Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:13-20. The doorway of the Beatitudes provides the necessary entrance into the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, lest Jesus’ teaching become no more than moralism. Christians have received Jesus blessing through faith in the Gospel, and so He has made them the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As salt provides that which is deficient in food, so Christians bring into this corrupt world the message of repentance at the reign of God in Christ Jesus. As light makes visible those things that are in the dark, so Christians shine a light on the good news of Jesus that the world otherwise would never see. The works of Christians are good because they flow forth from faith in Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. They are salt and light in this world as they hold fast to all of Jesus’ Word. Their righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees because it is not mere outward perfor

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:1-12. Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses. He ascends the mountain to teach His disciples the Word of God that is truly His own. He opens His mouth and teaches with divine authority.. Because this is the Son of God that is speaking, these words are not mere well-wishes, but declarations that accomplish what He speaks. When Jesus declares His disciples “blessed,” this is far stronger than “happy” or “fortunate.” Jesus is the promised Offspring of Abraham through whom the world is blessed. By faith in Jesus, therefore, His blessed disciples are saved. Those whom Jesus declares blessed are surprising according to the world’s wisdom. Neither the wise nor the strong, but those who come before God spiritually empty are blessed now to live under God’s reign. Even though the promises made by God may not have yet been fulfilled, still His people remain blessed right now. This is true as the Holy

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 4:12-25. Jesus’ public preaching begins not in Jerusalem but in the northern region of Israel. This fulfills the promise God made through the prophet Isaiah. Their darkness was not merely due to the Assyrian conquest. They were dwelling in the darkness of unbelief. That’s why Jesus brings His light, not by a military victory, but by the preaching of His Word. He proclaims repentance so that those who hear Him would know that their sin leads only to death. After convicting with the Law in this way, Jesus raises to new life with the Gospel that His kingdom of grace is here. This is His holy Christian Church, which He begins to found in the calling of His first disciples. He does not choose the wise or educated according to worldly standards; rather, He calls fishermen to follow Him and become fishers of men. They cast the net of the Word into the world, and the Word continues to gather more memb

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 4:1-11. Heaven had been opened to Jesus at His Baptism; now, in His temptation, hell opens against Jesus to attack Him. Through it all, Jesus shows Himself to be the faithful Son of God where Israel had failed. Jesus did not fall for the competing word that Satan offered against the Father’s declaration at Jesus’ Baptism. Where Israel grumbled at a lack of food in the wilderness, Jesus trusted His Father’s Word for life. Jesus did not listen to the devil’s twisting of God’s Word; He did not put His Father to the test as Israel had so often. Jesus would not forsake the way of the cross for an easier road; He would win the kingdom through His suffering, death, and resurrection. From this text, we see Jesus first and foremost as our Substitute. Where we have fallen into idolatry and sin, Jesus has lived in perfect trust and obedience, and He has given us His

Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 3:13-17. Jesus’ Baptism stands as the beginning of His public ministry in Israel. At first, John tried to prevent Jesus’ baptism, thinking that Jesus had it backwards. John knew that he needed ministry from Jesus. Jesus’ response to John reveals the significance of the moment. Jesus was here acting within His humiliation for the sake of the salvation of sinners. He came to put Himself in the place of sinners, first at His Baptism and finally at His cross. His Baptism by John in the Jordan River, therefore, was fitting as a part of God’s actions to save sinners in His ministry. In this way, Jesus’ Baptism is not a Law that we must do, but Gospel that He does for us. The theophany that follows confirms this. Heaven opens as God makes Himself present. The Spirit descends on Jesus to equip Him for His work. The Father’s voice procl

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 3:1-12. Matthew seamlessly skips forward almost thirty years from Jesus’ return to Nazareth to the ministry of John the Baptist. This fiery preacher comes as the fulfillment of God’s Word written by the prophet Isaiah. John’s sermon is simple: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” God is reigning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The only way to live under this reign is in repentance and faith, turning from sin and its ways to Christ and His salvation. John proclaimed this truth as Elijah had before him. Those who heard and believed came to his baptism confessing their sins. However, the Pharisees and Sadducees, as the religious elite of the day, came with a false confidence in their family history. John calls even them to task with harsh words of Law. Judgment will come upon all who do not repent. Yet John does not leave his hearers without the Gospel. He po

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 2:13-23. The shadow of Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection casts over all the events of the Old Testament. Israel’s time in Egypt and rescue in the Exodus had happened as a shadow of the fight of the Holy Family into Egypt and their subsequent return to Israel. In this, Jesus shows Himself to be the faithful Son of God that Israel never was. King Herod viciously attacked this true Son of God. His response to the Magi’s deception was utterly wicked. In an attempt to protect himself, he slaughtered the boys of Bethlehem, an event that finds a sobering, awful parallel in the legality of abortion in our own time. There is no escaping the tragedy of this situation; only in Jesus can we find any comfort. His blood was spared for the moment in order that He could willingly shed that same blood later by His death on the cross to forgive our idolatry and then rise three days later to tri

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 2:1-12. Jesus is Savior for both Jews and Gentiles alike. Though the Magi seem unexpected visitors, they have rightly come to worship their King. Having seen the promised star, these foreign advisors and dignitaries travel to Jerusalem to Herod the Great, the ruthless ruler placed by the Romans over the region where Jesus was born. Herod’s cruel and powerful rule contrasts with the rule of Jesus, who has come as King who will reign by His sacrifice on the cross. Herod recognizes this as a threat to his own reign, and so he has the scribes search the Scriptures for the place of the Christ’s birth in an effort to destroy this One he sees as usurper to his throne. The Magi go forth in faith, led once again by the Lord’s star. They have come not by their own wisdom, but through God’s wisdom that has led them to worship Jesus as the true King. Their joy upon seeing Him quickly turns into worship. The

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 1:18-25. Matthew’s account of Christmas focuses our attention on Jesus as the Christ, the Savior, and God with us. Joseph’s role is particularly emphasized. He knows that his betrothed is with child. He knows that the child is not his. He knows he wants to do what his just. His desire to show mercy and forgiveness to Mary serves as a type of the Child Joseph will adopt and raise. Joseph cannot know the just thing to do, however, unless the Lord reveals what has happened. He sends His angel to Joseph in a dream to preach the good news that no one would have known unless God had revealed it. The Son in Mary’s womb has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. This Child is Jesus, the LORD who saves His people. This Child is Immanuel, God with His people. Joseph believes God’s Word and acts accordingly. Joseph, the son of David, adopts Jesus, the Son of David, and raises Him as his

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Milstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 1:2-17. The genealogies of the Old Testament all pointed toward this genealogy of Jesus. Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage from Abraham, the father of many nations, through David, the king who was promised a descendant of the throne of Israel forever. Throughout the family line of Jesus, the LORD remained faithful to His promise to bring the Savior even in the midst of His people’s unfaithfulness. That was especially true during the time of the Babylonian captivity, when it seemed the kingly line had disappeared. The same theme of God’s faithfulness is seen in the five women mentioned in the genealogy Matthew records. The first and fourth women involve particularly scandalous events from all parties involved; the second and third women are Gentiles who are included in the people of God. Each one shows God’s faithfulness to bring the Savior into the world, which He accomplishes through the most unlike

Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 1:1. St. Matthew, a tax collector and one of the Twelve, wrote the Gospel account that bears his name. He writes concerning Jesus, the Christ, to tell us of His death and resurrection for our salvation. He particularly emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and the bringer of God’s kingdom. This is seen already in the very first verse of the Gospel. Matthew begins by marking his account as a continuation of the history of God’s work for salvation as it is recorded in the Old Testament. The main actor in this account is Jesus, whose name means, “the LORD saves.” This Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one God had long promised to send. He is the son of David, the King who will reign over Israel and over all forever. He is the son of Abraham, the Offspring who will bring the blessing of salvation to all families on the earth. This is Jesus, the center of Matthew’s Gospel acco

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 3:13-18. Paul strengthens weary Christians to continue in the good works God has given them to do. We can be confident that such works are good and pleasing in God’s sight, not based on how impressive they look to human eyes, but based upon God’s clear Word. The Christian response to this Word is to hold onto it in faith and deed; those who refuse to do so must be noted and avoided in order to bring them to repentance. The shame that is brought upon is not one of humiliation, but one of correction. Others are not to be regarded as enemies who must be destroyed. Rather, Paul commands love as toward a brother. The goal is to win the brother back into the family of God; he is one for whom Christ died. Paul brings his epistle to conclusion in his typical fashion. He signs the letter with his own hand as a sign of genuineness and closes by giving the peace and grace of God to the Thessalonia

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 3:1-12. Paul begins to bring his second epistle to the Thessalonians to a close by commanding the Christians there to pray for his ongoing ministry. Christians ask the Lord to cause His Word to be preached purely and to bring forth fruit in the lives of His people. Such prayers for our Father’s goodness also are directed against the evil one’s schemes. Paul is confident that the Lord will answer according to His promise, as He strengthens the Thessalonians by His love and steadfastness toward them. That love and steadfastness from God guard the Thessalonians against laziness and disorderliness, both spiritually and physically. They must not live in laziness, as if Christ’s imminent coming has nothing to do with their daily living. Rather, they must remember the Word and example that Paul had given them, that work is a gift from God for the purpose of serving our neighbors in our everyd

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and Crown Christian School in St. Francis, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. St. Paul makes it clear in this text that his preceding teaching concerning the end times has been for the Thessalonians’ comfort. He assures them that their salvation rests not on their own work, but upon God’s alone. God is the One who has chosen them for salvation. Not only has He accomplished their justification, He also accomplishes their sanctification through His Spirit until the end. This too is for their comfort, as they undergo suffering right now even as they await the Lord’s glory. This comfort is the ground by which the Thessalonians stand firm in the traditions Paul has given them. These are not man-made traditions, but the Word of God that has been passed down faithfully and is now being preached and written faithfully by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul concludes with a Trinitarian blessing, confident that the one tr

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 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. St. Paul would have Christians take comfort in the true teaching concerning the Last Day when Christ returns. The Thessalonians had been shaken and alarmed by false teaching that had surfaced among them. Paul reminds them of the truth that he had taught them while he was among them. Jesus had not yet returned in some invisible, spiritual way. That Day was still coming. In the time leading up to that Day, Christians would apostatize from the faith and be deceived by the man of lawlessness. Yet as Christians, the Thessalonians could have confidence that even these events did not fall outside of the Lord’s direction for their salvation, for Jesus would bring this man of lawlessness to nothing by His Word, the same Word that is preached among Christians today. This Word protects Christians from such deception that ultimately comes from Sat

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12. The second letter to the Thessalonians shares much of the same historical context as the first letter. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy write to comfort, correct, and admonish this young church. The first chapter is primarily a matter of comfort. The writers boast at how the Thessalonians have endured persecutions. Rather than abandoning the promises of God in foolishness, they have clung all the more fiercely to Christ and His Word. In this way, when Christians are weak, they are strong, for their only strength is the Lord. This brings more comfort to the Thessalonians as they learn that their afflictions are not the end. Even though the Day has not yet arrived, the Day will come when the Lord brings to them His promised comfort in all of its fullness. Those who have not trusted in His promises, however, will receive this Day as condemnation an

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28. The first letter to the Thessalonians comes to a close with the comfort and assurance that sanctification is God’s gift and work to His people. If the bullet list of exhortations had left anyone in despair, Paul is quick to direct them back to the only One who can accomplish such things in His people. Only the God of peace can do this, the One who has accomplished reconciliation between Himself and sinners, the One in Whom everything functions as He intended. Holiness is His gift and work, for it depends not upon our faithfulness, but upon His. Paul prays in this confidence for the Thessalonians, and he asks them to pray in that same confidence for him. They read his letter to them as the very Word of God, which brings about reconciliation between God and believers and so between fellow believers who greet each other with the holy sign of peace. Paul concludes with a be

Rev. Adam Koontz, assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. Paul’s instructions to church in Thessalonica concludes with a series of memorable one-liners intended to encourage these young Christians to live in Christ in the midst of persecution. He begins with the relationship between pastor and people, moves to the interactions within the Christians in the congregation, and finishes with the Christian life before the world. Both pastor and people must see the other in light of the holy work that is given to them by God of proclaiming the Word and hearing the Word. The work of admonishment is given to pastor and people together. Within the congregation, there are different spiritual needs with different spiritual responses, even as patience overarches all of it to keep the congregation together in repentance and faith. A list of wrongs has no place and will only destroy; forgiveness as it is s

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. Though Paul has already taught the Thessalonians concerning the Lord’s return, he writes to them in order to nourish and reinforce their faith so that they will meet that Day with confidence and joy. The Day of the Lord will be unexpected, like a thief in the night. Those who meet that Day without faith will face sudden destruction. Paul reminds the Thessalonians and all Christians that they are not such children of the darkness. They are children of the light because they are in Christ. That faith produces watchfulness and sober living, living in repentance of sin and good works of love for the neighbor. Living in the light of Christ, Christians are protected by His armor of faith, love, and hope. This is true because of what Christ has done. He has died so that we live. If this is how He has come to us the first time, then His second coming to deliver the fullness of His victor

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Only Christians have true comfort in the face of death. While those who do not trust in Christ for salvation may attempt to avoid the subject of death or write it off as just another part of life, Christians grieve as those who have hope. Such grief acknowledges death as an enemy Christ has defeated. His death and resurrection have established His reign over all things and all people, even those who have died. For that reason, St. Paul writes with confidence to the Thessalonians that those who have died before Christ’s return are not apart from His care. That will be made plain on the Last Day, when Christ returns. He will descend bodily and visibly, commanding the dead to rise from their graves. The voice of an archangel and the sound of God’s trumpet will ring forth. The dead in Christ will rise first, and then those Christians who are alive at the time will meet Jesus in th