Cross Defense from KFUO Radio

Cross Defense returns with a look at Scripture’s answer to the controversial question, what is a woman? Francis Pieper provides our theological road map. Grab your Bible, pop in your headphones, and check out your church’s copy of Christian Dogmatics, Vol. I. Woman is a curious topic that the world doesn’t grasp. But God does! This program originally aired on July 2, 2022.

Orthodoxy, heterodoxy, and unionism. God prohibits church fellowship with heterodox churches. Why? True and false cannot exist with equal standing. If true allows for false, true ceases to be true. Learn more about this and other reasons why the orthodox church is not to fraternize with those who teach contrary to Scripture. Find the resource about President Pieper at concordiahistoricalinstitute.org/presidents/president-pieper. This program originally aired on November 5, 2022.

The Church of England has a hard time defining the word woman while an ex-trans teenage girl recognizes the irreversible damage she did to her womanly body. Pastor Bramwell discusses these two reports before answering questions about women teaching the “Pastor’s Bible Study” and the hiddenness of Christ in a woman's gentle and quiet spirit. This program originally aired on July 16, 2022.

Pastor Bramwell answers a listener’s question about women in Bible study, highlighting the relationships between the saints and how they are lived out in love and service to all. Then it’s on to lawlessness, bad government, and praying the Lord’s Prayer. This program originally aired on July 9, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

2 Thessalonians 2 describes the marks of the Antichrist. And guess what? The Church has long held that the pope is a perfect match. Pastor Bramwell walks through the Biblical description and the papistic fulfillment of this enemy of Christ. This program originally aired on July 23, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

What should we do when there aren’t enough kids to have Sunday School? Do we need Sunday School? Is Sunday School biblical? Where did it come from? When did it become the norm? Who is Robert Raikes and what does John Dewey have to do with Sunday School? How does it relate to the Small Catechism and what on earth is the Prom Phenomenon? We answer all these questions and a few more in this episode This program originally aired November 26, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Is alcoholism a disease? As we go to Scripture for our answer, we’ll consult the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, grab a couple of volumes of Luther’s Works, pull in the thoughts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and discover the tactic of Screwtape’s demonic colleague, Guzzle. This program originally aired October 1, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Graham Hancock’s hit Netflix show, Ancient Apocalypse, has stirred up controversy. It goes against mainstream science and is all about the memory of a global flood preserved in mankind’s ancient structures. Did an advanced pre-flood civilization exist? Did they teach post-flood people groups their technology? What does this have to do with the pyramids and the stars? Excite your theological imaginations and let’s get into the book of Genesis for some answers. This program originally aired December 10, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

World leaders want us to take action in the face of a global climate crisis. Okay, so why aren’t self-professing Christians packing into pews to hear and receive God’s Word and Sacraments? Pastor Bramwell takes us on a tour of Scripture verses that should inform our behavior in the face of a worldwide climate emergency. If we’re facing a climate crisis, a mass crisis of faith is even more disconcerting. This program originally aired August 20, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Luther Classical College’s November mailer continues the conversation about Sunday School and the parental responsibility of training children in the Christian faith. But what do pastors care so much about this? Martin Luther and C.F.W. Walther articulate the answer. Christian parents matter to kids! They are also the solution to every problem that plagues our society. Learn more about Luther Classical College at lutherclassical.org and find the book mentioned by Dr. Gene Edward Veith and Deaconess Mary Moerbe at amazon.com/Family-Vocation-Marriage-Parenting-Childhood/dp/1433524066. This program originally aired December 3, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Journalists say Christian Nationalism is on the rise. What is it? How is the term used? Do people want to be associated with it? The Augsburg Confession is a helpful place to start the conversation. Plus, we learn about the faithfulness of our third-century Christian brother, Alexamenos, and about overcoming verbal allergens. This program originally aired November 19, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Did you know that in today’s woke culture Christians are the heretics? Listen to a voice message that says as much before Pastor Bramwell addresses nine wicked spiritual effects that wokeness has on Christianity. Francis Schaeffer once observed that the spiritual battle is bigger than Christians often realize. He was right! This episode originally aired August 27, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Is it true that all men are equal or is that a satanic lie? What does Scripture say? Pastor Bramwell turns us to Rev. C.F.W. Walther’s lectures on Communism and Socialism as a springboard into God’s Word on the question. Find the resource mentioned in this episode at stmarksferndale.com/waltheroncommunism. This program originally aired on September 24, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Pastor Bramwell concludes the conversation on division, using 1 Clement as a springboard to dive into the Bible. The Church is militant. Her warfare is not against people but for people—so that all would reach repentance. This program originally aired October 22, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

From one church to another, 1 Clement draws from Scripture to address division and instruct the faithful in matters of Christian combat, which is never in opposition to love. Plus, what if you don’t live near a faithful church? Good question. Pr. Bramwell has an answer. This program originally aired October 15, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

The struggle is real, isn’t it? Our children don’t always want to go to church, especially during their teenage years. Pastor Bramwell confirms that you’re far from alone in your hardship, provides encouragement from church history, gives practical instruction from Scripture on how to ease the struggle, and finally offers an excellent resource to aid you in your parental vocation. Not a parent? Don’t think this episode is for you? Not true, friend. Pastor Bramwell’s biblical instruction will help you in your evangelistic witness, too! Find a church near you at locator.lcms.org/church This program originally aired September 3, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Pastor Bramwell talks with Rev. Shauen Trump, LCMS regional director of Africa, about what we can learn from missionaries in Africa. The result is a look at Acts 8:1-4 and every Christian’s call to be a vulnerable evangelist. Learn more about Rev. Trump and the work being done in Africa at lcms.org/trump. This program originally aired August 6, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Christians don’t look up to the heavens for wisdom. We look down into the Scriptures. What do the Scriptures say about the sun, moon, and stars? What does the fourth day of creation tell us about them? How about Psalm 19, the book of Job, and Jonah? Plus, there’s Josephus’ input, and we’ll consider what the founder of the Institute for Creation Research said about the zodiac. We have lots to talk about! This program originally aired December 17, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Pastor Bramwell discusses the 2nd-century heresy of adoptionism and how it is still alive and actively held by Unitarians today. How did the ancient church confront this false teaching and how does Scripture refute it? This program originally aired August 13, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.

Christians are saved from the Word of God that the Holy Spirit brings to us. When we look at Acts 2, we see that the sound of Holy Spirit is an echo from heaven that delivers the report of Christ-crucified for the forgiveness of sins to the apostles, their hearers, and YOU! Join Pastor Bramwell as he explores the curious topic of Luke’s use of echo in Acts 2:2 and Luke 4:37. This program originally aired September 17, 2022. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks about curious topics to excite the imagination, equip the mind, and comfort the soul with God’s ordering of the world in the Law and Gospel.