Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Jason Schockman, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in West Salem, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Peter 2:12-21. St. Peter tells his readers the purpose of his second epistle. He intends to remind them of the truth of the Gospel that has been preached to them. To have the Word of God dwelling in our memories and ready on our lips is of the utmost importance for us as Chri...

Rev. Dr. Curtis Giese, professor of religion at Concordia University, Texas, New Testament editor of the Concordia Commentary series, and author of the Concordia Commentary on 2 Peter and Jude, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Peter 1:1-11. St. Peter writes again to the congregations in Asia Minor in order to strengthen them in their knowledge of God from the false teachers who question Ch...

Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 5:6-14. As Christians live in humility with each other, so they live in humility before God their Creator. His mighty hand will exalt His people at the proper time because He cares for them. In their suffering, Christians cast their cares on Him alone. St. Peter again calls Christians to so...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 5:1-5. St. Peter earlier addressed the estates of government and family in his table of duties; now he addresses the estate of the church. As Jesus once charged Peter to feed His sheep, so the Apostle now charges his fellow pastors to shepherd the flock of God. Pastors shepherd God’...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 4:12-19. St. Peter reminds Christians that they are beloved by God. Therefore, when they receive sufferings, they should not find it strange, but rejoice that they are given to share in Christ’s own sufferings. Christian joy in suffering is found in the reminder that Jesus is...

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 for Sharathon 2021 to study how God gives life to dead stones. Stones serve as a source of stability and strength, but you can also trip over them. God’s Word makes use of the image of stones in both ways, to proclaim both judgment and salvation. The prophe...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for Sharathon 2021 to study how God makes use of water to deliver His people. Water is present in the Scriptures all the way from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. Throughout the Old Testament, water is often God’s chosen means both for bringing His judgment upon sin and for saving His people by grace thro...

Rev. AJ Espinosa, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 4:7-11. Christ’s imminent return makes a difference for the lives of Christians right now. Being self-controlled and sober-minded keeps us ready for our prayers, by which we fulfill God’s calling to be His royal priesthood. As such, we are bound to love, seeking to cover each other...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 4:1-6. Christ’s suffering arms us as Christians to live now in the midst of our suffering. God lays the holy cross upon us in order to begin to put our sin to death as we suffer willingly and gladly as Christ did. In the same way, we mortify our own sinful passions, knowing that we h...

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 3:18-22. St. Peter arrives at the theological heart of his first epistle. This creedal text lays out the saving work of Jesus Christ as the reason for the hope that is in us. Jesus suffered once for sins as the righteous one for the unrighteous ones in order to bring us to God. After His de...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 3:13-17. Because the eyes and ears of the Lord are open to us, no harm can truly come upon us in Christ. Even when we suffer for righteousness’ sake, the Lord brings His blessing to us. St. Peter quotes from Isaiah to call us away from the fear of the world and to a proper fear of th...

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 3:8-12. St. Peter wraps up his table of duties by speaking to all Christians. The goal for Christians is unity of mind that is founded in the true doctrine that is taught from Holy Scripture and points to Christ crucified and risen. From that unit...

Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 3:1-7. St. Peter continues his table of duties by addressing wives and husbands. Among early Christians, wives sometimes were brought to faith even though their husbands did not believe. Even in such cases, Christian wives are to be subject to their husbands in love. Thei...

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 1 Peter 2:18-25. St. Peter continues his table of duties by speaking to servants in relation to their masters. Christian servants are called to be subject to their masters, even when their masters are not Christian or treat...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 2:11-17. Christians live in this world as sojourners and exiles. The passions of our flesh war against us in an attempt to convince us that our home is this world; Christians fight against this temptation by focusing on our home in the resurrection of the dead. The Christian life among th...

Rev. Rick Jones, chaplain and vice-president of spiritual life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 2:1-10. The life of the Christian flees from all lies and evil and toward the truth of God’s Word. He has given us new birth into His kingdom through His Word. As a mother’s milk sustains her newborn infants, God’s Word nourishes and strengt...

Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 1:13-25. Christians live in a world that would conform us to its ignorant passions. That makes the Christian life no idle stroll. Instead, St. Peter urges us to gird the loins of our minds to be ready. That happens not of our own will, but through the hope of God’s grace in Jesus C...

Rev. Vance Becker, LCMS missionary serving as a theological educator at Neema Lutheran College in Matongo, Kenya, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 1:1-12. Read Pastor Becker's story and how to support his missionary work at lcms.org/becker. St. Peter’s first epistle was likely written in the mid-60s from Rome. He writes to several churches in Asia in order to strengthen them in the f...

“The Imperishable Inheritance” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistles of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. The life of the Christian Church right now is life in exile. We endure attacks from various trials and from false teachers. Such suffering makes us long for the eternal home that will be ours at the resurrection of the dead. In Jesus, we have this promise of eternal life that c...

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 Mark 16:9-20. The risen Lord Jesus does not leave His Church without witnesses of His resurrection. He graciously appears to Mary Magdalene and to two disciples as they were walking in the country. The unex...

Rev. Dr. James Voelz, professor of New Testament at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 16:1-8. Throughout his Gospel account, St. Mark emphasizes the complete reliability of Jesus’ Word. Now, at Jesus’ empty tomb, the angel speaks that same reliable Word to the women. These women have come to Jesus’ tomb after the sun had risen, recalling Malachi’s promi...

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 Mark 15:42-47. St. Mark continues his slow, detailed account through the events of Jesus’ passion as he records Jesus’ burial. Because Jesus died and was buried on Good Friday, His prediction of His third day resurrection remains inta...

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:33-41. Darkness covers the whole land for the final three hours of Jesus’ crucifixion. All creation now mourns its Creator as the full wrath of God comes down upon Jesus on this Day of the LORD. Jesus prays Psalm 22 on the cross in His moment of greatest agony; He experiences hel...

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:16-32. Jesus’ suffering intensifies. The entire Roman battalion, about 600 men strong, joins in mockery and blasphemy for their sadistic pleasure. The purple cloak and crown of thorns are intended to show Jesus what they think of His kingship, and the spitting and mockery add g...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:1-15. Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin has ended; His trial before the Roman authorities now begins in order to fulfill the Word of God concerning Jesus’ death on the cross. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, is skeptical of the charges against Jesus as he examines the case. The Lor...