Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

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 Romans 1:8-17. Rome was known in the wider world for many political and economic reasons, but none of those are the reason for Paul’s thanksgiving in this epistle. He gives thanks for the faith the Roman Christians had in...

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 1:1-7. St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans lays out the fullness of the Christian faith centered around the truth of justification by grace through faith in Christ. Paul identifies himself both as a child of God bound only to Christ and as an apostle sent to preach the Gospel of God. That Gos...

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the right...

Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 28:11-20. Jesus’ resurrection is a reality, just as He said. That didn’t stop His enemies from making one final attempt to defeat Him and His Word. They pay the guards to spread the lie that Jesus’ stole His body while the guards were sleeping. The soldiers’ love of mammon and the ch...

Rev. Richard Mittwede, pastor at University Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 28:1-10. The women went to Jesus’ tomb on the first day of the week just as the light was dawning, though they did not yet realize just how bright that light would be. The reality became apparent soon enough. As an earthquake accompanied Jesus’ death, so another earthquake acco...

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 Matthew 27:57-66. Although Jesus’ burial is sometimes neglected in preaching, it is a key event in the Lord’s work for our salvation. Jesus’ burial shows that He is, in fact, dead, and His third day resurrection is not a farce. Jesus’ burial fulfi...

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:45-56. St. Matthew has been building to the point of Jesus’ death. As the moment approaches, all creation responds to the Day of Judgment that is being poured out upon Jesus. Darkness covers the land as Jesus, true God and true man, is forsaken by His Father. Here Jesus suffers...

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:27-44. The mockery that Jesus faced in the midst of His trial before Pilate teaches an important truth for our salvation. Precisely through His suffering and death, Jesus reigns as King. Though the soldiers did not realize the truth of their actions in crowning Jesus with thorns, t...

Rev. Joel Haak, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:11-26. As Jesus goes on trial before Pontius Pilate, the question of who is to blame for Jesus’ death takes center stage. As governor, Pilate recognizes that Jesus has committed no crime, yet he releases the guilty Barabbas in place of the Innocent One. Though Pilate washes his han...

Rev. Hans Fiene, pastor at River of Life Lutheran Church in Channahon, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 27:1-10. The morning of Good Friday started with the darkness of the Sanhedrin’s attempt to legitimize their sin of the previous night. They turn to the Roman authorities to do the dirty work of executing Jesus. None of these attempts to escape judgment succeed, however. The Pa...

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 Matthew 26:69-75. Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Peter has been bold in word and deed, leading him into both great faithfulness and great failure. His God-given confession of Christ was followed by serving as the mouthpiece of Satan prev...

Rev. Sean Smith, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wine Hill, IL and Immanuel Lutheran Church in West Point, IL and host of Concord Matters, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:57-68. As Jesus is put on trial before the Sanhedrin, two opposing worldviews clash. Jesus is focused on the things of God, while His opponents only think the things of man. As the high priest, Caiaphas sh...

Rev. Roy Askins, managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:36-56. Jesus continues to fulfill the Scriptures and His own Words as He goes willingly into His Passion. As Jesus revealed Himself as God to Peter, James, and John in the glory of His transfiguration, now Jesus reveals Himself as God to the same three in the weakness of Gethsemane. Jesus’ p...

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:20-35. As the Passover meal approaches, Jesus continues to direct the events. He knows what is happening, and He goes forward willingly to save sinners. He declares to His disciples that one of them will betray Him. Though they all would feign greatness, Jesus reiterates that one o...

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:1-19. The Gospel of Matthew has been pushing to this moment. Jesus has concluded His ministry of teaching and now enters into His time. Though the chief priests and elders think their plots can bring Jesus to an end, He goes to His passion, death, and resurrection willingly. He dire...

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 Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus concludes His final discourse by teaching His disciples about His coming in glory on the Last Day. Though Jesus compares the Last Day to a shepherd separating sheep and goats, this is not a parable...

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 25:14-30. What does it look like when God reigns as King? Jesus’ parable of a gracious master who entrusts his property to his servants paints the picture. Just as the master knows his servants perfectly in the amounts he gives, so the Lord knows His disciples perfectly. Just...

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 25:1-13. Jesus continues His parables concerning His coming on the Last Day. He sets before His disciples the need for watchfulness by comparing the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins awaiting a bridegroom. The difference between the foolish and the wise was their readiness for th...

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 24:36-51. Jesus shifts from speaking about the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 to the topic of His second coming on the Last Day. His disciples had asked Him about both prior to His discourse. Jesus told them what would happen prior to the destruction of the temple, but when it...

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 24:15-35. Jesus continues speaking to His disciples concerning the coming destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in AD 70. This terrible event portrayed God’s judgment on the generation of those who rejected His Son in the flesh, became a vi...

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 24:1-14. Jesus leaves the temple for the last time on Tuesday of Holy Week and tells His disciples that this grand building will one day be destroyed. God’s presence dwells in Jesus; therefore, the foundation of the disciples’ faith is not a building, but Jesus’ words. They ask Him...

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 23:13-39. Jesus speaks a series of seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees. Such words are far stronger than bad news; Jesus tells these false teachers that they are on the broad road to eternal death. Woe is theirs because they have rejected th...

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 23:1-12. Throughout Jesus’ Holy Week teaching, the scribes and Pharisees have continued their angry unbelief toward Him. He now turns away from them to address those who have been receptive to His teaching. He warns His disciples and the crowds concerning these false teachers...

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, and Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 22:23-46. Jesus’ opponents continue their attempts to trap Him during Holy Week. The Sadducees, deniers of the resurrection of t...

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 22:1-22. Jesus continues preaching against the Jewish religious leaders on Monday of Holy Week by telling the parable of the wedding feast. God the Father is the King, Jesus is the Bridegroom, and the Church is the Bride. Those who are invited first but refuse to come are the Jewish r...