Small Catechisms

Tune in each week for interviews, theological conversations, and more.

Sunday Sermon (8.3.25) 08/05/2025

Sunday Sermon (8.3.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from Hosea 11:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, and Luke 12:13-21. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37686245

Sermon Q&A (8.4.25) 08/04/2025

Sermon Q&A (8.4.25) Pastor Sean Barrett addresses Hosea 11:1-11 /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37662035

Sunday Sermon (7.27.25) 07/29/2025

Sunday Sermon (7.27.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from Hosea 1:2-10, Colossians 2:6-15, and Luke 11:1-13. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37593870

Sunday Sermon (7.20.25) 07/23/2025

Sunday Sermon (7.20.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, and Luke 10:38-42. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37524295

Sermon Q&A (7.21.25) 07/21/2025

Sermon Q&A (7.21.25) This week Pastor Sean discusses Hebrew puns in the readings from Amos. /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37485315

Sunday Sermon (7.13.25) 07/15/2025

Sunday Sermon (7.13.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from Amos 7:7-17, Colossians 1:1-14, and Luke 10:25-37. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37414040

Sermon Q&A (7.13.25) 07/14/2025

Sermon Q&A (7.13.25) Pastor Sean addresses a question from the sermon 7.6.25 relating to the Lutheran view of Holy Communion. He is at Lutheridge this week, so the audio was recorded on his phone instead of our regular podcast setup at the church. /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37402225

Episode 12 - The Trinity with Scott Williams (Season 1) 07/09/2025

Episode 12 - The Trinity with Scott Williams (Season 1) On this season finale episode Dr. Aaron Davis interviews Prof. Scott Williams (UNC-Asheville) about his new book, The Trinity. They talk about what conciliar trinitarianism is, what the logical problem of the trinity might be, how divine simplicity relates to the doctrine of the trinity, and more. Links Nativity's website - Scott's The Trinity (Cambridge, 2025) - Scott's faculty page - Khaled Anatolios's Retrieving Nicaea: The Development of Trinitarian Doctrine (Baker Academic, 2018) - St. John of Damascus's On the Orthodox Faith (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2022) - St. Basil the Great's On the Holy Spirit (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2011) - Questions or Suggestions? Contact Dr. Davis with your input: . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37324345

Sermon Q&A (7.7.25) 07/07/2025

Sermon Q&A (7.7.25) Dr. Aaron Davis answers this question from the week's Scripture readings: "I notice that Paul points out what large letters he’s using to write to the Galatians. This seems strange to me. Any ideas why?" /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37323870

Sunday Sermon (7.6.25) 07/07/2025

Sunday Sermon (7.6.25) Dr. Aaron Davis preaches from 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. You can find all of the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37323845

Episode 11 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Reading Scripture Today (Season 1) 07/02/2025

Episode 11 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Reading Scripture Today (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis hosts a conversation with Nativity's pastor, the Rev. Dr. Sean Barrett, about how we read Scripture today. We discuss things like what Scripture is, what we should do with difficult passages of Scripture, whether Scripture is inerrant/infallible, and more. Questions or comments about the episode? Send a message to . Links Nativity's website - Ethiopian Orthodox canon - Paul Copan's Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God - Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy - /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37245260

Sunday Sermon (6.29.25) 07/01/2025

Sunday Sermon (6.29.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37245025

Episode 10 - Resource Review: Bioethics for the People podcast (Season 1) 06/25/2025

Episode 10 - Resource Review: Bioethics for the People podcast (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis introduces listeners to the Bioethics for the People podcast. This podcast explores fascinating topics throughout medical ethics and related areas, and it offers lots of opportunities for people to reflect on issues that will likely touch all of our lives at some point. Links Nativity's website - The Bioethics for the People website - Dr. Devan Stahl's faculty webpage - Dr. Tyler Gibb's faculty webpage - Questions or Suggestions? Contact Dr. Davis with your input: . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37006870

Sermon Q&A (6.17.25) 06/18/2025

Sermon Q&A (6.17.25) Dr. Aaron Davis answers two questions about his Trinity Sunday Sermon: "Why don't we say the Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday?" "Enjoyed listening to your sermon yesterday. One thing Messed me up a bit. One statement that has stuck with me was when you said " Jesus claimed . . .". I didn't feel Jesus has to claim anything. It was in the early part of your sermon. Jesus taught and when he spoke it was the truth. He never has to claim anything. Could you please clarify for me, a bit about what you really wanted to say . . ." Links Nativity's website - The Athanasian Creed - /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37051530

Episode 9 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Holy Communion (Season 1) 06/18/2025

Episode 9 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Holy Communion (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis hosts a conversation with Nativity's pastor, the Rev. Dr. Sean Barrett, about the sacrament of holy communion. We discuss things like what communion is and why it has so many names, what role the sacrament might play in salvation, why churches would ever want to excommunicate people, and more. Links Nativity's website - Questions or Suggestions? Contact Dr. Davis with your input: . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37006770

Sunday Sermon (6.15.25) 06/18/2025

Sunday Sermon (6.15.25) Dr. Aaron Davis preaches from Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5, and John 16:12-15. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37051505

Sunday Sermon (6.8.25) 06/13/2025

Sunday Sermon (6.8.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from Acts 2:1-21. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/37001715

Episode 8 - Philosophy and the Church with Jordan Steffaniak (Season 1) 06/11/2025

Episode 8 - Philosophy and the Church with Jordan Steffaniak (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis interviews Dr. Jordan Steffaniak about the relationship between philosophy and the Church. We discuss what philosophy is, why people might be skeptical about philosophy being involved in the Church's life, what Christian philosophy might look like at its best, and more. Links Nativity's website - The London Lyceum - Hanover Press - Jordan's Twitter - Questions or Suggestions? Contact Dr. Davis with your input: . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36931225

Sermon Q&A (6.9.25) 06/09/2025

Sermon Q&A (6.9.25) Pastor Sean Barrett answers the question that came in: Is the Holy Spirit in everyone, working in and thru all people, or just Christians? (Context: I kind of see different answers in the 3 scripture texts today) /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36924015

Episode 7 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Holy Baptism (Season 1) 06/04/2025

Episode 7 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Holy Baptism (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis hosts a conversation with Nativity's pastor, the Rev. Dr. Sean Barrett, about the sacrament of holy baptism. We discuss things like what baptism is, why some churches baptize infants while others don't, whether one can ever be rebaptized, and more. Links Nativity's website - St. Andrews Encyclopedia of Theology entry on baptism - /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36843780

Sermon Q&A (6.3.25) 06/04/2025

Sermon Q&A (6.3.25) Dr. Aaron Davis answers the following question: "Can you say more about how it works for Christ to have a body that ascended and is present in Holy Communion? The incarnation seems confusing as I think more about Ascension Sunday." Links Nativity website - Interview with Cruz Davis on models of the acension - James Arcadi's "Recent Philosophical Work on the Doctrine of the Eucharist" - Interview with Arcadi on eucharistic theology - /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36843755

Sunday Sermon (6.1.25) 06/04/2025

Sunday Sermon (6.1.25) Dr. Aaron Davis preaches from Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, and Luke 24:44-53. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36843685

Sunday Sermon (5.25.25) 05/30/2025

Sunday Sermon (5.25.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from John 14:23-29. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36793285

Episode 6 - Resource Review: "The Severity of Universal Salvation" by Taylor Ross (Season 1) 05/28/2025

Episode 6 - Resource Review: "The Severity of Universal Salvation" by Taylor Ross (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis talks through Dr. Taylor Ross's article "The Severity of Universal Salvation" in Notre Dame's Church Life Journal. Dr. Ross explores what universalism is, how divine justice fits into the doctrine, what past Christians have said about universalism, and more. Links Nativity's website - Ross's "The Severity of Universal Salvation" - Aaron's "Hopeful Universalism and the Goodness of God" - Questions or Suggestions? Contact Dr. Davis with your input: . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36737425

Sunday Sermon (5.18.25) 05/21/2025

Sunday Sermon (5.18.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from John 13:31-35. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36661205

Episode 5 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Faith & Music (Season 1) 05/21/2025

Episode 5 - Conversations with Pastor Sean: Faith & Music (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis hosts a conversation with Nativity's pastor, the Rev. Dr. Sean Barrett, about faith and music. We discuss things like the difference between "Christian music" and "secular music," the role music can play in one's life of faith, whether anti-Christian music can ever be appropriate for a Christian to listen to, and more. Links Nativity's website - The Nicene Creed - Questions or Suggestions? Contact Dr. Davis with your input: . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36649015

Sermon Q&A (5.19.25) 05/19/2025

Sermon Q&A (5.19.25) Pastor Sean Barrett addresses the question, "Pastor talked about the creeds: some might wonder why we recite them every service, when it's all written down? I thought it was tied to practice in the early church when more was said than written, and with church doctrines evolving/splitting, it was important to remind ourselves, in community, of what holds us together, our shared beliefs. Is that why, or are there other reasons we recite them?" /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36625285

Episode 4 - "Accountability to God" with Andrew Torrance (Season 1) 05/14/2025

Episode 4 - "Accountability to God" with Andrew Torrance (Season 1) In this episode Dr. Aaron Davis interviews Prof. Andrew Torrance of the University of St Andrews about his book Accountability to God (Oxford University Press, 2023). We discuss what accountability is, how accountability might be thought of as a theological virtue, the risks and rewards of accountability relations, what accountability looks like in Scripture, and more. Links Nativity's website - University of St Andrews faculty profile for Torrance - Torrance's Accountability to God (Oxford University Press, 2023) - Torrance's, "Accountability as a Virtue," Studies in Christian Ethics 34, no. 3 (2021): 307-315 - Torrance's, "A Baptismal Theology of Accountability," Studies in Christian Ethics 34, no. 3 (2021): 336-346. - Torrance's, "Accountability as the Ground of Human Flourishing," Studies in Christian Ethics 36, no. 4 (2023): 814-826. - Questions or Suggestions? Contact Dr. Davis with your input: . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36554335

Sunday Sermon (5.11.25) 05/13/2025

Sunday Sermon (5.11.25) Pastor Sean Barrett preaches from John 10:22-30. You can find all the readings for this Sunday . To learn more about Lutheran Church of the Nativity, visit our website at . /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36552885

Sermon Q&A (5.12.25) 05/12/2025

Sermon Q&A (5.12.25) Pastor Sean Barrett addresses the question, "In the past, Catholics and Lutherans excommunicated each other and said some terrible things about one another (e.g., Luther calling the Pope "AntiChrist"). What are Catholic-Lutheran relations like now, given that we prayed for the new Pope yesterday?" /episode/index/show/d5c4e465-abff-40ad-9d94-e906c14f98db/id/36538405

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