Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Vance Becker, LCMS missionary to Kenya, serving as a theological educator at Neema Lutheran College in Matongo, Kenya, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 22:1-34. Learn more about Rev. Becker and how to support his work in Kenya at lcms.org/becker. Now that the land has rest, it is time for the eastern tribes to go home. Joshua sends them back across the Jordan River with complimen...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 21:1-45. The LORD did not forget about the Levites in the distribution of land. He scatters them throughout the land of Israel in forty-eight different cities so that they might live among all the tribes of Israel. There they will serve the proclamation of the Gospel through the sacr...

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 19:32-20:9. Naphtali and Dan are the last tribes of Israel to receive their inheritance in the Promised Land. Joshua, the faithful spy, receives his inheritance just as Caleb had previously; both men stand as examples of patience and faith in God’s promises. After the division of...

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 19:1-31. The tribes of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, and Asher are next in line to receive their inheritance within the Promised Land. Even though they do not receive their inheritance first, the fact that they are in the Promised Land in fulfillment of God’s Word is better than ev...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 18:1-28. A change in location to Shiloh and mention of the tent of meeting serve as reminders that the LORD is giving Canaan to His people in order to dwell among them. Joshua encourages the seven tribes who have not yet received their inheritance to trust in the LORD’s promises and ta...

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 16:1-17:18. The two tribes of Joseph receive their allotment next. Because Jacob adopted Joseph’s two sons as his own, Joseph receives a double inheritance in Israel. Ephraim, the younger, receives the inheritance ahead of his older brother, Manasseh, as a reminder that God chooses acco...

Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, pastor and evangelist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver, CO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 15:13-63. The allotment to Judah continues with a beautiful account of Caleb and his daughter Achsah and his son-in-law Othniel. These faithful saints serve as examples of courage in God’s promises and boldness in prayer. As Caleb gave generously to his daughter and s...

Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 14:1-15:12. As Joshua begins to allot the land on the west side of the Jordan River, Caleb receives his inheritance first. The faithful spy lived by faith in the promises of the LORD throughout his eighty-five years. The LORD brought Caleb out of slavery in Egypt, sustained Caleb duri...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 13:1-33. Although there remains unconquered land in Canaan, the LORD instructs Joshua to divide the land among the people already. The LORD’s promise means that possession of the land is certain, for He will drive the Canaanites out in order to give His...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 12:1-24. While a list of defeated kings may seem tedious to modern readers, this chapter serves as a reminder that the LORD is King of kings without rival or equal. Neither mighty Sihon nor gigantic Og stood a chance on the east side of the Jordan, and the kings on the west...

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 11:1-23. As the kings in northern Canaan hear of Israel’s victories elsewhere, they band together to fight against Israel in ways that are reminiscent of Egypt and in ways that look forward to the final battle of the enemies of God against the people of God. Yet the LORD...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 10:28-43. Joshua recounts the conquest of southern Canaan in rapid succession. He tells of the victories against several towns one after another as a reminder that the outcome of these battles was never in doubt. The people of Israel had the LORD’s promise that they would conquer the...

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 10:1-27. The pagan kings of Canaan consider Gibeon traitorous for making peace with Israel. These kings ally with each other and attack Gibeon. Joshua honors the treaty made with Gibeon and goes quickly to their aid with the LORD’s promise. As He has done in t...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 9:1-27. The reaction to Israel’s conquest of Canaan is twofold. The majority of the people begin to ally with each other against Israel, but the people of Gibeon choose the path of cunning. They dress as if they are from a far country and make Israel an offer for peace. Israel...

Rev. Isaac Schuller, pastor at First Immanuel Lutheran Church in San Jose, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 8:1-35. Now that Israel has faithfully dealt with Achan’s sin, the LORD instructs Joshua in the way he will defeat the city of Ai. As with Jericho, so in Ai the battle belongs to the LORD. Joshua leads the people in following the LORD’s battle plan, and the LORD delivers the...

Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 7:1-26. After the victory at mighty Jericho, Israel foresees an easy conquest of little Ai. Unknown to Joshua and the rest of Israel, however, is the sin of Achan in taking some of the devoted things from Jericho. For that reason, Ai sends Israel packing on the first offensive. Josh...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 6:1-27. The LORD’s battle plan against Jericho is not what a human general would have designed. The commander of the LORD’s army instructs Joshua that the people are to march around Jericho once a day for six consecutive days. The LORD is their leader through the ark of the covenant....

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 5:1-15. Before the people begin to take the Promised Land, the LORD serves them with His covenant gifts. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant God had made with Abraham, but the men born in the wilderness had not yet received it. God provides for them to pause a...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 4:1-24. The account of Israel’s crossing the Jordan continues to reveal more details. The LORD commands Joshua to take twelve stones from the Jordan River bed in order to build a memorial monument so that their children can be taught what the LORD had done. Joshua...

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 3:1-17. The moment has finally come for Israel to enter the Promised Land. As Moses had once led the people through the Red Sea on dry ground, so now Joshua will lead the people through the Jordan River. The LORD provides for the ark of the covenant to lead the way so that people...

Rev. Timothy Sandeno, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Gorham, ME, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 2:1-24. Joshua had previously been among twelve spies sent into the Promised Land by Moses, but the ten unfaithful spies led the people into ruin. Forty years later, Joshua sends only two spies to Jericho to view the land. They find refuge in the house of Rahab, a prostitute who ha...

Rev. Adolph Harstad, Professor of Exegetical Theology at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mankato, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 1:1-18. The book of Joshua picks up right where the book of Deuteronomy ended. Moses has died. That means that it is time for Israel to enter the Promised Land. As Joshua assumes leadership of Israel for that very task, the LORD reassures Josh...

“The Promised Land Delivered” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Joshua. After the death of Moses, the LORD remains with His people to bring them into the Promised Land under Joshua. Throughout the book, the LORD proves that not one of His Word falls unfulfilled. Today, the Church has the same confidence that all of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Christ. Sharper Iron, ho...

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Deuteronomy 34:1-12. What Moses has known would happen finally comes. The LORD sends Moses up Mount Nebo where He shows His faithful prophet the entirety of the Promised Land. The LORD reminds Moses that he will not enter the land due to his unfaithfulness, yet the LORD reminds Moses that He...

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Vice President of Admission and director of the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Deuteronomy 33:18-29. Moses concludes his blessing of the tribes of Israel one at a time, each revealing something about the particular tribe and the way that God shows His love to all of Israel. The conclusion of Mos...