Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 15:1-13. The Apostle continues his appeal for those Christians stronger in faith to bear with and uphold those whose faith may be weaker. To illustrate this, St. Paul points to Jesus who did not consider his own needs when he gave himself up for the world. St. Paul writes, “Welcome...

Rev. Kevin Yoakum, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Riverview, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 14. St. Paul writes, “One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.” (v. 2) No, he’s not talking about vegetarians! The Apostle is referring to those Christians who, for a variety of reasons, believed it was sinful to eat certain things....

Rev. Warren Woerth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 13. Over the past few years, Romans 13 has been at the forefront of the thoughts of many Christians. In this chapter, the Holy Spirit inspires St. Paul to command submission to the governing authorities as ministers of God. In no uncertain terms, the Apostle writes, “Whoever resi...

Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 12. What gifts has God given you to serve others? In chapter 12, the Holy Spirit has inspired St. Paul to urge humility among Christians. There are many gifts within a congregation of believers, some more visible and seemingly more prestigious than others. Boasting in our gifts...

Rev. Dr. Daniel Olson, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Luxemburg, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 11:1-24. It’s very important to St. Paul that his readers don’t misunderstand his admonishment of the Jews. He begins chapter 11 with another of his famous rhetorical questions: “Has God rejected his people?” The answer is, “By no means!” (v. 1) The Apostle points to his own lin...

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 10. Can one give their heart to Jesus? Don’t make what is gospel into law. Righteousness based on the law is unachievable. Only righteousness founded on faith in Christ Jesus which saves. So, how does one know they have faith? The Apostle answers, “if you confess with...

Rev. Christopher Amen, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 9. St. Paul, who has, thus far, been fairly stern with the Jewish believers, begins chapter 9 with an emotional explanation. The Apostle reveals how he feels sorrow and anguish over his Israelite brethren. He explains that while the Jews were the recipients of God’s word, and th...

Rev. Jacob Benson, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lovell, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 8:18-39. Life is filled with both joy and suffering. The joyful moments give us a glimpse into our future with God, but what about the tribulations? St. Paul contends that suffering with Christ is part of our walk of faith, but what we endure now is not even worth compari...

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 8:1-17. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Chapter 8 begins with one of the most powerful statements of Gospel, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (v. 1) But more than just a declaration of good news, St. Paul...

Rev. Jim Daub, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havelock, NC, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 7. Does God’s law cause us to sin? No, but the Apostle Paul posits that our “sinful passions” are “aroused by the law.” (v. 5) Even when we know God’s will for our lives, our fallen human nature is eager to do that which we shouldn’t do. So, St. Paul asks, “What then, shall we say? That...

Rev. Dr. Peter Elliot, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle, WA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 6. Out of his abundant grace, God forgives our sins for the sake of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. In the previous chapter, St. Paul asserted, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (v. 20) What good news! Yet, the Apostle begins chapter 6 with an admonishment...

Rev. Robert Moeller, Jr., pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN and Zion Lutheran Church in Jaspar, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 5:1-21. Would you die to help someone else? What if they were a good person? St. Paul says someone might be willing to die to save a good person, but God is so amazing he sent his son Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. Go...

Rev. John Greene, ordained teacher and pastor serving Grace Chapel Lutheran Church and School in St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 4:1-25. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (v. 3) St. Paul continues to explain how God declares us righteous on account of faith, not ancestry or adherence to the Law, and that faith is a gift. In the most Gos...

Rev. Scott MacDonald, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Meridian, CT, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 3:21-31. In this second half of chapter 3, the Apostle Paul clarifies that all people — Jew and Gentile — “have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (v. 23) What is God’s answer to this predicament? The long-promised Savior, Jesus Christ! God the Father sent his only Son...

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 3:1-20. If God shows no partiality, and no one is saved by keeping the Law perfectly, what advantage is there for the Jew? St. Paul begins this chapter by addressing this concern. With that in mind, is there any advantage to being a Lutheran? What about people who don’t believe but...

Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 2:12-29. “It is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” (v.13) St. Paul writes this bold statement as he begins explaining the role of the Law in the believer's life. The Apostle reveals that when non-Jews, who have...

Rev. Neil Wehmas, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, IA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 2:1-11. Only God has the right to judge. This doesn’t mean that Christians can’t, in love, call out sin in themselves, fellow Christians, or the world. But the Christian who judges others out of haughty pride condemns himself when he ignores his own sinfulness. Instead, we must cling...

Rev. Jason Bredeson, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sacramento, CA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 1:16-32. St. Paul declares he is not ashamed of the gospel, but what does that mean? Hearing the term “gospel” would have caused the Roman Christians to think of the emperor, but Paul uses the expression to redirect them to the true God-King, Jesus. Paul establishes the main thesi...

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 1:1-15. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. St. Paul begins his letter with an introduction more detailed that in his other epistles. Filled with words of faith that hint at the content to come, St. Paul begins his longest letter by focusing on his cal...

Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 50. Today is the changing of the guard for Thy Strong Word. Pastor Booe will be taking the baton as our new host, and Pastor Finnern is stepping down to focus on his new vocation as Minnesota North District President. Grief and fear grew among the brothers as Jacob died. The grief for th...

Rev. Greg Alms, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church & School in Catonsville, MD joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 49. Jacob blesses His sons as sons of the promise of Abraham from the Lord. He assembles his family and we receive a glimpse of what the Lord has done and what He will do in the future. God is always moving us forward, even though the future, let alone the past, may not be brigh...

Rev. Martin Schultheis of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 48. As Jacob nears the end of his life he blesses Joseph’s sons (Manasseh and Ephraim), in essence adopting them. It is not much different than the times we visit our loved ones in hospice care. Jacob/Israel remembers the days of old and how the LORD had blessed his family and the promise...

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 47. Pharaoh graciously gave the Israelites the best land of Egypt. The LORD provided for His people, through Pharaoh, with the land and gave them a home for the next 400+ years. The journey was filled with blessings of reality. We can see this account of the Israelites with pessimi...

Rev. Mitchell Gowen, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Lutheran Church in Aiea, HI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 46. Israel was making his journey to Egypt filled with questions of the future. He stopped to make a sacrifice and the LORD filled him with His promise to always be with Him. In this promise we see how God blessed Israel with each member of his family. In our own families we usu...

Rev. Dennis McFadden, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 45. Joseph calls out the sin of his brothers, not for the sake of more shame, but that they may be restored with him and the LORD. He said it in a powerful way, “You sold me, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” The motivation to sell their brother was sinful, but God worke...