Libsyn Directory

Uncomfortable Work of the Law

Release Date: 08/05/2024

Freely Given

Gretchen and Katie share their favorite things these days, and then, as fall scheduling is looming, they talk about the longing for a good Bible study. at church. How do we reach the women who are longing for a Bible study, but are swamped by family obligations? We are all searching for a magical recipe for engagement, and so many things are out of our hands. It’s important that we clarify our goals. Are we wanting to get things back to the way they used to be? Are we searching for authentic friendships? Are we needing to be fed? There’s not a grand answer, but a micro...

Kids Sports Talk

Freely Given

Does it feel like kids sports are taking over your family life? Katie Koplin and Gretchen Ronnevik talk about the realities of the commitments of kids sports and the impact that has on their families. All the meets, all the performances, all the races--and the pressure for parents to be at everything, and how it becomes a part time job. They talk about the pressures on parents, the impact on marriages, and the impact that can have on discipleship. They talk about values, moms perspectives vs dads perspectives, and the main question: where is Christian freedom in this, and how do we reach...

Sinner Saint: a Surprising Primer to the Christian Life

Freely Given

Our friend, Pastor Luke Kjolhaug just released a book that we are so excited about. Since we live within driving distance from him, we attended his book launch in Alexandria, MN, at Cherry Street Books, and recorded a podcast before the audience there. (There's a bit of background noise at the beginning, but the conversation is so worth it!) The topic of Sinner/Saint is at it's root, a conversation on sanctification, and what it means for a Christian to struggle with sin. This doctrine impacts how we view ourselves, how we view others, and ulitimately, how we view God. Though this topic is...

All the Things We Say to God

Freely Given

Tanner Olson is a poet, author, and speaker. He has a book soon to be released with Zonderkids, on all the things we can pray to God. His poetry is extremely accessible, not high or academic, but lowly and comforting. Reading it feels like receiving comfort from a friend. His first children's book reflects that, as he's encouraging children on bringing all of their cares to God. In this interview, he talks about the struggle he and his wife have with infertility, and watching all of their friends have kids, and getting to know their kids, and wanting to create a gift for these families in...

Anti-Social Generation

Freely Given

The Atlantic published a large article called "Anti-Social Century" which spurred on a conversation with Gretchen and Katie on why this generation of people is anti-social, and what to do about it. There's a rise in what they called "secular monasticism" with rigid morning routines, cold-plunge, meditation, gym time, and every angle of self-optimization. The attitude toward others isn't so much for the purpose of community building, but removing people from your life that does not assist with that optimization. The rise of "digital friendships" while often can be real, often lack the...

Marriage Vows

Freely Given

For Valentine's Day, Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin talk about the trend of writing marriage vows, and some of the pitfalls of such a trend. What are the purpose of marriage vows? We look at trends, from both conservative and liberal perspectives, to define marriage beyond "for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health." We look at the history of marriage vows, what was going on in the church at the time, how marriage was redefined from being a sacrament to being a vocation, and the implications of all of that. With an eye on freedom, they talk about the burden of the younger generation...

Village Framework

Freely Given

Many times, Christian homes view sin as a problem "out there" and not a problem "in here." As we built a framework of building a community, in light of sin, it's important to realize, it's going to be a community that will have to deal with sin. Katie Koplin and Gretchen Ronnevik talk about expectation, boundaries, letting fallen people into your life, and into your children's lives. It's a conundrum, working through fears of protecting our kids, while acknowledging that we need a community, but the only people who are available for that community (everyone) deal with sin. Show Notes: ...

Do We Even Want a Village?

Freely Given

In this episode, Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin discuss the Slate article "." It speaks to the cry of young families "where is the villiage?" and yet the high, maybe even impossible standards that are set for people who are in proximity to our kids. Though the article brings about questions that go beyond families and childraising. Can you have friendships with people who have different values than you? What do you do when all of the people around you are sinners? Is it unreasonable to have high standards? This was a fun, and even vulnerable conversation as we talk about boundaries, being...

Spiritual Direction with Alan Johnson

Freely Given

What is a spiritual director? Are they directing your spiritual life? Are they telling you to do something? Are they fulfilling a pastoral role? Rev. Alan Johnson talks about this, as he has been studying it for his disseration. He distinguishes the difference between a spiritual director and a pastor, and would explain that spiritual direction is listening to someone and helping them pay attention to God's work in their life. Spiritual directors seek to ask good questions, rather than give answers. A spiritual director is more of a mentor who can, as Eugene Peterson said "show up and...

Spiritual Formation with Alan Johnson

Freely Given

Are the concepts of "spiritual formation" and Lutheran doctrine compatible? Gretchen Ronnevik discusses this concept with Rev. Alan Johnson who is finishing up his dissertation on this very topic. He says that we Christians feel we should love the Lord our God with all our mind, all our mind, and all our mind. After graduating from seminary, he contemplated about how he knew more about God, but questioned whether he knew God himself better. He started asking questions about what it means to love God with our heart, and the all consuming, holistic aspect of faith. They talk about spiritual...

More Episodes

What does mental health have to do with the 95 thesis and the Heidelberg Disputations? Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin. This episode is very full with these two friends catching up, and hearing all about how sound theology impacts how we see ourselves and each other, and how disorienting it can be for the mind to have either of those distorted.

Much of this episode is based off of the book: Making Christian Counseling Christ Centered

which brings Lutheran theology into Christian counseling, starting witht the Heidelberg Disputations. Gretchen and Katie talk about the work of the law, and their wrestling with this doctrine, in how things aren't always as they seem, which is important to know when learning how to call something what it is.

This is a full episode full of lots of gospel and friendship.

Show Notes:

What’s New from 1517:

TOPICS