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
May 27, 2022 • 55 min
Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 12:1-23.
St. Luke turns our attention back to Jerusalem, where Herod Agrippa has discovered that persecuting the Church is politically expedient. He kills James the son of Zebedee and arrests Peter, putting him under heavy guard lest he escape once more. In the face of such hatred and worldly power, the Church prays, knowing...
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May 26, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 11:19-30.
The Church continues to scatter after Stephen’s martyrdom, taking the Word with them. Many Jews heard the Word, even as the Lord began to open more doors for the Gospel to be proclaimed in Gentile contexts, particularly in Antioch in Syria. When the church in Jerusalem hears this news, they send Barnabas to Antioch. ...
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May 25, 2022 • 55 min
Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 11:1-18.
News concerning what happened at Cornelius’ house quickly makes its way around the Church. When Peter returns to Jerusalem, some oppose him because when he took the Word to the Gentiles, he stayed with them and ate with them. The fact that St. Luke records Peter’s recounting of the event indicates its great imp...
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May 24, 2022 • 53 min
Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 10:34-48.
Led by the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaims the good news to Cornelius and his household. Peter preaches the good news that people are not made acceptable to God by their nationality, but only on account of Christ Jesus, who is Lord of all, Jews and Gentiles alike. God made this pl...
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May 23, 2022 • 55 min
Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 10:17-33.
While Peter remains perplexed about his heavenly vision, the messengers from Cornelius arrive. The Spirit leaves no doubt that Peter should go with these men, taking away any hesitation Peter might still have about associating with Gentiles. When Peter arrives at Cornelius’ house, the Roman centurion has g...
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May 20, 2022 • 55 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 Acts 10:1-16.
St. Luke introduces into the narrative Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Though Cornelius has faith in the God of Israel, he is nonetheless an uncircumcised Gentile. The Lord sends His angel to Cornelius in order to direct him to send fo...
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May 19, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:32-43.
Having related Saul’s conversion to Christianity, St. Luke now turns our attention once again to the Lord’s work through Peter, particularly as He prepares His apostle for what is about to happen in the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Peter goes about the apostolic ministry by visiting established con...
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May 18, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Dr. Jeff Dukeman, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Gulfport, MS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:20-31.
Saul’s conversion has immediate effect. The one who had come to Damascus breathing threats against Jesus’ disciples now begins to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. Those who hear him are understandably confused, yet Saul continues to increase in wisdom as he proves from the Scripture that Jesus ...
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May 17, 2022 • 53 min
Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:1-19.
Saul’s hatred for Christians had only grown since Stephen’s death. He was on his way to Damascus with official authority to imprison more Christians when the Lord Jesus Himself stopped Saul in his tracks. Jesus revealed Himself in blinding light to Saul as the One whom Saul had been persecuting. By this, Jesu...
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May 16, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 8:26-40.
The Lord continues to direct the growth of His Word as He sends His angel to instruct Philip to go to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. There Philip sees an Ethiopian eunuch; he was a Gentile who had been brought to faith in the God of Israel through Judean refugees. As a rich official of the queen, he is read...
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May 13, 2022 • 55 min
Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Algoma, WI and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Forestville, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 8:4-25.
The Lord uses the persecution of His Church in order to cause His Word to spread farther from Jerusalem. St. Luke follows the growth of the Word as it is proclaimed by Philip the deacon. He goes to Samaria; despite the tensions between Jews and Sa...
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May 12, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 7:44-8:3.
Stephen concludes his sermon before the Sanhedrin by reminding them of God’s history of dwelling among His people. Long before the temple, the LORD dwelled in the tabernacle. God’s promise to dwell among His people is what counted; apart from the LORD’s promise, the people fell into idolatry toward a building. Wh...
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May 11, 2022 • 56 min
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 Acts 7:17-43.
Stephen continues his proclamation before the Sanhedrin by focusing on God’s grace shown through Moses. Though Pharaoh intended evil against the LORD and His people, the LORD worked it for good and used Pharaoh’s own daughter to raise Moses. When Moses...
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May 10, 2022 • 57 min
Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 7:1-16.
Stephen has been accused by the Sanhedrin of blaspheming God and Moses, so he begins his proclamation with Abraham in order to set Moses in the proper place. God’s promises to Abraham are primary over the Law given to Moses. Stephen recounts the grace of God shown to Abraham in bringing him into the land of Ca...
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May 9, 2022 • 55 min
Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 6:1-15.
As the Word of God continued to increase, the task of distributing to widows in the Church caused a complaint to arise: the Greek-speaking Jews were being neglected. The apostles quickly recognize the validity of this complaint, but also the necessity that they continue devoted to prayer ...
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May 6, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 5:21b-42.
The Lord frustrates the plans of His enemies and laughs at their attempts to stop the proclamation of His Word. The Sanhedrin and their officers are dumbfounded to find the prison locked but the apostles gone. While the Sanhedrin and their officers fear men and act accordingly, the apostles...
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May 5, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 5:1-21a.
The attacks against the Christian Church come from without and within. Ananias and Sapphira conspire with each other and Satan to lie to the Holy Spirit in the matter of their gift. Such a sin against God is no small matter, and the punishment He brings against this husband and wife is swift, serving as a warn...
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May 4, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 4:23-37.
In response to their persecution, Peter and John gather with the Church to pray. They address God as the Creator of all things who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures and in His Son, Jesus. They pray from Psalm 2, recognizing that God has fulfilled His promise to reign by the resurrection of Jesus. They ask...
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May 3, 2022 • 54 min
Rev. AJ Espinosa, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 4:1-22.
When the Sanhedrin finds out about the preaching of Peter and John in the temple, they have the two apostles arrested. The Sadducees, having great power and influence, are particularly disturbed not only by the preaching of the resurrection, but particularly by the preaching that the resurrection is found onl...
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May 2, 2022 • 56 min
Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, pastor at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, TX, and 3rd Vice President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 3:1-26.
The lame man in Acts 3 had a prime spot for begging for alms, yet on the day recorded by St. Luke, Peter and John had a far better gift for the man. In the name of Jesus, they gave this man the gift of healing; the man promptly began walking an...
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