Great Questions, Great Conversations

Our Guest this week is Jim Buske of Lighthouse Youth Ministry and he relayed a story he asked a man in the predominantly African American Garden Homes neighborhood of Milwaukee about the challenges the city and the neighborhood faces. His friends answer was informative, not just for minority communities, but speaks to an increasingly important need for all people groups.The response? The neighborhood lacks "Uncles". The man or woman working in their yard or garage that the neighborhood young person could come and see what they were doing, learn by observing and asking questions. The neighborhood lacks trusted advisors and the younger generation is telling us the same. They don't need older people to be heroes, but they are wanting a trusted friend and advisor that they aren't necessarily related to.This opens an important door for Christian men and women to serve younger generations and a huge opportunity for young people to connect to the Body of Christ (the church), Not for religions duty, but for Christian relationship and humility is the path to that deeper relationship.In this episode we'll talk about some of the challenges of mentoring and the need for the church, young and old, to lead with greater humility as we seek to learn from one another and walk best in the commandment Jesus gave his church "Love One Another".To learn more about Lighthouse Youth Ministries please visit: https://www.lighthouseyouthcenter.com/Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.orgGreat Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Voting is a significant topic in American culture, especially in an election year. But what does the "right to vote" really mean? While it seems straightforward, the reality of that vote changes in different contexts and today we want to talk about what voting is and means in the church specifically. The podcast today gives important context to the why of voting and how voices without a vote are heard and acknowledged and how important it is for men to handle this responsibility Biblically, so that every voice is heard in a meaningful way. When done well, even when we disagree with the outcome, we have the strength of the word and promises of God that it is HIS kingdom that we are building and not our own. It's to that end that we want to vote well. Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Have you ever wondered if God seems to care more about how we behave than who we are? It's honestly not fair of us to see the God of the Bible, the God of the cross and empty tomb this way, but in our world we tend to feel the constant judgements all around us. Whether it's at work, at home, in relationships, at church... we have opinions of others and we feel the opinions others have of us. So what does God think of me? Does God love me? Or does God love my behavior? The answer... yes. In this podcast we dig deep and open up a bit more of the motive for this conversation and the answers to the questions were refreshing and hopeful, because they are Biblically true. How can we live with greater peace and confidence in God's love for us??? Keep getting a hug from Jesus! Listen in and share your thoughts and questions. If you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.orgGreat Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Why Lutherans Use Creeds in ChurchCreeds are a statement of belief that help Christians express the basic truths that they believe, as both an individual or as a corporate church.  Perhaps you already know this, but there is not a uniform agreement in the larger Christian church about the importance of validity of the Creeds.  So why, in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, do our churches frequently use one of the three Ecumenical creeds in worship on an almost weekly basis?In this Episode of GQGC we will dig into the origin and purpose of the creeds as well as their value and importance to helping us keep the main things the main things.  All of us live by and have statements of faith.  Even "No creed, but Jesus" is a creed - a statement of belief.  The value of the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian creeds  is of significant help and importance to Christians living in the world today.  We hope by the end of the episode you'll know more about why that is true.If you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.orgGreat Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Understanding Jesus Descent into HellThe Apostles Creed is a simple summary of the Biblical, Christian faith through the use of several statements that have rich theological depth to them. The second article, (or second paragraph of the creed) has to do with Jesus, who he is, what happened to him and what he does. As part of this creed, there is a line that says "He descended into hell" and this has left people asking questions. In today's podcast we talk about the origin passage for that in 1 Peter 3 and the timeline of Jesus suffering, his death, where his spirit went when he died and when he descended into hell and for what purpose. If this has been a confusing part of your understanding of the Christian faith, we hope this conversation will be helpful and hope filled to you as you consider what Jesus descent into hell means for you and me.If you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.orgGreat Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Three Thoughts on what God Has Already Given YouIn a sermon from a few weeks earlier, Pastor Pete shared an illustration that involved $80 as he helped the congregation wrestle with our guild driven anxiety that fuels the "TRY HARDER" voice we all wrestle with from time to time. With the illustration comes a great conversation on what it means to have access to all the blessings of my heavenly Father. I don't have it, but my Father does. We'll talk about the struggle to believe we believe and what God is expecting from us when it comes to the stewardship of the gifts he's given. Join us for a great illustration and conversation and let us know if you have questions as you join us! Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Biblical Observations from the Passion Story.  One of the benefits of reading the Bible over and over is that we all mature through experiences.  Wisdom comes from the combination of knowledge and experience and as we read the scriptures and become more familiar with the word of God in the Bible, we see more and more of God's truth and the application to our lives.  This week, we wanted to share several of those "Aha's" from Pastor Pete and host Mike Westendorf as they talk about some of the things they have learned as they have journeyed through the Word of God and life.  May we all take the mindset that we have never learned the word of God so well that God can't still teach us as we age and mature.If you have moments where God's word became clearer for you, please share them in the comments.If you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.orgGreat Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

How different does this sound?"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."and“If anyone wants to follow me, let a person deny themself, take up their cross, and follow me.Did you see it? "Must" vs. "Let a person" One is more direct and to the point, but has an edge that may go beyond the original language, the other is a bit more literal, but a little less readable. When it comes to Bible Translations, what issues arise? Why do we have so many? Are there strengths and weaknesses? How do I make a decision on which one to use? We spend some time digging into this topic in what we hope will be informative and insightful as you grow in reading the Bible and how to best do that.If you have questions on this topic, or a suggestion on another topic, please email Mike Westendorf - mwestendorf@stpmuskego.orgGreat Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

In Luke 9:23 Jesus makes this comment "23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. "For many of us we consider suffering to be the crosses that we bear.  It makes a lot of sense, Jesus suffered on the cross, so he must be talking about learning how to deal with bad things and suffering well.  But that is not what he means.  In this episode of Great Questions, Great Conversations, Pastor Pete Panitzke helps explain what Jesus is talking about and with the help of some guidance from Prof. Daniel Deutschlander's book on the "Theology of the Cross", we'll look at these crosses in different seasons of our lives and how God helps us bear them.Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

The impact of Godly men can be profound on children, families and society. A force for good as they live out their roles as Christian men of God. When men and dads don't do life well, the destruction can be profound. Guilt tugs at all people, but in the culture of 2024 America, men find a lot of walls that exist between who men are told to be and who God calls them to be.In this episode, Brandon Steenbock joins us for a dive into examining the walls that men need help breaking through and how to start again when men, and dads, feel they have blown it. By God's grace dads are even more than a shepherd at home, they are called to be "Father". We hope this episode will give perspective and encouragement to all who are praying for men to step into the identity God has given them.Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

In Today's episode we are joined by Pastor Brad Snyder who is also the chairman of "Conquerors Through Christ" a ministry dedicated to helping Christians Resist-Reject-Recover from explicit imagery use or addiction. It is no secret that talking about sex in the church is an uncomfortable topic and for many Christians we have lost the higher ground in the conversation, a topic that the Bible has much positive things to say.So, what does it mean for us to be part of redeeming the conversation as we align it with God's word and cover it with God's Grace. In this episode there is practical advice for parents when it comes to sexual education of their young children through their teen age years. We'll talk about how married couples can grow in their understanding of sex from a Biblical perspective. And for single people we talk about what to do with the passion and desire for sexual intimacy while we wait for the time when God grants us a marriage partner.After listening to the podcast, are there additional questions we might better wrestle with as Christians and the Church? Email Mike Westendorf: mwestendorf@stpmuskego.orgLearn more about the resources at Conquerors through Christ: https://conquerorsthroughchrist.net/ Great Questions,Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

We want our kids to grow up in community. To be challenged, share in responsibility, grow friendships and relationships and sports is a great way to connect our kids to others and have a more positive outlet for all of that energy. But what happens as kids grow older and the demands of those communities begin to change, especially when it challenges relationships and experiences with the local church. In this weeks podcast, Mike and his cousin Tanya will have an honest conversation about the tension that exists between sports schedules and attending worship regularly. This issue is not going away in American culture any time soon. Empathy, prayer and patience are some key ideas that will come out of this as we learn to hold the tension between God's command for sabbath rest and the challenge of living in an increasingly less Christian environment to raise our kids. How might we best serve each other, keep one another close and release the Gospel into the worlds that we are a part of. We hope this will be an encouragement for us to have healthy conversations on this challenging topic with fellow Christians. Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Every years the staff at St. Paul's/The Bridge takes in the Global Leadership Summit, a conference that gives those leading families, organizations, and churches training and awareness of ways to consider to improve in their various leadership and organizational roles. Arica Drezdzon and Mike Westendorf open up their notebooks to talk about some of the biggest takeaways from their time at this year's conference. If you're looking for a spark in your own personal growth, this podcast will give you some of the big ideas, practical takeaways and a few resources that can help you as you learn some new lessons for life. Global Leadership Talk info: https://globalleadership.org/365Craig Groeschel book: https://www.craiggroeschel.com/booksJames Cleary Atomic Habits: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsThe Chosen: https://new.thechosen.tv/Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.

The big C church, the one on the corner that people go to worship God and be part of a congregation, really finds it's foundation in the home. When a Christian man and woman become husband and wife with Jesus as the foundation, their joined lives represent the smallest functioning example of the "Body of Christ". When children come into that family, a child's first experience of what it means to be part of the "body of Christ"... the church... is modeled in the home.That likely sounds scary or just flat out wrong for those of us who didn't train to be a professional Pastor, but the reality is that the big C church is usually healthiest when mom and dad are Pastors, or "shepherds" at home. So what does that mean? What does it look like to worship at home? And what if this concept is too new and you feel that, as a parent, it's too late. Join us on the conversation as we talk more about the biological family church and how to get started.Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.

Loneliness is an epidemic in our society today.  Recent studies show that 58% of the general population struggle with a deeper level of aloneness while up to 78% of our young people in Gen Z claim a deep sense of longing for connection and yet fail to find it.  In this podcast we discuss one of the features of God's church that, at least at St. Paul's/The Bridge we call the Family Church.  While we all have a biological family of origin that we come from, we often grow apart and grow closer to others.  What role can God's church play to help facilitate the Functional Family Church - a place that can provide a respite from loneliness for many others.  We hope this episode can get us thinking about how we can work together to make this happen.Original Family Church Sermon Series and materials:Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.

Mike Westendorf, Arica Drezdzon and Paul Schuessler continue the conversation on simple leadership lessons. If leadership is influence, then we all have influence so we start with a look at the serious view God takes on leading well.The team talks on some of the leadership pieces of advice in Carey's blog on 25 leadership insights for young leaders. Here is the link to Carey's blog post that is the subject for this podcast: https://careynieuwhof.com/25-random-pieces-of-advice-for-leaders-in-their-20s-30s-or-40s/Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.

"Everybody Wins when the leader gets better" “Leadership is influence and everyone has influence.” “A humble leader can learn from anyone.” How do you respond to these leadership quotes? If leadership is really influence then all of us lead in some capacities and all of us have moments where we follow and support leaders.In this episode, we share some thoughts on a blog post by another developer of leaders named Carey Nieuwhof who starts off the post with this quote: "I was recently talking to a friend who had turned 50 a couple of years ahead of me. He surprised me by saying that your 50s are largely pre-determined by how well you lived your 30s and 40s."Paul Schussler, Arica Drezdzon and Mike Westendorf talk about some of the simple leadership lessons that stood out to them in their own journey in leadership and as they wrestle with improving. We hope the discussion will be helpful to you as you lead in your various roles in life, especially for young leaders in their 20s, 30s and 40s.Here is the link to Carey's blog post that is the subject for this podcast: https://careynieuwhof.com/25-random-pieces-of-advice-for-leaders-in-their-20s-30s-or-40s/Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.

Disappointment shows up in a very real, tangible, physical and emotional way when the gap between our expectation and the result is wide.  We've all experienced it and for many of us, recovering from it is a real journey.  In some cases disappointment is an eye opening experience when we realize just how much assumption goes into our expectations giving us pause for some needed personal reflection and confession.  And yet over time we see that our disappointments have been used by God in extraordinary ways.  God doesn't waste anything, even the hard times.So... when dealing with disappointment what how should we process it?  This conversation with Hannah Schermerhorn is a followup to Hannah's Awake and Alive Summer One Day keynote talk this past June.  We pray it will be an encouragement as you consider some of the questions as we wrestle with this topic.To view Hannah's keynote and for small group questions, please visit: https://awakealive.com/2023-summer-one-dayGreat Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.

Our listeners have been asking some good questions of late and we have had a few iterations of this kind of question over the past year or two. When the Christian dies, what happens and more specifically will we recognize people other Christians that we knew while we lived on earth? What does the Bible have to say about that and what do we simply have to wait for? It's a simple way to say it, but "Heaven is Better". Pastor Pete and Mike Westendorf tackle the topic in this week's episode.Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.

In earlier generations when people talked about becoming engaged it was often assumed in the church that engagement was tantamount to being married in God's eyes.  Mike and Pastor Pete talk through the Biblical understanding of marriage and the impact of our changing cultural norms on understanding the process that takes a couple from dating to engagement to marriage.Were Mary and Joseph married?  What is the implication of living together and common law marriages?  If being engaged is pretty much like being married, why does God prohibit physical intimacy until the formal commitment? What business does the state have in people's affairs?  And what happens if a Pastor marries a couple without a license?  We hope this episode provides good guidance for your own great conversations as we bring the counsel of God into our understanding on these important topics.Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's Lutheran and The Bridge in Muskego, WI.  Please visit www.stpaulmuskego.org for more information.