Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Clint Poppe of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Nehemiah 6. The unholy trinity of adversaries (Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem) do not want the wall to be built.  They used every last strategy to make Nehemiah feel like his life was more important than the Word of God.  This tactic can bring fear and if one is fearful they will not stay grounded in...

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Nehemiah 5. God’s people were struggling with famine, finances, and slavery.  Nehemiah saw the sinful oppression and called God’s people to repentance.  However, he did not just use words, but as governor he provided for the people, even with serving people at his own table.  The LORD calls us to be ge...

Dr. Joel Heck, professor of theology at Concordia University in Austin, TX joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Nehemiah 4. The building of the wall is well underway.  The wall revealed the tensions from the surrounding countries (Samaria, Asdod, Amon, and Arab countries).  Nehemiah continues to be a servant leader by identifying needs, coming to the LORD in prayer, and preparing others for the...

Rev. Ned Moerbe of Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell, OK joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Nehemiah 3. Nehemiah and God’s people started to build the wall.  The wall was needed for the sake of protection from their enemies.  At the same time the rubble of the old wall was a sign of shame for the past sins.  To have the wall restored was a sign of God’s restoration, not only for the people...

Rev. Tim Winterstein, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in East Wenatchee, WA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Nehemiah 2. The hand of God granted Nehemiah the opportunity to return to Jerusalem, gather timber, inspect the wall, and recruit workers. Although there was opposition it was God who made sure it was built. We are reminded that we give thanks to God for all His blessings and trust in His...

Rev. Ben Meyer of Hope Lutheran Church in Sunbury, OH, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Nehemiah 1. Nehemiah hears the news that although the temple had been built over 70 years ago, his homeland was still in shambles. In his vocation as a cupbearer he has influence with King Artaxerxes, but he doesn’t first go to the king to plead the case. He first fasts and prays to the LORD. May He help...

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to pray and study Psalm 147. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. Why do we need a reminder to praise the LORD?  God’s people were in exile, but now back in their homeland, the temple restored, and the wall rebuilt.  In a certain sense, this is a call to repentance for u...

Rev. David Fleming, Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI & Executive Director of Spiritual Care with Doxology, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 148. Praise the LORD.  The Psalmist commands the angels, all creation, all creatures, and all nations to sing their hallelujahs because He has raised up the horn of salvation in our LORD Jesus.  The Hallelujah...

Rev. Robert Wentzel of Trinity Lutheran Church, Bemidji, Minnesota joins host Rev. Brady Finnern of Messiah Lutheran, Sartell, MN to study and pray Psalm 5. David prays with groaning and demands to the LORD while suffering. He confesses that the LORD is one with an abundance of steadfast love and one that is not indifferent to evil. Psalm 5 can be utilized as we begin our days to watch for His ble...

Rev. Dr. Brian German, Associate Professor of Theology & Director of the Concordia Bible Institute at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 4. Psalm 4: In the peace of the LORD, I will lie down and sleep. Rev. Dr. Brian German, Associate professor of theology at Concordia University, Mequon, WI & Director of the Concordia Bible Institute joins Rev. Brady Finn...

Rev. Ross Engel, pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Middleburg, FL, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 25. 2 Kings 25: Everything is gone.  Nothing to say but “Lord have mercy.” After the third rebellion, Babylon decided to enforce sterner policies upon Judah: besieging the city, destruction of the temple, the king, leaders, wall, and the captivity of most people.  In most books,...

Rev. Kevin Parviz of Congregation Chai V Shalom, St. Louis, Missouri joins host Rev. Brady Finnern of Messiah Lutheran, Sartell, MN to study II Kings 24 Judah was falling. The king, his family, all mighty military men, the craftsmen, and all treasures in the temple are gone. How can we not see the connection of the stripping of the temple and Holy Thursday? The LORD told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9...

Rev. Tim Sandeno of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Gorham, Maine, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 23. God had mercy on Judah.  Josiah had a reformation in the temple of the worship practice of God’s people to assure that they would focus their hearts, souls, and minds on the LORD.  His reformation reminds us that we are in need to re-evaluate where our hearts have created idols so we c...

Rev. Jason Bredeson, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sacramento, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 22. Josiah was a faithful king who did “right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.”  He restored the temple, heard the Word of God, repented from his sins, and called others back to the LORD.  He did all of this even after the Word had been lost...

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 21. Manasseh was a people pleaser.  God had not called him to be a people pleaser, but a faithful follower of the LORD.  As He led the kingdom for 55 years, evil spread throughout all the land to the point of sacrificing their children and the shedding of much innocent blood. ...

Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study the Epistle Philemon. Paul makes a plea with Philemon to be reconciled with a former bondservant Onesimus to be seen no longer as a slave but “as a brother in Christ.” Paul shows us a way for Christians to be “ambassadors of reconciliation” towards one another as Christ has reconciled us...

Rev. Joshua Knippa, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Nederland, TX, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 20. Hezekiah’s struggles are not unlike our own.  He has moments where he trusts the LORD and comes to Him in prayer and praise.  Other times, he questions or takes credit for what God provided.  We ask the LORD for faith that we may speak of His glory and seek His help in time...

Rev. Paul Hemenway, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 19. Assyria was knocking at the door of Judah, hundreds and thousands of soldiers of a well-funded military were ready for war.  Hezekiah seeks the Word of the LORD from Isaiah and responds with prayer.  The LORD heard this prayer was faithful to protect and keep His people.  Hez...

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 18. The people of Judah had a new king who “trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel.”  That trust was tested when the Assyrian army attacked their cities and the Assyrian officials questioned the power and grace of God.  The officials made a compelling argument to submit to their aut...

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN & St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 17. Many times God allows destruction and trials for reasons we do not know.  However the LORD clearly shows us why Israel was taken from their homeland: sin, idolatry, sacrificially offering their children, building of altars to other gods, stubborn...

Rev. Neil Wehmas, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, IA joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 16. You have heard it said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.”  This does have a grain of truth, but like Ahaz, we need to be reminded that it is the LORD who is our Light and our Salvation and He keeps His promises.  King Ahaz feared Syria and Israel to the point that he m...

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 15. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. The kings of Israel are on a runaway train of evil kings (Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah) and even though the kings of Judah were more faithful (Azariah & Jotham), they could not officially drop...

Rev. Peter Burfeind, pastor of Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Marshall, MI & Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City, MI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 14. Amaziah is now king.  He follows in his fathers footsteps by seeking more power, but the desire led to defeat, trampled walls, and death by the hands of his own people.  We seek power and influence in this life and it will lead t...

Rev. Gregory Alms of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Catonsville, MD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 13. The only hero in the Bible is God.  The kings, the Israelites, and even the prophet Elisha all meet their graves but today we see how God uses lowly means to show His resurrection.  In all the chaos of Israel and Judah, we hear of the LORD who listens to the plea of the king.  He not...

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 12. King Joash and Jehoida, the priest, worked together to help restore for the good of God’s people.  After 23 years it appears there was a problem of accountability.  Working together, Judah made sure that the Temple was restored and the gracious gifts were used appropri...