Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

The Apostle pleads with the Corinthians, and with us, not to receive the grace of God in vain. That is, not to treat it casually, not to compartmentalize it, and not to keep Jesus at arm’s length when He’s called us to new life. As an Apostle, Paul shares the cost of faithful ministry—beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights—and yet he opens his heart wider, not smaller. He reminds us that the Christian life is lived now, in the tension between earthly hardship and heavenly promise. It’s not enough to avoid evil; we’re called to be visibly, purposefully set apart.  The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Corinthians 6.  To learn more about Trinity Lutheran, visit trinitylutheranministries.org. What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false

What kind of courage does it take to face death with confidence? In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul pulls back the curtain on eternity. This earthly tent will one day be torn down, but a better dwelling awaits. While we groan now, we walk by faith, not by sight. And in the meantime, we’re not aimless—we're ambassadors, driven by Christ's love, called to the ministry of reconciliation. Paul shows us what it means to live for Christ because He is the One who died for all and rose again.  The Rev. Mark Loder, pastor of St. James Lutheran Church and School in Howard Lake, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Corinthians 5.  To learn more about St. James, visit www.stjameshl.org. What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false teachers within? On Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse through, arguably, the apostle Paul’

What kind of vessel carries the Gospel? Not gold, not crystal, not anything the world would admire. Paul says it's clay: fragile and weak. That’s what ministry looks like. That’s what the Christian life looks like. In this chapter, we hear that God has placed His priceless treasure—the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ—into weak human vessels, so that the surpassing power may be seen as coming from Him, not us.  The Rev. Robert Smith, pastor emeritus in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Corinthians 4.  What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false teachers within? On Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse through, arguably, the apostle Paul’s most personal, emotional, and paradoxical letter: 2 Corinthians. From forgiveness and reconciliation to generous giv

Have you ever thought about what your life says to others? Whether we realize it or not, our actions, words, and attitudes communicate something to those around us. In fact, each of us is like a living letter: telling a story through how we live. But whose story are we telling? This episode unpacks where the Apostle Paul describes believers as 'letters of Christ,' written not with ink but by the Spirit of God Himself. What does that mean for us today?  The Rev. Ryan Kleimola, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Toledo, OH, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Corinthians 3.  To learn more about Trinity Lutheran, visit  www.trinitylutheran.org. What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false teachers within? On Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse through, arguably, the apostle Paul’s most personal, emotiona

The goal of church discipline is reconciliation, not punishment. It isn’t complete until forgiveness is given. In this chapter, Paul urges the Corinthians to restore a repentant sinner, reminding them that Satan doesn’t just tempt us to sin, he tempts us to withhold grace. The Apostle urges them not to be victims to the schemes of Satan, but through it all, to continue carrying the pleasant aroma of Christ to a dying world.  The Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Corinthians 2:5-17.  To learn more about Zion Lutheran, visit zionfm.org. What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false teachers within? On Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse through, arguably, the apostle Paul’s most personal, emotional, and paradoxical letter: 2 Cor

What happens when your motives are put under a microscope and people assume the worst? That’s where Paul finds himself in this passage. Some in Corinth are questioning Paul’s honesty and even his faithfulness to Christ; was it all because he changed his travel plans? Paul responds with open-hearted honesty, explaining the real reason for his decisions, even sharing the tears and anguish behind them. Explore what Christian integrity and pastoral care look like when trust is fragile and feelings are raw.  The Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics.  What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false teachers within? On Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse throu

Paul begins this letter to the Christians of Corinth by blessing God, calling Him the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Despite his praise of God, Paul’s journey has not been easy. He writes after enduring intense suffering, likely in Asia, where he says he was burdened beyond strength and felt certain he was going to die. This experience, Paul demonstrates, taught him to stop relying on himself and to trust fully in the God who raises the dead. As he writes again to the Corinthians (perhaps for the third or fourth time), Paul doesn’t hide his affliction. He shares it so that the comfort he received from Christ might be passed on to others.   The Rev. Dennis McFadden, assistant pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 2 Corinthians 1.   What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by t

What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false teachers within?   On Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse through, arguably, the apostle Paul’s most personal, emotional, and paradoxical letter: 2 Corinthians. From forgiveness and reconciliation to generous giving and boasting only in the Lord, 2 Corinthians calls every believer to follow Christ boldly. This is the way of the cross, where God’s grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in you.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped

This special Independence Day edition of Headlines features multiple rounds of patriotism-themed headlines, with two fabricated by the host and one real headline. The guest’s challenge is to identify the real headline, which serves as a springboard for a deeper theological discussion. This episode explores the limits of patriotism and what it means to submit to governing authorities as duty to God.  The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to explore patriotism-related headlines.  To learn more about Christ Lutheran, visit www.clc-in.org. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily voc

With Jacob dead, the brothers fear Joseph's revenge. They even fabricate a message from their father, begging Joseph's forgiveness. But Joseph weeps at their words and speaks one of Scripture's most profound theological statements: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive." Joseph sees beyond human schemes to divine sovereignty. He promises to provide for them and their children, speaking kindly to comfort their hearts. As Joseph dies at 110, he echoes his father's faith, making his brothers swear to carry his bones out of Egypt when God visits them. Genesis ends with a coffin in Egypt, but with eyes fixed on the promised exodus.  The Rev. Kelly Krieg, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX, joins guest host Rev. Doug Griebenaw, Mission Advocate for KFUO Radio, to study Genesis 50:15-26.  To learn more about Bethlehem, visit www.bethlehemwmpenn.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundat

With his final breath, Jacob commands his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. This last request reveals where his heart truly lies—not in the prosperity of Egypt but in the promises of God. Joseph honors his father with a royal Egyptian funeral: forty days of embalming, seventy days of mourning, and a massive funeral procession including Egyptian dignitaries. Yet this grand Egyptian send-off ends in a simple cave in Canaan. Even Pharaoh's servants witness that Israel's hope lies not in Egypt's glory but in God's covenant promise. The journey to bury Jacob becomes a prophetic rehearsal for a greater exodus to come.  The Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Buffalo, WY, joins guest host Rev. Doug Griebenaw, Mission Advocate for KFUO Radio, to study Genesis 49:29-50:14.  To learn more about Prince of Peace, visit princeofpeacebuffalo.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation,

Jacob gathers his twelve sons for his final prophetic blessing—though for some, it sounds more like judgment. Reuben loses his preeminence, Simeon and Levi are scattered for their violence. But when Jacob reaches Judah, the prophecy soars: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him." This messianic promise identifies the tribe from which David and ultimately Christ would come. Each son receives words that will shape their tribal destiny. Some are difficult to understand, but all are part of God's sovereign plan. The dying patriarch speaks not his own wishes but God's revealed will for the future of His people.    The Rev. Bryan Stecker, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia, MN, joins guest host Rev. Dustin Beck of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX to study Genesis 49:1-28.  To learn more about Triinity Lutheran, visit www.trinitywaconia.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything.

Joseph brings his sons to the dying Jacob for a blessing, carefully positioning Manasseh, the firstborn, at Jacob's right hand. But Jacob crosses his hands, placing his right hand on younger Ephraim's head. When Joseph tries to correct this apparent mistake, Jacob refuses: "I know, my son, I know." This deliberate reversal echoes throughout Genesis—Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau—God consistently choosing the younger, the weaker, the unexpected. Jacob adopts Joseph's sons as his own, granting them full tribal status in Israel. The crossed hands of blessing point forward to another wooden cross where all God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen."  The Rev. Dr. Matthew Tassey, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Shawnee, OK, joins guest-host Rev. David Boisclair of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO to study Genesis 48.  To learn more about Redeemer Lutheran, visit redeemershawnee.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creatio

The famine intensifies until all Egypt and Canaan have no money left. Joseph implements a systematic plan: first accepting money, then livestock, then land, and finally the people themselves in exchange for grain. Some see harshness here, but Joseph saves countless lives while securing Egypt's future prosperity. As Jacob nears death, he makes Joseph swear to bury him not in Egypt but with his fathers in Canaan. Even in his final days, Jacob's faith looks beyond the present blessing to the promised inheritance.    The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 47:13-31.  Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal. In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals H

Judah goes ahead to prepare the way, and Joseph meets his father in Goshen. The reunion is deeply emotional—Joseph weeps on his father's neck "a good while," and Jacob declares he can now die in peace. Joseph wisely prepares his brothers for their audience with Pharaoh, instructing them to identify as shepherds, knowing this will secure them land in Goshen, separated from Egyptian society. When Pharaoh meets them, he grants them the best of the land and even offers employment for the capable among them. At 130 years old, Jacob blesses Pharaoh—a beautiful picture of God's promise that through Abraham's seed, all nations would be blessed.  The Rev. Dr. Michael Nielsen, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Barron, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 46:28-47:12.  To learn more about Salem, visit stjohnsnp.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories a

Jacob sets out for Egypt but pauses at Beersheba, on the very edge of the Promised Land, to sacrifice, worship, and seek assurance from YHWH as he heads out of Canaan into Egypt. There, God speaks to him in visions of the night: "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation." With divine reassurance of his covenantal promise, Israel takes his entire family (seventy persons in all) down to Egypt. More than a list of names, this genealogy shows the growing seed of God's promise to Abraham taking root. Four hundred years later, these seventy will have become a mighty nation, ready for the Exodus.   The Rev. Tim Winterstein, pastor of University Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 46:1-27.  To learn more about University Lutheran, visit www.indianalutheran.com. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkab

Unable to control himself any longer, Joseph sends out every Egyptian and reveals himself to his brothers. "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" Terror grips them—the brother they sold into slavery now holds their lives in his hands. But instead of vengeance, Joseph offers theological perspective: "Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Three times he emphasizes that God, not they, sent him to Egypt. This stunning declaration of divine sovereignty and human forgiveness becomes one of Scripture's most powerful pictures of reconciliation. Joseph weeps, embraces his brothers, and sends them to bring Jacob to Egypt with Pharaoh's full blessing.  The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 45.  To learn more about Christ Lutheran, visit www.clc-in.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, jud

Joseph orchestrates one last test. He has his silver cup planted in Benjamin's sack and sends his servant to “discover” it as the brothers depart. They rend their garments when the cup is discovered, and they are hauled back to Egypt. Would they abandon Benjamin as they once abandoned him? That’s part of the test. But something has changed. Judah, the same brother who suggested selling Joseph—now offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place. His impassioned plea reveals a transformed heart, as he speaks of their father's grief and his own guarantee of Benjamin's safety. This substitutionary offer echoes through history, pointing to Judah's descendant who would offer Himself for the sins of the world. Joseph's testing has revealed what he needed to know: his brothers are no longer the men who betrayed him, and the heart of Christ is seen in both Joseph and Judah.  The Rev. Dan Torkelson, pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Madison, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 44.  To learn mor

The grain is gone, but Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt despite Judah's guarantee of his safety. Only when starvation looms does Jacob relent, sending his sons with double money and gifts, praying that God Almighty will grant them mercy. When Joseph sees Benjamin, he's overcome with emotion and must leave to weep in private. The brothers are seated according to their birth order (to their amazement) and Benjamin receives five times the portion of his brothers. This lavish feast amid famine speaks to God's abundant grace, even as Joseph continues to test whether his brothers have truly changed since they sold him into slavery.  The Rev. David Boisclair, senior pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 43. To learn more about Our Reedemer, visit www.ourredeemerstl.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book.

The famine reaches Canaan, and Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Well, everyone except Benjamin, whom he fears might be harmed as he believed Joseph had been. When the brothers bow before Egypt's governor, they unknowingly fulfill Joseph's dreams from decades earlier. But Joseph, now unrecognizable in Egyptian royal robes and speaking through an interpreter, doesn't reveal himself. Instead, he tests them harshly, accusing them of being spies and imprisoning them for three days. As they discuss their guilt regarding Joseph in Hebrew, not knowing he understands every word, Joseph turns away and weeps. The path to reconciliation will be long and painful, but God is already at work, using even their guilt to bring about repentance and restoration.  The Rev. Ryan Kleimola, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Toledo, OH, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 42.  To learn more about Trinity Lutheran, visit www.trinitylutheran.org. Genesis isn’t just the start of the Bible; it’s th