Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

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.

Episodes

Philippians 2:12-18: Shining Stars in a Crooked Generation

October 24, 2025 • 53 mins
From Jesus’ humility, St. Paul draws implications for the Christian life. Christians put the salvation they have received into practice with fear and trembling, knowing that God works according to His good pleasure in Christ. Rather than grumbling as the ancient Israelites, Christians are to live as God’s children and reflect the light of Christ into the darkness of the world. St. Paul’s joy over the Philippians holding fast to the...
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Philippians 2:5-11: The Humiliation and Exaltation of Christ

October 23, 2025 • 54 mins
St. Paul found his call to live in humility in the example of Christ’s humility, by which He has won salvation for sinners. Although Jesus truly is God, He did not seek His own interests in claiming those rights for His own. Instead, He made Himself nothing as a servant for our sakes, going to the most shameful death of crucifixion. For that reason, God exalted Christ to the highest place in His resurrection and ascension. Now His ...
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Philippians 1:27-2:4: Concordia in Christ

October 22, 2025 • 54 mins
St. Paul encourages the Philippians to live in light of the Gospel of Christ. That Gospel unites Christians together in one spirit and one mind so that there is no need to fear those who oppose them. For that reason, Christians are free to place the needs of others ahead of their own, living in what Christ has done for them.  Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to stu...
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Philippians 1:12-26: Hard Pressed Between the Two

October 21, 2025 • 51 mins
St. Paul informs the Philippians that the Lord has used Paul’s imprisonment to advance the Gospel. Not only are elite Roman soldiers hearing of Christ, but other Christians are encouraged to speak of Christ even more boldly. Even when some proclaim the Gospel in an effort to harm Paul, the Apostle still rejoices that the Gospel is proclaimed. As he considers his imprisonment, his joy continues, for he knows that whether he lives or...
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Philippians 1:1-11: The Epistle of Joy

October 20, 2025 • 54 mins
Even though St. Paul writes from prison, his letter to the church in Philippi is full of joy. Philippi had been his first place of work in Macedonia on his second missionary journey, and although he had been thrown in prison there for a short time, his connection with the Philippians was strong in Christ. As he begins his letter to them, he tells them of his constant thanksgiving to God for them due to their partnership in the Gosp...
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NEW SERIES: Letters from Prison

October 20, 2025 • 2 mins
“Letters from Prison” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that studies Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Even when Paul was imprisoned for the sake of Christ, the Word of God remained unbound. The apostle’s letters from prison still fill us with the same joy that his chains could never silence. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all f...
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The Rite of Holy Matrimony: What God Joins Together

October 17, 2025 • 57 mins
The Rite of Holy Matrimony in Lutheran Service Book begins with a pastoral address that lays out the goodness and purposes of God’s gift of marriage. Scripture readings and music center the service as worship in the name of the Triune God, whose blessing the husband and wife seek. As the man and the woman make promises to each other, God is the One who joins them together. The congregation offers prayers for the particular couple a...
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Ephesians 5:22-33: A Profound Mystery

October 16, 2025 • 54 mins
St. Paul lays out the way husbands and wives ought to live together in holy matrimony. A wife is to submit to her husband as the Church submits to Christ, and a husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. Although the world today reacts negatively toward this text, Christians are right to cherish it as God’s good gift. It is certainly good that the Church submits to Christ as He gives Himself for her; therefore, it is c...
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Song of Solomon 8:5-14: Love Is Strong as Death

October 15, 2025 • 53 mins
As the Song concludes, Solomon brings us to the theological point. His love for his bride sets her as a seal, meaning that she is his. As Solomon notes how powerful love is, he uses the divine name for the only time in the Song, allowing us to see that God’s love for us pursues us even to death and brings us out of the grave. As the others wonder and ask concerning this love, the Church is given a concern for the gift of chastity a...
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Song of Solomon 6:11-8:4: Holy Marital Love

October 14, 2025 • 52 mins
The bride seeks her husband in the garden, and there he praises her beauty. His delight in his wife’s beauty is a blessed gift of God within the context of holy matrimony, a delight that God still gives to husbands and wives today. The garden imagery throughout this section recalls the Garden of Eden in the beginning and the heavenly garden of the book of Revelation, pointing us to the love that Christ has for the Church and the Ch...
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Song of Solomon 5:2-6:10: The Bridegroom's Forgiveness

October 13, 2025 • 55 mins
The bride’s sloth in answering her husband’s knock provides a picture of the Church when she ignores the Lord’s Word. Our heavenly Bridegroom uses His Law for the sake of love in order to draw His bride back to Himself. When others question the goodness of the Bridegroom, the Church recalls with joy who her Lord is, leading others to seek Him as well. The husband’s joy in his bride in Song of Solomon shows the Lord’s great delight ...
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Song of Solomon 4:8-5:1: The Garden Marriage

October 10, 2025 • 53 mins
The bridegroom continues to extol the beauty of his bride, calling her to his home and longing for her kinship. His words are borne out of thankfulness for God’s gift of the marital union, rejoicing in the delight that God gives to a husband and wife in holy matrimony. Her love requites his love, and the marriage is joyfully consummated.   Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain...
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Song of Solomon 3:1-4:7: The Bridegroom Comes, Awake!

October 9, 2025 • 54 mins
The bride is longingly looking for her bridegroom in the night and suddenly finds him to her great delight, in a scene very reminiscent of Mary Magdalene searching for Jesus after His resurrection. The wedding procession begins and includes imagery reminiscent of the LORD’s protection of His people as they journeyed through the wilderness to the Promised Land. As the bridegroom looks upon his bride, he praises her beauty, recognizi...
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Song of Solomon 2:1-17: His Banner Over Me Is Love

October 8, 2025 • 55 mins
Although the bride sees herself as one flower among many, Solomon views his beloved as the only one for him. He protects her from the dangers that their love faces as he sets a feast for her. The union that exists between the bride and the bridegroom is one in which they belong to each other and share all that they have. Through their relationship, we see a picture of the way Christ makes His Church lovely and bestows upon her all ...
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Song of Solomon 1:1-17: Love Blossoms

October 7, 2025 • 53 mins
The Song of Solomon was likely written by King Solomon early in his reign. Despite the way his wives multiplied later in life, Solomon’s song speaks of the joy of marriage between one man and one woman. As the bride and the bridegroom speak to one another, they await with joy their coming marriage and praise the excellent qualities of each other. Throughout the Song, the love between Solomon and his bride provides a picture of the ...
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Genesis 2:18-25: The Institution of Marriage

October 6, 2025 • 53 mins
In considering God’s gift of marriage, it’s helpful to start at the beginning. Moses records God’s institution of marriage in Genesis 2. Because it was not good for the man to be alone, God created the woman to be the helper he needed. Adam’s joy at the gift of Eve is the same joy God gives to husbands and wives today as they take delight in each other, help each other, and receive the gift of children through their union. God’s in...
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NEW SERIES: God's Gift of Marriage

October 6, 2025 • 2 mins
“God's Gift of Marriage” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that studies the Song of Solomon and other key texts from the Bible concerning marriage. Although the world is terribly confused concerning what marriage is, God’s Word reveals how good a gift marriage truly is and points us to the relationship between Christ, the Bridegroom, and His Church, the Bride.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy...
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Nahum 3:1-19: Where Are Your Comforters?

October 3, 2025 • 54 mins
The coming destruction of Nineveh is full of woe for Assyria as a consequence of their idolatry and sin. The LORD is against them and will leave them with nothing but shame because they have rejected Him as their comforter. As the Egyptian city of Thebes was once powerless before Assyria, so Nineveh will now be powerless before the LORD, as will anyone who rejects the gift of faith in Christ. Though the kings of Assyria could not k...
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Nahum 2:1-13: The LORD of Armies Attacks

October 2, 2025 • 55 mins
Nahum vividly describes the coming destruction of Nineveh at the hands of the Babylonian army. No matter what preparations the Assyrians attempt to make, the LORD will lead the Babylonian army in bringing His destruction. Nineveh will be plundered and left desolate as the LORD carries out His judgment against the unrepentant city.  Rev. Phillip Fischaber, pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut, IL, joins host Rev. Timo...
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Nahum 1:1-15: A Prophet of Comfort

October 1, 2025 • 55 mins
Although little is known about Nahum himself, the meaning of his name, “comfort,” describes well what is found in his preaching. The people of God had been regularly oppressed by the nation of Assyria and its capital city, Nineveh. Therefore, the LORD comforts His people by speaking about the destruction of Nineveh. To those who are the LORD’s enemies, He comes with vengeance and wrath. He promises that Nineveh will not be able to ...
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