Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

The Rev. Paul Cain, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheridan, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 4. The prophet Hosea, now more empathetic to YHWH’s concern for the infidelity of the people, begins to deliver a lengthy indictment against Israel and their wickedness. The people openly sin and the priests lead the way. YHWH laments the lack of love for him and his statues among th...

he Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v’ Shalom in St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 2-3. Israel’s idolatry is described in terms of marital infidelity. Something that, because of YHWH’s command, Hosea is now intimately familiar with because of his marriage to the unfaithful Gomer. Hosea depicts YHWH as the betrayed husband and Israel as His unfaithful wife. We...

The Rev. Timothy Sandeno, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Gorham, ME, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 1. Hosea was a prophet in Israel during times of great prosperity in the time of the Divided Kingdom. He was called to prophesy against the unfaithfulness of God’s people. So that he could empathize with the severity of this sin, YHWH called him to first experience this infidelit...

The book of Hosea is a love story with a twist. It tells how God commanded Hosea, a prophet, to marry Gomer, a wife who would be unfaithful to him. God wanted Hosea to feel firsthand the pain of betrayal as he sent him out to prophesy to the people of Israel how they had been unfaithful to God. Hosea still loved Gomer and pursued her and restored her as his wife. This was a picture of how God purs...

The Rev. Keith Haney, Assistant to the President for Missions, Human Care, and Stewardship in the LCMS Iowa District West joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Luke 10:25–37. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of the Good Samaritan in his famous 1968 speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” He said, “The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was, ‘If I stop to help this man, what will hap...

The Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Titus 3. Paul begins with a call for Christians to be submissive to authorities, but not just obedient, but to not speak evil of them. He then highlights the transformative power of God's grace and its impact on Christian living. While asserting we are saved by his grace through ba...

The Rev. Tyler Walworth, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Dearborn, MI, and Our Savior Lutheran Church of the Deaf in Birmingham, MI, and Administrator of St. Martin Lutheran School for the Deaf in Dearborn, MI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Titus 2. Paul provides practical guidance for living out the Christian faith. The apostle encourages different groups in the church to model godl...

The Rev. Joshua Frazee, associate pastor St. John's Lutheran Church in Mayville, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Titus 1. St. Paul begins his letter to Pastor Titus by outlining the crucial need for church leaders to be “above reproach” and teach sound doctrine. Although expected of all Christians, as representatives of Christ, there is a higher burden on pastors in this regard. Paul the...

The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Timothy 4. Paul delivers a powerful charge to Timothy, urging him to preach the word and remain faithful to his ministry, no matter the opposition or persecution he may face. Paul, fully aware of his own impending death, encourages Timothy to stay focused, keep a clear mind, and be...

The Rev. William Cwirla, pastor emeritus, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Timothy 3. Knowing that difficult times were coming, marked by people who would be lovers of themselves, boastful, and disobedient, the Apostle Paul warns that they will oppose the truth and lead others astray. He encourages Pastor Timothy to continue in what he has learned and to put his trust in the Scriptures, whi...

The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Timothy 2. To help Timothy navigate the challenges of pastoral ministry, Paul encourages him using various metaphors, including those of a soldier, athlete, and farmer, to emphasize the importance of perseverance, focus, hard work, and patience in the Christian life. He urges Timothy...

The Rev. Tim Hahn, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Haxtun, CO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Timothy 1. Likely the last epistle he ever wrote, St. Paul penned 2 Timothy while awaiting his execution. The Apostle felt abandoned by those once closest to him. From behind bars, he faced the end of not only his ministry, but his earthly life. Therefore, 2 Timothy is not only the last wor...

The Rev. George Murdaugh, pastor emeritus, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Timothy 6:2b-21. In this passage, St. Paul writes the famous saying, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (v. 10). A verse that is often misquoted and misunderstood. What is in focus is not some intrinsic wickedness of money or even wealth in general, but the need for all believers to find their conte...

The Rev. Hans Fiene, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crestwood, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2a. In the previous chapter, St. Paul urged Timothy to be a positive example of faithfulness and resolve, despite his young age. Now, the Apostle gives him examples of how to exercise his authority with patience and tact as he deals with men and women of different...

The Rev. Timothy Barkett, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kingman, AZ, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Timothy 4. Some will depart the faith. This is the Apostle Paul’s message to Timothy in this part of the letter. Why? Because of false teaching. The world continues to resist God’s clear message and those intent on leading people astray will devise all manner of enticing myths...

The Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Timothy 3. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Often times when a congregation seeks a pastor, what is usually in focus is calling a man to perform certain duties. In particular, congregations want to know how he will preach, teach, and administer the s...

The Rev. Dr. Brian Saunders, President of the Iowa East District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Timothy 2.  St. Paul instructs Timothy to encourage believers to pray for all people, including those in positions of authority, and to live peaceful and quiet lives. It also addresses the role of men and women in worship. In a text that might stoke contro...

The Rev. David Fleming, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI and Executive Director of Spiritual Care for Doxology, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Timothy 1. The Apostle Paul pens this letter to the young pastor Timothy, who he left to shepherd the Ephesus congregation by teaching and defending the faith. In this first chapter, we find Paul leading with two serious con...

The "Pastoral Epistles" of 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus, written by the Apostle Paul and divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, are a treasure trove of invaluable insights into the early Christian church and God’s expectation for its leaders. These letters, brimming with wisdom, are not relics of the past but remain authoritative today. They offer a roadmap for navigating the challenges of leaders...

The Rev. Dan Eddy, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Beloit, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Esther 9:29-10:3. We have come to the end of the book of Esther, where we find Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, victorious in their efforts to save the Jews from the evil plot of Haman. They then establish a day of feasting and rejoicing in celebration of the Jews' deliverance, a perpetua...

The Rev. Doug Griebenaw, Mission Advocate at KFUO joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Esther 9:1-19. The date set by Haman for the destruction of the Jews has arrived. On display is the bravery of Queen Esther and Mordecai as they stand up for their people against their enemies. What follows is a triumphant counterattack by the Jews, who fought back against their enemies and emerged victorious....

The Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v’ Shalom in St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Esther 8. Haman is finished and Mordecai is elevated to the office Haman once held. Queen Esther pleads to the King on behalf of the Jews and the King permits Mordecai to issue new edict. Because the King couldn’t simply revoke the command earlier permitted Haman to make in his name...

The Rev. Doug Griebenaw, pastor and Mission Advocate at KFUO joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Esther 6:14-7:10. Irony. Comeuppance. Poetic Justice. Whatever you want to call it, Haman’s humiliation in the previous chapter is now compounded as Queen Esther uses the occasion of another special feast for King Ahasuerus and Haman to reveal Haman’s treacherous plot against the Jews. The king is fu...

The Rev. Jim Daub, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havelock, NC, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe on a special “Free-Text First Friday” episode to study selected funeral texts. Everything we do in the church is in preparation for our eternal lives in the new heavens and new earth. Although we rightfully pray for Christ’s return, it’s likely that our journey on earth will end in death. Death was...

The Rev. Nick Koschmann, pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Forest Grove, Oregon, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Esther 6:1-13. Haman goes to the King’s palace early, eager to convince him to authorize the execution of Mordecai. Providentially, he arrives just as King Ahasuerus is seeking someone to advise him on how to best reward Mordecai for previously foiling an assassination plot...