Freely Given

This is an episode done in front of a live audience at the 2023 "Here We Still Stand" Conference in San Diego, California. Katie and Gretchen kick off a new series talking about prosperity gospel, and the way that it sneaks into our idea of families. Do you get extra sanctified in marriage? Will getting people married off save the church and our culture? What if you do everything right and your children still walk away from the faith? What sorts of beliefs do we hold that if we do certain things the way they should be done, our life will turn out well? They seek to give assurance in Christ, and Christ alone. Freely Given: Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Free 2023 Advent Resources 2024(May 3-4) NWA Tickets are Now Available! Join the 1517 Academy All Charges Dropped, Vol. 2 More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

This week, Gretchen and Katie talk about what it means to be humble, as opposed to feeling insecure in our vocations. Insecurity and pride are actually closely related, as we become consumed with people's view of us, instead of finding our security and identity in the love of God. When we are rooted and established in the love of God, we are free to serve our neighbor. But as we serve our neighbor, it's so easy to slip into wondering what our neighbors think about us, how we are being perceived, and become consumed with acheiving our goals, or consumed with our failures to reach our goals. As an example, they talk about the writing and speaking world, where those who want to write, or want to speak go through various swings between insecurity and arrogance, as the goals to climb to greatness is a rocky one. There are coaches who try to help us believe that we are great, so that we can become great. But all of it is futile, when it is about us, and not about serving our neighbor. The also use parenting as and example of how we struggle with this perception of ourselves. Humility is driven by reality, and roots us in reality, whereas insecurity and pride are rooted in what we wish is true, or what we fear is true. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: 2023 HWSS Conference Livestream Signup Free 2023 Advent Resources 2024(May 3-4) NWA Tickets are Now Available! Join the 1517 Academy All Charges Dropped, Vol. 2 More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

Gretchen and Katie talk through a listener suggested topic of people pleasing. They talk about their own struggles in this area, and how people pleasing can be the opposite of vocation, or interfere with vocation. They theorize why this is a constant struggle, and walk through what vocation is, and what vocation isn't. How do you know if you are loving your neighbor, or you're just trying to be liked, or the popular person? Then there's the struggle to be good at something, and want to go all in, but needing to set boundaries for the sake of our neighbor. This episode is personal and practical, as they both share their struggle with this, and watching others struggle with it as well. Freely Given: Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: 2023 HWSS Conference Livestream Signup Free 2023 Advent Resources 2024(May 3-4) NWA Tickets are Now Available! Join the 1517 Academy All Charges Dropped, Vol. 2 More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

We are discussing the book "A Tumblin' Down" by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson. (Our September book club book.) This is a fiction book about a pastor's family. This book starts with a pastor wrestling with a passage of scripture that doesn't fit well into his theological framework, and trying to figure out how to pull a sermon from it. Each person in this family goes through seasons of struggling with their faith both from their past, and in the present. But when this family is forced to grieve publically, and their faith gets put to the test, gossip overtakes the church as to how they are grieving, and how they should have handled their grief. This gossip leads to a tension that will either drive the pastor's family out, or cause a church split. As this family starts to crumble under the pressure, an unlikely friendship with a pastor from communist East Germany enters the picture. This book had us laughing and crying. The description of church people, while a fiction book, has so much truth. Freely Given: Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: 2023 HWSS Conference Livestream Signup Free 2023 Advent Resources 2024(May 3-4) NWA Tickets are Now Available! Join the 1517 Academy All Charges Dropped, Vol. 2 More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin Kelsi Klembara's "Ourside Ourselves" interview with Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

We invited our friend, Mike Cosper back on to talk about his article he recently wrote for Christianity Today about Tim Keller. He quotes Tim for saying that the point of contextualization isn't to make the gospel more palatable, but but make the offense of the gospel clear. We discuss what it means that the gospel is offensive, and what it means to contextualize it. For many years, it has been assumed that the culture in America was a Christian culture, but there's a contextualization we must learn to do when we see the world around us as unaware and confused by any context for the gospel. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: 2023 Advent Resources Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org 2023 HWSS Conference Livestream Signup Join the 1517 Academy Faith in the Face of Tyranny More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin Mike Cosper's article on Tim Keller: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/tim-keller-issue/tim-keller-church-pastor-media-suffering.html also, his article he mentions working on in the podcast about a Marxist view of history: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/september-web-only/conspiracy-theories-conspiracism-history-marx-hegel-cultura.html

We finally finish up our conversation on birth by talking about postpartum and breastfeeding vs formula. Putting it in the context of the doctrine vocation, they speak freedom into all of the guilt that women feel during this vulnerable time. We talk about pride we have in soldiering through, shame we feel in failure, shame with give to others, and the illusion of keeping up the supermom routine. We talk about respecting the humanness of individuals, and living in the grace and freedom that God freely gives. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Free 2023 Advent Resources Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org 2023 HWSS Conference Livestream Signup Join the 1517 Academy Faith in the Face of Tyranny More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin discuss today the issue of pain in childbirth, and whether or not taking pain medication during childbirth effects your sanctification, or your moral standing. After overwhelming response from our last episode, there's some more things they'd like to say to encourage. They sort out the truth from the lies about sanctification itself, and what happens when we put that pressure on ourselves. We talk about God using ALL things for our good, not just painful things. They talk about expectations, birth plans, and knowing that God will be with you no matter what, not just in certain outcomes. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: 2023 Advent Resources Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org 2023 HWSS Conference Livestream Signup Join the 1517 Academy Faith in the Face of Tyranny More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin Our next book club book for the month of September: A-Tumblin' Down by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

In this much requested episode, Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin talk about birth, and some of the pressure we put on ourselves--or on our faith--that everything goes as we think it will. They talk about shame in childbirth, and how women try to put some kind of moral superiority over how you give birth. Between the two of them, they have medicated, unmedicated, preemie birth, and even homebirth experiences that they share. In some Christian circles of women there is pressure to give birth naturally out of submission to what God said in Genesis, or even in some that claim that you won't feel pain if you have enough faith because of the redemption. Then there is shame and disappointment that some give to those who've had c-sections, and feel like the body God designed failed them in some way. They cut through all of these false claims, and talk about the freedom we have in Christ--even in birth. Show Notes: 1517 Podcast Survey Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org 2023 HWSS Conference Livestream Signup Join the 1517 Academy Faith in the Face of Tyranny More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

In our monthly book club episode, these 2 Lutheran women (Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin) discuss Beth Moore's memoir, "All My Knotted Up Life." This books covers heavy topics from sexual abuse, Bipolar disorder, racism, and her personal story of being a women who works in churches, and her journey out of the Southern Baptist Convention that she loved. It moves from her childhood in Arkansas to her unexpected climb to fame in Texas. In this book, you see the wrecking ball that kept going through her life, and her husband's life, and they ended up in a little Anglican church. This incredibly well written book takes you on a journey of God's faithfulness to her as her world was falling apart around her. Show Notes: 1517 Podcast Network Survey Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Faith and Reason Exchange @ Apple Podcasts Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org Join the 1517 Academy More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin Next month's book club: A-Tumblin Down by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson Link to Kelsi Klembara's interview with Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

Gretchen and Katie both saw the Barbie movie, and want to talk about it the cultural statements made in this movie. They talk about the idea of utopias, and the danger in creating utopia. This movie also talks about when our ideals hit reality. It presents reaching for perfection as a heavy burden to put on people, and how humans often process emotions and thoughts through play. They talk about patriarchy and matriarchy, tied up with this reaching for perfection and utopias, and the humanity of us all. In all this, it points to the fact that ideals without Christ end up being ideals that take into account our humanity and needs. Show Notes: 1517 Podcast Network Survey Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Faith and Reason Exchange @ Apple Podcasts Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org Join the 1517 Academy More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

We are discussing 1 Corinthians 10:31, and what it means to do everything to the glory of God. This is where are series of Hobby Lobby verses collides with our vocation series, and we look at the context of where this verse comes from. What does it mean to do everything to the glory of God? Does it mean do our best, and make sure our works are worthy of how great God is? We talk about the debate about meat sacrificed to idols, with a modern explanation, and what "glory" actually means. "Glory of God" is cross referenced in other New Testament verses to see that Jesus is the glory of God, and the weight of what he did for us is what frees us to serve and love our neighbors. Show Notes: 1517 Podcast Network Survey Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Faith and Reason Exchange @ Apple Podcasts Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org Join the 1517 Academy More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

We are interviewing Courtney Burns, who is a school counselor for Faith Lutheran School in Las Vegas, NV. She talks about the intersection between theology and counseling, as well as separating mental wellness to gauging the strength of someone's faith. She talks about kids understanding authenticity, how both parents and students missed emotional milestones during the pandemic, and being present with people right where they are at. She talks about social anxieties, working through identity issues, and the purpose of stressers. Show Notes: 1517 Podcast Network Survey Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Join the 1517 Academy Freedom Lessons Street Team Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

This episode Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin discuss Acts 2, where we read about the early church, and how it grew. We look a the multiple ways that the Holy Spirit works through church, and even multiple ways that people are healed and saved through Christ. We talk about tradition, and prescriptions that we give ourselves to replicate what happens at this church or that church, we sometimes forget that the common denominator is the Holy Spirit. We talk about expectations for church, church hurt, and idolizations of method or people. We talk about chasing the fruit, rather than chasing the Spirit. Freely Given: Show Notes: 1517 Podcast Network Survey Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Join the 1517 Academy Freedom Lessons Street Team Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

In this episode we have on one of Gretchen's closest friends who happens to be a foster mother. Alison Olson adopted her oldest 3 kids through a private agency, but a few years ago, they started foster parenting. They've had several kids go through their home. They currently have 7 kids. 6 of them are not adopted, and 1 of them is likely soon to be adopted. We talk about what it's like to live in the tension of showing grace, but also having boundaries. Of loving not only the children, but their parents. We talk about celebrating growth, within the reality of knowing that some hurt will be chronic. So we have to learn how to live with it, and handle it. This is a great long-ish episode that you won't want to miss. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Join the 1517 Academy Freedom Lessons Street Team Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

This month's Book Club, we are doing a short story by Flannery O'Connor, "A Good Man is Hard to Find." This short story is set in the South, before the civil rights movement. It follows a grandmother, traveling with her family, as she gives various definitions and applications to what it means to be a "good man." Keep in mind, Flannery is trying to show that no one is good but God, and see how that plays out, as we look around, catagorizing people, catagorizing herself, and trying to constantly use the law to manipulate. The overuse or lack of use of God's law is the highlight of this story, as each character and reader tries to find a way to wiggle loose from the law of God, thinking that their definition of good is actually what it means to be good. This story is jolting, haunting, and will knock the wind out of you. Each reading will bring more to the surface. The killer in the story wrestles with the idea of Jesus, the resurrection, and trying to figure out what he ever did wrong. This is a story where ideas like nostalgia, or utopia, or various cultures runs full speed into God's perfect law, and nothing survives. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Join the 1517 Academy Freedom Lessons Street Team Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find" short story. Flannery O'Connor's book of letters "The Habit of Being" A long history of "Nobody Wants to Work Anymore" on Twitter (Paul Fairie, @paulisci) https://twitter.com/paulisci/status/1681790405615173632

We are interviewing Austin Hanson, who teaches science to middle schoolers at West Central Public Schools. Picking up on our vocation series, we are wanting to talk with people in various vocations,(as we find them) to talk about how their faith impacts their work. This was an amazing conversation with a very gifted teacher who talked about sometimes being the first male authority figure in a child's life, teaching kids about reaching and standard, and showing what forgiveness means. We talk about the pressures that kids deal with in this generation, as well as what it's like to be a Christian teacher in a public school, with both the limitations and opportunities that involves. He talks about the developmental age of middle schoolers wanting to figure out their identity and who they are, and what they want to do with their lives. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Join the 1517 Academy Freedom Lessons Street Team Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

We are back to our conversations of Bible passages and comparing descriptive and prescriptive interpretations. This week we are discussing the story of Ruth. Does this story teach us to go out and "find our Boaz?" Can a woman be a Christ-figure? Should Naomi have left Bethlehem in the first place? We often have strong opinions, and insert those strong opinions into these Bible stories, and miss the story of redemption put on repeat throughout the Bible. We discuss all of these things, and in the end, point to the redemption found in Christ. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Join the 1517 Academy Freedom Lessons Street Team Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

In this last episode with guest Rachel Joy Welcher, we discuss the concept of modesty, and how we talk to our children about their sexuality and their bodies if not through "purity culture" or the secular culture. We talk about the purpose of bodies, the purpose of clothing, and what it means to have grace and understanding in these things. This was such a rich conversation of 3 moms discussing what they want their sons and daughters to know, and most importantly, what happens when we take Christ out of the equation, and turn him into a footnote. Show Notes: Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Freedom Lessons Street Team The New Quest for Paul and His Reading of the Old Testament by Timo Laato Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin Rachel Joy Welcher's book: Talking Back to Purity Culture

To continue our conversation of legalism that becomes cultish, we brought on Rachel Joy Welcher who wrote a book on the purity culture movement. Rachel is Gretchen's book editor for a current writing project. However, she's an author and poet in her own right. Her book "Talking Back to Purity Culture" looks at the history of how we got here, and steps back from a reactionary way of doing theology, and looks back to where the movement lost the message of Christ. She talks about untangling truth from lies, while not compromising on holding fast to scripture. She shares how the abstinance education went into schools, removing Christ from the conversation, as the message became God's law without any redemption. We talk about reading books in community, and having healthy conversations in families and churches, rather than handing everyone a book and hoping for the best. Show Notes: Support the Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: The New Quest for Paul and His Reading of the Old Testament by Timo Laato Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin More from our guest: Rachel Joy Welcher's substack Evan Welcher's substack

For our June book club bonus episode, we are discussing Robert Farrar Capon's "Supper of the Lamb." This is an unusual cookbook that is written by a theologian who shares all his thoughts on cooking lamb. He shares 8 meals for 8 people that can be cooked with lamb. During these instructions, he talks about the placeness of an onion, the excelsis of wine, and the shedding of blood. With humor, joy, silliness, and seriousness, he roots us in the reality of what cooking really is, what is for, and what is the source. It was a fun conversation to read this book--1 month almost felt too fast to read this book that must be savored. Link to book Show Notes: Support the Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: The New Quest for Paul and His Reading of the Old Testament by Timo Laato Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

How can we stay safe in our faith? In Part 2 of our discussion of the documentary "Shiny Happy People" we are discussing homeschooling and the umbrellas of protection. We get a bit into the history of homeschooling modern history, and then discuss homeschooling within the context of freedom or fear. We also discuss different kinds of homeschooling, and what made the Gothard brand of homeschooling unique. We then talk about the umbrella of protection image that is often shared, where under the guise of "safety" more mediation is put between Christ and children, or Christ and women. While it looks "safe" it actually adds to the gospel, placing hope in men instead of God. Show Notes: Support the Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: The New Quest for Paul and His Reading of the Old Testament by Timo Laato Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

In this episode we talk about the documentary of "Shiny Happy People" and this part of American Church history with an explosion of legalistic ideals that lacked Christ. Both Gretchen and Katie followed the Duggar family when they were on TV, and Gretchen even went on mission trips as a teen, assoicated with the Gothard teachings. We talk about the quiverful movement, and how that easily gets tied to faith and holiness. This ties in with the theology of the body, marriage, birth control--and most of all, how living in Christ is living in freedom. Support the Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: The New Quest for Paul and His Reading of the Old Testament by Timo Laato Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment by Bradley Gray More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

Author, speaker, and poet Tanner Olson is with us for this episode to talk about the vocation of being a poet. We talk about sharing hope, the writing process, and understanding that our work is for someone. We talk about the challenges of this work, the struggle of sharing things online, and deciding what to share. He shares about touring and collaborating with Blake Flatley, and Heidi Goehmann, as they present their evenings of hope. Support the Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube More from the hosts Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin More from our guest: https://www.writtentospeak.com/

We are excited to welcome the rapper, Flame, onto the podcast to share about the idea of vocation, and where our good works belong. Flame comes from a background in Christian spaces where the pressure to show yourself as spiritual, or pressure to show yourself as elect, or pressure to live out a more spiritual vocation. We talk about why he speaks so boldly about Lutheran doctrines, and how he starts conversations with others about what he believes. We talk about the relationship between freedom and vocation, and how a lack of freedom can crush a person. This was an incredible conversation, and we hope it encourages you like it encouraged us. Check out Flame's website, and keep an eye out for some exciting projects of his coming up: https://extranosacademy.com/ Support the Podcast Network Fundraiser 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube More from the hosts Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin

In our series about prescriptive vs descriptive, we walk through the story of Esther. Though this book does not mention God, it refers to the promises of God to redeem. It's one of the passages in the Bible that people often try to gather prescriptive instructions for being a wife. This story is so relatable, as Esther doesn't know how it will turn out. No angels show up and tell her what's going to happen. There was fear, and there was hesitation, and wrestling with stepping out in faith, whether or not she dies. We talk about the common passages "For such a time as this" along with other quotable passages like "Be still," and "I can do all things" and how we often remove them from the context so it can be more about us. We talk about fasting, and what it is for, and when you come to the end of yourselves, the only thing left is to fix your eyes on the salvation of the Lord. Check out the other 1517 podcasts Support the work of 1517

We are excited to discuss David Zahl's book "Low Anthropology." Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin heard him speak last fall (you can watch his talk HERE.) Though it can feel sometimes like having a low anthropology is mean or making excuses for poor behavior. In fact, it's living out the reality of not only the reality of sin, but the limitedness of human nature. We are not god. This book talks about low anthropology as being key to having a gracious view of others, and how it is in the humility and lowness where we encounter the grace of God. To have a high anthropology dismisses grace, or the need for it. Another consistent them is that low anthropology brings people together, whereas a high anthropology isolates and separates. Check out the other 1517 Network Podcasts Don't forget to support the work of 1517

As we work through some prescriptive vs descriptive passages of the Bible, especially in regard to women, we start with Tamar, and how she falls in line to Jesus' geneology. This is a strange story involving Judah being an unintentional kinsman redeemer, not by choice, but by thinking he's picking up a prostitute. Tamar was not cared for by the men who were entrusted with her care, and she fought for survival. In that, the Bible said she did what was right. Support the work of 1517 Check out all the other 1517 podcasts

We are preparing for summer, and sharing our summer book club picks, and then talking about the conference on Galatians that 1517 just had in Arkansas. We talk a bit about the circumcision debate, our tendency toward legalism, and how we even often prefer using softer language than the Bible. Gretchen shares her illustrations from her presentation on Galatians 2, on how legalism is putting creation above the creator. Book club picks this summer: Low Anthropology by David Zahl (May) Supper of the Lamb by Robert Capon (June) A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor (July) Be sure to check out 1517 Music Explore the other podcasts on the 1517 network Support the work of 1517

This is our monthly book club episode, where we discuss "Giants in the Earth" by O.E. Rölvaag. This novel was originally written in Norwegian, and translated to English in the 1920s. This is a story of Norwegian immigrants, crossing the prairie, and finding a new life in a new country. This is not the "Hallmark version" of the immigrants. Reading this book, you can see the midwest culture develop before your eyes, in a historical context. This book also talks about the immigrants struggle without a church, a minister, and how they wrestle through their theology as laypeople. Should they just baptize their children, or marry a couple without a pastor to do it? What happens to their baptism or "christening" if they change their name to an American name? The story focuses on a husband and wife: Per Hansa and Berit. Per Hansa is an eternal optimist. He believes all he sees is his kingdom, and opportunity is around every corner. He goes around the law, forces his own desired destiny, and does what he wants. Berit is homesick for the old country, terrified of the frontier, and worries for their souls with everything changing as the liturgy changes. They establish a new community of other Norwegian immigrants, and they all build sod houses, living surrounded by the ground. They are the giants in the earth. This is a masterful piece of literature, with the earth or nature taking on a character of its own, as the immigrents struggle to survive, and hold their relationships together. Giants in the Earth Support the work of 1517

Have you ever heard the illustration about the janitor in heaven? In this episode Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin what it means to "store up your treasures in heaven." This ties in with discussions on sanctification and vocation. What are our good works for? Are they even worth? We talk about a lot of attitudes around work and how those attitudes effect how we see grace. Support the work of 1517 Check out all the other podcasts on the 1517 network

Gretchen and Katie are back together to talk about how the resurrection impacts daily life. While apologetics are important, to analyze "if" the resurrection happened, this episode is the step beyond that, and asks how the resurrection changes our outlook and our daily interactions. We talk about the temptation to want to use God, either for political or personal reasons, and how the resurrection transcends our narrow goals, and permeates deeper than we ever thought possible. Check out other podcasts on the 1517 podcast network, and don't forget to support 1517, to keep providing free so many resources to the local church.

Joy isn't getting what you want when you want it. We can't produce joy, but we can produce pleasure, but we often get those two things confused. Defining what joy is helps us understand what it is, and what it isn't. Katie Koplin and Gretchen Ronnevik talk about how it relates to suffering, and how it stands up in suffering. The Bible talks about joy and suffering together. Like all things, it comes down to Christ. Check out the other 1517 podcasts Support the work of 1517

What is the difference of being a theology of the cross, and the theology of glory? Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin talk about what it means to have the cross as the center of your theology. We talk about Luther's Heidelberg Disputaitons of 1518, a year after he posted the 95 thesis, and why it was so revolutionary and contrary to what the church was teaching at the time. This is the center of "calling a thing what it is" and understanding suffering, rather than glory. The cross turns everything on our head about what we think of God, and what he wants from us, and often makes us uncomfortable, but ultimately fixes our eyes on Jesus as the author and perfector of our faith. ***This episode has some technical difficulties, and the sound isn't as good as past episodes. We thought the conversation overcame the bad sound, and hope it isn't too much of a distraction. Check out other 1517 podcasts Support the work of 1517

Oftentimes we interpret our prayers through the lens of our emotions, or our passion behind the prayers we pray. When those prayers aren't answered the way we want, we examine the level of passion, or our method of prayer, to see what needs to be fixed. Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin talk about the woman who was bleeding, as well as other stories of healing, to examine the connection between faith and prayer. We talk about prayer, and it's connection to vocation, how God sometimes answers prayers and Katie gets Gretchen to share the story of when she lost her pants. Check out the other podcasts on the 1517 podcasts Support the work of 1517

Our monthly book club has returned, and we are discussing Michelle DeRusha's book "Katharina and Martin Luther: the Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk." If you can't tell, Gretchen and Katie enjoyed this book immensely, and found this book to be a page turner. This is a story of the rubber meeting the road, when it comes to the theology of Martin Luther. Katharina or "Katie" as he called her, was in the first group of nuns that ranaway from their cloister, because of the reformation writings he was putting out at the time--most likely his writings stating that anyone who took monastic vows under compultion are free to live their lives in the freedom of the Christian. Martin and Katharina were not in love when they got married, and neither one was the other's first choice. But love did grow in their marriage, and they had children, lost children, and took a bunch of extra children in. This author takes a lot of time to explain the cultural and historical context of Martin and Katharina's marriage, which makes this story even more radical, heartwarming, and sometimes dangerous. Go check out the other podcasts on the 1517 podcast network! Support the work of 1517.

Everyone feels awkward praying. Performance anxiety and perfectionism can paralyze us in prayer. Praying is not about us, it's about Christ for us. Katie Koplin and Gretchen Ronnevik talk about wrestling through prayer, and finding rest in Christ. They talk about how our failure is a gift, and how the Holy Spirit is interpreting and correcting our prayers. This upsidedown kingdom of God's puts his faithfulness as primary, not ours, and that is never more apparent than in prayer, when the lavishness of grace pushes us toward good works. We do fail, and it will be awkward, but because of Christ, failure is never the end. "The whole ministry of Jesus was an act of intercession for us." - Kleinig Books referenced: Grace Upon Grace by John Kleinig Where Prayer Becomes Real by Kyle Strobel and John Coe Come check out the other podcasts on the 1517 podcast network: https://1517.org/podcasts Support the work of 1517: https://1517.org/donate

Is Proverbs 31 inspiring or burdening to women? Is it a passage that's just for women? What do you think when you think about Proverbs 31? Where is the gospel in this passage? We have on Hebrew scholar, Chad Bird, to discuss Christ in the Old Testament--even in Proverbs 31. He shares how this church applies not only to women, but to the whole church, and how Christ is wisdom personified. This episode will stop you in your tracks and point you to freedom. It's one not to be missed. It's one to listen to again, and again, and again. Due to travel upsets and storms preventing some recording, Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin are releasing for 1 more week, one of their most popular episodes. We will be back together next week, with your regularly scheduled programming. Support the work of 1517 here: https://www.1517.org/donate Also, our guest Chad Bird has a couple of podcasts on the 1517 podcast network (40 minutes in the Old Testament, Hidden Streams, etc) so check out some of the great resources on the podcast network here: https://www.1517.org/podcasts

What if you could have a conversation with someone who was theologically sound, a great communicator, and an experienced licensed therapist to talk about the emotions we struggle with, and what to do with them? Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin were fortunate enough to get back on Heidi Goehmann to talk about her new book: "Emotions and the Gospel." She gives a ton of gospel for our emotions, and help us to see where there is grace for us, as well as grace for the emotions of others. They walk through feeling shame for feeling "too emotional," how we are made in the image of God, and getting a strong theological foundation to view emotion. She talks about restoration vs regulation, and misconceptions or "partial truths" we have about emotions. Check out other 1517 podcasts Support the work of 1517

Sometimes our resistence to forgiveness is that we are attempting to give Christ-less grace. A lot of times this shows up in "forgiving yourself" or brushing sin under the rug, and dismissing it in the name of "grace." Does grace mean that sin doesn't matter? Is downplaying sin giving more grace or less? Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin talk about why true grace is from Christ, and why downplaying sin isn't necessary with the power to forgive that Christ's grace gives. The grace of God does things in our lives, and sanctifies us. It cleans our sin. We talk about consequences and examples. We talk about trying to make sin "reasonable" and grace "reasonable" so that it is managable to us. When we confuse justification, sanctification, and vocation, we can easily misuse the law to think that we are getting more grace, or end up trying to manipulate situations. You can check out other podcasts on the 1517 network: https://www.1517.org/podcasts Support the work of 1517 here: https://www.1517.org/donate

This is the first of our monthly BONUS episodes for our Freely Given book club. Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin are discussing the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis this month. This book has a lot of law in it, as fictionally one demon is coaching another demon how to trip up Christians. True to form, the accuser does a lot of accusing. We talk a lot about different ways truth can be obscured, as well as how to get humans to see others as less human. We talk about tribalism and jargon, living languages and defining terms. This was a fun, EXTRA long episode. Look for the next BONUS episode in March. February book (fiction): Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis March book (biography): Katharina and Martin Luther (The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk) by Michelle DeRusha April book (fiction): Giants in the Earth by Ole Rolvaag 1517 podcast network Support the work of 1517 https://www.1517.org/donate

Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin continue their conversation with historian Dan vanVoorhis about the history of revivals. We cut into this conversation asking the question: is revivalism something for the young? Does it hit a certain demographic of psychological development differently? Does growing older and have different vocations mean that we are not "on fire for the Lord." We consider the notstalgia side of going through a passionate season of faith, and walking through what it means to walk through a season of faith that is absolutely ordinary. We go in depth about the "old vs young" cyclical tension that goes through church history, and what it means to pass on the faith to the next generation well. The young tend to be hopeful and optimistic, and the old tend to be guarded against things that ended up causing hurt, or clinging to things that they were taught. When has this been done well? We talk about emotion and worship, what the psalmists say about that. We talk about what it means to "on fire for the Lord" and how people define that differently, and how emotions and nostalgia can play into that. We talk about the importance of ordinary means of grace, so that we can understand the consistency of grace, and where to think of extraordinary things. Dan's podcast: Christian History Almanac The 1517 podcast network: https://www.1517.org/podcasts Support the work of 1517:https://www.1517.org/donate

We invited church historian, Dan van Voorhis, to come and talk to us about the history of revivalism. What is a revival? Are we in a revival right now? He talks about the first Great Awakening, and the second Great Awakening, and the mindsets and theology that came out of those movements. He talks about a spectrum in our definitions of revivals, from Pentecostal to Methodist, and the historical crossover that happened during the Second Great Awakening between the Methodists and Baptists. And then we talk about ordinary means of grace, and extraordinary means of grace, in the ways the Holy Spirit works in our lives. This is part 1 of a 2 part conversation on revivalism with Dan, for the purpose of having an educated, gracious, and thoughtful approach to reports of revivals happening. Dan's free online course: History of Christianity in America Dan's podcast: Christian History Almanac (also available on any podcast streaming app) 1517 podcast network Support the podcast network here

In this episode, Gretchen Ronnevik and Katie Koplin discuss some of their favorite poems, and how poetry helps us understand theological concepts that are difficult to understand through different means. The look at poetry that examines things like eternity, the idea of being wild or tame, the nature of patience, what is sacred and desecrated, and the myth of free will. They ponder several poems of Wendell Berry, and then move onto Madeline L'Engle for this fun little episode bringing some beautiful poetry into your day to ponder. Support the Show: https://www.1517.org/donate The 1517 Podcast Network https://www.1517.org/podcasts "Sabbath Poems" by Wendell Berry "The Ordering of Love" by Madeline L'Engle Prepare for our upcoming February bonus episode on a longer conversation by reading "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis

How can you tell if you are lamenting or complaining all the time? The Bible invites us to lament, and tells us not to complain. Is this a contradiction? In this episode Gretchen and Katie talk about "calling a thing what it is" when it comes to things that we are upset about. We look at the difference between grumbling and complaining and lamenting to God--bringing our pain straight to him. We talk about the guilt that is often put on people who are in a season of lament, the use of community in all of this, and the pressure to be happy all of the time. Without any planning, this episode was recorded a couple of weeks before Gretchen's family experienced the painful unexpected loss of her father-in-law. We grieve, but as ones who have hope. Check out all the other free resources on https://www.1517.org/

"An apology is a promise to never do it again." In this episode we disucss this common phrase, and the differnece between a confession and an apology. We talk about the difference between horizontal forgiveness, and vertical forgiveness. We talk about the necessity of apology, and what it really means to forgive, the freedom to "go in peace" and how what it means when you struggle to heal. Katie's Instagram Gretchen's Instagram Here We Still Stand Regional Event in Arkansas "What Remains" poetry book by Laura Kauffman Support the work of 1517

Gretchen and Katie talk about what happens when we focus on our pietism in ways that often hurt our neighbors. How does this happen? They talk about how freedom points to the gospel, and how uncomfortable freedom is for the pietist. In this system, your reputation is the gospel, and keeping your reputation is seen as the same as either fulfilling the law, or telling people about God. In this system, our focus is getting our neighbors to act Christian, by our definition, rather than know Christ, and the forgiveness of sins. The sad thing that happens is when you focus on yourself and your spirituality so much that you don't see your neighbor. They talk about Galatians 2, and how Paul and Peter clash over legalism--not defined by extra Biblical laws, but actual laws God has given. If you want to hear some of the 1517 crew go through the book of Galatians in Arkansas this spring, you can register here: https://www.1517.org/events/2023-regional-conference-bentonville There's still a little bit of space left for this one! Support the work of 1517 here: https://www.1517.org/donate

Does it ever feel like you just can't be a good enough Christian, or do all the things you want to do? In this episode we define piety and Pietism, and the difference between them. We talk about the pietism and spiritual practices of monks and nuns, and what Luther wrote about it, and ask the question: "when is our obsession with 'being a good Christian' actually rob us of our rest in Christ?" Does resting in Christ make us apathetic, and what does that have to do with understanding the person of Christ? What does it mean to have a high view of the law? How do we get people to go to church, and do the things that Christians should do? Tune in to find out. Subscribe to this podcast FREE by clicking "subscribe" in your podcast app, so each episode is downloaded and ready to go. Support the work of 1517 by clicking: http://1517.org/donate

Gretchen and Katie are finally back together, and they have a lot of catching up to do. We talk about trying to find our New Year's "word of the year." We talk about looking ahead to the next year, and what God has been teaching us. Gretchen talks about people pleasing and identifying as Eustace Scrubb. We discuss navigating big family changes, and bracing for what we don't know. There's a couple of announcements in this episode, about each of us, and about the podcast, so this is an episode you don't want to miss. Support the work of 1517 by donating here: https://www.1517.org/donate (Christian history almanac's weekend edition mentioned)

As Gretchen is (stuck) on the road, we thought it would be fun to interview her oldest daughter, Silje, about what it's like being a college kid and looking for a church. We asked for questions from Twitter followers, mostly surrounding how churches can reach out to and encourage young adults. Silje talks about the importance of being intentional, not just in regard to reaching young adults, but show the young adults that the church is intentional in all that it does, from thinking through how the sacraments are done, how the bulletin is laid out, and how the church is laid out. She talks about the need to lay down your burdens at church and hear a gospel rich sermon, because the long study and work hours just make everything too much. We talk about the importance of beauty, and fostering an environment where questions are welcome. We have a couple of disclaimers in this post: 1)the sound quality is off, as Gretchen was away from the podcast equipment, and 2) Silje is just one kind of college student and college students and their needs and views vary just as much as any other demographic. If you would like to support the ministry of 1517, and help to provide all of the free resources given to churches and laypeople there, head on over to http://www.1517.org/donate.

We are continuing to discuss the philosophies from "The Good Place." In this episode, we talk about the need for our redemption to come from outside of ourselves. We talk about sink holes in our lives, and trying to pretend that we are enough. We talk about the shallowness of affirmations to redeem, and the characters each struggling through facing who they really are. We talk about the torture of being treated as a better person than you really are. Sorry for the delay in this episode, as the holidays caught up with us. We should be back on track now. If you want to support the work of our podcast, and other podcasts in the 1517 network, and all they do over there, in your year end giving, please click here. Also! If you haven't subscribed to our podcast, it's FREE, and you can do it on any podcasting app. Subscribing helps others find this podcasts, and is another way you can support what we do here.