Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

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 Luke 9:51-62. St. Luke reaches a key turning point in his Gospel account when Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem. The days of Jesus’ birth and ministry in Galilee have been leading to this moment, in which Jesus makes a determined turn to the place where He must suffer, die, and rise for the salvation of sinners. His rejection in a Samaritan village is a reminder of the rejection He has faced in Galilee and serves as precursor to the greater rejection He will receive in Jerusalem. Yet James and John misunderstand. Judgment from heaven is not the order of the day; Jesus has come to show mercy. As His journey continues, He teaches the difficulties that following Him will entail. Jesus will have no place to lay His head until He lays it down on the cross and in the grave. He has come to set sinners free from the kingdom of de

Rev. Dr. Arthur Just, professor of exegetical theology and acting dean of the chapel at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 9:37-50. This text serves as a pivot from Jesus’ Galilean ministry to His journey toward Jerusalem. As Jesus descends the mountain of His transfiguration, His disciples’ confusion concerning His coming suffering and death only grows. They had been unable to cast out a demon from a man’s only son; Jesus exclaims concerning the faithlessness of this generation and then shows Himself to be the faithful Savior, healing and freeing this man’s son from demonic affliction. As all marvel at God’s majesty, Jesus reiterates what He must do. He predicts His Passion for a second time, focusing clearly on His suffering at the hands of men. The correct understanding of Jesus’ Words remains hidden from the disciples at this time; this is made plain by their argument concerning greatness. Jesus teaches them concerning true greatness in His king

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 9:28-36. On the mountain of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John see a preview of the Lord’s resurrection glory to come. The glory with which Jesus shines in brilliant white is His own glory as God. Moses and Elijah appear and begin speaking to Jesus about His exodus, which He will accomplish by His death, resurrection, and ascension. Though Peter speaks without understanding, the Father’s voice reveals the truth concerning Jesus. He is the beloved Son to whom they must listen, particularly in what He teaches concerning His suffering, death, and resurrection. Though now is not the moment for Peter, James, and John to speak about this glory of Jesus, the time will come after Jesus’ resurrection when the good news concerning Jesus will go out into all the world. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel accor

Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain at the International Center in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 9:18-27. The question of Jesus’ identity takes center stage as Jesus Himself brings it up. The thoughts of the crowds are on the right track but are insufficient. When Jesus turns the questions to the disciples themselves, Peter speaks correctly the divinely given confession that Jesus is the Christ of God. The disciples are not yet prepared to speak this publicly, however, because Jesus has not accomplished His full mission. The Lord tells His disciples plainly for the first time what He will do as the Christ: He must suffer, die, and rise. The thought of suffering and death for the Messiah was foreign to the disciples at this point, but Jesus’ continued teaching only further connects their life of discipleship to that suffering. Daily, they will deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Jesus, the only One who can save

Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 9:1-17. The proclamation of the kingdom of God is an urgent matter. Jesus sends His apostles out with that gospel message. Though they carry little with them, their heavenly Father will provide for their needs through those who hear the Word and believe it. Some will not believe the message; Herod the tetrarch fell into such unbelief, despite his apparent interest. The answers he heard concerning Jesus’ identity were interesting but deficient. Jesus’ miracle of feeding five thousand men reveals Him as greater than Elijah or Elisha. He is the God who provides abundantly for all His people’s needs. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection so that Theophilus would have certaint

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 8:40-56. Jesus returns to Capernaum to a waiting crowd and a desperate synagogue ruler named Jairus. His only daughter is dying. He knows Jesus is the only One who can help, so Jairus falls at the Lord’s feet and implores Him to come to his house and help. Jesus goes, though with far less urgency than Jairus surely would have liked. The crowd makes for slow going, but the miracle that Jesus does on the way strengthens Jairus’ faith. A woman secretly comes to touch Jesus; her issue of blood had made her ceremonially unclean and disrupted every aspect of her life. Jesus restores her fully and calls forth her faith by questioning who had touched Him. Not only did this strengthen her faith; it also strengthened Jairus’ faith when he heard that his daughter had died. Jesus calls the child to rise from death, and she does. This serves as a precursor to Jesus’ resurrection to eternal life, the fullness

Rev. Dr. Peter Scaer, professor of New Testament and chairman of the department of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 8:22-39. When Jesus gets into the boat with His disciples, He promises them that they are going to the other side of the lake. As long as they are in the boat with Jesus, they are safe. This provides a picture of our life in the Church. Jesus shows His power over wind and waves with only His Word, a type of miracle He does here for the first time. When the disciples ask themselves who Jesus, the text calls us to confess that Jesus truly is God. When He arrives on the opposite shore of the lake, He is clearly in enemy territory. A demon-possessed man confronts Jesus. The demon has proved too strong for the man or anyone else to subdue, but Jesus has come as the Stronger Man who binds Satan. Jesus casts the demon out of the man and into a herd of pigs. When the pigs rush to their doom, the people of the region ar

Rev. Tom Eckstein, pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 8:1-21. Jesus’ Galilean ministry continues in other cities and villages. He and His apostles were supported by several women who had come to believe in Jesus. As a great crowd comes to Jesus, He begins to speak in parables in fulfillment of Isaiah 6. The first parable Jesus tells speaks of seed being sown on four types of soil; only in the last type of soil does the seed grow. Jesus explains the parable to His disciples; the seed is His Word and the soils are the hearers. Here Jesus shows the mystery that not everyone believes the Word, and yet, He strengthens His apostles in their coming task of proclaiming the Word to all. In this way, the Word shines as a lamp into the world. When Jesus’ mother and brothers come to Him, He shows that a new family has been founded in Himself. All those who trust in Him for salvation are His family, the Church. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account”

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 7:36-50. This text presents a beautiful example of justification by grace through faith. The sinful woman knows that Jesus has taken away her shame by His forgiveness, and so she ignores any social awkwardness to worship Jesus, even if only at His feet. Simon the Pharisee, at whose house Jesus is eating, is sure that this proves Jesus is not a prophet. Out of love for Simon and in order to call Simon away from his self-righteousness, Jesus speaks to Simon in a parable that shows that this woman has loved Jesus in this way because she has recognized that all her sins are forgiven. She has received this forgiveness through faith, and her love for Jesus has been a result. Jesus calls Simon and all to this faith that believes that for Jesus’ sake, our sins are forgiven before God and we stand justified in His sight. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron tha

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 7:18-35. After John the Baptist had preached against Herod’s adultery, the wicked king had put John in prison. Having been imprisoned for some time, John sends messengers to Jesus. If Jesus really was the Christ, why would John still be in prison? John wants to know if Jesus really is the Coming One; he does the right thing with any doubt he has by asking Jesus. The Savior graciously answers John by pointing to the deeds and preaching that He had been doing, calling John and all who hear to trust in Him as the Christ. When the messengers go back to John, Jesus teaches the crowd that John was the forerunner of the Christ, and in that way, the greatest born among women. Yet everyone who shares in the faith of John in the good news of Jesus receives the same gift of resurrection and eternal life. The tax collectors received this as good news, while the Pharisees and lawyers rejected John and Je

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 7:1-17. After Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Plain, Jesus goes to Capernaum, a place where He has been received favorably in the past. A centurion there sends the elders of the Jews to Jesus in order to request healing for one of the centurion’s servants. Before Jesus arrives, the centurion sends more friends to Jesus. The centurion recognizes his own unworthiness to have Jesus come to him, yet also knows that just the Word of Jesus will bring healing. Jesus marvels at the centurion’s faith, which stands as an example to Christians still. Later, in a town called Nain, Jesus meets death head on. A particularly tragic case confronts Him, as the only son of a widow has died. Jesus touches the bier and raises the man to life, a precursor of His own resurrection on the third day and the resurrection of all the righteous on the Last Day. This is the true Christian comfort in the face of death

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 6:37-49. Jesus concludes His extended sermon for His disciples by teaching them to keep their lives founded on Him. Though the world misunderstands Jesus’ words concerning judgment, He gives to His disciples important instruction as to how their lives are shaped after His own in forgiveness and generosity. Jesus’ parable concerning a blind man leading a blind man calls His disciples to learn to see truly by His Word. Only with Him as the teacher of truth will we learn to see our own sin, trust in Christ alone, and truly help our neighbor see Christ in repentance and faith as well. Connected to Christ and filled by His Word, we bear good fruit; this is the treasure we must seek in both faith and life. To hear Jesus’ Word in this way is to build our lives on a firm foundation so that we will endure through the trials of this life to the eternity to which Jesus is leading us. “The Be

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 6:20-36. Jesus begins an extended sermon in which He tells His disciples who they are in Him and what their lives will look like as a result. The Beatitudes that Jesus speaks are far more than keys to happiness in this life; rather, Jesus declares that His disciples are blessed by their identity in Him, even when their outward circumstances involve suffering. This blessing belongs to Jesus’ disciples now and will be made fully complete in the resurrection on the Last Day. The woes stand in contrast to the blessings; those who think they have it all apart from Christ have only what they have in this life and will end up far worse in the life to come. The reality of blessing in Christ shapes His disciples’ lives right now to begin to look like His in the love that He has shown to us sinners. Though we often fall short of the love for enemies that Jesus teaches, we cling to Him for grace, remember th

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 6:12-19. Jesus’ prayer on the mountain serves to show Him as the Savior who intercedes for His people and also sets an example for us to follow. The Father answers the Son’s prayer as the next morning Jesus speaks His authoritative Word to call twelve of His disciples as His apostles. These are the men He will send to proclaim and write His Word for His Church. The first eleven men are all sinners whom the Lord called to Himself and used in a variety of ways for His Church. Judas Iscariot, named last, was truly an apostle, yet fell away from the faith to become the betrayer. As Jesus comes down the mountain with His twelve apostles, He continues His ministry of healing and teaching, preparing to give a longer sermon to the crowds that have gathered. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist w

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 6:1-11. Jesus’ conflict with the Pharisees escalates as they confront Him for what His disciples are doing on the Sabbath. Their mechanical view of work on the Sabbath has led them to miss the true purpose of Sabbath rest in God’s work of creation and redemption. Jesus calls them to account for not understanding what the Scripture teaches. Once again, He shows that He has come to do what the Law could not do by giving true rest as the Lord of the Sabbath. He shows that even more conclusively on another Sabbath when He heals a man with a withered hand. As the Creator, He brings restoration to His creation on the Sabbath day for this man. The Pharisees’ unbelief grows into irrational fury at the goodness of Jesus. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote hi

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 5:27-39. Jesus doesn’t wait for Levi, also known as Matthew, to reform himself. Instead, the Lord goes to the tax collector while he sits at the tax booth, and Jesus’ word is effective to make Levi a disciple. In joy, Levi throws a party for Jesus and invites all his tax collector friends. The Pharisees object to Jesus’ association with those they consider sinful, and Jesus responds by stating clearly His mission of coming for sinners. In this, Jesus calls the Pharisees, and all, to recognize their sinfulness and come to Him in repentance. The Pharisees fail to see how Jesus can call for repentance without fasting. Because Jesus has come as the Bridegroom for His people, feasting must take place now for the joy of Jesus’ salvation. He is the new wine who has come, and He will not fit into the old ways of piety, as hard as they may be to leave behind. Jesus’ institution of the Sacrament of the Altar

Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 5:12-26. St. Luke continues his account of Jesus’ ministry with two more healings. In the first account, a leper approaches Jesus with humility and boldness in asking for cleansing according to Jesus’ will. By cleansing the leper with His touch, Jesus does what the Law had been unable to do. In the second account, Pharisees and teachers of the law have come to observe Jesus in His teaching. The friends of a paralyzed man show bold faith in getting their friend to Jesus. He immediately forgives the man’s sins, which leads the religious leaders to assume Jesus is a blasphemer. Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus answers their question by speaking a word of healing to the paralytic. His authority to give working legs to the paralytic shows His authority to forgive sins, which He accomplishes by His death and resurrection. “The Beloved Physician’s Or

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 5:1-11. Jesus continues to show the authority of His Word. He teaches a crowd from Simon’s fishing boat and then commands the fishermen to let their nets down for a catch. To seasoned fishermen, this might have seemed like nonsense, but the Word of Jesus created faith in Simon to trust what Jesus had said. The immense catch of fish led Simon to recognize that he had come into the presence of the Lord, and Simon immediately recognized his own sin. Jesus absolves Simon by casting out his fear and calling him to become a fisher of men. Along with James and John, Simon heard Jesus’ call to discipleship and followed Him. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection so that Theophilus would have certaint

Rev. Dr. Curtis Giese, professor of religion at Concordia University Texas in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 4:31-44. Jesus’ Galilean ministry continues in Capernaum, where His preaching once again reveals the authority of His Word. Jesus confirms this further by casting out an unclean spirit. As the Stronger Man, Jesus breaks the power of the demon over the man. Jesus next goes to Simon’s house, where He rebukes her fever as a reminder that He has come to undo all of sin’s effects on us. As more people come to Jesus, He continues His work of restoring creation by healing the sick and casting out demons. Yet His ministry is not bound to one town. Jesus travels throughout the land of Israel to proclaim the good news of the reign of God. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection so that Theophilus would have

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 4:14-30. Jesus begins His Galilean ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. He goes to His hometown, Nazareth, where He keeps His custom of going to the synagogue on the Sabbath. The passage He reads from Isaiah 61 proves programmatic for His ministry of freeing sinners from the power of the devil. When Jesus declares this Scripture fulfilled at that moment, the reaction of the congregation is mixed. They only know Jesus as the One raised in the household of Joseph. Jesus recognizes their rejection and refuses to do a miracle for them in their unbelief. Their rejection turns violent, but Jesus walks through the murderous crowd unharmed in order to go about His continued ministry that will lead Him to the cross in Jerusalem. “The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched