Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Dr. Dean Wenthe, professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Titus 3:4-7. The epistle for Christmas Dawn extols the grace of God for us sinners. Although we were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, and slaves to our passions, we are the ones whom God has loved. In that love, He has caused His goodness and kindn...

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 Titus 2:11-14. The foundation of the Christian life is the appearance of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. By the coming of the Son of God in our flesh, salvation has been brought to all people. God saves us from ungodliness and...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 4:7-16. Love begins with God, because He is love. He has manifested His love among us by sending His only Son into the world to give us life by being the propitiation for our sins. From the love that God has given us in His Son, our love for each other flows forth. This love is not a gener...

Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of worship for the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 10:5-10. The text for this section of the sermon that is the letter of Hebrews is Psalm 40. The author of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, teaches us to understand this section as a conversation between Jesus and...

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 Romans 16:25-27. St. Paul concludes his epistle to the Romans with a glorious doxology of praise to God. He ties together his themes from the entire epistle, centering them all in the Gospel. He glorifies God as the One who strengthens the people...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 1:1-7. As St. Paul begins his epistle to the Romans, he defines his calling and theirs. St. Paul has been called as a slave and apostle of Christ Jesus; the Lord is his master who has sent him to proclaim the Gospel. The Romans have been called to belong to Jesus Christ as saints who h...

Rev. Dr. Jeff Dukeman, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Gulfport, MS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. The city of Corinth was well-known for its problems, and the same could be said for the church in Corinth. Yet St. Paul writes to them as Christians. As he addresses their divisions over which teacher they follow, he clearly elevates Christ as primary. He and Ap...

Rev. Dr. Rick Marrs, professor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Philippians 4:4-7. St. Paul’s joy comes through loud and clear even from prison as he draws his epistle to the Philippians to a close. The joy of the Christian is more than inward happiness that fades with sadness. The joy of the Christian comes from the outside and i...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Churches in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24. St. Paul concludes his first epistle to the Christians in Thessalonica with short yet powerful imperatives. Christians rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances because God is accomplishing His will for them in Christ Jesus. The Spir...

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Churches in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 5:7-11. St. James begins and ends his epistle emphasizing patience. The Christian is to be patient for the Lord’s coming as the farmer is patient for the harvest. Just as the harvest will surely come, so will the Lord surely come. In fact, His coming is at hand even now. For this reas...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Churches in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Philippians 1:2-11. Although St. Paul wrote this epistle from prison, he overflows with joy. He begins with the grace and peace that are given by God to the Christians in Philippi. His thanksgiving overflows in all things for this congregation that has partnered with him in the gospel. He...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Peter 3:8-14. In the face of those who doubted Christ’s return because of His apparent delay, St. Peter confidently declares that the Lord is not bound by our conception of time. We should not count the days until Christ’s return as His slowness, but rather r...

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 15:4-13. God has provided Scripture for our instruction. Through His written Word, He gives the endurance, encouragement, and hope that can come only from Him. This unites the strong and the weak, the Jew and the Gentile, to live together in Christ. St. Paul establishes this truth from th...

Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13. St. Paul’s time in Thessalonica had been cut abruptly short due to persecution, leading to his concern for the faith of the fledgling congregation. That’s why his thanksgiving and joy overflow upon the good report he receives from Timothy. St. Paul’s prayers had been answere...

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Corinthians 1:3-9. St. Paul sets the tone for his first letter to the Christian church at Corinth by centering them in the Lord Jesus Christ. He blesses them with the grace and peace that come from God alone. Although this congregation has its pr...

Rev. James Yonkers, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danville, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 13:8-14. The season of Advent is a time of waiting, repentance, and faith. As we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Christ at Christmas, we also prepare to receive Him when He comes again in glory on the Last Day. St. Paul encourages us to do precisely that in the text from R...

“Advent with the Apostles” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Epistle readings for the season of Advent. This holy season of repentance and joy focuses on the coming of Christ. As the apostles write to us concerning Christian doctrine and life in light of what Christ has done in His first coming in the flesh, they strengthen us to live and wait in hope for His second coming in...

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 48:1-35. Ezekiel’s vision comes to a grand conclusion. He hears the division of the land according to the tribes. Unlike the division of the land under Joshua, the LORD here divides the land equally, a picture of the equal share of grace God gives to all His...

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 47:1-23. Ezekiel sees a river flow from the new temple. Although no tributaries join this river, it grows from a trickle into the mightiest of rivers. Because it flows from the presence of God, this river provides life all around. The saltiness of the Dead Sea is made fresh....

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 17:11-19. Samaria was not a place where many Jews of Jesus’ day ventured, but that is exactly the route Jesus took to Jerusalem and His cross. There Jesus encountered ten lepers. These men not only suffered greatly physically from this terrible illness. Even more than that, they were sepa...

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Philippians 4:6-20. The church at Philippi had seen the Apostle Paul go through highs and lows during his ministry. As he writes his letter to them from prison, he proclaims to them the joy that remains theirs in Christ regardless of their circumstances. Because the LORD’s return is near,...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 46:1-24. Ezekiel continues to see the worship life of the new temple. The prince bears an important responsibility in the regular services of the temple; he represents the people before the LORD. In this way, the prince prefigures the work of Jesus Christ, who is a mediator for us be...

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 45:1-25. Ezekiel begins to see how the land will be divided and set apart. The LORD has an inheritance among His people in order that He might dwell among them and His holiness be accessed to His people’s blessing. The priests’ land is closest to the LORD; this foreshadows the way...

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 44:1-31. For the first time in his vision of the new temple, Ezekiel hears of the role of the prince. He is granted special access to sit and eat before the LORD. Even though the prince has a royal title, his main responsibilities revolve around the worship of God’s people. His dut...

Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 43:1-27. Ezekiel reaches a key moment in his vision of the new temple. Previously, Ezekiel had seen the glory of the LORD leave the temple in Jerusalem, but now he sees the glory of the LORD fill the new temple. This hearkened back to the LORD’s presence in the cloud that filled the...