Youth4Life

Like the episode? Let us know!As the loneliness epidemic continues to spread, a new trend of AI powered friendships, familial relationships, and even romantic affairs is sweeping the globe. Sounds like a sci-fi novel gone wrong, doesn't it?The truth is, artificially generated images, text, voice (and soon video) present major challenges for distinguishing what is real from what is false. AND...as more and more of the essential activities of all human relationships are conducted through the disembodiment of a screen, the difference between a genuine human interaction and its artificial replacement becomes harder and harder to distinguish.Join us as we chat with Rev. James Neuendorf about the not-so-impossible world of AI relationships and hot to respond to the reality from a Christian perspective in this episode of the Youth4Life Podcast.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Originally from Michigan and a graduate of both Concordia University Ann Arbor and the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, the Rev. James Neuendorf is a missionary and church planting pastor in Puerto Rico serving with the LCMS Office of International Mission. He lives in Ponce on the south of the island together with his wife Christel who serves alongside him as a deaconess. The Neuendorfs have worked in Latin America as LCMS missionaries for more than 15 years.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Technology is just a tool, they say.  We should make good use of tools, and almost all tools have a good use, they say.  But, what about artificial intelligence? Is artificial intelligence just a tool, or is there something more we should consider?You are made in the image of God. You are one for whom Christ died. All else flows from this, including our use of technology, but especially our use of artificial intelligence.  If you do a concordance search for “artificial intelligence,” you won’t find those words in your Bible, but God actually has much to say about this ever-changing technology. Mrs. Jocelyn Benson joins us to teach us about the theology of technology this week on the Youth4Life Podcast.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jocelyn Benson grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa, attending Lutheran school through 8th grade. She has a B.A. in English-teaching and an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa. She also completed three and a half years of doctoral work in Educational Psychology with emphases in Technology and Education and History/Foundations of Education at the University of Iowa. She loved teaching English and coaching many sports at the high school level before returning to school full time. Jocelyn lives in Chatfield, MN, with her husband, Justin, and their four children—Asher, Malachi, Ephraim, and Miriam.In her free time, Mrs. Benson enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching sports (especially college football), and spending time outside. Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Social media was created to connect us, to make communication easier. But one quick glance at X, Instagram, or Tik Tok, and we see how easily social media divides us. What are some best practices for engaging in life-affirming ways on social media? How can you be a Gospel-motivated voice for life? How can you be a witness of God’s grace and goodness as you interact with others? Join us as we talk with Rev. Trevor Sutton, an expert author on the intersection between social media and Christianity, to discover some of the best ways you can uphold life in public and on-line forums.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rev. A. Trevor Sutton is Senior Pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church, a multi-campus congregation with locations in downtown Lansing and Meridian Township, Michigan. Sutton began his path toward ministry with a soccer scholarship to play at CUAA. At CUAA, Sutton earned an English degree (2008), served as captain of the soccer team, and was a proud resident of Hannah dorm. Sutton went on to earn an M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary (2012), an MA degree (Digital Rhetoric and Professional Writing, 2017) from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. (Doctrinal Theology, 2023) from Concordia Seminary.  Rev. Sutton has written several books including Redeeming Technology (co-authored with Dr. Brian Smith, MD, 2021), Clearly Christian (2018), Authentic Christianity: How Lutheran Theology Speaks to a Postmodern World (co-authored with Dr. Gene Veith, 2017), and Being Lutheran (2016). Sutton’s writing has appeared in Houghton-Mifflin’s Best American Essays Anthology, the Washington Post, Relief Journal, Christian Century, Concordia Journal, Religion and Liberty - The Acton Institute, Faith and Leadership - Duke Divinity, and Religion New Service.  In addition to serving as pastor and writer, Sutton also occasionally teaches courses at Concordia University – Ann Arbor, Concordia Seminary, and Lutheran Theological Seminary in Twshwane (Pretoria, South Africa) and is a frequent speaker at conferences.  Rev. Sutton is married to Elizabeth Sutton and they have two daughters, Grace and Hannah. The Sutton family enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, literature, and dance parties in their living room. You can connect with Rev. Sutton through his website, www.atrevorsutton.com.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Recorded live at the 2024 Y4Life in Washington, D.C. conference. The panel discussion titled “Just As…I Am as Male or Female” featured panelists Katy Faust, Rev. Brian Barlow, Rev. Jonathan Petzold, and Christa Petzold. The four address questions and discuss the life issue of identity, focusing on gender and sexuality, from a biblical perspective. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Katy Faust is Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children's right to their mother and father. She publishes, speaks and testifies widely on why marriage and family are matters of justice for children. Her articles have appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, The Federalist, Public Discourse, WORLD Magazine, The Daily Signal, the Washington, Examiner, the American Mind, and the American Conservative. She is on the advisory board for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Katy helped design the teen edition of CanaVox which studies sex, marriage, and relationships from a natural law perspective. She detailed her philosophy of worldview transmission in her book, Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City. She and her pastor husband are raising their four children in Seattle.With over 20 plus years ministering to the sexually and relationally broken, Rev. Brian Barlow addresses the necessity of keeping a clear gospel when walking along side individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who desire freedom in Christ. His personal journey out of a disfigured life is a testimony to Ephesians 3:20. God in His mercy continues to do more than Brian and the world could imagine. He married his bride Nichole in 2012 and together they are raising their four sons ages 10, 8, 4, and 1. In addition to pastoring, Rev. Barlow serves with many local and national ministries, including Lutherans For Life, Y4Life, and LINC-LA. Pastor Barlow is invited often to share his story and give hope to both large and small venues across the U.S.Rev. Jonathan Petzold holds an MDiv from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He serves as the sole pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Antioch, Illinois. Christa Petzold holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and Lutheran secondary education from Concordia University Wisconsin, an MA in theology from Concordia University Irvine, and is currently pursuing a PhD in church history through Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. She works as a stay-at-home mother, homeschooling their four children. Jonathan and Christa have been married since 2010 and enjoy learning and teaching God's Word together. They also love coffee, Star Wars, traveling, and quiet evenings at home.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!The sinner divides his neighbors into groups and factions and classes that keep "those" people over there and "these" people over here. While the sinner can and does divide people based on many things, one of the most egregious ways in which it is done is based upon what society would call "race." But to know someone only by their race is to no longer see him or her as an individual but as a caricature; and our Lord would not have this of us because our Lord knows nothing of race except the human race, of which He has made Himself one in nature. Join Y4Life Director Michelle and Rev. Eli Lietzau as they have a conversation about the evils of racism, hatred, bigotry, and the ways in which Christ has overcome this by His human nature and delivers the victory through His Body, the Church.Check out the resources mentioned by Michelle and Pastor Lietzau:Y4Life Lesson Plan 4 Life: Racism Part 1 (Part 2 coming soon!)The Graff Theses on Marriage - Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller & Rev. Warren Graff (specifically interracial marriage)Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Young adults are identifying as "spiritual" rather than "religious." Why is that? Have new age influences started to creep into Christianity? How important is it to be together as the Body of Christ? Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Media Resource Assistant Diana chat this week about new age idols and how we as Gospel-motivated voices 4 Life should respond.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Humans are part of creation. God created not just our atoms but also our reason and all our senses. We use these senses to perceive the Word and Sacraments and also to understand the created world. But can our senses be trusted? Can we use science to understand God and His creation? What are the commonalities between God, humans, and the rest of creation? How can an infinite God communicate with us as finite beings? Learn how to use your reason and senses as Godly Gifts, serving our neighbors and being stewards of creation with Dr. Michael Young.Follow along with Dr. Young's slides here.LCMS CTCR Report "Together With All Creatures"---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Michael Young is a faculty member at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Where do intrusive thoughts come from? Are intrusive thoughts connected to life issues? How should we as 4 life Christians go about navigating intrusive thoughts? Join Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Media Resource Assistant Diana this week as they chat about intrusive thoughts and how to respond as Gospel-motivated voices 4 life.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!The world will tell you that there is no order or purpose in life and that your life has no real meaning. This is simply not true. God created the world with order and design, and every part of creation serves a purpose. You also were created for a purpose, and your life has real meaning and an eternal goal. Rev. Thompson guides us through Psalm 104 in this episode, discussing the revealed purpose of God in creation and what it means for us as Gospel-motivated voices 4 Life.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pastor Matt Thompson was born and raised in Romeo, Michigan and has earned degrees at Hope College, Holland, Michigan; Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia; and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. Pastor Thompson served for seven years as the Associate Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Park Rapids, Minnesota and for two years as a church planter for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Bismarck, North Dakota, founding Holy Cross Lutheran Church in 2010. Pastor Thompson now serves the Dual Parish of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Bismarck, North Dakota, and St. John’s Lutheran Church, McClusky, North Dakota.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Like the episode? Let us know!Youth4Life Podcast Favorite - Surrogacy with Rev. Dr. Scott StiegemeyerGuest Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer returns to talk about where surrogacy came from, the different ways surrogacy is used in our culture, and the practical and ethical issues with this practice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reverend Doctor Scott Stiegemeyer teaches theology and ethics at Concordia University, Irvine, California. Scott is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan (B.A.); Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (M.Div.); Trinity International University, Deerfield, Illinois (M.A.); and Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois (D.Bioethics). Prior to coming to Concordia University, he served as a pastor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Director of Admission at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, and as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, Illinois. In addition to teaching at Concordia, Scott serves the students at his university in a variety of capacities, writes, and speaks regularly across the Church.Discover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.