Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

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 Mark 2:13-17. Crowds continue to flock to Jesus as He goes to the Sea of Galilee with the purpose of calling Levi to be His disciple. Levi, also known as Matthew, is a tax collector, a seemingly unlikely choice due to the bad reputation rightly ea...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 2:1-12. Jesus goes to His home in Capernaum, a reminder that God has become fully human to save us sinners. There the crowd surrounds Him once again, but this does not deter a paralytic and his four friends. He knows Jesus preaching the Word, and he wants to hear Jesus. When his friends...

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 Mark 1:40-45. The leper who approaches Jesus was breaking all the rules. He was experiencing the physical and spiritual consequences of his uncleanness , yet he had confidence that Jesus could heal him. He prays with humilit...

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:29-39. Jesus wastes no time as He leaves the synagogue in Capernaum and enters Simon’s house. There, the disciples bring their petition in faith toward Jesus on behalf of Simon’s mother-in-law. He does not leave their prayer unanswered; He provides healing for the i...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:21-28. Jesus’ authority is apparent from the beginning of His public ministry. He teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum, His adopted home base of operation for His Galilean ministry. Jesus did not teach the Word as rabbis quoting other rabbis; He taught the Word as...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:16-20. St. Mark’s rapid pace brings us already to Jesus calling His first disciples even though he’s only just over a dozen verses into the narrative. Jesus passes alongside the Sea of Galilee and sees two fishermen: Simon and Andrew, who are brothers. Simon Peter will become chief am...

Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:14-15. John’s imprisonment points to the truth that Jesus will follow John in his suffering and death. Although John is arrested by Herod Antipas, tetrarch in Galilee, Jesus is unafraid to preach the truth in Galilee. The Word of God goes forth unhindered by persecution. J...

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:9-13. In His baptism and temptation, Jesus shows Himself to be our Savior. St. Mark introduces these events with words that recall the promises made through the prophets that the Christ would come. Jesus receives the baptism of sinners in order to identify Himself with th...

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:2-8. St. Mark opens his narrative in a dramatic way by citing the Old Testament promise that the LORD will send a messenger to prepare His way. When the dust settles, John appears as the fulfillment of that promise. He preaches repentanc...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:1. Although Mark’s Gospel account is shorter than the other three, the Word that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write must not be overlooked. Mark is mentioned often in the book of Acts and epistles of the New Testament as a companion and coworker of Paul and a son of Peter. It is l...

“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed con...

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 52:7-10. Isaiah writes ahead of time to proclaim the Gospel to Judean exiles living in Babylon, awaiting the news of their salvation. Having seen the destruction of their home and the temple of the LORD, they had been brought to repentance over their idolatry. Yet as they lived in...

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 9:2-7. The promise of Immanuel continues to dominate Isaiah’s preaching in this text. The darkness of Assyria’s devastation looms over Judah. The darkness of their own idolatry looms over Judah. Into this thick darkness, the LORD shines His light. His presence among His people gives them...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 7:10-17. Although Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings in the history of Judah, the LORD is gracious and merciful in speaking to him through the prophet Isaiah. Not once, but twice the LORD sends Isaiah to Ahaz with the promise of deliverance from his enemies apart from any political...

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 62:10-12. The good news that dawns on Christmas is intended for all people. The gates are opened and the way is prepared as God frees His people from their slavery to sin. God lifts His banner for all to see. Jesus stands as this signal. Though a poor baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and a m...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Micah 5:2-5a. Micah preaches to Judah during the reign of wicked King Ahaz. In contrast to this evil king who reigns in worldly greatness in Jerusalem, Micah promises a ruler who will come by the LORD’s action from the tiny town of David, Bethlehem. This ruler will be true man, one from the...

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 3:14-20. Zephaniah preaches to Judah during a time in which reform among the people of God is needed. His book is filled with strong Law against the wickedness of God’s people. However, Zephaniah terrifies his hearers with the Law in order to comfort them...

Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 61:1-11. Isaiah preaches Jesus so clearly in this text that our Lord actually uses this as His first sermon text in Luke 4. Jesus is the One anointed with the Holy Spirit to bring about true freedom and rest in His death and resurrection. His work for us sinners removes fr...

Rev. Paul Pater, pastor at Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church in North Ridgeville, OH and Hope Lutheran Church in Sheffield Village, OH, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Samuel 7:1-16. The LORD’s promise to establish the kingdom of David forever is a foundational Advent text. At a time of political peace in his kingdom, David sees that he is dwelling in a palace in Jerusalem while the a...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Malachi 4:1-6. Malachi closes the Old Testament with words of Law and Gospel. For all evildoers, the day of the LORD will come as a fire that burns everything in its path. In their arrogance, they have no fear of the LORD. Yet, for those who fear the LORD through faith in Christ, that same Day wi...

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 Malachi 3:1-7. The prophet Malachi is the last prophet of the Old Testament; he preaches about 400 years before Christ’s birth. He foretells John the Baptist as the coming messenger who will precede the Lord’s return to His temple. The Lord...

Rev. Sean Smith, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in West Point, IL and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wine Hill, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 40:1-11. This beloved Advent text marks a turning point in the book of Isaiah. The first 39 chapters are marked by Isaiah’s preaching of judgment against the LORD’s people; his preaching was fulfilled years after Isaiah’s ministry in t...

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 35:1-10. Isaiah preaches about the coming kingdom of Christ and His Church by picturing the transformation of the wilderness into a lush garden. The LORD accomplishes this now through the preaching of His Word, where we see His glory in Christ cruci...

Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 11:1-10. Isaiah preached on the cusp of events of cosmic upheaval for Israel and Judah. Although their times may not have seemed all that bad, the prophet calls them to recognize the coming destruction, repent, and look to the LORD alone for hope. The LORD promises to act for His peop...

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 23:5-8. The final years of Judah were characterized by unrighteous kings who did not faithfully shepherd the people of God. That’s why the LORD promises He will raise up the righteous King for His people from the line of David. King Zedekiah fals...