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
March 3, 2021 • 52 min
Rev. Roy Askins, managing editor for The Lutheran Witness, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 10:32-45.
As Jesus continues to lead the way up to Jerusalem, He adds to what He has taught His disciples concerning what awaits Him there. He speaks with great clarity and precision concerning the details of the betrayal, condemnation, mockery, torture, and death He will endure at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles before risin...
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Mark as Played
March 2, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 10:17-31.
The rich young man stands in contrast to the little children Jesus has just welcomed. Whereas those little children came with nothing and desired to receive from Jesus, this man presumes that he does have something to offer Jesus. He believes he has kept the law. Jesus responds to his law questions ...
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Mark as Played
March 1, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 10:13-16.
This text is far more than a heart-warming scene. Children are brought to Jesus because they are in need of His eternal gifts of forgiveness and salvation, and Jesus desires to give it to them. Jesus’ disciples, however, have failed to recognize their Lord’s priorities. They see children as a hindran...
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Mark as Played
February 26, 2021 • 53 min
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 10:1-12.
Jesus’ ministry of teaching continues in the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. In the same area where John the Baptist had once spoken against Herod’s sin against adultery, the Pharisees come to Jesus to test Him with a question about divorce. When Jesus turns the question back to them, they quote from Mos...
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Mark as Played
February 25, 2021 • 20 min
Rev. Timothy Appel goes “Back to the Forge” to answer some listener email concerning the work of the devil against Jesus.
How did the Pharisees and scribes ally themselves with the devil? How are all unbeliever’s under Satan’s power? Did the devil want Jesus to die or not? Let the Word of God sharpen your faith on these matters and rejoice that Jesus has conquered your enemy for you!
Do you have a question, topic, or guest you’d ...
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Mark as Played
February 25, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 9:38-50.
John breaks the disciples’ recent silence with a question for Jesus concerning an unnamed man who had been casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus’ response calls His disciples to gentleness toward this man. His use of Jesus’ name indicates faith; he is not in league with the scribes and Pharisees who...
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Mark as Played
February 24, 2021 • 55 min
Rev. AJ Espinosa, assistant pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 9:30-37.
Jesus continues to teach His disciples concerning His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection. For the sake of the salvation of sinners, the Father delivers Jesus as the Son of Man into the hands of men. They will do their worst to Him by killing Him, yet He will be vindicated through His third d...
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Mark as Played
February 23, 2021 • 55 min
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 9:14-29.
While Peter, James, and John struggled to understand the events of Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, the other nine disciples struggled with unbelief down the mountain. Despite their previous successes, they were now unable to cast out a demon in Jesus’ absence. Jesus laments the lack of faith that surround...
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Mark as Played
February 22, 2021 • 53 min
Rev. Phil 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 Mark 9:2-13.
Jesus’ trip with Peter, James, and John up a high mountain recalls the Old Testament revelations the LORD gave to His people on mountains. On this high mountain, Jesus’ appearance and clothes are transformed by the divine glory that is His. The appearance of Moses and El...
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Mark as Played
February 19, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 8:27-9:1.
As Jesus prepares for His journey south to Jerusalem, He goes to the northern region of Israel. He eases His disciples into answering the question that stands at the center of the Gospel: “Who is Jesus?” The answers of the people in Israel are on the right track, but they are incomplete. The...
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Mark as Played
February 18, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 8:22-26.
In this transitional text, Jesus goes to Bethsaida, placing Him in a region where there is both Jewish and Gentile influence. As in previous accounts, people bring to Jesus a man in need; in this case, a blind man is brought for Jesus to touch and heal. Jesus takes the man o...
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Mark as Played
February 17, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 8:11-21.
After several miracles received through faith in Gentile territory, Jesus returns to Jewish territory, only to be met by unbelief. The Pharisees seek a sign from Jesus, a demand springing from their unbelief and serving as a temptation for Jesus to avoid the cross. Jesus refuses to provide such a si...
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Mark as Played
February 16, 2021 • 56 min
Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 8:1-10.
When St. Mark states that the feeding of the 4,000 took place “in those days,” he gives more than just a time indicator; he signals that Jesus is actively ushering in the reign of God. Still in Gentile territory, Jesus has been surrounded by a great crowd hungering for the Word of God for three days. His acts wi...
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Mark as Played
February 15, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 7:31-37.
Jesus continues His ministry among the Gentiles by taking a circuitous route from Tyre to return to the Decapolis. The people there bring to Him a man who is both deaf and mute, asking in faith for Jesus to touch the man with healing. Jesus draws the man aside privately and communicates to him what he is about to do. ...
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Mark as Played
February 12, 2021 • 53 min
Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to answer listener email concerning the synoptic Gospels and to study Mark 7:24-30.
As Jesus enters again into Gentile territory, His trip takes Him to the particularly notorious area of Tyre and Sidon. This home of the wicked Queen Jezebel is certainly not the place a pious Jew wou...
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Mark as Played
February 11, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Kyle Mietzner, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 7:14-23.
Jesus takes the religious leaders’ challenge about unwashed hands as an opportunity to teach about true defilement and true cleanliness. Defilement does not come from without but from within a person. When His disciples fail to grasp the truth, Jesus chastises their lack of understanding and explains to them fu...
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Mark as Played
February 10, 2021 • 55 min
Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 7:1-13.
The Pharisees and scribes ignore the wondrous miracles of Jesus and confront Him again for the practices of His disciples. Jesus’ disciples did not ritually wash their hands in the manner prescribed by the oral tradition that the Pharisees and Jews regarded as coming from God. Jesus’ rebuke of ...
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Mark as Played
February 9, 2021 • 56 min
Rev. Caleb Adams, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bend, OR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 6:45-56.
Jesus has not forgotten the rest that His disciples need. After feeding the large crowd, Jesus sends His disciples before Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He remains alone to pray concerning His Father’s will for the salvation of sinners. By now it is late, and the disciples have everything but rest as ...
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Mark as Played
February 8, 2021 • 54 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 6:30-44.
The apostles had gone out to teach and act with Jesus’ authority. Having handed out the Lord’s gifts, they return to Jesus in need of Him to give to them yet again. He calls them away to a desolate place for that purpose, but the crowds continue to hunger and thirst for Jesus’ gifts as well. When they beat Jesus to ...
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Mark as Played
February 5, 2021 • 54 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 Mark 6:14-29.
The spread of Jesus’ name throughout Israel provides St. Mark the opportunity to recount the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. Thoughts about who Jesus is swirl among the people, though these ideas are incorrect or incomplete. Herod Antipas, tetrarch of...
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Mark as Played
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