Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 13. Whose word has authority? A prophet? A king? A man of God? The only word that had authority in chapter 13 is the Word of the LORD. We see the Word powerfully bring restoration and He invites us to return to Him for His forgiving healing and mercy. Only one man has ALWAYS spoken the tru...

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 12. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. The kingdom of Israel was no longer divided.  Although it was a long time coming, it grieved the people and us to see.  It shows us the division that can occur in any place (work, home, & church).  This division is...

Rev. Warren Woerth of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 11. Well, that escalated quickly!  Solomon goes from praying and giving praises to the LORD with all the riches in the kingdom to a complete denial of the one, True God.  This is a humbling reminder to all of us that our lives are of repentance and asking the LORD to incline our hearts...

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 10. The LORD had greatly blessed Solomon with wisdom, wealth, and faithful servants.  The word had gotten out around the nations, even over 1,000 miles away.  The nations held Solomon in high regard and it seemed as if he and the Israelites were unstoppable.  As we know that “...

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 9. The LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, I Kings 3:5 was the first.  He brings beautiful words of promise, “I have heard your prayer”, “I will be putting my name there forever”, and in faith, “I will establish your throne over Israel forever.”  Yet, there is a big “IF” inse...

Rev. David Fleming, associate pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Executive Director of Spiritual Care with DOXOLOGY, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 8:54-66. Learn more about DOXOLOGY and the Respite Retreats for pastors at doxology.us. Solomon blessed and made peace offerings for God’s people. He asked the LORD to be with them, to keep them in the f...

Rev. Kevin Parviz of Congregation Chai V Shalom, St. Louis, Missouri joins host Rev. Brady Finnern of Messiah Lutheran, Sartell, MN to study 1 Kings 8:22-53. It’s time to pray.  Solomon stood before the Lord’s altar with all of Israel and pleaded with the LORD.  He asked for the Lord’s mercy to help them be faithful as He was faithful, faith for the unbelievers, forgiveness when we sin, and provid...

Rev. Jason Shockman of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, West Salem, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 8:1-21. The temple is ready.  The ark of the covenant is in the Holy Place and leaders and many nations gather to see the place that God would dwell.  Solomon reminds the people that it is the LORD that keeps HIs promises and they are able to see God’s handiwork that brings hope fo...

Rev. Timothy Sims of St. John Lutheran Church in Chester, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 7:13-51. Bronze pillars, stands, sea of cast metal, oxen, cherubim, palm trees, and lions...oh my.  The LORD gave Solomon a very detailed list of furnishings to assure that everyone knew where to be made clean by the water and the bloody sacrifices.   In the Temple everything was covered by...

Rev. Gregory Alms of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Catonsville, MD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 7:1-12. The Temple has been built after seven years of work.  As Solomon was a King he was to make a place to live, work, and care for his family.  It reminds us much of our own country’s political centers: The White House, the Capital, the supreme court chambers, the house, and the sena...

Rev. Matthew Ruesch of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kingsford, Michigan, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 6. 480 years after the Israelites left Egypt, the temple was finally being built.  We see the intricate details of the building of the sanctuary, nave, holy place that has shaped how we build our modern-day churches.  God set aside a place for people to be around the Holy Thin...

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 5. Find Wrestling with the Basics episodes at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. Solomon’s calling is clear: Build the Temple (2 Samuel 7:13).  To accomplish this goal God uses people outside of Israel like in Sidon and Tyre.  As a construction crew needs to prepare to build a home, Go...

Rev. Peter Schmidt, pastor of Beautiful Savior, Waukesha, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 4. The author gives us a whole list of Solomon’s cabinet as he led all of Israel.  A wise leader understands that they can not do it alone, but God provides people around us to use His gifts to His glory.  God also gave Solomon wisdom to understand all of His creation (proverbs, songs, cedar...

Rev. John Rickert, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Newark, Delaware, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 3:16-28. Each day we are presented with ethical questions and conflict to be resolved.  King Solomon was presented with the most conflicted situation anyone could imagine.  By God’s grace, Solomon was able to give proper judgment as to fair and in accordance with God’s Word.  We pray t...

Rev. Brain Davies, pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, IL, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 3:1-15. What do you seek from the LORD?  Our prayers will often function like a vending machine.  “Please grant me ________.” And we wait to see if he gives it.  We seek the tangible: health, protection, providence, and healing.  Yet, when Solomon was given the opportunity to ask...

Rev. Nathan Meador, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 2:13-46. All Adonijah wanted to do was get married, right?  Solomon’s reign in his kingdom had begun after David’s death.  As requested by David before his passing, there were some that needed to be taken care of.  There had been disobedience and sin on the part of Adonijah...

Rev. Peter Lange, First Vice President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 2:1-12. What words do you want to share with your family before you leave this world?  David clearly had reflected on this question as he spoke to his son, Solomon, before his death.  He proclaims to Solomon what was most important, “Be strong and keep the charge of the LORD...

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 1:28-53. Our plans are not our own.  Adonijah appointed himself to be king, but David and the LORD had different plans--Solomon.  Our plans are not always God’s plan, most likely they aren’t even close.  We move forward by faith trusting in the promises that we do know: Christ...

Rev. Dr. Walter Maier, III, professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Kings 1:1-27. Who is next in line to be king?  David was near the end of his journey on earth and his oldest son, Adonijah, tried taking the throne against the will of God.  In one way, we can relate with the desire to do something we are c...

When we think of kings, we may think of all-wise, upright, strong men who fairly rule the land with patience and love.  Yet, the stories of 1 and 2 Kings do not paint a heroic picture. Deception, idolatry, lies, and immorality summarizes the success of the kings of this era. The books of Kings were written for a greater purpose: to show a patient and merciful God. Join us these next few months as...

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, Missouri, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 150. Praise the LORD!  Praise the LORD where his name is given, praise Him where He has placed us, praise Him for He has done marvelous things through our Savior Jesus.  The Psalmist reminds us of our need to praise the LORD of all creation and shows us the gifts He g...

Rev. Dr. Timothy Saleska, professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 1. The Psalms are what God gives to us as we wait for Him.  In Psalm 1, the LORD shows us that we are blessed as He knows and has chosen us.  He compares the righteous to a tree by streams of water.  Our connection to the LORD is a delight because He bears t...

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Thessalonians 3. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. The Christian life is not idle.  Paul tells the Thessalonians to keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness, even going as far as to say that if one is not willing to work they should not eat.  P...

Rev. George Murdaugh, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Douglasville, GA, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Thessalonians 2. Paul points the Thessalonians to what really matters: the comfort and good hope through God’s grace in Christ.  There were rumors in Thessalonica that Christ had already returned, but the end will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed.  He will...

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Thessalonians 1. “We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power.”  Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonians’ faith in the LORD and their steadfastness in Christ during persec...