Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 90. In Psalm 90, Moses reflects upon the reality that God is eternal and sinful man is mortal. Man returns to the dust of death not as an accident, but as a consequence given from God. We sinners rightly deserve the an...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 84. As one of the sons of Korah serving in the temple, the writer of Psalm 84 speaks from firsthand experience when he extols the loveliness of God’s dwelling place. His longing to be in the house of the LORD is shared by every faithful Christian, whether due to ext...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 77. The psalmist cries out to God in faith in Psalm 77, even as he wrestles with God in prayer. Day and night the psalmist can find no comfort as he considers God. He begins to turn as he makes diligent search, not within himself, but in the Word of God for the way God has acted in th...

Rev. Dr. Christian Preus, pastor at Mount Hope Lutheran Church and School in Casper, WY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 62. Though David makes no explicit request of the LORD in Psalm 62, still he has the truth of God to confess and pray. David waits upon God in silence, confident that God is his rock and fortress who will save him. Even as enemies attack David and the people of God...

Rev. Jeffrey Ries, pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 55. In Psalm 55, David cries out to the LORD in the midst of great trouble and trembling. The distress is so great that David is restless and desires to flee away from the threat of those who intend him harm. David puts the matter of his deliverance into the LORD’s hands as Dav...

Rev. David Boisclair, interim pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 46. Psalm 46 invites us to pray to God as the refuge and strength who will never fail us, no matter what enemies come against us. Neither disasters in nature nor political machinations can cause fear for the people of God, for He dwells in our midst and brings His help...

Rev. Jason Schockman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 34. Psalm 34 was David’s prayer while he was fleeing from King Saul and changed his behavior in the presence of the Philistine king. As David praises the LORD for answering his prayer for deliverance, he invites all those who trust in the LORD to experience the same goodness o...

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 25. Psalm 25 is an acrostic poem that teaches and prays concerning a wide range of Christian experience. David prays that the Lord would keep His promises so that David would not be put to shame. In order that he better know the promises of the Lord, David asks that God would...

Rev. William Terjesen, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Peekskill, NY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 19. Psalm 19 starts with the way God reveals Himself in His creation. The heavens declare His glory as a constant testimony of His existence and His power. In particular, the presence of the sun in the sky that goes from one end of the heavens to the other gives evide...

Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 14. Psalm 14 teaches godly wisdom to all who have ears to hear. Folly rejects the one true God. Such folly may not be spoken outright, but the meditations of the heart as made manifest in actions that have no regard for God and His Word reveal the foolishness. St. Paul picks this thought up i...

Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 5. As King David cries out to the LORD with growing urgency, he grows in trust and expectation. He prays in the morning, not because it is at the appointed time for sacrifice, but also because he looks to God first. David knows that God does not delight in evil nor in those wh...

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 1. Psalm 1 sets the tone for the entire Psalter. God teaches us that the blessed man does not join in the wickedness of scoffers; instead, the blessed man delights in the Word of God at every opportunity. Through His Word, God causes the lives of His people to flourish, which rem...

Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of...

Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 22:6-21. The conclusion of the book of Revelation emphasizes the truth and urgency of what John has seen and written, as well as all of the Holy Scriptures. Jesus promises that He is coming soon and that those who hold onto His Word as they wait for Him will be blessed. Now is t...

Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 22:1-5. John sees the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb; this heavenly reality is brought near to us even now in Holy Baptism. John sees the tree of life with enduring fruit; this heavenly reality is brought near to us even now in Holy Communion. The...

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 21:9-27. In contrast to the great prostitute Babylon, John now sees the true Bride and Wife of Christ. He is shown the holy Christian Church in all of her true splendor as she comes down out of heaven as the eternal holy city. The glory she has is from God, and her features and dime...

Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 21:1-8. Because God has defeated His every last enemy to the uttermost, the time has come for John to see the new creation. The absence of the sea is a picture of the reality that there is no more threat to the people of God. This is the place where God promises to dwell with His...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 20:1-15. When John sees the one thousand year reign of Christ, He sees the reality that exists right now that Jesus is the Stronger Man who has bound the devil and brought us into His heavenly kingdom. This reality continues until the Last Day, even as Satan’s attacks grow stronger and...

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 19:11-21. John sees heaven opened and Jesus riding on a white horse. He brings judgment in the righteousness that He has won through His atoning sacrifice. He is Faithful and True, the very Word of God. His robe bears the stains of His own blood by which He has atoned for the si...

Rev. Sean Smith, pastor at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mason City, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 19:1-10. The Lamb’s victory over Babylon, the anti-church, bring forth the singing of all the heavenly host. They join their voices in the triumphant song, “Hallelujah!” The Lamb has defeated the enemies of the Church for good, and so the Church lives in that realit...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 18:1-24. When the Lamb wins, His enemies lose. John sees the Lamb’s defeat of the anti-church when an angel from heaven announces with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great.” As the anti-church becomes a wasteland, God renews His call for His people to come...

Rev. Kyle Mietzner, battalion chaplain with the 10th Mountain Division of the United States Army at Fort Drum, NY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 17:1-18. An angel shows John a great prostitute who represents the anti-church. In contrast to the outward weakness of the Church, the anti-church appears powerful and seduces men from every nation to have their fill of pleasure with h...

Rev. Dr. Ryan Tietz, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology and Dean of Students at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 16:12-21. God dries up the Euphrates River when the sixth censer is poured out. Though He is judging His enemies, the enemies of God take it as their opportunity to assemble together and attack His people. However...

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Assistant Vice President of Admissions and Director of the Christ Academy Program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 16:1-11. John hears a majestic voice from heaven call forth the seven angels with the seven censers of God’s wrath. Coming from the temple, their purpose is a clear and final call to repentance....

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 15:1-8. As another sign in heaven, John sees seven angels with the seven last plagues of God’s wrath. The saints standing beside the sea of glass mingled with fire shows that they faced tribulation in this life, yet they have come through as conquerors in Christ. They join in...