Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

The Rev. Nabil Nour, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartford, SD and fourth vice president of the LCMS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 13. This chapter tells the story of a childless couple from the tribe of Dan who received a visit from the angel of YHWH. The angel announced that they would have a son who would be set apart for God’s service from the womb. The couple was aston...

Rev. Dr. Jonathan Shaw gives today's sermon based on Matthew 28:16-20 for the installation of Rev. Michael Frese, Deputy Director of LCMS Church Relations. >> The broadcast of chapel services is brought to you by LCMS International Mission and Ministry to Armed Forces. >> Learn more at international.lcms.org and lcms.org/armedforces.

The Rev. Doug Griebenaw, pastor and Mission Advocate at KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 12. After defeating the Ammonites, Jephthah faces a new threat: the angry men of Ephraim who feel left out of the battle. Jephthah defends himself by saying that he did call them, but they did not come. Unpersuaded, they go to battle. The Gileadites set up a blockade and devise a clever...

The Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 11. Jephthah, a fearless outcast with a tragic past, is raised up by God to lead the Israelites in battle against the Ammonites. He had been rejected by his family because of his illegitimate birth, but now the people look to him for help. Despite the Spirit of God being up...

The Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 10. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. God raised up more deliverers, but Israel continued to chase after the gods of the nations around them, forsaking YHWH who had delivered them time and again. As a result, God allowed them to be oppressed by t...

The Rev. James Price, pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Wamego, KS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 9. Abimelech, the son of Gideon and a concubine, murders his seventy half-brothers and becomes the king of Shechem with the help of his relatives. Jotham, the youngest brother, delivers a powerful speech denouncing Abimelech's actions and curses him through a fable. The story c...

The Rev. Christopher Amen of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN and the Rev. Jesse Baker of St. John Lutheran Church in Hardwick, MN join the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discuss the words of Jesus from the cross. On this special Good Friday episode of Thy Strong Word, Pastor Booe and his guests explore the final words of Jesus from the cross. From “Father, forgive them” to “into your hands I comm...

The Rev. Dan Grimmer, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell, SD, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 8. Gideon chases down the Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna across the Jordan. He captures the kings and kills them for murdering his brothers. Overjoyed with their deliverance, the people call for Gideon to be their king, but he declines saying YHWH is their ruler. But does he mean...

The Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Churubusco, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 7. God sends Gideon to confront a massive army of Midianites with only 32,000 men. But God says that’s too many! How about 300 instead? After Gideon tested God several times before believing his word that he would lead the people to victory, now God want Gideon to know...

The Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v’ Shalom in St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 6. Gideon was not a warrior, but a farmer. We encounter him in this chapter secretly processing grain to hide it from the Midianites. God then calls the reluctant Gideon to confront the false gods worshiped by even his own family. Through miraculous signs and wonders, God pat...

The Rev. Rick Jones, Chaplain and Vice President of Spiritual Life for the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, in, Minot, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 5. Judges 5 is a poetic retelling of the events of the previous chapter, where God used Deborah, Barak and Jael to defeat the Canaanite army led by Sisera. The song praises God for his intervention, celebrates the courage and willingnes...

The Rev. Stewart Crown, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Palo Alto, CA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 4. Chapters 4 and 5 describe the same events: the first in prose, the following in poetry. The story they tell is the victory of the Judge Deborah and the Israelite General Barak over the Canaanites. Barak said he’d only lead the military if Deborah went with him. Deborah told h...

The Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 3. God left some of the wicked nations in the land to see if Israel would follow Him or not. But the Israelites gave in to their lusts and married the foreigners and bowed down to their idols. Thus, God allowed them to suffer under cruel kings who oppressed them for many yea...

The Rev. Gregory Alms, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Catonsville, MD, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 2. As part of His covenant with the Israelites, God instructed them to drive out and destroy the inhabitants of the land. However, they failed to do so. As a result, God allowed the Canaanites and their gods to become like thorns and snares to the Israelites. Despit...

The Rev. Matthew Lorfeld, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Judges 1. The first chapter of Judges recounts the Israelites' initial conquest of the Promised Land after Joshua's death. They had one job: to eradicate the inhabitants of the promised land. However, because they failed to drive out all the Canaanites, the remaining inhabita...

The Book of Judges tells the story of Israel's descent into chaos and idolatry, and the subsequent rise of a series of judges, or redeemers, who deliver them from their enemies. The judges are flawed heroes, but they are also instruments of God's deliverance. The book ends with the Israelites in a state of moral and spiritual decay, but it also offers hope for a better future. Thy Strong Word, hos...

The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 14. Now comes a final plea from God to the wayward nation of Israel, urging them to turn back to Him and receive His forgiveness and healing. God promises to restore the relationship between Himself and His people, declaring that He will "love them freely" and heal their "backsl...

The Rev. Dr. Leonard Payton pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park, IL joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 13. God reminds the people of Israel of their past glory but warns of their impending destruction due to their rejection of him in favor of idols and military strength. The coming assault will be severe, and Hosea is explicit about the level of violence that the invading na...

The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 12. Israel boasts of its wealth and prosperity, while YHWH reminds the people that he could easily take it all away. Prosperity does not equate to faithfulness or blessings. This chapter recalls the history of the Israelites, focusing on their ancestors Jacob and Moses. Hosea emp...

The Rev. Dr. Michael Morehouse, pastor of Catalina Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to Study Hosea 11. This chapter is a powerful and emotional depiction of God's love for Israel, despite their constant rebellion and disobedience. God reveals himself to be both frustrated with Israel's sinful behavior, but also tenderly compassionate towards them. God's desire for His pe...

The Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 10. Hosea continues to paint a stark image of Israel as a selfish vine that bears fruit for itself, not God. They've built altars and worshiped false gods, but God is not pleased. Punishment looms as their land, king, and idols will be destroyed. Hosea urges repent...

The Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 9. Hosea prophesies a vivid picture of Israel's impending punishment for their unfaithfulness and idolatry, likening them to bad grapes unfit for consumption. He warns of the approaching judgment and their imminent fall, highlighting their religious infidelity and moral wrongdoin...

The Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 8. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Hosea continues to speak God’s judgment against the people, and he’s not mincing words. The situation is dire. Using poetic language, Hosea describes how foreign armies are going to invade their land and destro...

The Rev. Luke Brown, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, Kansas, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 6-7. A beautiful confession by the Israelites is exposed by God as merely superficial. They think the judgment will be minor. They believe that by mere outward confession and rote sacrifice they will be spared. However, through his prophet Hosea, God explains what he is looking...

The Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 5. God lays much of the responsibility for the infidelity of the people at the feet of both priest and prince alike. When the political and spiritual leaders worship false idols and abandon the way of the Lord, the people are certain to follow. The unfaithfulness i...