Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 2:12-17. Jesus speaks to the church in Pergamum with the sharp two-edged sword of His Word. Though the church there dwells in the shadow of rampant Roman idolatry, they have not fallen for Satan’s lies. Instead, they have been faithful even to the point of dying for the faith. Yet false teachings reminiscent of Balaam have arisen in the church there. The need for repentance is urgent, lest the sword of Jesus’ Word be turned against them. Yet to those who hear the Word of God and hold onto Christ by faith, they will receive the eternal invitation to partake of the wedding feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. “Come Lord Jesus!” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Revelation given to St. John. Although some look at Revelation with fear, it is a book of supreme hope in our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. The book of Revelation gives a heavenly perspec

Rev. Dr. Christian Preus, pastor at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church and School in Casper, WY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 2:8-11. In His letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus identifies Himself as the first and the last, the Crucified and Risen Savior. He knows the tribulation that the church in Smyrna has endured at the hands of both Romans and Jews; this was evidenced in the life and martyrdom of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. Jesus calls His people in Smyrna away from their fear, for their tribulation will last only a short time. Those who are faithful unto death will receive the crown of life and will not be hurt by the second death. For all those who have ear to hear, the words of Jesus to the church in Smyrna bring hope and comfort. “Come Lord Jesus!” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Revelation given to St. John. Although some look at Revelation with fear, it is a book of supreme hope in our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. The book of Revelation gives a heavenly p

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 2:1-7. The seven letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor share many features. Each one is addressed to the angel of the church. Since the word “angel” means “messenger,” this would seem to indicate the pastor or bishop of the church. The first letter is sent to the church in Ephesus. Jesus identifies Himself as the One who is holding the angels of the churches and is present among His churches. He encourages the church in Ephesus in their patient endurance in resisting false teaching, yet He critques the way they have abandoned the love they had at first. He calls them to repent and promises the fruit of the tree of life to the one who conquers by faith. “Come Lord Jesus!” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Revelation given to St. John. Although some look at Revelation with fear, it is a book of supreme hope in our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. The bo

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 1:9-20. St. John is a brother and partner with all Christians in the suffering of the Church. While he was suffering under exile on the island of Patmos, he was with the Church on a Sunday. In the Spirit, John heard the voice of Jesus behind him commanding him to write to seven congregations in Asia Minor. When he turned to see who was speaking, John saw the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ, appearing with the full glory and more of the Son of Man in Daniel 7. Each detail John describes reveals who Jesus is, and John fell at Jesus’ feet with great fear. Jesus touched John and took away his fear, for Jesus has conquered as the Crucified and Risen Savior. Jesus repeats to John the command to write what he sees, and Jesus begins to reveal to John how to understand the things that he sees by identifying the seven stars as the seven angels of the churches and the seven lampstands as the seve

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 1:4-8. As St. John writes to seven specific churches in Asia Minor, he writes to the whole Christian Church. He greets them with the grace and peace that come from the Triune God: the Father who is and was and is to come, the Holy Spirit who is fully present with the full Church, and the Son, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus loves us and frees us by His blood and makes us His kingdom and priests, He receives glory and dominion forever. He is coming soon in that glory, and all will see Him. The Lord God Almighty is the Alpha and the Omega. These opening verses set the stage for the comfort that belongs to Christians in the Triune God who reigns over all. “Come Lord Jesus!” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Revelation given to St. John. Although some look at Revelation with fear, it is a book of supreme hope in our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. The book of Revelation giv

Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Professor of Theology and Ministry, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of the Center for Biblicla Studies at Concordia Univeristy in St. Paul, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 1:1-3. The book of Revelation was given to St. John the Apostle as a vision while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. The Christian Church was under persecution near the end of the 1st Century AD; in that context, John received this marvelous book of comfort from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Using language that only Christians familiar with the Old Testament and the Gospels would truly understand, Jesus showed His Church that He was truly reigning over all things. If we fail to read the book of Revelation in this context as apocalyptic literature, we will run into all kinds of trouble and take numbers and images in the way that the Lord never intended. However, reading Revelation in the context of all Holy Scripture, Jesus shows Himself as our victorious Lord for whose

“Come Lord Jesus!” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Revelation given to St. John. Although some look at Revelation with fear, it is a book of supreme hope in our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. The book of Revelation gives a heavenly perspective on our earthly circumstances so that the Church in every generation is challenged, comforted, and assured of final victory through Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Rev. David Boisclair, interim pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 3 John 1-15. St. John writes to beloved Gaius, praying both for his phyiscal and spiritual health. He rejoices to hear that Gaius is walking in the truth and has received those who had come in that truth as brothers, though they had been strangers before. St. John encourages Gaius to support them in their journey to continue to proclaim the Gospel, for in so doing, they will become fellow workers for the truth. Although Diotrephes does not acknowledge the authority of John or the truth, John promises to deal with this wickedness when he comes. Christians must not imitate such evil, but instead must seek only after the good, which commes from God. Demetrius stands as an example of such a Christian. St. John indicates his desire to seek Gaius face-to-face in the joy and peace of Christ. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St.

Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 John 1-13. St. John writes to the church as the elder, the pastor who has cared for Christians throughout his long apostolic ministry. He loves the Christians as his children in the the truth. They have been walking in this truth according to the commandment they have had from the beginning: love one another. Such love comes not from any deceivers, but only from the truth that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Those who abide in this teaching have God. Those who do not have this teaching dare not be received as brothers in Christ. St. John writes this brief epistle in the hope of having the joy of speaking face-to-face. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God’s

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 5:13-21. As St. John concludes his epistle, he tells us that his writing gives us certainty of eternal life in Christ. This certainty is not found within us, but in the sure promise of God. That is the confidence that we have as we approach Him in prayer; we know He wants to give us all that is a part of His will, and so we ask Him for those things, knowing He will keep His promise. In that confidence, we pray for those brothers who have fallen into sin, that God would keep them in life through repentance. Even as we recognize those who have fallen from faith and are walking in sin are no longer brothers in Christ, we seek for opportunities to speak to them of Christ. Jesus is the Son of God, true God and our eternal life. Idols cannot give us what we need; only in the Son of God do we have salvation. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written b

Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine, associate professor of theology and Interim Dean of the College of Theology, Arts, and Humanities at Concordia University, Chicago, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 5:1-12. St. John continues to weave together the strands of his first epistle to present the full tapestry of the Christian faith. True faith in Jesus as the Son of God goes together with love for each other as Christians. We keep God’s commandments as a part of our vocations given by God, knowing that He has done the work of salvation for us. By faith in Him, we have the victory that overcomes the world. The water and the blood of Jesus’ pierced side testify to who He is, along with the Holy Spirit; we receive this testimony still in the Word and Sacraments. By faith, we have this testimony within us. God has given us eternal life in His Son; when we have Jesus, we have life. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist.

Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 4:13-21. St. John continues to emphasize that love starts with God. He has given us His Spirit, and now we testify to the truth that Jesus truly is the Son of God, sent by the Father to be the Savior. In this love of God, we abide. In this love of God, He casts out our fear of punishment on the Last Day; instead, we long for rhat day with expectation. His love for us is primary and brings about love for our brothers. By loving our brothers, whom we see, we show our love of God, whom we do not see. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God’s love for us in Jesus shapes our lives as Christians in all that we believe, say, and do.

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for a special Sharathon episode to study the book of Colossians. St. Paul writes to the Colossians to strengthen their faith, love, and hope in Christ. By Him, all things were created. In Him, all the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. He has reconciled us to Himself by His death and resurrection, and He has incorporated us into His death and resurrection in Holy Baptism. Because we are in Christ, we are set free, no longer captive to philosophy and empty deceit. Our lives are hidden with Christ in God, and so we live the baptized life by putting off the old self of sin and putting on the new self in Christ with kindness, humility, patience, and love. We continue in steadfast and watchful prayer, walking in wisdom and speaking the truth of God’s Word graciously to each person as we have opportunity. Read the Book of Colossians here on BibleGateway.com. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, loo

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for a special Sharathon episode to study the book of Jonah. When the LORD commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah went the other way. The LORD worked through His reluctant prophet even during Jonah’s disobedience. The LORD rescued Jonah from the sea by appointing a fish to swallow Jonah. From the fish’s belly, Jonah prayed in repentance, and the LORD foreshadowed the resurrection of Jesus when He brought Jonah out of the fish and into new life on the third day. Jonah obeyed the LORD’s second command to preach to Nineveh. His short sermon was effective. The Word of the LORD brought Nineveh to repentance, and the LORD did not destroy the city. When Jonah considered the mercy of the LORD to Nineveh as evil, the LORD taught Jonah concerning His compassion for all people. That love that God has for all sinners shapes us; He has loved us, and so we show His love by proclaiming His Word to all. Read the Book of J

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, and assistant to the president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 4:7-12. St. John teaches us the shape of love, which cannot be disconnected from true doctrine. If we come with our own definition of love, we will always end up with a distortion of the truth. Instead, we must let God define what love is, because He is love. He makes love visible through His Son, Jesus. Love is found in the fact that God loved us by giving His Son to make the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Because God has loved us in this way, we love each other in response. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God’s love for us in Jesus shapes our lives as Christians in

Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 4:1-6. St. John exhorts us to test the spirits, so that we would know which are from God and which are from the antichrist. The diagnostic is this: does this spirit teach that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? Those spirits that do not teach this truth are not from God; we must take care not to listen to their lies. We hold to the truth because we are from God, who is in us and greater than the world. Distinguishing between the Spirit of God and the spirit of error equips us to show true love to each other. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God’s love for us in Jesus shapes our lives as Christians in all that we believe, say, and do.

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 3:11-24. St. John reminds us that there are two families in this life. The family of the devil is characterized by murder and hatred for righteousness. The family of God is characterized by the love that Christ showed us in His death and love that we now show each other. We should not be surprised when the world hates us, but as the family of God, we should love our brothers by giving freely to help them in their physical need. This shows that we are of the truth, yet when our heart condemns us in this matter, we have confidence because God is greater than our hearts. We trust His Word even more than the experience of our hearts. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when w

Rev. Rick Jones, Chaplain and Vice-President of Spiritual Life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:28-3:10. St. John encourages confidence in the children of God as the Lord’s appearing draws closer. We need not shrink from His coming, but rather, we can look forward to receiving Him as the Righteous One for us. The Father’s love has made us His children in Christ now, even as we await being made fully like Christ in glory. Because we are God’s children now, we do not practice sinning, which is lawlessness. We flee from the practice of sin because Jesus has come to destroy such devilish works. Instead, we run toward practicing the righteousness of Christ, confessing our sins before Him and living in the new life of love for our brother that Jesus has freely given us. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:18-27. St. John warns the children of God to be on guard against the false teaching of the antichrists. As it is now the last time before the Lord’s return, these false teachers deny that Jesus is the Christ and go out from the true Church. Those who know the truth must continue to abide in the truth and watch out for the lie that would lead away from eternal life. The gift of the Holy Spirit in Holy Baptism guards Christians from deception and keeps us firm in the truth that we have been taught in the Word. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God’s love for us in Jesus shapes our lives as Christians in all that we believe, say, and do.

Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:12-17. St. John tells us why he is writing. He desires all Christians to have confidence that their sins are forgiven by the Father for Christ’s sake. He desires older Christians to remain grounded in the truth they have been taught from the beginning. He desires younger Christians to know that the victory that Christ has won belongs to them through the abiding Word of God. For that reason, St. John warns us against the love fo the world. Those things are not from the Father and are passing away. Instead, St. John encourages us toward the will of God, which abides forever. “The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God’s love for us in Jesus shapes our