Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Timothy Sims, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church and School in Chester, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 12:33-50. You need a savior. Jesus is that Savior. Too often we look for a “sign” to know that we are bearing good fruit. Jesus points us back to Jonah as the only sign that we need. As people repented from Jonah’s preaching, Jesus—the greater Jonah resurrected from the grave—c...

Rev. Brian Davies, pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, IL, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 12:15-32. Jesus is the Lord’s servant prophesied in Isaiah. This Servant will bring justice for the nations, but His victory will look weak—like a bruised reed and a smoldering wick—but He still is victorious over Satan and his demons (Genesis 3:15). In this victory, Jesus makes i...

Rev. Dan Galchutt, Assistant to the President of Missions and Stewardship for the Kansas District in Topeka, KS joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 12:1-14. Jesus is not only the one who follows the Sabbath, He created it. The Pharisees wanted to get into an argument about the Sabbath while the real question is “Who is Jesus?” To say that Jesus is the LORD of the Sabbath proclaims loudly tha...

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor of St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 11:20-30. Jesus calls people to repentance (contrition for sin and faith in Him). His works in Chorazin and Bethsaida were done to blind eyes and Jesus does not want them to be led to judgment. His preaching of the Law is vital to our souls so that we know our sins...

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 11:1-19. The question, “Are you the one?” continues still today. Jesus reveals who He is and what He was to do, even though many didn’t think He was doing it the way they thought. He was the anointed one prophesied in Isaiah 61. His kingdom is of restoration for the people...

Rev. Kevin Parviz of Congregation Chai V'Shalom in St. Louis, Missouri joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 10:34-42. Can you imagine a picture of Jesus with a sword? Jesus tells the disciples that to follow Him would bring a battle from the devil, the world, and even our own family members. The hard truth is that if our family is asking us to deny the Triune God to be with them we are c...

Rev. Joshua Knippa of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Nederland, TX joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 10:16-33. Jesus makes sure the disciples know what they are getting into. The apostles had a high calling that would involve flogging, persecution, and hatred from others. We see this play out in the book of Acts which shows us that God is faithful to His people. He reminds us to not fear, n...

Rev. Dave Hinz of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 10:1-15. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. King Jesus has set aside an exclusive group, that, by all worldly standards, do not seem to be “worthy” of such a calling. By His grace He gives the 12 His authority, not their own. The sent ones would see persecution,, but they will see where God will b...

Rev. John Zimmerman of St. John Lutheran Church in Pittson, PA & Immanuel Lutheran Church in Scranton, PA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 9:32-38. As Jesus has proven His authority by healing and teaching and He gives us a shot of reality. The need for the Gospel to be preached is great, but the preachers are few. Each generation of the church has seen the need for preachers of the Word...

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 9:14-31. Jesus was not an extension of the old, but He was The Way. He presents the reality that we need to rejoice in Christ who made the hemorrhaging woman, dead girl, and two blind new and makes us new as well. We move forward in faith depending on the one who has all authority...

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 9:1-13. What is our greatest need? The need for the paralytic seemed obvious: the ability to walk. Yet, Jesus gave His forgiveness as one can be saved without being able to walk, but without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation. It is clear that Matthew writes this Gospel, by the...

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 8:18-34. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Jesus proves again that He has authority over all creation (storms, disease, death, and devil). He warns those who desire to follow Him to “count the costs” because even He doesn’t have a home to lay His head. A...

Rev. Todd Niebling, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Oxnard, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 8:1-17. It was Jesus’ will to heal the lowly leper, the centurion, Peter’s mother-in-law, and the demon possessed man. This healing we are able to see Jesus’ authority and power, now and into eternity. Unlike normal kings, He uses that power to have compassion on the most unlikely of peop...

Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador, Executive Assistant for Mission and Mercy for the South Wisconsin District in Milwaukee, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 7:15-29. Jesus continues to warn believers of the narrow road to salvation in Him. Be aware of false prophets and false beliefs whose focus is away from Christ and His cross. We know that the fruit is good from prophets when it points to...

Rev. Justin Panzer, President of the Kansas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri District joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 7:1-14. Context is king. To read Jesus’ words can easily be used to push personal agendas while forgetting His truth and our need to humbly love fellow believers. We repent for our lack of humility when addressing sin, repent for not seeking the Lord’s will in pra...

Rev. Dr. Paul Holtorf, Professor of Theology at Concordia University in Seward, NE joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 6:19-34. We are continually growing in Christ. Jesus calls us to faith so that when we battle the idols of earthly treasures, fear of God’s providence, and our lack of seeking His righteousness. We are challenged as Jesus says, “O you of little faith.” Clearly we need to be...

Rev. Dr. Robert Sorensen, Professor of Theology and Foreign Languages at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 6:1-18. Christ is our righteousness and our holiness. The world praises us by doing righteous deeds like giving to the needy, fasting, and prayer, yet Jesus shows a fuller understanding that Christ has done for us. By the Holy Spi...

Rev. Doug Minton, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:38:48. Jesus never allows us to assume that the Christian life will be easy. He quells any extremist thoughts concerning our enemies that we are not only to turn our cheeks but to love them. We are called to follow the example of Christ, not to fear evil since He has had the victory. J...

Rev. Daniel Golden, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, West Virginia joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:27-37. We are always looking for a loophole when it comes to sin. Jesus does not allow for any loopholes with adultery, divorce, and oaths as even a simple thought shows that we are completely dead in our sin. Jesus is not the addition to the law, but He fulfills the law...

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:13-26. Fresh off the blessings of the Beatitudes, Jesus directly proclaims our identity in Him: Salt and Light. Human life is not possible without salt and light. Each person has value in Christ, joined with Him, to live according to His purposes and bring His Light to o...

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, Executive Director of Lutheran Heritage Foundation in Macomb, MI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org. We are those who are poor in spirit and, in Christ, we are blessed. The weakest, meekest, and most needing righteousness are the greatest in the kingdom of God. In this blessed...

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 4:12-25. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Jesus’ kingdom is clearly different. He goes to Capernaum in Galilee: Not His home in Nazareth, not where kings lived, and among foreigners. He brings with Him simple men to follow. Immediately they follow witho...

Rev. Terry Forke, President of the Montana District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus’ temptation is not just a model of the holy life, but it reveals His authority over the devil by His Word. Jesus shows His kingly rule would be above the work of the devil, the father of all lies, by proclaiming His promises of salvation. “Lord God, hel...

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 3. The work of salvation begins. God begins this kingdom, through a humble prophet John, to begin with turning back in the right direction in repentance. This repentance is needed for all people, including Pharisees and Sadducees, but clearly His forgiveness is for a...

Rev. Dustin Beck of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 2:13-22. The birth narrative continues with the LORD’s intervention to keep the holy family safe and to fulfill prophecies of His identity as the “perfect Israel.” Israel had left Egypt into the wilderness and failed. Jesus, true God and man, begins His journey and we see how His kingdom would rei...