The show

The show features interviews with Christian leaders and scholars, conversations on topics about faith and life, and reviews of resources for use in your own Christian growth. You’ll also find lots of bonus content, like weekly sermons and sermon Q&As from Nativity’s preachers.

Small Catechisms is a digital ministry of Lutheran Church of the Nativity which provides opportunities for faith formation wherever you are.

Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Hosts

Small Catechisms is regularly hosted by Nativity’s Fellowship Engagement Director & Theologian-in-Residence, Dr. Aaron Davis. Aaron holds a PhD from the University of St Andrews, ThM and MDiv from Union Presbyterian Seminary, and BA from NC State University. You can learn more about his theological work here.

Aaron is frequently joined by Nativity’s Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Sean Barrett. Sean holds a DMin from Methodist Theological School in Ohio, MDiv from Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, and BA from Grand Rapids Baptist College.

Podcast episodes

  • Episode 1 (April 23, 2025)

    Introduction

    Episode 2 (April 30, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - The Creeds

    Episode 3 (May 7, 2025)

    Resource review - Approaching the Atonement by Oliver Crisp (IVP Academic, 2020)

    Episode 4 (May 14, 2025)

    Interview - Accountability to God with Andrew Torrance (Oxford University Press, 2023)

    Episode 5 (May 21, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Faith & Music

    Episode 6 (May 30, 2025)

    Resource review - “The Severity of Universal Salvation” by Taylor Ross (Church Life Journal, 2019)

    Episode 7 (June 4, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Holy Baptism

    Episode 8 (June 11, 2025)

    Interview - Philosophy and the Church with Jordan Steffaniak

    Episode 9 (June 18, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Holy Communion

    Episode 10 (June 25, 2025)

    Resource review - Bioethics for the People podcast

    Episode 11 (July 2, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Reading Scripture today

    Episode 12 (July 9, 2025)

    Interview - The Trinity with Scott Williams (Cambridge University Press, 2025)

  • Episode 1 (August 6, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Full communion partners

    Episode 2 (August 13, 2025)

    Resource review - Aaron’s “Lewis Meets Thile” (Earth & Altar Magazine)

    Episode 3 (August 20, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - The Doctrine of God

    Episode 4 (August 27, 2025)

    Interview - Disability theology with Aaron Brian Davis

    Episode 5 (September 3, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Christology

    Episode 6 (September 10, 2025)

    Resource review - Aaron’s “Disability and Visions of Ourselves” (Christian Century)

    Episode 7 (September 17, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Pneumatology

    Episode 8 (September 24, 2025)

    Interview - American Christian Nationalism: Neither American Nor Christian with Mike Austin (Eerdmans, 2024)

    Episode 9 (October 1, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - Christian parenting in the age of TikTok

    Episode 10 (October 8, 2025)

    Resource review - Aaron’s “Compassionate Exclusivism: Relational Atonement and Post-Mortem Salvation” (Journal of Analytic Theology)

    Episode 11 (October 15, 2025)

    Conversations with Pastor Sean - LGBT affirmation in the ELCA

    Episode 12 (October 22, 2025)

    Interview - Christianity as a Way of Life: A Systematic Theology with Kevin Hector (Yale University Press, 2023)