The church down the street claims that the Bible is trustworthy and the final authority for faith and conduct, so why do they have women pastors? Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15. Paul wasn’t speaking culturally. He was instructing the Church as Jesus Christ’s apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit. 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...
Sep 23, 2023•58 min
The burden of proof is on the millennialist to show that Revelation 20’s thousand years are literal—according to the church’s historic hermeneutical principles. Rev. Theodore Graebner was much closer to the rise of today’s modern millennialist teachings than we are and helps us see through the forest of false teachers to deal with the common error that they all hold: the millennium. Link mentioned: http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/CTCRTheEndTimesAStudyonEschatologyandMillennialism.pdf Host Rev. T...
Sep 16, 2023•52 min
Two Lutherans asked a couple questions about the Jews. Pastor Bramwell tackles them both. People say Martin Luther was antisemitic. Is this true? And then, where do Lutherans fall in the Evangelicals’ “Covenant vs. Replacement theology” debate. Rev. Theodore Graebner (of the Dead Theologians Society) has the answer Paul settled when he wrote his epistle to the Romans. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks ...
Sep 09, 2023•58 min
Rev. Christopher Thoma talks about Michigan’s hate crime bill that could make speaking the truth in love a felony. He also addresses the church’s need to prepare for hard times, and what pastors can do to prevent persecution before it arrives. Plus, Evangelicals are learning what some Lutherans have forgotten, and the Johnson amendment isn’t as restricting as you might think. Today’s show is about The Body of Christ and the Public Square . Resources from this episode: Rev. Christophert Thoma’s b...
Sep 02, 2023•59 min
When a sad transgender Reddit user asks ChatGPT to write a fake Bible verse affirming her sinful lifestyle, the computer speaks in the name of Jesus. We now live in a world of personalized false prophecy. Nevertheless, as Rev. Robert Preus points out, we also still live in a world where God’s Word is preached by your pastor. Plus, Pastor Bramwell wants to know what guests you’d like to have on the show. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the...
Aug 26, 2023•57 min
Pastor Bramwell works through your emails finding encouragement to be bold in the faith even when it means walking away from sources of earthly security and getting away from our online caves. Plus, should schoolteachers remain in the woke school system? What would happen if they didn’t? And why are some churches not outspoken and engaged? Referenced in this episode: The Problem of Suffering: A Father’s Hope by Rev. Gregory Schulz: https://www.cph.org/the-problem-of-suffering-a-fathers-hope July...
Aug 19, 2023•55 min
When a listener identifies the common death thread among the so-called social justice issues John 8:44 reveals how the anthropoktonos (manslayer) is behind it all. Plus, there is a particular word we should avoid when discussing the procreation of children. Mentioned in this episode: The Gospel of John: A theological Commentary Holy People Holy Lives, by Richard C. Eyer St. Mark’s Facebook St. Mark’s Instagram St. Mark’s Twitter Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, Cal...
Aug 12, 2023•55 min
The Alliance Defending Freedom fights for Jesus to come to public school while state officials and doctors use the threat of suicide to manipulate parents and school boards to accept the transgender lie. Plus, a lesson from the Saxon immigrants who started the LCMS. Mentioned in this episode: Alliance Defending Freedom about Lydia’s “Jesus Loves Me” mask adflegal.org/client/lydia-booth Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We ...
Aug 05, 2023•58 min
A listener’s email about political and pastoral language prompts a conversation on the woke Left, the Johnson Amendment, the church’s spiral of silence, magisterial and ministerial reason, and a slew of other stuff, including choosing to never knowingly support lies. Resources from this episode: Wokeness is the Antithesis to Christianity (Cross Defense episode)| kfuo.org/2022/08/27/cross-defense-082722-wokeness-is-the-antithesis-to-christianity Christianity and Wokeness (book) | bookshop.org/a/9...
Jul 29, 2023•55 min
We confront and crucify our temptation to fear, which causes us to avoid suffering and thereby hinders our courageous confession of Christ and Him crucified. Suffering aided the early church’s evangelism efforts, and it will improve ours as we suffer minor annoyances or even martyrdom. Robert Lockett encourages us to drive to the truth in a new segment on the show, demonstrating that Christians don’t give up when mocked for Christ, and that you don’t have to be a pastor to be in the fray. Oh, an...
Jul 22, 2023•53 min
Join us for a look at the word faith and to see how it relates to courage and truth. Rev. Alvin J. Schmidt is our guide by way of his book, Faith Misused , and Dr. Jordan B. Peterson helps us get a better grasp on the congruency of our words and deeds, and not only ours but Thrivent Financial’s, as we learn more information about the former Christian fraternal benefit society. Find the Onward Christian Soldiers Book Club at stmarksferndale.com/get-involved/bookclub . Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St...
Jul 15, 2023•51 min
Pastor Bramwell lands on the front page of the newspaper, is compared to the Westboro Baptists, and does a little street ministry after discussing biblical communication wherein he co-opts the wanting concept of building evangelical bridges. Ol' Dave and the LGBTQ Bear (Ferndale Fortitude): https://youtu.be/u4kM67nMQhM 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, eq...
Jul 08, 2023•57 min
Pastor Bramwell wants to know how LGBTQ Pride Month was celebrated near you. In Pennsylvania, a street preacher was arrested. California continues to promote the breaking of the fourth commandment. Kayla Lovdahl is suing doctors for performing a double mastectomy on her when she was 13. Plus, we get inspired by the Magdeburg Confession and review a video of Ferndale’s LGBTQ harass a Roman Catholic monk. Links referenced in this episode: Pastor Bramwell’s YouTube Channel Arrest of Pennsylvania St...
Jul 01, 2023•54 min
Orthodoxy and heresy are head-to-head today. Will we speak the truth or go along with lies? Are we children of God or of the devil? What does guarding the entrusted deposit look like? Consider these questions and more while reflecting on our time in human history. Do we understand the gravity of our current contest? Link Mentioned: The Cruelty of Heresy, bookshop.org/a/94255/9780819215130 . Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in...
Jun 24, 2023•51 min
Far too many American Christians treat sexual immorality like it’s not a sin. In this episode of Cross Defense, we survey the New Testament and see just how wrong that delusion is. Do we still think it is loving to speak the Law to Christians committing sin? It doesn’t really seem like it, does it? 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 com...
Jun 17, 2023•50 min
Thrivent ushered in June with a call to “Celebrate Pride Month.” How are we taught to respond to sin? Are we to partner with it and celebrate it? Or do we expose it and remove it from our midst? Let’s look at Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 5 to find out. Link mentioned: https://www.foxnews.com/us/christian-leader-declares-june-fidelity-month-instead-pride-month
Jun 10, 2023•56 min
Neil Postman offers six questions we should ask when considering any new technology, from the written word to AI. To ask these questions with understanding, Rev. Bramwell goes to Plato’s Phaedrus and the legend of the Egyptian god, Theuth, introducing writing to King Thamus. Learn how to analyze any new technology before adopting it. Find the resource mentioned at stmarksferndale.com/newtech . Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come...
Jun 03, 2023•51 min
Mr. Blue Bird is no longer on Rev. Bramwell’s shoulder (he’s off Twitter). Find out more about that and learn about the shared godlessness of Marxism and Fascism. The natural man won’t understand, but the Spiritual man sure will. 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. ...
May 27, 2023•55 min
Rev. Martin Luther has much to teach us in his commentary on the book of Romans. The introduction and first verse give us great words about the ministry and why the pastoral office is to be honored, not because of the men in the office, but because of the Lord whom our pastors serve. Find Pastor Bramwell on Twitter at twitter.com/TyrelBramwell . 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...
May 20, 2023•57 min
In AD 155 Polycarp refused to go along with civil authorities' lies. He was martyred for speaking the truth instead of going along with a lie. In AD 2023 there doesn’t seem to be many Christian leaders willing to do the same. Why do we hear crickets when we should hear shepherds condemning sin and confessing Christ? 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...
May 13, 2023•57 min
Two listener submitted questions are answered in this episode. 1) Is it an issue to use the words of less-than-orthodox men in service to the Gospel? 2) When do we know when to shake the dust from our feet? C.F.W Walther, Martin Luther, Justin Martyr, and most importantly St. Paul help us answer these questions. Find the LCMS Church Locator at locator.lcms.org/church . Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come in, We are Closed, talks...
May 06, 2023•54 min
Have you ever wondered why your unbelieving neighbor doesn’t understand you? You speak words of love, but they call them hate. What’s up with that? The Bible tells us. Let’s shed some light on the subject of their darkness. Mentioned in the show: Connected to Christ: Why Membership Matters . cph.org/connected-to-christ-why-membership-matters Of Free Will in the Augsburg Confession. bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-free-will/ Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale,...
Apr 29, 2023•40 min
Pastor Bramwell goes to the Scriptures to give the Gospel answer to a listener’s question about the validity of his infant baptism after some well-known Reformed preachers burdened his conscience with the Law. Find Man Up!: The Quest for Masculinity by Rev. Jeff Hemmer at cph.org/man-up-the-quest-for-masculinity . 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 t...
Apr 22, 2023•55 min
How can Canadian Christians counter the evil of the national assisted suicide program, MAiD? Suffer. The Cross of Christ is the answer to this and every evil in the world. Are we willing to suffer for the Gospel? Resources mentioned in this episode: cph.org/p-32988-holy-people-holy-lives bookofconcord.org/other-resources/sources-and-context/heidelberg-disputation cph.org/a-martyrs-faith-in-a-faithless-world Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of...
Apr 15, 2023•55 min
What is the idol of evangelism? What does it have to do with being straightforward and honest? Does it have anything to do with how we can answer the question about how to stand up to Canada’s MAiD killings? We’re talking about Jeremiah 23, the German church in the days leading up to WWII, A Letter to The American Church, and using our mouths to speak God’s truth in service to our neighbors. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book Come i...
Apr 08, 2023•55 min
The Trans Radical Activist Network’s response to the Nashville shooting at the Covenant Christian school highlights the difference between power and authority. What is that difference? Do we operate with power or under authority? Plus, a listener wants to know how to stand up against Canada’s Medically Assisted Dying program. 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 imaginat...
Apr 01, 2023•55 min
Sam Smith and Kim Petras performed Unholy in an unholy way at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Their award was cheered as an historic victory for the LGBTQ. And the whole thing was sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. It all smells like that one time Satan’s throne was in Pergamum and people were worshipping Asklepios, compromising in accord with Balaam, and participating in the evil of the Nicolaitans. Host Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California, and author of the book C...
Mar 25, 2023•54 min
Silicon Valley Bank was the second biggest bank failure in American history. In the face of this Christians remain comforted by Christ. Which master do we serve? Money or God? Who is steadfast and will never fail you? Yeah, you know. Find the resource mentioned at stmarksferndale.com/waltheragainstthetheatre . 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 m...
Mar 18, 2023•52 min
How does the Law serve the Christian? Does the Gospel mean the Law is useless for believers? What does Galatians 5 and 6 say? What about article VI of Solid Declaration and the Bible verses cited in it? Good stuff for the comfort of our souls! Read the Solid Declaration at bookofconcord.org/solid-declaration/third-use-of-the-law . 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 ima...
Mar 11, 2023•56 min
Was Walther being pietistic when he wrote his ten arguments against attending the theatre? He gives us his defense against those who think so. Then the Revs. William Weedon and Robert Preus help us sort out pietism and practical theology before Francis Schaeffer weighs in on pietism in relation to the battle we’re in against the spirit of our age. 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 ...
Mar 04, 2023•57 min
