Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Thomas Eckstein of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 27. The LORD ends Leviticus with a reminder that all of God’s people are involved in the uplifting and upkeep of His Church. The Israelites were instructed to give voluntary offerings by devoting a person, animals, house, & land. By His grace He chooses us to provide for the needs of His church so that we may grow in generosity as He is generous to us. We are reminded that we give not because there is a need, but because we have a Savior! “Lord God, as Jesus became poor so that we might become rich, help us to be generous in support of the Gospel and in love towards others. Steer our hearts from trying to find a perfect number, but help us to always grow in generosity. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church, Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 26. The LORD establishes who He is and how we are to live. We can quickly assume that the “if-thens” of God requires God to bless us according to our desires. The LORD reminds us again that He is the LORD who brought them out of the land of Egypt and slavery. In His love, the LORD shows us the consequences of not following His way. These warnings bring us to our knees as we know that we do not fear the LORD nor listen as we should. The LORD calls us back to Him, to confess our iniquities, as our LORD is faithful to His covenant with Jacob and brings us back to His grace. “Heavenly Father, in love You show us how to live. Keep us faithful to Your ways, grant us the gift of repentance, and remember Your covenant of grace of Jacob and fulfilled in Christ. Lord help us. Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 25. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. The land needs rest? The land I bought goes back to the original owner every 50 years? I should not charge interest to a family member when they borrow money? The LORD prepares the Israelites when they arrive in the promised land by reminding them that the land was His and He was the LORD who freed them from slavery in Egypt. The LORD provides redemption for people from a family member to receive back their property and in Christ, we are redeemed to be restored back to Him. “Lord Jesus, as our Redeemer, thank You for paying the full price of salvation. On account of You, help us to see that all we have as a gift from You and to faithfully serve others with that same grace. In Your name, Amen”

Rev. Matthew Knauss, pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido & San Marcos, CA joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 23 & 24. God invites us to rest in His presence. He gives order so that we may not only follow His laws, but have the assurance of His rhythm of giving grace. All the feasts and rituals give us clarity of the One to come who is our High Priest, the Bread of life, our Peace, the final Atonement, and our Sabbath. “Lord God, thank You for the feasts and rites of the Old Testament that show us the fullness of the final sacrifices of Christ. Give us rest as You make us lie down in green pastures. In Him, Amen”

Rev. Scott Adle of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 21 & 22. The LORD is one who makes us holy. The hard truth is that the LORD has no place for sin in His presence. He sets apart His priests to not only give atonement to the people, but to be holy themselves. In grace, He set guidelines for the priests to make sure that they would be able to enter His presence without the same fate of Nadab and Abihu. The LORD is one who makes us holy which is why we stay close to His holy things (Word and Sacrament). “Lord God, You are holy and we are not. Make us clean by Your holy blood so that we may reflect HIs love back to You and to one another. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding of Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 20. The situation surrounding Israel was beyond sinful: child sacrifices, mediums, disrespect towards authorities, and sexual immorality. As the LORD was the landlord of the promised land, He warned the Israelites that He desires holiness so that they may continue to live with Him. We are called to be holy and by His grace He gives us the “landlord guidelines” to be holy tenants here on earth and in Christ, with Him in eternity. “O Holy Spirit, sanctify us by the blood of Christ. Renew us in Christ, that the power of sin may not rule our lives and temptations may be stilled. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 19. The LORD is holy and we are called to be holy. The LORD gives us eternal truths of Himself, love for Him, and love for our neighbor. The beauty of God’s law is that He has given us order that looks out for our well being, but also gives us opportunities to serve. He has mercy on the poor and the sojourners and uses His people to leave food in the fields, provide a decent wage, protect the blind and deaf, and welcome the stranger. He re-affirms His commitment to us that He not only has given us everything in Christ, but will help us to live holy lives in His name. “Lord God, fill us with Your holiness in Christ that we give You glory by living holy lives by loving our neighbors as ourselves. Amen”

Rev. Dr. John Hellwege, professor of theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 18. The LORD calls you to sexual holiness. The LORD God calls us to live not as the Egyptians, Canaanites, other believers, and the culture. This is difficult because we want to live in the world, but we are called to not “be of the world.” As a loving father guides His children, our LORD guides us to live sexually holy lives out of love for Him and for our neighbor. “Lord God, fill us with Your Holy Spirit to lead a sexually holy life with our bodies, hearts, and eyes. Lead us to Your grace in Christ that we receive forgiveness for our sins, immorality, and lust all on account of Christ. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Michael Morehouse of Catalina Lutheran Church in Tuscon, Arizona joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to joyfully study Leviticus 17. The LORD offers atonement, that is forgiveness, by blood. The LORD is a God of order and He offers complete grace in his way. His work for atonement was to be done not only in the right place, the Tabernacle, but also among God’s people. The implications of doing your own “sacrifice in a box” and eating the blood of an animal were dire: separation from God. God’s commands are clear--follow me. We not only feel the law by His Word, but we see His grace in the plain words of atonement found in the blood. Not to be used for our own pleasing but to be made clean by the blood of the Lamb. “Lord God, as You are a God of order, help us to use Your gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation according to Your Word for the benefit of us and the body of Christ. Give us discernment on how to faithfully live as Your holy people and to trust in Your Word. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dustin Beck of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 16. God wants to be with His people for He is a Gracious Giving God. By His grace, He gives His holy forgiveness through the blood of goats so that His people can enter His presence on His terms. The reality of atonement, the covering up of sin by innocent blood, comes by the blood of goats and a scapegoat. All of this is a shadow of the final sacrifice on Good Friday, by the Great High Priest, that gives us full forgiveness to be in His presence now and forever. Thanks be to God. “Lord God, make us clean. By Your blood we thank You for Your full forgiveness by the final sacrifice, by the Great High Priest, so that by Your Son’s Baptism we are washed clean. Amen”

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor of St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 15. Leviticus tells it like it is. Uncleanness does not discriminate. It affects both men and women in abnormal and normal ways, which also affects the whole community. We need to be clean, even in private things like sexuality. As Christians we know that we are made clean by Christ through the waters of Baptism. The gift of Leviticus, in light of Christ, is that it shows us the depth of God’s love that He would take the unclean, and bring us back to Him. Thanks be to God. “Lord God, we are by nature sinful and unclean. We give thanks, that by Your grace, we are brought back to You as You make us clean by Christ. Help us to value our sexuality and to live holy lives in what we say and do. In Him, Amen”

Rev. David Duke of Concordia Lutheran Church in Newfane, NY and St. John Lutheran Church in Youngstown, NY joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 14. ***Warning!  We did not get through the whole chapter.  We finished the first 20 verses focusing on the cleansing of the healed leper as Pastor Duke painted a wonderful picture concerning the cleansing from the priest. We need to be clean because we are by nature sinful and unclean.  Although the leper had been healed, he still needed to be cleansed with his relationship with the LORD.  We see two clean birds, one sacrificed---one to live free.  We see hyssop and water.  We see water and oil.  All of this shows God’s mercy to the most unclean people: lepers.  And if the LORD would welcome a leper into His sanctuary, by Christ’s work (the hyssop on the cross, the waters and blood out of his side, the blood of His sacrifice, He also welcomes us back to Him.  “Lord God, open our ears to hear Your Word.  Cleanse our hands and feet to do Your work.  And f

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 13. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. The LORD gave Moses and Aaron the full meal deal concerning leprosy.  If one had leprosy, they were unclean.  This disease points us to the need for being clean.   As Christ has fulfilled the ceremonial law, we realize that, by His robes of righteousness, we are made clean.  The LORD reminds us that, as the priests needed to patiently care for each person, we pray for patience as we serve and love our neighbor.  “Lord God, thank You for Your robes of righteousness that covers our sin.  Our sin shows us our uncleanliness, but by Your grace You wash us clean by Your blood.  Help us to come to You to give thanks like the one leper and fill if with Your love.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Warren Woerth of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 11 & 12. We all know that there are foods that are unclean, but is it really true that shrimp and pigs are unclean? Leviticus 11 & 12 remind us that we are indeed, “unworthy and unclean” before our LORD. The only hope we have is that Christ, who fulfilled the cleanliness laws of the Old Testament, will make us clean by His blood. As Christians we live in freedom to enjoy the foods of His creation (Acts 10) while giving thanks that He has made us clean. “Heavenly Father, thank You for the fruits of Your creation and that in Christ, we are made clean. As Your Son fulfilled the cleanliness laws of the Old Testament, keep us mindful of Your grace and our final hope in You. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Naperville, Illinois joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 10. God is holy and sin has no place with Him. Nadab and Abihu became their own gods and disregarded God’s law---and they paid the price. Our sins have consequences, but by God’s grace He continued to provide holy offerings for the people to receive His holiness. We receive His holiness on account of Christ’s blood and by His grace He took the consequence of sin on Himself. “Lord God, we see the consequence of sin and give thanks that, by Your grace, You took the consequence of sin upon Yourself. To You be all the glory. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelmeier of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Los Alamos, NM joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 9. Worship without God’s Word is idolatry. Although Aaron had an issue with idolatry on Mt. Sinai, now the LORD patiently guides him as the high priest to worship by His Word. On the 8th day, a day of new creation in the Bible, Aaron makes sacrifices (burnt, grain, sin, wave, peace) for his sins and the sins of the people. When there was atonement, Aaron and Moses, went into the tent and in their return, the people saw God’s glory. In the same way, when we receive His forgiveness on account of Christ, we see God’s glory revealed. “Lord God, keep us from idolatry by worshipping with God’s Word. As we see the sacrifice of Christ, we see the glory of the LORD who dwells among us and grants us full forgiveness by His blood. To be all the glory. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, associate professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 8. God’s people needed to be purified and in His wisdom set aside priests from Aaron to bring His holiness to people. The ordination of the priests, just like ordination of pastors today, are never really about the priests, but show us the holiness of God and the grace, mercy, and forgiveness He gives by His Word. “Lord God, as You set aside priests to bring Your holiness, we set aside pastors to bring Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness by Your Word today. Bless Your church and keep her holy for the sake of cleansing Your people by Your blood. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Timothy Saleska, professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 7. The guilt, peace, burnt offerings are not only a law for the people to follow, but also a promise of God’s grace. Moses gives a general overview of all the offerings to show us again the way that a Holy God gives holiness to His people. In thanksgiving and joy, God’s people brought their offerings to Him and were able to eat with the LORD. They fully knew that they were unclean and needing forgiveness, but in faith they knew that the LORD who dwelt with them would provide for all of their needs. We have that same promise and ask for the same faith in Christ. “Lord Jesus Christ, we come to You unclean and unworthy. By Your final sacrifice, we know that You dwell with us and fill us with Your forgiveness and grace. In Your name, Amen.”

Rev. Chris Biernacki of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Florence, AL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 5:14-6:30. Guilt and shame overwhelms us. Sometimes guilt is justified because we have broken God’s commands, but sometimes guilt is a tool of the devil to keep us away from the LORD. The LORD provides His grace to those with guilt over intentional & unintentional sins through the sacrifices of a Ram without blemish. In Christ, without blemish, he takes all of our sins and the work of the devil who attempts to remind us of sins that went to the tomb with Christ. “Heavenly Father, take our guilt and shame on account of Christ and fill us with our identity in Him. As the ram was costly, Your Son’s blood paid the high cost of our trespasses and took our guilty conscience upon Himself. Thank you for this gift. Amen”

Rev. Gregory Alms of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Catonsville, MD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 4-5:13. Sin needs forgiveness. We often speak about sins of commission or omission. There is a tendency to try to justify unintentional sins as opposed to the ones we knew what we were doing. Whether it was the high priest, congregation, leaders, common people, and anyone who sins---there must be atonement. In God’s grace, He gives instructions on how to receive forgiveness for ALL people by the blood of bulls. For us, He shows us where forgiveness is for all people by the blood of Christ. “Lord God, all sins need forgiveness and by Your grace You provide the needed sacrifice. In the Old Testament You graciously gave bulls, goats, turtle doves, and grain so that all would receive forgiveness, but now we know that Your son’s sacrifice is all we need for forgiveness. Help us to see our sin and finally receive forgiveness from Christ. In Him, Amen”