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Rev. Rick Jones, chaplain and director of spiritual life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 6:25-40. Gideon’s work as judge starts at home. In commanding Gideon to tear down his own father’s shrines to false gods, the LORD mocks the foolishness of idolatry. Though Gideon’s fear keeps him from accomplishing this during the day, he does keep the LORD’s word. As Gideon expected, his fellow townspeople are furious; this is the natural sinful reaction to the toppling of our idols. Gideon’s father speaks up on his son’s behalf; he points out that any god that needs someone to defend him is no god at all. The incident earns Gideon a new name, and the LORD clothes His chosen judge with His Holy Spirit to enable him for the task to come. Gideon’s fear still clings to him, however. In doubt similar to St. Thomas, Gideon demands two signs from God. God shows Himself patient and merciful as He confirms His promise to Gideon through the sign of the fleece, point

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 6:1-24. Here we go again. After a time of rest, the people of Israel again forsake the true worship of the LORD and godly government. They foolishly turn to idolatry, and the LORD chastens them through the oppression of the Midianites, as numerous as locusts. Just as the LORD had promised in Leviticus, the plagues He had sent against Egypt now came against His own people. In repentance, they cried out to the LORD, who sent His word to them through an unnamed prophet and spoke to Gideon to send him as deliverer. The Son of God declared Gideon a mighty man of valor even in the midst of Gideon’s fearful wheat threshing. This is a picture of objective justification. Gideon shows his cowardice and lack of knowledge, yet the LORD is gracious. He gives Gideon true worship through the offering Gideon brings, and through this Gospel, Gideon now has peace with God as he prepares to do the task the LORD giv

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 5:1-31. When the LORD delivers His people, they respond by praising Him in song. The poetic praise of God’s deliverance gives theological reflection on the prose account of the battle. The song builds upon itself through its progression to drive home the main point that the battle has been fought and won by the LORD. The people’s idolatry had left them helpless before their enemies; only the LORD could deliver them. He rescued them through Deborah, Barak, and other willing leaders, but the glory remained His. Even though some tribes did not respond to the call for help, the LORD remained faithful to deliver His people. The unbelief of His enemies even in the face of their defeat is tragic, but the LORD’s salvation for His people is glorious. “Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Judges. This book is characterized by a familiar. As the generations a

Rev. Joel Haak, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 4:1-24. The cycle of rebellion and rescue starts again after Ehud’s death. The people of Israel turn away from the LORD into idolatry, and He sells them into the hands of an old enemy, the Canaanites. From an earthly perspective, the 900 chariots of the Canaanite general, Sisera, are far more powerful than any Israelite weapon. The key difference is that the LORD fights for His people; He commands both the army of the Israelites and the army of His enemies. The LORD sends His word of deliverance to Barak through the prophetess Deborah. Though Barak believes in weakness, the LORD shows His strength nonetheless. He leads the battle charge to defeat the Canaanites as Barak and the Israelite army follow behind. Though Sisera escapes for a time, he meets his gruesome end at the hands of a woman, Jael, just as the LORD had spoken beforehand. Even during these terrible times during Israel’s history, the

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 3:12-31. Israel again thinks that idolatry will lead to prosperity and happiness, but the LORD shows them otherwise quite graphically. He delivers His people into the hand of the Moabite king Eglon, who has made himself fat on the tribute of Israel. After the people cry out in repentance, the LORD sends His chosen deliverer, Ehud. Unexpectedly, he is left-handed, perhaps even crippled in his right hand. Yet Ehud uses this to his advantage, hiding his sword from easy detection and gaining a private audience with Eglon by his non-threatening appearance. Exacting the LORD’s judgement, Ehud brings Eglon to a grotesque and humiliating death. This filthy scene provides a picture of where our sin always leads. The LORD gives His people victory over all of Moab and provides rest for His people for eighty years, as Shamgar also defeats the Philistines. The rest given by the LORD throughout the book of Jud

Rev. Tyrel Bramwell, pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 3:1-11. When the LORD declared that He would leave pagan nations in the Promised Land, He did so as a test for His people in order that they would learn to rely on Him instead of any idols. This was His purpose in teaching them war. He did not desire to teach them proper military tactics; He desired to teach His people that He was the One fighting for them. Such physical warfare is a picture of the spiritual warfare that is constantly happening for the people of God. The people of Israel in the book of Judges failed the test miserably. Living among the pagan nations, they intermarried with them and began to serve their idols. The LORD gave them over to the evil they desired through a double evil, the Mesopotamian king, Cushan-rishathaim. This is the background for the first judge, Othniel. When Israel cried out to the LORD for help, He sent Othniel, clothed in the Holy Spirit, to deliver His

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 2:6-23. Joshua’s generation was generally characterized by faithfulness, but subsequent generations of Israel fell into faithlessness. Joshua’s generation saw with their own eyes the mighty acts of the LORD, but salvation was theirs by faith, not by sight. Something interrupted the hearing of the following generation. Whether it was a failure on the part of the parents to speak the LORD’s Word or on the part of the children to hear and believe the LORD’s Word is left unsaid; the generation after Joshua’s fell did not know the LORD or His work for Israel. That led to a terrible cycle that dominates the book of Judges. First, the people of Israel does evil in the LORD’s sight by bowing down to idols. Second, the LORD sends a foreign nation to subdue Israel as punishment for their sins. Third, the people cry out in repentance to the LORD. Finally, the LORD sends a judge to lead the people in His way

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 1:27-2:5. Israel’s faithlessness only grows worse. One tribe after another fails to fulfill the LORD’s Word to drive out the inhabitants of the land that He was giving them. Not only was this foolishness from a strategic political and military standpoint, it was direct disobedience to the LORD’s command. The attempt made by several tribes to enslave the Canaanites was a tragic irony, given Israel’s own history. By the end of the first chapter of Judges, any victories of the conquest under Joshua had been undone through the faithless idolatry of the subsequent generation. The LORD was not content to leave His people to eternal death, however. He came to them and spoke to them. As He called Adam and Eve to repentance for their sin in the Garden of Eden, so He called His people Israel to repentance for their sin in the Promised Land. Their weeping in response points to their repentance, and thei

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 1:1-26. The book of Judges does not represent a high point in Israel’s history. Throughout the book, their faithlessness stands in contrast to the LORD’s faithfulness. Likely written during the early years of Israel’s United Kingdom, perhaps by the prophet Samuel, the book of Judges begins with some overlap from the book of Joshua. Tribe by tribe, Israel sets out to finish the conquest of the Promised Land, according to the LORD’s direction. He sends Judah first, the tribe from which the Promised Offspring will come. As Judah and its neighboring tribes keep their trust in the LORD, the book of Judges starts in a promising way as Israel begins to push out the inhabitants of Canaan. However, their turn to unfaithfulness begins quickly, as even Judah fails to drive out all of the idolaters in the land. Benjamin fails to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem. The house of Joseph copies the actions of

“Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Judges. This book is characterized by a familiar. As the generations after Joshua forget the LORD and what He has done for Israel, they fall into idolatry. The LORD gives them over into the hands of their enemies in order to bring them to their senses. When they cry out to Him in repentance, He sends a judge to rescue them and give them rest for a time, until they relapse into idolatry once more. In this cycle, we see a picture of our own Christian life. Daily, the old Adam in us is drowned in contrition and repentance, and the new man emerges in Baptismal forgiveness to live in righteousness and purity before God forever. 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 k

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 James 5:13-20. Patient endurance for the Lord’s coming turns Christians to prayer. In times of suffering, a Christian prays, “Lord, have mercy.” In times of joy, a Christian prays, “God be praised!” Such prayers are offered by Christians both individually and corporately. When a Christian is sick, the whole Church, including the pastor, shares the burden by offering prayer for the one particularly marked with illness. Such prayers are offered in faith that focuses on God alone as the One who justifies and gives to the sinner. Elijah stands as an example of one who offered prayer in faith in what God had promised. Together as Christians, we show care and concern for each other in our sin, calling each other to repentance and faith in Christ who forgives our sins. “Wisdom from Above” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Epistle of St. James.

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 James 5:7-12. After warning of the danger of earthly wealth, James turns to comfort those who suffer under those who trust in something other than the Lord. Such suffering calls for patience, knowing that Jesus’ second coming is at hand. He will bring vindication to His people in His own time. This enables Christians to endure suffering in this life with patience, not only toward the Lord, but also toward each other. Experiencing suffering might make us grumpy; James calls us away from judgment and instead to expect the Judge’s coming together as Christians. The prophets who endured suffering patiently as they spoke the Lord’s Word stand as an example to us, as does the patriarch Job. As His people suffer with patience without judgment or swearing, the Lord shows His purpose of compassion and mercy for His people.  “Wisdom from Above” is a mini-series on Sh

Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 5:1-6. Though mammon is not the only idol that can give false security, it poses a dangerous temptation to every person. James strips away any thought that security for the future is found in earthly wealth. Wealth brings misery, not only eternally if it leads away from Christ, but temporally in a variety of ways. The truth is that earthly wealth has already rotten. It causes us to look only at ourselves, rather than in love toward the one true God and our neighbor. In this way, worship of mammon molds us in its image, not into the image of Christ. Those who worship mammon stop seeing their neighbor as one who is worthy of mercy. Their ultimate problem, therefore, is idolatry of self, seeking after their sinful desires instead of the kingdom of God. Such idolatry did lead to Jesus’ crucifixion, yet He went to the cross willingly, precisely to save sinners, rich and poor alike. True wea

Rev. Hans Fiene, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crestwood, MO joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 4:11-17. God is God; we are not. This is the foundation of this text from James 4. To speak evil against a brother in Christ by judging him in an evil way is not simply to sin against your brother. It is a sin against God and His Law. One who judges his brother in this way usurps the place of God as lawgiver and judge. Instead, James calls us to trust God as God to be the One who will both save and destroy according to His will. In a similar way, no Christian dare usurp God’s vocation as the One who directs all of history. Our plans can never boast against that which God gives and desires, for our lives are here today and gone tomorrow. Such truth would lead us to despair except for the grace of God. Our value is found in the way God has loved us in His Son Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus, we belong to the God who created the heavens and the earth. “Wisdom from Above” is a mini-series on S

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 4:1-10. The wisdom from below is friendship with the world; the wisdom from above is friendship with God. Friendship with the world leads to breaking the Fifth Commandment, even if physical death never occurs. James recites a familiar progression of desiring, coveting, and murdering. Each step along the way is sin, but Christians are called to repentance at each juncture rather than following sin to its terrible end. Such sinful desires also affect our prayers, which ought always be made in deference to the Father’s will. This is friendship with God, which is always at odds with friendship to the world. In order to call us to Himself alone, God gives His grace. He shows us our true situation of humility, which is grounded in Jesus’ own humility and submission before His Father. In Him, those who have known humility before the Lord will receive His exaltation in eternal life. “Wisdom

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for Sharathon 2020 to discuss the relationship between faith and good works in the Christian life. Faith and good works are both gifts from God. As God gives faith in Christ, that gift overflows into His gift of good works. Through the hearing of His Word, God gives the assurance that He is a gracious God whom we can fear, love, and trust above all things. This faith is more than knowledge; this faith is living and active reliance upon Christ alone for salvation. This faith flows into the good works that God has prepared for us to do, a reality that is taught by St. Paul, St. James, and all of the writers of Holy Scripture. As a living tree produces fruit, so Christians have been made alive by faith in Christ and so produce good works. These good works are shaped by the Ten Commandments. They are given to us for the sake of our neighbors wherever God has placed us, not to save us, but as the natural overflow of

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for Sharathon 2020 to discuss the way Christians speak to God and to each other. Christians learn to speak by listening to God’s Word; His Words shape our own. When we try to reverse the order, we fall into sin and evil as our speech concerning God turns to falsehood and our speech concerning our neighbor turns to judgment and gossip. As we listen first to His Word about Himself and about us, our words are formed for His holy use. The holy use of our words toward God include the true confession of who He is and what He has done as well as calling upon Him as Father in prayer. The holy use of our words toward our neighbors means speaking about them as those for whom Christ has died and covered with His blood.

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 3:13-18. The Scriptural witness teaches us that true wisdom is a matter of the 1st Commandment. Only those who trust in the one true God, revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, have true wisdom and the understanding to use it. This is seen in meekness, the strength of knowing one’s place before God and neighbor. James calls all Christians to examine themselves in this matter, to look within our hearts to see what envy and selfishness might lead to pride and lies. Though this may have an appearance of wisdom, it is truly demonic, for it does not stem from justifying trust in Jesus. This demonic wisdom only leads to the fruit of confusion and all sorts of evil. True wisdom is a gift from God above. This wisdom is seen through the fruit manifested by the work of the Holy Spirit in the sons of God, true peacemakers in Him. “Wisdom from Above” is

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 3:1-12. Faith that is active in love is given by God through the hearing of His Word, spoken through teachers whom He sends. With this authority comes accountability. Those who speak God’s Word must take care not to speak falsehood in God’s name; the power of God’s Word is seen in the fact that a sinful man can speak it truly. In this way, the tongue, despite its small size, shows its ability to bring about large effects. Though true preaching of God’s Word may seem a small thing, it sets the course for a congregation. Just as the tongue can bring great help, so it can bring great harm. With vivid imagery, James describes the evil that can be done by words in whatever form they are conveyed. He also directs us to our true help. When we are quick to listen to Christ’s Words, His truth brings us forth as His people who bring forth the fruit of truthful, helpful speech. “Wisdom from Above” is a min

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:18-26. Careful attention to context is key to seeing that St. James and St. Paul do not contradict each other. James is concerned with how a Christian’s faith is seen before the world. Faith and works cannot be separated; faith is seen by the world based on works. Faith that isn’t seen in works is the faith of demons; there is knowledge and assent, but no trust. This faith of demons only shudders before God and is useless before Him and before neighbor. James brings up two historical examples to make his point: Abraham and Rahab. Abraham was justified by works in the sense that he was shown to be righteous before the world. His justifying faith, given to him by God’s declaration in Genesis 15, was active in his good work of offering his son as a sacrifice at the Word of God in Genesis 22. In this way, Abraham was shown to be justified by his works. Similarly, Rahab the prostitute had justifyi