Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Vance Becker, LCMS missionary serving as a theological educator at Neema Lutheran College in Matongo, Kenya, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 1:1-12. Read Pastor Becker's story and how to support his missionary work at lcms.org/becker. St. Peter’s first epistle was likely written in the mid-60s from Rome. He writes to several churches in Asia in order to strengthen them in the face of persecution and to encourage them in their Christian life and witness before the world. The Apostle begins by reminding his recipients of God’s gracious election in Christ through the sanctification of the Spirit. God is the Blessed One for the mercy He has shown us sinners in raising us from the death of our sins into the new life of hope that is eternal in Christ. As we wait for that life to be revealed fully,  we rejoice even in various trials, because God uses these trials to refine our faith in Him. This faith loves and trusts in Jesus, even though He is currently unseen. We know He will deliver His pr

“The Imperishable Inheritance” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistles of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. The life of the Christian Church right now is life in exile. We endure attacks from various trials and from false teachers. Such suffering makes us long for the eternal home that will be ours at the resurrection of the dead. In Jesus, we have this promise of eternal life that can never be snatched away. These three epistles strengthen us to hold fast to Christ in the midst of suffering and to give witness to the hope that is ours in Him. 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

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 Mark 16:9-20. The risen Lord Jesus does not leave His Church without witnesses of His resurrection. He graciously appears to Mary Magdalene and to two disciples as they were walking in the country. The unexpected nature of these witnesses provides evidence of the truthfulness of the Gospel accounts. The disciples, however, do not believe the initial reports. The risen Lord Himself appears to them to rebuke their unbelief and strengthen them in faith and courage for the task ahead. He sends them into the world to proclaim the Gospel to all creation, because His death and resurrection have renewed His creation. Through faith and Baptism, He delivers His salvation to sinners. Signs accompanied the work of the apostles in the book of Acts according to the Lord’s prediction. His ascension and session to the right hand of t

Rev. Dr. James Voelz, professor of New Testament at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 16:1-8. Throughout his Gospel account, St. Mark emphasizes the complete reliability of Jesus’ Word. Now, at Jesus’ empty tomb, the angel speaks that same reliable Word to the women. These women have come to Jesus’ tomb after the sun had risen, recalling Malachi’s promise that the Sun of Righteousness would rise with healing in His wings. Indeed, the Son has risen. The women are alarmed at the sight of the young man in Jesus’ open tomb. He proclaims to the women that the Crucified One is the Risen One. Although the women do not see Jesus at this moment, they will see Him when they believe His Word. In this way, the Gospel according to St. Mark serves as good news for those who live in tough times. Just like the women at Jesus’ tomb, even though we do not see Jesus, we have His reliable Word, and that is all we need. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goe

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Director of Admissions and the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:42-47. St. Mark continues his slow, detailed account through the events of Jesus’ passion as he records Jesus’ burial. Because Jesus died and was buried on Good Friday, His prediction of His third day resurrection remains intact. As a member of the Sanhedrin who is also rich, Joseph of Arimathea seems like an unlikely disciple of Jesus. Yet he, like Simeon, Anna, and other saints, is looking for the kingdom of God in Jesus. Through Spirit-given boldness, Joseph takes a political and religious risk in asking Pilate for permission to bury Jesus. Pilate’s surprise at Jesus’ death is due to its speed; crucifixion often took days. The investigation that happens assures us that Jesus did, in fact, die. Joseph shows great care and love in his burial of his Lord. The women see the precise location of Jesus’ tomb, establishing them as faithful wi

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:33-41. Darkness covers the whole land for the final three hours of Jesus’ crucifixion. All creation now mourns its Creator as the full wrath of God comes down upon Jesus on this Day of the LORD. Jesus prays Psalm 22 on the cross in His moment of greatest agony; He experiences hell in our place when He is forsaken by His Father. God has abandoned Jesus so that we would never be abandoned. Though the bystanders misunderstand, Jesus continues resolutely on as He willingly gives up His life. The mystery is great and wonderful: God died for us. The tearing of the temple curtain proclaims that Jesus has accomplished our reconciliation to God, and the centurion’s confession is exactly right at exactly the right moment. Mark has been writing his Gospel account for this moment: Jesus shows Himself to be the Son of God by His death on the cross. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iro

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:16-32. Jesus’ suffering intensifies. The entire Roman battalion, about 600 men strong, joins in mockery and blasphemy for their sadistic pleasure. The purple cloak and crown of thorns are intended to show Jesus what they think of His kingship, and the spitting and mockery add great shame to growing pain. Jesus’ wounds make Him too weak to carry His own cross, so Simon of Cyrene is compelled to do the task in Jesus’ place. Simon, likely well-known personally in the early Church, serves as a literal example of a disciple who picks up his cross and follows Jesus. Upon arriving at Golgotha, Jesus is crucified in complete shame and nakedness. The mockery comes from every side. The religious leaders, the passersby, and even the two thieves join in the insults. Jesus endures it faithfully, refusing to come down from the cross in order to save us sinners. For this reason, we Christians rightly wo

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 15:1-15. Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin has ended; His trial before the Roman authorities now begins in order to fulfill the Word of God concerning Jesus’ death on the cross. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, is skeptical of the charges against Jesus as he examines the case. The Lord’s silence amazes Pilate, as Jesus fulfills the words about Him from Isaiah 53. As the crowd calls for the release of Barabbas, this notorious murderer ends up as a picture of the great exchange that God gives in Jesus. Jesus is bound so that sinners can be set free. As the chief priests and scribes only stir up the crowd to demand Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate finally relents, and the violence against Jesus only grows. As His Passion continues, the Lord endures it willingly in place of sinners. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist

Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 14:66-72. As Jesus undergoes His trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter undergoes a trial of his own. The bravado He displayed earlier in the evening of Maundy Thursday is gone now that Jesus is bound. When a servant girl challenges him, Peter feigns ignorance. His distance from Jesus, physically and spiritually, begins to grow. Soon the servant girl speaks with other bystanders about Peter, who now outright denies Jesus. When Peter is confronted a third time, he begins to call down curses. Immediately the rooster crows a second time. As the Word of Jesus comes to Peter’s memory, he is brought to tears. In the midst of Peter’s denial, Jesus remains faithful. He goes to the cross to bear the curse for Peter and every sinner. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first v

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 14:53-65. Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin shows the horrific result of unbelief. The chief priests, elders, and scribes otherwise would not have seen eye-to-eye on many issues, yet their hatred toward Jesus binds them together to destroy Him, even by legally questionable means. The mention of Peter’s presence at the beginning of Jesus’ trial serves to highlight Jesus’ faithfulness in the midst of His Passion. One witness after another testifies, but nothing will stick. Finally, Jesus’ words about the Temple are twisted and put before Jesus by the high priest. Jesus’ silence fulfills the Scripture and only angers the Sanhedrin even more. The high priest questions Jesus concerning His identity as the Christ, and Jesus makes the good confession of who He is. Though His Words are true, the high priest takes it as blasphemy. The scene quickly devolves into shameful mockery of the Lord, who

Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 14:43-52. The groups whom Jesus had silenced previously in Holy Week now seek to carry out their violent intent to silence Jesus. In fulfillment of several Psalms, Judas, one of Jesus’ own, cruelly betrays his Teacher and Lord into the hands of the armed crowd with a kiss. The incident threatens to turn to full-scale violence as one of Jesus’ disciples draws a sword to cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Jesus speaks up to reveal the outlandishness of what is happening. He had been teaching in the temple day after day; had He been such a threat, surely they would have seized Him then. Yet Jesus recognizes that all of this is happening to fulfill the Scriptures. Even as all His disciples flee from Him, Jesus willingly follows His Father’s will to His suffering and death. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark.

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 14:26-42. Even with His betrayal, suffering, and death looming, Jesus still sings with His disciples as they go to the Mount of Olives. He bluntly tells His disciples that they will all fall away, as the prophet Zechariah foretold. Peter responds selfishly, contending that he will not. Jesus reveals that Peter particularly will deny Him three times before the night is over, even as all the disciples protest their loyalty. When they reach Gethsemane, Jesus is greatly distressed and troubled; His entire being is sorrowful. He prays with trust in His Heavenly Father’s will. Jesus’ faithfulness stands in contrast to His inner circle, Peter, James, and John, who cannot stay awake with their Lord even for an hour. As His prayer concludes, Jesus is strengthened to face His suffering and death, which is now at hand. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel accordin

Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 14:12-25. As the LORD delivered His people Israel from death through a sacrificial lamb in the Passover, so Jesus now delivers His people from death by His own sacrifice on the cross. The preparations that Jesus sends His disciples to make are really His own preparations; Jesus is the One giving and preparing this meal. He speaks concerning His upcoming betrayal at the hands of one of His own twelve disciples. Jesus states that this is the way it must be, even as He speaks woe to His betrayer, calling him back from his sin. Even as His betrayal looms, Jesus’ thoughts and actions are for His disciples. He fulfills the Passover by instituting and giving His Holy Supper. He gives His Body with the bread and His Blood with the wine for their forgiveness. Our joy as Christians is to believe Jesus’ words and receive this meal of deliverance from our Savior. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 14:1-11. The events of Holy Week now turn to focus on the Passover. This is not only the Passover Jesus celebrates with His disciples; this is the Passover that Jesus accomplishes for His disciples and for the world in fulfillment of everything the Old Testament has spoken. Though the religious leaders in Jerusalem plot to kill Jesus, it is the Father’s will at work to accomplish the salvation of sinners. The woman who anoints Jesus in Bethany portrays in action what Jesus has been teaching His disciples. She anoints Him for His burial beforehand, confessing the true importance of all that Jesus wins by His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection. Though Jesus’ own disciples do not discern the time, misled in their concern for economic matters, this woman recognizes the true worth of who Jesus is and what He has come to do. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron t

Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 13:32-37. As Jesus concludes His discourse on the destruction of the temple and His second coming, He knows that His disciples will be tempted toward speculation. He knows that what they need is vigilance, and so He clearly states that only the Father knows the time of the Son’s second coming. The disciples do not need to calculate times and seasons; they need to stay awake. Jesus repeats this command several times at the end of His teaching, making explicit the emphasis that is present throughout. He pictures the lives of His people during the time between His ascension and His return as watchmen. Whatever their work, His people are to stay awake. Whether life is full of earthly blessing or earthly trouble, His people are to stay awake. The temptation is always to fall asleep, to be lulled into security in anything or anyone other than Jesus. Only J

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church, both in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 13:14-31. Jesus continues to speak to His disciples concerning the destruction of the temple and His second coming. As Jesus’ disciples once saw the abomination of desolation in the temple prior to its destruction, so whenever Christians see heretical teachings working their way into the Church, they flee to the refuge of Holy Scripture. Even in the midst of all the duress prior to the temple’s destruction and in the world before its end, God still intervenes on behalf of His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. His coming is indisputable and for the sake of salvation of His people. In this way, Christians need not be afraid when they see such trouble in the world, for they know that Jesus has spoken of these things beforehand and has promised deliverance. Even as everything else passes away, Jesus gives eternal security in His Word. “The Gospel in Ac

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 13:1-13. Jesus’ teaching during Holy Week reaches a climax when He leaves the temple for the final time. His words concerning the utter destruction of the temple building left His disciples in shock. This had been the place they knew they would have access to God. In speaking of the building’s destruction, Jesus indicates that He is the new temple; in His flesh, God dwells among His people. He also speaks judgment against those who would find security or permanence anywhere else. As His disciples question Him concerning the timing and the signs that accompany this destruction, Jesus speaks in generalities. He warns them concerning those who would lead them astray to looking for deliverance in anything other than His coming. Even as they face great trouble in this life and persecution for the sake of Jesus’ name, the Lord calls His disciples to the endurance that He gives them through the w

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 12:38-44. As no one dares to ask Jesus any more questions, He continues His teaching by warning against the scribes and other religious leaders. This warning is necessary because their outward show of piety only covers the evil of their false teaching and refusal to learn the truth of who Jesus is. As they live in pretentious religiosity, they only harm widows, those the Lord particularly desires His people to shower with mercy. In contrast to the scribes, Jesus sees in the temple who puts in a small monetary offering. He commends her because her offering is made out of faith. Even as this example serves to shame and condemn the scribes and religious leaders, the widow’s faith in the grace of God shines through. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel a

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 12:28-37. The motive of the scribe who comes to question Jesus is less important than the question itself. “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus’ answer ties together love for God and love for neighbor. The scribe responds positively. He recognizes the truth that Jesus has preached previously concerning the role of faith and mercy in the proper use of sacrifices. Jesus tells the scribe that he is not far from the kingdom of God, challenging him to continue listening for that key that he is missing. That key that is needed is the faith that Jesus is the One who perfectly fulfills the love for God and the love for neighbor. The entire Old Testament testifies to Jesus, who is not only David’s son, but David’s Lord. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 12:18-27. Jesus faces yet another challenge during the early days of Holy Week. The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection and only hold to the five books of Moses, come to Jesus with a case study concerning levirate marriage. They cannot see how their scenario is compatible with the resurrection. Jesus bluntly tells them that they know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. They are looking at the Bible as a mere rule book and do not see the God who reveals Himself in His Word. Jesus teaches them the truth concerning the nature of eternal life, in which death has no more dominion. He further reveals the central truth of who God is. The one true God is the God of the living, which means that all who are His people will rise from the dead. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark.