Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Dr. Jeff Dukeman, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Gulfport, MS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 16:19-31. Jesus continues to seek after the lost Pharisees by using the illustration of Lazarus and the rich man. Though Lazarus is poor in this life, he is known to God by name, and his faith results in the riches of eternal life. The fact that the angels carry Lazarus to Abra...

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 16:1-18. The parable Jesus tells about an unjust steward is challenging. Focusing on the mercy of the master is a helpful key to understand the parable consistently with the rest of Holy Scripture. In his actions, the dishonest manager banks shrewdly on the master’s merciful...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 15:11-32. Jesus’ third parable in response to the Pharisees’ grumbling brings His teaching on the grace of God to a grand climax. Jesus speaks of a father and his two sons. The younger son asks for his inheritance ahead of time. The father responds to this terrible insult by agreeing to...

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 15:1-10. When the Pharisees disapprove of Jesus’ dinner company, the Lord takes the opportunity to teach them in parables concerning the grace of God that seeks and finds lost sinners. His first parable speaks of a shepherd who has one hundred sheep under his care. Perhaps surprisingly,...

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 Luke 14:25-35. Jesus turns to a broader audience of the great crowds who are journeying with Him but not yet His disciples. He speaks to let them know what following Him entails. To be a disciple of Jesus is to choose Him above all el...

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 14:1-24. A Sabbath meal at the house of a Pharisee provides Jesus the opportunity to correct misunderstandings concerning the kingdom of God. The Lord cuts right through the confusion of Pharisaical traditions by healing a man with dropsy on the Sabbath. He holds together true love o...

Rev. Caleb Adams, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bend, OR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 13:22-35. Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem continues through towns and villages on the way. When someone questions the number of those saved, Jesus redirects toward the question of “How?” more than “How many?” The door to salvation is narrow because Jesus is the only Way. This makes the matt...

Rev. Jonathan Walla, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 13:10-21. A woman with a disabling spirit is in the synagogue where Jesus is teaching one Sabbath. Though Satan had afflicted her for eighteen years, Jesus sets her free from the devil’s grip and the accompanying sickness. She glorifies God, but the ruler of the synagogue shames her a...

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 12:54-13:9. Jesus turns to the crowds and rebukes their hypocrisy in correctly reading the signs of the weather but failing to recognize the signs that He is the Christ. If they continue in that hypocrisy, they will align themselves with the false teaching of the Pharisees. Instead, they...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 12:35-53. Jesus continues to speak forthrightly as He prepares His disciples for His second coming. His servants are called to faithfulness, for they know they have a master who has come to serve them. Yet they dare not take this grace for granted; the master returns at an unexpected ho...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 12:22-34. On the heels of the parable of the rich fool, Jesus teaches His disciples that there is no need to worry. When they are rich toward God, He will give them all that they need for this life. Besides, this life is more than food and clothing, all of which are gifts from Go...

Rev. AJ Espinosa, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 12:1-21. As the crowds around Jesus grow, the Lord takes the opportunity to warn the disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees. Their hypocrisy is seeking to please people only. Not only is such a task ultimately futile before men, but God will make all hidden things plain. Such fe...

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 11:37-54. Opposition to Jesus continues to rise as He journeys toward Jerusalem. His refusal to participate in the ritual washings of the Pharisees draws their astonishment, providing an opportunity for the Lord to call them away from their idolatry of self-righteo...

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 11:14-36. Jesus faces two challenges from His opponents. First, some assert that Jesus is casting out demons by the prince of demons. In response, Jesus shows how ludicrous that thought is before proclaiming that He has come as the Stronger One who binds the strong man, Satan, to set us...

Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 10:38-11:13. Jesus’ continuing journey takes Him to the home of Mary and Martha. Martha welcomes the Lord into the home, where Mary sits at Jesus’ feet to receive His teaching. Martha’s serving distracts her from Jesus. When she asks Him to intervene, Jesus gently reminds Martha that t...

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 10:25-37. As Jesus continues His journey toward Jerusalem, a lawyer comes to test Jesus with a question concerning how the Law relates to eternal life. Jesus turns the question back on the lawyer, who answers correctly from the Law of Moses. Yet the lawyer wants to ju...

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 10:1-24. With His face set toward Jerusalem, Jesus sends out His disciples ahead of Him. The harvest is great, so the disciples must first learn to pray that the Lord would send workers into the field. As they go into the field, they do so as lambs w...

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 Luke 9:51-62. St. Luke reaches a key turning point in his Gospel account when Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem. The days of Jesus’ birth and ministry in Galilee have been leading to this moment, in which Jesus m...

Rev. Dr. Arthur Just, professor of exegetical theology and acting dean of the chapel at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 9:37-50. This text serves as a pivot from Jesus’ Galilean ministry to His journey toward Jerusalem. As Jesus descends the mountain of His transfiguration, His disciples’ confusion concerning His coming suffering and dea...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 9:28-36. On the mountain of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John see a preview of the Lord’s resurrection glory to come. The glory with which Jesus shines in brilliant white is His own glory as God. Moses and Elijah appear and begin speaking to Jesus about His exo...

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 Luke 9:18-27. The question of Jesus’ identity takes center stage as Jesus Himself brings it up. The thoughts of the crowds are on the right track but are insufficient. When Jesus turns the questions to the disciples themselv...

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 Luke 9:1-17. The proclamation of the kingdom of God is an urgent matter. Jesus sends His apostles out with that gospel message. Though they carry little with them, their heavenly Father will provide for their needs through those who hear the Word...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 8:40-56. Jesus returns to Capernaum to a waiting crowd and a desperate synagogue ruler named Jairus. His only daughter is dying. He knows Jesus is the only One who can help, so Jairus falls at the Lord’s feet and implores Him to come to his house and help. Jesus goes, though with far les...

Rev. Dr. Peter Scaer, professor of New Testament and chairman of the department of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 8:22-39. When Jesus gets into the boat with His disciples, He promises them that they are going to the other side of the lake. As long as they are in the boat with Jesus, they are safe. This provides a...

Rev. Tom Eckstein, pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 8:1-21. Jesus’ Galilean ministry continues in other cities and villages. He and His apostles were supported by several women who had come to believe in Jesus. As a great crowd comes to Jesus, He begins to speak in parables in fulfillment of Isaiah 6. The first parable Jesus tells sp...