In this episode, Dr. John Maxfield joins host Elizabeth Pittman to discuss his deep dive into the Lutheran Reformation from a specific town’s perspective in his new book, Becoming Lutheran: The Community of Brunswick from Evangelical Reform to Lutheran Culture. The book traces the influences and events that shaped one community as its people journeyed from evangelical reform to Lutheran culture.

Find out more and get the book at cph.org.

Show Notes
Have you ever wondered what the Lutheran Reformation looked like in a
specific locality?

Rev. Dr. John A. Maxfield reveals this in his new book by detailing the intellectual, personal, social, and political influences and events that shaped the Lower-Saxon town of Brunswick on its journey from evangelical reform to Lutheran culture. Listen to the episode now as Dr. Maxfield explores how he began writing this historical account, why he chose the community of Brunswick as the focal point, overall political developments and themes, and what lessons we today can take away from the people of Brunswick.

Questions

• Tell us how this book came about.
• Why Brunswick/Braunschweig?
• What connections exist between this town and the "major actors" in the Reformation?
• In what ways did the town embrace reformation theology, and how did they put their own "stamp" on things?
• In the overall timeline, where does the Church Order fall in terms of whole communities choosing to live as Evangelicals/Lutherans?
• What are the connections to the later developments politically concerning the Smalcald War, the princes' revolt, and the Magdeburg Confession?
• Looking "down the road"—describe the role Brunswick/Braunschweig played for the eventual "unification" around the Formula of Concord?
• What lessons can we as Lutherans today take from the experiences of Brunswick?

About the Guest
John A. Maxfield is a professor of history and religious studies at Concordia University of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. In addition to numerous articles and book chapters, he edited Defending Luther’s Reformation (CPH, 2017) and wrote Luther’s Lectures on Genesis and the Formation of Evangelical Identity (Truman State University Press, 2008). He and his wife, Jennifer, have four adult children.

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, author Deb Burma returns as guest to talk with host Elizabeth Pittman about her newest devotional book, Immeasurably More: 100 Devotions on God's Extravagant Grace. Immeasurably More features 100 devotions with journaling and prayer prompts to reveal God's immeasurable grace, love, power, provision, and more.

Pre-order Deb’s newest book at cph.org/immeasurablymore. Available on September 24!

Show Notes
In Ephesians 3:20, Paul tells us that God can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (NIV).
Listen now as Deb Burma talks about her new devotional book that beautifully reveals what this verse means in her relational, conversational, richly scriptural words written for you.

Across 100 devotions with journaling and prayer prompts, readers—individually or with their sisters in Christ—will discover God‘s immeasurable grace and so much more.

Get Deb’s book on cph.org and Amazon!

About the Guest
Deb Burma is a sought-after speaker for women’s conferences, retreats, and ministry events. Her assortment of books and devotionals include best-selling Bible studies, JOY: A Study of Philippians and Living a Chocolate Life, along with Beautiful Feet, Stepping Out, and more. Deb is a follower of Jesus, a pastor’s wife, and a mom. She’s a blogger, a women’s ministry leader, and a self-proclaimed coffee/chocolate connoisseur. Above all, she is a grace-filled child of God.

Listen to the latest episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast as Dr. Brian German joins as guest to talk about the newest edition in the Concordia Commentary, Haggai and Malachi, which he authored. In the newest volume Dr. German details literary themes, historical insights, and New Testament connections found in the books of Haggai and Malachi.

Get the newest volume in the series at cph.org.

Show Notes
In this new episode, Dr. German joins host Elizabeth Pittman to discuss the Biblical books of Haggai and Malachi. In his new Concordia Commentary volume covering these books, readers will explore a rigorous analysis of Haggai's exhortation to rebuild the temple and Malachi's concern with the practices therein—both revealing the standard to which God calls His church.

Questions

• What special challenges did God's people face in this time period after the return from exile in Babylon?
• How did each of these prophets address those challenges?
• How long was the time interval between Haggai and Malachi?
• What particular events did Haggai have to address? How did he address them?
• How did the prophet Zechariah's work overlap with that of Haggai?
• What things had changed by the time of Malachi, and what did he have to address?
• How did each prophet present the promise of the Messiah?
• What were some of the pressures the people of Judah would experience during the intertestamental period - those 400 years between the Old and New Testaments?
• How did Haggai and Malachi prepare the people for these pressures?
  

About the Guest
Brian German is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Theology at Concordia University Wisconsin and director of the Concordia Bible Institute.