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 John 11:45-57. The reaction to Jesus’ raising of Lazarus is mixed. Many believe in Jesus, but when the Pharisees find out what happen, their resolve to kill Jesus only grows. They take the matter to the Jewish ruling council...

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 11:28-44. Martha goes to her sister Mary because Jesus wants to speak with Mary as well. Mary greets Jesus with the same words as Martha—if Jesus had been here, Lazarus would not have died. Such a prayer to the Lord is a fitting lament to the only One who can do something to help. Wh...

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 11:17-27. When Jesus arrives in Bethany four days after Lazarus’ death, all hope for a reversal of Lazarus’ condition seems lost. Martha greets Jesus with raw honesty: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Such lamenting before the Lord is exac...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 11:1-16. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus serves as a climax within the Gospel according to St. John. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were all loved by Jesus, yet when Jesus found out that Lazarus was ill in Bethany, He did not go right away. Nonetheless, the Lord’s love for these three did not chan...

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL and assistant to the president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:31-42. When the Jews are ready to stone Jesus for stating that He is one with the Father, Jesus calls attention to His works from the Father. He points out the way that the Psalms speak of those whom God app...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, and Rev. Michael Newman, president of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:22-30. Though Jesus continues to face opposition in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication, He continues to call out to the Jews so that they might repent and believe in Him. In response to t...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:11-21. Jesus continues His discourse to the Pharisees by identifying Himself as the Good Shepherd. Whereas even the best leaders of Israel could not live up to all expectations, Jesus is the One who does all that we need. He ultimately shows Himself to be the Good Shepherd by laying His l...

Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain at the International Center in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:1-10. Jesus continues speaking to the Pharisees who claim to see but are actually blind. Using the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep, Jesus calls the Pharisees robbers who do not direct people to Him. When Jesus ca...

Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 9:24-41. As the Pharisees continue their investigation into Jesus’ healing of the man born blind, their mind is already made up. They attempt to get the man to join them in their unbelief, but his eyes continue to be opened spiritually as he...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 9:1-23. When Jesus and His disciples pass a man born blind, the disciples ask a question with incorrect assumptions. Jesus corrects them and invites them to see how God is at work for this man as Jesus gives the man the ability to see. The ensuing investigation into Jesus’ act includes t...

Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:48-59. The Jews disputing with Jesus attempt to insult Jesus by labeling Him a Samaritan, and they attempt to discredit Jesus by saying He must have a demon. Jesus tells them that He does not have a demon, for He only honors His Father, who is the Judge. Those who keep Jesus’ Word,...

Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:39-47. The Jews disputing with Jesus insist that Abraham is their father. Jesus tells them that if that were true, they would follow in Abraham’s footsteps of faith. Because they are seeking to kill Jesus, the One in whom Abraham believed, they cannot be true children of Abraham. T...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:30-38. After Jesus says that He will be lifted up on the cross, many of those listening believe in Him. Jesus tells them that to be His disciples truly, they must remain in His Word which alone gives the truth that brings freedom. When the Jews dispute that they need such freedom as...

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:21-29. As Jesus’ dispute with the Jews continues, He reveals that the heart of sin is unbelief; this is the true problem His audience has. Because they do not believe in Him, they will die in their sins. Though they ask the right question concerning Jesus’ identity, they do not be...

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:12-20.   Jesus takes up a Scriptural theme that stretches from Genesis to Revelation when He declares: “I am the light of the world.” As Old Testament Israel followed the LORD in the pillar of could and fire, so Jesus calls His people to follow Him as His disciples. The Pharisee...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:53-8:11. Although manuscript evidence leads to questions as to whether or not this text belongs in this particular spot in the Gospel according to St. John, the text does record an event that occurred during the ministry of Jesus. While Jesus is teaching in the temple, the scribes and...

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:32-52. When the Pharisees send officers to arrest Jesus at the Feast of Booths, His teaching leaves them amazed so that they don’t take action. The crowd continues to misunderstand what Jesus means when He teaches, and they are divided concerning whether Jesus is the Prophet, the Christ...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:14-31. During the middle of the Feast of Booths, Jesus begins to teach in Jerusalem. The Jews there marvel that Jesus can teach such things though He has never studied formally from any of their rabbis. Jesus identifies His teaching with His Father’s teaching and once again reminds Hi...

Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Algoma, WI and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Forestville, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:1-13. After the Bread of Life Discourse, Jesus continues His ministry in Galilee because the Jews in Judea were ready to kill Him. When the time for the Feast of Booths arrives, Jesus’ brothers show their misunderstanding...

Rev. James Uglum, pastor at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in St. Peters, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:60-71. The crowd recognizes Jesus’ words as difficult, yet He does not back down from the truth. He tells the people that they will only have life through the work of the Spirit in His Words; in this way, the Father draws people to Jesus. Tragically, many of Jesus’ disci...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:52-59. When the Jews dispute how Jesus could give His flesh to eat, Jesus only doubles down on His teaching. Not only must they eat His flesh, they must also drink His blood to have life. This eating and drinking happens by faith for all who believe in J...

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:41-51. As the Israelites grumbled at Moses in the wilderness, so the Jews in the Capernaum synagogue grumble at Jesus. They think they can know Jesus rightly because they know Joseph and Mary. Jesus corrects them by pointing to His Father in heaven. Only those drawn by the Father can co...

Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:34-40. When the crowd in the Capernaum synagogue ask Jesus for the bread He has described, He tells them in no uncertain terms, “I am the bread of life.” Through His “I am” statements, Jesus recalls the divine name first given to Moses. As the bread of life, Jesus is the One who...

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:22-33. The crowd looking for Jesus begins to do the math and realizes he must have gotten across the Sea of Galilee in an unusual way. As Jesus begins to teach them in the Capernaum synagogue, He tells them that they have not truly seen the signs. They are con...

Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:1-21. At the time of the Passover, Jesus is near the Sea of Galilee, where He heals many of the sick. Jesus lifts up His eyes to see the harvest field yet again, and He invites His disciples to see the work before them and trust Him to provide. Philip does not yet understand, and And...