What is Lutheran Audio Review? |
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While Lutheran churches aren't always huge they are everywhere. This leads to a number of Lutheran pastors, members and organizations each working to share the Gospel, quite literally from all different parts of the globe. Which leaves good, solid, Biblical teaching and fellowship scattered all over the place. Lutheran Audio Review (LAR) is an attempt at consolidating some of that Lutheran content—pulling together audio from all different parts of the internet and placing reviews and links to it all in one easy to use place. The podcasts listed are currently running and hosted by pastors, members and/or partners of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, all intent on sharing the Gospel and building up the Body of Christ.
While Lutheran Audio Review is not affiliated with any individual audio show or ministry group mentioned on this site, we are more than happy to help you find their content.
While Lutheran Audio Review is not affiliated with any individual audio show or ministry group mentioned on this site, we are more than happy to help you find their content.
What do you expect me to do with this site?
If you’ve found Lutheran Audio Review, I encourage you to read through it and try out a few of the audio shows listed. If you like a podcast, share it with those around you. Each podcast has a link to where it can be found. The LAR website is meant to be a resource for you; for your friends at church and your friends that don't go to church; for your Grandma who's stuck in a nursing home; and yes, even for that older gentleman that sat in the pew next to you last Sunday, the one who you caught dosing off halfway through the pastor’s sermon.
Did you really just mention my Grandma?
Yes, I did mention your grandma and I was serious. I tried to make the routes to audio as easy to use as possible. Every web address listed on the LAR site should take you to within one click of the audio that is reviewed. If Grandma can work a mouse she should be able to listen to the content listed. I tested this on my own grandparents who are in their 80s. The two of them happily worked their way through some episodes of Pastor Bryan Wolfumueller's Luther's Sermon Podcast (available in the sermon section).
How do I support Lutheran Audio Review?
Lutheran Audio Review has a mission very close to that of a Christian bookstore. That being the case, there are a few ways for you to help LAR continue to operate and grow.
- Through the purchase of Lutheran content via the Amazon links found on the website. Lutheran Audio review gets a small portion of each sale stemming from an add on the site. You'll notice that many of the adds and authors match the podcasts and podcast hosts that they sit next to, so depending on the book you pick you could be supporting your favorite podcasters as well.
- Through the sale of the Lutheran Audio Review paperback / eBook. Don't hesitate to buy a copy and remember that the focus of the book is to share this content. Floating around a copy or two in your congregation, in your family or even donating one to your local library not only helps keep the Lutheran Audio Review website up and running, more importantly, it helps others find these podcasts and the solid Christian message that they share.
- By becoming a Patreon Supporter to Lutheran Audio Review. Patreon is a platform that allows monthly donations to creators and causes that you want to see grow. As the creator, I'd really like to dedicate more time to this project. The more support I get the more I can work to grow it into something even more useful in helping others share the Gospel.
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The Lutheran Audio Review
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Podcast Etiquette
Should I contact the host of a Podcast?
Yes, and by all means do it! Many of the hosts are easy to get a hold of via contact links and email addresses listed on their websites. A little-known secret is that they love getting feedback; it lets them know you are listening, so don’t be shy. The hosts and staff of these shows have sincere hearts to help you. Many work hard to answer questions and might even be able to help point you in a direction where you can find more answers from Christians in your area. Also, much of their content is listener-provided. If you have questions you’d like to ask, encouragements to pass along or just want to say, “thank you,” don’t hesitate.
What does “Listener Supported” mean?
Most podcasts listed in this website are listener supported. That means that these shows—their hosts, staff and their ability to run audio equipment rely on donations from listeners like you. This being the case, I encourage you to donate whenever and wherever you can. Just like keeping those lights on in your church, it is your donations that get these hosts online and out into the world.
What is the best way to listen to a Podcast?
This is a very loaded question and much of it relies on your preferences, electronic gadgets and technical abilities. Each month seems to debut a new cellphone app used to organize podcasts, each coming with its own new, fancy ways to navigate. Personally, I haven’t wandered far beyond the basics. For personal devices like cellphones and tablets, Stitcher is an app that works on just about every platform. The iTunes Podcast app for iPhone is solid as well, and I’ve recently discovered PodBean which seems to be a rather all-encompassing app and website. Of course, you should do your research, use what you feel comfortable with and not hesitate to take advantage of those young folks in your family that are into all this techy stuff.
I do realize that for many, using those apps on your cellphone doesn’t always work out as easily as everyone tells you it should. Don’t worry, I have you covered. This website was created not only as an online location to read about Lutheran podcasts, but as a podcast switchboard for those needing to use a computer to get to an audio program. Each podcast link at LutheranAudioReview.com gets you within one mouse click of the corresponding podcast’s latest episode, making it a simple way to get to this good Lutheran audio. Creating the website had a lot to do with helping my own Grandparents find and listen to this audio, so LutheranAudioReview.com should be grandpa and grandma friendly.
Yes, and by all means do it! Many of the hosts are easy to get a hold of via contact links and email addresses listed on their websites. A little-known secret is that they love getting feedback; it lets them know you are listening, so don’t be shy. The hosts and staff of these shows have sincere hearts to help you. Many work hard to answer questions and might even be able to help point you in a direction where you can find more answers from Christians in your area. Also, much of their content is listener-provided. If you have questions you’d like to ask, encouragements to pass along or just want to say, “thank you,” don’t hesitate.
What does “Listener Supported” mean?
Most podcasts listed in this website are listener supported. That means that these shows—their hosts, staff and their ability to run audio equipment rely on donations from listeners like you. This being the case, I encourage you to donate whenever and wherever you can. Just like keeping those lights on in your church, it is your donations that get these hosts online and out into the world.
What is the best way to listen to a Podcast?
This is a very loaded question and much of it relies on your preferences, electronic gadgets and technical abilities. Each month seems to debut a new cellphone app used to organize podcasts, each coming with its own new, fancy ways to navigate. Personally, I haven’t wandered far beyond the basics. For personal devices like cellphones and tablets, Stitcher is an app that works on just about every platform. The iTunes Podcast app for iPhone is solid as well, and I’ve recently discovered PodBean which seems to be a rather all-encompassing app and website. Of course, you should do your research, use what you feel comfortable with and not hesitate to take advantage of those young folks in your family that are into all this techy stuff.
I do realize that for many, using those apps on your cellphone doesn’t always work out as easily as everyone tells you it should. Don’t worry, I have you covered. This website was created not only as an online location to read about Lutheran podcasts, but as a podcast switchboard for those needing to use a computer to get to an audio program. Each podcast link at LutheranAudioReview.com gets you within one mouse click of the corresponding podcast’s latest episode, making it a simple way to get to this good Lutheran audio. Creating the website had a lot to do with helping my own Grandparents find and listen to this audio, so LutheranAudioReview.com should be grandpa and grandma friendly.
Theology Control
As you’ve probably noticed, LutheranAudioReview.com (LAR) does not do deep reviews of each show’s theological teachings. LAR’s creator is an LCMS Lutheran layman who didn’t feel qualified to pull out the scale and calibrated weight set to make sure that each episode’s Law and Gospel is balanced to just the right degree. The intent of LAR is to point you to resources, ones that are affiliated with members of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and LCMS partner church bodies. In order for a show to be added to LAR publications, it must be hosted or co-hosted by a member or pastor of the LCMS or LCMS partner church body and have a mission of sharing biblical Lutheran doctrine to the general public. If you know of a show that was missed, or one that is new, use the contact page on the LAR website to let LAR know it’s there and we’ll see about adding it to the list.
If, while listening to a show featured on LAR, you hear something you feel may be less than theologically sound, I encourage you not to be silent. Reach out to the show’s host(s) via the means stated on their website. Try more than once. If you can, reach out to them on the phone and if at all possible, get in the car to go visit with them in person. While Scripture is infallible, we humans are not. Above all, we should be after helping those trying to spread God’s Word. Putting together anything meant for the public’s ear is not easy. Letting the podcast host know what you heard and where you think it strayed helps both sides. By way of your critique, they get to peer into the mind of a listener, with an opportunity to better the content on their next episode. You on the other hand get to dig deeper into their intent and are given another chance to understand the message that they were trying to convey. Know that the hosts of these shows are more than approachable. I’ve spent some time on the phone and in person with a few; each time I’ve learned a great deal.
Again, when issues arise, I strongly encourage you to reach out in person. While social media and the internet have their advantages, (this content coming to you, for instance) when it comes to dealing with conflicts inside the church, social media especially can help an otherwise loving group of Christians turn into something more reminiscent of an ill-tempered mob brandishing pitchforks, rocks and heresy memes. Have patience, be graceful and never lose sight of the fact that the intent should always be to lovingly help a member of your Lutheran family better share God’s Word.
If, after numerous times going to the lengths mentioned above, you think a show is continuously spreading a message contrary to God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions, remember that each show comes inherent with its own level of checks and balances. Each show is hosted by a member of a church body, most are pastors of churches who are overseen by levels of church governance. I suggest pursuing these matters down those lines. If it is a pastor, reach out to the district in which he preaches, if a layman, contact his/her church. If LAR is made aware that a host of one of these shows has been asked by church authorities to quit producing their show or is no longer a pastor or member of a LCMS or LCMS Partner church body, it will remove that show from the LAR website and any further publications of LAR. I believe strongly that when theological problems arise, and after all personal methods of communication have been exhausted, we should use those systems of governance that we have created in our churches.
Thank you and God Bless,
Jordon L. Vaughan
Lutheran Audio Review creator
Member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Boise, ID
If, while listening to a show featured on LAR, you hear something you feel may be less than theologically sound, I encourage you not to be silent. Reach out to the show’s host(s) via the means stated on their website. Try more than once. If you can, reach out to them on the phone and if at all possible, get in the car to go visit with them in person. While Scripture is infallible, we humans are not. Above all, we should be after helping those trying to spread God’s Word. Putting together anything meant for the public’s ear is not easy. Letting the podcast host know what you heard and where you think it strayed helps both sides. By way of your critique, they get to peer into the mind of a listener, with an opportunity to better the content on their next episode. You on the other hand get to dig deeper into their intent and are given another chance to understand the message that they were trying to convey. Know that the hosts of these shows are more than approachable. I’ve spent some time on the phone and in person with a few; each time I’ve learned a great deal.
Again, when issues arise, I strongly encourage you to reach out in person. While social media and the internet have their advantages, (this content coming to you, for instance) when it comes to dealing with conflicts inside the church, social media especially can help an otherwise loving group of Christians turn into something more reminiscent of an ill-tempered mob brandishing pitchforks, rocks and heresy memes. Have patience, be graceful and never lose sight of the fact that the intent should always be to lovingly help a member of your Lutheran family better share God’s Word.
If, after numerous times going to the lengths mentioned above, you think a show is continuously spreading a message contrary to God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions, remember that each show comes inherent with its own level of checks and balances. Each show is hosted by a member of a church body, most are pastors of churches who are overseen by levels of church governance. I suggest pursuing these matters down those lines. If it is a pastor, reach out to the district in which he preaches, if a layman, contact his/her church. If LAR is made aware that a host of one of these shows has been asked by church authorities to quit producing their show or is no longer a pastor or member of a LCMS or LCMS Partner church body, it will remove that show from the LAR website and any further publications of LAR. I believe strongly that when theological problems arise, and after all personal methods of communication have been exhausted, we should use those systems of governance that we have created in our churches.
Thank you and God Bless,
Jordon L. Vaughan
Lutheran Audio Review creator
Member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Boise, ID
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© Flybarrier Press 2018
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