Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Andrew Wright, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 12:12-19. When Jesus enters into Jerusalem, the excited crowds take palm branches to meet Him as a sign of the victory they expect Him to bring. They greet Him with shouts of “Hosanna” as they sing from Psalm 118, acclaiming Him as the coming King of Israel. Even if their perception was not quite correct, the text teaches us to receive Jesus rightly as our coming Savior, even as we welcome Him with the same words in the Sanctus prior to the Sacrament of the Altar. The disciples did not fully understand the events of the day until after Jesus had been glorified. The crowd continued to bear witness to what Jesus had done for Lazarus. The Pharisees continued their rejection of Jesus, even as they saw that they were powerless to stop the world from going after Jesus. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus lo

Rev. Andrew Jagow, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 12:1-11. Six days before the Passover, the day before Palm Sunday, Jesus is in Bethany, the town where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. At a dinner in Bethany, Mary comes to Jesus and anoints Him with extremely extravagant perfume. Feigning piety, Judas protests the action out of a desire to help himself to more money. Jesus commends Mary’s action as having been done in preparation for His burial. As Jesus’ fame for raising Lazarus continues to spread, the chief priests plan to kill Lazarus as well, a reminder that those who follow Jesus are treated with scorn by the world. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is th

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 John 11:45-57. The reaction to Jesus’ raising of Lazarus is mixed. Many believe in Jesus, but when the Pharisees find out what happen, their resolve to kill Jesus only grows. They take the matter to the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, which actually has some authority to do something. Their deliberation refuses to acknowledge any chance that Jesus is worthy of faith, and the matter proves fruitless until the high priest speaks up. Though Caiaphas means one thing by his prophecy, God teaches the truth through the high priest’s words. Jesus will die as one man in place of the people, not only for Jews, but also for Gentiles. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 11:28-44. Martha goes to her sister Mary because Jesus wants to speak with Mary as well. Mary greets Jesus with the same words as Martha—if Jesus had been here, Lazarus would not have died. Such a prayer to the Lord is a fitting lament to the only One who can do something to help. While the mourners with Mary can provide some comfort by being with her, only Jesus can provide true and ultimate help. Even as He weeps over the effects of death upon His people, Jesus is resolved to do what Lazarus needs. With His Word, Jesus brings Lazarus to life again, setting Lazarus free even from the grave clothes that bound him. By raising Lazarus, Jesus gives a preview of His own greater resurrection in which He leaves death behind forever; that is the resurrection promised to Lazarus and all those who trust in Jesus on the Last Day. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through th

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 11:17-27. When Jesus arrives in Bethany four days after Lazarus’ death, all hope for a reversal of Lazarus’ condition seems lost. Martha greets Jesus with raw honesty: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Such lamenting before the Lord is exactly what pious Christians should do. As Jesus speaks with Martha, He moves her beyond pious platitudes to real hope. Real hope is found in Jesus alone, for He is the resurrection and the life. This comfort remains ours today at every Christian funeral; Jesus gives us the promise that He will raise from their graves all those who die in Him. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works i

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 11:1-16. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus serves as a climax within the Gospel according to St. John. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were all loved by Jesus, yet when Jesus found out that Lazarus was ill in Bethany, He did not go right away. Nonetheless, the Lord’s love for these three did not change. Instead, Jesus was doing the work that the Father had given Him to do. When Jesus tells His disciples that Lazarus had fallen asleep, He speaks a word of glorious promise. Jesus can call death “sleep” because He is the One who awakens His people from the grave on the Last Day. This is comforting because death is the real enemy that cannot be overcome by our power or anything or anyone other than Jesus, the Savior. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and min

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 John 10:31-42. When the Jews are ready to stone Jesus for stating that He is one with the Father, Jesus calls attention to His works from the Father. He points out the way that the Psalms speak of those whom God appointed to offices of leadership in the Old Testament; so much more can Jesus, as the One consecrated by the Father, call Himself the true Son of God. Though they will not believe His words, they should be able to see from His works that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. Though this deescalates the situation, Jesus leaves to the other side of the Jordan, where people believe in Him based on what John had said about Him before. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, and Rev. Michael Newman, president of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:22-30. Though Jesus continues to face opposition in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication, He continues to call out to the Jews so that they might repent and believe in Him. In response to their request for a plain and bold answer, Jesus points to the works He is doing in His Father’s name. These works testify to the truth of who Jesus is. Though the Jews there do not believe because they are not Jesus’ sheep, Jesus provides the comfort to those who do listen to His voice—they are His sheep. He knows them, and He gives them eternal life that cannot be taken away. That eternal life cannot be taken away because it is secured by Jesus and His Father, with whom Jesus is one in the unity of the Holy Trinity. Jesus’ teaching in this text provides great comfort to us as Christians. “The Word Made Flesh”

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:11-21. Jesus continues His discourse to the Pharisees by identifying Himself as the Good Shepherd. Whereas even the best leaders of Israel could not live up to all expectations, Jesus is the One who does all that we need. He ultimately shows Himself to be the Good Shepherd by laying His life down on behalf of His sheep. The hired hand, someone who leads people away from Jesus, may talk a good game, but when push comes to shove, he flees the sheep in their need. The wolf, the devil, comes to destroy the sheep. Only Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He calls His flock together from Israel and the nations alike by laying down His life and taking it back up again for their salvation. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word o

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 John 10:1-10. Jesus continues speaking to the Pharisees who claim to see but are actually blind. Using the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep, Jesus calls the Pharisees robbers who do not direct people to Him. When Jesus calls His sheep, however, they recognize His voice and follow Him. He is the door for the sheep; only through Jesus can one enter into salvation. Whereas the Pharisees and all those who direct people away from Jesus only lead to eternal death, Jesus bestows true life now and eternally. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, th

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 John 9:24-41. As the Pharisees continue their investigation into Jesus’ healing of the man born blind, their mind is already made up. They attempt to get the man to join them in their unbelief, but his eyes continue to be opened spiritually as he sticks to the simple truth of what Jesus has done for him. When the Pharisees cast the man out of the synagogue, Jesus comes to the man and reveals Himself as the Son of Man. Now the man truly sees Jesus as he worships Him. Though the Pharisees claim to see the truth, they actually are blind because they do not believe in Jesus. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 9:1-23. When Jesus and His disciples pass a man born blind, the disciples ask a question with incorrect assumptions. Jesus corrects them and invites them to see how God is at work for this man as Jesus gives the man the ability to see. The ensuing investigation into Jesus’ act includes the awe and wonder at the neighbors of the man, who begins to have his eyes of faith opened to Jesus. The Pharisees are divided concerning Jesus as they begin to investigate the matter, though their hardness against Jesus is evident in their desire to put out of the synagogue anyone who confesses Jesus as the Christ. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might bel

Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:48-59. The Jews disputing with Jesus attempt to insult Jesus by labeling Him a Samaritan, and they attempt to discredit Jesus by saying He must have a demon. Jesus tells them that He does not have a demon, for He only honors His Father, who is the Judge. Those who keep Jesus’ Word, however, need not fear judgment, for they are saved from death. Those listening only become further convinced that Jesus is demon-possessed, yet Jesus only continues to emphasize His connection to the Father and the truth that Abraham believed in Him ahead of time. Jesus lays everything on the table when He climactically states that He is the one true God: “Before Abraham was, I AM!” Though the Jews are ready to stone Jesus for such a statement, we rejoice in the truth that Jesus is God in the flesh to be our Savior. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St.

Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:39-47. The Jews disputing with Jesus insist that Abraham is their father. Jesus tells them that if that were true, they would follow in Abraham’s footsteps of faith. Because they are seeking to kill Jesus, the One in whom Abraham believed, they cannot be true children of Abraham. They insult Jesus’ supposed lineage before claiming for themselves the Old Testament truth that God is their Father. Yet Jesus once again reminds them that this cannot be true, because they do not believe in Him. Instead, their father is the devil, who is only full of lies and murder. Jesus challenges them to convict Him of sin; if they cannot, then they ought to believe in Him. Though they do not by their own stubborn unbelief, by God’s grace through the Holy Spirit, we do hear Jesus and so hear God. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The discip

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:30-38. After Jesus says that He will be lifted up on the cross, many of those listening believe in Him. Jesus tells them that to be His disciples truly, they must remain in His Word which alone gives the truth that brings freedom. When the Jews dispute that they need such freedom as offspring of Abraham, Jesus declares that they are slaves of sin. The Son must be the One to set them free. By rejecting the Son and His Word, they show that, although they can trace their lineage to Abraham, they actually have a different father. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by fai

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:21-29. As Jesus’ dispute with the Jews continues, He reveals that the heart of sin is unbelief; this is the true problem His audience has. Because they do not believe in Him, they will die in their sins. Though they ask the right question concerning Jesus’ identity, they do not believe the answer Jesus has been giving. This answer is centered in the fact that Jesus will be lifted up on the cross for the salvation of sinners. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.

Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:12-20.   Jesus takes up a Scriptural theme that stretches from Genesis to Revelation when He declares: “I am the light of the world.” As Old Testament Israel followed the LORD in the pillar of could and fire, so Jesus calls His people to follow Him as His disciples. The Pharisees are unwilling to believe Jesus on His own testimony. Jesus insists that His testimony about Himself is true, even if the Pharisees won’t believe it as they judge Him according to the flesh. Jesus knows the Father’s testimony about Him is true; those who know Him truly know the Father.  “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:53-8:11. Although manuscript evidence leads to questions as to whether or not this text belongs in this particular spot in the Gospel according to St. John, the text does record an event that occurred during the ministry of Jesus. While Jesus is teaching in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus by bringing before Him a woman caught in the act of adultery. They attempt to pit Jesus’ compassion against the Law of Moses. Jesus stoops down to write before telling them that the one without sin can throw the first stone against the woman. They slowly leave, until Jesus addresses the woman in mercy. Though Jesus is the One without sin who could justly condemn us sinners, He comes to take our condemnation upon Himself. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as a

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:32-52. When the Pharisees send officers to arrest Jesus at the Feast of Booths, His teaching leaves them amazed so that they don’t take action. The crowd continues to misunderstand what Jesus means when He teaches, and they are divided concerning whether Jesus is the Prophet, the Christ, or someone else entirely. Opposition to Jesus continues to build among the Pharisees. For His part, Jesus continues to teach. On the great day of the Feast on which water played a part of the ritual, Jesus proclaims Himself as the source of living water. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have li

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:14-31. During the middle of the Feast of Booths, Jesus begins to teach in Jerusalem. The Jews there marvel that Jesus can teach such things though He has never studied formally from any of their rabbis. Jesus identifies His teaching with His Father’s teaching and once again reminds His hearers that Moses taught the truth about Him. Jesus’ teaching prompts even more questions about who He is and where He comes from. Some people believe in Jesus; some want to arrest Him. However, no one lays a hand on Jesus for the hour of His death had not yet come. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, a