The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has a rich theological heritage, a clear confession of faith, and a powerful message of salvation by grace through faith. But has the church lost some of its urgency to share that message with the world?

In this episode of the Red Letter Disciple Podcast, Zach Zehnder sits down with Pastor Adam Koontz to discuss the current state of the LCMS, the challenges facing Lutheran congregations, and the opportunities ahead for evangelism, discipleship, and reaching the next generation.

Adam brings a unique perspective. He didn’t grow up Lutheran—or even in the church. His journey to Christianity began through reading literature and Scripture, eventually leading him into the LCMS. After serving as a seminary professor, he returned to parish ministry because of his passion for preaching the Gospel directly to people.

Together, Zach and Adam explore several pressing questions:

• Has the LCMS become more focused on internal politics than reaching people with the Gospel?
• Why should being confessional and being missional never be competing priorities?
• What makes Lutheran theology uniquely equipped for evangelism?
• Why are younger Lutherans increasingly attracted to traditional Christianity?
• How can churches offer the truth, transcendence, and community that young adults are seeking?
• Why must doctrine and Christian practice remain connected?
• What would it take to rebuild trust and meaningful relationships across the LCMS.

Adam also shares why having more children cannot replace evangelism, what Lutheran churches can learn from the historic Walther League, and why he believes the LCMS is like a high-performance sports car that rarely gets driven.

The conversation ends with a challenge for every disciple of Jesus: move beyond simply knowing Christian doctrine and begin putting the teachings of Jesus into practice.

Whether you’re an LCMS pastor, church worker, lay leader, or simply someone who cares about the future of the Lutheran church, this conversation offers both an honest assessment of our challenges and a hopeful vision for what could come next.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Child Beyond International (CBI).

CBI is an incredible global partner that reaches the most vulnerable children in Guatemala. And you can help!  Please prayerfully considering partnering financially with this ministry through child sponsorship. You can make a difference in the life of a child forever

To find out more, go to www.childbeyond.org/rll. 

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Adam Koontz

• A Brief History of Power Podcast — https://abriefhistoryofpower.com/ 
• Family Bible Commentary — Adam Koontz’s biblical commentary project, published through Ad Crucem. 

Lutheran Theology and Resources

• The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod — https://www.lcms.org
• The Book of Concord — https://bookofconcord.org
• Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne — https://www.ctsfw.edu
• Lutheran Hour Ministries — https://www.lhm.org

Additional Resources

• Hodos Young Adult Movement — National young adult gathering, ministry network, and formation resources. www.hodosway.com 
• Red Letter Challenge — https://www.redletterchallenge.com
• 2026 State of the LCMS Survey — Survey findings discussed during the episode. www.lcmsdata.com 

Key insights from the episode

• • The LCMS has lost some of its evangelistic urgency.

  Adam argues that while Lutherans affirm the importance of evangelism doctrinally, the church’s behavior reveals a declining emphasis on missions, church planting, and reaching those outside the faith.

  2. Being confessional should make us missional.

  Faithfulness to Lutheran doctrine and commitment to evangelism aren’t opposing priorities. Adam explains that his confessional convictions are precisely what motivate him to proclaim the Gospel.

  3. Lutheran theology is an underutilized gift.

  The Small Catechism, the distinction between Law and Gospel, and the clarity of Scripture provide an extraordinary foundation for communicating Christianity to people who have never heard it.

  4. Doctrine and discipleship belong together.

  Zach and Adam discuss why Lutheran churches sometimes struggle to offer practical guidance for Christian living, even though Jesus’ teachings clearly connect belief with practice.

  5. Young adults are searching for something substantial.

  The 2026 State of the LCMS Survey reveals that younger respondents lean more traditional and confessional. Adam sees an opportunity for churches to offer clarity and stability in a chaotic culture.

  6. Truth and transcendence aren’t enough without community.

  Lutheran churches have theological depth, but Adam argues they must become more intentional about building relationships and belonging, particularly among younger generations.

  7. Church politics cannot replace the pursuit of truth.

  Adam warns that when denominational life revolves primarily around elections, it becomes harder to work through theological disagreements and maintain unity.

  8. A culture of trust must be intentionally rebuilt.

  The LCMS historically relied on strong relationships between pastors and congregations. As those cultural connections have weakened, churches need new ways to foster meaningful engagement and cooperation.

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