Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 5:30-47. Jesus continues to defend Himself against the false accusations leveled against Him. Jesus lines up other witnesses who testify to the truth of who He is. John the Baptist spoke truly concerning Jesus; his testimony was not merely from man, for John was sent by God. The Father a...

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 5:19-29. As Jesus begins to answer the objections from the Jewish religious leaders, He emphasizes His unique relationship with His Father. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. The works that the Son is doing are great, but He will show even greater works in His death and resurrection....

Rev. James Yonkers, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danville, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 5:1-18. When Jesus travels up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish feasts, He goes to the pool of Bethesda. There were many who were disabled at the pool, hoping to be the first one into the water after it was stirred. When Jesus engages a man who has been unable to walk for thirty-eig...

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 4:43-54. When Jesus travels again to Cana in Galilee, an official from Capernaum makes the journey to see Jesus. He implores Jesus to come down to Capernaum and heal his son who was at the point of death. Jesus rebukes the attitude espoused by the man and the other Galileans who would not believe...

Rev. William Terjesen, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Peekskill, NY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 4:27-42. After the Samaritan woman at the well speaks with Jesus, she goes back to the town to tell the people about Him, and they start to come out to meet Him. Meanwhile, Jesus instructs His disciples concerning His work of accomplishing His Father’s will. He sees th...

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 4:1-26. Most Israelites of Jesus’ day would have traveled around Samaria. However, St. John tells us that Jesus had to pass through there in order to show us that Jesus wanted to reveal Himself to the woman at the well. Through this unlikely encounter, Jesus reveals that He has true li...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 3:22-36. The ministry of John the Baptist has not ended even after Jesus’ public ministry begins. Yet John is not interested in any sort of competition between him and Jesus. Instead, John’s ministry continues in the joy to point people to Jesus as the Christ, the Lamb of God...

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 3:1-21. The people of Israel who begin to take notice of Jesus include those in the higher parts of society. Nicodemus, one of the rulers of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night seeking His teaching. When Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about another birth, Nicodemus misunderstands....

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 2:12-15. Jesus goes down to Capernaum for a few days before going up to Jerusalem for the Passover. When Jesus enters the temple, He sees that the buying and selling has overtaken the temple’s true purpose to be the place where sacrifices were offered on behalf of the people’s sins. In...

Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, pastor at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 2:1-11. St. John has been giving a timeline during the first part of his Gospel that now places us on the sixth day. As God created the gift of marriage on the sixth day of creation, now Jesus is at a wedding on this sixth day to show forth the new creation in Him. The interaction...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 1:43-51. Jesus continues to call disciples to Himself in Galilee; He takes the initiative. He speaks His authoritative word to Philip: “Follow Me!” The Word calls Philip to faith, and Philip goes to tell Nathanael that Jesus of Nazareth is the One promised by the Law and the Prophets. N...

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 1:35-42. After John identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God a second time, two of his disciples follow Jesus. Jesus’ initial question to them is one that all who come to Jesus do well to consider: “What are you seeking?” They call Him “Rabbi,” and Jesus certainly is the true Teacher, tho...

Rev. Isaac Schuller, pastor at First Immanuel Lutheran Church in San Jose, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 1:19-34. St. John the Evangelist begins his account of the action with St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Christ. Although John is peppered with questions about himself, he is far more concerned with giving answers about Jesus, the One who follows him. When John sees...

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 1:6-18. St. John’s prologue continues to introduce themes that are present throughout his Gospel account. Although John the Baptist is not the true light, he comes as a reliable witness to Jesus, who is the true light who comes into the world. The wo...

Rev. Dr. William Weinrich, professor of historical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 1:1-5. The first five verses of the Gospel according to St. John set the stage for the entire book. Jesus is proclaimed as the Word; He is God, and He truly reveals God to us. He is responsible for the creation and existence of all things; He b...

“The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name. Sharper Iron,...

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 Lutheran Service Book #357, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” This beloved hymn is based on seven ancient “O” antiphons that were used during the last days of the season of Advent leading up to Christmas. The hymn uses the last of...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #356, “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came.” This Basque hymn is a poetic retelling of the Annunciation of Our Lord and the Visitation. When the mighty angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he greeted her as one highly favored by the Lord. God was showing H...

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #355, “O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide.” This Advent hymn by Friedrich von Spee begins by looking forward to the Last Day, as we ask our Savior to come down with great might and take us to our eternal home. As God refreshes His creation, so He sends Jesus as the true...

Rev. Daniel Golden, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, WV, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #352, “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord.” This hymn by Heinrich Held helps us to rejoice in the faithfulness of God to His Word. All creation and all people should praise God for sending Christ as the help and friend of sinners. Jesus is the fulfillment of what t...

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 Lutheran Service Book #351, “Creator of the Stars of Night.” This Advent hymn was originally written in Latin over one thousand years ago. It takes us through the entire story of God’s work for us. He is the Creator of all things who is our everla...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #350, “Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come.” This hymn by Johann Gottfried Olearius prays to Christ as our ransom, the One who has paid the price to deliver us from sin. Apart from Him, we have no hope. Although we are certainly not worthy of Him, we ask that He would come...

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #349, “Hark the Glad Sound.” This Advent hymn by Philip Doddridge calls us to listen to the good news that the long-promised Savior has come. He prepares our hearts to receive Him with humility and thanksgiving. Jesus comes to set us free from the bondage of S...

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #348, “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns.” This hymn by John Brownlie helps us to meditate on Christ’s second coming through the imagery of the dawn of the morning. Picture the sun’s first rays lighting the hills; the glory of Christ’s second coming far surpasses tha...

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #347, “Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People.” This beautiful Advent hymn summarizes the Word of God from Isaiah 40 to give us Christian comfort. God sends His messengers to proclaim peace to us in the midst of our sorrows and sins. This peace comes from the fact that God for...