Guest and author Michelle Diercks joins this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to speak with host Elizabeth Pittman about her newest Bible study, Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God’s Faithfulness. Michelle talks about the hope we have in Jesus and how to use Promised Hope in your study, a group study, or a book club and face whatever uncertainty you have in your life.

Pre-order the book on cph.org now! Available on January 7.

Show Notes
In this life, we aren't promised health, wealth, stability, or even perfect relationships. What we are promised is hope in Jesus. In Promised Hope, Michelle Diercks, author of Promised Rest: Finding Peace in God’s Presence, explores eight different names and characteristics of God and what they teach us about who He is and the hope He promises.

Michelle and Elizabeth discuss the inspiration behind Promised Hope, how she chose the names of God to study in the book, how she hopes readers use the Bible study, how the book’s theme speaks to modern struggles, and more.

Questions

• What inspired you to write Promised Hope and how does it build on Promised Rest?
• Why do you think hope is a topic that women today are hungry for?
• How did you choose the names of God to feature in Promised Hope?
• How do you see understanding the names of God to enhance a woman’s faith and life?
• What name(s) in Promised Hope are especially meaningful for you?
• Was there a particular name that was challenging for you?
• Let’s focus in on one or two names: Adonai and The Lord is My Rock.
• How do you see readers using Promised Hope?
• In your opinion, how does the theme of God’s faithfulness speak to modern struggles like anxiety, fear, or uncertainty?
• What is the main thing you hope readers take away from Promised Hope?

About the Guest
Michelle Diercks is a writer and speaker. As a professional and as a volunteer, she has taught God’s Word for more than thirty years. Michelle is the author of Promised Rest: Finding Peace in God’s Presence and the host of the podcast Peace in His Presence. She and her husband are the parents of two sons and live in Iowa.

Listen to this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast as author and guest R. Reed Lessing takes a close look at recent interpretations, historical and canonical settings, genres, and more in the book of Lamentations. Lessing provides his perspective on all of these things and more in the newest volume in the Concordia Commentary series that he authored - Lamentations - Concordia Commentary.

Pre-order the next Concordia Commentary edition on the book of Lamentations on our website today or subscribe to the Concordia Commentary series to save 30% on all new and previously published volumes.

Show Notes
The book of Lamentations, marked by its tone of mourning, loss, defeat, and heartache, provides neither a pleasant nor an easy read. Nonetheless, it meets us in the valleys of suffering we inevitably face, offering a glimpse of hope in God’s faithfulness.

In the newest Concordia Commentary volume on Lamentations, Lessing walks readers through this valley, providing insight into the history of interpretations, narratives, and theological context. Listen to the episode as Lessing talks with host Elizabeth Pittman about why Christians should read the book of Lamentations, the destruction of Zion with the temple in Jerusalem and its implications, the Law and Gospel parts included in the book, who he wants to reach with this commentary volume, and more.

Questions

• Why should a Christian bother to read the biblical book of Lamentations?
• When we read through the English Bible, why not skip over this short book and go straight from Jeremiah to Ezekiel?
• Most of the book seems depressing. After all, it is a lament. Shouldn’t Christians rejoice always? What place does a lament have in the Christian life?
• Should lamenting be part of the corporate worship life of the church? Is Lamentations ever read as part of the lectionary in the church year? When and why?
• Much of the book mourns the destruction of Zion with the temple in Jerusalem. When did this happen in history? What was the prior history of Zion earlier in the Bible? What happens to Zion later in the Bible?
• Does Zion have anything to do with Jesus in the Gospels, or with the Christian hope expressed in the rest of the New Testament?
• Do any Christian hymns feature Zion and the temple? Do hymns include laments?
• Is the book of Lamentations all Law? Is there Gospel hope in it anywhere?
• It seems like the beginning of the book and the end of the book are all about judgment, death, and mourning. Wouldn’t it be better for a biblical book to start out happy and be optimistic at the end? If it has to have sad parts, why not hide them in the middle?
• In English the book is laid out as poetry. Is the Hebrew poetry? What constitutes Hebrew poetry? Does it have rhyme, or other things that mark it as poetry? Lamentations seems to repeat words and ideas in several lines or even a whole stanza. Why the repetition? Why not just say it concisely, once, and move on?
• What’s up with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet that are reproduced in English Bibles?
• Finally, who do you want to reach with your commentary?
  
  

About the Guest
Dr. R. Reed Lessing is the The Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. He also serves as the University’s Director for the Center of Biblical Studies and oversees the University’s Pre-Seminary Program. Previously he was Senior Pastor at Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and before that, Professor of Ex

Young women today are faced with a host of challenges, including things like loneliness, isolation, anxiety, bullying, social media behavior, and relationship issues. Guest and author Cassie Moore reminds us that young women can turn to God through all the issues they meet. Listen to the episode now as Cassie discusses her new book, Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Women with host Elizabeth Pittman.

Faith Notes is available on the CPH website now!

Show Notes

Anxiety. Isolation. Bullying. Issues with parents. Pornography. Faced with issues like these, where can teen girls turn? They can turn to God. Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Women features nearly 100 devotions on topics like these, pointing youth to God's truth, showing them God's forgiveness and hope, and steering them toward Christ. During the episode, Cassie explains how readers can go through devotions one-by-one, or browse by topic—with plenty of room to journal or sketch. She also discusses her background in youth ministry and how she helps teens use the Bible to walk through life with confidence.

About the Guest

Cassie Moore is an author, speaker, and leadership consultant with over 15 years of experience in ministry to young people. She is the author of Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Women and Authentic Youth Ministry: Straight Talk about Working with Kids, Teens & In-Betweens, contributor for Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry and Words of Peace and Protection: Devotions for Women, as well as The Gallivanter Saga adventure fiction series. She has published over 80 articles on youth and culture in addition to freelance curriculum writing. She grew up in Illinois & Minnesota, earned her master’s degree in organizational leadership from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine, has worked on national & district youth gatherings, and enjoys speaking internationally. She loves travel, hiking, & talking to strangers. She and her husband, Pastor Tyler, live in Hood River, Oregon and have two dogs. Connect with her at cassieahmoore.com.