Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 33:14-16. Jeremiah is often called the Weeping Prophet. He suffered greatly for his faithful preaching to Judah concerning the judgment that the LORD was bringing upon Jerusalem. Jeremiah actually lived through that destruction; he and other faithful residents of Judah mou...

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 64:1-9. Although Isaiah lived and preached over one hundred years before the Babylonian exile, the second part of his book speaks prophetically to Judean exiles. This text is a portion of a prayer that the prophet leads the exiles to offer to God, asking Him to come down with His aid as...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 2:1-5. The prophet Isaiah is sometimes called “The Fifth Evangelist” because of his beautifully clear pictures of Jesus’ saving ministry. As Isaiah preached to the rebellious people of Judah and Jerusalem, he called them to repentance for their gross sin and idolatry, all the while sh...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Deuteronomy 18:15-19. The Old Testament texts for the season of Advent point us to the hope of Jesus as the fulfillment of all of God’s promises. As a new generation of the people of Israel prepared to enter into the Promised Land, Moses reminds them of all the wonderful things that t...

“Advent with the Prophets” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Old Testament readings appointed for the season of Advent. This holy season of repentance focuses our attention on Christ’s coming. As we spend time hearing the words of the prophets, the saints who waited patiently in the years before Christ’s coming in the flesh at Christmas, we too are prepared to receive Christ n...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 17:11-19. This is a rebroadcast from November 20, 2019. 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 terribl...

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Philippians 4:6-20. This is a rebroadcast from November 28, 2019. 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 circ...

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 Titus 3:9-15. The Judaizing tendencies that were present among the Christians at Crete must be avoided. Nothing can be added to the salvation that is given by grace through faith in Christ. Controversy that contends for this tru...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Titus 3:1-8. Christian living at home extends into Christian living in the world. The order that God provides under civil authority is intended for our good; Christians are submissive in thanksgiving to God’s gifts. Not only in relation to governing authorities, but in relation to...

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 Titus 2:1-15. Healthy doctrine and godly living go hand-in-hand for Christians. Depending on a person’s station in life, certain temptations are more alluring. Paul instructs Titus to teach Christians accordingly, whether they are older men, older...

Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Titus 1:10-16. Those who refuse to live under God’s order in the church and the world fall into vanity and deception. Though they may give the appearance of order by all that they command, they only follow the commands of man and so prove thems...

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church, both in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Titus 1:1-9. As Paul writes to Titus, the pastor he left to serve on the island of Crete, he identifies himself as a servant of God. He is bound to do what his master says to do; he is bound to do what his master gives him to say. That message is...

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Timothy 4:9-22. Paul concludes his second letter to Timothy with final encouragement to the young pastor. Paul’s human emotions are clear as he speaks of those who have left him and his desire for Timothy to do his best to come for a visit. As Paul lists many different individuals...

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Timothy 4:1-8. Paul puts Timothy under his ordination vows once more. Whether it is a time when the Word is received with joy or a time when the Word is rejected with hatred, the preacher must preach the Word of God as it has been given in Holy Scripture. This teaching is sure and firm, yet...

Rev. David Appold pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Timothy 3:10-17. Paul has given Timothy something infinitely greater than the vices that will be manifest in the last days. He has given Timothy the truth teaching of God’s Word, which begets sanctification in the Christian’s life. Paul’s faith, patience, and steadfastness have all serve...

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 2 Timothy 3:1-9. Paul tells Timothy and all Christians the difficulty that will arise during the last days so that they can be faced with true confidence in Christ. The seasons of difficulty grow stronger and more frequent as Christ’s return dr...

Do Christians rightly divide the Word of truth by dividing Israel from the Church or by dividing history into different dispensations? What is dispensational premillennialism anyway, and where does it depart from God's Word? What does Paul want Timothy to do with the Word of truth? Join Pastor Timothy Appel for some bonus podcast material on 2 Timothy 2:15. To find out more about dispensational pr...

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 2 Timothy 2:14-26. As Timothy fights the good fight of faith, he must not engage in worthless quarrels. No pastor is given to fight for the sake of fighting or for the sake of winning an argument. Such quarrels only harm hearers and may even sprea...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Timothy 2:1-13. As Paul faces his impending execution, Paul writes to his dear son Timothy so that he would not find strength in himself, but be strengthened by God through the grace that is found in Jesus. Yet Paul is not myopic; he keeps in mind the needs of the whole Church as he encoura...

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 2 Timothy 1:8-18. Although the Gospel brings with it suffering at the foolishness of the cross, Christians do not run from such suffering because the cross is truly God’s power to save. Therefore, Christians are not ashamed...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Timothy 1:1-7. Paul’s imprisonment adds a sense of urgency to his second letter to Timothy. Because the Apostle senses that his death is near, he writes to Timothy once more, not only to ask him to come visit him in prison, but especially to urge him to faithfulness in...

Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 6:11-21. Paul concludes his first letter to Timothy by repeating his charge to the young pastor. Not only must he flee from false doctrine and the love of money, but he must run toward the good gifts that God gives through His Word. The fight of the faith leads to...

Rev. Kurt Cockran, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 6:3-10. As Paul begins to bring his first letter to Timothy to a close, he again reminds the young pastor of the importance of sound doctrine. Only the healthy words of Jesus Christ can bring true spiritual health and godliness. Those who teach anything different, though claiming grea...

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 5:17-6:2. Paul gives further instructions concerning the lives of Christians within their various God-given vocations. Certainly all those who are older ought to be treated with special honor, but Paul also commands double honor for those who serve as elders, that is, pastors,...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 5:1-16. Paul begins to instruct Timothy concerning the lives of Christians in the Church within their various vocations. The overarching reality of the interactions of pastors and parishioners within the Church is the fact that Christians have been united within the family of God. T...