Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

The Rev. John Zimmerman, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Scranton, PA and St. Johns Lutheran Church in Pittston, PA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas venture into new territories, spreading the Gospel and facing a roller coaster of challenges and triumph. As they travel to Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, they perform miraculous healings, leaving the locals in awe. However, their divine mission attracts fierce opposition. From being hailed as gods to facing violent persecutions, their unwavering dedication to God's mission takes them through highs and lows, leaving a lasting impact on the communities they touch. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem

The Rev. Christopher Craig, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sylvan Grove, KS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 13:13-53. Paul and Barnabas continue their journey, spreading the Gospel in the region of Pisidia. They arrive in a city called Antioch (different from the other Antioch) where Paul is invited to speak in the synagogue. What begins as a recounting of Israel's history transitions into a powerful proclamation of Jesus Christ as the promised Savior. Opposition and conflict soon arise, and the reactions of the people are a mix of both acceptance and rejection. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we

The Rev. Christopher Amen, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 12:25-13:12. Barnabas and Saul return from delivering the famine relief to Jerusalem, and the Antioch church sends them off on their first missionary journey. Led by the Holy Spirit, they encounter sorcery, opposition, and even a conflict with a false prophet. However, they also witness the power of God as Saul, now known as Paul, confronts and temporarily blinds the sorcerer. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we see the church struggling to organize itself in the absence of Jesus, and we learn of

The Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 11:27-12:24. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics.     When a prophecy of a dire famine looms, the unity and compassion of the Antioch community will be put to the test while the early church is faced with a cruel wave of persecution led by King Herod himself. Peter, one of the pillars of the burgeoning faith, finds himself shackled and imprisoned, cast into the very jaws of danger. As he awaits his grim fate, the prayers of the church rise as one, a ceaseless plea to the heavens. In an extraordinary twist of divine intervention, Peter is miraculously delivered from his chains by an angel of the Lord. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. I

The Rev. Joe Cox, Director of Curriculum and Education at Lutheran High School South, St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 11:19-26. In the aftermath of persecution, a ripple of faith unfurls across the lands, transforming the city of Antioch into a beacon of hope. From these scattered seeds of belief, a new wave of Christianity takes root, penetrating the hearts of both Jew and Gentile alike. Amidst this divine awakening, Barnabas, a beacon of encouragement, fans the flame of faith, and the city thrives as a stronghold of new believers. In Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We enc

The Rev. Dr. Matt Richard, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot, SD, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe for Free Text Friday. In the paradise of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed an idyllic existence, at peace with God, nature, themselves, and each another. But this blissful harmony was shattered by their sin and rebellion which led to death, giving rise to guilt and fear that have enslaved mankind ever since. How does Christ's redemption liberate us from this bondage, transforming us from slaves of fear into God's own children? This episode compares and contrasts the life of spiritual slavery with the joyful freedom experienced as a baptized child of God.

The Rev. Dr. Michael Nielson, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Barron, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 10:44-11:18. God makes clear that any barriers between Jews and Gentiles are no more in a divine display of impartial love. As Peter, a devout Jew, is compelled by divine revelations to preach to the Gentile household of Cornelius, the Holy Spirit descends upon all much to the amazement of Peter and the circumcised believers with him. Yet, when Peter returns to Jerusalem, he must face the skepticism and criticism of the other Jewish believers. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we see the church strugg

The Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Buffalo, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 10:9-43.  Peter, praying on a rooftop, is granted a vision where God challenges Jewish dietary laws, symbolizing the breaking of boundaries between Jews and Gentiles. Meanwhile, Cornelius's messengers arrive and invite Peter to Caesarea. In this groundbreaking encounter, Peter proclaims that God shows no partiality, preaching the Gospel to these Gentiles. As he speaks, the Holy Spirit descends upon all who are present, just as it did at Pentecost, affirming that salvation through Christ is not limited by race or nationality. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusa

The Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 9:32-10:8.  Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, performs miraculous healings, drawing attention in the regions of Lydda and Joppa. Meanwhile, in Caesarea, a devout Roman Centurion named Cornelius experiences a divine vision, commanding him to send for Peter. As these two worlds begin to converge, a groundbreaking event is set in motion that will transcend cultural and religious barriers, paving the way for the Gospel to spread among the Gentiles.  The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we

The Rev. Dan Eddy, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Beloit, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 9:1-13. Saul, the fierce persecutor of Christians, embarks on a journey that will forever alter the course of his life and the Christian faith. En route to Damascus, a divine encounter with Jesus leaves him blinded. Guided to the city by his companions, a faithful disciple, Ananias, steps forward to restore Saul's sight and spirit, baptizing him in the name of the Lord. Transformed and rechristened as Paul, he sets forth to preach the word of God, the very faith he once sought to dismantle. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracle

The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 8:26-40. Following the events in Samaria, Philip is guided by an angel of the Lord to a lonely desert road heading south. There, he encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of the Queen Candice’s treasury, who is returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Despite his devotion, the eunuch struggles to understand a passage from the book of Isaiah he is reading in his chariot. Philip, prompted by the Spirit, approaches him and explains the gospel of Jesus, interpreting the Scripture the eunuch was reading as prophecy of Christ's sacrificial death. This results in the eunuch's confession of faith and his immediate baptism in a nearby water source. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples r

The Rev. Nabil Nour, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartford, SD and fourth vice president of the LCMS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 8:4-25. In the wake of Stephen's martyrdom and scattered by persecution, the early Christian believers begin to evangelize beyond Jerusalem. One of these apostles, Philip, finds himself in Samaria, a region historically at odds with the Jews. Against all odds, his preaching and miracles resonate faith within the hearts of many. Simon the Magician, renowned for his own sorcery and influence, is amongst the many converts. But his subsequent actions reveal a misconstrued understanding of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jer

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minot, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 7:54-8:3. Confronted with Stephen's impassioned defense, the members of the Sanhedrin respond with rage, and the first martyrdom in the Church's history tragically unfolds. Amid this profound turmoil, Stephen looks to the heavens and receives a vision of divine reassurance, even as earthly events take a brutal turn. Saul, who would become St. Paul, is present giving approval to Stephen's execution. The event sets the stage for a widespread persecution that will scatter the believers—and inadvertently further the spread of the Gospel. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from

The Rev. Dr. Mike Middendorf, Professor of Theology at Concordia University, Irvine, CA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 6:8-7:53. Witness the brave and faithful Stephen, one of the seven chosen to serve the early Church, step into the limelight, armed with grace, power, and wisdom. As he performs miraculous signs and engages in profound debates, his words and actions attract attention—both good and bad! Accused of blasphemy and hauled before the Sanhedrin, Stephen launches into a sweeping defense, retelling the story of God's redemptive plan from Abraham to Moses, leading up to the advent of Christ. This passage culminates in an explosive confrontation and the Church’s first martyr. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling J

The Rev. Robert Moeller, Jr., pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN and Trinity Lutheran Church in Jaspar, MN, and St. John Lutheran Church, Trosky, MN joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 5:12-6:7. In the heart of Jerusalem, the Apostles, by the power of the Holy Spirit, perform miracles that captivate and inspire others, leading to a rapid growth in followers of Jesus. However, their burgeoning influence raises alarm with some, especially the religious authorities, who throw them in jail. Yet, the jail bars are no match for divine intervention as an angel of the Lord mysteriously sets them free, encouraging them to continue preaching. Meanwhile, within the vibrant Christian community, internal conflicts surface, threatening the unity of the faithful. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to h

The Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 4:31-5:11 Things take an unexpected turn within the early Christian community. United in heart and mind, they're living a radical life of generosity, sharing everything they have. But not everyone played by the rules. Enter Ananias and Sapphira, a couple who decide to hold back some of their cash while pretending to give it all. When they're caught in their lie, the consequences are more severe than anyone could have imagined. Does God command us to live this way today? The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter mirac

The Rev. Keith Haney, Assistant to the President for Missions, Human Care, and Stewardship in the LCMS Iowa District West, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 4:1-31. Peter and John are arrested and are brought before the Sanhedrin. They had violated the religious authorities’ order which forbade anyone from teaching the resurrection of Jesus. Peter and John now must defend themselves while the other believers wait for them outside. What might have dissuaded weaker believers, Peter and John stand firm in their faith and use this opportunity to speak truth to power. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we see the ch

The Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 2:42-3:26. Luke details the dedication of the earliest Christians to worshiping the Lord in unity. On their way to the temple, Peter and John encounter a beggar who cannot walk. He asks them for alms, or anything! Gold and silver they don’t have. But what they gave him he could never have anticipated: he’s able to stand and walk again! Peter again delivers a sermon to the people. The people are amazed, but the religious authorities are not pleased. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we see the churc

The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 2:1-41. In this chapter, we journey back to the momentous Day of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, granting them the ability to speak in diverse tongues and ushering in a new era for the growing faith. Peter preaches to a bewildered and curious crowd that what is happening is a fulfilment of prophecy and is all about Jesus. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we see the church struggling to organize itself in the absence of Jesus, and we learn of the trials and tribulations the

The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 1. The Evangelist Luke continues the account he began in his Gospel. He recalls for us when Jesus promised a baptism of the Holy Spirit to his disciples. We come along as he then recounts for the second time Jesus’ ascension into heaven before moving on to describe how the Apostles dealt with replacing Judas, who had betrayed Jesus. The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus’ disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we see the church struggling to organize itself in the absence of Jesus, and we learn of the trials and tribulations the early Christians