Who gets to decide how Lutherans worship?
Should every LCMS congregation follow a common order of service? Are organs, vestments, screens, contemporary music, the church year, or even specific parts of the liturgy required? And what exactly does adiaphora mean when Lutherans talk about Christian freedom?
Dr. Kent Burreson, Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, joins Zach for a wide-ranging conversation about worship, pastoral formation, Lutheran identity, and some of the issues generating significant discussion throughout the LCMS.
Kent argues that Lutheran worship is fundamentally centered on Word and Sacrament—not one particular worship setting or style. Together, he and Zach work through a rapid-fire list of common worship practices and ask what Scripture actually commands, what it forbids, and where Christians have freedom.
They also discuss why the worship wars seem to be resurfacing, whether Lutherans sometimes turn matters of Christian freedom into tests of Lutheran identity, how mission and local context should influence worship, Communion frequency, confession and absolution, the Creed, the priesthood of all believers, and whether women should be permitted to read Scripture publicly in worship.
Along the way, Zach brings in findings from the 2026 State of the LCMS Survey—including surprising evidence that LCMS congregations may actually have more in common in worship than our online arguments sometimes suggest.
This conversation isn’t an argument for traditional worship or contemporary worship. It’s an attempt to get underneath the argument and ask a more important question:
What does Scripture actually require, where has Christ given His church freedom, and how do we use that freedom wisely while still walking together?
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What are we trying to produce when we form pastors?
Kent describes the goals of pastoral formation, including theological depth, relational health, mission, evangelism, and forming the whole person.
Pastors aren’t called to “maintenance ministry”
Kent explains why mission and evangelism should be inseparable from the life of every congregation.
What actually makes worship Lutheran?
Rather than beginning with a particular hymnal setting or liturgical form, Kent argues for a theological framework centered on Word and Sacrament.
Are the worship wars back?
Kent reflects on why worship debates have resurfaced in the LCMS and why today’s conflict is increasingly connected to Lutheran identity.
The enormous divide in the LCMS survey
Zach shares survey data showing dramatically different opinions about whether LCMS congregations should be encouraged toward a common hymnal and order of service.
Are Lutherans actually closer than we think?
Despite heated arguments online, Zach shares that the overwhelming majority of survey respondents reported worshiping in traditional or blended settings.
What exactly is adiaphora?
Kent explains the Lutheran understanding of matters neither commanded nor forbidden by Scripture and why Christian freedom matters.
Rapid fire: required or adiaphora?
Vestments. Organs. Guitars. Drums. Screens. The church year. The sign of the cross. Chanting. Contemporary Christian music. The hymnal. Raising hands. Kent works through each one.
How often should Lutherans celebrate Communion?
Kent distinguishes between what Christ commands and how frequently congregations celebrate the Lord’s Supper while making the case for frequent Communion.
Are the Creed, Invocation, and Confession required?
The conversation dives into the biblical and historical development of several practices many Lutherans consider essential parts of Sunday worship.
Just because something is adiaphora doesn’t mean it’s unimportant
Kent explains why Christian freedom must still be exercised with wisdom and concern for how practices form Christians and help congregations walk together.
A surprising Communion statistic
Kent guesses how many LCMS congregations celebrate Communion at least twice per month—and Zach reveals the survey result.
Should a church plant worship differently?
Kent discusses enculturation, mission, and why Lutheran worship should be contextualized without losing its theological center.
Priesthood of all believers vs. the pastoral office
Kent explains why the two should not be treated as competing ideas and how both pastor and congregation participate in Christ’s mission.
Should women read Scripture in worship?
Kent explains the theological discussion surrounding lay Scripture readers and shares why he believes different practices can faithfully exist within the LCMS.
The biggest theological challenge facing Christians today
Kent discusses secularization, church and culture, ecumenism, immigration, science, artificial intelligence, and the issues future pastors will increasingly face.
Why Kent still loves forming pastors
Kent closes by sharing what gives him hope as he watches another generation of pastors prepare to serve Christ and His church.
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