Confessing Jesus’ Mission in a Fragmented Church

Tim's Book - Confessing Jesus' Mission is finally out! Find it here:
http://amazon.com/Confessing-Jesus-Mission-Pastors-Prayer-ebook/dp/B0FZW7MSTV

This is a very special episode of LEAD Time.

On launch day of Confessing Jesus’ Mission, Tim Ahlman joins the podcast for a different kind of conversation—not to defend a book, but to ask a deeper question facing the church today:

Have we lost a shared sense of why the church exists?

In this episode, Joe Beran interviews Tim about the growing fragmentation within the LCMS, the false binary between confession and mission, and why fear has quietly replaced courage in many of our conversations. Together, they explore how tribalism has shaped church discourse, why the Missio Dei must once again drive our priorities, and how the church can move from playing defense to faithfully going on offense for the sake of the lost.

The conversation also touches on pastoral formation, leadership development, and why strategic thinking does not undermine Lutheran identity—but can actually serve it when rooted in Christ, the Means of Grace, and love for neighbor.

This episode is not a manifesto. It’s an invitation:
- To leaders who care deeply about the future of the church
- To pastors and lay leaders willing to have honest, collegial conversations
- To anyone longing for unity without compromise and mission without fear

Tim also shares who the book is for, who it’s not for, and how it’s meant to be read—not in isolation, but in community, as a catalyst for deeper conversation and renewed clarity around the mission God has already given His church.

If you’ve felt the tension between faithfulness and fruitfulness, confession and mission, or tradition and innovation, this episode is for you.