these materials in their congregations, and what part of this series was most meaningful to him.

Dr. Peter is also the author of Organizing for Ministry and Mission: Options for Church Structure (CPH, 2023).

Questions

• What first inspired you to connect common Christmas decorations with themes of Advent preparation?
• Why should pastors use this series for their congregation?
• What advice would you give pastors on adapting or customizing these materials for their specific congregational setting?
• The evergreen tree has long symbolized eternal life. How does your sermon connect that symbol to Christ’s coming?
• Light is such a powerful biblical image. How does the “Lights” sermon draw people into the message of Jesus as the Light of the World?
• The crèche—often a quiet, simple decoration—has deep theological meaning. How do you help congregations rediscover its significance?
• On Christmas, the focus turns to wrapped presents. How do you use the imagery of gifts to reveal the meaning of God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ?
• What part of this series was most meaningful for you personally, and why?

About the Guest

Dr. David J. Peter has served as a professor of practical theology and the dean of faculty at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he has regularly led courses for practicing pastors. His areas of expertise include pastoral ministry and researching congregational dynamics. Dr. Peter has also gained many insights from students about the realities of administration and leadership in congregations throughout his years of preaching and instructing. Before joining the Seminary, Dr. Peter served as a visiting instructor of theology at Concordia University in Nebraska, Seward from 1987 to 1988. He also served as associate pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peoria, Illinois, from 1988 to 1995 and then as senior pastor from 1995 to 1998. Dr. Peter received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Seminary, his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln., and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, host Elizabeth Pittman is joined by guest and author Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing. The pair discusses Reed‘s newest book with CPH, Hope in the Wilderness: Practical Insights from the Book of Numbers, which tackles the Book of Numbers in a chapter-by-chapter exploration.

Get the book today at cph.org.

Show Notes

In-between times. You’ve likely been here too. Waiting for a new job to start. Transitioning from engaged to married. Packing up your belongings but unable to move into that new house yet. The Book of Numbers is also about the in-between times and, most importantly, how to survive during them.

Listen to the episode now as author R. Reed Lessing discusses how his newest book helps you tackle the Book of Numbers with helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible. Reed also talks about why studying the Book of Numbers is valuable, who the Levites were and what we can learn from them today, why the ark of the covenant is important, what lessons we can take away from Numbers, and more.

Questions

• Why is a study of Numbers worth the journey?
• Who are the Levites? What should we know about their role? What can our pastors today learn from them?
• How does Numbers equip us for the in-between times?
• What’s the danger of not learning how to embrace the in-between times?
• We hear the Aaronic benediction in worship—give us a closer look at this blessing. Does it have a trinitarian framework?
• What is “Vitamin F” and why do we need it?
• Why is the ark of the covenant important?
• What can we learn from what you call “the worst day of Moses’ life”?

About the Guest

Dr. R. Reed Lessing is The Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. He also serves as the University’s Director for the Center of Biblical Studies and oversees the University’s Pre-Seminary Program. Previously, he was Senior Pastor at Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and before that, Professor of Exegetical Theology and Director of the Graduate School at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and received a B.A. in pre-seminary studies from St. John’s College, Winfield, Kansas, in 1981. He earned his M.Div. (1985), S.T.M. (1989), and Ph.D. (2001) degrees from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained into the office of the holy ministry on June 29, 1986. From 1986 to 1999, he served pastorates in West Monroe, Louisiana, and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.