Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Tom Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 27:45-66. The cross does the talking. By the cross we see the perfect form of love that God would die for his friend (John 15:13). The cross was the final sacrifice for all (Hebrews 10:10). The cross is the fulfillment of Psalm 22. The cross proclaims the truth that He accomplished eve...

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 27:24-44. The people were about to riot unless Jesus, the innocent, sinless man was crucified. By God’s wisdom Pilate’s decision to have Jesus crucified is what brings us healing, life, and forgiveness. We feel the mockery, the thorns in the head, the moisture of spit on his face, and t...

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 27:1-23. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Everyone is talking about accusations but Jesus is silent. Can you imagine a situation where it would be decided that you would be killed for something you did not do instead of a convicted criminal. Would you...

Rev. Dr. Joshua Jones, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Rapid City, SD joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 26:57-75. The religious leaders are gathering the forces and using all of their political chips to take Jesus down. After all the attempts they could only rely on false prophets to bring Him to Pilate. The claim of blasphemy is that He threatened the temple and usurped the religio...

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 26:36-56. As Jesus prays to the Father, “take this cup from me, but Your will be done.” It is clear that our strength is in the LORD. This is why we sing “The LORD God is my strength and my song (Isaiah 12:2b).” If we look to one another for strength and hope, betrayal & laziness...

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 26:1-35. Jesus is working the ground to prepare everyone for the cross. He calls everyone to faith, like the woman anointing Jesus’ head for burial. The comfort of Jesus’ preparation that He doesn’t just give words but Himself, His body and blood, to give us forgiveness and a taste of...

Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v’Shalom in St. Louis, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 25:31-46. We receive a glimpse of what will occur when Jesus returns. He will come and sit on his glorious throne and judge the nations. This judgment is quite troubling when we think about the times we have not fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, visited those in prison, and...

Rev. Dr. Donald Fondow, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 21. King David prays after battle. Psalm 20 says, “O LORD, save the king” and Psalm 21 shows that God is victorious. David can not help but rejoice in the LORD’s strength and salvation. The LORD had sustained David and his lineage not only in battle, but in faith in the saving K...

Rev. Matthew Schultz, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Niskayuna, NY joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 20. David prays to His King that He would bless his people. It is a reminder for us to pray for our leaders and know that the LORD is the true leader. The power is in the name of the LORD and not ours. The victory is His and we trust in Him to graciously care for His kingdom i...

AudioLink Rev. Terry Finnern, pastor of Mt. Calvary & St. Paul’s Lutheran Churches in Miltona, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 19. David reflects on everything: God’s creation, God’s law, our sinfulness, God’s salvation, and God’s rock solid redemption in Christ.  By His perfect, sure, right, true, and clean Word, we are able to see His glory through creation keeping grounded i...

Rev. Levi Willms, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yankton, SD joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 129. “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth” says all of Israel. God’s people had gone through afflictions throughout the entirety of their lives and in hope, they seek the righteousness of God. The Psalmist asks the Lord to keep enemies from prevailing, keep them from bear...

Rev. Aaron Stinnett, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Smithfield, RI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 130 & 131. Martin Luther was once asked concerning his favorite psalms and he mentioned that Psalm 130 was a “Pauline psalm.” Psalm 130 proclaims a gracious and forgiving God who is quick to listen and quick with grace. The authors of both psalms are pleading for mercy fro...

Rev. Greg Truwe, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cole Camp, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 25:14-30. The Master generously entrusts His kingdom to His servants. The Master will be returning and it is clear that the servant’s stewardship of this kingdom will have its challenges. The servants that gained more talents were brought into the joy of their Master. The servant with one...

Rev. Tysen Bibb, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Norborne, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 25:1-13. The Church waits for Christ’s return as the virgins wait for the bridegroom. To be ready for his coming required a lamp to be lit. To wait can cause us to lose focus and become drowsy like the virgins. When the bridegroom returned at midnight five virgins had enough oil and five di...

Rev. Max Phillips, pastor of Christ and Zion Lutheran Churches in Bouton & Ogden, IA, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 24:32-51. The time is near. Repent. Believe in the Word that will not pass away. Jesus reminds us that we live trusting in the LORD, not knowing when He will return, to be ready for His return. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word will not pass away. The timing o...

Rev. Robert Wentzel, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 24:15-31. “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).” In love, Jesus prepares the disciples for His quick and dynamic return. For the believer, it will be a day of rejoicing, which reminds us of the need to continue to faithfully preach the truth of Christ’s salvation & forgi...

Rev. Michael Pottschmidt, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Concordia, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 23:37-24:14. In love, Jesus laments the lost sheep of Jerusalem and teaches the truth of His second coming. We are to be careful to not take Jesus’ words as a literal checklist we can interpret from the newspaper. He makes sure that we understand the reality of this...

Rev. Kyle Mietzner, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 23:1-36. In love, Jesus gave His last sermon to the religious leaders and what a sermon it was. Woe to anyone who attempts to gain the world but loses the LORD. Woe to those who lead others astray. Woe to anyone who attempts to tithe their possessions without faith denying justice and merc...

Rev. Lance O’Donnell, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Oconomowoc, WI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 22:15-46. If what Jesus is saying is true, it changes everything. The full salvation by Christ’s hand changes how we look at our relationship to Him, our neighbors, and our government. Everything is wrapped around the Love of God to His people in Christ and in response, H...

Rev. Dr. John Wohlrabe Jr., pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Whitefish Bay, WI, and 2nd Vice President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 22:1-14. Our King, God the Father, invites people to His Feast of salvation. The rich feast was promised in Isaiah 25 and a promise for the world. The reactions of this invitation are quite varied, but the king...

Rev. Dr. Christopher Ascher, pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 21:33-46. Jesus patiently teaches another parable concerning the wickedness of the tenants (religious leaders of those days). This parable is both scary and strange. What master would send multiple people to terrible tenants, let alone his own son? As we put on our Chris...

Rev. Drew Ross, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Costa Mesa, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 21:18-32. Jesus challenges us to faith. Faith in a God who created the mountains, faith in the God who has all authority, and faith in the one who calls us sons. He leaves no room for diplomacy, either Jesus is the Son of the Living God or not. From His mercy, He calls all of us as sinners,...

Rev. Steven Wheeler, pastor of Crossview Lutheran Church in Edina, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 21:1-17. Jesus is taking control, as the greatest servant, to how He will do the ultimate service through the cross. The people needed a reminder what kind of King He would be–gentle, humble, and bringing salvation. “Who is this?” many asked. Even though they did not fully understand the...

Rev. Martin Schultheis, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 20:20-34. “Mother knows best” brings up many questions as we look at James and John’s mother’s request. We can be quick to judge the requests and others without reflecting on what we might do in the same situation. Jesus’ mother asked for her son’s to have a place of honor in His k...

Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Ashland, OR joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 20:1-19. We trust in the Lord’s generosity as He generously gives us salvation in Christ. Jesus shows how His kingdom is one of generous salvation to all people by His blood. He shows us this promise that by His death and resurrection we are saved. The problem is not His generosity, but h...