In FLAME’s newest book, readers will discover church history and church fathers that bring a greater appreciation for what God has given His people.
ST. LOUIS (June 5, 2025)—Why is it important for today’s Christians to know about the church fathers? What’s important about the Sacraments? And why should today’s Christians truly care about them? In his second book with Concordia Publishing House, Because Jesus Taught It: Christianity Through the Eyes of the Church Fathers, Grammy-nominated Christian rapper FLAME answers these questions from a Lutheran perspective and sheds light on just how important it is to know the history of the church. FLAME’s new book is now available on CPH’s website.
“Shouldn’t we know who God is?” FLAME writes. “The nature of God’s existence? The true nature of Jesus, the Messiah? The difference between God’s Law and His Gospel? . . . If the Sacraments are important enough for Jesus to implement, then we would do right to wrestle with how they have been historically understood and practiced to see where they fit into the Christian life” (pp. 11–12).
Because Jesus Taught It helps readers study the early church fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME’s conversational voice to see for themselves why these teachings continue to be important to the Christian’s lived-out life in Christ today.
“FLAME’s joy in discovering the efficacy of Baptism and the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, as found in the church fathers’ works and carried over into Lutheranism, is exhilarating and contagious,” said Dr. Gene Edward Veith Jr., PhD, and author of Spirituality of the Cross. “This seminary-trained rap star makes an engaging case for a faith that is both evangelical and sacramental. Or, as he calls it, ‘ancient Christianity as preserved through confessional Lutheran thought.’”
Visit cph.org for more information about the book. Contact Erica Sontag to schedule an interview with the author.
About the Author
FLAME is a Grammy®-nominated and Stellar Award–winning hip-hop artist. He is a well-versed leader in the Christian hip-hop scene with a growing list of accolades, including a Grammy nomination, multiple Billboard chart-toppers, and several Dove and Stellar Award nominations. He was born and raised in the inner city of St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to touring, writing, recording, and coproducing his own projects, FLAME founded and helms Clear Sight Music and Extra Nos Academy, boutique imprints raising the bar in Christian hip hop and beyond. He has a master’s degree in theology with a minor in counseling from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
About Concordia Publishing House
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For 155 years, CPH has been providing individuals, churches, and schools with products that are faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. From books and Bibles to church supplies, curriculum, and software, CPH offers more than 10,000 products to support the proclamation of the Gospel worldwide. Visit CPH online at cph.org.
CONTACT: Erica Sontag, Public Relations, 314-268-1303, erica.sontag@cph.org
Praise for Because Jesus Taught It
This sounds like a book about ancient Christianity, but even more than that, it is about contemporary Christianity—with its perfectionism and endless self-scrutiny—and our desperate need for the Sacraments. FLAME’s joy in discovering the efficacy of Baptism and the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, as found in the church fathers’ works and carried over into Lutheranism, is exhilarating and contagious. This seminary-trained rap star makes an engaging case for a faith that is both evangelical and sacramental. Or, as he calls it, “ancient Christianity as preserved through confessional Lutheran thought.”
—Dr. Gene Edward Veith Jr., PhD; author of Spirituality of the Cross and Embracing Your Lutheran Identity
In his most recent book, Because Jesus Taught It, FLAME tells inspiring stories of faith and faithfulness through the ages in ways that speak to our contemporary times. With insights from the earliest Christians as well as his own walk of faith, FLAME challenges readers to explore a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus that make a difference in our lives today.
—Rev. Dr. Gerhard Bode, chairman of the department of historical theology and director of the Center for Reformation Research, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri
Church history, contrary to popular opinion, is far from a mere theoretical academic pursuit. Studying the contexts, writings, and lives of faithful men and women who have gone before us in Christ’s church should be a deeply practical and faith-building journey that helps us make sense of our own life experiences and Christian walk. Because Jesus Taught It is an illustration of this truth. In a seamless melding of memoir and theology, FLAME brings the reader along on his personal journey of patristic discovery. This study highlights the strengths of the Lutheran theological tradition, equipping those new to Lutheranism and lifelong Lutherans alike to identify the comfort, assurance, and beauty of our confession of faith when contrasted with errors common in American evangelicalism. Deeply relatable and moving, yet informative and researched, FLAME’s book on the early church fathers and the historic Christian view of the Sacraments is fresh, well-written, and difficult to put down.
—Christa Petzold, author of Journey Through Church History and Gathered by Christ: The Overlooked Gift of Church
FLAME gets the church fathers—and they got him too. Despite what you may have been taught growing up, Christianity did not go off the rails after the New Testament, only to be rediscovered by Martin Luther. The Holy Spirit has a history, and this book rejoices in that history. The Word of God and the sacramental life have always gone hand in glove. Like Plato’s analogy of the cave, Marcus “FLAME” Gray shares his own discovery of this life, bringing his readers along with him to reacquaint them with the great tradition. I highly recommend this book.
—Rev. Dr. Joel C. Elowsky, professor of historical theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri
Because Jesus Taught It by FLAME is an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand and teach the true nature of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the importance of clear, Christ-centered instruction, ensuring that even the youngest believers can grasp the core tenets of the faith. This book delves into several key themes:
- A History Behind the Teachings: Exploring the origins and development of Christian doctrines.
- Church According to the Early Church: Understanding how the early Christians practiced and organized their communities.
- Baptism According to the Early Church: Examining the significance and practice of Baptism in early Christianity.
- The Eucharist According to the Early Church: Investigating the early church’s understanding and celebration of the Eucharist.
By delving into God’s Word and the teachings of the early church, this book will help preserve and pass down the Gospel message for generations to come.
—Rev. Dr. B. Keith Haney, assistant to the president for Mission, Human Care, and Stewardship, LCMS Iowa District West
As a lifelong Lutheran, I’ve learned much from FLAME’s journey and gained an even deeper understanding of what we believe about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. FLAME gives us a front-row seat to his tussle with Scripture and the early church fathers as he discovers that Lutheran teaching on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper isn’t European innovation but a preservation of what the earliest Christians taught. This book will foster understanding and dialogue among readers with different views on the Sacraments and is a fantastic resource for lifelong Lutherans, pastors, church workers, and those wrestling with questions about the Sacraments.
—Michelle Diercks, author of Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God’s Faithfulness
