Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Kyle Mietzner, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 1:4-28. Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry begins with a fantastic vision of the glory of the LORD. At times, the awesome details the prophet describes concerning such amazing sights like the four living creatures and their wheels are hard to picture. Yet the LORD’s intention in coming to Ezekiel in this way remains clear. Although the prophet and other citizens of Judah find themselves far away from the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, He is not far from them. He has brought His glory near to them even in exile. The LORD shows His people that He is not some regional deity, but He remains the King enthroned above the cherubim to reign over all creation. By showing His presence among His people in such an awesome way at the outset of Ezekiel’s ministry, He prepares His prophet to hear and to preach words of judgment and deliverance, words that find fulfillment in Jesus. “The Faithful Watchman” is a

Rev. Dr. Daniel Paavola, professor of theology and chair of the theology department at Concordia University, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezekiel 1:1-3. The LORD called Ezekiel to be a prophet in exile. When he was thirty years old, the year Ezekiel should have begun his full priestly duties in the temple in Jerusalem, the LORD showed His glory to Ezekiel, even though he was in Babylon. Ezekiel’s priestly background colors much of his ministry, as the LORD shows Ezekiel that His presence is not limited to the temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel dates various points in his ministry according to the year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. This serves as a reminder for Ezekiel and the exiles that even without a king on the throne in Jerusalem, the LORD remains King over all. Both of these themes are key ways that Ezekiel preaches Christ; Jesus is God who is present among us and the King in the line of David who reigns for the salvation of sinners. “The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron

“The Faithful Watchman” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Ezekiel. Just when Ezekiel should have begun his service as priest in the temple in Jerusalem, the LORD called him to be a prophet in exile in Babylon. Through fantastic visions and attention-grabbing action prophecies, the prophet Ezekiel is a faithful watchman who proclaims the word of the LORD to bring people to repentance over their sins and to faith in the coming Savior, Jesus Christ, the glory of the LORD made flesh. 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. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 3:9-20. After so many words of dark judgment, Zephaniah closes his prophecy with words of joyous salvation. The LORD promises to transform His people’s speech to call upon Him in true faith. These worshipers will come from the farthest places as the LORD gathers His people to Himself. He will remove their shame as He brings down the prideful but exalts the lowly. He will give His people refuge in the only place possible: His name. Such a great salvation calls for the greatest joy. The people of God break forth into singing because He is in their midst. He is with His people not as a casual observer, but as One who rejoices over His own people. Their oppressors will be no more, and He will save His people to the uttermost. This has been fulfilled through the work of Jesus Christ, who rejoiced to call sinners to Himself and sent His Holy Spirit to gather His people from the na

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 3:1-8. On the heels of preaching against several foreign nations, Zephaniah sets his sights on the rebellious, defiled, and oppressing city. Surely to the people’s surprise, the prophet was not still speaking about Nineveh; he was speaking about Jerusalem. They had hardened their hearts against the LORD’s Word, leading to the pollution of their vocations in civil and religious life. This stands in contrast to the LORD’s righteousness in their midst; He only does justice. Though He had looked for His people to repent in response to what happened to the nations around them, they only grew more eager for evil. Therefore the LORD will act against His people as well. This text calls us to repent of any ways we have hardened our hearts against the LORD and His Word and to look to our Savior, Jesus, on whom God has poured out His indignation in our place. “Majoring in Minors” is a mini-s

Rev. Andrew Jagow, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 2:4-15. Zephaniah looks toward each point of the compass in order to proclaim the Word of the LORD to the nations around Judah. To the west, the LORD tells the Philistines that the day of the LORD will bring desolation. To the east, the LORD condemns Moab and Ammon for their prideful boasting against His people. To the south, the LORD tells the Cushites that they will be slain by the sword. To the north, the LORD proclaims that Assyria’s claim of divinity will bring about complete destruction. The LORD speaks to these foreign nations because He loves all mankind and desires all sinners to be saved through repentance and faith in His Son Jesus Christ. This truth comes through in Zephaniah’s words concerning the remnant of Judah and the people from every nation who will come to bow down in faith before the LORD.

Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 1:14-2:3. To the complacent people of Judah, Zephaniah proclaims that the wrath of God is real and is coming on the day of the LORD. Though Judah looked for that day to be one of victory for them, their idolatry means that it will be one of destruction and defeat. The LORD will bring this upon them, and fortifications, technology, and money will provide no escape. Instead, the prophet calls upon the people to humble themselves before the LORD. It is true that the day is coming quickly, but there is still time right now for the people to seek the LORD, righteousness, and humility, casting themselves entirely upon His mercy. This mercy has been shown fully in the day of the LORD that Jesus endured on Good Friday in our place, so that as we wait for the day of the LORD on the Last Day, we do so in repentant faith that trusts in His grace alone. “Majoring in Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 1:1-13. Zephaniah served as a prophet during the reign of Josiah, the faithful king of Judah. Although he does not name Babylon, Zephaniah speaks very clearly concerning the judgment that the LORD will bring through this foreign nation. Zephaniah’s ministry begins with words of utter condemnation. His language echoes the language of the book of Genesis; the LORD will “de-create” and sweep everything away. Judah and Jerusalem are particularly in view. Their idolatry has earned the wrath of God; before Him, they must remain silent. They have no justification of their own that they can offer; they will be justly punished. The LORD will search out those who see Him as inactive; through His judgment, He will show that He is the Sovereign over all creation. Zephaniah calls all to repent of such apathy and place our trust, not in our self-justification, bu

Rev. Dr. Ryan Tietz, associate professor of exegetical theology and dean of students at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 3:16-19. Habakkuk’s psalm concludes with his “Job moment.” The prophet recognizes that the LORD Himself has answered, and Habakkuk trembles. God is God, and the prophet is not; who is Habakkuk that the LORD should reveal His Word and will to him? Yet Habakkuk banks on the hope that the LORD has given. The LORD will deal with evil, and His wrath against His people will lead to His mercy for them. For that reason, even if everything needed for life is taken away, Habakkuk calls for joy in the LORD. The hope in which Habakkuk speaks points us forward to the salvation that He has accomplished in the Savior, Jesus Christ. “Majoring in Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. These three prophets all spoke the Word of God in the days leading up to the fall of Jerusal

Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, professor of theology and ministry at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 3:1-15. Habakkuk closes his book with a psalm that puts the LORD’s Word concerning the life of faith into practice. Drawing imagery from the LORD’s previous deliverance for His people in the Exodus, He calls upon the LORD to act in such mercy yet again. As the LORD veiled His power in the pillar of fire and cloud, so Habakkuk expects the LORD to act with hidden might once more, an expectation ultimately fulfilled in Christ incarnate, crucified, and risen. Though all the armies of the world would be arrayed against Him, the LORD’s chariot of salvation, His Word, is powerful over all. He has worked salvation for the sake of His people in order to keep His promise through His anointed One, His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. “Majoring in Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. These three prophets all

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 2:6-20. The LORD gives Habakkuk a song of taunts to sing in defiance against Babylon. Although Babylon will bring great destruction against Judah and Jerusalem, the LORD will not fail to keep His promises for his people. The greed, wickedness, violence, and idolatry of Babylon will not stand forever. Their twofold ignorance concerning their own sin and concerning the LORD’s mercy will lead to their judgment. Their idols are creations of their own hands, lifeless and speechless statues that can bring no help. Yet the LORD dwells in His holy temple, calling all to silent trust in Him. He conquers our ignorance through His Word to bring us to repentance over our sin and to saving faith in His Son Jesus Christ, who has taken our judgment upon Himself. “Majoring in Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. These

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 1:12-2:5. Habakkuk responds to the Word of God by confessing faith in the LORD as the everlasting God, the Holy One who keeps His promises to His people. Yet Habakkuk still questions why the LORD would use the idolatrous Babylonians to sweep away the righteous together with the wicked. Rather than rationalizing away his question or attempting to justify God, the prophet stands as a watchman to hear the answer from the LORD. The LORD assures Habakkuk of the certainty of His Word by telling the prophet to write the vision down. The LORD promises that He will act; though He seems slow, He will not delay in saving His people. The righteous receive this news in faith, trusting God to keep His promise no matter what their eyes may see. This glorious truth carries into the New Testament, as God has kept His promise of salvation at the appointed time through His Son Jesus Christ. Now He stren

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Habakkuk 1:1-11. Habakkuk was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, yet his book approaches the time period prior to the fall of Jerusaelm from a unique angle. Habakkuk digs into topics that are quite applicable to Christians of every age: the justice of the LORD, the timing of the LORD, and the faithfulness of the LORD. The book opens with a dialogue between the prophet and the LORD. Habakkuk questions why the LORD allows iniquity while ignoring the prayers of His people. Habakkuk likely has in mind the injustice that is happening in Judah. The LORD is gracious in responding; He does not ignore even the challenging prayers from His people. He tells Habakkuk that He is at work. Yet He is at work in a way that Habakkuk would never expect. The LORD reveals that He is bringing the wicked Chaldeans to punish injustice. Here we see the importance of God’s Word to reveal to us the truth,

Rev. Dr. Paul Raabe, retired professor of exegetical theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and current professor of Biblical studies at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study the book of Obadiah. Although the book of Obadiah is the shortest in the Old Testament, it is packed with important Biblical themes. Obadiah’s prophecy covers two main topics: the coming destruction of Edom and the restoration of Israel. Parallel passages regarding Edom from the Psalms and Lamentations indicate that Obadiah was likely a prophet after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and before the fall of Edom in 553 BC. As the prophet describes the destruction of Edom, God shows His standard of justice to be anything but arbitrary; He returns the violence of Edom upon its head. Israel’s restoration is described in terms that point beyond the return from exile under Cyrus the Persian. Obadiah ultimately describes the coming reign of Christ. He is the One who drinks God’s cup of wrath in the p

“Majoring in Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Obadiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. These three prophets all spoke the Word of God in the days leading up to the fall of Jerusalem at the hand of the Babylonians. Through their unique emphases, these men proclaimed the same message of repentance of sins and faith in the LORD, pointing ultimately toward their prophecies’ fulfillment: 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. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 5:1-22. The closing chapter of Lamentations ties the themes from the entire book together in a prayer directed to the LORD. The people call upon Him to remember them; this is not merely mental recollection, but a request that the LORD would act for their good once again. The people lament their great suffering from the loss of their homeland, the exile of the Davidic king, and the destruction of the temple. They confess plainly that the LORD has brought this upon them justly as a consequence of their idolatry and rebellion against Him. Yet they cry out to Him as their only hope, for His reign endures forever. They put themselves entirely in the LORD’s hands, praying for restoration and trusting that what He does is good and right. The LORD ultimately answers their prayer through the work of His Son, Jesus. “Mercy for Mourners” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of L

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 3:40-66. Jeremiah calls upon the people to return to the LORD in repentance. Together they lament that their transgressions have brought the LORD’s punishment upon them. This has happened because they have rejected the preaching of Jeremiah and persecuted him instead. Jeremiah recounts his suffering at their hands, yet prays for the LORD’s justice. Jeremiah’s experience mirrors Jonah’s and foreshadows what Jesus did in His own death and resurrection. Christians today are right to take up Jeremiah’s prayer in the book of Lamentations, confessing their sins and praying for the LORD to win the victory over their enemies. “Mercy for Mourners” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Lamentations. As Jeremiah and the people of Judah mourn over the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, they acknowledge God’s just wrath against them, confess their iniquity, and plead for

Rev. Dr. Nathan Jastram, professor of theology at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 4:1-11. In the fourth poem in Lamentations, Jeremiah describes in painful detail the horrific suffering the people experienced during the siege and fall of Jerusalem. Although they had the preaching of Jeremiah to warn them, they hardened their hearts against the Word of the LORD, a greater sin than even Sodom had committed. For this great sin, the LORD had sent this great suffering as punishment. That recognition forces the people back to the LORD as their only help; they must cry to Him in repentance for their sin and look to Him alone for salvation by His grace. In this way, lamentation brings us closer to God, as we cry out to Him for help and trust in Him as the One who has freely won and given our salvation through Jesus taking the wrath of God upon Himself in our place. “Mercy for Mourners” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Lamentations. As

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 3:40-66. Jeremiah calls upon the people to return to the LORD in repentance. Together they lament that their transgressions have brought the LORD’s punishment upon them. This has happened because they have rejected the preaching of Jeremiah and persecuted him instead. Jeremiah recounts his suffering at their hands, yet prays for the LORD’s justice. Jeremiah’s experience mirrors Jonah’s and foreshadows what Jesus did in His own death and resurrection. Christians today are right to take up Jeremiah’s prayer in the book of Lamentations, confessing their sins and praying for the LORD to win the victory over their enemies. “Mercy for Mourners” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Lamentations. As Jeremiah and the people of Judah mourn over the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, they acknowledge God’s just wrath against them, confess their iniquity, and plead for

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lamentations 3:19-39. This text is the center of the book of Lamentations, structurally and theologically. In the midst of the afflictions experienced in the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah calls to mind the never-ending mercy of the LORD. This is more than the joy of each sunrise; this is the joy of the resurrection that Jesus has won for us. This hope sustains the people of God as they wait for His salvation, even in the midst of the discipline He gives. He shows His heart, not by causing grief to His children, but by showing His compassion and love as He brings us to repentance and lasting faith. Therefore, it does not belong to us to complain but to receive everything as a gift from God’s merciful hand. “Mercy for Mourners” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Lamentations. As Jeremiah and the people of Judah mourn over the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, they acknowledge