Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 51:1-33. The LORD is bringing destruction against Babylon, and their resistance will be futile. By bringing judgment on the enemies of Israel, the LORD shows His people that He has not forsaken them. He therefore calls upon His people to flee from Babylon, as He still calls Christia...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 50:21-46. Although Babylon had been a hammer in the LORD’s hand, Babylon’s rebellion against the LORD has brought about their punishment. The LORD describes their coming destruction in sacrificial language. The people of Judah will rejoice to hear the news of the...

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 50:1-20. Jeremiah’s oracles against the nations have been building to the climax of these words from God to Babylon. The message of the defeat of Babylon and its idols must be proclaimed far and wide. The LORD’s destruction of these enemies means...

Rev. Andrew Jagow, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 49:23-39. Jeremiah’s oracles against foreign nations continue to work their way closer and closer to Babylon. Damascus, the capital of Aram, had often been at war with Judah; the LORD promises that His judgment will come against them, even as His love for these sinners is express...

Rev. Timothy Appel goes “Back to the Forge” to answer a variety of listener email from the series on Jeremiah. What sort of influence did Assyria have on the kingdom of Judah? What should we expect from God when we pray for our enemies and those who have fallen from the faith? How can an insight from the Hebrew sharpen the picture of God’s power Jeremiah 37? Sharpen your faith in Christ by engagin...

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 49:1-22. The LORD gives Jeremiah a word to speak to Ammon and Edom. Ammon traced its lineage to Lot, Abraham’s nephew; their history in relationship to Judah was often filled with strife. Their worship of the idol Milcom, or Molech, led to the horrific practice of child sacrifi...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 48:11-47. The oracle against Moab continues on account of his great pride. The worship of the idol, Chemosh, is condemned and punished as calamity comes upon Moab. Yet the LORD does not delight in the death of the sinner; He works for repentance and faith. The entire land of Moab wil...

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 47:1-48:10. Jeremiah’s second and third oracles to foreign nations address Israel’s neighbors to their west and east. The Philistines lived along the seacoast and had long been enemies of the LORD’s people. The Moabites lived east of the Dead Sea and also had found themselves in nume...

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 Jeremiah 46:1-28. The book of Jeremiah begins a section of oracles directed to the foreign nations surrounding the land of Israel. Jeremiah faithfully preaches God’s Word according to his call to be a prophet to the nations beginning...

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 44:1-45:5. As Jeremiah preaches to the Judeans living in Egypt, he diagnoses their condition as spiritual amnesia. They have forgotten the LORD’s Word and the judgments He has promised and sent for rebellion. Yet the people respond more defiantly than ever. They refuse to listen...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 43:1-13. Just as Jeremiah expected, the remnant of Judah rejected the LORD’s command to remain in the Promised Land. In an effort to avoid God’s Word, they accuse Jeremiah of being a liar and Baruch of intending to betray them to the Babylonians. These far-flung accusations reveal j...

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 42:1-22. Before they flee to Egypt, the remnant of Judah requests prayer and the Word of the LORD from Jeremiah. He promises a faithful answer, and they promise an obedient response. The ten day waiting period is a reminder of Jeremiah’s faithfulness in repeati...

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 41:1-18. The murder of Gedaliah crushes the short-lived peace for the remnant of Judah in the Promised Land. Ishamel proves himself to be brutal and bloodthirsty as he kills the governor while eating with him and then slaughtering religious pilgrims journeying to Jerusa...

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 40:1-16. Jerusalem has fallen, but life in Judah continues for Jeremiah and the other survivors. Though likely unknowingly, the Babylonian captain gives a faithful theological interpretation of what has happened: the LORD has brought His judgment on His people for their rebellion. Nebuz...

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 39:1-18. The long foretold event finally arrives. In the eleventh year of King Zedekiah, Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. Foreigners invade God’s holy city. Despite Jeremiah’s consistent warnings, Zedekiah tries to flee, only to be captured and receive horrific...

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 38:1-28. Jeremiah continues to preach that only those who surrender to the Babylonians, earning him the scorn of King Zedekiah’s officials. Concerned only with military morale, they exert their power over Zedekiah to throw Jeremiah into a muddy cistern. It is an Ethiopian who final...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 37:1-21. King Zedekiah, like his predecessors, did not listen to the Word of the LORD. Apart from faith, he asked Jeremiah to pray to the LORD, though the wicked king was already banking on the help of Egypt rather than the LORD. Jeremiah spoke the LORD’s Word faithfully as he had i...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 36:1-32. Four years into the reign of King Jehoiakim, Jeremiah has been preaching for more than twenty years. The LORD now commands His faithful prophet to write down those words, which are not Jeremiah’s, but the LORD’s. Jeremiah does so by dictating to his faithful scribe, Baruch....

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 35:1-19. The LORD sends Jeremiah to speak to the Rechabites. In 1 Chronicles 2, the Rechabites are connected with the Kenites, a group of people that historically had good relations with the people of Israel. Jeremiah gathers the Rechabites with important witnesses in one...

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 34:1-22. The situation is dire in Jerusalem. The Babylonians and the vassal states under their control have surrounded the city. Jeremiah is sent to wicked king Zedekiah to tell him that he will not escape. He will come face to face with Nebuchadnezzar once Jerusalem is captured. Thou...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 33:1-26. While Jeremiah is still imprisoned by King Zedekiah, the LORD brings His Word a second time. He reveals to Jeremiah His deeds that are not known to human reason. Despite the people’s attempts to stave off the Babylonians, the LORD will use them as His servants to bring His...

Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Algoma, WI and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Forestville, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 32:26-44. The LORD answers Jeremiah’s prayer concerning his purchase of the field in Anathoth. The LORD declares that nothing is too hard for Him and reiterates His judgment upon the people of Judah and Jerusalem at the...

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 Jeremiah 32:1-25. The destruction of Jerusalem is near. Jeremiah has been put in prison under house arrest by Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. When the king questions Jeremiah’s faithful preaching, the prophet responds by relating the Word from the LORD....

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 31:27-40. The LORD promises that days are coming when He will repopulate His people in their land; He will keep the promise He made concerning the Seed in Genesis 3. This act of new creation brings with it a new covenant. The people of God had broken the covenant that He...

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 Jeremiah 31:1-26. Jeremiah continues his Book of Comfort with reminders of what the LORD did for His people in the Exodus; the return from exile would be another act of God’s undeserved everlasting love for His people. This salvation would bring th...