Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Dr. Gerard Bolling, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO and Assistant Professor of Leadership and Theology at Concordia University-Texas in Austin, TX, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 19:16-30. The rich young man asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus patiently teaches the young man concerning salvation from a good God and our idolatry. The rubb...

Rev. Dr. Brian Saunders, District President of the Iowa East District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 19:1-15. The Pharisees were testing Jesus to trip him up concerning divorce by misquoting the Bible. Divorce has affected all of us and the sin that has caused it leaves a trail of pain. Jesus brings them back to the beginning by showing that marriag...

Rev. Peter Burfeind, pastor of Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Marshall, MI & Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City, MI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 18:21-35. Forgiveness of sinners is the heartbeat of the Christian. Forgiveness is needed because there are many who are lost in their sin. Peter, on behalf of the disciples, was given the office of the keys and now asks, “How often shoul...

Rev. Jacob Heine, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 132. The Psalmist asks the LORD to remember. To remember His promises that He would dwell with His people and clothe them with salvation. As people would travel up to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, the LORD remembered to clothe his people with righteousness, to be their resting pla...

Rev. Jim Price, pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Wamego, KS joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 133 & 134. The source of our unity is in God’s goodness. We are united as one by His love seen on the cross. Our striving for unity is like trying to catch the wind if His blessings do not come from above. His blessing of forgiveness, life, and salvation flow down upon us like oil o...

Rev. Aaron Spratt, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Juneau, AK & missionary for Alaska Mission for Christ, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 17. David confidently pleads with the LORD to hear and care for him. Knowing that in the LORD’s grace forgiveness was his, David invites an investigation of his sins. We find our complete confidence in the blood of Christ knowing that “our si...

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 16. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. There is no good in me apart from the Lord. Humbling words, especially in prosperity. To be a saint/excellent one to take refuge in Him, unlike the idolater that has hope in themselves. The LORD gives counsel,...

Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, California joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 15. We all desire to be holy. David teaches by asking, “Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” The answer is obvious: No one! He speaks of those who are blameless, truthful, pure in their words and actions. It does not take long before we realize that we are not these thing...

Rev. Nick Koschmann, pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Forest Grove, Oregon, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 18:10-20. The LORD pursues His people like a shepherd looks for His sheep. His pursuit of us shows that every time one repents and believes in Christ brings one response: Thanks be to God! Jesus gives us holy instruction on how we are to care for others in His name. Sinners n...

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 18:1-9. Jesus patiently repeats the message of our hope in the cross and empty tomb. The disciples see the kingdom of God as an opportunity to get the highest position in the kingdom. He places a help in the midst of all to call them to repentance. His kingdom is not of th...

Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 17:14-27. Do we trust Jesus at his word or not? What is the content of our faith? Jesus shows us that He has full authority, even over demons, and by faith the father comes to Jesus to seek help. This man knew that Jesus was able to extend mercy and He did. The disciples started to depe...

Rev. Adam Degroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Ranch, New Mexico, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 17:1-13. Jesus is the Light and He reveals to the disciples that He was the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and Elijah (Prophets). Peter’s response might be similar to our response if we were there. We are reminded that we see Jesus when we hear His Word. When we realize our lack...

Rev. Terry Forke, District President of the Montana District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 16:13-28. God the Father reveals the truth of Christ to Peter and us: He is the Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the Messiah proclaimed from the beginning (Genesis 3:15). He is the Son of the living God (Matthew 3:17 & Psalm 18:46) who will fulfill al...

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 16:1-12. The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted a sign, even though signs were everywhere, and Jesus once again proves that all we need is Jonah. If you don’t see Jesus in Jonah’s three days in the big fish and his resurrection, one will not understand the cross and empt...

Rev. Tom Eckstein of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 15:29-39. If there were any questions about Jesus’ compassion for people in Matthew, He makes it obvious today. He heals every possible disease and no number of people are out of His reach for mercy. Jesus is clearly concerned with the whole person, not only the physical through bread, but He...

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 15:21-28. God the Father reveals the grace of Christ in the most unlikely of people. We hear of the Canaanite woman, from the lineage of an unfaithful people (Deuteronomy 20:7), who seeks the LORD’s help in faith. Although Jesus calls her a “dog”, we must admit that we are just as uncl...

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 15:1-20. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. The Pharisees and scribes come with accusations concerning the traditions. Jesus points all of us away from the traditions to faith in the Word. He shows us the need for a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), as the heart...

Rev. Jason Bredeson, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sacramento, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 14:22-36. Jesus comes to the disciples and tells them to take heart. Everyone must have been exhausted after the news of John the Baptist’s death and feeding the 5,000 men. Jesus’ first words are “Take heart; it is I.” In His compassion, He comforts the disciples with His identity as...

Rev. Bob Hiller, pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido and San Marcos, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 14:13-21. When Jesus’ heard the news of his cousin’s death, He went away by Himself to grieve. When He is interrupted by the crowd, instead of getting annoyed like we often will be, He has compassion on them. This compassionate Jesus is the fulfillment of Micah’s words, “H...

Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 14:1-12. In Christ there is no darkness, but it does not mean there is no longer any darkness. John the Baptist preached the truth of living a holy life to Herod Antipas and he paid the price. The preaching of the law cuts to the heart for all of us with the purpose of pushing back to...

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 13:51-58. Jesus exhorts the disciples that to understand the kingdom is to teach & preach the fullness of the Gospel throughout the Bible. Preaching the fullness of the Gospel brings comfort to a seared conscience and salvation to sinners. Yet, as we see from Jesus’ return to His h...

Rev. Kevin Parviz of Congregation Chai V'Shalom in St. Louis, Missouri joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 13:44-50. What is the treasure? What is the field? What is this pearl? Who is the man and merchant? The kingdom of heaven is always God doing the action. We look at these parables by putting on our Christ-goggles to see that He was the man who found us, the treasure and pearl, prot...

Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 13:31-43. The kingdom of God is at hand and He is bearing fruit…even if you can’t see it or if it isn’t that large. Mustard seeds and leaven grow without anyone noticing, much like the proclamation of Christ’s salvation grows in the hearts of people, by the Holy Spirit, in ways that we d...

Rev. Bryan Stecker, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Waconia, MN, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 13:18-30. Jesus brings us back to the Sermon on the Mount were He says, “You can not serve two masters.” Behind the scenes Satan is working through trials & evil influence to create doubt and eventually loss of faith. By God’s grace, He continues to throw His Word to sustain us...

Rev. Bob Hiller, pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido and San Marcos, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 13:1-17. Why speak in parables to proclaim the truth of the kingdom? “Why not just give it to us straight?” the disciples asked. Jesus teaches His Word with compassion to unbelievers with a desire for all to be saved. The Parable of the Sower shows how God recklessly throw...