Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Matthew Tooman, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wahpeton, ND, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 11. The lineage of David had to be preserved and the LORD used His people to assure that the last lineage of David, 7 year-old Joash, would become king. This is proof again that God preserves His Church and His guiding hands keeps us in His grace. When the people said, “Long live...

Rev. Jared Nies, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Corliss, MN, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 10. When God says “Thus says the LORD”, He means it.  Sin and false worship have long lasting consequences.  These consequences go beyond our generation and for those who are closest too us.  Although we may not see the destruction that occurred for Ahab’s family, we get a glimpse of...

Rev. Bob Hiller, pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido and San Marcos, CA, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 9. God calls Jehu to be king, but just like any calling from the LORD, it will not be all unicorns and rainbows.  God calls him to be a king of wrath upon Ahaziah, Joram, & Jezebel.  God’s Word is faithful, even in wrath because His Law is to be followed, but thanks...

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 8. The words, “God is a jealous God to the 3rd and 4th generation of those who hate me.” from Exodus 20 were never more true.  The more we hear of the family connections to the Ahab, the more sin and destruction occur.  We also see the faithfulness of the LORD to the 1,000 ge...

Rev. Tom Eckstein of Concordia Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 6:32-7:20. In grief the king asks “Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” We don’t like to wait, especially in trials. For the Israelites God provided by word of lepers from the camp of the Syrians. It was almost unimaginable just days before. Through Christ goggles, we look at our ow...

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 6. If the LORD can make iron float, surely the LORD can save me. God so loved the Israelites that even in some of the worst sins imaginable, He was patient and worked through the prophets to give people the truth. He is the LORD of hosts, He sends His angels to battle for us as He has alre...

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 5:15-27. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. Naaman went forward in faith and in the LORD’s peace.  Gehazi moved forward trusting in what he could get from others.  Elisha gives us the words we all need as His children, “Go in peace.”  In His peace we m...

Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger, President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 5:1-14. The LORD is the LORD of the lowly.  God worked through a little girl and a leper, not by silver, gold, or fancy clothes, but by a few words and some water.  In our world, “Might makes right.”  Whoever has the most power & money wins the day, but God shows us that He works...

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 4:18-44. The Shunamite woman loses her son and while seeking help from Elisha she says, “All is well.”  Clearly, she is grieving and in pain, but she speaks words of faith in the LORD.  We pray for the same faith when going through loss and trial.  Throughout chapter 4 we see...

Rev. Curtis Deterding of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 4:1-17. The widow had nothing but a vessel of oil. The Shunammite woman was wealthy. Yet, we all have needs and the LORD provides “all that we need to support this body and life.” God worked through Elisha for God’s people and God sends helpers in your life to provide, serve, and care for...

Rev. Bruce Timm of Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 3. We need a preacher.  Jehoram, Jehosophat, and the king of Edom went to Elisha after seven days without water because “the word of the LORD was with him.”  Once again God provided: water for the thirsty, victory over enemies, and peace for the anxious.  We see a stark difference from the k...

Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III, professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study II Kings 2. God continues His prophetic office from Moses to Elijah to Elisha all the way to Christ.  How can we not see Christ as we see Elijah cross the Jordan and ascend to heaven?  How can we not see the reality that God provides for His chu...

Rev. Matthew Clark of Ascension Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to start our study of 2 Kings. Ahaziah had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the kings’ men couldn't put Ahaziah back together again. The LORD tells us that Ahaziah “provoked the LORD to anger in every way that his father had done.” Even after seeing the great works of the LORD and unable to do a...

Rev. Ross Shaver of Zion Lutheran Church, Nampa, ID joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 149. Praise the LORD! Why? The LORD takes pleasure in you. He adorns, that is covers you with His righteousness and grants you salvation in His love. To pray Psalm 149 also reminds us that the battle is not done. Each day we pray to our LORD who has had the victory and gives us the two-edged sword of L...

Rev. Bryan Stecker, Grace Lutheran Church, Nashua, NH joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 3. What would you do if you had to flee for your life because of your child?  What if thousands of people are against you?  Our natural reaction is to either run in fear or make a battle plan.  Yet, David takes his fear and looks to the LORD.  The LORD is our shield, our glory, the lifter of...

Rev. David Juhl of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Momence, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 2. Who has the authority?  The nations or the LORD?  One of the more humbling words in all of Scripture, “He who sits in the heavens laughs.”  This Psalm reminds us that He has all authority and power, yet He does not use that authority to “lord it over us”, but to give us His peace.  Use this P...

Rev. John Lukomski, host of “Wrestling with the Basics” joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study I Kings 22. “The entire life of the Christian is a life of repentance”, Luther tells us.  Ahab needed to repent, even thinking he could fool God, but the message is simple, “You can’t fool God.”  It’s time to repent.  We sympathize with both kings because we know we are indeed saved by God’s grace, but s...

Rev. Adam Degroot, Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Ranch, NM joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study I Kings 21. Ahab wants a vegetable garden, it seems reasonable, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.  One sin leads to another sin.  Coveting leads to lies which leads to murder which leads to stealing which leads to a denial of the LORD.  By God’s grace, Ahab was led to repentance and reali...

Rev. Dave Hinz of Trinity Lutheran Church, Sauk Rapids, MN joins host, Rev. Brady Finnern, to study I Kings 20. Ahab did not have a good track record, but yet the LORD still sent a prophet to him so that “you shall know that I am the LORD.” The Scriptures remind us that God provides daily bread to everyone, without prayers, even to all evil people. If He provides and comes to unbelieving people, t...

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study I Kings 19. Why in the world is Elijah afraid? He saw the LORD have the victory over 850 prophets, but now Queen Jezebel threatens his life and he runs? It is clear that although the battle was done, the war continued on. Elijah saw what we all see: sin continually seems to prevail. I...

Rev. Dennis McFadden of Fort Wayne, Indiana joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study I Kings 18. It is like a good old western film, “Meet me at high noon and we will see who comes out victorious.”  Elijah has called the 850 prophets of false gods for a showdown against the LORD.  What Ahab and others didn’t understand was that a blind, deaf, and mute gods can not give forgiveness or salvation no ma...

Rev. Nabil Nour of Trinity Lutheran, Hartford, SD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study I Kings 18:1-19. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  These words from John the baptist rings in our ears as we see the persistent lack of repentance from Ahab.  Even after 3 years and six months of drought, Ahab refuses to turn to the LORD.  Elijah comes back on the scene with a confrontation, much...

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 17. Elijah was in a drought, famine, and presented with death and the LORD provided.  He provided sustenance at the beaks of ravens, food with a small amount of flour and oil, and a resurrection of a boy.  In the same way, the LORD provides for us “with all that I need to supp...

Rev. Keith Lingsch of Grace Lutheran Church, Naples, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 15 & 16. The common words of these chapters, “And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him.”  Reminds us of how many sins are so easy to follow, especially when modeled by our family.  These sins led to more brokenness, war with other nations, and idolatry.  The main issue for all...

Rev. Tom Eckstein of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 14. It does not end well for the kings of Israel and Judah. Their sins followed them and it affected others. Without our ascended Lord Jesus, our ending is no different than that of Jeroboam’s people, but in repentance and faith in Christ, we are deemed worthy to be with Him. Our trust i...