Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 3:13-18. The Scriptural witness teaches us that true wisdom is a matter of the 1st Commandment. Only those who trust in the one true God, revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, have true wisdom and the understanding to use it. This i...

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 3:1-12. Faith that is active in love is given by God through the hearing of His Word, spoken through teachers whom He sends. With this authority comes accountability. Those who speak God’s Word must take care not to speak falsehood in God’s name; the power of God’s Word is seen in the...

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:18-26. Careful attention to context is key to seeing that St. James and St. Paul do not contradict each other. James is concerned with how a Christian’s faith is seen before the world. Faith and works cannot be separated; faith is seen by the world based on works. Faith that isn’t se...

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:8-17. Jesus’ reign as King is the overarching reality for all of Christian faith and life. When Christians look upon the world, they see all people as those for whom Christ died, those to whom love is due. Partiality toward others is antithetical to this Christian faith. The whole la...

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:1-7. Favoritism is a stain of the world that must be avoided in the Church. This is founded upon the reality that Jesus Christ, our Brother, has shown Himself as the Lord of glory in His death and resurrection, thereby making all who hold the true faith brothers in Him. In this baptized fam...

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:19-27. The Word of God that begets Christians has ongoing effects. This Word is not heard only once. Instead, Christians are quick to listen to God. His Word produces a similar effect toward our neighbor; we are quick to listen and slow to speak so...

Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Hebron, CT, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:12-18. Christian joy in the midst of trials is founded in God’s verdict declared in Christ: “Blessed.” The tests of faith reveal what is genuine, God’s gift of His kingdom in which His people reign with His Son. These trials are not temptations from God, however. His intent is never t...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:5-11. Christians who lack wisdom in the midst of their trials are not directed inward to themselves. Instead, St. James focuses their attention on God, who gives without rebuking His dearly loved children. This promise enables Christians to cry out to God, not as their enemy, but as t...

Rev. Dr. Curtis Giese, Professor of Religion and Interim Director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Concordia University, Texas, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:1-4. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His half-brother James and changed him completely. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, James thought Jesus was crazy. Yet the mercy and grace of God pursued James t...

“Wisdom from Above” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Epistle of St. James. Contrary to what some might claim, this short epistle does not contradict St. Paul. Instead, St. James makes different, yet complementary, points concerning the Christian life. Written in a style similar to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, this insightful epistle comforts, confronts, and str...

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 Romans 16:17-27. St. Paul concludes his epistle to the Romans with a firm warning concerning false teaching, a warm greeting from his companions, and a glorious doxology to the one true God. Though no particular false teachi...

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 16:1-16. If we skip over St. Paul’s greetings to particular Christians in the church at Rome, we miss the reality of individual brothers and sisters in Christ and a portrait of the first century church. In the names of those St. Paul greets, we see the reality that...

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 15:22-33. St. Paul speaks to the church at Rome concerning his travel plans. Although his missionary work in the east has so far prevented him from visiting them, he intends for that to change soon. Though he has never visited these Christians in person before, he knows that his visi...

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 15:14-21. Although we might be tempted to skip over sections like this text, St. Paul fills even his transition toward the close of his epistle with rich theology in Christ. The Apostle encourages the Roman Christians by reminding them of Christ’s goodness that has been given to t...

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 Romans 15:8-13. Christ Jesus gives the united voice of praise not only to the strong and weak in faith, but to Jew and Gentile. His service to the circumcised was not due to anything inherent in them; rather, Jesus showed God’s truthfulnes...

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 15:1-7. How ought the strong in faith regard and treat the weak in faith? St. Paul points to Jesus as foundation and example. Though the world would think the weak owe the strong, the reverse is true in the Christian church. Those who are strong in the faith are to bear with thos...

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, director of admissions and director of the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 14:13-23. The Christian refusal to judge a brother in Christ is more than a matter of outward harmony; it is a matter of building up a fellow Christian’s faith rather than destroying it. A Christian strong in the f...

Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 14:1-12. The love that Christians owe to each other is free from judgment and despising. Whether weak or strong in the faith, all Christians are to welcome each other. Those Christians whose consciences allow them to live fully in the freedom they have in Christ must not despise those...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 13:8-14. Because their debt of sin is forgiven in Christ, the only debt Christians owe is the debt of love to the neighbor. Such love for the neighbor is the summary of the second table of the Law. Every commandment that teaches us how to act toward the neighbor is summarized l...

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 13:1-7. The love that characterizes the Christian life has implications for the Christian’s life under governing authority. St. Paul commands Christians to place themselves willingly under the order that God has established as the Creator of all things. He alone has authority of Himself...

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 12:9-21. Christians have been brought into new life in Christ Jesus completely by God’s grace. Now St. Paul illustrates what that life looks like. The commands that the Apostle recites are not prerequisites for entrance into God’s kingdom; rather, they are based upon the mercies of God th...

Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 12:1-8. The mercies of God form the foundation for the Christian life. On the basis of God’s one-way love to sinners in Christ, St. Paul now appeals to Christians concerning their life of sanctification and discipleship. Because of Jesus’ once-for-all atoning sacrifice, Christians...

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 11:25-36. St. Paul continues to warn Gentile Christians against conceit. Their wisdom must not come from themselves, but from God’s Word. God’s Word gives understanding to the mystery of salvation. Though part of Israel according to the flesh has not believed in Christ, some Jews h...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 11:13-24. St. Paul turns to address Gentile Christians directly. The righteousness of God that they have received by grace through faith dare not lead to arrogance over and against their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. The Apostle holds out hope that his ministry amo...

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 11:1-12. Although Israel according to the flesh has rejected God’s Word, He has not rejected His people. St. Paul himself, a physical descendant from Abraham, had heard the Gospel and believed. As He always has, God has preserved for Himself a remnant of His elect, those whom He has...