Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 145. The structure of Psalm 145 as an acrostic poem serves to underline the complete nature of God’s reign as King over all. His Kingdom is eternal, calling forth praise from all people. Doxology and doctrine go hand-in-hand as one generation tells the next of who God is and what He...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 118. Psalm 118 begins and ends with a familiar refrain of thanksgiving to the LORD for His enduring steadfast love. All people are invited to join in singing in a procession leading to the temple. The psalmist has confidence in the LORD in the midst of danger. The LORD is the pl...

Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Professor of Theology and Ministry, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of the Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, and associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eagan, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 110. Psalm 110 is the most-quoted and referenced psalm in the New Testament. In Psalm 110, David writes pro...

Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 109. David prays to the LORD as wicked men accuse and attack him without cause. He prays that the LORD will bring about salvation for him by bringing justice in the face of those who are filled with malice toward the LORD and His Church. As Judas was filled with Satan and so betraye...

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 105. Psalm 105 calls upon God’s people to praise Him for His grace shown to them throughout their history. The psalmist traces all that the LORD has done for His people starting with the covenant made to Abraham, Isaac...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 96. The Church’s song is always new because the Church sings of the saving works that God has done in bringing about His new creation. Though the world sings a loud song for its idols, this song can offer nothing but emptiness. The Church’s song cuts through the noise with true hope in Chri...

Rev. Andrew Jagow, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 91. The one true God is Almighty, yet He is not aloof. He is the LORD, the God of His people. He provides refuge for His people from every danger, whether sudden, unseen, or seemingly inevitable. He wins the victory over His people’s enemies as His people look on with thanksgiving a...

Rev. Caleb Adams, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bend, OR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 69. Through David’s afflictions, Psalm 69 gives a vivid description of Jesus’ suffering and death. Even though afflictions threaten to overwhelm him, David still cries out in trust to the LORD. Even though his enemies kick him while he’s down, David still trusts in the LORD to deliver him....

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 47. Joy pervades Psalm 47. All nations are called to rejoice because the God of Israel reigns over all the earth. His kingdom is not like any earthly kingdom; He reigns according to His steadfast love seen most fully at the cross. Jesus’ reign has been made certain by His ascensio...

Rev. Rick Jones, chaplain and director of spiritual life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 41. The LORD is the God who considers the poor; those who belong to Him by grace are blessed and formed after Him to show similar compassion to the needy. In his sickness, David cries out to the LORD for such help. David takes the opportunity to con...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 31. Because the LORD is a rock, fortress, and refuge, He is the One to whom His people commit themselves. Jesus’ use of this prayer from the cross allows us to commit ourselves to God not only every day of our lives but even in the moment of death. We know that He will raise us on the L...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 24. Psalm 24 may have been composed for the entrance of the ark of the covenant into the tabernacle. The LORD comes to His sanctuary as the Creator, Owner, and Preserver of all things. The one who ascends with Him on His hill is holy both inside and out,...

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Director of Admissions and the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 22. Psalm 22 is one of the clearest Old Testament depictions of Christ’s suffering and death. The Father’s abandonment, the mockery of the bystanders, the nails through Christ’s hands and feet, and the gambling for Christ’s garm...

Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 16. In Psalm 16, David prays in complete confidence that the LORD will preserve him. Only in the LORD is there any good. He alone is the Giver of all good gifts; idols make demands and give only growing sorrow. With the LORD as our inheritance now and forever, we have...

Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 16. In Psalm 16, David prays in complete confidence that the LORD will preserve him. Only in the LORD is there any good. He alone is the Giver of all good gifts; idols make demands and give only growing sorrow. With the LORD as our inheritance now and forever, we have...

Rev. Kyle Mietzner, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 8. Psalm 8 sings praise to the LORD for the majesty of His name throughout all creation. Though surprising to human eyes, the LORD’s strength is seen in the praises of infants. Even in the vastness of His creation, the LORD gives a place of dominion to humanity, that we might care for...

Rev. Dr. Tim Saleska, professor of exegetical theology and Dean of Ministerial Formation at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 2. Psalm 2 pictures the nations and their rulers assembling together in an attempt to cast off the bonds of the LORD and His Anointed. Yet the LORD is the true King; He sits on His heavenly throne. He laughs, derides them, and...

Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study several 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 p...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 28:17-31. Paul’s time in Rome begins similarly to his visit to other cities. He addresses the Jews first. He defends his own innocence, and, at the same time, he opens the door to proclaim the fulfillment of their hope in Christ. The Jews have not heard anything about Paul pa...

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 28:1-16. The Lord keeps His promise and brings Paul and all his shipmates safely to Malta. There, the islanders show great hospitality. When Paul is bitten by a viper, they show forth the natural theology that clings to every sinner; they believe Paul is receiving his just...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 27:21-44. All human hope has been lost after fourteen days in the Mediterranean tempest. The Lord brings hope by sending His angel to comfort Paul and his shipmates. Paul encourages the men to trust God’s promise to save everyone on the ship. As the ship draws closer to land, some sailo...

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 27:1-20. In this text, St. Luke gives the most detailed and accurate account of Mediterranean seafaring and shipping from antiquity; he writes as an eyewitness to the events, as he was with Paul for the trip. They take a short trip to Sidon, where Paul is given some liberty to...

Rev. AJ Espinosa, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 26:1-32. King Agrippa’s background in Judaism makes him the perfect candidate to listen to Paul’s testimony, for which the apostle is grateful. Paul recounts his history in Judaism. He was raised as a Pharisee, zealous for the faith that he shared with all Israel, which included the ho...

Rev. Richard Mittwede, pastor at University Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 25:1-27. Now governor in place of Felix, Festus works to make friends with the Jews in Jerusalem in order to keep tensions from flaring. Yet he does not fall for their attempt to get Paul to Jerusalem. In Caesarea, the case against Paul is heard yet again, but Paul sees through th...

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 24:1-27. Paul’s case is tried yet again before Felix in Caesarea. The Jews employ a spokesman named Tertullus to flatter the governor in hopes that he will find Paul guilty of their trumped up charges. Though the Jews claim that Paul is a troublemaker and a member of a sect, Paul ably de...