Dive into the complete episode list for Banned Books. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
Rows per page:
50
1–50 of 458
Title
Pub. Date
Duration
435: Andersen - Ritual as the Whole Way of Life
02 Apr 2026
02:46:00
The Power of Ritual!
In this episode, we learn from David Andersen about Christian ritual. What's the purpose and goal of ritual? How does Christian ritual differ from other religious rituals? Where do we find ritual and ceremony outside "religious" observances? When we forget or ignore ritual and ceremony, what is the effect on individuals, groups, and societies? That and much, much more in this episode of the podcast.
In this episode, we read an Easter message from the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem. Then we read Malcom Guite's Lenten meditation on creation, the embodiment of heavenly music, and why J.R.R. Tolkien expressed a profound, deep truth through not-so-fictional fiction stories. This and much, much more in this episode of the Banned Books podcast.
The Hangman's Nous. In this episode, we read an excerpt from The Maniac, by G.K. Chesterton, followed by Myth Became Fact, from C.S. Lewis' book of essays, "God in the Dock." The primary question we discuss, then, is whether men and women can live a healthy and sane life with mystery, without myth, and without higher truth. What has happened to modern churches that exorcised mystery from preaching, teaching, evangelism, and worship? What anchors the Body of Christ when it's unmoored from Church history and tradition? What have been the consequences for churches that treat the Christian story as more fantasy than fact? What does Lewis mean that God is "mythopoeic"? What does it mean that Christianity is, according to Lewis, "perfect myth and perfect fact"?
Keep The Beat. In this episode, we converse about good and bad sermons as defined by J.R.R. Tolkien. We discuss cosmology, truth, love, and why how we use words matters.
In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of pastoral care — the art, the discipline, and the experience of pastoral care — while reading The Rule of Gregory the Great. It's all about church leadership and pastoral ministry in this week's episode of Banned Books.
In this episode, we discuss what attachment to things rather than Christ gets us while reading George Macdonald's Unspoken Sermons. The conversation leads us through the topics of higher and lower things, bread-making, willing and wanting, God-gifted vocations, and how to properly end a sermon.
The God Who Stole Christmas. In this episode of Banned Books, we discuss Christmas Eve and Christmas Day readings, prayers, hymns, and traditions. We also have a lot of fun jesting and critiquing time-held hymns and traditions. We talk translations, history, worship, and why Christmas is the best time to embrace the enchanting absurdity of Jesus — the God-in-the-flesh, who's come to be a Light in the darkness, a shield against sin, the world and the devil, and the Door opened and welcoming us into eternal life.
332: Norman Nagel - The Lord has more than one Elijah
16 Dec 2023
01:34:03
Won't Get Fooled Again.
In this episode of Banned Books, we discuss all things Advent - repentance, John the Baptist, preaching Christ, pastoral care to the afflicted and the unrepentant, and how to get to hell - while reading Norman Nagel's Advent 3 sermon.
SHOW NOTES:
Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel: From Valparaiso to St. Louis by Norman Nagel https://amzn.to/3GKRks4
All Day and All of the Night. In this episode of Banned Books, we discuss Advent and the second coming of Jesus Christ while reading a sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Along the way, we talk about the symbols and meaning of Christmas, how preaching a biblical sermon doesn't mean it's a gospel sermon, and why that matters.
330: Aelfric - The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church
01 Dec 2023
02:21:49
Sober Up, He's Coming!
In this episode of the Banned Books podcast, we read Aelfric's Advent homily while discussing decorating churches for Christmas, the importance of symbolism for the Christian faith, what a tide is, and why the books Genesis and Revelation reference everything regarding faith and life.
In this episode of Banned Books, we discuss the Song of Songs and read the seventh-century monk, Bede, who takes us on a wild ride through the text; we converse about exegesis, cosmology, the church, why the meaning of words matters, how to read the Bible like an early medieval theologian, and why the story about Jesus changes the world.
328: John Piper - Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, Past and Future
18 Nov 2023
01:39:26
The Parable of the Lawless, Polygamist Groom. In this episode, we discuss the parable of the ten virgins as preached by John Piper. We converse about law and promise, red herrings, who's wise and foolish in the parable, the bondage of the will and the doctrine of election, and the consequences for hearers of such parabolic sermons.
In this episode, we discuss preaching to those in prison, the consequences of sin, and the power of the gospel. We read excerpts from Karl Barth's prison sermons and converse about preaching, pastoral care to the vulnerable, where Jesus locates himself for the preaching of the Gospel, and how we can all "set the captives free" through the power of the Gospel proclaimed for the forgiveness of sin.
424: Kleinig - The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Divine Service
17 Jan 2026
01:33:30
In this episode, we learn about the Holy Spirit and the Divine Service from Dr. John Kleinig. In particular, we discuss how Christ gives the Spirit to the church through his word, how Christ institutes the divine service and empowers it with God's Spirit, and how the church receives the Holy Spirit by faith in God's word as it is proclaimed and enacted in the divine service. The conversation revolves around the central question: How then can we be sure that the Spirit is at work in our worship?
326: Forde - Loser Takes All, the victory of Christ
21 Oct 2023
01:34:13
I'm A Loser, Baby, So Why Don't You Resurrect Me?
In this episode, we discuss the difference between our ideas of Jesus as a "winner" who gives us big wins in life versus Jesus, who wins by losing to sin, death, and the devil. We read Gerhard Forde's article "Loser Takes All" and consider how we bend Jesus to our ideas of satisfaction, safety, and success.
SHOW NOTES:
LOSER TAKES ALL: The Victory of Christ by Gerhard O. Forde (Lutheran Standard September 2, 1975: 3-5. Reprinted in 2004 A More Radical Gospel, 98-101.) https://amzn.to/45FErte
In this episode, we discuss God's Word and Armor. We return to Harold Ristau's book, Spiritual Warfare: For the Care of Souls, to converse about God's Word, ministry, being a soldier in the army of Christ, and angelic backup, and we make many movie references as we go!
In this episode, we discuss spiritual warfare and its effects on clergy and laity alike. We read Harold Roseau's book to discuss the realities of spiritual warfare, what's at stake, and what happens when we take seriously what the Bible teaches us about the unseen and seen war raging around us.
323: Korby - Prayer: Pre-Reformation to the Present
02 Oct 2023
02:23:04
Saddle Up! This episode discusses prayer and spiritual warfare while reading Dr. Ken Korby's essay, Prayer: Pre-Reformation to the Present. We converse about the purpose and goal of prayer, what Jesus is doing when we pray, and how the Holy Spirit acts in and through prayer.
Baptized, Confirmed, and Ordained. In this episode, we discuss the early Lutheran formulation of calling and ordination of pastors and preachers. What is ordination, when does it happen, are their rules and rites that must be followed, and much, much more!
321: Luther - The Right and Power to Judge all Teaching and to Call, Appoint, and Dismiss Teachers
16 Sep 2023
02:36:06
You can call me any day or night. Call me!
In this episode, we read Martin Luther's verbosely titled treatise, "That a Christian Assembly or Congregation has the Right and Power to Judge all Teaching and to Call, Appoint, and Dismiss Teachers, Established and Proven by Scripture." We discuss ordination, church authority, the doctrine of the pastoral call, and much more.
SHOW NOTES:
"That a Christian Assembly or Congregation has the Right and Power to Judge all Teaching and to Call, Appoint, and Dismiss Teachers, Established and Proven by Scripture." Luther's Works, American Edition, Volume 39, Page 305.
In this episode, we discuss tyranny and resistance while reading a book of the same title by Reformation scholar David Mark Whitford. What is tyranny? When are Christians called to resist tyranny, and what does that entail? Are there any standards by which a Christian may judge whether a government serves God or the devil?
SHOW NOTES:
Tyranny and Resistance: The Magdeburg Confession and the Lutheran Tradition by David Mark Whitford https://amzn.to/44S2S6I
We Need to Get Ba'aled Out. In this episode, we read Warren Graff's article, "Baalism in the Life of the Church," and discuss the roots of Baal worship in Israel and its consequences for Israel and churches today.
Pastor Warren Graff (Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque) holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Nevada, Reno, an M.Div. and an S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology) in Old Testament Studies, both from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
318: Nestigen - Luther on Marriage, Vocation, and the Cross
17 Aug 2023
02:55:26
All In The Family. In this episode, we discuss marriage, vocation, and cute theology of the cross. How can Luther's teaching and preaching on marriage and vocation help Christians at present waist the temptations of the world and Satan, which pervert and disrupt God's will for marriage? What does baptism have to do with marriage? How does Luther's formulation of marriage and family help Christians comprehend their relation to society and the state?
423: Graff - Rationalism's war on everything "magical."
09 Jan 2026
02:23:53
Who Made Who.
In this episode, Gillespie takes the wheel and steers us into tradition, liturgy, worship styles, and the various "-isms" that have sprung up within the churches over the centuries. What's the purpose of the Divine Service? What is the fundamental meaning of Christian meaning? Have we jettisoned mystery for sensible explanations that find no seat pulled out for them in God's house? Is Christian worship, polity, and piety about what we know, experience, feel, or conformity to specific doctrines? Why is the old magic not welcome amongst sensible worshippers? What's the place of hymns, prayers, preaching, and Scripture in Christian worship? Is liturgy a delivery mechanism or a tool?
The Book Brief: Luther - Warming up to spiritual warfare
22 Jul 2023
00:43:14
War, What Is It Good For? In this pre-show discussion, we warm up with a conversation about Martin Luther, current events and headlines, and spiritual warfare.
316: Luther - Letters of Spiritual Counsel to the Anxious and Despondent
22 Jul 2023
01:38:36
Shout At The Devil. In this episode, we discuss various questions regarding spiritual warfare while reading Martin Luther's letter to his friend and pupil, Jerome Weller.
Don't Pull Anything… In this pre-show discussion, we warm up with a conversation about Rene Girard, current events and headlines, and Jesus and the Christian faith.
Hey Man, Nice Shot. In this episode, we discuss Rene Girard's argument for why Jesus' death as a scapegoat is unique to all other sacrifices in human history. What is violence for? What is a scapegoat, and why is one necessary for peace and good order? How does Jesus break the law machinery that demands a victim?
Satan Drives Out Satan? In this episode, we dig deep into Jesus' question, Can Satan drive out Satan? With the help of Rene Gerard's book, I Saw Satan Fall Like Lightening. This episode goes into some extremely deep waters regarding the mimetic tradition, the nature of sacrifice, scapegoating, Satan's power, and Jesus' crucifixion.
Sermonator 2: Judgment Day. In this episode, we read two sermons from Gerhard Forde and Steven Paulson, then discuss preaching to bound wills, the consequences for Christians when free will sermons are preached, and what's to be done about bad preaching.
SHOW NOTES:
The Captivation of the Will: Luther vs. Erasmus on Freedom and Bondage https://amzn.to/3r0Bgy1
312: Paulson - Preaching Categorically to Bound Wills
16 Jun 2023
02:30:46
A Total Eclipse of The Heart. In this episode, we discuss preaching to bound wills, and the consequences for both preachers and listeners, as we read Steven Paulson's essay, Preaching Categorically to Bound Wills.
311: Forde - Proclamation is the Present Tense of the Gospel
09 Jun 2023
02:39:34
In this episode, we discuss the good and bad of preaching, the difference between proclamation and teaching, how we lie to ourselves about God, and how to "preach the text" so that Christ is delivered "for you" for the forgiveness of sin.
310: Sasse - The Theologia Crucis belongs to the Western Church
04 Jun 2023
02:14:04
It's the Cross, Stupid. In this episode, we discuss how God makes a theologian of the cross, how the theology of glory infiltrates churches and their doctrine, and how the cross of Christ reveals the truth about human history.
309: Sprinkle - Charis: God's Scandalous Grace for Us
30 May 2023
02:07:21
Diving for Gomers. In this episode, we have a much-needed conversation about slavery to sin, Ezekiel's whore metaphor for God's relationship with his people, and why it's important that Christians not shy away from difficult conversations about how God describes sin and grace in the Bible.
What's the Frequency, Kenneth? In this episode, we gather for a post-Christmas, post-New Year pastoral debrief. We talk about symbols and meaning, Christmas and holidays, signs and seasons, and how modern churches quietly cleared the path for culture to push Christ out of Christmas without much resistance. We explore the strange and largely arbitrary ways the world measures time, along with the old Adam's never-ending pyramid project. That is, his need to build meaning upward by effort, progress, and control rather than receive it as a gift. From there, we return to symbol and meaning. We ask why ancient liturgy's nostalgia or ornamentation, but the distilled shape of reality itself, why the Lord's Supper isn't a side practice, but the beating heart of the Church, of worship, and of the Christian life. And why stories' decorations for faith, but the way truth takes on flesh and finds us where we actually live. This is a conversation about time, worship, memory, and why the Church invents meaning but receives it again and again at the table.
Walk Like An Augustinian. In this episode, we discuss preaching while reading Augustine's, On Christian Teaching, where he explains the importance of heavenly wisdom, eloquence, and getting out of the way of God's Word.
Drowning The Branch Manager for Christ. In this episode, we discuss Jonah, ministry, and the aches and pains of church life while reading Eugene Peterson's book, Under The Unpredictable Plant.
SHOW NOTES:
Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness https://amzn.to/3VXD1XT
Honey, Where Did This Thing Come From? In this episode, we discuss the Lord's Supper, early church tradition, worship, and the question, "Where did this come from?" At the same time, we read Dr. Norman Nagel's essay, "Medicine of Immortality and Antidote against Death."
Who Controls Baptism? In this episode, we discuss the baptismal controversy in the early church. Cyprian, Novation, and a whole cloud of witnesses join us on the podcast this week.
Riley Suffers An Aneurysm. In this episode, we discuss the topic of the will while reading Anselm's treatise on free will and its ramifications for faith, piety, and pastoral care.
Living on a Prayer! In this episode, we discuss the collects of Thomas Cranmer, which turns into a discussion of the collects of Veit Dietrich, which then turns into a discussion about a myriad of other topics regarding the Reformation teaching on prayer and vocation.
And We Are Live! In this episode, we go live for Holy Week and answer listeners' questions: election, repentance, the church, law and gospel, and on and on we go.
In this episode, we discuss the Christian doctrine of the two kingdoms and its consequences for the Christian life while reading James Nestigen's "The Two Kingdoms Distinction."
421: Chesterton - Mankind would have a much worse time if there were no such thing as Christmas or Christmas dinners
20 Dec 2025
03:22:46
Going Cold Turkey at Christmas?
In this episode, we read G.K. Chesterton's essay, On Christmas, wherein he discusses celebrating Christmas too early, vivisection, vegetarians versus turkeys, and what to do about the poor at Christmas. It's another curmudgeonly Christmas episode with one of our favorite British apologists and satirists.
In this episode, we discuss death and resurrection concerning the death of a child from Gregory P. Schulz's book, The Problem of Suffering: A Father's Hope.
Red, Red Wine… In this episode, we discuss Norman Nagel's Lenten sermon on Jesus' parable of the vineyard workers, focusing on the gift-giving God and what interferes with Jesus being a gift for us.