Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 4:6-16. Paul encourages Timothy to be a good servant of Jesus by clinging to the good doctrine that he has received. Old wives’ tales are useless in this; Timothy must be trained in godliness. This proper piety of faith in the forgiveness of sins that comes on account of Christ is g...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Paul returns to the central theme of faithfulness to the truth of God’s Word in the face of all lies. He reminds Timothy of Jesus’ words from Matthew 24:24 that false prophets will arise in the time between Jesus’ ascension and return. These false prophets depart from the f...

Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 3:8-16. Qualifications for deacons follow immediately after qualifications for overseers. Though the two lists share many similarities, deacons are not required to have the ability to teach. This may indicate that these two are separate offices in the church. Nonetheless, deacons play a v...

Rev. Caleb Adams, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bend, OR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 3:1-7. The second trustworthy saying of the pastoral epistles highlights the pastoral office. Whether called "overseer," "elder," or "pastor," this God-given office is given the important task of proclaiming the Gospel publicly and administering the Sacraments in accordance with Christ...

Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 2:8-15. Paul’s instruction concerning the roles of men and women within the Church must always be seen in light of the gift that God has given us all in Christ. The clergy receive His Word as a gift, and so they are given to lift up their hands in prayer as an outward c...

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 2:1-7. As Paul has urged Timothy to steadfast faith, now he directs him to pray for it. Such prayer is directed to God for all, particularly for those in positions of civil authority. No statement is made concerning whether or not we find their policies agreeable; God’...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 1:12-20. Paul thanks Christ Jesus as the One who called him and judged him to be faithful. This was not due to anything Paul had done, but was solely the declaration of God that made him so. God did this despite Paul’s formerly blasphemous and violent ways against Christ and His C...

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 1:1-11. Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy to give him instruction in his service as pastor to the church at Ephesus. By acknowledging his office of apostle, he writes with the humility that his authority comes only from God. He writes with care and concern for his spiritual c...

“The Word is Trustworthy” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three pastoral epistles: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. These three letters are named after their recipients, two young pastors in the Christian Church. St. Paul gives instruction to these two men concerning the doctrine and life of the congregations where they are given to serve. In these epistles, the Apostle teac...

Rev. Kyle Mietzner, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 31:10-31. The conclusion of the book of Proverbs is an acrostic poem extolling the wife of strong character. There is advice to be found here, primarily for a young man who desires to marry. Above all, he should seek a faithful Christian wife. Advice, however, is not all this acrost...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 31:1-9. The name “Lemuel” means “dedicated to God.” Though absolute certainty is not possible, this may very well be a pseudonym for King Hezekiah. He has learned wisdom from his mother, a faithful woman who passed the Word of God to her son. She gives him wisdom particularly for hi...

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 30:1-33. Although Agur son of Jakeh remains unknown to us, his wisdom in Proverbs 30 reflects the books of Moses and the rest of the book of Proverbs. In the first part of the wisdom he records, he laments his weariness in looking for wisdom in all the wrong places. Wisdom is found in the...

Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 29:1-27. The proverbs copied by Hezekiah’s men come to a conclusion, speaking wisdom to all Christians as part of the Lord’s royal priesthood. Discipline is necessary for Christians; to refuse to receive it, to refuse to give it, or to abuse it is to harm both parties. Christian...

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 28:1-28. Though unbelievers face the world with fear, Christians have boldness because their confidence is in Christ. Such confidence in Christ allows us to reflect honestly upon what the Proverbs reveal concerning our lives; we know that when we turn to Hi...

Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 27:1-27. The wisdom recorded in the book of Proverbs puts our confidence in the LORD who reigns over today and tomorrow. This faith keeps us both from the worry that thinks tomorrow is out of control and from the boasting that assumes tomorrow is under our control. In th...

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 Proverbs 26:1-28. The proverbs of Solomon copied by Hezekiah’s men in this section give very vivid imagery to teach the wisdom of avoiding the way of the fool, the sluggard, and the gossip. Though a fool may not listen to...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 25:1-28. The proverbs of Solomon were not meant to be read and used only once. The men of Hezekiah who copied them about three hundred years later is an example of the faithful use of the Word of God. God conceals in order to reveal in the way of His choosing and in the way in which we c...

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 24:23-34. Solomon provides another compilation of sayings of wise people that he has edited under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In these verses, he primarily deals with three topics: courtroom conduct, wise and foolish speech, and diligent labor. The matter of judgme...

The Lord is faithful, and His Word is powerful, both for parents and their children. Join Pastor Timothy Appel to ponder Proverbs 22:16 in this Sharper Iron podcast short. Proverbs 22:6 6 Train up a child in the way he should go;     even when he is old he will not depart from it. English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyrigh...

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 24:1-22. Solomon’s compilation of wise sayings continues. Christians might be tempted to become envious of evil men due to their success with earthly wealth. Yet this is the way of folly, for when Christians desire to be with such men, they fall into the same sins. Rather, the only la...

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 23:15-35. As Solomon continues to recount the thirty sayings of wisdom, he once again implores his son to listen. The wisdom that Solomon speaks is centered in a proper fear of the LORD, which is not the terror that a slave experiences before his master, but the respect and hono...

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 22:17-23:14. The book of Proverbs transitions into a new section which is often called “The Words of the Wise.” Solomon was led by the Holy Spirit to write, compile, and adapt many wise sayings to teach godly wisdom. His introduction to this section makes clear that his purpos...

Casting lots is a great equalizer between powerful contenders, because the LORD is more powerful than either one. Join Pastor Timothy Appel to ponder Proverbs 18:18 for this Sharper Iron podcast short. Proverbs 18:18 18 The lot puts an end to quarrels     and decides between powerful contenders. English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (...

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 22:1-16. The wisdom of Proverbs provides a catechism that directs us back to the Ten Commandments. The value of having a good reputation drives the Christian to the 8th Commandment to recognize the same need to defend the neighbor’s reputation. The Christian Church is the p...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 21:1-31. The LORD’s rule over all creation is at the heart of this chapter of Proverbs. Even kings, who might think they can do whatever they want, remain under the authority of the one true God. His righteousness and justice, given to us through faith in Christ, direct a...