Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

Rev. John Zimmerman of St. John Lutheran Church in Pittson, PA & Immanuel Lutheran Church in Scranton, PA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 9:32-38. As Jesus has proven His authority by healing and teaching and He gives us a shot of reality. The need for the Gospel to be preached is great, but the preachers are few. Each generation of the church has seen the need for preachers of the Word and Christ gives basic instructions on how we should react: Pray. He is the One who provides the workers and calls us to proclaim the truth of His Word. Start praying and He does provide. “Lord God, provide pastors and workers around the world for the sake of proclaiming Your Word and bringing Your gifts of salvation. Keep them faithful to their callings and for all of us to work in Your kingdom to give Light in a dark world. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 9:14-31. Jesus was not an extension of the old, but He was The Way. He presents the reality that we need to rejoice in Christ who made the hemorrhaging woman, dead girl, and two blind new and makes us new as well. We move forward in faith depending on the one who has all authority to fill us with salvation, grant healing according to His will, and pour His mercy over us until all things are new with His return. “O Holy Spirit, pour your love into our hearts so that we trust in Christ as our all in all. Give us patience to love and serve as we wait for the day where there will be no more death, blindness, and bleeding. In Him, Amen”

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 9:1-13. What is our greatest need? The need for the paralytic seemed obvious: the ability to walk. Yet, Jesus gave His forgiveness as one can be saved without being able to walk, but without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation. It is clear that Matthew writes this Gospel, by the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing his need for forgiveness and a gracious God who called him out of darkness into His marvelous Light. “Lord Jesus, call us to Yourself. We, like the sinners and tax collectors, are undeserving of a place at Your table, yet, You call us. Help us to follow You as one’s called, redeemed, washed, and loved. To You be all the glory, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 8:18-34. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Jesus proves again that He has authority over all creation (storms, disease, death, and devil). He warns those who desire to follow Him to “count the costs” because even He doesn’t have a home to lay His head. At the same time, He is the Son of Man, who identifies Himself with us even to death to take our burdens and give us hope in Him. “O Lord, bring Your divine intervention and help us to follow You above anything or anyone else. You have authority over all creation, even Satan, so help us to trust in Your gracious authority. Amen”

Rev. Todd Niebling, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Oxnard, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 8:1-17. It was Jesus’ will to heal the lowly leper, the centurion, Peter’s mother-in-law, and the demon possessed man. This healing we are able to see Jesus’ authority and power, now and into eternity. Unlike normal kings, He uses that power to have compassion on the most unlikely of people. If He is willing to have compassion on the leper, He will have compassion on us. “Lord God, Your healing is for unclean people. Heal us and have compassion on our sinful lives so that we may rest in Your forgiving & cleansing blood. In Your name, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador, Executive Assistant for Mission and Mercy for the South Wisconsin District in Milwaukee, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 7:15-29. Jesus continues to warn believers of the narrow road to salvation in Him. Be aware of false prophets and false beliefs whose focus is away from Christ and His cross. We know that the fruit is good from prophets when it points to us for repentance and to Christ for His forgiveness. We pray for our preachers to preach faithfully and for all of us in repentance to believe in the truth of Christ’s forgiveness, life, and salvation alone. “Lord God, fill us with Your truth in Christ so that we may repent and believe in You as our rock and source of salvation. Give Your Holy Spirit to our preachers to bear good fruit in faithful preaching and allow all of us to hear Your Word with repentant and faithful hearts. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Justin Panzer, President of the Kansas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri District joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 7:1-14. Context is king. To read Jesus’ words can easily be used to push personal agendas while forgetting His truth and our need to humbly love fellow believers. We repent for our lack of humility when addressing sin, repent for not seeking the Lord’s will in prayer, and repent for not loving others as the LORD has loved us. The gate to Him is open by His cross and although not an easy road, His road is filled with His gifts of mercy, love, and grace. “Lord God, keep us faithful to Your Word to extend mercy to others as You extend mercy to us. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Paul Holtorf, Professor of Theology at Concordia University in Seward, NE joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 6:19-34. We are continually growing in Christ. Jesus calls us to faith so that when we battle the idols of earthly treasures, fear of God’s providence, and our lack of seeking His righteousness. We are challenged as Jesus says, “O you of little faith.” Clearly we need to be exhorted for our lack of faith, but Jesus is encouraging us that, as His children, we are continually growing to understand how He has provided our salvation in Christ and is providing for our needs. “O Holy Spirit, fill us with faith. Bring us to repentance for our lack of faith and trust in You. Grant us forgiveness in Christ and help us to trust in Your providential promises in Christ. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Robert Sorensen, Professor of Theology and Foreign Languages at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 6:1-18. Christ is our righteousness and our holiness. The world praises us by doing righteous deeds like giving to the needy, fasting, and prayer, yet Jesus shows a fuller understanding that Christ has done for us. By the Holy Spirit, we pray, give, serve, and forgive others as our LORD prays, serves, and forgives others. “Lord God, grant us Your righteousness so that we may practice righteousness in faith. Help us to serve, pray, give, and forgive in Your name for our reward most importantly is from You. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Doug Minton, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:38:48. Jesus never allows us to assume that the Christian life will be easy. He quells any extremist thoughts concerning our enemies that we are not only to turn our cheeks but to love them. We are called to follow the example of Christ, not to fear evil since He has had the victory. Jesus is Love and therefore we love as He first loved us. This calling is not easy or the cause of despair, but shows us Christ’s perfect life and love which reminds us that He will provide for all of our needs. “O Holy Spirit, help us to live a holy life of generosity, love toward our neighbor, and love toward You. Help us to turn the other cheek, to pray for our enemies, and to be perfect by the blood of Christ. In His name, Amen”

Rev. Daniel Golden, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, West Virginia joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:27-37. We are always looking for a loophole when it comes to sin. Jesus does not allow for any loopholes with adultery, divorce, and oaths as even a simple thought shows that we are completely dead in our sin. Jesus is not the addition to the law, but He fulfills the law. What do we do? Repent! What does Christ do? Forgive on account of His cross. The life of the Christian is all putting everything in the hands of the LORD not depending on the loopholes, but on His power. “Lord God, we are dead in our sin and You do not allow us to depend on the loopholes. Forgive us by the blood of Christ and by Your Holy Spirit, help us to live a decent and holy life in our words, thoughts, and deed. In Him, Amen”

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:13-26. Fresh off the blessings of the Beatitudes, Jesus directly proclaims our identity in Him: Salt and Light. Human life is not possible without salt and light. Each person has value in Christ, joined with Him, to live according to His purposes and bring His Light to others for the sake of His glory. Our value is grounded in Christ’s work to fulfill the law fully shown with His cross. “Lord God, thank You for being our Light and Salt. Help us to reflect Your Light and be Salt through service so that people may give You all glory. Make us people of reconciliation so that our anger does not consume us but lead us to reconciliation. Lord have mercy. Amen.”

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, Executive Director of Lutheran Heritage Foundation in Macomb, MI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org. We are those who are poor in spirit and, in Christ, we are blessed. The weakest, meekest, and most needing righteousness are the greatest in the kingdom of God. In this blessed state, we mourn, seek peace, and face persecution with hope. Hope that He makes our hearts pure and provide strength even in persecution for we are blessed by the grace and mercy of Christ. “Lord God, despite being poor in spirit, You call us blessed. Shower us with Your mercy and peace to be strengthened in persecution and trial as we rejoice knowing our reward is great in heaven. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 4:12-25. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Jesus’ kingdom is clearly different. He goes to Capernaum in Galilee: Not His home in Nazareth, not where kings lived, and among foreigners. He brings with Him simple men to follow. Immediately they follow without question. He values the least of these. He not only values the diseased, sick, oppressed by demons, epileptics, paralytics, but heals them. This kingly rule of mercy is for you as well. He values each one of us by His blood and invites us to Himself. “Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for inviting us to Yourself. As You called the disciples, You called us to Your forgiveness and love, help us to rest in that grace and serve You with joy. In Your name, Amen”

Rev. Terry Forke, President of the Montana District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus’ temptation is not just a model of the holy life, but it reveals His authority over the devil by His Word. Jesus shows His kingly rule would be above the work of the devil, the father of all lies, by proclaiming His promises of salvation. “Lord God, help us to fight the tempter with Your Word and open our eyes to see the revelation of Christ who has all authority and rules everything by love. In Him, Amen”

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 3. The work of salvation begins. God begins this kingdom, through a humble prophet John, to begin with turning back in the right direction in repentance. This repentance is needed for all people, including Pharisees and Sadducees, but clearly His forgiveness is for all by faith. Slowly we are able to understand Jesus more fully by His own baptism. He not only submits to our level to receive the baptism we receive, but the Father shows us that He is the Son of God. Not only is He the Son of God, but by His work on the cross, we are considered His child and He is well pleased. “Lord, keep us from the unquenchable fire and keep us with Christ. Lead us to repent and bear the fruit of faith in You. Thank you that by the blood of Christ, we are pleasing in God’s sight, now help us to bear fruit by faith in our daily vocations. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Dustin Beck of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 2:13-22. The birth narrative continues with the LORD’s intervention to keep the holy family safe and to fulfill prophecies of His identity as the “perfect Israel.” Israel had left Egypt into the wilderness and failed. Jesus, true God and man, begins His journey and we see how His kingdom would reign. The example of Herod is the antithesis of Jesus’ reign: seeking power by bringing death. As we know Jesus used His power to die for other people’s salvation. “Lord God, we grieve the loss of the boys of Bethlehem. In this grief we have hope as Jesus faced the same fate. Thank You that You used Your power for the sake of salvation for sinners. As our perfect Israel, carry us and continue to save us. In Him, Amen”

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 2:1-12. The Magi were outside the normal expectation. They were from an unbelieving, Gentile land who were looking for the King of the Jews. The LORD used this time to proclaim the truth of where Christ was born, the true King. We are reminded that, due to sin, we are foreigners to God and by His grace He welcomes us to come and worship the King of Kings who has welcomed us into His kingdom. “Lord God, be our Light as the star was for the Magi. Fill us with the same joy of our salvation in Christ and intervene for us that we may be directed in Your way. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Jason Shockman, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 1. What are the origins of Christ? Matthew lays out his goal to show the kingly rule of Christ by showing that He came from royalty. But his kingly rule was not of lording over people, but we see his compassion by highlighting the inclusion of “outsider women” (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, & Bathsheba). We see how God’s plan is clearly not ours. Joseph was going to do the “faithful” thing by not putting her to shame, but God’s plan of salvation includes His way of faithfulness. By faith, we trust in His story of Christ, when our story doesn’t make sense as we know that our God is always with us—our Immanuel. “Lord God, help us to trust in Your story of compassion, power, and love. Fill us with Your compassion, strength, and love by Your Holy Spirit to live by faith like Joseph as we travel through these valley of tears. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs, professor emeritus of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and author of the three Concordia Commentary volumes on Matthew, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to introduce the Gospel of Matthew. Find the Commentaries on Matthew at cph.org. Christ’s Reign has come. Christ’s reign continues. His reign is coming. His mercy is beyond our understanding as we commit sins. Since He is the king, we are not. Since He is strong, I am weak. He is the greatest, therefore we are needy. We begin our study of Matthew seeing how our Lord Jesus’ mercy is beyond our comprehension and we simply receive the grace He gives. “Lord God, give us Your Holy Spirit to read, mark, and inwardly digest the gift of Matthew’s Gospel to grow in Christ and for the comfort of our souls. In Him, Amen”