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Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #349, “Hark the Glad Sound.” This Advent hymn by Philip Doddridge calls us to listen to the good news that the long-promised Savior has come. He prepares our hearts to receive Him with humility and thanksgiving. Jesus comes to set us free from the bondage of Satan; He comes to heal our hearts and souls with the treasures of His grace. For His coming, we praise Him with songs of “Hosanna” not only now but forever. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sung in hymnody helps us to receive Christ as He comes to us now in the means of grace and when He comes again in glory on the Last Day.

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #348, “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns.” This hymn by John Brownlie helps us to meditate on Christ’s second coming through the imagery of the dawn of the morning. Picture the sun’s first rays lighting the hills; the glory of Christ’s second coming far surpasses that. Jesus came the first time as a little child to bear our sin and be our Savior; His second coming will be crowned with great glory. As bright and as glorious as Christ’s resurrection on Easter was, Christ’s second coming will be even brighter and more glorious. On that Day, we will see the beauty of His face, and so we pray for Him to come quickly as our King. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting r

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #347, “Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People.” This beautiful Advent hymn summarizes the Word of God from Isaiah 40 to give us Christian comfort. God sends His messengers to proclaim peace to us in the midst of our sorrows and sins. This peace comes from the fact that God forgives our sins for the sake of Christ and covers us with His righteousness. God works this great reversal for us to take us from temporary sadness to eternal gladness. For that reason, we must listen to the preachers God sends to call us to repentance so that nothing stands in the way of His coming as our King. In that humble repentance, we find our rest in the promises of God, because we know that His Word will never fail. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s com

Rev. Rick Jones, chaplain and director of spiritual life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #346, “When All the World Was Cursed.” This hymn for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist also serves well to highlight the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. God sent John as a preacher of comfort to the world that was cursed under the Law. John’s preaching of repentance was sharp, yet he brought consolation by pointing to Jesus as the Savior. John did that when he leaped in his mother’s womb, and he did that in his ministry by the Jordan River. He pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin; that means Jesus takes away our sin. Therefore, we pray that He would help us to hear the preaching of repentance in faith and so bring us to eternal life with Him. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of

Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #345, “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding.” The season of Advent reminds us that God shows up. Christ doesn’t stay distant from us; He comes to us. We must listen to this proclamation, not just from John, but from our pastors still today. Christ has made us the children of the light, and so we cast away the works of darkness. The warning of the Law wakes us up to flee from sin and dwell in the light of Christ. He is the Lamb of God who comes from heaven to take away our sin; we run to Him as He comes to us for forgiveness. Having known Christ as Savior now, when He comes in glory on the Last Day, we will not be fearful but joyful for His mercy and love. For such salvation, honor, glory, might, and dominion belong to the Triune God alone! “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The sea

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #344, “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry.” Charles Coffin’s hymn text puts before us the familiar Advent preacher, John the Baptist. His sermon is simple: “Christ is here!” All must wake up and listen not only to John, but to every Christian preacher who proclaims this good news. By this proclamation, God calls us to repentance from our sin in preparation for faith in Christ. He is our Savior, our refuge, and our eternal reward without whom we only die. Therefore, we pray for His healing both now and ultimately in the resurrection of the dead. Because Christ has come to set us free from sin and death, we praise the Triune God forever. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than ge

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #342, “What Hope! An Eden Prophesied.” This more-recent Advent hymn from Pastor Stephen Starke draws from Isaiah 11 to help us rejoice in the hope of the new creation that is ours because the Savior has come to us. This Savior is the shoot from Jesse’s stem born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ. He came to suffer and die for our sins on the cross, which now serves as the sign of God’s love for the whole world. Therefore, we pray that Christ would come again to restore Paradise so that we would not be forbidden entry but instead would be welcomed into an open heaven because of Jesus. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sun

Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #341, “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates.” This hymn from Georg Weissel makes use of the language of Psalm 24 to help us pray that God would come to us as our Savior and King. This is not only a past or future event; He comes to us now to bring us life and salvation. Even as a King, He comes in humility and holiness to show us pity and bring an end to our woes. To have Christ as our King is true blessedness; therefore, we welcome Him as He comes to make us His temple. He answers our prayer and dwells with us, giving us His Holy Spirit to lead us unto eternal life. For all this, God alone be praised! “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christma

Rev. Andrew Jagow, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #338, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” This hymn from Charles Wesley teaches us to pray in expectation for our Lord to come. Although waiting is not a favorite pastime for most people, it is an essential discipline for Christians so that we would expect and prepare for Christ’s return. The One we are longing to come is Jesus, who sets us free from the worst enemies and gives us true freedom and rest in Himself. Jesus comes with both might and comfort for all people. As He has brought God’s kingdom in His birth, life, death, and resurrection, so we pray that Jesus would now bring His kingdom to us and reign over us. His Spirit gives us faith to trust in Him so that all idols are displaced from the throne of our hearts. There, Christ alone must reign. By all that He has done, He raises us to eternal life with Him. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that lo

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #337, “The Night Will Soon Be Ending.” Jochen Klepper wrote this powerful text while he was living during the beginning of the Third Reich in pre-World War II Germany. That context of growing despair makes the hope of the hymn all the more powerful. Although the darkness of sin, guilt, grief, and pain is all around us, Christians have true hope in the fact that Christ, who is the Light of the world, will return. His first coming at Christmas shone this invincible light into our world to give us this hope even now. That’s why we run to the light of Christ as He comes to us now in Word and Sacraments, knowing that He has come for us lost sinners. Text: The Night Will Soon Be Ending (Copyright: © 1998 GIA Publications, Inc. Used with permission.) Author: Jochen Klepper, 1903-42 Translator: Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr., b. 1923 “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #336, “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending.” This Advent text from Charles Wesley points us toward Christ’s coming on the Last Day. We look for His return expectantly, knowing that He is the One who was crucified for our sins. Everyone will see Jesus on that Day. Those who did not have faith in Him will see Him with terror, while those who loved Him will look with greatest joy upon the scars by which He won our salvation. In that joyful anticipation, we pray for the Day when Christ will clearly be seen and confessed as the only King over all. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sung in hymnody helps us to receive Christ as

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #334, “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You.” Paul Gerhardt’s Advent text helps us to prepare to welcome the Lord with joy, knowing that He is the One who prepares us to meet Him. As the Palm Sunday crowds once welcomed Jesus with palms and praises, so we continue to greet Jesus with songs of “Hosanna” as He comes to us in the Sacrament of the Altar. He has come because of His great love for us sinners, and because He has come, we are set free from the burden of sin and long for the Day when He returns to take us to our eternal home. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sung in hymnody helps us to receive Christ as He comes to us now in the

Rev. Dr. Christian Preus, pastor at Mount Hope Lutheran Church and School in Casper WY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #333, “Once He Came in Blessing.” This hymn by Johann Horn takes us through the three comings of Christ. In His incarnation, Christ came to bless us as He came in humility to bear the cross for our salvation. Now, in the preaching of His Word and in the giving of His Body and Blood in the Sacrament, Christ comes to gently lead us and nourish us in His eternal life. On the Last Day, Christ will come in power and splendor for judgment; this is joyful for us as Christians because Christ has already spoken His verdict of justification to us. This truth leads us to pray that Christ would come, not only now in Word and Sacrament, but finally on the Last Day to take us to our eternal home with Him. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepar

Rev. James Yonkers, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danville, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #332, “Savior of the Nations, Come.” Written in the 300s by Ambrose of Milan, this hymn teaches us to pray that Jesus would come to us as the Savior. He made His home among us in His incarnation, and He still makes His home with us in His Church. The hymn speaks of the humble work of Jesus as the Word made flesh. Fully God, He became fully man when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus ran His course for our salvation through the humility of suffering and death and into the exaltation of resurrection and ascension. Because the Son of God has won this victory in our flesh, we pray for His coming and abide in the light of His Word. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent

“The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sung in hymnody helps us to receive Christ as He comes to us now in the means of grace and when He comes again in glory on the Last Day. 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.

(Enjoy some favorite previous Sharper Iron episodes as Pastor Appel moves to a new call. A new series for Advent begins November 28!) Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 17:11-19. Samaria was not a place where many Jews of Jesus’ day ventured, but that is exactly the route Jesus took to Jerusalem and His cross. There Jesus encountered ten lepers. These men not only suffered greatly physically from this terrible illness. Even more than that, they were separated from their community and worship life through the ceremonial uncleanness they endured. This served as a picture of the sin that infects all people. That’s why these ten lepers cry out to Jesus for mercy, His grace and compassion that alone can heal and save. Jesus sends them to show themselves to the priest, and as they go, His Word effects healing. One recognizes what has happened and believes. He returns to Jesus as the true Temple, the place where God dwells in human fle

(Enjoy some favorite previous Sharper Iron episodes as Pastor Appel moves to a new call. A new series for Advent begins November 28!) Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Philippians 4:6-20. The church at Philippi had seen the Apostle Paul go through highs and lows during his ministry. As he writes his letter to them from prison, he proclaims to them the joy that remains theirs in Christ regardless of their circumstances. Because the LORD’s return is near, Christians live differently in the world. We are freed from anxiousness and worry through the comfort that is ours in Christ. Prayer and supplication flows from our lips to our Father’s throne of grace. His peace, given through the death and resurrection of Jesus, is our true guard from all evil. For that reason, our minds are occupied with all the good that He gives, as the Apostle learned and modeled from the Lord. Paul’s joy continues to abound through the gift that the Philip

(Enjoy some favorite previous Sharper Iron episodes as Pastor Appel moves to a new call. A new series for Advent begins November 28!) Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Deuteronomy 8:1-10. Before the LORD brings Israel into the Promised Land, Moses invites the people to reflect upon the goodness of the LORD’s commandments. This is no romanticized memory; rather, they recall the dirty details of their wilderness wanderings in which the LORD humbled them. The LORD tested His people, bringing them to acknowledge time and time again that their life was not under their own control. Instead, life comes from the LORD’s promises. His promises protected His people in their suffering, not apart from it. His discipline was for their good as He treated them as His sons. For this reason, they would keep, treasure, guard, and obey the LORD’s commandments. They knew that He was bringing them into an abundantly wonderful land, where th

(Enjoy some favorite previous Sharper Iron episodes as Pastor Appel moves to a new call. A new series for Advent begins November 28!) Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 28:1-28. Though unbelievers face the world with fear, Christians have boldness because their confidence is in Christ. Such confidence in Christ allows us to reflect honestly upon what the Proverbs reveal concerning our lives; we know that when we turn to Him in repentance, He responds with His mercy and forgiveness. In that forgiveness, Christians pray that the Lord would provide just rulers who will use their God-given authority according to His Word. Christians know the gift of diligent, honest labor and the foolishness of seeking after earthly wealth through worthless pursuits. True riches are found in the trust of the LORD. This is a rebroadcast from October 15, 2020. “Wisdom and Instruction” is a mini-series on Sharper

(Enjoy some favorite previous Sharper Iron episodes as Pastor Appel moves to a new call. A new series for Advent begins November 28!) Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 145. The structure of Psalm 145 as an acrostic poem serves to underline the complete nature of God’s reign as King over all. His Kingdom is eternal, calling forth praise from all people. Doxology and doctrine go hand-in-hand as one generation tells the next of who God is and what He has done. The greatness of God’s kingdom is His righteousness, given by grace for Christ’s sake. For this righteousness, all of His works praise Him, because He continues to care for all His creation. He is near to all who call on Him, for Jesus is Immanuel. At the resurrection of all flesh, He will bring His righteous judgment and all will praise His holy name forever. This is a rebroadcast from July 28, 2022. Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study several P