Introducing the Tim Ahlman Podcast - A New Adventure

It's going to be so fun . We're going to continue to release two podcasts a week . One will be focusing on current events in the life of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod .

We'll continue to interview guests that we agree with and hopefully , in the coming year and years , hopefully more that we don't in the hopes of growing collectively as a church body that can grow up into Jesus who is our head or leader or Lord , and we can learn to disagree agreeably and then unite across our context to reach people with the gospel of Jesus

Christ . Here's what I've said in so many podcasts the world needs this theology , the Jesus-centered , christocentric , missiology , confessing message that the Lutheran Church of Missouri Synod has today Confessional , conservative , historic but hopefully on our best days mission-oriented church body .

We want to be one of those communities Lead Time does that lovingly , holds us together when there are certainly satanic forces that want to pull us apart . We're also responding to 100 of you who took our survey recently . 64% of you said that conversations around functional or dysfunctional LCMS cultural currents are what you want to hear more about .

So we're going to continue to do that and we promise to maintain as much neutrality as possible as we grow together as a church body . And I do say as much neutrality as possible because Jack and I are certainly biased towards God's mission to get all of his kids back .

Jack Calberg will continue to be my co-host and Jack and I were not neutral on the mission of God being the driving force for the local church . Second , jack and I will be collaborating on a weekly , shorter podcast aimed at mission and ministry practitioners . These podcasts will be between I don't know 10 to 20 minutes a year on that drive to work .

You can maybe take in one of these per week . We'll share some of the teachings of the Unite Leadership Collective as well as curate other best practices in these shorter , very practical podcasts . So lead time off and running into 2025 . Here we go , but here's where the switch comes . I was blessed to start a little bit of history .

I was blessed to start the American Reformation podcast over two years ago with my missionary friend , eric Fish . Over a year ago , eric had to step down as my co-host and we kept the podcast going . I've loved these conversations . I've learned from so many people within and outside of the Lutheran Church of Missouri Synod .

Yet and this is where it's a bit sad these podcasts they often get a fraction of the more controversial lead time podcasts . I guess conflict attracts , doesn't it ? It's unfortunate , and I've worked hard , though , to maintain the initial calling of the American Reformation podcast , but we're at a good pivot point right now .

So here's the change Starting on January 8th which is today 2025 , the American Reformation podcast will be renamed the Tim Allman podcast . This is actually episode one of that new podcast . So why have we decided to rename the podcast ?

Well , we discovered that many people were finding the ULC podcast , unite Leadership Collective podcast , by just Googling Tim Allman , so we're hopeful this renaming makes it easier for people to find our kingdom-expanding creative content . So here's what my podcast will have is three primary focuses .

One is leadership learning from experts in a variety of different vocations within and outside the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and applying their expertise to leadership life in the local church . These conversations will largely focus on developing and maintaining a healthy culture in our various vocations .

Over 60% of you in that recent survey said that you wanted to talk more about healthy , healthy culture , so we're going to do it . So , leadership one , learning . Two , deep theological discussion . I will host many scholars to aid in our understanding of Christ , popping off every page of Holy Scripture .

We'll work hard to apply our theological discussions to the post-Christian America where we find ourselves . 60% of you said in the recent survey that you wanted to hear more on deep theology , so we're going to bring it . This is where we hopefully will have some kind of consistency with what you grew to expect in the American Reformation podcast .

And last so , leadership learning and then living . We're going to talk highlighting healthy habits for leaders in all vocations . I truly believe Jesus' followers should be holistically the healthiest leaders on planet earth , created in the image of God , the image of living God out into the world . So I'm excited for this new season of podcasts connected to the ULC .

Thank you for listening , providing feedback and recommending both Lead Time and the Tim Allman podcast to your friends and family . So , finally , I finished my rough draft of my first book , likely titled Confessing Jesus Mission . Thank you for your prayers . It's made my doctorate hopefully more fun to read and we've also got some great insights .

A very , very practical book . It's kind of fun , it's a lighter read , but also it's a book that's speaking directly into the current realities that the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod faces . We're currently going through the first round of edits and we're exploring who will publish the book . So thanks for the prayers .

And to close off though my first Tim Allman podcast , I'm going to share one of one of these chapters . I've been wrestling around the idol of certainty for some time , so this is actually later on in the book . It's called the idol , the idol of certainty . I believe certainty can be an idol .

I believe certainty could be hampering local churches from engaging their neighbors with the gospel . Here are some examples we may say do not start that new ministry until we can be absolutely certain it will succeed . Do not run tests that new ministry until we can be absolutely certain it will succeed .

Do not run tests in leadership development until we can be absolutely certain it will produce the right types of leaders . Do not engage a brother or sister who has wronged you until you can be absolutely certain the conversation will go well . Do not change anything in your local ministry context until you can be you said it absolutely certain .

People won't get upset . Do not risk . Risk is too well Risky . Play it safe . Keep people happy . Stick with the safe and certain status quo . Does that sound familiar ? Sins of omission are serious , at least Jesus seems to think so . You all know the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 .

You've likely heard generosity messages about investing your resources A talent was close to 20 years , wages in kingdom expanding initiatives . This is appropriate to have that sort of a message preached about the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 . But you've also likely heard messages about personally not living in fear of the master but burying your one talent .

That is also an appropriate take on the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 . You've probably also heard messages about every person being faithful with the talent or talents they've been giving and not judging the talent or talents of others . The master will do with his talents what he desires to do .

This is also an appropriate reading of the parable of the talents . But I don't know that I've ever heard a message connected to risk and certainty connected to this parable of the talents . But I don't know that I've ever heard a message connected to risk and certainty connected to this parable . The first two servants risked losing the master's money .

When you invest , there's no guarantee right that you'll get a return . The master knew this and was more than fine with this risk . The master expects kingdom risk from his servants . He's not okay with playing it safe . The status quo of simply maintaining what he's giving us is not an option , at least not connected to this parable .

Also , jesus tells this parable during Holy Week . The parable of the talents is bracketed by many stories of urgent expectation for the coming of the Son of man in judgment on the last day . The parable of the talents is immediately preceded by the parable of the ten virgins have oil in your lamps , be prepared . Jesus is coming again soon .

It's as if Jesus is saying do not be lazy or slothful with what I've given you . Invest , invest now . Now is the time . It's too short to do anything else but invest the master's resources . Do it now , do it quickly .

Sometimes I wonder what Jesus thinks of churches and leaders who are content with simply remaining the same size , with no plans for growth by addition or growth through the sending of leaders to bring in the harvest of lost souls . I know this is the law , but the law must be preached to lead us individually and collectively to repentance .

Would Jesus call those of us who bury our talent in preference of the certainty of the status quo wicked ? Would he call us wicked ? Well , it appears so . When we think of the wicked , most of us immediately think of those who commit atrocities . According to this parable of the talents , the wicked are those who commit sins of kingdom-expanding omission .

Jesus views sins of omission as equally wicked to the most egregious violations of the law . You should probably read that again . I'll read it again for you Jesus views sins of omission as equally wicked to the most egregious violations of the law . How does that make you feel ? I'll tell you how I feel . I want to wait , no , no , no .

The Holy Spirit in me wants to do whatever is necessary to appropriately risk and invest the master's talents People being that primary talent , by the way , in advancing the kingdom of the master . The Holy Spirit compels me to extravagantly risk the one life he has given me in apprenticing disciples of Jesus who will be sent to do the same for others .

Anything less is sin wicked sin . I pray you feel the same . Sometimes I wonder if leaders in the LCMS are immersing themselves in the risk-filled stories of scripture . Sometimes I wonder why we're so reticent to try new things , to reach new people with the gospel . Sometimes I wonder how the master views the LCMS collectively . Are we investing the master's talents ?

Frankly , because of our wonderful confessional Lutheran theology , I believe we're collectively the servant who was given the five not the one , but the five talents . The treasure of our doctrine is a gift to be shared , not hoarded . To whom much is given , much is required .

Sometimes I wonder if we in the LCMS are worshiping the idol of certainty , afraid of the potential risk of investing the master's talents . I ask these questions from a place of humility . Outwardly , it may appear that I've fully committed myself to kingdom expanding risk . Let me set the record straight . I am just as fearful of risk as the next leader .

Risk is scary . It's definitely uncertain when the Holy Spirit speaks . I desperately need him to speak . And here's what he's speaking . He says read my word , tim . See how kingdom expanding risk gets rewarded the results of hoarding and paralyzing fear at the altar of certainty . Risking for expanding God's kingdom is risky , yet not risking is even more risky .

I'll read that again . Risking for expanding God's kingdom ? It is definitely risky , yet not risking it's even more eternally risky . Let me give you a few examples Abraham Abraham risked , by joining God , an adventure to an uncertain land . David risked by picking up stones to fight and kill the giant Goliath .

Jonathan risked fighting an entire garrison , a garrison of Philistines , with one companion Shadrach , meshach and Abednego . They risked by defying King Nebuchadnezzar , knowing the fiery furnace could be their end . Esther , queen Esther risked when she appealed on behalf of the Jews to crazy King Xerxes . I think that's how you say it .

I don't know , but that's how you spell it . If you read it , you wouldn't have any mumbo jumbo anyway . The prophets they risked preaching the law to the Israelites in the hopes of leading them to repentance . Paul Paul's entire ministry , not to mention all of the scattered apostles , paul's entire ministry after his conversion , was one risk after another . Why ?

All ? For the sake of sharing the story of the God who risked leaving the comforts of heaven to know the beauty and brokenness of the human experience . Jesus , jesus' entire life and ministryness of the human experience . Jesus , jesus' entire life and ministry was riddled with risk .

The angelic declaration of Joseph saved Jesus' life from crazy Herod as he flees as a refugee to Egypt , jesus risked being associated and baptized by crazy John the Baptist . John Jesus then risked calling a ragtag group of young Jewish men to be apprenticed by him for three years .

Jesus , he risks speaking truth to Pharisaical teachers and scribes , and in love with their rightness at not breaking the rules , while condemned historically as wicked for condemning the one who came to fulfill the rules for them , for the world . Jesus , our Savior . The Pharisees epitomized leaders in love with the status quo , hyper-focused on sins of commission .

They were wicked in their sins of omission , handing the sinless one over to the washed hands of Pontius Pilate . We all have some Pharisee in us , don't we ? The first to confess it wins . This is what we weekly confess in the divine service . I am a poor , miserable sinner .

I have sinned by what I have done , committed right and by what I have left , undone my sins of omission . I believe the LCMS is in love with certainty . I believe this certainty can be an idol . I love certainty too , and I'm certain Jesus loves me and I'm certain he loves you too .

I'm also certain the master has given me talents to risk , to let the world know the certain love of Jesus shown through the cross and empty tomb . I'm certain he's entrusted you with the same talents . What will you do with those talents ? Well , thanks for hanging out with me today on this shorter podcast .

The Tim Ullman podcast will be a once a week conversation with leaders across the LCMS and outside of the LCMS . We're going to lead , but we're going to learn together some deep theology and we're going to grow as we live , as healthy leaders in these dark days in which we live .

And may this podcast leave you with a sense of urgency to risk everything that Jesus has given you , for the days are too short to do anything other than that . It's a good day . Go and make it a great day . We'll be back next week with another episode of the Tim Allman Podcast . Peace , Thank you .